iLounge

“Apple Computer said Thursday that it is investigating reports that some iPod owners have had trouble updating their devices to take advantage of the company’s latest version of its iTunes jukebox software.

The Mac maker on Wednesday released an iPod software update in conjunction with its enhancement of iTunes. The iPod software is required for iPods to take advantage of the new features of iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store. However, a number of iPod owners say that when they run the software that is supposed to upgrade their devices, the software cannot detect their iPod.”

“According to the Times, ‘(The iPod) was put together starting in 2001 by hardware designers led by Tony Fadell, a young engineer who had worked at the Apple spinoff General Magic, at Philips Electronics and briefly at RealNetworks, led by Rob Glaser, who has developed the Rhapsody music service.’

So, Fadell designed the iPod as an independent contractor and shopped it to Apple, which hired him to bring it to market. How he did it was spelled out in Electronics Design Chain Magazine, though the article makes no reference to Fadell.”

“STROLL the corridors and the atriums on Apple Computer’s corporate campus these days and you will notice that something is missing. Gone are the posters and graphics accenting the company’s sleek personal computers. In their place, in the main lobby, is a striking, three-story-high billboard celebrating Steven P. Jobs’s brand-new billion-dollar consumer electronics business - the iPod digital MP3 music player. [...]

Apple says it developed the iPod in just six months, faster than any major product in the company’s history. The hand-held device, which contains more computing power than an early Macintosh, was put together starting in 2001 by hardware designers led by Tony Fadell, a young engineer who had worked at the Apple spinoff General Magic, at Philips Electronics and briefly at RealNetworks, led by Rob Glaser, who has developed the Rhapsody music service.”

“Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs publicly dismissed on Thursday an overture from RealNetworks to open up the iPod, saying such a move does not make business sense.

Speaking at Apple’s annual shareholder meeting here, Jobs said there would be both an initial and ongoing cost to allowing the iPod to work with other music services.

‘To be honest, it’s just not worth it,’ Jobs said, noting that RealNetworks has made a number of overtures to Apple and adding that Real’s music service has been ‘less than successful.’”

“Smart, the iconic automotive brand, is the first car manufacturer worldwide to offer an integrated iPod play-back and charging station into its limited edition smart fortwo i–move.

The white smart fortwo cabrio with a silver tridion safety cell has a matching 20 Gb iPod engraved with the smart logo, as standard, and smart “iPod Car Kit” consisting of a mount with an iPod connection.”

“It’s the epitome of cool, a must-have item rated No 1 with teenagers, oldies and muggers alike.

Yet the iPod digital music player has confused so many thousands of new owners that the gadget has spawned its own service industry - to help technophobes download their own songs. [...]

Now companies are springing up to meet the need, including the London-based wePod, which does the hard work of converting disc tracks into electronic files for the iPod, using its own specially developed software. Even though it does not advertise, the new venture claims it has been inundated with inquiries.”

“West Midlands police have issued a stark warning to iPod users: ditch the white headphones or pay the price.

Fashion-conscious music lovers are apparently being targeted by muggers. The Times tells the sorry tale of 22-year-old language student Roland Baskerville, who lost his 20GB model on the mean streets of Birmingham: “I was walking down the road near to my home when a man who was walking the other way pointed at my headphones.”

The thief then asked Baskerville if he was listening to an iPod and, receiving an affirmative answer, he “pulled a knife out and started waving it at me, saying: ‘Well hand it over, then.’ I gave it to him and he ran off. He must have known I was wearing an iPod because of the white headphones.”

“It’s been sometime since we gave you a sneak peek on the grey market scene; hence we decided to pay a little visit to the grey market and catch up on what’s hot and what’s not. With the official prices of gizmos and drool “maal” hitting the roof, the grey market is still the preferred choice for all fellow geeks to feast on the goodies and catch a steal or two. [...]

All the prices are negotiable and you can test your negotiation skills as long as you are serious about buying them.”

“Apple Australia has signed deals that will see the retail presence of the iPod expand.

iPods are currently only available from Apple centres and resellers, David Jones and the online Apple Store. From April 1 the popular music player will also be available in Myer, Megamart, Target, and Domayne – all high-street superstores.”

“The Apple iPod is just about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and just about as addictive.

‘Oh, it’s so addictive — it’s my new crack,’ jokes Kawan Prather of College Park, a senior vice president of Sony Records.
 
For people who have one, the iPod is a status badge, a fashion statement and an obsession. The sleekly designed little pocket jukebox holds up to 10,000 songs individually selected by the user and is insanely portable and easy to use — a mix of minimalism and maximum enjoyment. Perched right on the cutting edge of cool, it’s also crossed over into the realm of cute with the new line of pastel-colored Mini iPods.”