Jobs unwraps the iPhone

[MarketWatch reports] "Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Tuesday unveiled the iPhone, its new touch-screen mobile phone that will be able to play music, surf the Internet and take pictures, among other features."

At the keynote, Jobs demonstrated the phone by pulling up the nearest Starbucks on Google Maps, then prank-calling the coffee shop and ordering 4,000 lattes, before hanging up -- to the roar of the crowd.

Cingular Wireless will provide the wireless service for the phone under an exclusive multiyear deal, the companies said.

Apple said that a phone with 4 gigabytes of storage will cost $499; the 8GB model will cost $599. It will be available in the United States in June, Europe in late 2007 and Asia in 2008.

The iPhone will be sold in the United States through Apple's retail and online stores, and through Cingular's retail and online stores. Several iPhone accessories will also be available in June, including Apple's new, remarkably compact Bluetooth headset.

The release of the iPhone represents another step in Apple's evolution beyond its Macintosh computer line. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has revived its fortunes with its iPod media player.

"Apple is trying to do with mobile devices what it did with the computer market -- that's change the game," said Gene Munster, analyst at Piper Jaffray, which rates Apple shares outperform.

Signaling that direction, Apple said that it plans to change its corporate name to Apple Inc., dropping the word "computer."

Jobs also announced that Apple has sold more than 2 billion songs through its iTunes music store, and that it expects to reach 100 million iPod unit sales this year.

From CES: Nokia Launches Smart N76

Nokia, which has long shied away from releasing thin devices, has today announced its entry to the ever-crowded thin handset market with the new N76. Nokia states that it did not want to compromise on features just to shave thickness off the device, and as such, this 14mm (0.5") thick handset boasts some impressive specifications when compared to its rivals.

The new Nokia N76 runs the S60 v3 UI on top of the Symbian OS, and so includes all the smartphone features that users have come to expect from the company's Nseries. The folder design holds music control keys underneath the 160x128 pixel resolution external display, and conceals a 16 million color capable 2.4" QVGA resolution internal screen that can also be used in a landscape orientation. A 2.0 megapixel camera is present to satisfy the shutterbugs among us, with 26MB of internal memory and microSD memory expansion supporting up to 2GB cards to store all your photos and music. With UMTS 3G high-speed data and Bluetooth v2.0, the Nokia N76 should satisfy most on the connectivity front. Despite the feature list, the Nokia N76 tips the scales at just 115g (4.1oz).

The thin and attractive new Nokia N76 smartphone should be available during the first quarter of 2007, carrying an expected retail price of 390 Euros (approximately US$515).

MP4 Watch Review

[Palm 247 has been made a review] Brando sells an MP4 Watch for US$98 (1GB version) and US$138 (2GB version) and your first thoughts are probably "how can a video playing watch this cheap be any good?" Well, those were my thoughts as well until I tried one and now my opinion has changed somewhat.

In the box you get the watch, a USB cable, a surprisingly good pair of earphones, Driver CD, AC Adaptor and a user manual. The earphones have a 2.5mm jack which is an added bonus if you are searching for a good pair for your Treo or other 2.5mm jacked device- they really do sound very good. The box itself is quite cheap looking but the watch has a sporty feel to it with a rubberised strap complemented with silver hodlings. Another surprise is that the watch does not feel too big when on your wrist and at only 52g will be no more noticeable than a normal watch.

Once you have charged the watch up the fun really starts- the screen quality is way beyond what I expected from a watch and is as clear as any PDA or Smart Phone I have seen to date. 128 x 128 pixels does not sound like much but if you look at the image on the right you can see a rather impressive menu screen.

Pre-loaded on to my watch was a video and MP3 of Crazy Frog (you have been warned) and despite my loathing for the frog the sound and video quality are simply brilliant. They are not just brilliant because it is a watch- they are better than for example the quality of video on a Treo. I have no idea how they did it but I managed to watch two episodes of Without A Trace on this device and it felt no different to using my PDA.

