Levi's to launch iPod compatible jeans

January 14, 2006 Invented in 1873 by Levi Strauss, Levi's Jeans are the original jeans and have long since become the most recognised brand and most widely imitated product in the history of apparel – and somehow it seems entirely appropriate that Levi’s is getting together with the world’s modern day technological equivalent brand – Apple’s iPod - the lowest (figuratively of course, Steve) common denominators are getting together and we expect the synergies to be very powerful. Levi's is planning to introduce RedWire DLX Jeans in the Northern hemisphere autumn of 2006. Designed for both men and women, the jeans will seamlessly integrate an iPod docking cradle built into the jeans and "invisibly" housed within a side pocket. There’s also a special joystick incorporated into the jeans' watch pocket to enable easy operation of the iPod without removing one’s hands from one’s pockets.

"The Levi's RedWire DLX Jean is the latest extension of the Levi's brand leadership position by merging fashion and technology that provides consumers with the most innovative way to enhance their portable, digital music lifestyle," said Robert Hanson, Levi's U.S. brand president. "In designing the jeans we considered both function and fashion -- the result is a uniquely functional, yet stylish, great fitting jean."

Design features include:

Easy Pocket Storage An iPod docking cradle is built into the jeans and is "invisibly" housed within a side pocket. The Levi's design team took special care to ensure the iPod unit remains neatly and securely stored in the jean, while the iPod "bump" in the pocket is virtually eliminated. The cradle is equipped with sophisticated technology housed in a red conductive ribbon that allows users to quickly and easily remove their iPod from the pocket to view its screen while staying connected. The jean is machine washable once the iPod is removed.

"Hip" Controls A special joystick remote control is externally designed into the jeans' watch pocket to enable operation of the iPod. Four-way controls allow the wearer to easily play/pause, track forward, track back and adjust the volume control without ever removing the iPod from the pocket.

Handy Wire Retractor A handy retractable headphone unit has been built directly into the jean to help prevent tangles and efficiently manage the iPod earphone wires.

The new Levi's RedWire DLX jeans have been developed to be practical and leading-edge in their aesthetic. A crisp white leather patch and joystick, bluffed back pockets with hidden stitching, and clean minimalist buttons and rivets allude to the iPod's famously pure design. Special care has been taken to marry the physical design with a great-fitting jean.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5042/

Sega's iDog musicbot and iPod speaker/companion

April 7, 2005 Sega Toys has released the iDog, a companion speaker/pet for the Apple iPod that will also work with any audio player, though it is unashamedly aimed at the Apple iPod user with packaging, look and feel all, well, sorta iPoddy. The iDog’s reason for being is basically as a

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companion in that it takes headphone music from an MP3 player and plays it out loud, and at the same time as dancing and seeking playful interaction – the ideal companion for children, and geeks who spend too much time living in the space between their ears with music as their only companion. The companion robot will play a major role in society’s future and at US$89, this is quite possibly the cheapest companion robot available on the market at this time, narrowly pipping the Robosapien at US99.

Termed a musicbot by Sega, the iDog expresses its feelings by wagging its tail, moving, waggling its ears, tilting its head, playing (stored) musical sequences and by means of the seven coloured LED lights on its head.

Pressing on the iDog's nose will wake it up at which point it will start to play music and wait for you to play with it (him?). It gets happy when you touch its ears and pad on its head, it gets surprised when you touch its nose or wave in front of him and it gets angry when you touch its tail.

The Sega Toys iDog measures 116x107x100mm and an MP3 Player like the iPod can be attached to the iDog via 3.5mm audio cable and although the speaker is only mono, it is good quality.

There’s some great pics available at ASCII24, a review of the iDog at akihabaranews and you can watch a video here.

The iDog even has its own site, and can be purchased over the internet at Audiocubes, which is a site that specialises in selling Japanese-only gadgets in America. the iDog was released earlier this week.

We saw this one-of-a-kind iPod accessory originally at technology blog I4U.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/3917/

The SportCommand wireless fabric remote control for an iPod

October 10, 2006 The Belkin SportCommand for iPod lets you wirelessly control your music while your iPod stays protected. Strap the fabric remote to your arm, store your iPod in your

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backpack or jacket, and then listen to your audio while you get extreme. The weather-resistant SportCommand is ideal for outdoor activities, such as snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking and with a 50 foot range, it may well have other applications we haven’t yet considered. The US$80 SportCommand will ship in November in North America, with launches in Asia, Europe, and Australia to follow shortly.

