Saturday, March 1, 2003
Linux: gtkpod 0.43-1 Released
Software developer Jorge Shuler emailed to inform us about his gtkpod for Linux application.
“gtkpod is a platform independent GUI for Apple’s iPod using GTK2. It allows you to import your existing iTunes database, to add/delete songs/playlists, to edit ID3 tags, to modify the iTunes database without having the iPod connected and to synchronize at a later time. gtkpod also features international charset support for ID3 tags, detects when adding already existing songs, and more.”
License: Shareware Freeware
System Requirements: Tested under GNU/Linux (and earlier versions under FreeBSD
For more info…
Download…
Mac: MyPod 1.0 (formerly PodNews) Released
“MyPod merges the power of web services with the portability of the Apple iPod digital music player. MyPod allows not only headlines but also movie times, contacts and calendars, stock quotes and weather forecasts to be automatically downloaded to your iPod simply by attaching it to your computer. Other content, such as driving directions, lyrics and text notes can also be easily saved.”
License: Shareware $14.95 (free 28 day trial available for download)
System Requirements: Mac OS X v10.2 “Jaguar” and an iPod with software version 1.2
For more info…
Download…
Friday, February 28, 2003
Mac: PodWorks 2.0 Released
“PodWorks is a Mac OS X (Cocoa) application that compensates for the iPod’s only downside: Apple only allows you to copy songs to your iPod. If you have two Macs and want to use your iPod to transfer music between them, or you only store your MP3s on your iPod and need to copy them back onto your hard drive after a disk failure, you are out of luck!”
- What’s new in v2.0:
- Added playlist support.
- Added additional “metadata” columns (Date Added, Date Modified, Genre, Kind).
- Fixed sorting so that “null” values sink to the bottom—for example, when sorting by Album, all songs that have no album specified are listed at the bottom and sorted by Title.
- Corrected occasional problems with song table redraws.
License: Shareware $8.00
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.2 or higher
For more info…
Download…
Solution for iPod Battery Dilemma
Smalldog Electronics, in a response to a post in the Apple forums, has started a new service offering a hardware reset for your iPod. This procedure will void your Apple warranty. You might consider doing this if your iPod is out of warranty. iLounge emailed SmallDog and got a reply from Troy Kingsbury, Customer Service and Tech Support, describing the program.
“Yes it is true, we discovered on the Apple Discussions that a customer had taken apart his “out of warranty” iPod and had reset a capacitator that does not discharge and will limit your battery life. I have a 5GB iPod that after 1 year would only stay on about 20 minutes. After taking my iPod apart and going through the reset. I once again enjoy numerous hours of music on the iPod.”
SmallDog will perform the iPod restoration for $50 and requires you to get an RMA number before sending in your iPod.
iLounger “patricko” posted a copy of the email distributed to SmallDog Newsletter subscribers detailing the iPod Restoration Program in our forums. The iLounge forums were down at the time of this posting, click here to view the iPod Restoration information.
You can also try opening and resetting your iPod yourself. The hardware reset instructions requires you to open your iPod case, disconnect and reconnect your battery cable. Remember, if your iPod is still under warranty, it will be voided by opening it.
There is also an article written by Robin Grant of SmallDog describing the hardware reset with links.
This may just be the answer to the infamous iPod battery drain. if you chose to send in your iPod to SmallDog or tried the hardware reset yourself. We’d like to know how well it’s working.
New iCleaner Website Launched
Photoline, the makers of iCleaner have launched http://www.iPodcleaner.com with information and instructions on how to use their iCleaner iPod cleaner. A new iCleaner Pro size has been added to the lineup and gives you 60 cleanings for $19.00. The iCleaner Regular size costs $9.00 and gives you 20 cleanings.
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Pyrim Announces The Chrome Ear Buddy
“Pyrim Technologies is pleased to announce the availability of a chrome plated Ear Buddy. During an introductory period, which will end March 31, 2003, Pyrim will be selling both the white and chrome Ear Buddy for $9.99. Following the introductory launch, Pyrim will sell the chrome Ear Buddy for $14.99.”
“iPod jacket designed to cover any midlife crisis”
Julio Ojeda-Zapata of the Pioneer Press has a written a humorous review of the Burton Snowboards’ Amp jacket. Suffering from mid-life crisis? Instead of that red sports car, buy an iPod and an Amp jacket.
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Belkin Introduces New iPod Accessories
Belkin Corporation has announced three new iPod accessories for iPod. The following new accessories will begin shipping in North America on March 10, 2003.
- The Tunecast Mobile FM Transmitter is a small wireless transmitter allowing you to listen to your iPod in the car or at home and costs $29.99.
- The Belkin iPod Case is now officially announced and costs $19.99. iLounge has reviewed this case.
- The Belkin iPod Leather Organizer is a leather wallet for your iPod, money, credit cards, earphones and costs $29.99.
Number 44 Slashes Price on Leather & Steel iPod Case
“We at Number44.com are concerned with the state of the union, the pending war in Iraq, the nightclub fire in Rhode Island, the economy of Venezuela (and what that means for oil supplies), and a general malaise in society – therefore we have decided to cut our price of the slick Number 44 Leather and Steel iPod Case to only $9.99. Why? Because we care, thats why.”
Windows: XPlay 1.1 Release Candidate 1 now available
“The new XPlay 1.1 has a variety of improvements over the currently-shipping XPlay 1.0.4. XPlay 1.1 is magnitudes faster at many tasks, allows you to drag your songs off your iPod for easy sharing amongst your computers, has an improved Explorer display, doesn’t erase manually-created playlists when automatically synchronizing or rebuilding the iPod’s music database, and a has a handful of other improvements, as well.”
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Mac: iPod.iTunes 2.0b3 (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 v2.0b3:
- 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
- Beta 3:
- An occassional error -48 during copying has been fixed.
- A possible problem when Tinker Tool is used has been fixed.
- Other fixes and improvements.
- Hint: This is a beta release with an expiry date after which it does no longer run. It will be replaced by a newer release at or before that date. A license code is not bound to this expiry date and will be valid for all 2.x releases at least.
+ 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…
“iPods for PC now 15% off”
Dealmac reports:
“At Dell Home, iPods for PC are again at the lowest prices we know to be available. The iPod 5GB for PC, model no. M8697LL/A, costs $254.16. The iPod 10GB for PC, model no. M8740LL/A, costs $339.15. The iPod 20GB for PC, model no.
