Apple adds TV content to iTunes [u]

Apple has added several more TV shows from both the Warner Brothers and CBS networks to its iTunes Music Store. Warner Bros. has added Friends Season 1 ($30); one tipster also reports spotting the pilot for their new TV series 'Aquaman', alongside Miami Vice Season I. Also new for Warner brothers is a new classics line including the first season of The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and Babylon 5. The Best of Mad TV seasons 8, 9, and 10 are now also available on iTunes. CBS has added the Big Brother: All Stars ($30) series to iTunes including a new season pass for the both previous episodes and new episodes for the remainder of the season. Single episodes of all the series added today sell for the usual $1.99 in an iPod compatible resolution. These additions come only a few weeks after Apple announced iTunes crossing the 150 television show mark.

Zune is doomed, will alienate partners

Microsoft's confirmation of its development of an iPod competitor is doomed, and is expected to alienate the company's partners. Microsoft's new "Zune" player -- which was announced July 21st and is expected to launch some time this year -- will turn the company's partners into competitors, according to one News.com blogger. Wired News reports that Microsoft's new "iPod killer" is doomed, citing Apple's hefty lead in the market as well as the Redmond-based company's "typically tone deaf approach to usability." Based on Microsoft's hardware track record -- with the exception of the Xbox 360 -- "it will be a miracle if [Zune's] next nickname isn't the 'iClod' (iPod + clone + awful)."

Will Microsoft's Zune be a better iPod?

Apple loyalists who scoff at the idea that anyone, including or especially Microsoft, can take marketshare from Apple's iPod, are forgetting a very basic business truth.

Articles like the one in IT Wire are typical of the hubris of some Apple fans.

What the loyalists are forgetting is the fact that unlike a relatively small cadre, albeit in the millions, of shoppers who will buy nothing but Apple products, the mass market, hundreds of millions, does not work like that.

The iPod will own the market as long as no other company comes out with a better product. If Microsoft can design something that looks cooler and does more and is simpler to use, the iPod will become history.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Microsoft can do that. It took years for their handheld manufacturing partners to erode Palm handheld sales. With so much overhead built in the Win CE handhelds were clunkier and less efficient, unable to run native Office applications on a handheld better than Palm did with an Office simulator.

Now all handheld sales are declining as cell phones do almost everything a handheld can.

Final word to all of those Apple adherents, and to Apple as well. Don't be complacent. The market is a fickle place.

Sonnet PodFreq supports video iPods

Sonnet Technologies today announced that its PodFreq is now compatible with the fifth-generation iPods. PodFreq supports all iPod models with a dock connector (except for the iPod nano; the PodFreq mini is compatible with iPod mini). Users can use the FM transmitter to play iPod tunes, audiobooks and podcasts wirelessly through any nearby FM radio. The device offers an integrates a dock with a car charger and car cradle, thus requiring no cables to plug in and no software to install: "it is easy to quickly tune and broadcast to any empty station frequency using up and down tuning buttons and the built-in display. Because PodFreq charges your music player’s battery while in the car, you can love your iPod even longer." PodFreq is available for $100.

Griffin debuts iFM with dock connector

Griffin today unveiled a new version of its iFM with a dock connector, integrating FM radio tuning and remote control functionality with the iPod in a tiny enclosure. iFM switches seamlessly between controlling the iPod music library and listening to FM radio programming, and serves as an inline remote to control the iPod's transport controls. Features include an integrated white backlit LCD that shows the operating mode of the iFM; digital auto station scan with wraparound capability; band-switch functionality to switch between US, European, and Japanese FM bands; six station presets per band; control via remote to play, pause, fast forward, rewind, play the next song, play the previous song, and volume control which toggles the iPod's EQ setting. iFM works with 5th generation iPod video, iPod nano, 4th generation iPod with clickwheel, iPod mini, and iPod photo. iFM with its dock connector is expected to be available in November for $50.

Play Nintendo games on...your iPod?

Was there some truth to the Apple-Nintendo partnership rumour?

Nintendo has clearly been inspired by Apple recently. The DS Lite and Wii sport stylish lines that match those of Apple's iPod and Macbook lines perfectly, and the retro-game download service on their upcoming home console sounds a lot like an 'iGames' store. Given their mutually exclusive markets and somewhat similar design and business philosophies, it's an easy conclusion to jump to that the two companies could somehow work together. Indeed, there were some rumours a short while ago that Apple was interested in a takeover of the Kyoto-based gaming giant, however it really wouldn't have been possible. A partnership seemed the only likely possibility, and according to MacRumours.com, that may actually be on the cards.

