Hearing loss in Australia's youth attributed to iPods

Users of Apple's iPod should be cautious about hearing problems, according to one study. Results of research by the National Acoustic Laboratories are expected tommorrow from the Australian Federal Government, providing evidence that up to 25 percent of people will have hearing problems caused by listening to their iPods at "excessive and damaging" levels. The research also predicts rising levels of tinnitus – ringing in the ears – and loss of hearing because people can't maintain "responsible" listening habits. The Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, advised people to turn down the volume of their MP3 players, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. About 20 percent of Australians over the age of 15 already have some degree of hearing difficulties, and consistent exposure to loud noises is the most common cause of hearing damage.

New Toshiba drives could boost iPod capacity by 10x

Toshiba today announced that it has begun shipping its new Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) 1.8-inch hard drive, the first of its kind and possibly the future of Apple's iPod. The new drive will target portable electronics that use 1.8-inch hard drives, such the iPod. PMR technology can squeeze up to 10 times more data onto the drive than conventional hard disks because PMR stacks the digital data perpendicularly rather than horizontally. Forthcoming iPods could potentially store 10 times the number of songs currently possible and remain the same size, according to a TechNewsWorld. The cost of PMR hard drives is also expected to remain on-par with current cost-per-gigabyte pricing of standard devices, according to the report.

Numark's iPod mixer for DJ's to ship in October

The previously announced iDJ, a two-channel mixer enabling iPod owners to seamlessly integrate portable music libraries with other music and sound is now coming in October. The iDJ can transform iPods of every model with a dock connector into a music playback device. Features include large iPod navigation controls, three-band EQ with gain control on both channels, and dedicated microphone input with tone/level control. The iDJ sells for $400.

DecoDock Lava Edition for Shuffle announced

Pressure Drop today announced the DecoDock Lava Edition, a colorful and stylish addition to any desktop. "With a glossy black base and glowing red LEDs, [it] provides users with a simple, sultry way to connect an iPod shuffle to their computer. Designed in the classic Art Deco style, the DecoDock's lighted columns tower over a brilliantly colored and graceful arc, enhancing the pleasing simplicity of the iPod shuffle. The iPod's plastic cap can be stored in the back of the DecoDock, a unique feature designed specifically to help prevent it from getting lost." DecoDock Lava Edition also sells for $30 and is now shipping in limited quantities. (DecoDock is also offered with white LEDs and several base colors, including cobalt blue, obsidian black, silver, white, pink, and green.)