iPod used in MLB, as jazz substitute...

The success of Apple's iPod is evident in many walks of life, from Major League Baseball to smokey Japanese Jazz coffee shops. The Colorado Rockies in mid-June of 2006 adopted Apple's video iPod as a means for players to cram information and review plays before games, bringing the portable media player beyond the personal entertainment realm. "It's a good way to refresh yourself on how you got guys out," said pitcher Jason Jennings. "It's an amazing concept." In addition to spreading into the Major League as well as major educational institutions as a learning aid, the iPod is affecting the entire music industry on a global scale by influencing the prices of physical album sales, according to one report.

Podmaxx '07 enhances iTunes on PCs

Bling Software has officially launched Podmaxx '07, a Windows-only application designed to fill various software gaps left by iTunes, according to the company. Podmaxx '07 optionally syncs music from any store to an iPod, and copies files back to a PC despite the standard iPod behavior of hiding music in subfolders. The software also supports burning audio CDs directly from an iPod, or ripping DVD movies in the opposite direction. Users can sync news, weather, Outlook contacts, and movie schedules. Podmaxx '07 enables users to turn any song into a mobile ringtone, supports backing up an entire PC, and is available for $30. The application requires a Windows 98 or better computer with an internet connection.