News Archive for 06/05/22

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SanDisk \"iDon\'t\" campaign

05/22, 10:35pm

SanDisk: "iDon't" Apple's iPod

Apple's iPod rival SanDisk taking Apple head-on with the launch of a new anti-iPod campaign this past weekend. The No. 2 maker of digital music players in the U.S has launched a new guerilla marketing "iDon't" campaign that promotes SanDisk’s own Sansa e200 music player by calling iPod users "unoriginal" and declaring them to be followers--without actually mentioning the iPod, but alluding to the industry-leading music player by its signature white earbud earphones. The website offers links ("propoganda") to other anti-iPod sites, which it calls "fellow media player freedom fighters" as well as the ability to purchase various "iDon't" t-shirts and free posters and desktop pictures, such as iSheep, iChimp, iFollow, iHerd, iShackle, iDroid, iPuppet, and more. The site touts SanDisk's Sansa e200 as "the alternative," urging users to "think for themselves."

WMP 11, Urge, Clix review

05/22, 6:40pm

Microsoft, MTV, iRiver take on Apple

CNET.com has reviewed each facet of the new digital music trio that hopes to lure consumers away from Apple's iPod/iTunes ecosystem. Microsoft, MTV, and iRiver recently teamed up to offer an integrated music service to compete with Apple in the digital music market, combining the software giant's Windows Media Player (WMP) 11 with MTV's Urge music service and iRiver's $200 digital media player. All three portions of the new service received "excellent" scores, with iRiver's Clix player also holding the CNET Editors' Choice award., according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Navio may unlock iPod

05/22, 5:50pm

Navio may unlock iPod

A new startup company based in Apple's home town of Cupertino, California has developed a new system that could open the iPod/iTunes ecosystem which currently dominates the digital music industry. Apple's competition has repeatedly tried and failed to take a significant share of the market, but the seamless iTunes experience coupled with an easy-to-use and intuitive iPod digital media player has kept competitors at bay. Further, Apple's has thus far refused to license its FairPlay DRM (Digital Rights Management) to other companies, which would allow them to release tracks that will play on iPods. Navio Systems is hoping to finally open the iPod to other formats with a system that stores the rights associated with a musical piece, game, or movie in the file itself, according to Business Magazine.

World Cup Nano cases debut

05/22, 1:30pm

Lava World Cup iPod nano cases debut

AVA Showcase has introduced its new range of Lava World Cup Cases for Apple's iPod nano. The new cases are available for 12 different teams in the colors of England, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Argentina, Germany and the USA. The accessories are made from anti-dust coated silicon featuring a rigid screen protector, covered clickwheel, and easy access to the headphone port as well as the Dock connector. Lava World Cup Cases are priced at $15 and work with iPod nano as well as first-, second-, and fourth-generation iPods.

TuneFlex for iPod nano

05/22, 11:05am

Griffin TuneFlex adds cassette adapter

Griffin today announced that its TuneFlex dock and charger for iPod nano is now bundled with a cassette tape adapter. The TuneFlex package now provides a complete solution for charging, mounting and playing iPod nano in an automobile, offering a 1/8-inch stereo line-out jack to connect the iPod along with a cassette for the auto's tape deck. TuneFlex holds the nano in a snug cradle on a flexible steel neck that adjusts to any angle or elevation. The cradle grips the nano and rotates to stay upright and easily readable in any position, and always at the operator's fingertips. In addition, TuneFlex plugs into any standard 12 Volt accessory outlet to power and charge the iPod even during use and feaures fuse-protection. A light at the base of TuneFlex's neck shows power status at a glance, while a pass-through dock connector accommodates digital iPod accessories such as Griffin's iTrip FM transmitter, AirClick remote and SmartDeck cassette adapter. It is available for $50.

Walkman phone in Japan

05/22, 10:30am

Sony to launch Walkman phone in Japan

Sony Ericsson and mobile carrier KDDI today announced plans to offer a Walkman mobile phone in Japan that will allow users to download music onto the handset, which will increase competition with Apple's iTunes service. While Sony Ericsson already touts a portable Walkman phone that plays music in the U.S., the forthcoming device will be the first of its kind to debut in the Japanese market, according to a report from the Associated Press. Japan lays claim to one of the world's most sophisticated mobile phone markets, and more than 90 percent of music downloads in the country are performed directly onto mobile phones. Officials from Sony Ericsson said the new handsets will ship with 1GB of built-in memory, and will offer up to 30 hours of continuous playback.