Some of you will no doubt see this as a novelty item and I certainly did before I got it but I really do like it and can see it serving much use (if Brando hadn't kindly offered it as a prize in our Christmas Countdown so it's gone now...) The time and date display is also very sharp and it works like an old style LED watch in that you press a button to see the time- very retro which I am a fan of.

Would you believe that it is a voice recorder as well? This also worked well and with a record time of 8 hours you should be able to capture what you need whenever you need it. Formats catered for are MP1, MP2, MP3 and WMA for music and MP4 (NVX) for video. I found that charging it for about 1 hour would get me through the next day without issus- the battery is not great and if you play too much video you mayhave to re-charge but this watch is very small and I feel that they have done a good job with the battery in this product.

Conclusion

If you live in a country that does not use US$ you can get this watch for under £50 (due to the very poor US$ rate) and this is exceptional value. If this watch was $200 I would still say that it is good value for money, I genuinely would. A great product, with few faults at an outstanding price.

iHolic MP3 player with T-DMB support

[Newlaunches.com reports] "When you first see "i" in any product name you normally associate it with the iPod and take it for another accessory of the iPod, however this is not the case with iHolic released by Dacon technologies Korea. It looks like another fancy PMP but it supports DMB so you can watch real time TV programming anywhere. The iHolic has a large and vibrant 2.4 inch color display unfortunately it is not touch screen, upto 2 GB of internal flash memory, SD card slot for memory expansion and support for majority of audio and video formats. The iHolic does not support recording of DMB programming, but it does with a cradle and a remote control so you can sit back and watch your favourite show."

Software Tools Can Now Convert Movies to Mobile Format; 300% Faster than Older Versions

New video converter software products can now convert PC based Video for play on your mobile player or cellular in the time it takes to enjoy the tea or coffee time. Based on user's feedback, programmers made some corrections for more powerful and efficient work with Video/ DVD movies.

Software stores, for example appcraft.org or Amazon, now offer a new software collection -- specifically designed to considerably simplify mobile video converting process.

Video conversion software products can now convert PC based Video for play on mobile player or cellular in the time it takes to enjoy the tea or coffee time. Video Converter empowers frequent travellers to view all popular films, TV shows and home movies with their iPod/ PSP or other mobile devices on the go. The iPod player can store up to 100 hours of video (60 Gb model) or 50 hours (30 Gb model) of feature films, TV or other content. Based on user's feedback, programmers made some corrections for more powerful and efficient work with Video/ DVD movies.

The Video Converters are capable of converting almost all popular video formats such as DVD, VOB, DivX, XviD, MOV, RM, RMVB, MPEG, WMV, AVI to mobile device format (WMV, WMA, MP3, MP4, 3GP). All the conversion processes are very easy and fast with high quality, it allows user to trim the excrescent or special parts of videos and check the audio track or caption of videos as they like. It is possible to convert entire movie or just some part of it, the converter supports many resolutions (for example 176x144, 320x240, 368x208, 400x192) for optimized video playback on mobile devices and cell phones. At the appcraft.org website are the world's fastest software conversion utilities (300% faster than older versions with improved video quality) plus advanced video editing features and free technical support team. It is a must-have for anyone who wants to see video on any portable video device. Many developers offers now conversion tools which works on Windows and Mac computers, most product includes a user guide how to convert and transfer the files to the gadget.

The new demo and trial versions are available as a free download from many websites but also available in CD version from Amazon or other stores.

More info about downloadable mobile video conversion products at www.appcraft.org.

Tuning in to a Wi-Fi-Enabled MP3 Player

[CNNMoney.com reports] Robert Khedouri's radio gave him the idea for an innovative feature on the wireless MusicGremlin.
The Problem Guitar player and songwriter Robert Khedouri hated the process of downloading individual songs to a computer and then to an MP3 player. He wanted to make it as fun and as easy as using a radio.

