iPod Fan

A new docking system for the iPod

2007-01-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

Docking systems are one of the most important types of accessories for the iPod. A well designed dock can extend the capabilities of the iPod, and transform it into a stereo system, for example.

A recent model of dock for the iPod is the iLuv I188BK. It provides loudspeakers and a good energy source for your iPod. It comes in different colors, and can be adapted to almost all models of iPods.

Creating your own iPod screen design

2006-12-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Many screen protections have been designed for the iPod in the last few year, with all kinds of colors and themes. These screen protections allow the iPod to look more personalized and cool. However, most of teh time you need to select from a given set of possible decorations.

A new product, however, is trying to remove such limitations. With the ifrogz Custom Screenz, you can easily create personalized images for the faceplate of the iPod. This gives you the flexibility to find the image that best suits your taste of style.
Certainly, the ifrogz Custom Screenz is a new step in user customization for the iPod. It is nice to be able to show your own style and preferences in your music player without spending too much money. For a price of around $15.00, this looks a very well priced solution that will satisfy a large number of iPod fans.

Step by step guide

This information is taken from the ifrogz Custom Screenz web site.

Step 1

Click Upload Custom Image button to upload your image. Select the image you want to upload from your computer by clicking browse then click upload.

Step 2

Once the image has been uploaded you will be directed to our Screen Creator. The Screen Creator will allow you to manipulate your image by dragging, flipping, and zooming. You can then preview your uploaded image on an iPod™. When finished click the blue arrow.

Step 3

The Screen Creator will close and you will be redirected back to this page. Your images will appear on the right side of this page. Select your iPod™ from the drop down then click add to cart for all the screenz you want to purchase. Repeat this process to order multiple Custom Screenz.

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, mp3

The iPod Buffalo Dock: a new way to listen the iPod

2006-11-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

From all accessories available for the iPod, one type is making a nice splash: the category of docks that extend the capability of the player.

Among these new docks, the Buffalo Dock provides a good source of fun. You can put your iPod to charge, and it will play loud and clear. Very good sound quality, and a distinctive format of globe, are the distinctive features of the this iPod accessory. Now in its second version, the Buffalo Dock delivers even better sound quality. Check here some more pictures of the dock.

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, Accessories, iPod

The iPod and Zune: what are the advantages

2006-11-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has finally released the so long waited new competitor for the iPod: the Zune has been on sale since earlier this month. It also tries to deliver many of the goods that the iPod users are used to for years now: a hard-drive-based mp3 player, with lots of storage space, a nice screen for music info and even movies.

So, what is the best of the two? Although I don't think this question can be completely settled in rational terms (think of all the programming languages wars, or editor wars, or the operating system wars...) we can try to give a few reasons why the iPod will still be leading the pack during the next few years.

Better integration with external devices: with millions of devices following the iPod standard, from cars to clothing, you will have a much better chance of playing your music from an iPod than from anything else in the market.
Well tested: the iPod has been around for more than five years, it has been stressed to the maximum by millions of people. The Zune might be pretty good, but few people really know if it works well.
Integration with iTunes: one of the main reasons why the iPod is such a satisfying product is the great software running on the desktops. The iTunes is without question one of the best music players and organizers that has ever been written. Microsoft, on the other hand, has the tradition of designing clumsy, unreliable software. If you are looking for something really easy to use, you will probably keep with the iPod-iTunes combination.

Of course, things can change over time. It is completely possible that Microsoft will bridge the gap over the next years. However, even then some people will still prefer the simple quality of the products delivered by Apple. In other words, as with the Mac, the iPod will probably always getter a large number of followers.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Microsoft, iPod

Walmart and Apple: a partnership through iTunes?

2006-09-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Apple has tried to get as much hollywood movies for the iTunes store as possible, but up to know only Disney, a company that is in some way controlled by Steve Jobs, has signed the deal. Many people say that the probably culprit for such situation is the big retailer, Walmart.

According to analysts, DVD sales are a good source of income for the retailing giant, which they don't want to give up so easily.

So, it is nice to hear news that Walmart and Apple might be close to a deal on video distribution. The deal might involve the exchange of profits from the operation. Anyway, this is a good sign for iTunes and iPod users, because it might mean that more variety is on the way for the millions of iPod fans.

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, music

iPod fan is confused with a terrorist in US flight

2006-08-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

iPod fans are very energetic people. However, they use their energies for fun things. This has been misunderstood, however, in the recent case of an iPod fan carrying the device on an US airplane.

The user, which explained his history here, was carrying the device on the restroom when it fell down in the toilet. Somebody else noticed the incident and thought it was some kind of terror plot.

Everything got worse when the iPod user told we was going to meet a friend made on the World of Warcraft....

They took me to a discreet corner. They brought out a tape recorder. I was told to put my hands up on the wall and spread my legs, and I was frisked from head to toe. They removed my wallet, disassembled it completely, and placed each of its contents in its own plastic evidence bag.
"Now Tim, for the sake of the tape recorder, I want you to state your full name and address." I did. "Now, each of us will state our name and position into the tape recorder." There were two detectives from the police department, a detective from Customs, and two members of the bomb squad.
Then started the questions. They were easy at first. They asked me where I lived. What do I do for a living? Why am I unemployed? How come it's taken me 4 months to find a job?
They asked me why I was visiting Canada. I was to visit a friend I met on World of Warcraft, Cara. They took down her name and what I could remember of her address. They asked me how we met.
"In an online game."
"What online game?"
"Umm ... World of Warcraft," I responded meekly.
"What kind of game is this?"
"It's a fantasy game ... it takes place online."

Link via the Inquirer

Technorati Tags: Games, Apple, Gadgets, iPod

Restoring the screen of your iPod with iDrops

2006-07-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever regretted scratching the screen of your brand new iPod? Most people have this feeling initially, but after a few months of use the iPod screen is completely full of scratches. It seems like a natural process that you cannot control, unless you use some type of protective case. But then, in some way, you loose the coolness of using your small iPod for everybody see..

Now you have an option. Instead of simply trying to avoid scratches you can remove then with iDrops. This new product sold by the PodShop woks by blending with the surface of the screen. The liquid is spread over the scratches, and after a few minutes the surface is restored to an almost original state.

Very smart product, I think it will definitely be useful for many iPod fans.

Link

Technorati Tags: accessories, Apple, Gadgets, iPod, Music

The Pink iPod from Target

2006-07-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

The iPod is so well known in its two distinctive colors (white and black), that we hardly imagine they coming in other colors. But now, thanks to Target, you can get a really colorful iPod. Target is selling the Pink iPod, which is officially called the ColorAware iPod, Pink edition. Different models are coming in this color, including the iPod video (figure above), and the iPod nano.

