"For those used to big announcements from Apple, the company's media event at its headquarters here on Tuesday might have been a disappointment," Troy Wolverton reports for TheStreet.com. "Apple CEO Steve Jobs promised some 'medium-scale' product introductions and delivered along those lines, introducing a new version of the company's low-end computer and an iPod-powered boom box. But if the actual products were underwhelming, the company's vision is becoming clearer -- and bolder. The product announcements indicate that Apple is clearly trying to establish itself as a player in the battle for the digital living room, where computer and networking technology is married with consumers' traditional entertainment systems."

"The updated version of the company's Mac mini computer, for instance, has sophisticated audio-out jacks, a remote control and Apple's Front Row software, which allows users to access digital video, pictures and music using the remote," Wolverton reports. "With the Mac mini, the company is releasing an updated version of Front Row that allows the software to connect with other computers on a user's network, meaning that consumers will be able to watch video or listen to music stored on computers other than the Mac mini... But the Mac mini and Front Row are just part of the company's new advance into the living room. The company's iPod Hi-Fi is the other. Essentially a speaker box that connects to an iPod, the Hi-Fi represents Apple's first effort by itself to transform the iPod from a personal music device to a home audio device."

"That lack of a 'wow' product rollout was seemingly reflected in Apple's stock price, which began slipping Tuesday after the products were announced; the shares were recently off $1.77, or 2.5%, to $69.22," Wolverton reports. "Still, the products did represent important steps. The new Mac mini will include Intel processors, marking the latest models in the company's Macintosh computer to make the transition from PowerPC chips. As Jobs noted, the company has now moved half of its Macintosh line over to Intel chips since the start of the year."

We've gotten spoiled in the past with such revolutionary products being announced by Steve, but today wasn't one of them for me, and other Mac fans. April 1st is the 30th anniversary of Apple Computers, and I'm sure we'll get some great new products. I think we're going to have to wait a little longer to get that "Apple fix" we crave from these announcements, here's hoping.

According to the Engadget Live report, Steve Jobs announced that Apple has a new iPod Hi-Fi.

"You want a wide frequency range... room filling power without distortion. We're gonna introduce one today that has some of the attributes of some of the speakers out there today. Today we're introducing the iPod Hi-Fi."

"Your stereo's really ready to move to an iPod based stereo if we can get the quality up. ... Three driver system... we have a dock right on top, you can plug in any iPod we've ever shipped wit a dock connector."

"It even has an auxiliary input in the back so you can plug your shuffle in. Let's look inside... we've integrated the electronics and the power supply in there, there's no power brick. You can power this off D size batteries, you can take it out to the cabana or the pool, great sound wherever you are." Read more at Engadget.

I4U News reports that Sony Ericsson announces the W300 Walkman phone. This clam-shell Walkman handset already leaked over the weekend.

"The quad band EDGE Sony Ericsson W300 features MP3 and AAC music files support, FM radio with RDS, VGA Camera, 128x160 pixels TFT main display, 101x80 pixels Monochrome sub display and 20MB internal memory. The W300 comes bundled with a 256 MB Memory Stick Micro."

The Wolverine MVP 9120 PMP is relatively obscure in the market, but it does hold the title of the PMP with the largest current storage capacity in the world at 120GB.

A 7-in-1 memory card reader is included along with a 2.5” color LCD screen and video-out port. This USB 2.0 device retails for $599 and comes with all the essential cables, a remote control, earphones, and a carry case with a built-in speaker. via ubergizmo

WirelessIQ is reporting that Wingspan revealed a video demonstration today of its iLoad-c, a gadget that uses the music stores proliferating on cell phone networks, to download music directly to the Apple iPod Nano, without using a computer.

"iLoad-c clamps onto a Nano and then connects to your cell carrier's music store to download the music directly to the Nano. Initially the device is compatible with the Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, Cingular and T-Mobile networks. Officials say the company will shortly begin discussions with Apple and others to enable the WiFi capability within the device. iLoad-c is planned for release by mid-Summer at a retail price of $199."

"Wingspan also unveiled other devices that include iLoad, a device that copies CDs to the iPod without using a computer and iLoad-v, a device that connects to a cable or satellite TV box and records video and music onto the iPod without using a computer." via WirelessIQ

"Apple has issued a vaguely worded invitation to reporters and analysts, to "come see some fun new products" at Apple's Cupertino headquarters on Tuesday, February 28. And, not surprisingly, the missive has kicked up a whirlwind of rumors.

What could Apple CEO Steve Jobs have up his sleeve this time? The Apple (Research) rumor mill has been wrong before, but it is a reliable indicator of the products people are hoping for. And right now, the rumors center around movies."

"With the stage now set for a push into selling movies, here's how Apple might go Hollywood on Tuesday:

A true video iPod

An Intel Mac mini

A widescreen iBook

iTunes Movie Store"

"Steve Jobs, of course, is a master of surprise, so the rumor mill could be wrong on some or all of these possible products.

But summoning Silicon Valley's press corps down to Cupertino on short notice is a dramatic gesture suggesting that Jobs is preparing to make a big statement. With next-generation video as hot as it is right now, this would be a prime time for him seize the spotlight."

Microsoft doesn't appear to be positioning the Origami project as a direct challenge to the iPod. "I don't see it as a threat at all to Apple's music empire," said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies.

A video of a mystery device from Microsoft was discovered online over the weekend -- fueling new speculation about the company's plans in a market dominated by Apple Computer's iPod. However, the Microsoft device, if released as seen on the video, would appear to take a different approach and not compete directly with Apple's popular media player. The video shows people using the device not only as a music player, but also as a miniature personal computer for accessing the Internet , sending e-mail, editing photos and playing video games. Read the full article at TechNewsWorld.

"The bright LCD allows working in direct sunlight with no problem, though viewing the screen from varying angles reduces the brightness. "In standard use, the MacBook performed snappily - no spinning 'beachballs of death' to report, and the Safari web browser launched instantaneously. iTunes flies through CD rips at around 15x-20x playback speed (in high performance mode) and you can seamlessly scroll through thousands of snaps in iPhoto without the slightest glitch," the reviewer wrote. Once again, the fact that not all Mac software has been released as Universal Binaries to run natively on the new Intel-based systems has drawn some attention. Battery life during during lots of disc spinning and software installation is reported to be just over two-and-a-half hours, while a full recharge during use took roughly 90 minutes. Stuff's conclusion: "for now, all I know is that Apple's going to have to send the heavies around if it expects to get this particular MacBook back."

The review concludes: "So, should you buy one? Well, if you rely on processor-intensive third-party software - for animation, music or movie editing - then it's definitely worth checking when that software will be optimised for the Intel processor, and how much it will cost you."

"If, on the other hand, you're after a drop-dead gorgeous laptop that runs consumer applications brilliantly, that excels in entertainment and productivity software, and that's truly future-proofed, then it's worth joining the queue."

Sony Mail

SonyPaint

Sony Organiser (notice the use of an "s" and not a "z" in "Organiser")

AlarmClock

Writepad

Console Security

Music Store connectivity

PS3 connectivity

"It's close to a year since we first heard about Logic 3's planned keyboard for the PSP. In that time, we naturally began to wonder if the product would ever see the light of day, and now we have an answer: Logic 3 announced today that the product was being canceled, blaming Sony for not providing information needed to produce it. Conspiracy theorists will no doubt have a field day with this one, and if Sony comes out with its own PSP keyboard in a few months, will certainly feel vindicated. In the meantime, if you were hoping for an easy way to enter text if you use your PSP for web surfing or other keyboard-heavy activities, your wait just got a lot longer." Via engadget.

Text input on the PSP is in need of serious help, and this looked like it was going to help big time. I know the PSP is a gaming device, but since Sony is adding other functionality like web browsing, and the upcoming email application, there has to be an easier way than adding text via the phone like menu of the PSP. Maybe Sony will come out with a proprietary keyboard only they make, keeping with Sony tradition.

Joel from Switchblog has written up a great review of the carbon fiber iPod nano case.

"Overall, this is a great looking case. It nicely complements the form factor of the nano. Actually, it gives the nano a whole new “personality.”

Check out the whole review and tons of great pictures here .

"Apple Computer may soon unveil a new special edition iPod and some other iPod- and music-related accessories, AppleInsider has gathered.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker is rumored to have completed arrangements with third parties to debut a special or limited edition iPod, which is reportedly similar to the black and red U2-branded model that made its debut in Oct. of 2004.

The iPod, believed by some to be one and the same with the recently-rumored red-colored AIDS awareness iPod, may be tacked on to Apple's announcements this Tuesday, sources have said.

Additionally, the company is also believed to be tying together marketing materials for a few other small iPod accessories of unknown nature, which would presumably arrive alongside an announcement of the new iPod model and an update to its iTunes digital jukebox software.

Apple on Tuesday will hold a special media event on its campus to announce some "fun new products," the company teased in a digital invited distributed to select analysts and members of the media last week.

Some key new products expected to debut at the event include Apple's first Intel-based Mac mini desktop computers and a new iPod Boombox audio system that will provide plug-and-plug audio for the living-room." Via appleinsider.

"We're always up for a little bit of engineer poaching between device makers, like when Apple nabbed some VAIO guys from Sony for the MacBook Pro. Ah, good times. This time Apple is tasting a bit of their own medicine, since Samsung has scored Paul Mercer to design the YP-Z5. Mr. Mercer, a former Apple employee who helped design System 7 and worked on the Newton project, left Apple in 1994 and designed the original iPod interface as an independent contractor. Samsung tapped him for the YP-Z5, which has transparency effects and other interface niceties to give the nano a run for its money. Now we'll just have to wait and see if Mr. Mercer's work has managed to eclipse his former brilliance -- that screen won't be much help." Via engadget.

With all the talk of Palm OS now going to a Linux OS I decided to pick up a handheld that runs Linux to see what's so special about this open source OS people rave about.

I have never used a Linux device, ever, so this is all new to me. I have only had the Nokia 770 for a few hours, and being a long time and current Palm OS user am still trying to get used to this device. One thing for sure, out of the box this does not even come close to the Palm OS, but I want to really give it a shot. I can already tell you now this will never replace my Treo 650, but there are some very cool things about it, and it has me realizing that the move to a Linux OS can be very beneficial for us Palm OS users if PalmSource/ACCESS execute it right.

The screen on this device is AMAZING, it's 800 x 480, a big step up from my Treos 320 x 320 screen. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g built in so I could connect it to my home network, or my Treo using BT DUN. It comes with a verison of Opera 8 web browser which is actually a pleasure to use so far. Built in e-mail client, a RSS new reader program, audio player, video player, internet radio, image reader, pdf reader, a few games, 64 megs of internal flash memory, and an included 64 meg MMC card.

Like I said, I've only used it for about 2 hours, and haven't really tried out everything this device has to offer. It really shines as an Internet Tablet, the main purpose of this new category from Nokia. The 770 handles webpages just like a desktop, something I did not expect from a device of this size. It supports multiple windows, Flash 6 plugins, Javascript, SSL, cookies, bookmarks, caching, zooming, optimized mode, full screen viewing, something I have never been able to do on a Palm OS or Windows Mobile device. Surfing on a device that has a screen resoltuion of 800 x 480 trumps any handheld I've used.

Nokia has said that there will be an OS upgrade coming soon that will add VoIP, and an IM client. Thanks to my friend Joel from Switchblog and 1src , he has given me tons of resources of places to get free software, and I already have an instant messaging program called GAIM, and a few games installed on it currently.

It's still too early to tell if I am going to keep this device, or return it, but I'll be sure to keep you updated. Stay tuned.

"Apple, whose iTunes internet music site sold its billionth tune last week, is preparing to launch a film download service. An announcement is expected as early as this week," Tony Glover reports for The Business.

The news will represent another move in Apple’s strategy to network computing and entertainment products around the home so music and video can be wirelessly streamed from one device to another. Films downloaded on to an Apple computer from iTunes could be transferred through an Apple Airport wireless connection to a digital television or stored on a video iPod," Glover reports. "Using the success of Apple’s iPod, the world’s most successful portable digital music player, and iTunes, Apple’s hugely successful music download service, as a springboard for a film download service makes perfect commercial sense for Apple chief executive and founder Steven Jobs."

"There is also speculation among US analysts that Apple is also working on additional video and audio-enabled products to complement a revamped iTunes services offering feature-length films. Some believe Apple is also planning to unveil a new widescreen computer notebook to be called the “Macbook”, which will be distinctive because of its small size and widescreen cinema display. It is expected to retail at less than $1,500," Glover reports. "There is also talk that Apple is planning the launch of an Apple-branded hi-fi that will enable iPod users to dock their iPod music player into a device that will then turn the compact digital music player into a fully-fledged hi-fi that will enable them to share their music collection in the living room, the kitchen or at the beach."

For a gadget so small, the consumer electronics industry has never seen anything as big. The diminutive device known as the iPod has spawned one of the biggest explosions in the electronic accessories field as companies scramble to engineer and manufacture devices to improve the iPod experience. From blue jeans designed with an iPod-carrying pouch to baby chairs that rock out to its music to systems that play video from your iPods in the car to a SpongeBob SquarePants speaker system that plugs into your devices. There's iPod clothing, iPod alarm clocks, leather carrying cases and speakers, an accoutrement for almost every taste. Read the full article at MacNewsWorld.

"At a special media event to be held on its campus next week, Apple Computer will unveil a new line of low-cost Intel-based Mac mini desktop computers but will not debut its next-generation iBook consumer notebooks, AppleInsider has learned.

According to reports from a variety of sources, Apple this week released the Intel Mac mini design to its manufacturing partners in the Far East, which are currently ramping production of the compact computers in an effort to build an initial inventory stockpile.

