News 08.18.02-08.24.02

Saturday, August 24, 2002

Software: iPod tracks -> Desktop 1.0 Released

“The script “iPod tracks -> Desktop” is installed in iTunes script menu. This script will copy the selected tracks in iTunes (not Playlists) on your Desktop, easily.
It will name the file(s) in a readable way, and will store in file comments original informations.”

System Requirements: iPod Software 1.2, Mac OS X 10.1.3 or higher, iTunes 3
For more info…
Download…

Mac OS X 10.2: iTunes 3 May Not See iPod if Its Name Is Changed

AppleCare Knowledge Base Document…

Friday, August 23, 2002

Software: PodCal 0.2 Released

“PodCal is a simple little tool that lets you interact with the calendar data on your iPod.”

recurring events
GUI cleanup

System Requirements: Mac OS X
For more info…
Download…

Cases: iSkin for iPod Released

Toronto based manufacturer, ackNOWLEDGE has released the iSkin for iPod. Similar to the silicone Groove Jacket, the iSkin comes in 10 colors and retails for $19.99. iSkin for iPod fits 5GB, 10GB and 20GB models.

“Made of a durable high grade silicone, iSkin is perfectly molded to encapsulate Apple’s iPod. iSkin features heat release pores, raised accents, a strap clip and a non-slip grip. iSkin is molded to fit all Apple iPod models and preserves the original beauty and design of the iPod.
Iskin is available in a variety of translucent vibrant and frosted colors known as Skin Tones. Skin Tones include: Hot House, Groove Pink, Glow Worm, Frogger, Sky Dance, White Frost, Bubblegum, Creamsicle, Blue Mist and Lemonade.”

For more info…

Software: Audion 3.0.2 Released

“Single tool that bravely handles all your audio playing needs, now rebuilt from the ground up. Play your Audio CDs, your MP3s, and your streaming network audio, and now encode, edit, mix, sort and manage, visualize and hypnotize.”

Faces now drag properly in Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)
Fixed a problem with mono MP3 files playing at double speed (‘Chipmunk Mode’)
Fixed a crash when encoding via LAME under Mac OS 9
Fixed a freeze with song transitions under Mac OS 9
Cured a minor problem with .pls and .m3u playlist windows occasionally opening in the wrong location
Encoders now set the file type and creator of encoded files in Mac OS X
Changed the Play / Pause menu item keyboard shortcut to avoid a conflict with Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)
Fixed a problem where the ‘Listen’ option in the Record window would get out-of-sync
Improved the status display when streaming from the system input
The iPod menu now only appears if an iPod is actually connected
Fixed a problem with the “Use filename” General playlist preference not always working properly
Updated the ‘Disable iTunes autolaunch’ feature for Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)
(Hopefully) fixed a long-standing problem with FreeDB submissions being randomly rejected
The ‘Repeat’ playlist option now works for a one-song playlist
More miscellaneous fixes and improvements

System Requirements: Mac OS 8.6 or higher or Mac OS X 10.0 or higher
For more info…
Download for Mac OS X…
Download for Mac OS 8/9…

Software: PodWeather 1.0.1 is Free

“PodWeather makes viewing weather information on your iPod a breeze. All you have to do is create a new weather setting, and hit the Sync Weather button. It’s the easiest to use iPod utility.”

What’s new in v1.0.1
Celsius is now an option

Note: PodWeather is freeware. If you have not registered you can enter “PodWeather” as the name and “PW100-8031-5758” as the serial number.

System Requirements: Mac OS X
For more info…
Download…

Thursday, August 22, 2002

Apple Posts iPod Manuals for Mac and Windows

Apple has posted several new language versions of iPod manuals for Mac and Windows. For the first time, the iPod for Windows English manual has been posted.

For more info…

Software: PodCal 0.1 Released

“PodCal is a simple little tool that lets you interact with the calendar data on your iPod. 0.1 is a beta release just to get something out there and start getting feedback. Next on the to do list is support for recurring events.”

