Do you have an iPod that is unresponsive? Occasionally an iPod may freeze or fail to respond to your commands. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot this.
Here’s an email from a MethodShop.com reader about an unresponsive iPod:
“I’m using a 40GB click-wheel iPod in Windows 2k. It is unable to fully boot up. When I turn it on, the Apple symbol comes up and the hard drive sounds like it begins to spin, and then it stops. Occasionally it gets to the folder w/exclamation point screen and then the hard drives stops and then starts again, going back to the apple screen. The iPod update application either doesn’t detect the iPod or it freezes my whole computer. I have tried resetting, and since Windows/iPod update don’t detect it, I can’t restore either (even in disk mode). I have been unable to get the disk scan working.” ~ dan
You most likely dropped your iPod or hit it pretty hard. This happened to a friend of mine (Bill) when he threw his backpack on the floor. His iPod was inside the backpack and the jolt from hitting the floor physically damaged the iPod’s hard drive.
Unfortunately, if your hard drive is physically damaged, there’s only one way to fix it – get it replaced. If your iPod is still under warranty or you purchased extended AppleCare for your iPod, then have Apple replace or repair your iPod. If your iPod is out of warranty, there are several third-party companies that can fix your iPod like these guys.
But before going through the hassle and cost of sending your iPod off to be repaired, try these free iPod troubleshooting tips first. Good luck!
BeSocial: methodshopContinue Reading
SanDisk is helping in the fight against Alzheimer’s with a specially branded USB drive and SD card. Look for the color purple which represents “Take Action Against Alzheimer’s”
SanDisk will contribute $1 for each unit sold to the Alzheimer’s Association. The products available are 2GB capacity and carry the same price tag as the regular branded drives.
SanDisk commemorative Fight For The Cause products are now available at SanDisk.com, Best Buy and other participating retailers.
SanDisk would also like to note September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day, and you can join millions of others in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. If you’d like to make on-line contribution today to Alzheimer’s Association, your donation will help turn $1 million into $2 million. If the Association reaches the goal of $1 million, the Harrah’s Foundation will match it — dollar for dollar. Help make a million dollar difference. Make a pledge today to FUND THE CAUSE.
To learn more about SanDisk’s fight against Alzheimer’s please visit SanDisk/alz/Continue Reading
Tin Man didn’t make the IXOS Speaker System but he would appreciate it. With 1 inch speakers driving 2W of power the end cap speakers perform surprising well, according to Crave UK.
These sort of speakers often boast convenient size over quality of performance, but the IXOS worked surprisingly well, and live material sounded particularly good. There’s a fair amount of definition in the mids and highs, and although not bursting with power, the lows were clear and well pronounced.
The only gripe we have is the slightly disappointing silver finish of the speakers’ stand and iPod docking mount–it adds a look of cheapness that the system doesn’t deserve.
Run the IXOS iPod Speakers from four AAA batteries, from a USB cable or included AC adapter. Unfortunately the USB cable is for power only and provides no sync ability with the iPod. A line-in connection is available for none iPod folks and supports all the new models as well.
Forget the laptop, load the flash drive with your slide show. Using the new Toshiba DLP projector (TDP-EX20U) display 60 inches of visual goodness directly from your USB drive.
Get up close and personal with those 60 inches at just 2 feet, although wear sunglass as the Toshiba projector with USB has 2,300 lumens and an awesome 2,000:1 contrast ratio.
If you missplaced your flash drive, say dropped it in the water, then connect to the DLP projector via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The TDP-EX20U is a cool $1,600.
Source: ElectronistaContinue Reading
So Lilli is the four legged webcam and Oscar is the 4 port USB hub. Lilli keeps an eye on Oscar with a 1.3 Mega Pixel lens.
Don’t let the bright color fool you, these USB gadgets are really green. Created by United Pepper of the UK, the internal components are RoHS environmental friendly and constructed in a fair-trade workshop in Vietnam (aren’t they all tagged that way?). In the spirit of true Green, Lillie and Oscar come packaged in 100% recycled cardboard.
Due out in October for the Christmas USB gadget rush, the USB octopus webcam runs about $41 and 4 port USB hub $27.
Source: UberGizmoContinue Reading
Press Release – BURNABY, B.C. September 13, 2007 – Icron Technologies Corporation (TSX Venture: IT), the developers of ExtremeUSB® today announced that it has been issued a patent from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for enhancements to its ExtremeUSB technology for high-speed USB 2.0 implementations.
This patent, titled “Method and apparatus for extending the range of the universal serial bus protocolâ€, builds upon earlier patents covering USB 1.1 range extension. The invention described in the patent enables long-range or increased latency communication between high-speed (480 Mb/s) host controllers and full-speed (12 Mb/s) peripherals. It also provides support for the high-bandwidth peripherals that were introduced by the USB 2.0 specification. The issuance of this patent is the third of a series of applications filed through the Patent Corporation Treaty in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom patent was issued in December 2005 and the US patent was issued in January of 2007.
