Apple today announced new 20GB and 40GB models of its best-selling iPod digital music player. The new 40GB iPod holds up to 10,000 CD-quality songs (playing each song back-to-back takes a month) in a stunning enclosure that is lighter and thinner than two CDs. iPods are available in three models: a 10GB model for just £249 (Inc VAT), the new 20GB model for £299 (inc VAT) and the new 40GB model for £399 (Inc VAT); and offer the perfect combination of ease of use, storage capacity, audio performance and ultra-portable design.

"iPod is the best-selling digital music player and the 'gold standard' to which all portable music players are compared," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The iPod and the iTunes Music Store offer music lovers an unbeatable combination that our competitors can't even come close to."

iPod is the only portable music player with Apple's patent pending Auto-Sync, an innovative feature that automatically downloads your entire digital music library onto iPod and keeps it up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into your Mac or Windows PC using FireWire or USB 2.0. The ultra-portable iPods are designed with a solid-state "no moving parts" navigation wheel and backlit buttons for precise, effortless navigation through thousands of songs; an elegant dock for easy syncing and charging with an audio line out for quick connection to a home stereo or powered speakers; an "On-The-Go" playlist so users can build a playlist right on their iPod; a customisable main menu so users can promote the features they use most often to their top level menu; and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for more than eight hours of continuous music.

The iTunes Music Store, available to U.S. based customers, has sold over ten million songs since its launch just over four months ago and is the perfect companion to the iPod. Now listeners can easily find, purchase and download their music online with one click. Music purchased from the iTunes Music Store is downloaded right into Apple's popular iTunes 4 digital music jukebox, where users can easily manage their music library, create playlists, burn custom CDs and easily download their entire music library into their iPods for on-the-go listening anywhere. The iTunes Music Store will be available to Windows users by the end of this year. The iTunes Music Store requires a valid credit card with a U.S. billing address, a Mac equipped with iTunes 4 and Mac OS X version 10.1.5 or later.