The "Aha!" Khedouri thought, Why not use open Wi-Fi networks to allow the seamless transfer - and sharing - of music? "I imagined a platform that not only allows downloads of individual songs but also pushes new content onto the device," he says. Now, MusicGremlin subscribers, who pay a $14.99 monthly fee for unlimited downloads or 99 cents to own a song outright, can subscribe to "Gremlists" organized by mood, genre, or activity that are updated almost weekly.

The Payoff Backed with $10 million in funding from Allen & Co. and other investors, Khedouri debuted his MP3 player at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and began selling the gadget for $299 on Amazon.com in June amid positive reviews from CNET and the Wall Street Journal. Susan Kevorkian, an analyst at IDC, thinks the radio-inspired Gremlists will foster loyalty. As to whether the MusicGremlin will be a hit, stay tuned.

AOL Enter Music Download Arena

Subscribers to get legal music online

[Micro Mart reports] We reported recently that the likes of Tiscali were attempting to generate an online music download service as the industry looks towards legal, subscription based models. That move can’t be harmed by AOL’s announcement then, that they too are launching a service that will add some weight to the battle against piracy. Not an awful lot, we suspect, but some nonetheless.

Through the MusicNet service, AOL subscribers can pay for tunes from artists such as Elvis, Kylie, Frank, and, er, Justin Timberlake. Pricing is expected to start at around £2.50 a month (that’s four dollars in the States), but that doesn't give you the right to burn any songs to CD. To do that, you need to subscribe to the premium priced service, which costs around £11.50. With that, you have unlimited access to the library, but can only burn ten tunes a month to disc. Hmmm. The service is initially restricted to the US, but a roll out worldwide we suspect is on the cards.

The catalogue to choose from weighs in at a quarter of a million songs, and we’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it through our letters page.

Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones

Jamie Ladion from pcmag.com has reviewed the wireless headphone from Logitech.

"While millions of people walk around with portable digital music players, I'll bet no one likes the mess of tangled wires they usually come with. Logitech's FreePulse Wireless Headphones eliminate the unwieldy cords—and cost less than $100 to boot ($99.99 list). They're the polar opposites of the Etymotic Ety8; the FreePulse headphones are inexpensive and look great, but sound just average, whereas the Ety8 headphones produce beautifully detailed audio, but are expensive and look a little bizarre.

he FreePulse consists of a pair of over-the-ear headphones, a Bluetooth plug with a 3.5mm stereo jack, and an AC adapter with two charging connectors. It's a sleekly styled pair of essentially traditional headphones, as opposed to the tiny earbuds that come bundled with portable MP3 players and music-capable cell phones these days. Since the headphones sit over the ear, in contrast to in-ear models such as the Ety8, they allow outside noise to leak in. This can be distracting if you're on a loud street or on the subway, but it's also safer when walking outdoors.

These headphones are too large to fit into your pocket; you'll either have to wear them all the time or toss them into a bag when they get in your way. They sport rubber rings for a secure fit, plus a steel-reinforced band that hangs behind your neck. Though they're easy to put on, they didn't sit evenly on my ears and felt a bit tight. No matter how I positioned them, they became irritating after about 45 minutes. I had to readjust them—resetting my comfort clock, if you will—and was then able to listen a little while longer before they became uncomfortable again.

Though the Etymotic Ety8 Bluetooth headphones might look strange, at least their 8-Mate iPod adapter is suitably sleek and lightweight. In contrast, the FreePulse's Bluetooth plug solution is somewhat bulky. The device connects to the headphone jack but doesn't hug the edge of my 5G Apple iPod, and therefore looks like it's going to fall out. In addition, the plug doesn't match most MP3 players' styling or width. Fortunately, you don't need this with Bluetooth devices such as cell phones; it's necessary only for connecting to gadgets that aren't Bluetooth-capable, such as the iPod.

