iPad + iPad mini Buyers Guide

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NY Times: iTunes is best vs. the rest

“The best music store-jukebox is Apple’s iTunes, for a list of reasons as long as a Wagner opera. Its copying policies are by far the most liberal: unlimited iPod copies, unlimited burns to CD as long as you rearrange the song order after every 10 copies, easy re-authorizing. It’s the only service to offer pleasant extras like audio books (5,000), spending limits (are you listening, parents of teenagers?) and gift certificates.”

13 comments.

40GB iPod for $419 today only

Dealmac: A reader notes that Dell Home offers Apple’s 40GB iPod MP3 Player for $449.10 in its Software and Peripherals store. Coupon code “56BAD54168D2” chops $30 off, yielding a net price of $419.10. That’s $30 off our last mention and the best price we’ve seen. Shipping is free. Offer ends today.

5 comments.

iPod Bluetooth Audio Transmitter Early Next Year

ExtremeTech has revealed that XtremeMac will be releasing a Bluetooth adapter which will allow the iPod to “stream music from the player – or any music source – to portable speakers, headphones, a home stereo, or even a car” early next year.

“The technology and the circuit boards are provided by a company called Infinite Range. They’ve spent the past few years taking Bluetooth wireless and applying it to music. The company has developed RangeScan, Bluetooth audio technology that will let any hardware developer send audio from one device to another wirelessly. And as I learned in that parking lot, it really works.”

12 comments.

New Burton iPod jackets and backpack

According to Japanese website A-bony, Burton are to release three new iPod jackets and a backpack. There are two men’s jackets, the Shield and Ronin 2L, one for the ladies, the Radar 2L, and the Amp Pack backpack are all expected to be announced November 1, 2003. Apple/Burton released the first model Amp Jacket at Macworld San Francisco in January 2003 and have since been discontinued. The new Burton jackets and Amp Pack use “SOFTswitch technology, which allows the iPod to be controlled through a soft, flexible control pad.” Photos and an illustration of the Amp Pack are available at the bottom of the A-bony website. We had an earlier report about the Amp Pack back in March 2003.

17 comments.

Window On Mac’s Musical World

  • October 29, 2003

The Age (Australia) has posted an interesting article about iTunes for Windows, not to mention, they even linked to us!

“While there [are] a couple of minor bugs in the Windows version (see the Windows forum at ilounge.com), and some annoyances - chiefly the fact that you cannot fully maximise the application - it makes the ripping and organising of music, including drag-and-drop creation of playlists and fast burning of CDs, absurdly simple.

We suspect that whether they own iPods or not, Windows users will be eager to try out a jukebox application that is not only powerful, simple and elegant, but also free. Once they experience that, they might start wondering what it would be like to have iMovie, iCal and the rest of the in-built applications you get with a Mac.”

18 comments.

Apple 40GB iPod for $450 shipped

Dealmac: A reader found that CircuitCity.com offers the Apple 40GB iPod MP3 player for $449.99 with free shipping. It’s the lowest total price we know to be available. (Target.com has the same price after a 10% off coupon but charges shipping.)

3 comments.

Apple Store 6th Anniversary Discounts

  • October 29, 2003

One of our forum members has noted that Apple is emailing some of its customers with a special Anniversary Promotion celebrating the 6th year of their online Apple Store.

“Thanks to your continuing support, we’re celebrating our sixth anniversary at the worldwide Apple Store. You’ve helped us grow into the premier online destination for Apple products, and the digital lifestyle accessories and software that make them even more useful and fun. Because you’re one of our loyal customers, we’re offering you this special discount of $XX off your order of $XXX or more when you shop online at the Apple Store by December 15, 2003. “

Discounts have not been consistent with one report of $25 off purchases above $250, and another $100 off purchases above $999. Customers are being emailed specific Claim Codes, so this offer is not available for the general public.

2 comments.

Standford Students rave over iTunes sharing service

“With a program for Macs and PCs that allows users to listen to the music of any iTuner who authorizes it and is on the same network, more Stanford students are jumping on the iTunes bandwagon. [...]

‘They have a super cool just-as-good-as-Mac version out now for Windows, ‘Wang said. ‘Once you get the program, you can access the MP3 music library of anyone on the local network (so it’s almost as good as downloading, but you don’t fill up your hard drive) and, oh yeah, it’s not illegal. Woohoo’”

14 comments.

Mossberg: Attack of the iPod Clones

  • October 29, 2003
  • iPod
“Now, however, a new generation of would-be iPod killers is hitting the market. And, after two years of studying Apple’s work, the makers of these new players are finally giving the iPod a run for its money. These products are nearly as small as the iPod, and have aped its widely admired user interface. Some have more features, and are less expensive. But are they as good as, or better, than the iPod?”

5 comments.

CNN: Rapper’s ‘bling bling’ stolen from Vegas

  • October 28, 2003
  • iPod
“Thieves made off with a rapper’s jewels and stole a pop star’s computer, cell phone and iPod, from their hotel rooms in Las Vegas where they were attending the 2003 Radio Music Awards, police and a spokeswoman said Tuesday.”

