Why not get your kid an MP3 player? As long as it keeps them occupied for 10 minutes, it’s worth a good amount of money. Fisher Price, a regular in the children’s toys market, is here to take your money with their new Kid-Tough FP3 (no typo!) player.
Read the rest of this entry »

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

There are times when you just want to take a break from all the noise around you and retire into your very own private hole, away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Sometimes even the privacy and comfort of our very own rooms are not able to provide us with that as the constant sirens 20 floors below pierce through the air while the whirring of news helicopters above provide a steady stream of distraction. If there was a way to completely cut off all form of sound, how much are you willing to pay for it? The Total Isolation System might cost $315, but read on to see if it is just a pile of hogwash or the true blue silent solution.

Read the rest of this entry »

These have got to be the smallest earpieces I’ve ever seen, the micro earpieces slot into your ears and are near invisible.

I’m pleased to say all models are wireless (having an invisible earpiece with a wire dangling from it would have kind of defeated the object). Communications is via Bluetooth or an inductive coil that you wear under your clothes.

They may be small but they’re certainly not cheap with prices starting at over $200. More info over at wintec, thanks to fellow gadget enthusiast MystD for the heads up on these tiny devices.

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

Rock band Keane are including a free memory stick with their latest single. I’m not a particular fan of Keane’s music but it is a cool idea.

Jon Turner the general manager of Keane’s record label Island explained the band were trying out the stick with a hope to develop it into a credible alternative to the CD by 2007.

“I do see it as a potential format for the future,” he told The Guardian, “but I don’t think it’s going to run down the use of digital services. It’s an interesting experiment. I’m keen to see what people make of it.”

Original story on NME found via our forums, thanks Keith.

Would you pick up a LCD monitor that comes in an unconventional design, or would you rather play it safe and stick to boring old form factors as those found in the current market? LG decided to inject some life into the LCD display arena with the new 1900R LCD monitor that features a unique black and red design which comes with a hole inside. The hole is not there for your pet hamster to jump through, but actually has a technological purpose instead. LG claims that “the red light will come on in a clockwise direction whenever you turn on the light”, whatever that means.

Read the rest of this entry »

So you’re stuck on the phone with your Aunt Annie who always has tons of things to say, and being a phlegmatic, you have this inborn trait of not knowing how to say no and end the conversation politely as your World of Warcraft character is getting bashed right in front of your eyes as she rambles on and on about her latest outing with the rest of the girls at the local Hat Club. How do you tell her that you really need to go and you don’t really care about what she has to share with you? Enter the Excuse Box which will save many a frustrated moment.

Read the rest of this entry »