News: Memorex launches iWake Up iPod clock radio

Memorex has introduced its new iWake Up clock radio for the iPod and iPhone. The iWake Up features an integrated Dock, an AM/FM radio, a white backlit LCD display, a snooze function, a wireless remote, SRS audio enhancement technology, and the ability to charge the iPod while docked. The Memorex iWake Up clock radio for iPod is expected to be available this spring and will sell for $70.
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First Looks: FastMac iV - Sneak Peek

Billed as a custom-molded case and battery pack for the iPhone, FastMac's upcoming iV ($100) steps way beyond previously announced iPhone batteries -- and, in fact, most other iPhone accessories we've seen. The built-in power cell, selected by FastMac's experienced battery engineers and based upon the same charging technology found in the iPod touch, promises to triple the iPhone's battery life. Then there's the built-in iPhone camera flash (!), a…


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News: Mix: Netflix, Subway, Orange, Lagotek, SyncJe

Netflix has announced a partnership with LG Electronics to offer an internet-connected set-top box that will allow Netflix subscribers to download movies and other programming directly to the television set. “It’s going to be very slick and easy,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix’s chief executive officer. “We want the TV experience to be very relaxing and not like visiting a Web site.” The box, which will be released…


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News: Wadia Digital to debut iTransport digital iPod Dock

Wadia Digital, maker of high-end digital audio products, has announced that it will demonstrate its new iTransport iPod Dock at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. According to Wadia, the iTransport is the “first digital player dock to retrieve a direct digital signal from an iPod.” The dock bypasses the iPod’s internal D/A conversion and output stage, allowing for output of pure, bit-perfect digital audio from…


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Review: Contour Design Showcase touch

The two Contour Design cases we’re reviewing today are from the company’s famous Showcase family, which is known for several consistent design traits: clear front and back shells are accented with rubberized black plastic sides that latch together to form an almost entirely protective enclosure, which can be used with or without an included belt clip. Their good looks almost invariably enhance the designs of the iPods inside, and though…


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Review: Contour Design Showcase nano V3

The two Contour Design cases we’re reviewing today are from the company’s famous Showcase family, which is known for several consistent design traits: clear front and back shells are accented with rubberized black plastic sides that latch together to form an almost entirely protective enclosure, which can be used with or without an included belt clip. Their good looks almost invariably enhance the designs of the iPods inside, and though…


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Review: Agent 18 iPhone Shield

Agent 18’s collection of cases breaks down into four types: the company’s basic “Shields” are two-piece clear plastic shells, glossy in some places and frosted in others, while its “EcoShields” are made primarily from black plastic. It also sells “Shield Kits” that come with an additional accessory at a higher price, and now has introduced the “FlowerVest,” a flowery rubber case for the third-generation…


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Review: Agent 18 NanoShield Kit for iPod nano G3

Agent 18’s collection of cases breaks down into four types: the company’s basic “Shields” are two-piece clear plastic shells, glossy in some places and frosted in others, while its “EcoShields” are made primarily from black plastic. It also sells “Shield Kits” that come with an additional accessory at a higher price, and now has introduced the “FlowerVest,” a flowery rubber case for the third-generation…


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Review: Agent 18 Classic Shield

Agent 18’s collection of cases breaks down into four types: the company’s basic “Shields” are two-piece clear plastic shells, glossy in some places and frosted in others, while its “EcoShields” are made primarily from black plastic. It also sells “Shield Kits” that come with an additional accessory at a higher price, and now has introduced the “FlowerVest,” a flowery rubber case for the third-generation…


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Review: Agent 18 Touch Shield + EcoShield

Agent 18’s collection of cases breaks down into four types: the company’s basic “Shields” are two-piece clear plastic shells, glossy in some places and frosted in others, while its “EcoShields” are made primarily from black plastic. It also sells “Shield Kits” that come with an additional accessory at a higher price, and now has introduced the “FlowerVest,” a flowery rubber case for the third-generation…


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Review: Agent 18 EcoShield, NanoShield & FlowerVest for iPod nano G3

Agent 18’s collection of cases breaks down into four types: the company’s basic “Shields” are two-piece clear plastic shells, glossy in some places and frosted in others, while its “EcoShields” are made primarily from black plastic. It also sells “Shield Kits” that come with an additional accessory at a higher price, and now has introduced the “FlowerVest,” a flowery rubber case for the third-generation…