The SportCommand prevents rips and malfunctions from exposure to the elements , works through walls, backpacks, and jackets and has big buttons (play/pause, next/previous track, and volume up/down) for easy control with gloved hands. It secures to your arm, leg, belt, or another strap with a neoprene and VELCRO closure strap and it is both water-resistant and hand washable.

The SportCommand is compatible with the following iPods: * iPod nano 1st generation * iPod nano 2nd generation * iPod mini * iPod with click wheel * iPod color display * iPod with video

http://www.gizmag.com/go/6299/

Apple Introduces diminutive iPod nano

September 8, 2005 Apple today introduced the iPod nano, a miniscule yet full-featured iPod that is thinner than a standard #2 pencil and comes with a colour screen and Apple's Click Wheel. The iPod nano is available immediately in white or black in a 4GB model priced at just US$249 and a 2GB model priced at just US$199. The most fashionable and wearable iPod ever, the iPod nano features optional accessories including lanyard headphones, which integrate the

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headphone cables into the lanyard, so users can wear their iPod nano around their neck without dangling headphone cables. "iPod nano is the biggest revolution since the original iPod," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iPod nano is a full-featured iPod in an impossibly small size, and it's going to change the rules for the entire portable music market."

For customers looking to personalize their iPod nano with colors, an optional set of iPod nano Tubes in pink, purple, blue, green and clear offers fashionable protection in a sheer casing while enabling full operation of all functions including the Click Wheel. Optional armbands available in gray, pink, blue, red and green allow users to wear their iPod nano as the ultimate fashion and sports accessory.

iPod nano features the same 30-pin dock connector as the iPod and iPod mini, allowing it to work effortlessly with a wide range of over 1,000 accessories developed for iPod, including home stereo speakers and iPod car adapters for an incredible music experience at home or in the car.

Featuring seamless integration with the iTunes Music Store and the iTunes digital music jukebox, iPod nano includes Apple's patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads a user's digital music collection, photos or Podcasts onto iPod nano and keeps it up-to-date whenever iPod nano is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using USB 2.0. With its stunning, high-resolution color screen, iPod nano allows users to display album art while playing music, view photo slideshows or play games in full color. iPod nano features up to 14 hours battery life* and completely skip-free playback, as well as new stopwatch, world clock and screen lock applications.

Pricing & Availability

The 4GB and 2GB white and black models of iPod nano for Mac or Windows are available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of US$249 and US$199 respectively, through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. All iPod nano models include earbud headphones, a USB 2.0 cable and a CD with iTunes for Mac and Windows computers.

New optional accessories designed for iPod nano with the following suggested retail prices include: Lanyard headphones for US$39, armbands in five colors each for US$29, dock for US$29 and a set of iPod nano Tubes in five different colors for US$29 and will be available within the next 30 days.

iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS(R) X version 10.3.4 or later and iTunes 4.9 (or later); or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional (SP2) and iTunes 4.9 (or later).

http://www.gizmag.com/go/4550/

Ohmibod - the first iPod acsexory

November 20, 2006 Sexuality is common to us all. Like music, it is a universal language that can overcome all barriers, so, maybe they can be combined? . Developed using a team of 500 beta testers, the Ohmibod is a music-powered vibrator that translates tunes from any MP3 player (actually any audio source so iRiver, Creative, Zune etc will all work too) into vibrations. Offered as an “acsexory” aimed squarely at the world’s largest selling personal entertainment device

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(the Apple iPod), the aim of the slick marketing exercise is to make vibrators socially acceptable. The timing couldn’t be better as personal entertainment devices are selling at more than 50 million units a year, roughly half of them to women, so the world’s first audio player acsexory might be a killer app in the making. There’s an online Club Vibe (which users can join anonymously), centred on enhancing the OhMiBod experience, and sharing OhMiBod Playlists and experiences. Now we haven’t tried it, but those that have are being very complimentary on the Ohmibod blog Ohmiblog, writing things like, “I’ll never listen to the Black Eyed Peas in the same way again”, and “the perfect travelling companion.” Considering the various forces at play in reaching the desired result, we’d suggest that rather than using music designed with other things in mind, there’s also the prospect of a whole new genre of music designed to create the sustained frequencies and rhythms for a successful outcome. Though OhMiBod is not endorsed by Apple, OhMiBod’s creator, Suki, previously worked in product marketing for the company and it shows. “The idea of approachability was carried through the entire development and design of OhMiBod - its name, packaging and website,” says Suki, whose goal is for women to feel as comfortable buying an OhMiBod as they do buying an iPod.

