Player Blog Category Archives: Apple

Bluetooth for the iPod with the Thanko iCombi

The iPod accessory parade continues. Korean company Thanko is debuting the iCombi AP11, which turns your iPod into a Bluetooth transmitter. Now you can listen to your iPod, wirelessly, through Bluetooth headphones or on your laptop.

The AP11 supports A2DP, AVRCP, Headset and Hands-free Bluetooth profiles, though Headset and Handsfree wouldn't give you stereo sound. Range is said to be around 10m (32 feet). [Via DAPReview]

BTI Tunestir iPod Remote/Receiver/Transmitter

BTI has announced an interesting new iPod accessory, the Tunestir. It combines an FM receiver, an inline remote and an FM transmitter into one package. The Tunestir even has 5 presets for listening to radio stations and another 5 presets for open FM channels to transmit on. Everything is controlled from the inline remote control unit.

Retailing for $69.95, the Tunestir is supposed to be available later this month. [Via Engadget]

iPod Buyer's Guide 2005

The ever-industrious worker bees over at iPodLounge have a new 2005 Buyer's Guide for all things iPod. It covers just about everything: which iPod might be the right choice for a first-timer, lotsa iPod accessory review and a look at upcoming iPod paraphenalia.

iPod Camera Connector Review

The all-things-iPod guys at iPodlounge have written up their review of the newly release iPod Camera Connector. If (and only if) you have an iPod Photo, the Camera Connector will let you import photos directly from a digital camera (but not another iPod Photo). The verdict:

Overall, the iPod Camera Connector is a suitably inexpensive and simple way for digital photographers to transfer to and view their pictures on an iPod photo. It remedies the biggest single complaint that early iPod photo purchasers (and potential purchasers) had about Apple's newest iPod, and though it is technically more powerful because it's doing more with the photos it imports, it preserves the slow overall transfer times of the photo transfer peripherals we've previously tested. On balance, serious photographers will like some of its features, but because of the long transfer times and battery issues will probably continue not to view the iPod photo as a legitimate alternative to a dedicated hard disk-based photo vault.

Related Links:
iPod Photo Camera Connector Available
Apple Camera Connector
New iPod Photo Gets Digital Camera Download
Apple Rolls Out New iPods

DIY iPod Dock

Coming to the rescue of dockless iPoders, Piers of Lists and Diagrams has devised a creative (and cheap!) way to make your own iPod dock.

The JamPod: Play Along With Your iPod

DVForge has announced an interesting new iPod accesory, the JamPod. The JamPod lets you plug your guitar into your iPod, jam along to tunes and hear the mixed result in your headphones. Perfect for when the neighbors are asleep and you feel the need to exercise your inner Jimmy Page.

Any instrument that has a 1/4" output (guitar, bass, keyboards, etc.) can be used so you can exercise your inner Geddy Lee and Vangelis too. Also, it runs off the iPod's battery.

The JamPod retails for $29.99 and is supposed to be available April 8th.

iPod Photo Camera Connector Available

Apple has just added the iPod Photo Camera Connector to its online store. The $29 accessory lets you connect your digital camera to your iPod Photo and import photos directly from the camera. A nice touch for the photographer who needs the extra capacity of the iPod Photo's large drive. However, it's been mentioned more than once that Apple should have built this functionality into the iPod Photo rather than charge an extra $30. It is called the iPod Photo after all.

Even though you can order it now, Apple says that it will be 1 to 3 weeks before the Camera Connectors ship.

Related Links:
Apple Camera Connector
New iPod Photo Gets Digital Camera Download
Apple Rolls Out New iPods

New iPod Speaker Trifecta

The avalanche of accessory posts continues with 3 brief reviews of iPod speaker systems by iPodlounge.

First up is the Altec Lansing inMotion iM4 (review here). Shown at right, it kind of looks like a briefcase with speakers. It retails for $99.99 and reportedly gets 18 hours of battery life from 4 AAs.

Also reviewed is the Macally IceTune, shown at left. Powered by a wall outlet only and retailing for $69.99, the IceTune's speakers and dock can be piled into one big stack or separated for stereo sound.

Speaker review number three looks at the Logitech mm22, shown at right. The mm22 retails for $79.99, runs on 3 AAA batteries and folds up nicely into a zippered nylon bag.

DLO iDirect Remote Control Review

MediaBlab has a brief review of yet another iPod accessory, the Digital Lifestyle Outfitters iDirect. The iDirect is a wireless remote control system for the iPod that has all the basic controls (play, pause, track and volume) on the remote.

According to the review, they got at least 30 feet of usable range from the remote, which should be sufficient for most household, line-of-site purposes.

The iDirect retails for $49.99.

iPod iBeam Review

Out of the hundreds of different iPod accessories now available, the Griffin iBeam is likely one of the oddest. For only $19.95 you actually get two separate attachments. The first is an LED flashlight and the second a laser pointer.

But in case your wondering "is the iBeam the right flashlight/laser pointer combo for me?", Pocket Lint has come to your assistance with their iBeam review.

Is the iPod Dock Worth It?

More answers, opinions and goodness from Ask MetaFilter.Today's topic is whether it's worth spending an extra $40 on a dock for your iPod. The general consensus: probably not.

Guide to iPod Diagnostics

PC Magazine's ExtremeiPod site has published a guide to the iPod's diagnostics system. This isn't something you'll need every day, but if you'd like to test out your iPod, this shows you how to do it. [Via LifeHacker].

Repairing a Scratched iPod

If your iPod has taken a beating and you'd like to erase the scratches, this Ask MetaFilter thread has several suggestions.

However, don't miss the recommendations for scratching it more.

Playing the iPod's Firmware

Nils Schneider is one of the hackers working on the iPodLinux project that is attempting to bring the open-source operating system Linux to the iPod. Nils's fourth-generation iPod is not currently supported by the project, but he's documented a pretty amazing story of how he and some others managed to reverse engineer the 4G iPod's bootloader code.

Essentially, Nils programmed his iPod to beep the 1s and 0s of the code, recorded the sound as it slowly "played" its bootloader and then decoded the results. It took several trys, but their persistence paid off in the end. [Via Engadget]

Related Links:
Linux Comes to the iPod

Apple Camera Connector

If you can't wait a month until it hits the stores, Apple Insider has a photo of the upcoming iPod Camera Connector.

