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V-MODA Beats Apple to the Punch With Vibe II In-Ear Headphones

Dave — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:18:12 +0000

Beating Apple to the punch, V-Moda has uncovered their long-await Vibe II in-ear headphones, with in-line microphone. Users who have been waiting for Apple’s premium headphones, might want to give these a look first.

Although priced at nearly $60 more than Apple’s unreleased in-ear headphones, the V-MODA Vibe II’s are a follow up to the well received V-MODA Vibe Duo’s. While the Vibe II’s are are attuned to the iPhone, the in-canal earbuds are not exclusive to the device. The eco-friendly machined metal design is said to carry with it an improved organic sound quality that advocates lower bass tones giving the listener the a realistic audio experience. They note the Vibe II’s to sport “an all new V-MASQUE dynamic driver which boasts an unparalleled high-definition, 3D soundstage, invoking the sense of a live music experience through its vibrant bass, vivid mid-range, and vivacious highs.” The company estimates the low frequency response to be between 12Hz and 22Hz, proving to be a perfect fit for the electronic and urban music aficionado.

For a more perfect fit, the Vibe II’s come equipped with two sets of silicone in four various sizes and include ear hook attachments for the more active user. V-MODA will be taking pre-orders beginning later today from both the Apple Store and the V-MODA website. For $128 you can choose between chrome and red or black colorways, and will include a special VIP card that will grant access to exclusive content and podcasts.

Starbucks No Longer On Apple’s Website, What Does This Mean?

Christina — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:56:52 +0000

The Starbucks page on Apple.com has disappeared driving speculation about the “lucrative” deal being terminated, or in a “transitional” phase. While this wouldn’t affect Apple too adversely, seeing as how the deal didn’t garner much attention to begin with, the impact on Starbucks could be greater.

Engadget points out that the Starbucks page on Apple’s website is mysteriously “stone-cold gone, redirecting to the standard iTunes 8 stuff.” Many of you might not have noticed, and we get that. But fresh off of Starbucks’ huge corporate cutback, many could argue that the coffee giant might be trying to free themselves of their commitment to rolling out an iTunes WiFi Music Store integration across its entire cookie-cutter chain.

According to Apple’s press release dated September 5th, 2007, Apple and Starbucks were creating “an exclusive partnership that lets customers wirelessly browse, search for, preview, buy and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks onto their iPod Touch, iPhone, or PC or Mac running iTunes while at a participating location.” Due to the nation’s cutback on all things luxury, including the $4.00/day latte, this formal merging of minds (and corporate giants) might never happen.

Perhaps Apple might just be playing down an agreement that has now been in place for a full year- that never quite came to fruition. Who knows?….The dead link to Starbucks’ iTunes FAQ page might have absolutely NOTHING to do with their current financial woes. If so, another grand idea bites the dust. As usual, Apple has yet to comment on the dead-end project.

Video: Macbook Mini Spotted: OOPS, We Mean Modded

Aviv — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:14:55 +0000

Apparently German hacker Florian couldn’t wait for Apple’s upcoming notebook transition to get a new Mac. Instead he took it upon himself to put together a rather “desirable” Macbook Mini, and we wish we could play with it.

Florian used a dremel, and an extremely steady hand to fashion together the housing and exterior elements of the notebook. The inside however, “is a little less tidy, with tape and aluminum foil holding things in place and bouncing back a little extra light,” Gadget Lab explains.

Florian even made a commercial spoof taking on the Macbook Air

Thanks to reader HuffyLover for the tip

[Gizmodo via Wired Gadget Lab]

Full Video: Nokia Markets Another Device as “iPhone Killer” to Attract Attention

Aviv — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:22:39 +0000

Since Apple launched the iPhone, the entire mobile industry has been playing catchup. Recently Sprint and Samsung have marketed the Instinct directly as an “iPhone killer.” With a new device codenamed “tube” Nokia is expected to unveil another “iPhone killer” on October 2nd.

Because Apple’s iPhone is so overwhelmingly successful, and dominant in the touchscreen space, companies use the word “iPhone” to garner attention. “Hey! Look at Me! I can beat the iPhone!” Even Apple marketed their new iPhone 3G as the “first phone to beat the iPhone.” So whether Nokia’s tube (S60) is actually on par with Apple’s iPhone is besides the point, it’s the attention and buzz that they’re after.

Not only will calling the device an “iPhone killer” get Nokia a post like this on an Apple website, but it’ll call out for direct comparison, elevating the device into the “elite” status, where they want it. So, the tactic works. Although shameless and very unoriginal, its standard practice in the business world, and Apple should be used to it by now.

Below is the original commercial Apple aired marketing the
new iPhone 3Gas the “the first phone to beat the iPhone.”

Nokia will unveil its first touch-screen phone next week in a direct challenge to Apple’s successful iPhone, two industry sources told Reuters on Friday.

Both sources said Nokia would unveil its new phone — code-named “Tube” — on Oct. 2 at an analyst and media event in London. A Nokia spokeswoman declined to comment.The phone is extremely important,” said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi. “We have been waiting for the market leader to respond to Apple’s iPhone for a year and a half now. There is a lot of pressure on Nokia, Tarmo Virki reports for Reuters.

