iPod Stuff | Toys for Canadian iPod Lovers

It was suggested in 2003 that a $25 tax would be added onto purchases of iPods and other hard-drive based mp3 players. But, now, the Supreme Court in Canada has ruled not to hear a case involving extra taxes for iPods and other mp3 players, which basically means that any so-called iPod Tax will not surface, at least in the near future.

At issue was a long-standing law that allows a regulatory agency to collect a small extra fee on blank media such as CDs and tapes, with the revenues going to artists and record labels to recompense them for the private copies being made of their work.

That agency, the Copyright Board of Canada, said in late 2003 that iPods and other hard-drive players were being used to copy music as well, and imposed a fee of up to $25 on the devices. An Appeals Court set aside that decision last year, and Thursday’s Supreme Court action will leave iPods untaxed.

You can read the full article here:
http://news.com.com/No+iPod+tax+for+Canada/2100-1041_3-5809117.html

The Unofficial Apple Weblog has commented on rumors that Apple will be releasing a 2GB version of their iPod Mini that uses flash-based storage.

To tell you the truth, it all sounds pretty dubious to me. Aside from the fact that it’s mostly guesswork, why would Apple move to a flash-based iPod mini? Isn’t it the shuffle’s role to go after the flash-based music player market? Apple typically keeps very distinct lines between products, and as such I don’t see a “merging” of the hard drive players and flash players. Mr. Wu suggests that Apple would be producing a 2GB flash-based mini. Does that mean the 4GB and 6GB models would remain intact as hard drive-based devices? That’s only going to confuse consumers. If the shuffle were selling poorly or not making the inroads Apple had hoped, maybe the mini could be moved over to “help out,” but I even doubt that.

Are the rumors true? I guess we’ll find out in a few months, but until then, us iPod fans are left to wonder and speculate.

Full article here:
http://www.tuaw.com/2005/07/27/flash-based-ipod-minis/

Dr. Victor Aziz, a Welsh psychiatrist, is claiming that people can experience “musical hallucinations” from listening to music on their iPod. These hallucinations involve having a song constantly playing in ones head and can cause sleeping disorders in those that have them, apparently.

Dr Aziz first came across the phenomenon seven years ago when a heart bypass patient named Reginald King was referred to him.

King said that he began hearing pop songs and classical music and has done so every day since. Often one song runs into another rather like listening to tracks on a sound system. Dr Aziz called the experience “musical hallucinations “.

Full story here:
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2140422/ipod-help-produce-musical

Looks like Apple will be releasing an iPod capable of playing video in the near-future:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8614723/

Apple Computer recently held discussions with major recording companies, seeking to license music videos to sell through the company’s iTunes Music Store, according to a report in Monday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal.

The talks are a possible prelude to a version of Apple’s hit iPod music player that plays video — a version of the gadget that the Journal says the Cupertino, Calif., computer and electronics company has told some entertainment-industry executives could be unveiled by September.

The videos, which could go on sale as early as September, would likely cost $1.99 each on iTunes according to the newspaper, with the possibility of a discount if consumers buy a music video and a song at the same time.