Date Archive > April 2005
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April 29, 2005
Go see the “Best Interpretation of iPod Shuffle as Food” entries
Remember when I told you about Mike Davidson's "Best Interpretation of iPod Shuffle as Food" contest a few weeks ago? Maybe not. Well, you should go back to the page on his blog and check out some of the entries. Most of them are pretty good, and some of them really rock!
You can't go wrong when you combine two things that people really like - their iPod and food, popcorn and movies, chocolate and milk, beer... and beer.
Category: Culture | Comments (1)
Weekend reading
- EncycliPodia: AppleInsider reports that Apple will be giving out copies of a instructional collateral named EncycliPodia at tonight's Tiger parties at Apple retail stores. This brochure will strive to illustrate the different iPod models, talk about iTunes, and highlight some of the accessories from vendors who are participating in the "Made for iPod" program. I'd be curious to see this.
- Bam!: Famous chef Emeril offers two recipe downloads for your iPod. ReciPods and Recipods Too comprise 1,000 recipes for your consumption. I've been looking for a good new recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches. They've also got the mFinder restaurant locater and podMeals recipe iPod downloads too. Via iPodlounge.
- iPod bags: A company called BrightonNet Corporation makes two bags (pictured at right) that feature an integrated iPod compartment and a set of powered speakers. The bags are made of synthetic leather (cruelty-free is the way to go!) and four AAA batteries pump (more like trickle, but let's be realistic here) .5W to the speakers.
Via Gizmodo
Category: News | Comments (0)
Grffin ships TuneJuice
TuneJuice is an aptly-named battery backup that uses one 9-volt battery to power any dockable iPod for up to 8 hours. However, the play time claim from Griffin is a little weird, "If your iPod has some charge, TuneJuice will provide up to 8 hours of additional play; a completely drained iPod will get up to 4 hours." Anyway you cut it, it's not going to give you a lot more play time. It sells for $20 and it's available now from the Griffin Technology web site.
Category: Gear | Comments (0)
April 28, 2005
iPoditude Review: Pacific Design iPod mini Flip Case
I've been using the iPod mini flip case from Pacific Design for a few weeks now. It's a good case, and I like it - yes, even the color - but it's not perfect. Click through for the full iPoditude review.
Continue reading "iPoditude Review: Pacific Design iPod mini Flip Case"
Category: Reviews | Comments (0)
Morning links
- Will iPod get stereo Bluetooth headset? at InfoWorld: Kind of a "what if" the iPod got Bluetooth. They discuss some technical details such as battery life and cost of implementation. Interesting reading.
- Podcasting Killed the Radio Star at Wired News: That title was just begging to be used, wasn't it? An Infinity Broadcasting owned AM radio station in San Fransisco named KYOUradio.com will be converted to all listener-submitted content. Upload your music (or talk, or news, or whatever) to the station and they'll cover the licensing fees if they play it. Good idea, but the real test will be in how listenable the end result will be. Seems that Wired, or somebody, is misusing the word podcasting, The KYOUradio.com web site describes it as "open source radio."
Category: News | Comments (0)
April 27, 2005
Lots o’ new gear
- PodGear AudioBuddy: A retractable (70cm) audio line out cable with a 3.5mm jack on the end and includes a standard RCA interconnect adapter. Very portable, but you can't charge it and listen to it simultaneously. Podgear needs a US distributor, don't you think? AudioBuddy at PodGear.net
- Belkin new USB 2.0 hub: Stylishly illustrates that an iPod shuffle dock is really just a USB hub. Belkin's though, expands on that idea by providing three more USB ports on the back. Belkin
- Kroo iPod cases: A full line of iPod cases for the shuffle, the mini, and the regular ole' iPod. Taken from the Leaderwireless web site, "this is a fire-new conceiver; audacious red for you a superexcellent tone..." I love that! Check them out here. Via iPodlounge
Category: Gear | Comments (0)
iPod notes downloads
I've found a few things for you to download to your iPod notes (especially if you live in Lawrence, Seattle, or you plan on taking the SAT soon):
- Lawrence, Kansas restaurant guide and drink specials. From Lawrence.com
- iDine: Seattle Restaurants on Your iPod. From the SeattleWeekly
- SAT vocab flashcards. At enotes.com
Category: Resources | Comments (2)
New iTunes music store developments
As expected, it seems that Apple is gearing up for the launch of numerous new iTunes stores. AppleInsider reports that they've uncovered music store flags for Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norwary, and Denmark (although I couldn't find them when poking around).
Additionally, there are numerous reports (The Age, smh.com.au) that the Australia iTMS is at least partially operative.
