LC Angell![Palm, Microsoft to unveil new mobile devices [updated] 1](https://assets.ilounge.com/images/uploads/microsoft-surface.jpg)
Two potential iPhone rivals will be introduced weeks ahead of the device on Wednesday, according to reports. Palm said today that company founder Jeff Hawkins will announce “a new category of mobile device” at the Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital Conference tomorrow. Meanwhile, Gizmodo is reporting that Microsoft will introduce a new device at midnight tonight. In an
Apple has confirmed that a number of recently released audiobooks being sold on the iTunes Store will not properly play on iPods. The defective audiobooks — which include top sellers such as “The Four-Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferriss and “The Assault on Reason” by Al Gore — will reportedly play in iTunes, but refuse to play on any iPod,
Digital Lifestyle Outfitters today announced the TransDock Deluxe, the latest addition its line of in-car iPod connectivity cradles. The TransDock Deluxe features a built-in FM transmitter, charging iPod dock, AV output, and RF remote control that attaches to either side of a steering wheel. It sells for $130. “With the TransDock Deluxe, iPod music is broadcast through a car’s FM
iPod accessory maker Belkin has launched a new online service that helps users locate the best FM radio frequencies for use with portable FM transmitters. After users submit their zip code or city and state, Belkin’s “My Best FM” service will search a comprehensive database of FM radio frequencies and list the ones with the clearest transmission in the specified
Apple’s iPhone may be available with prepaid cellular service, according to a report from a mobile industry insider blog. The Boy Genius Report has posted screenshots purported to be from an internal AT&T/Cingular system which shows that the iPhone will be available three ways—traditional subscription service, Go Phone Pay As You Go (prepaid), and Go Phone Pick Your Plan (hybrid).
Mondo Systems has announced the Mondo Mint, a new wireless music system consisting of a mini Class-D digital amplifier, two bookshelf speakers, a remote control, and a wireless dock designed to remotely stream music from an iPod up to 100 feet away. “It connects to any major music source to affordably bring great sound to any room—from den to office
Coca-Cola has teamed up with Apple to give away 2 billion songs as part of a large promotional campaign in Europe. Spanning 17 European countries and running from May until the end of August, the promotion will also offer chances to win free iPods and attend some of the 100-plus Coke and iTunes sponsored summer concerts across Europe. Free song
Apple has begun airing yet another new iPod+iTunes television commercial. Like previous ads, the new 30-second spot continues the company’s silhouetted dancers theme. The new ad features the song “Mi Swing Es Tropical” by Nickodemus & Quantic featuring Tempo.
ezGear has announced three silicone ezSkin cases for Apple’s iPhone. The cases, which will come with an adhesive screen protector, include the ezSkin for iPhone, ezSkin Bumperz for iPhone, and the ezSkin Xtreme for iPhone. The ezSkin is a slim-fitting case with removable belt holster. The ezSkin Bumperz wraps around the perimeter of the iPhone providing protection for the edge and
Kensington has introduced its latest iPod FM transmitter—the QuickSeek. Using ClearFM technology, the device “finds the clearest FM station for transmitting iPod tunes through a radio within seconds, improving transmission quality and convenience. This way, iPod users can enjoy their music, with crisp, clear sound, while eliminating the time-consuming tuning often needed to play an iPod through an FM radio.”
Apple today announced that Paul McCartney’s new album, “Memory Almost Full,” is available for pre-order beginning today exclusively on the iTunes Store. Those who pre-order the former Beatle’s 13-track album will receive the “Dance Tonight” music video when the album is delivered as well as the single “Ever Present Past”, immediately upon pre-ordering the new album. Apple also announced that
Online video stores such as Apple’s iTunes could peak this year as more advertising-supported content is made available for free, according to a new study by Forrester Research. The firm said sales of digital movies and television shows are expected to almost triple to $279 million in 2007, but that sales will likely flatten out next year. “In the video
The Beatles’ music catalog may soon be available for sale online, according to Paul McCartney. The former Beatle told Billboard magazine that a deal to put the band’s music online is “virtually settled.” Following a settlement between Apple Inc. and the Beatles’ Apple Corps. earlier this year, there has been much speculation as to when the Beatles’ catalog would be
iPods can cause cardiac implantable pacemakers to malfunction, according to a study presented by a 17-year-old high school student to a meeting of heart specialists at Michigan State University this week. “The study tested the effect of the portable music devices on 100 patients, whose mean age was 77, outfitted with pacemakers,” reports Reuters. “Electrical interference was detected half of
Motorola CEO Ed Zander says his company is ready to take on Apple’s iPhone. “How do you deal with that?” Zander was asked at the Software 2007 conference yesterday. “How do they deal with us?” he quipped. “I think it’s going to, in some cases, reinforce what we have been trying to do and are doing with the mobile Internet.
A new Apple patent filing shows an iPod-like device that would boast a display on one side and a touch-sensitive surface on the other. Apple’s summary of the patent reads: “An electronic device uses separate surfaces for input and output. One of the surfaces (e.g., the bottom) includes a force-sensitive touch-surface through which a user provides input (e.g., cursor manipulation
Microsoft has released a Windows Vista update to fix iPod compatibility problems. “The release is for users worldwide and works with the latest version of Apple iTunes to correct an issue that caused some iPods to become corrupted when ejecting them using Windows Explorer or the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ function in the System Tray,” reports Microsoft’s Windows Vista Team Blog.
Electronic Arts executives have revealed that the company plans to release four new iPod games. During EA’s quarterly earnings conference call, EA Chief Financial Officer Warren Jenson said the company’s EA Mobile division will launch the iPod games this year, but did not give specific release dates. The only title mentioned by name was Sims Bowling. EA currently sells five
Best Buy is offering a Mother’s Day gift set featuring a pink or silver 4GB iPod nano and a variety of chocolates. “This special gift set pairs mom’s love of music with her love of chocolate and wraps them in a charming, polka-dotted box inspired by the prism of iPod nano colors and the retro design that is all the
Ticketmaster has announced that it will give customers complimentary digital music with every concert ticket purchased online. With every concert ticket purchased at Ticketmaster.com, the company is providing a 10-song digital music sampler, which showcases “a variety of emerging and established artists.” In addition, with the purchase of every ticket to any summer concert scheduled to take place between Memorial
Memorex will soon introduce the Mi1111 iPod speaker system. The 2.1 tabletop system features a built-in iPod docking station, top-loading CD player, digital radio, audio line-in, and advanced wireless remote. The Mi1111 will retail for under $100 and is expected to be available in June.
BusinessWeek has once again named Apple the most innovative company in the world. “For the third year in a row, the design-driven masters in Cupertino, Calif., lead the pack of creative firms on our list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies,” says the magazine. “Apple manages to dominate any would-be contenders, beating out two-time runner-up Google with more than twice
Belkin has introduced two new pink iPod nano cases—the Sport Armband and Hope Remix Metal—with proceeds to help fight breast cancer. For each case sold, Belkin will donate 10% of the retail price to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Sport Armband ($30) features “stitchless” construction and is hand-washable and water-resistant. The Hope Remix Metal ($30; shown) is
Carrie Underwood’s cover of The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You” has become the first iTunes exclusive track to debut in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song, which was recorded for the “American Idol Gives Back” charity show, was downloaded 124,496 times by this past weekend. Proceeds from “I’ll Stand by You” go to benefit the