MP3 Players & Digital Audio

July 4th: Whatever Happened to Boomboxes at the Beach?

July 3, 2006

Thinking about July 4th and how the holiday (at least for me) brings of thoughts of fireworks, BBQs and the beach ...

Now, with all of the noise about MP3 players and iPods and personal music players, whatever happened to beaches filled with boomboxes on July 4th?

Yes, they are loud, often play music we don't want to hear, but they do foster a sense of community when you're at the beach with friends.

Are there still "No Radio Playing" signs at your local beach?

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Shure Sound Isolating Earphones: How Sweet It Is ...

June 30, 2006

What with MP3 players, iPods, CD players, cell phones and all kinds of other gadgets, it seems like just about everybody is wearing earphones these days!

It may seem like a weird analogy, but the same adage about treating your feet to the best goes the same (at least for me) with earphones (or headphones as they used to be called).

With that in mind, it's hard to beat Shure's i3c Integrated Sound Isolating Earphones + Mobile Headset (some name!).

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Apple Delays; Too Much Secrecy?

June 29, 2006

Can't be too much joy in the land of Apple Computer with recent reports from PC Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

Apparently, following a shift in suppliers, updated versions of Apple's iPod nano will ship in the fourth quarter instead of the third quarter, while the release of the wide-screen video iPod also may be pushed back from the fourth quarter into early 2007.

(Hate those product delays, especially at holiday shopping time.)

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal has a fascinating report about Apple's focus on product secrecy, even about its own employees and customers.

Reminds me of a Silicon Valley saying: "Only the paranoid survive."

(Now who said that?)

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Fun in the Sun (and Water?): Keeping That iPod Dry

June 26, 2006

Now here'a a really good idea for summer fun in the sun (and water) -- Allsop's Splash Pack DriPod!

(And the way it's been raining in the Northeast, this might work well ...)

I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.

Whether we’re talking cassette walkmans, CD players or iPods, portable music allows us to create a soundtrack for nearly every moment of our lives.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Power on the Go! APC's Mobile Power Pack

June 20, 2006

It's a very simple premise -- why not create a light-weight battery that allows you to charge any number of mobile devices, rather than having a dedicated battery for each device?

Simple, but apparently not that easy to do -- until now.

APC's new Mobile Power Pack (UPB10)allows you to simultaneously charge and power your mobile phone and handheld computer using USB charging cables (sold separately, but you probably have them already).

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Microsoft iPod/iTune Killer Under Development?

June 20, 2006

All kind of noise yesterday about Microsoft developing a MP3 player to compete with Apple's iPod as well as a music download service to rival iTunes ...

Hard to imagine this is any kind of "iPod/iTunes slayer" -- anybody think any differently?

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Big Sound/Small Footrprint: JVC UX-G50 Micro Component System

June 19, 2006

I like a good stereo system in my office, but have never wanted to get bogged down with "regular size" component systems (those are for chillin' out at home).

Looking at micro component systems that don't break the bank, JVC has always been a very good choice. And actually, very good value for the money.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

ZVUE Can Show You the (Windows) Way

June 13, 2006

There is MP3 life beyond the world of iPod (yes, there is!) as HandHeld Entertainment has added a number of punk rock concert videos, hip hop, gospel and metal concert videos to its download store at ZVUE.com through a deal with Music Video Distributors.

The titles include video from legendary punk rockers as Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys, Iggy and the Stooges (Iggy Pop) and New York Dolls, in addition to comedy films from former Saturday Night Live comedian Jim Breuer (left) and cult indie films like Southlander.

This agreement follows HandHeld’s announcements of a music partnership with eMusic, the addition of Latin music videos from Sunflower Entertainment, the acquisition of 1,500 full-length films and television shows from Worldvision Cinema, comedic movies from Fun Little Movies, extreme sports videos from TotalVid, independent films from StoryPIPE.com and classic TV programs and cartoons from LikeTelevision.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Creative Technology Sues Apple Over iPod

June 8, 2006

Who would ever think that the Wall Street Journal is must reading for real gadget guys and gals? (let's not use "gadget gurus" please)?

Well, today's edition has a very interesting article about how Creative Technology (best known for its Zen line of MP3 players) is suing Apple over violating its patent on the navigation technology and the method of organizing and accessing music.

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

eMusic: Downloads Were Meant To Be Free (At Least a Few)

May 31, 2006

Everybody complains about the high cost of downloading music, but at least eMusic is doing something about it.

Now, 25 free downloads may not seem like a lot, but 25 is what you get during your free trial from eMusic. And you get to choose from more than 1 million songs; and the songs work on the iPod and with any other MP3 player.

After the free trial is over, individual songs are 25 cents or less (take that you 99 cent sites!).

eMusic -- where the music is free (at least for a few songs).

Download wisely!

Posted in MP3 Players & Digital Audio

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