iLounge

A recently published Apple patent application suggests the company is developing a new system of status indicators for its iPod and iPhone devices. The patent describes a system in which the main backlight of the device sports a semi-transparent area, allowing a low-power, secondary backlight to show through, displaying simple icons to show whether the iPod is playing music, indicate new email or voicemail, missed calls, and so on. As with all Apple patents, this filing does not necessarily represent any future product release from Apple, but offers evidence of the company’s research in this area.

Following a report from MacWorld Sweden (Translated Link) claiming that iPhone carrier Telia would soon offer a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) application for its iPhone customers, mobile services company Mobispine has announced that it is developing a native MMS application for the iPhone. According to a posting on the company’s blog, Mobispine will sell a specially-branded version of its MMS application to operators, who in turn will make it available to users via the App Store. It is currently unclear whether Mobispine will be able to receive approval from Apple for the MMS application.

Softbank Chief Strategy Officer Tetsuzo Matsumoto recently said that the company is “happy” with its current situation regarding the iPhone 3G, despite reports of slower-than-expected sales. “We introduced the iPhone without any big market trial, so the initial package had some problems,” Matsumoto told Dow Jones Newswire at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress. Citing research from MM Research Institute, Newswire reports that Apple sold about 200,000 iPhones in Japan in the first two months, but has seen falling demand, leading analysts to speculate that total sales are unlikely to reach 500,000, or around half of what Apple expected. Despite these figures, Matsumoto said iPhone users have been downloading data at ten times the rate of other phones, adding, “as new applications are being introduced, the attraction of the handset is increasing daily. So we are pretty happy about the present situation.”

The Iconfactory and ARTIS Software have announced the release of their game Frenzic for the iPhone and iPod touch. Frenzic is a puzzle-based game in which players attempt to move colored pie pieces from a central circle to surrounding circles; the outer circles are removed from the board as they are filled. Features include location-awareness to compare the player’s scores with those of nearby players or players across the globe, and integration with the frenzic.com website, which offers friend tracking, stats, and more. Frenzic is available now from the App Store and sells for $5.

Goldstriker has introduced three new precious stone-bezeled iPhone 3Gs (pictured). Available in black and white diamonds, ruby and white diamond, or white diamonds, each is a 16GB model and fully unlocked for compatibility with most GSM providers. The three new models are available now and sell for £3,595 (roughly $5,370), £3,095 (~$4,625), and £4,095 (~$6,120), respectively.

Microsoft has announced changes to its Zune Pass music subscription model, establishing a new value-conscious purchasing alternative to the iTunes Store. The new $15 Pass gives users on-demand access to millions of tracks from all four major labels and independents, then lets them keep 10 DRM-free tracks per month to add to their permanent collection, effectively reducing the monthly rental cost to only $5.

Westone Music Products has introduced its new Westone 3 triple-driver in-ear headphones. The 3 features three balanced armature drivers and a three-way crossover network for improved sound, braided cables, and a frequency response of 20 Hz - 18 kHz. Each pair will include a fit kit with ten different styles of eartips to ensure a proper, comfortable fit, a soft zippered carrying pouch, a 1/8” to 1/4” plug adapter, and an inline volume control module. The Westone 3 will be available on November 28 and will sell for $399.

Apple has released Apple TV Software 2.3, the latest update to its set-top box. According to the release notes, the update adds the ability to stream music from the Apple TV to Airport Express speakers or other Apple TV units on the same network, to learn other remote controls’ commands and use them in addition to the Apple Remote, and to see playlists in iTunes that contain movies, TV shows, podcasts, and music videos. It also adds support for volume control in music. Apple TV Software 2.3 is available now via the Update Software selection in the General Settings menu.

Now operating under the corporate name Aurora Feint Inc., developers Danielle Cassley and Jason Citron have unveiled Aurora Feint II: The Arena for the iPhone and iPod touch. Based on the original RPG-slash-block-matching game Aurora Feint: The Beginning, the new game is described as an asynchronous massively multi-player RPG, which promises to let users play against “ghosts” of other players that persist in the game even when the ghost’s player is not actually using his/her device. According to the company, playing against a ghost is “exactly” like playing in real-time against a real player, with real-time interaction between challenger and ghost. Other new features in the game include a world newsfeed, which is a continuous stream of real-time events happening in the game that appears as a ticker on the bottom of the screen. Tapping on an event in the ticker takes the player to an area called the Tavern, where players can conduct “asynchronous” chat with other players in the world, propose duels, share strategies and compete for leader board rankings. Each player will also get a wall where other players can leave comments and challenges and suggestions, which in turn become events in the Tavern.

