Medical training on video iPods

SonoSite today announced that it will allow clinicians to refresh their training in specific ultrasound-guided procedures and goal-oriented examinations by viewing refresher courses on Apple's video iPod. "The rising cost of healthcare demands that physicians become more efficient, particularly at the point of care. This requires that they retain an extraordinary amount of information," said Daniel D. Price, MD and a staff emergency physician at Highland General Hospital in Oakland, California. "As a result, we see a great need for assistive tools that can fit in a lab coat pocket." Dr. Price and another individual will be presenting results from their study that examined the effectiveness of a brief bedside hand-held audio/video tutorial, used to teach emergency medicine interns and residents to identify the brachial plexus with hand-carried ultrasound for the administration of regional anesthesia in emergency situations.

National gives 8,500 employees iPod

National Semiconductor today capped off its most successful fiscal year in history by giving every one of its 8,500 employees a 30GB video iPod. The devices will be used as a new training and communications tool at National, according to the company, providing a convenient real-time method for employees to download company podcasts and other employee communications. "We're looking for new and more effective ways to communicate with our employees -- and the iPods will help us do both," said Brian L. Halla, National's chairman and CEO. The firm announced record operating profits and gross margin last Thursday for its Q4 and fiscal year 2006 financial results. The Company's 1,600 Santa Clara employees celebrated the milestones at National's annual employee picnic Friday afternoon, where Halla announced the Company's iPod communications program at the picnic.

Backbone Radio Pro goes Universal

Backbone Networks today released Backbone Radio Pro 4.1, its turnkey internet radio station software suite that now runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary. The latest iteration of the software is specifically aimed at increasing the revenue opportunities of online radio stations, with features such as clickable images/text and demographic feedback. Backbone Radio Pro 4.1 is compatible with iTunes to integrate automatic podcast generation into the radio mix. Broadcasters can simultaneously webcast streaming programs while using the software to create, annotate, and post podcasts made from the program material. The software creates podcast chapters and inserts images specific to each chapter, which are playable on iPod Photo or fifth-generation iPod models. Backbone Radio Pro 4.1 is priced at $4,500, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Splasm releases ViddyUp! 1.6

Splasm Software has released ViddyUp! 1.6, updating the MPEG-4 and H.264 export tool for video iPod owners formerly known at "Podner." ViddyUp! can make video clips work with iTunes via drag-and-drop, and enables users to tweak various video settings prior to conversion. ViddyUp! 1.6 features SubRip (SRT) subtitle support, a more informative error display, and minor appearance tweaks. ViddyUp! 1.6 is priced at $10, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later. Alternatively, MP4Converter.com has released iPod Video Converter for Mac, its audio and video conversion software for iPod. The software features multi-threading support as well as batch conversion, and is free to use before June 30th as a beta. iPod Video Converter requires a G4 or better processor and Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Protestors zero in on Apple stores

Protestors over the weekend gathered at eight Apple Stores across the U.S. to inform the public about the company's Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme. Participants wore brightly-colored Hazardous Materials (HazMat) suits, marching or standing outside the stores holding signs and giving away informational flyers. DefectiveByDesign announced plans last Friday to gather in San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Long Island, and New York to warn customers of the dangers of DRM in Apple's iPod/iTunes. Protests took place between 10:00 a.m. and noon, with participants arguing that it is unreasonable that purchasers of music on iTunes are not allowed to resell music once they are finished with it as they could with physical media, according to a report by Digital-Lifestyles.info.

Claims of labor abuse at iPod factories

A new report entitled "The iPod City" states that Apple's iPods are constructed primarily by female employees who earn as little as $50 per month, but who work 15 hours per day. Foxconn's Longhua plant employs 200,000 workers who live in dormitories -- each housing 100 people -- which do not permit visitors from outside world, according to Macworld UK. Another factory in Suzhou, Shanghai rolls out iPod shuffles with workers who are housed outside the facility. Employees earn roughly $100 per month, but must pay for accommodations and food, which consumes half of their salaries. One security guard said that the Shuffle production lines are staffed by women workers because "they are more honest than male workers," while Apple's iPod nano is manufactured in a five-story factory that is secured by police officers, according to the report.

ezGear debuts ezVision Video iWear

ezGear today debuted the ezVision Video iWear for Apple's iPod video and video gaming systems. The ezVision iWear is a complete Video system that simulates a wide screen view for the iPod, featuring a 50-inch view with a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery offering up to eight hours of functionality. The device features built-in stereo earbuds, support for gaming/DVD player output, complete privacy during usage, two nose pieces, and a lightweight design to enhance comfort. Users can wear ezVision over eyeglasses, and the unit ships with an iPod interconnect cable to connect a video iPod. ezVision Video iWear is slated for shipment later this month with the iWear glasses with dual video screens, an RCA video connection cable for DVDs and other video, and an AC wall charger for $400.

Briefly: review; M. Bartosh passes

In brief: MacNN has reviewed Popcorn 2 ($50, shown at right), Roxio's DVD burning software.... Michael Bartosh, a friend to many in the Mac community and a source of much information about Mac OS X Server, fell to his accidental death early Sunday morning from a friend's balcony in Tokyo, Japan.... John Dvorak said on a video blog at the Vloggercon party that he deliberately "pisses Mac users off" to get flow for his stories.... One columnist is pleading with iPod accessory manufacturers to "stop the iPod madness...." DincTYPE has released 11 free limited edition fonts which include 143, Alvin, Gomer, Rufus, Egg Cream, an updated version of Dialtone, Bob Dylan's Beard, and more.... RNSK Softronics has released a Peanut Gallery Demo, allowing users to try the online interactive multi-user movie theater simulation software ($35) before they buy.