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 « December 2004 | Main | February 2005 » January 31, 2005Apple Introduces Faster, More Affordable PowerBooks
New Line Features Scrolling TrackPad & Sudden Motion Sensor; Starts at $1,499 Apple today unveiled its fastest, most affordable PowerBook line ever, featuring PowerPC G4 processors running up to 1.67 GHz, faster hard drives and a faster 8X SuperDrive. All new PowerBooks come standard with 512MB memory, faster graphics, integrated AirPort 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 wireless networking and two new Apple patent-pending technologies—the scrolling TrackPad and the Sudden Motion Sensor. “Apple continues to lead the industry with the most innovative notebooks,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With new features like the scrolling TrackPad and Sudden Motion Sensor, the new PowerBooks are the ultimate combination of performance and portability.” Designed for creative and business professionals, the new PowerBooks introduce Apple’s patent-pending scrolling TrackPad that works with every application and document, so users can easily scroll through long web pages or across large photographs. Simply touch the trackpad with two fingers instead of one to quickly scroll or pan within the window. Every PowerBook also includes Apple’s patent-pending Sudden Motion Sensor technology which integrates a tri-axis accelerometer to help protect a spinning hard drive if the notebook is accidentally dropped. Apple’s revolutionary backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors for working in low-light conditions is now built in to all 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks and is up to 10 times brighter than before. The new PowerBooks deliver increased performance with both the 15- and 17-inch PowerBook models offering up to 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 processors and industry-leading ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processors with 64MB or 128MB of graphics memory. All models now include 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM and faster 5400 rpm hard drives for demanding professional applications. The 17-inch PowerBook now features Dual Link support to drive Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display as an external monitor, and this feature is also available as a build-to-order option on the 1.67 GHz model of the 15-inch PowerBook. Every PowerBook now includes built-in AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking. Apple is the first notebook maker to include integrated Bluetooth 2.0 (Enhanced Data Rate) for up to three times greater data rates, up to 3 Mbps, for faster wireless connectivity to a range of peripherals including cell phones, PDAs, printers and headsets. Bluetooth 2.0 is also compatible with Bluetooth 1.2 devices such as the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse. Every PowerBook now includes iLife ‘05. iLife ’05 continues to lead the industry with the most innovative and comprehensive suite of software for organizing, editing and sharing digital photos; creating stunning digital movies and DVDs; and purchasing, managing and creating digital music. iLife ‘05 includes iTunes® 4.7.1, the world’s best digital music jukebox software with the iTunes Music Store inside. iTunes provides seamless integration with Apple’s complete family of popular iPods, including the new iPod® shuffle. iLife ‘05 also includes iPhoto™ 5 for organizing and sharing digital photos; iMovie® HD for digital HD-quality movie-making; iDVD® 5 for creating and burning Hollywood-style DVDs; and GarageBand™ 2, the revolutionary music application that turns the Mac® into a professional-quality musical instrument and recording studio. The new 12-,15- and 17-inch PowerBook models will be available later this week through The Apple Store, at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. More information is available at the Apple site. Posted by jlewin at 04:06 PM | Comments (0) Apple, Google Top Brands of 2004
The survey was conducted by Brandchannel.com, a website that provides a global perspective on brands. Apple’s 2004 presence was felt in the press, in ads and on the streets, with iPod coming to define the word “ubiquitous.” Apple reported a net profit of US$ 295 million in the last quarter of 2004 alone and a 2004 overall net income growth of 300 percent. The iPod alone sold 4.6 million units in the last quarter, practically doubling sales since its launch. (There are now about 10 million pod-addicts on the planet.) Meanwhile, iMac sales tripled as Apple’s overall computer sales rose by 26 percent over 2003 sales. Music division iTunes became the blueprint for Napster-alternative online music sales. Apple’s cultural symbolism was not economically symbiotic. Its worldwide computer market share dropped to less than two percent in 2004 to a 1.87 percent share in Q3 of 2004 (down from 2.19% in Q3 2003). The 2004 world leader for market share was Dell at 18 percent, followed by HP at 16 percent and IBM with 6 percent. Not far behind Apple, and equally appealing to those navigating a potentially complicated technical landscape, is Google. The world’s number one search engine, Google’s impact on our readers reflects the online public’s growing dependence on sorting through an incomprehensible amount of available information. On our screens, its minimalist design betrays its maximal capacity. But Google does more, including technology licensing and hardware, news aggregating and shopping (Froogle). According to the company, 95 percent of revenue comes from AdSense advertising. Google lost little ground in being dumped as the search engine behind Yahoo early last year; it conducts more than 200 million searches a day and leads the world for search engine usage with 57 percent of the current market, followed by Yahoo at 21 percent and MSN at just 9 percent. Google faces competition on many fronts including Yahoo’s Overture search engine and other solutions like Vivisimo’s Clusty, and MSN Desktop Search, all of which hope to build a better mousetrap. The upside to Google’s future? Only 12.7 percent of the world population has access to the Internet, leaving 5.6 billion potential future users. Posted by jlewin at 03:56 PM | Comments (0) Web Crossing Adds Podcasting SupportWeb Crossing has announced support for Podcasting. Now Web Crossing users can publish podcasts for distribution from a Weblog or over a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed. "Web Crossing regularly adds standards-based collaboration tools to its legendary message board platform," said Tim Lundeen, president and CEO of Web Crossing. "Podcasting support nicely extends Web Crossing's weblog and RSS capabilities." Podcasting from Web Crossing Boards or Blogs Podcasting is a new audio file distribution technique for time-shifting audio broadcasts to a self-selecting audience who chooses when to listen to it on their iPod or other MP3-compatible listening device. Often posted as part of a blog, podcasting provides a convenient means for individuals to publish audio files online. Already popular with individual bloggers and content publishers, work-related applications of podcasting include reports, tutorials and other educational aids. Podcasting utilizes a combination of audio file (MP3 or other format) and XML to publish descriptive data and metadata associated with the audio file. The XML files used in podcasting from Web Crossing sites are compatible with RSS 2.0 and can include dates, titles, descriptions and links to the audio files themselves. Web Crossing's RSS feeds now use Unicode Transformation Format (UTF) encoding to prevent any non-ASCII characters in a file from creating XML parsing errors of the feed. The Podcast capabilities are incorporated in the latest Web Crossing Weblog and RSS plug-ins. The Weblog and RSS plugins require no knowledge of XML, allowing administrators to add Podcasting support in minutes with a simple point-and-click. The Web Crossing RSS plug-in gives a site's visitors current access to podcasts, using any modern RSS Reader. In addition, the Web Crossing Weblog plug-in makes podcasting audio files as easy as attaching an MP3 file to any Weblog entry. In Weblogs, RSS subscription designations automatically apply to categories assigned by the blogger and chosen by the reader. Alternatively, the new RSS support provides podcasting in addition to the RSS plug-in's traditional integration with weblog categories, weblog comments, topic folders, and individual discussions. Additional information can be found at http://www.webcrossing.com/podblog/ and http://www.webcrossing.com/podrss/. Posted by jlewin at 10:44 AM | Comments (0) Toronto Professor Researching iPod Use
