@methodshop

"The iPod is not just for music any more. Radiologists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and their colleagues at other institutions from as far away as Europe and Australia are now using iPod devices to store medical images.

Dr. Ratib and Antoine Rosset, M.D., a radiologist in Geneva, Switzerland, recently developed OsiriX, Macintosh-based software for display and manipulation of complex medical image data.

How did the developers go from a music player to a medical storage device? "We basically wanted something that everybody could use," explains Dr. Ratib. "That's why OsiriX can be used with the iPod, iChat and other tools."

Dr. Rosset set up the OsiriX software to automatically recognize and search for medical images on the iPod. When it detects the images, they automatically appear on the list of image data available—similar to the way music files are accessible by the iTune music application.

"It's easy to use and you don't have to worry about how to load and unload it from the iPod," Dr. Ratib says. "But the real beauty of it is that I can use the images directly on the iPod. I don't have to take the time to copy them to my computer. The iPod allows me to copy data from work to my laptop, but I don't have to do it if I don't want to." [Via RSNA]

"An Apple iPod or other digital music players can hold anything up to 10,000 songs, which is a lot of space to fill. But more and more iPod owners are filling that space with audio content created by an unpredictable assortment of producers.

It is called "podcasting" and its strongest proponent is former MTV host and VJ (video jockey) Adam Curry. Podcasting takes its name from the Apple iPod, although you do not need an iPod to create one or to listen to a podcast. A podcast is basically an internet-based radio show which podcasters create, usually in the comfort of their own home. They need only a microphone, a PC, and some editing software. They then upload their shows to the internet and others can download and listen to them, all for free." [Via BBC]

Listen to what you want, when you want and how you want?



Right now podcasting is only at the "geek hobby" level, but it won't be long until major content providers hop on the podcasting band wagon. Just imagine downloading the Access Hollywood minute right to your iPod. Like I said, it won't be long.

"Bombs Away" detonates with a flash of brilliance on Paris Texas' latest album, Like You Like An Arsonist. Chunky guitar riffs from Nick Zinkgraf and Nolan Treolo tear up the melody while drummer Sam Vinz pushes the tempo towards the breaking point. The Madison, Wisconsin rockers deliver their musical ordnance with pounding post-punk precision.



Download this week's FREE song from the iTunes Music Store.

"Many of the vibrators that are on the market today are intimidating for an unseasoned user." says Suki, OhMiBod’s creator.

"This is why when it came to designing OhMiBod the direction was to make it extremely approachable by keeping the design elegant and making it intuitive to use. I want OhMibod to be the first socially acceptable vibrator."

Labels: gadgets, ipod, review

"It has been an exciting, if strange, year for digital music as it continues to lead a double life, finally embraced by the mainstream music industry while continuing to thrive in the underbelly of illegitimate downloads." [Via BBC News]



Everyone wanted a digital music player for Christmas



MP3 has grown up from a once obscure file format to an ever-raging compression standard swapped by millions of music fans everyday throughout cyber space. The format supported by digital players like Apple's iPod, and other personal music players, remains a progressive stronghold only in the file-sharing realm though. The digital music revolution is fore grounded in proprietary technology such as WMA, AAC etc. However, despite these paying services, file sharing, and legal distributions, digital music never the less has grown-up significantly and the players like Apple's iPod, increased in overwhelming consumer demand.

Still struggling to finish up your Holiday shopping?



With an iTunes Gift Certificate, the music lovers in your life can feed their iPod and get exactly what they want. Just decide how much--from $10 to $200--and have it emailed to anyone within minutes. Prefer paper? You can print the gift certificate right from your computer. Holiday shopping made easy for the lazy procrastinator in all of us.

"Apple Computer is eyeing a technology that could make the iPod more likely to survive a fall.



The company has applied for a patent on technology that would allow a portable media player to detect when it is falling and then stop reading or writing to the hard drive. Such technology would work by detecting the acceleration that accompanies a drop.



"The portable-computing device protects its disk drive by monitoring for such accelerations and operating to avoid usage of the disk drive during periods of acceleration," Apple said in the patent application, which was published Dec. 16.



Through such protection, the likelihood of damage to the disk drive or loss of data stored on the disk drive is able to be substantially reduced." [Via C|NET]

"Introducing the ABOSS i-Pocket, a completely transparent attempt to create a facsimile of Apple's iPod mini portable music player. Throwing in the 3G iPod's four buttons above the scroll-wheel design and coming in the exact same five colors as the Apple iPod mini, ABOSS is practically demanding a lawsuit from Cupertino.