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Review: Belkin Clear Case for iPhone

Belkin’s two cases are virtually identical to one another except in name: the Clear Case for iPhone and Remix Acrylic for iPod touch ($30 each) are iterative sequels to Belkin’s early and beautiful but flawed Acrylic Case for iPhone. That case incorporated several cool new ideas: a rotating, detachable belt clip frame that transformed into a video stand, a design that really showed off the iPhone’s curves, and an included adhesive…


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Review: Belkin Remix Acrylic for iPod touch

Belkin’s two cases are virtually identical to one another except in name: the Clear Case for iPhone and Remix Acrylic for iPod touch ($30 each) are iterative sequels to Belkin’s early and beautiful but flawed Acrylic Case for iPhone. That case incorporated several cool new ideas: a rotating, detachable belt clip frame that transformed into a video stand, a design that really showed off the iPhone’s curves, and an included adhesive…


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News: Whoomp! attachments enhance Apple factory earbuds

Hearing Components has introduced its Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers for Apple iPod Earphones, small snap-on accessories featuring Comply foam tips to provide a more comfortable, stable fit, as well as improve sound quality. The Whoomp! enhancers’ Comply tips are made from viscoelastic polyurethane foam, which allows the ear piece to rest in the ear canal, and helps seal in bass and seal out unwanted ambient noise. The company claims the tips are…


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News: Sony BMG planning to drop DRM

Sony BMG will become the last of the “big four” music labels to offer its music catalog without digital rights management, according to a BusinessWeek report. Citing people familiar with the matter, the report claims that the company is finalizing its plans, and will begin DRM-free sales sometime in the first quarter, possibly in concert with a Super Bowl promotion involving Sony artist Justin Timberlake, Pepsi, and Amazon. The promotion…


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News: Apple sued over lack of WMA support

A new antitrust lawsuit filed against Apple on Dec. 31 claims the company has an illegal monopoly on the digital music market. The plaintiff, Stacie Somers, and her representation claim that Apple is dominating the market for online video and music sales, as well as the digital music player market, and that its position is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. “Apple has engaged in tying and monopolizing behavior, placing unneeded and unjustifiable…


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First Looks: PDO Flipp Premium Leather Case for iPod touch

What would it take to get companies to stop making me-too, flip-style iPod cases? PDO's Flipp ($30) for iPod touch is yet another generic black leather flip case based on the PDA cases of old, not unique or interesting in any way. Dock Connector and headphone port access are provided on the bottom; semi-visible magnets hold the front closed, and a non-detachable belt clip's in the back....


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Backstage: More iPod Speakers, or More iPod Sneakers?

I’m really interested in getting your take on the following question: What do you care about right now, more iPod speakers, or more iPod sneakers? The real question I’m posing here is whether you, as an iPod owner, are more interested in traditional accessories, such as a theoretical next-generation iPod speaker/headphone/car audio integration kit, or things that are completely new and outside the box, like the Nike + iPod Sport…


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Article: Ask iLounge 1-3-08

This week's Ask iLounge topics: 2007 iPod models and speakers, Video resolution vs bit-rate, Preventing auto-deletion of podcasts, Videos with no sound, Using iTunes Store when travelling abroad, Transferring videos to iPod, Importing Audiobooks


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Article: Ask iLounge 1-3-07

This week's Ask iLounge topics: 2007 iPod models and speakers, Video resolution vs bit-rate, Preventing auto-deletion of podcasts, Videos with no sound, Using iTunes Store when travelling abroad, Transferring videos to iPod, Importing Audiobooks


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News: Proporta to debut new Dual Skin silicone cases

Proporta has announced its new Dual Skin Silicone Case line for the iPod classic, touch, 3G nano, and iPhone, as well as the new Splash Proof Sports Kit for the 3G nano. The Dual Skin cases will feature two layers of impact-resistant silicone in a variety of colors, and will also feature cut-outs for access to the iPod’s ports and controls. They are expected to sell for $22 each when they are released. The Splash Proof Sports Kit for the iPod…


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Article: CES + Macworld Expo Sneak Peeks [updated]

