Portable CD MP3 Player

No longer is the iPod for just listening to audio, viewing photos or watching videos. Now it can be used as a dictionary as well. That’s right – Merriam-Webster today introduced a version of their dictionary for Apple’s extremely popular digital audio player.

The Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary, which was developed in conjunction with iPod-formatted reading material publisher iPREPpress, is being called the first all text brand-named dictionary for the iPod. This dictionary, which generally costs $14.95, includes 40,000 words and their definitions, a pronunciation guide, abbreviation guide and a “Handbook of Style”.

CUPERTINO, California—March 29, 2006—Apple® today announced a software update for the iPod® nano and fifth generation iPod, allowing customers to easily set their own personal maximum volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to set a maximum volume limit on their child’s iPod and lock it with a combination code.

“As the leading provider of digital music players, Apple continuously brings iPod customers innovative and easy to use solutions,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “With the increased attention in this area, we want to offer customers an easy to use option to set their own personal volume limit.”

Insiders at Taiwanese phone maker BenQ say that Apple procurement executives have been talking to various Taiwanese phone makers during the past few months in an effort to cut a manufacturing deal on an iPod Phone

They say that Apple will launch an iPod with phone functions within the next few months. “An iPod phone is definitely coming. BenQ will not be making it as we are in competition with Apple however several of our suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. Among manufacturers in Taiwan it is common knowledge. The issue for many is the availabilty of parts if the phone takes off” said the BenQ executive.

Condensed Versions of All 63 Games from CSTV Available with New iTunes “Season Pass” For Just $19.99

NEW YORK and CUPERTINO, California—March 14, 2006—CBS Sports and Apple® today announced they will bring the 2006 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship distributed by CBS Corporation’s College Sports TV (CSTV) to the iTunes® Music Store (www.itunes.com). For the first time ever, college basketball fans can pay $1.99 per game for condensed versions of all the 2006 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball championship games. Customers can also choose the new “Season Pass” feature on iTunes for $19.99, and receive condensed versions of all 63 games the day after they are played for viewing on a computer or iPod®. Full-length versions of this year’s semifinals and championship game, as well as compilations of buzzer beaters, upsets and memorable championship games from past NCAA Tournaments will also be available on iTunes.

On the heels of Apple’s launch of its own iPod speaker system and leather cases, some iPod users on the forums on this site and elsewhere have questioned whether Apple might be looking to take over the iPod accessory industry, which has long been in the hands of third parties, and claim the whole market as its own. These users claim to see a pattern. First it was iPod socks and nano tubes, then the FM radio tuner, and now speakers and cases. With each passing month, Apple brings another iPod accessory to market, seemingly making it progressively more difficult for third parties to compete. All this leads to the question: is Apple really trying to claim the iPod accessory industry for itself, or is there more at work here than meets the eye?

Ten Technology, a developer of iPod accessories, earlier this week announced a wireless headset which uses Bluetooth technology to transmit audio from Bluetooth enabled MP3 players or mobile phones. The naviPlay Bluetooth Stereo Headset, which is part of the naviPlay Bluetooth Kit for iPod, is priced at $200 and should be available now.

The naviPlay Bluetooth Kit for iPod , said Ten Technology, includes the stereo headset as well as a Bluetooth adapter for iPods which attaches to all recent iPod models. Either via the iPod adapter or built in wireless Bluetooth in devices such as MP3 players or mobile phones, the stereo headset establishes a relationship with the device which allow music or audio to be sent wirelessly to them.

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), a maker of iPod accessories, today announced a new transmitter/charger accessory designed to work with all current iPods. The new DLO TransDock micro is priced at $69.99 and available now.

The DLO TransDock micro , said DLO, broadcasts the iPod’s music over a car radio while at the same time charging the player’s battery. Users plug the TransDock micro into an auto power outlet, connect the dock’s cable to an iPod and select a FM station to play the MP3 player’s music on.

Griffin Technology, a maker of popular iPod accessories, announced a new flexible car mount and charger for the iPod nano. The new TuneFlex is priced at $39.99 and should be available now.

The TuneFlex , according to Griffin, has a flexible steel neck which can be adjusted to various angles or elevations to make controlling the iPod nano easier. The cradle of the TuneFlex is designed to grip the iPod and rotates to stay upright and readable in any position.