OhMiBod lets people actually feel their music. Its integrated audio circuitry converts the beat and rhythm of their favorite tunes into vibrations, creating a stimulating, nonrepetitive vibration while they listen. Although optimized for all iPod models, OhMiBod accepts input from virtually any electronic audio output source with a 3.5mm jack including MP3 and CD players, laptops and more. The volume controls the intensity of the vibrations, the higher the volume, the more intense the vibrations.

OhMiBod’s is moulded from premium grade hypoallergenic white nontoxic, non-porous plastic with a chrome finish. Its audio-enabled microchip is seamlessly integrated into its design and it can easily be converted into a normal multi-speed vibrator by putting on the additional end cap.

OhMiBod has, through word of mouth and the Internet, built a 500 strong beta team.. OhMiBod enthusiasts, whether they are vibrator novices or aficionados, can instantly and join a fun and hip community called “Club Vibe” (http://www.ohmibod.com/clubvibe/), which is centered around enhancing the OhMiBod experience.

Users can search for and purchase a variety of playlists by using OhMiBod as a search term in the iMix section of the iTunes music store. If they don't see something that tickles their fancy, they can create and upload their own iMix and share it with oth ers.

OhMiBod retails for US$69 and is available online and comes packaged with a metre-long “freedom cord”, universal splitter, a multi-speed end cap for use without a music player and a hot-pink velvet privacy pouch.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/6492/

Mount, power, and play your iPod in your car

May 9, 2006 FM transmitters are a great way of taking your MP3 player on the road with you, though the quality of these items has traditionally varied between terrible and acceptable. Early reports on Belkin’s two new TuneBase FM products for the iPod suggest that the product’s

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improved built-in FM-transmission technologies exceed all expectations offering crisp and clean audio performance. Not surprisingly, sales have gone off with such a bang that demand has outstripped supply and the units are temporarily out of stock. The compelling factors include that both (one for all iPods except the shuffle and another smaller unit for the diminutive iPod nano) let you power, charge and listen to your iPod simultaneously, both utilise the iPod LCD for tuning and the flexible-steel neck offers easy repositioning so it’s where you want it so you don’t drive off the road while changing music. If you have an iPod and you spend a lot of time in the car, this US$80 product is an investment in lifestyle.

The TuneBase FM for iPod comes with interchangeable trays for each model iPod, making it compatible with all iPod devices (except shuffle).

The TuneBase FM transmits audio wirelessly on multiple FM channels from 88.1Mhz – 107.9MHz so you can easily listen to your iPod on the best available frequency. The TuneBase FM includes interchangeable trays for the iPod video, 4G, 3G, nano, photo and mini models.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5600/

Apple finally unveils the video iPod

Apple has finally released one of the most anticipated products in consumer electronics history - the video iPod. The fifth generation iPod features a 2.5-inch colour screen which can display album artwork and photos, and play video including music videos, video Podcasts, home movies and television shows. The new iPod is available in a 30GB model for US$299 and a 60GB model for US$399, with both models available in white or black designs.

“The new iPod is the best music player ever—it's 30 percent thinner and has 50 percent more storage than its predecessor—yet it sells for the same price and plays stunning video on its 2.5-inch color screen,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Because millions of people around the world will buy this new iPod to play music, it will quickly become the most popular portable video player in history.”

The new iPod plays music, audiobooks, audio Podcasts, video Podcasts, home movies, music videos and popular television shows like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.” The unrivaled combination of iPod and iTunes 6 now provides customers with a seamless experience for buying, managing and playing video as well as audio content, including over 2,000 music videos, six short films from the Academy-Award winning Pixar Animation Studios, and five television shows from ABC and Disney Channel, including the immensely popular “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.”

The new iPod combines all of the ground breaking features that have made the iPod the best music player in the world with revolutionary new features such as the ability to view video content on a larger stunning color display. The new iPod features Apple’s innovative Click Wheel for precise, one-handed navigation and the portable design is ideal for putting music, Podcasts, photos, audiobooks, home movies, music videos and popular television shows in a pocket for on-the-go viewing. iPod users can also watch their video content and slideshows of their photos on a television via optional Apple accessories.

Featuring seamless integration with the iTunes Music Store and the iTunes digital music jukebox, iPod features Apple’s patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads digital music, Podcasts, photos, audiobooks, home movies, music videos and popular television shows onto the iPod and keeps them up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac® or Windows computer using USB 2.0. The 30GB model features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback and the 60GB model features up to 20 hours of battery life for music playback.*

Pricing & Availability

The new iPods will begin shipping next week for a suggested retail price of US$299 for the 30GB model and US$399 for the 60GB model through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. All iPod models include earbud headphones, USB 2.0 cable, case, dock insert and a CD with iTunes for Mac and Windows computers.