Unlike with the Ety8, you need to charge both the FreePulse headphones and the Bluetooth adapter. The AC adapter splits into two charger connectors in a Y configuration. To charge the system, plug the first connector into the headphones, the second into the Bluetooth plug, and the AC adapter itself into the wall. As the FreePulse costs just one-third as much as the Ety8 with the 8-Mate adapter, all these issues are relatively minor. Also, this type of setup is common among stereo Bluetooth headphones from companies such as IOGear and Anycom.

The right side of the FreePulse headphones contains its controls. There's a power switch that also engages and disengages Logitech's Bass Boost feature, an AC power jack, and a built-in volume control. To adjust the latter, push either the "+" on the top side of the unit or the "-" on the bottom. Track-skip and rewind controls would have been welcome, but you can't have everything.

I found the FreePulse's sound quality essentially indistinguishable from that of the headphones that came with an old Sony Discman or Walkman. With the bass boost engaged, the low end is mostly mid- to upper bass with some punch, adding an artificial weight to the proceedings and giving an approximation of serious bass, but not the real thing. (Without the bass boost, they retain the boom but have no punch at all, so you'll need it). The highs don't reveal the air around instruments; the midrange is balanced and pleasant, but lacks detail. None of this will matter much in everyday listening, but it could frustrate audiophiles.

On the other hand, it was simple to pick out the bass guitar on many tracks, and the FreePulse is evenly tuned; no notes artificially stand out as a bass player moves up and down the scale. The FreePulse is not sensitive to placement; just slap them on and they sound fine. In-ear models such as the Ety8 require a precise fit and careful seal, or they'll sound vastly different (usually much worse) than they're supposed to. And you won't have to deal with cleaning eartips with the FreePulse.

Do the FreePulse headphones sound good enough for casual listening? Sure—and they're wireless, which is the whole point. I was able to walk about 18 feet away from my 5G iPod before I heard regular dropouts. Stepping behind closed doors made it worse. Logitech rates the FreePulse at 6 hours of continuous listening, less than the 6-to-10-hour range that Etymotic gives for the Ety8. In my battery rundown test, the FreePulse lasted 6 hours 22 minutes before beginning a series of musical tones indicating a low battery; they quit another 13 minutes later. That's a decent result, though you might want to carry your MP3 player's stock earbuds in your travel bag as a backup.

Think of the Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones this way: You're paying $19.99 for a decent set and $80 for the Bluetooth. As long as you're not expecting audio nirvana, these headphones can do the job nicely."

Top Christmas gift ideas

1. Samsung YP-Z5 4GB MP3 Player

Similar in size to the iPod nano, the Samsung YP-Z5 MP3 player is a popular alternative to the mini-music player. With 4GB of storage, built-in radio and speakers, plus the ability to store and view photos, the Samsung has several advantages over its Apple alternative.

2. Sony Ericsson V630


For those that love gadgets and gizmos, this phone is full of them - 2MP camera, video calling, MP3 player, plus these handy portable speakers. This phone offers the latest 3G technology and up to 10MB of storage.

3. Homedics MP3 Massage Cushion

With built in speakers, heat pad and vibrating massagers, the new Homedics MP3 massage cushion can be fitted to any standard office chair or car seat. Just the thing to de-stress when stuck in rush hour traffic or working late at the office. Fitted with a universal audio input, the cushion can be attached to any MP3 player or iPod with an earphone jack.

Transfer iTunes Music to a Zune

[From tech-recipes] If you have moved from Apple's iPod to Microsoft's Zune, you probably have some songs that you purchased from the iTunes Music Store that you would like to move to the new device. You will run into a hurdle if you try to transfer the files directly as Apple's copy protection prevents the song from playing on another device. There is a workaround to this however...

