Showing posts with label Ipod Junkie Dilemma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ipod Junkie Dilemma. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2009

iPod shuffle review: where we're going, we don't need clicks

The third-generation iPod shuffle has caused quite a stir thanks to its lack of buttons and the inclusion of a proprietary headphone controller chip. At the same time, Apple fans are loving the even-sleeker music player. Ars takes a look in its latest review to see whether the pros are worth the cons.

iPod shuffle review: where we're going, we don't need clicks

The third-generation iPod shuffle is here, and not a soul saw it coming. (These days, that's a rarity.) Apple's new buttonless wonder has been making waves and ruffling feathers in the days since its introduction, so we took some time with it to really see whether the hype—and the hate—was warranted.

Unlike the 2G shuffle, which came in a variety of colors, the third-gen iPod shuffle now comes in only two "colors" (if you can even call them that)—black and silver. This is sure to disappoint color enthusiasts and parents who love giving shuffles as stocking stuffers, but we wouldn't be surprised to see colors return to the shuffle line in time. More importantly, however, the new shuffle now comes with 4GB of storage space for the same price ($79) as the 2G shuffle's 1GB. That's half of an iPhone 3G, or a low-end 4G iPod nano.

What your $79 gets you

The 3G iPod shuffle comes in a square plastic box designed along the same lines as the packaging for other iPods.

The shuffle and headphone clicker are suspended front and center, while the USB 2.0 cable, remainder of the headphones, and a small instruction booklet are nestled underneath.

Compared to the previous shuffle...

Compared to the previous shuffle, the new version obviously has no buttons, which is its main selling point, of course. We'll elaborate on this further into the review. Other than the lack of buttons, the new shuffle is also smaller and more stick-like, though it's still much tinier than the original gum-pack-sized shuffle. It's just a hair thinner than the second-gen shuffle (0.3" thick versus the 2G's 0.41").

Sunday, March 29, 2009

AvatarLabs Announces Launch of App for iPhone and iPod Touch Based on DreamWorks Animation SKG Release 'Monsters vs. Aliens'

LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----AvatarLabs, one of Hollywood's leading online marketing agencies, specializing in the creation of online rich media, sites and original branded digital content, announced today the U.S. launch of the "Monsters vs. Aliens" iPhone and iPod Touch application on Apple's App Store in support of the upcoming theatrical release from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA). Rex Cook, Executive Creative Director/Founder, AvatarLabs, made the announcement.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090324/LA87507)

There are two versions of the app available now on the Apple App Store. The LITE version is a free download that allows users to learn more about the film, watch videos, view downloadable film stills and find show times at nearby theaters. There is also a special interactive sneak peek of one of the film's Monsters: B.O.B., the indestructible gelatinous mass hidden from the public eye by the government.

"'B.O.B.' is one of our favorite characters from the film," says Mr. Cook, "so we jumped at the chance to feature him in the app. He's funny and gelatinous, which makes him exciting to animate, and perfect to play with for kids of all ages."

Users can also purchase the FULL app to receive a B.O.B. Bundle suite of activities, including:

   --  A soundboard with over 30 B.O.B. Blurbs
-- More ways to play with B.O.B. - from swiping and poking to
"eye-popping" experiences
-- Containment Center-tainment featuring "B.O.B. Says" and
"Monster Match" (with unique character cards and additional
B.O.B. sound clips) and 4 levels of B.O.B.'s favorite game:
"52 Pickup"

The B.O.B. apps are designed to take advantage of Apple's innovative Multi-Touch user interface and accelerometer, including tapping, tilting and shaking the device.

The free "MONSTERS VS. ALIENS" B.O.B. app and the "MONSTERS VS. ALIENS" B.O.B. Bundle for sale at $1.99 are both available from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore/

Other links:

Full App: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307956523&mt=8

Lite App:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=308050447&mt=8

"We are very excited to launch these apps," Cook adds, "Bringing DreamWorks Animation's 'Monsters vs. Aliens' to the iPhone and iPod Touch means people can interact with the brand and its most popular character, wherever they are. Not only will this create more goodwill towards the brand, but it will also act like viral marketing, with friends and family being introduced to the character via this very fun and interactive medium."

