Pocket-lint.com : iPod

NEWS: The low down: Best Music Gadget 2009

Dan Sung — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:24:07 +0000

A closer look at the very best in their class

The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 are just 2 weeks away now. Public voting is live, but before you add your penny's worth, we'll be giving you the low down on each category up to the event itself to give you a better idea of which gadget you might want to support.

First up, it's the Best Music Gadget 2009. So here's a little more about the nominees and just why they deserve your vote. In no particular order...

Apple iPod touch 3rd gen

Type: PMP
Release date: 9/9/09
Price: ?149-?229
PL review rating: 8/10

There's plenty to like about the Apple iPod touch. We know the Apple's premium PMP very well these days and although the 3rd generation didn't come with a camera, as many of us had expected, it still manages to deliver in pure quality of performance. Apple didn't add much onto this edition of the device. The Cupertino cult didn't really need to.

The 16GB version was ditched for the ?229 64GB model and they each now come with voice control as well as the iPhone 3.0 software as standard. The most important boost though, has been the addition of the same hardware guts as the new and improved iPhone 3GS. Now with 256MB of RAM, an 833MHz ARM Cortex-X underclocked to 600MHz and an improved graphics accelerator, Steve Jobs' claims of a gaming device to take on the DS and the PSP are looking more realistic.

Etymotic/ACS hf2 custom fit headphones

Type: In-ear headphones
Release date: 29/4/09
Price: ?190
PL review rating: 9/10

The Etymotics hf2 in-ear headphones are a very decent set of listeners. There's no two ways about it. They're very good but they're not amazing. Let's face it, spend ?50-?100 more on earphones and you'll get better sound quality. In fact, arguably the likes of the Ultimate Ears Super-Fi and similar sets of the same class will give you a better experience than the hf2s will. However, what Etymotic has done is team up with custom mold specialists ACS to multiply the clarity of sound experienced by a factor of 10 while only extending the cost two-fold.

With the perfect size, tailor made ear buds blocking out all ambient sound from your audio experience, your PMP will give you astounding playback quality at comfortable low amplification levels where it won't distort the sound. What's more, because they fit like a glove, they're also incredibly comfortable. The hf2s themselves feature a microphone so they can be used in conjunction with an iPhone, but they'll work with anything so long as it's got a 3.5mm jack. These things simply have to be tried to be believed and have induced claims such as "life changing" from their users on more than one occasion.

Griffin MyPhones headphones

Type: On-ear headphones
Release date: 18/09/09
Price: ?26
PL review rating: 9/10

Cutting edge technology is not always the key to the perfect gadget and the MyPhones are an excellent example of that. What's great about these is that Griffin has aimed them at children and done it really well too. For just ?26 parents get peace of mind and the kids get headphones that are great to use. The sound quality is competent but the secret is that they have an always-on noise level limiter set at an ear drum-friendly 85dB no matter how hard your children might try to bypass it.

They come with a nice long cable to prevent accidents from erratic movements and the cans are customisable by the young ones who can draw their own designs to adorn their ears. Really nice idea, really well executed.

Monitor Audio Airstream 10

Type: Networked radio & music player
Release date: 08/07/09
Price: ?221
PL review rating: 9/10

We're not the only ones to have recognised the genius of the Airstream 10 this year. This superbly crafted networked radio and music player has been turning heads the tech world over. On the spec attack its audio in and out ports, its ease of Ethernet and Wi-Fi internet connection and simple set of digital file support with MP3, WMA, RA and AAC are not utterly mind-blowing. Granted, the sound quality you get out of its single 3.5-inch woofer is astonishing, but the real buzz is the way this thing looks.

There's an austere resonant quiet hum about it that exudes class and it'd simply be a pleasure to own. You do pay for that privilege with the price tag but it's the kind of device that'd look great even in 30 years' time. It does FM, DAB, internet radio and just about anything else you ask it to do with minimal fuss. A real joy.

