Telecomm billionaire dismisses podcasting

Although podcasting has been heralded by some as the next big thing in telecommunications, Mark Cuban has dismissed its potential. Cuban is the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team who made his fortune selling Broadcast.com to Yahoo! in 1999. In a posting on his blog, the tycoon wrote, "Creating your own podcast and trying to make a business out of it is a mistake." He explicated that, "Podcasting is right where streaming [content] was about ten years ago... Try to find any of the many that created original content for Pseudo.com, TSN, Eyada.com, Broadcast.com and others that I have long forgotten." Podcast backers include Viacom's Infinity Radio, Disney's ABC News and General Electric's NBC News.

Layers magazine presents "iPod Flea" parody ad

"Big laughs come in small packages" in a 2-minute Apple advertising parody called “iPod Flea” by KW Media Group. The commercial was produced by Scott Kelby, last year’s top-selling computer book author, and the creative team at KW for the opening ceremony of the Mac Design Conference in Tampa last month. "It’s a wacky look at the newest plausible extension of the iPod product line – the smallest MP3 player in history." This "well-intentioned" spoof – the “iPod Flea: You’ll Be Itching to Use It” – is now viewable by the public at the Layers magazine website.

Belkin unveils TuneCommand, TuneTalk for iPod...

Belkin today announced TuneCommand for iPod, a device that allows users to roam and play the songs from an iPod virtually anywhere. Using wireless radio frequency technology, the TuneCommand Remote works from up to 150 feet away, regardless of barriers such as walls, ceilings, or windows that limit traditional remotes. The company also announced TuneTalk for iPod, a device that allows users to record audio to an iPod. By simply plugging the TuneTalk into your iPod, you can record memos, lectures, interviews, or conversations.

iPod sales, music player market "cooling?"

In an article published yesterday, The Financial Times asks, "just how long can the iPod keep playing that upbeat tune?" Investors and analysts are pondering just that question as Apple prepares to report fiscal third-quarter results after the market closes today. "There are a number of indicators that suggest the digital music player market is cooling.[...] Apple recently cut prices on two of its music player models, including the iPod, a move the company said would help it capture market share. Some observers believed the price cuts pointed to slowing demand." The report also notes that consumers can actually find iPods in stock at Apple retail stores -- "a far cry from the waits that customers faced just a few months ago."

Bloomberg: iPod sales likely down in Q3

Apple's iPod shipments probably dropped in the third quarter from the second, Bloomberg.com says. It would be the first quarterly decline in more than two years and a sign that "the surge in demand for the music players may be waning." Apple's profit in the quarter more than quadrupled to $274.2 million, or 31 cents a share, from $61 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier, according to the average estimate of 18 analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. Sales likely rose 66 percent to $3.34 billion. The results would exceed Apple's forecast for profit of 28 cents and sales of $3.25 billion. But the company will say today iPod shipments dropped to 5.29 million in the three months ended in June from 5.31 million in the second, according to a survey of eight analysts.

DLO unveils "mini Fling" iPod case for women

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters today announced the DLO mini Fling fashion cases for iPod mini. The mini Flings, DLO’s first iPod cases designed specifically for women, embrace today’s fashion trends and styles. The mini flings’ material and color choices are a perfect match for any mini. Styles range from metallic pink, psychedelic green and even a crocodile blue. The cases also feature a removable wristlet with charm, an elastic loop for headphone or lipstick storage and even a flip-up cosmetic mirror. The DLO mini fling cases are being previewed at Macworld Expo Boston (DLO Booth #329) this week, and will begin shipping in late July.