Tag: ipod (Page 3 of 4)

Apple Hosting “Rock And Roll” Media Event September 9th

August 31, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

Apple September invite. Today, Apple sent out invitations to their September media event (if you’re reading this, Apple, you forgot the one with my name on it and that complimentary airfare/hotel stay). This year’s invitation looks like just about every other iPod advert. The invite reads, “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” Those aren’t exactly inspiring words for a tablet announcement, but there are plenty of other things Apple could show off this year.

Among those would be the rumored-to-death cameras for the iPod Touch and Nano models, the release of which would set the stage for an iTunes 9 announcement. There’s also the “Cocktail” feature that’s supposedly designed to save the album (can you save what’s dead?). All of those things would be interesting announcements, though I can’t say I’d be excited about the extra bloat coming to iTunes. It’s bad enough as is.

Apple, Audio, Music, News

ipod ipod camera itunes itunes 9 nano camera

Apple Selling Refurb Retro iPods

August 20, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

Do you ever look back on your first iPod and get a little tear in your eye? Do you lovingly remember the first time you took the original iPod Shuffle to the gym? Yeah, neither do I. I wasn’t all that taken with the iPod until the third generation to be honest. But for the early adopters out there, Apple has a special treat.

As TUAW points out, Apple currently has first-gen iPods and iPod Shuffles up for sale. Granted, they’re refurbed, but I still think it’s kinda cool. In case you’re wondering, that is indeed the iPod model with the physical scrollwheel and individual buttons surrounding the wheel. They’re claiming it’s 5GB iPod for $129 while the original Shuffle will run you a jaw-dropping $99.

Now I’m all for getting a little cutesy with old products, but $99 for the Shuffle that came with a lanyard? Come on, now. That’s just absurd.

Apple, Audio, Gaming, Music

1st gen shuffle for sale gen 1 shuffle ipod

To Live And Die By Technology

June 21, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

This week saw one near miss and one unfortunate death at the hands of technology we all know quite well.

Let’s start with the sad news. A 17-year-old Austrian girl couldn’t keep herself from tweeting, so she reached for a laptop in the worst of places: the bathtub. According to the Austrian Times, the girl likely reached to plug in her dying laptop with soaking wet hands, electrocuting herself. I don’t know how it’s possible not to see that one coming. Think she deserves a Darwin?

Our near miss comes from Essex, where a 14-year-old girl was taking shelter during a storm under a tree with her boyfriend. The girl took a hit from a lightning bolt, the current from which traveled through her headphones and down to her iPod, frying the device and saving her life in the process. The mp3 player soaked up the majority of the damage, leaving the young girl with some burns, all of which are being treated. Luckily she didn’t have her headphones in her ears or this wouldn’t be quite so happy a story.

Moral of the story: Electronics and water don’t mix, except on those rare occasions when they save your life. I wouldn’t test this one, though.

Mobile, Music, News

ipod

Scosche tapSTICK Gives The New Shuffle Some Buttons

June 7, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

When I first saw Apple’s new iPod Shuffle, I knew it would just be a matter of time before someone found a way to put actual buttons on the device. Scosche has done just that with their new tapSTICK.

The tapSTICK doubles as a case for the 3rd generation shuffle, adding protection and a few buttons to make control more…well…natural. Apple’s new VoiceOver control strikes me as less slick and more stupid, particularly on a device targeted at an active population. The last thing I want while I’m cycling is to listen to a computerized voice read track names, and then fiddle with a single press control dongle.

The tapSTICK runs a beefy $39.99 (available for preorder), a solid 50% upcharge on the price of the shuffle itself. At least you’ll have buttons, right?

Uncategorized

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Cameras Coming to iPod Touch, Nano?

May 18, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

iPod Touch. According to Hardmac.com, “informations [sic] from one of [their] sources” claims the next generation iPod Touch and iPod Nano will be getting cameras added to their hardware specs. The source also suggests the next iPhone won’t change externally, despite rumors.

I’m willing to believe the first “informations,” but only half-way. A camera on the Touch makes sense. There are plenty of apps that integrate camera use, making them obsolete if used on the Touch. Also, acquiring and integrating a camera into a device already running Apple’s mobile OS should be no trouble.

But why add a camera to the Nano? The device is meant to be the ultra slim, stripped down version of the much sexier Touch. Why do you need a camera? And why introduce a camera at two price points? If it’s only on the Touch, snapping pics is just another reason to upgrade from your Nano to your Touch. I also doubt Apple would try this on an iPod not currently running the same OS as their other camera-capable devices.

On that last rumor, I could go either way. The iPhone 3G is a sleek little device, and I don’t see much reason to update it. On the other hand, Apple’s way is to make the newer, faster versions of things prettier as well. Nothing screams “buy me” like “I don’t look like your other iPhone.

Apple, iPhone, Music

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