Sonos has releases 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.

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Tags: Audio Sonos Phones Mobile phone apps Apple iPhone iPod

Sonos Controller iPhone/iPod app gets twitter update originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:22 +0000

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 Pocket-lint on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

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.

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Tags: Audio Apple Patents iPod iPod shuffle Headsets

Apple patent reveals headset-style iPod shuffle originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:32:40 +0000

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.

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Tags: Audio DJ iPod Bluw Lecci Mini Mixer

Lecci Mini Mixer launched by Bluw originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:25:34 +0000

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 Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:03:13 +0100

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.

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Tags: Audio Gadgets Firebox Urban DJ Mixer iPod

Firebox offers Urban DJ Mixer originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:04:03 +0100

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 Pocket-lint on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

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.

?

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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 Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:56:47 +0100

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 Pocket-lint on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:06:47 +0100

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 Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:17:37 +0100

Apple, keen to push its eco credentials after criticism from the likes of Greenpeace in the past, has launched a shiny new section on its site covering all things "environment".

Areas covered include energy efficiency, the recycle-abilty of products and Apple's free recycling programme, details of toxic materials and then and now comparisons for certain products.

There are also "product environmental reports" on all the current range products from the manufacturer, offering detailed breakdowns of what the products are made off, their power consumption levels and even their packaging.

Within the content, Apple has revealed its corporate carbon emissions for the first time.

"We're the only company in our industry that considers the environmental footprint of every product we make. And we're the only company to add up all our greenhouse gas emissions and tell you how they are distributed across - and beyond - a products lifespan", Apple says.

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Tags: Eco Hardware Apple Audio Phones MacBooks iPod iPhone

Apple launches "environment" section on site originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:05:43 +0100

Presumably due to be available soon, iLuv is to offer a case for the fifth gen iPod nano that gives the camcorder-capable device camera looks.

The clear plastic case for the Apple's newest nano is decaled with a fake lens, while its actual lens is turned into the flash.

The case is priced at $24.99 but currently marked as "not available" so you'll have to check back to buy.

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Related links:

• Reviewed - iPod nano
• Via - ChipChick

Tags: Audio iPod Cases iluv iPod nano Cameras

New iPod nano case brings camera looks originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:33:57 +0100

Vers has announced a new line of hand-crafted wood cases for the iPod and iPhone.

Offering the "natural beauty and strength" of walnut, cherry and bamboo, the audio company is angling the cases as the most environmentally "thoughtful" available on the market.

"Wood is a wonderful feeling, natural material and every case has its own unique character. The real surprise is just how tough wood is", says a Vers bod.

With trees replanted for every case made, the Vers wood cases for iPhone, iPod touch and iPod classic are available now, priced from $39.99.

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Related links:

• News - Vers goes organic with bamboo 2X iPod speaker

Tags: Eco Vers Cases Audio Phones iPod iPhone accessories

Vers intros hand-crafted wood cases for iPods and iPhone originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:52:03 +0100

This "Downfall" clip has been spoof subtitled many times, but this Apple-themed effort works particularly well. Hit play to see Hitler's disappointed reaction to the news that the third-gen touch remains camera-less. Warning: there's lots of swears.

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Related links:

• VIDEO - Hilarious spoof "Downfall of HD DVD" video

Tags: Audio iPod Video iPod Touch Cameras Apple

VIDEO: Hitler hears the iPod touch has no camera originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:09:58 +0100

With no Beatles, no camera in the touch and no axing of the classic, the biggest announcement of Apple's 09.09.09 press conference was the 5th generation iPod nano, and even that was nearly overshadowed by the return of Steve Jobs.

Very little has changed for the second smallest of the pods on the outside. The dimensions of the oval cross-section, almost flat rectangular device are identical to the previous generation with the only real differences a slightly larger 2.2-inch screen (up 0.2" on the 4th gen) and more mini control wheel. It's also gained just 6g more in weight to bring the nano up to a still teeny-tiny 36g. Even the colour range is identical aside a tweak in the green and a change to a polished aluminium finish which, as it happens, is very becoming indeed.

