News Archive for 06/06/01

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Sony Connect failure

06/01, 11:15pm

"How Sony failed to Connect, again"

Sony's Connect music service, which the company hoped would unseat Apple's iTunes dominance, suffered from a number of setbacks and was ultimately unsuccessful, as the company discontinued development of its software earlier this year. CNET News.com has an insider's look the software development project, which was headed by former Apple employee and QuickTime guru Peter Hoddie at the third-party Kinoma startup. Hoddie reportedly was able to convince Sony executives to turn to the startup because of "Apple's meteoric rise in music has left top Sony executives with both respect and envy for Apple's products, even while they resist becoming dependent on Microsoft's digital music technology. Kinoma and Hoddie appealed to their envy of Apple and their aversion to Microsoft." Released only in Japan and Europe, the Connect software was ultimately discontinued this past April due to continued problems; however, Kinoma is still working on Sony's new, high-profile eBook Reader, according to the report.

TuneTalk Stereo debuts

06/01, 1:50pm

Belkin debuts TuneTalk Stereo

Belkin today announced that it will offer TuneTalk Stereo -- a device that allows users to easily record podcasts, lectures, and interviews onto an iPod video with CD-quality sound -- in North America in mid-June. The company also said it has launches planned in Asia, Europe, and Australia to follow shortly afterward. The TuneTalk features built-in headphones, an auxiliary 3.5mm stereo-input jack for recording with an external microphone, and a stand the size of a credit card to position a video iPod toward the source. TuneTalk is available in both black and white for $70, and features an adjustable gain switch that provides instant control over recording quality in different environments. The accessory also includes a plastic spacer that offers additional stability when the iPod is not in a case.

MS, Toshiba take on Apple

06/01, 12:40pm

Microsoft, Toshiba, take on Apple's iPod

Microsoft, Toshiba, Victor, NTT DoCoMo, and five more companies are teaming up to challenge Apple's dominance in the digital music industry. The companies plan to develop a portable audio/video player for the Japanese market, according to a report from Bloomberg. Microsoft said it will develop the software, while Toshiba and Victor work to create the portable player. Japan's largest mobile phone operator DoCoMo already said it will provide a cell phone that is compatible with software from Microsoft which will allow consumers to transfer music files in Windows format from PCs to the handset.