Apple Computer has presentedlower-priced versions of its iPod digital music player with longerbattery life, positioning itself against rivals attempting to applylower costs to undercut iPod sales.Apple said the novel model iPod has upto 12 hours of battery life, compared with eight hours in previousmodels. Poor battery performance in few iPods has drawn criticism.


"Apple is closing the pricing gapbetween iPod and competitors," said Steve Lidberg, an analystwith Pacific Crest Securities. "United with a longer battery,Apple addresses the two biggest issues it had with the product."


Apple, best experience for itsMacintosh computer, has turned to digital music like it has failed toproduce major gains in the highly competitive personal computermarket. But in digital music players, Apple even faces strongcompetition from Dell and Sony.
Name: Apple's iPod.jpg Views: 80 Size: 33.8 KB

IPod arrogates a 50 percent marketcontribute in digital music players. Its sales almost tripled in thelast quarter. Analyst Lidberg anticipates shipments of 1.2 millioniPods this quarter, more as compared to tripling its sales previousyear.


Joswiak shot down market rumors of60-GB models in the pipeline. "We have no plans in regard toannouncing 60-GB models," Joswiak said. "We are attemptingto make a much more compelling lineup with two models for 20 and 40GB at extremely compelling prices."


As segment of a pilot program, DukeUniversity plans to afford iPods loaded on school calendars and otherinformation to its 1,800 incoming freshmen. Students can downloadclass materials to listen to anything from audio examples of textbookexercises to Spanish songs.


The iPod customers can today alter theplayback speed of audio books. The novel iPods, which are thinner,even proffer bettered menu programs. Apple's iTunes online musicservice is the most famous legal download site, claiming 70 percentof all songs bought online.