“Not content with its 75 percent share of the digital music device market in the U.S., Apple Computer (http://www.apple.com) has morphed its wildly popular iPod into a pocket-sized photo album, podcast player and video viewer,” Marc Saltzman reports for The Gannett News Service.

“And now the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech company has unveiled its latest plan to stay on top: iPod games,” Saltzman reports. “iPod owners with any fifth-generation (video) player – which sells for $249 (30-gigabyte version) or $349 (80GB version) – can now download nine games from the iTunes store for $4.99 apiece, which can then be synched to the iPod to take on the go. You must first download and install the latest iTunes 7 software for Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh computers.”

Saltzman reports, “Titles include some well-known classics and some not-so-familiar games: ‘Tetris,’ ‘Zuma,’ ‘Texas Hold’em,’ ‘Mahjong,’ ‘Mini Golf,’ ‘Pac-Man,’ ‘Cubis 2,’ ‘Bejeweled’ and ‘Vortex.’ Many games let you pause your progress and offer the option to see the time and battery level in the top corners of the 2.5-inch screen.”

Saltzman takes a look at three of the new offerings (‘Pac-Man,’ ‘Mini Golf,’ and ‘Zuma’) to see how they stack on up on the iPod in the full article here.

Related articles:
Review: Pac-Man for iPod – September 27, 2006
Mac game makers disappointed by Apple’s iPod shut-out – September 21, 2006
Apple debuts new iPod in 30GB and 80GB with Hollywood movies, games and new lower price – September 12, 2006