Sonos S5 ZonePlayer

Type: Speaker system
Release date: 13/10/09
Price: ?349
PL review rating: 9/10

Sonos says that people who own one of their systems listen to music at least twice as much as they did before and the best thing about the S5 is that, for the first time, the company has finally made that dream affordable. At the very basic level it acts as a really good iPod dock without the need of an actual dock to plug your PMP into. This thing works wirelessly as well as playing back music stored on your computer networks or a NAS drive too.

It's a 5-driver speaker system, including two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in subwoofer, but you will need an Ethernet cable or the ?80 Sonos ZoneBridge to connect it to your network. Once online, it also supports Last.fm, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS in the US and Last.fm, Napster, Classical.com and Deezer in the UK. No Spotify sadly. The only other issue is that there is no remote control unless you happen to own an Apple iPod from which you can control it over your network. A lovely device with great functionality.

NEWS: iPod touch getting camera after all...

Stuart Miles — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:41:16 +0000

...if latest rumour is to be believed

Rumours are surfacing once again?on the Internet that Apple's iPod touch will get a camera in spring 2010.

According to unnamed "inside sources", news website examiner.com says the "iPod Touch 3G with camera?had actually been?planned?for release this past?September, but had problems passing quality control".

The article goes on to state that the "iPod Touch 3G with camera will allegedly have the same camera as the updated iPod Nano, which shoots video, but not still pictures".

Pointing out the obvious, just another rumour, or do you think it's really true? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Read

Tags: Audio iPod MP3 players Apple iPod Touch

iPod touch getting camera after all... originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:41:16 +0000

NEWS: CES 2010: What new gadgets will be announced?

Stuart Miles — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Trends that are going to be hot topics

The countdown to?CES 2010, the biggest electronics trade show on the planet, has begun, but what can we expect from the show, and what should we start to get excited about? Here are six areas that are going to dominate the news come January.

Don't forget, Pocket-lint will be bringing you all the news, reviews, comment, photos and video as it happens in the run up to CES and live from Las Vegas for the duration of the show.

You can bookmark our CES coverage at pocket-lint.com/CES2010

Digital Living

Technology has gone mainstream supposedly, so that means the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be filled with technology launches that embrace all of us rather than just a select few. In real terms that means everything from gadgets for kids, gadgets for mums and dads that look after kids, and gadgets for the silver surfer. Expect new toys for health, parenting and higher education.

Apple

Don't get too excited,?Apple isn't attending CES, regardless of how many rumours you hear, but that doesn't mean companies that work in the Apple eco-system aren't going to be in Vegas launching new gadgets. With a whole area dedicated to the iPod,?iPhone?and Macs, expect a fair share of iPod speakers, cables to connect to something else in your life and the usual array of cases to protect it all.

eBook readers

If you're planning on getting an ebook reader for Christmas you might want to think again. The ebook market has exploded in the US with Amazon,?Barnes & Noble?and?Sony?all fighting over each other to offer you the digital reader you supposedly need. Plastic Logic has already confirmed that it will be launching a new ebook at CES and there is bound to be other manufacturers like?Spring Design?and iRex offering new models.

3D

Riding on the wave of euphoria that Avatar will no doubt give the industry, consumer electronics manufacturers like?Sony, Toshiba, LG?and?Samsung?will be likely to be pushing?3D TV?hard at CES 2010. IFA 2009 already showed us the concepts, CES will show us the reality. Expect new televisions, announcements from the Blu-ray Disc Association, television makers, graphics card companies like Nvidia and movie companies all trying to get in on the action.

Netbooks

While most people have surely moved on from the popularity of netbooks, CES organisers CEA believe netbooks are going to still be big news at CES 2010. What that means is a barrage of computers that don't do much but let you surf the Web and write the odd document. Of course manufacturers will be trying to tell us otherwise with improved graphics courtesy of Nvidia and ATI. You should also probably expect a barrage of tablet devices with touchscreens allowing you to surf the Web around the home.