If so, Markus Giesler wants to talk to you. He's an assistant professor of marketing at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Ontario, and from the look of his website, he's one media-saavy academic. His research explores how consumer technologies alter people's lives and our identities. His latest project, iPod Experience, is looking at the ways in which people use the iPod, and how people interact with it and other iPod users. He's looking for iPod users to participate in his study. More information is available at the iPod Experience site. Posted by jlewin at 08:48 AM | Comments (0) Podcasting a finalist for "Best Meme" Bloggie awardThe Bloggies are a set of 30 publicly-chosen awards given to weblog writers and those related to weblogs. The Bloggie Awards ask readers to choose the very best and most interesting weblogs from the past year. Categories range from food to entertainment to politics, and additional accolades are given a best blog from every part of the globe. What do you think is this year's best meme -- that is, the biggest replicating idea spread about weblogs? Finalists include Flickr, Podcasting, The Grey Album, Is My Blog Burning, and Photo Friday. Posted by elisabeth at 08:48 AM | Comments (0) Sonos Digital Media Systems ShippingSonos has announced it is shipping the Sonos Digital Music System to pre-order customers in the United States. The Sonos Digital Music System is the first multi-zone digital music system with a wireless, full-color LCD screen controller. It lets users play digital music all over their home, and control it all from the palm of their hand. The company expects that pre-orders will be filled within 10 days.
The Sonos Digital Music System is available for purchase at www.sonos.com and will be available at consumer electronic retailers across the nation over the next several weeks. Sonos offers a bundle of two Sonos ZonePlayers and a Sonos Controller for $1,199.00. Since the system is scalable up to 32 zones, additional ZonePlayers retail for $499.00 and additional Controllers retail for $399.00. John MacFarlane, Sonos CEO, comments, “We have developed the Sonos Digital Music System for consumers who are looking for a stereo that gives them the control and flexibility that they have come to expect with their digital content.” The Sonos Digital Music System is made up of two components: the Sonos ZonePlayer, a networked audio player that distributes, plays and amplifies music in any “zone” in the home, and the Sonos Controller, a wireless handheld device with a full-color screen which allows the user to access, customize and control the music anywhere - from the bedroom to the backyard. The ZonePlayer delivers sound in every room through a powerful and compact 50 Watts/channel amplifier with component-quality audio specifications. The ZonePlayer can access and play a wide variety of music formats, including MP3, WMA, AAC (MPEG4) and WAV, stored on a PC, Mac or Network Attached Storage (NAS), and comes bundled with customizable Internet Radio stations. Built-in wired and wireless capabilities provide the consumer flexibility of installation at no extra cost. The Controller, designed with a full-color LCD screen and touch-sensitive scroll wheel, provides consumers with simplicity – pick a zone, pick a song and hit play – unrestricted by line of sight. Consumers can play the same song synchronously in every room or play different songs in different rooms, queue-up favorites for the evening or rediscover their collection via random play; the options are virtually unlimited. The high resolution LCD shows what is playing in any zone at any time, including album art when available. For more information, see the Sonos site. Posted by jlewin at 08:24 AM | Comments (0) IPods Act as D.J.'sThe New York Times reports that bars are experimenting with iPod nights, where DJs or patrons spin the tunes from their iPods. DJ Andrew Andrew places relatively tight controls on APT's iPod night, held every Tuesday and attended by 50 to 75 people. Customers take a number, just as they would at a delicatessen, and look to a Now Serving sign for their moment. They then pick seven minutes' worth of music from two iPods provided by DJ Andrew Andrew, each holding 1,000 songs. Only APT regulars who have proven good taste can play songs from their own iPods. "Once a month or so, someone will be taken aback that you have to use our iPods," said one of the Andrews in a telephone interview. "But APT has a really strong musical identity, and we want to make sure there is a certain type of music playing." The rise of iPod DJ'ing has been reported on previously, most notably in an article in Wired magazine. While the iPod offers a great deal of potential as a DJ tool, its use is currently significantly limited by the performance tools available. DJs now do much more than select tunes and play them. A good DJ will create a continuous mix of music that takes listeners on a psychological journey. This can involve mixing multiple tracks together, filtering elements and recombining pieces from multiple sources. Until tools that let DJs creatively mix and program music become available for use with the iPods, DJing with an iPod will impose limitations that most DJs won't accept. Posted by jlewin at 08:20 AM | Comments (0) BBC Re-launches Internet Radio
Latest figures show more than 10 million hours of BBC radio are consumed online per month and, from 25 January, the new Radio Player will offer 500 extra hours of programming and offer a range of new features. The re-launch puts audiences in control of their listening, allowing them to listen at convenient times, control their schedules and fast-forward through programmes while exposing them to new shows - and perhaps whole networks - they otherwise wouldn't come across. The new Player provides all the programmes and benefits of the current model - which makes many of the BBC's radio programmes available online - but includes over 80 more programmes, making virtually all of the BBC's national radio output available on-demand via the internet. Newly available programmes include: Colin & Edith, Jo Whiley and Vernon Kay (Radio 1); Steve Wright, Sarah Kennedy and Ken Bruce (Radio 2); Morning on 3 and Performance on 3 (Radio 3); Ace & Invisible and Rampage (1Xtra); Night Train (6 Music); Midday News (Five Live); and Drive with Nikki Bedi and Breakfast with Gagan Grewal (Asian Network). The new Radio Player also features live streaming of every one of the BBC's English local radio and national stations: Radio Scotland and Radio Nan Gaidheal; Radio Wales and Radio Cymru; Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle; all 40 of the BBC's local radio stations. The improvements follow 30,000 emails received from listeners about the Radio Player since it first launched in June 2002 and record online listening figures. In addition to the wealth of new programming, the new Radio Player makes it even easier for listeners to navigate, with lists of the most popular programmes and links to allow listeners to click through to any programme related to their favourite genre. For the first time it will also be possible for listeners to stop a programme at any point, switch off the computer and then resume listening from that point at any time during the seven days the programme is available. It will also be possible to explore the other content on offer without interrupting the listening experience. The new Radio Player enhances the live listening experience by providing details of what programme is on now and next for each station and is integrated with the BBC's News, Sport and Weather Players, providing one-click access to a huge range of audio and video from the BBC's News and Sport divisions. Radio Player - some facts A record 6.15 million unique users visited BBC Radio websites in November 2004 - a 55% year-on-year increase. 48% (3.2 million) of those visitors made use of the BBC Radio Player, listening live for 6.2 million hours and requesting over 7 million programmes on-demand. More than 10 million hours of BBC radio is listened to online each month (live and on-demand) - a year-on-year increase of nearly 60%. More than 160 million page impressions are generated per month. Some programmes are available as mp3 downloads including Five Live's Fighting Talk and In Our Time (which received 70,000 download requests in November 2004). In Our Time is also available via podcasting - the BBC is the first British broadcaster to use this technology. Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy illustrated the popularity of internet radio with an incredible one million on-demand listens. Posted by jlewin at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) MP3 Watch - Time for Podcasting?
