The MP3 Players

Apple moved the Mini to the same Seagate ST1 drive in its 6GB form in February, introducing new colors and an improved battery life of 18 hours. Apple is expected to upgrade the iPod mini to a color screen later this year, according to BetaNews. In the first quarter of 2005, Apple reported shipping 5.3 million iPods. “Manufacturers such as Seagate have endeavored to boost capacity of shrinking hard drives to take advantage of the growing popularity of digital media players,” the report said.

{ via ipodnn }

Will these upcoming models of Apple iPod boost sales which slowdown recently? Who knows!
Anyway, the iPod Mini Photo seem more promising. Looking forward on it!

Major Japanese record companies, including Columbia Music Entertainment Inc., Avex Group Holdings Inc. and Toshiba-EMI Ltd., have agreed to provide songs for the service. However, Sony Corp.’s Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. has yet to agree on contract terms with Apple, it said.

Apple has sold nearly half of billion songs in 19 countries since the launch of iTunes in the United States two years ago.

{ via Reuters India }

Apple Computer Inc announced a recycling program for iPod, its famous portable music player. Customer may hand in their old iPod to Apple’s 100 retail stores in the U.S.

Apple will offer a 10 percents of discount on new iPod for those who drop off their old iPod, iPod mini and iPod Photo at the same day. The company will then process the environmentally friendly disposal.

Apple has just agreed to a settlement over complaints on batteries failure in iPods this Thursday.

{ via BetaNews }

A new version of system software for Apple’s iPod Photo line of digital music players will add a slew of new image transitions in addition to a popular arcade game.

The rumors said that Apple will deliver a new system software of its iPod Photo, named “iPod Photo Software 1.2“, to be available for download sometime this month.

The update will pack a color version of the classic arcade game: Tetris. Users will be able to use the iPod photo’s click-wheel to move the tetris blocks horizontally while the iPod click-button performs block rotation.

{ via Apple Insider }

Speck Products introduced an iPod case on Thursday that has a personality of its own.

The company’s $35 iGuy is a silicone case, similar to other iPod jackets, but it adds bendable arms and legs to the typical design. For now it comes in a version for fourth-generation iPods, though an iPod Mini version is slated for a June arrival

{ via CNET Tech News } { where to buy? }

See also: iGuy for iPod Mini