iLounge

IFC Entertainment today announced the availability of its independent theatrical catalog on Apple’s iTunes Store. Available immediately for purchase and download on iTunes are 13 films, 6 of which are nominated for IFC’s upcoming 2007 Independent Spirit Awards, which will be held on Saturday, February 24th. All IFC films on iTunes will be priced at $9.99. “By making IFC films available on the world’s most popular online movie store we’re giving independent filmmakers the exciting opportunity to reach a wider audience of movie enthusiasts,” said Lisa Schwartz, IFC’s senior vice president of sales and business development.

Speck Products has announced the TechStyle Puck ($20), a new all-in-one carrying case for the second-generation iPod shuffle. The TechStyle Puck holds the shuffle and earbuds, and features cable management and a removable carabiner clip. “The durable hard shell exterior provides protection, while inside, the ingenious cable management system keeps your headphones wrapped up and ready to go” says Speck. “Simply snap the shuffle in, zip it up and toss it into your purse, briefcase or luggage for easy travel.”

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will make a rare joint appearance at The Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital conference this year. According to show organizers, they will jointly discuss “the history and future of the digital revolution in an unrehearsed, unscripted, onstage conversation.” Both executives have made multiple appearances at the conference, but this will be their first joint session at D. Jobs will also appear on his own in a separate segment at D to discuss the latest developments at Apple. The conference, which is sold out, will take place May 29-31 near San Diego, California.

Griffin Technology today announced its latest line of iPod cases are now shipping and will hit shelves over the next month. Griffin’s Spring case collection includes: Reflect for iPod video and nano ($25), a tinted reflective polycarbonate hard-shell case; Centerstage for iPod video with mirror finish ($25, shown), an updated version of the flip-stand case with Reflect tinted finish; iClear Photo for iPod video and nano ($25, $20), a customizable clear polycarbonate case that allows you to insert your own artwork; Trio Plus for iPod nano ($30), a 3-way leather case with interchangeable covers; and California Roll ($20), a soft-sided roll-up case.

Jive Records announced today that Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around… Comes Around” video, which debuted Feb. 9 on the iTunes Store, has been purchased and downloaded more than 50,000 times.

iPodResQ have renamed their business to iResQ. “This re-branding will simplify the recognition of their repair programs and will provide room for growth into new markets,” according to the company.

Palm CEO Ed Colligan recently discussed the iPhone with Swiss newspaper Sonntagszeitung. “I have great respect for Apple, but won’t be easy to create a good smartphone that will functions on networks worldwide,” Colligan said. “Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung have worked on this for for 25 years and have only partially succeeded today. Our Palm Treo already has 90% of Apple’s iPhone features at a much lower price.”

EMI has confirmed a buyout offer by Warner Music Group. The AP reports: “Struggling music company EMI Group PLC, beset by profit warnings and an accounting scandal in Brazil, was thrown a potential lifeline Tuesday with a possible new takeover bid by former suitor Warner Music Group.”

Life Fitness has announced that it will soon offer commercial exercise equipment with iPod integration. “This connectivity makes it possible for iPod users to plug in and charge their iPods, watch video on the equipment’s large LCD screen and control the playing of their iPod music libraries from the console,” says the company. The first Life Fitness product with iPod integration will be demoed at the upcoming IHRSA Convention in San Francisco and will be available in March, with the rest of the line to be released later in the year.

Low-cost Mexcian airline Volaris this month began handing out iPods to passengers in a test run, and will soon start charging 50 pesos (about $5) per flight. Volaris currently offers 30GB fifth-generation iPods filled with Mexican TV shows and popular music, but the airline plans to also load U.S. sitcoms and other music genres. “We’re the first to use iPod’s. We like it because no one else has it,” said public relations officer Alfonso Collantes. “We just went out and bought a bunch of iPods and started giving them out to passengers.” U.S giants Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines announced last year that they planned to add iPod connectivity into seat-back video screens.

Speaking at an education reform conference last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs criticized teacher unions, saying public schools would not improve until principals could fire bad teachers.

