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The Australian distributors of the Archos range of products are charging up to $800 more for the same product than US retailers. Investigations by SmartHouse reveal that it is cheaper to buy the Archos video players from Amazon.com and pay the $25.00 shipping fee than pay the recommended retail for the product in Australia.
iTech International, the distributors of the Archos personal video player, appear to have lost interest in the brand in Australia. In what appears to be a one man band operation, iTech for nearly a week have been uncontactable. Calls to the company are not returned and information on their website is up to 4 years old.
The good old USA, that country they call the land of the free is now considering locking you up if you dare to nick a music track or a piece of software without the express permission of the owner.
Details of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2007, will criminalise "attempting" to infringe copyright.
The surge in the use of iPods and other MP3 players, supported by persuasive advertising slogans such as "live life loud," is leading to a hearing loss epidemic, according to new research from the USA.
Research data from the Hollins Communications Research Institute suggests Americans are resisting warnings from audiologists to turn down the volume on their players.
"With nearly 150 million personal music players on the market - and sales continuing to climb, hearing loss will become as prolific as these devices. iPod users are ignoring warnings that loud and prolonged exposure will give them permanent hearing damage," says Hollins Exeutive Director, Dr. Ronald Webster.
A New York State Senator is proposing fines for pedestrians who cross the street listening to an iPod or mobile phone or even using a portable gaming device in an attempt to minimise pedestrian accidents.
Brooklyn senator Carl Kruger says three pedestrians in his area have been killed in the last six months after they stepped out into traffic listening to either their music player or chatting on the phone.
The iPod video seems to have been a dismal failure as a video player with consumers buying the large screen iPod to listen to music.
The iPod video seems to have been a dismal failure as a video player with consumers buying the large screen iPod to listen to music.
Following a major study in the USA during October Nielsen, Research came to the conclusion that owners of Apple's Video iPod spend far more time on it listening to music or audio podcasts than they do using it to watch TV or movies.
In a move that could have serious ramifications Microsoft has taken that view that most consumers will breach music copyright when they buy a new Zune player, so they have decided to compensate for it.
Microsoft has agreed to pay Universal Music Group a royalty on every Zune media player sold as compensation for pirated music used on the devices, a decision which will have wide ramifications throughout the digital music industry. This royalty would be in addition to a percentage on every track by Universal artists sold through the online Zune Marketplace. Microsoft is apparently ready to extend similar royalty arrangements on Zune sales to other music distributors in a move that could push up the price of players.
Apple reported last month that a small number (less than 1 percent) of Video iPods purchased after September 12 2006, were released with a virus called Rajump on them. In Symantec's latest security update, consumers are warned to be cautious when connecting unknown media devices, such as iPods to computers since this has come to light.
The iPod virus, was traced back to a computer that was used to test the devices during the manufacturing process. Symantec cited similar instances with other MP3 player manufacturers, such as Creative's Zen Neeon player being shipped with a variant of the Wullik worm last year, and the virus problem with MP3 players given away in a promotion by McDonalds Japan earlier this year.
According to Bill Gates local newspaper the Seattle Times, Microsoft is indeed developing a digital-media player to compete with Apple's iPod, but there's much more to the story they claim.
While a few details trickled out last week from music companies that Microsoft is lining up to support the device. Microsoft isn't commenting, but the Seattle Times were able to piece together a broader picture with some research, reporting and information from a source close to the project. What's being developed is actually a complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products, including a device that plays media, a software media player and an online media service.
COMMENT: Oh dear everyone is up in arms about the new Sony Ad for a white PSP. And oh dear it's getting bucket loads of publicity for Sony around the world from TV to radio to magazines and web sites and guess what - it isn't costing Sony a cent.
Sony has achieved what it set out to achieve, low cost cut through in a cluttered market with a controversial ad campaign that pitches black vs. white for its new white PSP. Sony knew what they were doing and no one does gorilla marketing better than the Brit marketing agencies similar to the one Sony engaged for this campaign.
French lawmakers have finally given approval to government-backed legislation that could force Apple to make the company's iPod and iTunes Music Store compatible with rivals' offerings.
The vote, which was the last legislative step before the bill becomes law, will also affect Sony's Connect music download service in France.
If passed, some analysts believe the new law may cause Apple to close its iTunes France download store and pull the iPod from the country's shelves instead of agreeing to open up its service to its competitors.
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