MP3 player

from wired.com

Microsoft's Zune picked up a percentage point in the MP3 player market, bringing its share to a whopping four percent, with two million units sold (total). Microsoft has said from the start that it will stick with the Zune for as long as it takes for the player to gain traction, and it looks like that's starting to happen.

from walking.about.com

Do you walk with an iPod or other music player? If you do, then you would probably miss it sorely when you participated in a walking event or race that bans iPods.

from ilounge.com

Apple has announced that it is adding a new pink iPod nano to its lineup. Like the other non-silver colored iPod nanos, the pink model will be available only in an 8GB capacity.

from engadget.com

We're a little hesitant to call a Zune that has a tiny little Halo 3 decal on the front a "new Zune," and therefore we're assuming that isn't, by some sort of cosmic corporate joke, the Zune update that we've all been expecting.

from ipodhacks.com

In a move to thwart Apple and the diminutive 2G iPod shuffle, Creative (who just announced its first iPod accessory line) has just announced the Zen Stone.

from engadget.com

We've seen plenty of times where good toys go bad, but SanDisk's latest Sansa music player looks like a pretty solid bet. The forthcoming Sansa Shaker features a tubular design with blue and pink color schemes to appeal to the younger set, and aside from sporting 512MB of internal capacity, dual headphone outputs for BFF listening, an SD flash card slot for loading up additional tracks, an integrated speaker in case you've lent out your earbuds, and unique "band" playback controls on the top and bottom of the tube.

from engadget.com

When will the madness end? While Microsoft ponders the future of its Zune line (free Zunes? We vote yes!), the whole "what mysterious color might we release the Zune in next?" song and dance is keeping us occupied surprisingly well. Apparently the next flavor to hit the shelves, after that fashionista-fave pink version hits on May 1st, is "watermelon red."

from scotsman.com

WITH iPod, listening to music will never be the same again," said Apple's CEO Steve Jobs in 2001 launching the biscuit thin portable player that put an entire CD collection in your pocket. Five years on it is the marketing success story of the 21st century, the distinctive white earphones a lifestyle statement that speaks volumes on buses, trains and the streets.

from engadget.com

When it comes to the hardware, we're pretty much set; we all now know the Zune inside and out. But how it interacts with the software, the marketplace, etc. -- that's where the magic happens. Or doesn't. We really wanted to give the Zune the benefit of the doubt. We hoped installing the Zune software and getting our player running would be as seamless and painless as getting iTunes and an iPod running on your machine, since that is, after all, what it's up against.

from engadget.com

We don't know exactly how many stores are now accessory to the heinous crime of pre-launch gadget sales, but it looks like Microsoft is one customer closer to overthrowing the nation of iPod courtesy of the Zune-gun-jumping Best Buy at Union City Landing shopping centre. Best part: already the crashing has begun. It's going to be an interesting week.

from wired.com

Behold the power of brown! Turns out that even iPod owners may not be able to resist the magnetic pull of Microsoft’s chocolatey new media player, according to a new survey. The poll of American adults and teens, conducted by ABI Research, found that 58 percent of iPod owners were either “somewhat likely” or “extremely likely” to choose Microsoft’s Zune as their next MP3 player, compared with 59 percent for those who own another brand of audio gadget.

from applematters.com

Steve Ballmer recently said that the iPod and the Zune were pieces of software wherein the profit was realized by selling hardware. Which explains why Microsoft is so determined to take the iPod on. In the world of Microsoft there are two software categories: Software categories that Microsoft dominates and software Microsoft chooses not to make. So, if you’re Microsoft crushing the iPod isn’t so much a question of if, it just a question of when.

from ipodhacks.com

Do you wish you could rent your music collection? Microsoft is guessing you do. One of the big selling points of Microsoft's Zune media player is the subscription-based music service the Redmond giant will be pushing with the unit. While purchasing songs from Microsoft for $.99 per is an option, it's the subscription service that the company hopes will set Zune apart from the competition - namely, the iPod / iTunes Store. (Though others are not resting on their laurels.)

from ilounge.com

Microsoft has finally announced pricing and a release date for its much-hyped Zune media player. The company said it will charge $249.99 for the device—essentially the same as Apple’s 30GB iPod, which retails for $249. Microsoft will launch both the Zune and its companion digital music service on November 14th. The Zune music service will charge 99 cents for individual songs and $14.99 per month for a subscription service. Scott Erickson, senior director of product management for Zune, admitted that the Zune player will not make money for Microsoft immediately. “In total we won’t be making a profit this year, but we will of course work toward becoming a profitable business in the future,” he said.

New iPod Cases for Nano Begin Shipping

GizMac Accessories Ships Titan Anodized Aluminum iPod Cases for the Nano

Torrance, CA – September 6, 2006 – GizMac Accessories LLC, designer and manufacturer of innovative “Gizmos for your Lifestyle”, starts shipment of their Titan anodized aluminum iPod cases.

“`Cause Everyone Wears Their iPod Differently” is the motto of the newly shipping Titan iPod cases for a good reason. The included carabiner clip, armband, belt clip with 360 degree rotation (for vertical, horizontal or any position in between) and lanyard accessories provide a wide range of ways to wear the Titan Nano iPod case.