We still don't know if this is exclusive to Target, neither if other colors will be made available, but it is really nice.

Link (thanks to MacNN)

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, Gadgets

iPod Nike is currently shipping

2006-07-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Nike has previously announced that it would launch a line of products to be used by iPod fans. The new shoes would have special design and iPod integration.

Now, the iPod store shows that the product is available. Among the special features of the iPod nike is included step counting: the iPod can receive information directly from the Nike, so it can compute how many steps you've run.

This looks like a really great way of walking in tune with the iPod.

Link, via Macrumors

Technorati Tags: Apple, Gadgets, iPod, sports

iPod is better than drinking beer

2006-07-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

Ask a college student what he or she thinks is the best product they can consume? Well, most people will think that they will answer: "the good ol' beer!"

Well, this is not quite right, according to the latest research done on several college campus around the country.

According to the Associated Press, a pool performed by the Student Monitor Lifestyle & Media Study has revealed that the iPod is the most "in" product in the list of college students. This puts it on top of beer, and according to the same research, this is the first time in the last decade that beer has been top out by another product...

So, drink your beer, but don't forget your iPod!

Link

An Aluminum case for the iPod

2006-07-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Stylish as they might been, the iPod sometimes lack a bit of individuality. The white and black colors are really cool, but after a few weeks you certainly wish that you could have an iPod different from all others in your street.

To help improve this situation, Griffin has a line of iPod cases that can make it much more fun to use and handle your iPod. These cases are made of aluminum, so your iPod will stay protected and safe.

And what make it seems better, the iVault comes in four nice colors, that can be changed as you want. For me it looks very stylish, and I think many other people will feel tempted to use one.

Link (and here too)

Technorati Tags: iPod, Apple, accessories

Making your car more iPod friendly

2006-07-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

Using the iPod in your car in not anything new. Since the first iPod, various systems for delivering iPod music for the car stereo have been devised. They mostly rely on FM transmission to specific radio bands.

So, if you don't have a sound system integrated with the iPod (like the Mercedes-Benz) you will have to live with an FM transmitter. In this area, a new accessory that can help greatly was developed by Kensington. The Kensington’s RDS FM transmitter allows no only the music to be send to the radio, but also the title of the music.

To be able to get this information, the car radio needs to be equipped with a RDS system, which is available most radios nowadays.

Link via playlistmag.com

Technorati Tags: accessories, Apple, iPod

A water resistant iPod case

2006-07-12T09:17:00.000-07:00

The iPod is so nice you want to take it everywhere. But, sadly, there are some limits of where the iPod can go, especially if it involves water. At least until now.

The iPod was not created to be water resistant, but it can be turned so using one of the nice iPod cases that have been recently released in the US by a company called Otterbox.

The water-proof cases crated by Otterbox allow iPod fans to carry their favorite widget around, even in raining conditions, or even under water.

According to a recent article on ign.com:

Otterbox's line of waterproof iPod shells are the aquatic equivalent of Kevlar flack-jackets in the protection they provide. The cases are available for the Shuffle, Nano, Mini, 20GB-3G, Photo, and Video, which is pretty much the full line of conceivably functional iPods today. Each case is composed of two clamshell-like halves of semi-translucent impact-resistant plastic. The two halves clamp together and seal with O-ring moisture protection. A totally clear section allows the screen to be read, and a textured plastic portion that resides over the Click-Wheel can transmit the electrostatic connection between finger and touch-pad while still remaining pliable enough to allow for depression to click the wheel.

It looks like a very nice addition to the already large number of iPod accessories. However, if you need water protection for your player, this is just what you need.

Link via IGN

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, accessories

The iPod could be a speaking machine...

2006-07-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

More interesting analysis and cheap-talking about Apple and the iPod. According to this analyst, the new iPod would probably innovate in being the first to use voice as a communication between user and the device.

The reasoning goes on as:

Instead of a touch screen, what about voice feedback? My experience with the iPod shuffle has led me to think that simple auditory feedback would really be all that product needed to be really fantastic, and if that's true for the iPod shuffle, why not for the iPod as well? It's a beautiful color screen, but it's not something you want to look at while driving, or jogging. Instead, you could scroll through menu items and have each menu item read to you in your earbud, including Artists, Album Titles, and Song Titles. There's even a patent which lends support to this idea, though it's an old one.

It seems far fetched, but who knows what Mr. Jobs has hidden as the next trick?

Link via blogcritics.

Apple can redesign iPod nano to avoid scratches

2006-07-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

While we approach the season of new announcements by Apple, forecasters start to get busy at work. According to MacObserver, the new rumor is that the iPods will now come with a better case, made of magnesium, which will be much more protective and avoid scratches all over the iPod.

According to the article:

American Technology Research Analyst, Shaw Wu, thinks the next generation iPod nano is likely to have a magnesium-based metal case instead of the polycarbonate version used in current models. While some analysts are speculating that a redesigned nano will be announced in July or August, Mr. Wu thinks that problems in converting to a system on a chip (SOC) architecture are slowing the process down.

Link via MacObserver

The iPod revolutionizes memory industry

2006-06-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

The iPod success has been driving the growth of several industries during the last few years. First, the market for online music commerce was practically created by the iPod and the iTunes store. It was a great commercial step by Apple to develop this, which is already becoming the leading market for Internet-based music.

Now, recent reports of the industry suggest that the growth of the iPod is also leading to a revolution on the memory market. Memories are essential parts of the greatly hyped iPods. Each iPod nano sells with a large amount of flash memory, varying from 1GB to 4GB, depending on the model.

According to the report by eeTimes:

Strong growth in the market for Apple's iPod and other portable media players is expected to be a significant driver for sales of NAND flash memory in the second half of this year, according to a new report by market research firm Gartner Inc., which is predicting a NAND shortage in the fourth quarter.
Gartner forecasts that the market for all portable media players will reach 187.7 million units, up from 134.5 million in 2005. NAND flash-based players accounted for 80 percent of the market in 2005, according to Gartner (Stamford, Conn.).

New cases for iPod change color with temperature

2006-04-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

A company called proporta.com is selling new cases for the iPod nano that are quite unusual: their cases change color, so you don't need to choose a color by yourself.

