January 2005 Archives
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January 31, 2005
iSkin shows its wild side accessories
iPod accessory designer iSkin has announced the release of its iSkin Wild Sides eVo2 protectors.
The limited edition iPod cases have been made of form-fitting silicone case and are available in a range of colours all coated with illuminating, night-glow white stripes.
The cases ship in colour combinations of Verve (bright green and white), Rebel (deep blue and white) and Diva (hot pink and white).
Designed for all 4G iPods, the new iPod accessories come with all-round surface protection, including a top mounting clip, transparent screen protector and a click wheel protector.
The iSkin Wild Sides will be available as from next week and will retail from around £19.
Posted by ipodworld at 05:09 PM
Apple iPod brands named world's most influential
The Apple and iPod brand names have been named as the most influential in the world by a recent survey of advertising professionals.
The annual poll, conducted by online magazine Brandchannel, questions the impact of a particular product on people's lives without taking any financial particulars into consideration.
And this year's survey saw the soaring Apple computer manufacturer leapfrog Google as the most widely felt brand.
"It's hard to imagine a brand having a shinier year than Apple," a Brandchannel statement said.
"Notably punctuated with iMacs, iPodsand iTunes, Apple's 2004 presence was felt in the press, in ads and on the streets, with iPod coming to define the word 'ubiquitous'."
Brandchannel Editor Robin Rusch added: "Apple's just done an extraordinary job with innovation, technology and design. The iPod is what has put Apple in the lead this year."
Ikea, Starbucks and Al Jazeera, the Arab news channel, completed the top five list.
Posted by ipodworld at 05:05 PM
Findley opens iPod Access 2.0 for download
Proliferating programmer, Findley Designs, has put its newest version of the iPod Access program online and available for download.
The popular Windows accessory permits the transfer of songs from the iPod back onto Macs to free up space on the digital music player, to move songs from one computer to another or replace any lost tunes.
The iPod Access 2.0 has several improved features including easier access through the various functions, quicker processing capabilities and several all-together new aspects such as a feature properly displaying any songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store and playlist cloning support.
The new version also allows far greater organisation of songs through enhanced Artist/Album folders or Composer/Album folders.
Findley has made the iPod Access 2.0 for Windows available for £7.99.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:34 PM
iPodez accessory line released
Audio Outfitters has today introduced a number of new products to extend its iPodez line of accessories for the Apple iPod.
The new products include the ezCharge car charger, retailing from £10, the ezPower UK wall power adapter, from £15, and the ezLink data cables, to go on sale from £8.50.
The three products are compatible with almost all iPod versions and remain in keeping Audio Outfitters' fashionable reputation.
The ezCharge iPod accessory comes complete with a protective fuse, LED, and coiled cord.
The white iPod device is compatible with all iPods with Dock Connectors including 3rd and 4th Generation, Mini, HP iPod, and iPod Photo, as well as with iTrip-2, AirPlay, iTrip Mini, iTalk, and other iPod accessories.
The ezPower iPod wall power adapter has been designed with a multi-voltage power supply with a built-in LED specially designed for UK sockets.
An official availability date has not yet been confirmed.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:11 PM
DLO provides remote accessory
The MP3 accessory producer, Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), has disclosed its latest iPod accessory, the DLO iDirect Remote Control.
The new two-piece gadget is compatible with all dockable iPods from distance whilst docked and charging or linked up to a home stereo system.
The compact remote control device has buttons for play, pause, skip forward, back and volume control and comes complete with a receiver that connects to the iPod to capture IR remote commands.
"The iPod is not just a portable device for me, it's an integral part of my entire home entertainment system," commented Andrew Green, VP of marketing at DLO.
"I come home and push one button that turns my stereo on, turns the volume up and pushes Play on my iPod. That's only possible with the DLO iDirect iPod Remote Control because it's IR compatible.
"Other iPod remotes are simply not as flexible as the DLO iDirect," concluded Mr Green.
The DLO iDirect is priced at around £27 and is available for immediate shipping.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:02 PM
iPod accessory and partnering firms profiting
The huge consumer demand and resultant sales figures associated with Apple iPod music players has had analysts predicting exciting times ahead for iPod accessory and partnering companies for several months.
Now the growing list of evidence supporting these predictions has been added to by figures from one of Apple's partners, ARM Holdings.
Cambridge-based ARM recorded extensive increases for revenue and profit, reporting a net fourth quarter profit of £4.5 million, compared to losses of £431,000 in the year ago quarter.
Sales for the firm rose 22 per cent to £41.5 million in the quarter to the end of December helping full year sales reach £152.9 million, up 19 per cent, and pre-tax profits to rise 82 per cent to £42.2 million.
Thanks to largely to iPod sales, chief executive Warren East revealed that the company is now predicting a further 20 per cent revenue increase during the ensuing year.
The extension of this successful trend bodes well for other iPod accessory and partnering companies, a trend which analysts predict will only continue as consumer demand persists.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:00 PM
First case unveiled for iPod shuffle
American designer, Speck Products has won the race to become the first company to manufacture a marketable accessory for the iPod shuffle.
The feat caps an impressive effort by Speck, who release the new product just three days after Apple's commercial unveiling of their latest MP3 device which is already the subject of wild-fire sales in the US.
The SkinTight iPod shuffle case is the first third party product to exploit the music player's in-demand status and comes with a shock-absorbing, tear-resistant plastic skin.
The case is extremely lightweight, features an innovative two-part design permitting easy synching and charging of the Apple's flash based iPod and is available in a range of colours.
Reports have suggested that the SkinTight case will ship in the second half of February, from around £10.
Posted by ipodworld at 12:03 PM
January 27, 2005
iPod car accessory expected at 2005 NADA Convention
British and European car dealers attending the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in New Orleans this weekend are travelling today with high expectations for the latest news-grabbing in-car iPod accessory.
The US-based designer, Combined Technologies Group (CTG), known principally as a developer of flexible GPS navigation and entertainment systems, will be exhibiting the accessory under the brand name NordiCon
Subsequently, it is the NordiCon FM transmitter for iPod, which is causing the stir ahead of the four-day NADA event that opens on January 29.