Announced last week with Apple's iPod lineup changes, the Camera Connector will allow you to connect an iPod Photo directly to a digital camera and move the photos onto the Photo's harddrive. [Via MacRumors]

Related Links:
New iPod Photo Gets Digital Camera Download
Apple Rolls Out New iPods

Apple Cuts Firewire Cable from New iPods

CNet has an article on Apple's decision to stop shipping FireWire cables with the latest generation of iPods.

Whether Apple does or does not include a cable for a technology that is dwarfed in popularity by USB may not seem to be that big of deal, but for Apple it is. Apple is has long been the driving force for FireWire adoption and only recently has Apple been including USB connections for Mac desktops and laptops. It is telling then that Apple's own cost-cutting measures negatively affect a technology that it is a big proponent of.

The new 5G iPods still have FireWire capabilities, you'll just have to buy the $19 cable from Apple before you can use it. [Via Digital Media Thoughts]

2G iPod Mini Review

When Apple ships a new audio player, iPodLounge wastes no time in getting one and getting that review written. Two days ago Apple, among other lineup changes, launched a revised, second-generation (2G) iPod Mini and iPodLounge has already posted its review:

Though the second-generation iPod mini is very similar to its predecessor, there's no doubt that its extended, 26-hour battery life alone is a major improvement, fully remedying perhaps the only gaping performance hole left in the mini by advances across the rest of the iPod family. By adding a 6GB option and putatively dropping the 4GB model's price by $50, Apple unquestionably elevated the initial attractiveness of the iPod mini, and will win many new iPod owners as a direct consequence. We underscore that point, and further note that Apple could have gotten away with just dropping the old iPod mini to a $199 price point and achieved similar results. That they did more - if only a little more - surely deserves some commendation.

New iPod Photo Gets Digital Camera Download

Among the changes that Apple made to its iPod lineup today there really weren't any new features, just price and capacity changes. There was oneone notable exception however. Today Apple also announced the iPod Camera Connector. The Camera Connector will let you connect an iPod Photo to a digital camera and import photos directly from the camera onto the Photo's larger harddrive.

This comes as good news for iPod Photo owners since the lack of digital photo importing was a glaring omission for a product touted for viewing and transporting digital photos.

The iPod Camera Connector will be available in March and will retail for $29.

Apple Rolls Out New iPods

As expected, Apple pulled the covers off changes to its iPod lineup today. They weren't exactly what we thought, but at least a few of the rumors were correct.

Here's the lowdown:

• The iPod Mini will come in 4GB and 6GB flavors (this was expected) at $199 and $249
• The iPod Mini did not get a color LCD (it was thought that it would)
• The 40GB iPod has been dropped (expected), but the 20GB is still available at $299 (unexpected)
• Photo iPods will now come in 30GB and 60GB models at $349 and $449 (expected)
• The gold iPod Mini color choice has been dropped (expected)
• iPod Mini battery life is reported to be 18 hours now

Most at Microsoft Carry an Apple, Just Not Bill Gates

According to "a high-level manager who asked to remain anonymous", around 80% of Microsoft employees own an Apple iPod. It shouldn't be suprising that well-paid, high-tech workers carry the popular audio player, but it is ironic. Apple and Microsoft are direct competitors and the Apple iPod is the most notable MP3 player that is not compatible with Microsoft's online music store technology PlaysForSure.

There is at least one notable exception to the iPods-at-Microsoft rule. Bill Gates carries a Creative Zen. [Via Engadget]

More Apple Rumorage

More Apple rumors are floating about now. MacShrine is reporting that on Wednesday Apple will make sweeping changes to the iPod line:

• The current iPod line will be dropped and replaced by the color iPod Photo
• New 30GB ($349) and 60GB ($449) iPod Photo models will be announced
• A new 6GB (not 5GB) iPod Mini ($249) will be announced and the 4GB iPod Mini will remain, but get a $50 retail price drop to $199
• The new iPod Minis will also have color screens
• The gold iPod Mini color choice will be dropped

More bits at AppleInsider and ThinkSecret

5GB iPod Mini Coming Next Week?

Through the last few Apple rumor mill cycles, it's been apparent that Apple would update the iPod Mini with a 5GB harddrive. Bumping up from 4GB to 5GB would finally bring the Mini up to par with all the other 5GB audio players currently on the market (such as the iRiver H10 and Creative Zen Micro).

According to AppleInsider this may happen as early as next week.

No word on whether there will be any new features in the Mini and presumably the retail price will stay the same.

Cephal-iPod Case

Welcome your new squidy overlords in style with this Cthulu-shaped, felt iPod cover.

Do note that the Cephal-iPod is "guaranteed to be real", but is "not meant to protect your iPod if it crashes to the ground". [Via Gizmodo]

The iPod Get Its Own Search Engine

In hindsite we guess it was inevitable, but the iPod is so big that its got its own search engine now. FINDiPod is a searchable archive of iPod articles, tips, reviews, accessories and generally all things iPod. [Via The Uber-Review]

iPodlounge in Wired

If you've ever wondered about the people behind MP3 player websites, Wired News can fill you in. They've writen an article about Dennis Lloyd, founder of iPodlounge.

The site was started in late 2001 by Dennis Lloyd, a web designer form Irvine, California, just a couple of weeks after Apple Computer launched the iPod. Shortly after starting the site, Lloyd became unemployed.

"I turned it into a full-time job because I got laid off," said Lloyd. "I was just sitting at home collecting unemployment. I had this site, so I started working on it every day."

These days iPodlounge gets 2 million visitors a month, Dennis has 2 employees and iPodlounge is still the best place to get assistance and information on all things iPod.

Apple Shuffle: 'A Gift to Mankind'?

Singaporean reporter Ian Tan has written a thought-provoking article on Apple's ability "to make a no-frills gadget 'a gift to mankind'". The gadget in question is, of course, the Apple Shuffle.

Don't miss the reactions of the CEOs of Creative Labs and iRiver...

Marlboro iPod Mini Case

For the chain-smoking nicotine addict in your life comes an iPod Mini case made from a pack of Marlboros. We're not so sure about being happy that school-aged children are excited to find empty cigarette boxes, but here's a chance to get the original.

