ipods review online tip

Write Off Your IPod as a Business Expense

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:06:00 +0000

By John McCabe

If you've been eyeing those sleek new iPods, but you didn't like the price tag, Uncle Same wants to help you buy one.

Before I go on, here's the standard CYA...

I'm providing this as information only. It's up to you and your tax professional to figure out if this is indeed a legitimate tax strategy for you. Now on with the show...

There are two principles at work here:

1) You have the right to deduct reasonable and necessary business expenses from your income before calculating tax on that income.

2) Continuing education to improve your business results has long been recognized as a reasonable and necessary expense.

So where does that shiny new iPod fit in?

If you're like me, you have many hours of mp3 recordings on your hard drive-- recorded conference calls, teleseminars, webcasts and other educational materials. I know I have well over 100 hours of such material on my hard drive.

There are also an increasing number of podcasts available dealing with business topics. Listening to those relevant to your business contributes to your ongoing business education.

There are also similar offerings on subjects like investing, tax planning, and so on.

Purchase your iPod through your business, and you can expense the total cost the year you buy it.

How's this for leverage?

You (meaning your business) spends $200 for a new iPod. You write off the entire cost this year, reducing your taxable income by $200.

You load up that 4 hour webinar you've been meaning to get around to, and listen while commuting. You learn something that adds $200 to your bottom line immediately.

Congratulations! You just got your iPod for zero net cost.

And the iPod is so small and light that you can leverage a lot of dead time (commuting, waiting in line, workouts at the gym, etc.) into productive continuing business education.

And it even plays music!

Music to help you concentrate while writing that new article or newsletter.

Making that music a deduction on its own.

As one guru said, the proper question is not

"Can I deduct this?"

The proper question is

"How can I deduct this?"

John McCabe covers business topics like tax savings for the Success Letter, part of John McCabe's Web Guides.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_McCabe

Will IPods Change the Way We Watch Television?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:05:00 +0000

By Ro Russell

The industry was intrigued by Wednesday's announcement that episodes of the hit ABC shows "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" will be available for Apple's new video iPod. Episodes will go on sale for $1.99 on iTunes the day after they are broadcast.

For ABC and its parent Walt Disney Co., the bet is that the new technology will bring in more new fans of the programs than will be taken away from watching them on traditional broadcast television.

The network's affiliates were not told the deal was in the works before Wednesday, and they're the people most likely to be concerned about its impact. Now the iPod will join digital video recorders and DVDs as another way of seeing television programs other than their regularly scheduled times on the ABC stations.

Leon Long, chairman of ABC's affiliate board and general manager of WLOX-TV in Biloxi, Miss., wasn't worried.

He said if viewers have the choice of watching "Desperate Housewives" on their wide-screen television with surround sound or a two-inch iPod screen, they will almost certainly watch it on TV. The iPod option will likely be attractive to people who missed an episode and want to keep up with the story, he said.

Who Else Wants To Know What All the Excitement is About Ipods and MP3s

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:03:00 +0000

By Raymond DeChampfleur

4 Reasons Why People Love These Portable Music Devices in the 21st Century

During the course of the past couple of years, there's been a real demand, a real buyer’s craze for Ipods and MP3s. Music lovers from different parts of the world have been scrambling to find the latest when it comes to these types of portable music players.

There are a number reasons why there has been so much excitement about both the Ipod and the MP3. Indeed, there are four significant reasons why people around the world, why music lovers of all ages, have become so excited about Ipods and MP3s.

1. The most basic reason why so many music lovers are thrilled about Ipods and MP3s is based on the fact that these devices allow you the ability to carry with you your favorite music no matter where you are at any given point in time. With people being so mobile in this day and age, these devices provide a perfect way through which you can have music and entertainment no matter where you happen to be at any given point in time. For example, many people in many cities around the world are forced to make long commutes to and from work. Therefore, these devices allow such a person the ability to keep entertained and occupied as they travel back and forth from work.

2. The next reason why so many people have become so excited about the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that the cost associated with these pieces of equipment has dropped significantly in recent times. Of course, when these music devices first entered the market place some time ago, they were actually rather pricey. However, as with so many high tech devices, over time the costs associated with these devices dropped. Indeed, by doing a bit of shopping around, you will be able to find these devices being sold for discounted prices. Therefore, by shopping around in the brick and mortar world and on the Internet and World Wide Web you will be able to find merchants that sell Ipods and MP3s at reduced prices.

