News Archive for 05/05/27

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iPodderX 3.0 adds advanced podcast tools

05/27, 8:50pm

iPodderX 3.0

iPodderX 3.0 uses the power of RSS and Atom newsfeeds to bring fresh content to your desktop automatically. Depending on which feeds you subscribe to, iPodderX will deliver Audio (Podcasts), Movies, Images, Documents, and any other kind of file to your computer. Version 3 adds SmartSpace, to help "keep your hard drive from filling up with old podcasts." It also features a Playlist Builder for creating iTunes Playlists or iPhoto Albums. The update also adds NewsCaster, which can turn text-based news into an audio podcast.

FlashPoint: Flash Memory Pen Drive

05/27, 8:35pm

FlashPoint Drive

Xmultiple Technologies has released the FlashPoint Share Drive, a USB Flash Memory Pen Drive that can both store data and transfer data (dump) without the need for a computer. It is a self-powered, USB Pen flash drive that can store data and transfer (dump) data from other peripheral devices. It works with devices such as USB flash drives, digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, cellphones, an so on. The device is powered by an internal battery. The FlashPoint features buttons for Power, Load, and Dump. FlashPoint comes in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB flash memory configurations.

PikaOne Flycase: durable drive enclosures

05/27, 6:05pm

PikaOne Flycase

PikaOne today announced the availability of its Flycase range of portable storage products. The Flycase range includes capacities from 20GB to 100GB in the Ultra Slim mobile range and from 80GB to 500GB in the Desktop range. There is also a portable RAID solution with capacities up to 1000GB. Each product in the range features an Aluminium case, which aids cooling and makes the units more robust. The drives come with a choice of USB2 or a combined USB2 and FireWire. The Flycase Pro is available for £180, the Flycase Silver sells for £87, and the Flycase Silver Slim sells for £55. All units carry a full 2-year RTB warranty.

Briefly: more Apple Stores, Halo, Colin McRae 2005

05/27, 5:15pm

Colin McRae 2005 for Mac

In Brief: In addition to the June 4th Grand Opening of a new Apple retail store in Century City (Los Angeles) noted earlier this week, Apple will open new two more retail stores on the same day: Bridgeport Village (Tualatin, Oregon) and Green Hills (Nashville, Tennessee).... Colin McRae 2005, the premier Rally racing simulation is currently in Mac development and scheduled for release this Fall.... IOXperts has released a Tiger-compatible version of its 802.11b driver, which supports more than 60 different 802.11b wireless networking cards.... Destineer's MacSoft has released a Halo 1.5.2 update, which will bring the Mac version into sync with the current PC version and contains a networking security fix.

Apple, AOL ironing out iTunes revenue issues in UK

05/27, 4:45pm

Apple, AOL in iTunes talks

Apple and America Online are in negotiations to resolve revenue share problems with their deal that gives AOL users in the UK direct access to iTunes downloads, according to Macworld UK. The problems may lead to integration of other music services to AOL customers or even the creation of an AOL-owned music service for the country. A report by New Media Age says that there has been a problem tracking which users have downloaded what songs, which has led to difficulties in payments between the two companies. "The companies have been working together since June 15 2004. AOL has integrated the iTunes Music Store throughout its music channels in the UK, France and Germany. AOL told New Media Age that its music service is extremely successful and revealed that: 'We have never ruled out working with other download services or even adding one of our own, as AOL Germany has.'"

iPod mini knockoff appears in German catalog

05/27, 2:20pm

iPod mini knockoff

German retailer Plus will reportedly begin selling a China-made iPod mini knockoff, which first debuted in March. At the time, the device was being marketed using the iPod name. However, it appears the device will be called "micromaxx 42452" in Germany. While not identical in appearance to the iPod mini, the device could confuse the untrained eye. The device offers line-in recording as well as voice recoding via line-in inputs for a built-in internal microphone. The battery offers 12 hours of playback. It also offers "optional" features such as an FM Tuner, MP3 line-in encoding, and support for MP3, WMA, DRM WMA, ADPCM files. Meanwhile, Apple is considering legal action to prevent the sale of Medion AG's MP3 music player, according to a report in Spiegel magazine that cites "unnamed sources."

Goldman Sachs: Apple "remains healthy"

05/27, 12:25pm

Apple healthy

Goldman Sachs reiterated an "in-line" rating on Apple, saying the company's business remains healthy. The research firm said Apple's rollout of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger "should be a meaningful incremental contributor." The combination of Tiger's initial shipment plus Apple's higher installed base could yield $40 million to $50 million of incremental revenue, according to the firm. Goldman said there remain numerous opportunities for both the iPod and Mac sides in the second half of 2005. The firm maintained fiscal 2005 and 2006 earnings-per-share estimates on Apple of $1.34 and $1.50, respectively.

