If you’re scratching your head what to buy for a kid with just $50 in your pocket, perhaps the iPulse Bear Speaker System will be a wise choice, leaving you with a smile on your face and some loose change in your pocket to boot. This cute little bear will bring the disco experience home, featuring a kangaroo-like pouch on his belly that will keep your iPod or any other digital audio player securely. Turning the iPulse Bear on (somehow that doesn’t sound quite right) requires one to just squeeze the paw.

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If it weren’t for that click wheel, the iPod would probably be less symbolic. Consider, for example, navigating the iPod via the touch screen. Or, finding barely visible buttons on the frame of the display. Apple has apparently been experimenting and filing patents for this type of navigation control for quite some time now, but the patent only got published last Thursday. From the looks of it, we’d soon be watching more videos from our iPods and playing songs less often.

It isn’t really a black or white concept. Apple’s been looking into a hybrid, just to appease you guys who’ve fallen so faithfully for the click wheel. If this hybrid sees the light of day, we’ll be seeing a virtual wheel in the touch screen and a bunch of other navigation controls in the display frame as well. The perfect reason for this, according to Apple, is that the display ought to take more space in the device, and the click wheel is indeed going to get in the way.

And if it does see the light of day, expect something more freakish features in the iPod versions of the future. In the patent diagram, Apple showed that the iPod would have a sensor that will detect whether you’re lying down or standing up. The text, display images, and touch screen controls would change horizontally or vertically and adapt to your spatial orientation. Neat!

Apple didn’t confirm, however, whether the new features will be included in all the iPods or in the latest video-playing versions only.
Source:
Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/15868279.htm

If you remember and enjoyed yesterday’s post about the Teleglass, you will probably like this one as well because both products are on the same category. The HMD800 actually costs less and is already available for purchase, those are the 2 bonus points.

The Head Mounted Display (HMD) works with iPods, DVD Players, Gaming Systems, and any other device that features a AV output. Its function is to reproduce the image that is being played on your device, into a 30-inch virtual theater-like image that you can see while wearing the glasses. Read the rest of this entry »

Probably the cutest iPod speakers in the world, the DJ Bear.

Amazingly we’ve not written about any iPod paraphernalia for a while (shock, horror!), the iPod accessory scene seems to of been something quiet of late. So it was nice to see an iPod accessory for kids (or soppy adults) the DJ Bear.

With the DJ bear you place your iPod (or any compatible MP3 player) in his front dungaree pocket, squeeze his hand to turn him on and then listen to you favourite tunes from speakers in his teenie weenie feet. For kids to get the full stereo effect they’ll just need to give him a shoulder ride.

You can get the DJ Bear from Janlynn for $39.99.

If the latest round of touchscreen iPod rumors are true, you may want to revise your holiday wishlist.

Touchscreen iPod rumors have been circulating around the Internet for awhile now. Even MethodShop.com posted some touchscreen iPod patent pictures back in February. The new twist to this story is that the touchscreen iPod might have a wide aspect ratio screen. This would make a lot of sense since Apple recently started selling movies on iTunes.

The new widescreen rumor originated from an anonymous executive at an iPod accessories company who spoke to someone at TrustedReviews. How reliable is this anonymous executive? Your guess is as good as ours. Anyway, here’s what Mr. Anonymous had to say:

“In a very matter of fact tone I was told that the product was not designed for the current generation of device, but the official 6G iPod… which is to be released in December. His company’s device only comes onto the market shortly before then and would benefit hugely because the new iPod would sport a screen that filled the full side of the device and consequently offer higher resolution video… This is why Jobs isn’t afraid of the Zune,’ he said, though he had no knowledge of whether wireless would make an appearance.”

This might help explain Steve Jobs dismissive attitude last week:

“Jobs is unimpressed with Microsoft’s Zune, which allows users to exchange songs. ‘It takes forever,’ said Jobs. ‘By the time you’ve gone through all that, the girl’s got up and left!’”

Adding more fuel to the fire, here’s what Gizmodo had to say about the widescreen iPod rumors:

“One thing’s for sure, if this widescreen iPod is released in the next two months, the Microsoft Zune with its old-fashioned 4×3 screen and crippled WiFi will be slam-dunked.”

digg story | methodshop

According to several police chiefs in the UK, the popularity of the iPod may be behind a 5% increase in robberies. Ian Johnston, chief constable of the British Transport Police had this to say last Friday about the iPod and other valuable gadgets, “The mobile phone explosion is continuing. The iPod explosion is continuing. All of these gadgets that people carry around with them are very attractive to robbers, so that puts the opportunities up. We’ve obviously got to respond to that…”

Apparently just wearing an iPod in the UK can make you a target for a mugging. If you are extremely worried about being attacked for your iPod, you should consider not using the white earbuds that come with every iPod. White headphones are a dead giveaway to everyone around you that you own an iPod.

Even though overall crime in the UK has dropped, robbery rose by about 5% compared to last year. Violent crime was also slightly up nationwide mostly due to street brawls and pub fights.

In case you are curious, here’s the breakdown in recorded crime in the UK compared to last year:

• Drug offences up 16%
• Other offences against the person-with no injury up 6%
• Robbery up 5%
• Criminal damage 0%
• Theft of and from vehicles 0%
• Domestic burglary down 4%
• Other burglary down 5%
• Other thefts and handling down 6%
• More serious violence down 13%
• Other offences against the person-with injury down 4%
• Sexual offences down 6%
• Total recorded crime down 2%

digg story | methodshop

Oops. According to a notice on Apple’s technical support site, 1% of Video iPods shipped after September 12 had a little present on their hard drives. It wasn’t something good, like free music or movies, but a computer virus called “RavMonE.exe” that spreads via removable media.

Apple’s response was the following: “As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it… So far we have seen less than 25 reports concerning this problem…. and all Video iPods now shipping are virus free.”

Mac users can breathe a sigh of relief, the “RavMonE.exe” virus only affects computers running Microsoft’s Windows operating system. If you are a PC user who recently purchased a Video iPod, you can detect and remove the virus using an anti-virus software program like Norton AntiVirus. You should also scan any mass storage devices that you have recently attached to your PC such as external hard drives, digital cameras with removable media, and USB flash drives.

Good luck.

digg story | methodshop

Looks like all the rumors were true. Say hello to the new special edition red iPod Nano.

Bono, Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities have partnered with Apple Computer on a special red-colored iPod Nano to help raise money for a new charity aimed at battling AIDS in Africa called PRODUCT RED.

To help promote the new red iPod, both Oprah and Bono bought 10 red iPods at Apple’s retail store in Chicago. The video aired last Friday on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (video).

Apple has agreed to donate $10 from the sale of each red iPod to the PRODUCT RED charity to help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The PRODUCT RED charity was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA. They hope to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world’s most iconic brands to produce PRODUCT RED branded products. Other companies that plan on offering special PRODUCT RED items include the Gap, Converse, Armani, American Express and Motorola.

According to AppleInsider, rumors of a red-colored iPod first surfaced when Bono was overheard at Dublin’s Patrick Guilbaud restaurant “discussing a new charity red AmEx card and red iPod.”

digg story | methodshop