Easy Ipod Blog

Apple’s iPod is the leading US brand along with Google, eBay, Amazon.com and Yahoo!, according to a new survey in which internet and technology brands dominated. Conducted by branding and design consultancy firm Landor Associates and research firm Penn, Schoen & Berland, the US national survey examined Americans’ attitude toward some of the top brands that made headlines in 2005. The 2005 ImagePower Newsmaker Brands Survey identified the high-profile brands in consumer’s minds as well as which brands suffered, and what Americans think their future holds for 2006. The results, from a mid-December survey, found that the release of the Shuffle, Nano and iPod video in 2005 combined with effective branding efforts of the company helped Apple continue its domination of the MP3 market with the iPod.

Stuff Magazine has this to say about the ipod Nano.

“2005 was the year that digital music went properly mainstream, with download sales eclipsing CD singles and MP3 players becoming the year’s must-have gadget following 2004’s iPod-white Christmas. While rivals played catch-up, Apple stole the budget market with the Shuffle, offering a gigabyte of music for less than £100 and illustrating the awesome power of the Apple marketing machine: who’d have believed we could be conviced that the lack of an LCD display was a unique selling point?

The highs Creative and Sony battled hard to match Apple’s sheer brilliance. After the Shuffle, the iPod family spawned the sexiest player ever (the solid-state, wafer-thin Nano) and the video-playing iPod. But the arrival of Microsoft’s latest Windows Media technology gave the iPod’s rivals a new killer feature – the ability to store songs downloaded from music rental services like Napster To Go.”

Apple insider is reporting that Apple have been shipping 100,000 iPod Nano’s a day over the Christmas period.

Rumours are flying around that Apple are seriously considering releasing a 1GB version of the Nano following the success of the the Nano. If the 1GB Nano did come out it would be expected to retail at around the £99 mark.

There is also talk that Apple will be releasing a new ipod Shuffle at the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco. The likely hood is that a new shuffle will be released with a few new functions a maybe a better retails price of around £50. Keep checking back for updates as we get them.

With Amazon’s Electronic section being dominated by iPods, Amazon.com has stated that it has been its busiest Christmas shopping season ever. The online retailer said the black 4GB iPod nano, the black 30GB video iPod and the 512MB iPod shuffle were the top three best-selling electronics products. Amazon also said more than 108 million items were ordered for the christmas season, noting that its busiest day was December 12th, when 3.6 million items, or 41 items per second, were ordered.

Amazing just goes to show the ipod is still going from Strength to strength we feel here that the ipod will double again in sales during 2006. With rumours of a new ipod Shuffle and an updated ipod Video (Already!!) things in the ipod camp just get stronger. With the introduction of various new ipod video services throughout 2006 we feel this will be the strongest selling product.

Below is the Press release from iskin on their New iskin Evo3 which will work with the ipod Video. From the images this looks like an excellent case and could give iskin a much need boost back to number 1 spot in the Silicon market. We will review this product as soon as we get samples.

Keep It Real! Watch Videos & Listen To Music In Style with iSkin’s eVo 3
The eVo 3 is proof of eVolution in iPod protection, Blending Form and Functionality to Protect Apple’s iPod with Video from Bumps, Scratches and Moisture.

TORONTO, CANADA—December 08, 2005—iSkin, Inc., a leading provider of stylish portable electronic and iPod accessories, today announced the availability of the iSkin eVo3, the latest evolution of iSkin’s unique silicone protectors—designed specifically for the new Apple iPod with Video. The iSkin eVo3 protects the iPod with Video and enhances the aesthetic beauty of the device while maintaining complete functionality and control access.

Beautifully precision crafted from 100% pure high-grade silicone, the iSkin eVo3 snugly guards the iPod with Video from scratches, bumps and moisture while featuring an all-new, ultra-clear, scratch resistant face and screen protector (VISOR™ - Visually Intact Solid Optical Resin™) that has been perfectly integrated seamlessly into eVo3’s solid and seamless design. The iSkin eVo3 offers moisture-resistance, shock-absorbing capabilities, security and a micro-textured body that provides an anti-slip gripping surface.

In order to support the active lifestyles of iPod enthusiasts, the iSkin eVo3 comes standard with a removable rotary belt clip (RevoClip 2™) that allows users to position their iPod with Video in a number of different ways, ensuring maximum access and comfort when worn. Finally, the iSkin eVo3’s rear heat release pores keeps the iPod with Video cool during hard disk mode or watching your favorite Video.

