Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by Dan Knight
- 2006.03.30
This Week's iPod News
Responding to complaints that listening to the iPod at too-high
volumes can cause hearing damage, Apple has introduced a software
update for the iPod nano and 5G (video) iPods that allows users to
set their own maximum volume.
And just in time for spring (we're expecting 65° and sunny
in this part of Michigan today), iBikeMount lets you mount your
iPod nano to your bicycle's handlebars. If only they made one for
full-sized iPods....
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
Products
Software
News and Comment
Apple Adds Volume Limit Setting to 5G iPod,
iPod nano
PR: Cupertino, California - March 29, 2006 - Apple today
announced a software update for the iPod nano and fifth generation
iPod, allowing customers to easily set their own personal maximum
volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to
set a maximum volume limit on their child's iPod and lock it with a
combination code.
"As the leading provider of digital music players, Apple
continuously brings iPod customers innovative and easy to use
solutions," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide
iPod Product Marketing. "With the increased attention in this area,
we want to offer customers an easy to use option to set their own
personal volume limit."
The new software update 1.1.1 is available immediately as a free
download for the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod from
www.apple.com/ipod/download. The new Volume Limit feature works
with any headphone or accessory plugged into the iPod headphone
jack as well as the iPod Radio Remote.
Link: Sound and
Hearing
Little Rules of iPod Etiquette
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Vikki Ortiz says:
"Although there are no hard-and-fast rules on iPod etiquette,
here's a look at what people at various places in the Milwaukee
area would think if you kept your ear buds in."
Link: iPod's Little
Rules of Etiquette
Quanta to Make Next-gen Video iPod
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Taiwan's Quanta has won the contract to manufacturer Apple's
eagerly anticipated video-oriented iPod, Chinese-language newspaper
the Economic Daily News has claimed citing unnamed industry
sources.
"Such a device is believe to be in the pipeline. Pictures said
to show the new iPod were posted online earlier this month then
quickly removed, allegedly at the behest of Apple's lawyers, an
action usually only reserved for images of real product."
Link: Quanta
'to Make Next-gen Video iPod'
Professors Getting Wise to the Power of
Podcasting
MacNewsWorld reports:
"The subject of exporting software engineering jobs to India
generates heated debate both in the class and the community. Plenty
of published articles and broadcast segments promote the pros and
cons from a U.S. viewpoint, but what do East Asians think? Thanks
to podcasts, students can gain some insight....
"All over the country, college faculty and administrators are
plugging themselves into one of the newest - and hottest -
technologies in an effort to better connect with students."
Link: Professors Getting
Wise to the Power of Podcasting
2007 Dodge Caliber Comes with Built-in iPod
Support
PR: Daimler-Chrysler's new 2007 Dodge Caliber replacement
for the long-in-the-tooth Neon compact comes equipped with support
for Apple's iPod built-in.
Caliber
is designed to spearhead the Dodge brand's global expansion with
gas and diesel powertrains available in local markets and both
left- and right-hand drive availability. Aggressively priced at
$13,985 (including a $560 destination charge),, $410 below the
discontinued Dodge Neon, Caliber combines crossover styling with
space-efficient packaging, interior flexibility, innovative
features and affordable performance.
One of those innovative features is a floor console sliding
armrest whose lid includes a unique flip pocket for storing a cell
phone or an MP3 player. The iPod is not specified by name in
Daimler-Chrysler literature, but the pocket obviously fits Apple's
MP3 player like the proverbial glove as this photo illustrates.
The rubber-lined "MP3/Cell Phone Holder"
will keep the iPod securely in place and provide you with
convenient access to it en route.
Also audio-related, is the Dodge Caliber's MusicGate Power - an
available nine-speaker Boston Acoustics premium sound system with
subwoofer - includes two articulating speakers packaged in the
liftgate. When the liftgate is open, the speakers can swing down
from the trim panel to face rearward for tailgating and other
activities.
The auxiliary stereo input jack (standard on the base radio)
provides a direct connection to your iPod so you can listen to your
digital music collection on the road without the hassle of cassette
tape adaptors or FM transmitters. Optional is a SIRIUS satellite
radio that lets you tune in more than 120 channels of
digital-quality entertainment, including 65 commercial-free
channels, for uninterrupted cross-country reception, and a free
1-year subscription provided by SIRIUS.
The Dodge Caliber looks like a home run for
Daimler-Chrysler, especially with that low-ball base price. I'm a
longtime Chrysler fan, but I never much warmed to the Neon. The
Caliber looks like an altogether more attractive and desirable
package, although in the crossover segment I'm still smitten by the
Chevy HHR. However, the HHR doesn't have that cool iPod holder.
(Photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG)
Link: Dodge
Caliber
Products
iBikeMount: Take Your nano Along for the
Ride
PR: The new iBikeMount quickly
and securely mounts the iPod nano to handlebars of bicycles,
exercise machines, strollers and more to make underway listening
simple and enjoyable. The new mount eliminates the inconvenience of
digging the iPod out of a pocket, removing it from an armband, or
bringing a dangling lanyard up to the face in order to make
selection or setting changes.
iBikeMount keeps the nano safely in plain sight and within easy
reach. Click for high-res image "iBikeMount is exactly what our
customers have wanted since the nano's release in 2005," said
Richard Sarver, president of MacFriends, a retailer carrying a wide
variety of iPod accessories. "iBikeMount's handlebar connection is
a perfect fit for the active lifestyle nano users enjoy."
Features
- Designed specifically for use with iPod nano
- Easily attaches to a variety of handlebar sizes (22 mm - 26
mm)
- No tools required to attach or remove
- Lightweight (1.4 ounces/40 grams)
- Flat black color matches black or white nano
- Fits 1, 2 and 4 GB nano models
iBikeMount, priced at $29.99, is available immediately. The
product is backed by a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee.
Orders can placed through Strata Systems partner MacFriends, the
exclusive web distributor of iBikeMount.
MacFriends is equipped to handle the consumer and business
demand anticipated for iBikeMount. iBikeMount is a trademark of
Strata Systems LC.
Link: iBikeMount
iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual, 4th
Edition
PR: Sebastopol, CA -
"The tiny square pamphlet that Apple includes with each artfully
designed iPod package is enough to get your iPod up and running,
charged, and ready to download music," says J. D. Biersdorfer,
technology Q&A columnist for the "New York Times." "But if you
want to know more about how the iPod works, all the great things it
can do, and where to find its secret features, the official
pamphlet is skimpy in the extreme." J.D. remedies the situation by
delivering the full, fun, and freshly updated "iPod & iTunes:
The Missing Manual, Fourth Edition" (O'Reilly, US $24.99) for
getting the very most out of the multimedia iPod experience.
There's something for every iPod enthusiast in this fourth
edition - including tips and tricks for video iPod. From meeting
the iPod for the first time (using the click wheel, navigating the
menus, cleaning the fingerprint magnet, and more) to getting to
know the software (getting acquainted with podworthy file formats,
playing with iTunes, and podcasting) to extreme iPodding
(investigating shareware and gadgets, troubleshooting, and finding
software updates).
Covering the Mac and PC platform and iTunes version 6 - and
including the mini but mighty iPod Shuffle - this essential
guidebook explains all the cool musical and nonmusical things to do
with an iPod, from looking up phone numbers to checking the weather
report. Tips, tricks, and shortcuts include:
- iPod as portable stereo: iPods are happy to share their tunes
with the home stereo. Move from ear buds to speakers with little
more than a cheap cable.
- iPod as video player: Video iPod owners are liberated from the
couch! They'll learn how to find and play TV shows, music videos,
and more.
- iPod as photo album: The color screen iPods now serve as
portable picture frames. This book shows readers how to whip up
fancy slideshows and even display them on a TV.
- iPod as external drive: Hook the iPod up to a Mac or Windows
machine and use it to copy, back up, or transfer files. -iPod as
Palm Pilot: The iPod can suck in the calendar, address book, to-do
list, and notes from a Mac or PC, and then display them at the
touch of a button. It also doubles as alarm clock and sleep
timer.
- iPod as GameBoy: The iPod's games are perfect time-killers for
waiting rooms, bus rides, and lines at the Department of Motor
Vehicles.
For more information about the book, including table of
contents, index, author bio, and sample chapter, see:
iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual, Fourth Edition
J. D. Biersdorfer, Edited by David Pogue
ISBN: 0-596-52675-X,
336 pages
$24.99 US, $34.99 CAN
Scosche RF Remote for iPod nano
PR: Scosche Industries, a leader of mobile electronics
aftermarket accessories, has announced its new Scosche FreestyleT
line of RF remotes specifically designed for 5th generation iPods
(IPRF-Doc) and iPod nano (NRF). These product-specific remotes
offer flexibility in music control without detracting from the
iPod's sleak style. Both RF remotes offer up to 150-feet of range,
the signal capability to travel through walls and around corners,
and can control key functions: play/pause, on/off, volume, track
and RWD/FFD.