No Satellite Radio in the iPod

If you pay attention to it, the Apple rumor mill never seems to leave high gear. One of the many recent rumors was that Apple would somehow integrate Sirius satellite radio capabilities into the iPod.

This one, at least for the near future, won't turn out to be true. According to Orbitcast, Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin spoke to Apple CEO Steve Jobs about just such a deal, but Steve said no. Karmazin says that Apple thinks "they don't need to put a satellite radio in their box." [Via Gizmodo]

The iPod: Razor or Blade?

PBS technology columnist Robert X. Cringley has some thoughts on whether the iPod is a razor or blade, in the sense of selling single razors at a loss while selling profitable blades over and over.

According to Cringely, the margins on the iPod Mini are 30% for retail sales and 60% for Minis bought at full price from the Apple site. On the other hand, the profit on a iTunes song is around $0.20. Even though Apple sells millions of songs though iTunes, Cringely still thinks that the iPod is the blade.

While the iPod is most definitely a "blade", we don't exactly agree with him on the relationship between the iPod and iTunes. We're still convinced that Apple very much thinks of iTunes as a blade as well because it wants its DRM system to be the eventual winner against Microsoft's WMA system. We think that this is the reason why Apple cut the iPod's price by $100 last year and is now selling the iTunes-compatible Shuffle for less than $100. [Via Slashdot]

iPod Rumor Mill Back in Action

The MacWorld show that brought us the new Apple Shuffle was only 2 weeks ago, but new iPod rumors are already circulating. The source, once again, is ThinkSecret. They got the scoop on the Shuffle first (quickly followed by a lawsuit from Apple), so they've got a track record to go on.

The first rumor, according to ThinkSecret, is pretty much a no-brainer for Apple. They predict that the iPod Mini will be updated to include a 5GB Seagate drive, replacing the current 4GB Hitatchi drive. Hitatchi is currently working on 8GB and 10GB drives, but they won't be ready until later this year. Presumably Apple will go with the drive it has now, and maybe drop in the drive it wants later when they're ready.

Besides the space increase, it's not known what else might change with the iPod Mini.

A fifth-generation iPod is also supposed to be in the works for delivery in the 2nd half of this year. The no-brainer for the 5G iPod will be swapping in new drives, namely an 80GB Toshiba drive and a 40GB Toshiba drive that is smaller than the currently used 40GB drive. With the more compact 40GB drive, Apple should be able to shrink the iPod's size even further.

Also, in a departure from the now-iconic white case, Apple may change the iPod casing to match the new Apple Mini computer.

Again with the 5G iPod, no word on what new functionality will be added. Unless, of course, you consider a different case a new feature.

Roundup of Apple Shuffle Stuff

Needless to say, there's been a deluge of information on the new iPod Shuffle since its introduction, so we thought we'd lump some of the more interesting bits together in one place.

First is the ever-dependable Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal:

[T]his is a good product that will enlarge the iPod's appeal, especially with kids, people on low budgets, or people who work out. I imagine some existing iPod owners will also buy Shuffles as sort of add-on players. And the iPod juggernaut will roll on.

The iPod community forum iPodLounge continues its tradition of doing 2 reviews of any new Apple music players with their New User and Power User reviews. Did we mention that iPodLounge really likes the iPod?

We think that Apple knew exactly what it was doing when it picked the iPod shuffle's features and price point. It is looking to utterly slay the competition for new portable digital music consumers by blending the iPod brand name with a fair amount of capacity and an ultra-low price point, yet keep its profits strong regardless of the iPod someone buys. Barring the unforeseeable, we think that Apple will succeed in dramatically expanding the iPod's market share with the iPod shuffle, moving at least four or five million units in 2005, perhaps more.

In fairness, though they did rate it a 'B':

The Good: Apple's smallest, lightest, and cheapest iPod yet, with an industry-leading price point and enough music playback features to satisfy some users.

The Bad: Major compromises on features (especially the absence of a screen) will suit new iPod users more than experienced ones, and force old users to adapt to the shuffle's limited ways of organizing and playing back music. By no means a must-have product for current iPod owners; not an innovative product in any way except bottom line price, size, and aesthetic style, which are of less interest to savvy iPod and competing product owners than new and mainstream buyers.

Here's a review from Russell Beattie that compares the Shuffle with his older Creative flash player:

Soooo... anyone want to take a slightly used Creative MuVo Sport 100 off my hands? :-)

Finally, i4u has video of the actual introduction and demo of the iPod Shuffle from the MacWorld show.

iPod PowerStick Auxillary Charger

Accessory maker Audio Outfitters has created an auxilliary power source for all versions of the iPod called the iPod PowerStick.

Essentially it runs your iPod (and charges the battery) from 4 AA batteries. This could come in handy on that long backpacking trip. The PowerStick retails for $24.98.

iPod Shuffle Photos

The iPod Shuffle is now available from the Apple Store (which is currently difficult to get through to because of heavy usage ) and Apple is offering free shipping on iPod Shuffles.

One feature of the iPod Shuffle we missed in the first post is "Autofill", which fills the Shuffle with all the tracks from a specific playlist.

Also, a number of accessories are available for the Shuffle, each at the cost of $30: an armband, a dock, a AAA external battery pack, a USB charging adapter and a sports case.

HP iPod Photo Officially Official

While this isn't terribly big news, HP CEO Carly Fiorino announced that HP will be offering an HP-branded version of the iPod Photo. If HP remains true to the model it established with the HP iPod, it will be no different than the Apple model, but possibly a little cheaper. [Via MacRumors]

Apple iPod Shuffle (AKA Flash) Officially Official

• No display
• Smaller than a pack of gum, like a flash drive
• Plays tracks randomly or from one playlist only
• Weighs less than 1 oz.
• Buttons for play, pause, track forward and back and volume up and down only
• USB 2.0 connector
• Can be used as a flash drive
• Compatible with both PCs and Macs
• 12 hour battery life
• Integrated with iTunes
• Shipping TODAY
• Only $99 for 512MB version, 1GB is $149

More details and photos, hopefully, when they're available.

Audiovox iPod Mobile Interface Kit

Audiovox has joined Monster, Dension and others in the iPod-to-car connectivity market with the annoucement of their iPod Mobile Interface Kit. Like similar kits, it lets you play tunes from your iPod through your car stereo. Also, you can play, pause and change tracks on the iPod via car stereo controls or steering wheel controls if they're available.

