http://www.theage.com.au/national/ipod-for-books-kindles-excitement-20091008-gp2c.html
IT'S the iPod for book lovers. The Australian publishing industry was abuzz yesterday over the announcement that Amazon.com's foray into the world of electronic readers, the Kindle, is coming to Australia.
The electronic reader, Amazon's biggest-selling product ever, has previously been available only to US consumers. A new version that can download books, newspapers and periodicals wirelessly in more than 100 countries will begin shipping this month.
Kindle is a reading device that uses the same technology as 3G phones.
About 200,000 books will be available for Australian customers to download through the device from October 19.
People will be able to read newspapers and periodicals from around the world, such as The New York Times, and Britain's Daily Telegraph. The Kindle will sell for $US279 ($A314). Sony's e-reader model begins at about $100 cheaper.
Amazon's vice-president of Kindle, Steve Kessel, was on the campaign trail yesterday and was adamant that Kindle will run seamlessly on Australia's mobile network.
''The 3G wireless connection means you can be reading a book less than 60 seconds after you order it,'' Mr Kessel said.
--
This iPod for book lovers is a good innovation. This is now a new way of i-love-reading-more-than-ever feeling. I hope children will be more encouraged to read.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Rock Band launches iPhone and iPod Touch app
http://www.nme.com/news/ipod/47761
Rock Band has announced it is to launch an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Details of the deal were announced by game developer EA Mobile on its Facebook page. According to the post, the app is to be released later this month. Users can play guitar, drums, bass or sing vocals, and also to launch multiplayer games with up to four people taking part simultaneously.
20 tracks have been confirmed for the app, including the likes of Pixies, Foo Fighters, Motorhead, Blondie and Smashing Pumpkins.
The full tracklisting for Rock Band on the iPhone and iPod Touch is:
30 Seconds To Mars – 'Attack'
AFI – 'Girls Not Grey'
All American Rejects – 'Move Along'
Beastie Boys – 'Sabotage'
Blink-182 – 'All The Small Things'
Blondie – 'Hanging on the Telephone'
Foo Fighters – 'Learn To Fly'
Foo Fighters – 'Everlong'
George Thorogood & the Destroyers – 'Bad to The Bone'
Jethro Tull – 'Hymn 43'
Joan Jett – 'Bad Reputation'
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 'Simple Man'
Motorhead – 'Ace of Spades '08'
Pixies – 'Debaser'
Presidents of The United States of America – 'Ladybug'
Rise Against – 'Give It All'
Silversun Pickups – 'Lazy Eye'
Smashing Pumpkins – 'Cherub Rock'
Steve Miller Band – 'Take The Money and Run'
The Go Gos – 'We Got The Beat'
--
This Ipod event is so cool. This Ipod stuff is a feast to all music lovers and Ipod fans.
Rock Band has announced it is to launch an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Details of the deal were announced by game developer EA Mobile on its Facebook page. According to the post, the app is to be released later this month. Users can play guitar, drums, bass or sing vocals, and also to launch multiplayer games with up to four people taking part simultaneously.
20 tracks have been confirmed for the app, including the likes of Pixies, Foo Fighters, Motorhead, Blondie and Smashing Pumpkins.
The full tracklisting for Rock Band on the iPhone and iPod Touch is:
30 Seconds To Mars – 'Attack'
AFI – 'Girls Not Grey'
All American Rejects – 'Move Along'
Beastie Boys – 'Sabotage'
Blink-182 – 'All The Small Things'
Blondie – 'Hanging on the Telephone'
Foo Fighters – 'Learn To Fly'
Foo Fighters – 'Everlong'
George Thorogood & the Destroyers – 'Bad to The Bone'
Jethro Tull – 'Hymn 43'
Joan Jett – 'Bad Reputation'
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 'Simple Man'
Motorhead – 'Ace of Spades '08'
Pixies – 'Debaser'
Presidents of The United States of America – 'Ladybug'
Rise Against – 'Give It All'
Silversun Pickups – 'Lazy Eye'
Smashing Pumpkins – 'Cherub Rock'
Steve Miller Band – 'Take The Money and Run'
The Go Gos – 'We Got The Beat'
--
This Ipod event is so cool. This Ipod stuff is a feast to all music lovers and Ipod fans.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Can You Hear Me Now? iPod Volume Restrictions On The Way
JR Raphael, PC World
EU MP3 Player Volume PolicyHave you heard? iPods in Europe are about to get a lot more quiet. Regulators have released a new set of standards governing how loud portable music players can go, and that means the default max volume is going take a big dip from where it currently sits.
