July 2008 Archives
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July 31, 2008
Dell to Rollout iPod Challenger, says Report
Can Dell beat Apple in the iPod game? According to reports it's going to try with a Dell digital music player that could go on sale as early as September. Can Dell succeed is the question, or will it end up another Cuil to Google's, well, Google?
According to the Wall Street Journal Dell has been testing its iPod rival for several months. The plan, according the WSJ, is not only to roll out a player, but an online download service as well.
Michael Dell is cited in the WSJ report as expressing an interest in expanding Dell's consumer reach to include a "broad range of consumer markets." The Dell digital music player would be the company's second try at entering the market. In 2003 Dell introduced a line of digital music players that failed in the marketplace.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:44 AM
July 30, 2008
Beverly Hills 90210 iPod nano - ironic or just plain rubbish?
If you're looking for evidence that TV is better today than it was in years past, watch a re-run of Beverly Hills 90210. If that statement sounds like blasphemy, you are the target market for the tackiest limited edition iPod yet - the Beverly Hills 90210 iPod nano.
Engraved with the images of your favourite characters (with room for your own personal cheesy message too), it offer you the chance to stand out from the crowd - but not really in a good way.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:30 AM
July 29, 2008
Medical Journal: Renewed Warnings About iPod Hearing Loss
Apple’s iPods have revolutionized the way we listen to music, but researchers warn they also affect high-pitched hearing and could lead to complete hearing loss. According to the latest research data published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, as many as 1 in 3 adults in the United States suffer from hearing loss.
Yuri Agrawal, the study’s lead author, attributes blames the problem to the increasing use of iPods among young adults.
Apple already includes a cautionary notice with the documentation of every iPod, which warns that “permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume.” Since damage to hearing caused by high volume is determined by its duration, continuous listening to an iPod, even at a seemingly reasonable level, can damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear that transmit sound impulses to the brain.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:45 AM
July 28, 2008
iPod gets on the wrong side of Olympic track
IT'S no longer just muscle strains, diet and optimum conditioning athletes have to worry about. As final Olympic preparations are made, a new threat to their health has been identified – the iPod.
Scotland's national athletics body has drawn up a strict new health and safety code. The track guidelines describe iPods and MP3 players – used by leading athletes to psyche themselves up before major events – as "potentially dangerous" because of fears they could lead to collisions.
Jason Henderson, the editor of Athletics Weekly, says that the issue of MP3 players was becoming a hot potato in the running world: "People are already getting hot under the collar. It is interesting that Paula Radcliffe, the ultimate role model when it comes to distance running, wears an iPod when she trains.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:43 AM
July 25, 2008
Brain Challenge Game for Your iPhone and iPod Touch
Transform your iPhone into a personal coach, and turn tedious waiting time into a fun, yet educational gaming session anywhere. Just like your body, your brain needs to exercise to stay in shape. Maintaining it simply involves completing little exercises without pain, stress, or boredom.
That’s where Brain Challenge comes in! It’s like a real vitamin boost for your brain. More than just a game, Brain Challenge is your personal coach and an entertaining, easy solution for keeping your brain alert. For each question, simply touch or directly draw the correct answer on the screen.
Enjoy turning your iPhone to arrange cubes by gravity in an additional, exclusive mini-game. With various fun exercises, train your brain whenever and wherever you want on your iPhone! According to the game developer, gameloft (iDP), Brain Challenge is the #1 brain training program simulation - critically-acclaimed by the media as “a true success” and “a great casual game.” This game includes 43 mini-games and is the only comprehensive brain training partner on the iPhone and iPod touch.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:27 AM
July 24, 2008
Neil Young takes on the iPod
In the iPod age, music sound quality has been dumbed down to “Fisher-Price toy” levels, rock star and tech enthusiast Neil Young said Wednesday at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech Conference.