Based on this information, it would appear that there will be at least some availability of the systems immediately following their announcement next Tuesday.

On the other hand, Apple's Intel-based iBooks are not expected to make an appearance at the event -- they remain on target for an introduction at a later date this Spring." Via appleinsider.

Everything USB has done a nice review of the Imation USB 2.0 Micro Hard Drive 4GB.

There are heaps of hypes surrounding the Imation USB 2.0 Micro Hard Drive. First, Imation touted the miniature storage as the first USB unit to feature 0.85" HDD - the world's smallest certified by The Guiness Book of World Records. The drive also mimics the looks of a padlock, giving the product a bit more media (blog) spotlight. So, hypes aside, we will see how the Imation fares at real-life tasks. Padlock USB Drive The Imation USB 2.0 Micro Hard Drive certainly has an interesting shape; it is modeled after a padlock with a flexible USB connector acting as a clasp. The cable locks firmly into position, and you can only release it by sliding the latch. A 4" USB cable is tethered to the 1.8 oz. mini drive, and is long enough to reach any crowded USB hub or the back of an iMac. Though, none of us would mind if Imation throws in a USB extension cable at any length. Read the full review at Everything USB.

"Only Apple could take a phenomenon as ancient and rudimentary as magnetism and make it seem so profound."

"The Cupertino, Calif.-based Mac maker has slowly and subtly been adding magnetic innovations to its computer systems over the last six months and now looks ripe to add yet another.

If reports are accurate -- and they are believed to be -- Apple's forthcoming line of Intel-based iBook consumer notebooks will use magnetic technology in yet another fashion."

"In addition to adopting the MacBook Pro's MagSafe power connector, the notebooks will also shed their traditional latch technology in favor of a purely magnetic latch system, people familiar with some of the Intel iBook's design elements have told AppleInsider. Instead of using a magnet to capture a small metal latch when the notebook is close, the new iBooks will use a stronger magnetic system that will adhere the notebook's display component to its base without the need for a movable latch, these people say.

The Intel-based iBook, which may make its debut under a new product name such as MacBook, is rumored to be the most heavily redesigned Macintosh to come out of Apple's industrial design labs in the last two years.

The notebooks reportedly resemble a shrunken MacBook Pro, based around a 13-inch high-resolution display, but clad in iBook white. Like Apple's iMac Core Duo and MacBook Pro, the new iBooks are also expected to pack a built-in iSight video camera, Apple Remote, and Front Row media software.

Although processor specifications for the upcoming iBook line remain largely unconfirmed, logic would point to the notebooks adopting a 1.67GHz Intel 1.67GHz Core processor, either Solo or Duo."

The Norwegian designed Asono Mica is really extraordinary in its simplicity and concept. Finally a really innovative MP3 player with headphones integrated into the player. Not only does it succeed in being neat and un-fussy, but scores points for its functionality as well. A good many features are to be found in this 22g 1 GB player - microphone, fm radio, radio recorder and preset equalizers. via ubergizmo

Word of such a product first emerged late last year on AppleInsider. The iPod Hi-Fi boombox will mark Apple's first foray into significant iPod companion products, as the company seeks to capitalize off the iPod economy it has created, valued today at several hundred million dollars. To date, Apple has released only minor accessories for the iPod with its logo, including remotes, cases, earphones, and docks." Via thinksecret.

"It may well have been the best 99 cents Alex Ostrovsky ever spent. Early yesterday, he paid that amount to download 'Speed of Sound,' a song on the Coldplay album 'X&Y,' from the iTunes Music Store, the Internet music shop that Apple Computer started less than three years ago," Claudia H. Deutsch reports for The New York Times. "He did not know it, but it was the billionth song the site had sold, and Apple was not about to let that go unnoticed."

"So at 12:45 a.m., Mr. Ostrovsky's phone rang. It was an Apple employee, telling him that in addition to the song, Apple was giving him a 20-inch iMac, 10 iPods and a $10,000 gift card for the iTunes store. It is even establishing a scholarship at the Juilliard School in his name," Deutsch reports. "Mr. Ostrovsky, 16, was still trying to absorb it all yesterday. His phone had been ringing all day, alternating between reporters wanting to know his reaction and friends wanting to congratulate him."

Deutsch reports, "He has pretty concrete ideas about how he will use the prizes, though. The iMac stays with him — 'I'd been asking my parents for a new computer for a while, so this was a dream come true,' he said. He will keep an iPod, and family and friends will get the rest. But the $10,000 gift card has him a bit flummoxed."

"Once you've driven a Ferrari, it's hard to go back to your Toyota Corolla. Not that I've ever driven a Ferrari, nor do I own a Corolla. But I imagine that's what it feels like now that I'm back on my crappy HP laptop after a few weeks of test-driving Apple's new iMac," Peter Nowak reports for The new Zealand Herald. "The hype is true - the Intel dual-processor iMac is about as close to perfection as a computer can get. It's enough to make a convert of a hard-core PC user like myself... I pulled the thing out of the box, plugged it in and was ready to go. No lengthy operating system or software installation. Same with internet access - I popped in my ethernet cable and was instantly connected. Waiting a few minutes for my PC to boot up now seems interminable."

"It's the first Apple computer with Intel's new dual-core 2.0GHz processor, which means it's fast, fast, fast. I'll save the benchmark tests for the more techie-oriented reviews, but in practical terms, the iMac moves at blazing speed," Nowak reports. "Overall, the iMac is something you may not want to try because if you do, you may never want to go back to your crappy old Toyota."

"There's allsorts of cases and covers out there for your iPod, not to mention PDAs, cameras and phones. For something attractive and well-made, I like the Knomo cases, but the Covertec range of cases could give them a run for their money. Covertec specialises in rather stylish flip leather cases with a handmade finish for PDAs, cameras, smartphones, GPS devices and music players, with elastic sides to secure the device inside. The cases also come with a belt clip using a screw assembly to attach to the case, which when removed means there is no protruding knob." via Tech Digest

Here's a phony iPod pic I just spotted over at Cult of Mac.

Speculation about Apple’s February 28 announcement is swarming around the notion of full-length movie downloads sold through the iTunes music store. Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research went out on a limb, oddsmaking the chances as greater than 50% that Apple will open up the floodgates for full-length feature films for download next Tuesday. He also joined others in predicting that on that same day, the Cupertino Fruit Company will also announce new iBooks with Intel inside, along with a Mac mini with a remote control and Front Row software on board. Sounds like the timing is right, since Apple enjoyed its one billionth music download just today. Chances are Jobs and Co. have decided it’s time to crank it up a notch and move to the next level. via Gizmodo

If you want to give your nano some kind of human form, pick up an iGuy from Speck, the functional iPod case with arms and legs! iGuy is billed as "the first bendable, posable friend for you and your iPod nano". iGuy is a novelty with a practical purpose - he offers rubberised protection, acts as a docking station and also offers screen protection for your iPod nano. Not to mention being a talking point when you stick it on your office desk! via Tech Digest

Digital CowBoy announces the release of an iPOD docking station that can charge your iPOD and act as a speaker set. But this is just not any ordinary speaker set, this one has the 1Bit (Class-T) technology and offers 2x15W. You also get a remote control. via Akihabara News

"In a new report from research firm Brandimensions, the Treo has scored higher in customer satisfaction versus the rival Blackberry. According to the report, the Palm Treo had a customer satisfaction rating of 3.61 out of 5 versus the Blackberry which scored a 3.31. BlackBerry seems to be lagging behind," said Mark De Paoli, the author of a report. Brandimensions uses Internet forums, blogs and discussion forums to assess the buzz surrounding a product. Research In Motion, maker of the Blackberry, is currently invovled in a patent lawsuit that threatens to shut-down it's popular push-email service. Palm's latest effort, the Palm Treo 700w, runs the Windows Mobile OS – making it a viable option for large corporations looking for a viable alternative to the Blackberry."

I came across this over at the 1src forums. It's a new application from PalmAddict's very own Tyler Faux, also one of the best Palm software developers around. It's called SharkLinks:

"SharkLinks is a free utility that lets you create browser links in your launcher. Right now it only supports Blazer (therefore it only supports Palm devices). If there is enough interest i can add Netfront 3 support pretty quickly.

So here's how it works: you go into SharkLinks, add a bunch of your favorite places on the Web, and go back to your launcher. The links appear as if they were applications.

The links are SELF-CONTAINED. so you can create them and delete sharklinks. in fact, you can even beam the links to a friend's palm. or post them online. you get the idea... This application was suggested to me by brad (jjesusfreak01) and jeff kirvin. nice idea guys!"

You can download SharkLink here . It works great, I installed it on my Treo 650, and now have my favorite links right in my launcher. Go check it out.

"We have zero idea what this thing is, if it's real, or if it's the same kind of factory leak we saw the day of Steve's "One more thing..." keynote where he introduced the 5G iPod, but this does look a bit promising as the video iPod that people have been speculating about for a while now. (And yeah, we're assuming that would be a touchscreen on there.)" Via engadget.

I had the opportunity recently to try out TrendyGeek's screen protector called the Trendy Shield. I had tried a couple of other screen protectors for my iPod with video in the past, and I wasn't all that thrilled with the results. Although the Trendy Shield isn't perfect, I do like it much better than the other screen protectors I've tried.

Pictured above are the two photos from the TrendyGeek website on the left and my own photos of my iPod after applying the Trendy Shield. My final results weren't quite as good as the photos from the website but I'm happy with the screen protector overall. It wasn't very hard to apply and it looks pretty good, plus I know that it will protect my iPod from scratches!

The Trendy Shield is actually two screen protectors; one that covers the entire front of the iPod and one that covers the back and the sides. I love this because my whole device is covered! I can't stand fingerprints on any device and all you iPod owners know how beautiful the back of our iPods are! Well, I'm obsessive about keeping the back of mine wiped down! But now I won't have to since the entire back is protected by the Trendy Shield!

You can remove and wash the Trendy Shield and put it back on and that's nice also!

Here is what the TrendyGeek website says about the Trendy Shield:

Go naked with the new Trendy Shields and ditch your bulky iPod case forever! Trendy Shields consists of an ultra thin plastic film that adheres to your iPod. The film is 100% transparent so you can barely see it when applied. The film adheres strongly to the iPod and will not come off with regular use but is easily removed with out leaving any residue on the ipod. Trendy Shields are simply the best way to showcase your iPod while protecting it from scratches. Give it a try! We are certain you will be 100% satisfied. You can get the Trendy Shield for $12.99. I would recommend the Trendy Shield!

Tech Digest is reporting on the iPod tie or the Pink Commuter tie(official name), which is billed as the latest solution for today’s busy man who needs to carry more than one gadget at any one time.

"The Commuter tie features a pocket on the reverse of the tie which will hold an iPod Nano securely, allowing your busy executive to have his hands free to grab a morning coffee, track his shares in the daily press or to do a spot of texting. There's also an extra fabric loop to keep wires out of sight and close to the body. The tie itself is made from 100% silk the Commuter tie and is available in navy, red and pink. It's your for £49."

iPod Mini was taken off the Apple online store after the launch of the Nano. But now it’s again there in its full colors to be grabbed for just $149. via Gizmo Watch

"Sitting on my bench I have, to the right, my trusty 20-inch G5 iMac with a PowerPC heart beating at 1.8 GHz, and to the left, the new 20-inch iMac with a Core Duo Intel engine rated at 2 GHz. The view is stunning," Garry Barker writes for The Sydney Morning Herald. "So then, the big question. Is this new machine really twice as fast as the PowerPC model, as Apple boss Steve Jobs said at Macworld?"

"All the iLife '06 and iWork '06 applications, Safari and the other bundled applications have been rewritten for Intel and run as if regreased. Non-Intel-compliant software seems to run no faster but then again, no slower, on the new machine. This probably means that the faster Intel chip is making up for the fact that the old software is being converted on the fly to work on the new processor," Barker reports. "The greater proof of the new platform's power will come later when professional applications, such as Adobe's Creative Suite, are rewritten for it. Microsoft will bring Office:mac into the new era, probably next year, but a speed boost for a word processor is unlikely to have anyone singing hallelujah. And PowerPoint, while still useful, is now not an option for most Mac users. They prefer Keynote, which is already rewritten for Intel."

"So should you buy now or wait a bit? I intend to buy, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, your PowerPC iMac still has good resale value. It will continue to do so, but the second-hand price must inevitably decline as Intel-compliant applications emerge and more Intel machines are bought. Secondly, this is the new generation," Barker writes. "It will cost you no more to get on the train now."

I always enjoy reading Ina Fried's interesting articles on the latest Apple news!

"Although many of those who have ordered the Mac Book Pro are still waiting for it to arrive, the folks at Other World Computing have already taken their new laptop apart. Not much to say, but check out the photos for yourself. O'Reilly's MacDev Center notes that it appears easier to take apart than the prior PowerBooks." via Apple Blog/News.Com

The people at Gamasutra had the chance to chat with Jani Karlsson, Senior Manager for N-Gage at Nokia recently, and although he didn’t exactly spill the beans, Karlsson did give some indication as to how the future of the N-Gage will unfold in the months to come.By his own admission, the history of the N-Gage has been quite the challenge, just as any game developer or publisher would face when they first enter into the game, so to speak. Read more at MobileMag.

Remember we told you about the Pebble, a rather cool pendant MP3 player back in December last year? Well, you can now pick it up in the UK. If you missed it, the Pebble, made by Korean company EZAV, was pitched as a wearable piece of technology. I'd be surprised it you could carry it off as a piece of jewellery, but to compensate, it's also a pretty decent MP3 player. Despite its size, the player has a fairly easy to read display, showing track information and battery life. It even has an FM tuner and voice recorder built into it and can play WMA and ASF files along with MP3. via Tech Digest

"Music lovers like you in 21 countries around the globe have purchased one billion songs from the iTunes Music Store. And for helping us reach this massive milestone in digital music history, we’d like to thank you."

