Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by Dan Knight
- 2006.02.09
This Week's iPod News
In one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" moments, an iPod owner
who has no evidence of any hearing loss is suing Apple over
potential damage should he elect to play his music too loud for his
own good. Sound crazy? Even his lawyer says that any actual hearing
loss is "beside the point" in this (dare we say pointless?)
lawsuit.
In other odd news, Apple's iPod Updater software sometimes tells
people with USB-only iPods that they have to connect via FireWire,
and a new Addonics 1.8" drive adapter is being touted as a great
way to pry into the contents of an iPod's hard drive - after
dismantling the unit, of course. dk
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.
Hearing Loss Lawsuit
News and Comment
Tips
Products
Content
Software
News and Comment
Apple Faces Lawsuit Over iPod Volume
PR: Forbes' Chris Noon reports:
"Hear no evil? Rustling leaves, 20. A soft whisper, 30. An air
conditioning unit, 60. A hair dryer, 80. Firecrackers or a subway
train, 100. A jet taking off, heavy metal concert or a cranked up
Apple Computer iPod, over 115. That's decibels, before this list
begins to sound like a MasterCard advert.
"Though some would debate your right to ears if you keep your
iPod volume maxed at an ossicle-wobbling level, an owner of Apple's
popular Lilliputian jukebox has filed a lawsuit against the
computer maker, claiming the device can cause hearing loss in
people who use it.
"So don't use it, you may snort with derision. Yet the case runs
deeper that that. The user, John Kiel Patterson, claims the music
players are 'inherently defective in design and are not
sufficiently adorned with adequate warnings regarding the
likelihood of hearing loss,' The Associated Press reports.
Patterson is seeking compensation for damages and upgrades that
will make iPods safer."
Link:
Jobs' Apple Faces Lawsuit Over iPod Volume
Plaintiff's Lawyer Says Actual Hearing Loss
'Beside the Point'
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News and Comment
Apple Unveils New 1 GB iPod nano, Cuts
iPod shuffle Prices
PR: Apple has unveiled a new 1 GB iPod nano for
$149, offering the same features as the 2 GB and 4 GB
iPod nano models and holding up to 240 songs or 15,000 photos. The
new 1 GB iPod nano's ultra-portable design is thinner than a
#2 pencil and features Apple's patent pending Click Wheel and the
same gorgeous color screen as the other iPod nano models. In
addition, Apple announced that the iPod shuffle is now more
affordable than ever with the 512 MB and 1 GB models priced at
$69 and $99 respectively.
"Now everyone can afford an iPod nano, with our new 1 GB
model starting at just $149," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice
president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. "The iPod is the
world's most popular digital music player with over 40 million
sold, and now even more music lovers can experience the unrivaled
combination of iPod and iTunes."
iPod nano features an ultra-portable design and fits into even
the smallest pocket, making it easy to take iPod nano anywhere you
go. With its stunning, high-resolution color screen, iPod nano
allows users to display album art while playing music, view photo
slideshows or play games in full color. iPod nano also features the
same 30-pin dock connector as the iPod and works effortlessly with
a wide range of over 2,000 accessories developed for iPod.
Featuring seamless integration with the iTunes Music Store and
the iTunes digital music jukebox, iPod nano includes Apple's patent
pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads a user's
digital music collection, photos or Podcasts onto iPod nano and
keeps it up-to-date whenever iPod nano is plugged into a Mac or
Windows computer using USB 2.0.
The 1 GB white and black models of iPod nano for Mac or
Windows are available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail
price of $149, through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and
Apple Authorized Resellers. All iPod nano models include earbud
headphones, a USB 2.0 cable, case and a CD with iTunes for Mac and
Windows computers.
iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS X
version 10.3.4 (or later) and iTunes 4.9 (or later); or a Windows
PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (SP4), XP Home or
Professional (SP2) and iTunes 4.9 (or later).
Music capacity is based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps
AAC encoding; photo capacity is based on iPod-viewable photos
transferred from iTunes.
New Royal Navy Warship Supports iPod
The Times' Simon Freeman reports:
"HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navy's £6 billion
fleet of six Type 45 Destroyers, thundered down the slipway into
the River Clyde in Glasgow today, spouting red, white and blue
confetti from her formidable stern.
