Normally, when Apple announces a new iPod, things get a little tricky around here. After lining up with hundreds of other journalists and attendees, I file into the conference hall, scribble notes furiously through the whole event, then scurry back to the CNET headquarters to try to tell our readers what the new iPod is and whether it's worth their money.

Not so this time around. Instead, I elected to relax on the couch, watching Celebrity Poker Showdown. See, I was laid up at home with Lyme disease, which you get from a tiny deer tick. It causes all sorts of symptoms, among them being the inability to attend iPod press events.

A lot happened to digital music while I was out. Here's what I think it means.

The iPod Nano unveiled
I've been claiming for quite a while that we won't see a video iPod from Apple, at least in the near future, and once again, I was proven right. Apple, which usually debuts a new generation of its iPod line, chose this time to unveil what I believe will be another massive success for Apple: the iPod Nano.

Flash memory is ideal for MP3 players due to its low power consumption, its nonskip operation, and its small size. Apple timed the Nano perfectly, since 2GB and 4GB flash capacities are now economically feasible at the prices consumers are used to.

To me, the big deal here is another Apple first: the debut of a flash memory MP3 player with a full-fledged navigation system comprising a large color screen, a clear menu structure, and of course, the excellent Click Wheel control. Now, users looking for something that never skips, handles being dropped repeatedly, and is easy to use will have an option. Unless you need specialized stuff offered by the competition, such as audio recording, a heart-rate monitor, or a rock-bottom price, there's simply no good reason to buy any flash player other than the iPod Nano.

iTunes 5.0 stumbles out of the gate
Unfortunately for Apple, its newly released iTunes 5.0 software suffers from a crippling bug--and believe me, I know the feeling. For many Windows users, installing the program causes computers to crash, iPods to go unrecognized, playlists to vanish, and more. Apple is reportedly working on a patch, which is expected to post relatively soon.

I'm actually surprised it took so long for Apple to release buggy iTunes software for Windows. When Apple tries to write software that runs on Windows--especially when, like iTunes, that software tries to create a certain level of security between a device and an application--there are going to be a few bumps in the road. I suspect Apple's iTunes coders ran afoul of some sort of security layer in the Windows operating system, although that's pure speculation. Hopefully the truth will come out eventually.

In the meantime, please report any iTunes 5.0 difficulties or lack thereof on our digital music forum; if there's a patch, I'll post it in that same thread when it becomes available.

The iTunes phone: yawn
I tried to find something non-Apple-related to write about here, but as with so many things digital music, this story is all about the iPod. Well, not really...in this case, the so-called iTunes phone, the Motorola Rokr.

This is a big deal on paper because it points the way toward a future where cell phones and MP3 players might become one. This is not a big deal in reality because, among other reasons, music people take their music too seriously for it to become a small, awkwardly designed feature on the cell phone. There are many other reasons why it's too soon for cell phones and MP3 players to merge, but that's a different column.

So until next time, enjoy the music and please--remember to check for ticks.