iLounge

Noting that the iPod is proving to be as synonymous with music players as Band-Aid with bandages or Kleenex for tissues, Peter Howe reports that the 20GB iPod is by far the most popular model this holiday season.

Rio, Creative, Virgin, iRiver and Archos are among those pushing their design teams to challenge Apple’s ”800-pound white gorilla” on both function and fashion.

BusinessWeek’s Thane Peterson says that Podcasting is one of 2004’s major cultural trends. He says it will “democratize radio by making it possible for just about anyone to broadcast audio content--much as blogging did for written commentary.”

iPodContests.com is a new Web site that tracks contests from companies that offer iPods as prizes. For a more comprehensive listing of iPod giveaways check out Les Posen’s iPod Giveaway Site.

Apple’s iPod, iPod mini and a “new iPod” that holds “a billion songs” appeared this week on the Late Show with David Letterman. (Click on the Big Show Highlight in the DaveTV box.)

According to data released by America Online, the iPod, Britney Spears, Ugg boots, and Paris Hilton top this year’s Internet searches.

In a New York Times article, David Pogue takes a look at four iPod mini competitors from Dell, Rio, Creative and Virgin. Unsurprisingly, he concludes that Apple’s device is still king.

April Horace, a Janco Partners analyst, said the rumored iPod with Sirius satellite radio support is technologically unfeasible right now. “I don’t believe Sirius’ chip set is at the point where it can go into an iPod. It’s the size of a credit card, and an iPod would need a chip set the size of a thumb nail,” she said.

Citibank is offering a free iPod mini to anyone who opens an EZ Checking account, fund it with $2,500, and pay two bills online each month for 12 consecutive calendar months.

Apple UK is now promoting the use of iPods in the classroom. The company offers several real-world classroom examples that “demonstrate how iPod and iTunes can motivate, engage and inspire pupils of all ages.”

Podfolio is the clever iPod-themed online portfolio of a French Web designer. The entire site resides in a life-size illustrated iPod and silhouette hand that work just like a real iPod.

The PowerPage has some photos of trains on the Tokyo JR Yamanote loop line which have been completely decorated with iPod advertising.

Actor/singer David Hasselhoff is auctioning off an autographed iPod pre-loaded with two of his albums. He has also recorded a special video message for the lucky winner.

iLounger Wesley Vasher has built an excellent dock for his second-generation iPod out of hard wood and aluminum.

Organizers of the upcoming Grammy Awards are reportedly letting voting members hear nominated songs for free through Apple’s iTunes Music Store.

CBS Marketwatch says the growth of the iPod remains the crowning achievement of Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ business strategy since he returned to the company in 1997.

iPod and iTunes spokesband U2 are among five musical legends to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the foundation’s 20th annual induction ceremony next year.

Mike Wendland of the Detroit Free Press says the iPod mini is his gadget of year. “All of the iPods are awesome. But this little package, weighing in at 3.6 ounces, a half-inch thick and the size of a business card, is so slick and so sleek that all I can say is: Sweet.”

In his latest commentary piece, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber aims to dubunk the image and description of the rumored flash iPod that TheMacMind posted earlier this week.

Actor Colin Farrell, who is hosting Saturday Night Live this week, appeared in a Spanish-language talk show skit as U2’s Bono along with the band’s special edition iPod. The host, “Fericito,” countered Farell/Bono with an older Sanyo cassette recorder/player that “holds 15 songs and your photos too” (fold-out wallet photos were taped to the back of the large player).

The current Joy of Tech comic pokes fun at the rumored flash memory-based iPod. The comic features four “flash” iPods including a Super-hero branded iPod, a disco edition, and an iPod “flasher.”

Apple’s iTunes Music Store has posted its Top 100 Songs and Top 100 Albums of 2004. The No. 1 song is “This Love” by Maroon 5, while the No. 1 album is U2’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

John C. Dvorak highlights yet another “iPod Killerâ€?--MSI’s X2 handheld MP3/MPEG4 combo player. In addition to music and photo support, the $399 device features PVR (personal video recorder) capabilities to record and play video.

Micro Persuasion’s Steve Rubel has written an article for iMediaConnection looking at the advertising opportunities in Podcasting.

A private school for girls on the Upper East Side of Manhattan requires students to have an iPod for use in foreign-language and classics courses.

One MacGyver-like iPod owner has posted detailed instructions on how to make an iPod carrying case out of a milk jug.

Radiologists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and other institutions from as far away as Europe and Australia are now using iPods to store medical images.

eBay has removed a modified U2 iPod promoting Negativland from its auctions after Apple complained of copyright violations.

At least one company in Hong Kong is selling a bootleg set of Apple’s trademark white earphones.

The female lead in the new Blade: Trinity movie relies on her iPod when fighting vampires, according to a video on the film’s new music Web site, Music To Slay By.

iPod My Photo is a new service that transforms any of your digital photos into an image identical to Apple’s silhouette ads for $19.95.

Missouri congressman and former Democratic presidential hopeful Dick Gephardt loves his iPod and says he listens to both Nelly and Eminem.

Apple is in a battle with the owner of the iTunes.co.uk domain name. The owner claims to have registered it before Apple was granted a trademark.

Lisa Merschel, a professor in the Spanish department at Duke University, says the iPod program has revolutionized her students’ experience with the language.

Brian Braiker of Newsweek has written a good overview of Podcasting entitled ”Tivo for your iPod.”