Green

With the economy making a comeback, manufacturers can once again turn their eyes to saving the planet. Although the idea of being green for green's sake is still very niche, generally manufacturers will be trying to tell you to ignore the thousands they are spending on lighting their booths and the sheer carbon emissions the show creates, by concentrating instead on how they've made advancements in the glass they use or the boxes your favourite gadgets go into. At least you can sleep at night knowing that we haven't had to chop down any trees to let you read this.

Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness CES2010 ebooks Televisions Netbooks Sony LG Samsung Toshiba Apple iPod iPhone 3DTV Laptops Eco Amazon Barnes and Noble Spring Design

CES 2010: What new gadgets will be announced? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

NEWS: Best Music Gadget 2009 nominations

Stuart Miles — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:02:39 +0000

And the nominees are...

Here are the nominations for Best Music Gadget in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009.

The following products were chosen because we feel they represent the best music gadgets on sale in the last 12 months that are available in the UK.?

The nominations are:

Sonos S5 ZonePlayer

Monitor Audio Airstream 10

Etymotic/ACS hf2 custom fit headphones

Griffin myPhones headphones

Apple iPod touch 3G

A notable commendation should also go to the Zune HD MP3 player from Microsoft. As it isn't commercially available in the UK though, we were unable to consider it for nomination.

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year released in the UK.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available in the UK between December 2008 and December 2009.

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Monday 7 December.

If you would like to order tickets to the event please visit our awards event page.

Public voting will start on Wednesday 18 November.

REVIEWS: Griffin iTrip FM transmitter with iPhone app

Stuart Miles — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:08:11 +0000

iPod to radio in one easy accessory?

You've got days of music stored on your iPhone or iPod, the trouble is once you get in your car you're left with hunting around for a CD or even what's on the radio to remove the drone of the road.

In steps the iTrip, improved and enhanced from its first outings many years ago to offer a chance to stream music from your iPod or iPhone to your car stereo via the wonders of FM.

The size of disposable lighter, the iTrip plugs into your Apple device via the 30-pin dock connector and gets to work transmitting your music to a nearby radio that is tuned in on the same frequency.

The unit itself comes with four buttons, and a mono screen with which to access the rather rudimentary menu system. Pressing Menu a number of times scrolls through the menu options, while three buttons below the screen allow you to scan up and down the airwaves, select presets, or skip to the next track without having to turn your iPod player "on". On the whole the experience is a fiddly one.

Realising that iPod touch and iPhone users want something a little more graphical, Griffin has developed a free app that you can download via the App Store to control all the above with your finger rather the having to get dirty with the hardware. The app certainly makes things a lot easier.

Scanning the airwaves can be done in two ways, manually (normally the easiest) or via something Griffin call SmartScan, which as you might guess scans all available frequencies looking for the cleanest, unfettered, frequency available for you to set-up your mini pirate radio station on.

In the settings option there is a chance to have three preset stations, as well as whether or not to pump out your sound in mono or stereo. SmartSound is a Griffin Technology that enhances the sound and makes it louder. In reality that's what it does - make stuff louder.

In use and the performance of the iTrip, like previous models, will come down to where you live. If you live in a major metropolitan area you are likely to struggle to find a clear enough signal to push your transmission to. We certainly weren't able to run the system in stereo. That means your music will be constantly interrupted and you'll spend most of your drive retuning the iTrip to find a better frequency. Not great.

If however you live in the country or are planning on using this in a static environment around the home placing your iTrip in the right place does get good results. Placement is everything though - we found strangely next to the gearbox worked in one car and on the dash in another.?

As for charging, there is an option to connect a Micro-USB to the iTrip, which in turn will let you charge the iPhone or iPod, however it isn't included in the box.

Verdict:

The Griffin iTrip is a difficult one to mark. The fact that our tests delivered mixed results isn't Griffin's fault, but merely a problem of the cluttered airwaves where we tested it, suggesting you could buy this and experience a far better experience than we have.

If you really must get your music off your iPhone or iPod on your car stereo then this is one way to do it, just don't expect it to be a perfect experience every time.?

Proceed with caution.

NEWS: GPS comes to iPod touch

Stuart Miles — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:51:53 +0000

MP3 player screams "me too"

Apple iPod touch?users feeling left out because they can't get all those GPS?applications are being thrown an alternative with the launch of a new GPS gadget in the US called the Dual?XGPS300.

