Sunday, November 29, 2009

Great Things Behind iPod Commercials

Since the advent of the Apple iPod, Apple is continually making iPod commercials as part of their advertising campaign. iPod commercials is another way of marketing their product. Though the Apple iPod has gone a long way in the market, the iPod commercials is a sure way of boosting the sales of the Apple iPod.

In fact, one of the evident effects of iPod commercials to customers is that they just keep noticing them. A user even wrote an article on why Apple does not tell you the music. This is from the HP ipod commercisl.

Another notable one from a list of ipod commercials is the ipod commercial released last Spring of 2005. This ipod commercial depicts people roller skating, break dancing plus a robot voice.

A background song called "Technologic" played by Daft Punk which is from the album "Human After All" is being played on the background. This breakdancing sound was the reason that this one from the iPod commercials was called the Breakdance commercial.

Music played a strong figure in all iPod commercials. In fact, it was the moving force in depicting the emotions or themes that the director aims to express with the iPod commercials. It is synonymous with the role of the Apple iPod in the lives of the user, which is music.

There are other songs that was played in the background in some of the newer iPod commercials. The songs include:

1. "Jerk It Out" by Caesars. This was from the iPod Shuffle commercial, this is the one with the arrows.

2. "Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz. This song was played in the Rollerskating iPod commercial.

3. "Mr. Lee" by The Bobbettes. This song is from one of the iPod commercials called "Mashup."

4. "Work It, Shake It" sung by by DJ Assault. This song is from one of the iPod commercials called "Mashup."

5. "I Love to Polka" sung by Jimmy Sturr. This song is from one of the iPod commercials called "Mashup." 

6. "Orange Blossom Special" was sung live by Charlie Daniels Band. This song is from one of the iPod commercials called "Mashup."  

The ipod commercials were so hip that some even premiered or was shown in the MTV Music Video Awards. The iPod commercials are continuously being aired on other television and cable channels.

There was this iPod commercial where you can see a Cowboy bar that includes square dancers. The background music was as usual very hypnotic. The music was found out to be "The Boogie That Be" which was sung by Black Eyed Peas. If you would search the Internet for this iPod commercial, you would notice that there is no single mention of the commercial or the song used in the iPod commercial.

The reason for this is that the management is cross promoting the HP branded iPod along with the Apple Music Store. It is evident that the goal is not only to promote the iPods but also to sell music. After all, music is the heart of all Apple iPods or even HP branded iPods.

One of the iPod commercials, "Mash Up," had an ad that includes the URL "hp.com/music." But similar to the other iPod commercials, users can not find any other part of the site where they list the songs that was used in the commercial. 

The iPod brands have a habit of burying the iPod commercials on their website, oblivious that the iPod commercials are their ticket to higher sales. The facts are there about iPod commercials fanas only have to search and dig for it. The iPod brands forgot to include put all of these facts in a website that is convenient for viewing by iPod users. Having a website would further promote the iPod commercials that would in turn further increase the sales of their iPods.

The iPod brands should also consider the transfer of iPod commercials to your iPod. DVD to iPod technology is already available from the Internet. One particular DVD to iPod software is the iPod Media Studio.

iPod commercials also belong to the iPod users. The DVD to iPod technology is a feature that every iPod user dreams to be able to do. Unfortunately, iPod brands do not provide this technology feature. The iPOd Media Studio gives these capabilities to the iPods.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

What You Need to Know About iPod Cases

If you’re a music lover and updated on the latest technology, then the ipod is the thing for you. It might be too much for your weekly allowance, but it is worth it. You would be heartbroken if something damaging happens to it. So to keep our ipod safe and sound, the ipod case should be on top of your list.

You do not have to worry about their durability because these ipod cases have been tested since 2001. However, you must not forget the fact that not all companies that manufacture ipod cases are very knowledgeable when it comes to case design.

So this leads us to the conclusion that some ipod cases may leave some parts of your ipod scratched and decolored. Other ipod cases would make your ipod not so user-friendly, for you would almost want to tear your hair out just moving the controls. This makes your ipod unmanageable.

But not to dampen your intention of purchasing an ipod case, lots and lots of ipod cases are sellable. These cases are proved to be worthy of the market because these have undergone various tests and juries.