The viliv P1 has to looks of the bastard child of a Sony PSP and an iPod. PVP4U reported about the viliv P1 when it appeared in Korea last summer. Now Episodic Media Inc. informed me that they will be selling the viliv P1 with a 30GB hard-drive beginning in March in the US and Canada.

Episodic Media launched goviliv featuring a stylish flash featuring a great looking gadget model and the features of the stylish viliv P1. The viliv P1 PMP comes with a 30GB hard-drive, 4 inch 16:9 wide-screen with 480x272px TFT screen, Macromedia Flash player, FM-Tuner, Voice and audio recording, Speaker, CF Slot, Video and Audio Out, 6 hour video viewing battery life and 11 hours for audio. The video player supports DivX, Xvid and MPEG1/2/4. The audio player supports MP3, WMA and OGG. I4U News says that the initial price for the viliv P1 will be $499.00. via I4U News

Nobody wants to lug around a 10-pound laptop anymore, but while computer makers scramble to roll out models that are ever smaller and lighter, nobody has stopped to ask just how small is too small.

Dialogue Technology Corp.'s Flybook and Fujitsu Ltd.'s Lifebook P1500 are two purse-size tablet computers that beg the question. Each has 8.9-inch displays and weighs less than 3 pounds.

I was fully prepared to fall for the Flybook. It's immeasurably cooler, with an array of flashy colors such as "Purple Red" and "Yellow Cab." The design is so gorgeous, you almost want to take a bite out of it. The silver Lifebook, by contrast, feels more like an older, mousy sister — mature and responsible, but not as much fun. Read the full article at Yahoo!News.

Ubergizmo is reporting that the LG KC8100 will run the Windows Mobile V5.0 Pocket PC Premium O/S on its 520MHz Xscale processor. Bundled software include standard MS Word, Powerpoint, and Outlook. With its wireless LAN support, access Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere.

"The two cameras on the phone are a main 2-megapixel camera with auto-focus and a secondary VGA Camera. Embedded with 100MB internal memory add more with a mini SD card. Also inclusive is Molans' language learning assistant program."

Newlaunches is reporting on the MK10, which is a Bluetooth Handsfree Carkit from Korean manufacturer Movon.

"The MK10 has 2.2 inch 14 digit backlit LCD which displays the caller's telephone number, battery status, call status, Volume etc. It can store 5 numbers with characters and also stores the last 5 incoming calls in case you want to make a phone call with the MK10. You can choose from the three different preset ringtones. It's built in DSP processor blocks unwanted sounds and delivers a clear voice. It supports AV profile so you can enjoy streaming music from your MP3 player on the speakerphone. It clips on the visor thus offering you a clear view of the display." Newlaunches also says that the MK10's Lithium Polymer battery provides 11 hours of talktime and 200 hours of standby time. It can be charged via Cigar lighter and USB port.

Headphones that come with portable music players like the iPod are usually adequate to deliver an enjoyable experience, but often they are not the best choice for comfort, convenience or sound quality. Earbud-style headphones that come with iPods, for example, can be uncomfortable after extended use and, if they do not fit properly, can be jarred loose. Also, many headphones are not effective at blocking outside noise, which can degrade sound quality and induce users to ratchet up the volume in loud surroundings. A number of headphone options are available to improve the listening experience on portable music players. Read more at MacNewsWorld to find out about the different headphone options.

"With next week's press event looming, Apple has halted bulk orders of Mac minis, according to FreeMacBlog. Blogger Brian writes:"

"Well, today we called to place our order for our next big batch of minis and we were told 'We’re not able to take large orders for Mac minis right now,' and that was it."

"Is a change in the air for the mini?"

I thin we will see an update to the Mc Mini line, with Fron Row on Tuesday, among other announcements. People will but Intel Mac Mini's for the performance gaines due to the Intel processors. Stay tuned...

"Dave at MobilityToday hopped in his car as soon as he heard about the MacBook Pro and nearly beat up another customer to get one. Was it worth it?

Apparently it was. The best features are the speed and the little magnetic power cable while the real draw—battery life—was kind of a downer. It appears that the real battery life is about 4 hours, down from the six touted on the Apple website. However, this was with full brightness and not much power saving tech turned on, so take that with a grain of salt. Overall, however, the MacBook looks to be just about the best piece of kit on the Apple website thus far."

"Early this morning MacDailyNews received a blurry photo and a brief bit of text from an anonymous source.

The text that was included with the photo:

I was only able to snap one quick shot of this as I was only in there for about 30 seconds. I sort of stumbled upon it - can't say more about how or why. I only got about half a sec to look around back - there are a bunch of ports (and maybe a button or two) neatly arranged on the back (?) of the cube in a line along the bottom edge. It's about 8-inches square and 8-inches tall - a perfect cube. It seems to be made out of a similar material as a Power Mac - aluminum perforated with a round hole pattern, but they're smaller holes than found on a Power Mac. The top is the same material as the sides with the addition of the Apple logo, even though it doesn't look like it in the photo - I had to snap it quick, sorry.

I don't have any real detail on exactly what it's designed to do, but I know from other things I can't mention that it's media-related. Apple "Media Cube," maybe? Anyway, thought you guys would be interested.

That's all we know. Obviously, this could be a fake, but on the off chance that it's not, we'll post it for Photoshop experts to pick apart. Unfortunately, this is the best quality image we have of this mystery cube.

What do you think? Is Steve Jobs going to try the "cube thang" again? Is this what's coming next at next Tuesday's special media event (see related article)? Or it is just a fake?" Via macdailynews.

Most phones these days sport Bluetooth or a USB interface enabling home base hook up, but for the old school cell users, or older phone models, the CellStik is the perfect companion to store and transfer your phone book info. Just plug the little device into your phone, store the info and transfer. Or update it by attaching it to your computer. via Gadget Review

Digital CowBoy, the company we already talked about in the past, presents a very practical kit for iPOD Video so that you can fully enjoy videos anywhere and anytime you want. The Pod Privacy is a privacy filter that you put on your screen so your neighbours in the train cannot see what is displayed on your screen, you really need to be straight in front of it to watch the video. ....you also get a cable in this pack that allow you to connect your iPOD through an RGB connector to the TV. Quite neat, don't you think so? via Akihabara News

NBC broke new ground Tuesday with its legal drama "Conviction," becoming the first network to premiere a primetime series in the iTunes Music Store for free and before its televised broadcast.

As part of a multiplatform launch, iTunes users can download the Dick Wolf-produced hourlong pilot in its entirety at no cost. The promotion will extend until the show's network debut March 3, after which each episode will become available to download for $1.99 the day after it airs. Read more at Yahoo!News.

John C. Dvorak of PC Magazine has written a very interesting article about the possibility of Apple switching over to Windows.

"The idea that Apple would ditch its own OS for Microsoft Windows came to me from Yakov Epstein, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University, who wrote to me convinced that the process had already begun. I was amused, but after mulling over various coincidences, I'm convinced he may be right. This would be the most phenomenal turnabout in the history of desktop computing."

"Epstein made four observations. The first was that the Apple Switch ad campaign was over, and nobody switched. The second was that the iPod lost its FireWire connector because the PC world was the new target audience. Also, although the iPod was designed to get people to move to the Mac, this didn't happen. And, of course, that Apple had switched to the Intel microprocessor." Read the full article.

TechEBlog is showing this photo that is supposedly a leaked picture of Apple's prototype of Apple’s 6th generation iPod with the 3.5-inch touchscreen. It seems to me that if someone were going to take a photo of something so important, that they would at least tilt the device so that the flash or glare isn't reflecting all over it. Because that's obviously all we can see and we can't really make heads or tails of the photo.

"I did my first real test of the controversial MacBook Pro battery today... When I first got to a desktop the battery menu bar item was estimating that I had 3 hours and 7 minutes of run time available, but the actual results were less impressive. I got the first low battery warning after exactly 2 hours and 30 minutes of run time and the involuntary sleep after 2 hours and 38 minutes," Jason O'Grady reports for O'Grady's PowerPage."

"This test was not exactly a scientific test as I wasn't actively using the machine (which should help battery life) yet I had both wireless technologies on and the monitor set not to dim (which should hurt battery life)," O'Grady reports. "Next I will do a test of the battery running on the minimal settings to playback a DVD. (50% brightness, Airport and Bluetooth off). Then I will probably do a more real world test, where I use the machine the entire time."

Stuff Magazine is reporting on two speaker docks from Klipsch. First up is the iFi, a 2.1 speaker system with iPod dock and remote. Its Sanyo mini system-aping RSX-3 satellite speakers have 3.5in aluminium drivers and 0.75in titanium tweeters, which are coupled with Klipsch’s Micro-Tractrix horn ports for improved sonic capabilities. The fat 200w sub has an 8in driver, which should make it significantly louder than your common or garden iPod dock speaker system. Read more at Stuff Magazine.

Apple's market share, if it does fall in the first half, will bounce back -- and possibly go higher -- by yearend, largely because Intel-based Macs offer performance improvements over Apple's prior models.

It's been a rough month for Apple bulls. Jitters over Apple's transition to Intel processors has sliced 21 percent from the stock's value since Jan. 13, with the shares closing at US$67.64 on Feb. 14. The thinking was, when a major switch like this occurs, glitches inevitably follow, and some buyers will delay purchases until the kinks can be worked out.

For instance, such key applications as Adobe Photoshop require reworking for the Intel-based systems -- and the new versions might not go on sale until early 2007. In the meantime, Adobe Photoshop runs about 50 percent slower on the Intel-based iMac than on predecessor iMac G5 , says Kevin Krewell, editor-in-chief of the chip-tracker newsletter "Microprocessor Report." Read more at MacNewsWorld.

Despite being just five years old, Apple Computer's iPod may see drastic changes in 2006 with a bigger screen and new touch-screen click wheel. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the new 6G iPod will be introduced at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco April 1, marking the 30th anniversary of Apple. Read more at MacNewsWorld.

The rumors have begun...

" Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry handhelds captured a devoted following for their superior mobile messaging capabilities. Yet many users find them severely lacking when it comes to multimedia and some other features.

That could change later this year if the Internet rumor mill is correct. According to Untrung, analysts got a sneak peak at a new UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) 3G BlackBerry with more advanced multimedia capabilities, a music player even, designed to compete against the likes of Palm's Treo and other feature-rich - particularly Microsoft-based - smartphones— more so, it seems, than RIM's already more phone-like 7100 series models, which nixed the familiar QWERTY thumb-keyboard for a keyboard/keypad hybrid.

The new BlackBerry would presumably enhance business productivity through the ability to download, edit and forward large PowerPoint files as well.

J.Gold Associates analyst Jack Gold, who saw the device, said "It's like a pseudo-Treo" and that "They (RIM) have to do this to stay competitive." Because operators want to support handsets that maximize the sending and receiving of all types of wireless content (from ringtones to music to pictures to e-mail) for revenue purposes."

"The event is set to take place on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time at the Apple Town Hall on the company's Cupertino, Calif. campus.

"Come see some fun new products from Apple," reads the digital invite sent to analysts and members of the media. The invite itself is not very revealing, showing only an enlarged iCal-like icon rendering.

Rumors that Apple was planning a special event for the latter half of February have been brewing for several weeks now. Fueling the rumors were reports that Apple axed several music-related product introductions from its opening presentation at January's Macworld Expo.

Specifically, sources have described to AppleInsider a new iPod Boombox device that is expected to retail in the $300 range and provide plug-and-play audio for the living room."

"Nowhere is this more evident than in comments made by Nintendo of America's sales and marketing VP, Reggie Fils-Aime, in a column which he recently wrote for Brandweek. Fils-Aime is an effusive and widely-liked spokesperson whose brash style is a breath of fresh air in sharp contrast with Nintendo's often overplayed Japanese reserve, and he didn't skip a beat in admitting that the company's approach with the DS and Revolution products has drawn much from Apple's example with the iPod.

Both approaches, he noted, are aimed at bringing "disruptive" products into the market; devices which interrupt the standard progression of escalating technology by being more low-tech than their competitors, but innovating in terms of usability, pricing and broad appeal. The iPod has often been criticised on the entirely true grounds that it is less powerful, boasts less functionality and supports less music formats than rival products from other companies, but that's not the point of the product.

The point is that it offers an end-to-end experience in hardware and software which is unrivalled by any competitor, which appeals to consumers far outside the gadget geek demographic who were the sole consumers of digital music players before Apple entered the market, and which is supported by a fantastic branding exercise that has made "iPod" into a generic term for all such music players.

For Nintendo, that approach is exactly what it would like to do with the DS and the Revolution. The company has already said that it doesn't want to compete with Microsoft and Sony in technological terms; the DS is vastly underpowered compared to the PSP, and the Revolution will boast a basic specification which will be dwarfed by both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. The company is banking on the idea that mass market consumers won't care; that just like the iPod completely bypassed the question of technical specifications by sporting an intuitive and innovative interface and a brilliantly integrated system for syncing music with your PC, the Revolution will dodge all questions of 3D performance or HDTV support by virtue of its brand new control system and simple, powerful online functionality.

For both companies, the approach of trying to disrupt the market has been a dangerous and risky one, but so far, it has paid off. The success of the iPod speaks for itself, and has given Apple a leg-up back into a playing field where companies like Microsoft and Sony recognise it as a serious threat to their ambitions in the consumer space; the success of the DS has proved that Nintendo is still a formidable force in the videogames market, and has allowed the Kyoto-based company to actually expand the handheld market in the face of a powerful challenge from Sony which many commentators saw as the deathknell for the firm."