The device's mimicry stops at its screen, which is a color OLED and also accepts SD/MMC/Memory Stick cards into its built-in card slot. The ABOSS i-Pocket supports USB2.0 and claims to support eight languages.



The ABOSS i-Pocket's "scroll wheel" isn't really a wheel at all, seems it's just meant to look like one. It doesn't turn at all and instead consists of four buttons that control volume (up and down) and track skipping (back and forward).



Not since eMachines threw the original iMac into a blender and spat out the eOne, has such a blatant attempt at copying an Apple product come to fruition. The result of that bold attempt was a prompt lawsuit from Apple and eMachines having to discontinue production of the eOne after they lost in court." [Via MacDailyNews]



Another iPod clone... why?



Does ABOSS really think people are dumb enough to buy this thing? You'd think that electronics makers have learned already that Apple has a fleet of lawyers ready to pounce on rip-off products like this. Hey ABOSS, have fun in court you dumb asses.

"If you want to know what's happening in the Apple underground, talk to Leander Kahney."

~ Eric Hellweg, CNN Columnist



No other computer inspires devotion like a Mac. The largest and most fervent subculture in computing, Mac fans come in all shapes and sizes, but never waver in their dedication. Like fans of a football team or rock band, Macintosh fans have their own subculture, with clearly defined obsessions and rites of passage.

The Cult of Mac takes you inside the world of the Mac addict. Meet fans who get Mac tattoos and haircuts, people who travel across the globe to attend Apple Store openings, and counterculture icons who love the Mac. Discover the realm where old Macs become aquariums or bongs, origami Macs are made out of paper, and where the Macs of the future are envisioned not by suits in Cupertino, but by Mac heads all over the world. Visit the gatherings of the Mac tribe, from the big trade shows to tongue-in-cheek lookalike contests of Mac celebrities. And explore the little-publicized underbelly of Mac culture, including erotic fiction featuring Steve Jobs and the influence of mind-altering drugs on the Mac's famous interface.

Whether you're a casual observer, a mild Mac fan, or a hardcore member of the cult, join journalist and loyal Mac user Leander Kahney as he exposes all sides of Mac fanaticism, from the innocuous to the insane.



Related Links:

The Cult of Mac - Blog

The Cult of Mac - Amazon.com

"The iTunes-equipped mobile phone that Apple and Motorola are working on is set to debut early next year, according to Cupertino's head of apps.



Eddie Cue, Apple's vice president of applications, told Forbes: "We've said we have something coming on this in the first half of 2005 and we're definitely on schedule for that. Hopefully you'll be able to see more about it soon."

With speculation that the phone is to debut at the company's Macworld event in January, Cue refused to be drawn further on a possible release date.

He did add the phone would be aimed at the consumer market as a whole: "It has to be a phone in the middle-tier of the market, not a $500-tier phone. It has to be very seamless to use. And we're very happy with the results." [Via Silicon.com]

Stand back and make way for the enormous sounds of Powderfinger. These veteran Aussie rockers strut through your iTunes free Single of the Week, "Stumblin'," from their latest album, "Vulture Street." The track's guitar pyrotechnics and brazen vocals ride its rumbling bass and windmill drumming - watch out for the intense fuzz-box guitar solo.

Download this week's free song from the iTunes Music Store.

'Toshiba unveils 80GB 'iPod drive' [Via theRegister]



Toshiba today paved the way for 80GB iPods ...



The Japanese manufacturer didn't mention any customers by name of course, but having supplied Apple with micro hard drives to date, it seems likely the relationship will continue with the new, higher capacity.



Spining at 4200rpm, these babies also claime the drives mark the first ever use of a perpendicular recording system in which the tiny magnetic domains used to store each bit of information are aligned at right-angles to the plane of the disk, not parallel to it, as is traditionally the case with HDD platters.



The Japanese manufacturer didn't mention any customers by name, but its almost definate and likely they will continue to manufacture the iPod's hardrive for upcoming models for Apple.

These are the most sexy, twisted, bizarre, uselessly useful palm programs I have ever seen... Don't know if I would consider these stocking stuffers but definitely fodder for a long bus ride or to annoy any coworker.

Find all available Palm Games and software here.

