US computer giant Apple has unveiled an iPod that can play video and TV.

The new video iPod, available in either black or white, will go on sale in the US next week.

It holds up to 15,000 songs, 150 hours of video and 25,000 photos and is available in a 30GB model for $299 and a 60GB model for $399.

The device, which is lighter and thinner than the original iPod, boasts up to 20 hours of battery life and features a 2.5-inch color display.

Chief executive Steve Jobs introduced the new machine at an invite-only event held in San Jose on Wednesday.

He said: "The new iPod is the best music player ever - it’s 30 per cent thinner and has 50 percent more storage than its predecessor - yet it sells for the same price and plays stunning video on its 2.5-inch color screen."

"Because millions of people around the world will buy this new iPod to play music, it will quickly become the most popular portable video player in history."

Also unveiled at the event was a new iMac G5 and version 6 of the iTunes music software.

Apple has been riding high on the success of its iPod music players, which helped quadruple the company's profits during the last quarter.

The company said net income in the fiscal fourth quarter ending September 24 was $430m, compared with $106m a year ago. Revenues rose 56 per cent to $3.68bn, up from $2.35bn in the year-ago quarter.

During this period Apple sold 6.5 million iPods, a year-on-year rise of 200 per cent.

The video iPod is the newest member of Apple’s wildly popular iPod family for both Mac and PC which includes the fourth generation iPod, the iPod nano, the iPod mini, the iPod U2 Special Edition, iPod photo and iPod shuffle.