iPod mini's 1,000 crystal makeover

A custom-made iPod mini decorated with 1,000 Swarovski crystals – to match the 1,000 song capacity of the iPod mini – is now available to music lovers who want to add a bit of sparkle to their music collection.

"One crystal per song to represent every song you love," says Crystalmini, the company behind the extravagant iPod casing.
"This is a one of a kind crystal digital music player that is crystallized from front to back with fine Swarovski crystals. It is carefully designed and crafted. Every fine crystal is placed mindfully with accuracy to allow easy navigation on the innovative scrolling wheel," claims the company.
The sparkly iPod mini will sell for $699 and is available in five designs to match the iPod mini casing: silver, blue, pink, green, and a leopard skin-style variant for the gold device.

MODS rock DVD's world

Physicists at Imperial College London are developing a new challenge to the DVD – an optical disk that will be able to store up to one Terabyte (1,000 Gigabytes) of data.
The new disks, dubbed MODS – Multiplexed Optical Data Storage – would be double sided and dual layer, and seek to challenge DVDs’ domination of the audiovisual optical disk market.
The developers estimate that it would be possible to store up to 472 hours of film, on one optical disk the size of a CD or DVD. They also anticipate that MODS disks would cost approximately the same to manufacture as an ordinary DVD and that any system playing them would be backwards compatible with existing optical formats.
Team leader Dr Török believes that the first disks could be on the shelves between 2010 and 2015, as long as his team are able to secure funding for further development.
The MODS disks will not be the first to challenge DVDs’ domination of the audiovisual optical disk market. BluRay disks, which boast five times the capacity of a DVD at 25GB per layer, are likely to be released towards the end of 2005 for the home market.
Leader of the research team Dr Török emphasises the higher capacity of the MODS discs: "We estimate that we will be able to store about one Terabyte per disk using our new method. This translates to about 250GB per layer, 10 times the amount that a BluRay disk can hold.”

The science bit
Imperial are attending the Asia-Pacific Data Storage Conference 2004 in Taiwan to explain how the new discs will work.
Under magnification the surface of CDs and DVDs appear as tiny grooves filled with pits and land regions. These pits and land regions represent information encoded into a digital format as a series of ones and noughts. When read back, CDs and DVDs carry one bit per pit, but the Imperial researchers have come up with a way to encode and retrieve up to ten times the amount of information from one pit.

"Unlike existing optical disks, MODS disks have asymmetric pits, each containing a ‘step’ sunk within at one of 332 different angles, which encode the information," they explain. The Imperial researchers have developed a method that can be used to make a precise measurement of the pit orientation that reflects the light back. A different physical phenomenon is used to achieve the additional gain.

“We came up with the idea for this disk some years ago,” says Dr Török. “But did not have the means to prove whether it worked. To do that we developed a precise method for calculating the properties of reflected light, partly due to the contribution of Peter Munro, a PhD student working with me on this project.

"We are using a mixture of numerical and analytical techniques that allow us to treat the scattering of light from the disk surface rigorously rather than just having to approximate it.”

Internet surpasses TV as media choice

Entertainment habits are changing with the Internet emerging as first choice stimulation for most.

A sizable 45.6 per cent of 18-54 year-olds today will turn to the Internet, rather than the TV, as first choice for home entertainment, a report from the Online Publishers Association (OPA) reveals.
The OPA surveyed 1,235 US respondents in the following age bands: 18-24 years; 25-34 years and 35-54 year olds. In a head-to-head comparison, online media compared very well with traditional entertainment formats.
Asked, "If you could only use two media in your life, which two would you use?", over 50 per cent (50.5 per cent) of 18-24 year-olds chose the Internet as their favourite choice. Just 28.5 per cent in that age group chose TV. 43.6 per cent of 25-34 year olds and 42.8 per cent of 35-54 year olds also chose the Internet. TV moved to be the general second choice.

Internet time becomes real-life

People are spending more time online too, for example: 52 per cent of 18-24 year olds agreed they spend more time using the Internet now than they did one year ago.
Interestingly, 35 per cent of respondents indicate that they spend less time playing video/PC games and 28 per cent say they spend less time watching television.
The Internet's strength is that it provides both information and fun. "No other media compares to the Internet when it comes to information and fun," the analysts said, adding, "Young people show clear preference for using the Internet as a primary source for news."