The iSkin eVo3 is available in a variety of colors and retails for $34.99 USD. Additional information about the iSkin eVo3 and about iSkin, Inc. is available at www.iskin.com.
About iSkin

iSkin Inc. introduced its first iSkin iPod protector in September 2002, creating a new and fashionable way to protect the iPod without sacrificing the functionality and aesthetics of the device. Today, iSkin is highly favored among iPod owners. With a growing line of innovative protective solutions for the iPod, PowerBook and other Apple products, iSkin is committed to delivering the best protection using the most advanced technology available. For more information about iSkin, visit www.iSkin.com

Core has recently released a very stylish two-piece aluminum iPod nano case available in multiple colors, with integrated clear screen protection and a great detachable belt clip that requires no thickness-adding nub when removed. These cases are very good looking and offer a very thin layer while strong layer of protection for your ipod Nano.

The cases come in four colors (black, silver, pink and Orange). The case is made up of three pieces: a front shell, a rear shell, and a belt clip. The shell is padded with a thin layer of black foam that will help prevent any internal iPod scratches and holding the nano in place even when the case has been opened. You pop your nano into the back half, slide it inside the front half, and attach the clip if you want it. On the back of the case is an Aligator belt clip that easily detaches so can be used easily as required. This sliding mechanism is very user friendly and eliminates the need for extra space required by a hinge, this makes the case impressively narrower than others we’ve seen. The metal case is very thin and this allows it to be very thin and not add much size to the Nano. Although it is thin it still gives a high level of protection.

This is one of the best Metal cases on the Market for the ipod Nano and we give this an A rating

Speck Products has this week introduced the iKitty for the iPod nano, a new version of its rubberized cat case. The iKitty has four legs, with the nano’s click wheel and screen on the toy’s belly. It has a bendable tail, screen protector, and access to the dock connector, headphone jack and hold switch. The iKitty for iPod nano sells for £28 and will begin shipping in the UK in around 3-4 weeks. I feel this could be a great novelty case that will sell a lots if the iguy is anything to go by. I do not think people will use this as their main ipod Nano case but it does have an appeal to a lot of people as a secondary case. Maybe we will get ikitty photo blogs similar to the iguy ones!!!

Moshi has just released a new iPouch aimed at the ipod Video Market (iPouch). The design features a drawstring closure and an outside pouch to store earphones. They have a number of colours Black, Blue, Pink and White.

They are made of “Terahedron” and they say, “Its micron-sized filaments in the inner layer construction is designed to remove smears and fingerprints with its in-situClean ™ high purity interlaced strands.” It sounds a lot like microfiber, which is a pretty amazing fabric if you haven’t seen it. The best thing is they have iPod scratch test results posted on the product pages of these bags. These are available immediately in the UK and have an RRP of £19.99 although you should be able to find this cheaper online. We feel this is an amazing pouch with some of the softest material we have ever seen. This is definately a case that we would recommend for your ipod video. Currently this is the case that I have on my ipod Video until the nice leather cases are released.

Score B+

Apple filed its annual report (SEC form 10-K) filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission and what a year its been for iPod sales.

Net sales of iPods rose $3.2 billion, or 248 percent, during 2005 compared to 2004. The company said it sold 22.5 million iPods in fiscal 2005, an increase of 409 percent from the 4.4 million iPod sold in 2004. Apple has now shipped more than 30 million iPods since the device’s introduction four years ago.

“Strong sales of iPods during 2005 continued to be experienced in all of the company’s operating segments and was driven by strong demand for the iPod shuffle introduced in January 2005, the release of an updated version of the iPod mini in February 2005, the release of the iPod nano in September 2005, and expansion of the iPod’s distribution network,” Apple said in the filing.

Apple said that net sales of other music related products and services, which consists of sales associated with the iTunes Music Store and iPod accessories, increased $621 million, or 223 percent, compared to last year.

“The company has experienced strong growth in sales of iPod services and accessories consistent with the increase in overall iPod unit sales for 2005,” Apple said. “The increased sales from the iTunes Music Store is primarily due to substantial growth of net sales in the U.S. and expansion in Europe, Canada, and Japan.”

Amazing sales really I think the iPod will be even bigger in 2006 once the iPod video really comes into its own. I’m really looking forward to being able to download TV shows in the UK I think this will over time be huge.

I have found while trawling the net an excellent site that allows you to download ipod and psp videos in the correct format for your player. Best of all they seem to be free at the moment. Ive not used them yet but it any readers have used the site let us know how easy they are to use.

Free Videos