ABOUT "MONSTERS VS. ALIENS:"

"Monsters vs. Aliens" is the latest film from DreamWorks Animation and marks the company's first feature film to be produced in stereoscopic 3D technology. When California girl Susan Murphy is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. Alerted to the threat of this new monster, the military jumps into action and Susan is captured and secreted away to a covert government compound. There, she is renamed Ginormica and placed in confinement with a ragtag group of other monsters: the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus.

Their confinement is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. In a moment of desperation, The President is persuaded by General W.R. Monger to enlist the motley crew of Monsters to combat the Alien Robot and save the world from imminent destruction.

ABOUT AVATARLABS

Founded in 2001 by Executive Creative Director Rex Cook, AvatarLabs is one of Hollywood's most successful online marketing, mobile and gaming agencies. The company is the winner of two 2008 Digital Movie Advertising Creative Showcase Awards, a 2008 "OMMA" Award, and four 2008 W-3 Awards, adding to a plethora of previously-won industry awards and honors.

AvatarLabs was recently behind the online promotional campaign for "Watchmen" and is currently working on an upcoming iPhone campaign promoting "Terminator Salvation." In addition, the company was also involved in the online marketing behind such major hit films as "The Dark Knight," "Wall-E," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Please visit www.avatarlabs.com or call (818) 784-2200.

SOURCE AvatarLabs

http://www.avatarlabs.com

source

Friday, March 27, 2009

It's an iPod World

The transition is complete. My formerly heterogeneous home MP3 environment has transformed into a one-company, one-brand house. Everyone is using Apple iPods. If my home is a microcosm of the market, the MP3 industry has a major problem.

It wasn't always this way at my house. For a time my wife had an off-brand portable, exercise-friendly device. Then I bought her an iPod shuffle (no, not the new, buttonless one). Both my son and daughter had SanDisk Sansa e200s—nice, shiny 2GB models that handled music, video (sort of), and photos. The Sansas also had FM radios, which my kids almost never listened to. For the most part, they used the Sansas to download music from Real's Rhapsody service. For a while, my kids were happy. In fact, when one of the Sansas was stolen, we even replaced it with a similar model. Still, it was hard for the kids to ignore the Apple iPod marketing that was happening all around them. It didn't help that their experience with Real Rhapsody was more than a little frustrating. Music would inexplicably become unplayable on both players. Updating licenses within Rhapsody didn't help.

My son, 14, began his campaign for an iPod touch late last summer. Keep in mind that he never mentioned any player from any other manufacturer. He got the touch for Christmas and has rarely spent 5 minutes straight without it. Last year, my daughter started saving money for a PlayStation Portable. Since she's not much of a gamer, my wife and I never understood this. After seeing my son with his iPod touch and getting a look at some of the ads for the fourth-generation iPod nano, she switched gears. Last week, she took her savings and bought a bright, shiny, pink one. Like her brother, she's never without it.

During the years the kids had their Sansas, there were times of extreme gadget adoration, but they never lasted. It's different with the Apple iPods. In my son's case, I fear he may have glued the iPod touch to his hand. Interestingly, the other day he commented, "No one wants a Zune." He then asked me, "Does anyone buy them?" Yes, some people are buying Zunes, but they've clearly become more of a punch line than a viable product. Witness this exchange from the NBC espionage comedy Chuck:

"Chuck: Do we carry any Rush CDs in the store?
Morgan: No need, I got 'em all on my Zune.
Chuck: You have a Zune!?
Morgan: Heh, are you kidding me? No. No, I'll grab my iPod."

Ouch. I hope Bill Gates, who has said he won't let his kids have iPods in the home, wasn't a fan of that show.

The Zune is a quality—if uninspiring—player, but I don't see a lot of kids saving their money to buy one. This isn't necessarily Microsoft's fault. It seems that no one has successfully taken on the iPod. Look at SanDisk's Sansa division. Earlier this year it introduced the Sansa slotRadio player, which uses microSD cards. These retro devices are targeted at people who think iPods—and similar devices—are too complicated and would prefer to buy discrete song collections and albums—the way they did in the old days. SanDisk execs told me they were done trying to compete directly with Apple's iPods.

That said, is anyone really still competing with iPods? Colby, Cowon, Samsung, Sony, and others are still producing MP3 players, but I rarely see them in the wild. Honestly, not one of these products is as sexy, exciting, or innovative as the iPod touch. The touch, however, was not the game changer. In my opinion, the reason the MP3 market is on its way to becoming a one-man show is the iPhone.

