News Archive for 05/11/09

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iDoom 1.1 supports iPod nano

11/09, 5:10pm

iDoom 1.1 supports Nano

An iPodNN reader let us know that iDoom 1.1, a port of the classic ID game Doom to the iPodlinux platform, now offers support for the iPod nano. iDoom is based on the source code from the original Doom released by John Carmac in 1997, and currently supports all iPod-versions that can run iPodlinux. Version 1.1 provides configurable controls in addition to Nano compatibility. The goal for the iDoom project is to make a fast and "nice looking" Doom port for iPodlinux, while providing the maximum possible "Doom experience". iDoom 1.1 is scaled to the iPod's native resolution, works in full-color as did the original Doom (256 colors), and offers dithered graphics for the grayscale iPod. The software operates at 10-20 frames-per-second (FPS), and has the ability to use various WAD (map) files. iDoom 1.1 is free, and requires a supported iPod with iPodlinux installed.

Olympus pulls out of MP3 player market

11/09, 1:55pm

Olympus nixes MP3 players

Olympus today said it would pull out of the MP3 player market, ending production and sales of its portable digital music players. The company said that it was unable to keep up with stronger players such as Sony and Apple in the fast-growing market and is the latest victim of the continued dominance of Apple's iPod, according to the report. Olympus, who made the announcement following disappointing quarterly earnings, is the second major player to drop out of the music device market: D&M Holdings, which marketed the Rio brand of music players, earlier this year announced it would exit the mass-market portable digital audio player business.

DLO introduces PodFolio deluxe for iPod nano

11/09, 12:35pm

PodFolio deluxe for Nano

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) today introduced the PodFolio for iPod nano. The soft leather case features a padded flip cover and a leather-covered sewn-in belt clip. A clear front window preserves the Nano's screen, clickwheel and front glass finish while providing access to the controls of the device. The PodFolio deluxe leather case for iPod nano is available for $30.

EMI bans Lennon classics on iTunes

11/09, 12:10pm

EMI bans Lennon on iTunes

John Lennon's record company, EMI, and Yoko Ono--his widow have placed a ban on iTunes because the Beatles' copyright management firm says Apple is in breach of a trademark agreement, which is unlikely to see an out-of-court settlement according to the latest reports. The on-going legal dispute between the two sides, which dates back to 1981, will leave iTunes users out in the cold: Lennon's greatest hits album "Working Class Hero"--to be released on December 5th--will not be available to iTunes shoppers this holiday season, according to a report from the Digital Bulletin. EMI said that a number of tracks will also be available for mobile download over the coming weeks. Earlier this year, iTunes users were able to download two Beatles songs, following Paul McCartney's participation in the London Live 8 concert.

Macally debuts cordless headset for Nano

11/09, 11:20am

Cordless headset for Nano

Macally has announced the mTUNE-N cordless stereo headset, designed specifically for iPod nano. The Nano plugs directly into a built-in slot, offering a direct connection to the music player and requiring no batteries. Features include a collapsible design for easy storage, leather hygienic ear pads, and full access to the Nano's clickwheel and display. The mTUNE-N boasts a 40mm Mylar cone speaker with a frequency response of 20Hz-23KHz and sensitivity of 105dB. The mTUNE-N cordless stereo headset measures 2.2 x 1.3 x 3-inches, weigh 6.1 ounces, and will ship for $50 with a one-year warranty (release date was unavailable).

Noreve unveils leather case for 5G iPod

11/09, 11:05am

5G iPod leather case

Noreve has unveiled its Tradition leather case for Apple's fifth-generation iPod. Made from soft leather, the case provides access to the clickwheel, the headphone jack and the dock connector. A snap button closure keeps the device securely positioned, and a removable belt clip offers access on demand. The case harbors two business card slots, as well as a leather and velvet interior lining. The Traditional leather case is expected to be available on November 20th for €40 in black, white, pink, and baby blue.

OnlyMac releases Video2Pod conversion utility

11/09, 9:55am

Video2Pod 1.0 released

OnlyMac Software today released Video2Pod 1.0, its utility designed to convert movies to 320 x 240 pixels, suitable for playback on Apple's fifth-generation iPod. Video2Pod supports all formats that are supported by QuickTime 7: AVI, Muxed MPEG-1, MPEG-4, MPEG-4 H.264, and M4V (iTunes video), among others. The application supports DivX movies as well, using a free plug-in available for QuickTime. Video2Pod 1.0 is available for $10, requiring Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, QuickTime 7.0.3, and iTunes 6.0.1.

Strong iTunes/Pixar sales; Jobs on movie sale

11/09, 8:45am

Jobs on movie sales

Pixar Animation Studios sold 125,000 short movie clips through iTunes in just under one month, according to Macworld UK. The report says that Pixar (and Apple) CEO Steve Jobs was speaking to analysts to discuss his animation company's third quarter results, noting that Apple-watchers may be interested in some of Jobs' comments as regards iTunes and film piracy. "The biggest problem with downloading feature-length films through iTunes is bandwidth, it takes too long in US," he explained. He confirmed his belief that illegal digital sharing of movies is taking place, but stressed: "There is some evidence that shows people downloading movies illegally wouldn't have bought them anyway."