Like the Monster kit, the Audiovox will retail for $200. [Via Engadget]

Related Links:
Monster iCruze iPod Car Stereo Interface
Dension Updates the ice>Link
Dension ICELink Connecting iPods to Your Car

Keep Your Desktop on Your iPod

One of the nice features of higher-capacity MP3 players is that they can (usually) be used as portable disk drives. However, there are packages, one for the Mac and one for Windows, that let your iPod do quite a bit more as you move from place to place.

The first is Migo for Windows which replicates your personal desktop on whatever computer that you're using. Attaching your iPod to a Windows 2000 or Windows XP machine with Migo gives you access to your email, calendar, address book, Internet favories and your desktop preferences. Also, it will keep selected important files in sync.

Migo for the iPod is currently $70 after a $30 rebate.

If you're a Mac user, the iPod already lets you view a copy of your calendar and addresses. But youPod let's you take this a step further. It can sync not only your calendar and addresses across different Macs, but also Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer bookmarks and your password Keychain.

youPod for Mac is $12.95

iPod Flash Coming Soon?

Think Secret is at it again with new, enticing rumors on the iPod Flash. Apple is probably the only audio player maker who won't be making an annoucement at CES this week. Their time will likely come next week at MacWorld.

According to ThinkSecret's sources, the iPod Flash will debut in 1GB and 2GB models, rather than the 128MB, 256MB and 512MB models that are common in flash players these days. Also, an LCD screen will be included and will be 2 lines shorter than the iPod Mini's screen. There was some speculation that Apple might have to sacrifice the LCD to conserve space and/or cost of manufacturing, but apparently not.

The most suprising rumor, though, is about pricing. ThinkSecret says that the 1GB model will retail for the very reasonable price of only $150, with the 2GB at $200.

More bits at Engadget.

On a related note, recently Apple has sued Think Secret over reporting leaked new product information.

Related Links:
More iPod Flash Speculation
iPod Flash Editorializing
Flash memory iPod a Reality?
New Apple Flash Player Coming Over for Christmas?

Monster iCruze iPod Car Stereo Interface

Monster (they of the million dollar stereo cables) has announced the iCruze, a car stereo/iPod interface. Once installed, the iCruze docs with your iPod to play tunes through the car stereo and will integrate with CD changer or steering wheel audio controls if they're available. At $200 it's not exactly a bargain, but eventually there will be an add-on display of some sort to show track information. [Via Engadget]

More bits at AutoBlog.

iPod Photo Reviews

iPod community forum iPodLounge has gotten into the pattern of doing two reviews when Apple debuts a new audio player. The first is for power users wondering how the new differs from the old, while the second is for the new users considering a first iPod purchase.

Now that the iPod Photo is the new kid on the block, here are iPodLounge's power user iPod Photo review and new user review.

5GB iPod Minis Coming Soon?

According to AppleInsider, "highly reliable sources" have said that Apple has just put an updated, 5GB version of the 4GB iPod Mini into production. This news, of course, isn't unexpected since just about every iPod Mini competitor already has a 5GB capacity.

There's no way the new Mini can make it out in time for the holiday season, but Apple is said to be stockpiling to meet an expected high initial demand. Apple Insider's source speculate that the new model will be announced at the upcoming MacWorld San Francisco show, along with the rumored iPod Flash.

Notably though, is word that Apple switched mini harddrive suppliers. 4GB iPod Minis use Hitatchi drives, while the upcoming Mini is said to be use a Seagate drive. [Via Mac Rumors]

iPod Shortages

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that there is a widespread iPod shortage (WSJ subscription required) across the US. How badly do people want iPods in time for Christmas?

The spotty availability of the iPod has created a booming aftermarket for the devices on eBay Inc.'s auction site, where a pink iPod mini earlier this week fetched $380, or more than $130 above the music player's suggested retail price. In April eBay created an iPod category on its site in response to active trading of the gadgets among its users. In its first month, there were 3,000 iPod-related listings, according to an eBay spokesman. Now there are about 18,000 listings in the category.

Hacking iPod Graphics

This week's how-to column over at Engadget shows you how to easily change the graphics on the iPod. Don't like the "Do Not Disconnect" image? Drop in Hello Kitty or baby photos instead.

The iPod Wizard software that they use should allow you change images on 3G and 4G iPods, iPod Minis and even iPod Photos (yay color!).

More iPod Flash Speculation

After yesterday's imagined mockup of the iPod Flash, here are two more takes on the would-be Apple audio player. First up are comments by Dan Torres of Rio in BusinessWeek magazine [Via Gizmodo]:

Q: What will happen to the market if Apple comes out with a flash-memory-based player?
A: I think there will be a combination of things. It will be interesting to see how they change their position in coming into that market. Will they go after sports, which is one of our targets? It will be an interesting addition to the market. Apple will call attention to the importance of flash. Just a year ago they had said flash is passé.

Second is the striking, what-if mockup by Isamu Sanada shown above. More discussion on Sanada's take at Cult of Mac.[Via Shiny Plastic]

iPod Year in Review

The Editor-in-Chief of iPodLounge has written up his thoughts on Apple's 2004 in their iPod Year in Review 2004:

With that, we have come full circle: Apple entered the year with critics, and so it leaves the year with critics - the crucial difference being that there are now far fewer than before, and around four million new iPod owners, besides. Having defied expectations with the iPod mini and vaulted the iPod to new sales heights, partnerships and functionality with the 4G iPod, U2 iPod and iPod photo, Apple has clearly had a spectacular year, one far better than any of the doubters would have imagined.

Beware, this article is NSFAOIPH (Not Safe For Apple Or iPod Haters). You've been warned.

Creative Zen Micro vs. iPod Mini

On the heels of his Creative Zen Micro review, Jon at MonsterNet now has a head-to-head review of the Creative Zen Micro vs. the Apple iPod Mini. Conclusion? A tie, sort of:

In conclusion, the Apple iPod wins for the very reason that it is an iPod. We love it for the winning design, proven by the sales of iPods, and the "cool" factor. The Zen Micro, while seeming like an imitation, has several extra features over the iPod Mini. Personnally, it would be very hard to choose between the iPod Mini and the Zen Micro. But, being the geek that I am, I think I would go for the Zen Micro.