Let's cut to the chase though. We can talk FM radios and pedometers in a bit, but it's the video camera we all want to know about. The first thing to note is that it's in a really bad position - on the back, at the bottom and essentially right where you normally hold it. You cannot grip it like you would any other pocket camcorder and mobile phone unless you just want a stream of dark footage of your index finger.

You can get around that by holding it the other way up but then that means you can only grip the edges because you don't want to cover up the screen and spoil your view. Thankfully, the accelerometer allows you to record either in landscape or portrait position - do note that you can't switch once you've started filming though - but there's still a bit of a dance of the fingers to make sure you're blocking neither the lens nor your view of the action.

The trouble is that there was simply no room for Apple to put the camera behind the screen. The thing's just too damn thick, so all the engineers could do was tuck it away in the corner. You get used to it eventually but you'll still get fingers in the shot every now and then.

The lens itself is very well protected and, in fact, you're not going to have many issues with scratching up any part of the device from the lovely clear screen to the finish itself - except, perhaps, for the matte Apple logo on the back.

The tiny dot next to the lens is the mono microphone which actually tested a lot better than most pocket camcorders. It picked up very quiet sounds indeed. Very useful for stealth vids and the dictaphone function.

The quality of the footage is pretty good too - not stunning but perfectly decent. The resolution is only at 640 x 480 VGA level which automatically drops it down below just about any modern pocket camcorder and mobile phone. That would have been ok 2 years ago, but you just can't say it's really good enough for YouTube with with the site's HD options.

On the other hand, the colour palate is remarkably good compared to the Flip Mino HD which was used in our tests as a typical pocket camcorder competitor. The colours were very much washed out with the Flip compared to a very impressive vibrancy you could capture with the nano.

Sadly, the advantage was lost in low light conditions where the iPod nano really seemed to break down completely. The Apple camcorder could barely pick up the colours at all and there was horrible pixelation where the internal gubbins was doing its best to approximate an image.

It's was a similar story at the macro level. In very good light, the nano performed well but even at just normal indoor lighting levels you can see pixelation of the close up subjects making for a very unreal looking image. In fairness, the Flip doesn't do so wonderfully itself, but at least the picture's good as soon as the focus kicks in.

On the plus side, the iPod nano manges a decent 30fps frame rate allowing for fairly smooth shots with reasonably fast action for a camera of its size - possibly made slightly more forgiving by its lower resolution. There also seems to be a wide-angle to the lens as well, which is preferable on these on-the-fly party type devices. After all you don't want to have to stand 5 metres from your mates to get them all in and end up recording the conversations of other people off-camera rather than what your friends are talking about.

The 15 effects filters also add a bit of fun to the proceedings. There's mock-thermal imaging, Cyborg mode, grainy film, motion blur and x-ray (negative) all of which you can see in our test footage here as well as some of the other conditions we put both the nano and the Flip through. Other effects also include twist, light tunnel and other usual suspects that Mac users will be familiar with. You can't change them once the camera is rolling but you can overlay them live to choose which one is going to look best.

Lastly, and most criminally of all, is that, as announced, it is indeed not possible to take stills shots with the new nano. There's a bag full of explantions why Apple didn't feel it was necessary but, at the end of the day, an AF system alone would probably have just been far too much for the little nano to take on board. So, you'll have to settle for taking stills from your video editing software. You do have video editing software, right? Oh.

The files are recorded as H.264 and, surprisingly enough, the video camera function doesn't seem to eat into the 24 hours audio/5 hours video battery life too badly.

The FM radio is probably the next most significant addition to the 5th generation and, joy of joys, it's actually very good indeed - excellent, you might even say. The reception is clear and steady, once you've stuck in your headphones as the antenna; the song tagging would work fine if it supported the service in the UK and the presets feature is obvious with a typically Apple user-friendly and attractive interface. The best part of all is that you can pause the radio for up to 15 minutes while you take a call that you just can't ignore. All good stuff.

A pedometer has been added to the nano with much of the Nike+ functionality from the touch and iPhone. It skips the odd step at the beginning and end of your walk/jog and any little hops you might make but otherwise the accuracy is as good as you need and the calorie counter is as depressingly obvious as ever.

