HiFi Geek

ACCESSORIES FOR THE iPod

A wide variety of accessories have been launched for the bipods ex. the sound recorders, FM radio tuners, wired remote controls and the audio/video cables for TV connections, external speakers, wireless remote controls, protective cases/films, wireless earphones etc etc as the list is too tall. The manufacturers of these were the Griffin Technology, Belk in, JBL, Bose, Monster Cable, and Send Station.

REVISED MODELS OF THE iPod

The revised models of the iPods are given the term “generation”. Apple gives only the newest generations of each of the iPods. Each new generation is smaller, lighter and has some or the other new features than the previous one and has the same price than the older

Model, most of the time.

LEGAL ISSUES

In 2005, the company was filed two lawsuits for they had patent infringement by the iPod line and its associated technologies. One was from the Advance Audio Devices who claimed that iPod line breached its patent from a “music jukebox” while the other, IP Portfolio Company called Pat-rights claimed that Apple’s fairplay technology breached a patent of the Ho Keung Tse including the online music stores of Sony, Real Networks, Napster and Music match as defendants.

Next was that their application to the US Patent and Trademark was rejected for a patent on rotational user inputs.

Apple’s rival in the MP3 players, Creative Technology claimed that the company was holding a patent on part of the music selection used by the ipod line which the rivals had

dubbed as Zen Patent. Also another case was filed against Apple by this company that

Apple was breaching the US laws by importing iPods into US.

Its battery life is limited to 8 hours whereas their advertisement say that it reaches upto 14 hours. It was filed a case for shorter life of the battery and degradation over time which were settled when Apple offered free replacements. The iPods cannot be opened for changing the battery and hence, the people who complained were given new ones of the same rate.

They have even been criticized for the short life of their hard drives…

Also the screen of the first generation iPod Nano had become unusable as they can be stretched easily.

There were also allegations of over exploitation of the workers which came out to be true for many workers as they worked 60 hours a week for 35% of their time, more than six consecutive days of 25% of their time.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS

Apple ipods have won many awards for engineering excellence, innovative audio product, best computer product of 2006, respected entertainment device and good reviews for its looks, design and ease of usage. It is also being use as a business device by many international firms. And are used in education too, as Apple offers a collection of lesson plans, academic research in nursing education and K-16 education,