MacMegasite

Pocket Gamer reports that Apple’s 3.1.3 firmware for the iPod Touch is now free.

Apple has eliminated the price for upgrading your iPod touch to the latest firmware, making version 3.1.3 free for everyone.

That’s a significant shift by Apple, which had recently lowered the price of the firmware upgrade in hopes of coaxing iPod touch owners into purchase.

Instead, it’s free to download.

Syncing a second generation iPod touch today with an older version of the software prompted me to accept the free upgrade. How exciting.

Just as when asked to download and install the latest firmware on an iPhone, iTunes simply asks for confirmation – no signing in to pay for the software.

This is great news for iPod touch gamers with older devices. Now you’re free to upgrade and play a swathe of games that are only compatible with 3.0-specific features.

This means there’s now very little reason for software developers to continue to support 2.x firmware.

Old Lyme, Conn. – February 10, 2010 – Sennheiser introduces a new addition to its new class of wireless headphones. The PX 210 BT portable mini headphone is equipped with Bluetooth® and new apt-X® coding technology for flawless sound that’s free of interference and wires.

“Music and speech are reproduced in excellent quality, while still allowing you complete freedom of movement,” said Maurice Quarré, head of product management for consumer electronics at Sennheiser.

The PX 210 BT has a transmission range of up to 33 feet, which means your audio source can be stored in a backpack or bag when you’re out and about. Convenient audio controls are located directly on the earpiece. They can be used to activate or deactivate the Bluetooth function, regulate the volume and navigate a playlist. The rechargeable lithium polymer battery provides up to 12 hours of non-stop listening enjoyment before it needs recharging.

No cables and no loss of sound quality

Listening to music is even more fun when you’re not restricted by cables. The PX 210 BT has powerful neodymium magnets that ensure a natural and lifelike sound image with a frequency response of 15 to 22,000 Hertz. Sennheiser’s patented Duofol™ diaphragms almost entirely eliminate standing waves to reproduce brilliant highs and fast, tight low end with impeccable clarity.

The apt-X coding technology for compressing audio data was originally developed for use in the professional audio and broadcasting sectors. Sennheiser is one of the first manufacturers to incorporate this technology into consumer headphones.

“Sennheiser makes no compromises when it comes to the sound quality of its wireless headphones,” said Stephen Wray, vice president of licensing at apt-X. “The use of apt-X means that Sennheiser customers can now enjoy what we call ‘audiophile Bluetooth stereo.’”

The PXC 210 BT can be connected to all Bluetooth-compatible audio sources (listen-only). Sennheiser Bluetooth dongles (sold separately) ensure compatibility with devices that do not support apt-X technology, or that lack Bluetooth audio altogether.

Comfortable on the move

The PX 210 BT not only looks great, it’s also extremely comfortable: with a weight of just under four ounces and small, soft ear cushions, it fits comfortably on the ears. A handy folding mechanism and the included carrying case make it an ideal traveling companion.

The PX 210 BT is available now. The set includes a lithium polymer rechargeable battery, a battery charger with adapters for use in different countries, and an audio cable for traditional listening.

MSRP: $299.95

About Sennheiser

Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Sennheiser’s pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For more information, please visit www.sennheiserusa.com.

To no one’s great surprise, Apple unveiled a new product at a special event in San Francisco today: the iPad. Yep, that’s the name Apple is going with, not the rumored iTablet or iSlate monikers.

Apple says the device is for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s Multi-Touch display lets users physically interact with applications and content.

The iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds — thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The device includes 12 new apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the Apple App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting US$499.

“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” says Jobs. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer, Jobs says. Reading and sending email is possible on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard.

You can import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. The iTunes Store offers access to over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in high definition video.

Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Apple also introduced a new version of iWork for iPad, which the company says is the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages, Keynote and Numbers you can create formatted documents, presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

iPad’s 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an 178 degree viewing angle. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours. Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology purportedly deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.

iPad comes in two versions — one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with on-device activation and management.

Each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.

What’s more, Apple has released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.

Continuing their September tradition, Apple has scheduled a music-themed event for Tuesday Sept. 9 at 10AM Pacific time. As several sites have noted, all current iPod modules are currently unavailable, so it’s almost certain that new iPods will be introduced. It’s also widely rumored that the Beatles catalog will come to the iTunes Store.

Note that September 9th is also the release date for Rock Band Beatles edition, which marks the first time any of the Beatles’ music is available in any downloadable format.

iTunes 8.1.1 is now available via Software Update. According to the release notes, it adds support for renting HD movies and provides ‘a number of bug fixes’, including addressing issues with VoiceOver and syncing with iPhone or iPod touch.