"According to market sources, Sony plans to release a version of its PSP (PlayStation Portable) using NAND flash from Samsung Electronics in the second half of this year.

The PSP will feature 8GB of NAND flash, the sources stated.

Although recent reports stated that Sony would opt not to use NAND flash in the next version of its PSP, and would instead use a microdrive, the sources indicated that Sony was stalling to negotiate better pricing from Samsung."

Chinese iMP3 reported that Reigncom plans to release the cool iRiver G10 in Korea sometime August 2006. The new iRiver G10 will feature a 4″ 260K colors WVGA display, WiBro connectivity and work on Windows CE 5.0 OS. Read more at The MP3 Players.

"Ever since CES, when we heard XM announce a duo of hard drive-sportin' portable receivers, we've been waiting to see the public reaction to these supposed iPod-killers. Well we won't have to wait much longer it seems, because Samsung has announced that its half of the duo, the Helix, is finally available for preorder from Amazon and Crutchfield (estimated shipping: April). As you'll recall, like the Pioneer Inno, the Helix rocks a color screen, FM transmitter, and hard drive for storing tracks and recording OTA XM content." Via engadget.

"You may want one, you may even be pleading for one but Sony refuses to nail down an official release date for the PlayStation 3. For the needy amongst you, however, a few scraps of interesting speculation were raised late last week."

"Pinning its reputation on a highly headline grabbing statement, games website Next Generation claims it can exclusively reveal the PS3 will have a September launch in both Japan and North America. It also boasts that the PS3 will indeed sport an Xbox Live comparable online service called ‘PlayStation HUB’." Read more at Trusted Reviews.

"Enter yet another ‘i’ product on the market. The iChair, features two built in speakers at ear level, and an ass vibrating subwoofer at your - you guessed it - rear. The chair also sports a pocket for your MP3 player, standard headphone jack, and a volume control in the right arm rest. To prevent tipping the chair is weighted at the base." You can get an iChair here in blue or charcoal for $400. via Gadget Review

Some MacBookPro unpacking pictures, hopefully customers will soon be receiving them.

Here's some more interesting news I saw over at Engadget. "All this buzz about the Optimus, multi-input touch systems, and Apple's touchscreen patents of late has really got people buzzing about the future of manual device input; but we're just not buying New Tech Spy's up and down assurances that Apple's going to be introducing something they're referring to as "touch finger LCDs," and that Apple also plans to eventually throw out numeric function keys as a result. Sorry, but you're going to have to do a little bit more than trumpet a rumor's absolute truth to convince us of even vague validity when it comes to something as absurd as Apple rumors."

"Sick of throwing out all your old iPod accessories everytime Apple releases a new iPod with a whole new connector? Thanks to the uLink iPod nano connector, you won't have to."

According to Gadget Review, the uLink adapter will allow you to use old generation iPod accessories and connect them to your iPod nano. It will work with products like the iRadio, old iTrip, iPod remote and iBeam. However, it will not work with Griffin iTalk or Belkin Voice Recorder. The uLink will cost around $17.

Gizmodo is reporting that according to AppleInsider, Apple will release its 17 in. MacBook Pro this June. This comes just two months after the predicted April launch of the company’s consumer-oritened Intel-based iBook. Though work on the two models had been done in parallel, the scant availability of slimline 8x DVD drives for the high-end 17” MacBook Pro created something of a delay. While the 2.16-GHz MacBook Pro has been the focus of people’s attention, no word yet on the release—or even existence—of a 12 in. MacBook Pro.

"iPod cases are a dime a dozen and new ones usually elicit a yawn, but these Iconz iPod Video Cases are just a little different. Take your pick of a dozen iconic characters such as Batman, Homer Simpson, Darth Vader, and of course, the classic Superman logo. Plus, there’s a see-through back that lets you keep an eye on the shiny-shiny side of the iPod, a nice touch, unless of course it’s a veritable skating rink full of scratches that would be best covered up." via Gizmodo

"We're accustomed to seeing fake iPods making the rounds overseas, and a dodgy Craigslist deal doesn't seem out of the question, but we're quite impressed with the 3rd party vendor that managed to get this TRiPod ripoff of the iPod nano onto the Amazon.com US site. It seems to be fairly similar to the 2GB nano rip that made it to Craigslist last month, with video playing abilities and similar software, but this one is 1GB and goes for $185 -- at least until Stevie J. gets Jeff Bezos on the horn for a little chit chat." via Engadget

Chinese PCPOP recently received a sample unit of LG FM20 to be reviewed. The website has published some close up pictures of this stylish MP3 player before it is reviewed. It looks so cool! via The MP3 Players

Another pro DJ equipment company is presenting dumbed-down DJing with iPods, with the release of Phonics new MixPod DJ mixer. The feature set, down to the video out connection and onboard controls, is nearly identical to the NumarkiDJ. And while the MixPod has none of the iDJs visual beauty, it has all of the iDJs problems: you cant scratch, you cant cue, and youre limited by all the restrictions of the iPod. Basically, you cant really DJ. We just have to wait for Creative Labs to copy this, and the circle will be complete. via Gizmodo

The concept of a sending music from your iPod wirelessly is not new. The Griffin iTrip and other similar products do the same but they work by broadcasting an FM signal, which a) produces relatively poor sounding interference prone audio and b) is officially illegal in the UK. The Logitech Wireless system however, employs Bluetooth, which in its 1.2 guise is capable of streaming audio comfortably.

Logitech claims that its system is simple to set up and its not wrong. The package contains two main parts. The first is a small white box. This is the transmitter and sits on top of your iPod or other player. Its white and obviously designed to match the styling of the iPod, so wont match if youve got a black one. But the black and white contrasts well so its not necessarily a style killer. Read the full article at Trusted Reviews.

Apple Computer doesn't have to be a sponsor to get advertising mileage out of the Winter Olympics--the athletes have inadvertently launched their own iPod campaign.

A story in the Baltimore Sun Friday points out that Olympic athletes from around the globe are like live billboards for the digital music player, which they have been seen using during practice and competition. Read more at Apple Blog/news.com

Lawson Wong of NewsFactorNetwork has done a very nice review of the Creative TravelDock Zen Micro:

For iPod owners, there is an abundance of accessories for Apple's incredibly popular little music box. But if you own a Creative Zen Micro or any other portable-media player not made by Apple, you have fewer choices for add-ons and accessories.

Mostly, you must rely on iPod accessories, just like everyone else who uses an alternative player. But there are some notable exceptions, including Creative's TravelDock Zen Micro speaker system.

Creative's TravelDock is designed specifically to be used with the Zen Micro, but it can accept inputs from just about any media player that uses standard audio cables. About the same dimensions as a supersized Sony PlayStation Portable, the iPod-esque white speaker system will fit unobtrusively on any desk. Read the full review at Yahoo!News. Photo via CNET

Two busy Web sites that focus on Apple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS X operating system went silent Friday just days after they featured links to information on how to hack the software and run it on non-Apple PCs.

The OSx86 Project Web site stated Apple had served it with a notice on Thursday citing violations of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act , and the site was reviewing all of its discussion forum postings as a result. The site has always aimed to adhere to copyright laws and is working with Apple to ensure no violations exist, according to a statement by the site administrator.

The other Web site, Win2OSX.net, was completely shut down. Administrators there could not be immediately reached for comment.

Read the full article at Yahoo!News.

"First it was the 17-inch iMac G5. Now, signs are beginning to surface that the next legacy model to disappear from Apples virtual shelves will be the 15-inch PowerBook G4. According to reports, Apple has already stopped selling the 15-incher through some channels, such as a B2B program and some versions of Apples online store for K-12 educators. While we havent been able to independently confirm this (when we checked the education store, the 15-inch G4 showed up), it wont surprise us to see the 15-inch model disappear soon." via Gizmo News

Looks like one of Engadget's readers has been doing some nice detective work and has come up with a pic of a newly-released patent filing for a touchscreen control-interface submitted by Apple. via Engadget

"It's not really news as far as threats go,' said Ray Wagner, a senior vice president in Gartner's information security group. 'It is news because it targets OS X, and as far as I know, it's certainly the first OS X malicious content in the wild that's been noted at this point,'" Broache reports. "Apple directed customers to a safety guide at its site and said it 'always advises Macintosh users to only accept files from vendors and Web sites that they know and trust.'"

"MacDailyNews Take: Did security experts also caution Macintosh users to view the incident as a wake-up call that all operating systems can run programs, too? Do not download "latestpics.tgz" and then uncompress it and then run it by giving Mac OS X your Admin password at the prompt. Also, do not drag files that you wish to keep on your hard drives to the Trash and then empty it."

"Oh, happy day. A few members of Apple’s discussion forum are reporting that they finally received confirmation that their MacBook Pros have finally shipped. As you can see in the screenshot above, the original MacBook that was ordered was replaced with a new one with a faster processor as Apple has bumped up the processor speed across the MacBook Pro line. Oh, and the reason it says the product shipped on Feb 18 is because these are shipped from China, where it is essentially “tomorrow” already." via Gear Live

The first worm targeting Apple Computer's Mac OS X operating system has surfaced, though it does not appear to be widespread or especially dangerous.

Its emergence, however, could indicate that hackers - who have almost exclusively targeted the much-larger Windows PC market - are expanding their attacks, computer-security experts say. Read more at USA Today/Yahoo!News.

Apple has given Burst.com another month to respond to a federal court filing that asked a judge to preemptively invalidate claims by Burst.com that Apple is infringing on patents owned by the company. At issue are certain technologies within Apple's iPod player and iTunes software.

Burst and Apple attempted to negotiate a license fee two years ago, but talks broke down and Burst threatened to sue last year. Apple, in turn, went on the offensive and filed a declaratory relief complaint. In January, Burst said it intended to file a countersuit accusing Apple of patent infringement. Burst now has until March 20, 2006 to respond to Apple's complaint. via BetaNews

The Leap-A virus might be coming to a Macintosh near you. MobileMag says that the virus, believed to be one of the first developed specifically for Apple machines, spreads through the company's iChat instant messaging program. The target is buddy lists that iChat users have installed on their machines. Leap-A disguises itself as an image of Leopard, the next generation of Mac OS X. When the unsuspecting user installs the bogus installation and then fires up iChat, the worm goes to work.The file is titled latestpics.tgz. Only computers running Mac OS 10.4 are vulnerable and then, only if they jump through the series of hoops that the virus needs to have handled in order to go to work. Read more at MobileMag.

Stuff Magazine reports that starting with the Nokia N70, CoPilot Live 6 Symbian will bring sat-nav to the masses.

"It’s not that it’s the first sat-navver to get its greasy paws on mobiles – it’s not even the first to conquer the N70: Navicore got in there a fair while ago. No, what’s tickling our fancy here is the fact that, if you’re on the right contract, you can get it on your N70 for nowt. CoPilot will be available on T-Mobile UK and, depending on your contract, could cost you nothing more than your monthly airtime tariff." Read the full article.

Julie Strietelmeier over at The Gadgeteer has done a hands on review of the Innopocket Metal Deluxe Case for the Video iPod and iPod nano.

"Made of 100% anodized aircraft grade aluminum, these are light weight play through cases that are available in Black and Silver."

"For those of you that like to wear your iPod on your belt, you'll be happy to know that these cases come with a black plastic squeeze type clip that is removable." Read the full review at The Gadgeteer.

Apple is set to launch a radical video iPod in early March or late April.

It will be the first fully fledged video iPod, according to California-based Apple-watching Web site Think Secret. One side of the device will be a screen measuring 3.5-inches diagonally and it will lose the traditional iPod's mechanical click wheel. Instead, the device will feature a sensitive display that appears when a finger touches it and disappears when the finger is removed. Read more at MacNewsWorld.

The PocketParty weighs just 52 grams. Just slot it into the bottom of any iPod with a dock connecter to play your music through the small scale speaker system. The PocketParty throws out around 1 watt of stereo sound from its two tiny speakers and plays for up to 10 hours using a single AA battery. It also features volume control and comes in black or white to match your player. via Tech Digest

Pinnacle, seeing a trend towards users wanting to transfer video to their PSP or iPod has updated its home editing software package that will allow them to do just that. Pinnacle Studio v10.5. will include greater capabilities to enable users to export video in MPEG4 for viewing on portable devices like Sony's handheld console, the PSP and Apple's video iPod, as well as some performance enhancements that greatly improve the user experience. Read more at Pocket-lint.

"If biking on a busy street in LA or NY City aint dangerous enough, then you need to strap a Nano to your handle bars using the iBikeMount. I cant imagine trying to shuffle through my playlist let alone not be able to hear my surrounding, but if there is a will there’s a way, and God knows those bike messengers are totally nutty. Requiring no tools to mount, the Nano iBikeMount can also strap to less dangerous apparatuses, such as strollers, exercise machines, and perhaps even a walker for good old granny. Ships March 15th and should cost $30." via Gadget Review

This week, Apple Computer will begin shipping a new notebook that represents the company's first laptop that takes advantage of the planned shift to Intel processors.

The MacBook Pro sports the Intel Core Duo processor, which the company claims will deliver up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4. All models of the notebook will ship with faster processors than previously announced, at no additional cost, Apple stated. Read the full article at Yahoo!News.

"The new Intel-powered iMac shares the same form factor as the late-2005 iMac G5, sporting the same giant-iPod design in an ultra-slim case that looks more like a stand-alone LCD monitor," Chris Chong writes for The Star (Malaysia). "More than just good-looking, the iMac really is an outstanding feat of engineering. For starters, the whole unit feels like a high-precision instrument – it tilts up and down with a very satisfyingly damped movement (I know it’s not really important but, hey, it’s cool)."