The first two weeks of January will be packed with new iPod and iPhone accessory announcements, so we wanted to give you an early look at what a handful of the industry’s players have planned for the Las Vegas CES and San Francisco Macworld Expo shows. From what we’ve seen so far, including a number of products we can’t divulge below, you can expect fairly conservative new offerings, including iPhone- and 2007 iPod-compatible reworks…


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Review: Capdase Soft Jacket for iPod nano, iPod classic, and iPhone

The core of each Soft Jacket is a silicone rubber case augmented with translucent hard plastic parts: the iPod nano ($9) and classic ($11) versions have visually odd white-edged plastic screen protectors and pop-out video stands, while the iPhone version ($15) actually has a full hard plastic face plate with a spring-open hard screen protector and a pop-off rear video stand. Both the classic and iPhone versions also include a separate belt clip, while…


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Review: Capdase Crystal Case for iPod nano, iPod classic & iPhone

Like the Soft Jackets, Capdase’s Crystal and Alumor Cases are technically fine, but are undone by cheap look and feel issues. We received samples of the Crystal Case for the iPod nano ($10), iPod classic ($12), and iPhone ($15), and the Alumor Case for the nano ($18) and iPhone ($20); we review the cases together here because of their similarities. The iPod nano versions of Crystal and Alumor are virtually identical. Both consist of two clear…


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Review: Capdase Alumor Metal Case for iPod nano, iPhone

Like the Soft Jackets, Capdase’s Crystal and Alumor Cases are technically fine, but are undone by cheap look and feel issues. We received samples of the Crystal Case for the iPod nano ($10), iPod classic ($12), and iPhone ($15), and the Alumor Case for the nano ($17) and iPhone ($20); we review the cases together here because of their similarities. The iPod nano versions of Crystal and Alumor are virtually identical. Both consist of two clear…


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First Looks: ifrogz Thumpz Audio Wrapz

Combining a silicone rubber case with three miniature speaker drivers that run off of the iPod's power -- lightly, without substantial drain -- rather than an external power source, ifrogz' new Thumpz Audio Wrapz ($25) come in several different styles and multiple colors. The standard version of Thumpz, shown here, has side bumpers and looks like a typical ifrogz rubber case, only larger; a Treadz version uses the company's tire tread-style prior…


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News: Newer Tech rolls out iPhone accessory line

Newer Technology has announced its new line of iPhone accessories, which will debut at Macworld Expo later this month. The line includes the Speaker Dock & Hands-free Mic ($35), which features a Dock for using the phone for both calls and audio playback, controls for call and playback functions, and the ability to charge the iPhone while docked. It was originally shown in our 2008 iPod + iPhone Buyers’ Guide, alongside the new Mic Extender Cable…


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More from Robbie Bach at CES

Our buddies at on10 had a chance to sit down with Robbie Bach at CES. Robbie talks at length about the vision for connected entertainment, and the overarching strategy for the Entertainment and Devices Division (of which Zune is a part).

(zune gets a mention at 10:26 mark; but I'd watch the whole video).

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Laika - New Film at Zune-Arts

Head over to Zune-Arts to download Laika, the new film by Ro Rao featuring music from The Aliens, a band that evolved from the critically acclaimed Beta Band.

What do you think of the latest film?

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The Black Dahlia Murder (and Zune)

Ok, metalheads (you know who you are), this blog post is for you.

Metal Blade Records act, The Black Dahlia Murder is both the Zune Ignition artist and On the Road artist for the month of January. 

Zune Marketplace is offering a few cool thing from the band: a Zune Freebie, “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse” starting today (January 8) to January 14; a track-by-track Breakdown of the album from January 15-January 21, and the band’s personal Guestlist from January 22-January 28. 

In addition, Xbox Live currently features exclusive video of a BDM fan autograph session at last year’s Summer Breeze Open Air Festival in Germany and a free video download of “What A Horrible Night to Have a Curse.”  MSN is also streaming the video for the same track. One of the most influential artists in death metal is supporting their album, Nocturnal.

They're also on the road - check the video for info.

 

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Zune: CES Recap

Yesterday during the Bill Gates Keynote at CES, Robbie Bach announced the Zune launch in Canada* in Spring 2008. The Canadian offering this spring will first include Zune players (including Zune Originals), Zune software and Zune Social, with the Zune Marketplace online store coming later this year.

 

Robbie also noted that we've had about 1.5 who have tried out Zune Social, and that, "We can differentiate ourselves in this space, and we think there's plenty of opportunity for that market to grow."

Hope everybody had a great weekend!

*I want to give a shout out to Phil, Jason and the rest of the Zuneinsider readers in Canada!

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New Music Friday: Fifty-First Edition

One tradition carrying through into 2008: New Music Friday. Ready?

• First up this week, Drea at Pinksage links to some great world music


• Next up, Aquarium Drunkard has two Dinosaur Jr Tracks (one of my favorites).


• Get your rock on. Check out The Whigs at MOKB.


• And if you like country, head over to Music For Robots and pick up an A.A. Bondy track.


• Pick up the new Nada Surf track at Chromewaves. Awesome.


• In a dancing mood? Pick up this track by The Martial Arts, at 3Hive.


• Awesome: head to Stereogum for a We Versus the Shark of Pattern is Movement, which a commenter describes as: "Excellent, excellent cover of an excellent song by an excellent band. Excellent."


• Next up, Times New Viking rock Cleveland


• Check out this Brooklyn Soul mixtape, over at 'Different Kitchen, with the title What's Going on, American Gangster?


• Check out The Melvins at Zune Tracks. Sweet.


• So lots of folks in Zune Social have sent me a few Man Man tracks. If you're curious about them, go pick up a live track over at YANP.


• Last but certainly not-without soul, check out Diana Ross and the Supremes, as well as Don Soul Train Campbell, over at soul-sides.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the music everybody! I won't be at CES next week, but if you're going, have fun!

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"Academy of Dreams" Makes Wired's Top 10 for 07

Back! Hope everybody had a happy holiday. Kicking off another year of blog posts: this cool story from Wired. The folks at Wired chose "Academy of Dreams," as one of  The 10 Best Gadget Ads of 2007. Zune actually took the number two spot, losing out to The Bourne Ultimatum, which Wired thought was the best gadget ad of 2007. On a related note, Zune also got a quick mention in the number 10 entry: Transformers, saying, "We've got our fingers crossed for a transformed Zune/iPod brawl in the sequel." Heh. Funny, that.

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First Looks: PDO Flipp Premium Leather Case for iPod touch

What would it take to get companies to stop making me-too, flip-style iPod cases? PDO's Flipp ($30) for iPod touch is yet another generic black leather flip case based on the PDA cases of old, not unique or interesting in any way. Dock Connector and headphone port access are provided on the bottom; semi-visible magnets hold the front closed, and a non-detachable belt clip's in the back....


source

Backstage: More iPod Speakers, or More iPod Sneakers?

I’m really interested in getting your take on the following question: What do you care about right now, more iPod speakers, or more iPod sneakers? The real question I’m posing here is whether you, as an iPod owner, are more interested in traditional accessories, such as a theoretical next-generation iPod speaker/headphone/car audio integration kit, or things that are completely new and outside the box, like the Nike + iPod Sport…


source

Article: Ask iLounge 1-3-08

This week's Ask iLounge topics: 2007 iPod models and speakers, Video resolution vs bit-rate, Preventing auto-deletion of podcasts, Videos with no sound, Using iTunes Store when travelling abroad, Transferring videos to iPod, Importing Audiobooks


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Article: Ask iLounge 1-3-07

This week's Ask iLounge topics: 2007 iPod models and speakers, Video resolution vs bit-rate, Preventing auto-deletion of podcasts, Videos with no sound, Using iTunes Store when travelling abroad, Transferring videos to iPod, Importing Audiobooks


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News: Proporta to debut new Dual Skin silicone cases

Proporta has announced its new Dual Skin Silicone Case line for the iPod classic, touch, 3G nano, and iPhone, as well as the new Splash Proof Sports Kit for the 3G nano. The Dual Skin cases will feature two layers of impact-resistant silicone in a variety of colors, and will also feature cut-outs for access to the iPod’s ports and controls. They are expected to sell for $22 each when they are released. The Splash Proof Sports Kit for the iPod…


source

Article: CES + Macworld Expo Sneak Peeks [updated]

The first two weeks of January will be packed with new iPod and iPhone accessory announcements, so we wanted to give you an early look at what a handful of the industry’s players have planned for the Las Vegas CES and San Francisco Macworld Expo shows. From what we’ve seen so far, including a number of products we can’t divulge below, you can expect fairly conservative new offerings, including iPhone- and 2007 iPod-compatible reworks…


source

Review: Capdase Soft Jacket for iPod nano, iPod classic, and iPhone

The core of each Soft Jacket is a silicone rubber case augmented with translucent hard plastic parts: the iPod nano ($9) and classic ($11) versions have visually odd white-edged plastic screen protectors and pop-out video stands, while the iPhone version ($15) actually has a full hard plastic face plate with a spring-open hard screen protector and a pop-off rear video stand. Both the classic and iPhone versions also include a separate belt clip, while…


source

Review: Capdase Crystal Case for iPod nano, iPod classic & iPhone

Like the Soft Jackets, Capdase’s Crystal and Alumor Cases are technically fine, but are undone by cheap look and feel issues. We received samples of the Crystal Case for the iPod nano ($10), iPod classic ($12), and iPhone ($15), and the Alumor Case for the nano ($18) and iPhone ($20); we review the cases together here because of their similarities. The iPod nano versions of Crystal and Alumor are virtually identical. Both consist of two clear…


source

Review: Capdase Alumor Metal Case for iPod nano, iPhone

Like the Soft Jackets, Capdase’s Crystal and Alumor Cases are technically fine, but are undone by cheap look and feel issues. We received samples of the Crystal Case for the iPod nano ($10), iPod classic ($12), and iPhone ($15), and the Alumor Case for the nano ($17) and iPhone ($20); we review the cases together here because of their similarities. The iPod nano versions of Crystal and Alumor are virtually identical. Both consist of two clear…


source

First Looks: ifrogz Thumpz Audio Wrapz

Combining a silicone rubber case with three miniature speaker drivers that run off of the iPod's power -- lightly, without substantial drain -- rather than an external power source, ifrogz' new Thumpz Audio Wrapz ($25) come in several different styles and multiple colors. The standard version of Thumpz, shown here, has side bumpers and looks like a typical ifrogz rubber case, only larger; a Treadz version uses the company's tire tread-style prior…


source

News: Newer Tech rolls out iPhone accessory line

Newer Technology has announced its new line of iPhone accessories, which will debut at Macworld Expo later this month. The line includes the Speaker Dock & Hands-free Mic ($35), which features a Dock for using the phone for both calls and audio playback, controls for call and playback functions, and the ability to charge the iPhone while docked. It was originally shown in our 2008 iPod + iPhone Buyers’ Guide, alongside the new Mic Extender Cable…


source

More from Robbie Bach at CES

Our buddies at on10 had a chance to sit down with Robbie Bach at CES. Robbie talks at length about the vision for connected entertainment, and the overarching strategy for the Entertainment and Devices Division (of which Zune is a part).

(zune gets a mention at 10:26 mark; but I'd watch the whole video).

source

Laika - New Film at Zune-Arts

Head over to Zune-Arts to download Laika, the new film by Ro Rao featuring music from The Aliens, a band that evolved from the critically acclaimed Beta Band.

What do you think of the latest film?

source

The Black Dahlia Murder (and Zune)

Ok, metalheads (you know who you are), this blog post is for you.

Metal Blade Records act, The Black Dahlia Murder is both the Zune Ignition artist and On the Road artist for the month of January. 

Zune Marketplace is offering a few cool thing from the band: a Zune Freebie, “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse” starting today (January 8) to January 14; a track-by-track Breakdown of the album from January 15-January 21, and the band’s personal Guestlist from January 22-January 28. 

In addition, Xbox Live currently features exclusive video of a BDM fan autograph session at last year’s Summer Breeze Open Air Festival in Germany and a free video download of “What A Horrible Night to Have a Curse.”  MSN is also streaming the video for the same track. One of the most influential artists in death metal is supporting their album, Nocturnal.

They're also on the road - check the video for info.

 

source

Zune: CES Recap

Yesterday during the Bill Gates Keynote at CES, Robbie Bach announced the Zune launch in Canada* in Spring 2008. The Canadian offering this spring will first include Zune players (including Zune Originals), Zune software and Zune Social, with the Zune Marketplace online store coming later this year.

 

Robbie also noted that we've had about 1.5 who have tried out Zune Social, and that, "We can differentiate ourselves in this space, and we think there's plenty of opportunity for that market to grow."

Hope everybody had a great weekend!

*I want to give a shout out to Phil, Jason and the rest of the Zuneinsider readers in Canada!

source

New Music Friday: Fifty-First Edition

One tradition carrying through into 2008: New Music Friday. Ready?

• First up this week, Drea at Pinksage links to some great world music


• Next up, Aquarium Drunkard has two Dinosaur Jr Tracks (one of my favorites).


• Get your rock on. Check out The Whigs at MOKB.


• And if you like country, head over to Music For Robots and pick up an A.A. Bondy track.


• Pick up the new Nada Surf track at Chromewaves. Awesome.


• In a dancing mood? Pick up this track by The Martial Arts, at 3Hive.


• Awesome: head to Stereogum for a We Versus the Shark of Pattern is Movement, which a commenter describes as: "Excellent, excellent cover of an excellent song by an excellent band. Excellent."


• Next up, Times New Viking rock Cleveland


• Check out this Brooklyn Soul mixtape, over at 'Different Kitchen, with the title What's Going on, American Gangster?


• Check out The Melvins at Zune Tracks. Sweet.


• So lots of folks in Zune Social have sent me a few Man Man tracks. If you're curious about them, go pick up a live track over at YANP.


• Last but certainly not-without soul, check out Diana Ross and the Supremes, as well as Don Soul Train Campbell, over at soul-sides.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the music everybody! I won't be at CES next week, but if you're going, have fun!

source

"Academy of Dreams" Makes Wired's Top 10 for 07

Back! Hope everybody had a happy holiday. Kicking off another year of blog posts: this cool story from Wired. The folks at Wired chose "Academy of Dreams," as one of  The 10 Best Gadget Ads of 2007. Zune actually took the number two spot, losing out to The Bourne Ultimatum, which Wired thought was the best gadget ad of 2007. On a related note, Zune also got a quick mention in the number 10 entry: Transformers, saying, "We've got our fingers crossed for a transformed Zune/iPod brawl in the sequel." Heh. Funny, that.

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Facebook's phony Bhutto pranks media

Journalism 2.0

Lazy hacks have been suckered by the miracle of Web 2.0, again. This time it's not Wikipedia, but a phoney Facebook profile created for 19-year old Bilawal Lawalib that found its way onto the journalists' clipboards - and out back onto the Web.…

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World's Dumbest File Sharer loses lawyer, sells knickers

Maritime attorney sets sail

Things are looking up for the World's Dumbest File Sharer, Jammie Thomas, who became the first American to go to court in a P2P case in October…

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Review: XtremeMac Tango Studio

Rather than struggle to make a really amazing audiophile-quality sound system, XtremeMac has done with Tango Studio what it does best: a clean industrial design with acceptable performance and a surprisingly attractive cost. This isn’t a $200 or even a $100 iPod speaker dock. In fact, the idea that you can get two speakers, a dock, an FM radio, and a remote control in a 11.5” by 6.5” by 3.875” package for $80 seems almost stunning.…


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News: iLive readying iPod sound bar for CES

iLive has announced that it will introduce the iT188B, a new sound bar-style speaker system with an iPod Dock, at the Consumer Electronics Show next week. The iT188B is designed to mount on the wall as a “complete flat screen TV 2.1 speaker system,” and features a remote-controlled, motorized iPod Dock which “disappears completely” when not in use. Other features include two high-power speaker enclosures, an AM/FM radio,…


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News: Hitachi Maxell unveils iPod Bluetooth dongle with SRS technology

Hitachi Maxell has unveiled its Audio Transmitter/Dongle for the iPod, one of two new Bluetooth-enabled products featuring SRS WOW HD audio and bass enhancement technology. The adapter connects to the iPod via Dock Connector, allowing audio from the iPod to be processed with SRS WOW HD audio enhancement before being transmitted to any Bluetooth enabled headset or speaker system. The WOW HD process, which according to the company provides “improved…


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First Looks: Tannoy i30

Designed by noted British speaker company Tannoy as an audiophile alternative to the Bose SoundDock, the i30 ($400) surprisingly goes even more minimalist in controls, and more subtle in design. Wider than the SoundDock but rounded on the sides and back, the i30 has a Universal Dock in the center and literally no buttons on its body -- it's entirely remote controlled with an included seven-button Infrared unit. Power, USB, audio-in and video-out ports…


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First Looks: Digifocus CLSS-M Sound System

A larger, more powerful version of its earlier, roughly pocket-sized Mini Sound System, Digifocus' new CLSS-M still packs two speakers into a portable, under-the-iPod enclosure that serves as a stand and charging base. Like the smaller unit, CLSS-M comes in three colors -- silver, red (shown), or black -- each with silver front and back pieces, and includes audio and USB charging cables, two AA batteries for power, a protective Dock Connector cap,…


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First Looks: Belkin TuneBase FM for iPhone and iPod

Aesthetically identical to the recently-released, iPod-only TuneBase FM with ClearScan, Belkin's new TuneBase FM for iPhone and iPod ($100) is now compatible with the iPhone's charging and audio shielding requirements as well. As with the prior version, the new TuneBase FM includes an FM transmitter to broadcast your music wirelessly to 88.1FM through 107.9FM, using buttons to optimize the audio level from your iPod and find relatively empty FM stations…


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First Looks: Belkin RockStar

Explained as a new way for teenagers to share and mix music with friends, Belkin's RockStar ($20) is a star-shaped audio hub that lets people connect their iPods (or other MP3 players) and headphones. Multiple playback devices can be connected to the hub, sharing the audio from each source simultaneously with multiple headphone ports, and letting users hear either a single song, or multiple songs mixed together. One of the ports is input-only, with…


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First Looks: Belkin TuneCast Auto for iPhone and iPod

Updated cosmetically and electronically from the past TuneCast Auto, Belkin's new version of its car charger and FM transmitter cable ($80) is now both iPhone- and iPod-compatible. A bright LCD screen provides current station (88.1 to 107.9FM) information, access to two presets, and three "Pro" audio optimization modes, while a dedicated ClearScan button attempts to search local stations for a clear place to broadcast. Used with the iPhone, TuneCast…


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Article: CES + Macworld Expo Sneak Peeks

The first two weeks of January will be packed with new iPod and iPhone accessory announcements, so we wanted to give you an early look at what a handful of the industry’s players have planned for the Las Vegas CES and San Francisco Macworld Expo shows. From what we’ve seen so far, including a number of products we can’t divulge below, you can expect fairly conservative new offerings, including iPhone- and 2007 iPod-compatible reworks…


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Music industry hails China deep-linking victory

Never mind Baidu, look at Yahoo!

A Chinese court last month found Yahoo! China liable for copyright infringement by deep-linking to songs. Both Yahoo! and Baidu, China's largest search engine, provide search tools for finding music, most of which is unlicensed.…

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News: Digital album packaging to improve in 2008

Digital album packaging is set to improve in 2008, adding extras such as more album art, lyrics, liner notes, and more, according to a Reuters report. CD sales continue to outpace those of digital albums, the report claims, in part because the digital versions lack the extras one receives with a physical album purchase. Of those in a position to offer enhanced digital album sales in ‘08, iTunes is the “most likely candidate,” due…


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Review: JBL Reference Series 610 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones for iPod

As with most Bluetooth headphones, the idea behind the Reference Series 610 is to give you the ability to pump music into your ears up to 30 feet away from your iPod’s headphone port, without requiring you to run a wire between the headphones and the iPod. White and black versions are available, each with a small matching iPod transceiver dongle, which draws power from the iPod’s battery rather than requiring its own. You needn’t…


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First Looks: Agent 18 iPhone Shield

Sold for the same price and using the same design as the company's earlier EcoShield for iPhone, Agent 18's iPhone Shield ($25) is a simple two-piece shell sold in clear or white versions, each with an included white Universal Dock Adapter. The cases snap together horizontally at the middle, rather than vertically as in other Agent 18 designs, and do not include screen or port protection....


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First Looks: Agent 18 Classic Shield

A renamed version of its earlier VideoShield for fifth-generation iPods, Agent 18's Classic Shield ($25) consists of one clear hard plastic front shell with matching rear shells made for 80GB or 160GB iPod classics. The Classic Shield still works with earlier fifth-generation iPods, but doesn't include a Universal Dock Adapter, though it can still be inserted into Universal Docks and used with virtually any bottom-mounting iPod accessory....


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News: Mix: Camera, Bluetooth, Ads, VoIP Mic, Radiohead

Makayama Software has introduced its new Camera PRO software for jailbroken iPhones. The application improves on the iPhone’s existing camera application by adding features such as a self-timer, digital zoom, and burst mode. Other features, including flickr integration and manual exposure, are expected to be added in the coming months. Makayama Camera PRO for iPhone is available now and sells for $20; a feature-limited free version is also available.…


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First Looks: Agent 18 EcoShield, NanoShield & FlowerVest for iPod nano G3

Sold in three different versions at the same $20 piece, each packaged in a box labelled "Agent 18 Shield for 3G Nano," Agent 18's new EcoShield, NanoShield, and FlowerVest are cases for the third-generation iPod. EcoShield and NanoShield are black with clear and all-clear hard plastic cases, respectively, both with the same two-piece snap-together design. The EcoShield we received for review arrived alone, while the NanoShield's package included a…


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First Looks: Agent 18 NanoShield Kit for iPod nano G3

Sharing some features in common with Agent 18's standard NanoShield, the NanoShield Kit ($30) for the third-generation iPod nano consists of a clear hard plastic case and a black and Velcro detachable armband. The rear of this version of the NanoShield case has a hard plastic groove to mount the armband, rather than a thinner, flatter plastic back, and does not include a Universal Dock adapter....


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First Looks: Agent 18 Touch Shield + EcoShield

Sold in all clear (Touch Shield) or all black (Touch EcoShield) versions at the same $25 price, these simple hard plastic shell cases snap together to protect most of the iPod touch save for its screen and ports. Each case includes a Universal Dock Adapter so that you can mount the case in your favorite recent pair of speakers....


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Google to reinvent UK newspaper biz

You knew it was coming

Google is bringing its new-age advertising know-how to the UK newspaper business.…

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Review: Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Nine times out of ten, we’d recommend a good pair of in-canal earphones over active noise-cancelling headphones if you’re looking to block out ambient sounds while you’re listening to your iPod. But some users prefer earcup-style headphones, and though Bose’s $299 QuietComfort 2s have dominated the noise-cancelling category for years, Audio-Technica now has a superior option: the ATH-ANC7 ($220, street price $115-130). Competing…


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Thom Yorke dismisses net-only album paradigm

Idea 'stark raving mad', says Radiohead frontman

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has described the idea of releasing the band's In Rainbows exclusively on the net as "stark raving mad", and insists that fans want a tangible "object" - a reference to Monday's physical release of the album.…

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Review: Metallo Design Gilty Couture Accoutrements for iPod shuffle, nano, classic & touch

Whether you like what Metallo has come up with will likely depend substantially on whether you think the “bling” word and concept are a passing fad or here to stay. The Gilty Couture cases are hard metal shells coated with either silver or 14-Karat gold, then optionally adorned with either clear or pink Swarovski crystals. Typically, the least expensive version of a given case is silver and without crystals, with gold adding a $15-20 premium,…


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News: 2008 Alpine models offer iPod connectivity, iTunes Tagging

Alpine’s Spring 2008 catalog (PDF link) has revealed three new standard-sized, iPod-oriented receivers, as well as a new double-DIN unit with iPod video playback. The iDA-X100, -X200, and -X300 are new models based on the iDA-X001, and offer full speed connections for all Dock-connecting iPods, lack CD drives, and feature a large dial for control and navigation. All three models are HD Radio ready, but it appears only the iDA-X100 has support…


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Review: Monster iSoniTalk Hands-Free Microphone for iPhone

Right before MPA-3c’s release, Monster Cable contacted us with an unusual pitch: what if you could get more features, cheaper and sooner? The “more features” and “sooner” parts didn’t happen—we only saw the company’s iSoniTalk ($20) in stores late in 2007—but at half the price, there’s no doubt that it’s a better deal than the MPA-3c, and surprisingly comparable in performance. Just…


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News: Mark/Space releases Missing Sync for iPhone

Mark/Space has officially released its The Missing Sync for iPhone software. The Missing Sync offers users data migration of contacts, tasks, events, and photos from Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry smartphones, as well as the ability to archive, browse, and search iPhone call logs, SMS text messages, and notes. Brian Hall, Mark/Space president and CEO, said, “Prospective iPhone customers want to know that they can take their existing…


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