wireless

By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY Forget for a moment that nearly 70 million consumers have purchased iPod digital music players in the last five years. Or that over the holidays millions more will add new models to their collections.

The wireless phone industry will tell you that the days of the stand-alone digital music device are numbered. In coming years, they say, more music lovers will listen to music on their cellphones.

from Engadget.com

Sorry Microsoft, we think you have it backward. The killer app of having wireless in a portable media device isn't sharing DRMed files -- it's downloading music from a near infinitely large library no matter where you're at. That's why the MusicGremlin was and is so freaking cool. All the music, none of the bother with PCs. So to find out the Zune won't even match that device in terms of use for wireless is a little disappointing, to say the least. Granted this above is with regard to the feature list for launch (and Microsoft doesn't claim the Zune is feature-complete), so we can probably assume that we'll be expected to hold out for later Zune firmware releases where actually useful wireless capabilities will be added.

from ilounge.com

As a substantial evolution of Logitech's first-generation Wireless Headphones for iPod, FreePulse makes changes to everything from aesthetics to comfort and internal technology. FreePulse is based upon the latest Bluetooth 2.0+EDR wireless technology - the first full +EDR headphones we've seen, with commensurate audio performance improvements - and promises six hours of continuous playtime on a single charge of its internal rechargeable battery pack.

Dada Footwear is launching a wireless footwear system dubbed, "Code M." The Code M System delivers both audio and data—through your sneakers! Say goodbye to wires and carrying an MP3 player.

The Code M System is integrated into the basketball sneaker's heel and tongue. It can hold up to 100 songs, running on a 6-hour battery life. To transfer songs onto the system, just use the USB port on the side of the shoe. To listen to your music, use the included wireless headset, which picks up the music playing from your sneakers up to 30 feet away. Here comes the real kicker: the sneakers will also feature house speakers for listening to music out loud. If the Code M Sneakers prove successful, the company plans on expanding their line to a Get-Fit program in which you can receive workout-related data from a personal trainer's voice. It doesn't end there. The shoes may also be designed as a way to forward your phone calls to it. I think this is a really cool idea, although I hope they're sweat-proof out on the court. I don't know how well the sound quality will be, but Dada certainly knows how to think out of the box. Hopefully they'll come out with other colors.

from t3.co.uk

This is the first portable media player with Bluetooth, so you can invest in a pair of compatible ’phones, then never worry about wires hampering your enjoyment of “media” again, as well as venturing up to 6m away from the player without losing your sonic connection.

From scotsman.com

TINY transmitters used by owners of iPods and other MP3 players to play music through car radios and stereos - which are currently banned under UK law - are to become legal.

Ofcom, the telecoms watchdog, says it wants to support the legalisation of devices like the iTrip, which iPod owners are increasingly using to play their MP3 song collections on the move and around the house.

The X5 Stereo Bluetooth Headset is a portable multi-function device utilizing the latest cutting edge technologies allowing you to stream high quality music and make voice calls using a mobile phone, pda, or computer - without wires attached to the headset.

Connect directly to A2DP* compatible phones and computers or utilize the supplied BlueAnt Audio Streamer to connect to any MP3 player, iPod, or DVD etc and stream music direct while answering calls from a phone.

By Larry Angell
Senior Editor, iLounge

Bloomberg News has uncovered new details of Microsoft’s forthcoming iPod rival and iTunes Music Store clone. The Microsoft-branded portable music and video player will reportedly be out by Christmas, featuring a wireless Internet connection to download music without a computer. Bloomberg says the device is being developed under the supervision of Xbox executives Robbie Bach and J. Allard. In addition, Microsoft is said to have hired music industry executive Chris Stephenson to meet with music and Hollywood companies about licensing content for the Microsoft digital media store. Bloomberg says Microsoft has already met with EMI Group, Universal Music Group, NBC, Fox, and CBS.

iPod-compatible footwear that tracks runners' training routines is just the beginning of a collaboration between these iconic brands

By Arik Hesseldahl and Stanley Holmes, Business Week

As corporate logos go, few are as recognizable as the bitten apple that appears on all things Apple Computer (AAPL). Few, that is, except maybe the swoosh that has appeared on Nike's (NKE) shoes and apparel from the company's beginning. Now the two companies behind those logos are teaming up. At an event in New York, Nike and Apple said they are collaborating on a series of products that bridge the gaps between sports, electronics, and entertainment. Their first jointly produced product: the Nike+iPod Sport kit, which involves an electronic sensor inserted under the inner sole of a new Nike running shoe dubbed the Moire (pronounce (MOR-ay). That sensor talks to a small wireless receiver that attaches to Apple's iPod nano music player.