"Chong continues, "The other thing you’ll notice is that the iMac runs almost silently. In fact, it’s quieter than most air-cons or ceiling fans – a far cry from the mini hairdryer sounds that emanate from most computers... the iMac range has one of the best LCD monitors you’ll ever find in the market – at least in terms of colour rendition and changes in contrast across the viewing angle range... the iMac is the first to be bundled with iLife ‘06, which is the best iteration yet of Apple’s multimedia software extravaganza for music playback (iTunes) and creation (Garageband), video editing (iMovie HD), DVD authoring (iDVD) and building web pages (iWeb). The fact that such a highly integrated software package is bundled with every iMac makes it incredible value for money... The new iMac is a big step ahead of its already-accomplished predecessor."

Amazon.com plans to launch its own Internet music service to rival Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing unidentified sources.

The world's largest online retailer also plans to sell its own-branded portable music players and a subscription service that would offer deep discounts and preloaded songs to users of its music players. Read more at Yahoo!News.

"I can neither confirm nor deny the legitimacy of this, but TUAW reader Jake sent us a tip with an iTMS screenshot detailing an upcoming possibility of removing the 100 song cap on iTunes phones. From the screenshot it looks like Apple might soon offer the ability to purchase what I would assume to be a software upgrade to remove the software-based 100 song cap on the phone.

Jake claims to have followed a number of code snippets he found in the latest iTunes update, version 6.0.3. Check out his post for the full details on the steps he took, and check out the actual page(link didn't work) in the iTMS. For now, however, I don't know anyone with a ROKR who could take this one step further. If anyone can confirm this page in the iTMS is real, is brave enough to plug their ROKR in and click OK, feel free to sound off. If this is true, it could be a sign that Apple and Motorola are finally listening to the market and removing a silly limitation that should never have existed in the first place. One can only hope." via TUAW

***UPDATE***This update is for Non-U.S. iTunes phones that had a song cap of less than 100. Some iTunes phones had the cap set as low as 25 songs. So, the cap is still at 100 songs.

Looks very familiar to our current Palm OS doesn't it? :)

Some 3D renderings have popped up that are claiming to be conceptional designs of the Apple iPhone. From appearance alone it looks as though this phone will be a traditional clamshell design constructed from brushed metal. Of course Apple has made no announcements about this phone, but this could be one of those purposeful leaks to gauge a reaction from the public or a complete hoax. via Gizmo News

Trusted Reviews has done a very nice review of the Acoustic Authority iRythm-iPod Speaker Dock.

Of course iPod speakers are nothing new – if you wander into the Apple Store in London you’ll see loads of different speaker sets to complement your iPod. But there’s more to a set of iPod speakers than a white lacquered finish, they also need to sound good. I’ve listened to a fair few sets of these speakers and the sound quality is variable to say the least – which is why we’ll be doing a group test very soon – but to a certain degree you do get what you pay for. Sometimes however, a product comes along with a level of quality that’s well above what its price point would suggest – such a product is the Acoustic Authority iRhythms.

OK, so the name is a bit naff – it looks as if anything with a small “i” in front of it will do these days – but the actual product itself is far more impressive than its moniker. When you’re reviewing a sound product, logic would dictate that the most important aspect would be sound quality. However, when you consider that this is an iPod accessory, it could be argued that aesthetic value is more important – after all, for many iPod users it’s more about the way it looks than the way it sounds. Read the full review at Trusted Reviews.

Camino 1.0 is available. This brand new version includes new and updated features like ad-blocking and an improved download manager. In addition, this release is available in a multilingual version as well.

Why Use Camino? The Camino Project has worked to create a browser that is as functional and elegant as the computers it runs on. The Camino web browser is powerful, secure, and ready to meet the needs of all users while remaining simple and elegant in its design.

Camino combines the awesome visual and behavioral experience that has been central to the Macintosh philosophy with the powerful web-browsing capabilities of the Gecko rendering engine. Built and tested by thousands of volunteers, Mozilla’s Gecko brings cutting-edge innovations and capabilities to users in a standards-friendly and socially responsible form. via caminobrowser.org.

A U.S. security expert who devised an application that can fill an iPod with business-critical data in a matter of minutes is urging companies to address the very real threat of data theft.

Abe Usher, a 10-year veteran of the security industry, created an application that runs on an iPod and can search corporate networks for files likely to contain business-critical data. At a rate of about 100MB every couple minutes, it can scan and download the files onto the portable storage units in a process dubbed "pod slurping."

To the naked eye, somebody doing this would look like any other employee listening to their iPod at their desk. Alternatively, the person stealing data need not even have access to a keyboard but can simply plug into a USB port on any active machine. Read the full article at ZDNet.

"According to a recent survey conducted by Frost & Sullivan, Palm's Treo line are the smartphones of choice for U.S. businesses.

The company surveyed 531 U.S. enterprise employees holding either line-of-business or IT positions.

The survey indicated that, when given a choice, more enterprise employees would choose a Treo smartphone over any other competing product.

One of the top reasons cited by survey participants was choice of operating system. Palm recently introduced its first Windows Mobile Treo, after years of making only Palm OS ones." Via Brighthand .

""How good is Palm's hand? Never better, say some investors, pointing to booming sales of the company's Treo smartphone and its greatly improved financial condition.," Rachel Rosmarin reports for Forbes. "Time to fold, say others, arguing that the company ought to get out while the getting is good."

"But if Palm decides to sell--the company's shares are trading at around $36, which gives it a $1.8 billion market cap--who's going to buy? Industry observers say the company's assets--a loyal following, popular designs and established relationships with mobile carriers--would be enviable additions for a host of companies," Rosmarin reports. "Apple Computer, for instance, has long been rumored to be cooking up some sort of wireless iPod. The company has filed for several patents for media players, including wireless connectivity, and Apple's main processor supplier, PortalPlayer, said it would have a wireless chipset available to customers later this year."

"Apple's previous attempt at making a wireless iPod, via its partnership with Motorola, is widely seen as a failure. But in that case, Apple didn't have start-to-finish control of the product. Buying Palm would help it accomplish that, as well as giving it a company that already has an established relationship with carriers like Sprint Nextel. That would be particularly helpful for Apple boss Steve Jobs, who has had a particularly prickly relationship with mobile carriers--last year he referred to the four dominant U.S. carriers as 'orifices,'" Rosmarin reports. "Then again, argues Creative Strategies President Tim Bajarin, if Jobs is ever going to launch its own wireless device, he will likely insist on something that has been homegrown. 'Apple's DNA is such that if they decided to go in this direction, they'd use their own industrial-design wizardry,' he argues. 'Besides, Jobs pretty stubbornly doesn't think smartphones are viable.'"

It would be nice...

I've been lucky enough to not have the problems described, but it's great that Apple fixed the problem so quickly.

"Okay, maybe not so quietly. The next generation has some interesting possibilities and I’m pretty excited. I think it extends to the entire Apple line.

I think we’re about to see the iPod become the iPhone. But first things first. You know what the iPod needs? Dynamic content that reaches you wherever you are. Seriously. Know how Steve Jobs is going to shoehorn it in there? I’ll tell you how… Bluetooth, and an always-connected “modem” service that will connect your iPod (and probably your iMac, your Laptop, your Desktop Mac) to iTunes (to start with) and to the net, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How do I know this? It’s becoming obvious. Let’s review the facts:

1. Apple recently registered to sell mobile phones and mobile service. They are officially a phone reseller now. Mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. Shortly you should be able to purchase mobile service from Apple. (Let’s hope their business agreement isn’t with Sprint if they plan to piggyback on someone else’s network.)

2. Apple has filed for a trademark for the phrase “Mobile Me” and it’s good for a wide range of businesses. From Reuters, Jan 13, 06 : “The areas that the trademark covers include computing devices, mobile devices, and mobile services including digital music, video, games, e-mail, and messaging across Internet, intranets, extranets, television, cellular, and satellite networks, the filing shows.”

3. PortalPlayer, the manufacturer of controller chips for various iPod models has established two strategic partnerships. One with a Bluetooth technology company, and another that manufactures “modems” that keep you connected to the net via Mobile networks 24 hours a day.

Check out amphetameme.org to read more.

Shiny is reporting on the Zicplay Tuneview, the first remote control to display iPod’s digital menu on an LCD screen. "What this means is that you'll be able to control your iPod and see the full menu from afar. Stick it on its dock, hook it up to your stereo, and you can control the music player from the comfort of your sofa. It's being launched at the CeBit show in Hanover, Germany this March. It'll be available exclusively from KeySpan."

Apple’s announcement today that it has dropped the 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo processor from its professional MacBook Pro line—in favor of using faster chips—presents the possibility that the company may now adopt that low-end 1.67GHz dual-core processor for use in its forthcoming consumer iBook notebooks. In recent months, sources reported on several advancements and design changes expected with the first Intel iBooks, but were for the most part mum on specifically which Intel processors the notebooks would include. Read more at Gizmo News.

Here’s another Gameboy-like player, the SSF-M805 (512MB) and SSF-M810 (1 GB) from from JNC. This one does support some kind of game play but their website doesn’t give us any specifics. Not a big deal considering it’s only available in Asia. via Gizmo News

Gizmo! is reporting on the the Xensaxion docking speakers for the ROKR by Qool Labs.

"It’s essentially a set of docking speakers for the phone. While docked, you can charge your phone and synchronize your files. And if you were to get a call, there’s a neat hands free option that lets you take the call without having to pick the phone up."

MobileMag reports that the HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth 2.0 headset from Sony Ericsson allows you to enjoy your favourite tunes in full stereo and seamlessly switch over to a phone call and also comes with a remote with a display.

"Skip tracks, up the volume, and check out the caller ID all from the handy little thing that’ll be dangling from your neck.Unlike most Bluetooth headsets that scream I’m talking on Bluetooth!, this set just looks like any other flash-based MP3 player. Battery life isn’t exactly enough to last you the whole day, unfortunately, and is rated at a max life around 6 hours. That’s probably the only thing hurting the HBH-DS970."

Designed to work with nearly any portable music source, the Stowaway Boomtube H201 portable speaker system transforms personal MP3 players, Cellular MP3 phones, or even laptop computers into a portable party. It features two-inch aluminum speakers for great sound and a subwoofer-like bass tube with more than 40 watts of total system power. Perfectly portable it's compact tubular design with twist-on speakers make for a perfect fit in any backpack, briefcase or overnight bag. Rechargable lithium-ion batteries mean you've got the power to listen whenever and where ever you want. Anodized aluminum housing resists stains and scratches. Aluminum speaker cones for better quality and style.

Key Features Dual digital amplifiers deliver more than 40 watts of total system power. Combines four 2-inch drivers with dual neodymium magnets and MaxxBass technology. Integrated crossover and EQ pump audio to a pair of matched bass drivers to deliver the biggest bass sound possible. Anodized aluminum housing resists stains and scratches, and delivers better sound quality than plastic. Includes a meter of speaker wire for each satellite so you can put out more music more places. Features rechargable Lithion-Ion batteries for up to 5 hours extended play. Cellular MP3 Player phone ready; includes a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter. $250 at Think Outside

Korea distributor Roits Nine will be introducing the mTUNE, which is a cordless stereo headset for the iPod Shuffle. No batteries needed, its speakers output a max 250 mW as it sits comfy (adjustable headband and leather ear pads) on your head. Coming soon in March, a Nano version is being planned. via ubergizmo

Your karma check for today:

There once was a user that whined

his existing OS was so blind,

he'd do better to pirate

an OS that ran great

but found his hardware declined.

Please don't steal Mac OS!

Really, that's way uncool.

(C) Apple Computer, Inc.

While this is obviously not the work of Milton or Wordsworth, you’ve got to give mad props to the Apple designers for taking the time to put their warning in verse," The OSx86 Project writes."

TiVo Desktop is free, and available for download at the TiVo Web site . It is not compatible with Intel-based Macs."

"Nintendo announced this morning that a web browser based on Opera for the DS is forthcoming, and also revealed an upcoming TV tuner attachment for pulling in over-the-air broadcasts. Very few details are known about either product at this point, although Nintendo has said that the browser will start shipping in June for around $32. Neither a price nor a release date have been mentioned for the tuner." Via engadget.

"Apple today announced that it will begin shipping the new 15-inch MacBook Pro this week with faster processors than previously announced. The new notebook features the new Intel Core Duo processor, which it says delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4 it also features a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go and the Front Row media experience with Apple Remote. All models of the new MacBook Pro will ship with faster Intel Core Duo processors than previously announced, delivering even greater performance at no additional cost. The $2,500 model now includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from the previously announced 1.83GHz, and will begin shipping this week. The $2,000 model now includes a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from the previously announced 1.67GHz, and will begin shipping next week. In addition, customers may now upgrade to a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor as a build-to-order option on the Apple Online Store."

This has to make soon to be MacBook Pro owners very happy. See, good things come to those who wait.

From Treonauts , "I am currently in the beautiful city of Barcelona to attend the 3GSM World Congress where I’ll be until tomorrow to see some of the latest mobile devices and technologies.

Naturally, one of the key things that I wanted to learn more about was BlackBerry Connect which you might recall I saw a preview of at 3GSM last year (read BlackBerry Connect Now In Final Beta).

Well, on the one hand I am happy to announce that BlackBerry Connect is actually ready and all that apparently remains to be done is final certification from Palm, carriers and RIM. However there’s no indication as to how long this certification process might take – it could be weeks or it could be months and since we’ve already been waiting over a year for it you’ll excuse me if I’m somewhat pessimistic about a speedy release."