"HMS Daring's 230-strong crew should be happy too. She and her
sisters will be the first 'gender-neutral' warships to enter Royal
Navy service, and the Hotel Facilities, as the living quarters are
known, are the most opulent ever fitted in a British warship. Mess
decks are replaced by individual cabins, each with their own I-pod
[sic] charging points, CD player, Internet access, five channel
recreational audio and larger berths."
Link: New
Royal Navy Warship Supports iPod
Switching to iPod
ExtremeTech's Jason Cross writes in his new "My Tech Life"
column"
"Since this is the first of these regular 'My Tech Life'
columns, I thought it best to start with a quick introduction. If
you want to read about the iPod stuff, just skip down. In addition
to Loyd's regular Notes From the Lab columns every Monday, we're
going to start featuring columns on Thursday. Victor Loh and I will
alternate each week, so my column will show up twice a month, and
I'll bore you (or not) with the details of what's going on with
technology in my life. I'm a bit of a media junkie, so expect
plenty of columns about digital music and video. By way of history,
I was an editor at a games magazine (Computer Games) for five years
before landing at ExtremeTech, and an editor at a games Web site
(OGR-now part of the vast Internet graveyard) before that. Needless
to say, I'm a pretty hardcore gamer, so expect games and game
technology to slip in here a lot.
"My goal is to keep the tone light, conversational, and a bit
irreverent. There may be a little PG-13 language, the occasional
joke, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and italics. Lots of
italics. Of course, I don't want to write stuff you don't want
to read, so feel free to leave feedback in the forums, and I'll
pretend to read them. If this first version of the column is a
little rough, go easy on me: It's the pain medication talking (root
canal = not fun)."
Link: Joining
the Dark Side: Switching to iPod
Pornographers Targeting Youthful iPod
Users
WorldNetDaily's James L. Lambert reports:
"The ever-expanding pornography industry is now targeting
America's children - via the wildly popular iPod devices - in its
latest quest for new customers, according to a former federal
prosecutor and a veteran government consultant on pornography.
"The popularity of Apple's new video-capable portable technology
has driven porn industry providers to introduce iPod-compatible
video content. Already at least three companies have divisions
dedicated solely to adult content for these portable players.
"'Like other forms of entertainment, consumers want to watch
programming that interests them at their convenience, so we expect
that people will watch porn films in places other than the privacy
of their bedroom,' David Joseph, CEO of several 'adult
entertainment' companies, recently told Adult Video News.
"'Technology gives us the opportunity to provide this service,'
he added. 'We're calling this porn on the pod.'"
Link: 'Porn
on the 'Pod' - Pornographers Targeting Youthful iPod Users
Could Addonics 1.8" Drive Cable Be RIAA's Next
Weapon?
ExtremeTech's Mark Hachman reports:
"On Friday, Addonics Technologies announced a cable to allow a
Toshiba 1.8-inch hard drive - the same hard drive used within the
Apple iPod - to be connected to a computer.
"However, the cable could also prove to be the RIAA's latest
weapon in the war over sharing copyrighted music."
The argument is that the 1.8" drive could be removed from an
iPod, placed in a forensic dock, mounted on a PC, and then checked
for illegal content. Makes one wonder if it wouldn't be simpler to
use the iPod's USB or FireWire connector and one of myriad freeware
programs that let a Mac or Windows PC examine the iPod's
contents.... dk
TigerDirect Named as First Retailer for iSee
360i iPod Video Recorder
PR: Advanced Technology Office, LLC (ATO) has announced
that TigerDirect, Inc. will be the first retailer for ATO's new
iSee 360i video recorder for iPod. TigerDirect will offer the
product and related accessories at its retail stores, online, and
in catalogs in the US and Canada. In addition, TigerDirect will
make the iSee available through SkyMall(R) catalogs on select
airlines.
TigerDirect is taking pre-orders at $249 for the iSee 360i PC
version, which will begin shipping later in March.
"The market for iPod accessories is growing by leaps and
bounds," stated Russell Strunk, executive vice president for
TigerDirect. "We view the iSee 360i as a revolutionary product that
will further enhance the portability of audio and video content.
