iPod shuffle now in five 'brilliant' colours

Apple just released 4 new colours to go with the standard silver iPod shuffle. You can now also choose from pink, orange, green and blue. Same price at £55.



Check out the Apple store for more details.

Gadgets of 2006

Before we get into the 2007 stuff (and next week there's plenty going on with CES and Macworld), I thought I'd have a quick look back at my 2006 gadgets.

It was a good year, an excellent one actually. At the beginning of 2006 there were a couple of things I was really hoping for in the year to come - a new iPod nano with at least 8GB capacity and a redesigned Nintendo DS.

My wishes came true and both were delivered (and duly purchased) in the form of the 2G nanos and DS lite. I love them both (in sweet black).

Other highlights were my TomTom GO 510 sat-nav, Sennheiser CX 300 earphones to go with my new nano, Plantronics Voyager 510 bluetooth headset and last but in no way least, my Nintendo Wii.

I'm really pleased with all of my gadget purchases in 2006 and can happily recommend any of them. But if I had to pick one that was the stand out favourite, which would it be?

It's a hard choice. I now don't really go anywhere in the car without my TomTom, it's excellent and I love the traffic updates and bluetooth hands free features.

But what about the DS, playing New Super Mario Bros. was simply awesome, not to mention Brain Training and Mario Kart DS. And then there's the 8GB nano, I use it almost every day and think it's about as perfect as an MP3 player can get.

Or should it be the Wii? I don't think I've had it long enough yet to truly decide. I love all my gadgets, it's like asking me to choose my favourite child (I imagine).

But I have to choose one. And it has to be the iPod nano 8GB. I'd wanted one from the moment they released the original in 2005 - 4GB just wasn't enough for me. The 2nd generation nano is everything a great gadget should be - small, sleek, gorgeous and brilliant at what it does. It's what the nano should have been in the first place but Apple got it right second time around. I honestly can't fault it in any way.

The Wii would probably have pipped the nano to the top of the list if it had been around a little sooner in 2006 but it feels more like a 2007 product to me as I only really started playing it over Christmas. The DS lite comes a very close third and TomTom fourth.

So there you go. 2006 was a great gadget year. What will 2007 bring? Maybe a new Mac or will I finally take the plunge and grab an HDTV and Sky HD? Who knows, I'll keep you posted.

What were your favourite 2006 gadgets? Post in the comments and let us know!

iPod Shuffle - mini review

How cool are these things? The new iPod Shuffle from Apple is a wonder. They look amazing, and you just don't realise how small they are until you're holding one. They really are something special. From their oh-so-small form factor to their specific dock, they are a mini marvel. Apparently they're demand is out-stripping supply in the US, I had no problem at all ordering direct from the Apple UK site, ordered on Monday, with engraving and it was being delivered on Wednesday morning - impressive, despite Apple predicting it wouldn't ship for at least a week.

With a cool to the touch, brushed metal feel, a strong clasp and simple interface this really is a great feeling product. Lightweight, naturally, it clips onto your clothing easily and within moments you forget its even there - except of course for the rather excellent sound quality. The standard iPod headphones seem to have improved over previous versions, I found my Sennheiser CX300 performed as well as on the Shuffle as I would have expected from my 60Gb iPod Photo.

The Shuffle charges through USB. The indicator lights on the unit go from Green to Orange depending on charge state. There's a very definite off switch on the unit as well as a shuffle switch, you can play your songs back in the order they are on the iPod or have them shuffled. Loading content is done through iTunes 7 and the interface is childlike simple. Choose the whole music library or a specific playlist to Autofill content from or you can add songs individually, by album or playlist with simple drag and drop.

The iPod docks upside down, impaling itself through the phono port onto the dock. Personally I found it a little fiddly to dock, mostly due to its small size, but you can't have tiny and then complain its too small.

The transfer speed is what you'd expect and seemed to autofill quickly enough. For easy pick up and go music, if your computer's on its a pretty swift operation before you leave the house.

