After the news this morning regarding the price updates for the Apple iPod Touch, Nano, Shuffle and Classic, Apple has introduced hardware updates to the iPod Touch, the iPod Classic, the iPod Nano and the iPod Shuffle.

iPod Touch

• 8GB iPod Touch: $268 ($219)
• 32GB iPod Touch: $399 ($329)
• 64GB iPod Touch: $549 ($429) (new 64GB capacity)
  

• The $399 and $549 versions of the iPod Touch will be 50% faster and run OpenGL ES 2.0, which is the same as the iPhone 3GS.
• The 8GB iPod Touch will stay with the last generation hardware.

iPod Classic

• 160GB iPod Classic: $329 ($279) (new 160GB capacity)
• The iPod Classic has received a capacity increase (from 120GB to 160GB)
• The iPod Classic continue in two colors (Black and Silver)

iPod Nano

• 8GB iPod Nano: $199 ($169) (Yellow/Red Apple Store Exclusive)
• 16GB iPod Nano: $249 ($199) (Yellow/Red Apple Store Exclusive)

• The iPod Nano continues to sport its 8GB and 16GB capacities and nine color varieties.
• Video Camera added to the iPod Nano (H.264 VGA video, 640 by 480 pixels, up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio) (YouTube video uploading after computer sync)
• New, larger display (2.2-inch (diagonal) TFT display; 240-by-376-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch)
• FM Radio with Live Pause (Pause Radio with a click, another click to listen to the station again. Rewind as far back as 15 minutes. Fast-forward to catch up to the live broadcast)
• Pedometer added
• Microphone and speaker

iPod Shuffle

The iPod Shuffle has received a major update in the form of a color refresh and a new special edition version. The new colors and model, with capacity, are listed below:

• 2GB iPod Shuffle: Silver, Black, Green, Blue, Pink (new colors)
  
• 4GB iPod Shuffle: Silver, Black, Green, Blue, Pink (new colors)
  
• Special Edition 4GB iPod Shuffle: Polished Stainless Steel (new) (Apple Store Exclusive)

Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar has launched the next phase of its website technology with customers now able to purchase a fare or change their booking* at Jetstar.com via their mobile phone.

Jetstar last year became the first Australian airline to offer a specially-designed version of its website to allow seamless internet browsing for 3G mobile technology.

In the next stage of the technology roll-out, Jetstar customers have the convenience of being able to purchase a fare or change their booking no matter where they are, by accessing Jetstar.com from either an iPhone or regular internet enabled mobile handset.

The new mobile phone website technology is available in both English and Japanese.

This is different from the usual iPhone articles, but an important point to make nonetheless...

The Brisbane Times - The cops are cracking down on using your phone behind the wheel.

We all know that you should use a hands-free car kit if you're talking on the phone while driving, but the police are catching up with the fact that there's a lot more to mobile phones than voice.

Victoria is the latest state to crack down on mobiles behind the wheel. Under the changes, mobile phone use for any purpose while driving will only be permitted if the phone is in a commercially designed holder and the driver does not need to touch any part of the phone to receive a call (by using Bluetooth or a similar technology), reports The Age. It seems putting the call on speaker-phone isn't good enough.

Of particular interest is the fact that even holding a mobile phone - whether or not you're on a phone call - will now be prohibited. This includes resting it on your lap and even seems to apply when you're stopped at the lights. I imagine they wouldn't look to kindly on you sitting a netbook on the passenger seat either.

The new laws appear to encompass using a mobile phone for texting and satellite navigation, not just making voice calls. Get caught and you're looking at a $234 fine as well as three demerit points. Suddenly a decent car kit doesn't seem all that expensive.

At least the new Victorian laws make it clear that you are permitted to use a phone as a sat-nav device if it's in a "commercially designed holder". The law isn't as forgiving in NSW, where the rules can be interpreted to mean that it's illegal to use a phone for sat-nav even if it is in a car kit.

The laws in Victoria and South Australia are just as strict for Learners and P platers, who are banned from even using hands-free car kits whilst driving. Once again, the penalty is a $200+ fine and three demerit points. If you're on your Ls or your Ps, the safest option is to turn off your phone before you get in the car.

The race is on with three sat-nav contenders for the iPhone.

Sygic's Mobile Maps 2009 met to mixed reviews when it was released in June, partly because it lacked polish and partly because it became obvious that the iPhone really needs to be in a cradle to get a good GPS lock for satellite navigation. Navigon joined the party in July and now TomTom has released its iPhone app - before the TomTom iPhone cradle goes on sale. Launching without the cradle is certainly a risk in terms of GPS performance, but to wait would risk losing early adopters to Sygic and Navigon.

I put the three sat-nav apps to the test using a makeshift windshield mount in landscape mode and the results were much better than with the phone sitting in the coffee cup holder or being held by the passenger. From my tests, the iPhone's GPS accuracy drops considerably when someone is holding it, to the point where it falls a street or two behind your location.

When it comes to pricing, you're looking at $69.99 for Navigon, $79.99 for Sygic and $99.99 for TomTom. It's cheap when you consider the price of a dedicated sat-nav, although you need to allow for the extra cost of a decent iPhone car cradle or windshield mount. Each app has its strengths and weaknesses but, when it comes to onroad usability, so far I'm leaning towards TomTom. For example when Navigon approaches a roundabout the voice tells you to take the "second exit", while TomTom and Sygic say helpful things like "cross the roundabout" or "turn left" and then tell you the number of the exit.