MacRumours cites a source that claim the next major revision of the iPod will feature a directional pad and be able to play games. It seems that Apple actually posted a job listing for an embedded game developer about a year ago, and some recent patent filings include iPod designs with various gamepads. The big rumour for us, of course, is that the machine will allegedly be able to play classic Nintendo games. How exactly this will happen has not been suggested, but some have speculated connectivity with the Wii's virtual console as a method of transfer.

It still seems unlikely that Nintendo would go for this, given that it has a perfectly good portable platform to connect with the Wii in the DS. But with both companies competing with both Sony and Microsoft on their home turf...well you know the saying: "the enemy of my enemy..."

Apple gives U2 iPod an encore

Branded iPod gets an update, including an extra 10GB, cheaper price ($329), and a voucher for 30 minutes of free U2 video from the iTunes store.

U2 fans who held out on buying an iPod bearing the signatures of Bono and the boys in 2004 are in luck.

Apple unveiled an updated version of the iPod U2 Special Edition today, adding more memory, cutting the price, and throwing in some free U2 video downloads.

"We're thrilled to continue working with one of the greatest bands in the world to bring U2 fans a special edition of the world's best digital music player," Apple's Greg Joswiak said in a statement.

The new U2 iPod looks like its predecessor with its all-black design, distinctive red scroll wheel, and signatures of each band member on the back. But at 30GB, it holds about 7,500 songs, has 10GB more memory than the original and can play video, as Apple has rolled out video capabilities since the first U2 iPod was unveiled in 2004.

Apple said the new version also increases the battery life to 14 hours from 12, and comes at a lower price: $329. The original cost $349.

To entice customers, Apple is including a coupon code that will let users download 30 minutes of U2 video from the iTunes Music Store for free.

iPod software supports new FM remote

Apple today released iPod Updater 2006-01-10, a new version of the software updater for iPods. It adds support for the new iPod Radio Remote for iPod with video and iPod nano as well as a number of bug fixes for iPod with video, iPod nano, iPod with color display, iPod mini, and iPod with Click Wheel, according to Apple's support pages. It includes iPod Software 1.1 for the iPod video, iPod nano Software 1.1, iPod Software 1.2.1 for color display/Photo, iPod shuffle Software 1.1.3, iPod mini Software 1.4.1, iPod Software 3.1.1 for clickwheel, and iPod Software 2.3 for iPods with dock connector as well as iPod Software 1.5 for touch/scroll wheel iPods.

Apple unveils iPod Radio Remote

Apple today unveiled its iPod Radio Remote, combining the convenience of a wired remote control with new FM radio capabilities for the iPod nano and fifth-generation video iPod. The iPod Radio Remote offers music lovers a convenient way to skip tracks and adjust the volume of their iPod, even when it's in a pocket or backpack, and listen to FM radio stations while displaying station and song information on the iPod screen. The iPod Radio Remote includes a pair of Apple headphones with a shorter cable, and is available for $50.

"The iPod Radio Remote combines two great features in one elegant product," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of worldwide iPod product marketing. "The iPod Radio Remote is both the best remote control and the best FM radio listening experience for iPod."

In addition to the iPod Radio Remote and the over 2,000 accessories designed for iPod are the iPod AV Connection Kit and the new iPod nano In-Ear Lanyard Headphones. The iPod AV Connection Kit includes everything needed to connect the iPod to a TV for watching photo slideshows and video, or a stereo system for listening to music, and charges the device. The iPod nano In-Ear Lanyard Headphones combine the features of the iPod nano Lanyard Headphones and the Apple In-Ear Headphones.


The iPod AV Connection Kit includes an iPod Universal Dock, an Apple Remote, an iPod AV cable, an iPod dock connector to USB 2.0 cable and an iPod USB power adapter, and is compatible with all iPod models with a dock connector for $100.

The iPod nano In-Ear Lanyard Headphones will be available for $50 and include three different sized caps to ensure the headphones fit securely.

