iPod-classic posts

Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, Multimedia, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends

Fox releases X-Files branded iPods

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Aug 14th, 2008

We know -- you've wanted an iPod for years, but you've always wanted one branded with your favorite TV show, and that 90210 version didn't cut it. Boy, is it your lucky day. Fox has released some "Limited Edition" X-Files iPod Classics and Nanos, ready for your purchase right now for only $329.00. You read that right -- you're paying almost $100 for pictures of Mulder and Scully. But surely if anyone's worth it, they are, right?

Unfortunately, as TUAW's resident X-Files nerd (well, one of them) Robert Palmer pointed out to me, they're branded with the latest movie's title, not the original TV show, so those who don't actually Want to Believe (y'know, after all these years, why doesn't Mulder just believe already?) will likely be disappointed. But since you can customize them with your name (or whatever else you want on there -- we recommend "Clyde Bruckman"), hopefully the movie's title won't concern true fans too much.

[via Chip Chick]

Tags: branding, fox, i-want-to-believe, ipod, ipod-classic, nanos, television, x-files

Filed under: iPod Family, Odds and ends

A field guide to iPods

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Oct 15th, 2007

Apple has produced 33 different kinds of iPods (if one counts the various capacities in each type as a unique iPod) and sometimes it can be hard to tell which iPod is which. That's why I thought it would be useful to, once again, point out this Apple Knowledge Base article which gives you tips on how to tell which iPod you have.

You'll never confuse your first gen shuffle for an iPod Classic again!

Tags: ipod, ipod-classic, ipod-nano, ipod-shuffle, ipod-touch, ipod-video

Filed under: iPod Family, Hacks

Make your old iPod's UI look like an iPod Classic

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Oct 14th, 2007

Apple uses new features and UI enhancements that are only available in the current generation of iPods as a carrot to get people to upgrade to the newest model. The new UI on the iPod Classics is a great example. These features could have been placed on the previous generation of iPods with a firmware update, but Apple decided not to do that. as they have for most of the iPod's history (which is their right, of course).

Some eager hackers have modded the 5th gen iPod's firmware to make it look more like the iPod Classic's. If you're jonsing for split screen navigation but don't want to pony up for cash for a new iPod this is for you.

Keep in mind, though, that this entails changing the firmware that is currently on your iPod (which is Apple approved, the firmware that is, not replacing it) to something that was modified by a third party. Bad things could happen (though they could just as equally not ) so be prepared to deal with the consequences should the process run amok.

Thanks, Kai Cherry.

Tags: ipod classic, ipod-classic, IpodClassic

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone

Colorwared Apple stuff (and a gilded iPhone)

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Oct 9th, 2007

Our good friends at Engadget note that Colorware has now included every single new slice of Apple in their lineup, so if you want a brand new iPod Nano in Cotton Candy, Fusion, Cobalt, or Crush, it's yours, baby. Expect to pay through the nose, though-- just one color is over $200, and mix it up any more than that and you'll be racking up the price even further. The reviews we've seen say Colorware does a great job, but just how much are you willing to pay for a Mystique-colored iPod Classic?

And if King Midas (or Bob from Heroes-- good show tonight) has more your touch, Engadget also links to an even pricier color mod for the iPhone. A company named Goldstriker International (sound like a corporation James Bond infiltrates, doesn't it?) is willing to dip your iPhone in 24-carat gold to give it that "I have so much money I'm willing to dip my iPhone in it" effect. Unfortunately the price is listed as "TBA," so you'll have to wait until they list one to tell your butler how much money to get out of the gold-plated wallsafe, but who are we kidding? If you have to ask how much it costs to dip your iPhone in molten gold, you can't afford it.

Tags: apple, bond-james-bond, colors, colorware, golden-iphone, goldstriker, ipod-classic, mods

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, iPod Family, iTunes, Software Update

iPod Classic and Nano get updated to 1.0.2

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Oct 7th, 2007

iTunes has an update for the new iPod Classic and the new Nanos, and while the update doesn't have a description at all, MacRumors sez:

Improved CoverFlow
Quicker menus
And the much awaited video out fix, among a few other interface tweaks

Apparently there's a new option that will "Ask" users to output video when a compatible cable is connected. And some people say that the calendar and contacts will synch better as well, although I have the same reservations I have whenever I hear about unlisted feature updates -- if Apple did make it better, why didn't they want to tell us? Wouldn't they want us to know the iPod works better than ever?

At any rate, if you think it works better, then more power to you-- enjoy your updated iPod. As always, the update can be grabbed by connecting up your Classic or Nano to iTunes and hitting "Check for Updates."

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Tags: 1.0.2, calendar, contacts, coverflow, faster, ipod-classic, ipod-nano, menu, software-update

Filed under: iPod Family

New iPod classic has "badly engineered" audio circuitry?

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Sep 17th, 2007

Continuing our theme today of possible problems with the new iPods, now it's the classic's turn. Personally, I doubt could hear the difference but there seems to be a number of people who think the new 6G iPod classic sounds noticeably worse than the 5.5G iPod that it replaced. In the words of Marc Heijligers the new iPod classic "sounds precise, crisp, but lacks 3D image and has an electronic haze to the sound... [which] becomes fatiguing after a while. The 5G sounds less precise, but its timbre contains more harmonic information and sounds less electronic." To back up these "golden ear" impressions Marc ran a bunch of tests comparing the 5.5G iPod and the new classic and has posted his results. His conclusion is that the 6G iPod Classic displays:

A slight uplift in treble.
A group delay that depends on frequency.
A strong modulation with 22.1k, causing intermodulation distortion.

Apparently the cause of this change is Apple's switching from a Wolfson (5.5G) to a Cirrus Logic audio codec chip. As I said before, you'd probably need golden ears (and good cans) to hear the differences, but if you do you may want to give the 6G a good listen before replacing a 5.5G iPod with a new classic.

[via Infinite Loop]

Tags: iPod-classic

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