This is a first. Anyone can get a short text message engraved on the back of their iPod (unless it gets rejected by Apple). But the days of lame text messages may be over... at least for TiVo junkies. TiVo is offering rewards to existing customers who encourage friends and family members to sign up for TiVo. One of these rewards is a Limited Edition TiVo iPod.


"Because your music collection can't always come with you. When you don't have access to your home theater sound system and the TiVo Digital Music Player, there's the Apple iPod. A musical dream come true, iPod continues to define the perfect portable digital music player for Mac and Windows with the ability to easily slip up to 5,000 songs into your pocket. And enjoy it wherever you go. In the car. On the treadmill. At the office. At work (did we say that?). Offering up to 12 hours of battery life. Weighing in at just 5.6 ounces. Use it with Mac OS X or Windows 2000/XP. Shuffle songs in the main menu. Comes with: Apple Earphones, AC Adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable. This is the latest and greatest iPod - the 4th generation iPod. Plus, the TiVo logo is etched on back!."[Via TIVO]

The MethodShop Spin: This is a strange move for TiVo and Apple. They still haven't worked out compatibility issues with TiVo's Home Media Option and the iTunes Music Store. Maybe this is a good sign of a better relationship.

"Toshiba is releasing four new portable digital music devices -- one boasting a 60 GB capacity -- to rival Apple's.

The Gigabeat F range of players, targeting the Japanese market, includes 10 GB, 20 GB and 60 GB models. Each features touch-sensitive color screens for navigation options such as volume control.

All three models use a 1.8-inch hard drive which can hold up to 2,500, 5,000 and 15,000 pieces of music respectively. The players record music at 128 Kbps and can handle both WMA and MP3 Latest News about MP3 format files.

Toshiba also unveiled its 10 GB capacity Gigabeat G10, which resembles a minidisk player and is compatible with Windows Relevant Products/Services from InterLand Business Hosting Services Media Player 9.

The G10 includes software that enables users to create playlists in Windows Media Player that can be downloaded onto the player, including information such as artist names and track titles.."[Via ECT]

The MethodShop Spin: Yawn. Are people still trying to make iPod clones?

"Future DVDs could hold 100 times more information than current discs."

"Imperial College London researchers in the UK are developing a new way of storing data that could lead to discs capable of holding 1,000 gigabytes."
[Via BBC News]

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group Ltd. became the latest company to enter the digital music market and try to de-throne Apple's popular iTunes Store.

"Virigin Digital includes a digi-music store, screaming radio, portable device management tools, and a subscription service.

Said Branson: 'We worked directly with passionate music fans...and we've come up with a digital music service that...defines the Virgin energy and spirit'.

The firm said that the Digital Megastore will have a million tracks for 99 cents apiece, and tracks can be burned to CDs, no problems.

It also said that the service will include a digital music management tool to master the different audio sources currently available.

The service is available only in the United States, so far. It plans to extend it later on."[Via theinquirer]

The MethodShop Spin: Isn't the online music scene already too crowded? Everyone from Sony, Yahoo, Wal-Mart, Napster, Microsoft and Real Networks are trying to pick up the scraps left behind by Apple's iTunes Music Store. At this rate, we wouldn't be surprised if even Home Dept started a music store.

"Many have tried, but none have succeeded in displacing the iPod from our list of must-have gadgets. We love almost everything about this beautifully designed player, and now with the fourth-generation model, battery life is finally improved." [Via CNET]

"Sony has seemingly changed its mind on the MP3 music format, deciding that all new players will be able to play MP3s. Before this decision all music players made by Sony used only the company's proprietary ATRAC format, limiting users' choices somewhat.

The announcement comes before the release of Sony's new Network Walkman NW-HD1, which, much like the iPod and similar players, contains a hard drive for music storage. This first Sony offering will come with a 20 GB drive and should be considerably cheaper than the iPod.

The U-turn on MP3 support is also meant to help Sony Connect, the online music portal set up by the company to rival iTunes. Sony is even going so far as to release software updates for players already sold to allow them to play the MP3 format as well.

The release of the new player, software updates, and MP3 support on Sony Connect are all meant to happen before the end of the the year."[Via GEEK.com]

The MethodShop Spin: This major strategy reversal could help Sony compete more effectively with rivals such as Apple Computer. It's amazing Sony waited this long to drop their proprietary ATRAC format. Sony once dominated the portable music market with their Walkman product, but the iPod closed the curtains on that era 4 years ago. Accepting the MP3 format now, is probably too little too late for Sony.

"As eager Macintosh developers waited for Steve Jobs to speak, the familiar strains of "Magical Mystery Tour" filled the darkened hall at an Apple Computer conference in June." [Via C|Net News]

"There are many reasons to like the iPod. But to me, the most compelling one is the scroll wheel.