Traditional publishing moves second place

The Internet-based knowledge renaissance is clear: 97 per cent of the sample group believe the Internet us the same or better than magazines for finding information about products or music; and 83 per cent said reading a story online is the same or better than reading one in a newspaper.
"Consumers continue to move beyond purely functional uses of the Internet into more media-oriented activities, such as reading stories, looking at photos, and watching video," said Michael Zimbalist, president of the OPA. "These results show how receptive people of all ages are to the Internet as a medium and not just a tool."

Video devices launch Xmas assult on iPod

This Christmas the market is set to be flooded with portable video jukeboxes in an attempt to usurp the iPod as the ultimate icon for Christmas shoppers.

But they will have a tough time beating the iPod with its "sleek design, user-friendliness and casual endorsement by celebrities" according to The Observer.

"Although the devices mark an evolutionary leap forward from music players like the iPod, matching that product's fashionable status will be tougher," writes technology correspondent David Smith.
Apple claims to have no plans to offer video facilities on the iPod, standing by CEO Steve Jobs conviction that nobody wants to watch video on a tiny screen.
However, regardless of viewing habits, the movie industry is set to see some change in consumption. Some experts predict that the downloading of films could make DVDs obsolete.
CinemaNow VP Bruce Eisen said: "I think ultimately the digital downloading of movies will displace DVDs. I'm not saying next year, or even the next five to 10 years, but it will happen. To my kids, or my grandchildren, the idea of selling content on shiny pieces of plastic will be silly."
If movies are downloaded digitally it may follow that fans will want to store them on a portable device like the iPod.

Adobe standardizes RAW photo format

Adobe has introduced a new format for digital photos in an attempt to create an industry standard across all types of cameras and photo software.

The company is proposing that its new Digital Negative Specification, or DNG, becomes a universal standard for the RAW format.

Most digital cameras capture images in the JPEG format but because JPEG photo files are compressed images they suffer some data loss. As a result a higher-quality RAW photo format is gaining in popularity among professional photographers.

RAW files contain the original information captured by a camera sensor prior to any in-camera processing, thus giving users truer images and more flexibility when editing.

However there are a number of problems because there has been no standard format for these files, which vary between manufacturers and cameras meaning that photographers have had to juggle multiple file formats when using RAW images from different cameras. Also, because of the incompatibility the files are unsuitable for archiving due to concerns that the format will not be supported over time.

Adobe VP Bryan Lamkin said: "Professional photographers and other creative professionals are moving to RAW camera workflows because of the outstanding creative control they get over digital images. However, clients and publishers have difficulty working with disparate RAW file formats and nobody can be sure that today's RAW formats will be supported ten years from now. Adobe customers asked us to work on a unified, public format for raw files and that's what we've delivered with the new Digital Negative Specification."

The company is launching a free software tool, Adobe DNG Converter, that will allow users to convert the RAW formats from more than 65 cameras into the DNG format.

The Digital Negative Specification is based on the TIFF EP format, which is already the basis of many proprietary RAW formats.

Adobe is urging camera makers to support the specification, which it is making available for free.

Apple v. Apple settlement reports 'unfounded'

A new report claims there is no substance to recent reports claiming a settlement between Apple Corps. and Apple Computer. CNET News.com calls these ideas "unfounded", saying Apple Corps. is discussing ideas for digital distribution with online music services, but that they want a purported $15 million for just six months of exclusive rights.

The Beatles apparently want their own dedicated portal for their music, and with Apple CEO Steve Jobs being a big Beatles fan, Apple may be able to meet that desire with a dedicated area within iTunes. This is how Apple added Disney's content to its service.

But the $15 million for six months demanded by the surviving elements of the Liverpool beat combo may mean Apple would have to sell "150 million" songs to break-even, the report adds.

STUFFIT STANDARD 9.0, FEATURING STUFFIT EXPANDER AND DROPSTUFF, ANNOUNCED BY ALLUME

New Version Provides a Redesigned Interface,
CD/DVD Burning, FTP Uploads and More

Allume Systems, Inc. (formerly Aladdin Systems, Inc.), an IMSI company (OTC BB: IMSI), today announced StuffIt Standard 9.0, the newest version of its industry-leading file compression and access software for Mac OS X. The new version provides a redesigned user interface that allows users to create StuffIt, StuffIt X, Zip, and Tar archives from a single convenient location. Users can now save archives directly to CDs and DVDs, and the new version also includes integrated FTP allowing files to be uploaded directly to remote servers. StuffIt Standard 9.0 features a number of performance enhancements that improve compression and decompression speed on any Mac, and also takes advantage of the latest dual-processor technology in the new Power Mac G5. StuffIt's best-in-class compression technology allows users to send files faster across the network or over the Internet, as well as easily access the files they receive from others.