Optional accessories designed for the new iPod include: Universal Dock for US$39, giving users easy access to a USB port for syncing, IR support to work with the Apple Remote and a variable line out and S-video connections for integration within the living room; Apple Remote for US$29, providing wireless integration to the Universal Dock and quick and easy access to controls from across the room; Apple iPod AV cable for US$19, enabling television viewing of video content in full-screen; the iPod Camera Connector for US$29; and Apple Socks for US$29 providing six vibrant color socks to dress up and protect your iPod.

iPod requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 6; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional (SP2) and iTunes 6.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/4738/

Apple iPOD MP3 System

It's intuitive to find one's way around the controls of Apple's iPOD MP3 System once you've realised that the circular surround of the centre button enables you to scroll through the menus, and to back this up, it has enough room to store your entire CD/record collection. Toshiba manufactures the storage inside the iPOD and has just announced two new identically-sized drives: one which is double the iPOD's storage capacity, and one which quadruples it. Accordingly, it's possible to increase the size of the storage in the iPOD, though we're not sure what's involved to do so and with the convenience and speed of transfer between computer and iPOD, you may never need more space. The iPOD comes with iTunes software, which digitises the CDs, and allows even the most hapless goof-off to organise their music collection. But the single aspect of the iPOD which raises it to genuine killer app realms, is the downloading of the MP3s into the unit. Apple invented the lightning-fast, plug-n-play firewire (IEEE-1394) protocol and it has employed it well in this instance. The iPOD downloads massive lumps of digital music inside a minute or two. If there's something to complain about, it's that the earpods which come standard are unworthy of the task; the iPOD deserves better. Last but not least, if you don't have a Macintosh computer, visit www.mediafour.com for its XPlay software which offers Windows compatibility to the iPOD. XPlay is free to download now but will cost once it is out of beta testing phase.At $895, Apple's iPOD is the current benchmark for MP3 excellence!


http://www.gizmag.com/go/1162/

Razer ProType Programmable Multimedia Keyboard with iPod dock

those people who just never get over their love for their iPod, here’s a keyboard dock combo that will keep your personal icon on centre stage. The ivory white US$130 Razer ProType keyboard is the first keyboard with an integrated iPod dock, enabling easy synchronization and charging of the iPod without the hassle of additional wiring.

The ProType has smart keyboard functions, including enhanced key response and customizable profiles for different applications or users.

Razer ProType Features: * World’s first keyboard with an integrated iPod dock. * 10 customizable profiles where consumers can easily configure keyboard tasks according to which program they are using. * 10 programmable keys that can be used to launch applications or perform complex tasks at the touch of a button. * Ultra touch-sensitive keys include buttons for power on/off, undo, visual (zoom in or out and 100% scale) and a music button that directly activates iTunes. * A one-touch hub for multi-media programs and everyday computer functions, which includes line-out and two USB ports for convenient connection to other peripherals. * On-the-fly profile switching that allows viewers to swap keyboard profiles upon program detection.

It is compatible with the following iPods: * iPod nano 1st generation * iPod nano 2nd generation * iPod 3rd generation * iPod mini * iPod with click wheel * iPod color display * iPod with video

http://www.gizmag.com/go/7102/

Three ingenious iPod docking solutions

created the first portable iPod speaker and the company is continuing in this tradition of innovation with several new products. The most interesting is the inMotion iMV712 which docks your iPod to offer a room filling sound and upsized viewing screen. There’s also the M812 high-end wireless home audio system which enables you to unwire the whole house delivering sound through walls, floors and ceilings up to 100 feet away. Finally, there’s the gorgeous iM600 engineered for quality audio performance with a full complement of features such as built-in FM receiver, remote control, sound field expansion and an on-board rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that offers over seven hours of battery life.

With 16 watts of power, the iM600 throws out some serious sound with the crystal-clear quality that Altec fans have come to expect. The iM600 is ultra portable, folding to the flat size of a small book. When fully opened, the iM600’s slight footprint is the perfect audio solution in the home or office where space is at a premium. SFX Sound Field Expander technology enhances the stereo listening experience by widening the sound field at the touch of a button. Custom-built, dual 2-inch neodymium drivers outperform rival products with smooth lows and razor-sharp highs.

