Sometimes technical, sometimes not, never a kitty

Not my year for gadgets.  First, my NetGear SC101 suffered a breakdown, and now my cool Logitech Wireless Headphones for iPod have given up their ghost as well.  As soon as the music started playing, the headphones would lose connection with the transmitter.  I could re-pair the headphones and the transmitter, but as soon as the music started, they'd lose their connection again.

E-mailing Logitech support gave me a couple of steps to try, including the reset button and re-pairing, but no fix.  So I'm on the phone with tech support to get an RMA.  I'm going to miss these things until the replacement arrives.

Wifey came through with a seriously cool find this Christmas--I didn't even know these existed:

Logitech Wireless Headphones for iPod

These are Bluetooth-enabled headphones that connect to my iPod with a tiny transmitter.  There are 5 buttons on the right earpiece (play/pause, FF, REW, vol up, vol down).  Both the headphones and transmitter are rechargeable.  The volume buttons are easily distinguished from the FF/REW by small dimples in the buttons, and the play/pause doubles as the power button on the headphones.

So far, I'm really pleased.  These are not the lightest headphones you'll ever wear, and people with melon heads may find them a little tight on the ears (especially if they wear glasses).  The sound quality is surprisingly good--in fact, some of the best I've heard through headphones (not as good as my Etymotic ER-6i earbuds, but that's to be expected).  The Bodeans are crisp and clean, and my classical selections are full-bodied.  The bass response is quite good, without sacraficing treble or suffering distortion.  If I didn’t know these were from Logitech (which I still think of as a mouse company), I’d believe the speaker portions were from an audio company such as Shure or Sony.  The headband goes behind your head, not on the top, so it won’t mess up your big hair.  The headphones/transmitters are paired, so I don’t know if the signal can be shared.  I’m the only one I know with these headphones, so I can’t test it, either.

For me, the best part is the wireless control.  I’m no longer chained to a 4–foot radius in my office.  I can move about freely, and still have control over the songs I listen to with the FF/REW buttons.  It’s kind of Trekkie to press a button on the side of my head when a coworker stops by.  Remember these control an iPod, not iTunes, so if you’re listening at home, you’ll need to use your iPod.  At the end of the day, I just plug in the headphones and transmitter and let them charge overnight.  I’m ready to go the next morning!

I would still recommend the Etymotic ER-6i earbuds for lawnmowing (snowblowing for the next few months) or plane travelling, but Logitech’s Bluetooth headphones are awesome for the office.

<update 2006-01-06>

Here's the transmitter mounted on my iPod.  USB-powered lava lamp not included.

Now playing: Southern Culture On the Skids - House of Bamboo

An article in the WSJ yesterday looked at Microsoft's new focus on hardware with the introduction of the Xbox 360.  Some speculation of a Microsoft MP3 player (which I giuess would technically be a WMA player) was also mentioned, as the quest for an iPod killer continues.

I'm not sure MS should get into the iPod killing biz.  Let Rio, Dell, etc. duke that out, because I doubt a single device will do it.  Apple's hit on something with its design, which appeals to a lot of people.  The other players are different in some areas by necessity--size, capacity, controls, and the appeal is to a smaller crowd not happy with the iPod features.  What Microsoft could/should do, is get all the different manufacturers together, and get everyone to standardize on a single connection.  That's the true key to unseating the iPod.

For the past several generations of iPods, Apple has used the same "dock connector".  Millions upon millions of iPods all connect to computers, car audio systems, FM transmitters, chargers, portable stereos, etc. using the same connection.  For the other players in the market, everyone has a different connector.  My car charger will work with my 15GB 3G iPod just the same as my wife's Nano.  With iPods, reaching a small percentage of users means sales of several hundred thousand to a few million units; for everyone else, a few thousand tops.  If I'm Griffin or Pioneer, I'm pretty much going to ignore everyone but iPods, since that's where the sales are.  But if Rio, Dell, etc. all had the same interface, accessory makers could market to all of them at once, and build the "not iPod" community as well.  BMW has an iPod connector, and Honda and others are working on them as well.  Imagine what that says to people looking at the devices--tremendous support across industries for the iPod, zilch for the others.  I spend a lot of time in my car, and my next one will have an iPod connector.  The others don't stand a chance without standardization.

