Spectone Retro iPod speakers unveiled

Speck Products today introduced the Spectone Retro, a 1950's style speaker system for Apple's iPod. "SpeckTone Retro looks like nothing you've seen for the iPod. The clean lines and nostalgic elegance of 1950's style makes a statement without replicating or competing with the modern, sleek look of the iPod itself. The all wood, sonically tuned speaker cabinet is finished with a high-gloss lacquered 'piano finish,' a gorgeous high-end feature previously available only on speaker sets five times the price of SpeckTone Retro," said Speck. The SpeckTone Retro offers 28 watts of output, a 4-inch subwoofer for producing bass, and two 3-inch drivers for mid to high tones. The three high-gloss lacquered finishes include the signature green/brown, black-on-black (shown at right), and the "classic" iPod white-and-silver look. SpeckTone will begin shipping on June 12th for $150.

Apple hiring for game-playing iPod?

Rumors are flying that Apple is developing an iPod that can play games as well as music and digital video. GameSpot reports that a tech-sector recruiter made an offer to a software engineer, who turned it down saying he was being "heavily recruited by Apple." The engineer apparently said an Apple hiring manager named Mike Lampell is leading a group within Apple's iTunes division, and that the group is hiring C and C++ programmers with a "gaming background." The engineer also reportedly said that the project was described as "super secret," and that he would not be told details until he had been hired and signed a non-disclosure agreement.

99 Cents Only to offer nine iPod nanos

99 Cents Only stores is set to celebrate the grand opening of its newest retail location in Vista, California by offering nine iPod nanos for 99 cents each, as well as 99 digital cameras for 99 cents each. The first nine customers will be able to purchase a 2GB iPod nano -- which Apple sells for $199 -- for 99 cents, while the next 99 customers will be able to purchase a digital camera for 99 cents starting at 8:00 a.m. PST on June 1st, 2006. The new store is 16,300 square feet and located at 705 East Vista Way, between Escondido Avenue and East Bobier Drive, in Vista, California.