Fourth-Generation iPod Touch Orders Starting to Ship
September 7, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
Belkin Debuts Cases for New iPods
September 6, 2010 by Laura
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
Belkin has launched new cases for the iPod touch that make it easier to access and use your iPod. Belkin has designed these cases for the always on-the-go iPod owner to complement a mobile lifestyle and also cater to the different ways an iPod is carried. They’ve identified five main ways people carry their iPod: in a pocket, in the hand, in a bag, on themselves, and while being active.
For those carrying their iPod in their pocket, Belkin’s slim cases are easy to grip, slide in and out of a pocket smoothly, and provide impact protection from everyday drops. For those who keep their iPod in hand at all times to text, game, or check their email, our line of cases are comfortable to hold, shock-absorbing, and easy to grip. Belkin also has cases that make it easy to find your iPod within a travel bag or purse while protecting it against constant contact with other items. Belkin recognizes that people typically either carry their iPod or they wear it. While working out or when you need to keep your iPod close by for intermittent, easy access, Belkin offers a range of armbands and a clip case.
Grip Cases
Grip cases protect your iPod and come in a variety of textured designs while adding style, color, and grip-ability. Grip cases’ form-fitting design lets your iPod charge while still in the case.
Shield Cases
Shield cases protect your iPod while providing increased shock absorption and impact resistance. These sleek cases add no extra bulk and offer maximum protection while allowing full access to connector, buttons, and iPod screen.
Verve Cases
These fashion-inspired leather cases protect your iPod from everyday scratches and scuffs. Tailored to be slim and form-fitting, they also provide easier and more sensitive access to the home key and inputs. Made with premium leather and contrast stitching, these cases offer sleek style.
Fit Armbands
Fit armbands are designed for the active user. Made with breathable and hand-washable fabric, these cases are easy to put on and remove, and flex with you as you move about your workout.
Overlays
Belkin overlays are designed to protect your new iPod screen from everyday scratches.
Availability
Cases in select styles will be available starting September 2010 in North America and parts of Europe. Other styles will continuously be made available for purchase throughout 2010.
New iPod Nano Loses Video Playback and Camera
September 1, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
The new new iPod nano is kind of a hybrid between the Shuffle and the iPod Touch. But will it hit the spot and be a hit?
How it changed from the Past Model
First thing you notice it that it is square, like Apple took a design que from the Sandisk slotradio. Next you notice all the previous generation buttons are missing. So is the vertically oriented landscape display and camera. In there place is a square multi-touch capable screen large enough to accommodate 4 icons - 240-by-240-pixel resolution. While it’s a bit larger than the new iPod Shuffle, it’s 46% smaller and 42% lighter than the previous generation Nano
The multi-touch display gives you full access to your music as well as other useful functionality like an FM radio, connectivity with Nike’s accessories and even the ability to view tiny photo slideshows. Up to 24 hours of music playback when fully charged and an 80% re-charge only takes 90 minutes.
Say Good-Bye to Video
Besides no longer able to shoot, the new Shuffle play does not play video, just music, audio books and podcasts. We here at ToT think the loss of video playback may hurt sales and make the previous model become an E-bay hit.
Available in 7 colors starting next week the new multi-touch iPod nano comes in 2 capacities: 8GB for $149 and 16GB for $179.
Back to the Button, The New iPod Shuffle
September 1, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
The new iPod Shuffle goes back to the button look, yet it is smaller than before. Its main body is crafted from a single piece of aluminum and it comes in silver, blue, green, orange, or pink.
Along with up to 15 hours of battery life, iPod shuffle gives you 2GB of storage capacity, multiple playlists, Genius Mixes (New), podcasts, and audiobooks, too.
VoiceOver
Listening to a song and want to know the title or the artist. Just press the new VoiceOver button on top of your iPod shuffle, and it gives you the info. You can even use VoiceOver to hear the names of playlists and switch between them. And if your battery needs charging, VoiceOver tells you that, too.
VoiceOver speaks 25 different languages. So it can tell you song titles and artists in their native tongues or any language you choose.
Genius comes to iPod shuffle.
Activate Genius in iTunes on your computer, and it automatically finds songs that sound great together. Then it creates Genius Mixes, which you can easily sync to your iPod shuffle.
Price and Availability
The new shuffle costs $49 and can be order today from Apple for shipment one week from now.
