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Posts with tag iPod

Freak Helicopter Death Sparks Baffling Debate About Headphone Safety

by Tim Stevens, posted May 16th 2008 at 10:34AMBreaking News

Death By Helicopter Leads to Curious Questions about Headphone Safety

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]

What Does Your Cell Phone Say About You?

by Will Safer, posted May 15th 2008 at 1:19PM



First impressions mean everything.

But what if you declare yourself by the cell phone you use? What do these handheld packages of personality say about you? The folks at Forbes.com say the answer is obvious depending on how stylish, functional or simply fun your cell phone is designed to be.

Take, for example, the Nokia N95, a sleek-looking phone designed to capture and upload images and text to Web sites or blogs. If you're carrying one of these capable devices around, chances are you're a "mash creative," a term used by Jonathan Steuer, a vice president at cultural trends researcher Iconoculture, to describe the personality type seemingly compelled to share all daily events with everyone, with constant updates via mobile capture.

What if you use a Blackberry, iPhone or Palm smartphone? Then you're a "pioneer," since you're using your phone to organize your life and more. Pioneers likely utilize every feature on their phones, tapping in to the scheduling, communicating and organizing capabilities to the extreme.

Though it's old news by now, the Motorola Razr still holds some cachet, since it comes in many colors and can be accessorized.

Each type of phone is designed for a different kind of user, whether your interest is fashion, function or simply making a dramatic statement. Take the LG Prada phone for example. This one says you've got money to burn and, let's face it, you've got no time for those of us with regular mobile devices.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. [Source: Forbes, via Textually]

Thousands Dance to Their iPod Music In "Silent Rave"

by Tim Stevens, posted Apr 21st 2008 at 5:19PMBreaking News


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]

Religious 'Godcasts' Gaining Popularity

by Tim Stevens, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 3:14PM

Religious Godcasts Gaining Popularity

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

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Music Industry Claims Throwing Away Free CDs is Illegal

by Tim Stevens, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 10:16AM

Music Industry Claims Throwing Away Free CDs is IllegalUniversal 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

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More iTunes Fitness Apps and Gadgets Due From Apple

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 7th 2008 at 6:33AM

Patents
Apple seems to think you're all a bunch of fat asses who need to get more exercise. Frankly, we're inclined to agree, you have been looking a little soft around the middle lately.

Apple has already teamed with Nike on iPod and running shoe packages, and unveiled a plan to put iPod docks in treadmills for saving workout data, now a new patent reveals the boys in Cupertino may be working on a full fledged fitness program and accompanying hardware.

Sensors will record heart rate and other physiological information to be loaded into an accompanying iTunes like fitness software platform. You'll be able to set goals, track achievements, even create custom work out routines based on your goals and interests.

The software will "interview" users to gather information such whether you want to lose weight, or just tone up, if you wish to be very active, or only moderately active, and what activities you'll enjoy (such as martial arts, yoga, or marathon running). The app will work with your iPod Touch or iPhone to give you work out plans and collect data while your at the gym.

Check out AppleInsider for all the mock ups of what will likely be known as iFit.

From AppleInsider

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Survey Says Teens Don't Care About iPod-Induced Hearing Loss

by Tim Stevens, posted Mar 28th 2008 at 6:14PM

Survey Says Teans Don't Know, Care What You're Saying

If you're looking for good long-term investment, you might want to think about pumping some of your excess funds into hearing aid companies. Yes, hearing aids -- perhaps not the first thing on your list of future boom economies, but it should be after reading the results of a new study, which shows that teens not only are aware that their iPod listening habits are damaging their hearing, but that they don't care about their hearing.

The study, out of the Netherlands, indicates that teens were receiving and processing warning messages regarding the dangers of loud volume and long earbud listening times, but that for whatever reason they weren't going to suffer from the effects later in life (described as "low personal vulnerability" in survey-speak). No doubt this is the same invincibility that teens have always felt, the same "I'm gonna live forever" mentality that makes 15-year-olds pick up smoking, despite all the well-publicized health risks.