Labels: games

Celebrate Hanukkah with some of the best holiday music for the 8 nights of the festival of lights. Adam Sandler calls out the biggest celebrities lighting menorahs this season on two stellar versions of his modern classic, "The Hanukah Song." Barenaked ladies kick it old school with the traditional romp, "Hanukah, Oh Hanukah." The Alexandria Kaleztet delivers some "alternative" klezmer music with "Der Heyser Bulgar." Bob Franceschini leads the Frank London Band through a swing instrumental, "Oh Hanukah Grove," after Marc Cohn praises the "Rock of Ages - Ma'oz Tzur" with his gently, beautiful hymm.



Gather friends and family, light the candles, and enjoy Hanukah Songs as you celebrate the holiday spirit.

"....Then, in the 1990s, we suddenly found that our computers could copy CDs."

[Via BBC News]



Copying music has been commonplace since the invention of the tape recorder, whether the music industry liked it or not.



Legal pitfalls and copyrights galore. The story remains for those uploading free music for others to download to their home PC's via P2P networked machines and software enabling them to do so, such as Kazaa.



A technology such as P2P, initially ignored by the RIAA and legal buffs, now remains and has become a strong hold for battle. Under-estimated technology gaps in various cultures have exploited digital music trading via P2P systems, and continue to do so more everyday.

iTunes Music Store now takes PayPal, Apple has announced, adding a much easier way for people without credit cards or bank accounts to buy their iTunes music online. Not only this, but first half a million customers, get 5 free songs [Via apple.com]



You Get Paypal and 5 Free Songs!!!



iTunes is at it again, this time making it easier for the non credit card holding customers (teenagers) to get their hands on their audio library. This should lead to a boom in sales and possibly some ipod friendly news this month at the Mac Expo in San Francisco.

As careful as we may try to be with our iPods, it doesn't always happen. Outdoor activities especially can be dangerous for your iPod... that is unless you have an oPod.



If you've ever had an iPod mishap, then you know they can set you back hundreds of dollars on repairs or even force you to buy a new one. In fact I just had to mail my wife's iPod to iPodMods for repair because of a steam pipe leak in her office building. So if everyday events can be hazardous for your iPod, what about vacation activities? Can you imagine bringing your iPod boating, hunting, or mountain biking? The iPod has become part of our lives and needs to go where we go without hesitation. I can remember how I used to bring my old Walkman Sport to the beach all the time, but I never had the guts to do the same with my iPod. My iPod was only used during my daily commute, to and from work…. until I got an oPod.

"Sanada can see that tiny, solid-state memory allows the iPod to be reduced to just its essential elements. Namely, a scroll wheel, screen and earbuds. Nothing more. " [Via wiredblogs.com]



The $99 iPod!



The sleeker new iPods appear that they will be based on what we've seen from other makers, but with the trademark Apple twist...Probably no more than a gig of storage, these babies may get introduced this January at Macworld...One of these designs may make the final cut!!

"For Samantha Greene's parents, there was no getting around it: She had to have an iPod this year. Everybody at school was getting one."

[Via CNet]



The 20-gigabyte iPod required by the school sells for $299 at stores but was made available to students for $269 through Brearley with Apple's education discount.



Though the discounts not to much to get excited about, what is exciting is the fact that schools at a lower level (grades 7-12) and not just Universities, are incorporating the iPod for foreign language courses.

With the majority of students already owning an iPod, these students can use and learn many different languages via the iPod. Presentations and learning through recording with accessories like the iTrip, enable students to hear their errors and ultimately improve upon their progress.



Apple claims that Brearley's mandatory-iPod program is the first it has heard of in the US for secondary-school children.

However, undeniably agree that it is a great alternative to keep students engaged and interested in the classes and curriculum. Parents are ultimately hoping that this is not just another expensive hardware component for there child’s education much like the graphing calculator bought for his/her big sister years ago when they were in grade school.

O'Ryan, the velvety-voiced heir apparent to Usher's R&B kingdom, has released his self-titled debut album. The iTunes Free Single of the Week, "Jus Anotha Shorty," is a grinding proclamation of love showcasing O'Ryan's slick vocals skills. The up-and-comer nods to "Frontin'" from Pharrell and Jay-Z in the chorus and counts his brothers, Marques Houston and Omarion, as influences.

Download this week's free song from the iTunes Music Store.

"Rumors are circulating that during Steve Jobs' keynote at Macworld on January 11, Apple will announce that it has signed a deal with one of the satellite radio companies, Sirius, to market iPods that can receive and record that company's satellite broadcasts." [Via orbitcast.com]



iPod with Satellite Radio!



