News Archive for 06/12/28

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New Nano Action Jacket

12/28, 5:35pm

DLO unveils new Nano Action Jacket

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) today unveiled a new version of its Action Jacket workout iPod case for iPod and iPod nano. DLO's Action Jacket features a cushioned case with a secure armband that allows easy access to the iPod's play controls. The accessory is 'workout safe,' protecting the player from sweat as well as scratches during physical activity. The new cases ship with a one-size-fits-all armband in iPod nano-matching colors of green, blue, and pink for $30.

iTunes hiccup settles

12/28, 5:20pm

iTunes settles after hiccup disturbs sales

Apple's iTunes Music Store today returned to normal after numerous customers reported receiving numerous error messages and long delays as they attempted to download songs over a two day span. Wall Street analysts suspect that the delays were caused by mammoth music sales which exceeded the company's expectations, as well as its ability to handle the enormous sum of shoppers trying to access the store simultaneously, according to the Associated Press. The Cupertino-based company saw iTunes visits catapult 413 percent on Christmas day this year over last year, and the Apple Store was dubbed the fourth most-visited website in the Hitwise Retail Index on December 25th of 2006.

Hello Kitty iPod clock

12/28, 4:20pm

Hello Kitty clock radio for iPod debuts

Hong Kong-based firm Spectra has unveiled the KT4560, a Hello Kitty-themed clock radio with an iPod dock. The dock charges iPods as they play, and the stereo features additional audio/video jacks that provide output to more powerful external sources. Users can set the internal alarm to wake with the iPod, a buzzer, or an AM/FM radio. The built-in speakers produce two watts of sound each, according to Electronista, and Spectra has yet to announce pricing or release dates for the 4560. The device is expected to arrive in the United States in the near future, however.

Podblaster speaker cases

12/28, 2:25pm

Podblaster cases feature built-in speakers

Major retailer Target is offering the Beat Generation Podblaster, a device enabling users to listen to audio from the same case that holds an iPod portable media player. A flap contains a pair of stereo speakers that connect to an MP3 player via a headphone jack that tucks inside the case, with each speaker producing 3W of power. A flap resides between the speakers revealing the player's controls and allowing users to play, pause or skip tracks without exposing the sensitive portable device. Target is selling the Podblaster in white as well as a "wood grain" design for $50.

Blu-Ray, HD DVD cracked?

12/28, 11:10am

Blu-Ray, HD DVD protection already cracked?

One skilled hacker is already claiming to have defeated copy-protection measures built into new HD movie formats, which were originally designed to stem piracy efforts. A poster in the Doom9 forums says that an application he's developed, BackupHDDVD, bypasses the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) encryption found on both Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs, allowing PC users to copy movies directly to their hard drives. The software is currently in a rough state that only supports a handful of HD DVD titles, according to Electronista, but shows that AACS is functionally similar to CSS -- the encryption for standard DVDs that was broken by 'DVD Jon' Lech Johansen in 2002. Johansen himself predicted that AACS would be rendered useless by the end of 2006.