Add Calendar

Each calendar in stored in its own vcal file on iPod. This makes it easy to group events into useful groups.

Add Event

Each calendar can hold any number of events.

Delete Calendar

This will remove the entire vcal file from you iPod.

Delete Event

Remove an individual event from a calendar file.

System Requirements: Mac OS X
For more info…
Download…

Apple Updates Knowledge Base Documents for iPod

Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Hacking the iPod

Daniel M., programmer, writes us about his hacking the iPod and what he hopes to achieve by doing so.

“My ultimate goal is to create a way to program the iPod with your own games, apps, etc. in C from a personal computer, much like TIGCC makes possible for the TI-89 graphing calculator, and also to be able to add aftermarket hardware, like microphones, to the FireWire port. I can’t do this myself, and would appreciate some help from programmers on the net. So far, I’ve figured out a bit about the operating system, and I know, at least theoretically, how to add hooks in to load your own programs. What I don’t yet understand are the hardware interfaces; this will take some heavy duty dissasembling and messing with the actual hardware of an iPod.”

For more info…

iPod: How to Distinguish Models

AppleCare Knowledge Base Document…

iPod (Touchwheel): Jumpy or Erratic Touchwheel Operation

AppleCare Knowledge Base Document…

Refurbished iPod 5GB for $249

Apple Store online is again selling factory-refurbished iPod 5GBs. Apple one (1) year limited warranty applies.

For more info…

Monday, August 19, 2002

Software: iPod2iTunes 1.5.1 Released

“Within iTunes or the Finder it is not possible to transfer tracks or playlists from your iPod to your Mac(s). iPod2iTunes (i2i) is the only utility which allows you not only to copy but to synchronize tracks + playlists from your iPod(s) to your Mac(s). All within iTunes. The synchronization ensures that you don’t produce duplicate MP3 files on your disk as it is easily the case if you just copy files from the iPod via other methods.”

The iTunes library file could not be found if the iTunes folder was an alias. Now any alias combination of iTunes folder/iTunes library file is possible.
Documentation: “How to clone an iPod” updated for iTunes 3.
Sligthly more speed for determining tracks.
Still working on more speed and Mac OS 10.2 support.

System Requirements: Mac OS 10.1.2 – 10.1.5 and iTunes 2.0.3 – 3.0
For more info…
Download…

Apple iPod Manuals Available

Apple has posted several manuals for new touchwheel iPods in PDF format for download.

iPod
Info and Tips
iPod Guide de l’utilisateur
Benutzerhandbuch
iPod Guide de l’utilisateur
Benutzerhandbuch Windows
iPod Guida Utente
Handleiding
iPod Guida Utente Windows
Handleiding Windows

Acrobat Reader 3.0 or later required for viewing.
For more info…

iPod 1.2: Check Clock Time After Updating, Restoring, or Resetting

AppleCare Knowledge Base Document…

iPod (Touchwheel): How to Reinsert the FireWire Port Cover

AppleCare Knowledge Base Document…

Mac OS X Conference Covers iPod

At the upcoming O’Reilly Mac OS X Conference there will be a session titled “Your iPod – Mac in a Pocket.” The conference will be held at the Westin Santa Clara in Santa Clara, CA from September 30 – October 3, 2002. The iPod session will include:

iPod as Pocket Mac
The iPod can be a bootable drive, able to run many G3 based Macs and all native G4s.
iPod Toolbox
What tools you should have on your drive as troubleshooting tools.
iPod Tricks
The iPod has some nice tricks that let you use it as a bootable drive, even with machines that don’t have native FireWire.

For more info…

Audible Books on Your iPod

Erik T. Ray of O’Reilly’s macdevcenter.com has written an article about using iPod for listening to Audible.com books. He outlines the procedures to select, download and sync audio books to iPod, and gives several tips on usage.

“Characteristically, Apple’s implementation is simple and intuitive. Audible’s pricing is reasonable and its Web site is very friendly. Together, it’s an incredible combination that fits the digital hub strategy well.”