Apparently this iPod-enabled dance performance has been around for quite a while (here's an NYT piece on it from 2006), but it's the first we've heard of it, and it's pretty amazing. The 87-year-old choreographer, Merce Cunningham, who has collaborated with John Cage and Andy Warhol among others, has created a dance performance piece called eyeSpace.
Apparently, the music, which can be downloaded preperformance and is written by composer Mikel Rouse (no relation at all to TUAW's own Mike Rose) plays in the audience's iPods while the dancers dance (and other atmospheric sounds are added during the performance as well). Very interesting. The NYT piece seems to hint that the tracks are meant to be played in random order on each iPod, which would mean that the timing wasn't too important, but it's a cool idea (even more cool that it's done by an artist of Cunningham's age, but what else do you expect from a Mac fan?).
Definitely reminds me, too, of the MP3 Experiments done by Improv Everywhere in New York. Just goes to show you that we're still in the middle of the digital music revolution -- when we can listen to almost anything anywhere at any time, who knows what other creative folks will come up with?
After this morning's store downtime the Shuffle product page shows a $30 price drop to $49. If you're in the doghouse for not getting a Valentine's Day gift for your significant other, this might be your opportunity. Of course, I don't know what meaning might be construed from giving your sweetheart runt of the iPod family, but it might be taken better than the heart-shaped box of chocolates you picked up in the check-out line.
What am I saying? Mac users are romantics in addition to being snobs, right?
Thanks Mog!
Update: Woah! In all the excitement we missed the fact that Apple has also announced a new 2GB shuffle that will sell for $69 when it is available later this month (our friends in the UK will be paying £32 for the 1GB model and £45 for the 2GB model) .
Engadget points out that Target is now selling a hot pink iPod shuffle, branded as a Special Edition with a free $15 iTunes gift card, and a portion of the proceeds going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Pretty good deal, considering the price is the same as all the other shuffles, just $79.
Engadget says the offer is in stores only, and sure enough, while Target's web site has a hot pink shuffle, it doesn't look at all like the same one, and nothing is mentioned about the Foundation. If you've been planning on grabbing a new shuffle, here's the one you want.
Among all the updates to the iPod lineup today, this one might have gotten lost in the... well, I'm not gonna say it, but you know what I mean. It would seem that January's iPod Shuffle color choices were so nine months ago; the new Shuffles are stumbling in with a somewhat more subdued, 'pro' palette and adding a Product (RED) version that sends a contribution to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.
The new Shuffles are retailing for $79 and include 1 GB of flash storage. Get them before they change again!
We recently mentioned a concept from Arriva for iPod Shuffle headphones that integrate the Shuffle into the 'phones themselves. Well Monster Cable (of way-too-expensive-cables fame) has apparently beaten them to the punch with these foldable iFreePlay headphones. As you can see the Shuffle fits into the top of the left can for a "cordless" experience, while still giving access to the controls, etc. While you're certainly not going to be a paragon of fashion walking down the street with these, I could imagine that they might be useful for the gym or a run.
The iFreePlay headphones are available now for $49.95.
Well, this is the end folks. End of the (work) week and the end of our Spring Shuffle Giveaway. By the power of process of elimination we bring you the color pink. Pink isn't just a color, it's a cause. I think I once heard pink shot a man for snoring too loud, but that's just an ugly rumor. In any event, pink appears to be quite popular with some folks, which might be the reason why we left it for Friday. You love Friday, right? So do we. And pink. And iPods. And shuffles. And the moon.
Aside from the chance to win another iPod shuffle, this is also the last time (this week) you'll be reading this: Contest is limited to the 50 US states. The contest period is from May 18, 12:01am EST to 11:59pm. Only one entry per person, you must leave a validated comment (one that appears on the page) to enter. Full rules after the jump. That's it, good luck, and have a great weekend TUAW readers!
Welcome back to another round of TUAW's Spring Shuffle Giveaway. Today on the menu: green. Or as some of us call it, 008000. While Kermit may complain, these shuffles don't appear so unhappy with their hue. At least green is a spring color, right?
Anyway, if you don't know the drill, you enter our little giveaway by leaving exactly one comment. That's one comment per person. So far they've been excellent. Really, the elves are having fun compiling the prose into a handy guide to the internet. The contest is limited to the 50 states, and the green shuffle entry period lasts all day today, May 17 (so from 12:01am to 11:59pm Eastern). So fire up your internets and leave us a message. As always, full rules after the jump. This contest is for a green iPod shuffle, in case you forgot.
Welcome back to day three of TUAW's Spring Shuffle Giveaway. For those who finally managed to find tuaw.com on their dial, we're giving away a fresh iPod shuffle every day this week. Today's magic color chosen at random (mostly) is blue. Not exactly a Bondi blue or motherboard blue, but a vibrant blue you only see with polarized sunglasses.
