The new iPods have created a Genius to help you play harder, writes STEPHEN FENECH

WHEN Apple CEO Steve Jobs goes to the trouble of getting up on stage for a major  presentation, there are usually sparkling new products people want to buy by the time he’s done.

Last week was no exception, with the release of the rumoured iPod Nano, iPod Touch and the eighth version of iTunes.

The iPod Nano has undergone a complete makeover and while the cosmetic changes were obvious, it was the new features on the inside that caught our attention.

Sporting a new curved look, the iPod Nano (main picture) is carved from a single piece of aluminium and, for the first time, has a glass screen.

It is surprisingly thin and light despite now having increased capacities of 8GB ($199) and 16GB ($279).

Apple has reverted to the “candy bar” shape with the new Nano but with a 5cm screen.

This means more room on the screen to look through music and videos.

But the standout feature of the new Nano is the added intelligence the device has.

"Genius" is a new feature not only on the Nano but is also a part of iTunes 8 and can be used on the iPod Touch.

The motivation behind Genius is to help users rediscover their own music, as well as finding new tunes.

With digital music libraries expanding, it is not hard for songs to get lost in a collection.

What Genius does is create play lists of songs that go well together, using an algorithm that analyses the type of music you listen to and the listening patterns of other iTunes users around the world.

Listeners can allow iTunes to anonymously upload a weekly update of songs they listened to and purchased, in order to hone the algorithm even further.

The Genius feature is also now available to iPhone users once the latest 2.1 firmware upgrade is installed on the device.

Genius playlists can be created on the go using just the music on the device or using your entire library on iTunes.

Genius playlists created in iTunes can then be saved and transferred to an iPod or iPhone.

But music is only one part of what the iPod Nano can handle.

Videos are also viewable on the device in widescreen format.

Users simply tilt the Nano on its side to watch a movie, TV show or music video.

The Nano’s accelerometer can also be used to help browse the music on board. During music playback, turning the Nano on its side activated Cover Flow.

A sharp shake of the device triggers it to choose a random selection for the next track.

The “Shake to Shuffle” feature only works when the Nano is deliberately shaken and won’t be activated when it is being carried in a bag or in a car.

When viewing images, landscape and portrait shots can now be seen full screen by holding the device straight up or on its side.

Apple has also waved its wand over the iPod Touch, which is now even thinner than the previous model.

It is available in three capacities – 8GB ($329), 16GB ($419) and 32GB ($549) – and now features an external volume key and a speaker.

Battery life has also been improved significantly, with up to 36 hours for audio and six hours of video playback.

The iPod Touch features the same large 9cm screen as the iPhone and is also compatible with more than 3000 applications available from the iTunes Store.

The added speakers mean the iPod Touch can be used for game play without the need to plug in a pair of headphones.

Also built into the iPod Touch is a wireless Nike + iPod training sensor, so runners can track their training without plugging anything in.

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