iLounge

D2C Games has released its new Chalkboard Sports Baseball game for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (video). Built from the ground up for the Click Wheel interface, the game features 5-on-5 arcade-style baseball action in one of two different modes: Quick Play or Playoff Mode. It also offers the ability to personalize teams with images, the ability to unlock new pitches, and features six different ballparks, both day and night games, and unique sound effects including umpire calls and crowd chants. D2C Games’ Chalkboard Sports Baseball is available now through the iTunes Store and sells for $5.

Gameloft S.A. has released its Mystery Mansion Pinball game for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (with video). The game is a pinball simulator featuring various “scary” characters such as Frankenstein’s monster, werewolves, vampires, and more, special sound effects, animations, lighting, and 3D graphics, a variety of bonuses and unlockable play modes, including five mini-games that can be played on the machine’s LED scoreboard, and more. Gameloft’s Mystery Mansion Pinball is available now from the iTunes Store and sells for $4.99.

Apple has issued an advisement bulletin to select resellers suggesting that the company is beginning to ramp down production of current-generation iPod models, according to AppleInsider. In the advisement, Apple “strongly suggested” that resellers either bring in or place immediate orders for approximately four weeks worth of their top selling iPod models, noting that supplies of the devices would start to become extremely limited within the next week. Apple traditionally holds an iPod-focused special event in the September-October timeframe to announce new iPod models; this report is consistent with the belief that the company is planning to hold a similar event again this year.

Continuing the release of games specifically designed for the iPod classic, third-generation iPod nano, and fifth-generation iPod, Gameloft today released Uno ($5), a translation of the classic card game. Designed to be played either alone against the CPU or in a multi-player mode with up to four people, Uno also has a rewards system that tracks your performance and adds special icons to your saved game profile.

Apple has released firmware version 1.1.5 for the iPod touch. The new software is meant as an update for iPod touch users who choose not to purchase the $9.99 iPhone 2.0 Software Update for the iPod touch. According to Mac Rumors, early reports indicate that the firmware provides no new features, but may improve the speed and stability of existing applications. iPod touch firmware 1.1.5 is available now as a free update through iTunes.

Square Enix, publisher of the popular Final Fantasy series of video games, has released Song Summoner: the Unsung Heroes for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (video). Song Summoner is a role-playing game (RPG) that lets users play as Ziggy, a “conductor” who creates warriors out of music, as he embarks on a journey to rescue his brother from the Mechanical Militia. Features of the game include the ability to transform songs stored on the iPod into “Tune Troopers” to combat the enemy, a turn-based tactics battle system, and more. Square Enix’ Song Summoner: the Unsung Heroes is available from the iTunes Store and sells for $4.99.

Spain is set to impose a “digital canon” anti-piracy tax on all electronic devices capable of recording, copying, or storing sound and images, beginning July 1. The tax would add €3.15 (around $4.90) to the price of an MP3 player such as an iPod, and also provides for a €1.10 (around $1.70) tax on all mobile phones with integrated MP3 music capabilities, such as the iPhone. Pedro Farré, authors’ rights director for author and publisher group SGAE, said, “we are satisfied that this ministerial order has been approved after so much delay, and we now hope the manufacturers will pay the canon. Technically, the manufacturers pay the canon - whether they pass the cost on to the public is their decision.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone to be published later this week, presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama has revealed some of the contents of his personal iPod. “I have pretty eclectic tastes,” said Obama, who said he had music from a wide range of artists on his iPod, from Miles Davis and John Coltrane to Jay-Z and Ludacris. Obama, who grew up in the 1970’s, said he listened to the Rolling Stones (his favorite Stones track is the seminal “Gimme Shelter”), Elton John, and Earth Wind and Fire, adding that Stevie Wonder was his “musical hero” of the period.

Interestingly, Obama also had a wide selection of tracks from Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ favorite Bob Dylan, including the entire Blood on the Tracks album. “Actually, one of my favorites during the political season is ‘Maggie’s Farm,’ ” Obama said. “It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric.” In the song, Dylan sings about trying be himself, “but everybody wants you to be just like them.” Many musicians appearing on Obama’s iPod have lent him their support during his campaign, including Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. “I’ve got to say, having both Dylan and Bruce Springsteen say kind words about you is pretty remarkable,” Obama said. “Those guys are icons.”