The EU's New MP3 Player Policy
The European Commission's new policy will require iPods and other MP3 players to have a default maximum volume of 80 decibels. That's considered a "very loud" level by most sound rankings; anything above that mark can be potentially dangerous. Presently, most MP3 players go as loud as 115 to 125 decibels.
For some fun comparisons, we turn to the U.S. National Institute On Deafness And Other Communications Disorders (apparently, every shorter agency name was already taken). According to the, er, USNIODAOCD:
• 80 decibels is equivalent to the level of noise you'd hear on a busy city street;
• 90 decibels is lawnmower-like loudness;
• 110 is as ear-shattering as a loud rock concert;
• 120 to 130 matches the level of an airliner taking off -- or, in less technical terms, "GET USED TO PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVING TO SHOUT AT YOU!"
Some Volume Limit Limitations
Now, the new European MP3 volume policy won't make it impossible to pump up the jam (even if you do make dated references to subpar dance tunes) -- it'll just make it more difficult.
With the new restrictions, MP3 player-makers will only have to preset their devices' default max volumes. They will, however, have the option of allowing users to disable that default and venture into deafening territory, albeit with some sort of warning about the eardrum-puncturing delights that may occur.
So what would this warning actually entail? Per the EU statement:
"A dequate warnings for consumers on the risks involved, and on ways to avoid them, including the situation when the original set of earphones is replaced with another type and this causes higher unsafe sound levels. The mandate is not prescriptive in terms of how this is done. Industry solutions could include, for example, labels or digital information on the screen."
(I'm pretty sure they meant "adequate," not "a dequate." Because, I'll be honest, I have no idea what "a dequate warning" would be.)
Sounding Off
Personally, I think it's great that users will still be able to ignore the advice and subject themselves to harmful decibel exposure. It's perfectly permissible for someone to ruin his own lungs with heavy smoking, after all, or to ruin his own liver with heavy drinking. Why draw a distinction with eardrums?
Seriously, though, the new visual warnings should be a good step toward ensuring people are at least aware of the dangers of rockin' out earbud-style. Unless, of course, they've already had their eyesight damaged by an exploding iPod. Then they're just totally screwed.
--
Turning the volume level one notch down will make a difference in one's health. Those with Ipod, don't screw your hearing.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/172748/article.html
EU MP3 Player Volume PolicyHave you heard? iPods in Europe are about to get a lot more quiet. Regulators have released a new set of standards governing how loud portable music players can go, and that means the default max volume is going take a big dip from where it currently sits.
The EU's New MP3 Player Policy
The European Commission's new policy will require iPods and other MP3 players to have a default maximum volume of 80 decibels. That's considered a "very loud" level by most sound rankings; anything above that mark can be potentially dangerous. Presently, most MP3 players go as loud as 115 to 125 decibels.
For some fun comparisons, we turn to the U.S. National Institute On Deafness And Other Communications Disorders (apparently, every shorter agency name was already taken). According to the, er, USNIODAOCD:
• 80 decibels is equivalent to the level of noise you'd hear on a busy city street;
• 90 decibels is lawnmower-like loudness;
• 110 is as ear-shattering as a loud rock concert;
• 120 to 130 matches the level of an airliner taking off -- or, in less technical terms, "GET USED TO PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVING TO SHOUT AT YOU!"
Some Volume Limit Limitations
Now, the new European MP3 volume policy won't make it impossible to pump up the jam (even if you do make dated references to subpar dance tunes) -- it'll just make it more difficult.