Young talked about what he considers to be the poor audio quality of MP3s, creating electric-hybrid cars, (his “obsession”) and a long-term, multimedia archiving project of his entire career (which he says should be available as a series of Blu-Ray discs later this year.) Young hopes that becomes the basis for an alternative digitial platform featuring higher quality sound that will be made available to other musicians.
Young spent most of his time on stage lamenting what he feels is an increasing focus on convenience versus quality in today’s iTunes/iPod-dominated music industry. And he wasn’t afraid to criticize companies - Apple in particular - that he feels have brought down audio standards. An Apple spokesperson wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:42 AM
July 23, 2008
Rainbow-hued iPod nanos incoming?
Rumours are hitting the news wires that some details of Apple's new iPod nano range have been leaked from Asian manufacturing sources.
9to5Mac, the site that leaked news of the latest nano versions this time last year, reports that the new models will get memory capacity upgrades as well as "new features."
The storage is said to double for the new versions, which would mean 8GB and 16GB models, compared to the current 4GB and 8GB offerings. In addition, it's being reported that the updated gadget "will appear in multiple colours...not multiple colour versions but each one will have a plethora of colours."
Posted by ipodworld at 10:17 AM
July 22, 2008
Apple hints at lower prices as iPod, notebook refresh on tap
Amid all the chatter about Apple’s fiscal third quarter results, which were strong, most concerns about the future revolve around two words: Gross margins. The big takeaway for technology buyers: Those lower margins hint at cheaper iPods and notebooks in the not-to-distant future.
Following Apple’s typical strong quarter with a side of conservative guidance (Techmeme), CFO Peter Oppenheimer and COO Tim Cook noted that gross margins would be 31.5 percent for the September quarter and about 30 percent in fiscal 2009. It could be that Apple is lowballing again with its outlook, but there are good reasons to think that your Mac notebooks and iPods will come cheaper in the future.
Overall, I think you’re going to see Apple play the volume game a bit. It is the No. 3 PC maker in the U.S. and has a lot of open field before it bumps into Dell and HP in those top two spots. Part of the margin pressure is back to school promotions, but executives also noted that there will be an undisclosed product transition that will also lower prices and hurt margins.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:42 PM
July 21, 2008
Virus Protection for your iPhone and iPod Touch
Intego, a company that specializes in developing Internet security and privacy software for Macs, just announced the release of its new malware protection program for the iPhone and the iPod touch. VirusBarrier X5 10.5.3. is an update to the anti virus software that the Macworld calls 'the gold standard', according to a press release from the company.
Users of the iPhone and the iPod touch can download and install applications onto their devices, increasing the risk of malware infection. The VirusBarrier X5 an scan the iPhone or the iPod Touch for malware , and is the only anti virus software that can eradicate viruses from these devices. To scan the iPod Touch or the iPhone, users much connect the device to their Mac and then scan it with the antivirus program.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:18 AM
July 18, 2008
Super Monkey Ball For iPhone, iPod Touch
Sega's Mobile division has rolled out Super Monkey Ball for iPhone and iPod Touch platform. Developed by Other Ocean Interactive, Super Monkey Ball will be available for download at $9.99 (£5) from Apple's App Store. Sega Mobile is the second big publisher to use the iPhone platform, after Electronic Art, which announced Spore for iPhone.
In an interview with the media at E3 2008, Simon Jeffery, President and COO of SEGA America, expressed delight in making Super Monkey Ball available on iPhone and iPod Touch. Also iPhone's potential was acclaimed to be as powerful as Dreamcast. Yeah, Dreamcast is that same sixth generation gaming console by Sega, which couldn't stand the competition from PlayStation 2.
Super Monkey Ball game is about controlling either of the four monkeys - AiAi, MeeMee, Baby and Gongon, inside a transparent ball. The iPhone or iPod Touch should be tilted carefully to save the monkey from number of obstacles like gaps, slops, ledges or moving platforms. By tilting the player accelerates or reduces the pace of ball to make it pass through 110 different stages.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:29 AM
July 17, 2008
Apple quietly releases iPod touch 1.1.5 update
While some forward-thinking individuals were dropping $10 (£5) to purchase the iPod touch 2.0 software update, Apple quietly issued a free iPod touch 1.1.5 update.
