Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), today introduced the DLO nanoTune for iPod nano. It combines an FM Transmitter, FM Radio and Headphone Amplifier into one unit. The nanoTune’s FM Transmitter allows owners to play their iPod nano’s music in the car, at home, anywhere there’s a stereo. It also adds an FM radio to the iPod nano for on-the-go news, sports and weather updates.Other unique features include a headphone amplifier, an integrated protective case that doubles as a desktop stand, and a 30-pin iPod connector for use with all existing iPod car chargers and most iPod docks. The DLO nanoTune costs just $69.99 and is available immediately at iPod retailers nationwide and online at www.dlo.com.
“The nanoTune might be the only accessory an iPod nano owner will ever need,” said Jeff Grady, CEO of DLO. “In designing the product, we realized that protecting the nano was critical. Then, with a transmitter, FM radio and headphone amp, we were working with an end-all, be-all nano accessory.” Let's just hope Steve Jobs over at Apple doesn't copy this innovative third-party iPod product like he did with the new Apple iPod Hi-Fi and the new Apple leather case.
The DLO nanoTune plays iPod nano’s music wirelessly over any available FM radio frequency from 88.1 to 107.9. Drivers and passengers can enjoy iPod nano’s music on their next road trip or commute to work. The at-a-glance backlit LCD conveniently displays the current frequency. The nanoTune works with all existing iPod car chargers to keep everything fully powered. With nanoTune’s integrated desktop stand, users can also set it on their stereo and enjoy iPod nano’s music wirelessly in their house.
With a push of nanoTune’s Mode button, the nanoTune switches to FM Radio Mode - providing instant news, talk, sports and weather updates. The nanoTune is also the perfect companion for the health club or gym where TV audio is often broadcast via FM radio.
Switching to iPod Mode, the nanoTune increases the iPod nano’s volume output by over 25%. This makes listening to the iPod in noisy locations like a train or airplane much easier. The boost also helps out when the iPod nano is being shared with a headphone splitter.
As an added bonus, the nanoTune re-positions the iPod nano’s headphone port to the top of the unit, making headphone access more convenient. Owners can control their iPod nano using the nanoTune’s external controls, including Next Track, Previous Track, and Volume Control.
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Will anybody buy Apple's new iPod Hi-Fi at $349 when there are other well-established docking stations/home stereo like the ones from Bose and Altec Lansing (among others)?
If you do, please let me know why ...
Red Herring is creating their own little "herring" by speculating that Apple plans on launching an Apple iPod with VoIP capabilities. Red Herring writes:
When Apple talks, people listen-and chat among themselves—and the computer company’s announcement about products to be unveiled Tuesday had watchers speculating about a VoIP-enabled iPod. <snip...> Talk of Wi-Fi on personal media devices like iPods has generated speculation that the company might roll out VoIP-enabled media players.
My reply? I don't think so. Not yet anyway. VoIP is still a little immature to start making MP3 players that also double as a VoIP phone.. Sure, the iPod started with music, and then they added video with the video iPod, but a VoIP iPod?
Let me put this in perspective. Even with hundreds of hotspots around the country, even WiFi VoIP phones aren't exactly taking off. It's more hype than reality. There are three problems with WiFi phones. One, they are very "niche" - "one trick ponies" if you will - that only techies and VoIP fans will shell out the $100 to $200 to pay for them. Second, it's another device to carry. Third, many hotspots have a Web authentication page in order to obtain access to the hotspot's Internet connectivity. Since WiFi phones don't have a Web browser, often times they cannot get a connection. The standards are a bit immature to make sure WiFi phones can obtain access without a Web browser.
So with these three problems with VoIP and hotspots, why would Apple add VoIP functionality to an iPod? Even though I am a huge fan of VoIP, the market just isn't ready for a VoIP-enabled iPod. Further, why would Apple incur more costs to embed VoIP into their iPods? They have to add more memory to hold the SIP stack (assuming they go with SIP), they have to beef up the processor to handle the encoding and decoding of the voice packets. The Apple iPod (Third Generation/Fourth Revision) features dual 90 MHz ARM 7TDMI processors (PortalPlayer PP5002 system on a chip), which is not nearly powerful enough to handle realtime encoding and decoding of voice packets. Unless Apple drops this processor in favor of a more powerful processor, VoIP on the iPod just ain't gonna happen. And if Apple uses a more powerful processor, they will compromise battery life. Who wants an iPod that will drain the batteries in 30 minutes if you make a 30 minute VoIP call?
This is way too much feature-creep if you ask me. Microsoft is known for feature-creep, not Apple. Apple is known for their laser like focus on creating innovative and useful products, not just throwing every feature and see what sticks.
Since Apple is now "friends" with Intel, it is "possible" Apple could switch to say a 624 MHz Intel PXA270 processor used in some Windows Mobile 5.0 phones. But if Apple is going to go with a speedy Intel processor with plenty of horsepower, why not just make a full-fledged Apple iPod iTunes Mobile Phone and compete with Microsoft? Course, they'd have to come up with a whole new mobile operating system and compete against both Palm and Microsoft. Hey, maybe that's what they will announce in a few hours, who knows? It is more likely that Apple is announcing some wireless connectivity in today's announcement and not VoIP. First wireless, then maybe 1-2 years down the road, VoIP. Baby steps... Baby steps... Red Herring mentions WiFi, but it's more likely it'll be Bluetooth if you ask me. WiFi is too much of a battery hog.