Graphic design firm Logan has posted screenshots of the startup movie for the Apple TV, which is scheduled to ship before the end of the month.

Jon Healey of the Los Angeles Times reports that EMI may have been planning to offer its catalog of music in DRM-free MP3 format before Apple CEO Steve Jobs penned his recent open letter on copy protection.

Satellite radio giants Sirius and XM announced today that the two companies will be combined in an all-stock merger with a combined enterprise value of approximately $13 billion. A company press release listed the iPod as one of the combined company’s many existing competitors, rather than potential partners, with new wireless and radio technologies expected to follow suit.

SendStation Systems has announced the Dock Extender, a new iPod add-on that lets users dock and connect an iPod to accessories—such as speaker systems, FM transmitters and voice recorders—without removing the device from its case. The Dock Extender is designed to work with all iPod cases with a dock connector opening. A matching Universal Dock insert is included. The Dock Extender will be available next month; pricing as yet to be determined.

In a front page article entitled “How Steve Jobs Played Hardball In iPhone Birth,” the Wall Street Journal offers a glimpse of how the iPhone came to be. The in-depth article has many details that were not previously revealed, including the fact that only three Cingular executives got to see the iPhone before it was announced. A snippet from the article (paid subscription required) is below.

Early on, both sides determined it would be a bad idea for Apple to offer its own cellphone service, leasing access to Cingular’s network. Even though Virgin Mobile USA and other startup cellphone operators were using that method with some success, Mr. Jobs was cautious. He viewed the cellphone business as an unforgiving one, where carriers are blamed for network problems and overwhelmed by customer complaints.

Instead, he wanted to focus on building a good handset. Cingular, realizing that Motorola’s device “didn’t feel like an Apple phone,” according to one executive involved in handset decisions, was willing to give Mr. Jobs room to come up with something.

Apple assembled a development team to build the iPhone that quickly mushroomed into hundreds of people. Mr. Jobs worked closely with Jonathan Ive, the design guru at Apple who was responsible for the look of the iPod and other products, to come up with a head-turning design for the iPhone.

NASCAR today announced that race fans will be able to purchase and download video highlights of the 2007 Daytona 500 from the iTunes Store. The highlights will be available the day after the race for $1.99. “The highlights will be produced by NASCAR.COM, a division of Turner Sports New Media, and will capture the action from green flag to checkered flag along with interviews from drivers following the action,” NASCAR said. “The video download gives race fans the ability to relive the key action of The Great American Race, in addition to listening in on key radio communications between drivers and crew chiefs as they battle for this season’s most prestigious title.”

Fred Amoroso, president and CEO of Macrovision, has published his own open letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the digital entertainment industry on digital rights management (DRM). “With such an enjoyable and revolutionary experience within our grasp, we should not minimize the role that DRM can and should play in enabling the transition to electronic content distribution,” he says. “Without reasonable, consistent and transparent DRM we will only delay the availability of premium content in the home. As an industry, we should not let that happen.”

A Kenyan man inadvertently scared off burglars with his iPod.  “The two thieves, not knowing that the owner of the house was lying on the floor with his wife, got scared and ran back out via the window apparently thinking that the light from the ipod was a ghost… John immediately put on his clothes, left his wife and trekked the 12 miles to the nearest police station. The cops, who’d never seen an iPod before, confiscated it and sent John away calling him a liar and rich with imagination.”

Federal prosecutors are “strongly considering” criminal charges against former executives of Apple related to the backdating of stock options. “More than 170 companies have been investigated by U.S. authorities or have conducted internal inquiries into possible manipulation of option grant dates,” reports CNN/Money. “Some companies are accused of backdating grant dates to days when the share price was lower, giving the recipient the opportunity for extra profit.”

The San Jose Business Journal reports: “Apple Inc. and Pixar Chief Executive Steve Jobs will give away his controversial fixer-upper house in Woodside, CA to a local investor who plans to spend between $4 million and $6 million to relocate and restore it. An appellate court denied Jobs’ appeal last week for a rehearing following San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Marie Weiner’s decision last year, which bars the executive from tearing down the 30-room mansion, known as the Jackling House.”