There's never been anything better for negotiating the prodigious amounts of music that we're lucky enough to be able to fit into our pockets these days.

The iPod's scroll wheel has been through three iterations. The first one actually rotated; then there was the touch-sensitive one; and finally there's the clickable one found on the iPod Mini and fourth-generation iPod. I'd always assumed that this bit of design genius sprang from Apple Computer's labs. But in fact, I discovered that a company called Synaptics, which primarily makes touchpads for laptops, actually perfected this little piece of navigational heaven, in accordance with Apple's stringent design requirements."[Via C|NET]

The MethodShop Spin: The iPod's clickable scroll wheel is pure genius. The iPod-clone makers have a tough hurdle to overcome.

"As gamers anxiously await powerful new consoles from Microsoft and Sony, game publishers are trying to figure out where they'll get the extra millions of dollars needed to create titles for the new hardware."

"Were it not for the kindness of [a poster on a forum], I wouldn't have twigged to an obvious (now that he or she has mentioned it, of course) solution for creating smaller audio files from older recordings.

Do it in mono.

Not only can you improve the quality of your listening experience by going one-channel, you can save a load of storage space on your computer and digital player. When you rip a tune in mono, you cut its file size in half as compared to a stereo rip."

[Via Playlist Mag]

Have you ever gotten that bad sinking feeling when you think you've lost something? What about your iPod? David, a friend of ours who works down the hall, just had an awful experience we wouldn't wish on any iPod owner.

Here's David's 'Lost iPod in Ikea' story, in his own words:

"My 40G iPod was just a few weeks old. I was in the process of loading it up with music.

It immediately became indespensible... it quickly found a permanent place in my black bag, along with all my other indespensible things: Palm Pilot, Swiss Army Knife, small flashlight, car keys, etc. My kids called the black bag my "work bag."

One day, I was driving to work. With me in the car, aside from my "work bag", I had a medium-box that I wanted to return before work at Ikea, in Elizabeth, NJ. It wasn't as crazy as it sounds. I didn't have to be at work until 11:00 that day. Since Ikea is right next to the NJ Turnpike, it wouldn't be that far out of the way for me. If I arrived at the store early enough, I could be outta there in fifteen minutes, I thought.

I parked the car next to customer service. I grabbed my bag, and loaded the box that I was returning onto a cart, and went inside. Great -- there were not many other people waiting. I took a number. I sat on a bench, my black bag beside me. I was outta there in less than fifteen minutes, and on my way to work.

Within about twenty minutes, I was in the city, parking the car. I turned to pick up my work bag on the seat beside me . It was not there. Alarmed, I hoped it was on the back seat for some reason, as I quickly looked in the back. It wasn't in the back either. Where's my bag?! Where's my f###### bag!!?? @#%$!! I must have left my bag in f###### Ikea!!! !@#$%!! MY BAG!! MY NEW iPOD!! I felt sick.



I had been sitting in my car for quite a while, unable to reach anyone at Ikea in Elizabeth, New Jersey. I decided to go to work. Sadly, I figured that I could resume my desperate efforts at work. It probably would not make any difference. I got to my desk and called once more. "Thank you for calling Ikea. Please listen carefully to all of the following nine menu options which have recently changed. For furniture press.... for lighting... bedding..."

I felt sick and dejected. There had to be another phone number at Ikea in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In desperation, I dialed the main switchboard at the building where I worked. "Hi, my name is...," I began. I proceeded to describe my stupidity and my problem to the company operator. She offered to connect me to local telephone information in Elizabeth, NJ. "Yes, thank you," I replied. I hoped that maybe this might yield a different phone number than I got earlier from 411 on my cell.

"Verizon information," said a voice. "What city please?" "Hi. Elizabeth, please. Ma'am, I have a problem. See, I'm desperately trying to reach Ikea's Customer Service or any person at Ikea..." I explained my stupidity and my problem to another telephone operator. "Well," she offered, "I do have a number for Ikea in Elizabeth that's separate from their main store... for repairs," she said. "Yes, yes! Please! Thank you!" She even connected me.

A phone rang somewhere... A human being answered, "Hello." ""Hi!" I exclaimed. "Ikea? Hi." I thanked him for being a real live human being, and not a recording. "My name's David. I have a very serious problem. I was in Customer Service at the Ikea store in Elizabeth about ninety minutes ago...." I explained my stupidity and my problem yet again. "I am desperately trying to reach someone in the Customer Service area at the main store in Elizabeth. Are you able to connect me and also give me the direct phone number?" He gave me the number and connected me.