Nokia, which has a strong track record in the lower-end handset market, said in July its touch-screen offering would come this year and be cheaper than rival models in order to tap into a higher-volume market. “Taking into account the attention Apple has got, and good sales of LG and Samsung touch-screen phones, Nokia has to be there,” said Pohjola’s Rauhala. “As there is demand, there is no reason to leave it for rivals.”

Below is the full video that originally sparked the Nokia ‘tube’ controversy.
It’s a Q&A with Nokia Executives where they get drilled about “Copying” innovation.

While Nokia is marketing the device as a completely touch screen device, it’s uni-touch, not multi-touch. Which means you won’t be doing any of that fancy map zooming and scaling that you can do on the iPhone. Overall the S60 or “tube” or whatever they call it, is blatantly just a degradation of innovation by Nokia. Physical feedback, such as having the device vibrate is not a “killer” feature that will force users to switch. Which makes us wonder, with the Nokia S60, the Instinct, the HTC Diamond and Diamond Pro, is there anything that is “iPhone killing” about any of these? Maybe if you put them all together you’d have a contender.

RIM Rumored to Release Mac Compatible Application

Christina — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:37:36 +0000

According to CIO.com, an anonymous source says that Research In Motion, the Canadian company behind the Blackberry, will release a new set of tools to make the device harmonize with a Mac sometime in the first half of 2009.

The tools as said to “address a number of longstanding complaints from Mac users,” though details of the exact capabilities that RIM will bring to the table with its own software were not disclosed, according to ars technica. “We know that we don’t have an ideal solution for Mac users,” the RIM source stated. “It’s something that’s been on our radar since 2004, at least…” (And, we can only imagine, become a priority since the release of the competing iPhone.)

The Blackberry has always had a hard time appealing to the artistic-Mac-using types, typically finding itself in the pocket of a pin-striped suite…This is due to the fact that the only way Mac users have been able to scrounge up basic syncing features is through third-party applications from PocketMac and Mark/Space. Naturally, there were downfalls that included the inability to wipe the BlackBerry OS or perform necessary backup/restore of the device.

Therefore it is only good news (though still a rumor) that RIM is developing its own native software for the booming Mac community. Both companies will have the potential to profit. With Macs more open for business than ever, consumers will no longer have to choose between the two main devices. Now it is just up to Apple to continue to make the iPhone appeal to the business minded and Crackberry addicts alike.

Microsoft Bails on Seinfeld, Launching New Campaign to Directly Target Apple

Aviv — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:51:26 +0000

Microsoft is dumping the ill-received Seinfeld Windows campaign for something a little more focused. A campaign directly targeting, and mimicking Apple’s “Get A Mac” ad campaign

Microsoft aired two commercials which were called New Family and Shoe Circus. Although both ads commanded attention, and bounced off every tech blog on the planet, Microsoft wasn’t trying to sell copies of Windows with the campaign. Brand reinforcement and getting Microsoft in a positive consumer light was the ultimate goal. But Microsoft doesn’t seem anymore “warm & chewy” as it did before the two commercials aired.

The new ads to be aired by Microsoft will instead focus directly on targeting Apple. They will showcase a “PC Guy” look alike, who is played by John Hodgman in Apple’s “Get A Mac” commercials.

One new Microsoft commercial even begins with a company engineer who resembles John Hodgman, the comedian portraying the loser PC character in the Apple campaign. “Hello, I’m a PC,” the engineer says, echoing Mr. Hodgman’s recurring line, “and I’ve been made into a stereotype.”

The strategy to use the Apple attack as the basis for a counterstrike is typical for the agency behind the campaign, Crispin Porter & Bogusky.

Mr. Gates makes a cameo appearance in the new Microsoft spots, along with celebrities like the actress Eva Longoria, the author Deepak Chopra and the singer Pharrell Williams. (Mr. Seinfeld is gone, at least for now.) via the NY Times.

While the first two commercials may not have been entirely “focused”, we’re actually pretty excited to see what Microsoft comes up with. “Hello, I’m a PC” — “Hello, I’m a Mac” — “Did you see the BSOD at the Olympics? Yeah, that was allllll me.”

[via ValleyWag]

Wireless USB Modem Plus Memory Stick From Nova Media

Aviv — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:17:24 +0000

Nove Media has unveiled the iCON 401, “a wireless USB modem for Macintosh computers with memory stick functionality.” The new device can be used worldwide, and supports most kinds of mobile connection speeds.

To use the device, all you need is a SIM card from a cell provider which has been enabled for data transmission. Once you place the SIM card in the iCON 401, the connection wizard is run and setup is automated. The iCON 401 comes with the internet connection wizard “launch2net” which was designed to help you get connected to the internet quickly and easily, without the need to enter cryptic configuration details. The connection wizard comes pre-installed with connection settings for “most” mobile network providers around the globe, and displays the time and data consumption of your online sessions.