Go check out Treonauts for more screen shots of BlackBerry Connect for the Treo 650 and Treo 700w.

"Research In Motion's legal difficulties last year didn't keep consumers away from its BlackBerry, according to market share figures released by Gartner Tuesday.

RIM shipped 3.2 million units of its BlackBerry device in 2005, up 46 percent from 2.2 million units in 2004, said Todd Kort, principal analyst with Gartner. The BlackBerry overtook perennial personal digital assistant maker Palm for the top spot in the worldwide market for PDAs, as Palm's PDA shipments fell 25.6 percent.

Gartner's PDA market share numbers include wireless PDAs such as the BlackBerry 8700 and Hewlett-Packard's hw6500 series iPaqs, which are primarily used for data. The numbers exclude smart phones such as Palm's Treo 650 and the Blackberry 7100, which are designed primarily with voice calls in mind, Kort said. This makes Palm's numbers look worse, since the company is aggressively shifting away from the traditional PDA market in favor of its Treo smart phones. Palm shipped 1.95 million Treos during 2005.

The numbers also don't accurately reflect how RIM has continued to benefit from the strong interest in the BlackBerry wireless e-mail system, Kort said. That's because about 858,000 shipments of the BlackBerry 7100 series smart phones were not counted in Gartner's figures, he said. Excluding the 7100 series devices, RIM now has 21.4 percent of the market."

I don't understand why Gartner never includes Treos in these market share numbers, but either way RIM and Palm did very well!

iLounge has this week's First Looks up on their website now. Go check out the new iPod accessories they're showcasing!

Europeans might not understand what 7/11 or SevenEleven means... it's a chain of supermarkets that can be found in the USA and in Asia. Apple and 7/11 are colaborating now to bring iPOD's to those stores. via Akihabara News

NEC Japan has announced VoToL (Visual On-demand Tool Of Life) a compact PMP with a 1.8 inch 30 GB Hard drive. It has a large 2.7 inch LCD display (320 x 240 pixels) and supports a variety of video formats including WMV, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 (SP/ASP) and Divx. For music playback the following formats are supported MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg, Vorbis and AAC. With the included SD card slot you can transfer images. The VoToL includes an advanced translator with speech recognition it can translate from Japanese to English and English to Japanese. Just press the OK button and speak the word or phrase to be translated and in an instant the translated text is displayed on the screen (refer image after the jump). When charging instead of the boring battery indicator a water animiation is displayed which indicated the remaining battery life.

The NEC VoToL connects via USB 2.0 and provides 4 hours of video and 8 hours of audio playback. via Newlaunches

After bemoaning the emergence of the iPod as children's latest must-have toy, toy makers are now looking at the digital musical player as their own marketing strategy.

After the success last year of Zizzle Inc.'s iZ and Hasbro Inc.'s I-Dog, both of which can be hooked up to Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod, competitors are coming up with their own iPod-friendly products, aimed at pre-teens. The toys, being shown at this week's American International Toy Fair trade expo, range from electronic drumsticks and other musical instruments to chairs and electronic playmates that act as speakers. Read the full article at Yahoo!News.

Access and PalmSource have announced their new mobile operating system, ALP (Access Linux Platform).

"We believe that ALP combines best-in-class open source Linux components with proven mobile technologies developed by PalmSource and ACCESS' Linux expertise," said Toru Arakawa, president and CEO of ACCESS, Co., Ltd. "As a commercial-grade, flexible, open, robust and standards-based mobile Linux based platform, ALP is designed to provide handset manufacturers with faster time-to-market while supporting the goal of operators to offer revenue-generating services, applications and content."

Details:

* ALP will include proven software solutions from both companies, including the NetFront browser and former Palm OS applications related to PIM, multimedia, messaging, HotSync and desktop components.

* Application framework MAX designed to standardize (one-, two- and five-handed) navigation control and to support concurrent operations.

* Support for the "existing Palm Powered Economy, the J2ME developer community and the open source community" - properly written Palm OS 68K applications will run unchanged.

* Collaboration with leading mobile operators to integrate their feedback and requirements into ALP.

* ALP SDK expected to be released by the end of 2006.

PalmAddict is the place to keep up to date on the OS formerly known as Palm OS. Lets see how this all plays out, stay tuned.

Apple Computer Inc. said on Tuesday it starts shipping its first portable computers made with Intel Corp chips this week, after announcing last year it would switch from IBM chips.

Apple said it will ship its MacBook Pro notebook with a model at about $2,500, sporting a 2.0 gigahertz Intel Core Duo processor, and a $2,000 model featuring a 1.83 gigahertz processor. Both models are fitted with faster Intel Core Duo processors than previously announced, but the computers will sell at the same price as previously stated. Read more at Yahoo!News.

Sony Ericsson’s new W950 UMTS Walkman phone sports a super slim body that offers up to 4GB of integrated storage. That’s more than adequate for the casual music listener who is always on the go. The W950 comes with a touch screen for easier navigation and runs on the Symbian 9.1 OS. The phone is powerful enough to browse the Web with consummate ease, while reading and replying emails at broadband speed is a cinch. Expect the W950 to begin shipping sometime in Q3 2006. via ubergizmo

"We were just about to hunker down and wait through the cold winter and a wet spring until we saw some results on the OSX 10.4.4 for Intel hacking efforts, but it looks like we're getting a little Valentines present from "Maxxuss" who has already broken through Apple's heightened security that is present in their shipping version of the OS. It's just a preliminary release, not all hardware is supported and it requires a bit of futzing around to get it to work, but seeing as we weren't expecting this kind of breakthrough this early, we really can't complain." via Engadget

"Apple's new iMac running the new Intel Core Duo microprocessor is the finest, most reliable, stable, elegant and intuitive personal computer available anywhere. There. I don't think I could say it any clearer," Mike Wendland writes for The Detroit Free Press. "This new iMac, which marks the first time Apple has used Intel chips to power its machines, is simply astounding. As multimedia and digital entertainment becomes more mainstream, you will find no other machines as well suited to create, edit and display audio and video materials... Web pages loaded faster, pictures and video images appeared quicker, scrolling through documents and spreadsheets was smoother and the whole feel of the machine felt more nimble than the already impressive G5."

"Those thinking about replacing an older PC should look at these iMacs and consider dumping Windows, unless you are heavily invested because of work or special situations in PC games or proprietary programs for which there is no corresponding Apple version," Wendland writes. "But making a great machine even better is a suite of upgraded applications called iLife '06 that take advantage of these new Intel chips and deliver such vast improvements in digital imaging and multimedia programs that no programs on any other platform can even be called rivals."

Minority high school students from the Seattle area made the most of their audience with Bill Gates on Friday -- including one question so incisive that many in the Microsoft chairman's own industry would like to know the answer.

"Is Microsoft going to develop a handheld, you know, MP3 player, to combat iPod?" asked Schyler Mishra, 19, a senior at Seattle's John Marshall High School, referring to Apple Computer's dominant music device.

Gates looked around the room and continued: "We are talking with partners about how we, working with those partners, can make even better music players. We've got some in the market today. I'd say in total they have about 20 percent market share, which is lower than we like, and so we're seeing where we can come together to make a device that's less expensive and connects in better ways, does photos and videos in better ways." Read the full article at MacNewsWorld.

I saw this over @ Switchblog . It's supposedly patent applications for a touchscreen iPod. Joel also has another interesting picture of a tablet like device running iTunes, and iPhoto with a touchscreen and virtual clickwheel.

MobiBLU, the people who brought us the Cube, is now bringing us an 8GB Microdrive based portable media player. It handles MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, JPEG, TXT, and PIX video file formats. While it doesn’t handle any of the major video file formats directly, the included transcoder will convert any video (XviD, DivX, MPEG, AVI, WMV, ect…) to the PIX video format. The video plays back on a bright 1.8” color LCD screen covered by scratch resistant plastic. Read more at Anything But iPod

Engadget is reporting on another iPod nano lawsuit.

"The case is brought forth against Apple regarding "scratched, streaked, cracked, or otherwise defective" iPod nanos -- one of the complaints in the suit regarding cracked nano screens (which came along with a $25 replacement fee) have since been addressed by Apple, but Sioson's suit calls for Apple to replace any and all scratched, cracked, or broken nanos and reimburse their customers, and to also add a clause to their warranty stating scratching and cracking will be covered by Apple. So here we go again."

Designtechnica/I4U News has done a very nice review of the Treo 650.

"The Treo 650 sports an undeniably sleek design, improving greatly on earlier, clunky versions. The glossy silver finish and smooth curves along with the substantial weight exude the feeling of a quality product. The 160x160 touch screen is clear, bright, and responsive. The screen surface contains most of the interface buttons. The Palm-associated buttons are intermixed with the cell phone-specific buttons in a very natural pattern. The layout itself appears more like a PDA button pattern, with just the addition of the Send and End added to the sides of the top row."

"There are both GSM and CDMA versions of the Treo 650, with matching features. The CDMA version lacks an EV-DO modem, so no high-speed internet access for those stuck with Verizon or Sprint. The Cingular GSM version has a leg up on CDMA carriers by including EDGE network access. Aside from that, there is a slightly different color scheme that ranges from light silver to dark silver, depending on your model."Read the full review.

3GSM has just started and already announcements are pouring out. Sony Ericsson announced the new Sony Ericsson K610 3G (obviously) phone in a slim, lightweight form-factor.

Guaranteed to attract the T610 lovers, the Sony Ericsson K610 features a large keypad and 262k color display. With a 2-megapixel camera, this is one of the most lightweight 3G phones out now, weighing just 92 grams. Business users will be especially interested to know the availability of high-speed internet and support for push email (P-IMAP) that sends messages direct to the phone. Read more at MobileWhack.

As part of its simplicity strategy, Apple worked to control the entire experience of acquiring, managing and enjoying music. That meant providing devices, desktop software and a legal music download store called iTunes. Rivals made devices, but didn't operate their own music services. Apple Computer was late to the portable digital music player market with its iPod device. But its success proved that companies don't need to be first to market to win big. In fact, being second or third or later has distinct advantages. Companies that come later with a product can learn from the mistakes of those who came before. They also can benefit from arriving after the first movers have educated the market about a new category. Read more at Yahoo!News.

Motorola said on Monday it had signed a deal to use Windows Media technology from Microsoft in a new range of music phones that would sell alongside its iTunes phone developed with Apple.

Motorola Inc., the world's second biggest mobile phone maker behind Nokia, will launch between one and three Windows Media phones in the second half of 2006, said Chris White, the company's senior director of global product marketing for music handsets. Motorola, which launched its first iTunes phones last year, will keep Windows Media phones as separate products, he said. Read the full article at Yahoo!News.

In the enterprise market, Nokia should expand its smartphone portfolio past Symbian to include Microsoft-based products. Nokia is in danger of making the same mistake again — trying to force end users to take its preferred solution rather than giving them what they want. In North America, enterprises will demand Microsoft-based products. Nokia should not discontinue Symbian devices, but it should focus Symbian products on the consumer and prosumer market, while offering Microsoft-based products to the enterprise market."

iLounge Mobile Edition will continue to evolve in the days to come. Your suggestions are, of course, welcomed."

Jumping on the now “black” bandwagon, Monitor Audio has launched a gloss black version of its speaker set for the iPod. The new black i-deck will work with both the iPod and iPod nano although they don’t have to be black to fit. The black i-deck will be exclusively available via Apple online www.apple.com/uk from 24 February to 23 March for a promotional price of £199 and then from all the usual high street chains for £249 from the 1 April. Read more at pocket-lint.

Pocket-lint is reporting that Apple has announced a global competition that could see one lucky winner walk away with a 20-inch iMac, ten 60GB iPods, and a $10,000 iTunes Music Card to jumpstart their digital music collection.

"In addition, Apple will create a full-ride scholarship in their name to a world-renowned music school.The reason? Because the company has almost sold 1 billion digital downloads across its 21 country stores." Read the full article at pocket-lint.

Inside and the warship is offering hotel like facilities with each cabin getting an array of technological goodies such as the iPod charger and five radio channels dedicated to the ship. Pocket-lint is reporting that the Royal Navy has launched a new warship that will offer its crew an iPod charging point, a CD player, and internet access in every cabin.

"The HMS Daring is the first of six Type 45 Destroyers that come with a £605 million price tag. The 150-metre long vessels will be the most powerful, advanced and deadly warships in the world when they come into service in 2009."

Ina Fried over at the Apple Blog at News.Com says that Windows on the MacTel is inching towards reality.

"The holy grail of a dual-boot Windows/Mac OS X machine remains elusive, as does Virtual PC for the Intel Mac. But for those who want some Windows functions on their Intel Mac, the folks over at the OSX86 project say they have managed to get Wine running on Mac OS X for Intel."

"For those who aren't familiar with it, Wine is an open source program that lets users run some Windows software on Unix and Linux machines. I'm not an expert in the technology, but there are some screenshots and discussion on their forums that get into some of the details." Picture via OSx86 Project Forum

Gizmo News(Kazi) has done a short review of the Orange SPV C600.

Kazi wasn't very impressed with Orange's previous SPV C550 but seems impressed with the new SPV C600.

"The obvious improvement over most of the previous devices in this series is the screen (knicked from the C550), which is as clear and bright as you could wish for. It’s also pretty big for this size of candy bar handset, although the new improved 1.3 megapixel camera is still a little behind the times. The new joystick control allows easier navigation through the occasionally dense menu systems, and the whole package comes together sweetly."