"The new features in this version of StuffIt Standard are designed to make it easier than ever to make archived copies of all your important files," said Matthew Covington, Senior Product Manager at Allume. "StuffIt not only compresses data so that more can be stored on a single CD or DVD, it can even automatically split apart larger archives so that they can be stored on multiple disks. And with the performance gains in this version, it all happens faster than ever."

StuffIt Standard includes the StuffIt X file format. StuffIt X demonstrates Allume's leadership and innovation in the data compression industry by creating smaller archives and providing enhanced security features such as powerful 512-bit RC4 encryption and the ability to recover archives if they become corrupted. StuffIt X's archive technology provides a protective wrapper that safeguards files as they are being transferred over the network or the Internet.

A 30-day evaluation copy of StuffIt Standard is available for download directly from Allume's Web site: http://www.stuffit.com

The downloaded product is fully functioning for the 30 day evaluation period, after which time its CD/DVD burning, FTP upload, encryption, segmenting, and Self-Extracting archive features are disabled. Any disabled features are automatically re-enabled when the product is purchased. Expansion and basic compression will continue to function after the 30 day evaluation period has expired.
 

O'Reilly Releases "iLife '04: The Missing Manual"

The Guide to Livin' the iLife

You shouldn't have to be a professional working for a
media conglomerate to harness cutting-edge technology for your own
creative expression and entertainment. That's Apple's philosophy behind
the iLife '04 software suite, reports David Pogue, author of the new
"iLife '04: The Missing Manual" (O'Reilly/Pogue Press). "Each
of the five programs in this $50 package is a streamlined, attractive,
easy-to-use version of software that was once hopelessly complex--or
hopelessly expensive," says Pogue.

iLife may be simple, but it's not at all simplistic; many a user has been
disappointed to find iLife's electronic help screens painfully sparse and
its manual nonexistent...until now.

"iLife '04: The Missing Manual"--the book that should have been in the
box--fills the information gap by exploring each iLife program in depth,
offering invaluable shortcuts and workarounds, and unearthing countless
features that the online help doesn't even mention. It gives readers
everything they need to unleash their creative genius with the suite of
programs (available at the Apple store and preinstalled on all new Macs)
that is revolutionizing the way people work and play.

Pogue's authoritative, witty, all-inclusive "iLife '04: The Missing Manual"
covers all five programs:

-iTunes: Keeping a music collection in iTunes makes favorite songs readily
accessible for use in movies, slideshows, and DVDs. It's also the main
entrance to the iTunes Music Store as well as a handy loading dock for the
iPod.
-iMovie: This book bursts with clever workarounds, hidden features, and
Hollywood editing tricks. Home movies never looked so professional.
-iPhoto: This program is a match made in heaven for the digital camera.
Organizing, displaying, and sending photos is a snap.
-iDVD: A Mac equipped with a SuperDrive can distribute movies and photos
at much higher quality than VHS tapes or QuickTime movies by creating
Hollywood-style DVDs.
-GarageBand: Why would anyone settle for other people's music creations
when they could easily record professional tracks of their own--even with
no musical knowledge?

iLife '04: The Missing Manual
David Pogue
ISBN 0-596-00694-2, 664 pages
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com

O'Reilly Releases OpenOffice.org Writer

Thanks to OpenOffice.org, there is an alternative to Microsoft Word.
OpenOffice.org is the free, open source office suite and its word
processor, Writer, has proven extremely popular with both Windows and
Linux users. A quick tour of the program will show you that the features
you use regularly--from formatting and spell check to using templates and
creating indexes--are all there. And Writer's intuitive, surprisingly
familiar interface lets you navigate with ease.

To quickly master the ins and outs of Writer, you'll want a copy of
"OpenOffice.org Writer." This handy reference is packed with essential
information to help you learn the basics of Writer and become adept with
its advanced features.

Written for intermediate and advanced users of word processing programs,
"OpenOffice.org Writer" provides guidance for common and advanced word
processing tasks.