We're happy to present this inventive new device to our dedicated
customer base."
The iSee 360i was named a "2006 Macworld Best of Show Award"
winner at the recent Macworld Conference & Expo in San
Francisco. The iSee 360i extends the functionality of most Click
Wheel Apple(R) iPods(R) to include music, photos, and video
recording from any analog source. Playback features a 3.6 inch
screen powered by a 4-hour rechargeable and replaceable
battery.
"TigerDirect has established itself as a major supplier of
electronic devices to the consumer in North America," said Howard
Wing, ATO director of sales. "We're excited to partner with them in
the initial launch of the iSee 360i."
Measuring 6 x 3.2 x 1.1 inches and weighing only 6 ounces, the
iSee 360i offers a lightweight, portable design that when connected
to an iPod provides the look and feel of a single, integrated unit.
The iPod slides into place inside the back of the iSee video device
- providing the user with a 91% larger viewing area than the iPod
with video - without dramatically increasing the overall form
factor.
Tips
iPod Updater Reports USB-only iPods 'Must
Connect Using FireWire'
A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:
"When you connect a Fifth Generation iPod (iPod with video) or
iPod nano to a computer with Mac OS X and open the iPod
Updater, you may come across a situation in which the Restore
button in the iPod Updater is dimmed (grayed out) and can't be
selected. The text by the Restore button reads:
"'You must connect using FireWire to restore this iPod.'
"You may also notice that the iPod icon displayed in the iPod
Updater is the wrong iPod model. This occurs when the
iPodDriver.kext file doesn't load correctly, and it can happen with
any iPod that supports photos (including iPod nano, iPod with color
display, iPod photo, and Fifth Generation iPod) or videos (Fifth
Generation iPod).
"To resolve this issue, follow the steps here...."
Products
iPod nano High-Capacity Battery Upgrade
Service
PR: iPodResQ have announced a new iPod nano high-capacity
battery program. This service is for all iPod nano owners that want
longer play life and is performed with a same-day turn around and
nationwide convenience.
The introductory price for the iPod nano High-Capacity Battery
Service will be set at $64, flat-rate. This includes a custom iBox
sent to the customer's location in the continental U.S. via
overnight courier to pickup the nano for overnight delivery back to
the iPodResQ service center. iPodResQ will receive the nano,
install a NEW 400 mAh high-capacity battery the same day it is
received, and return the nano back to the customer overnight. To
get started, customers simply call 1-877-Pod-Repair or iPodResQ
online.
For customers in Alaska, Hawaii, or any international location
the service is provided at a nominal additional cost to cover
additional shipping expenses.
"We are the first company to offer a high-capacity battery for
the nano and we are happy to report excellent results from our
newest battery that offers an approximate 10% increase in play time
from the factory battery," said Ryan Arter, President of iPodResQ.
"Due to the complexity of this installation we are not currently
offering a self-install version of the battery, however it's
apparent that it is a great addition to our full-service battery
program."
For computer resellers and repair centers, iPodResQ offers
discounted rates on products and services. Computer dealers can
send overflow service work or seamlessly outsource their entire
iPod repair operation. Volume discounts are available for schools,
corporations and government agencies.
Link: iPodResQ
iPod-integrating Bed From New
Zealand
PR: Pause is crafted from sustainable New Zealand Rimu
with aluminium detailing. Optional accessories include minimalist
side lamps and aluminium storage trays, yet perhaps the most
exciting feature is how the shelves can seamlessly accommodate an
iPod universal dock and BOSE speaker system. These electronic
accessories allow you to enjoy and awaken to your favourite tunes
in the most personal of spaces. The concealed iPod universal dock
also provides a convenient means for recharging your iPod.
Designer quote: "In designing Pause we explored the notion of
'rest' (whether it be while awake or through sleep) and how we
choose to create our own personal bedroom space. In doing so, the
conceptual design of Pause aimed to challenge the conventional
definition of the bedroom environment. The resulting design
incorporates functionality that lets your mood guide the pace." Dan
Gillingham (Designer)
More than just a bed. Where possible we use natural materials
and non-toxic natural manufacturing processes, ensuring an end
product that is kind to the environment and good for your health.
