SendStation got its start producing little dock connector that allowed you to plug in a Firewire (six pin) to any iPod which made bringing your iPod with your Mac notebook easier in the past with one less cable (the iPod one) while brining that needed cable for the video editing. Now, keeping the little dock connector size, SendStation brings the power of your video iPod to the big screen withe some cables and its little connector. SendStation packs four different bangs into this connector, “drastically reducing the cable clutter mobile users are faced with,” as SvenOnTech was told in an e-mail from SendStation. The four connections include one for “USB, line out audio, as well a both composite and S-Video, allowing you to sync & charge, attach your iPod to your home stereo and output iPod videos in supreme quality on TVs or projectors.”
SendStation starts shipping the PocketDock AV May 31st and will take orders on its web site now for $36.95.
You know, it’s a bit of a laugh to remember Steve Jobs introducing iTunes for Windows with his smug banner of “the best thing ever made for Windows” line. Truth was, iTunes had it’s share of problems from the start and never really has lived up to that banner Jobs raised so high years ago. Now with the added capability of video playing, things have just become worse.
Ever since iTunes incorporated video playing, my speedy Windows XP Professional box, equipped with a Pentium 4 3.00 GHz CPU, accompanied with 4.0 GB of DDR RAM, and an ATI video card with 128 MB of video RAM, has struggled to play anything. If I play Windows Media files, DiVX movies, or Xvid stuff, no problem. My box doesn’t even bat an eye. But the minute I try using iTunes, or the heart of its movie playing, QuickTime, bring on the slug. Kinda like that slug in the old Apple add against the Pentium way back in the day. Irony. Select a video Podcast and that alone “freezes” up iTunes for a good ten seconds. Click the play button and, well, get a coffee. Once the video starts rolling, you’ll be lucky to get fluid frames. Breaking it out into it’s own window does help immensely, I’ve noticed, though. Still, though, it’s just not worth even watching in the end.
I don’t quite get the problem. Maybe it’s a Microsoft thing like with Java and Redmond is doing something to prevent good video playing for QuickTime. Maybe it’s an Apple thing and it just can’t code a good video player for Windows. I don’t know. I do know my Macs have no problem with the same files on either a PPC or Intel-based Mac. Why can’t we spread the same love to the Windows box?
I’m sure I’m missing something and there is a tweak to fix this annoying issue, but fact is fact, out of the box, iTunes sucks when it comes to playing videos on Windows and it’s something that needs to be fixed if Apple doesn’t want to ignore a market share tens of times larger than its own operating system market.
Bamboo Technology today announced the release of Vault360 Smartphone Edition, a simple point-and-click conversion software tool that allows consumers to transfer, manage and organize their music, photo and video files on popular smartphones freeing them from carrying multiple devices when they travel. The $29.99 application, as well as the full Vault360 product line, are Vista-compliant and available at retail stores nationwide.
“Many users want to transfer videos, music, and photos to and from their Smartphones but to date converting DVDs, tapes, CDs and even TiVo recorded media requires in-depth knowledge of codecs, bit rates and formats,” said Todd Porter, president of Bamboo Technology. “Vault360 allows you to simply connect your Smartphone or insert its memory card into the computer and move a vast array of media to it or pull the media content from it, quickly and easily. Vault360 Smartphone Edition puts a theater, scrapbook and jukebox in the palm of your hand for anytime, anywhere entertainment.”
Vault360 Smartphone Edition is compatible with popular models such as the Blackberry Pearl, Motorola Q, Samsung Blackjack and Palm Treo. Users simply load Vault360 Smartphone Edition on their PC, directly connect the device to the USB port and begin transferring content in three clicks of the mouse. Smartphones that are not capable of direct-connect are supported through the phone memory card whereby media is converted and transferred directly to the memory card via a card reader.
Vault360 Smartphone Key Features:
Following are Vault360 Smartphone’s key features in the areas of music, photos and video. A comprehensive feature set can be found at www.bambootech.com.
Music:
- Imports audio CDs, MP3, WMA, or WAV files
- Automatic audio CD title lookup using an Internet database
- Audio file preview that converts and transfers to your smartphone or memory card
Photos:
- Connects directly to all digital cameras and/or digital camera media such as memory cards
- Imports and scale photo files
- Preview individual photos
- Easy no-click animated zoom preview of photos
- Exports selected photos to the most popular media devices (video iPods, PSP, ZEN)
Video:
- Converts video files such as AVI, DivX, MPG, ASF, WMV, etc. to DVD format
- Converts DVDs to video files such as AVI, Mpeg2, WMV, and Mpeg4 SP AVI
- Imports video to computer from: DVDs (entire movie or chapters) and Analog or Digital camcorder; Digital Video Recorders (TiVo, Media Center PCs, DVRs); computer video files (AVI, Mpeg1, Mpeg2, Mpeg4, ASF, WMV, DVR-MS, TiVo); VHS tapes; VCDs/SVCDs
- Exports videos from computer to: personal media players (Video iPod, ZEN Vision, M/W) and portable game systems (PSP)
- Video preview before and after import
- Auto-fit card technology fits movies to 256MB - 4GB memory cards (PSP only)
- Organizes video library by predefined and custom genres
- Full audio and subtitle language selection for DVDs
- Customize videos with preset or custom thumbnails
Broadband Enterprises today announced a syndication agreement with CNET, where people go to discover the latest in tech and consumer electronics. The agreement makes CNET’s original video programming available to Broadband Enterprises’ network of more than 1,800 affiliate websites.
