This week: "Rokr", competition, accessories...

This week brought more details on the upcoming Motorola "Rokr" mobile phone with iTunes support, first with rumors and then with expectations of the debut September 7th. Despite some fear the phone will be a disappointment due to its presumed low storage capacity, Motorola reportedly completed shooting for a ROKR iTunes phone television ad yesterday starring Madonna, Little Richard, Bootsy Collins, Sum 41, Mya, Lil' Jon, The Pussycat Dolls, The White Stripes, and Billie Joe from Green Day.

Verizon plans to sell music-playing mobile phones

Verizon Wireless will reportedly start selling three mobile phones capable of playing digital music next week. The phones from Motorola, UTStarcom, and LG Electronics will have detachable storage that allows users to download music from computers, according to the report from Reuters. The phones will work on Verizon's high-speed wireless network, but will not support wireless music downloading immediately, according to the report. The new LG 8100 and CDM 8940 from UTstarcom are set to debut, while the Motorola E815 (which is already available) is expected to gain added music playing and storage functionality.

Artwizz rolls out HangPhones for the iPod shuffle

Artwizz today announced its HangPhones for the iPod shuffle, offering a solution to messy cabling problems by allowing the Shuffle to be worn around the neck. This eliminates long, hanging cables while providing stereo earphones which are integrated into the neck strap. The lanyard cords run alongside the Shuffle, while the bottom cap integrates with the earphone jack, and is contoured to fit snugly to the rounded corners of the Shuffle. The stereo earphones feature a 15mm driver unit, frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz and a sensitivity of 100db at 1KHz. Offered in black, white, and "silikon", HangPhones are available for £18.

Griffin redesigns popular iTrip FM transmitter

Griffin Technology announced Friday redesigned version of its iTrip FM transmitter for the iPod. The new version adds a backlit LCD display, a dial to adjust broadcast frequency, and selectable LX or DX modes. According to the accessory maker, the DX mode delivers a noise level "below that of a cassette tape adapter, allowing the music to punch through cleanly." Additionally, the new device allows users to choose between "US" or "International" modes. International mode enables users to select all available frequencies, rather than the standard United States frequency set. A new auto-volume feature helps prevent distortion by adjusting the volume accordingly. The iTrip is immediately available for $50.

iPod manufacturer sees revenue double

The Taiwanese company that manufacturers much of Apple's iPod supply said its revenue more than doubled in the first half of this year, according to Infoworld. Revenue rose to NT$47.9 billion (US$1.47 billion) during the six-month period ending June 30, from NT$22.3 billion during the same time last year. Inventec Appliances' net income rose to NT$1.4 billion (US$42.9 million) from NT$913 million. "About 80 percent to 90 percent of first-half sales were in contract manufacturing," said a company representative. The company's revenue increased largely thanks to growing iPod sales, said Frank Lee, an industry analyst at Deutsche Bank in Taipei.