Apple iPod Mini 4GB: 9 out of 10
Creative Zen Micro 5GB: 9 out of 10

Related Links:
Creative Zen Micro Review
Four Creative Zen Micro Reviews

Apple iPod Flash Details?

TheMacMind says that it has the scoop on the rumored-to-be-coming iPod Flash. The image above is just a mockup. But according to their tipster the iPod Flash will measure only 2.5"x1.5"0.5" (which is smaller than the business card shown) and have NO LCD. The only controls will be track forward and back, volume up and down and play/pause.

The only price information is that the 256MB version will retail for only $99. Also according to their source, the iPod Flash will be officially announced at MacWorld San Francisco.

3 Books for the iPod

Slashdot has posted reviews of 3 iPod books: The iPod Fan Book, Hacking iPod + iTunes and iPod & iTunes Hacks.

Thus far most of the Slashdot commentary seems to revolve around why a device so easy to use needs books that teach you how to use it. We tend to agree.

Clarion iPods Your Cap

Car stereo maker Clarion (or as they prefer to be known, "aftermarket automobile entertainment system manufacturer" Clarion) will debut an iPod/car integration system at the upcoming CES 2005 show in Las Vegas. The Clarion VRX755VD will have a 7" LCD monitor that can be used to display track, artist and playlist information from your iPod. It will also play DVDs.

This sounds pretty cool, but the price might be pretty steep. There's no pricing yet on the VRX755VD, but the linked article says that DVD systems for cars usually run $1800 to $2000. Ouch. [Via Gizmodo]

iTunes Music Store Goes North

Apple has opened yet another branch of its iTunes Music Store with the launch of its Canadian site. Their breathless press release features words like "revolutionary", "pioneering" and "legendary" throughout, so don't bother reading it or you'll have to wash your eyes out with soap. We just wanted you to know that iTunes Canada opened.

Tunes are 0.99CDN (about 0.84USD). As tempting as it sounds, we're not sure if you can buy tunes from the US from the Candadian store.

Color Coordinated iPod Mini Earphones

For those of you (and you know who you are) dying to take color coordination to the next, Audio Technica has come to your rescue with earphones that come in each of the 5 iPod Mini colors. Mix and match colors to your heart's content for only $59 each. [Via i4u]

Apple iPod Photo Review

Review day rolls on with PC Magazine's Apple iPod Photo review:

Apple retains the iPod's famous ease of use and applies it well to digital photos, but with some odd limitations. If you want primarily a music player with the added ability to see and show photos, too, you'll be thrilled. But digital photographers will wish for more on-the-road-friendly features.

Dension Updates the ice>Link

Dension has updated their iPod to car connectivity system with the new ice>Link: Plus. Rather than just a way to pipe audio from your iPod into your car stereo, the ice>Link: Plus is a more extensive hardware solution to connect and control your iPod with your car stereo.

If your car or replacement stereo supports it, the ice>Link: Plus lets you control your iPod with radio controls or, vice versa, control your car stereo from the iPod interface.

The new version is also more modular than the original and has upgradeable firmware. [Via iPoding]

Related Links:
Dension ICELink Connecting iPods to Your Car

iPod Photo Review

A new review of the iPod Photo has been posted over at The Gadgeteer ([Via MacDailyNews]):

Pros:
iPod quality
60GB storage, plenty of room
iTunes supports it flawlessly
Windows or Mac, does not matter
USB or FireWire
Sounds great, and photos look awesome, especially on your TV

Cons:
Very expensive (but Apple provides financing, har har)
A little heavier than previous iPods
Photo display bug
Device's cosmetic delicateness a bit scary

Chipset Maker PortalPlay Goes Public

PortalPlayer (PLAY), who makes the chipsets that are the heart of the Apple iPod line, went public last Friday, raising over $100 million. Although the offering was priced at $17, shares opened $25.60 (and closed today at $28.76).

Inside of every iPod is a PortalPlayer chip that makes all the hardware (harddrive, LCD, etc.) work together, reads audio files, decodes them and plays them. Adding signifcant functionality (playing movies, for example) that is not in your devices chipset is difficult and expensive. This means that audio players rely heavily on their chipset and that new features don't come out until the chipset makers get it done.

Apple, though, always keeps its cards close to its vest and its relationship with PortalPlayer is no exception. PortalPlayer reports that 92% of its 2004 income came from the Chinese company Inventec Appliances, not Apple. Inventec is one of the companies that actually manufactures iPods for Apple (and likely HP as well).

It even sounds like the company itself doesn't know whether Apple is a customer or not:

We believe that nearly all of our platforms sold to Inventec are incorporated in the Apple iPod product family. Apple may choose to use platforms in addition to ours for its products, use a different platform than ours altogether or develop an in-house solution.

Such confidence! Makes you want to dump your life savings into the stock doesn't it?

Related Links:
Apple Video iPod Demystified
iPod Can Supprt WMA?!?

iPod Flash Editorializing

Editoral mode on: We're still scratching our heads over this one. We can think of so many reasons why Apple wouldn't want a flash iPod, but far fewer good reasons for the iPod Flash. First off, the low price will cannibalize regular iPod and iPod Mini sales. Second, we can't imagine that iPod Flash margins will be that large anyway.

Third, how much can Apple differentiate the iPod Flash from the iPod Mini? The iPod Mini and 4G iPod are already quite small, how much lower can Apple go? Not much if it has a click wheel and an LCD of any size. The iPod Mini already added color choice, so expect the flash version to come in colors as well. Finally, and we feel most importantly, how can Apple sell people on a 256MB device when a 4GB or 20GB device doesn't cost much more?

On the positive side, however, a flash device will probably have great battery life. But then again, Apple sold plenty of 3G iPods with pathetic battery lifetimes.

The iPod Flash pros both come with a couple of big ifs. First is that Apple may only be using the iPod Flash as a low-cost way to lock consumers into the iTunes Music Store, keeping them away from competing, Microsoft-based online music stores. This only makes sense if Apple makes its money from the store (blades) rather than the devices (razors).

Second, it's also possible that Apple thinks that a flash iPod won't cannibalize iPod and iPod Mini sales, but we flatly disagree.

More on the iPod Flash?

AppleInsider has several new rumors regarding the upcoming Apple iPod Flash, with its information "confirmed through well placed and extremely reliable sources". The new bits are that Apple won't make it in time for Christmas, but that they're expecting huge intitial demand and will stockpile 2 million units for release time.

