Miglia debuts Microsound for iPod nano...

Miglia today released its Microsound stereo speakers, which the company says are small enough to be placed in a pocket while still attached to the iPod itself. A stereo minijack on the top of the unit lets owners dock an iPod nano or Shuffle in a safe position while stationary, while power--up to 12 hours--is provided by a single AAA battery. "Microsound may well be tiny in size but it's far from tiny in terms of the possibilities it provides. It is presented within a compact ultra-slim case that fits neatly and discreetly within your pocket." The Microsound is available in black or white and ships today for $30, according to Electronista.com: "iPod nano owners looking for the smallest possible speakers to convert their players into portable stereos now have an option smaller than the already compact jLab MiniBlaster system." [image included]

iPod sales tracking behind estimates...

Apple may be facing slowing iPod sales--if it does not introduce a new iPod--as July data released by market researcher NPD shows that Apple may fall short of analysts' iPod unit estimates for the September quarter. Analyst firm Piper Jaffray, which still expects Apple to introduce an updated or new iPod nano by the end of the quarter, today said that iPod sales during the first month of the September quarter--July--were slower than anticipated. Based on numbers from NPD, the Senior Research Analyst Gene Munster said that his analysis of iPod unit data points indicate a slight downside to Piper's estimates of 8.6 million for the quarter--unless the company revises its iPod lineup or experiences a change iPod sales trends. Munster said that the July NPD data indicate sales of about 8.0 million units for the entire quarter: "The number is based on various assumptions and is an extrapolation of one month of data, so we believe investors should supplement this data point with other information."

Foxconn sues reporters over iPod story...

Apple's iPod manufacturing partner has filed a lawsuit against two reporters for their story on poor working conditions at an iPod manufacturing facility in China. Foxconn has sued the reporter and the managing editor for 30 million yuan or $3.77 million, alleging that the report was false and that it damaged the Foxconn's reputation. The story on substandard working conditions was run in the China Business News about four days after Britain's Daily Mail ran a similar story alleging poor working conditions in Foxconn's mainland factories. It prompted an investigation by Apple as well as made headlines around the industry. In reponse to the Foxconn lawsuit, the Shanghai Daily reports that a Chinese court has frozen the personal assets of the reporter and an editor at the Shanghai newspaper, including their apartments, a car and bank accounts.