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

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!

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.

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.

iDJ2 also comes with Numark’s exclusive Crate feature. The Crate is a unique feature that allows you to hold music you expect to play in a waiting list on the top performance level. Music can be placed into the Crate at anytime from search results, browse results, or playlists. Music in the crate can then be managed by sending it to decks or reordering on the fly. All of this has been designed to work seamlessly while playing songs.

The Crate gets it’s name from the traditional function of a vinyl DJ’s record crate where DJs would often prop their records prior to placing on their decks. With Numark’s Crate feature, you can line up an entire Playlist, with the flexibility to swap songs or change their play order in seconds, without missing a beat. iDJ2 supports loading multiple file formats into the Crate including MP3, WAV, and AAC (non-DRM).

A special iPod Direct Mode function allows users to play all iPod-supported music including songs purchased from the iTunes music store. Numark’s iDJ2 is available now with a suggested list price of $799 and an approximate street price of $599.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs today announced Apple’s new lineup of iPods at an event at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Here are the highlights:

• The iPod shuffle appears to be on life-support. It got new colors.
• The iPod nano got a bigger screen, video capabilities and an interface update.
• Big iPods are now iPod classics, getting a new UI and hard drive capacity up to 160GB. This looks like the one to get if you’re a fan of Internet video.
• The most anticipated introduction, the iPod touch, brings the iPhone touchscreen interface to the iPod line. It’s basically an iPhone without the phone capabilities, with 8GB and 16GB capacities.
• The price on the iPhone was cut to $399, and the 4GB version was dropped. The iPhone is a success, but not the runaway success that Apple expected. Slashing the price by over 30% should bring it to a price range that’s palatable to a larger audience.
• Jobs also introduced the iTunes WiFi music store, which will allow users to browse and purchase songs via wireless connections. Purchased tracks are copied back to your computer at next sync.
• Apple’s podcast directory has hit a milestone of 125,000 podcasts, 25,000 of which are video podcasts.

While the new iPods aren’t especially surprising, Jobs introduced an extremely strong lineup that should solidify Apple’s position in the portable media player space, strengthen Apple’s venture into smart phone territory and reinforce Apple’s iTunes as the de facto standard for portable Internet media.

The Energi To Go is powered by two Lithium AA batteries. The device features a control chip that maximizes power transfer to the iPod. In testing with Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries, the Energizer Energi To Go charger provided more than 46 hours of music playback on the iPod nano and more than 32 hours of music playback on the iPod with video.

“For many consumers, digital music players are an essential,” said Mike Rivard, Energizer General Manager, New Products. “This new Energizer Energi To Go Portable Power for iPod allows them to know that whether they’re on a plane, at the beach, or anywhere in between, their music will keep going. ”

The Energizer Energi To Go Portable Power for iPod features a licensed Apple iPod tip and is adjustable so that it’s compatible with iPod (with & without video) and iPod nano. The MSRP for Energizer Energi To Go iPod Portable Power Source is $29.99 and includes the charger and two Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries.

For maximum performance, Energizer recommends powering Energizer Energi To Go Portable Power for iPod with Energizer e2 Lithium batteries.

Sony today announced the release of musika, an original music visualizer game, on the iTunes Store for play on Apple’s fifth generation iPod.

musika creates beautiful visuals using the title of any song. Users can play along by pressing the center button in time with the letters in the song’s name to advance to more difficult levels displaying different visual effects.

musika was created by NanaOn-Sha President Masaya Matsuura, the creative force behind the music video game ‘PaRappa the Rapper’ for the original PlayStation. The title has been developed in collaboration with Method Solutions for the iPod.

“The iPod is a device that revolutionized music and it is now poised to be a progressive gaming platform,” said Masaya Matsuura, President of NanaOn-Sha. “Many years ago Apple’s tools first opened my eyes to the power of music and multimedia, so it’s exciting to release my first game for this device.”

musika is now available for purchase through the iTunes(R) Store for $4.99.
 

Based on what I’ve seen, it looks seriously droolworthy.

This is what cell phones are going to look like in five years, intelligently combining mobile features with music and Internet services. It’s too bad we’ll have to wait five years for something like this to be affordable, though.

Industry analysts have found that 90% of the people they surveyed think that Apple’s iPhone is better than their own phone.

In a joint research effort between its Wireless Device Lab and Intelligent System Strategies program, Strategy Analytics explored the appeal of iPhone features, developed comparisons with current products, investigated the nature of the iPhone experience, and gained insights on design criteria for future devices.

“An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents gave the iPhone higher marks than their own handset and over 40 percent of respondents rated the iPhone much better across key functional categories– including music player, web browsing, voice mail, and phone call management–indicating real innovation in designing a user experience,” said Harvey Cohen, President of Strategy Analytics, who conducted this research.