Although a combination of technologies would be fantastic, I think the prospect of this news coming in January at the Macworld Keynote is a bit far fetched...But, Imagine the idea that you could be anywhere in the country with your ipod - and pick up crystal clear satellite radio?? Howard Stern, who was picked up by Sirius radio this year, would again solidify himself as 'King of All Media' if he could get his way onto an iPod...

"Never carry a laptop into a presentation again; it's all on your iPod!"

[Via Zapptek.com]



Convert your PowerPoint, PDF and Keynote presentations into slideshows.



What if you never needed your laptop for your next powerpoint presentation of pitch for your boss or clients? Well, you don't! With the use of your iPod photo and this great little technology from Zapptek, you can easily make slideshows synced from PDF, Powerpoint, or Keynote off of the iPod photo.



Features include:



Create slideshow images from any of your PowerPoint, Keynote or PDF presentations.



Saves presentations as albums in iPhoto or sub-folders of a folder (such as the folder being used to sync to your iPod photo via iTunes).



Easily update your slideshows whenever you make changes to a presentation. Your presentations will always be ready for syncing.



Easily remove slideshows when they are no longer needed. Removing them from iPresent It ensures they will be removed from your iPod photo the next time you sync.



Preview slides as they're converted into a slideshow.

"Despite the ongoing influx of new and refined online music offerings, Apple's iTunes and Napster 2.0 continue to capture the American fee-based digital music mind space."

[Via cbs.marketwatch.com]



Napster and iTunes Most Recognized Brands in Fee-based Downloading in 2004



The new findings boasted that brand maturity is something of non-relevance. Simply because over 79% age 12 and older knew of Napster or have even used the legal downloading music service. More than half knew of or used Apple's iTunes Music Store, another brand strong identifier in the still youthful digital music market. This goes to show that longevity due to long periods of exposure are simply not the winning factor among competition of brands. Reason being that Apple fiercely competes with Napster, which was established din the early 90's. Though Apple has had great success in the market and proved huge and new strides for what brand/identity is with iTunes and iPod, Napster is solely relying on the fact of the 'name". This name is associated by more because of its history in American’s minds. The study fails to reflect that if both Napster and iTunes were compared on level grounds (being that both now sell legal downloads-something Napster was originally NEVER known for), then Apple would clearly dominate. This is said only because the Napster Company has sheer name recognition for its identity, but that identity is tainted with a not-so-good reputation in history, where Apple has started and started correctly from the get-go.

"Retailers and analysts are predicting that MP3 players will be among the most coveted items this holiday season.



The iPod is likely to be the MP3 player of choice for the majority. According to a survey by market analysis firm TNS, 25% of children aged 8 to 14 want an iPod for Christmas. Just 9% of parents are prepared to fork out for one however.



The FT reports that some analysts forecast that consumers will snap up as many as 4m iPods this holiday season. "That would be a staggering haul considering that it took Apple about three years to sell its first 5.7m iPods", writes reporter Scott Morrison." [Via MacWorld UK]



All I want for Christmas is an iPod?



Just imagine. 8 year-olds running around with iPods? What would they put on them? Barney MP3s?

"artists are looking at technology as a means of reaching more fans"

[Via BBC News]



The study of researchers, Pew Internet, uggests musicians do not agree with the tactics adopted by the music industry against file-sharing.



The US Firm researched the over-cluttered issue of the RIAA and net distribution of musician’s music to buyers. P2P systems and piracy all being factors, the survey concluded that over 80% of musicians used the net for some sort of promotions for their music. Most artists sold and even some provided free samples for fans through Internet sites and downloading services such as Apple's iTunes Music Store. It is evident that independent musicians, in particular, see the Internet as a way to get around the need to land a record contract and reach fans directly. With more and more inspiration and culture being embraced in the independent music scene, these artists (indie rockers) are the ones ultimately benefiting more from Internet usage. The major pop stars like Brittney Spears benefit less due to their already overwhelming state of fame.

"Peer-to-peer Snowcap uses new swap technology."

[Via MSNBC News]



Five years later, now heading San Francisco-based Snocap Inc., Fanning is touting a new technology designed to help the music companies who once sued him into submission cash in on file-sharing between computer users, also known as peer-to-peer.



Shawn Fanning is once again thinking ahead the slow and old corporate brains. Now, the once known "Napster - creator" is attempting to profit from his knowledge of Peer-To-Peer systems and the issue facing so many music labels and the RIAA.

