Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by Dan Knight
- 2006.04.27
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
Products
Software
News and Comment
Apple to Take iPod/iTunes to Cell Phone
Market?
ITWire's Stan Beer reports:
"The Apple iPod coupled with iTunes has proven to be a wonderful
boon for a company whose fortunes in the computers business were on
the wane. However, in this era of connectivity it's about as useful
as a notebook PC or PDA without a wireless card. Which is to say,
it's still quite useful but it lacks something important that
people want - the ability to download music anywhere, anytime.
"My 3G phone already offers this service but at present it
doesn't have the storage capacity of an iPod and it doesn't have
access to the iTunes excellent music library and system. However,
with companies like Sony Ericsson getting into the act, all that is
about to change. Let's face it, sooner rather than later, mobile
phones will be capable of doing anything an iPod can plus a whole
lot more. So why would you want to carry around two devices?"
Link: Apple to Take iPod
into Mobile Market?
Wurlitzer Hip
to the iPod Beat
The Register's 'ard Reg reports:
"It had to happen. The doyenne of jukeboxes, Wurlitzer, has
announced a version of its classically styled One More Time music
machine that features a built-in iPod dock in addition to the
standard 100-CD disc stacker."
Link: Wurlitzer
Hip to the iPod Beat
UC Berkeley Puts Lectures on iPods
San Francisco Business Times reports:
"The University of California, Berkeley, has given tech-savvy
students another reason not to go to class - some of their lectures
are now available to hear and watch on an iPod.
"The university, which has about 32,800 students, said Tuesday
that it made a deal with Apple Computer Inc. to put some 30 of its
courses on Apple's iTunes music store. Students and the public can
download them through the university's 'Berkeley on iTunes U'
site."
Link:
Cal Puts Lectures on iPods
Products
Corgi's iCar Rocks the iPod
BusinessWeek's Olga Kharif reports:
"Replica maker Corgi might seem an unlikely candidate to cash in
on the iPod boom. Until recently, Corgi has made a name for itself
mostly to collectors, who for 50 years have snapped up its small
die-cast Batmobiles, World War II planes, and British omnibuses.
The outfit's best-known model is the Aston Martin DB5 that Sean
Connery drove in 1964's Goldfinger - featuring front-mounted
machine guns and the famous ejector seat. And while Corgi has
lately expanded its toy line, baby boomers still account for the
bulk of its loyal fans.
"But this summer, Corgi
will go after a younger, hipper crowd with a product called the
iCar. Mounted on a stand, it consists of 'dancing' iPod speakers
shaped like an automobile. Plug any MP3 player into the die-cast
iCar, and see the vehicle spin its wheels, lift and lower its front
and rear suspension, and shine its headlights in rhythm to the
music. Corgi is hoping this combination of the popular iPod and a
hot ride will prove a hit with consumers ages 18 to 40, and lay the
groundwork for a major shift in the company's direction over the
next half-century....
"So the iCar will arrive in the form of either a hip Cadillac
Escalade SUV or a sporty Nissan 240SX . . . The Escalade
will come in black or white, and the Nissan will come in a sublime
orange. Each model, powered by three AA batteries or a standard
electrical cord (neither of them included with the iCar), will
likely retail for $30 to $40...."
Editor's Note: Very cool. Like most male kids growing up in the
'50s and '60s, for me the name Corgi needs no introduction. I had a
wonderful collection of Corgi (and competitor Dinky) die-cast
automobile replicas. Great to hear that the company is still around
and thriving. cm
Link:
Corgi's iCar Rocks the iPod
Corgi iCar: The iPod Accessory that Flashes,
Jumps, Dances and Pumps up the Volume
PR: Corgi International Limited, the leading name in
die-cast scale models, announces the introduction of the iCar - the
iPod Accessory to Get Revved Up About.
Are you ready for the coolest iPod experience yet? Then crank up
some tunes, plug in and watch the amazing iCar do its thing: It
rocks right to left, front to back, and up and down to the music.
Colored lights illuminate the wheel wells, rims, undercarriage,
engine and trunk areas, and the high-quality speaker pumps out the
sound. You can even manually open the doors and hood to create a
whole new look.
Brand new for Fall 2006,
Corgi's iCar adds a visual element to digital music that has to be
seen to be believed. Start with two of the coolest rides on the
road, the Cadillac Escalade and Nissan 240SX. Let the model-making
wizards at Corgi run wild and turn them into amazingly detailed
1:24 scale replicas.
The Caddy has with real working spinner wheels, wild graphics,
chrome accessories, big tires and stereo system. The Nissan turns
into a stone-cold drifter, ready to glide like silk over any
surface. Then add the most important part - the input jack. The
iCar comes to life when you plug in your digital music player,
bringing an element of sound and vision unlike anything that's come
before.
