Hasta La Gadget!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been exactly ten years since the iPod was first unveiled, ultimately changing the music industry forever. The iPod wasn’t the first, it wasn’t the smallest, it didn’t have the largest hard drive, but it did have an iconic style and simple to use interface that led march away from CDs. When the history of Apple is written the iPod (perhaps more than the iMac, OS X or the iPhone) will be credited with helping spearhead the company’s second coming. Over the years the music player has seen countless iterations and redesigns, and an expansion of the product line to include smaller devices and touch screens — but for most it’s the scroll wheel and white earbuds that define the iPod. Sure, what is now called the iPod classic hasn’t seen a serious update since about 2007, but it still holds a special place in our hearts, especially for those of us who don’t measure their music collection in a few dozen iTunes downloads.

The iPod turns 10, celebrates a decade of destroying physical media originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A free software update brings all the new features to last year’s Nano

The biggest non-upgrade announced at yesterday’s Apple event wasn’t — despite what some entitled whiners might have you believe — the iPhone 4S. No, the littlest upgrade was reserved for the littlest iPod: the iPod Nano.

Sure, the Nano got a built-in pedometer, bigger icons and a 18 different clock-face designs, but hardware-wise, it hasn’t changed. In fact, if you already have last year’s Nano, you can get all these features — free — via a software update.

Plug your Nano into iTunes and click the “Check for Update” button. Click yes to everything you’re asked, enter your password and wait. A few moments later, your tired old 2010/2011 iPod has magically transformed itself into a shiny new 2011/2012 iPod. And if you don’t like the new, bigger icon view, you can revert to the little hard-to-press old ones.

In fact, about the only thing you don’t get from the new model is a refund of the price drop. Previously, the Nano began at $149. Now it starts at $129, or $20 less.

iPod Nano product page [Apple]

See Also:

• IPod Nano
• Inevitable Strap Turns iPod Nano into a Watch
• iPod Nano Gains Pause Button, Off-Switch

We’re all well aware that a new iPhone will see daylight next week. What’s still a bit unclear is whether or not Apple plans on discontinuing the ol’ faithful iPod classic. However, we may be getting a clue as to what fate the PMP may soon meet. The folks over at AppleInsider discovered that the link to iPod Click Wheel Games no longer appears on the App Store drop-down menu in iTunes. Since 2006, the folks in in Cupertino have been offering added entertainment for the popular mobile jukebox for $7.49 each, but only about 50 titles were available for purchase — it’s kind of hard to develop software when a third-party kit wasn’t publicly released. So if you’re planning on hanging onto your iPod classic for a little while, we hope you’re content to keep playing Vortex, Klondike or whatever else you’ve already downloaded.

Apple axes iPod click wheel games in iTunes, is the ‘classic’ model next? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are 53 “official” Jelly Belly flavors available at present, few (if any) of which are MP3 compatible — strange, really, in an era where pretty much everything else is capable of music playback. The company’s new gadget cases are perhaps the next best thing, though despite the fact that they’ll add a candy-like scent to your iPhone, iPod touch, nano, or BlackBerry (sadly not this guy), biting into them will almost certainly void your warranty — and raise your dental co-pay. The cases are currently available and will run you $15 apiece, the same price as the new Jelly Belly-branded headphones, which are similarly recommended for external use only.

Continue reading Jelly Belly cases make your iPhone smell edible, come in BlackBerry flavor

Jelly Belly cases make your iPhone smell edible, come in BlackBerry flavor originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 06:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look out iTunes, Spotify has just launched its new music download service in Europe. What’s more, the company that had been synonymous with music streaming will let you sync your downloaded MP3 playlist bundles to your USB-connected iPod classic, nano, or shuffle via a new “Devices” section of the Spotify app running on your computer. And listen up freeloaders, Spotify Mobile iOS and Android app users can now sync playlists wirelessly without a premium subscription. Here’s a quote from Daniel Ek, Spotify CEO, sure to create some angst in Cupertino:

“From today, Spotify really is the only music player you’ll ever need. Our users don’t want to have to switch between music players, but they do want to take their playlists with them wherever they go, on a wider range of devices, more simply and at a price they can afford. Now we’ve made that possible on one of the world’s most popular consumer devices.”

Spotify download prices for its nine million users of the free service (not premium subscribers) breaks down as follows:

• 10 tracks for €9.99 or €1.00 per track (£7.99 or just under 80p per track)
• 15 tracks for €12.99 or €0.87 per track (£9.99 / 67p)
• 40 tracks for €30.00 or €0.75 per track (£25 / 63p)
• 100 tracks for €60.00 or €0.60 per track (£50 / 50p)

All the new features will begin rolling out today as part of an automatic update. See the full press release after the break as well as a quick introduction video to get you started.

Continue reading Spotify launches music download service with iPod sync, puts iTunes on notice

Spotify launches music download service with iPod sync, puts iTunes on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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