1. Create a new playlist in iTunes.

2. Add the protected songs to your playlist until you have 72 minutes of music.

3. Click Edit and select Preferences.

4. Select the Advanced tab.

5. Click the radio button next to Audio CD on the Burning tab.

6. Click the Burn Disc button.

7. Upon completion of burning the disc, rip the songs to MP3 using Windows Media Player.

8. Open the Zune software and sync the newly created MP3's to your Zune device.

With Zune, The Empire Strikes Back

[ Paul Korzeniowski from Investor's Business Daily reports]

Call it King Kong vs. Godzilla, Part II.

The huge success of Apple Computer's (AAPL) iPod has drawn the attention of archrival Microsoft. (MSFT)

With the debut of its Zune music player, the software giant wants a piece of the growing market.

So which device is right for you?

As is the case with most tech purchases, it depends.

Apple has dominated the MP3 player market, garnering a 70% share.

"A number of companies have tried to present alternatives to the iPod, but Apple has proved to be too large, powerful and focused," said Samir Bhavnani, research director at Current Analysis.

Other Apple rivals are Creative Tech (CREAF) and SanDisk. (SNDK)

Apple's success has stemmed from several factors, starting with the product's design. The iPod is small, but can store thousands of songs.

Users also like the interface, including Apple's breakthrough Click Wheel, which makes it easy to manage a music library with one hand.

"Apple has long produced devices that offer simple navigation," said Dale Gilliam, a digital media analyst with market research firm Diffusion Group.

Marketing is another strong point. Apple created the right buzz about the product, turning the gadget into a must-have.

Since the product's launch five years ago, the company has been aggressive in fine-tuning and upgrading the iPod.

In October, Apple enhanced the device so that one click shuffles a music library before playback. And high-end models play video games.

The company also has fostered a rich ecosystem of add-ons and adapters that transform the device into a multipurpose gadget.

Apple signed deals with carmakers so the device can be plugged in on the go. Recently, Apple began working with Air France, (AKH) Continental (CAL) and Delta so that business travelers can more easily use the iPod when flying.

In addition, Apple and several outside manufacturers have developed over 3,000 accessories to make the device easier to carry and use.

More Features, Less Music

The Zune resembles the iPod in many ways. The two are similar in size and shape, though the Zune is thicker and has a bigger screen.

One of the Zune's most unusual features is its wireless networking, which lets you share songs, pictures and video with other Zune users. Copied songs will work on friends' Zunes up to three times or three days, whichever comes first.

Eventually, the feature could let you wirelessly use media stored on your home computer or even buy music directly from the device.

The Zune does have its shortcomings. Its capacity tops out at 30 gigabytes. The biggest iPods, while pricier, store more than twice that.

With the ability to store about 7,500 songs, 30 gigabytes might seem like plenty. But space can go quickly, especially when photos and video become part of the mix.

Because the Zune is new, few companies make add-ons. That could make it tough to use it in your car or with your home stereo.

And the Zune's nascent music store sells a limited number of songs and videos.

Uphill Battle

Because of these limitations, Microsoft faces an uphill battle.

"Microsoft will have to provide more compelling reasons for users to switch to Zune," Gilliam said.

History has shown Microsoft to be a formidable competitor willing to invest the time and effort to emerge as a top supplier in new markets.

Take its Xbox video game console. The first version was a strong debut, but failed to woo many from Sony's (SNE) PlayStation 2. The company pressed on with the Xbox 360, which is holding its own in the next-generation console war.

Will the Zune, a project headed by the Microsoft executive who oversaw the Xbox, do the same?

For now, only one thing is certain: This is one sequel worth watching.

Studio 60 Christmas song free for download

[News.com reports]

The New Orleans arrangement of "O Holy Night" that was featured on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is available for free download.

A group of New Orleans musicians led by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews played the new version of the Christmas classic as part of "The Christmas Show" episode's story line.

The musicians are really Hurricane Katrina survivors as they played on the show. The vignette was coordinated by the Tipitina's Foundation, an nonprofit organization dedicated to helping New Orleans musicians affected by Katrina.

