Microsoft contracts Siemens VDO for in-car Entertainment

Siemens VDO and Microsoft just announced a deal to co-develop in-car entertainment systems and navigation products. The companies will initially develop a multi-media platform to more easily integrate mobile phones and music players into automotive systems. The first products based on the Microsoft Auto Platform are expected in 2009.

Gear4’s BlackBox Bluetooth speaker makes our geek-loin ache

 

See that? That’s glossy black sex in stereo. The BlackBox and BlackBox mini Bluetooth speaker systems from Gear4 pump 24W and 4W from 2x speakers, respectively, with a front-facing red LED panel and blue capacitive touch-panel controls up top. Gear4 assures compatibility with your cellphone via its firmware upgrade feature — link back to your computer via USB to download the “right profile for your mobile.” Odd, since the Bluetooth profiles are supposed to be standard, eh Bluetooth SIG? Priced at £100/£50 (about $202/$101) when released in the next few weeks.

iTunes 7.4.1 ringtones re-rename workaround discovered

So last night iTunes 7.4.1 came out which, among other things, blocked off the custom ringtone renaming method, which allowed users to add their own ringtones to their iPhone without buying them on iTunes. Well, as posters in our own comments have already discovered, it’s back, and here’s how to do it:

First, follow the steps of the original method

• Create your ringtone, save it as an AAC file.
• Rename the m4a extension to m4r.
• Double-click to play in iTunes.

Now, if you’re upgraded to 7.4.1

• Go back and re-rename that m4r file back to m4a. That’s it.
• Plug in your iPhone and that ringtone will be added to your syncable ringtones list — and it won’t pop up the error from before.
• Play your ringtones constantly for the next 10 hours until 7.4.2 comes out.

Wi-Fi iPods Expected

Though it is not official, those in the “know” say Apple is just hours away from announcing a new Wi-Fi enabled iPod designed to receive digital radio along with an option to buy content from the iTunes Store. It is not known whether the same functions will be included in the iPhone.

Other rumors about the new Wi-Fi iPod line suggest the inclusion of a wide-screen touch-screen interface like the iPhone, larger storage capacity, Flash based hard drive and a new version of the iPod Nano that can handle video.

On a personal note, I’m ready for a wide-screen iPod. Watching wide-screen formatted movies that I’ve ripped off of DVD on the small iPod screen has been giving me a headache.

JBL’s On Stage 3 Dock is now iPhone-Compatible

The popular donut-shaped On Stage iPod dock is now in its third incarnation —and this time it will work with your iPhone. Its makers, JBL, have filled in the middle of the ring as well as supplying interchangeable trim, so that your On Stage 3 can match your Nano

Crayola is coming with more than just Crayons

From producing crayons and different school supplies like glue and Activity poser kits are now going to make some Hi-Tech gadgets for the kids. As the kids electronic market is rising Crayola decided not to miss their chance and created some totally cool gadgets for kids. Here are some of them