Apple launches new iTunes phone and iPod

Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs introduced a long-anticipated music-playing cell phone on Wednesday and surprised the faithful with a new pencil-thin iPod. The phone, called the ROKR and made by Motorola Inc., will come loaded with iTunes software, store up to 100 songs and include a color display screen and a built-in camera.

The new iPod, called the Nano, replaces the iPod Mini. In contrast with the Mini, which is hard drive-based, the Nano relies on flash memory, making it lighter and more energy-efficient. One-third the size of the Mini, the Nano weighs about 1.5 ounces and will fit into a breast pocket. Apple says it can store up to 1,000 songs or 25,000 photos.

“Nano is the biggest revolution since the original iPod,” Jobs crowed at an event for journalists and invited guests. “It’s impossibly small. … It’s thinner than a No. 2 pencil.” Besides music, the Nano features games, photo storage and a calendar. It also has a “screen lock” feature that allows no one except the user to access content.

A 4-gigabyte Nano will retail for $249, and a 2-gigabyte model will sell for $199. The devices will be in stores as soon as Thursday and are likely to be widely available by the weekend, Apple said.