3. Another reason that so many people have found themselves drawn to the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that they are easy pieces of equipment to operate. While many people like to have high tech equipment, they shy away from these types of devices because, in some instances, they are difficult to operate. When it comes to Ipods and MP3s, there music players are really easy to operate and upkeep. It is very easy to upload music to these devices -- even a technical novice can readily stock his or her Ipod or MP3 with music of his or her choosing with ease.

4. Finally, one of the primary reasons why so many music lovers are singing the praises of the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that they are so durable. Because these units are designed to be used on the go, you naturally will want to make sure that any portable device that you use is durable. Both of these devices are well designed and completely durable. Even if you end up accidentally dropping your device, you will find that it is very resilient.

In the final analysis, if you are interested in having a device for portable music, you will want to take a close look at either an Ipod or a MP3. Either one of these players are perfect choices for a person who likes to take his or her music wherever he or she happens to travel throughout the course of a given day. These devices absolutely are perfect for people on the go.

By following the tips and suggestions outlined in this article, you will be well on your way to owning a portable music device that will serve you well. Additionally, as suggested in this article, by shopping around you will be able to find a device that is priced within your budget. Finally, by selecting an Ipod or a MP3 player, you will have a music device that will be around for a long time -- or at least until you decide to upgrade.

Publisher & Author Raymond DeChampfleur - You can access detailed articles, news, & more relevant resources along with great information and downloads on the movies and music world at Music or http://muzic-and-moviez.com/wordpress/categories/articles/

Use iPod Workouts to Keep Fit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:01:00 +0000

By Heather Brain

Use iPod workouts to keep fit

We all know the only realistic way to get healthy and look great is to exercise.

Getting fit, and staying fit are great, but need to be complemented by a healthy diet and good skin care for you to look your best. It may even be necessary to supplement your diet with additional vitamins and minerals if you have less time to prepare meals, or have a heavy exercise routine.

Different routines, produced by professionals, can be downloaded onto your iPod. These can include illustrations to be viewed on the iPod, and words to be spoken to you as you work out. iPod workouts bring a virtual trainer to you, anywhere you go - you can even take your ipod workouts to the public gym or outdoors.

Different routines, produced by professionals, can be downloaded onto your iPod. These can include illustrations to be viewed on the iPod, and words to be spoken to you as you workout.

iPod workouts available include -

Abs workouts
Cardio workouts
Circuit training
Full body workouts
Lower body workouts
Upper body workouts
Workout machines feature

You can also create different workout playlists, for example, one each for aerobics, yoga and dance.

You can find out more on getting fit from Heather, visit Fit Biz.

This article was submitted by Heather Brain, teacher & mother of two. She is married to Jonathan Brain.

Marketing Lessons From Apple's iPod

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:00:00 +0000

By Hock Ng

Apple Computer just announced that their earnings from the last quarter more than quadrupled mainly due to robust holiday sales of the iPod digital music player. More than 10 million iPods have been sold since it was introduced in 2001.

There are some important marketing lessons to be learned from all this. First of all, Apple has created a product for a hungry market that has the financial means to purchase it even with the relatively high price point. If you find a hot and hungry market, create a product for it and you are almost guaranteed to succeed.

Lesson #1: Find a hot and hungry market

Ever since the introduction of the MP3 file format, we have seen the popularity of converting songs from a CD so that they can be stored on the computer. Even the Napster episode showed us that there is a huge market for a device like the iPod.

Here's the summary of the first lesson - don't sell shovels to fishermen and fishing poles to gold miners. Rather, sell the shovels to gold miners and the fishing poles to fishermen. Create a product that already has an existing market.

Lesson #2: Create different versions

Now Apple just announced the introduction of the iPod Shuffle - a lower-priced version of the iPod with flash memory instead of hard drive storage.

This strategy is called versioning.

First create a product that sells. Then create another version of the product for a different market segment. In this case, Apple first came up with a more expensive product and followed it up with a cheaper product.