Apple releases iPod Updater 2006-06-28

Apple today released a new iPod Updater 2006-06-28 (available via Software Update), which offers bug fixes along with support for Nike+iPod in its iPod nano software. The latest update includes the iPod Software 1.1.2 for iPod, iPod Software 1.2 for iPod nano, and iPod Software 1.1.4 for iPod shuffle. For all other iPod models, iPod Updater 2006-06-28 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2006-03-23. iPod Software 1.1.2 for iPod offers bug fixes, while iPod Software 1.2 for iPod nano includes Nike + iPod support (when used in conjunction with iTunes 6.05) and bug fixes, and iPod Software 1.1.4 for iPod shuffle adds a volume limit as well as bug fixes.iTunes 6.0.5 or later is required to set a maximum volume limit for iPod shuffle.

MediaGear debuts HD2GO iPod rival

MediaGear today introduced the HD2GO, its portable media player that can display photos, play music, and enables users to watch full-color videos on a 3.6-inch LCD. The gadget stands to compete with
Apple's market leading fifth-generation iPod, which retails for $300 or $400 for 30GB and 60GB capacities, respectively. The HD2GO can store more than 10,000 digital photos and up to 25 hours of video, according to MediaGear, and accepts memory cards from digital cameras to transfer photos. A standard USB cable from a PC supports video/music transfers, and the device features navigational icons for all playback options after it powers up. The HD2GO offers an average of 4.5 hours of video playback time, or 15 hours of audio playback on a single charge, and the Lithium-ion battery is rechargeable in five hours' time. The HD2GO is priced at $300.

Apple: iPods built to last 4 years

The internet community has continued to question durability of Apple's iPod line, leaving some consumers to question whether the popular portable media players are built well enough to withstand the normal everyday wear and tear. Apple has acknowledged some issues in the recent past, offering battery replacements to some and free Nano replacements to those customers who purchased the tiny players with easily-cracked or scratched LCDs. Other problems remain, however, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune, and its virtually impossible to determine how widespread the problems actually are, as Apple is the only reliable source for data; however, Apple spokesperson Natalie Kerris says that iPods have a failure rate of less than 5 percent, which is "fairly low" compared to other consumer electronics. "The vast majority of our customers are extremely happy with their iPods," Kerris said, noting that iPods are designed to last four years.

Rob Enderle, principal analyst for Enderle Group in San Jose estimates that 15 percent of iPods will fail within one year. The analyst noted that a 15 percent failure rate is roughly comparable to other small electronic devices.

One online survey suggests that Apple's iPod failure rate is around 14 percent--half of which were battery related and half of which were related to the hard drive found in Apple's larger-size iPods. Some industry watchers, however, believe that sheer numbers--which are quite large as Apple has sold over 40 million units total--are responsible for most reported iPod troubles.

"Any time you have that many of anything," some will fail to function properly, according to Bob O'Donnell, vice president at IDC.

Griffin releases four new iPod Cases

Griffin Technology today introduced four new iPod cases: Trio, Vizor, Tempo, and iClear with prices ranging for $20 to $30. The Trio ($25) is available in six colors and is designed for the iPod nano; it includes three difference style options. Users are given the choice to leave the Nano's clickwheel and screen uncovered or make use of the extra protection covers, which are included. The Vizor ($25) is designed specifically for the iPod video (5th generation) and is available in a variety of colors. It features a flip cover that secures the iPod when closed and a belt clip as a carrying alternative. Tempo ($25) is an armband case for both the iPod nano and full-size iPod. Designed for joggers and athletes, Tempo features a low profile design, headphone clip for excess slack management, soft inner lining for iPod protection, and machine washability. Finally, the iClear ($20) is a transparent case made out of a protective polycarbonate for the iPod, iPod Nano, and iPod video (5th Generation, 60GB and 30GB backing included). The case keeps access to the iPod fully accessible to the user so it does not require constant removal for syncing or usability.

The company said that all four cases will ship to retail stores this month in an effort to make it in time for back-to-school shopping.

GINI Introduces iTube and iConec For iPod

GINI Systems has just introduced its iProducts line targetting "the iPod Generation with high-end taste." The initial launch of the iProducts Line includes a unique Tube Based 2.1 Audio System called GINI iTube and a full functioned iPod Docking Station named GINI iConec. Together, they form a complete iPod audio system that converts digital tunes into music with "tube warmth" that audiophiles should enjoy.