Apple's iPhone is the single best combo phone/MP3 player. If you're buying a new phone, it's on your short list—it's on everybody's short list. For the majority of consumers, once they have an iPhone, there's no real need to buy a separate MP3 player. The iPhone is the gateway for Apple's music, video, apps, and iTunes ecosystem. Once consumers step in, they find the most extensible device and environment they've ever seen. Does any other product offer a similar experience?

I'm not saying an Apple monopoly of the MP3 market is a good thing, but it is a real possibility. More and more MP3 manufacturers are likely to bow out of the business. As I've said before, the Microsoft Zune will no longer be a standalone player. It will live as a feature in future Windows Mobile devices. I can't see much of a future for the Zune Marketplace, either.

Speaking of Zune Marketplace, software products and services of this ilk haven't done themselves any favors. For all the complaints I've heard (and myself have) about iTunes, it's still far better than Marketplace, Rhapsody, and essentially any other music utility software available today. Because it's designed for the iPod, it is a perfect marriage. Rhapsody is designed to support a huge list of devices and is expert in none.

My own iPod story is bound to be replayed over and over again in homes around the country. Take a look around you. How many music players aside from iPods (of all stripes) and iPhones do you see?


Arrow Full Apple Product Coverage
http://go.pcmag.com/apple
Arrow

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Apple hit with lawsuit over iPhone as e-book reader

There's some speculation that the Kindle for iPhone app may have sparked the lawsuit.

(Credit: CNET)

Earlier this month Apple got hit with a lawsuit over an "exploding" iPod Touch. Now it appears to be getting hit with a suit over the exploding e-book market.

A couple of blogs, including Apple Insider, are reporting that a Swiss communications firm, Monec Holding, has filed suit in a Virginia district court. Monec accuses the iPhone maker of "patent infringement, unfair trade practices, monopolization, and tortious interference for allegedly treading on its January 2002 patent No. 6,335,678 titled 'Electronic device, preferably an electronic book.'"

We've never heard of Monec, but the mission statement on its rather austere Web site claims it's "a leading innovator for mobile, globally usable communication solutions...with user-friendly products and pioneering solutions, Monec provides companies and users with secure, wireless access solutions which offer highest degree of flexibility, functionality, speed and independence."

Apparently, last year Monec also sued HP for patent infringement.

Apple Insider says Monec's beef centers on "Apple's move to distribute digital book reading applications through the App Store, which it subsequently sees as an endorsement by the Cupertino-based company that its touch-screen handset can serve as a capable eBook reader."

According to Monec, that violates a patent it filed for a "lightweight" electronic device with a "touch-screen" LCD display having the "dimensions such that (...) approximately one page of a book can be illustrated at normal size, this display being integrated in a flat, frame-like housing."

It's unclear what exactly set off the lawsuit but there's some speculation that it may have been prompted by Amazon's Kindle for iPhone e-book reader software appearing in Apple's App Store--even though Apple has had other e-book reader applications in the App Store for a while.

Apple had no comment about the lawsuit. How about you?

source

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

iPod man will keep president tuned in

BARACK Obama will be accompanied by his personal "body man" when he comes to London next week.

Reggie Love, the 26-year-old who does everything from getting the President sandwiches to loading his iPod will be at his elbow for virtually every minute of his three-day visit for the G20 summit.

The former university basketball star carries a bag which includes anything the president might need at short notice, including note pads, painkillers, a spare toothbrush, cold medication and breath freshener.

Mr Obama describes him as "the person who keeps me on schedule" and gave Mr Love the title "deputy political director" when he joined the White House staff after shadowing him throughout his election campaign

Also watching Mr Obama's every step will be the armed secret service bodyguards assigned to protect "Renegade", his code name. Twelve agents will accompany him on the plane, working eight-hour shifts to provide around-the-clock security.

More security personnel are already in London discussing his protection with Scotland Yard. They were said today to have vetoed a plan for Sarah Brown to entertain Michelle Obama on the Royal Train with the wives of the other G20 leaders.

Mr Obama's aides have spent several months planning the trip. Even though the president is here for the G20 economic summit it has all the trappings of a formal state visit.

The First Lady will have a team of eight accompanying her. They include a press officer and secretarial support as well as bodyguards.

Mr Obama will have at least 20 people in his close entourage. The most visible will be a military officer carrying the secret codes needed in the event of a nuclear crisis in a briefcase known as "the football".