The watch retails for about $200 and comes in a variety of colors and styles. No information is available on podcast compatibility. Specifications Posted by jlewin at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) Spammers Target the iPod GenerationOnline criminals are cashing in on "iPod mania", according to an analysis of unsolicited e-mails. Emails purporting to sell the popular MP3 player made an unprecedented debut during December. The spam categorization statistics were extracted from the millions of spam e-mails harvested by Internet security firm Clearswift's seed accounts. Scams are also getting more convincing: e-mails purporting to come from Amazon and eBay are abundant and cyber-criminals are making a concerted effort to give these fraudulent mails stronger authenticity. Official shipping notes and Web site imitations have increased dramatically. This problem is causing concern among banking customers, who (according to a Silicon.com survey released in mid-January) believed that unclear online banking communication strategies could cause uncertainty, allowing phishing scammers to take advantage. "The increasing sophistication of spam mails, such as vastly improved graphics, references to the 'CAN-SPAM' act, and fake certificates of authenticity, is certainly a worry for consumers," commented Alyn Hockey, director of research at Clearswift. "As spammers get better at cloning company Web sites and legitimate marketing mail, organizations must ensure they deploy robust e-mail filtering software, and e-mails users must become increasingly vigilant when purchasing online in order to avoid being ripped off." Posted by jlewin at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) Podcastamatic Automates HTML/RSS Creation for PodcastsKenward Bradley has released Podcastamatic, a new application that automates the creation of web pages and RSS feeds for podcasts. The PERL-based script generates a HTML webpage and a RSS feed for your podcast/audioblog, based on MP3s tags. Webpage: The title, a description, a blurb, and a link to the RSS feed are at the top of the page, and for each MP3, the title, comments, a link to the MP3, and running time are included. RSS feed: XML file that is required to be listed in most popular podcast directories. For more information, check the Podcastamatic site. Posted by jlewin at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) Podcasting Electronic Music
Rushton created his first podcast in December 2004. His program, Hooray For Vouvray!, features an informal mixture of music and discussion. The shows introduce listeners to Rushton's style of hybrid modern instrumentals, along with providing some insight into Rushton and his thinking. Rushton believes podcasts are a great way to promote independent music. "Since I put out my first podcast in December 2004, traffic to my site has gone way up and I've seen an increase in CD sales and positive feedback as a result," he notes. "People are hungry for free yet quality programming, and I'm happy to provide it." Electronic music site Synthtopia has an interview with Mark Rushton about his music and electronic music podcasts. Posted by jlewin at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) January 27, 2005A New Use for iLifeImpulsive Buy has an interesting review of iLife: If you’re a Mac user you’re probably familiar with iLife, which is a suite of Mac-only software used to create, organize, edit, and share your digital media (photos, music, video, etc). If you have iLife, you’ve probably used it to organize and edit things like your family vacation pictures or your child’s birthday videos. Item: Apple iLife ‘05 Posted by jlewin at 09:06 AM | Comments (2) January 26, 2005Interview with Magnatune's John BuckmanStaccato has podcast an interview with Magnatune's John Buckman. Magnatune has helped pioneer distribution of open content music. The label's music is licensed with a Creative Commons license, which encourages sharing and copying via the Internet, as long as it is non-commercial. The interview is noteworthy because podcasting is quickly becoming an alternative to radio for learning about new music. Podcasters should be able to avoid legal hassles by including Creative Commons-licensed music in their broadcasts. Artists and labels can learn from Buckman's experiences and determine if open licensing makes sense for them. Posted by jlewin at 09:33 AM | Comments (0) January 24, 2005MTV: Podcasting Lets Anyone Be An International DJMTV has discovered podcasting: Now, if you want to tell the world how you feel, all you need is a little piece of software, a microphone and something to say and you're an instant international DJ. An article at MTV's site highlights one of podcasting's appeals: The key to podcasting's allure lies in its TiVo-like setup. Instead of spending minutes, or sometimes hours, waiting for the podcasts to download, users subscribe to a program and never have to seek out their show again. Your computer searches for new episodes and whether you're at your computer or not, the show downloads automatically and is ready to dump onto your iPod or other device. Unlike traditional broadcasting, the listener controls when he or she will listen to the program. Plus, the iPodder software works not just for broadcasts, but for video, pictures and even software updates. Posted by jlewin at 09:51 AM | Comments (3) January 19, 2005Cute iPod Cozy
The headphone cord feeds through the top slit, and there is a back pocket for headphones. The front flap has snap closure that lets you attach it to a bag or backpack. Each piece is made to order. Posted by jlewin at 12:19 PM | Comments (0) January 18, 2005Sacrificing an iPod for the Sake of MusicThe circuit-bending wizards at Censtron have worked their magic on an iPod, turning it into a Censtron iBend.