CNET will supply Broadband Enterprises with videos from its popular franchise, First Look from the Labs, which brings consumers as close as possible to a product as soon as it’s released, without seeing it in person. The 60-second product reviews offer a 360 degree view of each product, plus a brief overview of features and functionality, and the editor’s “first take” of the product.
“CNET is the Web’s leading source for information about technology and consumer electronics, and consumers trust them to provide expert, unbiased advice about the latest products and services,” said Matt Wasserlauf, chief executive officer, Broadband Enterprises. “We are excited to make CNET’s original video content available to our network of affiliate partners.”
“Broadband Enterprises gives CNET another platform to reach today’s most passionate and engaged audiences, offering them original video programming that demystifies technology and helps them get the most out of their products,” said Mark Larkin, executive producer, CNET.
Okay, now Altec Lansing has just released the inMotion iMV712, I’ve got to ask, “Where’s the car video version?” Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, they all have iPod connectors now. Most after-market radios do, period. Now with album art as the new big thing to show on the display, why can’t we just get the whole video on these screens? Altec Lansing has proven that it can be done no problem as have other brands with home docks that also produce video on TV screens from a cradled iPod. So what gives?
For the last few months, I’ve been wondering why this hasn’t happened. I know there isn’t any technical difficulties to work around especially since now Altec has shown us that it can be done. With the prevalence of LCD screens in cars and SUVs everywhere today, this just makes SO much sense to do. In fact, the first company to do it will probably sell tons of units. So where are they Alpine? Sony? Pioneer? Clarion? Eclipse? You all pioneered the LCD screen in cars so won’t one of you pioneer iPod video in the vehicle?
We’ve been playing with the Ojo PVP-900, or Shadow, for the past three months and dude, we’re impressed. We’ve got to admit, we thought this was just another Skype client kinda thing slapped into a stand-alone unit but it really isn’t. It’s a great, and we mean great, videophone that is as easy as Ojo says it is. We even made a grandma (Nana) test the set-up out and she passed with flying colors! Give the review a read and maybe pick one up yourself.
When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at this years Macworld Expo, the first thing that came to mind after digesting the incredible device was how this would filter to the iPod line. Known for creating various models in the iPod line, this would fit just perfect for Apple to introduce a new top of the line player. With the Internet showing a full-screen iPod model for nearly a year now, the postings and maybe even pictures of this fabled model may indeed simply be a working model of the next-generation iPod video with many software aspects of the iPhone built into it. Apple would easily be able to bring a full-screen iPod to market with all the features of the iPhone minus the communication aspects. We know Apple loves spreading the love with its software (remember when Jobs dropped the Intel bomb and told the stunned crowd at WWDC that Apple had been running OS X on Intel boxes since 10.0) and it just isn’t a stretch to think that that iPhone and the 6G iPod would be designed in unison.
If Apple has an iPod full-screen version in the labs running iPhone software with the fancy touch screen and all, it’s surely scheduled for a fall release. Not desiring to stifle sales of the already outrageously priced iPhone, Apple will hold off on the 6G iPod release until the phones fully saturated the markets conscious state. With a scheduled June release (tag a month or two on for reality), three to four months of a window would be expected before the next iPod were to grace Apple Store and others shelves…just in time for Christmas, of course.
The name is surely to see a change for this incredible and most advanced iPod ever. It wouldn’t be with any surprise to see the current 5.5G sticking around while the high-priced 6G makes a foot hold in the market. With the shuffle at the bottom, the nano as the mid-line, the “regular” iPod in the upper-line, it would only make sense to name the next top of the line iPod more in line with other top of the line Apple products. For the laptop line, you have the MacBook Pro and for the desktop line, the Mac Pro. So, doesn’t it just make pure marketing sense to name the full-screen iPod the iPod Pro? Would seem to me. Before you start with the counter argument that the Pro insignia for the two computer models signifies performance for professionals and sticking Pro onto an iPod wouldn’t really jive, remember what the iPhone runs on: OS X. What stops Apple from allowing the iPod Pro from running some robust applications along side its Address Book and Calendar that already grace the iPod? Further, with a 120 GB drive to be included and possibly Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it just seems to be the perfect professional iPod!
Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech) announced today the slim NuPower ViDEO+ rechargeable battery Pack for the iPod® Video, with the lowest priced/longest battery life on the market for only $49.99. The NuPower ViDEO+ battery pack attaches to the iPod Video to significantly extend iPod run-time for a whopping 80 hours of music listening or 16 hours of video viewing – or over 5 three-hour movies on just one charge!
The lightweight NuPower ViDEO+ is priceless wherever you go — on an airplane, beach, or anywhere you’d like to relax with your iPod Video without worrying about finding a power outlet to enjoy your music and video. “NuPower ViDEO+ battery pack is great to bring on a vacation or business trip for hours of continuous uninterrupted entertainment on even the longest international flight, layover, or delay,” said Lawrence O’Connor, President & CEO, NewerTech. “NuPower ViDEO+ makes sure you’ll never run out of power in the middle of your favorite video or song.”
Developed by NewerTech, the first company to offer a complete line of internal battery replacements for the Apple iPod line, NuPower ViDEO+ also doubles as a portable charger, delivering up to three charges to the iPod Video’s internal battery. NuPower ViDEO+ includes the battery pack, stand, docking station, and belt clip for the freedom to take your video and favorite tunes wherever you go. When you finally need to recharge the NuPower ViDEO+, simply attach an iPod charging cable (included with your iPod Video) to power up.
Just place the battery pack on the back of your iPod Video and push down to connect. For the iPod Video 30GB model, use the included spacer pad for a snug fit. You can also attach the included belt clip around the sides of your iPod Video for portable convenience. Press the power button and an LED will illuminate to indicate Power On and Battery Charge Status.
NuPower ViDEO+ Features:
Provides 80 Hours of Music or 16 Hours of Video.
- All-in-one design: rechargeable battery pack, stand, and docking station.
- No extra charger needed. Uses standard iPod Video Charger.
- Built-in Dock Connector for using all your existing iPod accessories.
- Plug-and-Play ease-of-use.
- Provides up to three full charges for iPod Video internal battery.
The NuPower ViDEO+ battery pack is compatible with the Apple iPod Video 30GB, 60GB and 80GB models. It includes the rechargeable battery pack, stand, docking station and belt clip and is available immediately for $49.99 through exclusive distributor Other World Computing at www.macsales.com or www.newertech.com or through the retail channel. See http://www.newertech.com/products/vidplus.php for more info.
One of the leading providers of music video game software, Allegro Rainbow, has announced the release of Piano Wizard for Power PC and Intel based Macs. Piano Wizard is an award winning video game that can teach pretty much anyone to play piano using a variety of steps.
The method used is quite simple. First, users follow vertically the moving objects, this tells them what notes to hit. As the student progresses, the screen will rotate and the objects will move in a horizontal fashion, copying the lines of the staff on a sheet of music. After those first two steps, the objects become color coded notes on the grand staff, and finally transform to the traditional black music notes. Consumers can use Piano Wizard with any digital keyboard since the Wizard uses MIDI song files. These are available to download at online sites such as cybermidi.com and wizardtunes.com. Players have access to all their favorite music so their Wizard experience never gets old. As Bach put it many years ago: “learn by doing, simply by hitting the right key at the right time.”
“We are delighted to make our fun and exciting Piano Wizard videogame accessible to Mac users,” says Chris Salter, Allegro Rainbow CEO. “For the millions of Mac and iPod users who already enjoy downloading songs and listening to music, there is now yet another reason to buy a Mac. Piano Wizard is a breakthrough application that lets people learn to play the songs they already love to listen to.”
D-Link today announced the premiere of D-LinkTV, an Internet video portal designed to better educate and entertain consumers, business customers and resellers on advancements in networking and connectivity solutions.
D-LinkTV will air with streaming video segments covering company products and their uses in the digital home, small-to-medium business (SMB) and enterprise.
New content will be added each week and expanded to include a range of networking topics and product solutions. The streaming video segments run from three to 10 minutes long.
“Video streaming has become a mainstay on the Internet and we’ve recognized that it provides an ideal vehicle to communicate with our customers and resellers,” said Daniel Kelley, director of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc. “D-LinkTV is designed to give users a fresh perspective on our products and the latest advancements in networking, storage, VoIP and other technologies that benefit users in the digital home as well as business customers.”
D-LinkTV segments are categorized into four subjects - Home and Home Office, Business Solutions, Reseller and Partner Solutions and Other/Miscellaneous. The Home and Home Office category includes segments of interest to consumers, such as home networking, moving media throughout the home, printer sharing, Internet cameras, Internet security and gaming.
Business segments include switching, storage, Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-Fi phones and other solutions to connect. Resellers can tune in for information about reseller and rewards programs. Other segments include news and product round-ups from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).