The cases are made of a type of silicon than reacts to the temperature. The initial colors can be pink, blue, or charcoal. These color change gradually to white. According to the website of the company:

Can’t decide what colour case to chose for you iPod nano? Why not go for one of Proporta’s Colour Change Silicone Cases. Precision moulded from impact absorbent silicone to provide a thin yet durable protective skin to your mp3 player.

Link

Technorati Tags: accessories, Apple, iPod, mp3

New iPod 6GB: what it will look like?

2006-04-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

The new iPod 6GB is not confirmed to appear. But iPod users are already trying to figure out what it is going to look like.

Above is a picture created by an iPod fan. Although it seems real it is most probably a mock design of the possible new iPod.

Link

Technorati Tags: images, iPod

Linux on the iPod

2006-03-18T23:50:00.000-08:00

Maybe you never imagined that the iPod could be used for anything else than playing music, but be sure that, by having a processor, the iPod can do pretty much anything that a normal computer could do. And if this is possible, there is always the possibility of running Linux in such a device.

This is the reason why iPodLinux was created, to allow notmal iPod owners to have at their disposal a more powerful operating system. Right now, you can install the iPodLinux distribution in most iPod models (up to version 5).

The programs available for iPodLinux allow you to play music, view small notes, and even play games. If you have interest in using iPodLinux, the first step is to visit their web page www.ipodlinux.org and download the necessary software. It is certainly a fantastic experience to install such a nice operating system in the little iPod. If you feel you can make a good use of Linux, it can also be a great application for you iPod.

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, Entertainment, Gadgets, iPod

An iPod-compatible car navigation system

2006-03-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

The iPod is now part of the lives of around 40 million people in the world. This makes is more and more important to have accessories and equipment that is compatible with the iPod -- this way, users can really have full control of their music players.

Using the iPod in the car is certainly one of the most important areas of integration. This is what made possible by the new MAX960HD, a navigational system created by Clarion (a Japanese company).

The new navigational system allows users to view DVDs, and normal CDs. The navigational system provides full access to three dimensional views of routes.

More importantly the MAX960HD comes with full support for the iPod. Now, drivers can not only find the right route, but do it with the full comfort of listening to their preferred music on the iPod.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Entertainment, iPod, News

Wireless iPod may be on the way

2006-03-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

According to the China Times Reports, the chinese company Jabra has entered in accord with Apple to develop a new Bluetooth transceiver for the iPod.

This means that Apple will be able to offer within a few months new versions of the iPod that can be adapted to wireless networks. Customers have been waiting for wireless-able iPods for some time now, and if Apple provides this technology it will surely be well-come both by the consumers and the industry in general.

The bluetooth-enable iPod would be able to directly communicate with other iPods, exchange information with home computers, and stream music of a wireless network. The possibilities of connecting with other iPods are also very interesting, and could represent new usage opportunities for users and the industry in general.

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, Entertainment, iPod, News

A collection of iPod mockups

2006-03-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Mac and iPod fans are always eager to see what are the news the company has for next versions of their favorite products. One way of avoiding the wait is coming up with their own creations.

An example of what is happening is provided by the Gallery of video iPod mockups. The list of mockups show how people imagine the iPod will be in the (hopefully not so far) future.

In the list of mockups, many types of improvements can be found. The most common one is the video screen that covers the entire front of the iPod, as this is believed to be one of the features of the next version of the video iPod.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Entertainment, iPod

Apple may be retiring the 60GB iPod

2006-03-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

Recent comments have surfaced about the retailing policy of Apple for the iPod line. The news is the policy is that the iPod 60GB is being put in an "at-risk list". In practice, this seems to mean that Apple may retire the model in the next 3 months.

Whatever the reason is for the policy, it seems that Apple is geared towards either introducing a new version of this iPod, or/and upgrade the 60GB iPod in terms or hard drive, for example.

It seems to be the first real indication that Apple has something new to show in the iPod line. All other speculation concerning the introduction of an iPod with larger screen is just this: speculation.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Commerce, iPod

Get a brushed look in your iPod!

2006-03-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

The natural looking iPod has excellent design. But despite this, Apple fans around the world always try to give a personal touch that can make the iPod look even better.

One example is this how-to, that shows how to achieve a brushed metal look for the iPod. It is really nice, and doesn't take too much time to do. Also, the web site insists that this will not void the original Apple warranty. So, try yourself and give a chance to brushed metal!

Technorati Tags: Electronic, Gadget, iPod

iPod case offers beautiful protection

2006-03-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

iPod cases are mostly created to provide improved protection against fall or scratches. Being so small, it is easy to let the iPod fall or become damaged.

Some other cases are created only to make the iPod look more stylish, giving it some color instead of the default unblemished white (or black).

The case by Tuffwrap accent, however, fills with competence both function. It is both a sturdy, safe way of protecting the iPod, but is also a very stylish cover, coming in beautiful colors. It will certainly make the iPod to look even better. Moreover, now that everyone has an iPod, you need to find something else to attract attention...

Link

Technorati Tags: iPod, Accessory

Using the iPod charger with the xbox 360 controller

2006-03-14T22:36:00.000-08:00

The iPod and xbox 360 have been the hottest products in the market of consumer electronics. What you don't know is that they can live together... At least when it comes to charge the iPod and the xbox 360 controller.

A user has recently described in his blog how to charge the xbox 360 controller with the iPod charger. It is good to learn, just in case you may you need this in the future.

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod

iPod Hi-Fi, the new sound system from Apple

2006-02-28T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today was a good day for iPod fans: after a couple of months without major iPod product announcements, Steve Jobs finally released something new from Apple. The new product, the iPod Hi-Fi, is a new stereo system with seamless integration with all new models of the iPod. It will certainly be a great consumer electronic for people that are trying to replace their old sound system by an all-iPod alternative.

Read the coverage by Apple in the news:
The iPod is a great success with around 40 millions users in the US only. Given the huge number of people owning iPods, it is not difficult to see the huge demand for sound systems compatible with the iPod. Other companies are delivering everyday new products trying to fill this gap.

Apple is now trying to take part of this market that they own created. During the especial announcement of this Tuesday, Steve Jobs presented the new iPod Hi-Fi: a stereo system created specially for the iPod. From the Apple store here are some of the feature os the iPod Hi-Fi:

World-class acoustic design
Large soundstage
Precise imaging and separation
Wide frequency range
Room-filling power without distortion
Seamless iPod integration
Apple Remote
AC and DC modes
Analog/digital input
Compact footprint

If you need a world-class music system, from the same creators of the iPod, there is probably no other way to achieve the same results in terms of sound quality and integration with iPod technologies.