The NordiCon FM transmitter represents the newest generation of wireless products and is expected to be snapped up by car dealers in steep demand.
"With the increasing popularity and sale of iPods we developed a NordiCon FM transmitter that securely holds a full size or mini iPod and wirelessly transmits digital music through a car's sound system," said CTG's CEO Vincent A. Caminiti.
"We've designed our products to give new car dealers and their customers much greater savings and flexibility over factory installed systems," commented Mr Caminiti, who then added that he expects the accessory to "give dealers an extra 'deal maker' to close the sale".
The NordiCon FM transmitter for iPod will be made available at most online iPod accessory stores later this year.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:44 AM
January 26, 2005
iTunes downloads hit quarter billion mark
The iTunes music site has had more than 250 million songs purchased and downloaded, Apple has confirmed.
The astounding figure easily surpasses expectations outlined by Apple bosses with all the signs pointing towards its growth rate continuing to escalate during the next 12 months.
An estimated one and a quarter million songs are downloaded from the iTunes site per day, equating to a potential output of almost half a billion songs overall for the year.
"When we launched the iTunes Music Store we were hoping to sell a million songs in the first six months," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
"Now we are selling over a million songs every day, and we have sold over a quarter billion songs in total.
"iTunes is leading the way into the digital music era and together with iPod is changing the way millions of music lovers find and enjoy their music."
The latest figures from research group NPD also reveal that iTunes now has a 70 per cent share of the music download market, helped considerably by its successful initiation into fifteen countries around the globe.
Posted by ipodworld at 01:19 PM
Dual-purpose headphones ringing in the profits
Plantronics' innovative new MX100s headphones are rapidly gaining widespread critical and consumer accreditation for their contribution to the iPod accessory market.
In keeping with countless other iPod-compatible headphones available, the MX100s are on a primary level, equally as comfortable, tasteful and durable as their counterparts.
Plantronics' Flex Grip design provides an exceptional stability to Apple's MP3 player as well as a snug fitting, whilst its AcuSpeak technology permits audio to remain clear and constant in almost any surroundings.
The headphones also maintain iPod's iconic colour consistency with an iPod-white casing and instantly identifiable white wires. Three interchangeable colour covers are also available should the owner dare be different.
However, the real innovative design with the MX100s is that they can be connected to mobile phones simultaneously with Apple iPods.
This, quite simply, means that if whilst listening to the iPod, your phone rings, all you need do is flick a switch and the headphones switch directly to your mobile phone's audio.
A small microphone hangs from one headphone and picks up sound easily and efficiently allowing problem-free conversation.
Plantronics' MX100s headphones are certainly inventive but they are also useful and practical and, retailing from just over £20, could be set to be a huge success story in the near future.
Posted by ipodworld at 01:05 PM
January 24, 2005
New player to offer branded iPod accessories
A new player is set to enter the iPod accessory market to offer branded accessories such as cases, covers, and headphones.
Technology firm Legend Mobile is currently in discussions with several major recording artists, top brands, and various entertainment properties.
The company has also secured a supplier to manufacture products under the company's proposed licenses.
"We believe that we are uniquely positioned to create and market branded products for the new iPod economy. With our strong background in licensing and consumer electronics, we anticipate offering accessory products that are as cool as the iPod itself," said Peter Klamka president of Legend Mobile.
Legend Mobile has previously worked with a number of licensors including popular NASCAR drivers and top recording artists such as Nelly and Christina Aguilera.
Legend has also created branded products with both Palm and Motorola.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:50 PM
New aluminium iPod rumoured
According to reports work has begun on a fifth generation iPod that could feature an aluminium shell and an 80Gb hard drive.
Despite the fact there was no announcement on the new iPod product at the recent 2005 Macworld Expo, US website ThinkSecret claims it has information that the the next iPod could boast a silver-looking aluminium case to match the style of Apple’s PowerBook and PowerMac range.
The website also claims the new iPod would store up to 20,000 tracks, using Toshiba’s latest 1.8-inch 80Gb hard drive.
The news will no doubt spur iPod accessory manufacturers to bring out a raft of aluminium accessories for the hugely popular mp3 player.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:33 PM
January 21, 2005
Lapel Mic accessory permits iPod audio capture
Griffin Technology has promoted a novel accessory permitting iPod users to capture audio onto their digital music players.
The Lapel Mic works essentially in the same way to a studio TV microphone, allowing owners to record conversations, interviews, or lectures into its digital memory bank.
The easy-to-use accessory can be connected to any iPod equipped with the Griffin iTalk voice recorder but is also compatible with PowerWave for stereo recording and iListen voice-recognition software.
Griffin Technology president Paul Griffin said: "The Lapel Mic is a great new accessory for iPod owners everywhere, including reporters, broadcasters, presenters, and even students."
The accessory offers high quality stereo or mono audio input, features a standard 3.5mm stereo mini-jack and a swivel clip.
The Lapel Mic accessory will retail from around £8.50 and will be distributed in the UK by AM Micro
Posted by ipodworld at 03:30 PM
January 20, 2005
Legal download figures soaring
Ubiquitous popularity of Apple's iPod has helped the number of legal on-line music track downloads increase tenfold during the past year.
A report from the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI) released yesterday revealed that in excess of 200 million songs were purchased during 2004 representing a substantial improvement to the 20 million attained during 2003.
The progress made welcomes the first occasion on which record companies have received any substantial income, thought to have amounted to several hundred million pounds.
Also pleasing was the reported crackdown in Internet music downloading piracy.
According to report, there are still 870 million infringing music files on the Internet although this figure was down from 900 million in January 2004, of which 760 million were found solely on P2P networks, a figure itself down from 800 million last January and one billion in April 2003.
"The biggest challenge for the digital music business has always been to make music easier to buy than to steal," said John Kennedy, chairman and CEO of the IFPI. "At the start of 2005, as the legitimate digital music business moves into the mainstream of consumer life, that ambition is turning into reality."
Mr Kennedy added: "The record industry's priority now is to licence music - to as many services, for as many consumers, on as many formats and devices for use in as many places and countries as it can.
"I am confident that in 12 months' time the digital music market will have grown very significantly around the world. A sector that now accounts for a very small percentage of the industry's revenues is poised for take-off in the next few years."
