News Archive for 05/09/09

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Apple patents car dock for iPod

09/09, 3:05pm

iPod car dock

Apple has applied for a patent on a device that would enable drivers to easily equip their cars with an iPod. U.S. patent number "20050147951," titled "Electronic device holder," describes a gadget that can be inserted into a standard cup holder to house an iPod. "One embodiment of the invention includes a spool about which connecting cable can be wound. Adapting sleeves that fit around the base of the apparatus can be used to adapt electronic device holder to cup holders of different sizes and shapes," Apple said in its filing. Nine sketches of the device are posted on the U.S. PTO website.

New Pioneer Elite receivers feature iPod integration

09/09, 1:40pm

Pioneer Elite receivers

Pioneer Electronics today introduced new Pioneer Elite A/V receivers featuring both iPod and XM Satellite radio integration. The VSX-74TXVi and VSX-72TXV introduced today by Pioneer are designed to be the "brains" behind a great home theater, bringng "data from all types of sources and processing the data to enhance the audio and video experience." Both feature an automatic room-tuning feature that processes the sound quality so that every seat in the room feels like the "sweet spot," according to the company. The remote control on the receiver can be used to navigate through playlists, songs, artists and genres, while the information can be viewed from a scrolling 14-character display on the receiver or from a full display on the TV.

Tunewear announces Poptune for nano

09/09, 8:30am

Poptune for nano

iPod accessory maker Tunewear today announced Poptune for nano, a removable wrapper for the new digital music player. It will be available in October in a pack of 12 stylish patterns. It provides protection for the iPod nano against dirt and scratching. The Poptune wrapper is easily removable without residue. The wrappers are also reusable. Patterns include: tropical "Aloha", fierce "Dragon", and pretty "Sakura."

Korean market surprised by iPod nano price

09/09, 8:20am

iPod nano price

Korean MP3 player makers are miffed by the low price of the iPod nano, according to Chosun. Yesterday, we noted that some analysts believe margins are very tight on the iPod nano. Apple presumably bought the flash memory chips at a 50 percent discount from Samsung, according to today's report. “I can’t tell you the discount rate, but it stands to reason that we expand the range of discount rates for a big buyer like Apple,” said Samsung Electronics executive Joo Woo-sik. "Samsung didn’t mean to do any harm to domestic MP3 manufacturers.” Spokesman Kim Dong-hwan for Competitor Reincom said, “we can hardly declare a price war with Apple. We’ll counter Apple’s challenge by releasing new concept products.”