The retinue on the flight to Stansted will also include his press secretary Robert Gibbs, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, several assistants and his doctor.

The President will also be accompanied by his key economic and policy advisers for the G20 summit - including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Larry Summers, the head of the National Economic Council, and Christina Romer, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.

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$50 million iPod ponzi schemer earns a 17 year prison sentence

Coming right on the heels of another high profile iPod-related scam, we bring you more news of someone using the good name of Apple for nefarious means.

Miami-based businessman Andres Pimstein managed to orchestrate a $50 million iPod investment scam on the University of Miami campus starting back in 2005.

His fraudulent business venture involved purchasing iPods at wholesale prices and purportedly reselling them at higher than market prices to a department store chain in Pimstein's native Chile. In reality, he was pulling a Madoff; enticing investors with promises of annual returns of up to 36 percent, while pocketing their money and paying their returns with money from other investors.

Pimstein pleaded guilty to a dozen wire-fraud counts in December and, along with a hefty 17 year prison sentence handed down by a federal judge on Friday, he must also turn over 5,540 of the iPods and an investment account totaling $138,522. Of course, this amount pales in comparison to the combined $40 million lost by at least 146 of the scheme's investors.

And so justice is served, and yet another Apple-abusing criminal is behind bars.

[via Cult of Mac]

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EA SCRABBLE Now Available on iPhone and iPod Touch With Facebook Connect

LOS ANGELES, Mar 24, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----EA Mobile(TM), a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that SCRABBLE on Apple's App Store now supports Facebook(R) Connect. The new edition of SCRABBLE connects the Facebook SCRABBLE application to a SCRABBLE game on iPhone(TM) and iPod(R) touch - or vice versa - allowing fans in the U.S. and Canada to have access to their favorite Hasbro-branded crossword puzzle game any time, any place.

"We're excited to be one of the first companies to bring this popular game to two of the most prolific platforms in recent years, the iPhone and Facebook," said Travis Boatman, Vice President of Worldwide Studios, EA Mobile. "With this new innovation, we're giving players the opportunity to engage in SCRABBLE games from an iPhone, iPod touch or Facebook seamlessly, whether at home, during work or on the road."

This connected version of SCRABBLE provides an intuitive interface that allows head-to-head challenges with family, friends or anyone accessing the game on Facebook, an iPhone or iPod touch. Start on Facebook and switch to iPhone or iPod touch to keep playing on the go. Connect with a Facebook friend from an iPhone or iPod touch or join a public game on Facebook. With easy tracking of scores and statistics, players always know where they rank against competitors. While playing SCRABBLE, gamers can enjoy built-in chat so they can converse with opponents and friends throughout the game. Players can also get help from in-game dictionaries.

"The 'pick up and go' integration between Facebook, iPhone and iPod touch allows SCRABBLE fans to truly stay connected to the game they love to play," said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Gaming and Media at Hasbro. "It is a great example of how technology is opening new and exciting channels of gameplay for one of the most popular board games in North America."

SCRABBLE is available on Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore, and on Facebook for users in the U.S. and Canada, or by simply visiting www.eamobile.com. Customers who currently own SCRABBLE for the iPhone and iPod touch can download the update for free on their device. For information on pricing for all EA Mobile games, please visit www.eamobile.com.

About Scrabble

A family favorite since 1948, the Scrabble Brand Crossword game has sold has sold more than 100 million sets worldwide since its debut 60 years ago. Today there are between one and two million Scrabble games sold each year in North America and it can be found in one out of every three homes in America. The latest version, Scrabble: Diamond Anniversary Edition was released in 2008 in celebration of the game's ongoing popularity for the past six decades. Through an alliance forged between Hasbro and Electronic Arts (EA), Scrabble has also landed on digital gaming platforms including mobile phones, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, Facebook and Pogo.com, EA's popular online gaming destination. Additionally, The National Scrabble Association sanctions more than 250 Scrabble tournaments and 300 Scrabble clubs in the United States and Canada.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. (C)2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About EA Mobile

