News Archive for 06/08/10

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iTunes to allow DVD burning?

08/10, 4:50pm

iTunes, DVD burning?

The DVD Copy Control Association is soon expected to finalize changes that could allow iTunes customers to burn video downloads onto DVDs. The forthcoming technical and policy changes involve the association's proprietary technology called the "Content Scramble System," or CSS. The group licenses the encryption technology to makers of DVD players and other electronics firms, applying it to movies on DVDs to restrict illegal copying, according to a report from the Associated Press. The association said it will expand that licensing to digitally distributed movies on demand or a la carte in the near future, and is cooperating with disc makers to create CSS-compatible blank DVDs.

UK bans iPods, laptops in-flight

08/10, 4:35pm

UK bans iPods in-flight

Authorities in the U.K. today forbid airline passengers from taking electronic items such as iPods or laptops as hand baggage on flights. The ban follows the arrests of 21 people in connection with an alleged plot to demolish an aircraft in mid-flight while en route to the U.S, according to Macworld UK. Authorities also banned other items such as liquids and food, with a few exceptions. The rules pertain to all flights leaving or transferring through the U.K., according to the British government.

Nokia on collision course with Apple

08/10, 2:10pm

Nokia takes on Apple

Nokia is on a collision course with Apple's iTunes, following the company recent purchase of Loudeye, a company focused helping others distribute and sell digital music. A new report says that the $60 million purchase is the first step to a showdown, according to the report that says that the company may be seeking to go "after none other than the 800-pound gorilla of the digital music world." According to the report, Apple has sold 22.5 million iPod players in its fiscal year 2005 and could approach 50 million units by the end of 2006; however, Nokia sold over 265 million units in its most recent fiscal year, 40 million of which were capable of playing music. Although many music enthusiasts prefer an iPod, the distinction is blurring quickly as more and more phones gain larger storage capacity, a better interface, and more features.

Back-to-school iPod accessories

08/10, 10:05am

XtremeMac iPod accessories

XtremeMac is offering back-to-school iPod accessories as parents and students prepare for their return to dorms and classrooms. The company is shipping its MicroMemo (shown at right), a digital recorder, and Tango, an iPod speaker system with audio/video line out, both of which are designed to turn an iPod into a useful study tool. MicroMemo takes advantage of the video iPod's high-fidelity audio capabilities to record and play back verbal notes, interviews, podcasts or lectures. The accessory can also record language lessons to help reinforce proper pronunciation and accent or for recording oral homework. MicroMemo supports line-in recording directly from instruments or digital mixers to aid music students, and is priced at $60 (pricing and availability for the Tango speaker system were unavailable).