In addition, the game offers all the functionality of the company’s first title, Aurora Feint: The Beginning, including characters, role playing, and skill-based progression in a single player environment. The Arena will be the second in a series of three products the company intends to build around the theme of Aurora Feint, a girl whose coma takes her through a dream world and series of casual puzzle based challenges aided by player characters. Aurora Feint II: The Arena will initially be priced at $8, going up to $10 after the holidays, and is expected to be available on the App Store on Friday, pending Apple’s update schedule.

Apple is in discussions with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony BMG in hopes of offering DRM-free music from the labels on the iTunes Store, according to a new report. Citing two anonymous music industry sources, CNet reports that the talks are still preliminary, and although no deals have been finalized, one source suggests at least one of the three holdouts is close to an agreement. Apple first began offering DRM-free music, dubbed “iTunes Plus,” from label EMI last May. Over the following months, EMI, along with the other three major labels, began offering their music in a DRM-free format to rival music stores, such as those run by Amazon and Wal-Mart; offering DRM-free music from all four labels would bring the iTunes Store back into parity with these other services.

GenevaLab has announced its new GenevaSound Home Theater, a combination theater sound system and TV stand. The Home Theater, available in black or white, features 2.1 surround sound with EmbracingSound DSP technology, an all-digital 700-Watt amplifier, seven speaker drivers including a 12-inch subwoofer, an integrated iPod/iPhone dock, a radio receiver, a CD player, and interior space for components such as a cable box, DVD/Blu-ray player, game console, or Apple TV. The GenevaSound Home Theater is available now and sells for $3999, including white glove in-home delivery and setup.

ReCover, formerly known as Imoeba World, has introduced its new Revive cases for the fourth-generation iPod nano and second-generation iPod touch. Made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a recyclable copolymer that combines plastic and rubber, both cases feature open access to all ports and controls and ReCover logo art. In addition, both cases come in packaging made from 100% renewable plastic and 90% recycled paper. A portion of all proceeds to Earth911, the US’s leading source for environmental information, and the company has also partnered with tree-planting movement SeedTree, committing to plant one tree for every ReCover case purchased. ReCover’s Revive cases for the iPod nano 4G and iPod touch 2G are available now in black or clear and sell for $25.

Wal-Mart will begin offering the iPhone 3G at select Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations on December 28, according to a supposed internal company memo posted online. The Boy Genius Report, which previously suggested the retailer would begin offering Apple’s handset on November 15, has posted the alleged leak, which states: “We are pleased to announce that Wal-Mart has reached agreement with Apple to offer iPhone 3G in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart-managed Sam’s Club* Connection Centers nationwide beginning December 28, 2008.  AT&T will support Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club with the activation process for iPhone 3G.”

Hitachi Maxell Japan has announced (Translated Link) its HP-NC20.IPs Noise Canceling Headphones for iPod. These unique in-ear headphones offer active noise canceling without external power by connecting to the iPod’s Dock Connector port, reducing noise by 20dB. The headphones, which come in black, feature a volume slider on the Dock Connector plug, and because they are powered by the iPod itself, cut the iPod’s playback time by about half to two-thirds. Hitachi Maxell’s HP-NC20.IPs Noise Canceling Headphones for iPod will be released on December 12; pricing has yet to be announced.

This week’s featured photo is from our iPhones Around the World gallery, and shows an original iPhone in front of the vineyards of Helfenberg Castle near Stuttgart, Germany. To share your photos and to be considered for our Photo of the Week, you simply need to submit your own photo to one of our galleries. So get out there, take some pictures with your iPod or iPhone, and maybe your submission will be our next Photo of the Week!

Microsoft has announced that it will be dropping the prices of its Flash-based Zune players ahead of the holiday shopping season, increasing their competitiveness with Apple’s iPod nanos. The price cuts will see the company’s 4GB Zune drop to $99, the 8GB model cut from $149 to $139, and the 16GB model drop from $199 to $179. Despite the fact that these price cuts put the 8GB and 16GB models lower than their iPod nano counterparts, Zune marketing director Adam Sohn said the cuts were not meant as a direct challenge to Apple, but instead to “ensure hopefully we have a good holiday season.” The price cuts will take effect Wednesday in the U.S. and Friday in Canada.

Element Case has introduced its Liquid case for the iPhone and iPhone 3G. The Liquid is a unique case offering an inner layer of injection-molded, transparent, back-painted polymer, a molded polycarbonate bezel that keeps the phone secure in the case, nickel-plated fasteners that hold the case together, a translucent acrylic lid that protects the phone’s screen when attached and can be stuck on the case’s back when the phone is in use, and an anodized aluminum backplate. In addition, it offers open access to all ports and controls, and is available in black, grey, or white. The Element Case Liquid case for iPhone and iPhone 3G is available now and sells for $100.

