NYU cautions against wearing iPod earbud headphones

New York University is warning its students against wearing the earmark white earbud headphones that ship with Apple's iPod, according to AppleInsider. The university is reportedly warning users against using the white earbuds because of saftey concerns: "The tiny, white earbud headphones have become a telltale sign for thieves looking to hijack iPods in the fast-paced streets of Manhattan. This week members of the campus community began plastering NYU dorms with posters warning students not to wear the standard iPod headphones.....There have been an increasing number reports from students who've been held up by city crooks demanding that they hand over their iPod."

Public Library loans iPod shuffles for audio books

This week the South Huntington Public Library on Long Island, New York, became one of the first public libraries in the country to loan out iPod shuffles, reports Wired News. For the past three weeks, the library ran a pilot program using the portable MP3 devices to store audio books downloaded from the Apple iTunes Music Store. They started with six shuffles, and now are up to a total of 10. Each device holds a single audio book. The few library patrons that have checked them out seem to have had positive experiences. "It's changed the books on tape from a car-only experience to a bring-it-with-you experience," Lee Jacknow, 61, a retired professor of engineering said.

iPod shuffle Gel Shields ship next week

Pacific Rim is offering a protective gel case for the iPod shuffle, available in white, pink, charcoal, blue, and lime. The iPod Shuffle Gel Shields are available for $11 individually or $25 for a three-pack. The iPod Shuffle Gel Shield kits include a cover for the main body, and a colored end cap. The protective shields are thin enough to allow viewing and operation of the buttons on the front on the iPod shuffle. Made of silicone, "it will protect your music player from bumps, scratches and sticky fingers." The iPod Shuffle Gel Shield single and three-packs will begin shipping on Tuesday, March 8th.

Newer, OWC debut high-capacity battery for 4G iPod

Newer Technology and OWC today introduced a new high-capacity 750mAh replacement battery for all fourth-generation ("4G") Click Wheel iPod models. The NuPower 4G battery model offers the "maximum capacity possible" with 20 percent more capacity than the factory-installed battery shipped with 4G iPod models. The company also sells 2100mAh and 1800mAh iPod batteries, which offer up to 70 percent more capacity for first- and second-generation models, and the 850mAh iPod battery, which offers 30 percent more capacity for third-generation models. NewerTech 4G 750mAh iPod battery, available for $26, includes non-scratch installation tools and instructions for installation.