Okay, so I'm looking around the internet today and what do I come across? An ad for Podfitness. That. Sounds. Kick ass! I didn't agree with podcasts when they came out, who the heck listens to those? And I didn't exactly like its sister idea: video podcasts. But this ... this, this could change the lives of so many people out there.

The ad for the product reads: Download Unlimited Customized Personal Training Sessions. Each made just for you from your choice of expert trainers. Oh, wow. That fills me with a special warm feeling all over my toes. I want this! Somebody, my birthday is coming up. I think you know what would make me a very happy man.

Tycho of Penny Arcade has an interesting little rant going on in one of his articles where he describes the type of mentality a typical Windows user has of anything Mac. Throughout his short life, he's felt impelled to never roam the way that Microsoft has guided him, but he feels there's still more out there for him to see and points to the Mac and its operating system as an example of that.

He writes: "They've [Apple] made an unbelievably transparent computing experience that I actually look forward to. Their willingness to just slough off the antique parts of the platform, though no doubt turbulent for the faithful, have allowed them to package the most genuinely modern computing product on the market."

Tycho, welcome to our world. Though you once were lost, you're now one of us. Oh, by the way, unlike Windows users, we say 'Hi' to each other.

Just in time to calm the rushing of your heartbeat following so many rumors and so much speculation revolving around the next iteration of the Video iPod, we have for you needle felted Apple totes. Now I know what many of you out there are thinking -- it was about freakin' time someone came up with this idea -- but Adam, the knitter extraordinaire warns of the dangers of not using the right materials.

Natalie Zee, who posted this on her site, says: "To do something like this yourself, get the right kind of yarn and tools (felting needles and foam pad). You can use any kind of stencil or cookie cutter to create your own needle felted embellishments by placing the yarn within the shape and add constant poking to the yarn with your felting needle to felt the fibers together."

You hear that? You need to felt the fibers together. Don't go rushing into these things, man, the extra care goes a long way.

It seems that the company Immediatek might be on to something here. Specializing in delivering high-quality content to iPod users moments after events are completed, the company rolled out an addition to its DiscLive service recently at an event in Beverly Hills.

To demonstrate its new service, Immediatek urged attendees to the Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film & TV Music Conference to bring their iPods with them to download special content to be made available shortly after each session of the conference was done. Most of the people there were excited to have a copy of the discussions held stored safely in their iPods.

An attendee, Stephen McNamara of First Call Music, was equally happy: "I was extremely impressed with the speed and convenience the DiscLive service provided. Within minutes after each panel ended, I had a CD of the session to review whenever I wanted, and just as impressive, DiscLive was able to put a copy on my iPod right away."

 While I'm not sure that I would be impressed simply to have a copy of a conference session on my iPod minutes after it's done -- it's actually a very simple thing to do -- I do see the future of this. Hopefully more will take notice of this and make it available after legislative sessions, court proceedings or other similar events. (I know, I'm a very boring man.) 

I read a curious little article from those Prius-friendly people over at Excal about how we're wasting the resources of the planet by using electricity, riding in cars, opening fridges, looking at each other, etc. Well, anyhow, as much as I'm for the environment, I'm not finding myself following some of their suggestions.

According to the author of the article, as responsible citizens of the earth, we should maybe think about alternative ways of getting our daily tasks accomplished. That also means that we should find ways of powering up our iPods without having to waste needless power from a wall outlet.

According to the article: "And buy one of those generators to strap onto your bike and at least recharge your iPod while you are at it. Or get a job: Walk around canvassing for Greenpeace. You could buy a hand-crank charger for your cell phone or laptop. If you want a conversation piece, look no further. You'll be the centre of attention at the Starbucks. When you explain how green you are while sipping your fair-trade latte, you will be seen as the uber-environmentalist. If you wear your eco-friendly no-logo shoes, you'll be unstoppable."

Unstoppable? It has a sexy ring to it. What do you guys think?

How much has a device penetrated the popular public psyche if Olympic athletes are using it to prep before, and sometimes during, important events? Pretty deep, that's how much.

According to a recent article in the Baltimore Sun, many Olympic athletes competing in Torino today draw inspiration to reach for the gold by listening to their private musical collections stored on their iPods. Athletes like Shaun White, who recently represented the U.S. with a spectacular showing, can be seen on television carrying their iPods with them and listening before the events. Shaun even has a custom helmet that pipes music without the need for headphones.