Microsoft did a great job with hardware standardization in the PC world.  How about the audio player world?  After that, get on the cell phone manufacturers.

Oh how cool is this:

iFill streams mp3 files from thousands of free radio stations directly to your iPod. You can choose several stations at once and select from many different genres. And since iFill goes directly to your iPod, it won't clutter up your hard drive with extra files.

More at http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/ifill/.

This was reviewed in the Wall St. Journal today by Walt Mossberg, who found a problem with Windows PCs, but a new version was released just as the paper went to press.  Full review at http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20051116.html (free site, no subscription required).  As Walt says, provided the Windows version works as well as the MAc version, this is a product to have (cheap, too!).

This year's choice is a little simpler than last year's--you essentially have two models available.  Although Minis and Shuffles can still be found, I'd say don't bother unluess you're really strapped for cash and desparately want an iPod of some flavor.  You can read last year's overview for information on those models.

This year features the miniscule Nano, or the Video iPod (technically, the iPod with Video Playback).  Both are available in either white or black, and in different capacities.

iPod Nano

The Nano has the smaller capacity of the two models available, at 2 GB or 4 GB (the Minis were 4GB).  4 GB is enough capacity to store about 1000 songs.  I have an older model iPod with slightly over 1000 songs, and I've used just about 4 GB.  The music ranges from Elmer Bernstein themes ("Stripes", "Magnificent 7") to symphonies (Copeland's "Appalachain Spring" or Bach's "Brandenburg Concertos") to AC/DC, The Ramones, Jet, Booker T & The MGs, etc.  A pretty good mix of lengths and styles in there.  Count on about 500 songs for the 2 GB version.

Small does not begin to descibe the Nano--it could literally fit in my wallet.  It's as long as a business card, slightly narrower, and as thick as a couple of credit cards stacked on top of each other.  Lightweight and perfect for the gym and work.  It has a dock connector, so all the remotes and accessories that have been around in the least year or so should be compatible; there's even an adapter to make the thing fit accessories like the Bose SoundDock (not a guarantee it will fit every accessory, but should be OK with many).  There are a mountain of accessories such as armbands and clips for the Nanos, so just spend a little time looking for things you (or whomever you're giving it to) would like.

The Nano can also be loaded with photographs--my sister-in-law has hers loaded with workout music and photos of my new nephew that she ogles over while at the gym (she must have incredible eyesight, because the screen is pretty darn small).  The Nanos use flash memory, so there are no moving parts, and the battery life is excellent (rated about 14 hours or so).

iPod with Video Playback

The new iPod with Video Playback is the same width and height as the older models, but is slightly thinner than the previous versions, and considerably thinner than the iPod Photo.  It also sports a larger full color screen, about 2.5" diagonally.  Capacity is 30Gb and 60GB, or roughly 7500 sings or 15,000 songs (unless you are into live Pink Floyd, then you're good for about one "The Wall" and one "Dark Side of the Moon").  In addition to music, you can also store photos and video clips on here.  Not technically rated as a video player yet according to Steve Jobs, videos are selling like crazy through iTunes (about 1 million in four days).  Pixar has some movie shorts available, and there are music videos and the latest episodes of "Desparate Housewives" and "Lost".  I have no information on what other...ahem...genres...of videos are available, but I suspect there are some on their way, if not here already.  This is your better choice if you want to put A LOT of music or photos or videos or some combination of the three.

This isn't your best choice for the gym--even though it's lighter than previous models, it's still pretty heavy, and could pull loose fitting shorts off when running on the treadmill (no that hasn't happened, I'm just saying it could--I have my own treadmill at home where shorts don't matter anyway ;) ).  These are hard drive based, so too much motion could damage the drives.  Battery life is much improved apparently, but I don't have one to torture to say if that's the case.  My older iPod is getting about 6 hours (down from 8), so I would hope that's improved significantly in recent models.