Getting back to WiFi phones, to me dual-mode phones are much more interesting since they are multi-functional and not one-trick ponies like their WiFi phone counterparts. Perhaps Apple will be announcing a dual-mode phone with iTunes? But a VoIP iPod? - I don't think so. If it does happen, the media will all clamor and say how smart Apple was for being a true innovator and being the first to develop a VoIP-capable music player. But after all the hype dies down, we'll see just how many VoIP iPods Apple sells. In my opinion, not many.
The iPod is certainly a lot of fun, but not when the battery dies (come think of it, what product is?). However, battery replacement for the iPod has a shrouded-in-mystery feeling when you have to send or take it somewhere special to have the battery replaced.
Now, Newer Technology has solved that problem with its super-duper, handy-dandy, ultra-awesome NuPower High-Capacity iPod Replacement Battery. Oh, by the way, the NuPower actually increases capacity as compared to the original Apple battery; the iPod mini, for example, gets a 50% boost.
Although they recommend that a qualified service install the battery (and help to find one is available at www.newertech.com), they do include two screwdrivers with the battery for the DIY set. The MacSales.com web site has a follow-the-bouncing ball, step-by-step QuickTime instruction video (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ipod/battery/install-service/#1428).
Retail price: $24.95 (for the iPod mini). Batteries for other iPods from $14.95 to $29.95.
Attention Apple iTunes shoppers!
The 1 billionth legally downloaded song from the site, ”Speed of Sound” (purchased as part of Coldplay’s X&Y album), fell into the basket of Alex Ostrovsky from West Bloomfield, Michigan!
As the grand prize winner, he will receive a 20-inch iMac, 10 fifth-generation iPods and a $10,000 gift card good for any item on the iTunes Music Store. In addition, Apple will establish a scholarship to the world-renowned Juilliard School in his name.
How sweet it is!
I’m sure Apple in its wildest dreams never imagined that iTunes would be the runaway hit that it is. As the iTunes Music Store heads toward download number 1 billion, Apple has 1 billion reasons to celebrate. And to mark the way, 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.
But that’s not all. If you feel lucky (you do feel lucky, don’t you?), then the music fan who downloads the 1 billionth song from the iTunes Music Store will receive a 20-inch iMac, not one iPod, but 10 60GB iPods as well as 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.
At 999 million and counting …
Hey, anybody care to take a guess at what that 1 billionth song will be?
Skins, skins, skins – can you ever have enough of them? Cellfan.com is an online treasure trove – with vinyl skins featuring leading brands for more than 500 consumer electronic devices. Cellfan.com makes it easy way to personalize you favorite devices with vinyl skins, including mobile phones, iPods, PDAs and gaming devices.
Mobile device owners can choose a skin reflecting sports leagues or players (NBA, Wayne Gretzky), college logos, Greek letters, movie or music brands (Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley), comic characters or fashion style. The skin itself is made from a professional-grade vinyl, which is printed via a proprietary process that ensures detailed and premium images. The skin is then coated with a glossy finish and custom cut, which creates a perfect fit for each device.
Each Cellfan.com skin is easy to apply, will not void a device warranty and has a protective element to provide another layer of safety from scratches and other damage. The skin can be easily removed, allowing users to personalize their devices as often as they choose without damaging the device.
How about Elvis for your iPod Nano?
Is it just me or did the Grammy Awards the other night reveal that once again music is becoming more overtly political (a ‘60s/’70s reprise)? Yes, of course, everyone loves a good beat and a clever hook, but live performances by Jay-Z & Linkin Park and Bruce Springsteen had political messages right out front for everyone to hear. (And how about that Grammy for the JZ/LP “best rap/sung collaboration”? Reminds me of the classic Run-D.M.C./Aerosmith “Walk This Way” just from a collision of two musical genres into something good.)
On the other hand, surprised by Bono’s comment on How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (talk about an in-the-news political theme) that the U2 album title had nothing to do with politics, unless you reduce it right down to the most elemental political form – the relationship between two individuals.
Will be interesting to see if MP3 downloads of the Grammy winners surge this week and next; it used to be that CD sales of winning artists went up dramatically after winning an award. Wait and see ...
Everybody loves free music downloads (remember Napster?) and now eMusic is offering a 30-day free trial with up to 100 downloads from its 1 million song catalog.
I checked out the jazz section; good to see Rahsaan Roland Kirk represented, but no such luck with Weather Report and (Mahavishnu) John McLaughlin -- acoustic or electric. (Does anybody remember?
Still, solid selection of djembe music for the inner drummer in all of us ...
Funny story on yesterday's Tech Confidential about how Swiss Army knifes are kluging on MP3 players to create strange tried-and-try analog/quick obsolescence digital combinations. Does anybody buy these things? Would you?