Posted by ipodworld at 04:35 PM
E4c iPod earphones set for sure success
Shure, one of the iPod accessory market's leading developers of earphones, looks set to cash in on yet another product after critics unanimously praised the firm's latest product, the E4c earphones.
The E4c earphones bring several impressive improvements on what was already a very good accessory in the E2c version, an item commended by iPodWorld in November last year.
The new product maintains the earlier version's unrivalled sound quality, deep bass and near-perfect balance achieved through Shure's unique sound isolation technology, but also improves several features less warmly received by consumers and critics alike.
The earphones' weight, for one, has been drastically reduced. Indeed, the firm has said that the E4c earphones are in fact the lightest in the E Series product range.
And secondly, the aesthetics of the previous model, described as 'mediocre' by iPodWorld, have also been subsequently altered and are now more in keeping with the iconic Apple iPod shade.
The Shure E4c earphones, which received a place on this year's international CES accessory innovations award list, have been priced from £160 and will be available as from Spring.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:52 PM
Contour iSee
Contour, the maker of the Showcase, have launched the iSee – a completely clear case designed with the thought that people want to show off, not cover up, their iPods. They provide hard protection yet allow total access to controls, dock connector port and the headphone and firewire ports on the top of the iPod. They retail at £25.99.
First impressions
The iSee comes in 20GB and 40GB sizes for the 4th generation iPod. It consists of a clear plastic case with a cut-out on the click wheel, over the top ports and 2 narrow slits down the sides for attaching the belt clip. The bottom of the case is made of a semi-transparent flexible plastic with a dock port flap. It can be removed to insert the iPod and connects to the rest of the case with catches either side. The belt clip is white plastic and spring mounted and attaches so that the case is held horizontally when worn on a belt. Tiny plastic blobs on each back corner keep the iSee slightly raised off a hard surface to prevent scratching – a nice touch pre-empting foreseen complaints.
First impressions were good – the iSee was seamlessly moulded and well rounded. It didn’t look tacky like so many hard cases, including even Contour’s earlier offering of the Showcase. The only let down was the plastic bottom – it tarnished the overall smooth appearance of the case. However once the iPod was inserted this ‘flaw’ didn’t appear so obvious.
Look at me
The iPod was slid into the iSee and securely latched in (the bottom piece is conveniently labelled with ‘back’ so that it isn’t put together incorrectly). It was held tightly and didn’t rattle around, plus the bevelled cut-out was exactly aligned with the click wheel. Top loading devices (iTrips, iTalks) could be connected with no obstructions (the case is covered at the top only round the edges), and the charger cable could be connected via opening the dust cover.
The iSee looked good on the iPod. The plastic was very clear and so didn’t obscure the screen and the trademark iPod white was still apparent. The case wasn’t exactly elegant, but it was definitely more subtle than other hard cases such as the Matias Armor or the Contour Showcase. The iSee is designed for impact resistance and so needed to be fairly substantial to provide any sort of shock protection.
The belt clip worked well for attaching the iSee to transport it, but wouldn’t be recommended for any kind of vigorous activity as it is not amazingly secure. The horizontal positioning of the iPod with the clip may upset those who want to keep the vertical status quo, but actually made the iPod’s screen easier to see.
Getting the iPod out of the iSee was a bit more of a challenge (ladies beware: nail breaking alert) and involved a blunt tool and perseverance. But at least it showed that the iPod could not fall out of the iSee accidentally.
Now the bad: as we used the iSee more it started to scratch. It got long sweeping scratches on the inner surface, which led to slight scratching on the iPod’s delicate exterior. Probably if the iPod was never taken out of the case the scratching wouldn’t be so pronounced, but it was necessary in order to use the dock. This is quite a substantial failing and one that Contour are apparently aware of. The provision of a thin plastic film such as the TrendyGeek Pod Shield or something similar to the stickers provided with the Power Support Crystal Jacket would prevent the scratching.
Conclusions
The iSee performed ok overall, with good impact protection, secure casing and attractive appearance. Its failings were quite substantial as far as the scratching was concerned, but as long as the iPod is not forever being inserted and removed the problem can be curbed. The price seems fair as it is a quality, well made product, but maybe if the scratching issue is taken into account the price could go lower.
Posted by ipodworld at 11:49 AM
January 19, 2005
Hebe develops in-car iPod accessory
Yorkshire-based manufacturer, Hebe Styling, has designed one of the UK's first official iPod accessoriesfor adapting the MP3 players to car stereo systems.
The iDrive is a legal FM-based in-car audio solution, produced in collaboration with Apple, which complies with radio communications regulations unlike many existing FM-based products.
Hebe's new iPod accessory can be installed in almost all vehicles and connects directly into stereo systems producing digitally clear sound quality.
The accessory also charges the iPod's batteries whilst playing music due to the connection cable utilising the Dock connector as opposed to the earphone connector like many US products.
The device, coloured in keeping with Apple's record selling product, is available for both the iPod and iPod mini music players.
According to Hebe's website, the iDriveColour will be following the iDrive onto the UK market sometime during the next few months and will come complete with a 100 per cent clear frosted shell available in six neon colours.
The iDrive iPod accessory is retailing at £95 for a self-install kit and £195 for an installation included kit.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:12 PM
iPod shuffle
Finally, the wait is over for the new ‘flash’ iPod. Many an internet blog site was crammed with speculative new ideas, some running competitions to see who could design the next iPod incarnation, most reiterating the ‘insiders’’ points of views of 1GB and 2GB flash modules, sliding screens, circular devices and shrunken click-wheels. Most were way off target. Apple decided to fly in the face of those who branded ‘not being able to see which song is playing’ a major setback in the world of digital music. After all, aren’t we more advanced than when we used to listen to our Sony Walkman sans display and revel in the fact that we had music with us at all, that we didn’t have to stay at home and listen to the wireless?