The iBend features four guitar solos that you can control using the "whammy" Censtron bend wheel or with the "extreme pitch knob. Features: Posted by jlewin at 05:33 PM | Comments (0) Skype Releases Update
Skype v1.1 introduces the new Chat feature, allowing Skype users to hold multi-person or forum-style conversations with groups of people. Chat expands the existing one-to-one chatting and other instant message features in previous versions of Skype, and allows groups of up to 50 to communicate. Additional new features in Skype v1.1 include improved contact list management and presentation, new mini avatars alongside highlighted contacts and new tray alerts that help users monitor their contacts and messaging. Skype v1.1 is available for download from www.skype.com. Skype for Windows v 1.1 works on any Windows 2000/XP PC with a 400 MHz processor, and requires a headset, Skype compatible phone or a microphone and speakers. Posted by jlewin at 12:42 PM | Comments (1) iPod Case Features Kraton Thermoplastic Elastomers
Best of all, it's made with Kraton thermoplastic elastomers to ensure skintight fit with a soft, tactile grip. We're not really sure what Kraton thermoplastic elastomers are, but they sound cool. ToughSkin comes in five colors, including frosted clear, black, blue, red and orange. Posted by jlewin at 08:41 AM | Comments (1) January 17, 2005Dissecting an iPod ShuffleInterested in what's inside an Apple iPod shuffle? Apple Matters dissected the latest iPod from Apple, and has the gruesome photos. Posted by jlewin at 03:39 PM | Comments (0) Comparing the Mac mini to Low-Cost PCs
While the article makes some interesting comparisons, comparing it to bare-bones PCs may be missing the point. Apple is hoping that Windows iPod users will think $500 isn't too high a price to check out the Macintosh world. Given that most of these people have already spent $300 or more on a portable audio player, it seems a safe bet. Pros: Compact and stylish, the Mac mini would not look out of place in any home. Apple computers are famously user friendly and offer much better network security, which means fewer viruses. The package of software that comes with the machine is the best money can buy. Offsite: Rivals of the £400 Apple Posted by jlewin at 11:32 AM | Comments (0) Vaginal Yeast a Drag
"You may not know me if you don't read the tabloids, but I'm a very famous lesbian," notes Weinstein. Weinstein's tongue-in-cheek talk masks a more serious mission. Weinstein is a spokeswoman on behalf of women suffering from Vaginal Yeast. "Vaginal Yeast is MUCH worse than Breast Cancer. Vaginal Yeast affects ALL women, while breast cancer only affects a minority. Vaginal Yeast itches and burns constantly, while with breast cancer, you hardly know it's there, except for chemo and death." Some may be familiar with Weinstein as manager of the popular Grrrl rock band, Goddess Riot Juice. Weinstein's unique perspectives on everything from Lesbian Feminists of Color to Vaginal Yeast can be seen at Chicago's annual Feast of Fools performances. Weinstein's podcast is available at the Yeast Radio site. Posted by jlewin at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) How to Create Podcasts with a SmartphoneAndy Carvin has posted an interesting tutorial on creating podcasts with a smartphone. Given that I'd had some experience as an audio blogger, it seemed like a fairly simple proposition to take the next step and create a mobile phone podcast, hopefully without requiring that much technical savvy. I picked up my phone and went into my home office; five minutes later I posted my first smartphone podcast. While Carvin's approach is still cutting edge, this approach has potential for anyone interested in doing time-sensitive podcasting. Posted by jlewin at 09:59 AM | Comments (0) January 14, 2005Podcast-Friendly Microphone
The $15 multipurpose lapel microphone offers stereo audio input for recording interviews, lectures and other events. An iPod equipped with Griffin's iTalk voice recorder and a Lapel Mic creates a very portable digital recording system. "The Lapel Mic is a great new accessory for iPod owners everywhere, including reporters, broadcasters, presenters, and even students," said Paul Griffin, president of Griffin Technology. The Lapel Mic features a standard 3.5mm stereo mini-jack and a swivel clip. Posted by jlewin at 02:47 PM | Comments (0) Save $30! Make an iPod Case from a Milk Jug!
Superpixel (not his real name!) has an alternative. With not much more than an old milk jug and an exacto knife, he's created the McGuyver iPod Holster. Superpixel says that the case holds an iPod securely, won't scratch your iPod, and, best of all, is free! Why put a $300 iPod in an old milk jug? "I was bored, needed to kick-start some creative juices, and tired of looking at the computer screen all night. But believe it or not, this thing really works." Posted by jlewin at 11:15 AM | Comments (0) Bourquin Bets on Podcasts with Podcasting ExpoWill podcasting become as popular as blogs? TNC New Media's Tim Bourquin thinks so. He's jumped into podcasting, and is organizing the Podcast & Portable Media Expo, November 10-12 in Ontario, California. Bourquin suggests that although the term “podcasting” is new, thousands of people are already “podcasting,” and thousands more are downloading and listening to podcasts. The appeal of podcasting is that, unlike commercial radio which relies on large numbers to attract advertisers, podcasts are typically “narrowcasts”. Podcasters, who operate over the free internet instead of over expensive airwaves can offer highly focused content to smaller audiences and, if they wish, make a profit doing so. Bourquin, himself an avid mountain biker, offers EnduranceRadio.com as an example. While it would be unlikely that a commercial radio program – even sports radio - would ever focus solely on endurance sports like triathlon or adventure racing because of the limited appeal to advertisers, EnduranceRadio.com can offer interviews and other audio programming to a pre-qualified market. While this programming may be offered for free, Bourquin notes that sponsors trying to reach these small niches will find value in supporting these narrowcasts. Bourquin believes podcasts will become a vital alternative to commercial radio, enabling all types of narrowcasted programming to reach audiences thirsty for content perfectly matching their interests. Bourquin and Rich Westerfield of TSMI’s Trade Show Marketing Report are beginning a regularly scheduled podcasting program on trade shows and events through the Corante network beginning in January. Conference Plans Like many new technologies, podcasting first flourished within an online community of enthusiasts. Podcast & Portable Media Expo will bring together this same community in an “offline” event where they can evaluate the tools and services necessary to produce their shows and also allow them to build partnerships with each other and larger media companies looking to expand their universe of content. “The conference program will feature sessions on business models, content creation, promotion, licensing, syndication and distribution. The exhibit hall will showcase the latest software tools, hardware, devices and other resources for podcasting and portable media,” notes Bourquin, who has also produced other events with a technology bent, most notably the Online Trading Expo for daytrading, which he recently sold. Bourquin adds, “I see a day when your home television and car stereo will have an integrated content aggregator built in that will automatically download audio and video content based on keywords or subjects you have specified. Imagine the niche content you’ll have access to!” The Expo will offer awards for: Best in Show, Podcast of the Year, and also Person of the Year. Information is available at the Expo site. Posted by jlewin at 10:57 AM | Comments (0) eM² - Carrying Case for Mac mini
