Samsung Brings Out an iPod Rival
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The latest offering from Samsung attempts to dethrone the mighty iPod. First impressions - never. It's a feature packed mp3 player but misses out on the design stakes - a little too thick, but very sturdy. It also lacks on-the-fly playlists, no recording capacity and no FM tuner.
On the plus side is the incredible 30 hour battery life, compared to the iPod Nano's 14 hours.
The Z5 range features three models, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB, and comes in black or silver.
Comprehensive Review over at PCmag
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DJ Mixer and Docking Station For Your iPod
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I can't wait to get my hands on one of the just released Newmark iDJ2 - a fully featured DJ Mixer and docking station for my ipod. A much improved version of the iDJ which only needs one iPod to weave its magic.
The iDJ2 features a fresh and innovative new iPod docking system that allows users to play two songs simultaneously from a single iPod, without the need of a computer.
Users can also hook up multiple mass storage devices including additional iPod's™, Memory Sticks™, and external USB hard drives through rear panel USB ports.
In addition to USB connectivity, the iDJ2 comes complete with line inputs for any audio source including a microphone, CD players and turntables.
Anyone can easily manage a music library using the iDJ2's new, highly intuitive graphic interface. The oversized LCD screen offers waveform display and visual track-profiling.
The iDJ2 allows DJs to record their musical performances to the iPod or any connected drive, in addition to full control audio play back.
Get your party going - Newmark.com
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Learn How To Podcast Using Garage Band 3
Digital media entrepreneur Scott Bourne has signed on with www.lynda.com to create tutorials for podcasters.
lynda.com is an award-winning provider of Hands-On Training™ instructional books, CD and DVD-based video training, self-paced online learning, and events for graphic designers, instructors, students, and hobbyists.
Bourne, a digital media pioneer and photographer, has worked as a disc jockey and radio production engineer and helped bring radio to the Internet in 1994 with the launch of NetRadio.
“Scott Bourne is one of the most passionate and informed people I have ever met. His deep experience in radio, music, and digital communication map naturally to his excellent training on podcasting and Apple's latest podcast-friendly version of GarageBand. We are honored to have him join our coveted list of esteemed teachers who share their expertise on the lynda.com Online Training Library,” said lynda.com founder Lynda Weinmann.
This will be lynda.com's second podcasting title. “Podcasting With GarageBand 3.0” offers task-oriented, movie-based tutorials that train podcasters how to use Apple's GarageBand 3.0 to make a podcast from start to finish. Targeted to beginning users, the lessons cover all the basic principles of podcasting with GarageBand 3.0, from getting to know the workspace and tools to using GarageBand 3.0's sophisticated audio editing and publishing features.
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Transfer a Music CD Direct to Your iPod
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MobileMag reports the imminent release of a new Gizmo to transfer music from a regular CD to your iPod in MP3 format without the need for a desktop or laptop.
This device from Zettabyte will also save you from using all your ten fingers when changing or revising your playlist as everything is automatic. Song-tagging is not a manual exercise anymore as it is already directly done through an Internet link.
Uploading data is done via USB. It also has the ability to play music in CDA and MP3 format. It should support other MP3 players, however it is being marketed right now for the iPod.
No Price or Release Date at this time.
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iPod and iTunes The Missing Manual
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An iPod is many things to many people, but it can be much more than most people realize. That's where iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual comes in. Like the device itself, this book is a long-running bestseller, now in its fourth edition. What makes it so popular is the wealth of useful information it brings to anyone who breaks open iPod's distinctive packaging-especially since Apple doesn't supply a manual of its own.
When Apple introduced the iPod in 2001, CEO Steve Jobs declared, "listening to music will never be the same again." He was right on the money. The iPod grabbed attention right away, and by the end of 2005, more than 41 million of them had sold. iPod is the dominant digital music player on the market, and for the first time, Apple gets to feel like Microsoft.
iPod steadily evolved through five generations since then, and today the dynasty ranges from a screenless 512-megabyte version that can hold plenty of songs for your gym routine to a 60-gigabyte multimedia jukebox that can spin out an entire season of "Desperate Housewives", along with thousands of color photos and all that colorful music.
