iPods

This video demonstrates iPods turned into music sequencers.

via purecanesugar:

Widget and Hans stayed up til 2am hacking up some iPod sequencers at NYC Resistor. We are using pdPod on iPodLinux. You can hack your own iPods too, as part of the re-ware project, we are trying to make it easy: http://re-ware.org

Thanks to Bre Pettis for his camera work.

Zune owners everywhere are cursing the day that they cheaped out and bought a Microsoft portable media player, because Zunes around the world today are dying.

Locking up and turning into bricks!

Call it the Zunepocolypse. Call it Y2K 9 years late. 

Chances are, though, if you’ve got a Zune 30, it’s a doorstop. 

Here’s Microsoft’s official word:

We were made aware of a widespread issue facing owners of Zune 30 devices this morning.  We have a technical team working hard to isolate the issue right now and will update everyone as much as possible.  Thanks for your patience while we get to the bottom of this.

Got a Zune? Feel free to vent about it in the comments!

Apple today added new models of the iPhone and iPod touch which have double the memory: a 16GB iPhone model for $499, and a 32GB iPod touch for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.“For some users, there’s never enough memory,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod and iPhone Product Marketing. “Now people can enjoy even more of their music, photos and videos on the most revolutionary mobile phone and best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world.”

All iPhone and iPod touch models include the software enhancements announced last month, including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes Movie Rentals.

Pricing & Availability

The new 16GB iPhone is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores. The 32GB iPod touch is available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

CES: Wadia Digital will introduce what they claim is the world’s first all-digital iPod dock.

According to Wadia, this means it can offer CD-quality from full-resolution file formats.The iTransport (SRP: $349) turns your iPod into a high-end media server by providing a bit-perfect digital audio output to an audio/video system, bypassing the player’s internal D/A conversion and output stage. The iTransport is compatible with all currently available (Q1 2008) iPod players, as well as iPhone and iPod Touch models.

“Until now, there has been no real bridge between the convenience of an iPod and the high-end audio listening experience,” commented John W. Schaffer, President, Wadia Digital. “The goal of making the player a true high-end media server has been hampered by the need to send the digital signal through a portable player’s D/A converter rather than that of a high performance audio system.

“We designed iTransport to bypass the player’s converter and output stage altogether. When used with an iTransport, the iPod becomes a digital music source equal to some of the finest sounding transports in the high-end audio market.”

Numark has announced that it’s shipping the world’s first iPod DJ mixing console that lets you scratch, control pitch, key-lock, and simultaneously play two songs from a single iPod.

The Numark iDJ2 is the only iPod mixing console that provides music control with real-time scratching, pitch control, seamless loop, and full cueing. The iDJ2 features an new iPod docking system that lets you play two songs simultaneously from a single iPod, without the need for a computer. You can hook up multiple mass storage devices including additional iPods, thumb drives, and external USB hard drives through rear panel USB ports. In addition to USB connectivity with iPod docking and charging, the iDJ2 comes with line inputs for any audio source including a microphone, CD players and turntables, making it one of the most flexible DJ products ever produced.

You can manage your music library with visual track-profiling using the iDJ2’s graphic interface. The iDJ2 also lets you record musical performances to the iPod or any connected drive, in addition to offering full control audio play back.

While the first generation of iPod mixers were glorified toys, the iDJ2 looks like its moving the category into new territory.

Read more…