Though iPods have been a part of the sporting scene almost from the iPod's inception a few years ago, the latest advancements, especially in flash memory, have made it possible for athletes to take the devices with them wherever they go. They've come a way in the Olympics, at least, from the days of athletes getting cited for performing while using them.

According to the Sun: During her silver medal performance Monday, snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler listened to Green Day's "Holiday." Joey Cheek, who won the men's 500 meters in speed skating, likes hearing Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" before races. Kimmie Meissner, the 16-year-old figure skater from Bel Air, listens to "I Like to Move It" by Reel 2 Real on the gold iPod mini she totes around Italy - although her official routine is set to the more soothing sounds of Ottorino Respighi's "Belkis, Queen of Sheba."

Is it no longer cool to listen to "Eye of the Tiger" anymore? Someone please tell me.

Little Timmy wants the dog that you hook up to the iPod, you know, the one with the eyes that light up to the sound of whatever is playing on the device. He wants it, and he wants it now. Watch Timmy throw a tantrum and watch his mother give in.

Yes, the yelps of little children panting and crying for iPod compatible devices sounds more like cash registers ringing to a beautiful tune to the many toy makers now focusing their efforts on that market. After all, the accessories market for the iPod is a billion-dollar industry, why shouldn't Hasbro get a cut of the funds?

According to Australian IT:"The iPod is the top toy. My view is why fight them, why not join them," says Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA Entertainment, which has a chair under its Bratz brand that serves as an iPod speaker.

Everything from frogs, to cats to other furry little animals are being featured more prominently in the toy aisles of most major retail chains. How far will it go? As far as it needs to, apparently.

"For even younger children, Baby Einstein has a rocking chair that connects to an iPod, so parents can sing along while the child rocks."

Et, tu, Baby Einstein?

Well, well, if anything, the lawyers for the RIAA -- an acronym for Really, I Am Anal, for those of you just joining us -- work hard for their money. These guys are the slinkiest guys around, telling us what is fair, what isn't and busting little kids when they download music files over the internet.

I'm all for artists' rights, but, come on, when will it end? Not anytime soon, it turns out. Apparently, according to Ultimate-Guitar, the RIAA has changed its definition of fair use once again to now condemning ripping your CDs to an iPod. Yeah, you read that right, the RIAA says you shouldn't rip your CDs to your iPod when you can buy them from an online music store.

So, I get home with a CD and I listen to it on my home stereo, you with me? And then, when I want to listen to it on my iPod on my way to work, I have to buy the same album again? I'm sorry, that's just dumb, no two ways about it. What do you guys think, is the RIAA out of its mind officially? Or do they have a point?

An entry in CNET's networking and wireless forum asks whether retailers give the Apple iPod a more favorable display in their stores, leaving other MP3 players hidden in some obscure corner.

1Caroline writes:

"I bought a Samsung MP3 for my son, age 8. It had a higher customer rating than Ipod. It has more functions and memory than Ipod. It's easy for my son to us and for me to load. And priced 25% cheaper for Ipod's same type. YU-11 player is fabulous compared to the rest. But if you go to a retail store, you would think Ipod is all that exists. Why is this? Are we such a "shop faddy socity" that we don't "care to compare" anymore? Or is there a retail corruption, tring to steer our purchases?"

While I have seen some pretty elaborate iPod displays at some of the stores I've visited, I tend to disagree that the other MP3 players are relegated to a sad and lonely existence. If it were true, why would retailers bother stocking anything but iPods? What do you, our readers, think? Is the iPod simply retailer's current shining star? Or are other players given the same treatment?

[Via, CNET]

Not since Thomas Edison wowed the world with his innumerable patents has an idea so completely changed how we look at the world we live in today. Well, not so much, but a group of University of Minnesota students has come up with an idea in class they hope will catch on fire throughout the country.

Their idea is: Silicon covers for iPods. Oh, that's ... quaint. As a special study in business, the students beat out several other ideas and are producing and distributing the silicon cases to university stores, which had already reported selling a number of them.

Hold on, you don't think silicon covers is original? I think this will make you happy: the students have found a way of putting their university logos on the cover itself, making for a totally unique take on the idea! (Sarcasm is hard, isn't it?)

"It just made sense to put the university logos on the cases because that had never been done before," explained uSuits CEO and student Reed Robinson.

Well, Mr. Robinson might not be the next Steve Jobs, but you got to start somewhere.

[Via, WCCO]