Icron’s ExtremeUSB 2.0 technology allows manufacturers of PC’s, peripherals, and consumer electronics to extend the range that USB 2.0 devices can operate over UTP cable, fiber optics, power line or any wireless media at any distance without making any changes to the USB ecosystem. This ensures that users will have a “plug and play†experience right out of the box, requiring no additional drivers, host controller changes, or user configurations. It supports all USB supported operating systems including Windows, MAC OS, Linux, Unix and Solaris.
“As Icron continues to evolve our ExtremeUSB technology and implement it over more and more platforms, we will continue to expand out patent portfolio to protect our intellectual property in the USB technology space.â€
commented Robert Eisses, President and CEO for Icron. USB 2.0 continues to be the most recognized and successful interface for device connectivity in the PC, CE and mobile device market. Icron continues its leadership in the USB 2.0 market with the receipt of this patent and expansion of its USB 2.0 extension product line including new long distance wired, USB over Power Line and wireless USB solutions.
About Icron Technologies Corporation
Icron Technologies Corporation’s patented ExtremeUSB® technology extends the range of USB in wired environments and enables wireless USB over any RF technology. ExtremeUSB is the only USB-IF compliant extension solution and is deployed globally in a wide range of applications including: industrial automation, medical device, aerospace, KVM and computer networking. ExtremeUSB technology is available in a variety of formats including technology licenses, OEM modules, developer kits, as well as branded and private-label products.
Icron is a publicly traded corporation and trades under the symbol “IT” on the TSX Venture Exchange. For more information on the company and its products, please visit www.icron.com.
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Contact Information
Icron Media Contact
Brigitta Shore Phone: +1 604-729-9479
brigitta.shore@icron.com Continue Reading
The Microsoft Memory Mouse 8000 is the latest peripheral release from Microsoft. Although I don’t think most seek out new technology for this peripheral, if the time is right, check this out.
The Microsoft Memory Mouse 8000 is a wireless unit with a USB dongle for communication and in the effort of saving space, Microsoft packed in 1GB of memory. You can freely take the dongle to other computers and use it as a regular USB mass storage device.
I’ve read a couple reviews and consensus is a solid unit, good design and works great with both Mac OS X, Vista and XP. So feel comfortable dropping the $99 for a 1GB USB mouse.Some other notable features include:
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If you were watching any of the American football games this past Sunday, then you probably saw the new 3rd generation iPod Nano commercial. The ad features the upbeat and catchy song “1234” by Canadian singer/songwriter Leslie Feist.
Here are the lyrics to “1234” used in the iPod Nano ad:
One Two Three Four
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless long nights
That is what my youth was for
Old teenage hopes are alive at your door
Left you with nothing but they want some more
Oh, you’re changing your heart
Oh, You know who you are
Happy Halloween with the USB FeverUSB Halloween decoration kit. There is no better way to dress up the kids computer during the Halloween season. After all, it wont scare many adults.
If Bob Barker where promoting this, he’d say:
“…featuring over half-a-dozen Halloween lights, green leaf cable, party hat, festive mouse pad and lovely screen saver – all this for just $18.99…
Talk about awkward. The first time I played Guitar Hero I felt like a fool – well, for about 15 seconds, then I feel in love. If you haven’t tried it – play it – and oh how Guitar Hero has grown. One of the most popular video games on the market the Guitar Hero franchise is now stretching out to Rock Band. And if you haven’t heard of Rock Band, this will explain the Guitar Hero sporting a 4 port USB hub.
Rock Band is an unreleased music video game being developed by Harmonix Music, the creators of Guitar Hero. The idea is expanding the air guitar concept of Guitar Hero to a full rock band. Rock Band will offer players the ability to function in a virtual band by providing up to four players with the ability to utilize four different instruments (guitar, bass guitar, drum set and microphone).
The 4 port USB hub gives the ability for these players to sync together in the off-line, or same room, player setting. Although Rock Band will include an on-line sync capability.
The Guitar Hero controller sports the USB ready version for both PS3 and Xbox 360. The product isn’t available yet, but is due out in late October.
Source: KotakuContinue Reading
No one claims to be a CSS wizard over here, but this new face lift isn’t half bad. Actually, navigation is easier. The layout is simple and casual colors for easy reading and browsing.
We are still working on the USB Forum but everything else seems to be loading just fine, like our USB Tutorials category, USB Gadgets and even our USB Resources page.
We hope you like it.
GetUSB.infoContinue Reading
What do you get with a three chamber speaker system, three USB ports and small design? That’s right, an AudioHub from Logitech.
In the never ending quest of keeping a tidy workspace, Logitech now combines a speaker system with USB connectivity. Aimed at laptop users the AudioHub does make sense, although it would be nice to see a seven port hub rather than three for the AudioHub…after all, I’ve already got four on my laptop.
Logitech’s AudioHub offers Premium 2.1 digital audio with three chamber design and integrated sub-woofer. With a single connection send juice to the speakers and three USB devices via a single USB cable. Click the mute button to shut off the sound while keeping your USB gadgets powered. Telescoping speakers to accommodate any sized laptop and workspace.
At just $99 is this right for you? The Logitech AudioHub is available October of 2007.
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