Digital Technology for Digital Living.
September 22, 2005
Review: iTunes 5.0.1 Update
iTunes 5.0 was just released a few weeks ago, but Apple has already posted an update for their popular iPod companion application.
The two major new features in iTunes 5.0.1 are a “powerful” new Search Bar and the ability to create folders for organizing playlists. In addition to these new features, Apple has also addressed several stability issues from iTunes 5.0.
Here’s a rundown of what’s new in iTunes 5.0.1
methodshop | Comments (1) | General, Music
September 16, 2005
Discount iPod mini accessories
With the announcement that Apple has replaced the iPod mini with the iPod nano (and the appearance of iPod nanos in Sydney stores a few days ago), some stores have started to discount their iPod mini accessory line.
Harvey Norman in Broadway (Sydney) are selling Altec Lansing inMotion mini speaker docks for $99.
If you see similar great deals on iPod minis/accessories, post them to the comments (or to the forums).
Kap | Comments (4) | General
September 14, 2005
GameBoy Micro released
This was announced earlier in the year, but Nintendo have finally started shipping the Gameboy Micro. Set to be available in the states next week for around the $100 mark, can’t wait till it hits our shores!
The rumoured date here is the 3rd of November, with a RRP of $149.95. September 22nd sees a price drop in the Nintendo DS to $179.95, it will be interesting to see how the micro sells against it’s bigger cousin.
Full story at PC World, and Comments (0) | General
September 13, 2005
iPod PAIN
The most painful review I’ve ever read puts a brand new iPod Nano through its paces. Needless to say it’s no maglite, but arstechnica take the opportunity to take a peak inside the tiny gizmo.
Ken | Comments (0) | General
September 11, 2005
The iPod Toilet Trap
I hadn’t realized how much of a problem this had become, I guess it’s the iPod problem no one likes to talk about, but MethodShop.com has a whole article, “iPod Toilet Trap” devoted to iPod misshaps involving toilets.
Read through the comments and you’d think it’s nearing epidemic proportions. What are you people doing?!
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Portable
September 09, 2005
Toast 7 Has DivX and iLife Features
On August 30th, Roxio released a new version of Toast, their popular Macintosh CD and DVD burning software. After launching the application the first time, Toast 7 Titanium make not look much different from Toast 6. True, between versions, not much has changed from the interface. However, several major features have been added “under the hood.”
Two of the most useful new features include support for the DivX video codec and the ability to browse your iLife libraries (iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD).
Other notable features include:
- The ability to burn large files across multiple discs.
- Compress and copy DVD movies.
- Add over 50 hours of music to an audio DVD - with on-screen TV menus, shuffle play, and rich Dolby Digital sound.
- Turn DivX files into DVDs.
- Create stunning multi-image HD slideshows with collages, motion effects, titles and background soundtracks.
The new slogan for Toast 7 Titanium is “Easier, Better, Possible.”
Roxio is taking a cue from Apple’s playbook and trying to make difficult tasks easier for the user.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Video, Software
September 08, 2005
Belkin Prepares To Release The TuneFM
Our friends at iPodStudio.com are reporting that iPod accessory company, BELKIN, is about to release a new device known as the TuneFM.
TuneFM is a FM Transmitter that allows you to listen to music on your iPod via any FM stereo receiver.
Belkin explains: “Proximity switches give you total control at the touch of your fingertips, and the LED display indicates FM frequency and memory preset, eliminating the need to use the iPod interface for frequency selection; because the TuneFM is powered by the iPod no batteries are required.”
No price info is available at this point.
[Syndicated post via MethodShop.com]
methodshop | Comments (1) | Music, Portable, Peripherals
New release iPod
Two stories from Apple today, the first being the iPod Nano - available in 2 and 4gb editions, it looks like the new replacement to the iPod mini, in a smaller, thinner, sleaker package. It also features the colour screen, click wheel and looks like it will be compatible with many existing iPod accessories (although how many third party ones we will have to wait and see).
The other big news is the iTunes mobile phone, in a joint venture between Apple and Motorola. Details are scarce at the moment, no word on storage capacity of the phone, but we are promised stereo sound through earphones or onboard speakers, with seemless integration into Apple’s iTunes store — shame it still hasn’t arrived in Australia.