If you own an iPod touch that hasn’t been updated to version 2.0 and would like the update, just plug your iPod touch into your Mac and decline the 2.0 update. iTunes will then inform you that the 1.1.5 update is available for download and installation.
What purpose does this update serve? So far, Apple is mum on the subject as it hasn’t issued any technical notes on the update. Therefore, until we hear differently, we’ll assume that all changes take place “under the hood.”
Posted by ipodworld at 01:02 PM
July 15, 2008
Meridian revs up Ferrari-flavoured iPod companion
You’ve coveted Meridian’s Ferrari-badged F80 Hi-Fi, now prepare a little extra love for its iPod-friendly companion, the i80 dock.
It’s designed in the same sporty style as the F80, and clad in the same Rosso Corsa red skin.Plug it into the F80, and it’ll send track information to the Hi-Fi’s OLED screen.
Of course, there’s a price to pay for its luxurious design and swanky features, and at £200 it’s not a small one. Still, compared to the £1,500 of an F80, it’s a small price to pay.
Posted by ipodworld at 05:10 PM
July 14, 2008
Square Enix launches its first iPod game
Japanese videogame maker Square Enix Co Ltd said it had launched its first game for Apple Inc's iPod, broadening its target hardware to the top-selling media player.
Square Enix, known for such blockbuster titles as "Final Fantasy" and "Kingdom Hearts", began offering the "Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes" roll-playing game this week in Apple's iTune store.
A game player picks a song stored in the iPod and the song determines the types and abilities of the fighters in the game, or "Tune Troopers".
Posted by ipodworld at 05:42 PM
July 11, 2008
Japan decides against iPod tax
For a number of years now Japan has been considering introducing a new tax on digital music players dubbed the “iPod tax”. If put into law it would mean up to 3% of the price of a new music player would go directly to the music industry for re-distribution to copyright holders and musicians.
The idea has this week been dropped, however, mainly because the group discussing its implementation have come to a stalemate. This is not the first time it has happened either, with a similar crossroads being reached in December 2005.
Electronics manufacturers had been putting pressure on the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs to stop the legislation going through. The agency did present a compromise earlier this year that would limit the devices the tax applied to, but that did nothing to appease the electronics industry. As it currently stands the tax is still under discussion, but with no real direction any more. The electronics industry is against it and there is a fear that consumers will be charged twice for copyright fees due to a charge also being applied to the price of digital content.
Posted by ipodworld at 01:19 PM
July 10, 2008
The right to peer inside your iPod
The heads of the G8 governments, meeting this week, are about to ratify the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta), which - it's claimed - could let customs agents search your laptop or iPod for illegally obtained content. The European Parliament is considering a law that would lead to people who illicitly download copyrighted music or video content being thrown off the internet. Virgin Media is writing to hundreds of its customers at the request of the UK record industry to warn them that their connections seem to have been used for illegal downloading.
Viacom gets access to all of the usernames and IP addresses of anyone who has ever used YouTube as part of its billion-dollar lawsuit in which it claims the site has been party to "massive intentional copyright infringement".
It seems that 20th-century ideas of ownership and control - especially of intellectual property such as copyright and trademarks - are being reasserted, with added legal muscle, after a 10-year period when the internet sparked an explosion of business models and (if we're honest) casual disregard, especially of copyright, when it came to music and video.
Posted by ipodworld at 01:55 PM
July 09, 2008
Song Summoner role playing game released for iPod
We’re right on the cusp of a torrent of games to be released for the iPod touch and iPhone, but the regular iPod still has some life left in it as a game console. Square Enix on Tuesday announced the release of Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes, a role playing game (RPG) for the iPod.
You are Ziggy, and you embark on a journey to rescue your brother from the Mechanical Militia. The game features an epic story and a tactics-based battle system, turning your iPod’s own songs into “Tune Troopers” that you control in battle.