An MP3 of the song can be streamed or downloaded from NBC's Studio 60 music site.

Software Review: Play Your Tunes With Pocket Tunes Deluxe

[Software Reviews By: pdaBlast! Staff] Pocket Tunes turns your Palm OS 5.2 device into a portable audio player! Play compressed audio files (MP3, WMA, or Ogg Vorbis) or uncompressed WAV files from a flash memory card or stream music live over your wireless Internet connection.

With its simple interface and ability to play nearly all file types, Pocket Tunes is a full featured audio player. One interesting feature is the ability to stream Shoutcast files. You can stream music from radio stations all over the world right to your PDA. Very cool!

Features:

WMA File Plaback.
Fit more music on your handheld with smaller WMA files. (deluxe version only, DRM-protected music downloads are not currently supported)

Windows Media Player integration.
Copy music faster and easier from Windows Media Player.

Improved Organization
Organize your music by artist, album, and genre.

ARM-Native MP3 and Ogg Vorbis decoding.
Pocket Tunes can decode any MP3 or Ogg Vorbis file in real time without any skips
or delays.

Streaming MP3
Listen to ShoutCast audio on your Internet-capable Palm. (deluxe version only)

Large screen support.
Pocket Tunes's built-in skin works on all Palms with expandable and rotating screens.

Hi-Fi Graphic equalizer.
Bring out the best in your music!

Background playback.
Play your tunes while running other Palm applications.

Crossfade.
Smoothly transition from one song to the next, like your own personal radio station. (deluxe version only)

Bookmarks.
Add bookmarks for your eBooks or music so you never lose your place. (deluxe version only)

Auto-Bookmark.
Pocket Tunes can automatically create bookmarks for you so you never forget where you left off. (deluxe version only)

Pocket Tunes Console.
Control your audio playback from within any application.

Screen Blanking.
On supported devices, Pocket Tunes can turn off the screen while playing to save power.

Full Skin Support.
The Pocket Tunes player interface is completely customizable. Choose from dozens of skins.

High Resolution.
The default skin (and many others) take full advantage of the Palm's high-resolution
display with 16-bit graphics.

WAV File Support.
Play most uncompressed WAV files.

Five-Way Navigator.
Use the Five-Way navigator control to play, pause, adjust the volume, skip to another song, or select a play list. On the Treo 600, you can use all features of Pocket Tunes without ever touching your stylus.

Play Lists.
Create custom play lists to organize your music.

Shuffle and Repeat.
Toggle the shuffle and repeat buttons to change the order your songs are
played.

Volume and Balance.
Adjust the volume and balance as the song is playing.

Seek Bar.
Quickly seek to any position in a song by sliding the seek bar.

Mobilitybeat, a mobile tech related site, is launched

If you are reading this blog, then you are most likely a fan of mobility. Ryan, from PalmInfocenter, just launched a new site, called MobilityBeat. He published following press release:

"MobilityBeat (www.mobilitybeat.com) is a new community powered website focused on mobile technology. The new website features articles on mobile industry news, product reviews, tutorials, rumors and software. It serves as a user powered content portal specifically focused on covering all forms of the latest mobile tech products including smartphones, PDAs, digital music players, tablets and mobile gadget news.

How does it work?
MobilityBeat at its core is a community powered social bookmarking and link sharing platform. MobilityBeat allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all members and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page. When a user submits a news article it will be placed in the “queued” area until it gains sufficient votes to be promoted to the main page. Anyone can submit an article and write a brief description, registered users have the ability to vote on stories they like.

In turn, the MobilityBeat users create and decide on the content - creating a unique look at what’s going on in the mobile tech world."

“MobilityBeat aims to be a constantly updated and up to date enthusiast driven website.” remarked MobilityBeat founder Ryan Kairer, “Users will drive the content and help shape the site. I’m a believer in the social news concept and wanted to bring that model to the mobility world.”

link: http://www.mobilitybeat.com

Zune, Wii or iPhone?