Although the iPod touch doesn't have a GPS receiver in it, that hasn't stopped the company behind the new gadget, which will cost $179, from offering a GPS solution for those who have the "Funnest" iPod on the block.

According to its makers, the device complies with a requirement from Apple to provide GPS location data to any app which requests it, including apps for hiking, bicycling, social networking and geocaching, as well as other navigation apps suggesting other GPS makers could enable their Car Kit mounts to work for the iPod touch as well.

Users will be expected to plug in their MP3 player into the cradle, slap it to their windscreen and navigate from there.

Unlike the TomTom iPhone car kit that expects you to buy the App and the car kit separately, the Dual system will offer the GPS for free, although iPhone users hoping for a free Navigation app will be disappointed. It will be locked, so you'll only be able to use it with the cradle.

“There are approximately 24 million iPod touch owners worldwide who are missing out on the ever-growing number of location-based apps” said Jim Braun, president and CEO of Dual Electronics.

The new bit of kit is expected to be available in the US at the end of November, with a spokeswomen for the company telling Pocket-lint that a UK version would be on the cards for 2010.

The cradle also includes a rechargeable battery, amplified speaker, audio out connection and mini USB port. An adjustable windshield mount is also included for in-car use.?

Tags: Audio Car And GPS iPod iPod Touch Apple Dual electronics GPS Dual XGPS300

GPS comes to iPod touch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:51:53 +0000

NEWS: Scosche tapSTICK case for iPod shuffle launches

Amy-Mae Elliott — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:20:22 +0000

Protective case complete with controls

A new case for the third gen iPod shuffle - the tapSTICK - has launched from Scosche Industries that adds the buttons found on the device's headphones to its body.

Said to be slimline and lightweight the case offers protection, as well as the ability to play, pause, adjust the volume, skip tracks and navigate playlists in conjunction with the shuffle’s voice over feature too.

Available in black and white, the tapSTICK can be used with any standard headphones or ear buds. The tapSTICK is on sale now from Apple retail stores as well as other online retailers priced at ?24.95.

Tags: Audio iPod shuffle Cases Scosche iPod Apple

Scosche tapSTICK case for iPod shuffle launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:20:22 +0000

NEWS: Sonos Controller iPhone/iPod app gets Twitter update

Stuart Miles — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:22 +0000

New features and support for new S5 ZonePlayer

Sonos has released an update to its iPhone and iPod touch app, bringing it in line with the new?Sonos Software 3.1?update released recently for the music systems dedicated controller and computer software.?

The new update, which is now available in the Apple App Store, allows?Sonos owners?to tweet what they are listening to, as well as tweaking the menu system with new icons and logos for the relevant music service.

It also brings in support for the company's new?Sonos S5 ZonePlayer, which includes a built-in speaker. Handy, as the iPhone and the iPod touch app is the main way the company hopes to entice new users in to the streaming music system.

The Sonos controller iPhone app is available across the globe.

Read

Tags: Audio Sonos Phones Mobile phone apps Apple iPhone iPod

Sonos Controller iPhone/iPod app gets Twitter update originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:22 +0000

REVIEWS: Memorex Sound System iPod dock

Chris Hall — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Will this bring your music to life?

Memorex, yes, the people who made those see-through audio cassettes back in the day, have unleashed their latest iPod dock on the world in the form of the Memorex Sound System. But should this grab your attention?

The Memorex Sound System is conservatively designed and constructed from solid-feeling plastics, but lacks the premium looks that some docks give you. It stands approx 15cm high, is 35cm wide and 12cm deep, so is larger than some others too.

It does have an output of 30 Watts RMS, however, from stereo drivers and tweeter domes, which sit behind the front grill. The front also features a reasonably large display and a slot-loading CD drive.