Apple has also thrown in the VoiceOver feature from the shuffle which means that your PMP can tell you what it's playing without having to actually look at the screen. This is all very well in theory but seeing as the iPod nano only comes with the basic Apple earphones with no remote, it rather makes the whole thing pointless until you choose to splash out on the next ones up.

The Genius playlists feature is doing just fine and, of course, since the addition of iTunes 9, there's also the Genius Mixes. It's much harder to find out what the songs on these mixes are than on iTunes itself and even the 3rd generation iPod touch, but as long as you entrust your ears to the nano, the feature still works fine.

The only other major problem with this device is that now that the control wheel has shrunk even further, it makes the thing even more fiddly to use. It's not quite critical but it does take a little extra care which, like the positioning of the video camera, is a most non-Apple piece of design. Worse still, is that on the particular model we tested, the centre select button was quite intermittent. You'll notice on one or two of the short clips above the difficulties we had pressing it to stop recording.

Verdict:

To judge the 5th generation iPod nano as an MP3 player alone would be easy enough. It's still an excellent little machine. It's strong, beautifully crafted and just a real pleasure to own. The sound quality is as good as we've come to expect from the iPod family and the screen, although too much to watch an entire film on, is fantastic given its size. Unfortunately, apart from the FM transmitter, you could have said much the same about the 4th generation model and, as it happens, we did.

Since Apple added a video camera, clearly positioning it as a competitor to a pocket camcorder, then we have to judge it on those lines too. The new functionality is very reasonable given the small frame on the device but it's not a patch on a dedicated video recorder. It offers something better than most phones but isn't even top dog there. At the end of the day, you still have to take a camcorder out with you and a stills device as well. Nice bit of fun but it just doesn't solve any problems.

The tricky part is that, regardless, iPod nano is still more of a pleasure than the rest of its class and, until there's a camcorder that plays music as well as this unit can, then does it really matter how impressive the camera is or isn't in this case?

Related links:

• Buy - Apple iPod nano at John Lewis

Tags: Audio MP3 players Apple iPod iPod nano Apple iPod nano

Apple iPod nano (5th Gen) originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:59:38 +0100

iFixit has revealed the results of its tear-down of the new iPod touch, and for those in a speculative state of mind, they make interesting reading.

Perhaps supporting the rumour that the iPod touch's camera was dropped at the last minute due to technical faults, it seems Apple has "left room" for a camera in the top of the device.

Meanwhile, the player contains a Broadcom BCM4329 chip, which supports 802.11n (which the iPhone doesn't yet have) as well as FM transmission, leaving options open for future updates to offer new functions.

The full tear-down, complete with a plethora of pics, is live online now over at iFixit, while a video is promised soon.

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Tags: Audio iPod Apple iPod Touch iFixit Wi-Fi Cameras Rumours Photos

iPod touch tear-down reveals space for camera originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:02:30 +0100

It's not an easy task to review something ostensibly identical to another you've looked at before but that's pretty much what we're faced with by the 3rd generation AppleiPod touch. The first thing you'll notice when you break through the wrappings, the sellotape and the box and finally get the device into your hands is that it's true. It doesn't have a camera. There's even a blank space on the otherwise perfect mirrored back where the one on the iPhone would normally be, and that pretty much sets the standard. You just have to trust that all the technological advancements are on the inside.

The iPod touch still measures an iPhone but slimmer 110 ? 61.8 ? 8.5 mm. It still weighs the same 115g. It still has a beautifully crisp and pixel dense 3.5-inch 380 x 320 colour screen in a 3:2 aspect and it still skates on the edge of not supporting enough file types with just AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, Audible, MP3, WAV, Protected AAC in its audio arsenal; BMP, JPEG, TIFF, GIF for images and just MPEG on the video front. In fact, the only difference you'll notice on the outside is that now, you can get one with the legend "64GB" etched into it. After every other disappointment it nearly makes your day.

That said, the iPod touch is still a heartbreakingly beautiful thing to hold, arguably more so than the iPhone with its even more svelte form and simply delicious weight. It's just the right size to slip into your jeans pocket and almost forget that it's there; a breathtaking feat of engineering.