Technorati Tags: Announcement, Apple, Music

Sponsored link to the Apple Store:

Related links:
Apple announces new products today

Creating your own iPod stand

2006-02-25T13:31:00.000-08:00

A huge industry for iPod accessories has grown during the last few years. Among the most requested accessories are stands for the small accessories.

However, it is not necessary to spend your money to get a nice stand for the iPod. With a little manual ability, you can create your own from readily available materials.

If you want to do this, just follow the instructions on this web page: you can use simple materials such as cardboard, magazines, and scissors to make your iPod setup a little more fashionable.

Technorati tags: iPod, accessories

New iPod nano is released

2006-02-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

After a long time of unsupported rumors, Apple finally announced a new version of the iPod nano with 1GB. It has been said that this would be a probable move from Apple to reduce costs for the entry-line product and to kill the iPod shuffle.
In fact, this really made the prices drop (to $149 for the 1GB iPod), but the iShuffle is still there, and now is selling for $69 and $100. This is make almost an ideal situation, where you have more options and smaller price.

So, now, there are even cheaper ways of getting all the technology of the iPod nano for a small price. At the same time, if you don't care about a colored screen, you can just by the iShuffle for as few as $69 dollars. Look a very good proposition for me, as it must be for all other iPod fans!

Technorati Tags: Apple, Entertainment, iPod

Showtime TV programs now on Apple's iPod

2006-02-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

The iPod video has already a sizeable amount of content available through the iTunes stores, which by itself makes the iPod a very attractive video device. Now, Apple is improving this even more, by making available TV shows from the Showtime network to be ready to download in any iTunes-loaded computer.

The TV shows available in this package include "Sleeper Cell" and "Weeds". The new shows add to now more than 50 different TV programs that can be downloaded for the common price of $1.99 per show.

With these new show been made available, iTunes becomes the most successful alternate channel for TV content distribution - with the only exception of DVDs. Apple is doing its homework very well, it will be interesting to see the reaction from other players in this area such as Microsoft and Sony.

Link

Technorati Tags: Announcement, Apple, iPod

An iPod doc made out of Lego pieces

2006-02-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

If you would like to have a nice dock for your iPod, try to build it yourself! You can use Lego pieces that will make your setup to be much cooler than a normal dock from the store.

The steps to build the Lego iPod doc can be found in the flicker web site.

Link via Lifehacker.

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, Tip

A new firmware for the iPod

2006-02-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

Some people like to tweak the iPod to perform exactly what they want. Although Apple makes it a little difficult to change the software of the iPod, several people have managed to change it successfully. For a good example, remember that the guys of ipodlinux have created a custom version of Linux that runs of the iPod.

A new effort in this direction is shown by the iPodfun.de website (in German). These guys created a new firmware software for the iPod which seems to have some advantages of ipodlinux.

The firmware, called rockbox, has much better play black control than the equivalent ipodlinux software. Moreover, it targets configurability and performance.

Although it seems difficult to improve over the original Apple design, there is always some aspect of a piece of software that can be made better. This is the overal goal of rockbox. Judging for the current version of rockbox, it seems to be making a good start to achieve this objective.

Link via blogblogblog.

Reading files in your iPod

2006-02-01T22:10:00.000-08:00

The iPod is a great music player, and more recently, a video player. What many people don't realized yet, is that the iPod can do much more than play music, since it has a general purpose processor. Clearly, the biggest problem of the iPod as a computational device is the lack of a keyboard, but there are many things that you can do without a keyboard.

One of these things is reading! You can use the screen of your iPod to read text, the same way you use it to see video. Thinking about this possibility, you can get tools to automate the process of putting text inside your iPod.

To be able to read text in your iPod, you need a software such as the iPod eBook creator. This program, created by Daniel Duris, is in fact a set of scripts that when used together can translate text into the format that can be read as a set of notes in the iPod.

What is so nice about this page is that you can actually send your file using the web browser, and it will be automatically converted for you. Certainly this is a much needed resource, which will allow you to use the iPod for much more than listening to music!

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, Tips

Using the iPod as a mirror

2006-01-31T21:08:00.000-08:00

The iPod is so popular these days, that people are find new uses for it that have not been designed by Apple... For example, some people think that an iPod is the ideal substitute for a small mirror. In fact, the iPod has a very shiny back surface and this is not such a difficult feat. But I doubt that this is the best way to use the iPod...

In this web page, called the mirror project, users post images of the iPod being used as a mirror. The nice thing is that you can use it to take pictures of yourself using a digital camera. See bellow some of the pictures found in the web page:

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod

iPod repair services

2006-01-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

The iPod is a great and useful device, which is remarkably resistant. But accidents happen, and the iPod may eventually need a fix. Falling from high tables, while running, or being victim of your dog -- these are all situations when you iPod will need a repair.

Luckily, there are already several places where you can be able to get help for your iPod. In this post I list the most common ways you can repair your player.

Apple: Clearly, the first place you can go in order to fix you iPod is the Apple authorized network. The iPod comes from Apple with a limited service guarantee, which includes 90 days of phone support and one year of service included. All other requests will be charged to you. You can also buy an Applecare package, which extends the basic warranty to two years, both for phone support, service and hardware warranty. It is a really good plan if you want to have piece of mind -- if any problem happens Apple will fix it.

PDAsmart. If you don't have Applecare, may Apple is not the best way to fix the problems in your iPod. Several other smaller companies have setup good service plans for the iPod, which are able to solve most of the problems that you may encounter. One of these places can be visited in the web at http://www.pdasmart.com.

The guys at PDAsmart have expertise in all versions of the iPod, as well as other types of PDAs and music players. This is a good place if you have gadgets of different types and want to work with only one repair shop. The guys from PDAsmart have a nice policy: you can send your PDA for examination without any commitment. If you think the price to fix the problem is to high, they can send you back the iPod and you owe nothing other than the mailing costs.

iPodresq: In the website http://www.ipodresq.com you will find one of the most complete services to repair your iPod. They do all kinds of repairs, such changing logic boards, screens, and scroll wheels. According to the web site, they can do those repairs to any type of iPod (all generations). Some of the services, such as LCD replacement can be done in one day.

Methodshop: Another place that provides support for iPods can be found in the website at www.methodshop.com. These guys are associated with ipodmods.,com, and they offer not only repair services, but also customization -- so you can do both at the same time. They can make changes such as changing panels, replacing batteries, hard drives, etc.