Ken | Comments (0) | General
September 06, 2005
iPAQ hw6515 Mobile Messenger available in Australia
HP’s iPAQ hw6515 Mobile Messenger slipped into stores in Sydney last week, for $1199 (i.e The same retail price as the Treo 650).
Kap | Comments (0) | General
September 04, 2005
Enter The Mametrix?
What should you do with an old computer, an arcade cabinet and your dad? Why not build a MAMETRIX?
MAME (Multiple Arcase Machine Emulator) is a popular hobby for many nostoglic gamers. MAME software allows people to play old arcade games on their computer. All you have to do is download a ROM file of your favorite arcade game and open it with MAME. You’ll be playing classic arcade games like Double Dragon, N.A.R.C., Rampage and Outrun in no time.
Playing these old games on your computer is nice, but what should you do if you miss the feel of a classic arcade cabinet? You could buy a broken cabinet off Craigslist, get a flatscreen TV, add some Ultimarc arcade controls, shove an old computer under the hood and get your dad to help. Well. that’s what one guy did.
[Syndicated post via MethodShop.com]
methodshop | Comments (0) | Toys, Software
New iPod Mini Flash with Color Screen
According to website THINKSECRET, a new version of the popular iPod Mini will be revealed at the Apple Expo in Paris on September 20. Apparently Apple has tried to add several new enhancements to the iPod Mini as well as reduce its overall physical size.
In addition to being smaller, the new iPod Mini will reportedly feature two major changes: a color screen and flash memory.
Why switch to flash memory?
Why would Apple move the iPod Mini from a regular hard drive storage medium to solid state flash media like the iPod Shuffle? There’s 3 major reasons for making this change: smaller sizes, lower power consumption and overall reliability.Although flash based MP3 players may feature less storage capacity than their hard drive based counterparts, they are smaller, lighter and have no moving parts. This alone makes flash based MP3 players popular with joggers and people with active lifestyles. Dropping a flash based iPod Shuffle on the sidewalk while jogging, probably won’t result in a disaster. However, the same can’t be said for a normal iPod. Standard iPods like the U2 Special Edition and the iPod Photo are bigger and heavier because of their internal hard drives. Regular hard drives have moving parts and can be permanently damaged by even a stiff jolt, let alone a drop on solid concrete. Flash based players are generally just more reliable and less susceptible to damage because of their lack of moving parts. Also, because flash based MP3 players have no moving parts, they consume less power. There are no hard drives to spin with flash drives and you can expect a much higher battery life with these players.
Moving away from standard hard drive storage and over to smaller solid state flash media will shave 20 to 25 percent off the size of the unit. It’s rumored that the new Mini will be available in three models: 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB and will feature dual NAND flash memory chips in order to achieve these higher storage capacities. Adding more fuel to this rumor, Apple has made a supplier deal with Samsung to purchase their 4GB flash drives.
“To further the size savings, the new iPod Mini will sport a color screen that’s slightly smaller than the current version. Sources say the screen will measure 1.467 inches, down from 1.67 inches, but will feature a higher resolution: 176 x 132, up from 138 x 110, as Think Secret reported in February. It’s likely, but uncertain, that the iPod mini’s scroll wheel will also see a small reduction in size.
Pricing is not entirely clear at this point, but sources expect the new 4GB and 6GB models will remain priced at $199 and $249, respectively, while the 8GB iPod mini will cost as much as $299. At that price the 8GB iPod Mini would cost as much as a 20GB iPod, but Apple isn’t worried that equivalent pricing will affect sales of the iPod Mini as sales of the full-size iPods have lagged far behind iPod mini’s in recent quarters.”
If the rumors are true, it sounds like Apple will have another hit on their hands. How can they go wrong with an iPod Mini that’s smaller, more reliable, uses less power and has a color screen? Perhaps the price point will be too high, but only time will tell.
[Sources: ThinkSecret, MethodShop & iPodStudio]
methodshop | Comments (0) | General, Music, Portable