The remainder of the controls can be found on the top of the Sound System and there are plenty of them. In the centre you have the iPod dock that also supports the iPhone, and your main power, mode and volume controls. To the left are five more controls that allow you to set the time, change the EQ and switch the the auxiliary input. Then there are a further four controls to select sleep, dim the display and set repeat and shuffle.

Across to the right you have 5 radio preset buttons, and then play/pause, stop and track forward and back controls. If you like buttons, you are well covered. This covers all the controls that you'll find on the remote, except those that you'd use to navigate the menus on your iPod.

With the controls clearly labelled, the Memorex Sound System is easy to use and we like the big iPod, CD and Radio buttons so you can just punch the button and listen to what you want. Several inserts are provided for the iPod dock at the top so that your iPhone will sit securely.

Navigating and controlling your iPod presents no problems at all, with an additional "B" button the remote to briefly but the iPod backlight on so you can see the menus. The remote is a little on the cheap side, with small buttons, particularly the volume controls which could have been more prominent.

In use and the sound quality is pretty good, with plenty of volume on offer and it remains relatively distortion even up at top higher volumes. The sound isn't perhaps as clear as some more expensive rivals, lacking the premium definition to your music that some docks offer. Bass is well represented with easy adjustment through the EQ settings so your tunes have a good meaty quality to them.

The FM tuner also performed well picking up local stations as expected. There is no auto scan feature, so you'll have to program in your 5 presents from the off and we would have preferred a DAB option to be included. The CD player takes a little time to get going after inserting a CD, but it isn't a major drawback.

Around the back of the Sound System you get an aux in, so you can hook up any other devices using a standard 3.5mm cable.

Verdict:

Unfortunately, despite the presence of a clock and a sleep timer, there is no alarm function, so as a single box solution for a bedroom or dorm room, you'll be missing this feature. However, you could always use the alarm on your iPod or iPhone. There is no headphone jack either which may deter those who on occasion want to keep their music to themselves.

Overall we were impressed with how easy to use the Memorex Sound System was. The audio performance was impressive without being exemplary, perfect for casual use.

There are a great number of iPod docks available and the Memorex is an inoffensive middle-of-the-road offering. You'll be able to get units that are cheaper or have a more interesting design, but there is little go wrong with here.

Tags: Audio iPod docks iPod speakers iPod iPhone Memorex Memorex Sound System

Memorex Sound System iPod dock originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

NEWS: Apple patent reveals headset-style iPod shuffle

Amy-Mae Elliott — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:32:40 +0000

Media player integrated into headset design

A recently revealed patent from Apple shows the company is looking at producing a wireless headset that offers standalone media playing abilities, rather than relying on a Bluetooth streaming connection to get music piped into the ear.

Apple's latest vision is for times when "the external device with which it is wirelessly coupled is not being used" as during such downtime the headset could be used to play music.

Alternatively, the patent suggests, "if the external device is a telephone, the availability of a recording function could make it possible for the user to record all or part of a conversation. Similarly, voicemail messages received on the user's telephone could be uploaded into the headset for later off-line playback".

On one hand the patent could be seen as a wearable, voice-controlled iPod shuffle with wireless capabilities, and on the other the next-gen of Apple's iPhone headset - more of an iPhone companion device - offering advanced media playing functionality.

Read

Tags: Audio Apple Patents iPod iPod shuffle Headsets

Apple patent reveals headset-style iPod shuffle originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:32:40 +0000

NEWS: Lecci Mini Mixer launched by Bluw

Duncan Geere — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:25:34 +0000

Crossfade between two audio sources

Wannabe DJs take note - there's a nifty little gadget that's just been released which could make it easier to play off a couple of iPods. The Lecci Mini Mixer is basically a two-channel mixer that allows you to crossfade between a couple of audio sources.

Those sources could be iPods, CD players, laptops - anything that outputs to a 3.5mm jack. There's gain controls on both, a great big crossfader, and cue buttons so that you can check what a track sounds like before switching to it. Output is to either an audio-out jack or there's an internal speaker if you're DJing to a very tiny party.

The Lecci Mini Mixer is available now from the Gadget Shop, and costs ?20.