The packaging from Apple really is raising the bar. They are forcing other manufacturers to up their game - evident in the now ubiquitous unboxing sites all over the web. Delivered in a translucent, plastic sarcophagus, this little treasure hovers mid-packaging. Remove the plastic seal at the top and the front falls down to reveal your spoils.

Simple operation cards accompany the Shuffle, making it great introductory iPod, especially for the older generation. I can even see people picking these up as 2nd iPods for exercising with. 240 song capacity, Mac and PC, in a super-small package - an obvious christmas stocking filler.

If you haven't checked out the brilliant TV ad its up on the Apple site now.

Tags: Apple, iPod, Shuffle, 1GB, small, MP3, iTunes, clasp, simple, lightweight, USB, Mac, Windows, Autofill

Gear4 BluEye - bluetooth for your iPod

So you've got an iPod right? And a bluetooth enabled mobile phone?

But when you're listening to your iPod and the phone rings, you don't necessarily hear it or you have to fumble around taking your earphones out and grabbing your phone, by which time you've missed the call.

Sound familiar? I know it happens to me all the time. That's where the BluEye comes in and it may just make your life a bit easier. It looks like a pretty awesome little device.

Basically, it does what the Apple iPod remote does i.e. act as a radio receiver as well as a remote control for your iPod but it has one other key feature - it connects to your mobile phone via bluetooth.

So now when you're listening to your iPod and your phone rings, the BluEye automatically pauses the music and displays the incoming phone number on your iPod's screen. You can either accept or reject the call and it routes the caller's voice from your phone through your iPod earphones!

Your voice is picked up by an integrated mic in the BluEye device, so it will effectively act like a hands free kit. And when you finish the call, your music resumes! How cool is that?

You can even use it to make calls via voice dialling and bring up the recent callers list on your iPod screen to dial. All that as well as being a radio receiver and remote control? Pretty impressive stuff.

The full features list looks like this:

• Make and receive calls on your iPod
• Plug' n' Play with most Bluetooth enabled mobile phones
• Caller Number ID displayed on iPod screen
• Automatically pause and resume music for incoming calls
• Last 9 numbers redial from your iPod
• Voice dial when paired with supported Bluetooth phones
• 15 Presets and auto scan FM Radio
• Use your own headphones
• No need for batteries
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Available in black and white
  

It's already available in the UK at Carphone Warehouse and will be shipping directly from Gear4 on 3rd December. It recently also got a 90% rating in a review from The Register.

Definitely one of the cleverest and most useful gadgets I've seen in quite a while and at £49.99 not too pricey. I'll be adding it to my wish list!

Tags: blueye, gear4, ipod, apple, bluetooth, remote, radio, tech, technology, gadget, schmadget, scb

iPod shuffle shipping and RED 8Gb nano (Updated)

UPDATE: Hmm, this post seemed to get lost amongst the blogger problems on Saturday, so am reposting it.

Apple keep busting out these new iPods. Friday saw the expected official launch of the tiny second generation shuffles (left) which are now shipping.

We also saw a surprise 8GB RED nano launched as well. So the RED nanos now come in 4 and 8GB options!

Which new iPod do you want? I picked up an 8GB nano a couple of weeks ago and I love it.

Tags: apple, ipod, shuffle, nano, red, schmadget, gadgets, tech, technology, scb

iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition

Apple have today announced a special addition (PRODUCT) RED 4GB iPod nano. It's exactly the same as a normal 4GB iPod nano except for 2 things - it's red and Apple will give $10 of its purchase price to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Apple joins Motorola, GAP, Armani, Converse and American Express in offering RED products and as they say, it means your iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED sounds good and does good at the same time.

For more info on (PRODUCT) RED visit their website at http://www.joinred.com/

Tags: productred, apple, ipod, nano, africa, schmadget, gadgets, tech, technology, scb

Microsoft announce Zune - their answer to iPod

So, if you can't beat 'em, copy 'em? That seems to be the premise of Microsoft's full-on foray into the world of digital music.