Obama also admits to having concerns over the the content of some rap music to which his daughters might be exposed. “I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics,” he said, “but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music.” He went on to call hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris “great talents and great businessmen,” adding that “it would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves.”

According to the latest data from market research firm NPD, iPod sales grew 11.6 percent year-over-year in May, following growth of 14.6 percent year-over-year in April. In a note, Lehman analyst Tim Luke pointed out that this was well ahead of the 2 percent decline the firm had been expecting, and said that average iPod pricing in the quarter was down 4 percent. “While not exactly strong, iPod demand seems to be holding up and benefiting from the lack of iPhone availability (lack of cannibalization near-term),” Luke said. “We expect iPod demand to weaken as iPhone demand picks up, but view the current trends as positive for AAPL’s fiscal 3Q08.”

United Airlines has announced the launch of iPod and iPhone connectivity for its in-flight entertainment system, becoming the first U.S. carrier to offer such features. United’s system, developed by Panasonic Avionics Corporation, allows users to attach an iPod or iPhone via a 30-pin connector and view content on a 15.4-inch personal monitor, while charging the device at the same time. The system will debut later today on United flight #936 from Washington, D.C. to Zurich, and will be added to United’s entire fleet of international, widebody aircraft over the next two years. Connectivity is offered in both first and business class areas.

“Our guests may now watch or listen to what they want, when they want with programming they choose,” says Graham Atkinson, United Airlines - executive vice president and Chief Customer Officer. “United will continue to provide services and technology that makes our customers’ travel experiences more relaxed and enjoyable.”

“The iPod and iPhone have become essential for millions of travelers around the world,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod & iPhone Product Marketing. “We think United customers are going to love being able to listen or watch personal music and video content on their iPod or iPhone via the in-flight entertainment system, and we can’t wait for United to roll this out to their fleet.”

As the latest in its series of games based on the popular PC title The Sims, Electronic Arts today released The Sims DJ ($5) as an iPod Game for third-generation iPod nanos, fifth-generation iPods, and iPod classics. The Sims DJ lets you create a Sim character, play, mix and scratch songs from your iTunes library to make crowds of Sims dance, and move from club to club earning money to use on clothes. Additional clubs become accessible if you become skillful as a DJ.

Electronic Arts has released its Monopoly game for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (video). Based on the popular board game, Monopoly features the classic board and pieces, animated player tokens, property cards, customizable game rules, both single and multiplayer modes, and adjustable play levels. Monopoly is now available on the iTunes Store for $4.99. For more information on Monopoly, read our First Look article.

Apple has increased its build orders for the majority of the iPod family in its second quarter (ending June), according to one analyst. Craig Berger, analyst with FBR Capital Markets, said in a note to clients that his latest checks on Apple’s supply chain show iPod orders up 15 percent since his last check in March, leading him to project 35 percent iPod order growth quarter-over-quarter. “We see greater shuffle, classic, and nano builds slightly offset by fewer touch builds, with greater shuffle builds accounting for most of the increased iPod builds,” said Berger. His checks also show iPhone build orders to be down less than 10 percent compared to March, however, Berger expects that iPhone orders to increase by as much as 250 percent to 3 million units going forward, as 3G iPhone production ramps up. “Apple’s June, September, and December total 3G order fell by 500,000 units versus our prior checks to 11 million units, although our contacts still say Apple will likely reduce this forecast over time,” he said. “This suggests Apple could sell 11 million iPhones in total in 2008, including its March actual shipments.”

Singapore Airlines has announced that it is now offering iPod and iPhone connectivity on select all-Business Class Airbus A340-500 flights. The system allows passengers to enjoy content from their iPod or iPhone through the aircraft’s KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system, which features a 15.4-inch widescreen monitor for every seat, as well as active noise-cancellation headphones. In addition, the system—which connects to the devices via a standard 30-pin connector—will offer in-seat charging, and will allow users to hear announcements and instructions made by the crew and pilots even while content is being played. The service is currently limited to flights between New York and Singapore, and will be added to flights between Los Angeles and Singapore in August.

