Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by Dan Knight
- 2006.03.09
This Week's iPod News
PowerBook, iBook, iPod, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review. General
Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. News about Apple's
transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is covered in
The Macintel Report.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
For current iPod prices from a variety of sources, see our
Best iPod Deals.
News and Comment
Tips
Products
Software
News and Comment
Vatican Radio Employees Present Pope with
Specially Loaded iPod nano
Catholic News Service's Carol Glatz reports:
"A group of Vatican Radio employees gave Pope Benedict XVI a
brand new iPod nano loaded with special Vatican Radio programming
and classical music.
"'To honor the pope's first visit to the radio's broadcasting
headquarters, the radio's technical staff decided the pencil-thin,
state-of-the-art audio player would make the perfect gift....
"Though the white iPod nano is tiny, it still made an impression
on the pope. When the head of the radio's technical and computer
support department, Mauro Milita, identified himself and handed the
pope the boxed iPod, the pope was said to have replied, 'Computer
technology is the future.'
"The pope's new 2-gigabyte digital audio player already was
loaded with a sampling of the radio's programming in English,
Italian and German and musical compositions by Ludwig van
Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frederic Chopin, Peter Ilich
Tchaikovsky and Igor Stravinsky. The stainless steel back was
engraved with the words 'To His Holiness, Benedict XVI' in
Italian.
"Once the pope, who is also a pianist, gets the hang of the
device's trademark click wheel, he will be able to listen to a
special 20-minute feature produced by the radio's English program
that highlights Mozart's life and music to commemorate the 250th
anniversary of his birth.
"The iPod also contains an English-language radio drama on the
life of St. Thomas a Becket and a 10-minute feature on the creation
of Vatican Radio, with original sound clips of the inventor of the
radio, Guglielmo Marconi, and Vatican Radio's founder, Pope Pius
XI."
Link: Vatican
Radio Employees Present Pope with Specially Loaded iPod
nano
Video iPod to Change the Way Businesses
Approach Training
PR: iPod, you pod. It seems that everyone is in love with
the popular Apple device. At the gym, on the train, the
entertainment value of this audio and video device is second to
none and now this fun and portable gadget is being used in big
business.
Texas based company podTraining has repurposed the video iPod
for something they call "podTraining." With beta testing conducted
at a host of places including Chuck E. Cheese Pizza, this new
employee training system can be easily catered for specific jobs
and is updated easily using downloads. The nation's only quick
service restaurant to win a Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award, Pal's
Sudden Service is using modules on hospitality skills, speed,
cleanliness and soft skills in addition to individual job
tasks.
The new podTraining modules can be customized to fill the needs
of any organization whether integrating existing training tapes or
filming new ones. PodTraining has the potential to save companies
money on travel and expenses as large companies with regional sales
people or offices to gain remote access to the most up to date
training materials.
You can view a podcast by copying and pasting the following URL
into your podcasting application:
http://podcaster.medialink.com/default.asp?podTraining
Link: Medialink
Tips
How Much Stuff Will Fit on My iPod?
An updated Apple Knowledge Base article says:
"Many factors affect how many songs, photos, and videos will fit
on an iPod.
"What else is on the iPod?
"Besides music files, there are several other types of files
that can use up disk space on the iPod:
- If you use your iPod as a disk, and copy files to the iPod in
Finder or Windows Explorer, that uses up disk space. See "Using
your iPod as a hard disk" for more information.
- Videos can use up disk space on iPod.
- Podcasts can use up disk space on iPod, especially video
podcasts.
- Photos can use up disk space on iPod, especially if you choose
the option to include full-resolution photos.
- Contacts, calendars, and notes also use up disk space on
iPod."
Link: How Much
Stuff Will Fit on My iPod?
Products
View Tunes with Keyspan TuneView Wireless
Remote
PR: Keyspan announced its new TuneView Remote, together
with accessories that enable users to control an Apple iPod or
iTunes.
Featuring an LCD screen and 2-way RF connectivity, the TuneView
Remote displays the contents of your music library - making it easy
to fully control music without touching an iPod or computer. The
new TuneView Remote will be on display at CeBIT in Hall 25, Stand
E62.
The Ultimate iPod Remote Control
When used in conjunction with Keyspan's TuneView Dock for iPod,
a TuneView Remote gives users the ability to not only play/pause,
adjust volume and change tracks but to see the contents of the
iPod, as well. It's an entirely new way to remotely manage music on
an iPod.
The dock features a powerful ARM7 processor and 2-way radio. The
remote feature a 2-way radio and color LCD screen. Keyspan's
TuneView* technology enables information about your music to be
transmitted from the iPod dock to the remote's LCD, allowing you to
control the iPod as if it were in your hands.
Unlike recently announced iPod docks that display only limited
data on a nearby TV screen, Keyspan's TuneView products deliver
comprehensive iPod data around the house or office.
The TuneView Dock for iPod conforms to Apple's "Universal Dock"
design. Simply pop in a dock adapter to perfectly fit any iPod with
a dock connector. The dock is designed for use with all 4G and 5G
iPods including click wheel iPods, the iPod mini, the iPod nano,
and the iPod with video. The dock includes a USB power adapter, USB
cable, audio cable (3.5mm stereo to dual RCA) and three dock
adapters.
