Ad: Apple Accessories, now at Staples
ie8 fix

ipod

Sony finally genuflects before the iPod

It's about time that Sony acknowledged reality. Rather than acting as though it's still king of the hill in entertainment hardware, the proprietary-obsessed company has finally broken down and released an iPod docking station (only a few years late, but no one's really counting anymore).

The speaker station even has the official blessing of Apple, according to Electronista, so compatibility with all iPod models should be ensured. There's just one problem--the price. At $250, this has about as much of a chance of succeeding as the Walkman's transition from CDs to MP3s.

Apple's portable fashion

Just when you thought the ubiquitous iPod Shuffle couldn't get any smaller, Apple showed us all by releasing its second-generation Shuffle. Of course, that's not good enough for Apple, which has just unveiled a multifarious array of colors to delight even the most fashion conscious music lover. At a price under $100, who wouldn't want to say goodbye to their current, bulky Shuffle and move on up into the world of color? Of course, if iPods aren't your cup of tea, there are plenty of excellent alternatives.

iPod Shuffle gets new colors, better headphones

Apple's iPod Shuffle music player is now available in four new colors. The previously available silver Shuffle has now been joined by pink, green, blue, and orange models. Furthermore, iLounge reported that each Shuffle model will be packaged with the same improved earbuds that have been shipping with other iPod models for the past several months. (To date, the silver Shuffle model was shipped with Apple's older earbuds.)

Other than the color choices and headphone upgrade, it's the same entry-level second-generation iPod Shuffle that debuted in November: capacity remains at 1GB, and the price is still $79. … Read more

Where geeks and jocks intersect

Who says geeks don't like football? This Superbowl Sunday you can do your part to shatter that age-old stereotype with these laptop and iPod skins from SkinIt. Even if you're not a Colts or Bears fan, you can show your team spirit with any of the other NFL teams, and Gearlog says the skins will be available for cell phones too. But if you're a 49er fan like us, you may want to keep these under a plain brown wrapper for another season or three.

A shirt that could save your life

If you're thinking at all about fulfilling those New Year's fitness resolutions, here's one less excuse to stay on the couch. The "Syncwear Fitness Tee" from Malachi has three strategically placed pockets: one for your Nano, one for your headphones and one for your keys, gym ID or other essentials, according to Chip Chic. It even has loops that you can thread your iPod wires through. The $34 shirt is made of the same anti-moisture polyester material found in other overpriced workout apparel--not the cheapest shirt, but if it helps keep you from having a … Read more

Wired clothing for working up a sweat

Leave it to the Aussies to create wearable technology for all seasons. Most of the wired clothing we've seen has been more appropriate for cooler climes (and looking pretty dorky at times). But summer will be here before we know it, and we don't have a thing to wear.

Koyono, a company from the land Down Under, is catering to the beach set with its "BlackCoat" short-sleeved shirt-jacket. Koyono's Web site doesn't detail the technical specs for its latest offering, but we assume it'll use the same technology as its heavier coats, which … Read more

Which of these wacky Apple rumors are real and which are fake?

While browsing my RSS feeds this morning, I noticed that some particularly unusual Apple-related rumors were circulating about the series of tubes. So I decided to turn it into a game. Now, if you're a rabid Jobsian who follows all those Apple gossip blogs as though they were Us Weekly, you'll find this little quiz a cinch. But for those of you who aren't, answer this for me--Which of the following "Apple rumors" are legitimate rumors, and which ones did I just make up on the spot?

Three are real. The others are figments of … Read more

iPod meets Mr. Potato Head

If anything deserves a break once in awhile, it's your hard-working iPod. So the least we can do is make it comfortable on the job.

Chip Chick apparently agrees and has given us the "SpeakerMan" to do just that, with bendable arms and hands that can keep your exhausted media player from falling off the chair if it nods off. They also bear a remarkable resemblance to Mr. Potato Head's upper limbs, right down to the four-fingered, white-gloved hands. (Why do cartoon characters wear gloves?) The feet are different, but that's OK because they have … Read more

Transformer with an iPod at heart

For awhile it seemed that everyone and his dog were making iPod docks and speakers, and Crave was tempted to impose a moratorium on them as they were getting out of hand. Then along comes Takara Tomy with one we just can't resist.

The "Convoy iPod Docking Bay," which we spotted on Plastic Bamboo, is even fully licensed by Apple. It's not the cheapest at $145, but because it's a Transformer, you're really getting two toys for the price of one, right? Besides, unlike other robots, at least we know what this one's … Read more