The solution? We've reported on headphones that help to minimize damage done to ears and patents suggesting future iPods might just turn the volume down on their own should they think you've been listening too long. But you can be sure that just as copy protection of digital music downloads hasn't done a lick of good at preventing music piracy, so will any digital nagware fail at preventing kids from finding a way to turn the volume up to 11.

From Engadget

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Couple Denied Wedding Reception at Apple Store

by Tim Stevens, posted Mar 27th 2008 at 2:01PM


The wedding is probably the oldest traditional ceremony we have left. Even though nuptials are common, couples always try to make their ceremony reflect their personalities and interests. One Mac fanatic couple would like to have it at a somewhat unusual location: their local mall's Apple Store.

Yes, they want to have their reception at the mall. You see, the couple met at the Apple Store and want their friends to be able to share in their love for the fruitful machines from Cupertino. Unfortunately, as you can tell from the recording of the phone call captured in the YouTube video above, the store manager isn't entirely supportive of the idea, indicating they can't close the store during business hours.

We think the big wigs at Apple should pull some strings and make this happen. Every local news network (and tech blog) would be there to chronicle the event, in addition to hundreds of other random Mac fanatics who would shower the lovers with gift cards and iPod accessories. That's the sort of publicity you can't pay money for.

From geeksugar

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Underwear That Plays Music

by Peter Mychalcewycz, posted Mar 24th 2008 at 11:36AM


These days, pretty much everything -- from cars to jackets to small farm animals -- has become MP3-friendly. The latest example of the digital music ubiquity is the new iBoxer from Play Underwear.

Available in both mens' and womens' designs, the iBoxer features a small pocket on the left hip that gently cradles your MP3 player of choice so you can frolic freely -- Tom-Cruise-except-in-boxer-briefs-style -- without the burden of actually having to hold your player. The iBoxer is 93% cotton and 7% spandex and is available in a myriad of colors. The price for these beauties? $22.

For now, the iBoxer is the most intimate representation of the human-MP3 relationship. One can only imagine where this gaudy love affair will go from here.


From: geeksugar.com


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Apple Ordered to Investigate Exploding iPod Nanos

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 12th 2008 at 11:17AM

Japan Asks Apple to Investigate Exploding iPods
Exploding gadgets are nothing new, but governments ordering companies to investigate them is. The Japanese government has ordered Apple to investigate a possible defect in the iPod Nano that occasionally causes the diminutive player to burst into flames.

The likely culprit is the media player's lithium-ion battery, which is the cause behind exploding cell phones and the piles of burning laptops. The Japanese government offered a strongly worded warning to Apple for failing to promptly investigate after an incident in January when a charging iPod shot sparks into the air.

However don't expect much from a company investigating itself.

From Engadget

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World's First MP3 Player Is 10 Years Old

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 11th 2008 at 11:05AM

The MP3 Player Turns 10 This Month
It's amazing how quickly pieces of technology can become not only an accepted, but also indispensable parts of everyday life. It's hard to believe, but the MP3 player, now more accurately called the Digital Audio Player (DAP) or Personal Media Player (PMP), is 10 years old. Of course, most people just call it the iPod, but that's a whole other story.

It was back in March of 1998 that the world first got a glimpse of the MPMan F10 at the CeBit tech trade show in Hanover, Germany. The prototype garnered enough attention that, by May of that year, the Korean company Saehan Information Systems was mass producing the devices. By summer of 1998, the 32-megabyte (MB) flash device was on sale in the U.S. for $250.

At 3.6 x 2.75 x 6.5-inches, the MPMan was significantly larger than any media player on the market right now, save some of the largest wide screen video players. The Walkman-sized-device could only hold a small handful of songs, and its display was only slightly fancier than your standard digital alarm clock.

By now, of course, Saehan Information Systems and its MPMan are all but forgotten. In fact, many mistakenly point to the Diamond Multimedia Rio PMP300 as the first commercially available MP3 player, but the MPMan beat that CD-player-sized wonder to market by several months.

The bulkiness and limited capabilities of both devices may make them seem quaint when compared to your 32-gigabyte (1000 times the capacity of the original MPMan) iPod Touch, but these archaic devices helped spark a revolution that has completely changed the way we buy and consume music and media.