Earphones

I definately recommend the Etymotic ER6i earphones.  The sound is incredible, and they passively block a tremendous amount of background noise.  Some headphones listed as "noise cancelling" do so by feeding a hissing sound directly into your head.  The Etymotics instead use a very soft earpiece that fits into your ear to block sound (similar to the triple-flange earplugs I use when shooting).  The upshot is that you can just stick these in by themselves if you want some peace and quiet, and you won't have to put up with a hissing noise.  I can mow the lawn with the volume turned up only slightly more than normal, which saves my ears after a couple hours of mowing.  Well worth the money, but you won't agree until you try them out, so it's kind of a trust issue to drop an additional $90 on earphones.

Sweet!

With iTunes 4.9 you can now browse, find, sample and subscribe to thousands of free podcasts — radio shows delivered over the Internet to your computer — then sync them to your iPod and listen anytime, anywhere.

Now you can easily find and subscribe to free podcasts from one of the largest directories on the web — the iTunes Podcast Directory. Featuring over 3,000 free podcasts from favorites such as ABC News, Adam Curry, ESPN, KCRW and more, the Podcast Directory puts all the best podcasts in one place. Once you subscribe to a podcast, iTunes automatically checks for updates and downloads new episodes to your computer. When you sync your iPod, all your podcasts come along for the ride. You get on-demand radio, delivered automatically. All from the world’s best digital jukebox.

More at http://www.apple.com/itunes/

According to the settlement's terms, people who fill out a claim form are entitled to receive $50 redeemable toward the purchase of any Apple products or services except iTunes downloads or iTunes gift certificates. They can redeem the voucher within 18 months of final settlement approval at any bricks-and-mortar Apple Store or online.

Consumers who had battery troubles can also get their battery or iPod replaced. Apple currently replaces or repairs defective products that are returned within one year but the class-action settlement extends the warranty to two years, plaintiffs' lawyers said.

Consumers who file a claim must have a receipt.

Read more: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050602/apple_ipod_batteries.html?.v=5

I tried following the link for www.appleipodsettlement.com, but it seems to be a little burdened right now.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.asp

6i isolator earphones are designed specifically for use with the Apple iPod and other small portable players, offering 8 dB higher overall sensitivity and slightly more bass than the ER-6 isolator earphones.

I just received a pair for my birthday...incredible!  I use a similar triple-flange earplug when shooting, and these plugs block a ton of background noise.  This means you can keep the volume at a very low level when listening, so your hearing is preserved.  These are awesome for mowing the lawn--can't hear the lawnmower, and again, the volume can stay low.

The sound quality is very impressive--music is clear and crisp.  It's a little tricky to insert these correctly the first couple of times, but you can tell easily by the sound.  There are aspects of music I hadn't heard before!  For instance, in Tom Petty's “Even the Losers“, there's a small pause between the intro and the main song.  I always thought it was blank space, but there's actually a woman's voice (quietly) shouting “It's just the normal noises in here!“.  No idea that existed.

I don't recommend these if you have co-workers who enjoy sneaking up on you, or if you have to answer the phone a lot.  You simply won't hear what's going on.  Which is great for mowing the lawn, or travelling on a plane.

(originally posted 2004-09-29 on a different blog site)

<update 2005-07-22>

Now that I've been using these earphones for a while, I'm even more impressed.  The soft silicone plug fits my ears very nciely, and blocks a lot of sound.  When mowing the lawn, the lawnmower is a dull hum, and softer sounds aren't even heard.  I can listen to my iPod at slightly above normal volume, and my ears aren't ringing when I'm done (which is usually about 2 hours).  Neighbor's kids screaming in the yard when you want a quiet moment on your deck?  No problem--you won't hear them with these earphones in, either listening to your iPod or not.

I've made several plane flights using these, a few in excess of 5 hours, and it's amazing to get off a plane without that jet engine hum ringing around in your head.  Very pleasant.  A few times I've had to take the plugs out to equilibrate the pressure, but that's no big deal.

On a sweaty day, or after a lot of use, you can build up a little crud on the plugs.  That's easiest to clean off just after you take these earphones out.  Use a dry cotton swab and gently run the tip between the flanges.  Good as new.

