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Podcast User Magazine debuts
A new podcasting magazine made its debut last week. The inaugural issue of Podcast User contains reviews of the Roland Edirol R1 and several podcasts, as well as number of informative articles and tutorials on subscribing to podcasts and understanding podcast jargon. There's more, of course, and you can grab the PDF of the magazine here or via their FSS feed [link].Issue #2 is scheduled for release on March 1st. Podcast User is free.
Video podcasting the Super Bowl ads
So, have you selected your favorite Super Bowl ad? I liked the giant monster and robot who gave birth to the Hummer. Yeah, it was creepy, but I laughed at the tagline, "It's a little monster."If you still haven't made your selection, you can review all of the commercials via this video podcast set up by Podcasting News. Unlike ESPN's Sports Center, you don't have to pay to watch these commercials.*Descriptions, links, and complete coverage of the Super Bowl 2006 ads can also be found by our friends over at AdJab. Check out their extensive coverage here.*Yes, I realize the Sports Center ads are free now.[Via Micro Persuasion]
Seamless Fashion Show 2006 features iPod-ready couture
Seamless V2, the second annual technology fashion event in Boston, included iPod fashion in its wild mix of wearables. Pictured above is iDo, a wedding dress concept by Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill. The veil included an iPod (update number two: yes, a shuffle, and the bodice a full-sized iPod) to immerse the bride in her own musical choices. The iDo description further describes the aims of the project:"...the iDo gown takes the so-called Bridezilla where she seemingly wants to go: her very own solitary walk down the aisle, with full control over music only she can hear accessed using touch-sensitive fabric technology ... and a tiara with built-in iPod."If you're less the Bridezilla and more the iPod-extrovert, you may appreciate designer David Lu's iPod Status. A scrolling display for your messenger bag strap, iPod Status shows the world your "Now Playing" status. I love messenger bag strap devices (I've done a few myself) and I think David Lu is onto something with this prototype device. Photo of iPod Status after the jump.
iPod Accessories a One Billion Dollar Business
If you ever wonder why TUAW seems to be an iPod accessories blog some days, you may stop to reflect on this fact: the iPod accessories market accounted for 1 billion dollars last year and is still in an upswing.A New York Times article released today [warning registration required] enumerates the growing market of iPod add-ons. As I personally had the chance to talk one-on-one with Griffin representatives at the last Paris Apple Expo, I can confirm that manufacturers of add-ons do take the iPod market seriously, and for good reason. Even if manufacturers find themselves scrambling when a new revision of iPod is released, the competition is steep and well worth the effort.Another interesting note from the NYTimes article is that iPod cases have 50 percent profit margins for vendors while circuit-based accessories only 25 percent.
Sony Playstation 3: Say goodbye to your Tivo, your iPod, your..........Xbox 360?
No price, no release date, no playable demos = no problem. The hype machine is officially rolling as more details leak from the latest PSM article detailing how the PS3 will change the world upon it's launch later this year. Why should your credit card be running in fear of a pre-order? Let's run down the list: DVR Online service that will surpass Xbox Live an iTunes Music store-style service for downloading high definition movies music and more Better media center functionality than the 360 Stream DVR'd content or disc-based movies to your PSP over the Internet via LocationFree Fall release That's not even mentioning the dual 1080p output and Blu-ray disc playback we already know about. We're excited, but we also remember when Ken Kutaragi told us the PS2 would be like jacking into "The Matrix", 5 years later and there are no plugs in our bodies. We'll keep a space open in the entertainment center, but we're not shaving our heads in preparation (again). What features are you most anticipating when the Playstation touches down by an HDTV near you?
iLounge reviews the SmartShare
iLounge reviews the Griffin SmartShare, which we first posted about during Macworld, and they like it. The SmartShare earns itself an A- thanks to a combo of a really cool feature (independent volume controls) and a slightly higher price (it'll set you back $15).Don't worry, Griffin is working on a white model to match most iPods (why they came out with the black version first is anyone's guess).
iPod etiquette at the office
It must be a slow news day because everyone is writing about iPod etiquette. USA Today, America's newspaper with the highest concentration of pie charts, has some tips for using your iPod at the workplace. It seems that those white earbuds might signal to baby boomers (who I suppose are out of touch, judging from this article) that you are not working but rather listening to tunes and IMing your friends ('OMG!11!! iPodz rule. LOL').So, when if you are going to risk listening to your iPod at work keep this handy tips in mind: Always remove both earbuds when a co-worker is talking to you never 'bob' your head or hum along and my favorite: don't bring your iPod into a meeting If you need these tips then perhaps you shouldn't have a job. I'm just saying.[via Micro Persuasion]
iPod etiquette is very...oh man, I love this song!