Techrestore: Finally, another service for repairing iPods that looks very friendly and responsive is available at ipod.techrestore.com. These guys offer a very nice option of having your iPod repaired in just one working day. When you request the service, they send you a box in the next day, which can be used to ship your iPod. Most services are completed in the same day, and delivered to your door in the next working day. It is really a very convenient service, because you don't even need to go to a post office location.

As you see, there are several options if you want to have your iPod repaired. These are just some of the most well known companies and services, but there are certainly a large number of small companies that provide repair services for all styles of iPod players. If you know of a good one that I didn't mention, leave the information in the comments section bellow. If you had a personal experience (positive or negative) with some of these services, let us know too!

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, Tips

Dell selling iPod competitors

2006-01-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

Dell, which once was one of the Apple's ally, is now selling the closest competitor to the Apple iPod video -- the Creative Labs Zen Vision.

Dell is selling the product in the price range of $249 to $349, although the capacity of the players is still not at the same level of Apple's offer.

It is interesting to see that Dell has chosen to compete with Apple using a third part player, since they probably have capacity to produce cheap mp3 player units. Probably Dell figured out that it would be difficult to compete with the iPod on volume and decided to stay out of this area, and just observe what Creative Labs can do.

Improved ear phones for the iPod

2006-01-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

The ear phones that came with the iPod are of good quality, but are certainly not at the same level of more expensive models. One that has been recently announced for iPod users is the "E500 Sound IsolatingTM Earphones". These ear phones have a special format and technology that allows them to isolate the user from most of the outside noise. Some of the features of the earphone are described in the company's website:

Unparalleled Acoustic Accuracy: The E500 is the first in Shure's earphone line to utilize 3 miniature precision-engineered drivers -- one tweeter and two woofers -- to offer the most accurate audio reproduction for the ultimate in precision highs and the richest lows.
Sound Isolating Design/Personalized Fit and Comfort: Proven more effective than noise-cancellation, Shure's sound isolating earphones block 30-37dB of outside noise with a good seal. Leveraging soft, flexible sleeves that contour to the inside of the ear for the best possible fit and maximum comfort during wear, the E500 blocks outside noise to prevent it from interfering with the audio experience.
Low-Profile Industrial Design: This is miniature technology at its best with sleek styling, bronze metallic casing, and a unique over-the-ear design to keep cables out of the way.
Premium Accessories Kit: With 8 pair of sleeve options for a personalized fit, the E500 also offers modular cables for portable and home stereo listening.

Link.

Technorati Tags: Accessories, iPod

Creating an iPod charger for your car

2006-01-22T14:57:00.000-08:00

An iPod charger for your car can be bought from many places. Some products sell for as cheap as $9 on Froogle. However, if you have the necessary equipment and little bit of time you can create your own iPod charger for free.

To do this, you just need to use this set of easy instructions. In ten steps you can take a normal USB cable (with the correct ending, of course), a common charger, and use them to power your iPod.

If nothing else, you can at least impress your friends with your manual abilities.

Technorati Tags: iPod, Technology, Tips

Dress your iPod with iPod hood

2006-01-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

After a sequence of posts about clothes you can wear with your iPod, let us talk a little about cloths that your iPod can use.

A company called fredflare is selling a nice iPod accessory that will make great success with fashion-oriented iPod fans. The iPod hood is a protective piece of cloth in the format of a hood, that you can use in your iPod and save from scratches and other minor accidents.

The iPod hood also looks very fashionable. It will probably be more popular among girls, but it also comes in the color blue :-)

Related posts:
Koyono Coat: new iPod accessory
iPod Jeans from Levi Strauss
Wear the iPod with iPod Jacket

Technorati Tags: iPod, Accessories

Another iPod killer, anyone?

2006-01-21T12:56:00.000-08:00

Apple in the news provides an interesting description of the reasons why the iPod is not been "killed" by competing mp3 players.

According to Steve Jobs, in a interview given during the MacWorld expo, only Microsoft would be able to lauch such an iPod killer. And according to the article, this doesn't seem very probable.

Link

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, Microsoft

How to disguise your iPod as a box of Altoids

2006-01-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

You heard, that is it! If you have an iPod, you can easily disguise it in a simple case of Altoids, and nobody will notice. Here are pictures with the easy set of instructions:

Find an empty box of Altoids;
Make a small hole on the top;
Use some tape to fix the iPod inside the box (use some protective paper to avoid marks).

That's it! Of course, most people don't really want to disguise the iPod, but it is a nice trick to show to your friends.

Technorati tags: iPod, Fun

Fake iPod is sold in Asia

2006-01-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Apple is a very innovative company, so if you buy an Apple product you expect to have the latest technology. Some times this is not the case: in Asia, you run the risk of buying a fake iPod.

See the latest fake produced in Macau. They have a wheel that just resembles the original one, and are in fact much thicker than the original iPod. Of course, to its credit it seems to have a larger screen, but who knows if it really works. Notice also the iPod symbol in rainbow-like colors: nothing close from the real iPod color scheme.

Link via Engadget

Technorati tags: iPod, Appple

PED2: a support for your iPod

2006-01-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

Thought out has released a very cool iPod accessory, the PED2. PED2 is what they call "a device pedestal for now and the future", in other words, an iPod Stand. The nice thing about PED2 is its design, which resembles the support of the new iMacs.

The PED2 can also be used with other devices other than the iPod. Thus, you can have a support for the iPod, another for the Blackberry, another for the smart phone, and anything else that can be carried around and connected to your computer.

The PED2 sells for $39.99. The company has several models of supports which may be interesting to check.

Technorati tags: Apple, iPod, accessories

Koyono Coat: new iPod accessory

2006-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the interest in weareable accessories for the iPod, Koyono recently released a new coat that is integrated with the iPod.

As the other models, the coat has buttons that can be used to control the iPod. The main advantage of this accessory is that, having internal buttons, you can use it as a normal coat. This way you can control your iPod without get too much attention (different of other models).

Link

Technorati tags: iPod, accessory

The Internals of an iPod nano

2006-01-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

The great majority of iPod nano owners will never want to open its case -- with such a small device, it would be difficult and risky.... But you can see exactly what is inside the iPod nano with this picture.

Thanks to the guys of PC watch.

Technorati tags: iPod, iPod nano, hardware

Using iPod nano to Play Half Life

2006-01-15T16:50:00.000-08:00

Now you can use your iPod nano to play Half Life! Sounds increadible, but can be done.

Link: iPod Nano Games - Half Life - Google Video, Best Google videos

Technorati tags: Google video, iPod, games

iPod Jeans from Levi Strauss

2006-01-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

Continuing with coverage of wearable iPod, Jackets aren't the only option. You may feel more inclined to give a try to iPod Jeans from Levi Strauss.