EA Mobile(TM) is the world's leading wireless entertainment publisher with award-winning games such as Tetris(R), Bejeweled(R), The Sims(TM), and Need For Speed(TM). The EA Mobile portfolio also includes casual games based on the company's partnership with Hasbro, Inc. including MONOPOLY, YAHTZEE and SCRABBLE (in the U.S. and Canada) as well as sports blockbusters from the EA SPORTS(TM) brand, including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer and NASCAR(R). EA Mobile develops games for multiple mobile platforms including mobile phones, smartphones, the iPhone(TM) and iPod(R). For more information about EA Mobile, please visit www.eamobile.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS Freestyle(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, EA Mobile, POGO, Need for Speed, and The Sims are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. John Madden, NFL, FIFA and NASCAR are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Tetris is a registered trademark of Tetris Holding, LLC. Bejeweled is a registered trademark of PopCap Games, Inc. MONOPOLY, YAHTZEE and SCRABBLE (in the U.S. and Canada) are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc. Facebook(R) is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Facebook(R) is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5924645&lang=en

SOURCE: EA Mobile

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The "Get Productive" Guide For New iPod Owners

The "Get Productive" Guide For New iPod Owners
(GUIDE TO THE MAXIMUM IPOD EXPERIENCE)


So you have got an iPod as a Christmas or birthday present. It looks good and holds true with its claim of a thousand songs in your pocket, huh? But do you know that iPod could do much more for you aside from entertaining you? To all new iPod owners, here is a guide on how to be productive with your iPod.

New iPod owners could find a sleek, sexy personal data assistant with their iPod. Read on below to learn how to sync contacts and calendars from your iPod to your computer, or use it to transfer soft files, of any format, to your computer, and read sticky notes.

* Add VIPs

All the stored information in your computer about the important people in your life that you know such as phone numbers, home addresses, email addresses, company name, birthdays, and other personal information, you can transfer it your new iPod.

If you're a Mac user, it is quite easy to sync your Address Book with your new iPod. If you're a Windows user, you can use Outlook Express or Microsoft outlook to sync your contact details in your new iPod.

* Sync Schedule

Scheduled for a meeting with the top bosses tomorrow? Or have a date with the lady of your dreams on Saturday? You can sync your alarms and schedules from Mac's iCal with your new iPod. For Microsoft Windows users, your new iPod can work with Microsoft Outlook to sync schedules.

* Take and Read Sticky Notes

You do not need those yellow sticky notes to write anything that pops up in your head (since they always get lost, anyway) like, what are your deadlines for the day and the coming week, your grocery lists, driving directions, etc. You can take all your sticky notes inside your new iPod and carry it with you all the time.

Your new iPod can hold a total of 4096 characters or (4kb in total) for each note. So, keep in mind to keep your notes briefly so won't run out of character lines if you sync it with your new iPod.

How can you sync sticky notes from your computer to your new iPod?

Here's how.

1. Open your notepad or any word-processing application that can save the file into .txt. Type a new note to create your grocery lists or those bulleted to-do's that you have been laying aside for a few weeks already. Or if you want to keep an important email message or want to put in your new iPod lyrics of the songs from your new iPod's playlist, just copy the text and then paste it in a notepad.

2. Save document in .txt file.

3. Connect your new iPod to your Mac or Microsoft Windows computer.

4. Since you're a new iPod user, you might have not set your iPod for disk use. But if you are a techie new iPod user and already did this, skip this step.

To new iPod users who have not set their new iPod for disk use, enable this feature by doing these:

1. Open your iTunes program from your computer and then open iTunes preferences. Mac users should click 'Preferences' from the iTunes menu, while Microsoft Windows users should choose the 'Edit' menu first before clicking 'Preferences').
2. Find the iPod tab, click it, and then a new pane will open. Click in the iPod pane the Music tab.
3. A Select the "Enable disk use" checkbox, then click OK.

5. Open your iPod volume that appears on your desktop (Mac) or in My Computer (Windows) to display three folders: Calendars, Contacts, and Notes.

6. Drag your text file to the Notes folder on your iPod to add it.

* Use the iPod as File Carrier

If you haven't already figured it out by now, you can use any iPod model as an external hard drive, allowing you to copy files onto it and shuttle items from one computer to another. This comes in handy if you need to work on projects at the office or school and at home, or you want to transfer your digital music collection from your old computer to a new one. Here's how to enable this feature.

Show me how:

1. Connect your iPod to your computer.
2. Open iTunes (if it isn't open already), then open iTunes preferences (Mac users, choose Preferences from the iTunes menu; Windows users, on the Edit menu, click Preferences).
3. Click the iPod tab, then click the Music tab in the iPod pane.
4. Select the "Enable disk use" checkbox, then click OK.

