iPod It PIM app gains Tiger support

ZappTek today announced the release of iPod It 2.4.3 ($15), a free update for current users. This release provides Tiger compatibility, including support for the new versions of iCal and Mail, and improves Stickies and News processing. iPod It supports transferring information from Entourage, Stickies, Mail, Address Book and iCal to your iPod. Users can even download weather forecasts and news. "Who needs a PDA when you have an iPod?...Transfer your PIM data to your iPod so it's available whenever you need it."

PsiberAudio PAS2 & PAS2+ preamps

PsiberAudio has released its much anticipated PAS2 & PAS2+ preamps, featuring built in iPod cradles and audiophile grade power supplies. It features a white enamel steel enclosure, teflon covered silver wire, and a front panel selector can select from iPod, iPod Shuffle, CD, and Aux. The device also features a high quality Alps Blue Velvet Potentiometer, a built in cradle and audiophile grade regulated power supply for the iPod, and gold plated and Teflon insulated RCA input jacks. PAS2+ features a double buffered Burr Brown Subwoofer output.

Column: LifeDrive can't replace iPod

Tim Beyers of The Motley Fool says palmOne's new LifeDrive "looks sexy" and is "pretty functional," but cannot replace the iPod. palmOne is billing the new handheld as an alternative to Apple's iPod, and even as a laptop replacement. "Look, I like palmOne, but let's be serious," Beyers writes. "There's little chance that the LifeDrive will displace the iPod or my PowerBook. But I can't blame the company for trying." Beyers speculates palmOne is trying to regain lost market share. The PDA market during the first quarter grew 25% over the same period a year ago, but palmOne was no longer the market leader. Rival Research In Motion shipped more units, grabbing the top spot with more than 20% of the market while palmOne dropped to 18%, a level it hasn't seen since the mid-'90s.

Mossberg prefers iTunes over subscription schemes

Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal has been testing new music services, and while he likes Yahoo's service, "whether it can dislodge Apple is another matter." Mossberg says he strongly prefers Yahoo Music Unlimited to Real's revamped Rhapsody service, but he still questions subscription services in general. "There are big downsides to the rental model. First, all the songs you ever downloaded will die and become unplayable if you stop paying your monthly subscription anytime in the future. Second, the subscription fees -- $15 a month currently -- are pretty stiff, especially for younger users. Third, the rental services are far more complicated than iTunes, because they sell several categories of songs, with different rules for using them, and offer multiple subscription plans with different privileges."

iPod contest: modify historical photos

For his second iPod giveaway, Mike Davidson has launched "Great iPods in History." The contest challenges participants to take a historically significant photo or video and modify it to include an iPod Shuffle. "You can modify famous photos, upload audio narratives, shoot video, or even design a mini-site. I expect most of the entries to be altered photos, which works well for this particular contest, but I just wanted to remind everyone that rules can always be broken. You are free to submit anything you like, as long as it’s yours and it was created specifically for this contest." Davidson provided a slightly modified 1945 Alfred Eisenstadt photo as an example. This contest, along with the remaining seven, will run for two weeks. The deadline for entries is midnight, May 31st.

iPod, BlackBerry successful due to simplicity

ZDNet UK looks at the success of unique handheld devices such as the iPod and BlackBerry. "Each has managed to succeed where general purpose handheld PCs have failed, even though there is nothing they can do — in theory at least — that a general purpose device cannot." While general purpose handheld PCs can receive email, organize your day, and play music, they are not what the public is looking for, the article explains. "At the CIO discussion evening at London's RSA on Wednesday night complexity was singled out as the bête noir of every IT Director [...] Businesses simply do not want more functionality on the desktop: not every user needs the same application set. After all, you wouldn't let a municipal gardener loose with a combine harvester."

Students in Scotland to redeem free iPods

Students in Scotland are to be rewarded with iPods and Xbox consoles for eating healthy foods under a new incentive scheme for school dinners. The initiative, which is similar to supermarket loyalty card schemes, involves children using a swipecard to build points for buying healthy food which are then traded for prizes. Glasgow City Council has rolled out the programme to all 29 secondary schools in the city after a trial scheme proved a great success. Around 30,000 pupils will be able to redeem their points for a selection of goods – from cinema tickets and book tokens to top-of-the-range iPod players.