April 2008 Archives

FreeVerse is very excited of their success in the development of iPod Touch and iPhone games. They have been creating and coding games since the first iPhone SDK beta was released in Marchand have now released some public screen shots.

The first game Flick Sports is very similar to Wii Sports on the Wii and is planed to launce in June…

“Using the iPhone’s unique flick/pinch feature, we’re working on Golf, Bowling, Soccer, and Baseball (to start). Fun, colorful and quick, these will be ideal games for a modern mobile platform.”

Apple has been sued by yet another company claiming that it infringed on a patent through components found in the immensely popular iPod media player. Filed last week in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of inventor Henry Milan by Detroit-based law firm Butzel Long, it claims that Apple violated a hardware-based patent in its connecting mechanism in the two different media players. The firm argues a violation of U.S. patent No. 6,991,483, which was filed on Nov, 12, 2004, and issued on Jan. 31, 2006, almost five months after launched the iPod nano and six weeks after Apple was contacted about alleged infringement. The patent describes a connector that combines a Flash memory drive and a connection port in a single unit that be made to a variety devices using various adapters.

Interestingly, the iPhone is not cited in the complaint, although it was introduced before the iPod touch and uses a similar single unit design for the Flash memory drive connector, according to Information Week. In addition, the report notes that the lawsuit may have been meant, in part, to precipitate licensing discussions.

Since its debut five years ago Monday, Apple's iTunes Store has sold more than 4 billion songs and accounts for approximately 70 percent of digital music sold worldwide. In the next five years, it may well account for a staggering 28 percent of all music sold worldwide.

By 2012, digital music is projected to account for 40 percent of music sold, according to InStat. If Apple holds onto its current market share, it will account for more than one-quarter of all music sales by its ninth birthday. Not bad for freeware.

When Apple snapped up a little music program called SoundJam MP back in 2000, no one predicted that the iTunes application along with the iPod would lead to a complete restructuring of the music industry.

Apple is threatening legal action against 11 UK e-tailers unless they stop selling iPods imported from outside the UK.

The computer giant has complained to a number of well-known online retailers which were buying iPods in the US – where they sell for £15 less than the UK– and then selling them at a knocked-down price to customers in Blighty.

The undertakings issued by London law firm Bird & Bird and seen by The Register, demand e-tailers stop selling what it described as “Grey iPods” anywhere in Europe.

The Cupertino-based firm also threatened to bring legal action against any e-tailer outfit that “infringes” Apple’s rights.

It's oval, it's got tweeters and woofers, and it plugs into your TV too - a cheap alternative to home theatre systems?

Sitting 7.8inches high and 25inches wide, this mother-of-all iPod speakers has landed in Australia with all sorts of claims about the oval shape being an "ideal baffle" for minimizing "spurious reflections".

Oval speaker debates aside, the Zeppelin tries hard to be a "proper" speaker, stuffing tweeters, a midrange driver (sharing 25w per channel) and a 50w bass woofer, under the polished stainless steel and cloth.

"Disguise" isn't typically the No. 1 reason you buy a portable iPod speaker, but if you're looking for a speaker that doesn't advertise itself, the Music Mug fits the bill. Operation couldn't be easier: Plug the cable into your player's headphone minijack (any player will do, not just iPods), plunk the player inside the ceramic mug for easy carrying, and get rockin'.

Big bummer: You can't actually put coffee in it, so you won't have much use for the Music Mug when you're not in a listening mood. And what do you do when you want coffee and tunes? A mug in each hand? That could get confusing — possibly leading to chipped teeth when you try to gulp some mochaccino and get a mouthful of Nano instead.

Nokia will launch Australia's first subscription music service today as it seeks to use its mobile industry clout to topple Apple's iTunes off its perch.

But the venture could struggle to gain traction in a market dominated by the iPod, as songs bought from the store are incompatible with Apple's ubiquitous music player.

The store, part of Nokia's concerted diversification into online mobile services such as gaming, navigation and social networking, will also allow customers to stream an unlimited number of full-length tracks directly from a player built into its music store website for a basic subscription fee.

Songs can be downloaded directly from certain Nokia mobile phones or via the PC and synchronised to mobile devices.

Some of my favorite iPod gadgets combine several everyday functions, allowing consumers to ditch some of the electronic clutter in their lives. Melding iPod docks into clock radios, DVD players, computer keyboards and car audio systems are natural associations that quickly hit the market in the early days of the iPod revolution.

More creative gadgets have combined iPod capabilities with toilet roll holders, telephone answering machines and refrigerators. Into this category comes a new line of lamps that feature iPod docks and speakers.

A sure hit for many offices and dorm rooms, the iHome-branded lamps from Checkolite International Inc. are the first iPod-enabled lamps we’ve seen. There was an earlier outdoor light that included speakers and a line-in audio jack for hooking up an mp3 player, but the idea didn’t catch hold – until now.

UK music industry groups are pushing for a levy to be applied on sales of iPods in exchange for granting music lovers the right to rip music from their own CD collection legitimately.

The recent Gowers Report into copyright suggested this law be changed to legitimise the practice, but music industry groups are demanding the levy against iPods and other devices requiring or enabling music to be transferred between formats.

