Today, EA announced the follow up to their exercise sports title, SPORTS Active 2.0.  The newest version of the already hyper popular workout game will now include an innovative wireless control system, powered by new leg and arm straps with motion sensors, a heart rate monitor to capture intensity, and a new online hub to track and share workout data.  EA has also expanded the games availability from the Wii to the PS3, iPod Touch and iPhone, although I don’t think the latter two will include the same sensor system.

The new heart rate monitor helps users keep track of their workout intensity and will provide an always onscreen readout of their beats per minutes, calories burned and more.  The online hub, which is more of a social network meets logging system, provides the user with a centralized location of their workout data, progress and the ability to interact with other EA ACTIVE Sports users and share workouts.

The game itself will include a three-phase, nine-week program that is said to provide a fitness roadmap that keeps gamers motivated and on track to their fitness goals.  You can also expect additional workouts for download in the future, for a nominal cost of course.

There’s no word on a price or a specific launch date, but EA says to expect SPORTS Active 2.0 this fall.

EA EXPANDS INTERACTIVE FITNESS PRODUCT LINE WITH NEW EA SPORTS ACTIVE

Heart Rate Monitor and New Wireless Control System Highlight Innovation Coming to
New Suite of Fitness Products This Fall

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 9, 2010 – Millions of people around the world have experienced the revolution in home fitness since last spring with EA SPORTS Active™, the number one rated fitness program for the Wii™**. Today, EA SPORTS™, a label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced that EA SPORTS Active 2.0* (working title) is now in development and will be available this fall on PlayStation®3, Wii™, iPhone® and iPod touch®. The new EA SPORTS Active 2.0* fitness program will deliver true fitness results by featuring an innovative wireless control system, powered by new leg and arm straps with motion sensors, a heart rate monitor to capture intensity, and a new online hub to track and share workout data. EA SPORTS Active 2.0* will make working out simple, effective and will go with you wherever you are.

“The launch of EA SPORTS Active 2.0* will define a new era of interactive fitness with the use of innovative motion sensor peripherals and a heart rate monitor that provide users with a fitness experience delivering real, measurable results,” said Tarrnie Williams, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS Active. “As the number one rated fitness program for the Wii**, EA SPORTS Active proved itself as the industry leader and provided the foundation for our fitness franchise. The success stories we’ve received from our users show that EA SPORTS Active is changing lives and we’re so proud to be part of it.”

The new EA SPORTS Active 2.0* innovative wireless control system will give users complete freedom of motion, making it even easier to get a workout that delivers great results. Using innovative heart rate detection technology, the heart rate monitor will help users monitor intensity, providing constant on-screen monitoring throughout the workout and tracking user data over time to optimize performance.
The EA SPORTS Active 2.0* online hub will allow users to track and share all of their workout data, providing a centralized destination for all fitness, wellness and training needs. It will host a thriving online global community of EA SPORTS Active users who can share their fitness journeys, interact with workout groups and send messages to each other online to stay inspired and engaged. Users will also have the ability to download new workouts and exercises to their online connected PlayStation3 console to keep their workouts fresh and maintain motivation***.

EA SPORTS Active 2.0* provides total body conditioning using progressive exercise in new prescribed programs. A three-phase, nine-week program provides a fitness roadmap to help keep users motivated and on track of their fitness goals. Additional mini-programs will also be available to add on, keeping workouts fresh and inspiring. The EA SPORTS Active personal trainer will walk users through their workout and provide continued encouragement with feedback to ensure an optimal workout experience.

I really didn’t expect to see something this cool today.  The PRS Guitar Bud is an absolutely innovative product that is a must “check out” for any musician that owns an iPhone or 2nd Gen iPod Touch.  The PRS Guitar Bud is a 6 foot long cable that has a microphone attachment cord via 3.5mm jack as well as a 1/4″ jack and a headphone input.

Capable of transmitting a signal from guitars, keyboards, and samplers to just about any app that accepts a microphone input, the PRS Guitar Bud is a great way to share riffs, practice scales, and much more.  PRS also has a compatible app associated with the PRS Guitar Bud called the PRS JamAmp which serves as an amp simulator and practice aide.