Don't have your iPod handy? No problem - each iCar comes with
its own cool music and is ready to do its thing on a moment's
notice. Just want to listen to your tunes? iCar has a speaker only
mode as well.
The iCar runs on 3 AAA batteries (included) or with an AC
adapter, and can connect to any music source that has standard
headphone jacks - all iPods, other MP3 players, CD players, stereos
and PC's - with the included cord. Suggested retail price is
$34.99. For ages 8 and up.
Corgi International, based in Hong Kong, sells die-cast
collectible products under its own brand. In the U.S. the branded
company is known as Corgi USA. Corgi also produces high quality
die-cast and plastic products for multinational companies that
market collectible or gift items worldwide. The company has a high
volume manufacturing operation in China and sales offices
worldwide. Retailers and consumers interested in more information
can call 1-800-800-CORGI, or visit the company's website at:
http://www.corgi-international.com.
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2006, Corgi USA is the
worldwide pioneer of collectible die-cast models and replicas.
Legendary for its devotion to quality, authenticity and value,
Corgi USA creates products to delight the entire family. Consumers
can receive more information about the company and its line of
products by calling 1-800-800-CORGI, or visiting:
Corgi USA, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corgi
International Ltd.
Link: Corgi
ezGear Offers ezSkin nano 3 Packs
PR: ezGear, a leading marketer of iPod accessories,
announces today the ezSkin nano 3 Pack for iPod nano. The ezSkin
nano case is made of high quality silicon with an anti-dust coating
to reduce dirt and provide a silky smooth surface. ezSkin nanos
have an opening on the top for the hold switch and openings on the
bottom provide access to the iPod dock connector and headphone
jack. ezSkin nanos cover the iPod's clickwheel with a thin layer of
silicon which keeps dirt and scratches out, but provides FULL touch
sensitivity. The ezSkin nano 3 pack comes with a removable neck
strap, removable wrist strap, an integrated removable belt clip,
and 3 clear ezShade screen protector.
The ezSkin nano 3 Packs
come in three color combinations
- Onyx Black, Frost White, and Sky Blue
- Onyx Black, Frost White, and Princess Pink
- Onyx Black, Frost White, and Lime Green
Integrated - Removable Belt Clip
ezSkins come with an integrated sturdy belt clip. The belt clip
is made of high impact plastic for increased durability. The belt
clip is removable so you can use your case without it.
ezShade nano
Each ezSkin comes with a clear ezShade screen protector.
ezShades are a clear plastic screen protector with rubber bumpers
on each corner that fits over the screen of your iPod.
Neck Strap
The neck strap for the ezSkin nano connects on the bottom corner
of the case. This provides for a strong reinforced connection point
and lets iPod users the ability to lift up the iPod to see the
screen in the proper orientation.
The ezSkin nano 3 pack suggested list price is $29.98.
ezSkin Nano 3 packs are available at the following distributors
and resellers: MacPro, MacMall, and MicroEnterprises, ezGear
Website, and more.
Link: ezSkin
nano
Software
New Dictionary and Phrasebook for iPods
PR: Ultralingua has announced the release of the new
Accio Dictionary for iPod, a significant innovation in dictionary
software.
"Ultralingua is proud to announce this exciting innovation in
language learning reference software. Now users will be able to get
common translations when traveling, and even listen to translations
of common phrases recorded by native speakers," said Chad Johnson,
Ultralingua General Manager. "The Accio iPod dictionary includes up
to 8,000 indexed translations with the vocabulary you need for
everyday usage and traveling."
The Accio iPod dictionary includes up to 8,000 indexed
translations with the vocabulary you need for everyday usage and
traveling. We are currently offering five Accio dictionaries:
English-French, English-Spanish, English-German,
English-Portuguese, and English-Italian. And, of course, these
dictionaries work in both directions between the two languages.
The Demo version is English-French.
System requirements:
Works with all iPods (except iPod shuffle), with Mac installer
on Mac OS X 10.2 or later. The quick and complete reference using
the iPod "Notes" browser. Talking Phrasebook! Listen to dozens of
translated phrases for everyday use, recorded by native speakers.
(Both European and Latin American dialects for Spanish and
Portuguese). Verb conjugations! Verb charts for the most commonly
used verbs, and models for similar verbs. Expandable! Add several
modules to your iPod - everything you need for your travels! Up to
8,000 indexed translations with all the vocabulary you need for
everyday usage and traveling.
In addition to the database of common translations, Accio
dictionaries for the iPod also include verb conjugation tables for
the most commonly used verbs. And in a new twist, the dictionaries
include audio files varied by region, so for example customers can
chose between a European or Latin American dialects in Spanish and
Portuguese. Accio dictionaries are available for use with iPods
that use Macintosh or Windows installers.
