Friday, February 7, 2003
Pyrim Introduces i-Buddy
Pyrim has announced an all-in-one case and stand which also includes the Ear Buddy earbud caddy. The i-Buddy is available now for $34.99 and comes in black and blue.
“The i-Buddy is a high-quality leather iPod case and iPod stand that comes complete with a removable cover plus an Ear Buddy. In addition, the i-Buddy is designed to fit 5, 10 or 20 gb iPods.”
Thursday, February 6, 2003
Mac: iPod Launcher 1.2 Released
“There’s a proliferation of tools available for working with your iPod. Wouldn’t it be great if they all started automatically when you connected your iPod to your Mac? Well now they can. With iPod Launcher you specify applications via System Preferences and, whenever you connect your iPod, they launch.”
- What’s new in v1.2:
- You can now select AppleScripts to run (compiled scripts having a .scpt extension as well as AppleScript applications). With AppleScript, there’s no limit to what can be done when you connect an iPod—automatic backups are just the beginning! The download includes a sample script for automating backups to your iPod.
- You can now select files to load. This allows you to launch an application with a file (for those applications that can use the file to define actions to perform on launch).
License: Shareware $4.95
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.1 or higher
For more info…
Download…
Mac: Slurp 1.0 Released
“Slurp maintains a database of all music files present on your iPod and allows you to sort and search through them. You can then copy all or part of them either as text listing or as regular files in order to get them back on your hard drive, or to burn them directly from your iPod by using your favorite CD/DVD burning program.
What does Slurp do that iTunes doesn’t?
iTunes doesn’t allow you to get your music back from your iPod to your hard drive.
This is not an issue if you set up iTunes to automatically synchronize your iPod with your local music library, since you always have a local copy of your files. However, if you choose to organize your iPod manually in order to keep your music on your iPod only, you cannot get your music files back to your hard drive or burn them onto a CD. Slurp allows you to do that.
Another interesting feature of Slurp is the ability to browse your iPod library on your computer even when your iPod is not connected.”
License: Beta
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.2 or higher
For more info…
Download…
Mac: iPod.iTunes 2.0b1 (formerly iPod2iTunes) Released
“iPod.iTunes is the only utility which provides real synchronization of tracks and playlists from your iPod(s) to your Mac(s). iPod.iTunes saves your time because it automatically only copies those tracks which are missing in the iTunes library, excluding duplicates. It provides also an option to build a list of tracks which are not in iTunes and to copy only desired tracks from that list.”
- What’s new in v2.0b1:
- Complete new and user friendly Aqua interface:
- One click synchronization of tracks or playlists entries (or both together).
- Up to 40% faster.
- Option to give transferred iPod playlists a prefix to have them separated from other playlists.
- Synchronization of smart playlists is an option now.
- iPod2iTunes has been renamed to iPod.iTunes.
- New application icon
+ Tabs for Settings, Synchronization and Tools.
+ Log & Guide area.
+ Progress bars.
License: $29.90, 34.90 or 39.90 (your choice)
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.1.2 or higher and iTunes 2.0.3 or higher
For more info…
Download…
Linux Installed On iPod
Leander Kahney of Wired writes about programmer Bernard Leach who has successfully installed a “pared-down” version of Linux called uClinux on his iPod.
This could mean some interesting developments for iPod in the future.
“The Linux operating system does little more than boot up and display a string of text on the iPod’s screen. It doesn’t even play music when running Linux.”
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
“Guy Ports XP To iPod”
Crazy Apple Rumors writes a satirical look at one guy’s efforts to port Windows XP to iPod. It’s a fun read.
“‘It wasn’t easy,’ said Mason, 28. ‘Obviously, I had to use the 20 GB iPod, and even then I had to take out a whole mess of things. File navigation, control panels, applications… And, of course, there’s no room for any MP3s anymore. And it crashes a lot. And it was hard getting the product activation code in using the scroll wheel and those buttons.’”
Grammy Gifts Include iPod 20GB
USA Today reports that this year’s 45th Annual Grammy Awards will feature the traditional gift bag for various awards presenters and performers. Included in the gift bag will be the iPod 20GB. Last year’s Grammy Awards gift bag included the iPod 5GB.
“The combined value of the gift basket and lounge, put together by L.A.-based Distinctive Assets, is $20,000.”
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Refurbished iPod 20GB for $429
Updated 02|13|03: No longer available.
Apple has once again posted “Special Deals” on refurbished iPod 20GB at its online Apple store. The price is $429 and includes a one year limited warranty.