Apple has released iTunes 8.1, now available via Software Update or from http://www.apple.com/itunes.

iTunes 8.1 is now faster and more responsive. You will enjoy noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing.

In addition, iTunes 8.1 provides many other improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation).
• Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ.
• Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows.
• Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs.
• Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods.
• Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.
• Includes many accessibility improvements.
• Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.

David Alison walks through installing and using the latest version of iTunes 8 on his Macs and finds that the Genius is pretty cool, with one minor exception.

SAN FRANCISCO–September 9, 2008–Apple today introduced the second generation iPod touch featuring an amazingly thin contoured metal design, a gorgeous 3.5-inch widescreen glass display, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi wireless networking, integrated volume control buttons, a built-in speaker for casual listening, a built-in accelerometer and other advanced sensors, and Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. iPod touch, now available for just $229 for the 8GB model, is perfect for playing music, movies and games, with millions of songs, thousands of Hollywood movies and hundreds of games available on the iTunes Store.

“iPod touch is the funnest iPod we’ve ever created,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Users can listen to millions of songs, watch thousands of Hollywood movies and now, thanks to the App Store, download and play hundreds of great games on their iPod touch.”

The new iPod touch is smaller and lighter than the original, with a sleek new design that features a contoured metal enclosure with integrated volume control buttons and a brilliant 3.5-inch widescreen glass display. With its rounded edges, flush display and curved, more compact design, the new iPod touch is more comfortable to hold and more portable than ever.

iPod touch users can choose from hundreds of exciting game titles such as “Spore Origins” and “Scrabble” from Electronic Arts, and “Real Football 2009″ from Gameloft available on iTunes or directly through the App Store application on the iPod touch. The revolutionary App Store works over Wi-Fi, enabling users to browse, purchase and wirelessly download applications directly onto their iPod touch and start using them instantly. The App Store features an incredible array of applications in a wide variety of categories, including games, travel, entertainment, social networking, sports and much more.

iPod touch works seamlessly with iTunes so you can import, manage, and then easily auto-sync your favorite content. With up to 36 hours of music playback or six hours of video playback on a single charge, the new iPod touch is the ultra-portable way to enjoy your favorite music, TV shows, movies and games on the go. The 32GB model holds up to 7,000 songs, 25,000 photos or 40 hours of video; the 16GB model holds up to 3,500 songs, 20,000 photos or 20 hours of video, and the 8GB model holds up to 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos and 10 hours of video.*

The new iPod touch works with the new iTunes 8 Genius feature, allowing customers to automatically create playlists while on the go. Users can preview the playlist Genius creates, refresh the list to choose different songs and save Genius playlists to enjoy again later.

The new iPod touch also features built-in Nike + iPod support making it an incredible workout companion. Users simply place the optional Nike + iPod sensor ($19 US) in their Nike + shoe to seamlessly connect with the new iPod touch to track miles run or sync with the latest generation gym equipment.

The iPod is the world’s most popular family of digital music players with over 160 million sold. Apple’s incredible new lineup includes the iPod shuffle in four vivid new colors starting at just $49; the iPod classic in one slimline model with 50 percent more capacity for the same great price–120GB of storage for just $249; the fourth generation iPod nano featuring a gorgeous curved metal and curved glass enclosure, in nine vibrant colors starting at $149; and the second generation iPod touch now starting at just $229. iPod owners can choose from a vast ecosystem of accessories with over 5,000 products made specifically for the iPod including speaker systems, fitness accessories, fashionable cases and iPod connectivity available in over 90 percent of new car models sold in the US.

[B]Pricing & Availability[/B]

The new iPod touch is available immediately for a suggested price of $229 (US) for the 8GB model, $299 (US) for the 16GB and $399 (US) for the 32 GB model through the Apple Store ([URL]http://www.apple.com[/URL]), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod touch requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later and iTunes 8; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 8. Existing iPod touch users can update to the latest 2.1 software for just $9.95 to add the new Genius feature. iPod touch owners who already have the 2.0 software get the 2.1 software update for free. Simply download the latest version of iTunes onto your Mac or PC, and purchase the 2.1 software update via iTunes.

SAN FRANCISCO–September 9, 2008–Apple today introduced the new fourth generation iPod nano, the thinnest iPod ever featuring a sleek new design with a curved aluminum and glass enclosure, in nine vibrant colors. The new iPod nano incorporates Apple’s breakthrough Genius technology which automatically creates playlists from songs in your music library that go great together, with just one click. The new iPod nano also features a refined user interface, a high resolution portrait display and a built-in accelerometer which automatically switches to Cover Flow when rotated and automatically goes into Shuffle mode when lightly shaken. The new iPod nano gives users up to 24 hours of music playback or four hours of video playback and is available worldwide immediately in an 8GB model for just $149 and a 16GB model for just $199. Both models come in silver, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, pink, (PRODUCT) RED and black.