Furthermore, as part of our sustainable ethos we plant a native
tree for every bed sold. But don't just take our word for it, visit
your nearest stockist and ... Pause ...
Link: Pause -
The Worlds First Ipod Compatible Bed
iCradle for iPod with Remote
PR:
iCradle for iPod is an innovative cradle that allows iPod mini,
nano, 3G ipod, 4G, 5G (video) to dock and to transfer data
seamlessly. The cradle has a USB 2.0 connection, an audio jack and
S-Video ports on the back of the cradle.
The docking station is an convenient way to make syncing and
charging your iPod, iPod mini or iPod nano easier than ever.
Simply set your iPod on the docking station and connect it to
your home theater or system or for privacy use your headphones. You
can now showcase your iPod at your party without ever worrying
about connecting to your speakers.
- Unit charges and Syncs all iPod through USB except 3G and 4G
iPods
- Wireless IR remote allows you to select your favorite songs and
control the sound output
- Includes USB charger (does not require a computer to
charge/power your iPod)
- Includes S-Video cables
iCradle with Remote sells for $34.99
Link:
iCradle for iPod with Remote
Kensington Entertainment Dock 500 for
iPod
PR: The Entertainment Dock 500 isn't just for
music anymore. Using the video out ports (RCA or S-video) you can
also share videos and photos from your iPod through your TV. With a
touch of the wireless RF remote you can listen to music through
your stereo or play a soundtrack while you view your favorite
photos. Simultaneously charges iPod in the cradle.
Features
- Share your favorite music, videos and photos through your home
entertainment system
- Wireless RF remote controls your iPod from up to 50 feet
away!
- The sleek looking dock offers simultaneous play and charge
benefits
- Includes built-in Universal Dock for iPod. Compatible with any
iPod with dock connector.
Price: $99.99
Entertainment Dock 500 for iPod is backed by the Kensington
1-Year warranty.
Link: Kensington Entertainment
Dock 500 for iPod
NanoDeco Designer Covers for iPod
nano
PR: Kiwali LLC has announced the immediate availability
of Kiwali NanoDeco Designer Covers for the Apple iPod nano.
NanoDeco is a collection of exciting adhesive covers featuring
visually striking original designs that dramatically enhance the
look and appeal of the iPod nano.
"It's been months in the making, but NanoDeco is a natural
follow-up to our exciting ShuffleDeco collection," said Paul Lee,
Director of Marketing for Kiwali LLC. "We've received rave reviews
about the sophisticated look of our ShuffleDeco product line, but
NanoDeco features even more incredible designs that just has to be
seen to be believed."
The debut collection features ten wide-ranging designs,
including the 60s-inspired Kungfu-esque "Retro Fury," the delicate
"Flight of the Butterfly," and gothic "Magik & Lace." Each
NanoDeco is printed on premium-quality naster poly using special
inks for enhanced color vibrancy. "The colors simply pop," added
Mr. Lee.
A light "repositionable" adhesive is used for the backing,
making the product exceptionally easy to apply as well as to take
off. Covering the front and the back of the iPod nano, NanoDeco
provides limited protection from scratches and everyday hazards as
well.
"NanoDeco is designed to work with many other accessories and
cases," noted Mr. Lee, "It's a fabulous standalone fashion
accessory or a fantastic complement to an existing favorite
accessory."
The Kiwali nanoDeco is a premium adhesive cover for the iPod
nano that features 10 of the most original, mind-blowing designs
you've ever seen. Printed on high-quality Naster poly with
specialized metallic inks and die cut to exacting precision, the
Kiwali nanoDeco will turn any iPod nano into a work of art. It
offers limited scratch protection, too. The repositionable adhesive
is strong enough for secure positioning but comes off cleanly and
easily.
Features of the Kiwali NanoDeco
- Printed on premium Naster poly with repositionable adhesive
backing
- Die cut for precision
- Fits the iPod nano 2 GB and 4 GB versions.
- Special inks deliver eye-popping colors and metallic
accents
- Available in 10 mind-blowing original designs. Only from
Kiwali!
- 1 mm invisible protective coating insures inks will not bleed
or smudge
- NanoDeco works without getting in the way of your other iPod
accessories! It's like getting your cake and eating it, too.