The iPod shuffle has launched under such slogans as ‘Give Chance a Chance’ and ‘Random is the New Order’. It is claiming to enhance your life with the statement that every music listening experience is different, due to the random selection of the songs and the inability to see what is coming next. Much like life itself…
So how does it fit into the ever expanding iPod family? The older iPods were like an advanced alien breed landing on the planet of the hard disk player, and their evolution has led to the continuation and advancement of successful features from previous models, while the shuffle is more like a rogue strain of flash memory stick/mp3 player set to cannibalise both markets. It is the mutation rather than continuation of the portable music player trend, and hence will make up a different consumer segment than the iPod.
Coverage of the hard disk music player market by Apple is already over 87%, but when the flash based players are included in the statistics Apple’s share of the digital music player market dips to just 59% (source: MacObserver). The attempt to cover every base is seen by some as a portable music player monopoly attempt by Apple… I can just hear the law suits rolling in…
First impressions
The iPod shuffle comes in a small lime green box, very austere, very Apple. It comes with the requisite manuals and iTunes software, is accessorised with a USB cap and Apple’s standard issue headphones, but in the style of iPods of late, does not have a dock. And in addition, just in case someone may not notice that you have a NEW iPod shuffle, the supplied neck strap displays it clearly on your chest for all to see.
Size-wise the iPod shuffle is available in 2 capacities: 512MB and 1GB, at a cost of £69 and £99.01 respectively. It weighs 22 grams and is 8.4cm long, 0.83cm thick and 2.5cm wide. In real terms, that is the size of a packet of chewing gum.
Appearance-wise, the iPod shuffle is something else. It inspires size-related squeals of delight from girls and admiring ‘look-at-that’ comments from the boys. It is simplicity and style in one striking contraption. It will undoubtedly create the mega hype and under-fulfilled demand so notorious with past iPods. But this little device is a bit different from the others.
Holding it in your hand is a bit surreal: here is this piece of equipment that has so much power, yet gives nothing away. It weighs next to nothing, has no fiddly buttons, no LCD screen, none of the silver components so regularly associated with flash MP3 players. But in reality it does everything it aims to do.
It has done away with the screen and menu system that has been the basis of previous iPod success. The volume and track controls are all in a ring and reminiscent of the 1st generation iPods – raised like a donut with the play button in the centre. On the back of the iPod the thumb switch has options to shuffle, play in order and switch off. In addition, there is a tiny battery status button which shows different coloured LEDs for different power levels.
The headphones are just Apple standard issue white earbuds. In our experience these earbuds are far superior to many other expensive in-ear headphones or ones supplied with portable music players. They have good bass response (though emphasis is more on the treble) and fit comfortably, and with the inclusion of a couple of sets of sponge covers can be customised to fit different ear types. The music produced is really high volume and we experienced no discernable difference between the shuffle’s sound and that of the regular-sized iPods.
Undoubtedly the iPod shuffle has the aesthetically demanding contingent covered. But clearly there is no point in having a useless (but beautiful) piece of white plastic hanging round your neck. The real testament to the shuffle’s success will be its musical usability.
Operation time
Firstly, a problem that was encountered when trying the shuffle on a couple of different computers was that of the USB port accessibility. Clever marketing (as usual) by Apple means that those with restricted USB ports, e.g. on desktop towers, would need to invest in the dock to connect shuffle and computer. Luckily the £19 price tag is not prohibitive and also a nice accessory to have.
Once all the iTunes software was installed (which only took 10 minutes), the 512MB shuffle was filled to its maximum capacity. 113 songs of average file size were transferred and over USB1.1 this took approximately 20 minutes. We thought that although the transfer speed was pretty slow (undoubtedly faster over USB2.0), the storage was impressive considering most of the time companies are over-enthusiastic about how many songs you can fit on their players. It equated to an approximately 7.5 hour long playlist. You should be able to achieve 12 hours of skip-free music – although we haven’t run it for its full length, we achieved 8 hours of play through a normal office day and the tube ride home just fine.
The shuffle has an ‘autofill’ function, which renders you totally at the mercy of your computers’ musical choice, as it randomly chooses songs from your selected playlist. When tested it did give a decent random selection from the iTunes library – though annoyingly included iTrip stations and fragments of audio books. This could be avoided by simply deselecting the unwanted songs in the playlist, and after that a good musical mixture was achieved.
A downside to the iPod shuffle (and considering its nature and marketing this is quite a substantial failing) is that the song shuffle function is really not great. This is consistent with other older iPods and with iTunes that also don’t give a decent random selection and tend to get stuck between 2 or 3 artists.
When in normal play mode, the beginning of the playlist can be found by clicking the play/pause button 3 times. The real benefit of this function seems a bit elusive, unless your favourite song is right at the beginning of the playlist it is a little bit of a redundant feature.
In a more practical and even regressive sense, the iPod shuffle’s hard drive can be partitioned to allow for non-music file storage. You can select how much space you want to allocate for files and how much for music. This was a great feature, even for just limiting the amount of songs loaded on by the autofill function, as it meant we didn’t have to waste time creating specific size playlists.
The shuffle was ideal when doing any kind of physical activity, even just walking to the bus stop. Any of the other iPods, including the iPod mini, are a little bit too bulky to use on a run or in the gym. The shuffle’s tiny size made it convenient to fit in any pocket, even a tiny watch pocket.
Summary
Overall thoughts were that the iPod shuffle was excellent – and especially for Apple it was amazing value for money. Comparable devices in the market have less capacity but are more expensive, such as the Packard Bell AudioKey for £69 with 256Mb of storage, Tangent’s 128Mb player for £39.99, or the Napa 256Mb player for £99. Admittedly these players have LCD displays, and some have voice recording capabilities, but at the end of the day they are not made by Apple and hence are infinitely less cool(!). Even USB flash memory sticks (which in essence is all that the iPod shuffle is) are hardly cheaper and in some cases more expensive, so the less musically inclined could use the shuffle solely as a backup drive for files.
We believe that the smaller capacity one will be more successful, as shuffling blindly through 240 songs may prove too much to handle for most people, unless they have Rainman-esque memory powers. But given that there is only the ability to put a fraction of the music you own onto it, the songs can be hand picked so that you never have to skip over one you don’t like. Ultimately, playlist organisation is the key to a happy shuffle.
In success terms, the iPod shuffle will capture a market that Apple are yet to appeal to - the lower cost and less functionally demanding consumers. It will definitely be interesting to see where Apple go from here.