So, how about the stuff you don't see? Well, the biggest bump for the third generation is at the heart of the device - the CPU and the RAM. Both have been raised to match the iPhone 3GS, so it's now packed with a 833MHz ARM-Cortex 8 processor that's been underclocked to 600MHz most likely to protect the battery life. As it goes, the battery has dropped a little on the last incarnation going down from 36 hours for audio to 30 - either the result of a more realistic estimate than the first time or quite possibly because of having more power-hungry insides.

The performance is indeed far smoother as Apple has said. The approximation given is 50% faster and, although in practice it's a tricky thing to measure, the experience isnoticeably better. Scolling about from screen to screen on the device has even an edge on the 3GS but the boost is at its most obvious when running the faster game apps now able to render high speed action all the smoother.

The second nice advance is the doubling of the flash memory to a now far more substantial 64GB touted as enough to hold 14,000 songs or 80 hours of video depending on your quality options. It comes at quite the high price of ?299 and begins to make one wonder if it isn't worth splashing out the extra to get an iPhone. If you're happier with a 32GB model, you'll be pleased to see it costing fractionally more than the now ceased 16GB at ?229 and suddenly the 8GB version looks very cheap indeed at just ?149. Probably best hold back on the videos with that one though.

One strange pleasure of all iPods is that they arrive charged and ready to go. There's nothing quite like the agony of having to wait eight hours for something to fully power up before you're allowed to turn it on, particularly after all the excitement of getting it home in the first place. Of course, the other bonus with the 3rd gen touch is that not only is it charged but it also comes loaded with the iPhone OS 3.1 software. It's not quite the jump for joy moment it could be seeing as the price has just been reduced to ?2.99 but you learn to be grateful for small mercies.

The software brings Voice Control as directed from the microphone of the legendarily bland headphones. The range of phrasing understood by the device is initially impressive but drops slightly below company track record after being told that it doesn't recognise the phrase "U2" for the fourth time. Novelty-ware aside, the addition of the Genius Mixes feature from iTunes 9 along with the Genius Playlists from the version before is a welcome bonus to the handheld. Doubtless the LP software will follow soon.

Verdict:
All Apple could really have done to make the 3rd generation iPod touch significantly better was to add a camera or something else impossible like the ability to make your dinner. There's a temptation to slate the device for not being different enough but, at the end of the day, it's a decision that needs to stand on its own. The question is should you buy it and the answer is whole-heatedly - yes. Those with a second gen model need not apply but if you're looking for a top endPMP, then this is it, certainly until we get a good look at the Zune HD . It's quite expensive but then that's to be expected and, for the time being, it's still the best gadget in its class and, for the record, none of its other competitors have a camera either.

As a gaming device, it's still a long way behind the PSP and DSi but that's got as much to do with the games as anything else. So, if you're looking for purely that purpose, then it's not the one for you. As a PMP, though, look no further - especially with the launch of the Spotify app for iPhone.

Related links:

• Feature - Spotify App: iPhone versus Android

Tags: Audio MP3 players Apple iPod iPod Touch Apple iPod touch

Apple iPod touch (3rd Gen) originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:55:03 +0100

It seems that low customer take-up could be the reason behind a price cut from Apple for the current version of the 3.0 iPod touch update.

When announced back in March, and then available in June, the then 3.0 firmware update cost iPod touch owners ?5.99 in the UK and $9.99 in the US.

Now, the recently announced 3.1 update is priced at ?2.99 in the UK and $4.95 in the States.

9to5Mac points to a report from mobile ads firm AdMob which suggested only 1% of iPod touch users accessing its ad network had upgraded to V.3.0 software, compared to 44% of iPhone users.

Splashing out for the 3.1 update - available now - will give users new iTunes Genius features, Stereo Bluetooth, OTA downloads, better search and other improvements.

Read

Related links:

• Feature - What the iPod touch 3.0 really brings you
• Via - 9to5Mac

Tags: Audio iPod iPod Touch Software updates iPhone Apple Software

Apple cuts price of iPod touch software update originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:30:32 +0100

Want to see what the inside of the new iPod nano looks like? Of course you do and it turns out so do the guys at iFixit.com who have spent the day ripping one apart literally.