The famous jeans company is now creating designs adapted to the iPod. The announcements describes the product as:

"The Levi's(R) RedWire(TM) DLX Jean is the latest extension of the Levi's(R) brand leadership position by merging fashion and technology that provides consumers with the most innovative way to enhance their portable, digital music lifestyle," said Robert Hanson, Levi's(R) U.S. brand president. "In designing the jeans we considered both function and fashion -- the result is a uniquely functional, yet stylish, great fitting jean."

Design features include:
* Easy Pocket Storage -- An iPod docking cradle is built into the jeans and is "invisibly" housed within a side pocket. The Levi's(R) design team took special care to ensure the iPod unit remains neatly and securely stored in the jean, while the iPod "bump" in the pocket is virtually eliminated. The cradle is equipped with sophisticated technology housed in a red conductive ribbon that allows users to quickly and easily remove their iPod from the pocket to view its screen while staying connected. The jean is machine washable once the iPod is removed.
* "Hip" Controls -- A special joystick remote control is externally designed into the jeans' watch pocket to enable operation of the iPod. Four-way controls allow the wearer to easily play/pause, track forward, track back and adjust the volume control without ever removing the iPod from the pocket.
* Handy Wire Retractor -- A handy retractable headphone unit has been built directly into the jean to help prevent tangles and efficiently manage the iPod earphone wires.

Technorati tags: iPod, Jeans

Wear the iPod with iPod Jacket

2006-01-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

Using the iPod as a fashion element is a well known trend. However, you can now actually wear the iPod, with the help of the Kenpo Jacket for iPod.

This new interesting accessory for the iPod is complete Jacket, with space for the iPod. It also has controls on the leaves, that allow you to skip music and change the sound volume.

Technorati tags: iPod, accessories

Reseting the iPod

2006-01-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

The iPod is a very reliable Gadget, and work most of the time without any problems. There are, however, occasions when the iPod can simple freeze. This may happen due to some problem with the content (music), or due to a programming error.

If this ever happens, first make sure that the iPod hold button is not on. What may look like a frozen iPod may be no more than the device locked into an unusual position.

To restart you just need to do the following: Turn the hold switch on and off. Then, press at the same time the menu and select buttons. Keep then pressed, in a few seconds the Apple symbol will appear, indicating that the iPod was restarted.

If you have an older iPod, you can have similar results by pressing the play/pause menu for a few seconds.

For more detailed instructions, check this page.

Technorati Tags:
Apple, iPod, reset, tips

Improved video content for the iPod

2006-01-10T22:19:00.000-08:00

Another great announcement from this MacWorld expo, is the new availability of content for the iPod. Steve Jobs introduced the news sport videos made available by ESPN in the iTunes

A second source of video content is Saturday Night Live, which is becoming available with classical episodes, as well as the new ones.

Technorati tags: iPod, iTunes, Apple

iPod gets a new FM tuner

2006-01-10T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well, afterwall the MacWorld didn't bring any shaking innovation to the iPod world, only the certainty that the current geneation of iPod products is really ground breaking.

There are, however, some goodies for iPod fans that are worth notice. First, Radio Remove, the new iPod FM tuner, is a nice addition to the list of great iPod accessories. It is sleaky, and very well designed. Different from the normal accessories for the iPod, the FM tuner attachs diretly to the phones, leaving the iPod free of an extra accessory - in a sense, it works an extension of the phone chord.

Radio remote works as a good remote controler for the iPod. Changing music, sound volumes, or radio stations is much easier to do with the scroll interface, similar to the one in the iPod shuffle.

The Radio Remote also has a nice interface that can be accessed directly from the iPod. It would be great if other products could use a similar trick -- although this is difficult to replicate since only Apple at this point can directly program the iPod.

Look at the iPod web page for all features of Radio Remote.

Technorati tags: iPod, Apple, MacWorld

iPod becomes a target for Asian copycats

2006-01-07T23:37:00.000-08:00

A new gang of competitors to the iPod are set to arrive during this month. Due in part to its success, the iPod will certainly be copycated by other companies, especially the ones in Asia that make this practice their main business.

As described by the financial express, a number of Asian companies are doing this right now. For example, sony is presenting in the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a portable device that is meant to succeed the PSP, which is capable of playing music and video.

The South Korean Sunsung also has similar plans. Other companies, such as the Chinese Honhai and Humax will be presenting their personal players in the near future.

Technorati tags: iPod, competition

The fictional iPod video

2006-01-04T21:35:00.000-08:00

Funny but true: do you know that there are lots of designs for the iPod video that were not produced? Well, they are not really from Apple, but from several other people that imagined how the new iPod video could be, before it was released.

To see some of most interesting desingns, check the Google video web page and search for ipod video. You will see some of the nice designs bellow:

Technorati tags: iPod video, Apple, Google

iPod video gets even more content from Disney

2006-01-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

Disney announced today that more video content from its subsidiaries (ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel) will be made available to be sold on the iTunes store. The news provide more room for Steve Jobs to push his plans for the iPod video.

The MSNBC web site greated the news as a signal that Disney is trying to please Steve Jobs, who owns most of the Pixar studio.

These are, however, still better news for the iPod video owners, who now have a large selection of TV programs to choose from in the iTunes store.

Technorati tags: iPod, Apple, Disney

Creating black headphones for iPod nano

2006-01-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

iPod nano looks gorgeous in black. However, somebody noticed that it still comes with the white headphones, which does not fit perfectly. To change this, the hack a day website show how to make your own black iPod headphones.

More important, you can have some manual exercise and maybe make some money doing the same for your friends...

Technorati tags: iPod, headphone, iPod video

iPod and Apple kings of podcast

2005-12-31T13:16:00.000-08:00

The Apple in the News blog explains how Apple is becomming well positioned in the podcast wave.

Appart from having the iPod, the best player for podcasts, they also have a great content distribution deal with several key media companies. Good news for iPod fans.

Technorati tags: Apple, iPod, podcast

In the news year, take care of your iPod

2005-12-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

Not only music fans are interested in the iPod, bad guys are also very interested in these very commercial gizmos. If you have an iPod and needs to use it around busy or dangerous places, take a look at the following advice from the Sunday Times.

These are interesting tips, especially during the news year celebrations.

Technorati tags: ipod, grabbers

The new iPod and hollywood: friends or enemies?