The Music Business Group (MBG) is an umbrella group of trade bodies representing music managers, songwriters, publishers and performers. It has rejected plans detailed within a consultation document from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) to allow the transfer without any extra charge.

"Enormous value is derived from the transferability of music," it said in its submission. "Last year alone, over 20 million MP3-capable portable devices were sold in the UK, and over 90% of music on the average MP3 player is music that has been copied."

The Gowers report instead suggested rights holders raised prices in order to factor in the claimed cost of transferring music between formats.

As expected - although a day earlier than planed - O2 UK has announced that it is cutting the price of the 8GB iPhone by £100 to just £169 (US$333) until 1 June 2008. The offer is available from tomorrow (16th April) on all O2 iPhone tariffs. The 16GB iPhone remains priced at £329.

Once purchased, customers will continue to be able to choose from one of O2’s three iPhone tariffs, starting at £35 per month. Each tariff includes unlimited data browsing and free access to The Cloud’s 7,500 Wi-Fi hotspots.

O2 says that 60% of iPhone customers are new to to the network, while iPhone customers spend on average 30% more than other Pay Monthly customers.

Ominously, the company warns that the special offer is subject to stock availability - a matter of some concern recently with ongoing reports of stock shortages of the handset.

The storage capacity of an iPod could increase by a remarkable 150,000 times following a breakthrough by scientists.

Nanotechnology researchers announced that they had developed a molecule-sized switch that creates the possibility of dramatically increasing memory without the need to change the size of devices. In future, a new generation of iPods and similar devices would allow 500,000 gigabytes to be squeezed on to one square inch (allowing space for millions of songs), compared to the current limit of around 3.3 gigabytes.

Professor Lee Cronin and Dr Malcolm Kadodwala said that by placing the molecular switches on a surface made of gold or carbon, they can fit up to one billion transistors - the building blocks of computers - on a single chip. “What we have done is find a way to potentially increase the data storage capabilities in a radical way.

"This is unprecedented and provides a route to produce a molecule-based switch that can be easily manipulated using an electric field.”

It has been reported that the world's governing body for marathons is to consider whether or not to ban the use of iPods at events.

The IAAF Road Running Commission is expected to debate the introduction of such a ban, which is already in use in the US, at a forthcoming meeting in Rio de Janeiro in September.

According to the Observer, some people within the sport feel that the portable music players act as a distraction to runners which could lead to them endangering other competitors.

Jill Geer, a spokeswoman for sporting body USA Track & Field, told the newspaper: "Some runners are irate and we understand and respect the thousands who like to listen to music.

"But we have a fundamental duty to guarantee the safety of participants."

Reports about the possible ban have come after Nike and Apple announced plans to work with gym equipment manufacturers on a range of exercise machines which allow users to record their fitness levels on their portable music players.

© 2007 Adfero Ltd

New research by a US hospital has found that iPods are safe for those with pacemakers to use.

Fears have been previously raised that the portable music players could affect the performance of such cardiac systems, but a study by the Children's Hospital Boston has said that the devices have no effect.

Published in the Heart Rhythm journal, the research featured 255 separate tests and found no patients had symptoms that their pacemakers were malfunctioning.

However, the hospital's senior investigator Dr Charles Berul warned that the testing was only short-term.

"We can't conclude that it's completely safe to have an iPod right on top of the device for hours at a time. That's why we suggest the precaution of keeping it at least 6 inches away," he explained.

Research last year by researchers at Michigan State University initially claimed that the electromagnetic equipment in pacemakers can be affected by iPods.

© 2007 Adfero Ltd

A quirky system designed for those who enjoy cooking while listening to their favourite tunes has been unveiled.

The Voyage outdoor barbeque, which won a major design award recognising its concept last year, features an in-built cooking unit and iPod dock for those summer days spent out in the garden.

AVReview.co.uk reports that the unit also comes with table space and chairs especially designed to provide family and friends with a communal space to sit around while enjoying both the music and the food.

In addition, the innovative system features a dishwasher and fridge to keep both crockery and food ready to use.

The launch of the iPod-compatible barbeque is the latest in a range of releases which show the growing influence of the portable music player.

It was recently reported that Apple and Nike were working together on a deal with several gym equipment manufacturers which would see the creation of new machines compatible with their Nike + iPod exercise programme.

© 2007 Adfero Ltd

A new iPod speaker dock has been launched by leading accessories manufacturer iHome.

The company's new iH69 system consists of two computer-compatible speakers, meaning that iPod users can charge, play and synchronise their music players through the device with a minimum of fuss.

However, the device does not need to be connected to a computer to work, which also makes it easy for people to listen back to their favourite tunes at home.

In addition, the system, which is expected to retail later this year, also comes with a remote control so even the laziest iPod user can enjoy music through the 2.5 inch speakers.

The launch of the iPod-compatible computer speakers has come after Memorex recently announced the launch of a new alarm clock which can be used in conjunction with the portable music player.

Called the iWake, the system features a universal dock connector, as well as an FM and AM radio tuner for those who do not always have their iPods to hand.

© 2007 Adfero Ltd