News Archive for 06/01/24

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Exclusive Disney short films on iTunes

01/24, 7:35pm

Disney on iTunes

Apple today added more exclusive Disney content to the iTunes Music Store, following the announcement of Disney buyout of Pixar. "Disney rolls back the clock 70 years with Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and the rest of the gang. Offering up some of the animated short films that helped spark the imagination of generations upon generations of children and adults, these ten Disney classics are now available for download exclusively on iTunes."

iVideoBlast adds video podcast directory

01/24, 4:55pm

New iVideoBlast content

iVideoBlast.com has announced the addition of a video podcast directory to its library of classic content video. The new directory focuses on video podcast iTunes-compatible content, and has developed a unique "hybrid" navigation system that makes finding iPod video content "almost instantaneous" for its members. iVideoBlast filters for audio-only podcasts, and does not include these in its offerings. iVideoBlast is integrated with iTunes 6.0.2, and works with both Macs and PCs to offer Movies, TV shows, and cartoons priced between $1-2 each. Member video podcasts will be available soon, according to the company.

Neuros showcases digital video recorder

01/24, 4:25pm

Neuros 5G iPod companion

Neuros Technology International this month showcased its MPEG-4 Recorder 2, which is designed to provide content for portable video devices--such as Apple's fifth-generation video iPod. Video from TVs and DVD players can be recorded directly onto a Memory Stick or Compact Flash memory card, and played back on an iPod or Sony PSP without the need for conversion. The Neuros Recorder 2 features a simple RCA cable setup that works without a computer and operates like a VCR, as well as three resolution settings--VGA (640 x 480), QVGA (320 x 240), and WQVGA (368 x 208). High quality stereo sound is achieved with support for the Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) format, while upgradeable firmware provides for expanded functionality in the future. The Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 is available for $150, and includes The Core Pocket Media Player, an open-source media player for Palm OS-based devices.

SFS TV vodcasts with iTunes

01/24, 1:10pm

SFS TV vodcasts

The Student Filmmakers Showcase (SFS TV) is a new series that will be devoted to showcasing student short films from around the globe. Officially set to begin “vodcasting” January 30th, the vodcasts will be made exclusively available for Apple's iTunes and video iPods. Along with the show’s official launch, its website will also be available in Spanish and French to accommodate filmmakers around the globe.

Apple's iTunes to force consolidation?

01/24, 12:40pm

Digital music shakeout

Participants at the music industry's annual MIDEM conference are warning that a shakeout could be in the works among Apple's many competitors. With roughly 355 online music retailers, there are concerns that some of Apple's smaller competitors might be forced to consolidate, according to a report from Reuters. "I don't imagine all these services can last. Some will go out of business or be consolidated," said Gabriel Levy, head of music in Europe for RealNetworks. The future of Napster was heavily discussed at the conference, which recently denied rumors of layoffs and liquidation. While many in the digital music industry would like to see a more powerful competitor to Apple, thus far the company has demanded and received its own pricing and kept its FairPlay DRM closed to other manufacturers. "Apple is going to listen to their customers before they listen to the industry," IFPI Chief Executive John Kennedy said. "They have a commercial advantage."

iTunes U expands to more schools

01/24, 12:30pm

iTunes U expands

Apple's iTunes U has expanded, now offering not only a Stanford iTunes store, but also content for other universities, such as the University of Michigan's Dental School. Many universities are now offering podcasts of lectures, notes, and other pertinent information. iTunes U is a free hosted service for colleges and universities that provides access to educational content-- including lectures nad interviews- for download onto PCs or Macs. Content is then transferable onto an iPod for portability and ease.

Apple poised to take over living room

01/24, 10:30am

Apple in living room

Digital media is poised to take over traditional mediums, and Apple may just be the company to help cement that transition. As Apple, Microsoft, and Sony race to become the most widely accepted "living room" entertainment platforms, Apple's current technology could easily be adapted for mainstream home use. The main objective for any company desiring to replace the TV, stereo, and VCR/DVD is ease of use, since more Americans own TVs than computers, and many do not feel comfortable with computer use. Current, traditional entertainment systems "just work," explains Robert Acker, vice president of digital music services at RealNetworks.

iPod.iTunes 3.1 supports Intel-Macs

01/24, 8:40am

iPod.iTunes 3.1

iPod.iTunes 3.1 is a an update to the useful utility for iPod users. The software evaluates the source for songs, videos and/or playlists that are not in the target folder or iPod and only adds those items, avoiding duplicates. It can also transfer song-dependent data such as "My Rating", "Last Played", "Play Count", album artwork, and more. Version 3.1 features eight synchronization modes in two directions--from iPod to iTunes and iTunes to iPod--, simple one-click synchronization, Univeral Binary support, and compatibility with the latest iPod firmware. iPod.iTunes 3.1 runs on Mac OS X 10.2 or later and is available for $35.