Apple iPod Event Wrapup

Today is Apple day, so of course Apple news is all over the place. Here’s a wrapup of what happened today at Apple’s iPod Event:

iPhone OS 3.1 brings improved App organization via iTunes 9

Way back in February, when iPhone OS 3.1 was but a distant “dream,” we posted 8 Little Things We Still Can’t Stand About the iPhone. More than half a year has passed and we can finally knock #7, “Arranging applications sucks something terrible,” off the list with the release of iPhone OS 3.1…MobileCrunch

Video: Steve Jobs returns to the Apple stage

At the start of the event today Steve Jobs received a standing ovation from the assembled crowd, and took a moment to thank everybody for their support and encourage us all to be as generous as the organ donor who saved his life. He’s “vertical” now, and claims to be already at work coming up with some “incredible new products” for the future. We’re just glad to have you back, Steve! Video is after the break…Engadget
Apple announces iPhone OS 3.1

Steve Jobs announced iPhone OS 3.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Beyond bug fixes, it’ll include Bluetooth voice control, remote passcode lock, improved syncing, enhanced iTunes support, direct copy of contact info, new camera APIs, sponsored links in Maps, and improved Exchange calendar syncing.

The best news is, it’s going to be free, and it’s available today…Dvice

iTunes LPs: a preemptive strike against the major labels’ single-file albums

Not long ago, it was revealed that the major players in the music market were working on a single-file album format, by which they could sell you albums at an inflated price but with value added: cover art, videos, interviews, and so on. Of course, Apple was already on that, and now, with the major labels’ “CMX” format still off in the future, Apple has given them a black eye by introducing iTunes LPs…CrunchGear

iTunes 9 breaks Pre media sync… what did you expect?

Here we go again: round umpteen of the fight to break and re-enable Pre syncing with iTunes is now underway thanks to the release of iTunes 9, and we’re sure there’s plenty more where this came from. Endlessly amusing to casual observers, yes, but Pre customers are the ones losing out — sure, Palm might be able fix this in a jiffy (especially since they continue to tout compatibility with the Pixi), but meanwhile, media sync’s out of the picture once more. Stay tuned for more on this as it develops….Engadget