Pick up a copy of iPod and iTunes - The Missing Manual
More from About iPods
iLuv Extends iPod Use to 55 Hours
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If you want to extend the usage time of your 5G or Nano iPod, iLuv have introduced a variety accessories satisfy your demands.
| • | Built-in high-capacity rechargeable lithium polymer battery extends the playback time of iPod with video (30GB, 60GB) up to a maximum of 55 hours for i604 (up to 42 hours for i603) |
| • | iLuv skins provide your iPod with video (30GB, 60GB) with maximum protection against scratches |
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Prices around $85 at iLuv
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The French Threaten Piracy and the iPod
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France is pushing through a law that would force Apple Computer Inc to open its iTunes online music store and enable consumers to download songs onto devices other than the computer maker's popular iPod player.
Under a draft law expected to be voted in parliament on Thursday, consumers would be able to legally use software that converts digital content into any format.
It would no longer be illegal to crack digital rights management -- the codes that protect music, films and other content -- if it is to enable to the conversion from one format to another, said Christian Vanneste, Rapporteur, a senior parliamentarian who helps guide law in France.
"It will force some proprietary systems to be opened up ... You have to be able to download content and play it on any device," Vanneste told Reuters in a telephone interview on Monday. Music downloaded from Apple's iTunes online music store currently can only be played on iPods.
The law, if enacted, could prompt Apple to shut its iTunes store in France.
Vanneste said the draft law aimed to fight piracy, encourage the development of the online digital music market in France and benefit legal online music retailers. Record sales tumbled 8 percent in France last year while digital music sales rose fivefold.
Under the latest version of the proposed law, people who download material illegally would be subject to a fine of 38 euros and those sharing illegally downloaded material with others would be subject to a fine of 150 euros.
People who make and sell software for illegal file-sharing and content downloading would remain subject to a maximum fine of 300,000 euros and prison sentences of up to three years.
The new legislation is triggered by France's need to transpose the European directive on copyrights into its own body of law, which it failed to do by the December 2002 deadline. Vanneste said France and Spain were the only two EU countries which had yet to make the move.
An earlier amendment that would have legalised the use of peer-to-peer networks to download songs and films for a flat monthly fee of several euros has been shelved,after pressure from the film and record companies.
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PodTech Gets More Backing
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PodTech.Network, Inc., a media company dedicated to podcasting and delivering Fresh Voices™ for the iPod generation, announced today that it has received $5.5 million in Series A funding from Venrock Associates, US Venture Partners (USVP), and Silicon Valley angel investors
PodTech started as a single podcast, InfoTalk™. In just under eight months PodTech has grown to become a leading producer, aggregator, and distributor of professional technology and business podcast conversations for audiences worldwide.
“PodTech has become the definitive source of quality, content-rich podcasts dedicated to innovating and extending the benefits of podcasting to mainstream users,” said John Furrier, Founder and CEO of PodTech. “As a company, we were present at the creation of podcasting. We know it is time for a company to provide a professional environment and high quality filtered original content of fresh technology and business voices to the world of podcast listeners. With this financing we are now poised to deliver on our content development goals and to play a big role in the evolving ecosystem of this new media.”
PodTech is well known for its innovative InfoTalk™ podcast which has established itself as the leading Silicon Valley technology and business podcast. The Silicon Valley InfoTalk™ podcast has been host to some of the biggest names in technology and business. Notable personalities include Steve Forbes, Mark Cuban, and Sandy Berger, and hundreds of technology and media moguls. In addition PodTech has attracted leading corporations that include Yahoo, Intel, IBM, Juniper, among others.