Though technically a desktop computer, at only 6.5" x 6.5" x 2" it's a natural for Mac mini owners to take it on the road. The eM² does not add significant bulk to the mini, but does add the protection of a .25" thick layer of padding. The eM² features a splash-resistant zipper and webbing handles for easy carrying. One side has a stretch mesh pocket that will accommodate a cable or two, or a couple of jewel cases. More information is available at the Tom Bihn site. Posted by jlewin at 10:02 AM | Comments (0) Custom Mac Mini Auto InstallationsCooper Minis are no longer the only Minis on wheels. Classic Restorations is offering customized design and installation of the Mac Mini in the car stereo or other single-DIN slot. Melvin Benzaquen, president of Classic Restorations, notes that “For around the price of mounting an iPod in your car, you get a whole Macintosh computer.” Benzaquen realized that, at 2 X 6.5 inches, the Mac Mini could easily fit into a car stereo compartment, creating a powerful “brain” for any car. He’s convinced the new Mac Mini could be one of the hottest innovations the car enthusiast market has seen in years. “We had been completing the design and prototypes of our modified iBook and PowerBook car installs when rumors of the Mac Mini began to circulate earlier this month,” said Benzaquen. “We immediately began working on a new design and plan for car conversions on the new Mac Mini platform. We are pleased to be the first to offer the exciting Mac Mini conversion at a price far more accessible than any mobile PC alternative.” Classic Restorations’ exclusive Mac Mini Auto designs provide for touch screen or conventional LCD display options. Although the the Mac Mini mounts in a single-DIN slot in dash, Classic Restorations can customize installation to fit under the seat, in the glove box or any other location in the car. The Mac Mini supports voice recognition and voice response, allowing for handsfree operation while driving. It also supports Bluetooth, allowing for the use of a wide array of wireless peripherals such as keyboards and cell phones. Drivers can use the customized Mac Mini Auto to log into home networks to transfer flies, such as your favorite music, video and photos, wirelessly from computers and home media devices directly to the car. The Mac Mini platform supports virtually all home media formats (MP3, DVD, CD, WMA, etc.) and the 40 GB storage allows for onboard selection of thousands of songs. Of course, Mac games can be played on the Mac Mini to provide hours of entertainment for passengers. Classic Restorations is now taking reservations for installations starting on Jan. 22, the day Apple announced as the release date for the hardware. Customers can provide their own Mac Mini or Classic Restorations will arrange to purchase the computer (based on hardware availability). More information is available at the Classic Restorations site. Posted by jlewin at 09:53 AM | Comments (2) Podcasters Skeptical About iPod ShuffleIt looks like podcasters are going to pass on the iPod shuffle, the latest portable digital Media player from Apple. Several aspects of the shuffle make it less attractive for podcasting than other players. Most digital media players have small screens that provide feedback, making it easier to choose a specific audio file, or to move within an audio file. Some other players in the same price range also offer recording. Internet News reports that Doc Searls is not impressed with the iPod shuffle: "It's neither a boon nor a bust. It's just not useful for listening to podcasts," said Doc Searls, a respected blogger and co-author of the book Cluetrain Manifesto. "Navigating inside a long podcast -- and many are very long -- is difficult even with a regular iPod, as it is with all players. So, rather than fix the one feature that's lame about the iPod, they eliminated it completely." ZDNet's Steve Gillmore thinks that if Apple won't come to podcasters, then podcasters will have to come to Apple: "Though most of us boomers can’t fathom the idea that 'life is random' is a feature, the Shuffle’s secret sauce is its Playlist mode, turned off by default. Attention: iPodder developers–if you develop SmartPlaylist functionality in your aggregators, you can use attention and other explicit metadata to program iTunes to download, sort, and sequence podcasts while you sleep. Remember, the iPod is the delivery system, the data cache at the end of the pipeline. Of course, if some smart 3rd-party vendor adds a microphone that clips onto the Shuffle, it’s a data recorder hanging around your neck." Podcaster Harold Johnson compares the iPod shuffle to its competition: "iRiver devices in the same price range include mic recording, FM recording, and line-in recording, and more hours of battery life (from 17-40, depending on whether you're playing digital music or the included FM radio)." Posted by jlewin at 09:11 AM | Comments (2) January 13, 2005Creative MP3 Players Hot on iPod's Heals
If that's not enough to make Apple watch its back, Creative's Zen Micro Photo won Best of Show at the recent Consumer Electronics Show. For the third year running, Creative won the Best of CES Award, this time for the Zen Micro Photo in the 'Audio to Go' category. This award honors outstanding new consumer technology products that debuted at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show. The Zen Micro Photo holds up to 7,500 images or 3,000 songs on the 6GB model. With its high-intensity, 1.5 inch OLED screen that captures 262,144 colors, users can watch and share slideshows. "Today's announcement of our two million MP3 players sold in the quarter will come as a surprise to many who underestimated our marketing capability and didn't believe that we could be such a strong contender to the Apple iPod," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. "We just began shipping the Zen Micro in late November and it is taking the market by storm. We just won the 'Best of CES' for our Zen Micro Photo, which we just previewed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas." Posted by jlewin at 04:57 PM | Comments (0) Strangest iPod Accessory Yet? iPod Luggage
The integrated stereo system was built taking advantage of the unused space between the trolley handle, leaving room for other items. Other pockets are specifically designed to hold your cell phone, PDA, DVD movie, book, headphones and more. Posted by jlewin at 03:26 PM | Comments (2) EFF Defends Bloggers Against Apple LawsuitJust weeks before Macworld, the nation's biggest annual trade show devoted to Apple products, Apple sent legal threats to the publishers of the Mac-centric weblogs AppleInsider and PowerPage for posting information about upcoming products. In a case that could help define the role of bloggers and podcasters within the world of journalism, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is representing the publishers to protect their right to keep confidential the identities of the people who supplied them with the information. On December 13, Apple filed suit against "Does 1-20" in a Santa Clara court. The company obtained a court order that allows it to issue subpoenas to AppleInsider and PowerPage for the names of the "Does" who allegedly leaked the information in question. EFF is defending the publishers against these subpoenas, arguing that the anonymity of bloggers' sources is protected by the same laws that protect sources providing information to journalists. "Bloggers break the news, just like journalists do. They must be able to promise confidentiality in order to maintain the free flow of information," said EFF Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl. "Without legal protection, informants will refuse to talk to reporters, diminishing the power of the open press that is the cornerstone of a free society." "I am very disappointed by Apple's behavior and its new policy of issuing legal threats to its best customers," added Jason O'Grady, publisher of PowerPage. "Is corporate paranoia really more important than the First Amendment?" Posted by jlewin at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) Bad Apple Asks Jobs to Think DifferentlyBad Apple, a project of ComputerTakeBack.com, is targeting Apple, saying that the company should take a leadership role in stopping the growth of toxic electronic waste.