With the new restrictions, MP3 player-makers will only have to preset their devices' default max volumes. They will, however, have the option of allowing users to disable that default and venture into deafening territory, albeit with some sort of warning about the eardrum-puncturing delights that may occur.
So what would this warning actually entail? Per the EU statement:
"A dequate warnings for consumers on the risks involved, and on ways to avoid them, including the situation when the original set of earphones is replaced with another type and this causes higher unsafe sound levels. The mandate is not prescriptive in terms of how this is done. Industry solutions could include, for example, labels or digital information on the screen."
(I'm pretty sure they meant "adequate," not "a dequate." Because, I'll be honest, I have no idea what "a dequate warning" would be.)
Sounding Off
Personally, I think it's great that users will still be able to ignore the advice and subject themselves to harmful decibel exposure. It's perfectly permissible for someone to ruin his own lungs with heavy smoking, after all, or to ruin his own liver with heavy drinking. Why draw a distinction with eardrums?
Seriously, though, the new visual warnings should be a good step toward ensuring people are at least aware of the dangers of rockin' out earbud-style. Unless, of course, they've already had their eyesight damaged by an exploding iPod. Then they're just totally screwed.
--
Turning the volume level one notch down will make a difference in one's health. Those with Ipod, don't screw your hearing.
Handling the Apple iPod Fame and Lawsuits
Handling the Apple iPod Fame and Lawsuits
With the success of the apple ipod series of Apple Computer, it is no wonder that there will be an apple ipod lawsuit on the table. Apple Corps sued the apple ipod creator, Apple Computer, of a breach in their agreement over the use of their famous trademark. Last March 2006, the hearing for the Apple ipod began before the London court.
Before any of the loyal fans of this iconic device dismiss this Apple ipod case as envy,it is important to look behind the court history of these two companies. The Apple ipod case is the latest court battle of these companies. In the early 80’s, Apple Computer paid Apple Corps $80,000 and promised that they will never enter the music business. 1989 proved to be another hot year between them after Apple Corps took Apple Computer to court again, this time for a music-making program and a microphone.
The latter paid Apple Corps another $26 million and was allowed to sell goods and services for the reproduction, play, running or otherwise delivery of music content. Apple Corps maintained the rights to creative works containing music. Their agreement only prevented Apple Computer in distributing content on media like CDs and tapes. It is vague on the stand pertaining to later inventions like digital music files or even the devices that they run on.
Mainly a trademark dispute, the Apple ipod case has become a much-anticipated issue. Because of the 1991 agreement, Apple Computer says that they are allowed to use the logo on the apple ipod and iTunes because they don’t own the rights to all their music, just the digital technology to handle its distribution. Whatever they have used the trademark on is well within their agreement.
Anthony Grabiner, Apple Computer’s lawyer believes they have a strong defense against Apple Corps. Meanwhile, Apple Corps is seeking damages and demands that the company and apple ipod maker to stop its use of the apple logo on their iTunes Music Store and the in advertising for the site.
Many fans of the Apple Computer products think that the Apple ipod case has some bearing. There are those who suggest that Apple Computer should just completely change its logo to end any lawsuit from being filed against them in the future. Ilounge.com visitors see this Apple ipod case as an admission that Apple Computer has indeed violated their agreement with Apple Corps especially when they are judged by the previous settlements that the former offered.
What this Apple ipod case really shows is a warning to all companies. Trademark and copyright lawsuits can be very expensive to settle especially when your company has just picked up business. That is why many companies invest heavily in market research, branding and patents. Make sure that you check the copyright of any of your business processes, logos and symbols before releasing it to the public. Setting everything in order will help your company avoid nasty court battles such as the Apple ipod case.
Eddie Cue, iTunes vice president at Apple Computer, took the witness stand April 3, 2006 to defend his company. Cue testified that the Apple Computer did not violate their 1991 agreement by using the Apple logo on their iTunes Music Store. What they provided was data transmission and not the original rights to the songs.