The Sims 2 for Mac to ship soon

05/27, 11:50am

The Sims 2 for Mac

The Sims 2 ($50) has been declared gold for Mac and will soon begin shipping. In The Sims 2, players pick one of five aspirations that will take them through an entire lifetime, "from the cradle to the grave." Players will be able to choose from Popularity, Fortune, Family, Knowledge and Romance which will determine how each Sim will lead their life. "With these aspirations, players can fulfill their Sims’ wants while avoiding their worst fears." Every choice that is made has an effect on the life of a Sim. "More life-like Sims, all-new aspirational gameplay, and the ground-breaking addition of genetics, with the DNA of Sims passed down through generations, gives players a more vivid, realistic, and in-depth Sims experience." All of this takes place in a new amazingly realistic 3-D world."

Kontakt 2 database lets users share creations

05/27, 10:50am

Kontakt 2 database

Native Instruments today announced that a User Library for Kontakt 2 is now online. This convenient database allows registered users to freely exchange their own Kontakt 2 creations on the NI website - similiar to what users of Reaktor, Guitar Rig and Absynth have been enjoying for some time. The Kontakt 2 User Library offers extensive functionality including a category system, convenient searching and sorting, a user rating system, automatic e-mail notification and more Users can not only share custom Kontakt 2 instruments and samples, but also KSP scripts, impulse responses and module presets.

Column: Apple to legitimize podcasting

05/27, 9:45am

Apple and podcasting

Apple's official endorsement of podcasts is helping increase public interest in the audio broadcast phenomenon. Technology Review feels Apple's support for podcasting in the upcoming iTunes 4.9 might make podcasting as mainstream as blogging. "The podcasting movement, for all its headlines, is in dire need of the 'Apple treatment.' More than anything else, Apple has succeeded in the last 10 years because it has made technology easy for people to understand and commodity hardware stylish." Apple's involvement with podcasts may also help legitimize the concept, which is currently surounded by "murky legal water." Some podcasts include music, but licensing rules -- which have hampered streaming music services -- have yet to be established for podcasts."

Apple, Google stocks "to retire on"

05/27, 9:30am

AAPL, Google stocks

The Motley Fool looks at "four stocks to retire on:" Apple, Google, Wal-Mart, and Disney. "I have no idea whether the iPod will still be around in 20 years. It may have made Apple trendy again in investing circles, but this pick has nothing to do with the company's recent success in digital music. In fact, I feel better about Apple's stock performance in the long run than in the near term. That's because Apple is a survivor. Even as its personal computer business lost market share, the company found a way to matter as a niche player. Even though its computer business is booming again thanks to iPod users migrating back to the Mac platform, that's certainly not the best reason to place Apple shares under your pillow. Simply put, the company oozes innovation."

Briefly: Celeb iPod cases, GoLive CS2 demo, ...

05/27, 9:20am

Celeb iPod cases

In brief: Native Instruments announced that a demo version of Guitar Combos [site down] is now available.... Beginning on June 8, designer Marc Eck is partnering with fashion and entertainment stars to sell custom iPod cases for charity.... dincType is offering a free "Spaldeen" font set for the Memorial Day weekend only.... Adobe is offering a 30-day trial of GoLive CS2, from its recently revamped Creative Suite 2..... Apple's official involvement with podcasting is helping increase public interest in the audio broadcast phenomenon.

Celebs create custom iPod cases for charity auction

05/27, 8:55am

Celeb iPod case auction

Beginning on June 8, designer Marc Eck is partnering with fashion and entertainment stars to introduce “Style & Sound,” a fundraising initiative for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC). The online charity auction, to be held in conjunction with eBay Live Auctions, will feature custom iPod cases created by celebrity partnerships, including Carolina Herrera with Renée Zellweger, Marc Ecko with Jamie Foxx, Luca Luca’s Luca Orlandi with Mischa Barton, and Judith Leiber with Katie Holmes. Each case will contain a 40GB iPod, courtesy of Apple, and a playlist created by each designer’s celebrity partner. The auction will conclude at a June 22 gala fundraising event to be hosted by Ecko and Herrera, co-chairs of this philanthropic venture. Ecko and Monster Cable will also introduce a unique iPod case designed by Eck as part of “A Case For A Cause.” The light blue leather cases, which will sell for $30 on the Apple Store, feature FTBC’s signature bulls-eye logo and will be packaged with literature on breast cancer awareness.

Report: Apple to offer 2GB and 4GB iPod shuffles

05/27, 8:30am

4GB iPod shuffles?

Samsung and Toshiba plan to ramp up their output of 8Gbit NAND flash chips, as Apple plans to roll out 2GB and 4GB versions of its iPod shuffle this summer, PC Pro reports. Samsung was reported to have started volume production of 8Gbit NAND flash memory in April of this year, while Toshiba stated it will begin producing 8Gbit parts this summer. Apple currently offers 512MB and 1GB iPod shuffle models. Samsung and Toshiba are reportedly the only companies that have the ability to volume produce 8Gbit NAND flash using 90nm technology. Report from iPodNN.com.