Advertisers seeking ads on iPod video...

Advertisers are scurrying to find new ways to subvert the commerical-free atmosphere of video content available for the video iPod. Since the launch of the video iPod, owners have been able to download commercial-free television shows from iTunes, causing advertisers to worry that they are losing potential audiences. According to the Wall Street Journal, "some companies are attaching recycled TV spots to the beginning of video files, or podcasts, that can be downloaded from popular Web sites." [subscription required]

Verizon's V Cast to challenge iTunes...

Verizon Wireless' new V Cast Music Service, will present a challenge to Apple's iTunes, according to industry analysts. The service, which leverages Microsoft technology, will be in direct competition with iTunes, which currently dominates the market for online music with 850 million cumulative downloads. Strategy Analytics predicts that Apple's dominance of the online music space will come under increasing pressure as competitors target the shortcomings of the iTunes Music Store. iTunes currently only allows for a pay-per-download model, which V Cast will counter by employing "a hybrid payment model allowing both subscriptions and downloads."

Thrupp v1.4 for iTunes, cell phones

Utsire announced Thrupp 1.4, a tool for copying iTunes files into an MP3 player or phone. New in version 1.4 is a redesigned player synchonization engine, and bug fixes. Thrupp supports on-the-fly conversion, is fully multi-threaded and comes with presets for popular smartphone models. Thrupp shows how much space each iTunes album will take up, and how much space the user has free, converts files into MP3s, and converts songs into a bitrate more appropriate for each player, resulting in smaller files and more music. All conversions made by Thrupp do not alter the origianl iTunes Library versions. Thrupp v1.4 is a shareware ($150) requiring Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Clean and Polish Kit for iPods, iBooks

NewerTech has launched its Clean and Polish Kit, designed to to remove scratches, restore color, and return the original off-the-shelf shine to Apple iPods, iBooks, and other plastic computer components. Each three-component kit includes a specially formulated "Heavy Scratch Remover" solution, "Fine Scratch Remover" solution, and "Plastic Clean and Shine protection" polish. The kit ships with a free polishing cloth, as well as step-by-step instructions. The polish components are packaged in three one-ounce application bottles, are non-toxic, and are non-flammable. NewerTech says the Clean and Polish Kit utilizes advanced chemistry bonds to remove heavy scratches, abrasions, fine marks and delicate cuts from virtually all plastics and acrylic surfaces without unsightly filling. The scratch remover elements also restore faded and discolored plastic, according to the company. "A state-of-the-art, Level 3 plastic polish leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, resists fingerprint marks, and eliminates static." The Clean and Polish Kit is available for $18.

iTunes No. 1 music service in Germany

Apple's iTunes is the No. 1 music service in Germany, according to the Financial Times. Departing from its usual reveal its German sales figures, Macworld reports that Apple sold over 15.5 million songs in 2005: "The sales put it narrowly ahead of closest competitor, Musicload (operated by T-Online, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom). T-Online rejected Apple's claims, citing 15 million song sales of its own. However, 1.5 per cent of those sales were given away free of charge, while Apple says free song downloads don't count toward its figures."