The Guitar Bud sells for $30 and the PRS App is at $10 and is available now.  Other compatible apps are:  Voice Memos™, StompVox™, Riff Raters™, GigDaddy™, iStrobosoft™, Rectools Pr™o, Guitar FX Deluxe.  From reading the reviews in the App Store, it seems people aren’t too happy with the way this product and App doesn’t work.  This might be asking too much of an iPhone.  I’m gonna see if I can snag one for review.

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Street Fighter IV for the iPhone and iPod Touch will hit the app store next month for $9.99.  The price and launch date is no surprise, but what about the game play?  The question on everyone’s mind is ‘will it be stupid impossible to control your character’?   Based on the below video it doesn’t look too shabby.  Thoughts?

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I have a hard enough time playing first person shooters on the iPhone, so I’m a bit shocked to see a fighting game get ported to the handheld.  There no word on a release date or price, but Capcom will port Street Fighter IV to the iTunes app store presumably sometime this year – I guess they wanna cash in on the series as much as possible.

A set of on screen controls, joystick included, will control your character of choice and will includes a few different layouts to accommodate your fighting style.  There will no doubt be a multiplayer mode as wel as a confirmed Dojo mode where you can practice your skills before laying the smack down.

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For those of you that just love iPhone dock news, iLuv had its new App Station on display at CES and it was mildly refreshing amongst the sea of competitors.  The App Station works directly with the iLuv compatible app that turns the display into a giant alarm clock.  The device itself rotates so you can view media either horizontally or vertically and was relatively lightweight.

The App Station also charges your iPhone and runs off either AC power or 6 AA batteries.  All in all, I like the form factor and it would look pretty nice bedside.  I don’t know about the $130 price tag, but the App Station is slated for release in February.

Last month Red Eye burst onto the scene promising to turn any iPhone into a universal remote control.   One problem, it costs $188.   Now the L5 remote promises the same versatility as the Red Eye but at less than 1/3 of the cost; $50 to be exact.   Portability and ease of use is also part of their pitch as the L5 plugs into the bottom of the iPhone and uses the device’s battery to send out infrared signals.  The L5 Remote will ship sometime in February, while the application should be free to download.

Right now I’ve got my hands on the Red Eye and let’s just say the experience hasn’t been a smooth one.

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IK Multimedia has long been known for their music software.  I have used their Amplitube plug-in for countless recordings and I even have their new Amplitube Metal plug-in for Pro Tools.

The GrooveMaker from IK Multimedia is a simple yet intuitive groove based music arrangement application for your iPhone or iPod Touch.  There’s actually whole series of these music applications, each based off of a corresponding genre or sub-genre of music.  From trance, to drum and bass and hip-hop, each app is set up the same way with different samples thrown in to match the genre.

The GrooveMaker will be very familiar to anyone who has worked in music production but is also easy enough to learn on the fly that even a novice can enjoy this app.  I got to review the Hip-Hop version and I was really impressed with the  layout of the app and how flowing the touch controls reacted.

The app is used horizontally and has several screens to navigate through.  The main screen is the arrangement screen and is where most of the action happens.  From there other sub-screens include various settings options, a help screen, and more.

It sounds the best through headphones or powered speakers, but never sounded all that bad when used without.  All the samples and loops were of high quality and loaded quickly once the song was on board.

While not as in depth as BeatMaker, it is only half the price ($10) and only takes up 20Mb’s of space.  I would have like to see some more precise editing functions but the simple design and intuitive effectiveness really shines through in this app.  There’s even an included tutorial to show you the ropes and how to send your mixes as WAV files to your computer.

This app will really appeal to those who love all things hip-hop and want an arrangement program that’s simple and easy to pick up.  It will be great for impromptu freestyle sessions as well as for some demo type recording scenarios.  Even those not sure about audio production and arrangement don’t have to break the bank to test the waters.

Pros:

• Intuitive layout
• Quality samples and loops
• Great for beginners

Cons:

• Could have more editing functions
• No “actual” beat making

Finally iPhone and iPod Touch users can control their AV gear with their handset.  Magic? No, but damn close – I guess it just seems that whimsical and wonderful to me.

Called the RedEye, it’s a dock that receives commands from your iPhone via WiFi and relays them over infrared to your TV, Blu-ray player, home theater receiver or just about any A/V gear that you can think of.  Since it operates over WiFi (an RF signal that passes through walls) you can have multiple RedEyes scattered around your home enabling you to control the stereo from any where you sit.  And because the software is free and customizable, there is virtually no limit to what and how you can control your gear.