This new technology manufactured and marketed by Snocap Inc. would allow the labels to monitor downloads on P2P apps like Limewire, and Morpheus. The applications would contain swapping of music files foot printed with Snocaps technology, which reads access writes and permissions of the song files according to data relevant to the file on Snocaps database. If a track or album has not been registered with the Snocap techno, then labels would be able to track this occurrence and quickly take action to assure un-authorized distribution of the content was no longer happening.

"So Gratis Networks has set up a site called FreeiPods.com that is giving away your choice of an iPod mini, a 15GB iPod, or a $250 gift certificate to the iTunes Music Store. All you have to do is sign up, click on one of their offers, and then convince five other people to do the same. We smelled a scam in there somewhere, or possibly seasonal, and since our whiny emails to the company asking them to explain how exactly this worked went unanswered, we decided to just call them up to try and sort things out.



The company rep we spoke to insisted that this thing was for real and that they had already given away about 400 iPods to people."



[Via Engadget]



Internet Marketing Prays on the laziness of The American People

By Pimpwiz.com

When will we as Americans finally learn that nothing in this life is Free.

Freeipods.com will send you thru a maze of offers each supposedly bringing you closer and close to your ipod mini. Catch Phrases like "Your Almost There" or "Complete our Survey" never explaining to the user that they have to take a credit card offer and convince 5 of your friends to take one as well. But your friends do not receive anything unless they get 5 of their friends to go to the website and pick an offer. They play the odds that most americans will sign up and then give up trying to actually fulfill this maze. The have given away 400 ipods out of the 100,000 registration they have collected in the last 6 months.



Unless you are hooked up with a blog or newsgroups where people collectively work together for the free ipods, don't sign up to anything that says FREE ever with a real email. These companies "whore" out the data to no end. If you are ever really bored and what to see how quickly and how much your data gets distributed.

1) Sign up to a new Yahoo account

2) Go to Freeipods.com and sign up for the registration page

3) Sit back for 24-48 hours and watch this mailbox get flooded with debt, mortgage, spyware, erectile enhancement and so on....



Please don't sign up unless you know how the game is played and have the motivation to beat them at it. (http://pimpwiz.com)

"The Missing Sync" Enables you to connect and synchronize a Pocket PC, Sony CLIE, Palm OS device, or Tapwave game player handheld with a Mac. [Via apple.com]



PDA Heaven?



Let's see how this puppy works with the older model palm pilots. But it's nice to see a little competition for iSync.

"Apple Computer, which opened the virtual doors on the Canadian store late Wednesday, is selling songs for 99 Canadian cents, which translates to about 83 U.S. cents, 16 percent less than those in the United States pay for their iTunes."

[Via CNet]



Although Canadians had to wait awhile to get access to the iTunes Music Store, they are getting a comparative bargain.



Though Apple does have to pay different amounts for the regions in which it sells its music to customers through its iTMS, why must the prices be so drastic for everyone? Its appearing that taxes may be the factor for this price fluctuation, or possibly just that fact that people are willing to pay more. Who really knows other than Steve Jobs and Eddie Cue, Apple's Vice President of applications. Apple says that regardless of prices between its international online music stores, it is trying to stick offerings of all songs at the same prices.



The Canadian store is not as simple as just signing on and buying for a cheaper album or track however. You must have a local residence address to purchase from the newly launched online store. This means others will need to buy a place in Canada or simply settle for US or their native store pricing. This is all to unfortunate when the figures are compared, but with the largest offering of artists/albums, Apple still finds ways to make it irresistible to purchase our music anywhere else.

One part soft vocals, one part acoustic guitar/piano melody, one part snapping drums - the unique alchemy of The Perishers generates an enveloping mellow pop. "Sway," the iTunes Single of the Week from the Swedish quartet, has an easy groove which cradles the gentle whispers of lead singer Ola Kluft. Piano accents match delicate brushes of acoustic guitar. Luxuriate in the smooth sound of "Sway".

Download this week's free song from the iTunes Music Store.

"..The single is expected to sell up to 600,000 copies this week"

[Via BBC News]



Apple reaches agreement with Charity



In a mission to raise awareness and money to fight hunger in Africa, Band Aid single which is available only currently through iTunes UK store or can be purchased here for US residents, sky rockets sales figures. The objective done in the past within 1989 by various musical artists joined together, is now featuring names such as Dido, Robie Williams and Chris Martin on the 2004 release.



The single sold more than 72,000 copies the first day it was released according to reports. The original version is also available for download and all proceeds go to the charity with Apple almost matching individual download figures to increase overall charity dollars.



One question is left to pose..."Do they know it's Christmas" time?