Shuffle innards show dime-size battery, single chip
March 15, 2009
The crew at iFixit has already disassembled the new third-generation iPod shuffle, exposing the tiny innards. The processor, flash memory and RAM are all contained in a single, multi-layered chip. The dime-size battery also takes a minimalist approach, offering a capacity of just 73 mAh. The smaller battery cuts a few hours of playback time from the previous version, with the claimed runtime now a…
Klipsch plans earphones for 3G iPod shuffle
March 15, 2009
Klipsch on Thursday said it’s developing a set of earphones designed for the third-generation iPod shuffle. The revision will give users the same controls as with Apple’s stock and In-Ear headphones, including triggering VoiceOver and switching playlists. The feature set is unknown but will result in a 0 price point, suggesting the earphones will be similar to or slightly better in quality th…
New Shuffle to need adapter for third-party output
March 15, 2009
People looking to use headphones of their own with the newest iPod shuffle will have to be patient, Apple is said to have confirmed. The problem arises from the control scheme for the updated player, which has shifted almost entirely to proprietary Apple earbuds. At the moment the player is rendered useless without them, Apple notes.One solution is slated to be a special dongle adapter, equipped…
iTunes 8.1 adds iTunes Plus import, Genius for movies
March 15, 2009
Along with the new iPod shuffle launched on Wednesday, Apple also quietly introduced iTunes 8.1. The company claims to have improved performance when loading large libraries, browsing the store or syncing devices. The Genius sidebar feature, previously only available for music, will now recommend TV shows and movies to the user. The items can be previewed and purchased directly from the sidebar.F…
Snow Leopard delay, larger iPod touches coming?
March 15, 2009
A number of new developments are in progress behind the scenes at Apple, claims Kaufman analyst Shaw Wu. Sources currently say, for instance, that Mac OS X Snow Leopard will only be released this summer at the earliest, and possibly as late as the fall. This stands in contrast to predictions from Apple’s own director of Unix engineering, who in November said that the OS would ship before the end…
Sony debuts CMT-LX30iR iPod/USB speaker system
March 15, 2009
Sony has expanded its line of audio devices with the CMT-LX30iR, an entry-level speaker system that offers a dock for iPhones or iPods and a USB connection. A slot-load MP3 player is also provided, with support for MP3 playback, along with an AM/FM tuner and line in. The speakers each offer 5W of output, and users can select from several EQ presets including rock, pop, jazz and flat.Up to 20 FM an…
Japanese Mimi Switch reads face for device control
March 15, 2009
A Japanese device called the Mimi Switch or Ear Switch has the ability to read a wearer’s facial expression, including a blink of an eye, smile or raised eyebrow. It can accomplish this via its infrared sensors in the ear, the inside of which moves according to the facial expressions, and translate those movements into controls for attached personal electronics devices such as iPods. Invented and …
Onkyo intros Media Center PC with iPod dock
March 15, 2009
Onkyo on Thursday announced the nearing release of its E702A9 Sotec media center PC, which packages all hardware components into one enclosure, including the 21.5-inch, 1920×1080 resolution LCD widescreen display with a glossy coating and integrated 4X Blu-ray recorder. A dual-band TV tuner is also built-in, letting users simultaneously record two TV programs at once, as is an iPod dock, allowing …
Sony readying new iPod micro stereo
March 15, 2009
Sony is due to release a new iPhone- and iPod-ready micro component system soon, a new leak shows. The CMT-Z100iR would play and charge the Apple devices but, according to Sony Insider, would get a rare wall mounting capability; listeners would also control it through a touch panel. The system will also play CDs, although it’s not known if MP3 files on the discs will be supported. There is also a…
iPhone apps: PAXitis, Streaks, Theseus
March 15, 2009
PAXitis 2.0 () allows users to enter times and penalties and then calculate resulting PAX/RTP times. PAX times are handicaps assigned to cars based on their make/model/year and level of modification and are used to judge performances at the national level. The application can compare entered times and show position and the real time behind first place.Streaks () is a productivity and motivati…