[James R. Stoup from Apples matters reports] "The hype is over, the products are on sale and the verdicts are in. The Zune sucks, the Wii rocks and the Playstation 3 is causing mass hysteria. I, for one, can’t wait until next year when we all can stand in line trying to knife one another over who gets to buy an iPhone.

But taking a slightly more indepth look at things I must pose this question. Was I the only one surprised at the amount of attention the Zune has gotten? Because, virtually without exception, it has garnered poor reviews. The hardware has been opened, the software has been crashed and the experience as a whole has been summed up as mediocre. Contrast this to the Wii. Every report I have read has declared the Wii a winner. But it isn’t getting nearly as much attention as Microsoft’s failed MP3 player. Why?

I keep hearing the oft repeated pearl of wisdom that the Zune is a version 1.0 device and that Microsoft doesn’t actually produce a meaningful product until its third release. Which would put this new Zune 3.0 somewhere between 2-3 years into the future. Am I the only one who is skeptical of this nonsense? Are these pundits really thinking that Microsoft will continually lose money for at least 2 years before coming up with a competitor to today’s iPod? Isn’t it a bit more likely that the Zune will just die a slow and quiet death just like Plays-For-Sure? Am I missing something here?

But getting back to Nintendo and their amazing new console I would like to ruminate for a moment. For those of you who haven’t actually played with a Wii, let me tell you, they are cool. Really cool. Like, you will probably be buying one in the next year, kind-of cool. So doesn’t this officially signal the decline of the standard two joystick controller? You can already see that Sony is trying to jump on board with its novice attempt at including motion sensing technology in its controllers. But what about Microsoft? The Xbox 360 has only been out for a year and its going to be a long time (as far as the video game industry is concerned) before the Xbox 720 (or whatever its to be called) comes out.

This means that Microsoft can either pull a Sony and attempt some cheap bolt-on motion sensor knock-off so it can join the “me-too” crowd. Or it has to wait until the next console comes out and start afresh there. Neither option is really all that attractive. Because on one hand you have Microsoft adding yet another piece to the Xbox system (remember, it already has a snap-on harddrive and a plug-in HD-DVD player so by all means, bolt some more crap onto it) but that will take time to develop, it will be buggy initially and will still seem cheap in comparision to Nintendo. While on the other hand waiting till the next Xbox comes out means that the current system will continue to loose money and marketshare.

Meanwhile Sony is in a better position, but not by much. They have all of Microsoft’s problems, just to a lesser degree. They too need to examine how they are going to move forward with new input devices. And they too need to get consumers on their new High Def format (which in this case is Blu-Ray) but at least the Playstation has the benefit of having an integrated Blu-Ray player and superior graphics as compared to the other consoles. However, while the difference between the Wii’s graphics and the Xbox or PS3 is quite noticable, the difference between the Xbox and PS3 isn’t nearly as dramatic. It should make things interesting to say the least.

As for myself, I will definately get a Wii after the Christmas rush. And whenever Halo 3 comes out I will then go buy an Xbox 360. As for Sony? Sorry, this consumer doesn’t have a compeling enough reason to go out and buy a PS3. Better luck on the PS4.

Mp3 Freebie (2.000.000 Songs Database!)

Mp3 Freebie, it's the ideal site for those of you looking for an extensive library of music sources, hands on tutorials and great technical support. The members area has an extensive collection of downloading tools aimed at the novice to intermediate users. This is without a doubt a top-of-the-line, high-caliber site. You will find the tools to download everything from Rock to Pop including complete CDs and albums. Excellent search tools allows you to search by Artist, Genre, CD title or song. Mp3 Freebie will teach you how to download unlimited music files, MP3s, songs, music videos, software programs, TV shows, videos and movies. The members area has tools for novice and advanced users. Mp3 Freebie includes an anti-virus, spyware/adware removal, and a popup stopper software, but not quite as easy to navigate as LegalMusicAccess. The site is suited more towards someone who really want to grow their music and movie collection. None the less MP3Freebie is still a great service....