Ipod cases are reviewed on six main criteria. First, the appearance should be beautiful. The design should be enticing and make you go gaga for that certain ipod case. Second, the quality is considered. Ipod cases should be of good quality before it hits the stores. Third is the ease of use.

These cases should be user-friendly and make it easier for you to manage the controls. Fourth, innovations are improved. The special features of an ipod case should entertain you, at the same time, helpful in your certain condition.

Some ipod cases are in the form of armbands, and this special feature makes the ipod a lot more portable for you. Next, the protectiveness is justified. What’s the use of having an ipod case if it can’t protect? (aside from its being fashionable, that is). Last, but certainly not the least, is its value. The value assigned to a certain ipod case should be proportioned to its quality. If it was built on cheaper material, then it must have a cheaper price. The price of an ipod case should not be contrary to its value.

Most ipod cases sell for more or less $35, but those that are of premium quality cost under $100. There are also multi-hundred and multi-thousand cases that are manufactured by certain fashion houses. There is the ipod 5G case and has five interchangeable colored bungee cords that accentuate the black and gray body, which makes the case look more slick.

This is appropriate for 30GB and 60GB ipods and it has a detachable and sturdy belt clip to go along with the whole package. It is not all about looking good, it protects your ipod quite finely as well. Another most-purchased ipod case is the Neoprene ipod 5G case. It protects your ipod, just like any other ipod case would. Why wouldn’t it? It is made of tough material, which are neoprene and plastic. So expect type-A protection for your ipod.

There are also art-covered plastic cases for your ipod. These make your ipod’s controls more accessible. These are inclusive of lanyard and a rotating RevoClip belt clip. This kind of case design has very usable and artstic features.

Iskin and Griffin, two of the most productive companies that release case designs for ipod cases, sent out a new and unique case design, the ijacket. The ijacket is an ipod case that has a colorful frontwork and a unicolor rear. The ipod cases manufactured by iskin are called Vibes, while those of Griffin are called Chameleons. The main feature of these said cases is their artwork.

Tokidoki is the one responsible for these artistic designs. The cartoony anime designs are very impressive, because most of his designs have metallic paint and are always eye-catching. The ipod cases manufactured by iskin rate a whopping five, out of five. On the other hand, since Griffin cases are more generic-looking, the excitement rate tends to be lower.

These only become advantageous when it comes to the terms of variety of designs. Chameleon cases have twenty-six different designs, that are also attention getters, compared to the eight choices of Vibes.

There are lots of ipod cases to choose from. You only have to choose wisely to get an artistic and attractive case that suits your ipod well. Don’t just buy an ipod case off the rack because you need a case so badly. Ipod cases also reflect your personality, so don’t purchase a design, faute de mieux.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The iPod and the Cool Cases That Go With it

Apple iPod users have always been satisfied with the music experience. Based from a survey online, Apple iPod users love the following features of their iPod:

1. The original iPod have a hard drive space of forty gigabytes. This amount of space made it possible for Apple iPod users to store up to five thousand songs.

2. The original iPod has a "Click Wheel," an ergonomic design for button controls on the iPod. Instead of the usual play, stop, pause, fast forward, and reverse, you can also access the menu with convenience.

3. The original iPod has a battery life that extends up to 12 hours. This time line is from a non-stop usage of the Apple iPod.

4. The original iPod was also built with a design that would make it more convenience for users to set up a playlist of songs. Apple iPod users can also activate the shuffle function and would introduce randomness in listening to music.

The Sexy Apple iPod Mini  

The latest collection on the Apple iPods is the Apple iPod mini. This iPod mini is usually compared to a US$ 1, 200 Chanel bag. This is very true because the Apple iPod mini exudes worldwide class and posh with its variety of iPod case. An iPod case has a variety of five colors.

iPod Case

An iPod case has an anodized frame made of aluminum. Apple iPod mini usually weighs 3.6 ounces. The frame measures 2 inches by 3.6 inches, with only half an inch in thickness. Though it does not look like it because an iPod case is meant to camouflage the real weight. At first glance, it would seem that an iPod case is made of heavy metals, but iPod skins such as that of the Apple iPod mini can be weighed almost as light as a featherweight.

An iPod case is also also silky and smooth to the touch. The frame of an Apple iPod mini fits perfectly inside your palm and an iPod case is meant to give you more comfort while holding your Apple iPod mini. 

