Memory deal with Apple may hurt Samsung MP3 sales

Samsung's aggressive move to offer large price breaks to Apple for flash memory may cut into own profits. Samsung's move to offer volume discounts on NAND flash memory for Apple's iPod nano may cut into sales of its own branded MP3 players, according to The Korea Times. "The latest case in point is the decision by the semiconductor division of Samsung Electronics to give big volume discounts on NAND flash memory to Apple Computer of the U.S. at the expense of sales by the electronics firm’s MP3 player business unit.... The agreement is forecast to deal a direct blow to the sales and profitability of smaller MP3 player makers worldwide and Samsung Electronics’ MP3 player unit is no exception. Earlier this year, the company announced its bold vision to beef up its MP3 player business."

Apple's "Silhouettes" cause uproar in Toronto...

Apple's Sillohettes ad campaign, which was awarded two "Gold" awards for its effectiveness, is apparently causing an uproar in Toronto (Canada), where the ads are the focus of a group trying to get the city to adhere to local legislation governing the placement of ads in public spaces and transit shelters. Advertising the iPod and iTunes Music Store, the "Sillohettes" are placed throughout Toronto on glass panels of the transit shelters, a public safety concern and violating the city's contract with Viacom Outdoor, according to the website. "Viacom Outdoor seems to be breaking the rules of [its] contract with the city for providing transit shelters. We don't know what's worse; an outdoor ad company treating our streets like their playground, or city staff turning a blind eye. We call on City Councillors to raise our concerns at Community Council, Planning & Transportation Committee and City Council."

Think Different ships invisibleSHIELD for iPod nano

The Think Different Store is now shipping invisibleSHIELD, a "super-strong," full-body wrap that protects the iPod nano without masking its distinctive look and feel. Covering both front and back of the nano, invisibleSHIELD is built from the same film originally designed to protect helicopter blades; the clear wrap is designed to stay on under the roughest circumstances and "will not come off unless you take it off," according to the company. "Thinner than a blade of grass yet possessing unimaginable strength, invisibleSHIELD is easily removed and it won't damage your screen. Nor will it leave behind any sticky adhesive. It even has a self-healing property, ensuring that many of the bangs and bumps the film takes will simply disappear." It is available now for $20.

PodSmith 1.2.0 encrypts sync data to iPods

Maki Enterprise today released PodSmith 1.2.0, its utility synchronization application that uses an iPod as a key for security. Version 1.2.0 encrypts sync data to the iPod, increasing security of data. PodSmith auto-syncs between Mac and iPod, and provides options such as temporarily replacing Safari's bookmarks on a Mac system with the iPods bookmarks until the iPod is unmounted. Screen and file locking are accomplished by mounting and unmounting the iPod, while PodSmith optionally disables all applications except those specified. Macs are unlocked by typing a password should the iPod be stolen or misplaced. PodSmith 1.2.0 requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later, and is available for $20.