Apple launches iTunes, online stores in New Zealand

[Found in Appleinsider] Apple Computer on Tuesday launched the iTunes Store in New Zealand, giving New Zealanders access to local music and the same features, pricing and seamless integration with iPod that have made iTunes the most popular music jukebox and online music store worldwide.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company also opened the online Apple Store New Zealand, where customers can quickly and conveniently purchase Apple’s complete lineup of innovative products, including iPods, Intel based Mac desktop and notebook computers, the iLife ‘06 suite of digital lifestyle applications, a vast assortment of iPod and Mac accessories.

"We’re thrilled to bring the iTunes Store and the online Apple Store to our customers in New Zealand just in time for the holidays," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. "With over two million songs, the iTunes Store features the largest catalogue of local and international music in New Zealand, and with the new online Apple Store, it’s easier than ever to shop for everything from a personally engraved iPod to a customized Mac."

With a catalogue of over two million songs, the iTunes Store features the most music of any digital music store in New Zealand with songs priced at just NZ$1.79, music videos at NZ$3.59 and most albums at NZ$17.99.

Exclusive music featured on iTunes includes tracks from New Zealand artists Fat Freddy’s Drop, Brooke Fraser, Tim Finn, The Datsuns and Bic Runga as well as extensive catalogues from New Zealand greats including Shihad, Crowded House, The Black Seeds, Breaks Co-Op, Elemeno P and Dei Hamo.

International exclusives on iTunes include albums from The Doors, Faithless, Incubus, Foo Fighters, George Michael and more. The iTunes Store features iTunes Originals from international stars Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ben Harper, Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson. The iTunes podcast directory currently features over 65,000 podcasts, including featured New Zealand podcasts from TVNZ, The Voice Booth and Radio NZ.

At the online Apple Store New Zealand, customers can browse and purchase Apple hardware, software, accessories and a large selection of third party products with just a few clicks of a mouse, the company said. Customers can custom engrave any iPod through the store, and can easily custom configure their Mac to suit their individual needs. The online Apple Store also offers special education pricing to teachers and university and college students.

Additionally, Apple announced that the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is now available in New Zealand, only at the new online Apple Store. Available in 4GB and 8GB models, the player comes in a red aluminum enclosure and features up to 24 hours of battery life, Apple’s Click Wheel and an incredibly thin and light design.

MP3! Second Edition - I Didn't Know You Could Do That...

[A book recommendation for you!... brought to you by MusiciansBooks and Amazon] After sex, the second hottest topic on the Web is MP3, the audio compression format that lets you store and play music on computers and distribute it swiftly and easily over the Internet. This book shows you how to use MP3, how to get the most out of rippers, players, and audio editors, how to record and distribute your own music online, how to troubleshoot MP3, and much more! It includes a valuable CD jam-packed with MP3 goodies including all the software the serious music fan needs to create, play back, and edit MP3 files, together with music and audio in MP3 format.

Liquid Tunes Waterproof MP3 Players

[Newscut.com reports]"This unit is simple to operate, easily downloads music, is very lightweight, skip free, and most importantly durable.
The patent pending, Liquid Force exclusive, MP3 player and ear buds are 100% waterproof. No extra case necessary. Shane Bonifay and our other team riders swear by it. Try one for yourself and you'll instantly be a believer. Liquid Tunes™ guaranteed to rock every session on the water! "

Liquid Tunes™ comes complete with hardware and software to change the way you ride forever. For your favorite riders play list or more detailed specs, visit: www.liquidforce.com

• 1 Gig… $199.99
• 512 MB… $169.99
• 256 MB… $139.99


Liquid Force
364 2nd Street Suite #7
Encinitas, CA 92024
1-800-820-7781