We here like to cover everything iPod, from the rumors swirling around on the next version of the iPod, to Steve Jobs' latest foray into the lovely world of corporate litigation. Every once in a while, stories appear that kind of helps us to put into perspective this wonderful little gadget.

Not long ago, my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I smiled and said, "Nothing, honey. I already have everything I want." A smart man knows this is code for, "You'd better find me something perfect or there will be hell to pay." He managed to pull it off for yet another year when he gave me an iPod.

There are plenty of stories from iPod-doubters-turned-converts. How else would the iPod soar to such tremendous heights in the world of retail electronics. No other product, save for the Sony Walkman, has captured the attention of consumers like the iPod has.

From dear-old-grandmas to children barely able to read, the iPod seems to be universally accepted. Hell, the Queen of England congratulated the designer of the iPod herself. Here's hoping for that next innovation from Apple.

[Via, News-Miner]

If Apple releasing computers based around Intel processors isn't strange enough for you, how about Sony showing off an iPod accessory at the CES? Sony's automotive division had this on display, although their representatives on the show stand were not able to give much information.

Named the Xplod, it's an iPod car adapter for Sony in-car entertainment units. As with similar adaptors form rival manufacturers, just plug your iPod in, stow it away, and control your music collection from the in-car hi-fi.

What's really strange is that Sony have produced this before producing similar units for their own range of Walkman or Network Walkman MP3 players, or even their old MiniDisc players.

[Via ATRAC life]

It's not unusual for Japanese videogames to be launched with limited edition promotional items - buy a more expensive package of the latest game and get branded goodies boxed in with it. Proving that there's less rivalry between the PSP and iPod than some parts of the media would like you to think, Konami's forthcoming RPG for Sony's little portable, Gensosuikoden 1 & 2, will be available with a limited edition iPod Nano pack (known as the Eraberu Nanatsu no Monshou Set).

For around 35,000 Yen, Japanese gamers can pre-order the pack, which includes the PSP game disc, a 4Gb iPod Nano with Suikoden branding applied, a fabric Nano case (pictured above), and headphones also branded specially for the game. There will be seven variations released, each branded with one of seven different icons from the Suikoden game series.

The packs will be on sale March 30th, but only available to gamers who pre-order from Konami between now and January 19th.

[Via Insert Credit]

Let me know if anyone gets reminded of that Epic 2014 video about googlezon taking over the internet when you read this press release.

Google Inc announced the planned opening of the Google Video Store, the first open video marketplace enabling consumers to buy and rent a wide range of video content from a major television network, a professional sports league, cable programmers, independent producers and film makers. This fast growing collection of videos will include prime-time and classic hits from CBS, a full slate of NBA games from this season and outstanding performances from the past, music videos from SONY BMG, Charlie Rose interviews as well as news and historical content from ITN and new titles being added everyday.

"Google video will let you watch lots of high quality video on the web for the first time. You can search and browse, and we make it fast and easy for you to watch," said Larry Page, Google's co-founder and president, Products. "For video producers and anyone with a video camera, Google Video will give you a platform to publish to the entire Google audience in a fast, free and seamless way."

Additional highlights of Google's video collection will include:

