News Archive for 06/06/05

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Life2Go syncs gas prices, stock quotes

06/05, 5:15pm

Life2Go 1.6.4 released

Kainjow today released Life2Go 1.6.4 for Mac, the application previously known as Pod2Go. The software provides a variety of features for extending the functionality of Apple's iPod digital media player, such as syncing any RSS or Atom feed and downloading weather forecasts to view on-the-go. Life2Go can sync movie show times, stock quotes, driving directions, horoscopes, lyrics, and gas prices. The application offers the ability to store documents on an iPod in a variety of formats, and can automatically back up data to the portable player. Mac users can sync Address Book contacts, iCal calendars, Mail messages, Stickies notes, and Safari bookmarks as well, effectively turning an iPod into a PDA. Life2Go is priced at $13, and requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later, or Windows 2000/XP.

Toshiba debuts 200GB 2.5-inch drive

06/05, 4:50pm

200GB 2.5\" drive debuts

Toshiba today debuted a 2.5-inch double-platter hard drive that features the highest density of any like component. The disk utilizes perpendicular magnetic recording technology to store 277.1 megabits per square millimeter, or 178.8 gigabits per square inch, according to PC World. The drive, which is designed to hold 200GB, is slated for mass production in August. Portable music player manufacturers could incorporate the new drive in future products to boost storage capacities, and Toshiba was recently rumored to be developing just such a player to compete with Apple's iPod. Though Microsoft denied involvement, rumors recently circulated that numerous companies are teaming up to take on Apple in the digital media player market with new products and services.

Microsoft denies rumors of iPod rival

06/05, 10:40am

Microsoft denies rumors

Microsoft has denied rumors that it had teamed up with several other companies to challenge Apple's dominance in the Japanese portable music player market. Last week reports circulated that the software giant was collaborating with eight other companies including Toshiba, Victor, NTT, and others to develop a portable audio/video player for the Japanese market. "The announcement that came out of Japan this week was simply about the Japanese launch of Windows Media Player 11," a Microsoft representative said, according to PC Magazine. "Due to translation issues the announcement was misconstrued to sound like Microsoft was developing a rival to the iPod; that's just not the case."

Mac SlingPlayer delayed by 90 days

06/05, 10:00am

Mac SlingPlayer delayed

Mac SlingPlayer, which was originally slated for release in the second quarter of 2006, has been pushed back 90 days to September. The software enables Mac users to watch and control their home television from an internet-connected Mac anywhere in the world, and a public beta release will be available for download in late August, according to Zatz Not Funny. The company stated: "Ultimately, we recognize that many Mac users have high standards for digital media products, and we are working hard to ensure we will meet and exceed those standards with the upcoming SlingPlayer for Mac. Unfortunately, while it's probably not exactly what you wanted to hear, I hope you understand just how tricky some things are to manage for a small company. Bottom line is despite our initial intent to deliver a Mac OS X version of the SlingPlayer in Q2'06, we are moving our target to Q3'06."