Read

Tags: Audio DJ iPod Bluw Lecci Mini Mixer

Lecci Mini Mixer launched by Bluw originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:25:34 +0000

NEWS: Apple's been showing you the finger longer than you think

Stuart Miles — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:03:13 +0100

Magic mouse is almost the last piece of the "touch" puzzle

Apple has placed the final piece of the "touch" puzzle today with the launch of a new mouse, called the Magic mouse, that has no buttons.

In a move that to many has gone unnoticed, Apple has over the last 6 years slowly been educating its faithful to embrace touch and ditch buttons once and for all.

The beginnings of touch

The move started some time ago of course with an iPod. While the first models had buttons, Apple was quick to ditch them in 2003. In came a touch sensitive wheel and buttons that saw you whizz around in circles scrolling through your music collection. It might have been clickable, but there was no d-pad element to it.

The big feel

2007 saw the launch of the iPhone and the?Apple iPod touch, two small touchscreen-only devices that ditched the buttons in favour of gestures on a screen. For the iPhone there had been touchscreen phones before, but virtually all of them focused on using a pen or a stylus to navigate around the screen rather than your finger. The finger was now the most important part of controlling your phone and what better way for Apple to show their intentions than naming a product with the buzz word - touch.

Smaller but equally important strokes

Now that people had grasped the idea of using their finger to control elements on their phone or MP3 player, Apple started making "touch" a focus point on its software and laptops.

The Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) launch saw certain controls within the OS, like Time Machine, get bigger buttons that emulated the iPhone operating system. The OS also added controls for using Apple-based software like iPhoto, allowing you to rotate images, zoom in, and use multiple fingers on the company's laptops thanks to the laptop's built-in touchpad.

New hardware

With touch firmly embedded in our minds Apple then ditched the dedicated click button from the laptop all together, replacing it with a single touchpad sheet. Now every new Mac is asking its user to embrace the finger, but the desktop machines and their users were missing out.

A cute "strokable" cat

If you've upgraded to?Apple OS X Snow Leopard?it's clear to see what Apple's direction is. There is a reason clicking (or should we say touching) on an icon in the dock launches Expose for that app. Or that Expose even exists in the first place. Snow Leopard is the most touchy feely of all the OSes to date.

Magic mouse

Confident that Apple users now grasp touch controls either by using a MacBook or MacBook Pro and/or an iPhone or iPod touch, Apple releases a touch-based mouse with no buttons or scroll wheel, pushing a new operating method on those who sign-up. It's the company's biggest and boldest move in the story so far as it's a completely new way to interact with your computer.

The strokable future

Yep, we know the Apple Tablet is just a rumour, but it is the next logical step in the "touch" story. Having spent the last 6 years educating its users to embrace the finger, a shift to hardware-less computing could replace the regular PC in the home, wipe out the need for multiple laptops and create a new industry completely for Apple.

You've graduated

Congratulations, you may not have realised it, but Apple has been educating you in the way of "touch" without you even realising it. For Apple, touch devices are cheaper to make, easier to design and are overall more "lifestyle" in their approach.

Get ready to show your computer the finger even more in the future.

Tags: Hardware Audio Software Features Apple iPhone iPod iPod Touch Mac software Snow Leopard Internet tablets Magic Mouse

Apple's been showing you the finger longer than you think originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:03:13 +0100

NEWS: Firebox offers Urban DJ Mixer

Duncan Geere — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:04:03 +0100

Mix between a pair of audio inputs

Firebox has put together an interesting little product for wannabe DJs. The Urban DJ Mixer is a gold-painted cassette-shaped gadget that will let you crossfade between a pair of audio inputs.

And that's all. It won't let you change the pitch of those inputs - which could be a mobile phone, laptop, CD player, stereo, or iPod - or trigger them - you'll have to do that on the device itself. It does have a headphone monitor socket, though, to let you cue tracks up without hearing them in the master-out.

It's powered by two AAA batteries, and doesn't appear to come with 3.5mm jack cables, so you'll probably have to buy some of them too - at least three. Once you're there, though, this could be useful for houseparties where no-one brought any decks and a mix CD or collaborative Spotify playlist just won't cut it.

