Apple Adds iPod Max Volume Setting
In an effort to shield itself from possible legal action, Apple announced the availability of a software update Wednesday that can set a maximum volume setting on the iPod. The update is available for fifth generation iPods and the iPod nano. Furthermore, parents could also set a maximum volume setting and lock it with a combination code, the company said.
"With the increased attention in this area, we want to offer customers an easy to use option to set their own personal volume limit," Apple marketing president Greg Joswiak said in a statement. The software update is available immediately from the iPod software download page, and is compatible with any accessory plugged into the headphone jack, as well as the iPod Radio Remote.
Panasonic Blu-ray Player Due in Sept.
Panasonic will launch its first Blu-ray disc player in September, the company said Tuesday. The release of the DMP-BD10 would come in conjunction with its first 1080p plasma displays and a new high-definition receiver. The company expects the player to retail for less than $1,500 USD, but pricing has not been finalized.
"With the DMP-BD10, Panasonic proves its commitment to providing the best high definition entertainment experience for the home," Panasonic merchandising vice president Reid Sullivan said in a statement. "Our goal is to focus on the total solution for an uncompromised high definition experience."
Fujitsu Unveils 200GB Notebook Drive
Fujitsu on Monday said it would deliver in May the world's largest notebook hard drive, capable of storing 200GB of data without utilizing perpendicular recording technology. However, the three-platter enclosure is larger and heavier than standard portable drives.
The Fujitsu MHV2200BT features a Serial ATA-150 interface, 8MB buffer and speed of 4200RPM -- slower than 7200RPM notebook drives currently on the market. The new drive is designed for high-performance portable and home media devices, where size is less of a concern. Fujitsu did not offer pricing details for the MHV2200BT.
New York State Sues Free iPods Site
Calling the case the largest intentional breach of Internet privacy ever, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has sued Gratis Internet for selling personal data on millions of consumers who signed up to receive a free iPod music player by referring friends.
Gratis runs a number of such sites, including FreeiPods.com, FreeCDs.com, FreeDVDs.com and FreeVideoGames.com. The company promises not to share user data, but Spitzer says it sold 7 million e-mail addresses to three companies, leading to millions of unsolicited messages. The lawsuit specifically accuses Gratis owners Peter Martin and Robert Jewell of fraud and privacy violations during 2004 and 2005.
'60 Minutes' Coming to Yahoo in Fall
In an effort to attract new viewers and target a younger demographic for its 39 year-old newsmagazine show, CBS announced Thursday that it had struck a deal to broadcast video content from "60 Minutes" on Yahoo's media properties. The service would begin this fall, with a special preview of the programming available March 26 featuring an interview with Tiger Woods.
Upon launch, "60 Minutes" content would be available across Yahoo's news, sports and entertainment sites, as well as a special site dedicated to the show. That site would be updated following each broadcast with two packages: one expanding on a segment aired on television and the other based on a topical news theme.
Philips to Repair 12,000 Plasma TVs
Philips Electronics said on Friday that nearly 12,000 plasma TVs it sold in the United States are vulnerable to overheating, and plans to visit customers' houses to replace the faulty component. Consumers will be contacted directly, and Philips declined to say how much the fix will cost the company.
A Philips spokesperson downplayed the seriousness of the problem, saying the move was simply a "precaution" and noted there is no fire risk. Only 42-inch and 50-inch sets sold in the United States are affected by the overheating. Plasma TVs have surged in popularity over the past year as prices have continued to fall, but production problems have plagued electronics companies trying to keep up with demand.
RIM Calls for Patent System Changes
Embattled BlackBerry maker Research In Motion took out a full-page advertisement this week in a number of newspapers, thanking supporters and calling for reform of the United States patent system. RIM paid $612.5 million to settle patent infringement claims by NTP, despite those patents later being ruled invalid.
The ad contained a letter by co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, which said the company was "pleased to put this matter behind us and remove any uncertainty from customers' minds." RIM also notes that the media exposure has shed light on the broken patent system and the company hopes it "will evolve to close the loopholes and become more balanced."
Adobe Plugs Critical Flash Vulnerability
Adobe on Tuesday issued a security advisory urging all Macromedia Flash users to upgrade to version 8.0.24.0. The company says it has identified "critical vulnerabilities" in Flash Player that could lead to a full system compromise. The flaw can be exploited through a malicious SWF file.