"Scosche Industries understands the digital age and offers
accessories that enhance the functional capabilities and enjoyment
of an iPod," said Kas Alves, vice president, sales and marketing,
Scosche Industries. "Our RF remotes offer wireless control of iPods
enabling users to take and control their music anywhere."
The NRF is specifically designed for the iPod nano. It is a 3 in
1 product acting as a case, RF remote with 150 ft. of range, and
fits easily in the dock connector on the bottom of the Nano.
Designed in sleek black,, the NRF measures 4 1/4" (L) x 1 5/8" (W)
x 5/8" (H) for a seamless addition to the nano without adding bulk.
The IPRF-Doc is designed for 5th generation video iPods, is
featured in sleek black and provides unspoiled integration with
your iPod.
Both remotes easily plug into the dock connector and feature a
pass through for charging and syncing, Bluetooth integration, FM
transmitters or headphones. Additionally, consumers can use the
Audio 3.5mm to RCA cable to the Audio-port on the RF transmitter
and control his or her music anywhere without having to touch or
see the iPod. Both remote controls offers basic functions plus
random song feature and can also access playlists.
Both the NRF and the IPRF-Doc will be available at specialty
retailers across the country for $69.95 and will include the
specific remote, receiver, and 3.5 to RCA adapter cable. The
receiver uses power from the iPod and does not require
batteries.
Scosche Industries, founded in 1980 by Roger and Scotia Alves,
is a leading manufacturer of high quality car stereo installation
accessories and products. The publisher of the Auto Sound
Encyclopedia, Scosche Industries manufactures and markets four
distinct lines of product. These brands include ScoscheR, EFXR,
AccumatR and SoundKaseR. With a dealer network of over 2,000,
numerous O.E.M. products, and 52 patents, Scosche Industries is a
proven leader in the automotive aftermarket business.
Link: Scosche
World Cup 5G Leather iPod Case
PR: The Sumo World Cup 5G iPod Case with 9 different
countries will be available in late April.
Sumo's San Francisco roots inspired a durable line of
bags and cases made from reliable materials that are soft to the
touch and constructed to last. Sumo's products are made with a
simple credo in mind: build modern solutions for busy, creative
people who want to hold their stuff in ease and style.
There's a "take it anywhere" mindset to Sumo: your laptops,
Treos and iPods go from office to home to weekend trips, so we
think their outerwear should enjoy the journey, too.
Survive the stomp and protect your stuff.
Tough, but in a good way.
Link: Sumo
Gearing Up Your iPod
PR: 101cells.com, a company of six years and still
growing is announcing their continuous mission to offer consumers
the best source for cellular accessories. But now they are also
expanding their mission to start giving consumers the reliable and
complete source to Apple iPod accessories. Apple iPod is a growing
MP3 player that incorporates multiple features into one compact
electronic gadget. Apple's line of iPod has integrated video
stream, photo, and audio features together. 101cells.com have
completed a full range of research to get products to their
consumers to compliment the usage of the iPod.
101cells.com have added to their website the line of Insten
branded iPod accessories. The Gooseneck FM Transmitter features an
iPod nano holder with an innovative, flexible steel-neck, and
offers easy repositioning of your iPod nano for your comfort,
convenience, and safety while driving. The Sync and Charging Cradle
for iPod nano is an elegant home base for charging and syncing with
your computer or for connecting iPod nano to your home audio
system. This cradle is also available with remote control. Insten
comes out with very innovative products, and 101cells.com see that
they are the best complimentary accessories for the line if
iPods.
101cells.com also have added Xtrememac's line of accessories.
The most popular are the Iconz character cases which included Homer
Simpson, Tweety, NBA team logo, MLB team logo, and more. A new line
of cases from Xtrememac are the Tuff Wrap, Micro-Glove, Micro-FliP
cases which offers added protections for the iPod to prevent damage
and mal-usage.
These products are less expensive then the Apple line of
accessories but they are equally as good in quality and they have
the same functions and in some cases even more. 101cells.com is
updated on the latest iPod. Their accessories line includes the
older versions and the new versions (U2, mini, nano, photo, video).
These new products are very high in demand. In order to fully use
the iPod to the fullest, the best complimentary products are
needed. 101cells.com have provided their cellular accessories for
years and 101cells.com aim to do the same for their consumers for
iPod accessories.
Link: 101cells.com
Software
Intervalz Turns iPod into Metronome,
Pitch Pipe, More
PR: Intervalz is a set of MP3 files that will turn your
iPod into a Maezel metronome, tuning "pitch pipe", as well as a
quiz machine that can test your ability to identify intervals and
chord types!