Capacity is supposed to range from a paltry 256MB to a slightly-less-paltry 1GB with retail price below $200.

Not suprisingly, the flash version will supposedly inherit its older sibling's click wheel interface.

Related Links:
Flash memory iPod a Reality?
New Apple Flash Player Coming Over for Christmas?

Upgrade Your iPod Battery

Before the release of the 4th generation iPod, battery life on Apple's runaway hit audio player was, in a word, dismal. Just about every competitor beat the iPod on battery life, but those iPods just kept on selling. So if you're one of the folks who still have one of the older (1G, 2G or 3G) iPods and are disappointed in run time, there are some replacement batteries that would give you significantly better battery life.

Other World Computing is a good place to start and has a couple of inexpensive choices. For about $40 you can upgrade your 1G or 2G iPod to a 2100mAH battery that should give 20+ hours of life. Not a bad price if you want to extend the life of your older iPod.

Slappa iPod HardBody Case

Vaja has just about everbody covered in terms of cases, but the iPod is still the king of accessories. Here's one more, the Slappa Hardbody iPod Case. $30 gets you a case for 3G and 4G iPods and even the iPod Photo. [Via Gizmodo]

How To Get Music OFF your iPod

If you own an iPod, you are no doubt familiar with the way to get music ON to your iPod: synching with iTunes. But what if you want to get music OFF that iPod. iTunes and Apple are no help.

Coming to your rescue, Phillip Torrone has written up a nice how-to over at Engadget:

Never did we think we'd need to do a How-To on something which should be part of the basic functionality of a portable music player, but once you put your tunes on an iPod unfortunately it's a one-way sync unless you know the tricks for getting them off. There are already a lot of different ways to copy music off of an iPod, Apple is just choosing to spend a lot of time and resources to make it hard to do. In this How-To we show you several different ways of getting the music off of your iPod and onto both Macs and PCs, all with free tools.

iPod Photo First Look

Pocket Lint has already posted their first look at the iPod Photo. That's no small feat if, as they say, there is only 1 iPod Photo in Europe until the UK release in a few weeks. What do they think?

So is it worth the extra money to turn your iPod into a Photo booth for your family album. First impressions make us in two minds. On the one side, you've got an iPod that can view images on a small 2in screen not much bigger than most camera backs or camera phones, but on the other you've the ability to plug it in to your television and view your digital snaps just as you would take around a pack of photos to a friends house.

What's stopping us getting over excited? To view the images properly you really need to view it on a television and that two, to view images on the television, in our minds the killer app here, you need to carry around a long cable with three phono plugs in your pocket, which suddenly makes this a rather bulky package.

iPod Photo Dissected

Wasting absolutely no time at all, iPoding has pried the cover off their new toy and taken photos under the hood of the iPod Photo. [Via Engadget]

iPodlounge also has a bunch of photos of the iPod Photo and its packaging.

Black U2 iPod Officially Official

Usually the mega-band U2 doesn't get second billing.

Today, though, is the exception. In addition to the new color iPod Photo, Apple also announced a special edition iPod, the U2 in black and red. The U2 iPod retails for $349, which is $50 more than the standard 4G 20GB iPod. However, your extra $50 does get a few extras.

Beside the first-of-its-kind black face, the scroll wheel is red and the name and autographs of each of the band members is engraved on the back. Since that alone probably isn't worth $50, you also get a U2 poster and an iTunes Music Store coupon for $50 off purchase of "The Complete U2".

Otherwise, the U2 Special Edition is the same as the 4G 20GB iPod. Same size, same weight.

Color iPod Photo Officially Official

Apple springs a big suprise today with the official announcement of the oft-rumored iPod Photo! A spin-off of the basic iPod, the iPod Photo incorporates a 2" color LCD screen and comes in either 40GB ($499) or 60GB ($599) flavors.

It's a bit bigger and heavier than the standard 4G iPods at 4.1"x2.4"x0.75" and 6.4ozs, but Apple says the iPod Photo has 15 hours of battery life (compared with the 4G's 12 hours).

The color LCD is 2" diagonally, displays 220x176 pixels at 64k colors. With iTunes syncing, the iPod Photo will display album cover art and images in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF and PNG format.

Also new to iPod Photo is a video output and an AV cable that allows it to display photo slideshows (with music!) on your TV. Also, both standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:9) formats are supported.

The iPod Photo is said to be available in 1 to 2 weeks.

More bits at every news outlet on the planet.

Flash memory iPod a Reality?

A few weeks ago we reported that an industry analyst mentioned that Apple was cooking up its first flash memory-based audio player, to be available by the end of the year. Needless to say, this rumor was taken with a grain of salt. But now the analyst in question, Jason Pflaum of Thomas Weisel, has reconfirmed his statement:

I recently spent two weeks in Asia meeting with a number of folks who are in a position to know details of SigmaTel's supply chain. Based on our industry contacts, we are confident that, one, Apple is planning to launch a flash-based player, and two, SigmaTel is the provider of controller chip for that device.

Related Links:
New Apple Flash Player Coming Over for Christmas?

Where's the New iPod Mini?

OK, we know a few basic facts. First, we know that Apple owns the audio player market right now. The iPod Mini is so popular it can be hard to find it on shelves or in stock online. Even though it is quite small and stylish, the iPod Mini only has a 4GB capacity and at $249, only slightly less expensive than its not-much-larger 20GB breathern.

Furthermore Rio, Creative Labs, Virgin Electronics, Dell and who knows how many other audio player makers all have 5GB models that are pretty close to the iPod Mini in size and weight. In terms of style,

All this begs the question, where is the new iPod Mini? You know, the one with the 5GB (or 8GB or 10GB maybe) capacity, even smaller than the first and a couple of other changes. Rumor has it that yet another full-size iPod revision is coming before Christmas. Will Apple update the iPod Mini by then as well?

PS: The same goes for iRiver. Where is your mini-sized audio player? You cancelled your 1GB player way back when and it hasn't been heard from since.

Related Links:
Apple Continues to Rule the World
The iPod's Tipping Point?