The Campaign is working on establishing extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a policy tool to promote sustainable production and consumption of consumer electronics (all products with a circuit board). The Campaign is focusing first on establishing EPR for personal computers. EPR will improve the next generation of solid waste and toxic materials policy, promote the manufacture of cleaner computers and curb the flow of toxic electronic waste by pushing manufacturers to take responsibility for their waste, internalizing its cost in corporate bottom lines, and phasing out the use of hazardous substances. The Campaign is built on three principles: Take it Back Producer Responsibility: Hold manufacturers/brand owners responsible for meeting specific goals for electronics recovery, reuse, and recycled content that are at least as stringent as goals adopted by the European Union, providing manufacturers with an incentive to finance the development of a convenient and effective collection, disassembly, reuse and recycling infrastructure Taxpayer Relief: Shift financial responsibility and potential liability off of taxpayer-funded collection, management and disposal programs that are already overburdened and under-funded; in the short-term - in areas where no other collection opportunity exists - local programs should be authorized to charge-back manufacturers for the costs of managing their electronic devices Make it Clean Toxics Use Reduction: Require manufacturers of consumer electronic devices to meet specific reduction goals and implement programs at least as stringent as those adopted by the European Union to phase down - and where feasible, phase out - the use of hazardous materials in their products Recycle Responsibly Market Based Incentives: Require manufacturers to pay the net cost of collecting and recycling electronic devices (or the cost of proper management and disposal for devices that are not recyclable), providing manufacturers with an incentive to design products for recyclability, to develop markets for recycling, and to support public education about how consumers can manage electronics at the end of their useful lives. Right to Know: Require manufacturers to disclose publicly all hazardous substances, and proper techniques for managing them by consumers and recyclers, through clear labels on devices and all their hazardous components. Performance Standards: Establish meaningful and verifiable performance standards for electronics recycling companies, specifying responsible management practices, including bans on landfilling, incinerating or exporting electronic waste Community Economic Development: Ensure that the recycling infrastructure promotes community economic development, including safe jobs at living wages Posted by jlewin at 08:44 AM | Comments (0) January 12, 2005iPods Cash Cow for AppleThe success of the iPod is pushing Apple profits to records heights. Profits for the 4th quarter were over four times the previous year's.
Apple shipped 1,046,000 Macintosh units and 4,580,000 iPods during the quarter, representing a 26 percent increase in CPU units and a 525 percent increase in iPods over the year-ago quarter. “We are thrilled to report the highest quarterly revenue and net income in Apple’s history,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve sold over 10 million iPods to date and are kicking off the new year with a slate of innovative new products including iPod shuffle, Mac mini and iLife ’05.” “We’re pleased to report 74 percent revenue growth, 26 percent Mac unit growth and 525 percent iPod unit growth,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we expect revenue of about $2.9 billion and earnings per diluted share of about $.40.” Apple will provide live streaming of its Q1 2005 financial results conference call utilizing QuickTime™, Apple’s standards-based technology for live and on-demand audio and video streaming. The live webcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq105/ and will also be available for replay. The QuickTime player is available free for Macintosh and Windows users at www.apple.com/quicktime. Apple Reports First Quarter Results Posted by jlewin at 03:45 PM | Comments (0) Test-driving Apple's stripped-down $99 iPodThe Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg took the new iPod Shuffle for a test drive, and says that it's "this is a good product that will enlarge the iPod's appeal." Mossberg writes: I've been testing the new iPod Shuffle for a couple of days, and, in my tests, it fulfilled - and even exceeded - Apple's claims for convenience, battery life and song capacity. Sound quality is so good you can barely believe the music is coming from something so small. Test-driving Apple's stripped-down $99 iPod Posted by jlewin at 01:45 PM | Comments (0) BusinessWeek on PodcastingBusinessWeek's year-end wrap up toasts podcasting as one of the best things to come out of 2004. PODCASTING. This is the technology that allows owners of audio players such as Apple's (AAPL) iPod to download radio broadcasts. Minnesota Public Radio, Air America, and National Public Radio's This American Life, among others, have already started podcasting, as have many individuals. My prediction: Podcasting will democratize radio [and video broadcasting, for that matter, as technology progresses] by making it possible for just about anyone to broadcast audio content -- much as blogging did for written commentary. MSNBC - Lifting a Glass to 2004 Posted by jlewin at 01:40 PM | Comments (0) Podcasting Expo AnnouncedPodcasting may be new, but it's already got its own trade show. TNC New Media, Inc. has announced the Podcast and Portable Media Expo. The Expo is a new trade show that will run November 11-12, 2005. There are plans for wide-ranging exhibits and conference sessions devoted to creating, editing, delivering, viewing and profiting from unique audio and video content. The complete conference program will include three distinct tracks during both days of the show, each featuring a combination of keynotes, expert panel discussions and other educational sessions—including audience Q&A. Podcast and Portable Media Expo Posted by jlewin at 11:36 AM | Comments (0) Ipswitch Sponsors PodcastingPodcasting is beginning to show up on the corporate radar. Ipswitch, a leading developer of network management, messaging and file transfer solutions, has announced that it has entered into an agreement with public broadcaster WGBH Boston to underwrite the podcasting of "Morning Stories." The weekly podcast, produced by Tony Kahn at WGBH Radio, offers listeners unexpected vignettes that illuminate life. In addition, Ipswitch has launched its own podcast on its website, offering Ipswitch customers convenient access to technical content such as customization and usage information. From the Ipswitch press release: Podcasting, still in its infancy, is audio content that listeners subscribe to online and play on their Apple iPod, MP3 players or other digital music devices. It is the next generation of blogging, the online journal phenomenon that has exploded on the Internet in recent years. In just a few short months, podcasting has burst onto the Internet's consciousness and has already become a major new medium. There are currently thousands of podcasts worldwide serving a wide variety of audiences, including technology, music, comedy and more. "The decision to sponsor WGBH's podcasts was an easy one," said Alex Neihaus, vice president of marketing, Ipswitch. "Ipswitch has always been associated with the Internet, especially because of our WS_FTP® file transfer products. So, when we first heard 'Morning Stories,' we knew we wanted to support this new medium to continue our tradition of serving the Internet community, and we believe WGBH's 'Morning Stories' podcasts deserve the widest possible distribution." Podcasting is at the intersection of