Not just anyone can build accessories for the iPod. Companies interested in building certain gear for the device must license the dock connector technology from Apple.

USA Today’s Andrew Kantor says he doesn’t understand the overwhelming appeal of the iPod, and claims that “other brands are better, less expensive, have more capacity, are easier to use, and so on.”

Meanwhile, Shawna Richer of The Globe and Mail says the iPod is the ”most life-altering gadget to arrive in my 37 years on the planet.”

Following a complaint from a consumer watchdog that the UK iTunes Music Store overcharges customers, the Office of Fair Trading has referred the issue to the European Commission.

Napster founder Shawn Fanning is touting a new technology called Snocap that is designed to help music companies cash in on peer-to-peer file sharing.

Mac pundit John Gruber has written an excellent piece on the rumored flash memory-based iPod. “If there is a flash memory iPod in the pipeline, the fact that it uses flash memory is the least interesting part of the story,” he concludes.

Arizona State University is offering free iPod minis to students applying for housing renewals at certain locations for next year. Eligible students must apply by 5 p.m. today.

This Sunday, Dec. 5, CBS News Sunday Morning will air a report by best-selling author and NY Times tech writer David Pogue on the culture of iPod Mania. Pogue won a 2004 Business Emmy just yesterday for his tech segments on the show.

Dan Torres of Rio Audio talks to BusinessWeek about how his company aims to take on the iPod. Strangely, Torres plans to target buyers who value “ease of use.”

Blogger Matt Haughey has received his free special edition TiVo iPod thanks to good performance in the company’s referral program.

In his review of Portable Media Centers from Samsung and Creative, Wall Street Journal tech guru Walt Mossberg says the handheld video and audio players are not ready for prime time.

At a press event Tuesday, Apple released the iPod photo and U2 iPod in Korea. More than 95 percent of the Korean market is currently dominated by flash memory-based players.

One reporter is using his iPod and the Griffin iTalk for recording news audio content. “Coming up next: an iPod with a station logo painted on it,” notes the blogger who spotted the act.

Diesel Sweeties is now selling a T-shirt for the iPod early adopters that reads: “I had an iPod before you even knew what one was.”

The iPod was honored for the second consecutive year at the BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) Awards. It picked up the Experts’ Choice award, designed to recognize “products, services or initiatives that have influenced the digital sector in the past 12 months.”

After buying a colleague’s iPod still loaded with 3,000 songs, John Schwartz of The New York Times says that he now knows his co-worker better than ever.

Micromaxx is selling an iPod mini knockoff in Germany. “It’s probably just a matter of time until Apple has the lawyers saddling up and ready to ride,” notes Engadget.

One iPod owner has posted photos and detailed captions of his installation of the NaviPod wireless remote control for hands-free iPod navigation in his car.

While Sony flounders, the iPod mini remains the No. 1 selling portable audio player in Japan.

Only 20 iPod owners showed up at Creative Technology’s headquarters to trade in their Apple gadget for a Creative Zen Micro MP3 player.

The MP3 Experiment is the world’s first live theatrical performance that audiences will experience exclusively through headphones--there are no actors. Audience members will download an MP3 track from the show’s Web site in advance, load it onto their iPod, and bring it with them to the show.

One iPod fan has created an excellent iPod commercial that rivals any big production company.

An online petition has been posted in hopes of getting Apple to add PDF booklets with liner notes to each song download from the iTunes Music Store.

Even though Motorola’s new 5GB M500 player is $20 cheaper and 1GB bigger, Engadget says it’s still not enough to dethrone Apple’s iPod mini.

PhotoshopSupport.com has posted a great tutorial on creating your own iPod silhouette ad.

The Nokia Neo is an upcoming iPod lookalike mobile phone that has a scroll wheel instead of a regular keypad.

Tom Cox of The Times explains why he is selling his vinyl collection and switching full time to iTunes in order to make his life easier.

Engadget has posted a step-by-step article on how to use your iPod photo to give PowerPoint or Keynote presentations.

The Censtron iBend “brings the Heavy Metal experience everywhere” inside the case of a 3G iPod. It comes with “four rocking guitar solos,” the “Censtron bend wheel,” and an “extreme pitch knob.”

iLounge staffer and “iPod and iTunes Hacks” author Hadley Stern asks if the iPod photo is breakthrough device or a work in progress.

One large bank plans to give every employee an iPod so they can listen to earnings calls and other business related audio.

Belkin has been honored with seven CES Innovations Distinctions, including awards for TuneBase FM for the iPod mini and Digital Camera Link for the iPod.

Japanese company Bird Electron is offering limited edition iPod speakers that are handmade from actual gourds.

PortalPlayer, which makes components for Apple’s iPod, plans to go public this week, selling 6.25 million shares at $11 to $13 a share.

Wired’s Leander Kahney found the fIRSt evEr prOTotyPe dDArwIng Of tHe IPOd.

One music fan shows that the 5.11 Tactical Shirt is perfect for storing an iPod.

The French Competition Council has dismissed a case brought by Virgin’s French arm against Apple for alleged abuse of market dominance.

The Think Different Store now has the new iSkin eVo 2 in stock for fourth-generation iPods.

CNET News.com this week posted two iPod competitor articles: ”Will pocket-size Sony PC take on iPod?” and ”Cell phones take iPod challenge.”

Geek Culture’s Joy of Tech comic reveals the Dirty Secrets of iPod Socks.