Cisco has again given Apple more time to respond to its trademark lawsuit over the iPhone name, extending negotiations until February 21st. The Associated Press reports: “After the companies had previously agreed to extend the deadline until Thursday night, Cisco, the world’s largest networking equipment maker, said Apple now has until Wednesday to respond to the lawsuit filed last month in San Francisco federal court. Both companies reiterated previous statements that they want to use the extra time to reach a settlement.”

Tunewear has introduced red versions of its Prie Tunewallet micro and Prie Ambassador cases designed to match the (PRODUCT) RED iPod nano. The red Prie Tunewallet micro ($35) and Prie Ambassador ($40) are both made from high quality nappa leather and come with a Tunefilm clear protective screen cover. The Prie Tunewallet micro features room for cash and cards, while the Prie Ambassador (shown) features a removable hook and clip. Both cases will be available next month.

According to a Jupiter Research survey, almost two-thirds of European music industry executives believe removing digital rights management (DRM) from downloadable music would compel more consumers to buy music online. The study was carried out between December and January, before Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ call for DRM-free music. “The study revealed that about 54% of those executives questioned thought that current DRM systems were too restrictive,” reports BBC News. “Also, 62% believed that dropping DRM and releasing music files that can be enjoyed on any MP3 player would boost the take-up of digital music generally.”

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters today announced a white version of its Action Jacket for the second-generation iPod shuffle. Made of neoprene, the machine washable Action Jacket ($20) features an adjustable armband and a clear vinyl window that allows users to navigate their music on-the-go.

SwimMan has taken a novel approach to waterproofing an iPod by doing so from the inside out. The company, using proprietary internal waterproofing technology, is selling altered second-generation iPod shuffles that are waterproof up to 10 feet below water. This alteration, according to the company, in no way impacts the outside of the player so that it can retain its original look. Customers can choose to buy the waterproofed shuffle on its own ($150), or bundled with SwimMan’s Waterproof Headset II ($250).

Chinese electronics maker Meizu is the first company to closely copy the look and feel of Apple’s iPhone. The Meizu miniOne, due out in the fourth quarter of 2007, is a GSM phone with numerous iPhone similarities, including a curved, black and polished steel design, touch-screen interface, and a nearly identical on-screen software icon layout. According to preliminary specifications, the miniOne is slightly smaller and thinner than the iPhone, has a higher resolution screen, and runs the Windows CE 6.0 operating system. Meizu also claims that the phone will be powered by the ARM11 processor and will sport two built-in cameras—a 3.0 megapixel camera on the back and an 0.3 megapixel camera on the phone’s face.

Monster Cable has announced its support of Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ anti-DRM open letter. “DRM is a complex and political issue, but digital music compatibility is even more complicated to consumers and limiting to the industry,” said the company. “We are proud to support an open format and leaders like Steve Jobs who are making the efforts to get us there.”

Without DRM restrictions on digital music, “Sales would explode,” says David Pakman, CEO of eMusic, the No. 2 online music retailer behind iTunes. “DRM has been holding the market back,” he says.

At the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Woo-Young Kwak, head of LG’s mobile handset R&D center, said Apple’s iPhone is a copy of LG’s Prada phone. “We consider that Apple copycat Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006,” he said.

Apple has put together a section on the iTunes Store featuring winners from the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Winners include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dixie Chicks, Mary J. Blige, Gnarls Barkley, John Mayer, and Carrie Underwood.

Aquapac, a maker of waterproof consumer electronics accessories, has announced two new iPod-compatible products. The first is a set of 100% Waterproof Headphones ($40), which sport an in-ear design and have been tested for use down to about 10 ft. under water. The second new item is an iPod/MP3 Player Case ($40), which is designed to protect your iPod from sand, water and dirt via features like a built-in external headphone jack, clear front panel and a submersible depth up to 15 ft.