Kiwali launches video iPod covers...

Kiwali today launched its new Deco collection of designer adhesive covers for Apple's fifth-generation video iPod. The Kiwali Deco is a new collection of original designs that includes the "Spellbound" look, the "cool jazzy colors" of "Notes," and the "Flight of the Butterfly" from the NanoDeco series. Each Deco features a light adhesive for the backing, making the cover exceptionally easy to apply as well as to remove. The Kiwali Deco covers both the front and back of the iPod, offering limited protection from scratches while enhancing visual appeal of the portable media player. Kiwali Deco for the video iPod is available for $12 from Kiwali's website.

Analyst: wireless iPod due this Fall

Microsoft may be prepping its own iPod-killer, but one analyst believes that the yet-unseen product will not be able to compete with the much anticipated 6th-generation iPod. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster believes that Apple will release an updated sixth-generation iPod in the fall, saying that it will feature new wireless connectivity. "There has recently been a lot of talk about Microsoft's new wireless MP3 player and clearly Microsoft is rich with resources to compete with Apple," the analyst told clients. "We do not believe, however, that the yet-to-be-seen Microsoft offering will be a worthy opponent for the iPod." The analyst noted while Windows Media-enabled MP3 players have been in the market for three years, they have been unable to grow their roughly 25% market share. The new "wireless iPod", he said, "will likely focus on ease of use, including wireless connectivity." The new report follows the investment firm's rundown of the latest Apple rumors. Piper Jaffray maintains an 'outperform' rating on Apple's stock with a price target of $99.

Free iPod phrasebooks released

Lastminute.com and coolgorilla today released the French and Greek iPod phrasebooks for free. The French phrasebook features more than 800 sound files, while the Greek phrasebook offers over 750 sound files which are stored on the iPod and remain accessible for translation on-the-go. The menu system of the iPod phrasebooks is designed for ease of use by splitting up everyday phrases into different categories such as travel, accommodation, and socializing. The software contains a dictionary with hundreds of entries, as well as a section dedicated to football. The iPod phrasebooks are compatible with the video iPod, iPod nano, and iPod mini.

Real, Slim Devices take on Apple...

Slim Devices and RealNetworks today announced the integration of the Rhapsody online music service with the current generation of Squeezebox devices, further strengthening competition in the digital music sector led by Apple's iPod/iTunes ecosystem. The Squeezebox ($250-300, shown at right) enables consumers to access more than 2 million tracks available from Rhapsody's service, as well as personal digital music collections. Squeezebox owners will be offered a free firmware upgrade as a digital download, allowing them to try the Rhapsody online music service beyond the month-long trial for $14.95 per month. Competitors have been trying to penetrate Apple's domination of the digital music realm, thus far meeting with little success.

Educational provider turns to iPod

Glencoe/McGraw-Hill has unveiled iPod/MP3 player compatible audio and video to supplement its instructional programs. Complementing the company's instruction in business education, world languages, math, language arts, science, and social studies, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill will preview the new programs featured by Apple as iPod content during the upcoming National Education Computing Conference in San Diego, California from July 5-7th, 2006. The Glencoe Media Center, which will host the downloadable MP3 audio and video files, will be fully accessible in the fall of 2006. The iPod/MP3 player compatible programs are designed allow students to download audio and video content to accompany lessons, enhancing learning both in and out of the classroom.