Apple bites back as iPod rivals line up

Hot on the heels of the launch of the iPod mini, Apple yesterday took yet another bite out of rivals with its launch of a revamped version of the original iPod.

With Sony and Samsung preparing counter-strikes and HP readying its own version of the iPod, Apple has addressed the two main gripes that customers had with the popular music player: battery life and price.

The new, cheaper, fourth-generation iPod contains all the features of the original flagship product but boasts a doubled battery life of 12 hours and a significantly lower price tag.

A 20GB iPod costs £219 while a 40GB model costs £299. The new iPods also feature the popular click wheel navigation first introduced on the iPod mini.

"The best digital music player just got better," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, in a statement. Jobs added that the company has sold more than four million iPods since October 2001.