Creative launches TravelSound for the nano

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Good advice if you're Creative and Goliath is a fruit-branded company from Cupertino. So adding more sauce to the Apple pie is yet another third-party accessory, albeit a decent-looking effort, hot out of Sim Wong Hoo's wonder emporium. First glimpsed at CES 2008 back in January, Creative's TravelSound i80 speaker for the iPod nano (3rd Generation) is an extension of the i50 for the shuffle (2nd Generation). If you liked the latter, you'll probably like the former since Creative's roots are after all rooted in audio. Think Sound Blaster and Zen audio players. So sound-wise, we can assume it's more than sweet, particularly since it's powered by four independent micro drivers and a digital amplifier.

Design-wise, this latest TravelSound acts like a tight-fitting sheathe that you slide your nano into. The built-in rechargeable Lithium-polymer supplements your iPod's power, and can charge both once plugged into the USB connection on the speaker, giving up to 15 hours of playback. The speaker stand allows the speaker to tilt at an angle for viewing of photos and videos on the nano. A USB wall charger and pouch are included.
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X-mini Max to launch end April

You've got to give it to the XM-I guys. Barely three weeks after we reviewed the prototype, the Singapore-based team went back to the drawing board, made a few crucial tweaks, and will now roll out an improved version. The commercial launch may have been pushed forward from March to end April (we're told April 28 for Singapore, tentatively the UK, Australia and Ireland after, but no firm dates for the rest of Asia yet). But that's a good thing since we like the fine-tuned version much better.

Improvements now include a thicker, higher-quality tweeter in place to address the issue of the strident top range and muffled mids that we encountered in the prototype. As a result, the sound reproduction is fuller and comes much closer to the original X-mini Capsule Speaker's warm tones. The stereo cord is now also retractable, a relief from the original eyesore, and allows for a longer connection as well.

Unfortunately, the only item that won't be realized with the initial rollout is the speaker stand, which was previously intended to be integrated into the packaging. Instead, XM-I has opted to go with a simple casing for the first 20,000 units to avoid further delays, and may introduce the speaker stand box packaging after. The X-mini Max will be available in matte black, white and red, at US$48 (S$68) when it launches.

Photo credit: Damian Koh/CNET Asia

Boxers for those who love their iPods too much

We know people love their iPods and want them as close as possible at all times, as part of their personal wardrobe. For that reason, even the iPod mini-skirt didn't come as a complete surprise.

But boxer shorts?

The "iBoxers" have a special pocket that's designed to hold a media player or mobile phone (no jokes, please), according to Chip Chick, available for both women and men in an array of patterns and colors. There's obviously only one reason to buy them: So that, if anyone asks if that's an iPod in your pocket, you can honestly say yes.

Via CNET Crave

Unlimited iTunes downloads for your iPod?

Imagine paying a fixed fee to gain unlimited free access to the entire iTunes music library. Well, like we said, you can imagine. Though that said, there's always been a seed of hope among the rumors floating on the Web about a subscription-based model for iTunes downloads, for the longest time ever. And now it seems it may finally happen if negotiations with the record companies go as planned.

According to the report from Financial Times, Apple is in talks with the music labels on introducing a new business model that will give users unlimited music downloads from its iTunes service for the entire lifespan of the device. Users will, however, have to pay a one-time premium during the purchase of the players (in this case, the iPod or iPhone). The main issue, it seems, is on the agreement over how much Apple will have to pay the record companies for each player sold. It is reported that Apple is offering only US$20 for every device, a far cry from the US$80 per handset that Nokia is paying to the music companies. Apple is said to be considering a monthly subcription fee model as well.
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Teach Mario how to write in Japanese

The way things are going, someone might eventually try to cram a supercomputer into a Nintendo DS. Just as we were discussing a project to develop a synthesizer for the handheld, a new product comes along to teach Japanese calligraphy on it. Bimoji Training (translation: Beautiful Letter Training) is being touted as a game, but we know better: It'll probably be co-opted by educators because it emphasizes teacher feedback.

We just hope that the touchscreen's sensitivity is up to par, lest it be an exercise in frustration (remember Palm's Graffiti?)

No matter how it works, though, we totally agree with Techabob on one point: The best thing about it is the stylus, which resembles a kanji brush.

Via Crave CNET

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