- Each nanoDeco is backed by a full replacement guarantee! Just
send us back the used or unused nanoDeco with a self-addressed
stamped envelope to our address, and we will send back a free
replacement. Offer dependent on actual availability.
The Kiwali NanoDeco is an easy and affordable way to accessorize
the iPod nano to reflect personality, mood, or taste. Individual
designs are available immediately for a suggested retail price of
$15 (US). For a limited time, customers can take advantage of a 10%
discount as part of a launch promotion at Kiwali's website.
Regular Price: $15.00
Special Introductory Sale Price: $13.50
Link: Kiwali LLC
Nanoki iPod nano Cases Feature
'Impossibly Cute' Characters
PR: Kiwali LLC has announced the newest addition to the
Kiwali line of fashion accessories for the Apple iPod. The Kiwali
Nanoki is a stylish case for Apple iPod nano featuring irresistibly
cute animal designs embroidered on the cover.
"Kiwali has received a lot of accolades for our distinctive
Mineon corduroy case for the iPod mini, but we decided to take a
risk and do something even more creative with the Nanoki case for
the iPod nano," said Paul Lee, Director of Marketing for Kiwali
LLC. "According to Apple, the iPod nano is 'impossibly small,' so
we decided to create a case that was 'impossibly cute!'"
The debut collection features a variety of different animal
characters with names like "Power Panda," "Kitty Kat," "Puppy
Love," and the mischievous and mysterious "Mr. Monkey." Each animal
is directly embroidered on the cover, creating a sophisticated yet
natural look. The leatherette body is color coordinated to match
the embroidery. The slim design also doesn't bulk up the super-thin
iPod nano, resulting in a case that is unapologetically adorable as
well as functional.
"It's true the Kiwali Nanoki case can be described as
'impossibly cute'," said Mr. Monkey, one of the characters featured
in the design collection. "But I personally resent the
characterization because it feeds into the stereotype of monkeys
being a constant source of mere amusement for boorish human
beings." In response, Kitty Kat merely mewed with an air of
unconcern while Power Panda continued to munch on some nutritious
bamboo.
Kiwali Nanoki: iPod nano Cases with Adorable Embroidered
Designs
Great things come in small packages. Introducing the debut
collection of outrageously cute cases for the iPod nano, featuring
original designs of adorable pandas, cats, dogs, piglets, and owls
in sophisticated embroidery - oh my! The popular gargoyle design
also rears its slithery head from our ShuffleDeco collection, this
time spun in threads of wicked silver. And the Kiwali Nanoki case
won't bulk up your iPod nano because of its slim-line design.
Features of the Kiwali Nanoki iPod nano Case
- Choose from one of 10 original Kiwali animal designs for
maximum CQ (Cuteness Quotient)
- Leatherette body color coordinated with each embroidered
design
- Fits the iPod nano 2 GB and 4 GB versions.
- Comes with both a short handstrap and a long lanyard for
carrying convenience
- Slim profile design won't bulk up the super-slim iPod nano
- Access holes for easy access to the Click Wheel and screen
visibility while your iPod nano is snug inside the case
- Metal non-magnetic button on the cover for secure and snappy
action
Mr. Lee was quick to add that no actual animals were hurt or
exploited in the making of the Kiwali Nanoki cases, which are
available for order immediately on the company's website.
The Kiwali Nanoki is an easy and affordable way to accessorize
the iPod nano to reflect an individual's personality, mood, or
taste. Individual cases are available immediately for a suggested
retail price of $29 (US). For a limited time, customers can take
advantage of a 10% discount as part of a launch promotion at
Kiwali's website.
Link: Kiwali LLC
Icesuit Protective Sleeve for iPod
nano
PR:
Icesuit is a durable protective sleeve for iPod nano which protects
your iPod nano from bumps and scratches and does it with style. It
gives users the ability to eliminate annoying cable tangles and
store earphones neatly at the back. Double injection process
ensures that the color accents and control labels do not fade or
peel after prolonged use.
