Gadgets

Before being given its current title, "Zune", Microsoft's digital audio player was largely rumored to be the company's first foray into the portable gaming market. With many console fanboys hoping the project would indeed end in an "Xboy", it ... instead led to a 30GB MP3 competitor for Apple's iPod. Although it seems Microsoft still plans on making the device somewhat game-functional, the company may have lost its chance with gamers. The window of opportunity may be quickly closing on the Zune's music appeal, too, with many retailers now discounting its price tag. First to massively reduce the ... (view more)

Nicholas Negroponte, the former director of the MIT Media Lab and current leader of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project, announced Thursday that that machines, which were originally targeted at $100, are now expected to sell for $175. This is ... not the first time the anticipated price has increased. Negroponte's team had previously announced that the price had risen from $100 to $140. However, this initial increase was partly offset by a slew of new features, such as an integrated digital video camera. The new price hike is not expected to be coupled with any improvements. (Source: ... (view more)

Take a moment and think about your last Christmas morning. How many of the items unwrapped by you, your spouse, or your kids required batteries, a power outlet, or frequent software updates? In all likelihood, it was these kinds of devices that ... dominated the gift-giving ceremony, as U.S. consumers continue to prop up the electronics industry. The impact of this is only recently being documented, with the most blatant evidence presented in the new study proclaiming that, on average, American adults spend some $1,200 a year on electronics. The retail examination was conducted by the Consumer ... (view more)

Steve Jobs has not changed his mind about the way music should be sold. Last week, Jobs reinforced his view that subscriptions and iTunes do not mix. "Never say never, but customers don't seem to be interested in it," Jobs said of subscription ... services. "The subscription model has failed so far." (Source: reuters.com ) Jobs' stance on the issue is far from new. In 2003, Jobs explained to Rolling Stone how the natural evolution of music doesn't support subscription services: "People don't want to buy their music as a subscription. They bought 45s; then they bought LPs; then they bought ... (view more)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios and Apple recently announced that MGM will now offer titles from its catalogue of feature films for purchase and download on the iTunes Store website. This deal will add to iTunes menu of over 500 movie titles ... available for purchase and download. (Source: reuters.com) Beginning Wednesday, MGM, which has the largest modern film library in the world (over 4000 films), launched 25 titles for download on iTunes. An Apple spokesperson noted that more of MGM's films would be added over the next several weeks. (Source: blogs.pcworld.com ) The iTunes online store ... (view more)

No one can deny that when it comes to design, Apple is the reigning champion. But although the company has mastered almost everything from MP3 players to GUI (graphical user interface) screens, it never produced a truly amazing mouse. But this may ... soon change -- Apple has filed a patent application for an innovative new touch-sensitive mouse. (Source: theinquirer.net ) In early December of 2006, iPhone interface designer Brian Huppi filed the patent application for the next-generation Apple mouse. The mouse is capable of switching between operational modes depending on how the device is held ... (view more)

It seems that no one can get enough of the iPod -- including Nike. Last week, Nike President and Chief Executive Mark Parker announced that the company plans to make all of its running shoes compatible with Apple's iPod Nano line by the end of this ... year. The news undoubtedly comes as a result of the smashing success of the Nike+iPod Sport Kits. The kits, which retail for about $30 each, allow runners to track their workout data -- such as distance, time and calories burned -- on an iPod Nano. The kit includes a wireless module that fits into Nike+ running shoe soles and a receiver that ... (view more)

With the vast majority of industry insiders expecting positive results once Apple releases their new iPhone to the public, many multimedia phone companies have recognized the Apple threat and are attempting to avoid any competition against the ... technological giant. Palm Inc., a hand-held computer making company, has announced their plans to challenge Apple in the hopes of putting an end to their stranglehold on the rest of the industry. While representatives at Palm were quick to decline extensive commentary on their retaliatory devices, the company did reveal that a former Apple computer ... (view more)

The One Laptop Per Child XO laptops will now include an anti-theft kill-switch to deter thieves from selling the low priced machines for a hefty profit in the black market. (Source: arstechnica.com ) The decision to add the kill-switch stems from ... requests from the OLPC project's main clients: governments. OLPC Director of Security Architecture Ivan Krstic wrote last month that "the OLPC project has received very strong requests from certain countries considering joining the program to provide a powerful anti-theft service that would act as a theft deterrent against most thieves." (Source: ... (view more)

Pop sales took off when people were able to put some change into a vending machine and get a nice cold drink. Apple has decided that if it worked for pop, it could also work for iPods. iPod vending machines first started popping up a couple of years ... ago in airports. Although intuitively the idea of selling a big ticket item in a vending machine seems odd, the concept has actually proven successful. iPod vending machines now exist in airports, universities, military bases and department stores. (Source: ajc.com ) Mark Mullins, Executive Vice President of Zoom (a company that makes the vending ... (view more)