Apple revamps all iPods, Apple TV

If you missed today's Apple Event(liveblog, video, here are the high points:

• iTunes 10 announced with new "Ping" social network
• New (tiny) iPod Shuffle
• New (tiny) touchscreen iPod Nano
• New (full sized) iPod Touch with HD camera and FaceTime
• New Apple TV with streaming, including NetFlix
• iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iOS 4.2 for iPad with bug fixes, Game Center, and Apple TV integration

Overall, a jam-packed keynote. My quick impressions:

• Unimpressed with "Ping" - I don't need ANOTHER social network
• iPod Nano seems almost too small. Teens will miss the camera from the last model.
• iPod Touch with Cameras will kill the Flip Video market completely. Worthy upgrade.
• New AppleTV looks nice, but I think I like Roku HD better.
• Looking forward to iOS 4.1, but 4.2 on iPad may be too late coming in November.

What were your thoughts?

Dahon Releases MP3 Charger for Your Bicycle

Most of my memories of bicycle generators from my youth are not fond ones.  They added considerable friction to your ride, made biking up a small hill difficult, and barely put out enough wattage to light up 10 feet in front of you.  But technology moves on and now Dahon has announced a new-and-improved bicycle generator capable of powering your MP3 player.  The key enhancement (besides what is hopefully a better overall generator) is a module between your generator and the MP3 player that smoothes out spikes and valleys in the generation of power on the ride.  It is unlikely to be enough to recharge your iPhone while biking to the market, but it may be enough to keep things running and not lose power on that hour-long ride.

Posted via email from The Bike Nomad

A Thirteen Year Old Reviews a Walkman

The Walkman reached its 30th birthday this year. I remember really enjoying my Walkman as a kid. In an article that is sure to make those who remember having a Walkman feel old, the BBC has a review of the Walkman by an iPod-toting thirteen year old as he trades in his iPod for a week.

Did Apple or OLPC make a better mobile device?

I had a lot of hope for the OLPC (also known as the $100 laptop) when it was announced. It was a visionary concept - an inexpensive computer which encouraged interaction and which used Wifi for ubiquitous networking. But when I got my hands on one, it was a huge disappointment and essentially unusable. On the other hand, I love my iPhone. One blogger asks, is the iPod Touch what the OLPC should have been? I think he may be onto something here.

And it gives me little hope for the OLPC2. Unless, of course, they wind up sub-contracting the work to Apple... or Sony... maybe Nokia in a pinch.

NY Introduces "iPod Tax"

Proving yet again the problems with trusting un-elected officials in office, NY Governor David Patterson has introduced a huge set of new taxes in his 2009 budget, including a so-called iPod tax.

Trying to close a $15.4 billion budget gap, Paterson called for 88 new fees and a host of other taxes, including an "iPod tax" that taxes the sale of downloaded music and other "digitally delivered entertainment services."

One can only assume the Governor has not been paying attention to Apple's stance on such taxation in the past. If the governor expects Apple to collect this tax, he may be surprised and simply see Apple stop doing business with all IP addresses in the State. We'll see if New Yorkers stand for this first-of-its-kind special tax on their music.

Apple "Let's Rock" Event is Today

Apple is having a special event today, presumably to release updated iPods. The event is called "Lets Rock". Among the expected releases today are new iPod Nanos, new iPod Touches, and possibly the iPhone 2.1 firmware.

The iPod Generation

How I Got a Free iPod Nano

I'm a sucker when it comes to free contests. I'll go to car dealerships just to get the freebies they give out. Having been stuck in the mindset of wanting an iPod but not being able to justify the cost to benefit ratio, iPodsweepstakes.com interested me. Upon signing up, you get 200 points free. By filling out online forms for offers, information, etc. you get points towards a free iPod, iPhone, or iTunes gift card. 1,000 points gets you a free 1 GB iPod Shuffle or $75 iTunes gift card. 2,000 points gets you a free 4GB iPod Nano. 3,000 points gets you a free 80 GB iPod Classic. Finaly, 5,000 points gets you a free iPhone (although in the comparison specs they show an iPod Touch).

While it took at least a year of on and off filling out forms (most of the free offers are only a few points), we received our iPod Nano yesterday. If you're like me or you just want $75 to iTunes, this could be for you. One of the nice things is that you can get it on your own without having to pay any money and without having to rope in your friends. (That being said, you do get 100 points for getting five friends to sign up. The link above is not my referral link. I will post my referral link in the comments to keep this post mostly spam free.)

WARNING: You WILL get a tons of junk mail and junk e-mail by signing up for these things. I suggest you use a separate e-mail address that you can kill off after getting your reward.

I've seen a lot of this recently

New iPods September 5?

If you're planning on buying an iPod, iPod Nano, or iPhone, it may be a good idea to hold off a week. Apple has alerted reporters of a "special media event" on September 5, and stock of the media players are at suspiciously low levels at retailers across the country. This typically means an iPod update is on the way. No idea yet if this means iPhone-like iPods or updated scroll-wheel iPods or both.

Transformers enter the Age of the iPod

I am not sure how many of our readers are fans of the original Transformers toys, but it was a central part of my childhood. The transforming robots were always close at hand for me, whether the others around me wanted to play GI Joe, Star Wars, Mask, or any of the other major toy lines. It was amazing how easily giant robots mesh with action figures. Anyway, it has tickled me to see that the Transformers are entering the MP3 age with a new version of Soundwave (a transformer who used to transform into a Walkman - tape player) which plays MP3! Or if you'd prefer to have an autobot on hand for your MP3s, that also offer iPod Optimus Prime!.

There is *NO* iPod "Lightning Crisis"

There is a meme going around the web that even mainstream news sites are picking up on. It is the idea that iPods, iPhones, and similar electronic devices greatly increase your risk of being struck by lightning. This has been gleaned by anecdotes of iPod users who are struck by lightning seeing significant injuries when the shock is conducted down the earphones and wires. The Mythbusters did a piece a while back on tongue piercings and found that even fairly significant piercings did not influence lightning strikes, and those were actually in physical contact with the skin, unlike most iPods.

That being said, if a lightning storm is coming, it is wise to seek shelter indoors no matter WHAT devices you are wearing or not wearing. Lightning is rarely good for your health, and anyone who is outside during a thunderstorm has to know the risks or else face the consequeces.