IPoding reports on MaP3, which uses Text-to-Speech to convert driving directions into MP3 files.  From Map3's website:

MaP3 will give you the best driving route to take between any two addresses in the United States and Canada. While there are other websites that give driving directions, MaP3 is the only website that gives them to you as spoken directions, delivered in MP3 format to your email inbox! Instead of reading your directions as you drive, you'll be listening to them on your MP3 player or, by burning them to a CD, in your car's stereo deck!

MaP3 provided a sample to IPoding you can listen to.  Definately a cool idea, but you'll need cat-like reflexes to keep up with the spoken directions.

When my neighbors saw me mowing my lawn and listening to my iPod, I usually get asked which version is the best.  I have a feeling iPods are going to be popular Mother's Day and graduation gifts this year.  Anyhow, I ask a few questions about how the device is going to be used and make a recommendation based on that.  This is for my neighbors so I can get the yard done before dark.

(note: updated version at http://www.rjdudley.com/blog/Which+IPod+Is+Best+2005+Edition.aspx).

iPod Shuffle
This is the smallest iPod--roughly the size of a pack of gum--and comes in 512K (approx. 120 songs) and 1GB (approx. 240 songs) versions.  It's miniscule size and small capacity make this version practical only for working out or short commutes, IMHO.  Although 240 songs is enough for a full workday, and either model could store an audiobook or two, you won't have much variety from day to day, and the lack of a display makes choosing a specific song next to impossible.  Rearranging the songs on your device every day or so to provide workday variety kind of defeats the purpose of having a large capacity player, and I think the love of the device will be greatly reduced having to do so.  For a spinning class or even tae-bo session, this is the perfect model.  This model is flash-memory based, so there are no moving parts to damage during a high impact workout.

iPod Mini
For an average music collection, this is the iPod to get.  It's 2 in wide by 3.5 in tall, so it's very compact, and holds 4GB, or roughly 1000 songs.  1000 sings is far in excess of the playlist of any commercial radio station these days.  Because it's so small, this player can easily be used for a low impact workout, and it's larger capacity makes it practical for all-day use at the office and longer commutes.  This model has a display, so you can quickly navigate to the specific song, artist or playlist you want.  A number of audiobooks can fit on here for plane trips or long commutes, and still have room for a day's worth of music.  This player is hard drive based, so it's not a good idea to wear for high-impact workouts, since you could damage the drive platters.

20 GB iPod
If you have a large music collection, or love audiobooks, this is the model to get.  This version holds approx. 5000 songs, so there's plenty of room for large CD collections and audio books.  It's about the size of a deck of cards, so it could still be used while on a treadmill or a spinning class, but just a little large and heavy for other workouts.  Currently, the 20GB is the only original iPod offered--for larger capacities, you'll need to get an iPod Photo.  Although this is tagged as an “original“ iPod, it's actually a fourth generation (4G) iPod, which is the latest version.  There are plenty of other capacities in older versions available which will work just as well as the current version, but I definately don't recommend a used one.

60 GB iPod Photo
The 60 GB version holds approx. 15,000 songs or 25,000 photos (or some combination) and is also available in a 30 GB model (approx. 7500 songs or 25,000 photos, or some combination), although there are still some other capacities of slightly older models available.  The major difference is larger capacity and a color screen on which you can display photos.  Yawn.  If you have an absolutely gigantic audio collection, this is your model for capacity reasons only.  However, if you take a lof of digital photos, you can connect this iPod directly to your camera, and download photos right onto the device.  Very handy if you need a lot of storage when away from your computer.  The tiny screen is very sharp, but you're still looking at photos on something the size of a matchbook.  You can hook it up to a TV and show your vacation photos to your friends, but that's so last century--real men photoblog.  There is a rumor of a video-compatible iPod with Tivo-like capabilities.  If you want to watch stuff on your iPod, wait for that version.  There is a very good chance that the 60 GB model has a larger hard drive than your computer, so you'll be unable to store your complete music or photo collection on your computer, which is where you need to put it in order to get the stuff onto your iPod.  Even the 30 GB model probably exceeds the free space on your hard drive.  Unless you absolutely need the photo capabilities or larger capacity, I think th 20 GB original (above) is your better option.

No matter what version you buy, I definately recommend a protective case of some sort.  You're about to drop at least a couple hundred bucks, and you don't want butterfingers to destroy that purchase.