Lesson #3: Create the halo effect

The halo effect is essentially this: increasing sales of one popular product will generate more sales for your other existing products. In this case, the tremendous popularity of the iPod has created enough buzz that more people are buying Macs.

In the past, Macs have made inroads only to a small segment of the market. But now, we're likely to see Apple increase its market share of personal computers in the months to come.

So whatever you are selling, there are definitely some general marketing lessons to be learned from the success of the iPod. Think about it the next time you use your iPod.

Hock Ng is the editor of The Marketing Tools Review, an online newsletter highlighting the latest marketing tools and strategies, especially for internet marketers. To find out more, visit: http://www.marketing-tools-review.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hock_Ng

IPod Nano Vs. Motorola: Brand Vs. Product

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 09:58:00 +0000

By Molly Sunderdick

Motorola Chairman/CEO, Ed Zander had some harsh words for Apple regarding the simultaneous release of the iPod nano with the Motorola ROKR, but, more importantly, he had admonition for his own brand as well. Having a lot of previous success with the RAZR, the ultra sleek and stylish flip phone, Motorola believed it had permission to take the next step in production: phone + music. What Motorola failed to recognize is that brand permission relies upon the perspective of the customer, not product offering.

Zander publicly admitted, “People were looking for an iPod…we may have missed the marketing message there.” The moment a small handheld device is paired with iTunes, consumers expect no less than iPod. There is no replacement for the “sexy” design of the iPod, and with the release of the nano, an even thinner, elegant shape, the ROKR was left looking “like another cell phone.” RAZR was successful because it was a cell phone that challenged the design of cell phones; it was a brand that claimed, “you can do better.” Consumers were even more disappointed when they discovered the ROKR only held 100 songs (because their iPods held at least ten times that much). In fact, research shows that the phone is being returned at a rate three to six times the industry average.

At a glance, the TV advertising for the ROKR was misleading as well. Actors in the commercials walked down the street listening to music while their shadows and reflections danced in the background. When the phone rang, the shadows and reflections returned to normal. While clever and pleasing to watch, the commercials mimicked the iPod/iTunes commercials too closely, bringing the images of the black silhouettes against the simple colored screen backgrounds to mind. Immediately, the customer set higher brand standards than the ROKR could ever achieve. The customer wanted iPod.

Even after selling a quarter of a million ROKR phones in the third quarter, the ROKR is still seen as a failure because customer beliefs and trends were not considered. As a result, behaviors were not inspired to change. Motorola does not have the same permission of the iPod. iPod completely redefined an entire category (MP3s), becoming the must-have music player within the marketscape of electronics. In fact, if the idea of phone + music was the real vision, iPod should have then branded a phone. In this case, the brand needs to be iPod in order for the customer to feel important and identified. Motorola’s focus was completely upon product benefits. Motorola needs to understand that product offering is what it is; brand is what the consumer is.

At Stealing Share we heavily promote the concept of brand strategy over the table stakes of price, product attributes and sales propositions. Table stakes may work for a short time, but eventually everyone makes the same offers, asks for the same amount of money and satisfies market demands in order to merely stay above water. Brand trumps this stagnant consumer cycle, adding personal connection, commitment and identification to the purchase decision. If Motorola had a stronger brand, or continued to create products more like the RAZR, perhaps the time would come when the brand was able to diversify into the music realm. Right now, Motorola is a phone model offered by cell phone providers such as Sprint and Verizon. Motorola would need a completely new position in order to break free from a purely product-driven existence. Apple achieved a higher brand status upon the release of the iPod. With an actual brand identity in addition to a reputation for creative, innovative design, Apple was able to branch out and produce the iPod. Brand is what allows differentiation and long-term loyalty; it allows iPod to be iPod by no other name.

Soon, Apple Computer will get a taste of Motorola’s predicament with iTunes, but on an even larger scale with Intel processors. Incorporating the Intel Inside technology into Apple’s model will prove both challenging and potentially dangerous to the Mac brand. What will Mac need to do with its brand messaging to include Intel, an already potent brand coursing through the market space? Will they need to downplay Intel in order to maintain the integrity of their brand? Or will Mac slowly be converted to an Intel brand? It will be intriguing to see whether the Intel Mac will be a ROKR, RAZR, or iPod. It is difficult to predict whether or not Mac is truly ready for this new addition.