Posted by ipodworld at 12:36 PM
d.Muse Speakers
One of the great things about the iPod is its portability. It’s a pity that when we want to share our music we have to plug it into a stereo, thus defeating the object. A recent influx onto the iPod accessory market is portable speaker systems that are battery and/or mains powered and can be taken anywhere the iPod can. The offering from d.Muse fits into this category, but goes one step further by being powered from the iPod itself thus eliminating the need for batteries.
First Impressions
The handheld d.Muse when folded is 42mm thick, 70mm wide and 114mm long. It comes with a Velcro-fastening leatherette carrying pouch which resembles a camera case. Folded up the speakers look neat and attractive – a clam-shell design, white, contoured exterior casing with gunmetal trimming and a simple ‘d.Muse’ logo on each side. The line-in cable is threaded around one side of the speakers in a groove and held in place by the headphone jack plug inside the speakers. When opened the metal mesh speaker grilles are revealed and the 23cm long cable can be released.
Appearance wise, the d.Muse looks pretty good – the white casing is co-ordinated with the iPod, and the metallic parts of the speakers make them look better than plain black plastic would. They are truly portable in the sense that they hardly weigh anything. Each speaker is only 50mm with 800mW output, so they cannot really be expected to have any substantial mass.
Plugging in the iPod
The good thing about these speakers is that they can be used with any device that has a headphone jack. This means essentially when it comes to iPods that they are generation independent, even including the iPod shuffle. Unless you use a dock, the iPod has to be lying down to be connected to the speakers.
The sound that was produced from the d.Muse was fairly quiet, but reasonably clear with a decent range and as much bass as can be expected from two single tiny speakers. There was very little distortion at full volume, but then full volume was not very loud. Obviously stereo sound, if it was implemented would be pointless as the speakers are so close together. The output achieved acceptably filled a small room, but at greater distances sounded tinny and indistinct.
Overall
The best aspects of the d.Muse are that they are very portable and convenient. There is no way that these speakers should be bought on the expectation that they are going to perform as a stereo system would. For situations where music is going to be played to a short range audience where high quality is not important, i.e. just to have some background noise, these speakers are perfect.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:50 AM
Audio accessory brings American football to iPods
A pioneering agreement reached in the US is set to coalesce sport and the Apple iPod.
The American National Football League (NFL) announced yesterday that it had signed a deal with the online audiobook distributor, Audible, to produce recordings of this year's remaining playoff games for consumers to listen to through their Pods.
Apple's iTunes music store, which has already an existing relationship with Audible, will offer recordings of the match in full and in highlighted versions.
The first such recordings will go on sale on Monday morning following this Sunday's NFL conference championships.
Chris Russo, senior vice president of new media and publishing for the NFL, said complete recordings of games, including versions that feature local sportscasters, are expected to cost around $10 each, while highlights of games are expected to cost between 95 cents and $4.95.
"This is not a replacement for watching games," Russo said. "It's really for fans who want a keepsake of the event or who to want hear the local call of the event."
Analysts have predicted that should this new iPod accessory innovation prove successful, it will only be a matter of time before similar recordings from other sports will be made available.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:45 AM
January 18, 2005
Griffin unveils AirClick
Leading technology firm Griffin has announced news of its latest iPod accessories, the AirClick and AirClick USB.
The two devices will provide iPod owners with the capability to control their digital music players via remote from up to 60 feet away.
Use of the devices is not reportedly constrained by line of sight due to the employment of RF technology, as opposed to IR, and can even function from an adjacent room.
Although primarily designed for controlling iTunes, Griffin's AirClick USB will also be connectable to a Mac to permit users to control other tasks.
The new product will ship with preset functions for Apple's DVD player, iTunes, Keynote, PowerPoint, QuickTime and VLC.
A remote, receiver, remote cradle and straps for attaching it to a car steering wheel will all be included within the package.
The product is expected to retail from around £25.
Posted by ipodworld at 06:08 PM
PodSleevz
Radtech, the makers of the PodSleevz, have had a few years’ experience in protecting valuable items: before breaking into the iPod case world they were providing quality hard laptop cases for the medical community. Their newest offering is PodSleevz – super-thin Optex cases for maximising protection and minimising bulk.
They are designed to completely cover the iPod 3rd and 4th generations and the iPod mini, uniquely including the click wheel. The employment of their exclusive debossed control zones (their words not ours) means that the click wheel can be controlled even whilst the case is on. They retail at £21.99.
First impressions
The PodSleevz model that we tried out was the purple one for the 4th generation 20GB iPod. It comes packaged in a plastic tube, which was distinctive if nothing else. The case has the texture of felt, is flimsy and very soft (no chance of scratching) – the purpose being to act as a barrier rather than a hard shield. It has a clear vinyl screen neatly stitched into the front of the case, and the area over the click wheel is ‘flattened’ so that it is thinner for maximum sensitivity. The dock connector port is covered by a piece of material that can be pushed out to connect the charger cable. The iPod is inserted into the case through the open top, and thus the headphone jack, hold switch and firewire port are completely exposed – useful for connecting top-loading devices such as the iTrip.
Initially without seeing the iPod in the case, it doesn’t have the same appearance as it does in promotional pictures. Although it is well made, the material felt a bit tacky and looked slightly dirty. This could be just due to the colour of case that was being reviewed: on inspecting the other colours they looked a lot better.
Put the iPod in…
The iPod slides in the top of the sleeve easily and fits snugly, ensuring that the iPod wont fall out. It is not perfectly flush to the iPod's surface though; the front panel is a bit wrinkled due to the vinyl screen, but overall the case fits well and looks smart. In the product description it says that the screen panel can be smoothed out to stick to the iPod – this is not advantageous as it merely gets lots of air bubbles which blurs the iPod’s screen.
However, the case does allow the click wheel to be used – the material is thin enough to retain sensitivity and provide complete control. This is a really great aspect of the case (and the main intention of their design), and practically unique amongst iPod cases.
In addition the entire iPod (apart from the top panel) is completely covered by the strong Optex material to prevent scratches. It is not shock proof however – if the iPod was dropped the case would serve no purpose by way of protection.