Category: iTunes | Comments (0)
moshi iPod pouches
Moshi has announced two new iPod pouches (iPouch and miniiPouch) that are pretty interesting. The design features a drawstring closure and an outside pouch to store earphones. The web site features photos of 5 colors of the miniiPouch (black, tan, green, blue, and lavender) and three colors of the iPouch (black, white, tan).
What is particularly interesting about these cases is the fabric that they're made of. They call it "Terahedron" and they say, "Its micron-sized filaments in the inner layer construction is designed to remove smears and fingerprints with its in-situClean (TM) high purity interlaced strands." It sounds a lot like microfiber, which is a pretty amazing fabric if you haven't seen it. What's more, and impressed me at least, is that they have iPod scratch test results posted on the product pages of these bags. iPodlounge reports that they'll be sold for $15 in the US by the end of April via the Reliable Trading Company eBay store. Without having seen one in person, I like these cases. They're reasonably priced, the drawstring closure would make them easy to use, the little pocket is a plus, and the fabric seems as useful as it is attractive.
Update: Moshi tells me that the MSRP is actually $19.99.
Category: Cases | Comments (0)
April 26, 2005
Methodshop.com reviews the JBL Encounter 2.1 speakers
A set of JBL Encounter 2.1 speakers landed at Methodshop.com and they offer a fun-filled, pun-filled review of them. So, in addition to looking out of this world, they also sound groovy.
The two satellite speakers feature a kind of funky dual-driver, bidirectional design so they're obviously not going after 2-channel purists looking for clear soundstaging. But it seems to me that the speakers have enough adjustable parameters to suit anyone's needs, and at $150 I think they'd be worth it as long as they sounded as good as they look.
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (2)
April 25, 2005
An iPod you can sink your teeth into
In a humorous opinion piece at ComputerWorld.com, John Webster talks about how his dentist has stepped into the digital age, complete with digital x-rays and - get this - nightly backups to his iPod. The dentist then carries his iPod - and his patient records, x-rays, whatever else he needs - home with him. So, when you call him up at 2:00 AM to tell him that you've just chipped a tooth from biting into a popcorn kernel, he can drowsily look over your dental records on his iPod. Pretty cool.
Category: Culture | Comments (0)
Afternoon Links
Lots going on today, and I'm exhausted after staying up until the wee hours playing GT4 on my Playstation.
- You never know what those celebrities will say next: Russell Crowe and a DJ named Bexta both spill the beans about the Aussie iTunes store opening on Thursday, April 28th. In addition, iPodlounge reports multiple European stores opening on that day as well. Thursday is the second anniversary of the iTunes store and it seems that Apple is gearing up to celebrate.
- You just can't buy cool: Or can you? The Hipster iPod aims to help you be cool by selling you not only an iPod, but also only the coolest music to go on it. I take issue with their omission of Sigur Ros, though. Looks like their Paypal link works, but I think it's safe to say there are some legal issues with this idea. Via tuaw.com
- With the iPod, everything else will be history: Thirteen-year-old Ashley Brook Chow reviews the iPod at TheTechZone.com. She does quite a good job and even points out one of my favorite features of the iPod, "Yes, the iPod shows the time left and the time elapsed, not OR." Via Gizmodo
- Another way to shuffle by iTunes: Like the iPod shuffle Database Builder, Shuffle aims to help you with loading the iPod shuffle without the use of iTunes.
Category: News | Comments (1)
PodBrix Mister Brix goes on sale today
Apparently somebody is buying these things because they keep coming out with new ones. Tonight at 9:00PM ET "Mister Brix" is going on sale. This thing's sole purpose in life is to cling to your headphone cable like a parasitic little white monkey. You can buy it for $17 at the PodBrix web site.
BTW, I stole the image from iPodlounge.
Category: News | Comments (0)
April 22, 2005
Pixelgirl’s funky iPod cases
The Pixelgirlshop, which features handmade jewelry, bags, pillows, and other girlie-stuff, has added girlie iPod bags to their lineup. Largely, the inventory at Pixelgirlshop is creative and original and the artistry and craftsmanship (craftswomanship?) that goes into the items is evident. There is some really cool stuff there. Although I've made jokes about sewing drunk before, some of the iPod bags are a bit sketchy looking. (I know it's supposed to look that way, just a joke! okay?)
Category: Cases | Comments (2)
New iPod in June?
Forbes reports that Banc of America Securities says they expect Apple to launch a new iPod product "as early as June" to help bump sales in the slow summer quarter. While their reasoning is sound, previous rumors that I've heard suggested a late 2005 launch for the holiday shopping season. No word from the Banc of America know-it-alls on what this product would be.
Category: News | Comments (0)