OpenOffice.org Writer
Jean Hollis Weber
Publisher: O'Reilly Community Press
ISBN: 0-596-00826-0, 234 pages,
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/openoffice/

Panther promo extended; Tiger or iLife '05 due in January?

Apple has extended its "Add more life to your Mac" promotion--which offers a US$50 mail-in rebate with the purchase Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) and iLife '04--until January 10, 200

Apple send Java revisions over Software Update Apple send Java revisions over Software Update Apple send Java revisions over Software Update

Java 1.4.2 Update 2, available via Software Update, provides improved behavior for applets in Safari and increased stability for desktop Java applications. Java 1.4.2 Update 2 also includes all the improvements from Java 1.4.2 Update 1.

Griffin Technologies sticks a $20 flashlight/laser combo on your iPod

Behold the Griffin iBeam! Grabbing power from your iPod or iPod mini turns this key fob into either a class IIIA laser pointer or a flashlight. Of course, by plugging this into the dock-connector, you have temporarily disabled the audio playing abilities that you payed upwards of $250 to acquire in order to enjoy the luminance of an add-on device that, until now, could only be found in much cheaper packages. But hey, if you like bright lights better than loud music, this is the gadget for you.

ColorWare offers 4G iPods in 20 different colors

If you buy your iPod from Apple, you have your one color--white. But if you order your iPod from ColorWare, you have your choice of several colors including Carbon, Blaze, Techno and Ferrari.

If you already have an iPod, ColorWare also offers a service where you can mail it to them and they will "Pimp your 'Pod".

Apple offers fix for spotted PowerBook displays

With some affected systems already out of their standard one-year warranty period, Apple on Friday posted details of its 15-inch PowerBook G4 Display Repair Extension Program, which offers a fix for certain Titanium and Aluminum 15-inch PowerBook G4's that show faint white spots on the screen. The worldwide program does not extend the warranty of these PowerBooks, but it covers replacement of LCD panels that show the spots; Apple covers the cost of the repairs and shipping charges, if applicable. Apple will also reimburse PowerBook owners who have already paid for eligible repairs.

Alias completes Kaydara acquisition

Maya developer Alias on Monday announced the completion of its acquisition of 3D character animation and motion editing software developer Kaydara, makers of MotionBuilder. The planned acquisition was first announced in early August. In a statement, Alias called the acquisition the "first major step since finalizing its independence from SGI."

Virgin launches subscription-based music service

On Monday, Virgin Group subsidiary Virgin Digital launched an online store designed to leverage the name recognition of its brick-and-mortar Virgin Megastore while competing with a subscription-based model. While Virgin's venture does offer music downloads for 99 cents each, it differs from the iTunes Music Store in the requirement that you pay US$7.99 to gain the ability to burn them to CDs or transfer them to a music player that support the Windows Media format. However, you can only play the songs on the computer that was used to purchase them.

iTunes Music Store offers exclusive U2 track

Apple's iTunes Music Store on Monday began offering a new track from Rock super-group U2. The single, "Vertigo" is a hint of what is to come on November 23, 2004 when U2 will release their first studio album in four years -- How To Dismantale An Atomic Bomb. The iTunes Music Store says "Vertigo" opens with "one of The Edge's fastest, most aggressive guitar riffs ever." You can download the single from iTunes for $0.99

Formac adds store for refurbished products

Formac Electronic Inc., which specializes in flat panel displays, optical drives and digital video converters, announced on Monday the launch of an online store that will feature a new special on a refurbished product each week. The first special is the company's Gallery 2010 LCD display, which features a 20-inch screen, native 1600 x 1200 resolution and a 600:1 contrast ratio. The price is US$899, a 30 percent discount on Formac's retail price, but quantities are limited.

New Power Mac G5 Uniprocessor firmware update posted

Apple has released Power Mac G5 Uniprocessor Firmware Update 5.1.5f2, a new release aimed at Power Mac G5s that have only a single processor. The update apparently corrects "unexpected issues" that have appeared on some Power Mac G5s after applying the first uniprocessor update, released earlier this month.

FujiFilm, Olympus develop 1GB XD Picture Card

Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. and Olympus Corp. have jointly developed a 1GB version of their XD Picture Card memory card and plan to put it on sale in the first half of next year, they said Monday. The two companies did not announce any other details of the card beyond its planned launch during the first half of 2005.