Your iPod should now appear as a mounted volume on your desktop (Mac) or in My Computer (Windows). To copy files for transport, simply drag any file onto the iPod volume icon, or double-click the volume, create a new folder (or folders), and copy items to it.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Clash of MP3 Players and iPods

The Clash of MP3 Players and iPods

In the music universe, being number one means having the best of everything. From storage space and versatility to style and functionality, engineers have been moving towards the realization of that need. Not since the mp3 players and ipods have we seen the most amazing array of music devices available for audiophiles and techno rats.

It is interesting to note that MP3 players and ipods have always been mistaken for each other. And as hard as the brand managers try to differentiate their product from competitors, society has the last say on which product makes it and what its nickname will eventually become. MP3 players and ipods started out fairly the same; both are portable, audio players designed to eliminate the need for compact discs. MP3 players and ipods play a variety of music file formats from WAV, MP3, WMA, and MPEG to name a few. Both can also work as file storage devices. However, MP3 players are flash drive storage devices only. They have a limited capacity of up to 1 GB whereas ipods give the user a choice between a flash drive and a hard drive that can store up to 60 GB in memory size.

The competition between MP3 players and ipods extend to the capabilities of the devices. The features offered by MP3 players include an audio player, storage device, voice recorder telephone directory and an FM radio. Though it sounds like a fully loaded car, you are actually limited in terms of accessories. The wildest thing you can do to MP3 players is change the neck strap. Ipods have a wider selection and gives you more freedom to personalize it. Aside from being audio players, there are ipods that can show your pictures with its small LCD display. And with the latest ipods that play videos, you will always have something to keep you company on those stormy nights, alone in the car.

Ipods also give its user the freedom to dress up or dress down their units. There are websites that offer stick-on covers for ipods like the ones at Decalgirl.com or Ipodstyle.com. Ipods can also be used as a slight PDA since some fanatics have tinkered with these digital players and used it to upload their address book and calendar from their computer.

Other accessories available to this device include waterproof cases, headphones, dock, speakers, a home clock/radio system, battery pack, cassette adaptor, media reader and FM transmitters. The list goes on and on as more people find ways to enjoy their ipods.

With technology changing as often as the months do, it is no wonder that the once prized MP3 players are now only second – bit players to ipods. From just being portable audio devices, they have come out of our pockets and have invaded clubs. The most favorite accessories of hardcore music junkies are these docks that serves as a “mixing table” for tunes right from their ipods’ playlist.

Club disc jockeys have a field day with this device since they can create new dance floor beats with their trusty ipods bringing in the crowd thus spawning a new generation of digital mixers. Even club patrons can get into the action by downloading their favorite tunes and taking it to the mixing table for a spin.

MP3 players are not yet obsolete. It still is the next best thing to ipods and as long as there are people willing to make do without the extra features, MP3 players will always be around. If you are tight on the budget but would still like to carry your tunes around without lugging the heavy compact discs then this is the device for you.

Yet, hands down to the winner of this clash of the best audio device – the ipods. More than a just an audio player, ipods have established itself as the icon of the digital age. Its popularity, ease of use and huge potential has taken the music industry by storm. It has taken a life of its own because it has created numerous gadgets and applications that appeal to the geeks, yuppies, artists and fashionistas. As more and more people fall in love with ipods, engineers will continue to work and deliver us the accessories that we can use to fully enhance our beloved toys.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Apple Drowns in iPod Lawsuit

Apple Drowns in iPod Lawsuit

When a product is meant for sale, it has to meet certain quality standards. It is not different with the case of the Apple ipods. With the release of up to five generations of the unit, one has to wonder how strict they are with its manufacturing procedures. An ipod lawsuit being filed by different complainants project the image that Apple has been very irresponsible with the production of these portable music devices.

One of the ipod lawsuit filed are claims that the unit causes hearing damages. The complainant in the ipod lawsuit states that the company does not warn users of its physical risks, and the design of the ipod’s white earbud phones increase the chances of hearing loss. There was even one rumor that fuels this ipod lawsuit that said that Apple's engineers increased the ipod’s sound because they reasoned that CEO Steve Jobs is almost deaf.

Such childish remarks only serve to discredit the ipod lawsuit. But in this case, it only shows how irresponsible Apple has been with neglecting to consider quality standards. But with the new release of the fifth generation ipod, this ipod lawsuit will no longer be a problem since ipod has included the capability to lower the volume and even fix a volume range to a certain level so that parents can limit the sounds their children take when listening to their ipod.