Overall...
Podsleevz are a great way to protect your iPod from scratches and keep it clean, and the control-through zones are a unique selling factor that will no doubt appeal. The case causes no unnecessary bulk and the range of more unusual colours lends them to cater for a less mainstream market. The £21.99 price tag may seem expensive for such a minimalist product, but the material is high quality, the product is well made, and you would be hard pushed to find a similar product in the same field.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:15 PM
TrendyGeek Pod Shield
You bought your iPod for its cool look (ok some of you may have bought it for the music… yawn…) and so you probably don’t want to cover it up with a chunky case. TrendyGeek have found a great way to sell contact paper at a ridiculously inflated price in their bid for a share of the iPod case market. The clear plastic film is designed to adhere to the iPod using high static as opposed to glue, so you can remove it and reposition it without leaving any sticky residue.
First impressions
The case comes in a flat pack that includes 3 screen protectors and 3 stainless-steel back protectors. The sheets are shaped to completely cover the metal back and wrap over the sides, leaving the corners exposed, and the front parts are just a bit bigger than the screen. The clear plastic film is not sticky; it works like the window stickers that you put in your car when you really love a radio station – held on by static and pure devotion.
Cover the iPod
It is easy to put the film on – even if you are suffering from the alcohol shakes it doesn’t matter, as you can reposition it as much as you want. The Pod Shield forms an almost invisible layer on the silver back, save for a few tiny air bubbles (which are really hard to prevent but which don’t lessen the appearance drastically. Making sure the iPod is totally clean and free from any lint or dirt particles reduces the air bubbles). The front screen protector is not great: the air bubbles are much more apparent and although the screen is still obviously viewable, it is like looking at the world with a scratch in your glasses. There is also the problem of the exposed parts of your iPod – the whole front is not covered (apart from the screen) and hence completely at the mercy of the coins in your pocket.
However, the Pod Shield does perform its job on the parts that it covers. The skin is thick enough to form a decent layer of protection yet thin enough to almost not be there. The best effects are achieved when the iPod is totally clean (ideally brand new and so that no scratches are there to start with). The Pod Shield does get a bit scruffy after a period of normal use, but when it has seen better days you can just replace it (probably why they give you 3 in a pack). A pleasant surprise was that the corners did not peel off or curl up, so it didn’t start looking too tatty.
Summary
In summary, the TrendyGeek Pod Shield worked well on the back of the iPod; on the screen it served its purpose but was not the ideal protector where clarity was concerned. A good aspect was that it worked for the 1st and 2nd generation iPods, which are so rarely catered for in today’s iPod accessories market. As possible improvements go, we would like to see the screen protector extended to cover the entire front of the iPod. In addition, it has the potential to cover the click wheel on any of the generations of iPod as it is thin enough to retain the touch sensitivity on the click and scroll wheels.
Posted by ipodworld at 10:24 AM
January 17, 2005
MoviePlayer iPod accessory a mystery
Question marks have been raised as to when exactly leading manufacturer Nyko is to release its much-anticipated MoviePlayer iPod accessory.
The device was officially unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas nearly two weeks ago and consumers were informed that the accessory would be available in the first half of this year.
Now reports are suggesting that the device will not be available until at earliest August with an even later date predicted by many analysts citing licensing problems as a probable cause.
Nyko's MoviePlayer promises to provide the iPod music players with the capability of transferring and playing movies, videos and photos.
The accessory has been designed with 3.5-inch, 65,000 colour screen with built-in control pad.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:19 PM
Audiovox exhibits in-car iPod kit
Technology designer Audiovox has unveiled its latest product, the iPod mobile interface kit, allowing the play of iPodsthrough car stereos.
The news follows a series of announcements by various car manufacturers to market their new ranges complete with in-car iPod players.
Audiovox's iPod mobile interface kit is universally compatible with the majority of car stereos that have an included CD changer port.
The device will operate through existing stereos and should be controllable from the car's steering wheel.
The in-car holder will also charge the iPod batteries whilst playing.
The accessory will go on general sale later this month priced from around £110.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:02 PM
January 14, 2005
"Made for iPod" certification combats black market iPod accessories
Apple has today introduced a "Made for iPod" certification, aimed at combating the proliferation of black market, low-quality and potentially dangerous iPod accessories.
The badge will be applied to all authorised iPod accessories, distinguishing them from those designed by unofficial developers.
The move follows recent reports suggesting iPod accessory products from unauthorized designers could be harming consumers' iPod hardware, even when used as advertised and intended.
Indeed, a number of concerns have been raised during the last month specifically about damage caused to iPod batteries and the smooth functioning of iPods by these so-called unofficial accessories.
The Made for iPod certification will reportedly benefit Apple, retailers and consumers alike, although vendors on the show floor at Macworld San Francisco have suggested the product will be of benefit to the groups in that order of importance.
Posted by ipodworld at 10:24 AM
Demand for iPod shuffle intensifies
The release of Apple's newest digital music player has been greeted by unsurpassed consumer demand in the US.
Analysts correctly predicted consumers would swamp retailers for the iPod shuffle, unveiled by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs earlier this week, but the extent of which this has happened could hardly have been predicted.
Retailers on the exhibition show floor at San Francisco Macworld Expo have revealed that Apple's retail store in San Francisco sold 20,000 iPod shuffle units in its first four hours of availability.
That equates to 5,000 of the new miniscule music players being sold each hour and nearly 85 of them every very minute.
As with the release of the original iPod, consumer demand wholly exceeded supply of the new music players, emptying the store's entire stock room within hours.
Reports suggest people were purchasing up to nine iPod shuffles at a time, with one punter buying 24 units in one transaction.
Consumers in the UK are still only able to attain the latest fad via the Internet, with Apple suggesting shipping could take up to four weeks.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:54 AM
January 13, 2005
New Griffin products receive warm reception
Griffin Technology has released two new products for use with Apple's iPod music player.
The BlueTrip is a wireless transmitter/receiver enabling CD-quality audio to be broadcasted from an iPod on a home stereo system.
The device uses Bluetooth technology, can transmit up to 30 feet away from a home stereo and is universally compatible with most sound systems.