2005-12-30T15:20:00.000-08:00

The future of iPod looks bright, but the future of movie theaters doesn't look so...

The appearence of the iPod is changing the music experience of a whole generation in just a few years: nowadays we are much less willing to buy a record CD as before, since the iPod and iTunes allow the rapid consumption of isolated tracks of music.

A similar trend may be going on with the movie industrie. Now that the iPod has video capabilities, it seems that movies will also be transformed in some way by the use of this new medium. For example, this article discusses how the use of the iPod may discourage people even more of going to movie theaters. Since the experience of watching video is every day easier with the new iPod technologies, there may be a time where no one will want to pay an expensive ticket and spend time to go the a movie theater.

Technorati tags: ipod, movies, ipod video

Apple to launch a 1GB iPod nano?

2005-12-29T22:46:00.000-08:00

As the year comes to its end, the season of Apple and iPod rumors is starting. It couldn't be different, since the macworld conference is so close.

The greatest rummor this time is that Apple is going to release an even cheaper iPod nano. They would, some say, launch a 1 GB iPod nano, due to its huge popularity. It would in some way take more space from the iPod Shuffle, which would continue to be the low end of the iPod family.

True or not, I don't think there will be many surprises in January. Probably the biggest announcements will be in the area of desktop computers. But lets stay tunned.

Technorati tags: ipod, ipod nano, ipod shuffle

Exchanging your CDs for iPods

2005-12-29T22:31:00.000-08:00

After such a long time using the iPod, it is probable that we don't have so much use for the old CDs in our collection. In fact, it has been years since I don't by a new CD. Well, if this is your case too, you can get a new iPod in exchange for your CDs.

Don't think this is possible? So check Millenniummusic.com. There you can exchange your CDs. The conversion table is something like this:
500MB Shuffle for 45 CDs
2 GB nano for 85 CDs
60BG Photo for 175 CDs.

Well, you need a lot of CDs to get an iPod... Moreover, they need to be in good condition to be exchanged. However, if you relly want an iPod and if you have more CDs than you need, you should try this.

Technorati tags: ipod, CDs, music, ipod nano

Fake iPod bought from Wal-Mart

2005-12-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

ABC News reported that a strange fact occurred in Hawaii during this end-of-year season. An iPod bought in a Walmart store in Honolulu was opened, but to the surprise of the owner, there was no iPod inside the box: only a strange type of meet.

iPod Replaced With Meat -- The owner of the iPod imediatly contacted the Walmart store, which promissed to give a real iPod as soon as possible. According to the store, the box was sealed, so they had nothing to do with the incident.

This is a really annoying occurrence. Is it possible that Apple is trying another technology involving meet, or is this just a huge mistake?

Tags: ipod, ipod video, fun

My new black iPod nano

2005-12-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

It was not only the millions of people of people who got new iPods in the last Christmas. I, too, got a brand new black iPod nano, which I am enjoying right now.

Although I have other iPods, the black iPod nano always enticed me with its cool color. There is denying that the white iPods are great, but the black one is much more interesting.

The arrival of my iPod was delayed a little until yesterday due to the hectic shopping spree in the last week. But it is still a great Christmas gift, you can be sure!

Technorati tags: ipod, ipod nano, apple

Paper iPod

2005-12-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

Speaking of crazy about iPods... If you don't have a real iPod, you can have at least a paper one. Check on Apple Collection how you can make your own paper iPod...

Go to your church with the iPod

2005-12-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

With the new iPod revolution, even religion has taken a new approach to keep its followers. The most recent trend, as noticed by icnetwork, is having church services available as podcasts.

For example, in Liverpool the churches are making sermons available on the Internet to be download from iTunes as podcasts. This is an interesting trend, since it once more shows that podcasts and the iPod are becoming part of the popular culture. Even more when churchs, which are conservative by nature, start to use such technologies.

Chinese company to launch an iPod nano look-alike

2005-12-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

The realm of copycats for the iPod nano is growing, this time with a company from China. The company, called MoonBow, plans to release a player very similar to the iPod nano in the comming months, according to I4U.

The design has the same dimensions of the iPod nano, and a 1.5" screen. It comes with an integrated FM receiver. The player will apparently be released with different versions of up to 1GB of memory.

Although it seems an interesting offer for the chinese market, the player will have much difficulty to compete with the original iPod, since the prices set by Apple are very low for the huge amount of flash memory in these devices. Moreover, the quality and integration of such a product is still unknown.

Christmas with an iPod

2005-12-25T21:42:00.001-08:00

As Christmas day is comming to an end and everybody is playing with their new gifts, the only news is that everybody got an iPod from Santa... A quick look at new blog entries show that most people got an iPod as a gift, although a few didn't.

It is all fine, it is just one more year with iPods...

Use the iPod in the subway - not only to listen music

2005-12-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

The iPod has been a great companion for subway commuters. They were one of the first groups to adopt the little player. However, now the iPod has a new use for subway customers: you can see subway maps in your iPod!

In the isubwaymaps website you can check the maps of subway stations on several cities, and find your way to your destination.

Currently, the site has maps for several cities, such as Tokio, Chicago, and New York. Other cities are also being added.

iSubwayMaps is a nice application for the iPod, and interestingly it is free. So, if you need some orientation, why not to use your friendly iPod to get information?

Give a new skin to the iPod

2005-12-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

The iPod colors are great, but with time you may become a little bothered with white and black. Why not change to another color, or even another completely new skin? This is what iJacket is providing to iPod owners.

The iJacket comes in several themes, like leopard, hearts, nature, hightech, etc. This way you can have your iPod with a completely new look, or change it whenever you want.

Additional link: Pocket-lint.co.uk iJacket promises to spruce up your iPod nano news story

iPod My Baby

2005-12-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

If you are an iPod fan, you will do anything to stay closer to your iPod. That is normal, but look at what people are doing now... You can iPodify your own baby! That's it, you can make your baby to look like a little, cute iPod :-))

In the iPod My Baby web site you can buy all the cloths and accessories required to make your baby to look like a little iPod. I don't know if this is cute or crazy!!!

Imagine what is gonna be next thing? iPod tatoos? (Maybe this is not so far away, look at this.)

iPod and power: what is the connection?

2005-12-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

The iPod has no longer been only a tool for music appreciation and entertaining. It has also become symbol of cultural status for many people. This happened since the first launch of iPod, when local commuters in subways started to notice the new device in the hands of more and more people.

What happens when head of state start displaying their preference for iPod? Recently we saw the news that Bush is proudly using an iPod, having even said what kind of music is inside it ("Beach boys, Beatles").