• Music videos from SONY BMG. The line-up of launch videos includes offerings from some of SONY BMG's global superstar artists, including Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Kenny Chesney, Destiny's Child, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Lil' Flip, Jessica Simpson, Shakira, System of a Down, Switchfoot, Usher, and many more.
• Feature Length Independent Films from Greencine.com. Including works by legendary Polish director Andrzej Wajda (Zemsta), documentary filmmaker Ted Bonnitt (Mau Mau Sex Sex) and independent actor/director Caveh Zahedi (In the Bathtub of the World).
  Historic, news and educational footage from ITN. This material ranges from coverage of key events in 2005 such as the Pope John Paul II's death, back to a recording of the 1896 coronation of Tsar Nicholas II Â? one of the earliest known pieces of moving imagery.
• Charlie Rose interviews. Including interviews with Henry Kissinger, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, Martha Stewart, Martin Scorsese, Harrison Ford, Dan Rather, Charles M. Schulz, Steve Jobs, Jay Leno, Tom Brokaw, and others.
• Cartoon classics from Classic Media. Featuring many of the world's most famous animated series such as "Felix the Cat," "Casper The Friendly Ghost," and "Rocky and Bullwinkle."
• Children's educational programming from Clearvue. Educational video topics vary from teen education on tattoos to explanations about the workings of the human brain.
• Cartoon classics from Classic Media and children's educational programming from Clearvue. Google Video also offers many of the world's most famous animated series such as "Felix the Cat," "Casper The Friendly Ghost," and "Rocky and Bullwinkle." Educational video topics from Clearvue vary from teen education on tattoos to explanations about the workings of the human brain.
• Clips from Getty Images' Archive Films Collection. A diverse collection of short clips that capture personalities, moments and eras throughout history - selected from vintage newsreels and educational film, as well as contemporary news and events from around the world.

iPod and Sony Playstation Portable users will also be able to download and watch any non-copy-protected content from Google Video, and even get it specially optimized for playback on their devices. Google Video Store will be available throughout the world, however purchasing premium content in the Google Video Store will only be available in the U.S

Thanks to Wrdeal24 for the news!

Sony has introduced two new Hi-MD portable recorders, the MZ-M100 and MZ-M10 MiniDisc-based field recorders. Both of these recorders were designed for both musicians and broadcast (podcast) professionals.

The new recorders, with removable 1GB MiniDiscs, allow up to 94 minutes of uncompressed recording time and as much as 34 hours in ATRAC3 plus™ format. The low cost of the Hi-MD media, which has a suggested list price of $7, allows users to archive their original recordings and makes data transfer easy and inexpensive.

The recorders also feature a USB port for Macintosh and Windows/PC operating system connectivity to address a range of professional recording applications including music, interviews and field recording.

Features:

The Hi-MD MZ-M100 features a six-line large EL (Organic Electro-luminescence) display and the Hi-MD MZ-M10 has a large five-line LCD display. The new recorders also include:

– ECM-DS 70P stereo microphone
– MDR-EO931 ear bud headphones for improved field monitoring
– Recording capability from multiple sources: mic in jack, USB port for uploading material to MAC or Windows/PC
– Supports PCM linear (44.1 kHz, 16 bit), MP3/ATRAC3® / ATRAC3plus recording formats
– Extended-life rechargeable internal battery

The Hi-MD MZ-M100 and the Hi-MD MZ-M10 should be available in August at suggested list prices of $439.95 and $329.95, respectively.

MSNBC and the Wall Street Journal report that Apple is in talks with major labels to license music videos for sale through the iTunes Music Store:

Apple has approached the four major music companies, Warner Music Group Corp., EMI Group PLC, Vivendi Universal SA's Universal Music Group and Sony BMG, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG, to license music videos for sale through iTunes, according to people in the media industry. The videos, which could go on sale as early as September, would likely be sold for $1.99 each, with the possibility of a discount if consumers buy a music video and a song at the same time.

What's more, a followup story at the Wall Street Journal suggests that Apple may have more than music videos in mind for its video iPod:

Steve Jobs has spoken with Disney President and soon-to-be CEO Bob Iger about ways to license various Disney content for a video iPod, according to an internal Disney email I have obtained. That could include anything from clips from ESPN and ABC News to short cartoons.

...and that the new unit won't be without...particular competition:

If the past is any measure of what?s to come, Jobs will enter the arena late (as he did with the iPod) only to leapfrog over the competition with some entirely different device. And that could leave everyone from Microsoft?s Bill Gates to Sony?s Howard Stringer once again racing to copy their far smaller rival.

The buzz surrounding the family member that will take the iPod to the next generation has never been at such a fevered pitch. With rumors of music videos being sold through the iTunes Music Store as early as September, could a video iPod be just weeks away?