“Customers on our all-business class Airbus A340-500 flights now have an incredible way to enjoy their own iPod and iPhone music and video on the KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system,” said Yap Kim Wah, Senior Vice-President Product & Services, for Singapore Airlines. “This is yet another example of our philosophy of creating customer satisfaction by providing an enhanced sense of choice and control.”

“The iPod is the world’s most popular digital music player and iPhone is a revolutionary mobile device, and they have become essential for millions of travelers,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod & iPhone Product Marketing. “Singapore Airlines’ customers can now enjoy their music, TV shows and movies on their iPod and iPhone through the in-flight entertainment system.”

According to screenshots (Front view/Rear view) posted by well-known French video games publication JeuxFrance, the iPod will make an appearance as an equippable item in the upcoming Konami game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. The screenshots from the highly-anticipated game show a white 30GB fifth-generation iPod, complete with iPod markings and trademark identifiers. Developed by acclaimed producer Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid 4 will be released worldwide for the PlayStation 3 console on June 12.

Coincidentally, a parody of the Apple iPhone, and indeed the company itself, appears in the recently-released Grand Theft Auto IV. A webpage for a company called “Fruit” appears in the game, encouraging its customers to “Think Fruit.” Towards the bottom of the page, an advertisement for the new “iFruit Phone” appears, with the following description: “No buttons. No reception. No storage capacity. All ego.” The phone itself resembles the real iPhone, save for its banana-like curved body.

Apple is offering a $45 credit to Canadian iPod owners as part of a class-action settlement. The credit is available to Canadian residents who own a first-, second-, or third-generation iPod purchased before June 24, 2004. The settlement is a result of a suit by two iPod owners angry over the battery life of their devices, which they claim dropped to three hours (from Apple’s claim of eight) after just one year of use. As many as 80,000 Canadians could be eligible for the credit, according to Monteal lawyer Philippe Trudel, who represented one of the plaintiffs. Full details of the settlement are available in both English and French from Apple’s website. [via CNET]

Apple has released iPod classic Software Version 1.1.2, the latest update to the full-size iPod’s firmware. According to the release notes provided by Apple, the release simply contains bug fixes, and does not appear to add any new features or cause any other significant changes. iPod classic Software Version 1.1.2 is available now through the Update feature in iTunes.

Update: Apple has also released Software Version 1.1.2 for the iPod nano (with video), which, like the iPod classic update, appears to be a bug fix release. It is also available now through the Update feature in iTunes.

Electronic Arts’ Mahjong, one of seven games previously dropped from the iTunes Store due to their lack of compatibility with the current-generation iPod classic and iPod nano, has been re-released in an updated, fully-compatible form. The title was one of nine original iPod games to debut alongside the upgraded fifth-generation iPod in Sept. 2006, and is based on the traditional Chinese board game. It offers three game modes, 72 different tile layouts, and sells for $5.

As one of seven titles surreptitiously dropped last week from the iTunes Store’s list of iPod Games, due to its lack of compatibility with current-generation iPod classic and iPod nano models, PopCap Games’ Bejeweled ($5) has just been re-released in updated, fully compatible form. As one of the only iPod games to also be available in an iPod touch and iPhone-compatible format—currently free from PopCap’s web site—Bejeweled lets the player make as many matches of colored gems as possible inside an 8-by-8 grid.

Following an extended period that saw Apple re-release some of its fifth-generation iPod Games in a format compatible with third-generation iPod nanos and iPod classics, the company today added PopCap Games’ previously-released Zuma to its master list of nano- and classic-ready iPod Games, and removed a section of the iTunes Store that linked to seven other titles. The titles are:

Bejeweled
iQuiz
Lost
Mahjong
Musika
Royal Solitaire
Vortex

Two of these titles, iQuiz and Vortex, now come pre-installed on iPod nanos and iPod classics; the other five were never updated for compatibility with the newer iPod models, and all require separate purchase for owners of the fifth-generation iPod. Though Apple has dropped all of these titles from its iPod Games index page, as of press time, working links to the download pages for each of these titles can still be found inside of the reviews above. Updated: This article was corrected after publication to reflect the inclusion of Mini Golf as an updated title.