Really Simple Syndication (RSS), a web content syndication format, along with digital convergence and consumer electronics. Because audio content must be uploaded to a server so subscribers can access it via RSS, Ipswitch's WS_FTP product is the ideal solution to reliably and repeatedly stage podcast content for distribution. "WGBH is a pioneer of podcasting, the first public radio station to produce for the new medium, and 'Morning Stories' appeals to everyone with a digital media player. We have seen our podcast audience grow 12,000-fold," said Bob Lyons, director of radio and new media initiatives for WGBH Boston. "We are excited that Ipswitch has recognized the popularity and power of this burgeoning new technology segment and are looking forward to working with them as our first underwriter." "'Morning Stories' shares experiences from people in our community -- stories that cover all avenues of life including personal struggles, love and loss and the experiences that make life a little more interesting," said Tony Kahn, producer of WGBH "Morning Stories." "We are pleased that Ipswitch is helping us bring these experiences to a broader audience." Posted by jlewin at 09:51 AM | Comments (0) First User Views on iPod ShuffleJames Duncan Davidson has posted his views on the new iPod Shuffle. He notes "Steve Jobs said there might be a few iPod Shuffles for sale. And, I already knew that I wanted one. And, I wanted one that very minute." To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. Even after laying out $99 for it, I was a bit worried that the controls would be too simplistic. After all, there's no scroll wheel. And no trademark iPod display. But, you know what? It works. And it works well. Derrick says it best: The reason that it can work so well even though it's so simple is because iTunes does most of the heavy lifting. james duncan davidson / weblog: Shuffle Some Tunes Posted by jlewin at 09:36 AM | Comments (0) January 10, 2005Sonnet Introduces PodFreqSonnet Technologies has announced the new PodFreq, a portable FM transmitter designed for serious music freaks with iPods (with dock connectors). PodFreq easily tunes with any available FM frequency, and transmits music from the iPod with a very high-quality signal. The PodFreq is ideal for anyone wanting to listen to the music on their iPod through a FM car stereo, home sound system receiver, or any portable FM radio device. The PodFreq encases the iPod in a durable, translucent shell, providing added protection to the iPod, while maintaining convenient access to the iPod controls and the headphone jack. PodFreq’s digital tuning enables the user to choose any frequency from 88.3 to 107.7MHz in 0.1MHz steps. "Sonnet is excited to offer the PodFreq," states Sonnet CEO, Robert Farnsworth. "iPod owners have been eager to expand their iPod’s versatility with a high-fidelity FM transmitter. The PodFreq is specially designed to transmit music with exceptionally low harmonic distortion and a strong and stable stereo broadcast signal. Furthermore the PodFreq embodies a striking industrial design consistent with the popular iPod." More info is available at the PodFreq site. Posted by jlewin at 03:03 PM | Comments (0) iPod fascismSalon's Scott Rosenberg says "think twice before buying another iPod." I'll think twice before buying another iPod. Beautiful as the whole iPod/iTunes combo is in so many ways, it is flawed in a way that says to the user, "You are not in control here" -- a message that directly contradicts the fundamental promise of personal digital technology. You'd expect precisely the opposite from Apple, which has long benefited from an image as the user's champion; but the company's dedication to usability broke down somewhere between the DRM scheme that limits your ability to use purchased iTunes music files and the roach-motel approach to the player's hard-drive. Posted by jlewin at 08:54 AM | Comments (0) Protect Your Pod with Acme
The exterior is Italian box leather and the lining is microsuede that is also custom dyed to match the iPod. The magnetic tab closure is lined to avoid scratches. It is, how do you say, the sexy.... More information is available at the Acme site. Posted by jlewin at 01:43 AM | Comments (0) Massive Interviews on the Future of Global DesignMassive Change advocates design as a force for social change. The site features great interviews with leading thinkers on design and its social implications. From the site: Design has emerged as one of the world's most powerful forces. It has placed us at the beginning of a new, unprecedented period of human possibility, where all economies and ecologies are becoming global, relational, and interconnected. Interviews include architect Carol Burns, inventor Dean Kamen, nano-scientist Richard Smalley, cyberlawer Lawrence Lessig, author Stewart Brand and many more. The site doesn't have an RSS feed, but the excellent interviews can be downloaded as MP3 files and listened to at your leasure. More information is available at the Massive Change site. Posted by jlewin at 01:39 AM | Comments (0) Vaja Introduces Leather iPod Cases
Their cases are made with full-grain leather, dyed and treated to create a wide variety of colors and textures. The Rasta iPod case at right is an example of they type of stuff they are making. Vaja is also offering a service which lets you customize the colors and features of the cases or get a message printed on it. In addition to their leather iPod cases, they make cases for most other MP3 players, including iRiver and Rio, and for other small electronics like cell phones. For more information, check the Vaja site. Posted by jlewin at 01:36 AM | Comments (0) Free Podcast Icon GeneratorFeedForAll has introduced an online tool for generating custom RSS feed buttons. The icon generator creates buttons in the most popular format: The free tool lets you quickly create buttons by selecting the text and the color scheme. Once the colors and text are entered, a custom graphic is instantly created. Posted by jlewin at 01:31 AM | Comments (1) FeedForAll Streamlines RSS Creation
FeedForAll is designed to make working with RSS feeds easy. The tool has a wizard that walks you through the feed setup process. It automatically fixes improperly formatted feeds, ensuring that the feeds it generates follow RSS standards. FeedForAll has built-in spell checking, WYSIWYG HTML editing and image manipulation. For advanced users, it has automated feed creation and scheduling capabilities. FeedForAll runs on Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP, and costs $39.95. You can download a free 30-day trial is available from the FeedForAll site. Posted by jlewin at 01:24 AM | Comments (0) New Application Automates RSS SubmissionsDummy Software has introduced RSS Submit, an application that automates submission of feeds to RSS search engines. According to their site, the program supports the following RSS Search Engines: Yahoo, Moreover, News Knowledge, Syndic8, Newsmob, Sourceforge, YellowBrix, Genecast, Blogdex, Popdex, Blog Street, Blog Wise, Boing Boing, 2RSS, Blog Digger, Bloogz, Easy RSS, Edu RSS, Fyber Search, Memigo, News Trove, RSS Clipping, Feedster, Day Pop, Technorati, Postami, Pub Sub, Bulk Feeds, & Feeds Farm. Might be worth checking out for people with tons of feeds. A trial version is available at their site. Posted by jlewin at 01:23 AM | Comments (0) Tim Bray on PodcastingTim Bray, creator of the Web, has weighed in on podcasting. ’casting Isn’t Conversing Any activity with “casting” in the name suggests one-to-many, and indeed, I think podcasting is way less interactive than conventional blogging. The reason is that when I’m reading a blog, I’m 100% engaged and I’m sitting at a keyboard. If something strikes a chord, it’s a matter of seconds to write in response; either one-on-one to the author, or to the author and the world via ongoing. Check it out!