They criticised Apple's massively successful 'closed' iPod/iTunes/iTunes Music Store ecosystem, then tried and failed to effectively compete with their PlaysForSure concept.

So, now Microsoft have seemingly decided the 'closed' platform that has worked for Apple is the way forward for them as well. Hence, 'Zune' - the new media player/software/online store combination they announced last week.



It works pretty much exactly like the iPod - you buy the Zune player, load the Zune software onto your PC and buy music from the Zune Marketplace (online store). It doesn't work with PlaysForSure or anything else, it only works with itself, just like the iPod.

That is a strange choice for Microsoft. They and their partners have been preaching to us that PlaysForSure is so much better than Apple's iPod world because you can buy any PlaysForSure device from the likes of Samsung, Toshiba, Creative, Philips, Archos etc. and buy music from any PlaysForSure online music store such as MTV's URGE, Napster etc. and they will work together. The perfect antithesis of the iPod world.



Zune flies in the face of PlaysForSure, ignoring the concept of interoperability and puts Microsoft in direct competition with their former partners. Most analysts are predicting that it will be these partners that Microsoft steals market share and sales from - not Apple.

So, what of the new Zune device itself? Well, honestly it seems OK, certainly not groundbreaking and I don't think an iPod killer. Not yet anyway. But it does have a few features the iPod is lacking, for example a 3" widescreen display and wireless song sharing abilities. You can share full-length tracks with other Zune users for up to 3 days or 3 plays, whichever comes first, after which they can flag the song for purchase in the Zune Marketplace. You can also share playlists and photos.

But it's also a fair bit heavier and thicker than the recently updated 30GB iPod and supposedly has slightly less battery life.

The Zune specs look like this:

• 30GB hard drive
• QVGA resolution (320 x 240) 3" widescreen display
• WiFi
  
• Supports h.264, MP3, AAC and WMA
• Built in FM tuner
• Available in white, black and brown

The two advantages they have over the iPod, the larger screen and WiFi, I expect Apple are already planning on introducing with the 'true' video iPod that has been so anticipated and much rumoured.

I really think if Microsoft want to break the iPod monopoly, they need to make a leap right over Apple and do something new and innovative. Zune is effectively a (poor?) clone of an iPod and that's not going to win them anything. And they certainly can't let Apple beat them on battery life and physical size.

Of course, there has been no mention yet of pricing and with Apple just lowering the price of the 30GB iPod to $249 / £189 Microsoft will find it hard to compete with Apple's massive buying power and economies of scale.

The reaction of prominent bloggers and industry analysts has been muted as well, most seem to be quite skeptical that Microsoft can make a big impact on Apple.

Microsoft are clearly very serious about Zune, are investing a lot in it and have J Allard, the brains behind the Xbox 360, running the program. My feeling is that this is just the beginning of their move into this space. I expect, like Apple, over time they will introduce more devices that compete more fully in all areas and slowly build their platform up.

Overall I think it's a good thing to have a decent level of competition in this industry. It will also bring the best out of Apple and force them to keep innovating, which can only be a good thing for the consumer.

Tags: microsoft, zune, apple, ipod, tech, technology, gadget, schmadget, scb

Apple introduces new iPods, iTunes 7 and "iTV"

Apple yesterday announced a slew of new products, pretty much in-line with the pre-event rumours that have been circulating, with the exception that there was no "true" video, 6th generation iPod announced.

So, what did we get and which are the most significant of the announcements?

2nd generation iPod nano

First there are the newly "remastered" iPod nanos. In a throw back to the iPod mini days, they now come with aluminium enclosures and in a choice of 5 colours. The range now includes an 8GB version (at last!) that is only available in black, a 4GB version available in silver, pink, green and blue and the 2GB version only available in silver.


All the new nanos have a 40% brighter screen and a whopping 24 hours of battery life, as well as managing to be a little bit thinner!

It seems to me that they have taken the best things about the mini and combined them with the best things from the nano. In my view this is what the nano should have been in the first place.