Point is, you leave a comment (one per customer thanks) and you're entered in the contest. Same rules as before: limited to the 50 US states, this entry period ends tonight (May 16) at 11:59pm Eastern. Complete rules after the jump. Good luck everyone, and stay tuned for tomorrow's mystery color! Hint: it isn't gray or orange or blue.
If anthropomorphic iPod accessories are your thing, look no further. Today we have found the ultimate iPerson dock--well, almost the ultimate dock. Unfortunately this iKub kubrick dock is only designed for those old-style iPod shuffles.
If you've got the right kind of shuffle, you're in business. Shove your iPod down this little guy's neck, connect him to your fave computer and your iKub will sync and charge your iPod and look really cute while doing so. From London-based Maharishi dpihmi.com, this toy will set you back £32.
Day two of our fabulous iPod shuffle giveaway brings you the color orange. Orange, for those of you who didn't realize, is also a fruit. Apples are fruit too. But you won't go finding us comparing the two. That's why we don't give away Zunes around here. We can tell you that there are currently 6 listings in iTunes for the classic song "The Rain" by Oran "Juice" Jones, and that one of those is listed as explicit.
Maybe that's enough orange trivia for the day. Same rules as yesterday, but timed for today. Only one comment per person, 50 US states are eligible, the orange entry period ends tonight at 11:59pm Eastern time, etc... Full rules after the jump. Good luck!
It's the time of year when blooming flowers have already frozen off their branches and turned to mud-- Spring! OK, it's almost summer, but we're going with a flowery outlook on life anyway. Point is, TUAW is giving away 5 iPod shuffles, one of each color, all this week.
Today's color? The vibrant color gray. The color of dust, neutrality, and Borg skin. Hard to imagine a color that better sums up the rebirth of nature, isn't it? Yeah, there are plenty of better colors. Stay tuned tomorrow as we open up the contest to our next (mystery) color...
Be sure to read the rules for all the details, but always keep in mind:
Open to the the 50 US states only (our apologies to Guam)
Only one entry per person per day (but you can enter every day this week)
Contest for the gray iPod shuffle is open until the end of the day today (11:59PM EST), and so on every day until just before midnight, May 18 (what part of ONE shuffle EACH day didn't you understand?)
To enter, just leave a comment (make sure to verify the comment so it appears below) on this post. We'll have another post tomorrow for your commenting pleasure, so y'all come back now, ya hear?
Kate Milon posted about another possible iPod in Space on her personal weblog. According to an email she received from a NASA engineer, astronauts may take small personal items with them on shuttle flights. Pilot Lee Archambault has chosen his 0.55 ounce iPod shuffle, says the letter, and it may require a high-altitude modified case for the player to work. This wouldn't be the first SpacePod that we have covered here (here, and here). And if you are more interested in Space on your iPod than iPods in Space, check out these NASA podcasts.
It was only a few days ago that I had occasion to use the original iPod Shuffle Reset utility, rescuing a colleague's first-gen "Wrigley's" model Shuffle from a fugue state. Now the second-gen "tieclip" Shuffles can also be brought back from the brink: on Thursday, Apple released iPod Reset Utility 1.0 for both OS X and Windows XP/2000. This tool will force-initialize a Shuffle that doesn't respond to the usual 5 R's diagnostic. If you've got a stalled Shuffle, try this out and let us know how it goes.
How'd you like to be the first one on your block to own an iPhone? Now imagine getting that iPhone for free.
It could happen if you win iLounge's new wallpaper contest. The rules are simple: Create a high-resolution desktop picture featuring any current iPod model and the iLounge logo. The iLounge editors will then pick their top three. That's it! All work must be original and submitted by March 25, 2007 at 11:59PM Pacific Time.
The third place contestant will receive an iPod nano and an iPod shuffle, second place gets at AppleTV and the grand prize winner will walk away with an iPhone. Not bad for a few hours with Photoshop.
Attention, frugal Mac addicts. Second generation iPod nanos and original iPod shuffles have been added to Apple's list of refurbished items. Nanos are starting at $119US for a 2GB model, and the shuffles are just $49US! I really liked the original shuffle's rough-and-tumble design and here's your chance to pick one up at bargain basement prices.
Color availability is subject to change, of course, so good luck there. [Via MacNN]
Apparently this iPod-enabled dance performance has been around for quite a while (here's an NYT piece on it from 2006), but it's the first we've heard of it, and it's pretty amazing. The 87-year-old choreographer, Merce Cunningham, who has collaborated with John Cage and Andy Warhol among others, has created a dance performance piece called eyeSpace. 
After this morning's store downtime the 
We recently 
Well, this is the end folks. End of the (work) week and the end of our Spring Shuffle Giveaway. By the power of process of elimination we bring you the color pink. Pink isn't just a color, it's a 
Kate Milon posted about another possible 
It was only a few days ago that I had occasion to use the original 
How'd you like to be the first one on your block to own an iPhone? Now imagine getting that iPhone for free.
Attention, frugal Mac addicts. Second generation iPod nanos and original iPod shuffles have been added to Apple's list of 