To give it a sleek design, an iPod case has no breaks in them, meaning Apple iPod minis have no externally moving parts. Underneath the iPod case, however, is a sensitive circuitry that provides the Apple iPod user convenience in using the Apple iPods.

This sleek design of an iPod case was supported by a highly ergonomic design of the control buttons. A "Click Wheel" is available for the user if he wants to play music, pause, stop, fast forward or reverse. The Click Wheel also provides access to the users for the menu.

The Click Wheel control buttons are located on the pad and matches whatever the color of iPod case is. The Click Wheel buttons is a revolutionary design as compared to the original four function buttons of the previous Apple iPods.

An iPod case is available in various warm minimalist choices of possible colors. Apple iPod users can choose from pink, green, silver, blue and gold.

Other Features of the Apple iPod Mini

The Apple iPod mini was also incorporated with a tiny Hitachi hard drive. This hard drive can hold various music files such as Audible, MP3, WAV, AIFF and AAC.

It is also possible for the iPod to integrate with iTunes. There is a software that enables this integration. After the seamless integration, you would be able to cruise with the tunes.

Battery life is always important for Apple iPod users. The battery life of an iPod mini extends up to 8 hours which is enough to listen to about 5,000 songs.

In addition to the options available when choosing an iPod case, the iPod mini have an array of accessories that includes a USB 2.0 cable, a Firewire dock connector, an AC adaptor, a belt clip, earbuds and the Apple iPod mini installation software. Another accessory available in the market is the armband.

iPod Hacking

Over the years, due to technological advances, techies started to experiment with the iPod vis a vis the cellphones. They started introducing modifications to the iPod case, themes and even use.

These modification were made to provide more power to the user for the customization of their iPods.

To define briefly, iPod hacking is done to introduce changes to the Apple iPod not only in terms of software or hardware but also in appearance. There are many softwares and firmwares available to the Apple iPod user to introduce modifications to their iPod case etc. such as the iPodWizard.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

What You Need to Know About Your iPod's Battery

iPod's battery life is an issue to most iPod users.  Users say that an iPod battery degrades over time and is irreplaceable. Users' contention have certain bearing since (1) the iPod battery is lithium-based, its recharge cycles last roughly around 300 to 500 times and it really does degrade over time, and (2) apple's design of an iPod battery is done in such a way that users cannot easily replace the internal lithium ion battery with a new one.

So, many ask, are iPods made to be a disposable digital audio player.

The answer is no.

Apple designed iPods to last a long time. But since an iPod battery is lithium based, we cannot expect it to last longer than two years. 300 to 500 complete charges and discharges wears down the power of a lithium battery. Apple, nevertheless, published guidelines about iPod battery on its website and gave tips on how to maximize the life of an iPod battery.

An iPod battery cannot be removed or be replaced the way a user does with a digital celfone by just clicking the open button at the back of the unit to remove and replace the battery when it wears down. The iPod battery is integrated in the circuitry.

You will ask now, why did Apple engineered the iPod this way?

Apple integrated its iPod battery with the main circuitry to achieve the ultra thin and ultra sleek design that it boasts. If the iPod battery is removable, the iPods will be as bulky as regular digital celfones.

Previously, Apple does not accept replacement of a worn-out iPod battery. Under their official policy customer should buy a refurbished replacement worth as much as a brand new iPod.

Because of this situation, third-party manufacturers offered battery replacement kits, with instructions on how to disassemble, remove and replace the iPod battery and then reassemble your iPod.

It was only on November 14, 2003 that Apple had announced a cheaper battery replacement program. The battery replacement program which costs $99 had been trimmed down to $59.

Some tips to maximize your iPod battery's power.

Keep your iPod at room temp.

An iPod battery works at its best when the iPod is at room temperature, between 0° to 35° C (or 32° to 95° F).

If your iPod has stayed in the cold for many hours, let it warm up first before turning it on. Otherwise, a low-battery warning will appear and the iPod won't turn on unless you recharge it. But you wouldn't want to recharge it because it will deduct a recharge cycle to its 300 to 500 recharging cycle, right? So use it at room temperature and don't forget it! If after warming up your iPod remains asleep, do this: connect the iPod to the power adapter. Press the Menu + Play or Pause buttons. Do this repeatedly until the Apple logo appears.