Certain to be big sellers this Christmas, they are available in the UK from £99 - £169.

New iPod shuffle

In a bit of a surprise move, Apple released incredibly tiny new shuffles.

They come with 1GB of storage and integrated clip, which you're going to need, otherwise you'll lose it! Also included with the shuffle is a new, tiny little dock.

The shuffle looks more like a remote control for a full size iPod rather than a music player in it's own right!

Available from October for £55.00.

5G iPods updated

The full size iPods also received an update, with new a higher capacity 80GB version, 60% brighter screens, increased battery life to 20 hours (on the 80GB model), the ability to play specially designed games and playback "gapless" tracks.

The latter feature is something iPod fans have been asking for for years now, so albums like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon can be played as they were meant to be, with each track flowing into the next, with no pauses.

This was perhaps the most disappointing announcement of the event, as a lot of people (including me) were expecting Apple to release a new, 6th generation iPod with a full face, widescreen display. Unfortunately that didn't happen, so we'll have to wait until next year for that.

The 30GB iPod has seen a price drop to £189 while the new 80GB version is £259.

iTunes 7

In a significant update to the iTunes software and it's associated online store, Apple announced several new features.

As expected, what was the iTunes music store, now known as just the iTunes store, has begun offering movie downloads (initially only from Disney studios). The good news is they are in near-DVD quality at 640 x 480 resolution, which is about 4-times the resolution of the video content previously available in iTunes.

Other new features in iTunes 7 are:

Cover Flow - allows you to navigate through album art to mimic browsing through your CD collection.

Free Album Art - free download of album art for CDs you import into iTunes (only with an iTunes account).

iPod Games - available to buy in the iTunes store and play on your iPod!

iPod Summary - iPod information is integrated into the application better now, so no need to go into a separate preferences pane.

This sounds like a great update to iTunes, I haven't had a chance to download it and try it out yet but as soon as I do, I'll post my thoughts here.

Sneak peek at "iTV"

In a highly unusual move, Steve Jobs decided to talk about an as-yet unreleased product.

Due in Q1 2007, it's code-named "iTV" (a little too close to Elgato's EyeTV if you ask me) and is basically a small Mac mini-like box that sits under your TV and streams content (movies, music, photos, podcasts) to your home theatre set-up so you can enjoy it on your big screen TV and nice hi-fi.

Jobs specified it would use 802.11 wireless connectivity but he didn't specify whether that was the existing 'g' flavour or not. There's a good chance that it will utilise the new, still draft, 'n' version with much higher bandwidth.

This is a significant move into the living room for Apple and as Steve Jobs said, it completes the picture for them. You'll be able to have content on your computer, iPod and now on your TV as well.

So, overall a pretty good bunch of announcements. In the short term I'm sure the most significant of them in terms of Apple's bottom-line is the nano, which will sell very well. But looking further ahead it's Apple's digital media and home entertainment strategy that perhaps looks the most exciting.

Tags: apple, itunes, mac, osx, steve jobs, ipod, opinion, analysis, review, tech, technology, gadget, schmadget, scb

WWDC: The aftermath

A day after the event it's time to look at the announcements in the cold light of day. There has been a lot written about it, some of which I think is strange, some of it great.

First of all, let's just recap what this conference is called - Worldwide Developers Conference. Note the word 'developers'.

A few people have said to me and I've read all over the place that they were a bit disappointed blah blah. Why? We pretty much knew what was coming, it was always going to be a preview of Leopard and almost a guaranteed announcement that the Intel transition was over, with the introduction of the new Mac Pro and Xserves - and that's exactly what happened.

It's not a consumer show, that's Paris expo next month. So, yes it would have been lovely to have had a new iPod nano, an iPhone, a media centre Mac etc. etc. but the fact that they weren't announced isn't disappointing, it's realistic. If Apple released these amazing products at every show, they'd run out of them pretty quickly.