“The iPod nano is the world’s most popular music player and we’ve made it even better for this holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think users are going to love the amazing new design, the automatic Genius playlist creation, as well as automatically going into Cover Flow with just a turn of the wrist.”

The new iPod nano–the thinnest iPod ever–features an elegant new design that beautifully blends a brilliant two-inch display with a gorgeous curved aluminum and glass enclosure. The new contoured design fits even more comfortably in your hand.

iPod nano works seamlessly with iTunes so you can import, manage and then easily auto-sync your favorite content. You can buy music, video and games for your iPod nano from the iTunes Store with more than 8.5 million songs available for preview and one-click purchase. With up to 24 hours of music playback or four hours of video playback on a single charge, the new iPod nano is the ultra-portable way to enjoy your favorite music, TV shows, movies and games on the go. The 16GB model holds up to 4,000 songs, 14,000 photos and 16 hours of video, and the 8GB model holds up to 2,000 songs, 7,000 photos and eight hours of video.*

The new iPod nano works with the new iTunes 8 Genius feature, allowing customers to automatically create playlists while on-the-go with their iPod nano. Users can preview the playlist Genius creates, refresh the list to choose different songs and save Genius playlists to enjoy again later.

The iPod is the world’s most popular family of digital music players with over 160 million sold. Apple’s incredible new lineup includes the iPod shuffle in four vivid new colors starting at just $49; the iPod classic in one slimline model with 50 percent more capacity for the same great price–120GB of storage for just $249; the fourth generation iPod nano featuring a gorgeous curved aluminum and curved glass enclosure, in nine vibrant colors starting at $149; and the second generation iPod touch now starting at just $229. iPod owners can choose from a vast ecosystem of accessories with over 5,000 products made specifically for the iPod including speaker systems, fitness accessories, fashionable cases and iPod connectivity available in over 90 percent of new car models sold in the US.

Pricing & Availability

The new iPod nano is available immediately for a suggested price of $149 (US) for the 8GB model and $199 (US) for the 16GB model through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Both capacities come in silver, blue, purple, green, orange, yellow, pink, (PRODUCT) RED and black. iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later and iTunes 8; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later and iTunes 8.

SAN FRANCISCO–September 9, 2008–Apple today announced iTunes 8, the next major release of Apple’s ubiquitous music and video player for Macs and PCs which is seamlessly integrated with the most popular online content store in the world ([URL]http://www.itunes.com[/URL]). iTunes 8 includes the new breakthrough Genius feature, which lets you automatically create playlists from songs in your music library that go great together–with just one click. Genius helps music fans rediscover favorite songs in their existing music library and suggests related music on the iTunes Store they might want to add to their music collection. iTunes 8 features new ways of viewing your music and video libraries, and adds television programs in stunning high definition for sale on the iTunes Store.

Using Apple’s breakthrough Genius feature is easy–select any song, click the Genius button, and iTunes instantly creates a playlist of songs that go great together from your own library. You can preview the playlist Genius creates, refresh the list to choose different songs and save Genius playlists to enjoy again later. You can even create Genius Playlists on-the-go with the new iPod classic, iPod touch, iPod nano and iPhone. The Genius sidebar appears right in iTunes and recommends music from the iTunes Store that you don’t already have, based on the songs you select.

When you turn on iTunes 8’s new Genius feature, information about your music library is anonymously sent to the iTunes Store, where it is combined with the anonymously-gathered knowledge from millions of other iTunes users and processed through Apple-developed algorithms. The Genius results, specifically tailored to your personal music library, are sent back to your computer to enable users to automatically create Genius playlists in iTunes and on your iPods, even when they are not connected to the Internet.

iTunes 8’s new visual browsing interface displays your music and video libraries using your album and video covers, and also provides a great way to navigate your movies, TV shows, iPhone apps, podcasts and audiobooks.

The iTunes Store has become the world’s most popular online TV store and features an incredible selection of over 30,000 episodes from ABC, CBS, The CW, FOX, NBC and over 70 cable networks including Bravo, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, ESPN, FX, HBO, MTV, Nickelodeon, Sci Fi, Showtime and USA. With iTunes 8, television fans can now watch their favorite programs from ABC, NBC and Showtime in stunning HD for just $2.99 per episode, perfect for viewing on their Mac or PC, or on their widescreen TV with Apple TV.

The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of 8.5 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

[B]Pricing & Availability[/B]

iTunes 8 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Store and is available as a free download from [URL]http://www.itunes.com[/URL]. Purchase and download of songs and videos from the iTunes Store requires a valid credit card from a financial institution in the country of purchase. Video availability varies by country.