Thus, the battle between brand and product is no fair fight. The success of a product remains in sales numbers while the success of brand expands into every fiber of the business and the consumer. Brand, by nature, will always have the upper hand because it does not stand alone or next to the competition. Brand is placed above product and category with an army of consumers to bolster its every movement within the market.

Molly Sunderdick
Brand Strategist
Stealing Share, Inc

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Molly_Sunderdick

Noise Cancelling Headphones and iPods

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 09:55:00 +0000

By Steve Joseph

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just shut off those sounds that can be so irritating? Those rattles, hums and hissing noises can be extremely annoying, especially when you are trying to focus on something else. Well it appears that a solution has finally presented itself in the form of noise cancelling headphones.

In fact noise cancelling headphones have been in existence for some time, although high research and development costs have previously kept them out of the hand of consumers, until now that is.

Big brand names like Bose and Sony have jumped at the chance to bring noise cancelling headphone onto the consumer market, with a range of reasonably priced products. Some consumers might see the headphones as a little bulky but they certainly outperform their smaller counterparts and reward the listener with clearer sound and more importantly, clearer sound at lower volume levels.

The importance of being able to listen to music clearly at low volume levels has been highlighted by the advent of the iPod, which has taken the music world by storm. According to http://www.cancelingnoise.com an iPod is capable of producing somewhere in the vicinity of 85dB of sound, which if listened to for long periods is likely to cause permanent hearing loss. With noise cancelling headphones however, listeners are able to listen to their favorite tracks without competing with ambient noise by boosting the volume to dangerous levels. This makes noise cancelling headphones a must have accessory for anyone who listens to music regularly and particularly those who listen to music while commuting.

Aside from the obvious draw back of being a little bulky, the headsets do use more power than regular headphones. Once again, I would say that the increase in quality and ability to listen to music at lower volumes outweighs this negative. Although noise cancelling headphones are very effective they do have their limitations and short sharp sound is one of them. The headphones are unable to adjust to short sharp sounds, rather they are suited to humming or hissing sounds.

Otherwise they are fast becoming an essential part of audio equipment and a sure fire success as a gift for anyone with an iPod.

The author is a regular contributor to http://www.cancellingnoise.com/ and permission to reproduce this article is given only on the basis that all links remain active and intact.

Mobile Phones, Ipods & Computers Can Be Found Online with Huge Discounts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 09:36:00 +0000

By James Miler

These days, the internet is more than just the information highway - it's your best route to huge discounts on the products you want most. This is especially true with electronics, entertainment and communication products. Mobile phones, computers, home cinema equipment, even the cheap Ipod you're looking for, can all be found at discount prices when you shop online.

Why Prices Are So Low

One reason that the prices are so low online is that you can buy direct from manufacturers, effectively cutting out the middleman and his cut of the final price - but that's not the only reason. Because electronics entrepreneurs were among the first to find a home for themselves online, you'll still find the best prices for computers, home cinema equipment, mobile phones and Ipods at online discount shopping sites. Any student of enterprise or economics can tell you that it's all about the trade route - and the trade routes for home electronics and communications products are well-established. Web dealers can and do take full advantage of the ease of doing business with the foreign markets where products like mobile phones and computers are far less expensive to make.

Add in the fact that web entrepreneurs don't have to lure you into their shops with fancy awnings and gilt lettering on the plate glass - or, for that matter, pay someone to keep that plate glass clean. The costs of doing business on the internet are a fraction of the costs of doing business on High Street, and those savings get passed on to you.

Finally, consider that online merchants are playing to an enormous market. They don't have to have the lowest price in neighbourhood, or in the city - they have to have the lowest prices in the world. This competition is great news for you, the consumer, since it results in prices dropping to the lowest possible level at which the dealers can still make a profit.

Can I find the name brands at a discount?

You bet. Those foreign markets mentioned above? They're not just making cheap ipod imitations - they make Ipods. They also make products with names like Aiwa, Sony and Bose. And those deals should become more frequent now that some very big players are stepping into the international marketplace to ease connections between offshore wholesalers and marketers.