The RedEye costs $188 and includes one infrred base and some adapters for the iPod Touch and iPhone.  Check their quick product videos after the ‘leap’

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The HypnosEye Projector is a completely wireless projector and is a cheap and easy way for you to display visual media from your iPhone.  It actually works with any phone that has an adjustable brightness as it uses a special mirror with a reflection agent at the top of the glass instead of the bottom making for a more clear image.

Priced at $80, this little but not that cool looking projector is cheap enough to warrant a possible purchase.  No mention of how it’s powered, though.  See the other specs below:

• Portable wireless projector with screen and stand
• Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, mobile phones etc.
• Projection distance: 0.5-2m
• Projection area: from 17-45″ (43-114cm)
• Projection focus is adjustable
• Material: Polycarbonate (screen) + ABS (stand)
• Screen size: 250 x 360 x 1mm (9.8 x 14.2 x 0.04″)
• Weight: 80g (screen), 400g (projector and stand)
• Manual: Japanese

[via RandomGoodStuff]

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Doubling as a hacky-sack, the MovieWedge is a convenient way to view media horizontally on your iPhone or iPod touch.  The MovieWedge is lightweight and portable beanbag-esque cushion that supports your iPhone for prime viewing.

Embracing a brutally simple design aesthetic, the MovieWedge can effectively adapt to most any surrounding.  Capable of changing shape to a small degree, the MovieWedge can easily fit in where ever you need it.  From a stiff but moving airplane tray table, to your bed or your grassy backyard, the MovieWedge is unlike any iPhone stand you have used before.

The MovieWedge is pretty durable due to its impressionable footbag design.  I can see at some point down the line it becoming a bit worn or frayed from general wear and tear but with any amount of TLC, the MovieWedge should last for years.

For only $10, the MovieWedge is a great gift idea for this coming holiday season for anybody that owns an iPhone, iPod Touch, or any PMP or smart phone that displays media horizontally.

The only thing I didn’t like was the made in China tag dangling off of the MovieWedge.  I would have liked to have seen the logo embroidered on the cushion itself but it’s not a huge sticking point.

Any consumer would be happy with what the MovieWedge provides for the price and anyone looking for an iPhone stand/pillow should look no further.

It can also be used to clean the screen of your iPhone no problem!

Pros:

• Cheap
• Versatile
• Lightweight and durable

Cons;

• None

Buy it here for $10!

**Update**

Since the posting of this review, news has come in about a new tag that is now attached to the MovieWedge.  While still not embroidered, the new tag looks much nicer than the previous one.  See Pic below.

I knew it was coming – well, actually I hoped it was coming, but here it is: HD radio for the iPod Touch and iPhone.  (Last week I wrote about the official release of the XM Skydock for the iPhone and although I think it’s a solid product for anyone willing to pay a monthly subscription fee I couldn’t help but note that I’d prefer an HD Radio version.)

In order to gain access to the 2,000+ HD stations currently being broadcast into your skull, you’ll need to pick up iBiquity’s Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver accessory for the iPod Touch and iPhone.  The inline radio receiver, which plugs into the 30pin serial connector, works in conjunction with their free app and allows you to ‘favorite’ stations as well as connect with friends over Facebook, Twitter and email.

Radioshack, who has an exclusive on the product, is selling it for $79.99.  Sure, the price is a bit steep, but compare that against XM’s offering and you’ve got a steal of a deal.

iBiquity has made its first foray into the mobile market and it’s third in the portable market (Best Buy’s Insignia NS-HD01 and Microsoft’s Zune HD). Introducing the Gigaware Navigation Control HD Radio Receiver accessory and the HD Radio application. The accessory/app combination enables iPhone and iPod touch devices to tune into HD Radio broadcasts for the first time!

Adding HD Radio Technology to the iPhone and iPod touch (compatible with models updated with 3.0 software) is an easy two-step process:

▪ Step 1: Buy the Gigaware HD Radio accessory, designed for and sold exclusively at RadioShack for an MSRP of $79.99.

▪ Step 2: Download the FREE application by clicking on the Apple App Store icon on the actual device or though the iTunes’ App Store link (under the Music category) in the top left column.

