Apple states, "The new iPod plays music, audiobooks, audio Podcasts, video Podcasts, home movies, music videos and popular television shows..."

Watch video content and photo slideshows on a television with optional Apple accessories.

These new iPods will start shipping next week. Included accessories will be earbud headphones, USB 2.0 cable, case, dock insert, and a CD with iTunes for Mac and Windows computers.

According to Apple, optional accessories will be a, "Universal Dock for $39 (US), giving users easy access to a USB port for syncing, IR support to work with the Apple Remote and a variable line out and S-video connections for integration within the living room; Apple Remote for $29 (US), providing wireless integration to the Universal Dock and quick and easy access to controls from across the room; Apple iPod AV cable for $19 (US), enabling television viewing of video content in full-screen; the iPod Camera Connector for $29 (US); and Apple Socks for $29 (US) providing six vibrant color socks to dress up and protect your iPod."

So let's see, substantially more storage capacity, thinner size, two color choices, about the same or much better battery life, lots of additional iTunes features and support, video playback, lots of new iPod accessories, same price. Wow!

Of note, Apple is again including a case with the iPod. They're also continuing with the dock insert strategy they started with the nano to make it easier on third-party accessory makers. And those accessories! Cool.

I think the regular iPod had slowly become the hardcore model in the line up, slightly marginalized by the cheaper and flashier iPod mini, and more recently the iPod nano. These updates, and the enhanced video functions has returned the bigger brother model back to relevance and back to an appealing slot in the model range. Well done, Apple.

Update: Here are the specs for video support:

- H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
- MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec., Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats