Reports of an aircraft crash usually result in news reports expressing doubts about travel by air, investigations into the cause of the crash, and, of course, questions regarding whether the crash could have been prevented. But what do you do if you're a news outlet and everyone else has already covered those obvious angles to the point of tedium? Easy: You find some completely unrelated detail of the story and try to blow it way out of proportion. That seems to be what Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper is up to, with a report indicating that the real problem for the man killed yesterday by a falling helicopter wasn't the spinning blades that decapitated him, but rather the MP3 player he was wearing.

The story states that the 23-year-old victim who was killed on the ground by the stricken copter, Isaiah Otieno, frequently listened to his music player while he was out and about. The implication is, naturally, that if he didn't have his player on he might have heard the copter and been able to dive out of the way.

To us, the idea that we shouldn't wear music players in public for fear of helicopters falling on our blissfully ignorant heads seems a bit preposterous -- just like last year's failed attempt to ban listening to music players in New York City while crossing the street. If you live in a city and can't safely cross the road with your ears plugged, then chances are you're going to have issues surviving on the streets anyway. And, if you have a helicopter falling in your general direction, then you have bigger things to worry about than the volume of your MP3 player. [Source: Globe and Mail]

Could the iPhone and the iPod Touch be part of the next great mobile gaming platform?

Game developers and Apple fans are licking their chops, awaiting the opportunities to create and play games on the go with these devices. And as Apple has already changed the way people everywhere listen to and collect music, we're sure they're equally excited about making an impact on the mobile gaming marketplace.

According to the Industry Standard "A trademark extension filed last February with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office extends Apple's trademark in regards to:

'Toys, games and playthings, namely, hand-held units for playing electronic games; hand-held units for playing video games; stand alone video game machines; electronic games other than those adapted for use with television receivers only; LCD game machines; electronic educational game machines; toys, namely battery-powered computer games.'"

That's a mouthful, for sure, but it also points to Apple's renewed interest in the gaming arena, which is certainly hot, although competitive as all get out. This isn't Apple's first effort in gaming, but the last time the company tried to find its way with a gaming device was in 1996, during the non-Steve Jobs era. The device console, called the Pippin, was a failure.

Now the iPhone and the iPod Touch are flying high. Could this be the time for Apple to make its mark with yet another way to keep you focused on a tiny LCD screen? [Source: The Industry Standard].

Maybe Mom wants something tiny and shiny? Though it may sound like a cliche gift, the neat and petite (GB) iPod Nano is still the ultra-portable music, video, and image player that we love best. It's simply the easiest way for your Mom to stay on top of her favorite TV or radio shows (thanks to availability on iTunes and radio podcasts of most major radio broadcasts) while on the go. And though there are seven colors to choose from, we suggest the newest addition in a bright, happy pink. The 4-gigabyte (GB) unit retails for $149 and the 8-gigabyte (GB) unit retails for $199. The price includes free engraving on the back for any thoughts you may have for Mom on this special day.

You might remember that last summer NBC announced that it would be pulling its shows off iTunes because it wanted to saddle its videos with more restrictive Digital Rights Management (DRM) and be able to jack up its prices. Regardless of its motives, fans of NBC, Sci-Fi Channel, or Bravo shows who also had iPods and iPhones were out of luck.

But five months after the official end of the iTunes and NBC partnership, there is some hope on the horizon for the fans of at least two of NBC's Thursday-night comedies. The network has launched an iPhone and iPod Touch friendly version of its Web site featuring full episodes of two of its most popular shows, 'The Office' and '30 Rock,' with more to follow, we're sure.

Best of all, the episodes are free, unhindered by DRM, and completely lacking commercial interruption. Just don't exit Safari or you'll be forced to download the videos all over again. [Source: Silicon Alley Insider, Via: Geeksugar]

Okay, so the all-singing, all-dancing iPod is great for many things: Listening to music, watching movies, and ... well, that's kinda it, actually. But, like any social phenomenon, the iPod has had its fair share of exploitation by various corporate hangers-on.

So the folks at Cracked have compiled a list of the least useful iPod accessories money can (but really shouldn't) buy, ranging from an iPod breathalyzer to a hyper-uglifying bulletproof iPod case. But the worst bang for our collective buck? It's a toss-up between the SongThong (pictured above), which was seemingly designed solely on account of the fact that the names rhymed, and the PodShave/PodShaveLady, which was designed solely on account of some designer's deep psychological delusions. Cracked succinctly summarizes the device for us:

"Great for morons and camping enthusiasts, the PodShave and PodShaveLady are electric razor attachments that utilize your iPod's battery. It costs $41.05, and supposedly can both suck up your stubble as it shaves it off, and allow you to listen to your music as you shave."

If someone gives you any of these as a gift, immediately disavow them as friends and move on with your life.
[Source: Cracked]

Well here's an interesting one. French iPhone blog iPhon.fr got these pics from an anonymous and unverified source, and while there's no way of telling if the shots are legit, they certainly have a truthy ring to them. They follow what we know so far about the shape, size and color of the upcoming 3G iPhone, and while there's always the possibility of knockoff, a Photoshop job, or some other evil plot to mislead us, we're certainly not going to discount these shots entirely in the runup to iPhone's second coming. [Source: iPhone.fr]

[Thanks, Janvier]

Chances are, you treat your iPhone better than you treat your children. You lavish it with attention, show it off to friends, and rub its underside when its battery is low. It sleeps next to you, and turning it on is your first order of business in the morning. So why not make it happy with some top-notch accessories? We've compiled a list of the best in every category -- and make your iPhone love you as much as you love it. Freak.



Best Case:

incase Slider

We've put quite a few cases on our iPhones, and there's a clear winner: incase's Slider ($34.99). It's ultra slim and made of quality, hardshell plastic -- something not the case with most of its competition (no pun intended), which quite drastically change the silhouette of the phone. On the inside are rubber guardrails, which provide shock absorption, and the bottom cover is removable, making it fit easily in most docks (the device is actually thin enough that it fit in all of our docks as-is). And then, of course, there are the looks: It's shiny, black or white Storm Trooper plastic that just looks awesome. It sounds crazy, but we like the way our iPhone looks more with the case on than without it. (And incase just released a black matte version if a more understated, non-Storm-Trooper look is more up your alley.)

Raves are generally thought to be deafeningly noisy and held in dark, desolate, out-of-the-way places. That's the exact opposite of what happened over the weekend in New York City, where a so-called "silent" rave brought an estimated 1,000 people out onto the streets to dance -- despite there being no music played out loud.

The dancers were all listening to their own tunes, on iPods or the like, and busted moves like apparent madmen to their own beats, with no seeming rhyme or reason. The event was organized flash mob style, with 18-year-old Jonnie Wesson posting an event on Facebook. The event page got thousands and thousands of responses and, though only a small fraction of respondents actually showed, the "rave" still had several hundred folks pulsing away to the silence until well after dark, thoroughly confusing any uninformed passer-by.

It just goes to show that NYC does indeed know how to party -- even without breaking noise regulations. [Source: NY Times]

What's better than having a nice leather or cloth iPod sleeve to show off to your friends? If you're thinking one made of imitation meat -- you're dead right! Apparently, a company in Japan is under the impression that you want to wrap your music player in a grade A lookalike, undoubtedly to the thrill of your vegetarian friends and family. Of course, don't just get one for the shock value -- this thing oozes pure, sophisticated style. If you've got ¥6,800 (or about $66) and dignity to spare, it can be all yours. [Source Solid Alliance via DVICE]

You're not going blind and that's not a typo.

In the current issue of Science, researchers at IBM unveiled a new type of media storage technology they say could give MP3 players the ability to store around 500,000 songs or 3,500 movies.

O M G.

It's called "racetrack" memory and it involves using the "spin" of an electron to store data. More explicitly, the researchers were able to "store data in columns of magnetic material arranged on the surface of a silicon wafer. The information moves around the columns at high speed, giving the technology its racetrack name."

The technology is similar to flash memory in that it has no moving parts and is unlikely to mechanically malfunction. Unlike flash memory however, it will not wear out after a few thousand uses. Oh yeah, and it's faster. A lot faster.

The biggest, baddest MP3 player on the market right now is the iPod Classic. It has 160-gigabytes (GB) of memory and holds up to 40,000 songs . We know what you're thinking. Weak Sauce. Don't throw away that old POS yet though, since devices boasting "racetrack" memory won't be in stores until around 2018. And yes, we know that's poop.



From Science (via TimesOnline and Engadget)

Stuff.tv is kicking back in Nike's HQ at the moment and claims to have official word about Nike's future plans with Apple. It says that the Nike+ system will be "definitely" extend beyond the iPod nano to support the relatively bulky iPhone and iPod touch. Interestingly, it will leap-frog the proprietary wireless RF link between the shoe module and nano adapter to take advantage of Wi-Fi and eventually 3G.

This, of course, leads to all kinds of speculation with regard to Apple's "lifestyle companion" patent we showed you last month. 3G support would presumably allow for real-time coaching and uploads of your training activity through the Nike Plus website.

So let's see... cellphone (check), iPod (check), Internet device (check), handheld gaming (almost), and now a Nike lifestyle companion (could be).

While it may seem as though we live in a wireless age, with gadgets of all shapes and sizes filling our pockets, in actuality we're just visiting. At the end of the day we run home and plug everything in, recharging drained batteries for the next day of exploring out in the juice-less wilderness. That's about to change, as wireless power technologies are approaching prime time. One company on the forefront of the advance thinks that its technology is ready for adoption by the gadget world at large, specifically Apple and its ubiquitous portable devices.

