New iPods, iOS 4.1/4.2 and iTunes - The good, the bad and the ugly

OK, with today's Apple press event out of the way, time to digest the news and look at the good news, the bad news and the darn right ugly news.

Check out the image gallery detailing all the new hardware unveiled today!

The Good News

• The iPod touch now basically becomes an iPhone without the phone (oh, and a GPS, LED flash). The addition of FaceTime offers a way for iPod touch users to communicate with iPhone users. The A4 processor is also in, offering way more power.
• 32GB is the sweet spot price-wise for the iPod touch. 64GB model is premium priced.
• Buttons are back on the iPod shuffle. The old design, while revolutionary, was pretty much universally hated by owners because the controller built onto the earphones was so susceptible to sweat and rain damage.
• Nano revamped, clickwheel is gone, and the screen is multitouch.
• Good hardware revamp of Apple TV. Price seems good at $99.
• iOS 4.1 seems like a solid update.
• Printing from the iPad will be a relief to many.
• HDR photography comes to the iPhone - a lot of fun!

The Bad News

• Multitouch on the iPod nano seems gimmicky, offers little in the way of function.
• iPod nano seems so small as to be fiddly to use (at least that's the impression I got watching Steve Jobs use it during a demo).
• Unconvinced by the social integration in iTunes. raises privacy and spamming concerns. Basically just a way for Apple to get more people to spend money through iTunes (though it might be good for artists and put a nail in the MySpace coffin).
• iOS 4.2 on the iPad seems like little more than what the iOS on the iPad should have been at launch.
• Pricing for new movie rentals on Apple TV is too high at $4.99. Integration of Netflix and YouTube seems knee-jerk and odd.
• Rental only model of Apple TV might put many off.
• No mention of apps for iPod nano and Apple TV.

The Darn Right Ugly ...

• Camera and video playback gone on the iPod nano. These were silently dropped.
• Apple adds more bloat to iTunes, which is already bloated.