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iPillow: squishiness* for iPod cuddling
When I think of battery powered speakers for the iPod I usually picture a white plastic molded dock-type accessory, but apparently there is a market for cuddlier options. One such example is Brookstone's iPillow Portable MP3 Speakers (pictured here with a Creative MP3 player but compatible via mini jack with any MP3 player). This device takes six D batteries which probably means it can pump quite some volume in that huggable housing. Be careful not to use the iPillow in an iPillow fight because the mesh pocket doesn't offer much padding for that iPod of yours! The iPillow is only available in silver (but frankly in the picture here it looks blue to me).[via Popgadget] [*squishiness is not a real word]
Ten Strangest iPod Accessories
Over at TechEBlog they have posted a list of their picks for the top ten strangest iPod accessories, seven of which we have covered here at TUAW in the past. Their list is as follows: iBuzz iPod Toilet Paper Dispenser by ATech Play iPod Boxers Pause: iPod compatible bed iPod nano Wallet iPod nano Thong KNG's animated DJ Docking Station (pictured here) iPod Chair Man The Tunebuckle (which I find lovely and not strange) iPod Jukebox by Wurlitzer [via Gizmodo]
New episode of mariposaHD
Since HD Beat doesn't have a video podcast yet, you'll have to find other sources for high definition content on your PC. As Ben mentioned, mariposaHD is definitely one such source. They're finally back with their second episode, featuring Karo, cactus, skiing and fashion week in 720p, 1080i, or iPod video formats for your viewing pleasure.Between this and the Akihabara videos we've got women and tech covered, anyone got a good 720p feed for automobiles?
Lynda.com offers iTunes, iPod training
If you haven't checked out the software training library at lynda.com, here's another reason to do so. Lynda.com just published 8 1/2 hours of online instructional movies about iTunes 5 & 6 and iPod. The subject matter is broad, covering everything from basic techniques for importing and playing music, to features of the iPod with Video, to recommendations for iPod accessories. I sampled some of the movies and got the impression that they would be most useful for someone who is relatively new to iTunes or iPods.You can listen to some sample movies from the series for free at the lynda.com site. A subscription that gives you access to all of the many online movie series, including this one, is $25 per month. Lynda.com also offers online training on Tiger, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Soundtrack, Motion, and other Apple software (although not all of the Apple software training has yet been updated to the latest software versions).
Flickr Find: I Want to Believe
Alternate title: If Agent Mulder were a Mac geek. Sometimes it's necessary to break the wild speculation and rumor mongering with a bit of humor, and jyunderwood's poster does the trick. This is also a good opportunity to address what's inevitably going to happen tomorrow. Legions of Mac users are going to cry foul when the device of their dreams isn't announced. That's the problem with these rumors: They look so good, and we get so excited about "...how cool that would be" that we are disappointed when it doesn't happen. Well, it was a rumor in the first place, but we can lose sight of that in our fervor.So, tomorrow, clear your minds, drink some herbal tea and forget about all that crazy stuff that's been swirling around your head for the past seven days. We're still getting some cool stuff.
Apple rumors are fun when they're about HDTV
Nothing we love more than rumor mongering analyst predictions at HDBeat, the latest of which has revived the high definition or HDTV-based video iPod rumor. No news on possible Intel Viiv-based plasmas or MovieBeam integration, but we wouldn't rule out a surprise appearance by Bigfoot at this point.The announcement, whatever it is, will be made at a just-announced press event February 28th, so check back here on Tuesday to see what is what. What do you think: is there anything video or high-def related coming out of Apple's closet next week?
Who's up for another video iPod "Spy pic?"
Ok, here we go. We all know how much you enjoy the parade of questionable "Apple spy pics," so here's one more to feed your insatiable appetite. MacShrine is claiming to have received the photo you see here from an anonymous tipster. Could it be the "real" video iPod we've been hearing about?Now, the sticker on the... whatever side that is, bears the designation "M8719ZA." Do with that what you will. Also, you may remember the shots of the 5G iPod that were leaked a year ago just prior to that model's introduction turned out to be dead-on accurate. Supposedly, this image came from the same factory.Now, we take this kind of thing with a grain, salt lick, mountain, gaping trench of salt, as any good cynic should. So, have at it: What are we looking at here?Update: The serial number on the sticker appears to read “MB719ZA.” Thanks to everyone who pointed this out (my eyes aren't what they used to be). Can anyone translate the Chinese characters on the tape? Apparently, the Chinese loosely translates to "This side up." That was rather anti-climactic.
Disturbing "disruptive" PS2 ad
TBWA, one of the world's largest ad firms, is responsible for the ubiquitous neon iPod ads and the unfortunate PSP graffiti ads that have municipalities all riled up. They call their unique brand of advertising "disruptive." They break it down this way, "TBWA = Disruption." Alright, got it.I suppose the above PS2 ad is disruptive then, if you accept that disturbing can be disruptive. Sure, the male/female electrical outlet faces are pretty creepy, but the shirtless dude "watching" them is what really pushes this one over the creepy cliff. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an inexplicable desire to really play some PS2...
