This morning the Apple Store was down for a little while which usually means they’re bringing on some new stuff. When it came back up we noticed a new Pink iPod nano as the latest addition in the lineup of the 3rd generation players. The new pink model is an 8GB version (4GB only comes in silver) and retails the same as the other 8GB models for $199. Apple is also offering two lines of free engraving on the back and 24 hours shipping so you can get your pink iPod in plenty of time for Valentines day.

If you seek a way to enjoy your iPod nano at the beach without fear of it getting trashed by surfing and swimming, H20 Audio has a new case you’ll want to check out. It is called the H2O Audio iN3 and it’s being shown off at MacWorld this week.

The H2O Audio iN3, priced at around $80, is waterproof up to ten feet and the company recommends you pair it with its waterproof headphones. Features which keep your third generation nano safe from the water while still allowing for usage include an overlay control for the click wheel and a watertight connector which is for use with headphones.

Apple made a quiet release of a firmware update for both the iPod classic and the 3rd generation iPod nano on Saturday. The new version 1.0.2 mostly consists of bug fixes according to Apple but ended up revealing a little bit more once installed. Aside from some improvements on calender and contact synchronization MacNN reported installing the new firmware through iTunes updates and finding upgrades to the Cover Flow making it more similar to iTunes 7.4. The new firmware also had another “Ask” option added to the TV output option which allows users to turn on the TV out mode when the iPod is connected to a device capable of showing video output from the iPod. Nothing too spectacular but little surprises like these are always nice.

With new iPods of course come new iPod accessories. It’s an ever money making cycle for the iPod eco-system. One of the newest announced today for the new iPod nano is the iXoundWear Cap, priced at around $20 and due out likely by November.

iXoundWear, having made head wear for previous iPod models, is taking that skill and applying it to hats for holding the new nanos. Caps will be available in Sports and Running versions, distinguishable the company says by the type of fabric used, and will come in a rainbow of colors to match your iPod. Features include a fabric player pocket, control window to access the Click Wheel and a wire management system.

Today Apple launched the much anticipated, “fatter-style” iPod Nano with a 2-inch, 320×240 resolution video screen at 204 pixels per inch, more than any other current iPod device. The new design is surprisingly similar to the rumored pics that were floating around.

The new iPod Nano measures just 0.26″ thick and weighs 1.74 ounces with a battery that will give up to 24 continuous hours of audio playback and 5 hours of video. It comes in Flash drive capacities of 4GB ($149) or 8GB ($199) and in a choice of 5 different colors, but the 4GB model will only be available in silver.

According to iLounge, a manufacturer named Uniea that makes cases for Apple products such as iPods and MacBook’s has now released a U-Suit branded case for an iPod that has not been announced yet..

The advertisement says the case is designed for the “New iPod” and bears the short, fat design that we’ve seen in a number of the rumored pictures. According to the report, the case “features a soft leather exterior, hard plastic interior with scratch-resistant inner lining, and a front hole sized for a roughly 2.3-inch screen and iPod nano-sized Click Wheel.” Maybe that screen won’t be too small to watch video’s on?

We’ve seen a few different grainy photos of what might be a new video iPod Nano from Apple floating around the web, but here is the best quality one yet. We’re still chalking this one up to the “rumors” list but this photo fits the bill from what we’ve heard so far; appearing shorter with a small video screen that frankly may be just too small to watch videos on, anyway.

There’s a very good chance that this is the result of some skilled Photoshop work based on a hand holding the current Nano but either way I don’t think we’re going to have to wait long to find out as Jobs and the rest of Apple are still gearing up for some “The Beat Goes On” announcement on Wednesday. Keep watching…

Earlier this week 9to5Mac posted some spy pics of what the new iPod Nano from Apple might look like and we, like many others, were not very impressed.

The new video Nano’s appeared to be a bit wider than previous models allowing for a small and wide video screen. The colors also appeared to be new. The spy photos are of the classic, rumor-enforcing poor quality but some colors could be recognized including light green, light blue and maybe a cranberry color along with 2 others …