Control iTunes on a PC or Mac
When used with Keyspan's TuneView USB adapter, the TuneView
Remote can be used to remotely manage iTunes running on a Mac®
or PC. With the ability to see your music when not at the computer,
it's now much more convenient to use a PC or Mac as a music server
for your house or office.
The TuneView USB adapter plugs into a USB port on a PC or Mac.
TuneView software is provided to manage the interaction between
iTunes and the TuneView Remote. TuneView USB works with Windows
2000, Windows XP and Mac OS X.
The TuneView Remote has an MSRP of $99. The TuneView Dock for
iPod has an MSRP of $79. Both will be available in May. The
TuneView USB adapter has an MSRP of $39 and will be available this
summer.
Link: Keyspan
TransPod Automobile FM Transmitter
PR: Go mobile in
style! The DLO TransPod is the ultimate iPod car accessory. The
TransPod plays iPod over your car stereo, it charges your iPod, and
it mounts iPod wherever you want it - no mess or clutter. And it
works perfectly with the new video iPod and iPod nano!
The TransPod broadcasts the iPod's music to any FM radio
frequency from 88.1 to 107.9 while simultaneously charging and
cradling the iPod in the car. Instead of spending a small fortune
on a separate transmitter, charger and cup holder cradle, the DLO
TransPod combines all of these features into one elegant,
cost-effective device.
The new TransPod is a complete iPod solution for your car, yet
it requires no installation. This makes it a great alternative to
expensive custom installations. Its all-in-one functionality and
superior audio performance and sound quality also elevate the
TransPod above separate, lower-end, top-mounting FM transmitters.
The TransPod works with any dockable iPod, including the new iPod
nano.
The all-new DLO TransPod
features a smaller, sleeker design with a beautiful curved form and
easy-access controls. Its new intelligent power control
automatically turns the TransPod on when the iPod is docked and off
when the TransPod is not in use. It features front-based tuning
buttons for easy navigation of FM stations and side-based buttons
that control backlight and preset functions.
Quick Facts
- Play, charge and cradle your iPod with one simple, secure
device
- Fits all dockable iPods - including new 5G video iPod and iPod
nano
- Transmits iPod's music to your existing radio already in your
car
- Uses any available FM frequency from 88.1 to 107.9
- Charges iPod's battery while in use
- No install necessary - simply plugs into any available Auto
Power Outlet
- Available in white, silver, and black
- 4 assignable Presets let you jump to commonly used
frequencies
- TransPod Input lets you connect and transmit ANY other MP3
player or game system
- iPod line level output available for car based auxiliary inputs
or cassette adapter
TransPod sells for $99.99
Link:
TransPod Automobile FM Transmitter
SBS Innovations Accepting Preorders for iShok
Nano iPod Case
PR: SBS Innovations Inc. is announcing that it is
accepting preorders for its iShok Nano iPod case. The new iShok
Nano Case protects the iPod media player from accidental damage
through a unique combination of hard plastic and soft rubber, in a
sleek and stylish design.
The iShok Nano Case will be available for preorders at
www.ishok.com at a special introductory price of $18.99 until April
15th.
The iShok Nano Case is the first case to provide 360'
polycarbonate armor with thermoplastic rubber shock absorbers. The
iShok Nano Case also features a unique secure snap closure that
allows for synching your iPod in the protective case. The
innovative flip-top lid lets the listener operate their iPod while
fully closed. The iShok Nano Case is also water and dust
resistant.
The ShokProof brand Product line will include protective case
accessory designs for portable devices ranging from handheld and
tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Smart Phones,
Digital music players.
Link: iShok
Software
MaxPod 1.5 - Daily News and Weather on Your
iPod
PR: MaxPod is cross-platform application that helps you
to maximize what your iPod can do.
"The iPod gives a great platform for music listening, but it can
do so many other functions. With MaxPod, we are trying to automate
as much of that functionality as possible. Right now it can sync
files between your hard drive and iPod. It can download the news
and weather into audio files that you can listen to on your iPod.
It can organize your notes, your music, and get directions. I use
it every day. I just set the auto mode to 5:50 AM and by the time I
am ready to go, it has backed up and synched my files, downloaded
the news and weather, which I listen to on the way to work," says
Luke Jackson, head programmer at LAJ Design
Create your own unique podcast every day. Sync your files
automatically everyday to a great backup device. Listen to the
weather and news that you want every day.
Auto mode can automate file syncing between iPod and local
drives Music mode lets you backup your music and can rename music
Add/modify/backup notes, maps, and lyrics on your iPod
The Registered version gives the following
- Save multiple watermark setups
- No nag window
- Excellent Support
Available for Windows and Macintosh.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2 or later.
System support: Platform: PPC
$16.50 demoware
Link: MaxPod
PodView 0.1beta
PR: PodView is a program to play and import movies and
music from iPod and play in full screen mode.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
System support: PPC
Free
Link: PodView
