First ever iPod Emmy nominees chosen

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (N.A.T.A.S) has unveiled the nominees for the first Emmy Award ever bestowed to original entertainment programming created specifically for iPods, mobile phones, PDAs and computers. Six finalists emerged from 74 entries, including AOL's coverage of the Live 8 concerts and the new short "Mobispodes" created for "24" fans, according to the L.A. Times. The Emmy winner will be named on April 22nd at the Creative Arts banquet, to be held at the Marriott Marquis in New York. Interestingly, the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (A.T.A.S) which honors primetime programming and is sometimes involved in legal disputes with N.A.T.A.S, is so far quietly watching the offshoot of primetime's "24," according to the report. Should the two academies battle in court again, there may not be a successful resolution because the old primetime/daytime definitions don't apply to iPod programs, which can be viewed on-demand.

Creative slashes prices, takes on Apple

Apple may be looking at full-on marketshare assualt from rival Creative. Creative is trying to increase sales of its MP3 players--and cut into Apple's overwhelming marketshare lead--by aggressively slashing prices across its product line, according to Macworld UK. The report says that Creative has cut prices significantly to take on Apple, whom it says is its main market competitor. The company has reduced prices on its 8GB Zen MicroPhoto to £150 (from £180), which Creative boasts "is £30 cheaper than the iPod nano." The company, which revealed an operating loss of up to $65 million in the March quarter, hopes that its more aggressive price points will help it gain marketshare. Creative also cut prices on its Creative Zen Nano Plus range of flash-based MP3 players: "Now the same price as Apple's 'random' flash offering", the company declared. These products now start at £34.99 (for the 256MB version).

Cableyoyo Pop earbud tote unveiled

Bluelounge has introduced the cableyoyo Pop, a small tote to store earbuds designed with iPod owners in mind. The cableyoyo Pop features a suction cup that can stick to the back of any iPod model (except the Shuffle), creating a convenient place to store earphones that remains attached to the device. Users can coil the cord around the suction cup, and can decorate the product with one of 10 decals, which ship with the tote. Customers receive one Pop, a belt clip, an adhesive strip, and clear adhesive to assemble the device, in addition to the decals. The cableyoyo Pop is due to ship this month for $10, and is available in white or black.

Airlines may integrate iPod, iTunes

Apple has been in talks with Aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system providers about the possibility of licensing iTunes software for airline systems, according to one report. The deal would allow passengers to download videos and music to iPods in-flight, while several airlines have requested building iPod docks into seatbacks, enabling passengers to browse the iTunes Music Store via the airline's IFE system before transferring music directly onto an MP3 player. Suppliers such as Panasonic and Thales are exploring various concepts to accommodate airline requests for an expansion of on-board applications, according to Flight International. "We've had lots of discussions with Apple," Brad Foreman, vice-president and in-flight systems general manager of Thales said. "The key is to get them to see the value of hosting iTunes on an aircraft. Is it a big enough market for them to be interested in? I'd try to do it tomorrow if they said yes."