During the closing in the Apple ipod case, Anthony Grabiner defended Apple Computer’s right to use the logo because they are promoting the iTunes store and not the music itself and as long as they indicate the origin of the software and downloading services, they have not breeched anything.
Apple ipod will still remain as the most popular audio and multimedia player device in the market despite lawsuits filed against them. The apple ipod sales will continue to soar as users and patrons find more and more ways to use their apple ipod in their daily lives. Of course, there will be dissidents. By experience, anyone who can complain will complain so no matter how Apple ipod tries to meet its consumer’s needs, they can’t please everyone.
The ruling for the Apple vs. Apple trademark case is unlikely to be before the Easter break. As to how this all ends for the apple ipod, we will just have to wait and see.
Buy the Ipod Max E-book NOW
With the success of the apple ipod series of Apple Computer, it is no wonder that there will be an apple ipod lawsuit on the table. Apple Corps sued the apple ipod creator, Apple Computer, of a breach in their agreement over the use of their famous trademark. Last March 2006, the hearing for the Apple ipod began before the London court.
Before any of the loyal fans of this iconic device dismiss this Apple ipod case as envy,it is important to look behind the court history of these two companies. The Apple ipod case is the latest court battle of these companies. In the early 80’s, Apple Computer paid Apple Corps $80,000 and promised that they will never enter the music business. 1989 proved to be another hot year between them after Apple Corps took Apple Computer to court again, this time for a music-making program and a microphone.
The latter paid Apple Corps another $26 million and was allowed to sell goods and services for the reproduction, play, running or otherwise delivery of music content. Apple Corps maintained the rights to creative works containing music. Their agreement only prevented Apple Computer in distributing content on media like CDs and tapes. It is vague on the stand pertaining to later inventions like digital music files or even the devices that they run on.
Mainly a trademark dispute, the Apple ipod case has become a much-anticipated issue. Because of the 1991 agreement, Apple Computer says that they are allowed to use the logo on the apple ipod and iTunes because they don’t own the rights to all their music, just the digital technology to handle its distribution. Whatever they have used the trademark on is well within their agreement.
Anthony Grabiner, Apple Computer’s lawyer believes they have a strong defense against Apple Corps. Meanwhile, Apple Corps is seeking damages and demands that the company and apple ipod maker to stop its use of the apple logo on their iTunes Music Store and the in advertising for the site.
Many fans of the Apple Computer products think that the Apple ipod case has some bearing. There are those who suggest that Apple Computer should just completely change its logo to end any lawsuit from being filed against them in the future. Ilounge.com visitors see this Apple ipod case as an admission that Apple Computer has indeed violated their agreement with Apple Corps especially when they are judged by the previous settlements that the former offered.
What this Apple ipod case really shows is a warning to all companies. Trademark and copyright lawsuits can be very expensive to settle especially when your company has just picked up business. That is why many companies invest heavily in market research, branding and patents. Make sure that you check the copyright of any of your business processes, logos and symbols before releasing it to the public. Setting everything in order will help your company avoid nasty court battles such as the Apple ipod case.
Eddie Cue, iTunes vice president at Apple Computer, took the witness stand April 3, 2006 to defend his company. Cue testified that the Apple Computer did not violate their 1991 agreement by using the Apple logo on their iTunes Music Store. What they provided was data transmission and not the original rights to the songs.
During the closing in the Apple ipod case, Anthony Grabiner defended Apple Computer’s right to use the logo because they are promoting the iTunes store and not the music itself and as long as they indicate the origin of the software and downloading services, they have not breeched anything.
Apple ipod will still remain as the most popular audio and multimedia player device in the market despite lawsuits filed against them. The apple ipod sales will continue to soar as users and patrons find more and more ways to use their apple ipod in their daily lives. Of course, there will be dissidents. By experience, anyone who can complain will complain so no matter how Apple ipod tries to meet its consumer’s needs, they can’t please everyone.
The ruling for the Apple vs. Apple trademark case is unlikely to be before the Easter break. As to how this all ends for the apple ipod, we will just have to wait and see.
Buy the Ipod Max E-book NOW
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