Every inch of the iM600 is designed to offer complete flexibility and control. Convenient fingertip controls compliment the iPod docking station that flips open and closed for easy storage in your backpack or travel bag. The wireless remote features full iPod song navigation and speaker controls as well as FM scan and four FM presets. If you prefer to keep your iM600 on your desk or nightstand, you can charge your iM600 battery with the AC power supply and have it double as an alarm clock when used with an iPod.

While made for iPod, the iM600 is compatible with any portable audio device via the 3.5mm auxiliary input jack.

Wires are so 2006 – Altec Lansing M812

The M812 is a high-end wireless home audio system for the iPod that delivers incredible sound through walls, floors and ceilings up to 100 feet away. Control music simply by pointing the M812 remote at the speaker system. Two 4-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters drive crisp, clean sound. Unwire the whole house by adding up to three additional speakers. Includes FM tuner with six presets and auxiliary input.

Sound and Video in One Package - inMotion iMV712

Enhances your iPod video experience with crystal-clear sound quality and an upsized viewing screen. An 8.5-inch high resolution LCD panel will bring your video downloads to life while the neodymium speakers and built-in subwoofer offer a high quality, room-filling audio experience.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/7036/

Nike+iPod

Nike and Apple have announced a partnership designed to bring the worlds of sport and music together with the launch of innovative Nike+iPod products. The first product developed through this partnership is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a wireless system that allows Nike+ footwear to record time, distance, calories burned and pace with info displayed on the iPod nano screen and real-time audio feedback through headphones. The new Nike+ Air Zoom Moire is the first footwear designed to talk to the iPod and Nike plans to make its other footwear styles Nike+ ready too. It’s simple and in our opinion gives you scant info you can’t get better another way – it’s just an in-shoe sensor and a receiver that attaches to the iPod. While we think the first product is a bit lame, it’ll be interesting to see what happens when Apple, the most consistently innovative company of the last 25 years, and Nike combine technologies with the reach of both companies. With two such innovative parents, we suspect some interesting children will be spawned. Our educated guesses at what they would logically be evaluating as potential products might include new capabilities such as a heart rate monitor to make the 24 hour a day calorie counter more accurate and to enable other useful data to be monitored, GPS functionality for additional info on position and speed and so we can be notified when we’re passing points of interest and hear a podcast about them should we choose, a blood oxygenation and lactose monitor for people who run really long distances, … oh, and maybe a cool Nike cap with a little heads up display incorporated so we can watch video podcasts without headbutting a lamppost.

The announcements included a new Nike Sport Music section on Apple’s iTunes Music Store and a new nikeplus.com personal service site designed to help you achieve the optimum Nike+iPod personal running and workout experience.

Nike CEO Mark Parker and Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled Nike+iPod at an event in New York attended by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe.

“Nike+iPod is a partnership between two iconic, global brands with a shared passion for creating meaningful consumer product experiences through design and innovation,” Parker said. “This is the first result, and Nike+iPod will change the way people run. Nike+iPod creates a better running experience. We see many more such Nike+ innovations in the future.”

"We're working with Nike to take music and sport to a new level," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The result is like having a personal coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout."

Armstrong, who is preparing for his first NY Marathon, said, “If you can incorporate time, distance and calories burned together and make it function for both the fitness runner and the high level athlete, it will take working out to a whole other level.”

“I definitely use music both ways,” Radcliffe said. “I listen to faster music if I am doing a workout in the gym to just get the best out of myself, but I also use it to help me relax in the buildup to a big race.”

Specially designed Nike apparel, including jackets, tops, shorts and an iPod nano armband, bring together the Nike+iPod experience with waterproof pockets that accommodate iPod nano and are designed to make it easy to operate while staying tuned to your music during an active workout.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5665/

LCD Monitor with integrated iPod connectivity

this is the last time we mention iPod ever … well at least for today. Every time we see another very cool iPod peripheral we swear it’s the last one we’ll run but they keep coming and this integrated ViewDock display from ViewSonic has forced us to succumb yet again. It’s the first “Made for iPod” LCD display with an integrated iPod dock and popped up at the 2006 Apple Expo in Paris, receiving a Best of Expo 2006 award. The ViewDock monitor expands media player possibilities by integrating an iPod docking station into a widescreen display and we reckon this idea has some longevity to it as it offers immediate access to a screen 65 times larger than an iPod screen and might spawn yet another direction for the way we access our media.

The ViewDock also enables users to synchronise and charge their iPod and play music directly through the monitor speakers. On top of that, the feature-rich monitors offer multiple connectivity options, including several USB 2.0 ports and an 8-in-1 card reader – along with a microphone, integrated stereo speakers and a subwoofer.

The ViewDock will be available in November. Pricing is not yet available.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/6257/