TIME looks at iPod's faults, iPod "killers"

A Time article looks at iPod alternatives, many of which claim to offer more features and better reliability than Apple's iPod. On the "iPod-killer" list are Sony's NW-HD3 Network Walkman, Toshiba's Gigabeat MEG F20, the iRiver H10, and the Zen Micro. The article claims consumer interest in iPod alternatives stems from the iPod's "notorious lack of endurance" between recharges and sealed case that means you may have to "scrap the thing" if the internal battery dies. Moreover, the article suggests the iPod's "proprietary digital-music format" joins users "at the hip to Apple's iTunes online store." The article says competitors are "delivering fetching new digital-music players that adopt some of the benchmark's strengths while offering more flexibility and features."

New microdrives make 20GB iPod mini possible in 2007

Hitachi will offer 20GB one-inch hard drives (the size used in the iPod mini) by 2007, according to the company. The density breakthrough represents a refinement in perpendicular recording. Today, hard drives record and store data in a longitudinal fashion, with the read/write heads scanning over a horizontal plane. In perpendicular recording, data bits are aligned vertically, allowing for more data to be squeezed into a defined area, explains ZDNet UK. The hard drives store about 4.5GB per square centimeter using this technology. The technology will allow Hitachi to offer a 20GB microdrive and an 8.9cm drive for desktops that will hold a terabyte. Currently, microdrives top out at 6GB, such as the drive used in Apple's latest iPod mini.

iPodStyles ships ShuffleArt iPod shuffle Skins

iPodStyles today announced that it is now shipping the ShuffleArt iPod shuffle Skins and is offering the items at special introductory price. The company is offering the Skins for $8, a 33 percent from the regular price of $12. "Give your new iPod shuffle a new look in seconds and protect it from abuse at the same time. All skins are repositionable/removable/reusable for a fast, easy and accurate installation and goo-free removal." The Bloody design is currently in stock, while the other designs (Green, Monogram, Hawaiian Blue, and Hawaiian Pink) will be available within the next week.