The problem, which discovered and reported by Microsoft, affects all operating systems. Adobe has made available updates for a number of its products that include Flash, such as Breeze, Shockwave and Flex. Fixed versions of Flash 7 for Linux and Solaris are also available for download.
First Movie Appears on iTunes Store
The first indication of Apple's plans to sell full-length feature films through the iTunes Music Store surfaced on Tuesday, with a Disney Channel original movie discovered for sale through the service. For $1.99 -- the same price as TV shows and music videos -- users can purchase "High School Musical."
The movie runs 1 hour and 39 minutes, and weighs in at just under 490MB. Apple has reportedly been in talks with major Hollywood studios about licensing films, which it would begin selling in conjunction with the launch of a touch-screen video iPod. Even if the rumors are accurate, however, it's not clear when such an offering would debut.
MSN Joins FX to Stream 'Black. White.'
MSN and FX announced a deal Tuesday that would allow the online service to rebroadcast the hour-long premiere of FX's controversial series "Black. White." The show attempts to examine racial issues by allowing a African American and Caucasian family to "exchange races" and experience life in each other's shoes.
The show, produced by RJ Cutler, Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez, has become an instant hit, with its premiere garnering some 4 million viewers last Wednesday night. The streaming video will be entirely commercial-free and made available from the MSN Video Web site. No announcement has been made as to whether future episodes would be aired on MSN in a similar manner.
Google Acquires 3D Design Program
Google on Tuesday announced the purchase of yet another software company to add to its growing portfolio. The six year-old @Last Software makes a tool called SketchUp for creating, viewing and editing 3D designs, and attracted the attention of the search giant with a Google Earth plug-in.
"Google's resources will allow us to serve our current users better, and Google's reach will allow us to expose more people to SketchUp in one year than we could have touched in ten years on our own," said Brad Schell, founder of @Last Software. "SketchUp is still SketchUp, but now it will go places it couldn't possibly have gone before."
US Gov't Supports 'Buy it Now' Patent
The United States federal government sided with MercExchange on Monday, saying that auction site eBay knowingly infringed on the company's patents. The Office of the Solicitor General said in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that eBay should be barred from using the popular "Buy it Now" feature, which accounts for a third of the site's sales.
eBay has argued, however, that MercExchange shut down its online business in 2000, and should not be allowed to use the patent to stop an active business. eBay had been found guilty of infringing two patents by a district court. An appeals court overturned that decision, which brought the case to the nation's highest court. The justices will hear arguments from both sides in hearings later this month.
Netflix Quietly Adds HD DVD Rentals
Following through on a promise made earlier this year, Netflix has quietly launched a new feature that enables subscribers to obtain their movies in HD DVD, if available. With the high-definition format still getting off the ground, however, few titles are currently offered.
Netflix subscribers must first set up their account for HD DVD through the service's Preferences page. A "Format" column will then appear in the Netflix rental queue, and customers can select HD DVD to be the default rental format. Netflix plans to support Blu-ray when the Sony-backed format launches in May.
Google Maps Mars
Not content with sticking to Earth and the moon, Google is bringing its mapping technology to our nearest planetary neighbor: Mars. In commemoration of Percival Lowell's birthday, Google joined up with NASA to build Google Mars using the most scientific maps of the planet.
"Explore the red planet in three different ways: an elevation map shows color-coded peaks and valleys, a visible-imagery map shows what your eyes would actually see, and an infrared-imagery map shows the detail your eyes would miss," said Google Earth developer Chikai Ohazama. "We hope you enjoy your trip to Mars."
MS Entices Users with Free Xbox Live
Through a sponsorship deal with Verizon, Microsoft said Friday it would allow free Xbox Live access from March 31 through April 2 to any Xbox 360 owner. Called the Xbox Live Gold Weekend, events would include multiplayer gaming, leaderboard tournaments, and Play and Win contents.
Verizon also would be giving away one million Microsoft points to lucky Xbox Live members. The event would also be used to promote Verizon's various DSL and FiOS high-speed offerings, the companies said. Microsoft says that since the launch of the Xbox 360, subscription rates for the Live service have accelerated, with nearly half of the new console's owners registering.
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