Queen Elizabeth II an iPod user

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has bought an iPod, according to a report published by The Sun. Britain's biggest-selling daily said the 79-year-old sovereign had bought a six-gigabyte silver model for 169 pounds (255 euros, 310 dollars). Queen Elizabeth's second son Prince Andrew, fourth in line to the throne, was reported to be behind the move, having bought his mother a mobile phone and taught her how to use it in 2001. "The Queen loves music and was impressed by how small and handy the iPod is," a royal insider told The Sun. "Obviously it is quite complicated to download songs, but I'm sure one of the courtiers will do it for her."

Limited edition DecoDock for Shuffle

Pressure Drop today announced a limited edition red, white and blue DecoDock to celebrate July 4th, the US independence day. The special edition DecoDock has a white base with bright red and blue LEDs, and provides users with a simple, artistic way to connect an iPod shuffle to their computer. The stylish dock designed to complement and enhance the iPod shuffle and also allows users to store the iPod's plastic cap in the back of the DecoDock. DecoDock sells for $32 and will ship June 24th in limited quantities. DecoDock is also offered in cobalt blue, obsidian black, silver, pink, green, and white. All colors are currently shipping and available for $29.

Report: podcast popularity to skyrocket...

According to new forecasts from The Diffusion Group, a consumer technology research consultancy, demand for podcasts is expected to grow from less than 15 percent of portable digital music player owners in 2004 to 75 percent by 2010. TDG's new report, Podcasting: Fact, Fiction and Opportunity, suggests that between 2004 and 2010, the use of podcasting among U.S. consumers will enjoy a compound annual growth rate of 101 percent. "Today the term 'podcast' refers to almost any online mobile content distribution service," said Marc Freedman, contributing analyst with The Diffusion Group. "It has taken on very general precepts, thus indicative of its status as a service category as opposed to a branded activity."