Read

Tags: Audio Gadgets Firebox Urban DJ Mixer iPod

Firebox offers Urban DJ Mixer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:04:03 +0100

NEWS: Daily Tech Deal: iPod touch with ?15 iTunes credit and charger

Ben Crompton — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Money saving deals, offers and innovations

It is rare that you find an Apple product associated with any kind of discount or offer. However, Currys appears to be doing just that with the offer of a free iTunes gift card and charger with the 8GB iPod touch.

Currys are suggesting that the free charger and ?15 iTunes gift card total a saving of ?40.99, which, if we are to believe, means in effect you'll be getting an iPod 8GB for just ?108 and a penny - well, we can sort of see that that's the case.

The iPod itself gets a 3.5-inch multi-touch widescreen, will store up to 1750 songs or 10 hours of video, whilst battery life will come in at around 36 hours of music or 6 hours of video. Wi-Fi is, of course, also included.

The offer, however, is only available in-store, but you can use the reserve and collect option when ordering on the Currys website.

Tags: Audio iPod iTunes Apple Currys Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: iPod touch with £15 iTunes credit and charger originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

NEWS: Apple rumoured to be working on radio app

Stuart Miles — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:56:47 +0100

iPod nano offering coming to iPod touch and iPhone?

Apple is expected to launch a radio app for its iPhone and iPod touch, allowing users to tune into their favourite radio stations on the Internet.

The rumour, which this time comes from sources talking to 9to5mac.com, will be a radio app that "will be allowed to operate in the background like iPod.app and will offer the same functionality as the FM radio in the new Apple iPod nano (5th Gen)".

The article goes on to suggest that the application would also allow you to by music from the mobile iTunes store once you hear it, no doubt massively increasing sales in iTunes.

Apple has so far shied away from offering a radio on its iPod line, however with Microsoft's Zune HD offering the feature, some believe that Apple is making the move as to not play second fiddle to the OLED packing MP3 player.

It is also expected that the radio app would offer the same Live Pause functionality that the Nanos currently enjoy.

We will keep you posted.

Read

Tags: Audio MP3 players Apple iPod Radios Internet radios iPod nano iPod Touch iPhone Phones Mobile phones

Apple rumoured to be working on radio app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:56:47 +0100

NEWS: Incipio's fun iPod shuffle cases on sale in the UK

Amy-Mae Elliott — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:06:47 +0100

Almost edible

Computers Unlimited has announced it will be offering Incipio's {LAB} Series cases for the iPod shuffle.

Described as "durable and fun", the cases are available in an array of styles including the Brick, the Mint, the Wafer and the Treat.

The cases are available now over at www.unlimited.com with prices starting from ?9.95.

Tags: Audio iPod Cases Incipio Computers Unlimited iPod shuffle

Incipio's fun iPod shuffle cases on sale in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:06:47 +0100

NEWS: Zune services considered for iPods, other platforms

Amy-Mae Elliott — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:17:37 +0100

Meanwhile, "next step is mobile phones"

Seemingly giving up on the bigger picture as far as hardware goes, Microsoft is considering offering its Zune software and services to other platforms, ZDNet reports.

The whisper is a credible one - it comes direct from Jose Pinero, director of communications for Microsoft's TV, video and music business. "We are evaluating a lot of options in terms of platforms", Pinero confirmed to ZDNet.

As well as devices from smaller players, this possible Zune offering is reported to include Apple's iPods, in a strategy said to be "under active consideration".

The logic goes that die-hard PC users may prefer using the Zune software on their Windows PCs, or the subscription-based model might appeal to those currently buying their songs piece-meal.

Pinero also confirmed that Microsoft is looking to bring the Zune music and video service to Windows Mobile phones. "Our next step is mobile phones, but we haven't talked about a timeline for when that will happen", Pinero said.

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Tags: Audio Software Microsoft Zune Apple iPod Music software Phones Zune HD

Zune services considered for iPods, other platforms originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:17:37 +0100