Apple confirms iPod mini July release date

Apple's iPod mini music player will be released in the UK on 24 July.

The 3.6oz, 4GB device, which holds up to 1,000 CD-quality songs, will be available from Apple's website, retail stores and authorised resellers for £179 later this month, as revealed by vnunet.com in March.

But the iPod mini faces growing competition from other device manufacturers, including Sony and Creative, who are coming up with their own lightweight music players.

"The iPod mini has been a smash hit in the US, and we're thrilled to finally be able to offer it to music lovers the world over," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs in a statement.

"IPod has changed the way people listen to music and is now the number one digital music player in the world."

The iPod mini will be available in five colours: silver, gold, pink, blue and green. It has a click wheel similar to that found on the larger version and works with the iTunes music store, launched in the UK last month.

All iPod minis include earbud headphones, an Apple iPod mini power adaptor, a 1.2m, 30-pin to FireWire cable, a 1.2m 30-pin to USB 2.0 cable and a CD with iTunes 4.6 for Mac and Windows computers.