Printable iPod Tattoos from HP

Aside from the HP logo engraved on the back, the HP "version" of the iPod is no different from the Apple model. But HP has brought at least one new thing to the table with their "iPod Tattoos". Essentially the tattoos are paper sleeves that wrap around the iPod, like a skin.

HP has several tattoos that you can download for free (either of bands or free designs). Also, HP is selling special paper (which has an adhesive of some sort to hang onto the iPod, we presume), 10 sheets for $15. [Via ChiatGear]

Update: from looking at the HP printing instructions, the tattoos are just great big stickers. Presumably you could do it yourself with label sheets from OfficeMax, but we dunno if HP uses a different adhesive that is better suited to being cleanly removed from your iPod.

Apple Continues to Rule the World

92.1%. Apple has 92.1% of the harddrive-based audio player market. 92.1%, so says Stephen Baker of the NPD Group. By comparison, Creative has 3.7% and Rio has 3.2%. That leaves just a 1% scrap for iRiver, Cowon and all the others to fight for. Absolutely amazing. Both CNet and The Register have good summaries.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple sold more than 2 million iPods in the last quarter. Also, Apple said that sale of HP-branded iPods already accounted for 6% of sales.

In the past we predicted that the biggest hurdle would-be Apple competitors would have is recognition that there are other audio players besides the iPod. CNet's report bears this out:

Competitors will have to contend with daunting brand recognition, however. In a recent survey of buying preferences among U.S. teenagers, analyst Jeff Klinefelter of Piper Jaffray found a strong preference for the iPod over competing products. Of the 600 teens surveyed, 16 percent already owned an iPod, and 24 percent planned to get one within the next year. Only 8 percent planned to acquire another brand of music player in that time.

Another recent Piper Jaffray survey found that the iPod was the fourth most-requested Christmas gift among U.S. high school students, trailing clothes, money and cars.

60GB Color iPod Coming?

Apple rumor site Think Secret has reported that Apple's next iPod will offer a 60GB capacity, a color LCD screen, synchronization with iPhoto and audio/video outputs. According to "highly reliable sources", the "new iPod is currently in production in Asia after delays from Toshiba in delivering its new 60GB drive hampered a planned early-September ramp up."

Retail price is said to be $499, $100 more than the current 40GB iPod.

Both the 60GB capacity and the color screen/video out rumors have floated around separately in the past several months, but maybe this time around they'll come true.

Related Links:
Apple Video iPod Demystified
4th Generation iPod
New iPod Rumor

New Apple Flash Player Coming Over for Christmas?

News reports have indicated that chipmaker SigmaTel has inked a deal with Apple to provide chipsets for an upcoming MP3 player. The stories note that the player will NOT be a harddrive-based model like the iPod and iPod Mini, rather a flash-based device that will likely be much smaller than the iPod Mini, but with smaller storage capacity. When will we see it? Not long from now:

Citing ``numerous sources in Asia,'' Thomas Weisel analyst Jason Pflaum said Apple will use SigmaTel's controller chips for a player it's planning to launch this Christmas.

Of course any new Apple MP3 product announcement is a suprise, but we are especially suprised that Apple chose SigmaTel to provide the chipset over their long-time chipset partner, PortalPlayer.

Related Links:
SigmaTel Inside
Some Corroboration for the New iPod Rumor?

Update:
SigmaTel itself announced today that it has cemented a partnership with Rio. So it is possible that the quoted source confused Apple with Rio, but that would make "Thomas Weisel analyst Jason Pflaum" an enormous idiot (or at least the person who misquoted him).

Color iPods

If you're style-conscious enough to deplore the limited color selections for the iPod Mini and are aghast that there is still only one iPod color, ColorWare has come to your rescue: they offer new 4G iPods in a choice of 20 colors. Of course, you'll pay a premium for the priviledge, but as a fashionista you already knew that. The 20GB ColorWare iPods are all $365 (compared with a $299 retail price).

And if you've already got an iPod, ColorWare will color it for $49.00.

Xeni, Her iPod and the BMW Loaner

Xeni over at BoingBoing has a writeup of her experience with the in-car integration between the iPod and new BMWs:

I loved the car, and I loved grooving out to my own digital tunes by way of the iPod. The abilty to select songs, playlists, and control volume from the steering wheel was great. But some aspects of the system seemed lacking. For instance -- the iPod sits inside the glove compartment, but just sort of bangs around loose inside there. No special case to protect it, and passengers in the car with me were always cramming keys or sunglasses in there. Damage seemed inevitable. Also, when I'm in iPod mode -- why can't I see what's playing? The stereo display shows you names of radio stations, even program and song details -- but you get nothing but playlist number and song number when you've selected the iPod mode. Other aftermarket products do display the names of songs when you're in iPod mode, and I was frustrated by the fact that this system didn't.

Xeni's post also spawned another thread with several good suggestions for in-car connectivity for your MP3 player.

Sonance In-Wall iPod Station

The unending torrent of new iPod accessories continues with the Sonance iPort, a novel in-wall docking station for the home. The iPort is intended to integrate your iPod into Sonance's line of home multi-room audio distribution and control system. Engadget has more pictures here.

More bits at Digital Media Thoughts and Engadget.

DIY iPod Battery Replacement

Mark at BoingBoing has written up his experience with do-it-yourself iPod battery replacement. It's great to know that replacing a dead or dying iPod battery is quick, easy and not too expensive. Unfortunately, a lot of batteries are going to need replacing as those early model iPods turn 2 or 3 years old.

The hPod Debuts

As expected, the HP-branded version of the iPod was officially announced today. It was thought that HP might make at least a few changes to the original, possibly an HP-blue exterior for one, but it appears not.

As far as we can tell, it's exactly like the regular 4G iPod and has the same $299 and $399 retail prices for 20GB and 40GB models. If there were any differences, it's reasonable to assume that HP would call attention to them, but they have not.

The only new feature are "HP Printable Tatoos for iPod", stick-on (and removable) skins for the iPod casing. Actually this is kind of a cool idea, not earth-shattering, but a good idea nonetheless. Likely they will adhere just as well to the original iPod. Shades of NEXkins...

If you're wondering why Apple and HP went through all this trouble, it is all about enlarging the iPod distribution channel. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has about 12,000 retail outlets (the Apple website, Apple stores and others), while HP computers are sold through 110,000 outlets. New HP PCs are going to be pre-loaded with iTunes and likely the iPod will be an accessory to any PC purchase in the way that printers are today.

