Homebrew developer Richard Shearman has combined the very useful Safari Download Plugin and SeeQPod's streaming MP3 services to come up with a free alternative to iTunes: dTunes. With dTunes, you can now look for a song on SeeQPod and choose to download it as an MP3 and then play it back using only one app.

Developer ZodTTD has decided to rename ZodPlay back to vlc4iphone, further adding some extensive new upgrades to this homebrew media player for the iPhone and iPod Touch. More details regarding the name change and improvements are available in the full article.

Here's some additional media support for the iPhone, courtesy of ZodTTD. We recently checked his website and it seems he's not only released a new version of vlc4iphone, but he's also renamed the app as well. Learn more about this new release after the jump!

Developer ZodTTD, whom some if you will recall for his past homebrew emulator works on the iPhone, has announced the release of ogg4iphone and vlc4iphone. Those looking to get more media player compatibility out of their phones should find these two programs most handy. Details for each are available in the full article.

The MacWorld Expo 2008 got us - and maybe most everyone else - into an Apple groove. The Manila envelope-sized MacBook Air sure made our trusty PowerBook feel a bit envious and unloved (yes, our gadgets here in the QJ.NET blogging labs have feelings too), so we decided to revisit a couple of our other gadgets. Not least of all is the Headplay, of course. Hitting two birds with one stone, we weren't just able to dish out a review of the head-mounted display, but we also managed to squeeze out some time to catch some movies too! Pass the popcorn, please!


Originally posted on January 24, 2008 at 12:44 AM.

You asked for it, and so you'll have it: the much-requested pink iPod nano third generation variant is finally a reality, just in time for Valentine's Day. It's just a matter of time, anyway, since no product line is complete if there's no pink unit. Check out the picture in the full article.

If you've been looking for ways to control iTunes, Winamp, or Windows Media Player from the iPhone then you might want to consider using Alloysoft's Signal. This application turns the unit into a remote control allowing users to control playback, browse media libraries, or edit playlists on their desktops.

Signal also works with various streaming solutions including Airport Express, allowing it to be used as a remote control for stereos as well. Operating system compatibility should not be a problem since the program will run on both Macs and PCs. With regards to what else the program can do, here's a list of its key features taken from the official website:

• Play, pause, and stop your music
• Move between songs in the playlist
• Adjust the volume
• Rate songs
• See the current album art
• Browse and search your media library
• Add songs to the queue
• Remove songs from the queue
• Adjust EQ settings

If you you want to get more information you can visit the official site of the program via our Read Link.

Griffin Technology is at it again. After releasing three new iPod cases last week, the popular accessory maker is now unveiling a new docking station - AirDock - for Apple's portable media player. The obvious advantage and unique feature of this station is that it can be controlled via remote control.

Not only that, AirDock is also capable of recharging your unit's battery whenever it's on idle mode. Griffin made sure that the accessory has the ability to sync with your computers too.

All you have to do is connect AirDock to your computer's USB port, then plug in your iPod to recharge its battery while you sync with iTunes. The accessory also comes in with "HomeConnect" cable that allows it to be connected to the stereo or TV sets.

In this way, you can actually listen to music and enjoy pictures, as well as videos, from a distance using the RF remote control. AirDock is priced for US$ 69.99. In case you are interested, the Read link should take you to Griffin Technology's product page where you can order AirDock online.

We're sure you've already heard of Boot Camp, this amazing tool that lets you natively run Windows on your Mac laptops and computers. Yep (for the uninitiated) Boot Camp lets you install Windows without moving your Mac data, or burning a CD with all the required drivers for Windows.

Boot Camp public installer has been made available months ago, and now Apple has released a new version of Boot Camp. Boot Camp 1.2 beta includes some improvements, and it can be used by new and previous Boot Camp beta users. The following are the changes available on 1.2 beta:

• Support for Windows Vista (32-bit)
• Updated drivers, including but not limited to trackpad, Apple Time (synch), audio, graphics, modem, iSight camera
• Support the Apple Remote (works with iTunes and Windows Media Player)
• A Windows system tray icon for easy access to Boot Camp information and actions
• Improved keyboard support  for Korean, Chinese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Russian, and French Canadian
• Improved Windows driver installation experience
• Updated documentation and Boot Camp on-line help in Windows
• Apple Software Update (for Windows XP and Vista)

If you've previously installed Boot Camp and would like to update, there's no need to partition your hard drive nor reinstall your Macintosh and Windows software and documents. Just update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Mac Drivers CD, and install the updated software it contains onto Windows. Anyway the full installation instructions as well as the downloadable Boot Camp beta 1.2 software awaits when you follow the source link.

Podcasts are truly catching people's attention. You may listen to books, radio shows, school lessons and others, all with your media player and/or PC. This is why firms are learning to use podcasts for corporate functions such as meetings, staff announcements and maybe speeches of the company bigwigs to be heard by the employees.

The Social Media Forum for Internal Communicators, being held in London, is a forum dedicated in engaging employees through new technology. Researchers say that most firms still hold "improving employee engagement" as a top item in their To Do agenda.

Now, most of us who are part of the labor force may cringe at the thought of the boss being our daily chat pal. That would be like talking about work 24/7 while already living it. But the Media Forum says that some of the new social media communication tools such as blogs, podcasts and videos are catching on because employees can filter them through Really Simple Syndication (RSS).

Podcasts are also deemed to be more popular to employees, because they could listen to downloaded company news at a leisurely pace. With the help of blogs, that are accessible to the staff via intranet, workers may also give feedback as much as they want, and not be inhibited by the public setting of a corporate meeting.

Not only employees but also investors and customers benefit through company podcasts. Well then, it's nice to hear that technology is again being used to advance the society, the way it should be used.