Another ipod lawsuit raised is the battery life. The consumers, who filed the suit, alleged that iPod failed to stand to its claims of the rechargeable battery lasting the product's lifetime and continuously play music for up to 10 hours. Thousands of consumers who has read the ipod lawsuit also complained that the ipod’s battery —costing $99 to replace — lasted only 18 months or less and it only played music for four hours before recharging.

Because of this, many consumers with battery problems on older versions of the iPod digital music player will receive $50 vouchers and an extended service warranties as ordered from a tentative settlement filed under the said class-action lawsuit. The ipod lawsuit could affect 2 million users in the US who purchased first-generation, second-generation and third-generation iPods through May 2004.

Environmentalists were also upset, saying the short-lived battery encouraged consumers to dispose of their old devices, which were ending up in landfills and possibly leaking toxins. Apple has been the target for yearlong campaign by these environmental groups, who are asking the executives to reduce/eliminate recycling fees for their consumers and build recycling centers for the ipod.

However, Apple has done almost nothing to discourage the iPod as a disposable unit and there is a possibility of a future ipod lawsuit should they continue to neglect the problem.

One can quickly address this ipod lawsuit and say that there are available third-party gadgets to prolong, charge the ipod easily or even replace the battery. These batteries contain more capacity than its original standard Apple batteries. However, since the battery is a major part of the music player device, its inability to meet the claims on the box does implicate that Apple ipod is liable to those who filed the ipod lawsuit.

The ipod lawsuit does not end there. Another class suit was filed against Apple for the replacement fees being charged to customers for replacing the broken iPod nano screens. The ipod lawsuit alleges that the iPod nano is defective because the screen is easily scratched and the company is breaking the product warranty by charging $25 for their replacements. They contend in the ipod lawsuit that since the Nano cannot withstand normal use without being damaged, the company should have appropriate warnings to the consumer.

What does this entire ipod lawsuit mean for Apple Computer? Make better products or they end up paying settlements left and right. Just like every other industry, Apple Computers must fix products deemed defective for free or refund the costs its paid customers, especially when it is within the warranty period to lessen the ipod lawsuit filed against them.

Many see this ipod lawsuit as a wake up call for the billionaire company to be strict with their quality control, be responsible in their advertising, and be efficient with their after-sales service. As long as greedy companies are duping people into buying inferior products, many more lawsuits like the ipod lawsuit will surface.

Friday, January 16, 2009

No Need to Shout for iPod Help (iPod Help is Here)

No Need to Shout for iPod Help
(iPod Help is Here)

In the last two years, Apple iPod has been releasing new models every six to eight months. Every new iPod that come offers new feature not available from the previous ones. In fact many features have been totally changed that some units need to be phased out (like the iPod mini). It is for this reason that iPod help center regularly updates their iPod help at the Apple's official website, the Apple.com

iPod help are specifically made to accommodate and answer the needs of iPod users owning iPods of different generations. If you are a new iPod owner, of a first to fifth generations or iPod nano, iPod mini, or iPod shuffle, you might wonder what are the things you could do with your iPod. Now that you have shouted help, we will bring you five top things that new iPod owner ask for and the iPod help and answers that correspond them.

iPod Help 1: Know thy iPod Battery

iPod help states that your iPod battery shall last for 300 to 500 recharge cycles. Meaning, after the 500th discharge and recharge, you need to replace not just the battery but the entire unit at the Apple Center for a refurbished unit with new set of iPod battery.

There are many iPod help documentations about iPod batteries. iPod help iPod users to understand how an iPod battery works, how new iPod users can save power and thus enjoy their iPod batteries longer.

iPod Help 2: Know thy special features

iPod help states that iPod is not just for entertainment. iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video may actually be used as a personal assistant.

You can add your address book and personal information of all the people you know from your computers to your iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video. You can do this by following the instructions from the iPod help center.

It's quite easy. It is just a simple sync in feature that can be done by simply attaching your iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video to your computer and then by pressing some tabs on the iTunes.

Aside from the 'Sync My Address Book' feature of iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video, you can also sync your schedules using iCal for Mac or Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for Microsoft Windows.