Gallery: The First MP3 Player

  • The MPMan F10 from Eiger Labs
  • Eiger Labs F10 in Black
  • F20 the Sequel
  • The original
  • F20v with 64 Megabytes!


From Register Hardware (via Engadget)

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iPod Nano Catches Fire While Owner Snoozes

by Tim Stevens, posted Mar 10th 2008 at 11:21AM

iPod Nano Catches Fire While Owner Snoozes

One of the more popular accessories out there for the iPod is the alarm clock dock, letting you charge your player while you sleep and wake up in style to any of your digital tunes. However, one owner of an iPod Nano found that he didn't need any such accessory for his gadget to wake him up rather abruptly at 2:00 am -- the fire alarm it kicked off after it burst into flames took care of that.

The alarm jolted the owner out of bed, who found his formerly pocketable player burning on the floor of his bedroom. The fire was extinguished and no further property was destroyed, nor injuries caused, but it's yet another disturbing case of a gadget battery gone bad.

From Engadget

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Games and Apps Coming to iPhone, Including AIM and Spore

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 6th 2008 at 2:48PM

Piles of Games and Apps Coming to iPhone
Today Apple officially unveiled its anticipated iPhone / iPod Touch SDK (software development kit) that will allow third parties to create applications that take full advantage of those devices' capabilities without all the hacking. A whole host of applications and games will be available via the "App Store" either on your iPod Touch or iPhone or in iTunes when it launches in June as part of the iPhone 2.0 software update.

On the productivity side, Salesforce.com and AOL are working on applications for the devices. Salesforce will be offering an iPhone-specific interface for its customer relationship manager and sales tracking software for the mobile professionals, and AOL will offer a version of its ubiquitous AIM instant messaging application.

But if AIM wasn't enough to excite you, then check out the games. Apple developers threw together a quick demo called 'Touch Fighter,' a fully 3D space fighter game. Your craft is controlled by turning and tilting the handheld and you fire weapons by touching the screen. Sega is also getting in on the accelerometer-controlled gaming with a version of the popular (and quite addictive) 'Super Monkey Ball.'

But most exciting is the announcement of a version of the highly anticipated EA title 'Spore' from god-game guru Will Wright, creator of 'The Sims' and 'Sim City.'

Apps and games will vary in price, set by the developer. The software update to unlock these features will hit in June for free on the iPhone, and for a "nominal charge" on the Touch.

From Engadget

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iPod Docks Coming to a Gym Near You

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 5th 2008 at 11:08AM

Apple and Nike Coming to a Gym Near You
Apple, Nike, and several gym equipment manufacturers are working closely to integrate docks for your iPod. The purpose of the docks however is not to play back the latest LCD Soundsystem tracks, or charge your device. Instead they're part of a Nike program for saving workout info to your iPod, tracking goals, and once you get home, uploading this information to a Nike website for tracking workout progress and comparing with other gym rats.

This is the second time Apple and Nike have teamed up on fitness equipment. The companies still sell the Nike + iPod package which includes a pair of running shoes and an accelerometer that sends data to the included iPod Nano.

24-Hour Fitness and Virgin Athletic Health Clubs have already signed on to the project and the ability to plug your iPod Nano into the fitness equipment should be in about 500 gyms by the end of the summer.

From AOL News

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University Gives iPhones to Freshmen

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 27th 2008 at 5:03PM

Texas University Gives iPhones and iPod Touches to FreshmanYou're about to wish you attended ACU (Abilene Christian University) in Texas. Why? The university is about to hand out iPhones and iPod Touches to incoming freshmen. Jealous? We know we are.

Giving electronic gadgets to students is becoming the norm for universities and colleges ever since Duke first experimented with handing iPods to incoming students in 2004. Other schools hand over laptops. Some of us here at Switched were lucky if we got E-mail addresses when we went to school.

But ACU wants to stay ahead of the technological curve and has invested in creating several iPhone and iPod Touch-compatible applications for students including homework reminders, classroom surveys, campus navigators, and meal planners. The pilot program involving this year's incoming freshman will decide the future shape of the program, or if there even is one.

From ArsTechnica

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