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.

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?

Apple have closed their online Apple Store and posted the usual ‘We’ll be back soon’ sticky. With only just over an hour to go until Steve Jobs kicks off MacWorld with his keynote, this comes as good news.

General rule of thumb here: when the online Apple Store closes before a keynote speech, good things happen!

MacWorld kicks off tomorrow with Steve Jobs’ keynote speach. So here are our recommendations on where to go during the day for the best coverage.

• MacRumors - traditionally good coverage direct from the floor. (Thanks DoctorQ!)
• MacNN - usually has coverage from the floor and keynote in a feed.
• MacWorld - should have regular updates from the show.
• MacTeens - cool site, has correspondents in SF to cover developments as they happen.

Live coverage will not be easy to come by tomorrow primarily because Apple will not stream the event live (like they used to) and so many people will be on the Mac sites that getting a decent connection is difficult. If you are having trouble getting onto any of these sites, then you might be best just waiting it out until the main Mac news hubs update.

• AppleInsider - Blow-by-blow coverage with great editorial. Best bet for in-depth analysis.
• ThinkSecret - Usually offers a good roundup of releases - they probably know about half of the gear that’s coming tomorrow!
• Spymac - Typical roundup of main stories.
• MacDailyNews - Offering live coverage on a ‘lite’ page.
• iPodGarage - Bill Palmer will be updating direct from the show floor.

Aside from these, keep your eye on the various blog engines and community sites for news and reaction.

• Engadget - Coverage from the show floor. (Thanks dssaylor!)
• TUAW - Engadget’s sister-site, will also offer news from MacWord. (Thanks Jim Lind!)
• Digg - Should be frantic with updates tomorrow!
• Technorati - Get reaction from blogs across the web.
• Yahoo! News - Great for catching all the product announcements from the show floor.
• Google News - They’re just ok.
• CNET News - These guys usually have decent coverage with video clips of key moments in the keynote.
• BBC News - UK news authority, had a live stream of Apple’s last special event.
• Time - Has been known to accidentally leak Apple secrets (iMac G4 for example).
• Newsweek - Another trusted source worth checking into.
• MSNBC - Often manages an interview with SJ.

Don’t forget about Apple’s website. Later in the day they will probably release the recorded keynote, possibly here? Never seen a MacWorld keynote before? Try these out, they should be enough to tide you over until tomorrow.

• 2005 MacWorld Keynote
• 2004 MacWorld Keynote

The Keynote starts tomorrow, Tuesday 01/10/2006, 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM.

I’m sure there are a lot of sites that I’ve missed out on, but these should have all the bases covered whether you manage to get a live feed or have to wait for the dust to settle. Any suggestions? Add a comment.

Motorola will not include support for Apple’s iTunes Music Store in the upcoming release of the Motorola ROKR E2. Instead, the ROKR E2 will feature a new subscription-based music service from Motorola called iRadio. It is reported that iRadio will also include 435 commercial-free radio channels.

The first release of Motorola’s ROKR was a failure because it failed to live up to expectations set by iPod’s ease of use and storage capacity. The first ROKR was released at the same event where Apple unveiled the critically acclaimed iPod nano, leading to reports of a rift between Apple and Motorola. Even though Motorola will not support iTunes in the ROKR E2, the recently announced RAZR V3i will support iTunes.

It looks like Motorola continue to struggle to gain a share of the online music market, but confusing customers with regards what music they can listen to on their phone and what they can’t is not a good way to build trust.

Jonathon Ive has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list (PDF). Apple, in a statement said: “We are as proud as could be that Jony is receiving such a prestigious commendation.”

Jonathon Ive is one of the most influential people at Apple having designed the iMac and iPod, both of which have been central to Apple’s recent resurgence. He has also been heavily involved with the design of other Apple products including the iBook, PowerBook, PowerMac and Mac mini. Having worked at Apple since 1992, Mr. Ive has been touted by many as the ‘natural’ successor to current CEO Steve Jobs.