iPod

How to get the best sound from in-ear headphones

I love in-ear headphones--the ones that fit inside your ear canals, as opposed to ear buds that rest on the outer ear. I'm a big fan because in-ear headphones' ultraclose proximity to eardrums offers the potential for the highest-resolution sound quality.

The better in-ear headphones also do a great job of sealing out external environmental noise so you can listen at a lower (safer) volume and still hear all of that amazing detail. The problem is, unless both earpieces are sealed tight, you're not going to get the sound you paid for.

Everybody's ears are different, so achieving a perfect fit can be a tricky exercise. Most in-ear headphones come with a selection of differently sized and shaped eartips. Try them all; the goal is to produce a the best possible "seal," which reduces the amount of outside noise you hear and delivers the headphone's fullest-possible bass response.

The difference in sound quality between a good seal and an iffy one isn't subtle. It's definitely worth a little extra effort to maximize each tip's seal. Remember, too, that poor sealing makes for a less secure fit, so the earpiece is more likely to fall out of your ear.

Tip: Your left and right ear canals may not be exactly the same size; you might need, for example, the smallest eartip for your right ear and a medium tip for the left ear.

I've included a gallery of images to help perfect your in-ear insertion techniques. First, try rotating/twisting the tip slightly as you push the headphone inside the canal. … Read more

Papermaster settles with IBM, sets Apple start date

Updated at 12:30 p.m. PST with more details.

Apple announced on Tuesday that former IBM executive Mark Papermaster has resolved his dispute with IBM over a noncompete agreement and will start leading Apple's iPhone group on April 24.

IBM had sued Papermaster for allegedly violating the terms of a noncompete agreement in agreeing to join Apple as senior vice president of Devices Hardware Engineering, claiming that Papermaster would be in a position to divulge important IBM trade secrets. The two parties exchanged briefing papers for a few months but apparently found a way to settle their differences.… Read more

Apple reaches $22.5 million settlement in Nano scratch suit

Apple has reached a $22.5 million settlement agreement in the class action iPod Nano scratch lawsuit and potential claimants began receiving settlement notices this week, according to the plaintiffs attorney.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2005 in a California Superior Court in Los Angeles County, alleges Apple's iPod Nano is prone to scratches and its alleged defects were not disclosed by the company.

A $22.5 million cash settlement agreement was reached in late October and a court has preliminarily approved the agreement, said the plaintiffs attorney. But it wasn't until this week that notices of the … Read more

Mac, iPod average prices decline during Apple's Q1

Much was made of the fact that Apple didn't introduce lower-cost Macs ahead of expectations of a brutal economy, but Mac prices did in fact decrease last quarter.

The average selling price of a Mac declined 8 percent during Apple's first fiscal quarter, from $1,532 a year ago to $1,408, according to Apple's 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It also declined 4 percent from the average price of $1,469 recorded during Apple's 2008 fiscal year.

iPod average prices declined even further. Apple's ASP for the iPod during the holiday … Read more

Ooh la la: Elegant Wi-Fi iPod speakers

Let's face it, iPod speakers are a cheap and cheerful group, but the market is about to get a boost of class, thanks to Parrot's Zikmu stereo iPod speakers ($1,500 a pair).

The striking design, created by Philippe Starck, stakes out a new approach to iPod speakers. Starck employs aerial curves and jet-black color, along with a generous helping of cutting edge technology to make the Zikmu an elegant lifestyle solution.

The Zikmu is iPhone- and iPod-dock compatible, and employs up-to-date Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies. The wireless stereo speakers need to be plugged into an AC power … Read more

Apple proves recession-resistant, for now

With all the economic doom and gloom in the world these days, Apple executives must be wondering what all the fuss is about.

Apple's Tim Cook and Peter Oppenheimer acknowledged Wednesday that these are uncertain times to be in the retail consumer electronics business. But put aside any doubts about Apple's ability to sustain the first wave of recession. Posting record revenue and profit during its fiscal first quarter, the company shattered analyst predictions on the strength of solid Mac sales and stronger-than-expected iPod sales.

Can it last? Tough to say, given that few can predict how quickly … Read more

Is the iPod Touch cannibalizing iPhone sales?

It looks like the iPod's still got a bit of life left. It may no longer be the main driver of innovation at Apple, but the company sold 22.7 million iPods during its fiscal first quarter. That's up 3 percent from the same period last year, although a much slower rate of growth than in previous years. Still, it's growth nonetheless. Not only did Apple beat expectations but the results reported Wednesday also marked an all-time quarterly sales record for its iconic MP3 player.

Meanwhile, iPhone sales actually fell from the previous quarter, from 6.9 … Read more

Apple soars past first-quarter earnings expectations

Updated throughout at 3:30 p.m. PST with details from conference call.

Apple reported on Wednesday first-quarter earnings significantly higher than analysts had expected coming off a disappointing holiday season for most tech companies, but provided its usual conservative guidance.

For the three-month period ended December 27, Apple recorded $10.2 billion in revenue, as compared with $9.6 billion a year ago, and net income of $1.6 billion, as compared with $1.58 billion a year ago. That translates into earnings per share of $1.78, far more than the $1.39 in earnings per share that … Read more

With earnings call, Apple heads back to business

After a week spent worrying about the health of CEO Steve Jobs, Apple will look forward to getting back to business Wednesday when it reports its fiscal first-quarter earnings.

The last three months were not kind to computer and consumer electronics companies, but Apple is expected to have weathered the storm better than others. Analysts are predicting the company will report revenue and earnings per share at the high end of the guidance it provided in October, with expectations of $9.76 billion in revenue and earnings per share of $1.38.

The three-month period between October and December is … Read more

Apple now selling used products online in China

Apple announced Tuesday it has opened an online store selling used products in China in an effort to expand its business there, according to a Reuters report.

The new store is offering discounts of up to 22 percent on various refurbished products. Apple said on its Web site that the products had been previously sold, then returned, and had undergone quality tests, Reuters reported.

An Apple representative in China would not say how many products are available on the site. But the store was featuring such items as an iPod shuffle for 308 yuan ($45) and an iMac for 14,… Read more