"When I'm at home with my high-end sound system I want the best acoustic integrity possible from my iPod," said Paul Griffin, president of Griffin Technology.
"Digital wireless Bluetooth audio is the answer. BlueTrip delivers the ideal home wireless solution, and it lets me keep my iPod close at hand."
The Griffin BlueTrip will retail from around £80 as from the first quarter of 2005.
Giffin's second product unveiled is the FireWave, a device providing 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound to Macs through a FireWire port.
The speaker systems will ship in the first quarter of the year and are set to go on the market priced at £55.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:52 AM
Apple sales surging thanks to iPod
Computer giant Apple announced yesterday that thanks largely to sales of its popular iPod music player, it has earned $295 million (£156m) in its fiscal first quarter, representing a considerable increase on last year's $63 million (£33m).
Figures reveal revenue for the quarter reached $3.49 billion, up nearly 75 percent from the $2 billion recorded the same time one year ago.
For the three months leading up to December 25, Apple has attributed the wildly popular iPod devices for helping quadruple profits after 4.58 million digital music players were shipped during the last quarter, more than six times the number recorded a year earlier.
But despite the success in sales, analysts have predicted that the surge will slow in the near future and that expectations should allow for this slow-down.
"We're very pleased with the reception that we're getting," said Timothy Cook, Apple executive vice president of worldwide sales and operations. "But frankly it's too early to gauge demand on these."
The introduction of the iPod shuffle announced yesterday represents a positive attempt by Apple to maintain their market dominance in response to a recent influx of rival companies music players.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:50 AM
January 12, 2005
Acme iPod Wallet
Acme Made is a small company based in Oregon that has already established itself as an en-vogue name in the USA, having distributors in numerous Sony Style Stores and the fashion haven Fred Segal in Santa Monica. Clearly the cases have design credibility when it comes to appearances, but the real test is in the functionality. The case was rated on usability, robustness and practicality. And just for arguments sake we rated it on looks too.
First impressions...
The case comes in three colours – a soft baby pink, pale sky blue and a garish lime green. They appear shinier than first expected – the exterior box leather is not leatherette but more like PVC. The inside of the cases are lined with a micro suede, which looks like the real deal but is more of a friend to the animals, and is a perfectly acceptable substitute. When in the case, the iPod is held in place by an elasticated pouch with a cut-out for the click wheel and a clear vinyl screen protector. In the fold of the wallet there is an elasticated strap to hold headphones in place, and on the top flap there is an inside pouch for holding small items such as credit cards (there is not much room for anything else). The wallet is held together by a surprisingly strong concealed magnet on the fastener (we know, magnets and hard drives are a no-go, but this one is lined to avoid interference), which is decorated with a metal Acme logo. The top of the iPod is completely exposed for full access to the headphone jack and firewire port, and the bottom dock connector port is also fully accessible to plug in the charger.
First impressions of the case are good – it is well made and the materials are high quality. The outside feels sleek and smooth and the inner microsuede is so soft it couldn’t possibly scratch your iPod. A gripe though would be that where the plastic outer coating has been applied, some of the ‘putty’ that has been used to seal the layers is a bit uneven. But overall, it looks great and is an unusual take on the generally more practical iPod case .
Additionally, without wanting to engage in any gender debate, this really is a girl’s case. Firstly it does look like a purse, and secondly the colours are not exactly manly. So any references to lipstick or handbags in this review are made in the expectation that a girl… will be the one using the case.
In goes the iPod…
The first thing to note is that the case fits fine with the 20GB and the 40GB models of iPod, and feels really secure, if not a little bit bulky, kind of like a leather-bound book. At a squeeze it can even fit the 1st generation iPod. The magnet is effective at keeping the wallet closed; there is no danger of it coming open unexpectedly. When not in use, the headphones can be wound up and put in the strap on the inside of the wallet. This is a bit fiddly and for perfectionists involves the careful segmenting of the cabling so that none hangs out either side, and precise positioning of the earbuds so that the case can actually close with them inside. Also, non-standard earphones such as Shure E2cs are not catered for, as they are too bulky to be contained inside. And don’t even go there with the Sony MDRs.
What we found with the wallet was that it is really usable – the click wheel is not obstructed at all and the iPod doesn’t need to be removed to be charged, to use an iTrip, plug in speakers, operate the Navipod… you get the picture. It will even fit in car accessories such as the Arkon windshield/vent mounts. Using the dock with the wallet is impossible, but unlike other cases such as the iSkins, the iPod easily removed from the wallet and so the hassle involved in minimal.
Carrying it around was a pleasure – it was easy to find in a large bag (partly due to colour, partly due to its size), though a bit big for a pocket, and operating the iPod when in the wallet was easy enough. It did however seem a shame to hide it in a bag, and there was no way of having it on display short of holding it – and that’s just crazy talk. A belt clip would look weird, as would a lanyard, so I guess the pride in the case comes with owning it, knowing it’s looking cool in your bag.
We noticed that as we used it more, the microsuede got a bit dirty (as would real suede), but it is washable so normal wear and tear dirt can be cleaned off. Also when using the headphone strap, stuffing the headphones through in a hurry was handy, but getting them out untangled was a challenge. We didn’t try it, but we reckon that the wallet would have pretty good shock and chip protection if dropped – the iPod is held away from the edges of the case by the protruding rim and so would be buffered from the fall.
In summary, the case looks and feels great, is really easy to use and has great compatibility with peripheral devices. On the downside, the male market is a little excluded, it is fairly bulky for those looking for a slim-line case, and the ‘putty’ sealant on the edges looks a bit messy on some of the cases.
Posted by ipodworld at 04:37 PM
Apple releases flash-memory iPod
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has officially announced the release of a new flash-memory based iPod, putting an end to several months of mounting speculation.
The new version of Apple's successful digital music player, the iPod shuffle, weighs less than an ounce and is reportedly a similar size to a pack of gum.
A 512-megabyte iPod shuffle holds about 120 songs and will retail for just over £50, whilst a one-gigabyte version holds double the amount of tunes and will retail for around £80.
The newest iPod member pioneers the use of flash memory to store music as opposed to the more expensive computer-like hard drives in previous models.