Sansa Fuse+ Putting SanDisk Back into the MP3 Player Game
August 31, 2010 by Doug
Filed under FlashFeature, Gadgets, MP3 Players
As rumored, SanDisk today finally updated its core MP3 players with the Sansa Fuze+. The MP3 has an UI and drops the jogwheel of past models. Replacing the the jogwheel is capacitive touch directional pad. The new software interface look to be simpler and now uses “film strip” model which puts major categories at top and provides either quick access from the top level or a launch into a deeper level.
Format support is also greatly expanded now accepts both AAC audio and H.264 video, including any unprotected content first bought in iTunes. It can also handle typical formats such as MP3, WMA, WMV, Audible books, FLAC and OGG. Support for slotRadio format is there too. The new Fuza+ automatically recognize cards put into the microSDHC slot.
There is also FM radio with recording and a microphone for voice memos. Battery life lasts for a full day of audio or five hours of video, even with a larger 2.4-inch screen.
The Fuze+ has capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB priced at $80, $90 and $120 respectively. All of the players are available today in as many as five colors, although not every color is available with every capacity.
SanDisk Back in the MP Player Hunt with Fuze+
August 19, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
After a long wait, SanDisk is upgrading its core MP3 player line. The Sansa Fuze+ should replace the 2.5 year old original with a fresher design that uses capacitive touch buttons and a color OLED display. It would fix issues user had around support for AAC and H.264. The under apprecitated slotRadio format will stll be in the mix via the microSDHC slot.
Most of the features would be on par with competitors on sale today, with 24 hours of battery for music, five hours of video and capacities between 4GB and 16GB. An FM tuner is still onboard and will support both DVR-style pausing and recording for later. The player doesn’t have a price but should ship September 12.
SanDisk is still second place in MP3 players in the US but has just a small fraction of the market versus Apple’s estimated 70 percent. It does continue to have lead over Microsoft’s Zune line.
Samsung to Use Anroid to Take-On iPod Touch
August 2, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
Samsung is about to release what may be the first true competitor to the iPod touch to use Android. Listed at South Korea’s Daum store, the YP-MB2 would have the same features as the Galaxy S but targeted at MP3 players. The player would center on the same large fou-inch Super AMOLED screen and 1GHz processor but would only use Wi-Fi to get online.
The MB2 will use Android 2.1 with Samsung’s customized TouchWiz interface layered on top. Built-in storage will be 32GB, and the Korean model will get DMB over-the-air TV tuning. GPS would remain intact and could give the player an edge when navigating with offline apps.
In Korea, the MB2 should ship August 11. It hasn’t been formally unveiled but is likely to reach other countries.
iHome Now Cooking Tunes in the Kitchen
June 2, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Cell Phones, Gadgets, MP3 Players
iHome has announced it is now shipping the iP39 dock for iPods and iPhones for the kitchen.
The iP39 has a stainless steel finish, to match other appliances in the kitchen, and a retractable docking station. It is not just looks that make the iP39 a good fit for use in the kitchen, it has two built-in cooking timers, an easy-wipe control panel and a magnetic remote control that can sit on the fridge. The alarm buzzes for appointments and dates as well.
iHome sells the dock for $99.99 on their web site.
Scosche flipSYNC – Keychain Charger and Sync Cable for Those On-The-Go
May 21, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Cell Phones, Gadgets, MP3 Players
Scosche has announced the availability of the flipSYNC - the key chain USB charger and sync cable. The handy device is about the size of a car alarm remote control and fits comfortably on any key chain.
The flipSYNC is available in two models, IPUSBM which features an iPhone/IPod connection, and USBMM which features both Mini and Micro USB connections for use with Blackberries, digital cameras and more. Both models feature USB 2.0 for the fastest data transfer possible.
Both flipSYNC models are available now in BestBuy stores and online at bestbuy.com and Scosche.com for $19.99.
Netflix iPad is Now Available in iTunes
April 2, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Gadgets, MP3 Players
Apple has approved and listed the Netflix iPad app. The native app allows subscribers to watch streaming TV shows and movies in the device’s full-screen video player.
The iPad app offers many of the same basic functions as the company’s website. Users can browse movies, manage the queue, or read and write reviews, without leaving the iPad interface.
The killer feature may be Pause times. This feature let’s users to begin a movie on their TV or computer and automatically resume from the same spot through the iPad interface.
The Netflix iPad app is now available as a free download from the App Store. Users must have a Netflix unlimited membership.