Apple ships iPod 20GB and 60GB with color display

Apple today merged the iPod and iPod photo line. The simplified iPod line now only includes a 20GB and 60GB model with color LCD display.

The new color display will enable users to view album artwork, photos and play slideshows. The battery life will last for 15 hours while playing music and up to 5 hours while slideshows with music.

The company also released iTunes 4.9 and issued an update for its iPods to add an easy to use Podcast menu.

“iPod customers love to enhance their listening experience with color,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod Product Marketing. “By simplifying our iPod lineup to include 20GB and 60GB models with color screens and the new Podcast menu, iPod and iTunes provide the world’s easiest and appealing way to discover, subscribe, manage and listen to Podcasts.”

Apple already sold more than 15 million iPods worldwide. The new 20GB model is available for $299 and the 60GB model for $399.

The iPod U2 Special Edition also received a color screen and is now available for $329.

And finally, the price of the iPod shuffle 1GB also dropped to $129.