Appletell

FROM GAMERTELL - Square Enix’s Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes is an admirable strategic RPG for iPods. While it does have frequent loading periods and is a battery hog, it is also an engaging game that is perfectly suited for the device.
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Gadget Wrap—distributor of the KeySkin keyboard cover for MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Apple aluminum wired and wireless keyboards—has announced the release of the Nano Case Value Pak, the next product in its new line of high quality product offerings.

Designed for today’s busy, the Nano Case Value Pak is constructed from durable silicone to provide protection and a tailor-made fit. In addition to a silicone case, each Nano Case Value Pak comes complete with a custom armband, belt clip, neck lanyard, screen protector, and fashionable matching ear caps, and is available in white, pink, blue, black, and black with white accents.

Priced at $29.99 USD, the Gadget Wrap Nano Case Value Pak is available directly from the Gadget Wrap website.

Product [Nano Case Value Pak]

Samson Wireless has announced their StudioDock 3i speaker system. This product gives you the ability to play your music from anywhere. You can use the built in dock for your iPod, a 3.5mm auxiliary input jack for almost any other MP3 player, a USB port for your computer, or even RCA input . The description reads that “...you get extremely high quality audio from one convenient, incredible sounding set of desktop monitors.”

This speaker system has two speakers on the front, a 3.25-inch, copolymer woofer and a 1.25 inch, silk dome tweeter. It also features a low diffraction wave guide on the front, as well as a volume control and a LED power indicator. These speakers bring a nice set of features and offer many different connection types, and I’m sure they will provide a nice music experience. These speakers are available now for a slim $150.

Product [StudioDock 3i iPod Speakers]

Yes, and it’s about time we put it out of its misery. Even before the iPhone, the iPod never stood a chance as a legitimate gaming device. This saddens me somewhat, too, because I really wanted it to be. I viewed gaming on the iPod much as I do on my Macintosh, in that I didn’t buy a Mac to play games, but if there are games available, I’ll certainly play them. Unfortunately, developers just never put much thought into iPod games, and Apple didn’t seem interested in helping out.

Find out what went wrong—and what’s starting to look right—after the break.

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FROM GAMERTELL - Square Enix has released its first iPod compatible game, Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes. Players will be able to transform their iPods into their very own handheld gaming system by creating soldiers called “Tune Troopers” to battle the Mechanoids and enhance their abilities determined by ...
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Proporta has released a new product they are calling the Playback Pack.  This case is made from strong polycarbonate plastic to help protect your iPod from everyday scratches and knocks. On top of this, it also allows access for all the ports and controls. However, what is more interesting about it is that it can double as a stand. Using the “iconic tape cassette case design,” your iPod can be propped up for easier viewing and use when you’re not on the go. The stand aspect looks a lot nicer than the case, in my opinion.

There are two versions of this case: one for third gen iPod nanos and one for the iPod classic. They each come in at $28.95, and include a pair of headphones as well as a free Stereo Y Splitter Cable.  If you’re interested, you can head on over to the product pages linked below to find a gallery of images available for the products. It’s good to see that at least one company hasn’t forgotten about the iPod, and has made a product for them instead of the iPhone 3G.

Products [iPod Classic Playback Pack, iPod Nano Playback Pack]

The iPod Death Clock gives you an unaccurate guess as to when your iPod will die. I’ve had two iPods die in my iPod career, and would’ve found it handy to have an idea when to take mine in for repair before it was too late.

One gruesome story after the break.

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Got a dead iPod? Live in New York City? Call the iPod Doctor!

The iPod Doctor, a.k.a. Demetrios Leontaris, is a freelance tech guy who spends his days fixing the woes of iPod users throughout the city. If you have an issue with your ‘Pod that won’t be fixed under warranty by Apple, just call up Demetrios, and worry no more.  Faster than a New York minute, he can have your faulty headphone jack swapped out for a fully functional one, and you will be hearing your tunes on all channels again. 

As a full time job, the iPod Doctor drives around the city making house calls to the owners of dead and dying iPods. The self-taught repairman has converted his Pontiac Aztec into his mobile iPod Hospital, and keeps it stocked with all the necessary parts—some purchased from China, and others salvaged from old iPods—to fix an iPod. With with repairs coming in at $70 for a headphone jack replacement, things aren’t always cheap, but hey, this is how he makes a living. And, with 80% of the needed repairs done on the spot, you won’t have to wait very long at all to get back to your own personal jam session.

Via [Arstechnica]

JVC officially has a fix for those needing to charge two iPods or iPhone at once but have only one free outlet: the NX-PN7. This speaker system features 15 watts of power, a clock, and an AM/FM Tuner. This is also JVC’s first product made specifically for the iPod or iPhone.

Switching between the devices is easy, and users can color code an LED strip to change to a specified color when their device is plugged in, preventing mix ups with similar iPods and iPhones. The built-in alarm clock can be set to wake you up to either the radio or one of the connected devices, making sure you wake up on time. The system will also save space, as it comes in at just under one foot in width. Also included are an output to TV and an Apple-esque remote.

The NX-PN7 is shipping now for $150 and is available on the JVC website.

Via [iPodNN]

One thing is for sure; in the world of integrated iPod and iPhone systems, the one currently in Mercedes-Benz cars isn’t much. The biggest issue with the current system is that the only person who can (safely) operate the iPod once it has been plugged in is the driver. I know from experience that things can get pretty hairy when the passenger reaches to change the song, as controls are located conveniently on the left side of the steering wheel. But, with the newest version of the iPod and media integration kit, Mercedes hopes to remedy that. Controls will finally be integrated into the COMAND nav/multimedia system, creating a much safer control area. And, if just software isn’t enough for you, Mercedes has also announced their new iPhone and iPod cradle, which charges your device, along with support for hands-free calling should your device of choice happen to be an iPhone. Information from your phone, such as contacts, will also be accessible with the cradle.

The new software will cost you $60, while the cradle (currently only available in Germany, coming soon for the rest of us) will come in at $385.

Via [Engadget] Product [Mercedes-Benz Multimedia Integration System]