The application software, features an intuitive, user-friendly interface; a manual tune wheel or auto-seek option; and the ability to connect with friends through e-mail, Twitter and Facebook. Users can also preview content currently airing and directly select a main station or multicast channel stream, in addition bookmarking their favorite stations and multicast channels. An iTunes Tagging button on the Gigaware navigation accessory also allows users to “tag” songs for future review and purchase via iTunes.

Now, iPhone and iPod touch users can now enjoy the CD-like digital quality, crystal-clear sound from more than 2,000 HD Radio stations on the air, and 1,000+ new FM multicast channels (HD2/HD3).

‘Stacks’ have long existed in Apple’s Mac OS, but what about the iPhone?  They are now thanks to ‘Stacks’, a piece of software that you can add to your iPhone, that is assuming it’s Jailbroken (aka hacked).

Much like Mac’s OS you can add multiple applications (in Mac OS X you can view multiple files in a folder, at a glance, from your dock) to your iPhone or iPod Touch’s dock instead of just four.  Tap on a ’stack’ and a playing card like display of applications are laid out before you.  If you’ve added too many applications to the ’stack’ it transforms the window to a grid like layout similar to your iPhone’s default screen.

Wired notes that there are a few draw backs to the current interation, such as the lack of icon badges (unread email), visual notifications and a few other minor hiccups.  Problems aside, I think it’s a great idea, though it might defeat the purpose of having four dedicated buttons to choose from.

If you’ve got a Jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch you can grab ‘Stacks’ now, you’ll just need to make a $1 donation to the developer.

Video after the ‘leap’

[via Wired]

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If you’ve ever had a Genius Bar appointment at the Apple Store, than you’ve surely noticed that an employee has checked you in using an iPod touch.  If you’ve also ever bought something like an iPhone you’ve noticed they use Windows CE-based handhelds to complete your transaction.  Not for much longer.

Soon enough all Apple Store Employees will be able to deal with all purchases, returns, iPhone activations, through debit/credit cards and cash while using an iPod touch.

A new case and proprietary software is on its way that fits the Touch and is capable of being a magnetic stripe reader, barcode scanner, and can accept signatures using a stylus.  All sounding pretty cool, will it have a positive effect on the customer service experience?

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The ever so memorable scene from Star Wars when Luke blows up the Death Star for the 1st time can soon be yours to control anywhere you go.  It could be a great way to impress a young lady at a bar,  or perhaps even start a riot at a Trekkie convention.

THQ will be releasing Star Wars Trench Run for the iPhone and iPod Touch.   The game will used tilt based controls and with no price or actual release date set, I can’t imagine the game being over a few dollars.  But after watching the video below it seems like a very short game so that may warrant a very low price tag.  We’ll see.

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4Bugs 200 is a picture hunt game from Root9 Media.  I had previously reviewed their Yeti Sports game and I’m here today to talk about Bugs4.  Sort of a weird name for a picture hunt game, the Bugs are merely the character that you represent when playing by yourself or in multiplayer.  You end up seeing them a bunch during scoring screens and they always look pretty happy regardless of how bad you are at the game.

I was pretty bad at this game.  Its set-up is brutally simple and intuitive but the pictures are really, really hard.  I’m not that attuned to this type of game but I don’t think I even cleared one level, I found it that difficult.

Each round consists of you finding the 4 differences between the two photos as a timer counts down.  Pressing the wrong area shortens your time.  So hard!  Attention to detail was a trait I thought I had, but this game makes me seriously question that.  I’m sure the designers had some good laughs in photoshop making the smallest possible adjustments to the pictures so that are just barely noticeable.

Features included localized and online leader boards as well as FaceBook integration.  Two players could take turns playing on on one screen and as you can see from the above picture that neither my dog or myself could score any points.  The picture below demonstrates that every so often the game will throw you a bone as the 4 differences aren’t as hard as the bulk of the 200 photos.

For $1, 4Bugs 200 is a well designed game but you really need to be good at this sort of game or you’ll get quickly frustrated.  The interface is simple and effective and for the dudes there are some sexy female pics thrown in there for good measure (pun intended).

A free version is available to see how good or bad you are before you commit to the full version.  Both free and paid versions are available now in addition to some specialty 4Bugs games like World Tour and Octoberfest when you search 4Bugs in the App Store.  You’ve been warned!