We still did get some amazing products though. The Mac Pros are awesome machines, really. Incredibly powerful, the likes of which haven't really been available to the everyday consumer before (OK maybe not everyday consumer, you will need the deficit of a small country to be able to get a highly specced one - I got it up to £11,ooo maxing everything out with dual 30" displays!!).

And Leopard. I was genuinely impressed by Time Machine particularly and also Spaces and the other features mentioned. Steve did say that these were just the things they were showing now, it's not the complete new feature list, it's just a sample. There's more to come people!

So when I read articles like this one over at Stuff magazine, it makes me wonder why they bother. Time Machine and Spaces are impressive and innovative. I mean, what more do they want? The hanging gardens of Babylon? Heards of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the desktop perhaps?

People expect too much. Of course, Apple are partly to blame for this with the hype that's generated with their 'special' events but people also blow it out of proportion.

I'm pleased with what we saw and excited about what we didn't see. At least some people agree with me. There's much more to come from Leopard over the next 6 months and for the consumer gadget freaks, I'm sure that Paris expo in September will usher in the new iPods and whatever else they have up their sleeves. Personally, I can't wait for an 8GB nano.

Far more worryingly, people are talking about the possibility that Steve Jobs is ill or maybe losing his touch. I'd say that's way more reason for investors to get jittery. I'm reserving judgement on this one but watch this space...

Updated: typos.

Tags: apple, wwdc, leopard, mac, osx, steve jobs, mac pro, xserve, ipod, opinion, analysis, review, tech, technology, gadget, schmadget, scb

Apple WWDC rumour roundup

OK, so it's that time of year again. Apple rumours abound with the prospect of the Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) and a Steve Jobs keynote speech on the 7th August only a few days away.

The rumour mill has been pumping them out as you would expect, so below is a summary of the main threads.

1. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
   
   OK so this isn't really a rumour, we know there's going to be a showing of the next version of the Apple operating system but what we don't know is what the update will include. Virtualisation? Enhanced finder, spotlight, iChat and safari? New iCal? More on the details over at AppleInsider.
   
   
2. Mac Pro and Xserve?
   
   The last remaining PowerPC offerings from Apple are due to be launched with new Intel processors. But which ones? Xenon for the Xserves and Core 2 Duo for the Mac Pros?
   
   
3. Macbook Pro and iMac updated with Core 2 Duo?
   
   With the launch of the new Intel Core 2 Duo chips only a week ago, it seems likely that Apple will go for an update to the higher end computers currently running the Intel Core Duo chips. But will they announce it at WWDC or later, maybe at Paris expo?
   
   
4. New cinema displays?
   
   We're into the less likely bracket here as far as I'm concerned but it is possible that with new Mac Pros, we'd also get new cinema displays. Built in iSight and IR ports for Apple remotes?
   
   
5. iPhone? iChat mobile?
   
   OK, now we're talking. The long-rumoured, highly anticipated, so-called "iPhone" has seen a lot of attention lately on the rumour mill. Apple have even eluded to the fact that they're making one. We just don't know when they'll announce it. With WWDC traditionally focussing more on Macs, maybe this is a little too soon but you never know!
   
   
6. iPod updates?
   
   Neither the nanos or full-sized iPods have been updated since they were introduced last year. It's surely only a matter of time before the nano at least gets bumped up to 8GB. I must admit, I've been holding off buying a nano and sticking with my 4g iPod until they release one with higher capacity. As for the 30 and 60GB iPods, we may see a slight capacity bump but the rumours go that the highly anticipated "real" video iPod, possibly with touch screen, has been delayed until later in the year or maybe even early next year.
   
   I think iPods may come at the more consumer orientated Paris expo in September rather than here but frankly, a baboon's guess is as good as mine.

No doubt Apple will surprise us all and announce something no-one expected. That's the beauty of it, you never know what they've got up their sleeve (can anyone say iTablet?). I can't wait!

Add your comments below and let us know what you think Apple is going to say and do next week!

Tags: apple, rumours, wwdc, mac, osx, leopard, iphone, ipod, macbook, macbook pro, imac