News Archive for 05/01/06

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Alpine head units for iPod

01/06, 4:35pm

Alpine debuts "Ready-for-iPod" car stereo head units

 Alpine Electronics today announced that its 2005 line up of nine second-generation "Ready-for-iPod" in-dash head units and Mobile Multimedia Stations, have enhanced user interface features such as a dedicated iPod icon for direct source selection and identification on the unit's display screen. Alpine, who was the first to deliver an aftermarket system integration solution for using the iPod in the car, is now offering "Ready-for-iPod" head units that offer exclusive GlideTouch technology and a new easy-to-use slider function on the second-generation PulseTouch screen.

iTunes for Ireland

01/06, 4:10pm

Apple launches iTunes Music Store for Ireland

Apple's iTunes Music Store is now available to customers based in Ireland. Apple says that the Irish store features the same "innovative features and breakthrough pricing of €0.99 per song that have made iTunes the number one online music service in the world. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Music Store is the best way for PC and Mac users to legally discover, purchase and download music online." Apple intially launched its European iTunes Music store last June and expanded its European coverage to include 9 countries in October, however, plans were stymied for an Irish version at the last minute by a disagreement with the Irish Music Rights Organization.

More Creative MP3 players

01/06, 2:35pm

Creative adds more MP3 players to challenge iPod mini

 Creative today introduced several new models of its Zen Micro digital music player. The product line, which brings direct competition to the iPod mini, now includes a 1GB flash-based model as well as 4GB and 6GB disk-based models--in addition to the original 5GB disk-based model. The company touted Zen Micro's price and feature advantage over the iPod mini in its press release as well the players' compatibility with a wider range of services, such as the Naptser, MusicMatch, and the Wal-Mart music store. The diminutive players include MP3/WMA support, a "blue glow" backlight, a removeable chargeable battery, FM radio/recorder functions, voice recording support, and more. The 1GB model will be available in the first quarter of 2005 for $200, while the 4GB ($230) and 6GB ($300) models will be available later this month.. The 5GB Zen Micro is currently available for $250.

Instant iPod charge

01/06, 2:05pm

Disposable Cellboost instantly charges iPod

 Compact Power Systems today announced it has added iPod support to its line of Cellboost disposable battery/chargers. The new product will use the same technology as the company's patented Cellboost cell phone battery/chargers to restore power to dead or dying mobile devices instantly and inexpensively--without any need for an electrical outlet or cords. Cellboost for the iPod will offer several hours of additional playback time, according to the company. It is expected to be available in the second quarter of this year along with models for smart phones (palmOne Treo and Danger SideKick), camcorders (Sony, Canon, JVC, etc.), and Nintendo Game Boy (SP/DS).

\'Thinking Homes Software\'

01/06, 12:15pm

'Thinking Homes' adds iTunes, Rendezvous support

  OpenPeak today announced that it has added iTunes and Rendezvous support company's flagship Thinking Homes software, which powers many third-party remote control solutions for the home. "Now, consumers using controllers powered by OpenPeak software can view and select play lists and songs without being tied to the PC that hosts the Apple iTunes library," said Andrew Lona, OpenPeak's Chief Marketing Officer. The remote control software solution enables playback on an AirPort Express with AirTunes or on a PC.

New iM4 inMotion speakers

01/06, 12:00pm

Altec Lansing debuts new inMotion speakers: iM4

 Altec Lansing today introduced a new inMotion speaker model called the iM4, which it says can transform any brand of MP3 or CD player from a private in-ear listening system to a public one. "Small and lightweight enough to stuff in a briefcase, the inMotion iM4 is a one-piece system with two speakers on either side of a 4.5" x 5" no-skid rubberized platform that holds a music player of any size firmly in place. The speakers stand nearly vertical when the system is in use, then fold down to platform level to form a flat surface slightly larger than 5" x 10" for easy storage or travel." It features a 4-watt Class D digital amplifier, which powers four 1" neodymium micro drivers and offers clear reproduction over the entire frequency range.

iTunes sales to help AAPL

01/06, 10:50am

iTunes to benefit from increased music download trend

A trend showing increased digital music sales could benefit Apple's iTunes music sales significantly. Piper Jaffray said iTunes could see a significant boost in digital music downloading, according to Forbes. Maintaining its Apple rating of "outperform" with a $100 price target, the analyst noted that Nielsen Soundscan "shows a material uptick in digital downloads" in each of the last two weeks with track volumes at 5.046 million for the week ending December 26 and nearly 6.7 million the following week.