* Do not leave your iPod inside a car, especially during at noontime.
* Do not expose your iPod to direct sunlight.

Extra tips

*When charging

An iPod battery can be fast-charged in an hour with eight percent (80) of its capacity. But it would be better if you charge it for four (4) hours fully recharge the iPod battery to 100%. This will save you discharge and recharge cycles by 20% for every recharging.

An iPod battery slowly empties even when the iPod unit is not in use. The iPod uses, even when asleep, a small wattage of current. So, store your iPod in room temperature to maximize the battery and slow down the draining of power. If you do this your iPod batter can last from 16 to 28 days.

Important!

* Empty the iPod battery fully before you recharge it.
* iPod skins and iPod covers look good on your iPod, but please do not charge your iPod while it is still dressed with iPod skin or cover.

When unattended, Press the Pause

Pause your iPod if you will leave it on a table to pee, or do anything else. iPod will continue to play if left playing until the iPod battery drains out. Always turn off your iPod when not in use to save battery life.

Backlighting

When the room is well lit, you do not need backlighting. Backlighting can use use up a lot of your reserved battery power. Turn off backlighting when you do not need it. Select: Settings > Backlight Timer > Off.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The iPod Ad's Silhouetted Success

Apple has sold about 250 million tunes from its iTunes Music Store and 10 million iPods. With the release of updated iPod models, Apple has launched a new iPod ad campaign in different national and international magazines, billboards and in the Internet. The new set of iPod ad features a variety of vibrant colors and design schemes with a black silhouetted figure of a person dancing with or simply enjoying an iPod. Cropped versions of these iPod ads can also be seen in updated Apple iPod web pages.

The new style is very different and colorful compared to the usual simple, white advertising they are popular of in the past. The colorful and silhouetted iPod ad campaign of Apple makes the white iPod earphones very recognizable.

An iPod ad is being run by 3 a mobile operator in the United Kingdom. It is the first ever 3G mobile video ad campaign for the Apple iPod. The iPod ad runs for 14 seconds that features the ever famous silhouetted dancers from the brand's campaign concept.

iPod ad has become very popular indeed that in the Simpsons episode entitled "Thank God, It's Doomsday," Homer Simpson noticed in the Gospel for Less shop this iPod type of ad.

On the other hand, the copying of the idea has gone wild as Apple threatens to sue Music Channel Fuse over their new ad campaign that looks just like the iPod ad campaigns. Music Channel Fuse and its owner Cablevision's Rainbow Media are threatened by Apple's lawyers with a lawsuit unless the music channel stops the campaign.

In the similar campaign, figures of people in silhouette are watching while television with the colorful background. The campaign may mirror iPod ad campaign but Fuse takes the idea to a very different direction with one of their ad versions showed a man apparently masturbating while one showed a man doing a beer bong.

Rapper Eminem and Music group Black Eyed Peas also rode with the sucess of iPod ad campaign's bandwagon, as the former was featured in a version of an iPod ad rapping and appearing on screen.

Also, the latter and their song "Hey Mama" from the album "Elephunk" became more popular after the song was used in another iPod ad campaign. The song was selected for the iPod television ad campaign by Apple and the creative team at TWBA Chiat Day. They thought the song was appealing and would definitely attract the attention of the viewers.

Apple ad is also reported lately to be included within iTunes soon. The testing advertisements are sure to lure advertisers interested in reaching million of iTunes users. But, many users are not excited about this because they have been used to an Apple ad free iTunes. As much as the Apple ad will appear only on the lower left corner of the iTunes Library, this can still prove to be risky.

iPod ad in iPod pages, posters, magazines, and billboards have been popping up all over key cities around the world. This also proves that Apple is aggressive with this new iPod ad push.

As a matter of fact, Business 2.0 has included the U2 silhouette iPod ad campaign in its 2005 Smart List. The annual tip of the hat to the brightest minds in business of this magazine has given their nods to Apple in its unique idea of advertising iPod.

The iPod ad was a collaboration of lead singer Bono of U2 and Apple CEO Steve Jobs. They happen to be long time friends who worked closely for this iPod ad campaign. They both contributed to the ad campaign and their efforts in advertising iPod paid of quite well. At the same time, Apple's iTunes Music Store made the exclusive release of U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

With the success of the iPod campaign, the album also hit the charts for weeks after its debut in November 2005.