Tunewear has introduced its new Leathershell case for the fourth-generation iPod nano. Leathershell is a form-fitting snap-together case featuring a genuine leather exterior, slim design, white contrast stitching, and open access to all ports and controls. Available now in black only, the Tunewear Leathershell for iPod nano 4G sells for $30.

Some owners of Apple’s latest MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro computers are reporting that certain iTunes Store-purchased videos will no longer play through their external displays, producing an error message blaming the displays’ lack of HDCP protection. HDCP, or High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, is an Intel-developed form of copy protection that prevents copying of digital audio and video content that travels across HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or other video cables from a playback device to a display. While Apple has previously included HDCP protection in certain content displayed via the Apple TV’s HDMI port, it is only now locking down the external display functionality of its computers. According to a post on Ars Technica, it appears that older iTunes video files using Fairplay Version 2 or earlier DRM seem to work fine, while some files using Version 3 or later are protected, and will not work when played through a non-HDCP compliant monitor.

Muse Interactive has released its Pocket Jockey game for iPhone and iPod touch. Described as a “full-body” horse racing game, Pocket Jockey encourages users to gallop to the beat of a song, and the closer they are to the beat, the faster their horse will go. To control the horse, the player can jump up and down while holding the device in front of them and flick the screen to whip the horse, bounce their legs after placing the device in a back pocket (whip by spanking), or simply by tapping the screen (again, whip by flicking). Pocket Jockey is available now from the App Store and sells for $1.

From now until November 30, Griffin Technology is offering a 25% discount off all orders from its online store. To take advantage of the offer, simply enter the code TURKEY at checkout.

Wang Jianzhou, CEO of China Mobile, has said that the company remains in talks with Apple on bringing the iPhone to China, adding that Apple has been “very, very successful” with both the iPhone and App Store. “We have [non-]disclosure agreements with Apple, so I can’t disclose many details. All I can say is that China is still interested in [bringing the] iPhone into China Mobile markets,” he said. “China Mobile is open to all operators, all vendors, content providers and service providers.”

The new version of the Google Mobile App offering voice search is now available. The app, listed as version 0.3.142, also includes a new Apps tab that allows users to re-order Google Apps to suit their preferences, and Location-aware searching. While the app will run on both the iPhone and iPod touch, Google notes that Voice Search is supported only on the iPhone, and works best with North American English accents. Google Mobile App is available now as a free download from the App Store.

If your company is interested in participating in iLounge’s 2009 Best of Show Awards, and has not yet received an e-mail from us containing this year’s submission rules, please send an e-mail to dennis@ilounge.com today. The rules have just been made available, and we welcome participation from companies that will be exhibiting at either the International CES in Las Vegas or Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

Logic3 has introduced its new i-Station Rotate speaker system for the iPod and iPhone. The Rotate features a unique rotating dock mechanism, allowing the user to turn their device sideways for video viewing without the need to remove and re-dock the device. Other features include TDMA noise suppression, video output for the iPhone and iPod, 10W of audio power, the ability to run off 4 AA batteries, a 3.5mm line-in jack, an included remote control with iPhone/iPod menu navigation, and a carrying case. The Logic3 i-Station Rotate is available now and sells for £80, or roughly $120.

With more than 2,000 votes from iLounge readers, our latest poll — “Which of the following next-gen add-on features most interests you?” — has ended. Readers could pick from features including HD Radio, iPod remote + mic, a joypad/controller, a plug-in keyboard, and a larger screen, choose to vote for some other feature, or say they were satisfied as-is.

Receiving more than a quarter of the vote — 28% — most readers said they were most interested in HD Radio, followed by larger screens with 22%. The next four responses were tightly contested with only four percentage points separating the options. 14% of respondents said they were interested in iPod remote + mic add-ons, 11% expressed interest in some other feature, an equal amount said they were satisfied as-is, while 10% said they were interested in a plug-in keyboard. Only 5% of respondents said they were interested in a joypad or controller add-on, suggesting that most must be at least “okay” with the gaming controls currently offered by Apple’s iPods and iPhones. Thanks for your responses!

Our new poll looks into the past as we’d like to know when you bought your first iPod or iPhone. Were you on board for the original launch seven years ago, or did you buy your first iPod or iPhone in the years following? Or perhaps you purchased your first iPod or iPhone in the last year, or maybe you don’t own one at all? The latest iLounge poll, “How long has it been since you bought your earliest iPod/iPhone?” lets you answer that question. As always, the iLounge Poll is on the left hand column of the main iLounge.com home page. Cast your vote today!