Ever been in a situation where some jerk in front of you is walking at a pace easily surpassed by that of a Macy's mannequin, and you can't seem to ask him to move aside because he's so engrossed in the latest "Barenaked Ladies" album playing on his iPod that he just can't hear you? What? You're that jerk? Well, then perhaps you should read Vern Seward's column on iPod etiquette. Seward opines on our growing culture of isolationism, and how the ubiquity of the infamous white earbuds is encouraging us to choose secluded serenity over basic social interaction.He's certainly got a point. I admit to being a victim of the "I see his lips moving, but this song is obviously much more interesting than anything he could possibly say" mindset, and often choose the comfortable familiarity of my music library over idle chit-chat about the weather or that crazy rumor about Monica liking Jim, even though Jim has his sights set on Betty. But at what point does it start to damage society? Does the iPod really play a pivotal role in our culture's growing attitude of "you do your thing, I'll do mine"? Or is it just the net result of our increasing dependency on technology as a whole?Time will tell just how much this affects us, and if it will have serious repercussions on our everyday lifestyles -- or if we're just blowing some trivial concept vastly out of proportion. In the meantime, however, read Seward's column and ease up on the ignore-the-world attitude, okay? Jerk.
Microsoft lawyer handling latest iPod lawsuit
Earlier this week, John Kiel Patterson filed a class action suit against Apple regarding the iPod's potential to harm listeners' hearing. He is seeking compensation for damages and upgrades to the iPod that will make it safer. Now, it's pretty easy to say that everyone knows that listening to music via headphones at a high volume for prolonged periods of time will damage your hearing. Still, it wouldn't kill Apple to put a warning sticker on the packaging. But here's where the story gets weird. Mr. Patterson won't state if his hearing has been damaged from using an iPod. But his lawyer, Steve W. Berman, says that's beside the point, as it's the iPod's dangerous potential that Patterson is concerned with. Also, Steve Berman is (and has been) on retainer with Microsoft. I'm just saying.Start your engines, conspiracy theorists.[Via MacDailyNews]
Most powerful warship ever...with iPod
I stand corrected. About a week ago, I said that the solar-powered, iPod charging golf bag from Soldius was the most over-the-top iPod "accessory" yet. Boy, was I wrong.Check out the HMS Daring, the most powerful warship ever constructed. The first of the Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyers features a missile system that can detect and destroy a baseball-sized (approximately) object traveling at three times the speed of sound, 14 decks, the latest in high tech weaponry...and iPod charging stations in each crew cabin. All that for only £605 million.I can almost hear the cries now, "Damn the torpedoes, men, it's new music Tuesday!"[Via Macbytes]
Confusing the people: Rumors vs. News
There have been rumors of the iPod shuffle's impending doom for some time now, with prolific soothsayers predicting the emergence of a 1GB nano-like device to take its place. The rumors are so frequent, it seems, that even local news stations are picking up on the "story," relaying the speculation as infallible will-eventually-be fact.That sloppy reporting leads to conversations like the one I had at dinner tonight, with my dining partner insisting that, yes, Apple is discontinuing the shuffle and replacing it with a 1GB nano. The unbridled confidence in his statement led me to call up a colleague, confirming that I didn't in fact miss a whole product shift in the 15 minutes between leaving my desk and arriving at the restaurant. "Well," said my friend, "that's what they said on the news tonight."Hmph. Rumor sites speculating on future products is one thing, but TV news stations? I know the iPod is The "It" Thing and everyone's looking forward to seeing what Apple has in the pipeline, but since when do credible "news" organizations indulge in rumor? Isn't reporting on possible iPod updates just like headlining with "Is Britney pregnant? Check out this photo!"? It makes the news nothing more than a tabloid. And the confusion amongst viewers only complicates the situation, threatening Apple -- perceptually and financially.What do you think? Is the iPod so hot that TV news stations need to discuss rumors? Or are they just looking for a cheap way to spur interest?
Apple to kill the iPod shuffle?
CNN Money is pointing to a statement by UBS analyst Ben Reitzes, who believes that the iPod shuffle may be replaced by a competitively priced, 1GB iPod nano. He's banging the "it doesn't have a screen" drum, but I really don't mind.I love my shuffle, and take it with me on short trips to the grocery store, walking the dog, etc. I know exactly what's on it because I choose to feed it manually (as opposed to auto fill), and it's really nice to not have to worry about scratches, etc. If my shuffle gets scuffed up, who cares? It's the utilitarian member of the iPod family (now that the mini is gone). I drop it into a coat or shirt pocket or hang it from my keys (see image above) without giving it a second thought. For me, that's the main appeal of the thing. If I had a 1GB nano it its place, I'd be treating it with kid gloves. I think the iPod family has to retain at least one rough-and-tumble member.[Via Macsimum News]
Rig of the Day: Group photo
Ok, everyone gather around for a group photo. Cinema CRT...you stand it the back, you're tall.Pictured here we find a 17" Apple CRT Cinema display connected to a dual 2.5 Power Mac G5, three sibling Powerbooks, plus an iBook, iSight, six iPods (yes, six) and a G4 Cube. That's either quite a personal collection, a gathering of many people's Macs...or somebody runs one heck of an Ebay business."Apple Products" posted by jpod999.If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We'll select an image every day to highlight.Update: Regarding our Rigs of the Day series, reader Ron Martinez says, "There's a depressing sameness about the rigs - motley collections of Macs from multiple eras, with accessories and peripherals in a poorly framed photo. How about replacing ROTD with a Rigs of Distinction feature. When you get something truly new or noteworthy, or interesting for some unique feature (rig in a car, on a scooter, case mod, etc.) post that." Well, you heard the man! We want to see your killer set ups: The mini under your car's dashboard, the room full of Xserves, the SE/30 that is automating your home, your stack of every iPod model ever sold...even your Newton web server. Just upload them to our our group Flickr pool. We're not saying that we don't want to see your humble home set up (that's what most of us have, afterall), but don't hesitate to really knock our socks off.