HP iPod Coming Tomorrow

At first it was rumored that the HP-branded iPod would be coming on September 5th, but it turns out it's even sooner than that. CNet is now reporting that HP CEO Carly Fiorina will introduce the new device tomorrow in Miami. Even if you're not invited to the press event, you can join in via the HP webcast.

We do know that the hPod will be based on the new 4G iPod, this being the cause of delays, in favor of launching earlier with a device based on the older, 3G iPod. What, if anything, will differentiate the HP version from the Apple original is unclear, however.

iPod Accessory Round-Up

For quite a while the iPod has been the king of audio player accessories with literally hundreds of add-ons and extras for the device. Here's a run down on a few that have recently appeared.

The "ergonomic and luxurious" leather iPod case from cigarette maker Dunhill. [Via BoingBoing]

iPod bags from Gucci and Fendi. [Via i4u]

"MUST HAVES" (their words, not ours). [Via Endaget and Gizmodo]

DIY iPod superCase. [Via Engadget]

(This one is actually useful, we swear). The Griffin RoadTrip: FM transmitter, car charger and cradle in one. [Via Engadget]

Another Zen Touch vs. 4G iPod Matchup

IT Asia One has another matchup between the new Creative Zen Touch and the 4th generation iPod. Not suprisingly the iPod wins again, but the reviewer does note how the market landscape has changed:

The price war is on, with the price gap between the Zen Touch and the iPod narrowed to $49, from a considerable $269 difference between the previous 20GB Zen NX and third-generation iPod, only less than a year ago.

Gadgeteer 4G iPod Review

4G iPod reviews are really starting to roll. Today's review is from the Gadgeteer:

People in the market for an iPod should not hesitate to buy this model, but do I recommend that 3rd generation owners rush out and upgrade? No, not unless your current device has some type of defect or you just have to have the latest model. The 2hrs additional battery life and new clicker design are nice, but for me these features aren't that compelling. As far as power, most of the time I'm near an outlet and can grab some juice when needed. I didn't have any real complaints with the old wheel design. My advice to 3rd gen owners is to just wait for the 5th gen devices. Maybe they'll have some of the cool new features that were rumored for the 4th gen.

iPodFilter: 60GB Model in time for Holidays?

Toshiba has announced a new 60GB drive in the 1.8" form factor presently used by the iPod. Reportedly Apple has already ordered a large quantity for what would be the highest-capacity iPod to date.

Toshiba notes that the new drives (also available in a slimmer 30GB model) consume 20% less power than the previous 20GB and 40GB models. Unfortunately, they won't be available in quantity until near the end of the year. Apple will likely be one of, if not the first customer to get them, so 60GB iPods may appear by holiday gift-buying time. [Via Mac Observer]

iPodlounge Power User Review and "Secrets" Probed

To complement the new user review, iPodlounge has published its power user review of the 4G iPod. Ironically, this iPodlounge review seems to be hardest on the new iPod out of all the reviews that we've read. Presumably this is because most reviews are written from the perspective a first-time buyer rather than a potential upgrader:

For new users, the new fourth-generation iPod is an imperfect but solid update of Apple's earlier high-capacity iPods, and the new hardware is highly likely to appeal to virtually any prospective iPod user out there. With few exceptions, what was great about the iPod has become even better. And to the extent that some Power Users may be looking for an excuse to replace their iPods, these will no doubt make excellent birthday and holiday gifts.

But other Power Users will unquestionably find that the new fourth-generation iPod is no mandatory replacement for older iPod hardware. It's actually a snore in that it offers only minor updates to the features that Apple introduced in last year's third-generation iPod and February's iPod mini. Click Wheel and battery life aside, the 4G iPod's other changes are iterative software tweaks mixed with one or two small aesthetic downgrades, and therefore we don't see this as a product that long time iPod lovers will line up to buy. It's also no surprise that some 3G iPod users are demanding that Apple support the older hardware with the 4G's software features. When a new iPod looks and functions so much like its predecessor, such complaints and requests are only natural. No one would be begging if the new iPod had shipped with a color screen and a dramatically enhanced interface.

As you may have heard, there is a lot of speculation on what, if any, tricks Apple still has up its sleeve with the new iPod. In the past we've written quite a bit on the chips that power devices and how their potential isn't always utilized.

Along those lines, iPodlounge has done some excellent analysis of what's under the hood in the new iPod, what Apple could do if it wanted and what they think Apple actually will do.

Related Links:
Hidden Features In 4G iPod?
Some Corroboration for the New iPod Rumor?
Apple Video iPod Demystified
iPod Can Supprt WMA?!?

PC World on the 4G iPod and Zen Touch

PC World has a brief review of both the 4G iPod and the Creative Zen Touch. The new iPod gets high marks even though the reviewer includes a thorough list of what is still missing in the latest rev. The Zen Touch, however, doesn't fare as well:

You might remember that a few months ago I went a little nuts (in a good way) over the playlist interface for Creative's Nomad Zen. I mean, I loved this thing. It absolutely changed the way I listen to music. The idea of an IPod-sized player with that interface had me drooling.

But no, Creative wanted to simplify things, to aim for the ease-of-use found in its IPod rivals. So with its latest player, there's no more moving songs around within a playlist. No more treating albums and artists as objects so you can collapse them for easy navigation or move a full album of tracks with a few clicks. Gone. Poof. No more. And no "advanced menus" option that brings these features back.

Hidden Features In 4G iPod?

There have been some rumblings about "hidden features" in the 4G iPod that Apple would spring on its competitors at a later date. Not suprisingly, heavy speculation ensued. However, an iPodHacks user has it nailed down definitively:

I have it on good authority that the secret code in 4G iPods is a portable version of RealPlayer, as users have been clamoring for stuttering, scratchy sounding audio for the iPods. According to beta tester Audrey Helpern, "Having RealPlayer on the iPod is like being in touch with the very beginning of multimedia on computers. Sometimes I close my eyes and pretend I'm on my Quadra 660AV listening to a distant sounding AM-radio feed over a 33.3k modem. Then I open my eyes and realize I'm on a 4G iPod. It's a trip."

4G iPod Dissection Photos

A brave soul over at iPoding has dissected and photographed a brand spanking new 4th-generation iPod to see how the new click wheel works.