Finally, the telephone was ringing somewhere in Elizabeth. "Ikea," a voice answered. "Is this customer service?" I asked hopefully. It is, he said. I got his name. Thank God, I thought. One more time, I explained about the lost bag containing all my stuff. "I haven't seen it," he said. He sounded bored. "Would you be able to check for me, please?" I asked. "Hold on," he said.

I waited on the phone anxiously. He got back on the phone. "This bag... did it have any writing on the outside?" he asked me. "Writing? I don't know... let me think," I answered. "Tumi!" I exclaimed "It's a Tumi bag! It says Tumi!." "Yeah, I've got it," he told me.

Boy, was I one lucky stupid mother######, I thought. I think I even said that to him. I aksed him if he'd check inside the bag, for all my things, especially ny new iPod. He told me that he was not allowed to open the bag, which made sense. I thanked him again, and told him that someone would come by and get the bag.

I made one last call to my wife. Before asking her to please drive to Ikea and get my bag, I had to tell her what had happened. It was easier to tell strangers about my stupidity, I'd say.

I still have my iPod. Now if I can just find my wallet... I think I left it in my pants.

"As Internet giants step into the crowded online music arena, some are banking on a new weapon to help attack market leader Apple Computer: instant messaging."

"80s Arcade Games - play Pacman, Space Invaders, Frogger & more (no downloads required)" [80'smusicyrics.coml]

The PimpWiz.com Spin: Dont Sleep on Pac Man young bloods! Now Featuring High Scores!

"While Japan is famous for video games and is the second-largest market for Apple's Macintosh, it is not the land of the rising sun for Mac gamers.

Go to any giant Tokyo electronics store, like the eight-story Bic-Camera Yurakucho megamart in the Ginza district, and there are only two Japanese Mac games on the shelf: Railroad Tycoon and Sega's Puyo-Puyo Fever.

But this situation may see an upturn in the near future. Mac gamers may have a savior in the form of none other than Microsoft.

Microsoft Japan is planning to translate and market a whole series of popular Mac games, calling it the Microsoft Mac Games Collection." [Via WIRED]


The MethodShop Spin: Why has MicroSoft, a very unlikely savior, stepped in to rescue gaming on the Mac?

"The best-selling PlayStation 2 games console has been given a makeover, with a new slimmed-down, lightweight model due to go on sale in November."

The MethodShop Spin: Still doesnt beat Xbox's quality in gaming experience.

"Web portal Yahoo is planning to launch its own online music service later this year, despite its $160 million purchase of Musicmatch announced this week, according to music industry sources."

"eMusic, one of the oldest names in digital music, will relaunch its music subscription service on Wednesday with an independent appeal dramatically different than its bigger rivals."

Apple is pursuing a massive settlement with The Beatles' record company, AppleCorps Records, which has sued Apple several times over the past 20 years.

"If ever there were two cultural and business institutions known for their ability to generate utterly bizarre rumors, they would have to be the two Apples.

That is, Apple Computer of Macintosh computer and iPod fame, and AppleCorps, the record company founded by the Beatles. And only the engagement of the two in a sticky trademark dispute could have generated the whopper that made the rounds earlier this week.

According to a report in Daily Variety, the two companies are close to a settlement in their dispute over use of the Apple name, one that would have the computer company paying up big to the record company by writing a check that would "massively dwarf" the rumored $26.5 million that it paid the surviving Fab Four in 1991. "The biggest legal settlement in legal history," one lawyer told Variety." [Via Forbes]

The MethodShop Spin: Likely outcomes are: 1- a big payout to The Beatles (Apple's giant stockpile of $4b in cash will come handy!), 2- Paul McCartney joins Apple's board, or 3- Apple spins off the iPod to mitigate concerns of trademark infringement.

"The founder of Easyjet has confirmed he is entering the online music market in a partnership with UK-based Wippit.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou's move comes as Microsoft and Yahoo revealed challenges to the likes of established services like Apple's iTunes and Napster.

Some tracks on Easymusic will cost as little as 25 pence (45 cents).

The launch could trigger a price war, although consumers will face competing standards, with some downloads playing only on certain portable devices.

Apple's iTunes dominates the market, in part boosted by the phenomenal success of the firm's iPod portable music player.

But Apple has come under fire this week for charging UK users more than those in France and Germany." [Via BBC]

"The Mozilla Foundation's Firefox Web browser, an open-source alternative to Microsoft's market-dominating Internet Explorer, has been attracting new users at a breakneck pace. Even before reaching its 1.0 milestone, it has doubled its downloads every four months for the past eight. The last two months alone saw nearly 5 million downloads of software." [Via News.com]

The MethodShop Spin: An awesome browser that flys past IE and Microsoft! Download FireFox now!