Pros:

• Intuitive Interface
• Happy Bug Avatars
• Online Leaderboards and FaceBook

Cons:

• Really, Really Difficult Photos

Buy it here for $1

And the paraphernalia just wont stop.  To add to your array of fine iPhone accessories comes the In Your Face iPhone stand.  Capable of bending as your face sees fit and clipping to just about whatever, this could be a useful gadget for those who watch an exorbitant amount of media on their iPhones.

Also allowing for iPod Touch integration, the head piece swivels and the flexible neck measures in at 8 inches.  The whole gadget is priced at $30 so you’d better go buy one before someone “faces” you with theirs.

I’d think this would make it easier to text and drive as well.

[via TheGadgeteer]

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I’m loving Sonos’ new Sonos ZonePlayer S5.  It’s a tad on the pricey side, but what is lost in affordability is gained in pure simplicity and quality.  The device connects to your Internet and can play 1000s of Internet radio stations, stream the most popular of music services (Pandora, Last.fm, Napster, etc) and pull music directly from your computer’s iTunes library.  It’s also compatible with Apple’s wireless Time Capsule hard drive, which means your computer doesn’t even have to be turned on to access your tunes.

And like Apple’s commercial says, there is ‘an app for that’.  Sonos’ S5 can be controlled via the iPhone or iPod Touch.  In fact, that appears to be the only way to operate this WiFi infuzed, music streaming device (aside from other Sonos hardware or computer software).  So if you don’t have one of those, well, you can just forget about the S5.  The Sonos app let’s you control multiple S5s, allowing you to play different music through each speaker system or sync them all up and adjust volume individually.

Under the hood are 5 speakers: two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier.

The Sonos ZonePlayer S5 will be available October 27th for $399.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – October 13, 2009 – Sonos®, Inc., developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, today introduced the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, an all-in-one wireless music system that can be controlled with an iPhone, iPod® touch or any Sonos Controller.  The S5 delivers crystal-clear, room-filling sound that rivals much larger, more complicated audio equipment.  Plus, the S5 provides instant access to unlimited music with control from the palm of your hand.  Now music lovers can find and play any song from an iTunes library, plus, a world of music and radio on the Internet, in any room of the house. The S5 will be available for $399 on October 27. To see the S5 in action, please visit: www.sonos.com/S5demo.

“Our customers tell us they listen to twice as much music after bringing Sonos into their homes,” said John MacFarlane, CEO of Sonos.  “The new S5 is our latest effort to simplify the Sonos experience so more people can enjoy more music than ever before.”

The S5 features a 5-driver speaker system that packs a big sound – filling an entire room with music.  Sonos uniquely designed the S5 with an all-digital sound architecture for precise sound reproduction.  The S5 includes two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier and optimized to deliver room-filling sound with smooth tonal balance and deep bass.  All filter settings, bass and treble controls, active equalization, and time-alignment are done in the digital domain through state-of-the-art DSP circuitry, so there’s absolutely no loss of audio quality or energy.

With the Internet-connected S5, you can listen to way more music than you can with a dock that only plays the songs that fit on your iPod. The S5 gives you instant access to a world of music, including 25,000 Internet radio stations, shows and podcasts —all free of charge and pre-loaded on Sonos. Sonos works seamlessly with the most popular music services to provide computer-free access to millions of songs and stations from the likes of Last.fm, Napster, Rhapsody, Pandora, SIRIUS Internet Radio, and Deezer.  The S5 also gives you instant access to any iTunes library stored on any computer or Network Attached storage, such as an Apple Time Capsule.  The S5’s analog audio input lets you connect to an external audio source (such as an iPod, CD player, TV, DVD, VCR, or radio) and play music or audio on all ZonePlayers in the system.

When it comes to controlling your S5, you simply reach into your pocket for your iPhone or iPod touch. With the free Sonos Controller for iPhone app (available on the iTunes App Store), you can search for songs and stations, choose the music and control the volume in as many rooms as you like. And because the iPhone is controlling the music, and not the source of it, when a text comes in or you need to make a phone call, the music doesn’t stop.  That also means you can keep your iPhone in your pocket, not stuck in a dock. The S5 also includes free Sonos Controller software for your Mac or PC. Or you can let everyone in the house share the control with the dedicated Sonos Controller 200 (sold separately).

As with all Sonos ZonePlayers, the S5 is simple to set up, easy to expand and 100% compatible with all other Sonos products. Just plug in the S5 wherever you want music. One ZonePlayer or Sonos ZoneBridge™ (sold separately) must be connected to your router and all the rest will work wirelessly. When you’re ready to play more music in more rooms, simply add S5s or other ZonePlayers without adding wires. Now you can play the same song in every room with perfect synchronicity or mix it up by playing different songs in different rooms.

The S5 will be available for purchase in the United States beginning in late October.  To learn more or to locate an authorized Sonos dealer, please visit www.sonos.com or call 877.80.SONOS.

About Sonos, Inc.
Sonos® is the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home. The Sonos Multi-Room Music System is the first, wireless multi-room music system that lets you play all the music you want all over your house – and control it all from the palm of your hand.  Sonos liberates the music stored on a computer so it can be enjoyed all over the house.  In addition, by partnering with audio services like Audible.com®, Last.fm, Napster®, Pandora®, RadioTime, Rhapsody®, SIRIUS® Internet Radio, and more, Sonos gives music lovers instant, computer-free access to millions of songs, thousands of radio stations, audiobooks and more.  The award-winning Sonos Multi-Room Music System is available at more than 4000 retailers in over 60 countries worldwide; or direct from Sonos at www.sonos.com.  Sonos is a privately-held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA with offices in Cambridge, MA, Hilversum, Netherlands and Penang, Malaysia.  To find out more about the company or the Sonos Multi-Room Music System, please visit: http://pr.sonos.com.

© 2004-2009 by Sonos Inc. All rights reserved.  Sonos is a registered trademark of Sonos, Inc. in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), Japan, Mexico, Germany, Russia and Australia, and a trademark of Sonos, Inc. in other countries. Sonosnet, ZonePlayer, ZoneBridge and all Sonos logos are trademarks of Sonos Inc. in the United States and other countries. iPod and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. All other products and services may be trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners.

Finding a good armband for your MP3 player can be a tricky thing.  Does it stay fastened to your arm without sliding?  Does it get in the way of what your doing?  I have tried a couple of arm bands in my day and I always ended up going with an around the hip accessory (tucked into my waistband) just because it worked better for what I was doing.

ArmPocket is an Eco-Friendly company that makes a variety of quality and utilitarian armbands for your Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.  To say it right now, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is the best arm band I have used yet and I highly advise you to check it out if you are looking for a competent and fairly priced exercise accessory.

Let’s start with features.  Assuming that you don’t have any other storage on your person, the ArmPocket Sport 20 has got you covered.  In the main chamber there are two elastic slots for an ID and credit card and it is big enough to hold an energy bar or gel in addition to your MP3 player no problem.  On the outside there is also a small loop to hold a keyring.

In the looks department, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is not very elegant but its form factor is what is visually apparent and oddly enough, the brand logo actually resembles the bottom portion of the Under Armor logo.

A reflective strip wraps around the face of the armband to add an element of safety but you should still wear other shiny gear if you are planning on being out at night or other low light scenarios.  The transparent plastic that allows you access to your iPod’s controls is heavy duty but requires a concerted effort at times to register your touch.  Not a performance problem whatsoever but you do have to look at what your doing and won’t really be able to access the controls haphazardly.  Being that the Sport 20 is capable of holding so many things, it does look a tad bulky but never really got in the way of anything is was doing during my time at the gym or riding my bike.

In terms of build and construction, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is testament to quality and ruggedness.  The entire armband is made of recycled PET fabric (yarn fabric made from plastic bottles) and natural bamboo giving the Sport 20 a tight textured weave with great solid feel to it.  The zippers and the strap/band are sturdy as ever and look to last for quite a while.

When riding my bike and working out at the gym the Sport 20 never slipped on me.  Sometimes it felt like it was going to but it never did.  The band itself felt especially secure and comfortable thanks to the ergonomic memory foam, and reminded me of getting my blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office.  While boasting moisture protection, the Sport 20 was also quite capable of fending off water.  Not to say that it’s submersible, but the texture of the Sport 20 could totally work well in rainy conditions.