The GINI iTube combines vacuum tube and solid-state audio technologies to deliver the type of music that separates itself from the majority of iPod speakers in the market today. The system includes a hybrid amplifier with a built-in sub-woofer to provide substantial bass extension, a pair of Hi-Fi satellite speakers, and a remote control and accessories. The design is in perfect harmony with iPods. The handcrafted main unit is made of wood with quality glossy finish while the speaker cabinets are made of high density top grade composite material to ensure excellent sound quality. GINI iTube can be used with iPod or other sources such as CD players.

The GINI iConec is a full functioned iPod docking station with remote control. Besides the usual volume control, backward and forward, the remote control includes functions such as mute, backlight, repeat, shuffle, playlist and album up/down, pause, etc. iConec also has a built-in charger which provides stand-alone recharging capability for iPods. Adding to usability is the on-board volume control conveniently located on the front of the docking station. With the iPod docking adapters provided and those that come with iPods, GINI iConec supports all models of iPod except iPod shuffle.

New Nano and Video iPod May Face Delays

For over half a year rumors of a large-screen, "Video iPod" have been milling about. Reports call for a wide-aspect, 4-inch touchscreen that covers the entire face of the unit, with an on-screen clickwheel, rather than a physical one. The latest word on a release date has long indicated Q4 of this year. As it turns out, we might not see this new unit until the first half of 2007.

Researcher Shaw Wu of American Technology Research claims that both the next generation iPod nano and the Video iPod will lag previous expectations, IB Times reports:

"We previously believed that new nanos and the widescreen video iPod could ship in Q3 and Q4, respectively," he tells clients in a research note, "however, we now believe that both could be delayed by a quarter or two."

"Apple is aiming to increase both the screen size and improve the battery life - two conflicting attributes that are difficult to improve simultaneously and require significant engineering," he writes.

While we're all anxious to get our hands on what is surely the ultimate iPod, recent reports indicate that it might be worth the wait. Reports indicate that the 5G iPod's replacement will feature a powerful 3D graphics chipset from Nvidia, presumably enabling advancd 3D gaming, placing the iPod in competition with the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.

The next generation iPod nano is expected to be released in an all-new, scratch-resistant magnesium or aluminum enclosure available in a variety of colors. The new nano is expected to appear with double the current song capacity, 4GB and 8GB, able to store ~1000 and ~2000 songs, respectively.

Nike+iPod Kit to launch with fanfare

Nike and Apple will officially release the Nike+iPod Sports Kit on Thursday, July 13. The Nike+iPod Sports Kit was announced in late May and features a small transmitter which, when placed in a special compartment unique to Nike+ shoes, records and wireless transmits running information. This information transmitted by the shoe can be later reviewed with iTunes. So far, this kit only works with the flash-based iPod nano player, not the large iPod with video or smaller iPod shuffle. The Kit costs $30 while the new shoes will cost between $80-100 at retailers. To use the Nike+iPod Kit users require iTunes 6.0.5 or later is requiredon a Mac or PC.

"This is the first result," Parker said of the new relationship at the May 23rd announcement, "and Nike+iPod will change the way people run. Nike+iPod creates a better running experience. We see many more such Nike+ innovations in the future."

The Nike+iPod Sport Kit allows Nike+ ready footwear to communicate with the Apple iPod nano through a sensor in the Nike+ footwear and a receiver plugged into the nano. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit allows the runner to receive audible updates on speed, distance and calories burned upon request throughout the run.



The Nike+iPod Sport Kit will be available through the Apple Store, Niketown, NikeWomen stores, Nikeplus.com, and select retail stores in the US.


Nike launches new Nike+ footwear

In connection with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, Nike is introducing the Nike Air Zoom Moire+ and the Nike Air Zoom Plus+, the first of six styles of footwear that will be Nike + ready by the end of July. Nike+ ready footwear is the only footwear that is compatible with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit and can be purchased at Nike.com, Niketown, and select retail stores. The supporting website, nikeplus.com, will work seamlessly with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit as an extensive training log, offering interaction with other runners and links to exclusive music and coaching tools.

Launch events expected in NYC, Chicago, LA Niketown locations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles will host launch events to celebrate the Nike+iPod product being available at retail. The Nike+iPod Sport kit will be available for purchase first at Niketown New York tomorrow morning at a special event featuring Nike baseball players Mariano Rivera (New York), Chien-Ming Wang (New York) and AJ Pierzynski (Chicago), basketball player Ben Gordon (Chicago), retired basketball player Cynthia Cooper (Houston), Olympic speedskater Chad Hedrick and Olympic snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis.