The outcome? Seems that Apple really has packed in the technology as much as they can with no room, as CEO Steve Jobs confirmed to put in a still camera alongside a video one.

Choice findings from Kyle and his team include gems like:

"This iPod employs copious amounts of glue and adhesive to hold everything together. That makes it easy for Apple to put together, but hard to take apart. We had to remove the camera bezel before we could start the disassembly."

And

"Including the mount, the iPhone camera is thicker than the ENTIRE new iPod nano!"

Looks like when this one breaks you'll be buying a new one rather than trying to repair it.

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Tags: Audio MP3 players Apple iPod iPod nano iFixit

iPod nano 5th Gen gets torn apart originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:59:56 +0100

We've just had word from the chaps at iFixit that they have begun their tear-down of the fifth-gen iPod nano.

The shots below, of the innards of the new device, should whet your appetite, and there'll be plenty more -in glorious high-res - over on the iFixit site.

The coverage is detailed to the say the least, so enjoy and stay tuned - we're promised similar treatment for the touch and shuffle soon too.

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Related links:

• Link - iFixit

Tags: Audio iPod Apple iFixit iPod nano Photos

iFixit's iPod nano 5G tear-down begins originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:40:57 +0100

Energy-efficient portable media players with larger memory capacities (such as say, the new Apple iPod classic) are on the horizon, thanks to a component launch from Toshiba.

Toshiba has launched four new 1.8-inch hard disk drives designed "for use in the next generation of high capacity portable media devices".

Delivering up to 160GB over a single platter, the MKxx34GAL series of HDDs are said to be quiet, lightweight and offer an "unrivalled energy consumption efficiency of up to 0.0019W/GB".

Toshiba boasts that the 160GB model is capable of storing up to 80,000 MP3 songs or 141 hours of DVD-quality video.

Interestingly, when Apple first launched the iPod "classic" back in September 2007 it had a 160GB drive, which then dropped down to 120GB in September 2008, so we're now back up to the bigger capacity.

Tags: Hardware HDDs Toshiba Storage iPod Biz Audio Apple

Toshiba launches 160GB HDD for portable media players originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:25:10 +0100

Steve Jobs has answered criticism over the lack of camera on the new iPod touch by saying that the move was based on getting the device to be as cheap as possible rather than feature rich.

In a Q and A session with the New York Times, the Apple CEO has said that although Apple weren't "exactly sure how to market the Touch" at first it soon became apparent that games was the way forward:

"We started to market it that way, and it just took off. And now what we really see is it's the lowest-cost way to the App Store, and that's the big draw. So what we were focused on is just reducing the price to $199. We don't need to add new stuff ? we need to get the price down where everyone can afford it."

Criticising Amazon, Jobs questions whether or not the Kindle is actually the success the company makes out to be:

"I think the general-purpose devices will win the day because I think people just probably aren't willing to pay for a dedicated device. You notice Amazon never says how much they sell; usually if they sell a lot of something, you want to tell everybody."

Steve Jobs also said that the reason the new iPod nano isn't able to snap still shots is down to the a size issue:

"The sensors for doing video are fairly thin. The sensors for doing a still camera, at much higher pixel resolution ? and we'd really like to have autofocus ? they are just way too thick to ever fit inside the Nano."

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Tags: Audio Apple iPod MP3 players Amazon Kindle

Steve Jobs explains lack of camera in iPod touch, questions Kindle success originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:44:19 +0100

The clues were all there, but as always the Apple faithful wished for more than the company could deliver.

In the end the one-hour keynote presentation presented Apple fans with a faster iPod touch, a nano with digital camera and an update to the iTunes store.

There was no Beatles announcement, no iPod touch with camera, no iPod classic with camera and certainly no iTablet so how did the rumour mill fair?

iPod touch with camera

Reality?

No

iPod nano with camera

Reality?

Yes

iPod classic with camera

Reality?

No

iPod classic to be discontinued

Reality?

No

New iPod shuffle

Reality?

Kinda

Beatles coming to iTunes

Reality?

No

iTunes 9

Reality?

Yes

Apple TV

Reality?