Now, it is the time of the
vice-president to show his appreciation for the iPod player.

If this wave continues, the next world summit is gonna become just another marketing campaign for the iPod... Congratulations again Apple!

iPod vs. The Cassette

2005-12-22T21:06:00.000-08:00

A very funny website makes a comparison between the iPod and a venerable music device: The Cassette.

The main advantage of the iPod:

* 960 hours of music against 120 minutes for the cassete

They are equally made of plastic, and have the same size and durability of their covers :-))

But the cassete is the winner in:

* Life span: certainly more than 3 years;
* Resistance: can be dropped without major problems
* Price: "3 for $.99 against $399"

Very good...

iPod on more than 70 million cars

2005-12-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

The iPod is such a huge success in the music industry that it is become the de facto standard for music devices. For the Apple competition, this means not only fighting, but also adopting many of the technologies introduced by the famous device.

The latest roud of this story comes from the auto industry. Unable to ignore the success of the iPod, most companies are introducing sound systems that are compatible with the iPod in some way. A report from the Telematic research group, as shown in the Autoblog, estimates that around 73 million cars will have iPod compatible systems installed by the end of 2011.

In the same report, it is estimated that 90 thousand cars already have sound systems compatible with the iPod. This shows the reach of the iPod mania -- your car will certainly be compatible very soon.

HBO eager to provide content for the iPod

2005-12-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

The success of iPod has prompted many people in the industry to work with Apple. Routers reported that the CEO of HBO is eager to promote an arrangement between the channel and Apple.

HBO, which is owned by Time Warner, is the TV that makes some of the best series. Such an agreement would be extraordinary news for the already successful video iPod. When this happens, it is easy to see that any other TV channel will either go for iTunes of risk loosing a huge market for television content.

New uses for the iPod: storing DVD content

2005-12-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

Everyone is excited with the new potential of iPods to play the video of your choice. However, despite the great content that is now available through the iTunes store, you may just want to see some of your videos in the DVD format.

Now, you can see all your collection of DVDs using your iPod. A recently launched product allows to copy DVDs directly to an iPod video. The application, called Xcopy has several options of video quality, so you can quickly select the total size used by the DVD on your player's hard drive. And the software looks pretty inexpensive, selling for just aroud 20 bucks.

I think this is a great addition to the list of tools for iPod users. We may enjoy the content available on iTunes, but there is nothing like being able to see the old (and new) movies that we *already bought*.

Moreover, think of the use of such an application as a timer saver when renting a video on a local store. Now, you have the possibility of just loading a DVD to the iPod, returning it to the rental store, a see it when we have more time available.

The iPod "coolness" factor

2005-12-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Forbes reported that, despite the offer of competitive products in the area of mp3 and video players, what has been strongly driving the market for the Apple iPod is the "coolness" factor.

Other video players (such as the sony psp) and mp3 players may have comparable performance. However, they usually lack in design, what make the Apple products more appealing to young and more sophisticated users.

Apple: we like the iPod mini!

2005-12-12T22:40:00.000-08:00

The recent success of iPods brings a new fascinating story: a product that has been discontinued while on the top of its popularity. When introducing the iPod nano a few months ago, Apple stopped producing iPod minis. What they didn't expect is that although technologically "behind", the iPod minis still have a strong following.

In fact, as reported by cnet, the price of iPod minis is increasing on stores such as Compu-america and even on eBay. Amazon is also selling a lot of iPod minis latelly. All this has made the price of the iPod mini to increase considerably. Some of the recent eBay auctions have sold minis for "$76 over the original $199 price tag." (cnet)

Some of the reasons for this are easy to list

First the shortage of iPod; this certainly makes the price of all models to increase.
Second, the fact that there is now a limited number of iPod minis on sale, since production has stopped.
Third, the iPod mini is the only model that is colored, which appeals to a large number of customers (mainly women :-))

All this signals that the iPod mini could have a comeback. Maybe Apple will listen to its customers and realize that there is still space for a player that has features similar to the iPod mini.

iTunes adding NBC content

2005-12-06T11:55:00.000-08:00

The news of the day is that apple announced a deal with NBC to provide a huge amount of programming for iTunes. Among the TV programs in the package are Law and Order and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Some older programs will be also available. including the classic "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". No doubt this is a great news for iPod users, which will have a much larger pool of video content to watch.

Using the iPod for classwork

2005-12-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

The iPod is known around the world as a platform for music and general entertainment. However, it has now become one of the best educational tools available. Carleton university is is making available a series of lectures in chemistry as a podcast that can be downloaded from iTunes.

While it is probably not the first time a podcast is used to record a lecture, it seems to be the first time a university officially provides the full content of a course is iTunes. And, what is best, it can be downloaded free.

Maybe the example of Carleton University will be followed by many other educational institutions, to make education more accessible to everybody (with an iPod, or course...).

iPod is the number one

2005-12-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

The iPod is elected the number product in the Christmas wish list. A poll reported by cnet shows that the iPod is in the top of a list of ten gadgets that are more requested by consumers during this season.

According to the article, "the video-playback features of the newest hard-disk-based iPod add to the allure, said Brian Lucas, a manager for Best Buy's holiday campaign. `The iPod delivers in style and substance,' he said."

In second place appears the Microsoft's Xbox. However, this looks more like a dream than a shopping item, given that the Xbox is not widely available in the market.

iPod: the complete DJ Toolbox

2005-12-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

The Associated Press reported that the iPod is now becomming an essential part of any DJ Toolbox.
"Some professional DJs say they're waiting for technology that would enable them to perform on a single portable player all the creative mixing and "scratching" they do with vinyl albums. (...) a basic iPod or other small portable player and a simple hookup into a bar's sound system suffices."

It seems that the iPod is revolutionizing not only the personal music industry but also the night-club music scene.

eBay sales of iPods are going through the roof

2005-11-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

It is not a secret that eBay is a good termometer for the coolness of a product. Well, according to tcmnet the sales of iPods on eBay during this season are going through the roof.

According to them, a study was made by an independent company to track the increase or decrease in the number of products being sold on eBay. This study has shown, for example, that the number of auctions of the 2 gigabite iPod nano increased 161% during the last month. Other interesting statistics are displayed, showing what are the most popular among the items in the iPod product line.

Welcome to iPod fan

2005-11-27T11:52:00.000-08:00

Who in these days is not an iPod fan? I by myself can tell you that I am one. That is why I decided to create a blog to celebrate this. I will post information and impressions about this nice little gadget that everybody loves.