More words from Woz
It's always interesting when Steve Wozniak speaks about Apple. He recently chatted with The Globe and Mail following a polo match on Segways in New Zealand (why does this not surprise me?). When asked about Apple's move to Intel chips, Woz said it felt like "...consorting with the enemy." From the article:"...We've had this long history of saying the enemy is the big black-hatted guys, and they kind of represent evil. We are different, and by being different we're better. All of a sudden we're the same in this hardware regard, so it's a little hard to swallow your words from the past."He also stated that a separate iPod division should be spun off of Apple, since the hardware, OS and chips are different. I guess this makes sense.I feel that a chip is a chip is a chip, and I don't care if there's a Motorola, IBM or Intel processor inside my Mac. But, of course, I have much less invested in Apple than Woz does. Plus, I've never played polo (via horse or Segway).[Via MacDailyNews]
Rename Podner
You may remember Apple legal telling the folks who made iPodderX to change their application's name (specifically, to remove the word "iPod") and the resulting contest that produced the new moniker, "Transistr." Well, Apple is at it again.They've told the folks at Splasm Software to rename Podner, which is an application that converts your video files for iPod use quickly and easily (we took a look at Podner last October). They're currently holding a contest to find a new name, and the winner will be rewarded with a free registration code (2nd, 3rd and 4th place will get a free code, too). Good luck![Via Macworld]
Cringely: Apple/Blockbuster Speculation
Since today seems to be Speculation Day™, here's another one for you, this time a little more grounded in reality than Dvorak's column about Apple dumping Mac OS X in favor of Windows. Robert X. Cringely, who has a much better track record at examining the tech industry and then predicting what companies will do, has posted today a speculative and engaging article about the potential powerhouse partnership of Apple and Blockbuster."Apple's Blockbuster product strategy is simple. Start with a new iPod that has video- and audio-out capability. This iPod -- which will be just as good at playing songs as any iPod that preceded it - will be more than just a video storage device. It will be a video player. No make that plural - players - a whole family of video-out iPods, some with flash storage and others with little disk drives.Take your Video-out iPod to Blockbuster, drop it in a kiosk dock then download from the local xServe your choice of 50,000 movies. You can rent the movie or buy it and you can even choose the resolution, which may or may not affect the final price. Take the iPod home, drop it in the dock attached to your TV and watch the movie. H.264 decoding takes place in the iPod in hardware.For Apple the point here is to sell iPods to people who might not otherwise every buy one (my Mom, for example), to bring digital downloads to people who don't have broadband or even a computer, and to make it all incredibly easy. You don't even have to return the videos when you are done, since they will automatically time-out."Such a move would truly be a win-win for both Apple and Blockbuster. Apple could supply the back-end (X-Serves, X-Sans, etc.) to run such a system. They're already signing distribution deals with the movie studios entertainment distributors and it'd sell a significantly larger number of iPods to users. All Apple would need is the name recognition and physical locations of a chain like Blockbuster to make such a program work. Blockbuster would have a new revenue stream and enjoy the status of being aligned with a technically-savvy company like Apple. And let's not forget that Steve Jobs is now intimately aligned with Disney, a company that actually is somewhat clueful about emerging technology.Of course this is entirely speculation, but I think Cringely may be on to something. Apple's clearly been planning something (remember, Apple tends to plan things a least a year or two ahead of an actual release). Perhaps this is it; perhaps they're finally putting the "pod back into iPod."
iBikeMount - Attach your iPod Nano to Your Bike
I bought my bike a gift today in return for the weight he's gonna help me lose this Spring. Strata Systems has developed the iBikeMount for the iPod Nano, which allows you to mount your iPod nano on a clip that attaches to the handlebars of your bike.They're shipping around March 15th, which should be just in time for me to buy myself an iPod nano for my birthday in April (alas my silvery mini, I'll miss you). Now if we can just get rid of the rest of this snow and usher in an early, warm Spring so I can start biking outside again! The Old Farmer's Almanac has been almost completely wrong so far with their weather predictions for the Northeast and the groundhog says we've got six more weeks of winter still. Seems to me that predicting the weather is about as accurate as a Dvorak column.Once it arrives and I've test-ridden it, I'll let you guys know how it fares. Looks like a great and useful product!
The BBC adds a slew of new podcasts
The BBC is about to seriously boost their podcast offerings. By the end of the month, more than thirty shows will be made available as podcasts from the BBC, including:Woman's HourStart the WeekBroadcasting HouseToday in ParliamentFront RowFire up your iPods, UK!* Time to start downloading.Update: In the name of international relations, I have edited this sentence to read "Fire up your iPods, UK!" instead of "Fire up your iPods, England!" I guess I should have paid attention during geography class, eh?