In the past few months PodTech has innovated and expanded the InfoTalk model to include a new set of podcast media offerings. With this financing announcement, PodTech is launching the following media properties:
• PodTech News: Dedicated independent podcasting news team
• PodTech InfoTalk™ Network: Dedicated set of PodTech original and 3rd party podcasting content
• PodTech Sponsorship Network: Aggregated set of sponsors and paid content
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Bluetooth Arrives for Your iPod
The naviPlay Stereo Headset is designed for active listeners, freeing you from the cumbersome cable connection between your iPod and headphones. The naviPlay Stereo Headset can also be used as a wireless headset with your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.
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Effortlessly switch between listening to music to taking calls without having to remove your headphones or scramble for your phone. Use it on a treadmill at the gym, take it with you cycling…anytime being tied to your iPod would limit your range of motion or expose the iPod to risk. The possibilities are limitless.
The great thing about naviPlay is that it's ready to use right out of the box. There's no software to load, nothing to configure to enjoy your music wirelessly. Just charge the adapter and headset and travel with your tunes.
Suggested price $200 at Apple Store
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Make Your iPod Better with Podmaxx
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By combining iTunes and unprecedented power of Podmaxx, you'll unlock your your iPods maximum potential! It used to be impossible to move all of your music from your iPod back to your PC. Now you can sync your music between home, office, desktop and laptop. Podmaxx empowers you to easily manage your iPod and more!
Take advantage of a Special Offerand buy the complete Podmaxx suite of Products for $29.99
Podmaxx Gold - Features
Copy your favorite DVD's on your iPOD!
Why buy movies again for your iPod? Podmaxx Video lets you rip any DVD that you own right to your iPod with speed, simplicity and perfect quality.
Create your own ringtones
Select the best part of your favorite song and make it your own custom ringtone that you can change as often as you want. For Free!
Use songs from your mp3 library as tones for your phone!
Select tones from your iPod library and convert them to ringtones for your cell phone. Ring Factory is 100% wireless carrier independent and is compatible with all open networks, including Sprint PCS, Cingular, AT&T Wireless, Verizon, T–Mobile, Rogers, Telus and others, supporting more than 100 handsets - the most in the industry.
Choose from the hottest wallpapers online
Use Ring Factory to grab tons of cool wallpapers and put them on your cell phone
Copy any iPod™ data to your iPod™ or PC
Hook up any iPod™ to your PC and access it like it was your own! Copy music or anything else to your PC from any iPod!
Continue reading "Make Your iPod Better with Podmaxx"
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New Remote Control for Your iPodand iTunes
Keyspan offers new Universal Dock and Wireless Remote Control for Apple's iPod
The A/V Dock for iPod provides an easy and affordable way to connect the iPod to a computer, stereo or TV. The dock enables a user to: - Connect the iPod to a PC or Mac in order to sync or charge the iPod* - Connect the iPod to a stereo or powered speakers using the line out jack - Connect the iPod to a TV using the S-Video jack - Charge the iPod from an AC outlet using the USB Power Adapter - Control the iPod from around the house with the optional A/V Remote
The Keyspan A/V Dock for iPod conforms to Apple's "universal dock" design. Simply pop in a dock adapter to perfectly fit any iPod with a dock connector, including click wheel iPods, the iPod mini, the iPod nano and the iPod with video.
The package includes a USB power adapter, USB cable, audio cable (3.5mm stereo to dual RCA) and three dock adapters. Priced at an MSRP of $49, the A/V Dock for iPod will be available in both white and black versions and will be released soon.
The A/V Remote for iPod is used in conjunction with the A/V Dock to wirelessly control iPod music, video, audiobooks, and photos from across the room or from around the house. While many competitors offer remotes with as few as five or six functions, the A/V Remote for iPod features a sleek, 16 function design.
The A/V Remote for iPod features wireless RF connectivity with a range of 60 feet or more. Unlike IR remotes available from many other brands, the A/V Remote works through walls and furniture. Priced at an MSRP of $29, the A/V Remote for iPod will be available in both white and black versions and will be released in soon.
