Welcome back everyone, to another edition of “The Roundup”!

This week I’m talking about what happened at Apple’s iPod Keynote, Palm’s new “Pixi” and Bit.ly getting a “Jump” on the competition. Take a look, after the jump.

This week I have three stories for you. Let’s get started.

1: From : Silicon Alley Insider via TechMeme
iPod Nano Gets A Video Camera — iPod Touch Doesn’t
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Apple’s “Rock and Roll” iPod Keynote was this Wednesday, and there was plenty of news but if I had to boil it down to a few main points, I would have to say:

• Steve Jobs is back, and looking good
• iPod Shuffle is now cheaper and comes in more colors
• iPod Classic refreshed with 160 GB for the same price ($249)
• iTunes 9 is out, as is iPhone OS 3.1

And, most importantly:

• iPod Nano now has a camera and FM radio, as well as a few other things
• iPod Touch did really get squat, except a price drop, getting rid of the 16 GB model and adding a 64 GB model
  • The 32 GB and 64 GB get additional processing power, but not the 8 GB.
  • There is NO CAMERA on any of the touches. L

So let’s talk about those last two main bullets. What the hell apple? Yes, I understand that you’re trying to compete with the Flip line of cameras; but if you can stick a camera in the iPhone, you can stick one in the touch. Sure, it would be a bit thicker, but would it really pain you that much? Ok, let’s say you can put a camera in the touch, let’s go over some of the possible reasons:

• Apple had manufacturing difficulties with the cameras (but then why wouldn’t they just say it will be available at a later date?)
• Apple doesn’t want to cannibalize on the iPhone and truly make it the “iPhone without the phone”
• Apple just wants to get you to buy an iPod now that’s larger due to the price cuts and get some extra processing power, and then get you to buy another iPod with a camera in 6 to 12 months.

Honestly, it’s probably a combination of the last two. Apple will eventually release an iPod Touch with a camera. It’s just a matter of time. I know that I said that I was heavily anticipating this refresh, but that was mainly for the camera and corresponding microphone. Right now, I’m planning on holding out till there is a camera in the touch.

2: From : TechCrunch
The Palm Pixi: A Smaller Pre But Without Wi-Fi
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

WebOS is getting a new home. Palm has announced a new phone, The Palm Pix. Think of it as a Palm Pre with a few less features like the slider (which some people have called flimsy) and Wi-Fi, and a lower price, only $149. Although the lack of Wi-Fi is a deal breaker for me, since I don’t really get cell service in (and only inside) my house (no one does, no matter what carrier). I still would like a chance to try it out. My only other problem with the Pixi? The silly girly name. It would be one thing if it was pink, but it’s a slick black device. The Palm Pixi will be available later in the year.

3: From : ReadWriteWeb
Bit.ly Scores a Shorter & Better URL
Friday, September 4, 2009

Bit.ly has a new domain name, and it’s even shorter! J.mp or Jump has every feature of bit.ly, but with the shorter domain. The only problem right now is that no twitter clients currently support using it as a built in URL shorter, but it’s only a matter of time before it is included. Another question to ask is will Twitter switch it’s default URL shorter from bit.ly to j.mp powered by bit.ly?

That’s it for this week, see you next time, right here at The iLife.

Image Credit: gdgt (iPod Nano), TechCrunch (Palm Pixi), j.mp (j,mp logo)

–Keith Hobin