Track live shows in your town with Podbop
Podbop is a pretty interesting service. Enter your city and state (it seems to be restricted to the US as well as major cities) and receive the url to a podcast that not only tells you which bands are going to be playing live in your area (as well as when and where), but also lets you listen to music by said bands. What a great way to discover new music (a live show is better than a music file) or keep up to date with your favorite smaller groups. Check it out.[Via FreshArrival]
Flickr Find: iPod as an arts and crafts project
Remember all the time you spent making little houses out of Popsicle sticks in elementary school? Flickr user snazzyguy sure does, and in fact he's still putting those skills to use. He put the innards of a dead iPod and a few AA batteries into a custom popsicle stick case, and now he's rockin. Pretty cool mod, snazzyguy...just get it away from that (very) full glass of water, ok?
YAASEH, or: Yet Another Apple Special Event Hoax
Apparently someone doesn't know how to enter our Create a Feb. 22 Apple Invite contest, as yet another Apple special event hoax launched this morning and was promptly debunked. This time around, the event involved Steve and Bono at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, March 1st, and the invitation included the slogan "Together we can fight it." Speculation immediately predicted a red iPod to coincide with Bono's fight against AIDS and other diseases in Africa.iLounge was the first site I saw reporting that Apple had confirmed the event a hoax. However, a lot of Apple-related sites had already reported on the news and speculation of the event. Once confirmation broke that the event was a hoax, some sites, like MacNN, promptly removed their original reports in favor of a new article covering the situation as a known fake.TUAW wants to take this opportunity to let readers know that when we're wrong - we're wrong. We'll update the original post with new information and thank whoever helped us keep our facts straight. So sit tight, re-freeze the credit cards and move along. There's no Apple Special Event to see here (yet). In the meantime though, why not take a shot at our fake Apple Invite contest? While we don't have a red iPod for the winner, we do have an Apple logo stainless travel mug with your name on it.
Apple going Mobile?
Amphetameme.org poses an interesting question: Is Apple planning to deploy a fully mobile solution for the iPod and Mac product lines? The blog looks at various pieces of evidence -- like Apple's recent "Mobile Me" trademark, Apple's status as a mobile reseller, and PortalPlayer's (the company that provides much of the iPod's guts) newfound interest in wireless technologies -- to construct an image of products that utilize "bluetooth, and an always-connected 'modem' service that will connect your iPod (and probably your iMac, your Laptop, your Desktop Mac) to iTunes (to start with) and to the net, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."They point out some interesting concepts, and I'd certainly like to see something like this happen -- in fact, looking at the world's growing dependency on wireless technology, it almost seems inevitable.Check out the article for their full analysis.[Thanks, Clark]
6G iPod pics (aka Photoshop is fun!)
Reader, bl8ant writes in with this email: "6gen ipod images? hi, dont know if they are real or where they came from (other than on a server connected to a computer at a desk at a certain company that i'm freelancing at), but i can't find this version anywhere on the web, so who knows? anyway, it's a cool idea, real or not. where can i email or upload them to you at? they're 2 jpegs, low res. —bl8ant" So, I emailed him with our address and he sent in the pic here and the second one that can be found after the jump in this post.They look real to me. Real fake that is. Still cool look and concept, but imagine the lawsuits and scratching complaints that would arise if Apple really did go this route... I'd still probably buy one, but as you know by now, I'll buy anything.
I ordered a Lexus and all I got was this iPod nano
What happens when you order a Lexus and they are back ordered? Macenstein reports that not only do you get a loaner car (to get to and fro) but Lexus might also send you an iPod nano and Aux cable (since Lexus currently doesn't offer an integrated iPod system) for your patience.Pretty sweet. So, if you want a free iPod all you have to do is buy a $40,000 car and hope it is back ordered. It is a plan that cannot fail.[via Digg]
Engadget Lovecast 069 - 02.14.06
We've got a special Valentine's day Lovecast for everyone out there on this February 14th; last week we asked for you to call us up and hit us with your best love & gadget-related questions, and today we took on the best of them with a certain panache, a certain sensitivity, a certain je ne sais quoi. So put on some Gainsbourg, grab you and your sweetheart a glass of rosé, and kick back as we send this one out to all the lovers, lovelorn, loveless, and lovesick out there who have a special spot in their hearts for technology just as they do their special someone. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS] Add the Engadget Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3). [MP3] Download the show (MP3). [AAC] Download the show (enhanced AAC). [OGG] Download the show (OGG). [Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley! Hosts Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer Randall Bennett Music Bluesmen Get Hungry - Electric Blues Format 38:51, 17.7 MB, MP3 Program 02:38 - A man's DS dilemma 06:13 - Heartbreak over the Rio Karma 09:50 - Refurbished iPod for the lady 14:05 - Metaphorical "catcher's mitt?" 19:16 - Xbox 360 love down under 23:20 - Sharing an MP3 with your significant other via Bluetooth 27:20 - Breaking up over TiVo 29:49 - Getting your Treo back 33:56 - New cameras for the couple? LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Call up the Podcast at: 1-888-ENGADGET