HP Bluetooth iPod bundle

01/06, 10:15am

HP headphones bundled with Bluetooth iPod adapter

  TEN Technology has announced that it will bundle its naviPlay Bluetooth Adapter for iPod with Hewlett-Packard's Bluetooth Stereo Headphones and will demonstrate the two products at CES in Las Vegas. The Bluetooth adapter streams music from the iPod using both broadcast and receive units, enabling flexible wireless listening at distances of up to 10 meters. The HP/TEN Bluetooth Stereo bundle. The HP Bluetooth Stereo Headphone features an integrated wireless remote control, which allow iPod users to listen to their music completely wirelessly. The bundle will be available for $240 and is compatible with all iPod models with Dock Connector. The bundle is expected to ship on February 1 from hpshopping.com (and later from other retailers). The naviPlay iPod Adapter and Remote (without headphones) are available for pre-order separately for $200.

Sony game device vs. iPod

01/06, 9:45am

Sony Playstation Portable to dethrone iPod?

Sony entry hand-held gaming market may dethrone the iPod as the "world's gotta-have gadget," according to a report from CES after the US debut of the PlayStation Portable, which is already fetching more than twice the US retail price of $190 on eBay. The Age reports that Sony may have "outgadgeted" Apple: "The 18 by 8centimetre device - feted with a coming-out party at the Hard Rock Casino - can store and play music, display photos and even play movies. It's also capable of wireless connections, and can hook into a PC with a cable. An attachment - sold separately, of course - also powers it into a camera. So much is packed into the PSP that many experts believe Sony is suffering a loss with each unit sold." Sony says it expects to sell 3 million units by this summer.

iPod accessory market

01/06, 9:35am

iPod accessory market grows with new products at CES

Apple's iPod has spawned a growing accessory market, where users spend an additional 20 percent on related accessories, according to a Reuters report. "The top accessory, by far, appears to be the case. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them -- leather, silicone, plastic, vinyl, neoprene, fabric, metal and even knitted ones, ranging in price from $5 to more than $200 for designer-label items....The next must-have item for the iPod enthusiast is usually an automobile related accessory, typically a dock that allows music from the iPod to be played on a car's stereo system and draw power from the car."

iTunes: 46664 \'1 Year On\'

01/06, 9:25am

iTunes exclusive features Paul McCartney, Sting

Apple has managed to land yet another exclusive iTunes release with some big name music stars, as noted by MacNN reader Marv Leventhal. One year after the 46664 concert in South Africa which launched the Nelson Mandela worldwide HIV/AIDS campaign (carrying his former prison number) new tracks recorded to support the campaign featuring Paul McCartney, Queen, David A Stewart, Jimmy Cliff, Sting and Nelson Mandela are being made available for the first time exclusively on iTunes. The 46664 '1 Year On' EP offers four tracks, which feature unique one-off collaborations, including a new Queen track featuring Nelson Mandela reading from his own writings. Portions of profits generated from download will be donated to assist the 46664 campaign in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. It is now available worldwide--except for the in the US, where it will be released on January 11.

MS-Sony partnership?

01/06, 2:10am

MS to partner with Sony in digital music arena?

Microsoft may be looking to partner with another major player in the online music industry to better compete with Apple, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Bill Gates said that both Microsoft and Sony could benefit from a broad partnership in digital entertainment--both having "a lot of incentive to work together" in digital-music "infrastructure," including online-music services and protection against improper music copying, according to Reuters. Using the rhetoric of consumer choice, Gates said the iTunes/iPod system offers consumer virtually no choice. Gates, however, declined on possibility of a Microsoft partnership with Sony, using only the rhetoric of consumer choice when discussing the closed iTunes/iPod system.