How to run your ipod in diagnostic mode

If you got yourself a new iPod this holiday season but instead of sweet tunes you’re hearing clicks and whirs, this Metacafe video shows you how to boot your iPod into diagnostics mode so you can do a little troubleshooting before you take the little guy into the genius bar.

Once you’ve got your iPod booted into diagnostics mode, check out this post for more detailed explanations of how to use each test. Of course, your iPod doesn’t have to be broken before you boot up diagnostics mode – my iPod is running pretty well, but I still like to boot into diagnostics every now and again just to see that everything’s running well.

source [lifehacker]

Transferring YouTube videos to your iPod

What do you do if you have a long flight or commute using public transportation? You can read, listen to music, or now, watch videos from YouTube! DLS reader Guillermo points us to a new Windows application called iTube that enables users to transfer any YouTube video straight to their iPods. It’s extremely simple to use as well. Just enter the URL for the YouTube video you want, and the file will start downloading and be converted to an iPod-friendly format automatically. When you iPod is plugged in it will instantly sync up. Another bonus with iTube is being able to watch the videos not only on your iPod, but also in iTunes.

So what if you have a Mac? PodTube to your rescue. Install the application, and browse with Safari, and clickaty click, download the video of your choice, and sync it up in iTunes for transfer to your iPod. Or if you aren’t down with that app, Mac users can also check out TubeSock for Mac OSX. Happy viewing and listening!

source [downloadsquad]

IME launches universal iMe dock for your car

If you’re genuinely frustrated with fuzzy (and “dangerous“) FM transmitter results, and aren’t exactly keen on wiring up a separate connection for each DAP you own, Integrated Mobile Electronics has your solution. In a presumed attempt to alleviate the frustration of priopritary DAP-to-automobile liaisons (and grab the entire market’s attention), the startup has unveiled the iMe in-car docking station. The device, like most other hardwired options, will require a good bit of DIY handiwork (and Excedrin Migraine pills), but will apparently channel audio to your sound system and even video to your LCD-equipped whip. The package will reportedly support the Apple iPod / nano, Microsoft Zune (including the unannounced “80GB” version), Creative Zen Vision:M, SanDisk Sansa, and iRiver Clix right out-of-the-box, and even touts the ability to charge your device while docked. While it’s being marketed as an end-all solution to your in-car docking station needs, these all-in-one contraptions should certainly be approached with caution — and while there’s no info on pricing or availability, you can see its potential for yourself at the SEMA expo this month.

source [engadget]

Multi-functional stereo speaker dock from Brando

Picking a stereo speaker dock system can be tricky when you have a ton of gadgets and gizmos at your disposal, as you would most probably want one that can cater to most, if not all of your devices. Brando has seen that this need is fulfilled with the Multi-functional Dock Speakers that is compatible with a Sony Ericsson and Nokia cellphones, iPods of all kinds from the third generation upwards save the Shuffle, and even the beleaguered Sony PSP. This versatile speaker dock also doubles up as a charger for your various iPods and Sony Ericsson cellphone when plugged in. It looks pretty simple to operate, with an On/Off button and two volume controls. Are there any better alternatives out there for $58?

source [ubergizmo]

Apple revamps iPod family

“We’re going to give you an overview of the iPod and then move onto some other products. we’ve shipped over 65 million ipods as of june, and there are lots of acccessories. There’s a new place you can use your iPod [shot of ipod toilet paper dispenser]. 70 percent of the new cars sold in the US offer iPod connectivity as an option.”

“We’ve sold over 450,000 Nike +iPod Sport Kits and it’s been less than 90 days.”

30GB, 7,500 songs, 40 hrs video, $249. 80GB, 20,000 songs, 100 hrs video, $349. Now, let’s take a look at the iPod nano. It is the most popular MP3 player in the world. So today, we’re going to introduce an all new nano. It’s made out of aluminum, and it’s even thinner than the previous ipod nano.

Maybe the most obvious feature is we’re bringing back colors: Blue, Pink, Green, Silver, and Black. Battery life: 24 hours.

Second generation nano: thinner alumninum case, 5 colors, 40 % brighter display, 24 hour battery.

2GB (aluminum only) $149
4GB colors $199
8GB (black only) $249

 

The #1 thing that came back from customers using the first ipod shuffle was wearability. The 2nd generation shuffle comes in a beautiful aluminum case. but we started with wearability – it’s got a built-in clip. I’ve got one here. On the bottom it’s got the switches that say turn off and on or shuffle or linearly. it comes with a [TINY] dock and plugs into your Mac or PC.

it comes in one model. “So: the world’s smallest MP3 player”:

Aluminum case with clip
1GB
Comes with dock and earbuds
New packaging.
$79

“So, that’s the story with iPods.”

 

source [engadget]

ShieldZone – Invisible shield for portable devices

Some people are persnickety about maintaining the pristine appearance of their portable devices (now say that fast 10 times), mourning every little scratch and dent as a little loss of innocence, and dressing them up in protective armor as if they’re being sent off to war. So what if the case covers up the very thing that attracted them to their favorite gadget — it’s lovely, sleek, come-hither design.