Tune Trooper capabilities are determined by the songs used to create them — you, as Ziggy, control them like a conductor, and use contraptions found on the map to win the battle.
The game is playable on iPod nano with video, iPod classic and fifth-generation iPod models.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:37 PM
July 07, 2008
iPod repair business takes off for Vronko, Levy, two WMU students
When Aaron Vronko and Ben Levy were laid off from their information-technology jobs while students at Western Michigan University, they saw a niche for a small-electronics-repair business. It was 2004, and Levy had broken his iPod and couldn't find anywhere to repair it quickly. The two friends decided to fix it themselves -- and to launch a repair business out of their apartment to make some money.
The partners now operate Rapid Repair in a 3,000-square-foot facility at 1825 W. Main St. in Kalamazoo. What was a small enterprise now has 12 employees and logged millions of dollars in sales last year. The company fixes -- typically in 24 to 48 hours -- iPods, iPhones, Zune MP3 players and the latest editions of game consoles, including PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation PSP.
Even though the business faces a lot of competition, Vronko said, Rapid Repair is now servicing about 500 customers a week, which would make it one of the largest end-user iPod-repair companies in the United States.
Posted by ipodworld at 11:51 AM
July 03, 2008
Massive flash batch starts Ipod refresh rumours
Digitimes is reporting that the Korean electronics giant Samsung has taken an Apple order for 50 million 8Gb chips, mainly for use in the forthcoming, and soon to be annoyingly ubiquitous iphone.
But Apple's forecasts are predicting sales of between 10 and 11 million units. And even if everything went completely bananas, St Steve and all his little helpers might pump out between 15 and 20 million. So where are all the rest of those 8Gb chips going?
Well... here's an outrageous prediction based on nothing but guess-work and pure conjecture:
Despite the fact that Apple normally refreshes the ipod range in the lucrative back-to-school period in September, we reckon that massive sales of the iphone (which, of course, has its own ipod functionality) will impact on sales of the stand-alone players. So by the end of July, we think we'll see a refresh of the ipod Touch and, here's the kicker, a bigger new ipod shuffle which will bring the minimum capacity of the whole range to 8Gb.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:16 AM
July 02, 2008
Rival download embraces iPods to take on iTunes
An online download service, Rhapsody, has put itself into a position to potentially rival the Apple iTunes download service, by making the MP3s downloaded from the site compatible with iPods for the first time.
The website does not use digital rights software, and for the first time its MP3s will be compatible with Apple's range of MP3-playing devices, reports Brand Republic.
"We're no longer competing with the iPod," said Neil Smith, Rhapsody's vice-president. "We're embracing it."
Rhapsody will allow users to preview an entire song online before they choose to buy it or not – a service unavailable on iTunes
Posted by ipodworld at 05:40 PM
July 01, 2008
Celebrities Choose Gilty Couture as Top Pick for Glamorous Swarovski iPod and iPhone Accessories at 2008 BET Awards
Hollywood’s brightest stars have a taste for the finer things, like Swarovski crystals that dazzle like they do. Fashion house Gilty Couture is leading the way for celebrity trends and quality jewelry. Gilty Couture showcased their latest accoutrements to top entertainers at the 2008 BET Awards last week. Lucky guests chose Gilty Couture’s latest releases to personalize their favorite Apple iPods and iPhones.
The lounge for BET Awards honorees and icons was a prime place to showcase Gilty Couture’s signature pieces. Rhianna, Chris Brown, T Pain, Flo Rida, Fergie, Ne-Yo, Al Green, Rick Ross, Big Boi, Vanessa and Angela Simmons, Maxwell, Mario, Ray J and many more were among special guests who walked away with pieces from Gilty Couture. In addition to honoring the entertainers at the BET Awards, Gilty Couture donated a selection of their fabulous jewelry to the BET Foundation, Educating Young Minds and The Lamp Community, so they can auction the pieces off to further support their organizations.
Posted by ipodworld at 05:24 PM