New iPod competition uses subscription services

iRiver began shipment of its latest portable flash-based music players, which support Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) 10, to compete with Apple's iPod by offering subscription-based music services such as Raphsody To Go, Napster To Go and Yahoo Musc Unlimited. iRiver claims the T family to be the first flash devices to support portable subscription-based music services. The T10 and T30 are offered in 512MB and 1GB capacities and feature built-in voice recording with line-in encoding, providing the ability to record MP3s from any source. The T10 comes equipped with anti-shock rubber guards, an integrated "sport clip", a sports case with an armband, and boasts up to 45 hours of music playback on a single AA battery. Other features of the T10 include a color display, USB 2.0, FM tuner, and programmable FM recorder. The T30 series incorporates a 4-line backlit display, USB 2.0, integrated voice recorder, and can play up to 24 hours of music on a single AAA battery.

Logitech Wireless Music System for iPod

Logitech today introduced the Logitech Wireless Music System for iPod, which allows users to wirelessly connect their iPod or MP3 player to a stereo or speaker system. The Logitech Wireless Music System for iPod is a complete, two-piece, plug-and-play solution: a music transmitter connects to any portable music player's standard headphone port and a music receiver plugs into a home stereo receiver or multimedia speakers through an RCA port or a 3.5 mm jack. The music transmitter sends audio streams directly to the receiver at a range of up to 10 meters (33 feet). The device uses a "proprietary technology" that provides crystal-clear digital audio quality and features "adaptive frequency hopping" to overcome potential wireless interference. The suggested retail price is $150.

Briefly: Made For iPod, iPod Generation, Tokyo market

In brief: Apple has applied for a trademark on the phrase "Made For iPod" at the US Patents and Trademarks Office.... Apple's iPod leads the digital music player market in Tokyo, with a 36 per cent stake against Sony's 22 per cent.... A new U.K. report that calls for reductions in taxation to improve the economic position of young people refers to the "under 35" group as the "iPod Generation."... Yahoo! said that it would keep its current pricing of $7 per month (or $60 per year) for its subscription-based music service as the company moves out of testing, despite early concerns that the company would raise prices.

Sony-ISP deal enables legal P2P music file sharing...

Internet service provider Playlouder, expected to launch at the end of September, is the first provider aimed at people who want to share music legally, and has struck a ground-breaking deal with Sony BMG, which allows users to legally share Sony-licensed music with other broadband customers using a variety of peer-to-peer sharing programs such as Kazaa, eDonkey, etc. Playlouder, who will pay a portion of the broadband subscription fee to the music right holders, is expected to use the legal file-sharing to help drive adoption of its of broadband service.

SpeakerCraft's MODE offers home interface for iPod...

SpeakerCraft has announced the upcoming release of MODE (Music On Demand Experience), its full-color, wall-mounted screen interface with a scroll wheel and push button controls, allows home owners to access and control all of their multimedia equipment -- including their iPod -- in up to six rooms of the home. MODE will support up to six multimedia devices through the SpeakerCraft MZC (multi-zone control) system -- including hard drive music servers, satellite radio, AM/FM radio tuners, and all other sources that respond to infrared commands. MODE enables home owners to control and display all content stored on your iPod in up to six rooms, which it says is not available on any other multi-zone home install system.