But for those who like a more minimalist approach, ShieldZone makes shields that are invisible, using material originally “designed to protect the leading edges of military helicopter blades from wear and tear while traveling at hundreds of miles per hour.” Though it won’t cushion the fall if you drop your gadget onto concrete, it promises high quality, scratch-free protection that doesn’t change the original appearance of your device. Each shield is specifically fitted for your particular PDA, cell phone, iPod, GPS, gaming system, watch, laptop, etc. (see full list of product categories on the site), and sells for 圓330 ($10) to 圓1,300 ($40).

Take a look at the customer-made demo video in which an iPod is viciously attacked by a metal key 12 hours after application of the shield.

source [Popgadget] 2006.08.01

iPod Design – Grant K’s iPod DS

小測試 – MP3不離身，你的聽力受損了嗎？

MP3播放器在市場日益火紅，數十萬青少年的聽力正逐漸流失卻不自知。

去年全球MP3市場達7500萬台，預估今年將超過8500萬台，2008 年將逾一億台。在此同時，MP3傷害聽力的案例愈來愈多，美國一名男子指控蘋果電腦公司生產的iPod音樂播放器，可能和他的聽力受損有關；歐盟規定銷往 歐洲的MP3須內鍵音量鎖定器，最大音量不能超過100分貝。

在台灣，MP3的年銷量保守估計超過100萬台，而且在i-Pod帶領下，線上音樂網站流量大增，加上國內使用者可輕易從網站下載取得音樂，更讓年輕人趨之若鶩，幾乎人手一機，使用者的年齡層也下滑至小學生。

對於時下年輕人總把MP3耳機塞在耳朵裡，國內學者憂心忡忡。高雄醫學大學教授郭宏亮指出，只要85分貝以上的音量，就足以造成暫時性的聽力損失；發育中的青少年又比成年人更易受害，一旦產生噪音性重聽，會連旁人講話的聲音都聽不到，且永遠無法恢復，造成終身遺憾。

台北石牌振興醫院耳鼻喉科主任陳光超也表示，小孩子哭聲的音量，大約在50～60分貝，80分貝大約是敲鑼打鼓的音量；相較下，iPod及隨身聽動輒上百分貝的音量，的確過高。

在臨床上，每個月總會碰到六、七例求助個案的桃園醫院耳鼻喉科專科醫師陳建志說，因使用耳機致聽力受損者，以30多歲的年輕人居多，有位患者因情況嚴重，連50、60分貝的音量都聽不到。

台南郭綜合醫院耳鼻喉科主任邱耀東則表示，因為戴耳機聽MP3自覺聽力有問題而求診的年輕人，每月大約會碰上一兩個，所幸多屬暫時性的聽力障礙，適度休息還可改善。

邱耀東說，這類年輕人大約是高中到大學年紀，求診時多半有耳鳴、耳朵悶脹感或聽到嗡嗡叫等症狀，通常建議他們要注意聽音樂的時間及強度。

長期使用耳機接聽電話、聽MP3時，音量太大引起「突發性耳聾」的個案越來越多，桃園壢新醫院耳鼻喉科主任陳建明說，若發現耳朵忽然一邊聽得到，一邊感覺不到聲音，應馬上停止使用耳機，儘快就醫，若超過三天，想要聽不到的那隻耳朵恢復原有聽力，難上加難。

高雄吉田耳鼻喉科醫院醫師曾凰哲也提醒，由於MP3音量常達100分貝以上，一旦造成聽力受損，就不容易復原，年輕人不可不慎。

郭宏亮舉例說，中國大陸就曾有求職者因連續使用MP3致聽力受損，主試者把問題說了三遍她都沒聽到，因而錯失工作機會；且聽覺神經受損，永遠都無法恢復，只能配戴人工內耳。

高雄長庚醫院耳鼻喉科醫師黃仲峰說，MP3對年輕人的聽力影響，國內尚無大規模的調查，加上初期症狀不妨礙日常生活，容易被忽略，值得重視。

小測試 – 你的聽力受損了嗎？

暴露在多高的音量下多少時間，聽力會因而受損？答案因人而異。專家建議一個簡單的檢驗方法，先把收音機或電視機調到可以聽到的最小音量，再依平日習慣音量聽MP3，聽完後再看看是否還能聽到收音機或電視機的聲音，就可知道聽力是否受損。

source post【民生報 2006/02/08】

Rhino-Skin iPod video 60GB HardCase

If you want to protect your iPod video without hiding it, this case Rhino-Skin might be what you’re looking for. This case made of aluminum (back) and clear plastic (front), a combination that keeps the overall look of the iPod, but makes it a bit bulkier and heavier. The iPod slides into the case and stays solidly secured in. Note that sometimes it is hard to extract a device from this type of case, but in this instance, it is easy to pop the iPod out. Once in place, the iPod is well-protected: the only exposed parts are the controls and the top. A belt clip is provided along with a cord to wear the iPod on the neck (who would wear an iPod 60GB around his/her neck?). The clear plastic does add some reflections when used in a bright environment, but not that much. It’s worth the protection that it provides to the screen. Product Page ($34.95)

source post [the gadgets blog]

Turn your feed into a podcast

Feed2Podcast automagically turns your blog – or, more importantly, any RSS feed – into an audio podcast.

The podcast uses one of those text-to-speech engines that are popular among the fitter, happier, and more productive crowd. You can listen to the podcast in a streaming flash player, or you can subscribe to the podcast’s RSS feed. Feed2Cast is a very cool way to get started in the podcasting world without all that pesky talking.

Feed2Podcast

source post [lifehacker]