“While the iPhone ‘Wow’ factor is impressive, our user panel indicated that challenges in pricing and positioning may act as a barrier to mass-market success,” said Kevin Nolan, Director of User Experience Research at Strategy Analytics. “Nonetheless, the iPhone clearly represents a breakthrough in terms of user experience.”

The batteries come with instructions and the tools necessary for DIY battery changing. Blue Raven also provides an online video tutorial to ensure consumers can change their own batteries.

“Changing your own iPod batteries is actually quite easy and inexpensive,” said Blue Raven’s President and COO, Glen Kashgegian. “With this new line we are empowering consumers to maintain their own devices to get more value and use out of their investments.”

Suggested retail price starts at $29.95.

Musikmesse: Alesis has introduced the iMultiMix 8 USB Mixer with professional mixing and direct-to-iPod recording.

The iMultiMix 8 USB features a mounting dock to enable recording directly to any 2nd through 5th generation iPod. Unique to its class, the iMultiMix 8 USB is the world’s first mobile recording mixer with iPod transport controls and a control wheel built right into the surface for complete control of the iPod while it is being docked in the mixer.

Home studios, musicians, podcasters and houses of worship can use the versatile direct-to-iPod recording feature for convenient transfer into iTunes upon connection to a computer. Files recorded into the iPod are CD quality, 16-Bit, 44.1 kHz .wav files.

Mac OS and Windows users can connect to the iMultiMix 8 USB using USB for direct to computer recording as well. In addition to its computer connectivity, the iMultiMix8 USB offers eight analog inputs, one hundred 28-Bit effects, phantom power, and 2 switchable mic/line/guitar inputs.

The iMultiMix 8 USB has the same world-class effects on the Alesis MultiMix 8 USB, one of the most popular recording mixers available. Vocalists can add professional quality reverb and guitar players can create flange effects, all of which are mixed and recorded to the iPod with ease. iPod owners will find this mixer the perfect compliment for a wide variety of recording needs thanks to its natural merging of the control wheel and traditional mixer knobs. The iMultiMix 8 USB is scheduled to ship in Q3 2007 with a suggested retail price of $499.

Features:

• Integrated iPod recording
• Four high-gain mic/line preamps (XLR and 1/4″ balanced)
• 48V phantom power
• Built-in limiter to avoid distorted recordings
• 16-Bit / 44.1kHz and 48kHz recording to computer
• Two guitar mic/line inputs
• Aux sends and returns
• 100 on-board, 28-bit digital effects – Reverb, Chorus, Flange, Delay
• Three band per channel EQ with high/low shelving and mid band pass/reject
• Steinberg Cubase LE recording software included

Alesis CEO Jack O’Donnell says, “The iMultiMix 8 USB is an exciting new addition to the Alesis product line, with forward thinking functionality and an innovative design. Alesis always strives to deliver quality and features to meet the needs of users. The iMultiMix 8’s iPod recording features will give users a way to easily record their live performance directly onto the world’s most popular music device.”

Roth Audio has introduced what gets our vote for the coolest-looking iPod dock in the world. The Music Cocoon is a tube-amp iPod dock that also works with a CD player or any mini-jack audio device.

“We can guarantee that the amplifier will add a real warmth and dimension to the music which other amplifiers are not designed to do,” says Roth. “That’s the thing about vacuum tubes; there is a science behind their use, but the results cannot be quantified.”

Unfortunately, it’s easy to quantify how this will hit your wallet: it’s got a suggested retail price of £ 399.00 (about $800).

Main Features

• Hi-Resolution pure tube sound
• 2 pre-amp tube
• Supports different musical sources: i-Pod, CD and MP3
• Volume Control
• iPod Charging
• Overheating protection (85¢)
• Speaker short circuit protection
• Speaker protection when turning on
• Fuse protection in the adapter

Specifications

• Power Output: 13W x 2
• Frequency response: 20Hz~ 30KHz
• T.H.D: < 0.5%
• S/N ratio: > 90dB
• Input impedance: 100Kohm
• Output impedance: 8ohm
• AC Input: 110V/230VAC Selectable, 50Hz/60Hz
• Power Consumption: 50 V/A
• Tube Type: 12AX7 x 2, 12AU7 x 2 MOS FET
• Input Selectors: iPod, CD, MP3
• Dimension: 187 (L) x 174 (W) x 108 (T) mm
• Weight: 1.8 Kg (Amplifier only)

• Continue as is it is now, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music.
• Apple could license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores.
• Abolish DRMs entirely – according to Jobs, this is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.