Posted by jlewin at 01:18 AM | Comments (0) Movable Type Plug-In Supports PodcastingBrandon Fuller has released a Movable Type plug-in that supports enclosures, required for podcasting. The plug-in supports a wide variety of file types, not just MP3. For Movable Type 3.0 users, the plug-in also pings audio.weblogs.com when an entry with an enclosure is posted. Requirements: * The plugin works with Movable Type version 2.x and 3.x. More info is available at his site. Be sure to check out the warnings before testing it out! Posted by jlewin at 01:17 AM | Comments (0) Free sounds for podcastsThe recordist has a collection of free sounds that can be used with podcasts. The MP3 stereo versions are high quality 44.1 compressed. Sound effects categories include Aviation, Crashes and Destruction, Doors and Structures, The Elements and Autos and Vehicles. Posted by jlewin at 01:12 AM | Comments (0) January 07, 2005NPR Discovers PodcastingWNYC Radio today announced that NPR's On the Media, which WNYC produces, is now available for podcasting. This is the first National Public Radio program to take advantage of this new technology. NPR's On the Media is WNYC's critically-acclaimed national weekly program delivering thoughtful, original, and often humorous media analysis, hosted by Bob Garfield and Brooke Gladstone. The station plans to make two of its local programs - The Brian Lehrer Show and The Leonard Lopate Show - available for podcasts in the near future, as well. "WNYC is thrilled to make NPR's On the Media, a timely, relevant, and must-hear radio show, available through this cutting-edge technology," said Phil Redo, Vice President Station Operations and Strategy. "WNYC is committed to utilizing new technologies to better serve our existing audience, while also reaching new ears. We believe podcasting is a simple, yet profound, way to expand our reach and make public radio ever more accessible." Podcasts are audio files that listeners subscribe to using a format called Real Simple Syndication (RSS). Distinct from fee-based services like audible.com, podcasts are free and can be saved to iPods (hence, the name) or any other MP3 player. When this technology is applied to radio programs it allows fans to listen to audio files of their favorite shows independent of their broadcast on terrestrial radio, live or on-demand internet streams. Detailed background can be found at http://www.ipodder.org/ Posted by jlewin at 01:53 PM | Comments (0) MIT on PodcastingMIT's Technology news has a good intro to podcasting. You heard it here first: the technology word of the year for 2005 will be “podcasting.“ Definitions vary (which is typical for a brand new phenomenon) but the basic idea is this: people (whether amateurs or professional broadcasters) create audio files that Internet users can download directly to computers and thence to their iPods or other digital audio players. Posted by jlewin at 01:42 PM | Comments (0) January 01, 2005Playboy iBod Steams Up iPods
iBod is a set of images from the Playboy collection, optimized for viewing on Apple's iPod Photo. Playboy describes the image collection as "a veritable ocular orgy". Apple's latest iPod, the iPod Photo, lets you store and view individual images or entire slide shows in the palm of your hand. Playboy has harnessed this latest innovation so their "girls next door" can be added right to your portable player. The free image gallery can be downloaded to your desktop from Playboy.com. Then it can be uploaded to an iPod Photo handheld device. Posted by jlewin at 01:41 AM | Comments (0) |
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Copyright 2004-5 Podcasting News
After a two-year hiatus, Apple has returned to win the Brand Channel's 2004 Readers’ Choice Awards for the brand with the most global impact. Google had held the top position since 2002.
Obsessed with your iPod? Have you seen people's eyes glaze over as you spout rapturously about how your iPod has changed your life?
The BBC is relaunching its internet Radio Player to make almost every BBC Radio program available live and on-demand for seven days after broadcast, creating a massive, ever-changing library of music, talk shows, dramas and documentaries.
TechOtunes has introduced an watch that doubles as a portable MP3 player. The TechOtunes MP3 Watch features a 256mb flash chip, 10-hour playing time & Mac/PC support. 
Mark Rushton is a electronic musician that's jumped into the world of podcasting. Rushton is based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but he is using podcasts to expose his music to people around the world.
iPod cases are becoming a dime a dozen, but here's one that caught our eye (yow - that hurts!)
Skype has updated its namesake free Internet telephony application. The software, used by many podcasters for recording Internet calls, is now at version 1.1. 
Speck Products has introduced an iPod case that is hot and actually looks like it could protect your iPod. The ToughSkin has shock-absorbing, rubberized bumpers and a tear-resistant skin.
The BBC has published a comparison of the new Mac mini to several low-cost PC alternatives.
Controversial talk-show host "Madge Weinstein" has brought her unique take on the world to podcasting.
Griffin Technology has announced an iPod Lapel Mic that looks well-suited to the needs of Podcasters.
Think it's a scam how much companies are charging for iPod cases? 
Tom Bihn, a manufacturer of deluxe laptop backpacks, notebook cases, and briefcases, has introduced custom case for the new Apple Mac mini.
Apple's iPod may be the current hot digital media player, but Creative's line of MP3 players is nipping at Apple's heels. Creative has reported sales of two million of its MP3/WMA players in Q2 FY2005, which ended December 31, 2004.
Boom Bag has introduced what may be the strangest iPod accessory yet - iPod luggage. Throw away the ear buds - Boom Bag luggage features a built-in amplifier, speakers and subwoofer! 
The goal of the Computer TakeBack Campaign is to protect the health and well being of electronics users, workers, and the communities where electronics are produced and discarded by requiring consumer electronics manufacturers and brand owners to take full responsibility for the life cycle of their products, through effective public policy requirements or enforceable agreements.
Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2005 first quarter ended December 25, 2004. For the quarter, the Company posted a net profit of $295 million, or $.70 per diluted share. These results compare to a net profit of $63 million, or $.17 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue for the quarter was $3.49 billion, up 74 percent from the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 28.5 percent, up from 26.7 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 41 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
Acme (don't they make 10-ton weights for Wile E. Coyote?) has a cool wallet for your 'pod. They look similar to the cases that have been around for Palms for several years, but more stylish.
Vaja Leather Products has introduced a line of lust-worthy iPod cases.
Notepage has released FeedForAll, a new application for creating, editing and publishing RSS feeds.
As if the iPod wasn't hot enough on its own, Playboy has introduced a new service, iBod, that promises to steam things up.