No

Apple iTablet

Reality?

No

The return of Jobs

Reality?

Yes

Cause for more rumours

Reality?

Yes

Related links:

• News - The Beatles heading to iTunes says Yoko Ono

Tags: Audio iPod Apple Beatles iTunes MP3 players Rumours iPhone

Beatles and iPod touch camera no show, what happened? originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:44:01 +0100

Apple has refreshed its entire iPod range in an event in San Francisco, but the model which saw the most new features was the iPod nano. It's been given both hardware and software overhaul in an attempt to make it appeal to a wider market beyond just music. But can the new updates achieve those goals? Pocket-lint was hands-on at the event to find out.

Cutting to the chase, the headline addition is the video camera. Megapixel details aren't being dished out, but what we do know is that the nano will sport a 640 x 480 resolution, which the company is touting as having incredibly clarity.

In our very brief testing, we found the quality good enough - though a 640 x 480 video isn't going to look great pumped through an 40-inch HD TV. The nano is about sharing, not making that indie film.

One puzzling problem we've discovered is that the camera can't take still photos - only video. Apple representatives at the London event told us that it's easy to grab stills from the device when you upload the videos to iMovie, but it seems like a bizarre omission from the device.

The slightly bigger screen didn't make too much of an impact on us it has to be said - it's as competent as its predecessor. Video still looks good when you've not got light shinning on the screen, but it picks up reflections very easily thanks to the gloss finish - something that might cause issues in the light of day.

It's not just about video. There's a number of other additions, too. An FM radio brings the nano up to the standards of other players on the market, but the addition of Genius playlists is more welcome. If you're not sure what you want to listen to, then you can pick a preset playlist automatically compiled from your MP3 collection by the software. No more random German techno amongst your classical collection...

There's a voice recording app, which will probably be most useful for students wanting to record lectures, and a pedometer for fitness enthusiasts to hook up to the Nike+ system. Lastly, there's also the text-to-voice functionality of the shuffle - so you don't have to take your nano out of your pocket to find out what song is playing.

Verdict:
As with any Apple product, the nano commands a price premium - in this case, it's ?115 for 8GB and ?125 for 16GB. You can get an alternative product, like the Sansa Clip, for half that, although the Apple faithful will claim that you don't get the same eco system and support around it.

But when you're buying something from Apple, you know you're getting something good, and the nano, certainly as a music player, won't disappoint. It's packed full of useful functionality and "why didn't the other manufacturers think of that?" features.

Only the omission of a stills setting left us scratching our heads, but that doesn't detract much from what seems, from our brief play, to us to be an excellent, if overpriced, MP3 player and mini video recorder.

Tags: Audio MP3 players iPod Apple iPod nano

Apple iPod nano 5th gen - First Look originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:17:10 +0100

Apple's just finished its Rock n Roll event in San Francisco, but what was launched and what do we think?

We sat down with Randall Bennett from TechVi to discuss what went down, what was launched, and what was exciting?

Was the iPod nano worth waiting for? What about iTunes 9? And did the Beatles make a show? Watch the video to find out.

Enjoy.

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Tags: Audio iPod Apple iPod nano TechVi Video MP3 players

VIDEO: We talk with TechVi about Apple Rock n Roll event originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:51:05 +0100

Apple has released a promotional video for the new iPod nano, which sports a video recorder and an FM radio on board.

As you can see from the video above, Apple will allow you to add a number of effects to the footage however, the company disappointingly confirmed to Pocket-lint that the new device won't let you take still pictures out and about. Instead users will be force to record video and then manually grab still shots from the footage once connected to their PC or Mac.

The camera records in 640 x 480 resolution, so any snaps you take out won't be suitable for photo printing. They should, however, be fine for using on the web or on social media sites.

It can record video in portrait or landscape, and has a built-in mic and speaker that lets you capture and play back audio. Recording time isn't limited, either - it'll take as much video as you've got space for on the device.

Related links:

• News - PHOTOS: iPod nano colour options
• Reviewed - ipod nano 5th Gen with video

Tags: Audio iPod Apple iPod nano Video Cameras Camcorders Radios MP3 players

VIDEO: New Apple nano won't take stills, says video good enough originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:26:07 +0100

Here's a few quick snaps of the colour options now available when you pick up one of the new iPod nanos.