“iCON 401 features a microSD card slot and thus can be used as a memory stick with flexible size.” states jan Fuellemann, PR spokesperson at nova media. “The antenna is built into the swivel and the swivel¹s design also serves as the USB adapter protection Œcap¹. To rule out signal lost due to interference in high bands, the iCON 401 supports diversity reception. A connector for external antennas is built in as well. For future compatibility, the elegant modem is already configured to support high upload speeds with up to 5.76 Mbps.”

Winner of the red dot product design award 2008, the iCON 401 is available today.

Best Buy Set to Acquire Napster for $121 Million

Dave — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:03:16 +0000

Best Buy has today announced that they will acquire Napster Inc. for $121 million in attempts to promote growth in the digital entertainment industry.

The transaction, which values Napster at $2.65 per share, has been approved by Napster’s board and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. Included in the deal will be Napster’s approximately 700,000 subscribers, it’s web-based customer service platform, and mobile capabilities.

“This transaction offers Best Buy a recognized platform for enhancing our capabilities in the digital media space and building new, recurring relationships with customers,” said Brian Dunn, President and COO of Best Buy. “Over time we hope to strengthen our offerings to consumers, who we believe will increasingly seek devices and solutions that enable them to access their content wherever, whenever and however they want.”

The acquisition will retain the services of Napster CEO, Chris Gorog, and members of the senior management team to manage the company following the deal. Additionally, no other layoffs of the company’s 140 employees have been mentioned.

Executive Vice President of Connected Digital Solutions of Best Buy, Dave Morrish adds, “We can foresee Napster acting as a platform for accelerating our growth in the emerging industry of digital entertainment, beyond music subscriptions. We’re very excited to add these capabilities to leverage our existing relationships with the labels, the studios, and the hardware providers.”

[via 9to5]

Facebook Mandates Redesign on its 100 Million Users.

Dave — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:01:13 +0000

That’s right, as of today all Facebookers will be forced to adapt to the social networking giant’s redesign unveiled seven weeks ago, whether they like it or not.

Since launch nearly four and a half years ago, Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has discovered that any significant changes made to the popular online destination cannot be delivered without sparking a major uproar amongst die hard users who prefer to have things the way that they are accustomed to.

Since the release of the redesign, Facebook users have had the option to make the switch with the simple click of a button, yet were able to go back to the old format. Thus, Zuckerberg’s new approach will be put to the ultimate test today as Facebook’s community, now 100 Million strong, will no longer have the option to revert to the previous site design. The old format is said to be completely phased out by the end of the week. While Zuckerberg knows full well that this mandate may alienate some of Facebook’s community, he is apparently willing to take that risk, which may ultimately drive users to rival social networks such as Bebo and Myspace. Yet he still maintains that a firm approach will be the best route to eliminating the need to issue public apologies as he has done in the past.

“Any change can be a big deal to our users because this is how they connect with their family and friends,” Zuckerberg said. “So when you move things around, it can be perceived as being not a positive thing even when it’s a positive change.”

Facebook’s new look.

He went on to mention that nearly 40 million users have checked out the redesign and about 30 million have welcomed the change choosing to not return to the old design. However, it appears that a mutiny may be in the works, as several groups and petitions have been formed in protest of the change.

“It’s not that we don’t want change, period, it’s that we don’t like these particular changes,” said Scott Sanders, 19, an Austin Peay University student who started one of the petitions opposing the redesign. “You have to navigate more and you have to click more to get to personal profiles. It’s too much effort to get to basic information.”

Facebook’s audience is now nearly ten times what it was when Zuckerberg and the Facebook team unveiled the “News Feed” feature that displays user’s personal information, leading to thousands of angered users.

“There is more weight on making things smooth when you are dealing with 100 million people,” Zuckerberg said. “No one cared as much when a bunch of students from a few colleges were complaining about some changes to some Web site.”

It looks as though the Facebook community will either need to embrace the new design, or at least put up with it, if they would like to continue using the mega-network.

[via Wired]

Google in final stages of Digg acquisition

Dave — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:21:15 +0000

Google’s on and off negotiations to acquire Digg are back in a big way. TechCrunch is reporting that over the last six weeks, multiple sources from within Google have informed them that the acquisition will bring Digg under the Google News Property.

The acquisition is estimated to be in the $200 million range, well below the $4-$5 billion valuation that Digg has received in the past.

Despite rigorous past attempts, Digg CEO Jay Adelson had remained firm in his denial of the buyout. Google’s Marissa Mayer had eventually subsided talks with Digg for a period of time, yet now the companies are reported to be in the final stages of negotiations. According to TechCrunch’s sources the deal could still take up to a few weeks to be finalized.

Additionally, based on past rendezvous with the two internet companies, the deal could entirely still have the potential to fall apart.

The majority of Digg’s revenue comes through a three year ad deal with Microsoft, which would be terminated if the Google buyout is successful (Potential lawsuit?). Microsoft had also shown some previous interest in an acquisition of Digg, and may be willing to step back in, if negotiations with Google go south.