iPod

ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes wonders, will Apple every fully embrace DRM-free music?

Causing the Macalope to wonder, will this raging headache right between the antlers ever stop?

Musing on the recording industry's current penchant for only selling DRM-free tracks through stores other than Apple's Kingsley-Hughes says:

While I can't see this having an effect on iPod sales, a decline in iTunes sales could ding Apple's profits, which in turn might mean that it has to get with the 21st century and throw away the digital shackles and compete openly.

You really haven't been paying any … Read more

I've been living a dual mobile life with both an iPhone and a Blackberry Pearl for almost six months now, and I thought that before we before we get overwhelmed with new gadgets rolled out at CES and Macworld, I would check back in on my developing relationship with the iPhone. I appreciate its charms much more after working with it for a while, and I have found an important new use for it, but it is significant that I have not come close to setting aside my Blackberry yet.

After the jump, you'll find my side-by-side comparison, written from a busy working Mom's perspective:… Read more

'Tis the day after Christmas, and all through the land, people play with gadgets that fit right into the hand. Some tinker with iPods, others play with a Zune, but they have one thought in common: "Can I accessorize soon?" Well, Santa's passed out--it's his first rest all year--so you'll have to get up and find your own audio gear. But before you bundle up to brave the snow, wind, and fog, make sure you check out our iPod accessories blog.

Creative Zen accessories

Apple is developing a volume control device for its iPods that would automatically calculate how long a person has been listening and at what volume, before gradually reducing the sound level, all in an effort to protect users' hearing, according to the London-based Daily Mail.

Citing a new patent application, the report--to which Apple declined to comment--says the "device will also calculate the amount of 'quiet time' between when the iPod is turned off and when it is restarted, allowing the volume to be increased again to a safe level."

In February 2006, a Louisiana man filed a class action suit against Apple, … Read more

Despite the proliferation of affordable iPod-friendly car stereos, iPod FM transmitters are still a popular accessory. Nearly every iPod accessory manufacturer has their own take on the product--Belkin has their Tunebase, Griffin has the iTrip, Monster has the iCarPlay, XtremeMac has the AirPlay, Kensington has Liquid FM, and Harman Kardon has the dazzling Drive + Play 2. Digital Life Outfitters (DLO) also makes an exceptional iPod FM transmitter; unfortunately, it's not the TuneStik. (Read the full review)

Aerielle Inc., the company responsible for engineering FM transmitters for Kensington, iRiver, and SanDisk, is launching its own wireless music-sharing device called the i2i Stream Digital Music Broadcaster. The i2i Stream allows you to take any music source (MP3 player, home stereo, computer) and broadcast it between two or more i2i Stream devices. The technology takes advantage of the wireless 2.4 GHz frequency range, circumventing the need for Bluetooth compatibility, and offering a range of 30 feet. Each i2i Stream also comes with its own independent volume control and and a USB-rechargeable battery capable of 7 hours of playback. … Read more

Klipsch has just made a limited number of these available on its website, for just $249! This blog originally ran on November 29.

I have fond memories of Klipsch's three-piece iPod speaker. Back in 2005 it stood out in a field of itsy bitsy iPod speakers--the iFi came with a bona-fide 8-inch, 200 watt subwoofer and a pair of two-way satellite speakers. Wow, what a concept, speakers you could actually place far enough apart to create stereo imaging. Most of today's iPod speakers, including high-end contenders like Bowers & Wilkins' Zeppelin sound small because they are small. Yes, … Read more

Approximately 10 years ago, Microsoft was easily one of the most hated companies in the world. With monopoly-oriented questions swirling around, and Bill Gates acting as the benchmark for just how bad big business can be, public perception of the company couldn't have been worse.

Of course, the most vexing issue surrounding that time was the fact that Microsoft was extremely successful at sitting atop the tech mountain, and much of its competition faded due to poor business practices and not necessarily as the result of product pricing.

If we fast-forward 10 years, the technology industry landscape looks much different. And while Microsoft is still hated by hard-core tech gurus, it has become an aging empire that may be on the verge of a huge collapse. To make matters worse, its figurehead--Bill Gates--is poised for his departure at the Consumer Electronics Show, and the future of his legacy is in doubt.

And with possible turmoil facing Redmond, a new company has emerged that could be in danger of taking the top spot as the world's most hated tech company. Only this time, the company was once an underdog that people hoped could turn things around. Well, it did. And with the help of its deitylike leader, some believe that Apple is on the verge of becoming this generation's so-called evil empire.

Of course, whether it really is an evil company doesn't matter. In this business, the court of public opinion will determine Apple's fate, and if it continues to do what it's doing, it may become one of the most hated tech companies in the world within the next 10 years.… Read more

Excuse our lack of productivity today--we've got a hedgehog in the office. Sonic the Hedgehog, that is. Sega's 16-bit classic has made its way onto the iPod games section of iTunes (link) this morning and can be had for a mere $4.99. In comparison, the Wii version of the title, which launched just a month ago runs nearly twice as much at 800 Wii points ($8).

The controls use the circular iPod touch wheel as a four-way d-pad, with the center button acting just like the original ABC buttons from the first Genesis controller. They take a … Read more