News Archive for 06/02/06

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Pre-loaded iPods illegal?

02/06, 6:05pm

Pre-loaded iPods raise legal concerns

Experts in digital copyright law are questioning the legality of loading copyrighted content onto iPods, even if users actually purchase that content. A new breed of online sales have emerged along with the miniature media players from Apple and other companies, where individuals load up the gadgets with copyrighted music and videos before selling them at marked-up prices online. A 60-gigabyte video iPod loaded with 11,800 songs was recently put up for auction on eBay with a starting bid of $799, but was removed by site staff members after it was discovered. "That is a copyright violation, one that we don't even need to hear from the rights owner about before removing," eBay spokesman Hani Durzy told USA Today. "Some of those sales may be legal, and some not," said Andrew Bridges, digital music lawyer at Winston-and-Strawn. Services like TVMyPod already pre-load iPods with content, but purchase the content for each individual iPod and ship the disks to customers along with the iPod itself. "The question that needs to be asked is, if you buy a DVD, are you allowed to put it onto an iPod?" TVMyPod co-founder David Onigman said.

Carbon fiber iPod cases

02/06, 6:00pm

Aerospace carbon fiber iPod cases

C6 Manufacturing has released new Carbon fiber cases for the iPod nano and video. The cases are made from real aerospace carbon fiber, aluminum, and stainless steel screws. The cases also include a stainless steel belt clip, a protective clear cling-on screen prorector, and an assembly tool. The Nano case costs $40, while the iPod video case is available for both 30GB or 60GB models and is available for $50.

British warship iPods

02/06, 5:20pm

Warships equipped with iPod chargers

One of six new British warships, the HMS Daring, includes iPod charging sockets, according to reports. vnunet.com reports that all the ship's cabins now come equipped with not only the iPod chargers, but internet access, CD player, and a five-channel audio entertainment system. The iPod-friendly British ship was launched February 1 and will enter service in 2009. Secretary of State for Defense John Reid said "the launch of this first Type 45 [warship] is a milestone in the development of the Royal Navy of the future. It is proof that the government gives our sailors the tools they need to do their job now and in the future."

Networks credit iTunes

02/06, 5:10pm

iTunes increasing TV viewership?

Networks are beginning to see the fruits of their digital content distribution plans with iTunes, as some executives are crediting iTunes with increasing viewership. Reuters reports that the executive producer of "The Office," praised NBC's for pushing the envelope with its iTunes relationship and has credited iTunes with boosting broadcast viewership: "Nobody will disclose numbers for these television downloads. It's easy, however, to keep an eye on the iTunes download chart, which usually shows NBC's The Office as the top full-length program, followed by ABC's Lost and Comedy Central's South Park. Producer Ben Silverman said that The Office was helped by users who discovered the show when they were browsing to find something to put on their new device and that he was confident that eroding audience or invading any of the existing windows, due primarily to their portable and on-demand nature.

New smart phones

02/06, 4:55pm

New Sony smart phones with iPod style

Sony Ericsson has unveiled two new "smart" phones, the M600 and the P990. Styled much like the iPod, the M600 is a Symbian OS-based phone equipped with basic versions of Micrsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and security software. The 15mm thick phone reportedly will not come with a camera or wi-fi in order to keep prices down. The P990 (pictured below) will ship with push email support, digital camera functions, WLAN (802.11b and 3G), 64MB memory stick, numerical flip-down keyboard, and a business card reading function. Both phones are expected to ship in the second quarter this year.

Podcasts in business

02/06, 2:45pm

Podcasts helping business grow

Podcasting is reaching into the realm of real estate, as Bruce and Diane Kink of Keller Williams in The Woodlands, Texas are now using the technology to keep clients up-to-date. With podcasting, the realty team can allow potential customers and clients to show friends and family the property they are interested in, even if they live far away, according to The Villager. Podcasting allows for video and audio files to be downloaded from the iTunes Music Service onto an iPod, and allows users to subscribe to updates of a service such as the realty listings from the Kinks. Bruce Kink noted that "utilizing this technology to enhance client expectations, we think, is going to be a key factor in growing a business for the success of clients and buyers. We do know that we have become a techno-savvy society and by keeping up, people know we have their best interest in mind when selling homes."

NanoDeco Designer Covers

02/06, 2:00pm

New NanoDeco Designer Covers

Kiwali today unveiled its NanoDeco Designer Covers for Apple's iPod nano, a collection of adhesive covers designed to dramatically enhance the look and appeal of the digital music player. "It's been months in the making, but NanoDeco is a natural follow-up to our exciting ShuffleDeco collection," said Paul Lee of Kiwali. "We've received rave reviews about the sophisticated look of our ShuffleDeco product line, but NanoDeco features even more incredible designs that just has to be seen to be believed." The collection features ten wide-ranging designs, including the 60s-inspired Kungfu-esque "Retro Fury," the delicate "Flight of the Butterfly," and gothic "Magik-and-Lace." Each NanoDeco is printed on naster poly using special inks for vibrant colors. The backing uses a light "repositionable" adhesive, making covers exceptionally easy to apply and remove. Covering the front and the back of the iPod nano, NanoDeco provides limited protection from scratches and everyday hazards. Kiwali NanoDeco covers are priced at $15 each.

Toshiba iPod drive cable

02/06, 12:15pm

Toshiba cable connects iPod drives

Addonics has announced the availability of a Toshiba 1.8-inch to 2.5-inch IDE connector, which allows users to connect the drive to any computer including the hard drive found on the Apple iPod. It can be connected to the standard 40 pin IDE cable commonly found on desktop computers, server, and industrial PCs by adding the Addonics 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch converter kit. The connector allows iPod owners to connect the hard drive inside their iPod as a regular 2.5-inch hard drive to other computers. With the connector, an iPod user who has defective iPod can export data off the drive. The Toshiba 1.8-inch to 2.5-inch IDE hard drive connector convertor costs $15.

iTunes patent suit

02/06, 11:00am

iTunes patent suit goes to Court

A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the case of David Contois, owner of Contois Music and Technology in Essex Junction, who is suing Apple and asking the judge to end the distribution of iTunes software. "Apple has copied the invention," according to the lawsuit. "Apple's infringement has been and continues to be willful." The suit--filed in June--claims that Contois exhibited his software to play music on a computer at industry trade shows in 1995 and 1996, in Nevada as well as California. Apple denies the allegations and is seeking reimbursement of its own legal fees, according to the Associated Press. Contois charges that Apple's "current or future employees" viewed his patented software at the aforementioned trade shows, and later duplicated it. Contois formally notified Apple of the patent in September of 2004, but says that Apple knew about the patent as early as January 2003. Apple says the lawsuit should be dismissed because Contois did not make his claim sooner, according to the report.

iPod claims another victim

02/06, 10:25am

Dell discontinues DJ music player

Dell stopped selling its more expensive digital music players last month after the device failed to compete with Apple's iPod. While the hard-drive-based Digital Jukebox players are no longer for sale, the company will continue to offer its flash-based DJ Ditty--which competes directly with Apple's own iPod shuffle. "We saw an opportunity to streamline and consolidate our portfolio," said Dell spokesman Liem Nguyen. "We made a decision to transition from the hard-drive products to flash players at the beginning of this year." Dell will continue selling music players from other device makers through its Web site, according to Nguyen. Dell discontinued its three larger Digital Jukebox devices which were cost up to $300 in late December and early January, according to Bloomberg News.