The company is called eCoupled. It produces a wireless power receiver integrated into a component about the size of a quarter, but thinner. The component uses magnetic fields to receive power without wires, charging the battery in the device and juicing it up (similar to how many rechargeable toothbrushes work). Unfortunately, the range is extremely low (nothing like the MIT prototype we reported on last year), basically requiring the device to sit on a custom charging pad that could be built into a countertop.

So, we're not talking about juicing up your iPhone while you wander around your apartment with it in your pocket. But throwing it down on your desk to recharge is a bit more convenient than slotting it into its charging cradle. Add two or three other charging cradles, plus the requisite nest of AC adapter cords, and suddenly the benefits of this sort of technology start to become apparent -- at least for those with an aversion to twisted cable messes.

That said, eCouple's particular implementation of this technology isn't quite there yet and it's still likely to be a year or more before any mainstream gadgets -- like wireless mice that charge themselves through their mouspads -- start showing up.

From AppleInsider

While most people use their iPods for music and music alone, downloadable podcasts remain hugely popular. Named for Apple's player, a podcast is some downloadable mini-show usually produced with zero budget and featuring one or more people discussing anything from politics to polygamy (seriously).

Believe it or not that latter group outnumbers the former, as religious discussions and sermons have become the fourth-highest downloaded type of podcasts on the Internet according to podcast clearinghouse Podcast Alley, ahead of politics and sports. Factor in the huge number of lesser-known online distribution channels for divine downloads and it's clear that sermons are becoming nearly as common on iPods as songs.

The reasons are simple: There's always plenty to say about religion and plenty of people interested in listening, but getting the message out in the past has been difficult. Today, anyone with a $5 microphone and an Internet connection can record and post their own sermons, teachings, or analyses for distribution to the masses. The masses available online far outweigh even the biggest mega-churches in the South, and the portable nature of MP3 players of all brands and models means that listeners can tune in whenever and wherever they like.

This ease means spreading the word is simpler than ever, but the concern in the minds of many is that spreading hate, intolerance, and incorrect teachings is just as easy. So, just like everything else on the Internet, be careful what you download.

From USA Today

Related Links:

• Church Lures Worshippers With Free iTunes Songs
• Christian YouTube Is the Fastest-Growing Site on the 'Net
• Saudi Blogger Jailed for Criticizing Religious Extremism
• Louisiana Town Ditches 666 Area Code Over Religious Concerns

Universal Music Group has filed a rather ... interesting legal brief in a case against a man accused of re-selling promotional CDs he legally purchased used at a record shop. UMG has claimed that not only was the man breaking the law by selling the albums, even the act of throwing them in the trash would have been committing music piracy.

The industry seems to be hoping to change the way you buy your music, so that if you purchase a CD you're not buying anything but a bit of plastic. The music on there isn't actually yours and, should you get tired of it, you don't have the right to resell it. This is traditionally known as the first-sale doctrine and is the reason why selling used books, CDs, and movies is legal. So is giving away those items -- for now.

Right now UMG's legal filing covers only promotional CDs, those given out for free to DJs and such, and it remains to be seen whether they'll even have any success making this argument. So, it's not the end of the used music store just yet. However, don't forget that when "buying" music files from stores like iTunes you're actually just licensing it, having sworn away your right to resell anything you download. So before you get too angry at UMG remember that you're embracing this sort of licensing elsewhere!

From TechDirt

Related Links:

• RIAA Claims Ripping CDs for Personal Use is Illegal
• Record Industry Wants Anti-Virus Software to Scan for Pirated Files
• RIAA Defendant Appeals $220K Fine

The blissfully tax-free nature online music shopping may be coming to an end. Buying virtual goods such as MP3s has been pretty much tax-free ever since the iTunes store launched in 2002, even though various money-hungry politicians around the country have been itching to levy Internet specific taxes for just as long. The latest is Democratic Assemblyman Charles Calderon from City of Industry, California, who wants to start applying a sales tax of 8.25 to 8.75 percent on digital downloads in an effort to remove the state's $8 billion budget deficit.

Calderon wants to update a 75-year-old law that indicates taxes must be applied to "tangible goods." Movies and music for download have so far been exempt from this tax, since users can't really touch or feel them. You can, however, see and hear them when played on a computer, which is good enough for Calderon. By also applying the tax to purchases of online pornography, Caleron believes he can increase state tax revenue by $500 million annually (still leaving $7.5 billion to go).

However, don't fret just yet, West Coast downloaders: Love 'em or leave 'em, the Republicans in California have your back. They are opposing this measure and are expected to block it from passing, meaning your $.99 downloads will stay just that -- at least for now.

From Mercury News

Related Links:

• Amazon, NY Governor Battle Over Online Sales Tax
• New Mexico Considering Video Game Tax
• Canadians May Face iPod Tax