iPod Tracker : iPod News

Having troubles converting your music files to the right format for your iPod or other MP3 player? FXBear.com have made a simple solution which takes less than two minutes to convert your favourite music files to MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC and many more with just a click of the button.

The MP3 converter software allows you to change bitrates so you can
compress your standard MP3 files, allowing you to fit more onto your iPod / MP3 player. The OGG converter and AAC converter allows you to convert all your music formats to AAC / OGG and vice versa. The WMA converter enables you to convert your protected WMA files to OG.

It’s the kind of application that comes in very handy if you need to convert a file quickly and can’t do it in iTunes. Previously we covered how to convert video for iPods.

Apple announced on January 30th that the digital music player iPod Shuffle will be available in five brilliant colors: pink, blue, orange, green and the original silver. A hit with the customers since its shipment three months ago. The iPod shuffle is a cubic inch in volume, it weighs only an ounce and features an aluminum design with built in clip. On Apple’s pioneering shuffle feature thay lets music fans enjoy more music of their own. Anywhere they go and anytime, it holds up to 240 songs and now available in all five colors for $79.

When Apple released the iPhone there was an amzing amount of buzz, not to mention the threat of litigation from Cisco. But even though we have nice slick images of the product on the Apple website we are going to have to wait until at least June before we can get our hands on it in the US, while Europe won’t get it for a few months later. What’s a geek supposed to do between now and then?

Well, we could engage in a frightfully deep conversation about the final iPhone spec, possible apps that will be on the phone and whatever iPhone accessories will be launched alongside it. I think that’s probably going to be the best way possible to stay sane while we wait it out for the release date.

I for one already have a savings tin collecting pennies to put towards it.

Apple also released their much-rumoured highly anticipated iPod “Boombox” today at their inhouse media event.

• Integrated power supply
• 6 D-size batteries
• Speakers: 2 x 80mm wide-range speakers
• Bass: 1 x 130mm dual voice coil woofer
• Ported bass reflex design
• Universal iPod dock connector
• Integrated handles
• Sealed resin enclosure
• Rear auxiliary input for iPod shuffle
• Can be controlled using the Apple Remote
• Price: $349

iPod support for the iPod Hi-Fi isn’t lacking either. Apple have released an iPod update that puts a speaker icon in the menu. Selecting this starts to play back music, then makes the screen go black and display album art.

Looking forward to this one!

Apple have released new leather cases for their 5th generation iPod with video and iPod nano.

The new cases do not have access to the screen and controls, presumably to offer better protection. They are only available in black.

Apple will offer the new cases priced at $99 each and will start shipping them to customers in mid-March.

Base Model

• 1.5 Ghz Intel Core Solo
• 667 Mhz FSB
• 512 MB memory
• 60 GB HD
• Combo drive
• Tiger and iLife ‘06
• Apple Remote and Front Row with Bonjour
• Airport Extreme
• Bluetooth
• DVI video out
• USB 2.0
• FireWire
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Price: $599

Top Model

• 1.67 Ghz Intel Core Duo
• 667 Mhz FSB
• 512 MB memory
• 80 GB HD
• Superdrive
• Tiger and iLife ‘06
• Apple Remote and Front Row with Bonjour
• Airport Extreme
• Bluetooth
• DVI video out
• USB 2.0
• FireWire
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Price: $799

The much anticipated new Intel Mac mini was released at today’s Special Media Event at Apple’s Campus in Cupertino. Details are scarce right now, but from what we can gather the specs look like this:

New Mac mini

• Same form factor
• Single (Intel Core Solo) and dual chip (Intel Core Duo) versions
• 4 USB 2.0 ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Analog audio output
• SPDIF audio output
• Front Row built in with support for shared music, photo and video libraries
• Can stream iTunes TV shows
• Infrared port on front beside disc drive
• Apple Remote included
• From $599

Just a quick post. I came across this article on The Times on the new Type 45 Destroyer class, the first of which named HMS Daring was launched yesterday. Apart from this new ship being touted as the world’s most advanced tactical next-generation battleship, the Royal Navy will be supplying their shipmates with iPod docks in their berths.

When you see the military integrating the iPod in such a large scale you really have to stand back and ask, just what would be able to knock iPod off the top roster?

Check out these headphones! The Macally mTUNE-N headphones have a built-in iPod nano dock integrated into one of the earphones. This means that you can connect your nano into a neat, cable-free cradle and control it from the side of your head. Changing tracks is as easy as ever, just scroll up or down and select a tune. However, you cannot change menus so if you want to listen to a different album, artist or playlist then you’ll have to take the headphones off and change menu.

There’s no denying that these are a statement - they’re big and bold. Put it this way, you’ll be seen wearing these. But considering that your precious iPod is attached rather visibly to the side of your head, would you really want to make it that easy for a thief to knab it? Moving on, it’s available now priced at $49 / £40.

Rumors are circulating that Apple and Starbucks may be teaming up to allow customers to download songs onto their iPods at Starbucks coffee shops.

Starbucks already sell a range of funky-jazzy-coffee-music CDs that get airtime in the shop, but they currently don’t offer music downloads. But all that may change with a deal where customers can fill-up with coffee and music.

“A lot of our customers are asking for device fill-up, and going forward we’ll do that,” said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, at the Midem music industry conference in Cannes.

Right now there is no definite link between Apple and Starbucks, but both companies have such popular products and complimenting demographics that any affiliation would certainly benefit both - and all those Starbuckers out there!