What I really liked about the Sport 20 was the fact that it could easily be worn upside down.  Depending on the way you like your earphone cord to dangle or the way you want to view your iPod/iPhone, the Sport 20 exudes accessibility regardless of vertical orientation.

My only gripe comes when I need to remove my iPod Touch or earphones.  It could have been a bit more easy to do.  The rubberized earphone input area is tough to get the jack through, especially if it’s a horizontal one.  If you are looking to evade this hole entirely, you will also find it tough to zip the ArmPocket up fully without the headphones poking out the top.

Other than that, if you are looking for a sport armband for your iPhone or iPod Touch you owe it to yourself to check out the ArmPocket Sport 20.  It is an absolutely quality product that should give you many years wear and tear.  Coupled with the company’s green and recycling efforts it makes you a smart consumer as well.

Pros:

• Super comfortable
• Steady non-slip grip
• Plenty of room for other things besides MP3 player

Cons:

• Can be bulky and protruding
• Earphone input area is a bit tough to navigate
• Controlling iPod/iPhone can require a hard touch

Buy one here for $29.95!

Don’t kill me for saying this, but iFixit is on a ‘tear’ lately when it comes to stripping down Apple products.  Just yesterday we saw the inards of the brand new iPod Nano (with camera) and now they’ve stripped apart a 3rd gen iPod Touch.

And guess what they found?  Inside the device is a Broadcom BCM4329 chip, which supposedly supports 802.11n (the latest iteration of WiFi) and the ability to transmit the iPod’s audio to a nearby FM radio.  This isn’t the first time we’ve heard murmurs of a handheld Apple product including an FM transmitter so pardon me when I say it’s not a huge surprise.

Oh, and all those rumors regarding an iPod Touch cases with a camera.  It looks like they weren’t too far off the mark, because according to iFixit there is enough room to include one.

[via Crunchgear]

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The Rhapsody music app received approval from Apple today.  The news comes on the heels of a new and higher capacity iPod Touch and Nano with a built-in camera.

Any iPhone or iPod Touch user can download the free app now and for 7-days, without punching in a credit card, can stream over 8 million songs direct to their device.  After that you’ll need to drop $14.99 a month for access to Rhapsody on your handset.

Unlike iPod Touch users, iPhone owners will be able to stream music over both WiFi and their cellular connection.  But with that comes a huge caveat: the max streaming bit rate is 64 kilobits per second, something the company claims will prevent interruptions.  Reality check.  Apple and AT&T probably mandated this bit rate as to prevent a bottle neck in AT&T’s 3G pipes.  I’m just surprised they don’t offer a higher bit rate option when connected over WiFi.

Read – iTunes link

Rhapsody streaming app approved for iPhones
By RYAN NAKASHIMA (AP) – 5 hours ago
LOS ANGELES — RealNetworks Inc.’s subscription music service Rhapsody has been approved for use on iPhones and iPod Touches, the first time Apple Inc. has allowed an on-demand music streaming program on its devices in the United States.
The initial download will be free but new subscribers will have to pay $14.99 a month if they want to try it for longer than seven days.
The service will allow users to queue up any of some 8 million songs, and create custom playlists that will stream to the device as long as the user is receiving a cellular signal or is in a WiFi hot spot.
The application is an improvement on Rhapsody To Go, which allows subscribers to load songs onto their Windows Media Player-enabled phones and MP3 players when connected to a computer for later playback.
Seattle-based RealNetworks is planning to allow subscribers to load songs over the air for later playback in a new version by the end of the year.
Current Rhapsody To Go subscribers will be able to use the new app right away without an extra charge.
“This breaks us out of the non-Apple MP3 player segment and now we can reach the iPod Touch and iPhone audience that was unavailable to us before,” said Neil Smith, vice president of business management for Rhapsody America.
RealNetworks currently has some 750,000 subscribers of its unlimited song streaming service. Some pay $12.99 a month for computer-only access but others pay $14.99 for the ability to move those songs to mobile devices.
The songs will be streamed at 64 kilobits per second, which is lower quality than the 256 kbps for songs offered on iTunes, but will help prevent interruptions.
Rhapsody app users will also be offered the ability to buy songs from the iTunes store. RealNetworks will share in the revenue from such sales.
“We’re giving you the ability to listen to any song you want. The ones you really like, you can plunk down the extra $1.29 and buy,” Smith said.