DVForge kills PodBuddy FM product...

DVForge announced today that it is not going to be able to sell the previously announced PodBuddy FM, because of a disagreement with DLO (Digital Lifestyle Outfitters) over a patent that they hold. The device is an in-car holder, charger, and FM stereo transmitter for the iPod. "We have been informed by DLO that they consider our PodBuddy to be an infringement of their company's U.S. patent #6,591,085, and, that they will file suit against us, if we launch the PodBuddy," said CEO Jack Campbell. "We disagree with DLO's claim, and, we believe that our PodBuddy is so utterly different from their company's TransPod product that there can be no question of infringement. But, we are not able to fund the sort of protracted legal battle that would be required to prove our point in court. So, we are forced to kill the PodBuddy."

iPod psychology: players reclaim personal space

That ability to tailor music to a locale, activity or mood is part of what makes iPods so popular, according to Michael Bull, senior lecturer in media and film studies at the University of Sussex in England. Bull has studied the social psychology of personal listening devices such as the iPod and Walkman, the Chicago Tribune reports. "Users can stream their music and cater it to their environment or mood much more successfully." For his upcoming book on iPod culture and urban experience, Bull has interviewed thousands of users around the world about how they use their iPods. Many of his subjects reported using their players at work. "It's like a 'do not disturb' sign." On the street, iPods give users a sense of privacy, Bull said.

Last day to redeem "Drink. Win. Play" freebies

Today is the last day iTunes Music Store users can redeem free songs from the "Drink. Win. Play." Pepsi/iTunes promotion. The promotion offered 200 million free iTunes song codes found under 1 in 3 bottles of Pepsi products. Apple has limited participation to 10 codes per day and 200 total codes. The promotion gave away an iPod mini each hour between February 2nd and April 11th. The promotion was publicized in a SuperBowl commerical on February 6th, and has since been advertised strongly on television. Codes were included with specially marked 20oz. and 1-liter bottles of Pepsi, Diest Pepsi, Pepsi Wild Cherry, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red and Sierra Mist.

Belkin debuts TuneStage for iPod

Belkin Corporation today announced the TuneStage for iPod, a device that allows users to play the songs from an iPod through any home theater wirelessly via Bluetooth technology. "With a transmitter connected to your iPod and a receiver hooked up via RCA or 3.5mm to your system, TuneStage offers reliable, high-quality sound without the clutter of cables." The TuneStage fits all-size iPod devices with a dock connector, leverages Bluetooth v1.2 wireless technology (for up to 33ft range), inludes a 7ft Gold Series RCA stereo cable, and offers "plug n' play" support. The transmitter (for the iPod) requires no batteries, features low power consumption (40mA), and automatically powers on/off with the iPod. Belkin will begin shipping TuneStage for iPod in North America in late July 2005 for $180.