Jobs concludes by asking that people concerned with DRM convince the record labels to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free, saying that “Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.”

Jobs’ statement is clearly self-serving; the company has faced criticism and legal battles from several European nations over its monopolization of digital music formats.

Nevertheless, Jobs move demonstrates his intuitive mastery of public relations, redirecting criticism of Apple’s monopolization of digital music to the record labels and their licensing restrictions.

Job’s statement has resulted in an outburst of discussion around the Internet.

via Podcasting News

Blendtec makes hardcore blenders – not something that most people would think they need. Ask someone if they’d like to watch a video demonstration about a blender, and they are liable to run for the door. Create a vlog about a blender that can blend anything, though, and people will be coming back for more.

Blendtec’s WillItBlend video series features Blendtec CEO Tom Dickson using the company’s Total Blender to powderize household objects, ranging from golf balls to a Coke-can smoothie.

Watch what Dickson does to his iPod:

“I love my iPod,” says Dickson, “but I’m ready for the latest!”

Who can argue with that?

Note: After seeing one of Dickon’s blenders destroy an iPod, you may feel the uncontrollable urge to buy an expensive blender. You can also bid on Dickson’s iPod smoothie on eBay. Mmmmm, that’s good iPod!

Listening to iPods for as little as 5 minutes a day

Researchers Brian Fligor and Cory Portnuff estimate that a typical person could safely listen to an iPod for 4.6 hours at 70 percent of full volume using the supplied earphones without greatly increasing the risk of hearing loss.

However, listening to an iPod at full volume for more than 5 minutes per day, they say, could increase the risk of hearing loss in a typical person. These guidelines apply in general to other music players, such as the Sandisk Sansa and the Creative Zen Micro, which they found to produce similar volume levels.

In a separate study, researchers found that only 6% of iPod users listening in quiet environments turned their iPods up to unsafe levels. When in noisy environments, though, a full 80% listened at dangerous levels. When they used an “in-the-ear” earphone designed to block out background noise, only 20 percent exceeded sound levels considered to be risky.

“We’re delighted that Ford, General Motors and Mazda will support iPod connectivity in nearly all of their new models,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “Now more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles will offer iPod integration, with General Motors alone making it available on all 56 of its models, representing millions of cars and trucks.”

Ford and General Motors will feature iPod integration in the majority of their 2007 models in the US beginning later this year, while Mazda’s entire global 2007 lineup of cars and SUVs will offer iPod connectivity. iPod offerings for Ford, General Motors and Mazda provide drivers with outstanding sound quality while charging the iPod, while conveniently storing the iPod in the glove compartment. Seamless iPod integration also allows drivers to use their car’s multifunction controls to select their music using artist, album, playlist or shuffle songs, as well as to easily skip between tracks and playlists.

The Mayo Clinic warns that portable music devices put your hearing at risk.

“With the older devices, like the Walkman, if you turned them up all the way, they sounded very bad, so people didn’t do it. Now, they don’t sound bad at maximum volume, and that could pose a problem,” says Jodi Cook, Ph.D., director of the hearing aid program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Chrysler

“Customers have been asking for iPod connectivity and we’re excited to make it available to so many of our vehicles in 2006,” said Randy Ewers, director, Mopar Accessories Portfolio Team. “We’re providing the largest number and range of automobiles with iPod support of any automaker, allowing Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge owners to bring and listen to their entire music collections.”

“We’re thrilled that over three million Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge automobiles will offer great iPod connectivity in 2006,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “Over 40 percent of all cars sold in the US in 2006 will offer iPod connectivity.”

A complete list of auto makers supporting iPods is available at the Apple site. In addition, an array of after-market solutions are available from Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood and Pioneer for automobiles that currently do not offer iPod integration.

Pricing and Availability

The optional iPod Integration Kit for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge model lines will be available to customers for the MSRP of $175 (US) plus installation from authorized dealerships, and will debut this spring. In addition, the solution can be retrofit to many model year 2005 vehicles.

The $3,999.95 system, developed and built by German audio technicians, consists of an aluminum-encased amplifier housing four powerful Class-A tubes which glow gently as they generate sound that is virtually distortion-free.

According to the company, the tube amplifier smoothes over distortions found in modern digital recordings while helping to compensate and minimize the quality loss inherent in compressed audio such as MP3s.

In addition to the iPod line-in jack, a second audio-in port allows you to connect additional components such as a CD player or satellite radio. An RCA cable and two highly-insulated 13′ triple-core speaker cables with gold-plated connectors are included.

System: 11 1/2″ H x 6 1/2″ W x 26″ L. (42 lbs.)

Source: Hammacher Schlemmer