iLounge

MadsonLine Releases iPod Jogging Pack

Looks like a$$.  Anyone who wears this is asking for a beating.

Posted by Albert on July 29, 2003 at 3:32 PM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

A new zipper is a good idea. Right now you have to be careful when you zip or the zipper will “jump the tracks” and the teeth won’t close properly.

Posted by Nic Olinsky on July 29, 2003 at 3:22 PM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

You are right and I will look at having cases without a hole for that very purpose. ThinkDifferentStore has a number of cases now without holes as a result of an error we made and they are sell them as – without belt clip, but it is not a regular item. I also put my iPod into a zip case without a belt clip because, I constantly have to bring my iPod to the mold makers and to the factory and I like to carry it in my pocket or a gym bag, it is always on the move ( that is one of the reasons that I developed zip to protect my own iPods). Here in China everyone is so curious about my iPod that when they see it they immediately want to hold it. Zip has saved my iPod on more than one occasion. I should mention that PTU is very soft and the hole should not scratch the back of your iPod. The case is a fairly tight fit so it prevents your ipod from moving inside of the case.  Thank you for bring forward a good point, I will run some tests. 
This may be helpful to you, you can wash the case, I have done it a number of times. This week I may have an upgrade with a new zipper, extremely high quality. Because TPU can stretch it will allow me to make a zip case with a very tight fit. 

Posted by Lajo Cymbalski on July 29, 2003 at 2:55 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

Ordered my 30GB iPod on 07/17 when Dell had the 10% off promo with a stackable $50 off a $450 purchase to get my iPod for $400.  It came a week later on 07/24.  This is a great deal.

Posted by vietnamkid on July 29, 2003 at 2:52 PM (PDT)

Next generation iPod does TiVo?

ads on an ipod?  what a surprise that someone thought of that… soon we will be seeing ads on cell phones (imagine a brand ‘jingle’ as your new ringtone), and cell phones are quite so different from ipods.  ads will be everywhere and they will probably offer discounts if you get the ad enabled model.  yea this all sucks, but this sort of thing *is* the natural progression of capitalism.

Posted by wes on July 29, 2003 at 2:50 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

ahahahaha....

warning…

Get it for the good deal BUT!!!! be prepared to be D1cked around by super long delays.. 

Posted by salsavibe on July 29, 2003 at 2:34 PM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

The problem with the hole is the potential for a hole shape scratch on the back plate. It would be nice to have an option for no clip for those who won’t be attaching their iPod to their belt.

Posted by Nic Olinsky on July 29, 2003 at 2:32 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

What is the catch? I have been anxiously looking to buy one for a few months now. I have one on order that I haven’t gotten yet… perhaps this is a better deal?

Posted by michievespini on July 29, 2003 at 2:21 PM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

10gb has no problems with the hole nore will the 30gb

Posted by Lajo Cymbalski on July 29, 2003 at 1:57 PM (PDT)

Next generation iPod does TiVo?

Advertisements on an iPod???

Damn idiot.  I agree with Jason Kottke.

THE DIFFERENCE IS… I DON’T *Subscribe* TO MY IPOD. 

lol

Posted by azdude_15gb on July 29, 2003 at 1:26 PM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

index.html:
First of all, I investigated the differences between encoding settings provided by Quicktime Pro 6.3 and iTunes. Secondly, I listened to audible differences between encoding settings provided by iTunes and QuickTime.

encodingsettings.html:
iTunes 4.0.1 uses Quicktime for performing AAC encoding. Quicktime Pro 6.3 users ... 

encodingobservations.html:
I’ve converted all these tracks to the following formats, using iTunes and Quicktime

Posted by Marc Heijligers on July 29, 2003 at 1:00 PM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

which mp3 encoder did you use?

Posted by ti on July 29, 2003 at 12:42 PM (PDT)

Cringely: One Possible Future for a Music Business

“This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. Owning stock in a company is not the same as owning assets of the company. I’ll give you an example. I own 100 shares of GM. Do you think I can waltz into the factory, grab a new Corvette, and drive off with it because I own it? If this guy talked to lawyers who thought this was a good idea, they’re dumber than he is.”

*****************************

“I agree with SF, the whole concept is total nonsense, the whole point of a corporation is that the stockholders and the corporation are seperate legal entities, this is a fundamental concept on which they are based. Any first year law (or even finance)student would know straight away this is the case, any lawyer who thinks otherwise should not be practicing.”

*****************************

Yeah.  Exactly.

Posted by Z on July 29, 2003 at 12:38 PM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Just some justifications.

VBR is better than CBR for a given encoding, but if the encoding changes as well, it’s comparing Apples:-) and pears, so how can you generalize about VBR and CBR??? 