Coming Soon - the new TuneView Remote together with accessories that enable users to control an Apple iPod or iTunes - More Details
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Iconique Fashion Magazine Podcast
Iconique Fashion Magazine announces to launch its favorite fashion editorials as podcasts. Une Femme Sans Mythe by Richard Goldstein is the first iPod video to be available. With this new initiative, Iconique's visitors will be able to take the animated fashion editorials by artist Joost van Gorsel with them and have their shot of style whenever and wherever they need it!
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Iconique Fashion Magazine was founded by Joost van Gorsel (1980). Van Gorsel's online international magazine premiered in the fall of 2000 and as such became his ‘art-laboratory'. The designer continues to experiment with new graphic dimensions and techniques. Over the years the website has grown into an international platform onto which creative minds show off their skills and has become a favorite among the internet's fashion lovers.
The first podcast 'Une Femme Sans Mythe' is a sexy art and fashion feature with beautiful photography by Richard Goldstein. Richard Goldstein is a veteran creative with extensive credits in photography, music, film, and as an advertising and marketing creative.
Go to Iconique to download the podcast
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PodcastEmpire
PodcastEmpire is the largest Podcast Directory in Canada, tracking most of the 250+ Canadian Podcasts available, and has become a significant player in the Global Podverse over the past year, boasting over 11,000 Podcast Shows and 115,000 tracked episodes.
"Podcast Empire has made it easy for listeners to search through more than 11,000 Podcasts to find what you are looking for by offering easy to follow categories and advanced search functionality" says Brent Paine, Podcast Empire’s Director of Technology.
In just 6 short months Podcast Empire has emerged as one of the top Podcast Directories online, boasting over 110,000 current show episodes.
Take a look at PodcastEmpire.com
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MPA Goes After Razorback2
In a joint operation this week police and prosecuting authorities in
Belgium and Switzerland shut down the file-swapping network Razorback2.
Razorback2 was the number one eDonkey peer-to-peer server facilitating the illegal file
swapping of approximately 1.3 million users simultaneously.
Razorback2 was operated
as a commercial enterprise indexing over 170 million files including millions of
copyrighted movies, software, games, TV programming and music with international and
U.S. titles. The site was regularly used by people located all over the world, with the
vast majority of users based in Europe.
“This is a major victory in our fight to cut off the supply of illegal materials being circulated on the Internet via peer-to-peer networks,” said Motion Picture Association (MPA) Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman. “By shaving the illegal traffic of copyrighted works facilitated by Razorback2, we are depleting other illegal networks of their ability to supply Internet pirates with copyrighted works which is a positive step in our international effort to fight piracy.”
Full Press Release from the Motion Picture Association
It is unclear what effect the shutting down of the Razorback2 server will have on overall file-sharing figures.
Studies of the different file-sharing networks show that the numbers of people using Edonkey is on the increase. It has become the dominant network in South Korea, Italy, Germany and Spain.
However, following raids and shutdowns, many file-sharers simply move to other networks such as BitTorrent or have turned to older systems such as Usenet.
Notes posted on discussion groups by Edonkey users following the raid show that the number of people on the Edonkey network was back to normal a few hours after the server was shut down.
More from Video Downloads
Get the Wikipedia on Your iPod
Encyclopodia is a free software project that brings the Wikipedia , which is one of the largest encyclopedias on the world, onto the Apple iPod MP3-Player. It has been successfully tested on a third-generation iPod and on an iPod mini, but it should also work on other iPod generations.
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This software is available for free download from Sourceforge - if you like it consider a donation
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Ricky Gervais Podcasts for Cash
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Following on from the success of the Podcast of his show - Ricky is now undertaking an experiment in Monetizing it.
Starting this week Ricky begins charging for the downloads.
The first series, distributed free through the Guardian Unlimited website, has been downloaded about 4.5m times and is to be included in the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records as the most popular podcast to date.
Now the show will be distributed through Apple's iTunes and Audible, an audio book and podcast website, at a charge of 95p per episode or £3.75 for the series. If all its former listeners were happy to start paying, the show could rake in some £4.28m in revenues.
Image for sale - Contact Mark Malone
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