With the ipod help center, you will be taught on how to attach and read small sticky notes to and from your iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video.

iPod Help 3: Know thy third party software

iPod help center also offers free downloads of iPod software. iPod can help you on how to install dictionary, translators and text-to-speech translators to your iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video.

Some iPod software from the iPod help center are offered for free. iPod help center call this a freeware. iPod help center also has shareware software which you can use for free but for a limited time only.

There is this shareware offered at the iPod help center that will work best for travellers: the Accio Dictionary for iPod.

With this shareware, you can listen to translatations of phrases and words that a tourist often ask to a native, like asking directions or asking for a name or saying thanks and sorry. The translations in Accio Dictionary are spoken by native speakers.

iPod Help 4: Earn thy living through Podcasting

You might have heard of Podcasting before, but never did it make you turn around the computer and read about it again. Here is your chance to know about it and earn through it. Podcasting is an entertainment media, a new generation, that is, that permits listeners to subscribe to shows, radio-style. These podcasts can be downloaded from the subscribers' computers and can be listened either in their computer or in their iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, and iPod video.

iPod help center accepts podcasts submission, which the iPod help center will submit to the iTunes store. Podcasters can offer their podcasts for free or for a fee.

Many people have earned money through podcasting. You can also benefit from podcasting too by learning the ins and outs of podcasting at the iPod help center. Just log on to Apple.com website and go to the iPod and iTunes support and help center.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The iPod Junkie’s Dilemma

Modern society keeps creating new and better ways of fulfilling a need. Living in the digital age has never been more exciting and for anyone who can afford these gadgets, life is indeed sweeter. One of the most influential devices ever created is the ipod. These nifty portable audio players created by Apple Computers has redefined our understanding of personal freedom and customization. For anyone who loves music and multimedia, ipod is the best media player out there in the market.

Before the ipod, MP3 players were the best portable players around. Primarily a flash drive, these devices had limited features. The screen size was small and only text is allowed. The colored screen was optional and the memory size only went up to 1 GB. But with the introduction of the ipod and its succeeding generations, music lovers were transported to another realm. A world where they can only listen to all the songs that they want to hear. Once they put on their ipod, they have total control over what tunes should fill their heads. Call it listening to their daily-personalized soundtrack.

Is all this ipod play list personalization good for its users? Apparently some detractors don’t think so. They argue that too much personalization limits the listener to the new genres of music. Constantly listening to Eminem or Christina Aguilera on your ipod can deny you the pleasure of discovering new artists like Ne-yo or new music styles like trip hop. Ipod users become islands of their own, trapped in a floating music bubble of their own making.

Not only that, frequent users have become oblivious to their surroundings making discovery of new sounds very difficult. It can be of grave concern especially for those emergency cases when one is not able to hear a call for help because the other person is too distracted by their ipod. Such cases may seem extreme but turn to Hollywood movies and you’ll see how prevalent such instances are.

Ipod fans say otherwise. They say they can be as entertaining as the FM radio that has more content and users are exposed to more styles and artists on a regular basis. Plus there are some trivia and entertainment news that you cannot get from this device without buying accessories. Because of this, a new trend was born through the ipod called podcasting. Podcasting is a radio-style program that can be shared to other people through the Internet and played back in their ipod. You can create your own program and broadcast it to the World Wide Web.

Ipod users and fans have come up with ingenious ways of making their toy into more than just a digital audio player. Some have opened up it up and tinkered with its hardware and software. The result? An ipod that has an organizer function that stores addresses and calendar events in its memory. While it does need some getting used to, fans are thrilled at the devices’ limitless possibilities. Apple Computers then gave us the fourth generation of ipod more commonly known as the ipod photo.

This generation boasts of a colored display and photo transfer capabilities. As the company realized the need for something more innovative, the fifth generation was released. This ipod series is currently the hottest model because of the video function. Ipod video can play MPEG-4 and H.264 video with resolutions of up to 480 x 480 and 320 x 240. Its potential as a marketing and advertising tool is so huge that even Apple is overwhelmed with the idea. One possible product for this is the selling of video formats like music video clips and television show reruns.

The personalization of ipod is not a big issue among its many patrons. It is this quality that makes the device so appealing to them. Our age today holds value to the importance of self-expression. Ipod can deliver that self-expression through personalized covers, skins, accessories and a host of other complimentary software. It becomes an extension of one’s taste in music and other multimedia formats. The only real dilemma for any ipod junkie nowadays is getting the money to buy all those accessories.