News Archive for 06/09/22

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Podcast Ready, legal note

09/22, 6:10pm

Podcast Ready gets Apple legal notice

Apple has issued another 'cease and desist' order, claiming that the terms "Podcast Ready" and "myPodder" infringe upon its trademarks and confuse consumers. Apple is known for its strict trademark policy, as well as its no-tolerance approach to dealing with companies that use its trademarked terms to describe their own products -- especially those containing the term 'pod.' Podcast Ready chief Russel Holliman said he would consider dropping the name "myPodder" if he had to, but thinks differently with regard to "Podcast Ready." The request suggests Apple is claiming ownership of the word "podcast," which originated from "iPod" but is now defined as a general term used for digital audio shows that aren't necessarily affiliated with one brand more than another, according to one Wired blogger. The letter arrived the day before Podcast Ready released an updated version of its software that works with Apple's iPod players.

Wal-Mart threatens studios

09/22, 5:30pm

Wal-Mart threatens studios over iTunes

A dark tide appears to be looming over digital movie downloads, as word came today that retailer colossus Wal-Mart has issued warnings of retaliation to some of Hollywood's key players, should they elect to sell movies through Apple's iTunes service. Wal-Mart last year sent back "cases and cases" of DVDs to Disney after the animation company announced it would offer episodes of its hit shows "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" on iTunes, according to a report from the New York Post. Hollywood studio executives say Wal-Mart has threatened to strike back if they go into business with Apple, and though the Cupertino-based company is currently offering movies exclusively from Disney studios, other players in the movie industry want to follow in Disney's footsteps. "We all want to be in the Apple business," a high-level executive at a major movie studio said.

MediaCentral 2.3 released

09/22, 4:30pm

MediaCentral adds custom Flickr streams

Equinux Software today released MediaCentral 2.3, adding custom Flickr streams and .Mac Photocasts to the media solution for Mac OS X. MediaCentral is designed to turn a Mac into a home theater system with support for numerous audio, video, IP TV, TV, IP radio, games, and multimedia formats. The update adds support for three additional DVB-T TV tuner devices -- namely Miglia TVMini, Freecom DVB-T USB Stick, and Digitus DVB-T Digital USB 2.0 Receiver Stick. MediaCentral 2.3 ($30) also adds a "DV port" that allows users to connect FireWire devices, or Apple's iSight camera. The update is free to all existing MediaCentral 2.x users, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Amazon, TiVo in talks

09/22, 3:15pm

Amazon, TiVo may ink online movie deal

Online retailer giant Amazon is in talks with TiVo about allowing consumers to automatically transfer online movie purchases to their TiVo boxes, which would place the companies in direct competition with Apple's recently announced iTV digital relay device, according to a report from the New York Post. The deal would help to bridge the gap between the home computer and the TV, and would complement Amazon's recently-launched Unbox service -- which offers TV shows, other videos, and full-length movies from all the major studios except Disney. Disney recently announced that it had sold 125,000 movie downloads worth $1 million in revenue through Apple's iTunes Music Store, and said it expects to generate $50 million in added revenue during its first year of selling movies online.

Apple on Music Week claims

09/22, 2:15pm

Apple responds to Music Week claims

Apple has responded to claims by online publication Music Week, which reported that the Cupertino-based company has entered a partnership to help with live-event streaming to bands over the internet. An Apple representative told Macworld UK that "there is no partnership." Music Week claimed that Apple had joined forces with See Tickets and Creative Tank -- a UK marketing firm -- to offer the service, which would allegedly make live shows available to fans on a pay-per-view basis.

Mac mini-style theater PC

09/22, 12:40pm

Envive debuts Mac mini-style theater PC

Envive today unveiled the E-Center Micro X, a compact theater system styled after Apple's Mac mini desktop computer. Designed for relatively basic home theater needs, the Micro X features a 1.66GHz mobile Core 2 Duo chip, DVD-RW drive, 80GB hard disk, DVI as well as S-Video connectivity, and a built-in IR receiver that interfaces with an included Media Center remote. The company also unveiled its E-Center Pro for more advanced users, which adopts the shame of a home audio receiver and offers an impressive range of features, according to Electronista. The Pro model will ship with two ATSC as well as two NTSC tuners, allowing owners to record at least two shows simultaneously regardless of whether they are over-the-air HDTV or analog signals. The system includes a standard 500GB hard drive, offering support for a total of six drives. Options include Blu-Ray or HD DVD drives, as well as HDMI output. The Micro X is available for $1,000, while the Pro is expected to ship in late 2006 for an estimated $2,500. [images]

Brando ships new Nano case

09/22, 11:45am

Brando ships new Silicone Nano case

Brando Workshop has released its iPod nano 2nd Silicone Case, a slim and colorful protective cover for Apple's new second-generation iPod nano. The 2nd Silicone Case is made from an innovative silicone material with high durability, according to Brando, featuring organic anti-dust technology. An embossed button provides menu, previous, next, and play functionality while the player remains inside the case. Brando is offering its iPod nano 2nd Silicone Case in five colors which include "Ice," grey, pink, blue, and green for $15 each.