iLounge

Michael Sippey of ‘stating the obvious’ weblog has posted an excerpt from a concept document proposing several new features to be added to next generation iPods.

Update: The page has been removed due to a cease and desist order from Apple.

A reader has posted information and a how-to for removing the volume cap on iPods sold in Europe. EU iPods have a volume cap due to health regulations, therefore having significantly lower decibels than U.S. versions. It’s been a sore spot for many EU iPod owners and has been discussed at length in our forums. (Disclaimer: iLounge is not responsible for anything that happens to your iPod after performing this hack. Hack at your own risk.)

Macminute reports that InfoWorld has released its 2003 InfoWorld Readers Choice Awards results and the iPod took top spot as ‘Best Gadget’, sweeping the competiton with 40% of the votes.

O’Reilly and Associates has released a new book for iPods titled, ‘iPod: The Missing Manual.’ “In this book, New York Times tech columnist J. D. Biersdorfer blows open the secret doors of this gleaming, chrome-and-white beauty. With humor and authority, she lays bare an astonishing collection of useful tips, tricks, and shortcuts...” The book covers all Mac and Windows iPod models, iTunes, MusicMatch, iTunes Music Store and retails for $24.95.

Apple has posted a new web page featuring the new VW Beetle/iPod promotion, “Pods Unite” along with the television ad showcasing the new duo. The iPod deal will only last through the summer so Apple says, “get in touch with your Volkswagen dealer pronto.”

Apple has posted an updated version of its Knowledge Base document titled, “iPod: Frequently Asked Questions.” It’s definitely a must read for any iPod user.

Brigid Alverson of the Melrose Free Press has written an article about John Cameron, a computer crimes detective in Melrose, Virginia who’s done everything from impersonating a 14-year-old girl online, capturing computer con artists, and stopping credit card fraud.

It’s exciting to see two companies that fit so well together acknowledging that harmony they enjoy. What interested me most was the mention of a “Volkswagen iPod connectivity kit.” Maybe VW is solving the problem of so many messy wires being needed to connect an iPod with decent sound. Here’s hoping it will be available for current VW/iPod owners.

Apple has updated its Pro section with a story about watchmaker, Fossil and how the in-house design team uses Apple products. In a sidebar story titled ‘iPod Does Booth Duty’, Tim Hale, Fossil’s Senior VP tells how he and his workers use iPod to play music at trade show booths and manage their to-do list.

For all the DJs out there… wouldn’t it be nice to have pitch control on your iPod for mixing live sets? Wired magazine (August 2003) reports that Apple invited world famous DJ, Ritchie Hawtin to perform at the opening of the Soho NY store, but Hawtin’s mixes were ‘choppy’ due to the lack of pitch control on the dualing iPods.

Launch Yahoo reports musician John Mayer praises his iPod for helping him write songs for his new, upcoming album.

Below is a copy of my letter printed in MacUser Magazine (UK) dated 11 July 2003:

Last week a friend was having his 40th birthday party. As he was born in 1963, a Sixties theme was decided. You know: Sixties dress, music, food, psychedelic drugs and so on (well maybe not the drugs).

Dominic Mohan has written a general article about iPod culture.

Gregory Ng of AppleMatters takes a look at the best of the web for iPod users.

“Have an iPod? Check. Have a Mac with iTunes? Check. Use the iTunes Music Store? Check. Now what do you do? The following is a list of websites that are a must-see and a must-use for every iPod wielding, Apple loving, music fan...”

Editor’s Note: Thanks for mentioning iLounge at the top of your list!

About two weeks ago, I posted an article on Sparkshop comparing the new and old iPods.  After two more weeks of practical experience with the new 15GB model, I just posted a follow-up article.  I cover some details that my original post left out, and even revised some of my initial opinions.

Last sunday I found myself on the wrong side of one of those anecdotes that keep CSR’s sane; I did something please-hold-mute--umute stupid.

After getting a major project into production on Friday, I swore to myself that I would do absolutely nothing productive for the entire weekend, and until Sunday afternoon I kept that vow. At this point I discovered that I only had two clean pairs of underpants left, and one of those was a rather uncomfortable g-string. I had no choice - I had to do some laundry…

There is considerable discussion on Apple’s iPods discussion boards from European owners of new iPods regarding volume limitors that are present in the European models—but not in US models.

Because of EU health regulations, European models are not capable of producing the same volume levels as their US brethern, causing considerable indignation from buyers who were not made aware of these limits.

Apple has not responded to any user feedback or comment on the subject, nor have any fixes been offered by the company or users.

iPod advertising, packaging and user information makes no note of these limits. 

A brief check of Dell’s website, [url=http://www.dell.com]http://www.dell.com[/url], revealed a distinct lack of iPods.  Only 5 mp3 players are listed, and the iPod is not among them.  Whether or not the absence is temporary remains to be seen.

Brick and mortar retailer FutureShop (similar to BestBuy) in Canada has added an Apple product section to its online store which includes iMacs, iBooks, eMacs and iPods as well as official Apple accessories.