Industry analysts have hailed the new music player as a technological breakthrough and ideal for consumers who refuse to spend hundreds on music players.
"The shuffle is where it needs to be - it is very unlikely to cannibalize the iPod while allowing Apple to be more aggressive with other flash players," said Steve Baker, analyst with NPD Techworld.
"It also allows Apple to tap into overseas markets better where people are more sensitive to price points than here in the U.S."
Many experts have also added that the iPod shuffle now seems certain to further cement Apple's domination on the MP3 market.
Mr Jobs confirmed during the unveiling that Apple's domination of the middle-and-higher-priced MP3 market had stretched to 80 per cent after iPod sales figures in the fourth quarter of 2004 reached 4.5 million, bringing the total sold since the product's introduction to more than 10 million.
Posted by ipodworld at 09:48 AM
Volvo joins Apple iPod bandwagon
Car manufacturer Volvo has become the latest firm to announce intentions to install iPod connectivity options on its range of new vehicles.
The Volvo iPod Adapter will be available for the S60, S80 and V70/XC70 models through a simple connection in the glove compartment, whilst S40, V50 and XC90 owners will be able to use a dashboard mounted FM transmitter.
Steering wheel controls will also be installed, allowing easy access to the sound system's controls.
"The year of the iPod and the automobile is off to a tremendous start with Volvo bringing iPod connectivity to their entire line," commented Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.
"The unbeatable combination of iPod and iTunes is a perfect fit for Volvo customers."
Pricing for the Volvo iPod Adapter will be unveiled at an official launch in the second quarter of 2005.
Volvo follows a growing list of car manufacturers to exploit in-car iPod systems.
BMW and Mini Cooper sparked the trend last year, with Saab and Toshiba promptly following suit in December.
Mercedes-Benz has announced it is to release its first iPod integration kits this April in the US, whilst Nissan, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari are all expected to announce details of similar iPod integration solutions later this year.
"Almost every car company in the world is working to integrate iPod into their cars in 2005," added Mr Schiller.
"iPod customers want to take their entire music collection with them everywhere they go, including their car, so we're excited to be able to work with so many leading automotive companies to provide customers with integrated solutions."
Posted by ipodworld at 09:15 AM
January 11, 2005
Apple receives advertising boost from Pepsi
Apple iTunes is to receive a considerable advertising boost as a result of its marketing collaboration with Pepsi.
For the nineteenth consecutive time, the soft drink giant will be advertising on Super Bowl XXXVIII and has even managed to secure five new commercials for the event, debuting in the first, second and third quarters.
Several advertisements will reportedly promote Pepsi and Apple's joint promotion of Apple's iTunes, with the much hyped "I fought the law" advertisement poised for exhibition.
The advertisement will draw attention to the Pepsi iTunes 100 Million Song Giveaway campaign, an historic promotion giving away 100 million free songs to Mac and Windows PC users from Apple's iTunes music store.
"The Super Bowl offers the biggest and best stage to generate buzz and excitement for our brands," said Dave Burwick, SVP and chief marketing officer, Pepsi-Cola North America.
"There is no better time or place to launch new ideas like our 100 million song giveaway promotion with Apple."
The promotion commences on February 1 and runs to March 31, with winning codes placed under random Pepsi and Diet Pepsi bottle caps.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:56 PM
Apple releases iTunes 4.5
Apple has officially released a new version of its hugely successful Internet music download site, iTunes 4.5.
The updated program for Windows and Macintosh possesses the largest commercial catalogue of downloadable files with over 700,000 tracks from five major labels currently available, a number announced yesterday that is expected to swell to over a million in due course.
The iTunes 4.5 also introduces a number of new features aimed at boosting its market dominance.
A range of 150 tracks, exclusive to iTunes, is to be launched offering pre-release singles, such as the Beastie Boys single "Ch-Check It Out", as well as Disney classics and out of print Motown singles.
An iMix program encourages the mailing and sharing of songs between users, a Party Shuffle function allows music lovers to create their own mixes of tunes, and a Print CD Inserts capability allows owners to fabricate jewel case inserts for albums or mix discs.
A number of other facilities have also been designed including the clever Apple Lossless file, which allows the importation and conversion of music from CDs into iTunes and onto iPods at sound quality indistinguishable from the original.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:53 PM
iTunes catalogue tops one million
Apple has reportedly announced that its iTunes music store has become the first electronic music supplier to retain over one million tracks available for downloading onto iPod music devices, according to Synthtopia.
The news follows earlier revelations confirming Apple's agreement with leading European independent music labels, Beggars Group, Sanctuary Records Group and V2.
"The iTunes music store offers the world's most extensive collection of downloadable music with over one million tracks available," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of applications.
"With more than one million songs, over 600 independent labels and dozens of innovative features, iTunes is the ultimate destination for discovering and downloading music."
The iTunes music store now features music from all five major record labels in addition to the 600-plus leading independent labels from around the world.
The site also holds more than 70 per cent of the world's market share of legal downloads for singles and albums.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:52 PM
January 10, 2005
Apple boosts iTunes suppliers
The library of songs available for downloading at the iTunes website has been significantly enhanced by the news that Apple has agreed terms to collaborate with European independent music labels, Beggars Group, Sanctuary Records Group and V2.
The link-ups will provide iPod owners in the UK, France and Germany with tens of thousands of additional tunes to download, according to technology website Synthtopia.
"We're thrilled to add three of Europe's largest indie labels to our iTunes Music Store in the UK, France and Germany," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
"We welcome Beggars, Sanctuary and V2 to the iTunes family, and plan to add many more independent labels soon."
The arrival of the three record labels will herald profitable downloading figures for a number of acts and artists who were previously unattainable on iPod music players.
Basement Jaxx, the Crystal Method, Interpol, the Libertines, Morrissey, the Pixies, Prodigy, Stereophonics, Paul Weller, the White Stripes, Bob Marley, Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols and the Datsuns will all become available as a result of the move.
Figures suggest an estimated 700,000 songs are currently available through the iTunes music store, a number which is expected to continue rising in the wake of similar collaborations in the near future.
Posted by ipodworld at 03:50 PM