iPod appears in Ford ad
The practice of aligning your own product with another cool device is nothing new. Check out this ad for the Ford Fusion. It starts, oddly enough, with a full-on shot of an iPod. Some sort of odd "bubbles" float out of the iPod, through the air and eventually into the Fusion, as if to say, "Watch as the iPod's 'coolness' is transferred into our car." It's Ford's intention to reach that coveted 25-35 year old demographic with the spot, and "...[it] plays into that generation's love of technology and their love of music. Also, the iPod is so iconic that people stop to watch the ad," says Linda Perry-Lube, car communications manager for Ford. So now the iPod itself is being used to sell other items. As Slate notes, " [that's] because people think it's a new iPod ad."So, what's the effect on you, the consumer? Does the Fusion seem cooler, or does the iPod seem less so having been pawned out like this?[Via AdJab]
New MacBreak podcast from Leo and friends
Yet another vidcast (and site) from Leo and friends has launched in the iTMS by the name of MacBreak (iTMS link). Its inaugural episode stars Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Amber MacArthur and a new face in the Leo party: Emery Wells. This first episode is roughly 30 minutes of video coverage from the Macworld Expo floor, with the gang running around checking out iPod accessories, the Best in Show software award winners, AJA video cards, new iLife goodness and, of course, the new Intel Macs. I actually thought the Mac section was a bit interesting, as Leo interviews an Apple rep on the new MacBook Pros and tosses a few curve balls, giving the rep a good run for his money.It's a great first episode, and the vidcast as a whole shows a lot of potential. It's very well produced (thanks to Alex and the Pixel Corps, maybe?), with great special effect transition goodness and a professional flow not found in many other podcasts. Definitely check it and their site out, as I'm sure there is much to come.
mTune-N headset now shipping
Back in November, we wrote about the mTune-N, Macally's headset with an integrated iPod nano dock. The iPod's clickwheel remains exposed while docked, allowing you to have full control of its functions. Macally has announced this week that the mTune-N will ship in "early February" in both the US and the UK for $49.99US and £40, respectively. Just in time for Valentine's Day![Via Reg Hardware]
Rig of the Day: Oh, my electric bill!
Flickr user tbridge has got a lot of stuff plugged in at once here. Check out the 20" G5 iMac, 20" Cinema Display, Powerbook, Mac mini (with attached 160GB LaCie drive) and a 3G iPod. Not to mention the Creature Speakers, two lamps, printer and clock (though that may run on batteries)."Desk" posted by tbridge.If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We'll select an image every day to highlight.
Rig of the Day: Crisp and clean
After the cluttered desks we've recently featured, we had to put up the polar opposite today, just to balance things out. I really like the iBook propped on its stand, as well as the iMac, iPod in a universal dock and Soundsticks. Plus, that's a sweet desktop picture. TransparentDock gets rid of the dock's background and border, and an iSight wraps up the rig."My Setup (Revised)" posted by jdys™If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We'll select an image every day to highlight.
Improve your stethoscope skills with an iPod
When the doc puts that icy cold stethoscope against your skin, s/he is listening for subtle nuances of sound that can allow him/her to diagnose all sorts of trouble, even before symptoms begin to present themselves. It's the type of skill that is developed and perfected through much, much practice. Dr. Michael Barrett of Philadelphia's Temple University believes he can help young, more inexperienced physicians develop these skills quickly. In a controlled study, he provided an audio recording of different heart sounds and gave it to a group of medical students. The students promptly transferred the audio to their iPods, and after a trial period of 3,000 playbacks, their ability to identify specific heart sounds jumped from 30% accuracy to 80%.The moral of the story? Buy your doctor an iPod.[Via MacBytes]
An iPod-charging golf bag
All right, that's really it. The iPod accessories are starting to get way out of hand. These bags by Soldius feature solar panes that connect to an integrated iPod dock (you can connect your cell phone as well). Prices range from $200US to $800.For $800, I had better get Rodney Dangerfield's bag from Caddyshack that plays music (via the iPod, of course) and ejects my clubs via compressed air.[Via Engadget]