Features:
- Protects your iPod® nano from bumps and scratches
- Neatly stores your headphones on the back
- Integrated color accents that will not fade
- Silicon rubber material prevents your iPod® nano from
slipping and sliding
- Access to all controls
Fits iPod nano
Specifications:
- Net Weight: 0.5oz
- Dimension: 1.6" (W) x 0.3"(D) x 3.6"(H)
- 1 year warranty
Colors: White & Green, Black & Orange
Price: $19.99
Link: Icesuit Protective
Sleeve for iPod nano
Noreve Leather Case for iPod nano
PR: Characteristics
- Elegant case conceived in high quality soft leather
- Compatible with MP3 player Apple iPod nano 2 & 4Gb
- Access to basic functions (multiples openings in the
leather)
- Pratical thanks to a firm snap closure
- Protects the device in an optimal manner
- Headphone access
- An opening for recharge
- Interior leather and velvet lining
- Completely removeable belt clip - More information click
here
Colors: Black, White, Pink, Baby Blue
Price: 32.99€
Special Offer - 4 colors: 99.90€
Link: Noreve Leather case Apple iPod nano Tradition
Conversion Kit Connects Toshiba 1.8"
iPod Hard Drive to Any Computer
PR: Addonics Technologies has announced a Toshiba
1.8-inch to 2.5-inch IDE connector, which allows users to connect
the drive to any computer including the hard drive found on the
Apple iPOD.
The new Toshiba 1.8" to 2.5" IDE connector allows users to
attach this small 1.8" hard drive just like a 2.5" hard drive. It
can also be connected to the standard 40 pin IDE cable common found
on any desktop computer, server, and most industrial PCs by adding
the Addonics 2.5" to 3.5" converter kit. You now can easily read or
write onto this tiny hard drive using almost any system.
With the new Addonics converter any Toshiba 1.8-inch hard drive
can also become a read only drive by using the standard IDE Write
blocker, which makes it an appropriate solution for forensics
applications. The write-blocking feature prevents accidental and
intentional destruction of data and preserves evidence for computer
crime/security investigations.
The Addonics 1.8-inch to 2.5-inch IDE connector also allows iPOD
owners to connect the hard drive inside their iPOD as a regular
2.5" hard drive to other computers. With the connector, an iPOD
user who has defective iPOD can export data off the drive.
The connector can be combined with the Addonics Pocket ExDrive
enclosure, which allows the Toshiba 1.8-inch drive to be used as an
external hard drive or as a removable hard drive. Users can connect
the enclosure to USB, Firewire, SATA or CardBus/PCMCIA by attaching
an Addonics USIB interface cable.
List price of the Toshiba 1.8" to 2.5" IDE hard drive connector
converter (AAT18IDE25) is $14.99. Components needed to use a
Toshiba 1.8 inch drive as an external/removable hard drive would
require the Toshiba 1.8" to 2.5" IDE hard drive, Pocket ExDrive
enclosure and Addonics USIB cable. List price for a USB
configuration would be $69.95.
Addonics products are available through the company online store
http://www.shopaddonics.com , major catalog companies, resellers,
VARs and distributors, including Amazon.com, PC
Connection, CDW,
Buy.com, Provantage.com, Insight, and Ingram Micro.
Link: Addonics
SigmaTel Portable Multimedia Solution
Powers New SWISSMEMORY s.beat MP3 Player
PR: SigmaTel Inc. has announced that its portable audio
System-on-Chip (SoC) solution powers the SWISSMEMORY s.beat digital
audio player from Swissbit and Victorinox, the makers of the
world-renowned Swiss Army Knife. The SWISSMEMORY s.beat series of
flash-based digital audio players are available in 1 GB and
2 GB models. Powered by the SigmaTel STMP3550, the s.beat is
an all-in-one digital audio player and USB storage device
incorporated into a full-metal Swiss Army Knife.
"SigmaTel's industry-leading solutions provide customers
the ability to design and manufacture a wide variety of portable
digital media devices offering the latest and best-in-class
functionality," said Michael Wodopian, senior vice president,
Portable System-on-Chip Group at SigmaTel. "Having a world-renowned
brand like Swiss Army and a technology leader like Swissbit using
SigmaTel technology underscores our commitment to delivering
innovative solutions to the market."