9 comments.

NY Times: Online Music Business, Neither Quick Nor Sure

“In the last decade a new record business has been forming online. It has been coalescing by trial and error, largely error. And its evolution is in no way complete as it moves toward a finish line at the rate of one step forward for every nine-tenths of a step back.”

Add your comments.

Griffin iFire Now Shipping

Griffin Technology is now shipping the iFire Amp and Adaptor for Apple Pro Speakers.

“Griffin iFire allows any computer with FireWire or an iPod with its charger to connect and power the popular and stylish Apple Pro Speakers. Previously, only a few select models of Apple computers could use Apple Pro Speakers. Now with the Griffin iFire, even Apple Notebooks and the new G5 computers can connect and enjoy the Harman Kardon designed Apple Pro Speakers. The Griffin iFire retails for 39.99.”

11 comments.

Updated: Belkin responds to Media Reader file transfer issue

Brian VanHarlingen, Sr. Technology Manager for Belkin has submitted an official statement to iLounge regarding Belkin’s position on the Media Reader transfer issue.

A reader at dpreview.com has discovered that transferring large files from large capacity compact flash cards is a slow process. A 500MB file transferred from card to Media Reader took 22 minutes. Other transfer tests indicate slow speeds as well - about 1 minute to transfer a 20MB file at 0.300MB per second. Belkin has acknowledged that there is a problem with large file transfers. Belkin is said to be working with Apple to solve the problem. If it’s an hardware issue, Belkin says it will replace the units. If it’s a software issue, Apple will most likely release a firmware update.

Additional details and 54 comments.

LCD Remote for iPod?

A reader has informed us of an Apple iPod presentation on the Apple Sales Web website (members only). Of interest, is a slide depicting a photo of an iPod with an illustrated LCD remote, radio tuner and microphone. Two of the four accessories listed in the slide are shipping - the microphone and photo card reader by Belkin. And Griffin Technology has already announced an FM tuner for iPod. This information leads us to believe that one day there may be an LCD remote released as well. One can only hope. iLounge has verified the Apple iPod presentation for authenticity and concludes it is not a fake.

Additional details and 53 comments.

Recommend a song at DailyTunes.com

DailyTunes.com launched today—a new song recommendation site for iTunes users.  The site provides iTunes links to the Music Store for each song listed.  User recommendation lists and associations offer a lot of potential for new music discovery… allowing users to “surf” music by linking from one song to the next (related) song.

3 comments.

Spike your iPod or put it in a corset

pic Just when you think you’ve seen all the cases available for iPod, along comes a new company with new designs. AnetaGenova has released nince new fashion forward designs, unlike any other iPod cases on the market. Some of the more unique cases are as follows; the Sid case (as in Sid Vicious) features black leather and metal spikes, the Stardust case (as in Ziggy Stardust) features silver leather and metal buckles, the Monty (as in Monty Python) features pink python leather and the La Femme case features pink leather lacing resembling a corset. The AG iPod cases start at $95 and go up to $195 for the La Femme case.

“The most luxurious leather iPod cases have arrived! Born of the latest fashion trends the AG collection of iPod cases is exciting and individualistic. If you want to dress your iPod in the latest fashion check out http://www.anetagenova.com.”

Additional details and 22 comments.

Computerlove Poster Design Contest: Win an iPod

  • October 26, 2003
  • iPod

The folks over at Computerlove are having a poster design contest. First place prize is an iPod for one lucky person. There are also many other great prizes up for grabs. There is a certain theme which must be followed, and more details are available on their website.

Add your comments.

iTrip Needs More Than Fine-Tuning

  • October 26, 2003

Michael Prager of the Boston Globe has written a review of Griffin’s new iTrip, and despite all we’ve been hearing, it’s not a favorable one…

“In my experience, music from the iPod sent through iTrip too often sounds like it’s being played on an iSock, muffled just enough to be maddening. At its best, fidelity is merely acceptable, but in a moving vehicle, conditions are rarely ideal.”

44 comments.

Forbes: Gadgets We Love

  • October 24, 2003
  • iPod

“The most unpopular gift my wife ever received came from me on Christmas Eve of 2001. She unwrapped the package, cracked open the stylish clamshell box and frowned at the debut model of the iPod, Apple’s magnificent music player. It was the size of a pack of cigarettes, gleaming in white and polished stainless steel and ready to swallow hundreds of songs.

‘This isn’t for me,’ she said, sliding the whole mess over to my end of the coffee table. ‘This is for you.’ She was right. So after a few tepid protestations I took custody of the unloved player and turned it into a high-tech talisman of my inner life. The iPod renewed my love of music and answered a primal need: It made me feel cool.”

6 comments.

Apple Store: Save $9 on shipping on iPods

A word of advice when ordering iPods from the Apple Store. Sometimes iPods are shipped directly from an overseas warehouse. In this case, they always come by international 3-day shipping, regardless of what shipping option you chose. If you paid the extra $9 for 2 day shipping, then you’ve wasted your money. I complained and Apple refunded my $9.

2 comments.

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