Niketown Chicago will host an entire day of music in connection with the adjacent Apple store on North Michigan Avenue between Erie and Superior. The day will feature a lunchtime concert by Mae from 12:00pm - 1:00pm and performances by Chicago cover band Underwater People from 10:00am - 7:00pm.

Niketown Los Angeles will host a retail celebration hosted by local personality Carol Lewis and featuring Jeff Garcia from Power 106.

First Live Demo on CNBC
CNBC's "On The Money" television segment will perform the first live demonstration on tonight's edition at 7PM EST, according to AppleInsider. (MacNN will cover the demo tonight.)

iPod touch screen interface patent filed

Apple has filed a patent that unveils details regarding a touch screen interface to be used in a future iteration of an iPod or a tablet-style device. Titled "Proximity detector in handheld device", the patent document informs readers of how the interface works in navigating menus and making selections, all via finger movement on the screen. Whenever a user's finger is near the screen, the touch screen interface would detect it and display a virtual scroll wheel and other inteface elements automatically. When will such technology be incorporated in future iPods, we don't know. What we're sure of is the fact that iPods are getting more and more sensitive with each generation, making the protective case all the more important.

What's an iPod?

Whenever, wherever
we're meant to be together
I'll be there and you'll be near...

When Shakira crooned these words, she definitely wasn't referring to gadgets that would one day make music as portable as human beings. Say hello to iPods that now go with us everywhere.

'i' what...? That was my reaction when I heard about iPods for the first time. So I decided to decode the mystery surrounding iPods.
What is an iPod?

Cassettes hold 10-12 songs. Compact discs hold 16-20 songs. An iPod, depending on its memory capacity, holds at least 500 songs! Get the drift?

The iPod refers to a class of portable digital audio players designed and marketed by Apple Computers. It stores and plays music, but without the aid of cassettes or discs.

You can attach a set of headphones to your iPod and listen to music like you would listen to your Discman or Walkman. And, like your computer, this device also stores music and information.

The amount of music you store in an iPod is directly related to the memory of its hard drive or flash drive and can vary according to the model. But more on that later.

Let's get back to our definition of an iPod. In a nutshell, it's a music player that is big enough to hold your music and small enough to slip into your shirt pocket or even into a chewing gum packet!

Features

iPods are more than just music players. They have a host of features that effectively act like a portable hard drive and can store a lot of information. These include:

Music
Store and listen to music all day long or as long as your battery lasts. From 100 songs to more than 10,000 songs, the iPod's capacity varies but the fun doesn't! Connect your ear phones or head phones to the iPod and start grooving.

Podcasts
Download and listen to music from podcast directories. Podcasting is a method of publishing audio broadcasts via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a set of new files (usually MP3s). It allows users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files, usually free. Podcast directories are a list of songs and other radio like shows that have been uploaded on to the Iinternet which can be downloaded to your iPod and heard.

Future iPods to morph into games consoles?

An analyst has claimed Nvidia has won the contract to supply Apple with graphics chips for future video-centric iPods. The claim comes as another, less reputable source alleged upcoming iPods will play old Nintendo games.

American Technology Research market watcher Satya Chillara this week told clients Nvidia has beaten Broadcom to provide video chips for the video iPod. Broadcom's part already delivers H.264 playback, but Nvidia's offering adds 3D graphics to the mix, he said, EETimes reports.

Apple recently ditched PortalPlayer in favour of Samsung as the supplier of the key controller chip for future iPods, so doing the same with its media chip provider is not unlikely.

Whether Apple will use that 3D acceleration - assuming Nvidia has won the contract - remains to be seen. The claim made by an anonymous MacRumours source that upcoming iPods will play old Nintendo games makes for a striking parallel, though the 'classic' tag suggests these are SNES-era titles, for which 3D acceleration wouldn't be needed.

Still Apple might well want 3D acceleration to boost the video iPod's appeal, particularly if, as has been claimed in the past, the device ship with a large, wide display. Speculation continues that Microsoft is planning to offer a handheld media player with Xbox-branded gaming on board, and it's tempting to see the Nvidia rumour as a sign Apple is competing directly with it.

The downside is a dilution of the iPod brand. But if Apple's planning to do movies, then it's already broadening the product family beyond music, so why not games too, particularly if it can tie it in with a well-known name?