Intervalz for iPod 1.0 released

An avid Mac developer has released Intervalz for iPod 1.0, a set of MP3s designed to turn an iPod into a Maezel metronome, tuning "pitch pipe," and quiz machine that can test ones ability to identify intervals and chord types. The software includes several guitar tunings, as well as Ukulele tuning. The Maezel metronome includes a few additional tempos; major; minor; diminished and augmented chord test; interval test (up to one octave); blues; harmonic minor; Jazz melodic minor and major; melodic minor and natural minor scales; A440Hz; A442Hz; A444Hz tuning pitches; guitar drop C; guitar slack G; guitar standard; and guitar taro patch. The set is available for $10.

EzGear unveils black iPod accessories

EzGear today introduced Onyx black versions of its iPodR accessories--powerStick and ezCharge for iPod. The powerStick is an auxiliary power source for dockable iPods, using four AA batteries that can increase playback time by three to four times. The powerStick charges the iPod battery while attached to the player, and features an LED indicator. EzGear's ezCharge (shown at right) offers users the ability to charge any dockable iPod in a vehicle, and includes a fuse-protected circuit. The device features a coiled cable, as well as an LED indicator light. The powerStick for iPod in Onyx black is priced at $33, while the ezCharge in Onyx black is available for $25.

Labels hold online tunes for CD sales

Record label Island Def Jam recently decided not to sell "So Sick" by R&B artist Ne-Yo as an individual song before the album hit stores last week, in an effort to increase album sales. Label executives feared that releasing the track too early--many such launches have included an exclusive song on iTunes--would cut into sales of the full CD, according to a report from The New York Times. The CD "In My Own Words" topped the national album chart yesterday at no. 1, pulling in sales of more than 301,000 copies and ranking as the largest debut of the year thus far. Despite holding back, the digital single of "So Sick" sold nearly 120,000 copies in its first week alongside shrink-wrapped copies in stores. Island Def Jam, however, offered retailers who stocked the album a discount, allowing the album to sell for $8. Should the industry decide that restricting digital sales turns out increased album sales, the labels may begin throttling digital downloads in the future to ramp up physical sales.

UofM, Apple offer school podcasts

The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan has teamed up with Apple to provide the school community with free access to events, seminars and news content via podcasts. The partnership will allow users to download the audio files to a computer and then transfer them to an MP3 player of choice, and the podcasts will be accessible to business school community members with an iMpact intranet login. Four podcast channels which include content related to Positive Organizational Scholarship, the William Davidson Institute, Dividend magazine, and the Monroe Street Journal will be available on the Apple iTunes U site. A launch event for students, faculty and staff will take place today at 4 p.m. in Hale Auditorium at the Ross School. A video presentation will be offered, as well as a brief demonstration of the new service and student iPod nano raffle.

Limited edition TINPOD iPod cases

Kollective.de has launched a new collector series of hard-shell cases for the iPod: the new TINPOD iPod cases are designed to "add some flavor to your favorite gadget." Created as limited editions, they currently feature three original illustrations. "Our cases are not just fun accessories, they also protect your iPod from the occasional drops and inevitable scratches caused by all those other toys you keep in your bag. There will be new editions to come, but don’t miss out on our debut collection. With the arrival of the original TINPODs, the days of conformity are over." Each case has cutouts for easy access to the ports while closed; they include a 3mm lining and support 3G, 4G, and 5G iPods. The three designs, limited to 5,000 cases each, include L'Orange Lune, Change Attitude, and Die Blechdose and are available for $17 each or in a special 2-for-$30 limited time offer.

MS blogger: all signs point to iPod

A Microsoft employee has blogged about his attempts to locate a digital media player that bests Apple's iPod, but admits that the Cupertino-based company consistently stays ahead of the curve. "I'm beginning to change my mind about things. Even though we have a great eco system for music stores etc, the reality is that our OEM partners are never ever going to create a product like the iPod," the Microsoft employee wrote. "They are simply no match for the iPod Dock Connector, which [has] generated an ecosystem of hardware that's probably more lucrative than the online music business. Game over." The blogger plans to hold out for the Gigabeat S from Toshiba, a portable media player that features 30GB and 60GB storage capacities alongside an extended battery life that boasts 20 hours of audio or up to five hours of video playback. "if it's big and ugly and has crappy battery life or a bad FM radio I'm out. I'm 90 percent of the way there. I'm also going to hold out for urge.com and Windows Media Player 11. But if any of these things suck, I'm off to the Apple Store to smack down a few hundred on some bling bling."