There are nine to choose from, including a "Product Red" option. They comprise of white, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink. All are options for the same price point - ?115 for 8GB and ?135 for 16GB.

Five colours have also been made available for the shuffle - grey, black, blue, green and pink - they cost ?45 for 2GB and ?60 for 4GB. There's a stainless steel "premium" option too, which costs ?75.

Related links:

• News - iPod touch, classic, shuffle and nano overhauled
• Reviewed - iPod nano 5th Gen with video

Tags: Audio iPod Apple Cameras Photos iPod nano Product Red MP3 players

PHOTOS: iPod nano colour options originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:18:43 +0100

Apple has just announced the new iPod nano and we were on hand to get a close look and grab a handful of pictures for you.

Apple told us, as expected, that the iPod nano will be getting a video camera and speaker. The screen has been lengthened to 2.2-inch diagonally.

However we've already spotted that you won't be able to take still pictures or download any apps for the device.

The nano is also getting "Genius Mixes", text-to-speech functionality from the iPod shuffle, and an FM radio device - something other manufacturers have provided for some time. There's also a pedometer and a voice recording application.

The 8GB model will be $149 in the US and ?115 in the UK, and the 16GB will be $179 in the US and ?135 in the UK. Both are available today.

Related links:

• News - Next-gen iPod nano to get a built-in camera
• Reviewed - iPod Nano 5th Gen with video

Tags: Audio iPod Apple Cameras Photos iPod nano MP3 players

PHOTOS: iPod nano 5th gen originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:05:08 +0100

It doesn't have the camera that the rumour mill was promising, however it does pack a whopping 64GB of storage space for all those movies and music you've now got somewhere.

Focusing on games, games and more games, the iPod touch gets a slight refresh in size and speed, however fails to expand much further - many were expecting the addition of a camera.

"It's an entry-level app store experience - it has a fantastic set of apps, it's a fantastic movie player, a fantastic music player," an Apple dude told us at the London event, to which we replied:

"But not a fantastic camera?"

The response we got was that "You'll need the iPhone for that."

The iPod touch features up to 30 hours of music playback or six hours of video playback on a single charge. The 8GB model holds up to 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos and 10 hours of video; the 32GB model holds up to 7,000 songs, 40,000 photos or 40 hours of video; and the 64GB model holds up to 14,000 songs, 90,000 photos or 80 hours of video.

The 32GB and 64GB models also include up to 50% faster performance and support for even better graphics with Open GL ES 2.0.

The 8GB iPod touch is now available for ?149, along with the iPod touch 32GB model for ?229 and 64GB model for ?299.

Related links:

• News - Apple iPod Touch 3rd generation model snapped

Tags: Audio iPod Apple iPod Touch Photos MP3 players

PHOTOS: iPod touch 64GB originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:54:26 +0100

Apple has announced, as expected, that the iPod nano will be getting a video camera and speaker. The screen has been lengthened to 2.2-inch diagonally.

In a move that had been predicted for some time thanks to cases leaked by Chinese manufacturers. Jobs talked up the thinness and capacity of the nano, as well as the quality of the camera that's getting integrated into the device.

However - one drawback is that the camera can't take still photos - only video. Apple told us that it records in 640 x 480, so any still you want to take out will have to be done in iMovie on your computer. It doesn't, however, have any maximum record time - it's only limited by however much storage you have left.

The nano is also getting genius mixes, text-to-speech functionality from the iPod shuffle, and an FM radio device - something other manufacturers have provided for some time. There's also a pedometer and a voice recording application.

The 8GB model will be $149 in the US and ?115 in the UK, and the 16GB will be $179 in the US and ?135 in the UK. Both are available today.

Related links:

• Reviewed - iPod nano 5th Gen

Tags: Audio Cameras Camcorders Apple iPod MP3 players

Apple iPod nano 5th Gen gets video camera originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:06:41 +0100

Apple has confirmed the rumours and announced a 3rd generation iPod touch, a new iPod classic, iPod nano and an update to the iPod shuffle in a full refresh of the company's music player range.

