ipod

California is not known as a carmaking state, but every carmaker is here. And few have been in Silicon Valley longer than Volkswagen Group with its Electronics Research Lab. There they try to crack the code on loading cars up with social media, connected navigation, portable integration, and more without distracting you to death.

I spent a day with wide-ranging access to the VW lab, in conversation with its director, Peter Oel. I came away with the impression that VW, like the rest of the industry, feels the tech cat is out of the bag and we aren't going back to a day when our cars are digital ghettos. That's also because carmakers know that high-touch technology is a key way they'll clobber their competitors, but they also keep their eye on the rear view as the government makes more and more noises that sound like distraction regulation. … Read more

File this one under extreme fanboyism. A Newfield, N.J., man performed his own surgery to put magnets under his skin to hold his iPod Nano in place like a watch. Evidently nobody told him they make straps that do the same job.

The bloke in question is Dave Hurban, a tattoo artist working in collaboration with Kaleidoscope Kreative, an advertising and Web design and development company. His background in all things pointy, ink-filled, and painful means he's at least used to foreign objects invading his person, but this project, called "iDermal," really seems a step too far.

In the video you can see Dave going through the painstaking (pain being the key word here) process of measuring the Nano, marking out the spots on his wrist, and then setting about drilling into his own flesh to insert the four magnets. It's frankly rather grim, so if you're squeamish and prone to fainting at the slightest sight of blood then we suggest you watch it while lying on some cushions.

Read more of "Bonkers man puts magnets under his skin to hold iPod Nano," and see the video, at Crave UK.… Read more

With all due respect to my colleague Donald Bell, I don't believe Apple should dump the iPod Touch.

Rather, I still think it's a killer product, perfect for kids and other users who want the iPhone experience without the iPhone price. In fact, thanks to apps like Skype and Truphone, all you need is proximity to Wi-Fi and you can make phone calls from a Touch.

Apple hasn't released a new model since 2010, nor has it budged on prices -- but you can still score a deal. While supplies last, Apple has the refurbished 8GB iPod Touch fourth-gen for $169 shipped. … Read more

The Sony SmartWatch first made an appearance at CES in January and from the moment I learned of its existence I had high hopes for the gadget. I've secretly been a fan of intelligent, wearable computing devices starting way back when Microsoft's SPOT (Smart Personal Object Technology) watches hit the scene a decade ago. … Read more

Bottom line: Version 10.6 of iTunes brings a handful of enhancements to Apple's ubiquitous media software, and adds support for 1080p video.

Review: As one of the most popular programs for managing music and video content on a personal computer, Apple's iTunes software has become an indispensable part of our digital life.

Interface The look and layout of iTunes 10 is essentially identical to that of iTunes 9, with just a couple of noticeable differences. The first is that Apple has updated its logo for iTunes. Rather than the old-school music note-over-CD icon, you'll see a … Read more

Bottom line: Version 10.6 of iTunes brings a handful of enhancements to Apple's ubiquitous media software, and adds support for 1080p video.

Review: As one of the most popular programs for managing music and video content on a personal computer, Apple's iTunes software has become an indispensable part of our digital life.

Interface The look and layout of iTunes 10 is essentially identical to that of iTunes 9, with just a couple of noticeable differences. The first is that Apple has updated its logo for iTunes. Rather than the old-school music note-over-CD icon, you'll see a … Read more

A newly uncovered patent design from HTC indicates that the "quietly brilliant" hardware maker could be secretly working on a personal media player.

Initially discovered and detailed by Patent Bolt, the filing reveals that the company applied for the patent in 2011, and the device appears to have a design that falls in line with HTC's recent smartphone offerings.

The front face of the unit has speakers across both the top and the bottom, leading me to expect stereo sound. The backside has yet another set of speakers, as well as a camera and the familiar HTC … Read more

iBooks is a stylish, crisp-looking, colorful e-book reader and storefront that runs on Apple's iOS devices. The latest version of the software includes support for textbooks, a new addition to the iBookstore for students.

As with other e-book readers, iBooks responds to the device's accelerometer and switches between landscape and portrait modes. Its controls disappear when unused, and a swipe (or tap on the left or right side of the screen) will cause the pages to turn. iBooks' page-turning is smooth and engaging, with page corners digitally curling toward you as you advance, but this behavior is only … Read more

Just before it unveiled the new iPad at a media event in San Francisco today, Apple announced that iOS 5.1, the next update to the company's mobile operating system, is now available.

The list of new features isn't extensive and largely consists of bug fixes and interface tweaks. That said, there are a couple of useful additions. Here are the highlights that Apple has listed in iOS 5.1's documentation.

A Japanese Siri This was the only feature of iOS 5.1 that Apple CEO Tim Cook specifically mentioned during his time onstage. Siri, the voice … Read more