SigmaTel's portable multimedia SoC solutions provide the
necessary technology, including software, hardware and third-party
application support for companies like Swissbit and Victorinox to
develop creative multimedia products that help them extend their
brands into new markets. Through patented semiconductor solutions
and software, SigmaTel's high level of integration and support
allow customers to develop devices offering longest battery life,
smallest form factors and lowest system design costs in the
market.
The SWISSMEMORY s.beat can store data and music files and plays
back MP3, WMA, WAV and OGG Vorbis digital audio files. Providing up
to eight hours of playback with a rechargeable lithium polymer
battery, the s.beat also has a built-in FM radio with 15 preset
channels, the ability to record FM radio onto the device and a
voice recorder. The s.beat also provides drag-and-drop
functionality, meaning users can plug the device into any USB port
and transfer files without the need for special software or a
specific device driver.
"The high level of integration and the flexibility of the
SigmaTel solutions allowed Swissbit to develop a small form factor,
full-featured digital audio player that was small enough to fit
inside a Swiss Army Knife," said Dominique Froidevaux, product
manager Multi Media at Swissbit. "With the stylish SWISSMEMORY
s.beat, we can offer consumers a best-in-class digital audio player
that carries the renowned Swiss Army brand."
The s.beat comes with a highly sensitive remote control that
includes two earphone connections for parallel listening,
high-quality earphones, adjustable rubber arm strap and has a
high-contrast backlight LCD. The s.beat is available with the Swiss
Army knife tools, including scissors, nail file/screwdriver and
blade/knife or an airline-friendly flight version that does not
have the tools.
SigmaTel's family of portable multimedia SoC solutions provide
high-quality audio playback for portable devices such as MP3
players, portable media players, language learners, and jukeboxes.
The company's solutions offer market-leading benefits, including as
much as a 30% lower bill of material costs, Hi-Speed USB 2.0, up to
70 hours of battery life on a single AA battery and incredibly
small form factor designs. With flexible software support and
upgrade options, SigmaTel solutions offer support for MP3, WMA,
ACC, WAV and OGG Vorbis audio format algorithms as well as support
for Microsoft PlaysForSure version 1.2 based upon Microsoft Digital
Rights Management (DRM) 10. Additionally, SigmaTel SoCs support the
widest range of NAND Flash solutions on the market, including large
block SLC and large block MLC Flash.
The Swiss Army Knife metal body comes with a lifetime
warranty.
Content
WatcheyePod Site Launched
PR: We'd like to announce the launching of our new
website, WatcheyePod.
WatcheyePod is a new site that offers you free short films ready
to download and watch on your iPod. If you don't have an iPod yet,
you can always watch the movies on-line or download them onto your
computer.
Software
Who Needs a Laptop to Give a
Presentation?
PR: Make your next pitch using your iPod. With iPresent
It you can convert your PowerPoint, PDF and Keynote presentations
into slideshows that are synced with your iPod. Never carry a
laptop into a presentation again; it's all on your iPod!
Features
- Works with any iPod with a color screen. Note that the iPod
nano does not support video output.
- Create slideshow images from any of your PowerPoint, Keynote or
PDF presentations.
- Saves presentations as albums in iPhoto or sub-folders of a
folder (such as the folder being used to sync to your iPod via
iTunes).
- Keynote 2 support includes full build extraction, each build
step is converted into a unique image for displaying via your
iPod.
- Easily update your slideshows whenever you make changes to a
presentation. With built-in tracking to indicate which
presentations need updating you'll never be caught without your
latest changes.
- Use the OS X print dialog's Save As PDF button to create
slideshow images for any document.
- Full drag and drop support for adding presentations and
one-time slideshow creation.
- Easily remove slideshows when they are no longer needed.
Removing them from iPresent It ensures they will be removed from
your iPod the next time you sync.
- Preview slides as they're converted into a slideshow.
- Also works with digital cameras and projectors that support USB
flash drives (see the FAQ for details).
System requirements: Requires Mac OS X 10.3 or greater
$17.95 demoware. Trial version limits slideshows to the first 6
slides of a presentation
Link: iPresent
It
iPod Deals
For current iPod prices from a variety of sources, see our
Best iPod Deals.