The Accio Dictionary for iPod is part of a new brand of
dictionaries from Ultralingua for those users who need a simpler,
more affordable dictionary for use in reading on their computer or
while traveling with their iPod. Accio dictionaries will offer
instant access to translations and definitions of the most commonly
used words but will be "lighter" and with less functionality then
standard Ultralingua dictionaries. The company plans releases of
versions for Macintosh, Windows, Palm OS, and Windows Mobile later
this year.
Ultralingua is a leading provider of dictionaries and
grammar/spelling checkers for educators, translators, and business
travelers worldwide. The Company's product lines consist of
nineteen dictionaries of translation, two monolingual dictionaries,
four grammar and spelling checkers, and the Eureka thematic
encyclopedia. Ultralingua distributors include McGraw-Hill, Apple
Computer, Hachette Multimedia, Handango, PalmGear, and others.
Ultralingua is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Accio dictionaries include up to 80,000 indexed entries, along
with idiomatic expressions, slang, and indications of usage. The
versions for iPod include audio files of common phrases recorded
from native speakers. Language pairs include French-English,
Spanish-English, Italian-English, Portuguese-English, and
German-English.
Products are available to order online starting at $19.95, with
a 10 day evaluation period at:
http://www.acciodictionary.com/
Link: Accio
Dictionary
PodView 1.0: Play Content from iPod, Play in
Full Screen, Import Content
PR: PodView is a program to play and import movies and
music from iPod, and play in fullscreen mode.
New in version 1.0
- Universal (Intel/PPC).
- Better looking.
- Some small things.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
System support: PPC/Intel
Free
Link: PodView
Pocket Vegan 2.0 Recipe Database
PR: Pocket Vegan is an iPod based vegan recipe database
with 277 select recipes.
Announcing Version 2.0. Now includes an index in each category
with links to each recipe in that category.
Pocket Vegan is shareware. You can download a demo by clicking
the arrow above. The demo includes all the categories with three
recipes in each.
You can purchase Pocket Vegan for $7.50 by using PayPal Button.
Once your payment is received, you will be emailed to download the
full version.
New in version 2.0: Now includes an index in each category with
links to each recipe in that category.
System requirements: Macintosh or PC formatted iPod, iPod
Firmware 2.0 or later, iPod with Dock Connector.
$7.50 Shareware
System support: PPC
Link: Pocket
Vegan
Pocket Bar & Grill 1.0
PR: Introducing Pocket Bar & Grill. Pocket Bar &
Grill combines Podtender and PodGourmet into Pocket Bar &
Grill. Pocket Bar & Grill has two sections. One is the "Bar"
section with 750 mixed drink recipes from A through Z, each drink
individually listed. The other section "Grill" contains 225 select
gourmet recipe with an index in each category with links to the
recipes within that category. All organized within Pocket Bar &
Grill for your iPod. Get Pocket Bar & Grill for $10.
System requirements:
- Requires Macintosh or PC formatted iPod iPod Firmware 2.0 or
later
- 3rd, 4th or 5th generation iPod or iPod mini, nano.
System support: PPC
$10 Shareware
Link: Pocket
Bar & Grill
YamiPod 0.98 Efficiently Manages Your
iPod under Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
PR: YamiPod is a freeware application to efficiently
manage your iPod under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. It can be
run directly from your iPod and needs no installation.
Here's a brief description of the features in YamiPod:
- stand alone program, no installation required
- iPod is automatically recognized
- MP3 and AAC files can be copied to/from iPod
- read/write access to MP3 ID3 and AAC infos
- playlist support (On-The-Go included)
- playlists import (PLS,M3U)
- playlists export (PLS,M3U)
- full Unicode support
- auto-download new versions
- advanced song import/export settings
- 2 restore features
- built in music player
- iPod informations
- 2 search features
- remove duplicated tracks
- find lost music files
- easy ratings edit
- PC to iPod synchronization
- create and edit notes (with Unicode support)
- automatically update song play counts
- News RSS and podcasts to iPod upload
- Growl support (Apple only)
- export song lists to HTML or plain text files
- multiple iPods support
- Last.fm support
YamiPod was kindly translated in:
- Dutch by Ron van de Crommert
- French by Ronan Jouchet
- German by Jan Scholten
- Hebrew by Tal Aviram
- Italian by Giacomo Margarito
- Russian by Nikolay Bogdanov
- Simplified chinese by Marius Tsui ka sing
- Spanish by Jaime Lopez
- Traditional Chinese by Pan Yan
- Turkish by Bulut Karakaya
New in version 0.98:
- [ADD] last.fm time zone settings
System requirements:
- Mac OS 10.2 or newer
- Windows 98SE or newer
- Any Linux distribution with GTK 2.0 (tested under SUSE
9.2,9.3,10.0; Ubuntu 5.04, 5.10; Fedora CORE 3 and 4; most up to
date Gentoo and many others)
Free
Link: YamiPod