The basic stats are that the touch is getting a price cut, as previously detailed by Pocket-lint, along with a 50% faster processor and a more powerful graphics chip that can handle OpenGL 2.0, however no camera.

The 8GB iPod touch is now available for ?149, along with the iPod touch 32GB model for ?229 and 64GB model for ?299.

The iPod classic is also getting a refresh - a capacity upgrade to 160GB at the same $249 price in the US and ?189 in the UK. Apple says that should fit 40,000 songs on.

The iPod shuffle is getting an adaptor that allows you to use any headset with the device following a barrage of complaints over the previous version, and there'll also be a whole bundle of "made for iPod" headphones complete with inline remote controls.

It can now support multiple playlists, too. It's getting black, silver, pink, green and blue colours, and a $59 2GB model in the US and ?45 in the UK will be offered in those colours, too.

There'll be a special edition offered, which costs $99 for a 4GB model made of stainless steel.

Finally the iPod nano will get a camera, as per rumours, and allow users to snap and video their life.

If that wasn't enough, perhaps conforming to every other MP3 player on the market, the nano will also get an FM radio.

It will cost ?149 in the UK and $199 in the US.

Related links:

• News - Apple slashes iPod prices ahead of media event

Tags: Audio iPod Apple iPod Touch iPod nano iPod shuffle iPod classic MP3 players

iPod touch, classic, shuffle and nano overhauled originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:06:01 +0100

Apple has announced that version 3.1 of the iPhone and iPod Touch firmware will recommend applications to users.

In an attempt to sell yet more applications above and beyond the 1.8bn it has already shifted, the genius functionality from iTunes is being applied to the App Store.

Furthermore, the company has also added Ringtones to iTunes store in what is seen as an attempt to appeal to a "youth" market, while podcasts have been demoted into the "more" category.

30,000 ringtones from all four major labels are now available said Steve Jobs, Apple CEO at the San Francisco event.

They can be applied to individual contacts, and cost $1.29 each.

OS 3.1 is released today, and should be available imminently to download to your iPhone or iPod touch. It arrives alongside a redesigned iTunes store, and a new version of iTunes - verson 9.

The full list of new features is:

- Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos
- iTunes U content organization
- Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
- Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
- Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
- Option to "Save as new clip" when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
- Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on
- Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe
- Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
- Paste phone numbers into the keypad
- Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
- Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing)
- Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
- Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly

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Related links:

• News - Apple schedules keynote for 9 September

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Apple iPhone iPod

iPhone 3.1 OS update announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:12:25 +0100

If you are a true fan of The Beatles, the will-they won't-they saga about the entire collection appearing on iTunes won't interest you: you've already got them on vinyl, which we all know, is the purists only format.

Ion are throwing you a lifeline with their new I Profile LP, which will convert your vinyl originals to your iPod, authentic crackle, warping and all.

The new I Profile will also accept external inputs, so you can hook-up other sources and convert them to MP3 too.

Coming to IWOOT this month, it can be yours for ?129.99

Related links:

• Link - IWOOT

Tags: Audio iPod Ion Ion I Profile IWOOT Beatles

Ion I Profile converts your Beatles vinyl to iPod originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:26:44 +0100

Apple has made an unexpected move and slashed the prices of its iPod range in the States ahead of today's media event, widely expected to be the launch pad for new models.

Apple usually takes its online store offline before an event only to bring it back up refreshed with new products and pricing, but this time round has reduced the prices a good few hours before the media event is due to begin.

In the States the 32GB iPod touch is now $279 (down from $399), the 16GB is $249 (was $299) while the 8GB model is reduced to $189 instead of $229.

The iPod nano has also been reduced in the US, it's now at $129 for the 8GB model and $149 for the 16GBer, while the classic is down to $229 (was $249).

UK pricing has not been dramatically cut as yet. We will keep you posted.

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Related links:

• Feature - The Apple iPod rumour round-up

Tags: Audio iPod Apple iPod Touch iPod nano iPod shuffle iPod classic shopping Biz

Apple slashes iPod prices ahead of media event originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:49:38 +0100