"The headline grabbing news internally is that this handset sees Orange’s smallest smartphone make the leap from Windows for Mobile 2003 SE to the brand spanking new Windows Mobile 5.0. The new OS performs well, and in conjunction with the 200MHz processor, motors things along at a fair rate of knots – something that couldn’t be said for the C550." Read more at Gizmo News.

Another silent feature Apple added to the latest iTunes is that you can now export your podcast subscriptions. Just click on the podcast area, then go File Export Song List... When you save your playlist, save it as OPML. via Geek News Central

Internet whispers are suggesting that a new video-playing iPod is in the works… and this time it’ll have a 3.5in screen for full viewing pleasure.

Rumour site Think Secret – which is so successful with its predictions that it was sued by Apple after it revealed details of the Mac Mini – is confident that a widescreen iPod is in the works, with the iconic clickwheel replaced by a touch-sensitive display. So we’ve mocked up a photo, above, of how it might look if you were watching Cameo’s video from the iTunes Music Store. Read more at Stuff Magazine.

""Paul S. Otellini, head of Intel Corp., the chipmaker famous for its alliance with Microsoft Corp. and the Windows operating system, is expecting delivery of his new Mac laptop any day now. It'll be his first," Mike Musgrove reports for The Washington Post. "Otellini might be the first guy at the top of the world's largest chipmaker to buy a computer from his company's longtime neighbor in Silicon Valley. He doesn't know for sure. But it's certain that he'll be the first to own a Mac with an Intel processor inside."

"Otellini once headed up Intel's marketing department, and he isn't afraid of stunts to promote the brand. One week, he's on stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, helping colleague Sean Maloney perform a magic trick to introduce a new processor. The next, he's in San Francisco, wearing the white 'bunny suit' of a chip factory worker onstage at Apple's trade show to announce that the new Intel-powered Mac computers would soon start shipping," Musgrove reports.

Wow, even the head of Intel is looking forward to receiving his MacBook Pro. I guess they really aren't ready to ship just yet if he is still waiting. Good things come to those who wait.

TRENDnet’s ClearSky VoIP Bluetooth phone is equipped with a Bluetooth adapter for Skype. Now you can chat wherever you are without being glued to your PC. The wireless handset and Bluetooth adapter works seamlessly, delivering top-notch voice clarity. Read more at ubergizmo.

Sprint Nextel, NASCAR and Kangaroo TV have developed the NASCAR Nextel FanView device. This handheld device transmits radio communications, televised video and in-camera channels – bringing you all the thrills and spills right in the palm of your hands. You can even tap into NASCAR’s timing and scoring system at the touch of a button. Rental of the device is available come February 17, where it will debut at the Daytona International Speedway. via ubergizmo

Microsoft Corp. and its hardware partners will continue to develop new digital media devices aimed at challenging the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s ubiquitous iPod music player, Chairman Bill Gates said on Friday.

"I don't think what's out on the market today is the final answer," Gates said, speaking to a group of minority students. "Between us and our partners, you can expect some pretty hot products coming out over the next few years." Read more at Yahoo!News.

I was just now surfing the internet for some Apple related stuff and saw this website that has pictures of people who have gotten Apple tattoos. Now that's what I call some real Apple dedication!!! Check out the tattoos at The Apple Collection.

The host and I shared the same view about the 700w, it has a better keyboard, EV-DO, but the 650 is still a better choice. Check out the episode to see the 2 in action.

The Treo 650 and Treo 700w look very similar at first glance, they practically weigh the same, and have the same form factor. You've got to hold one to really see/feel the difference. The Treo 700w feels very good in the hand, even better than my 650 does (can't believe I am saying that). You could "feel" it's an updated/better design. It's got a more narrow, and curvier body than the 650 does. Palm managed to take an award winning design, and put small but noticeable touches on it that make it feel like an update to a classic design.

The keyboard is where the Treo 700w outshines the 650. The keys are square like, and feel bigger and more comfortable to type on than my 650. It seems Palm did a great job with re-designing the Treo 700w's keyboard without sacrificing a larger size to the device. I also preferred the D pad on the 700w, it is larger and felt more natural to use. I am still amazed at how much more comfortable typing on the Treo 700w was compared to my Treo 650.

Software wise Palm did one helluva job with Windows Mobile. Windows Mobile is not the most inutitive mobile operating system, but it was made more enjoyable by Palm's influence. The Today Screen is basically the best part of the device. You have everything you could need on this one screen. Everything there was one handed navigation, something that was lacking in other areas of the OS. You can basically do everything from the Today Screen. Palm put their Palm twist on it, and it felt like a "Treo", because it is a Treo.

The screen of this device has taken criticism, and it's not as bad as you'd think. The Treo 650 outshines it here. The Treo 650's 320 x 320 screen is so much crisper, and less pixelated than the 700w's 240 x 240 (that's a limitation of Windows Mobile not being able to support 320 x 320 screens).

EV-DO, is what sets this Treo apart from it's siblings. It is unbelievably fast. The only negative thing was Pocket Internet Explorer. You had to scroll up and down and sideways to read web pages. I didn't get into the settings to change things, but I am sure there is a way to make that experience a bit more enjoyable. Maybe an alternative browser like Opera, or NetFront is the answer. It's nice to have choices of browsers, something lacking in the Palm OS arena. Web pages opened almost instantly using Verizon's EV-DO service, and I could tell once EV-DO is available on a Palm OS Treo I will be siging a contract to get it.

I am VERY surprised that I liked the Treo 700w as much as I did, but then it hit me, it's still a Treo. It was the first Windows Mobile device that I thought I could use. I gotta give Microsoft props for allowing Palm to do it's magic to Windows Mobile, it felt "Palm-ish" in a way.

Which brings me to my last thought. I can't wait for the Treo 700p to make it's debut. Getting to use the same hardware had me realizing what all of us Treo 600 and 650 users are in store for. It's gonna be GREAT. If you're a Windows Mobile fan, get one. Palm might not be getting a new Treo 700w customer out of me, but they sure as heck will be getting a Treo 700p customer after I got to try out the hardware minus the Palm OS on the Treo 700w.

Apple's iPod wasn't the world's first portable MP3 jukebox -- that accolade goes to the obscure Saehan MPMan F10 -- but its iconic player was undoubtedly responsible for kick-starting the digital music revolution.

Hundreds of accessories and add-ons are now available. Most of those listed here are not made by Apple, but all echo the clean design of the original machine. Every iPod owner will benefit from upgraded headphones; if you're still using the ones supplied with your player you simply must road-test another pair. There are also portable speaker units, remote controls and iTrip microphone recorders, among others. It's already the world's bestselling player -- now the iPod is destined to become the ultimate portable entertainment device. Read the full article at MacNewsWorld.

This is the one and only Apple iBook Tablet computer known to actually exist. It was debuted last year as an accomplishment of an avid hardware hacker. Basically he took an iBook flipped the screen and added a touch sensor. The Apple tablet runs on a 700 mhz G3 processor, 640 mb of RAM and OS X 10.4. It also has 2 extra firewire ports and a memory card reader. At onlt 3/8'' thicker than the original it is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It is loaded with the right software (Inkwell) to function properly as a Tablet and the maker has bundled the case, bluetooth keyboard and mouse as well as the charger. After using it himself he is now auctioning it off on ebay so here is your chance at finally owning that tablet Mac you've always wanted. via GadgetMadness

WristDreams has found that Fossil removed the Palm OS-based smart watches and SPOT watches from their site. Looks like things aren’t looking good for the high-geek wrist computer market. I suspect SPOT will hang on, but the Palm watch, while VERY cool, was just too late and too underpowered. It will make for some great Ebay nostalgia in about 10 years, though. You can currently pick up Abacus watches for about $44 on Amazon, et al. via Gizmodo

TreoCentral has done a very nice review of Seidio's 2-in-1 Foldable Headphones for the Treo 650. In brief, the fact that these headphones worked right out of the box was a real plus. And for those tired of dealing with messy, tangled wires, the retractable cable is another high point..

As for foldability, Seidio needs to go back to the drawing board. Although these headphones fold, they don’t crunch down into a neat little package like some others. Yet, they work like a charm, allowing you to listen to music and deal with incoming calls with a one-touch button. They are well worth considering, in spite of a few trade-offs. Head over to TreoCentral to read the full review.

"Apple's upcoming midtown Manhattan retail store will mark a first for the company as sources report the location will be open 24 hours a day. The store, located in the underground retail plaza of the General Motors Building on Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Street will also be among the first stores to offer customers an iPod Bar.

The 25,000-square-foot store will dwarf Apple's SoHo location and will be capped by a 32-foot glass cube that will stand in front of the building and house the stairs and elevators that will take customers underground to the Apple retail store.

Sources report that construction of the store is on track to be completed in April, with the store expected to open by the end of May."

Wow, can you imagine an Apple store open 24/7?? An iPod bar? What will Apple do next? Stay tuned.

SanDisk rose to the number two spot in the MP3 player market during the holiday season in the United States. SanDisk sold 1 million of their low cost flash based mp3 players. We reported recently that Creative is the number two in the mp3 player market with 2.6 million players sold. I think that number is global. That means SanDisk is the distant number two in the US and Creative is the distant number two world-wide in the MP3 player market. Nobody is able to touch Apple right now; they sold 14 million players in the same time frame. via I4U News

I saw this over @ Switchblog , it's mock ups of the much talked about iPod video rumor that spread across the internet today. I like the Front Row interface above. Check out the rest.

" Rainy Day Magazine has a set of possible iPod video mockups. These are so very Apple in design but we’ll have to wait what Apple will surprise us with. If any of these mockups are true though, screen protector makers will make a killing!"

"The second and last Palm Addict Best New Website goes to Gadgets On The Go. There are many Gizmodo and Engadget copycats but this is a very good site that follows technology with a great Mac presence. It's interesting and I love having it in my RSS feed so congratulations to Jimmie for a great site and achieving the award."

I'd like to thank Sammy and the PalmAddict staff for recognizing, and supporting the site. I got my start at PalmAddict, and appreciate this award very much. It's a great honor, especially coming from the biggest and best Palm website around. Thanks!!!

I'd also like to congratulate, and thank Jennifer and Rocco for making the site what it is today.

"With the possibility of a court-ordered shutdown looming large, RIM has provided more details about the long-discussed workaround the company has come up with to keep the BlackBerry service up and running. According to the company, the workaround is a software update called BlackBerry MultiMode Edition, which can be downloaded and activated if service is suspended later this month. RIM says that MultiMode involves "significant underlying changes to the message delivery system" but that the switch should be transparent to customers. Which, of course, leads to at least one inevitable question: If RIM has a working solution that doesn't raise any patent issues, why not just roll it out now and be done with the whole matter?"

Compressed audio formats like MP3 files, and the devices that play them, allow people to take huge music collections virtually anywhere. But the very portability of an MP3 player can be its undoing - too often, the pocket-size gadgets are dropped, get scratched, fall in water or are exposed to extreme temperatures.

"I've dropped my cellphone a dozen times, but if you drop your iPod once, you've got to send it in for repair," says Ryan Arter, whose company, iPodResQ, receives around 1,200 iPods for repair every week. About half of the iPods have broken LCD screens, which often results from people doing with the iPod what comes naturally: putting it in their pockets. "If your jeans are at all tight, and you sit down, it's going to bend your iPod," Arter said. Read the full article at International Herald Tribune.

Beneath the elegant exterior of Creative's Zen Vision portable video player lurks considerable audiovisual prowess; Jørgen Sundgot picks one up and is hard pressed to put it back down.

Crafted from a magnesium alloy, the 124 x 74 x 20 mm frame of the Zen Vision looks quite attractive in an understated manner - and is leaps and bounds smaller than its predecessor, the Zen PMC-120. At 240 g, it easily slips into a jacket pocket, where its 30 GB hard drive will hold a considerable amount of audio and video until it's time to pull it out and enjoy its stunning, 3.7-inch glossy display with a razor-sharp resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and 262K colour depth - which has a narrow viewing angle as its sole flaw.

With its screen joined in front by a clearly labelled and well laid out set of controls, the Zen Vision maneuvers like a charm - as long as users don't attempt navigating music with the player neatly tucked away in a jacket pocket, since recognizing keys by touch alone is an excercise in patience and the bundled headset lacks remote controls. Still, placing the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the right side of the device at least allows for use when pocketed, and the top-mounted volume up/down keys are easily distinguished. Read the full review at InfoSyncWorld.

“Appears when a finger touches it…” Oh, Steve. You care! Release date should be March or April but could drag out into the summer. No word on specs. However, this does mean you may want to reconsider upgrading this Spring.

True video iPod to sport 3.5-inch display, touch-screen click wheel {ThinkSecret} via Gizmodo

Everyone who has been dreaming of a wireless-enabled iPod might not have to wait much longer. PortalPlayer, the company that makes chips for the iPod, is adding WiFi and Bluetooth support to its chips. They have teamed up with Cambridge Silicon Radio, or CSR, a pioneer in Bluetooth Technology. The two companies will combine PortalPlayer’s PP5022 audio chip and CSR’s UniFi WiFi and Bluetooth controller. The new technology will be shown off at the 3GSM Conference in Barcelona next week.

This new technology will allow users of PortalPlayer- powered devices to listen to them using Bluetooth headphones and to access the music on their computer without physically connecting to it. The speculation as to Apple’s plans for this technology is rampant, fueled by rumors of an event coming up that is said to be music related. Some people hope that this will be when they unveil their new wireless plans. The fact that the new chip from the two companies won’t be available until later this year may make that unlikely, but it doesn’t hurt to hope. via MobileMag

"If you link the world’s stock of iPod accessories together, they’ll stretch around the equator eight times. Well, we wouldn’t be surprised it if was true, so it’s mighty relieving to find one that bothers to combine three functions in one gadget.The Soundbag’s most obvious talent is protecting your ‘Pod, which it does with a tough outer shell, internal cushioning and a hardy zip mechanism.Those NXT flat panel speakers, though, get everywhere these days and - sure enough - they’re built into the sides of its carry case. The speakers work whether the case is open or closed, and you’ll get seven hours of playback."

