News Archive for 06/02/17

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Analysts doubt Amazon

02/17, 6:05pm

Analysts doubt Amazon's music service

Amazon is expected to unveil its online music service in the near future, a move that will plunge the online retailer into the digital music industry in direct competition with Apple's iTunes Music Store. Numerous analysts, however, aren't convinced the sales giant can steal Apple's luster off the line. "I don't think [Amazon's prospective store] is a threat at all," Tim Bajarin said, principal analyst with Creative Strategies. "There are a lot of things that Amazon would have to get right for this to work," Bajarin added. iTunes boasted 83 percent of the market for U.S. digital music sales in December of 2005, and reached 14 percent of the active internet in January. "I have doubts that Amazon will be able to displace the iPod's position of dominance in the market," said Tim Deal, an analyst with Technology Business Research. While Amazon could offer its own digital music player to work with its music service, analysts have their doubts the company can stand up to Apple's "coolness" factor, according to a report from TheStreet.com. Bajarin quipped "can you imagine a teenybopper bopping along to his Amazon pod or whatever? That's a stretch for me."

PodOLock iPod anti-theft

02/17, 2:10pm

PodOLock iPod anti-theft device unveiled

Computer Spectrum recently unveiled the PodOLock for iPod mini owners, an anti-theft system that secures the player in a clear acrylic case. Users insert a cable at the top of the case and lock the device to any object using a cable system. PodOLock works with many pre-existing silicone and polyvinyl covers, and users can insert the iPod upside down as well as backwards to prevent usage of the player. When inserted for usage, PodOLock provides full access to the front controls, the bottom port, and all features on the top of the iPod. The acrylic case is expected to ship March 1st for $20, and includes a 5/32-inch steel aircraft cable.

Free ads for Apple

02/17, 10:45am

Olympic iPods offer free ads for Apple

Apple is getting some free publicity at the Olympics, as atheletes listen to and promote their iPod during the games in Italy. "But the biggest winner of all may have been Apple, maker of the tiny iPod that soared to glory along with Teter. This Olympics, U.S. snowboarders have competed while listening to the personal music device, and skiers, speed skaters and other Olympians from all over the world have been observed listening raptly during practice and before competing.... All of which makes for great press." While Apple said it does not target atheletes, the iPod is a "sponsorship waiting to happen," according to once Olympic Committee spokesperson. "One of the lasting images of these games is going to be these snowboarders with their iPods," said Abraham Madkour, executive editor of SportsBusiness Journal, a trade magazine that covers the sports industry. "It's the perfect form of subconscious marketing."

Altec inMotion iM11

02/17, 9:40am

Altec iM11 mobile speakers for iPod

Altec has debuted its latest speaker system for portable digital players, including the iPod. The Altec inMotion iM111 is new portable audio system that offers a "savvy, lightweight design" with slick silver grills and a docking station that folds neatly into the system with the push of a button. With the iPod docked, the iM11 delivers rich, out-loud sound using superior MaxxBass technology for quality bass without a subwoofer. It measures just 8.5" wide x 1.4" deep x 4.3" high and weighs only 14 oz. The built-in iPod docking station can be used for both data transfer and recharging the iPod. It also features an input jack for connection to other audio devices and features more than 18 hours of battery life. The Altec Lansing inMotion iM11 Mobile Audio Dock is now available for $100. The iM11 is made for iPods with color display, iPod nano, iPod mini and iPod with dock connector. Each package includes a power supply, an international plug set, a 3.5 mm stereo cable, iPod docking adapters and a protective carrying bag.

Apple support; iPod TV ad

02/17, 9:20am

Briefly: Apple tech support; iPod TV ad

In Brief: Apple is planning to setup a tech support center in Karnataka, India--following the outsourcing trend in the US and PC rival Dell.... Apple has posted iTunes + iPod TV Ad featuring Wynton Marsalis, which began airing yesterday during primetime TV.... Apple-history.com has been updated to include the new video iPod, the iMac G5 (iSight), the iMac (Core Duo), The PowerBook G4 (Dual-Layer SD), the dual-core PowerMac G5 and the MacBook Pro.... Nisus Writer Express 2.6.1 ($70), a free update to the multilingual word processor for Mac OS X, is a Universal Binary, which allows Nisus Writer Express to run natively on both PowerPC and the new Intel-based Macs.... Apple is selling 3 millions songs per a day--over 30 million in the last 10 days--during its promotional countdown to 1 billion songs.