As online shopping has mushroomed into huge business, services and malls have cropped up to make it far easier to find the products you want at the lowest possible prices. If you're looking for the best discount deals on cheap ipod accessories, discount prices on ipods and mobile phones, home theatre equipment and computers, a good comparison site is the logical first stop to make your search easier and faster.

James Miler is the founder and owner of "http://www.lowpricemadness.co.uk". The site helps internet users to find some of the lowest prices online for digital cameras, digital camcorders, PC Games & X-BOX 360. The aim of the site is to help you find the cheapest prices for digital home entertainment online.

Lightning - Cell Phones, iPods Can Zap in a Thunderstorm, British Study Claims

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 06:55:00 +0000

By Ugur Akinci

Did you know that you can get hurt bad (even killed) by lightning if you are listening to your iPod or talking on your cell phone during a thunderstorm?

The danger of talking on a landline telephone or even standing near electrical appliances was known for a long time. But cell phones? iPods?

According to a case study published by British Medical Journal (BMJ), a 15 year old girl was hit by lightning while talking to her friend on her cell phone in a thunderstorm. She had a heart attack but was saved.

After the incident she did not remember anything about the incident. Memory loss is a frequent side effect of lightning hits. But the people who witnessed the event confirmed the report.

A year later the British lightning victim developed a number of additional ailments, including deafness in the ear where she was holding her cell phone.

However, the danger is not a universally accepted one. Some U.S. sources deny the danger, claiming there is no direct relationship between a lightning and cell phone and iPod usage.

But there is a universal consensus that carrying metallic objects in a thunderstorm is not a good idea. Since both cell phones and iPods do have metallic parts, it makes inherent logical sense not to carry such items when there is a thunderstorm out there.

An interesting factoid from news.BBC.co.uk: “A lightning bolt travels at about 14,000 miles per hour and heats up the air around it to 30,000°C - five times hotter than the surface of the sun.”

Would you want to press against your ear any gadgets in a thunderstorm that have even the remotest probability of transferring 30,000°C heat at 14,000 miles per hour? It’s your call.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation.

He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs.

You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited, PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS 2006:

http://www.lulu.com/content/263630

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci

Firms See iPods as Security Risks!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 06:30:00 +0000

By Brian Lupichuk

Firms see iPods as security risk! The iPod ,once thought to be a threat just to your own hearing. Is now a very serious threat to firms and companies and businesses of all sizes. The iPod and all the various MP3 Players that can be very easily hooked up to the back of the computer are now banned in about 30% of the workplace in small and large businesses across Canada.

The personal laptops and the tiny USB memory keys that can carry huge amounts of data are also banned actually forbidden by half of all buinesses according to a survey done in Canada. By Sun Micro systems of Canada INC.

You or somebody else out there could easily have millions of customers names and addresses on some of these small devices that can be carried around in your pocket. There are lots of people out there that have done a good job of locking and barring the front door to , but they don`t understand there is still a huge back door they are not aware of or they just have't figured it out yet.

There is a gaping back door to an increasing mobile workforce with employess carrying around potential data goldmines in their pockets or brief cases on everthing from wafer thin memory cards to Blackberry's personal digital assistants, cellphones, and notebook computers (laptops).

The data can very easily go astray when a device is lost or stolen, or it can be deliberately be put in the wrong hands by a or some disillusioned employee or employees. who have access to the confidental corporate files.

Companies that find out that customer information has gone missing face a credibilty crisis and it can severly damage their name. Some 28 percent of customers would be prepared to immediately terminate their relationship with a company if their private information was discovered to get into the wrong hands. Or the company compromised it in any way.

Where we see this most is from consumers is things like the basic name , credit card number,the expiry date, and their home address. I the hands of identiy thieves, they can and will wreck havoc.

On iPods and MP3 Players MP3 Players, you can put numberous photographs, videos, data with vast amounts of information.

Here's a great example an eight-gigabyte compact flash memory , the size of an after-dinner mint wafer, can hold approximately a half-million pages of text or 800,000 emails. iPods can hold up to 60 gigabytes.

Although companies are taking the right measures to protect the risk of loss data, only about 32 percent of executives surveyed believe that the optimum level to prevent and manage potential attacks is being done.

Brian Lupichuk, invites you to MP3 Players. An information based website on MP3 Players.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Lupichuk