They also say that the Soundbag has a rechargeable battery which you can power up via the supplied firewire cable, and use to charge your ‘Pod while it’s churning out tunes. The Soundbag works with all iPods and you can get it here.

Apple Computer on Wednesday confirmed reports of video-display problems in the new iMacs that are based on Intel processors.

A Mac enthusiast site had reported that in playing video on Apple's Front Row media browser, some iMacs showed random horizontal lines, ghosting, video tearing and other problems. Read the full article at Yahoo!News.

"Digit today provided its first look at Apple's Intel iMac, discussing some of the major differences between the new model and the previous iMac G5. "This latest generation of Apple's all-in-one runs circles around its predecessor--most of the time." The review covers the 23-second startup time, the fact that Apple applications such as iPhoto and Safari open before bouncing twice in the dock, and Apple's Rosetta emulation software. A recent interview with Tom Boger, senior director for desktop product marketing at Apple shed some light on the iMac's Core Duo 2-GHz processor. "I think the key there with the Intel Core Duo, what makes it unique in the marketplace from a processor standpoint [is that] it's giving us this dual-core performance. But unlike other dual-core processors, it does so with low power consumption," Boger said. "should you decide to plunk down your money now at the nearest Apple store, well, you won't be disappointed when you get your new iMac home,"

Like I said in my review of my iMac, the one thing that stands out is how fast this machine really is. To read the full review click here .

When Apple announced the MacBook Pro they did say it would ship in February, whether this is just for new orders placed remains unknown, let's hope. I know a few people that have ordered MacBook Pros, and hope they will be in fact getting them in February.

"Pros: Incredibly thin color-screened iPods with audio and photo performance virtually identical to full-sized fourth-generation iPods, but at 1/4 the weight. Bleeding edge engineering and industrial design with visual cues from best prior iPods, resulting in a museum piece-class digital music player. Now includes soft carrying case.

Cons: Lower storage capacity for the dollar than prior iPod minis, fewer color options and lower battery life as well. Because of relocated and changed headphone port, incompatible with virtually all top-mounting iPod and iPod mini accessories. Requires powered USB computer port (or optional wall charger) to recharge battery. Latest 1GB model’s screen is less impressively backlit than earlier 2GB and 4GB models."

We’ve got one billion reasons to celebrate, and we’re starting with you. As we mark our way to one billion, the music fans who download every 100,000th song will receive a prize package featuring a black 4GB iPod nano and a $100 iTunes Music Card.

And if you're the lucky grand-prize winner who downloads the billionth song from the iTunes Music Store, you'll receive a 20-inch iMac, 10 60GB iPods, and a $10,000 iTunes Music Card to jumpstart your digital music collection. In addition, Apple will create a full-ride scholarship in your name to a world-renowned music school. Just think: You could help launch the careers of an entire generation of musicians.

Just think, a few years ago, Napster was king of the music hill. It was a free-for-all, where a user could download thousands of tracks, for free. Once Napster shut down, no one knew where the industry was heading. 'Who would pay for songs that used to be free?' I, personally, put a high price on convience. If I can buy a song within a click or two, it's worth every cent. Apparently, I'm not the only one. Congrats to Apple and congrats-in-advance to the winner.

CNET has done a review on the Toshiba Gigabeat S MES30VL.

Toshiba's new Gigabeat S series--shown off by Bill Gates during his Windows Vista-centered CES keynote--looks like a true contender as it incorporates an improved version of Microsoft's superintuitive Portable Media Center (PMC) software into a tiny and attractive 30GB ($300, blue or white) or 60GB ($400, black) portable video player. The Gigabeat S is one of three new PMC devices that emerged at CES 2006 after nearly a year of no new hardware releases. One of the three originals, Samsung's YH-999, has recently been discontinued.

Upside: Here's why we give the Toshiba Gigabeat S props: First, it takes the brilliantly simple--though somewhat format-inflexible--PMC software and delivers it in a traditional compact MP3 player form factor. Next, it handles MP3, WMA Lossless, WAV, and DivX, as well as WMV and WMA. Other video formats such as MPEG-4, AVI, and MOV are automatically transcoded in Windows Media Player.

Read the full review at CNET.

Here's another article about Apple's new prices and goings on:

Apple Computer on Tuesday slashed prices on entry-level iPods and added shows from pay-TV's Showtime to its iTunes store — moves aimed at further cementing its supremacy in digital downloads.

The actions come as rivals struggle to gain a foothold against Apple, which has an 83% market share in digital music downloads. No. 1 PC maker Dell, which hoped to challenge Apple with a line of digital music players, discontinued its hard-drive based units last week. Online music store Napster, which reports earnings Wednesday, is repositioning itself as an ad-supported fan website. Apple cut the price of its iPod Shuffle models to $69 and $99. And it introduced a $149 Nano with 1 gigabyte of memory that can hold about 240 songs. Higher-capacity Nanos sell for $199 and $249.

Read more at USA Today.

Ubergizmo is reporting how to get the Pharos Ostia GPS Navigation software to work on the new Treo 700w. I have been a user of Pharos’ Ostia since 2001 on Pocket PC. With the Treo 650 I tried other GPS Navigation software like Mapopolis (Palm OS) and TomTom, but I always wished that I could get Ostia instead but there is unfortunately no Palm OS version to this day. I was out of luck, until I upgraded to the Treo 700w… Ostia does not provide any official support for this device, but I went ahead and installed the Pocket PC version I own (6.1) and… it just worked! Once the installation done, I quickly grabbed a Bluetooth (F-Tech Solar) GPS and started to pair the devices… First of all, the FTech Bluetooth (BT) GPS is not recognized and ends up as being an “unknown Bluetooth device”. The immediate consequence is that Ostia will not recognize the unit as a BT GPS. That’s unfortunate, but not a show stopper. All that’s needed is to associate a serial COM port to the GPS and tell Ostia to look for a serial device on the proper port. Read the full article at ubergizmo.

Mike Nelson, who owns eight per cent of Palm shares, argued that the company is poorly equipped to dominate the market for smartphones which are beginning to eat into sales of traditional PDAs, reports Siliconvalley.com , online edition of the San Jose Mercury." Via 1src .

***Proporta has just given me a promocode for 10% discount on orders that is good until March 31, 2006. Use the code 1NANO to get 10% off your order.

Ben Silverman, an executive producer of "The Office," whose ratings have not quite matched the critical acclaim, praised NBC for its willingness to "dive into the iTunes relationship quickly." He credited the download capability with boosting broadcast viewership.

Silverman noted that "The Office," which went into reruns just before the video iPod's first Christmas, was boosted by people who discovered the show when they were browsing to find something to put on their new device.

"That confluence brought us a sampling of a new audience, which also is not an audience that watches TV by sitting down at the time the broadcaster wants to show it," he said.

Then NBC moved the show to Thursday nights. "That's like the network telling people it's important to them and part of the whole history of comedy," Silverman said.

He was confident that the downloads were not eroding audience or invading any of the existing windows, due primarily to their portable and on-demand nature."

"An unidentified source high up at Palm has disclosed some information about the future of EVDO. First, EVDO is a software solution—not hardware—so with some clever hacking it is possible for everyone’s favorite Treo 650 to do EVDO. Secondly, Q4 will begin seeing EVDO run at 1.2 to 4.5Mbit download speeds. Thirdly, early 2007 will see the release of WiMax, which is a flavor of 802.11 that runs on cellular towers. And lastly, the Palm source would not confirm a release date for the anticipated Treo 700p, but he did say to “wait a little bit” if you are planning a phone upgrade in the future. Big news or a bunch of rumor mumbo jumbo? Only time will tell." Via gizmodo . ***There is no way this can be possible. You will not be able to get EV-DO on a Treo 650.***

Last week, Inspecting Gadgets looked at an updated version of Apple's iWork software suite. Since life can't be all iWork and no play, this week's column examines the updates to iLife. ILife is not a program, but a group of programs more oriented toward having fun than toward getting work done.

The most important component of iLife is iPhoto, which is far and away the best photo-management and photo-sharing application most amateur users will consider for the PC or Mac world.

Read the full article at MacNewsWorld.

Apple also cut iPod shuffle prices by $30. The 512MB model now sells for $69 and the 1GB shuffle is now priced at $99.

“Now everyone can afford an iPod nano, with our new 1GB model starting at just $149,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “The iPod is the world’s most popular digital music player with over 40 million sold, and now even more music lovers can experience the unrivaled combination of iPod and iTunes.”

In addition to its new iPod nano on Tuesday, Apple revealed the company has sold over 12 million videos on the iTunes Music Store. To further spur sales, Apple and Showtime announced a deal that brings television programming from the premium cable’s network to the iTunes Music Store.

The addition of Showtime to the iTunes Music Store gives Apple more than 50 television shows for viewers to choose from, according to the company. New programming from Showtime includes “Sleeper Cell,” the first season of “Weeds,” and the first season of “Fat Actress.” Each episode will cost $1.99, the same price as other shows on the store. Read more at playlist.

The Blueye is a clever iPod/PSP accessory that turns your earbuds into a cell phone headset. Pair the Bluetooth device with your cell phone and plug it in between your iPod and your earbuds. When a call comes in, the Blueye mutes the music, and a built-in microphone transmits your voice. The Blueye has voice recognition -- answer a call with a voice command. When the call's done, the music resumes. It has standard 3.5mm audio jacks and is compatible with most music players, the company says. It's available from the UK for about ¿60 ($100) -- the company says it ships overseas. via Cult of Mac

We've featured some hardware solutions in the recent past for capturing your own movies, such as the iSee video recorder and the DVD Xpress. But here's a software one - the Hauppauge Wing for the PC.

It's a software package for recording TV on a PC for playback on the PSP, video iPod or other such player. Wing can also convert existing recordings to a PSP/iPod format. Read more at Tech Digest.

Sony announces a new slim and very cool looking 3G mobile phone dubbed the M600 (M600i/M600c). The Sony Ericsson M600 runs on Symbian OS 9.1 and UIQ 3.0. Push email applications, remote synchronization and expandable memory are the main applications Sony features in this 15mm thick UMTS phone. The interesting keyboard offers a QWERTY like text input method. The M600 features a large 2.6 inch color screen, 80MB storage, Memory Stick Micro Slot (M2) and USB 2.0. MP3 player, Office document viewer, VPN client, Opera HTML browser, Firewall, Virus protection are just some of the applications featured on the new Sony Ericsson 3G phone. via I4U News

The company joins a rapidly growing list of e-mail companies attempting to position themselves as an alternative to Research in Motion's BlackBerry software, which is staring down the barrel of an injunction in its patent dispute with NTP. Funambol v3 also can be used by wireless carriers to "push" e-mail directly to mobile devices as it is sent, rather than requiring users to log in to a central server to download their e-mail. It works with RIM's BlackBerry devices, Windows Mobile-based handhelds and phones that use specifications supported Open Mobile Alliance."

"OVER THE WEEKEND pictures of an alleged Treo "700p" smartphone surfaced in the engadget tech site. According to the rumour mill, this phone will sport some of the features that made the Treo 650 loved: Palm OS (Garnet 5.4.9), and the same 320x320 high-res screen as the Treo 650 (unlike the 700w's downgraded 240x240), and will add some of the 700w hardware improvements on top of that: 1.3 megapixel camera and EV-DO network access for broadband like data speeds.

WinMob-free

Diversity in the software ecosystem is a good thing, and the availability of a Palm OS smartphone -specially from Palm after the company CEO's drooling for Windows Mobile, next to Sir William Gates at the Treo 700w press conference- can only be praised. NY Times and the WSJ gave the windows-powered Treo 700w a bad rap, calling it "a Frankensteinian mishmash" and adding comments like: "even after all that plastic surgery, you can't escape the fact that you're basically running Windows", while the WSJ's Mossberg said "the Windows Mobile software is still inferior to the Palm software for one-handed use on the go". So, Palm OS lovers can start rejoicing: rumour says the Palm OS powered "700p" model will be available from Sprint in about two months time. As you know, all stories "eventually come true".

"Last time we checked, it was possible to run Linux on a Treo 650 -- barely. Back in December, we caught sight of a 650 that could boot Linux, but running actual apps appeared to be a distant dream. Well, it looks like the dream has come true. The pics above are part of a series that purportedly shows a Treo 650 running GPE Linux -- and running it well, from the looks of things. Of course, we'd still like to see it running Doom, but we suspect that can't be too far off." Via engadget.

Merlyn 3d from the Treocentral forums has posted pictures of what appear to be the forthcoming Treo 700p. He claims the unit has EVDO data support, a 320x320 pixel display, a 1.3 megapixel camera with a 1280x1024 max resolution and 62.8 MB of free RAM. He also claims it runs Palm OS Garnet v5.4.9, and has PocketTunes, Blazer v4.5, Sprint TV and Documents to Go v8 built in. He also reports that it may have a 312mhz cpu, and performance (GUI) seems faster than the Treo 650.

Shenzhen Keming Industrial offers a thin MP3 player for OEMs with iPod measurements. They even call the player "NANO 2" and provide a product image that has the same setup as one of the initial Apple iPod nano product shots. This Nano knock-off is as thin as the Apple original. Its measurements are 90x40x6.8mm. The "NANO 2" features an 1.5 inch color OLED screen, FM tuner, MP3 and WMA audio file support, photo viewer, voice recorder and text viewer. via I4U News