iLounge

Dealmac: JumpSpace offers discounts on the new line of Apple iPods. The 10GB iPod costs $273.93, the 15GB iPod costs $365.57, and the 30GB iPod costs $457.24. Each is the lowest price we’ve seen, although you’ll need a membership at JumpSpace (which costs $9.95 per year) to make a purchase. dealmac readers can browse its site with a username of “dealmac1” and password of “57dealsatjump”. Add around $8 for shipping.

Dealmac: According to several readers, Best Buy retail stores have begun clearing out stock of the second-generation iPods. An iPod 10GB, for Mac or PC, costs $199, while an iPod 20GB for PC goes for $299. (Several readers reported finding open-box iPods for even less.) These specials may not be available at all locations.

Shoshana Berger writes that the iPod 30GB “puts the competition on ice” and confesses that her “aural fixation just got worse.”

French website, MacBidouille reports that one of its readers, Gregory has successfully replaced the “OK to disconnect” screen on his Pod to one of his own design. He was inspired by information posted at http://members.lycos.co.uk/busonerd/ipod.php, but at the time of this posting the site was down.

Sonnet has launched the iEnvy products guide for users with old Macs. Sonnet offers several processor upgrade and FireWire PCI card solutions enabling you to use iTunes, iPod, iMovie or iPhoto on old Macs, even an old Beige G3. Check the website for specific Mac models supported.

ShareiTunes.com lists those people sharing their iTunes 4 library on the Internet. Simply sign-up at their website to be included in the 180+ sharers. Categories for each listed user includes; iTunes Share Name, iTunes Share Owner, Genres, Comments, Status and duration. We asked Richard Yaker, the owner of the website what prompted him to start such a website…

Dealmac: “A reader notes that Dell Small Business offers Apple’s iPod 20GB for PC for $349 in its Software and Peripherals store. (Search for “M8741LL/A” to find it.) Add it to your cart and the price falls to $279.20. It’s the best price we’ve seen for the 20GB iPod by $70. Shipping is free, although sales tax is added where applicable. Offer ends today.”

MacCentral reports a story about FM radio station WFMU in the New York/New Jersey area using an iPod as a backup solution when weather knocks out their satellite feed.

BusinessWeek‘s technology editor, Alex Salkever interviews Apple’s senior vice-president for worldwide product marketing, Phil Shiller about the wildly successful iTunes Music Store.

Reader “pudge” at SlashDot reports that “the new iPods released last week seem to have a problem that causes an audible ‘electrostatic pop’ between all tracks played on it. The effect is not imaginary, as it has been witnessed by many users over at the Apple discussion forums. Now, one user has actually published a sound sample recorded the iPod’s playback and the verdict is in: it’s real. I hope this is a firmware issue and that it’s quickly fixed...”

Our own forums are reporting this and other problems encountered with new iPods. If you have experienced the same “pop” or “click” between tracks on your iPod leave your comments here and report any problems on Apple’s iPod Feeback page. Hopefully it will garner immediate attention and Apple will release updated firmware to fix the problem.

Apple has posted new KnowledgeBase Documents on the following subjects:

iPod (with Dock Connector): About the Touch-Sensitive Buttons
iPod: Software Compatibility Chart

Dealmac: “Several readers report that Target retail stores have lowered the price on Apple’s 10GB iPod for Mac to $199. That’s $50 off our last mention and the best price we’ve seen for a second-generation iPod. Many note that only one or two remain at each location, so supplies are very limited. (This deal may not be available at all Target locations, and is not listed online.)”

MARWARE recently posted information and preview photos of new cases for iPod 10, 15 and 30GB models. Visit their website for pricing and information.

“Cases are available for pre-order at 954-927-6031, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern time. Product will ship the week of May 19, 2003.”

The guys at iPoding are at it again, this time taking apart the new iPod dock. There are two photos pointing out various components on the inside of the dock.

Terrie Miller at MacDevCenter writes about her switch from PDA to iPod. She discusses several features including calendars, contacts, text notes, using iPod as a hard disk and the recent recording feature discovered by iPoding. There’s also a tip on creating song links using the Note Reader feature in iPod Software 2.0.

iLounger Sabastian has posted photos and first impressions of the new iPods on his SebiMeyer’s Blog website. He attended the Friday night, ‘Live On Stage’ event at the Apple Store International Plaza Mall in Tampa, Florida.

DLO (Digital Lifestyle Outfitters) has announced newly updated accessories of its current lienup to accomodate new iPods.

DLO Jam Jacket $19.99
DLO PodFolio Leather iPod Jacket $29.99
DLO Action Jacket $29.99
DLO Leather iPod Protector with Swivel Belt Clip $29.99
DLO iPod Auto Connection Kit II (w/ FM Transmitter) $48.95
DLO Transpod II All-in-one Car Solution for iPod (under devevelopment)

All above items except for TransPod are available for pre-order now and are expected to start shipping June 9, 2003. The new TransPod for new iPod is currently under development and no pricing or shipping date has been announced at this time.

iLounger Robert Morrisey has created a QuickTime movie of Apple’s recent iPod release event, Live On Stage at The Grove in Los Angeles, California. You’ll see photos of singer/songwriter Seal in the video and also DJ/producer BT providing music for the event.

MacMice has announced the 1st Annual Budd Ugly Sale. DVBase iPod stands and other products are scratched and/or dented in some form or another and on sale at substantial savings. DvForge has also made available the only DVBase prototype in black for $150 (It was still available at time of posting). The only white, solid aluminum DVBase prototype has already been sold for $150.

Kynan Shook of Rem Software emails us with information about a new AppleScript he wrote to bookmark your favorite iTunes 4 “Shared Music” addresses.

“This isn’t very iPod related, but there’s a lot of iTunes users here that will enjoy this:  I’m just writing to get the word out on a new freeware AppleScript I just wrote that I think a lot of people will find very useful.  iTunes 4 lets you connect with anybody’s shared music (not just those on your local network), but it doesn’t keep track of who you like to connect to; if either you or they quit iTunes, change network locations, etc. you get disconnected and it’s a pain to reconnect.  So I have a pair of scripts that lets you create an ‘address book’ of your favorites, and then connects you to all of them at just the click of a button.”