iLounge

Julio Ojeda-Zapata of the Pioneer Press writes about using shareware to help you sync and manage contacts and addresses on your iPod for Windows.

The program is easy to use. On start-up it looks for a connected iPod and parses the iTunesDB file on your iPod. From the iTunesDB file it creates two files. In the ~/Music folder, you should see a iPodDB.html file and a iPodDB.xml file. The HTML file can be opened with a web browser and is just a listing of all the songs (location, size, bitrate, album, artist, title) on your iPod. The xml file can be used by iLyric. So open iLyric and change the default location for your “iTunes Music Library.xml” file to point to “iPodDB.xml.”

Pyrim Technologies has announced a price reduction for its i-Trac case from $59.99 to $39.99. i-Trac is available for all iPod models in black or burgundy, and foam inserts in black, blue, yellow or red.

Apple UK has posted two iPod radio ads on its website. “The ads, ‘7500 songs… is that a typo?!’ and ‘Jazz, Classical, Opera, Funk, Soul…’, feature the voice of Hollywood actor Jeff Goldblum, star of ‘Jurassic Park’ and Apple’s own television ads. The radio campaign will run until mid-July.”
Source: MacMinute

Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes has posted Rip To iPod, a free AppleScript that rips each enabled (check-marked) CD track to iTunes and immediately copies it to iPod, deletes the file, and removes the track from the iTunes library, giving the appearance of seamless CD-to-iPod importing. You can also change your encoder on-the-fly and your Preferences-set encoder will be restored after the rip. Works in OS 9 and OS X.

For people who live in the San Francisco Bay Area (California) and ride BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), this is a program that lists all line schedules and stations for the iPod. It requires a Gen2 iPod with the Notes feature.

Vaja has announced the Vaja Pre-Order Program for its new i-Vod case for new iPods. Vaja will be releasing the new i-Vod case on July 4th. If you order a new i-Vod case before June 27th you’ll get a $15 certificate toward the purchase amount of one case. No certificates will be issued after June 27. The certificate expires on September 27th, 2003. Your credit card will be charged at the time you place an order. Click ‘Read more’ for full details.

iLounger Alexis writes in an email to us: I had two orders placed on Dell’s site on 6/10 and 6/12 when they had the 10% and 15% off deals. They went through, but I never got shipping status emails and low and behold when I called Dell they told me they had lost the contract to sell them so both my orders had gotten cancelled.

“The Macintosh iLife” author Jim Heid takes a closer look at iPod Software 2.0.1 and its eight improvements.

At this years R&R Convention 2003, trade publication Radio & Records and Edison Media Research unveiled the results of a national survey of 12 to 44 year olds showing that the illegal downloading of music is hurting music sales. (Click ‘Read more’ for the complete press release.)

The Apple Store is selling refurbished iPod 20GB Windows for $299. The package includes headphones (new earbud-style), remote and carrying case, power adapter, FireWire cable, 4-6 pin FireWire adapter, manual, CD-ROM Disc w/MusicMatch and electronic documentation, and one-year warranty. Note: Apple lists the package contents incorrectly as if it were iPod for Mac (with iTunes).

Griffin Technology is now accepting pre-orders for iTrip for new iPods, due to ship by July 21st.

Also note that Griffin has updated the iTrip Manual and it’s now available for download in PDF format. “Update includes clarified and illustrated instructions on switching stations.”

Apple has released the iPod Software 2.0.1 Update.

What’s New in iPod Software Update 2.0.1:
 
• Better support for Asian languages
• Enhanced On-The-Go playlist functionality
• Improved playback performance
• Improved handling of mp3 VBR songs
• Fixed artist sorting
• Improved backlight
• Improved alarm clock
• Fixed left/right channel swapping

New in Windows Update:
• USB 2.0 synchronization
• Support for Audible.com
• Support for multiple iPods on one computer
• Shorter connection times
• Better overall performance

Incase Designs, makers of carrying bags and cases has released the redesigned Sleeve for iPod which fits 10, 15 and 30GB iPods. Sleeve for iPod costs $24.95 plus shipping.

Features include:

Leander Kahney of Wired News has written an article about Activaire, a company offering rented iPods loaded with a customized catalog of music to restaurants, nightspots, clothing boutiques and hair salons. In an earlier report Philadelphia DJ, Adam Porter (DJ Botany 500) offers a similar service and is also mentioned in the Wired News article.

For folks hooking up their iPod to a Volkswagen car, Ed’s Electronics Garage has put together a homebrewed microcontroller that “fools the stock head unit into thinking a VW CD Changer is connected, allowing you to listen to your audio device through your vehicle’s built-in speakers when you select “CD” at the head unit.” The VWCDPIC Audio Interface Adapter is $34.00 plus shipping.

Update: An anonymous reader has sent us the contents of a reply email from Blitzsafe:

“We did start a basic interface for the iPod, I do not think before September or October, We are working with Apple now. We do have the Aux interface available at this time, you will use the iPod to control function, or you may wait. Stay tuned.”

Wanted to let the iPodophiles know that Blitzsafe, the makers of the auxillary input adapters, is working directly with Apple (according to Blitzsafe, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) to create an adapter (for cd changer ready headunits) that will not only provide the audio input but also allow the headunit’s controls to control the iPod. I’ve not gotten confirmation on providing a power source for the iPod via this adapter, but headunits normally send 12v to the changer. The adapter probably won’t be ready before September/October time frame for general release.

Great news, especially since my iPod continually tries to kill me when I’m driving (distracting me while I should be braking, turning or just paying attention in general).

Editor’s note: Blitzsafe has confirmed this to be true in an email to iLounge with a simple ‘yes.’ No other information was provided.

Bose Corporation has announced the QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Canceling headphones. We reviewed the first generation QuietComfort headphones last year, and were impressed with its performance. The QuietComfort 2 features include a fold flat design, single earcup audio cable, detachable audio cable with built-in volume control, Active Equalization, low battery life indicator, dual plug adapter, ¼” audio cable adapter, extension cable, and portable carry case. A full list of features and information is available at the Bose website.

Steve Gurly of Pyrim Technologies, Inc. wanted our readers to know that the i-Track carry case has inserts available to fit new iPods.