I can blindly distinguish AAC 320 from AIFF, as well as MP3 320 from AIFF, as well as AAC 320 from MP3 320. Compared to AAC, MP3 has a haze over its sound, which can be easily detected if using proper equipment.

I’m pretty clear about the specific encoder I’ve used in my experiments (Quicktime), and the conclusions are logically restricted to that. I haven’t tried out other encoders that might be better than the one I’ve tried. I might do it in the near future. I’m open for suggestions.

The opinios are mine, not Apple’s. I don’t care what Apple thinks about AAC or MP3, I just observe that I agree with them on the issue of sound quality. I disagree with the 128kbit/sec standard in their music store. I disagree with the EU volume limitation, I disagree with their silent and therefore unfriendly behaviour if you report a problem to them.

I don’t have access to any headphone out there, and have a limited budget. Could you give me a link to your D66SL headphone on e.g. audioreview . People discuss hundreds of headphones on that site, so it must be there as well. I’m very curious what they say about it.

A review is an opinion by definition, hence it’s personal, as I clearly state on the site a couple of times. That doesn’t make it less reliable than any other review about whatever device under test. At least I try to show all settings of my experiment, and suggest people to try it out themselves as well. I would love their opinion, but only can put their observations in context if their experiments are well-described.

Posted by Marc Heijligers on July 29, 2003 at 12:34 PM (PDT)

Think Different Store and eXo iSkin info

I just cancelled my iSkins order.

I have to say, I think it is very poor and ethically, if not legally, questionable business practices to charge someone for a product that doesn’t exist (vaporware). Since I place my order earlier in July, I’ve gotten an email a week (2 or 3 emails total) from iSkins promising the product would ship the following week.

I can certainly understand manufacturing or supplier shipping delays; but I think it is outreageous to bill someone’s credit card before something ships.

Posted by Scott on July 29, 2003 at 12:34 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

exactly what I thought

Posted by Wanksta on July 29, 2003 at 12:14 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

Hmm. Another Dell Deal?

Posted by Squibbles on July 29, 2003 at 12:10 PM (PDT)

Think Different Store and eXo iSkin info

I ordered one last week and got it delivered Monday (7/29) from ThinkDifferent store.  That’s only 4 biz days, pretty quick.  It’s White Frost for 30GB w/ free Macclear zip case but no screen protector yet.  Very nice.

Posted by miyagi on July 29, 2003 at 12:04 PM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Sraphim....how do u figure that ppl still use WMA out of choice?  I mean for music stores the HAVE to because MP3 doesnt include DRM.  they dont use AAC because it isnt widely used (yet).  WMA is the only thing that is even close to protect their copyrights and have some sort of compatibility.

Posted by lilmoonee on July 29, 2003 at 11:30 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Most of this website is opinion, which is fine.  One item that he proved mathematically is that, when encoding a CD with AAC, there is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between the Better and Best encoding levels.  While I had heard this in the past, he proved it.

Posted by thenightfly42 on July 29, 2003 at 10:55 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Not necessarily. There will still be other technologies out there. For example, most people would agree in a listening test that Microsoft’s WMA format is much worse than RealPlayer, MP3, and even standard AAC. However, people will keep using it, due to the fact that M$ still has a de facto monopoly on the desktop computer operating system industry, which most estimates put at about 93%-95% of all personal computers.

Just like how IE was a much inferior browser to Netscape in the early days, and yet, people still used IE more because it came with their computer, WMA is an inferior technology, but it will be used regardless because of the simple fact that without even a single download, all new Windows computers have an encoder built into the system default media player: Windows Media Player. No matter how good they get AAC or MP3, WMA will never be “blown out of the water”. 

Posted by Sraphim on July 29, 2003 at 10:35 AM (PDT)

Hack for removing volume cap on European iPods

Only dumb losers shell out 500-600 Euros for a piece of crap player that you can’t even hear and that runs out of power in 4 hours!

Posted by Jo Jo Chintoh on July 29, 2003 at 10:10 AM (PDT)

Hack for removing volume cap on European iPods

Most people testify that Xplay gives distortion-free higher volume for EuroIpoders so why is this necessary ?

Posted by Olayphtangphtangphtangbiscuitbarrell on July 29, 2003 at 10:00 AM (PDT)

Hack for removing volume cap on European iPods

Think I’ll wait for a slightly less involved solution to present itself, hopefully someone can do a binary hack.  More volume would be nice tho!

Posted by bassman-x on July 29, 2003 at 9:46 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

once AAC+SBR is standardized it will blow everything out of the water.....using nero’s HE-AAC codec im able to get near cd quality with about 80bits/s bitrate..... it uses the same technology as MP3Pro.

Posted by lilmoonee on July 29, 2003 at 9:33 AM (PDT)