Briefly: Mercedes/iPod; RoadTrip plus; Lucasfilm...

In brief: Mercedes-Benz announced the first 2,300 CLK350 and CLK500 coupes produced for the 2006 model year will be equipped with an iPod integration kit and a 4GB silver iPod Mini at no additional charge, according to Leftlane News.... Newer Technology announced that its RoadTrip! plus works with iPod nano, as well as fifth-generation iPods.... MacSpeech announced that it appointed Softline UK as a new distributor for its speech recognition products for Mac OS X.... Alias announced that its Maya software has been chosen as the chief 3D animation technology at Lucasfilm Animation Singapore.... iPodNN noted that Hutchings Software unveiled Bosco's Pod Pouch, its lanyard case for Apple's fifth-generation iPod ($40) and iPod nano ($35) inspired by the female kangaroo.... iPodNN also noted that iSkin rolled out the iPod Duo ($30, shown at right), providing double-layer protection for the Nano with shock-resistant silicone.

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