In addition, several guitar tunings are included and for a
bonus: ukulele tuning.
Intervalz includes a Maezel metronome including a few additional
tempos, major, minor, diminished and augmented chord test, interval
test (up to one octave), blues, harmonic minor, Jazz melodic minor,
major, melodic minor and natural minor scales, A440Hz, A442Hz,
A444Hz tuning pitches, guitar drop C, guitar slack G, guitar
standard, guitar taro patch and ukulele tunings. I will be adding
more content in the future.
Intervalz sels for $9.95 (introductory offer)
After payment you will receive an email with a download link for
Intervalz.
Link: Intervalz for
iPod
eNotes, a Complete Tool to Manage Notes
in Your Mac and iPod
PR: Use the eNotes to maintain all your ideas, data,
recipes and notes up-to-date. Save every interesting idea or text
easily from any application, any time, perfectly organised and
keeping your Desktop clear.
And if you have an iPod, take all this information, tasks,
calendar and to-dos with you.
Create as many notes as you need directly from your favourite
application. Use all the categories you want, assign priorities,
include graphs, add due dates for your tasks and decide when do you
want to be alerted of the deadline of an event...
Do you want to synchronize your new note with your iPod? Perhaps
you prefer it to pop up in your screen just a day before the alert
time . . . Customize every note changing the background
color, font color and transparency level. Do you need more
categories? Don't worry, you can create, modify and delete them as
many times as you need.
Use the contextual menu options to view only the categorized or
prioritized notes.
You can decide the listing criteria: in alphabetic order, by
priority, by category, only the uncompleted tasks . . .
you can mix this ingredients with the search tool to control all
about your notes.
Do you need to customize your note book? It's as easy as opening
the preferences window and selecting everything, from the
background color to the orientation (portrait or landscape)
. . . just as your old notepad.
eNotes detects the URL and e-mail addresses in the text of the
selected note. Click over the link and the web page will open in a
matter of seconds, or your e-mail client will create a new
message.
Use the search field to list all the notes that contain the text
you type in . . . you can always use the menu to retrieve
the latest 10 criteria used in your searches.
- Create notes from any text snippet
- Create tasks lists, reminders and alerts easily
- Access your eNotes from any application
- Organise and clasify your eNotes creating your own cathegories
with your own icons
- Synchronize your notes, tasks and calendar with other Macs or
your iPod and take them with you everywhere!
eNotes is available in English, German, French and Spanish, see
the 'Related Links' section, below on this page.
New in version 1.2:
Version 1.2.1 offers more stability, comprehensiveness and
speed, and features an enhanced interface, improving the usability
and performance of the utility. eNotes allows users to create
electronic notes on the fly, just selecting and dragging any text
from any application to eNotes. Users can edit, modify, and save
the note or use it as memo or task with prioritization and due date
features, and more. Version 1.2.1: minor fixes and glitches on Drag
& Drop. Registration feature improved.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later.
System support: PPC
$14.95 demoware
Link: eNotes
1.2.1 Complete Tool to Manage Notes in Your Mac and iPod
Nero 7 Software: Digital Conversion and
Plug-and-Play Video for 5G iPod
PR: Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today
announced the new features of Nero Digital in its latest Nero 7 web
update. It includes full support for Nero Digital MPEG-4/ASP and
H.264/AVC content with plug-and-play video file transfer from a
computer to an Apple fifth generation iPod.
"With outstanding video editing, authoring and encoding
functionality, Nero Vision and Nero Recode really make the whole
process effortless when preparing your content for iPod viewing,"
said Jim Corbett, Executive Director of Nero. "The addition of iPod
profiles in Nero Digital now gives the millions of Nero and iPod
users a new experience in unbeatable desktop and mobile
performance."
With the integration of compatible iPod video resolutions of 320
x 240 MPEG-4/AVC and 480 x 480 MPEG-4/ASP into Nero, applications
such as Nero Recode and Nero Vision are fully optimized for quick
and portable media content creation.
MPEG-4 is rapidly becoming the audio/video standard format for
mobile, portable, broadcast and streaming projects as well as for
the next generation of high definition video content. Nero
Digital's superior MPEG-4 AAC audio and AVC video format is at the
forefront of codec technology.
Ever since its release, the iPod has transformed the portable
device industry. Now, with the addition of MPEG-4 AVC, it is
setting another milestone in portable video quality. It allows Nero
Recode and Nero Vision to bridge the gap between desktop
application usability and seamless transfer.
Link: Nero
