UK Digital Cameras Blog

Technology developer CPC has released new software that allows iPod users to embed subtitles and captions in their videos at the flick of a button.

While the ubiquitous music players have long been able to handle multiple video formats, there has until now been no software capable of instantly embedding closed captions into the devices’ favoured QuickTime movie format.

With CPC’s new software package, however, small reference files linked to the MacCaption-coded video files are stored in your iPod’s memory, enabling it to call up subtitles and captions whenever prompted.

Previous captioning solutions have required time-consuming re-compression, but with MacCaption - which also works on the iPhone - the process is almost instantaneous. It even has the ability to retrieve and convert captions encoded by traditional Line 21 captioning method.

CPC is the world’s first simultaneous closed captioning/teleprompting software provider.

Apple has managed to impress more reviewers with the latest addition to the iPod empire, the iPod Touch.

The device, which boasts a touch-sensitive screen and offers users either eight or 16 gigabytes of storage, has been hugely successful for the brand, scoring points with its sleek black finish and ease-of-use.

However, Murray Hill, a technology writer with Canadian newspaper the StarPhoenix, highlighted “the many cool things you can do with photos” as one of the device’s greatest features.

Users can browse their photos, enlarge images and view landscapes easily by simply rotating the iPod Touch 90 degrees to a landscape view, with the device built to detect the movement and adjust the picture view accordingly.

Mr Hill also described it as “beautiful” but Marie Boran, of technology website siliconrepublic.com was even more complimentary, saying the device was satisfying to use and “impressive”.

In her review of the device, she concluded: “It is the first thing I would rescue if my house caught fire. Then I could stand outside emailing friends telling them of my misfortune – assuming there was a WiFi signal nearby.”

News junkies have one more reason to purchase an iPod after ITN announced it has signed a deal with Apple to provide iTunes users with free video news content.

People will be able to view a range of programming, including UK, world, showbiz, business and sports news items as well as film show Movie Buff and Sports Fix.

Although the service is free, viewers will have to watch a “pre-roll” advertisement provided by marketing firm Ad Infuse before their content begins to play.

Nicholas Wheeler, managing director of ITN’s multimedia division, said: “For us at ITN this partnership will engage more users with our content and extend our brand’s reputation as a provider of high quality video journalism on new media platforms.”

Apple currently has three iPod products which allow users to view video content, starting with the neat iPod Nano, which comes with a two-inch screen and can hold four hours of video on the four gigabyte version and eight on the eight gigabyte device.

The iPod Touch, which offers either ten or 20 hours of video storage depending on the model and the iPod Classic, capable of holding 100 hours of video on the 80 gigabyte version and 200 hours on the 160 gigabyte device.

The popularity of the iPod has helped boost Apple’s profits this year, it has been reported.

Over the last few months, the firm updated its popular iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano devices, which can hold up to 240 and 2,000 songs respectively, and also launched the elegant iPod touch, which utilises a touch-screen interface and can hold up to 3,500 tracks.

According to the firm, global sales of iPods and songs from its iTunes online music store made up 36 per cent of its earnings.

Business analysis firm Screen Digest said: “The results indicate continued strong demand for iPods. Sales of the device since launch now total 120 million.”

The organisation predicted that 25 million iPods would be sold during the three-month Christmas period, bringing the total number of devices sold this year to 55 million

iPods of all descriptions continue to be popular in the UK, with reviewers paticualrly impressed by the new device on the block, the iPod Touch.

Cliff Joseph of computeractive.co.uk said that despite it being more expensive than other iPods, “the touch-controls and wireless internet put the Touch at the top of our Christmas list”.

Apple continues to garner praise for its sleek iPod touch, with the device scoring yet another rave review from technology experts.

Unveiled last month, the latest addition to the iPod empire offers a 3.5 inch screen which users can use to watch videos or browse pictures and the internet in addition to playing their favourite tunes.

Praising its “gorgeous looks” and “incredibly slim” body, the team at gadget website t3.co.uk said the 16GB iPod touch was “not so much an upgrade as a total revamp of the iPod”.

The review concluded: “Be warned, though: once you’re used to Apple’s multi-touch interface, you’ll be spoiled for life. Nothing else is ever going to seem quite as inviting or inventive.”

In other Apple news, new research has claimed that British fans of the compact iPod nano are able to bag themselves the device for far less than many of their international peers.

Australia’s Commonwealth Bank discovered that the player is most expensive in Brazil where iPod aficionados have to pay £181 to get their hands on it.

iPods and satellite navigation systems are set to be among the top sellers this Christmas, new research has claimed.

According to Robin Goad, an analyst at online marketing firm Hitwise, data compiled from internet searches about popular gadgets indicates that consumers are looking for information about the products ahead of the Christmas shopping rush and showing a marked preference for Apple.

On his blog, Mr Goad wrote: “There are 14 times as many searches for the Apple iPod as for all the other MP3 players combined. Two thirds of searches are for the generic iPod, while one in five searchers is looking specifically for the iPod Nano, which has seen searches increase by 67 per cent year on year.”

Sat-nav devices were the fourth most frequently searched gadget as people prepare for Christmas, with many people planning journeys to visit friends and families.

Shopping over the internet has become increasingly popular, with research conducted by Consumer Reports claiming that more people are turning to online retailers to purchase gadgets.

Paul Reynolds, the organisation’s electronic editor, said: “Despite being able to see and even touch products in a walk-in retailer, readers who responded to our survey were generally more satisfied with the prices and selection they found online.”

Children across the land might be lucky enough to wake up to find an iPod touch wrapped up under the Christmas tree this year if the predictions of one toy retailer come true.

Toys R Us said that the iPod touch is set to be one of the top 20 toys sold this Christmas, joining an array of more traditional gifts, such as action figures and merchandise featuring Transformers, Dr Who and children’s show In the Night Garden.

The device, which joins Apple’s already impressive media player line-up, is available in either an eight or 16 GB model and offers users the ability to watch video on a 3.5 inch screen asa well as listen to thousands of audio tracks.

Apple is said to be keen to stress the educational value its range can have for children, with Macworld’s Jonny Evans reporting the firm is going to be a sponsor at the upcoming Handheld Learning conference and exhibition in London next month.

According to Mr Evans, Apple will “use the event to show how its products can be used positively within the education sector, as today’s digital generation are already fluent in the use of digital devices”.

The sleek iPod touch has become even more attractive to technology fans after an internet service provider announced it will be offering unlimited wi-fi access for users of the device for £3.99 a month.

Wi-fi operator Cloud said that subscribers to Cloud Unlimited Music will be able to surf the web and browse for new music on iTunes at over 7,500 wi-fi hotspots without being tied to a minimum contract.

Owen Geddes, group director of business development at Cloud, said: “We believe this is a significant step forward in making music, podcasts and video available when, and wherever, people really want it.”

After visiting the firm’s website to register their device, users will be able to connect to the Cloud’s network without having to use usernames or passwords.

At the iPod touch launch announcement, chief executive officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, said: “The iPod touch is a landmark iPod, ushering in a whole new generation of features based on its revolutionary multi-touch interface and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking”.

Apple’s revamp of its iPod nano device has been greeted with enthusiasm by a major technology site.

When it first debuted in 2005, the iPod nano was billed as “the biggest revolution since the original iPod” by Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs but has been somewhat eclipsed by its burlier siblings, including the brand new iTouch and iPhone which debut this year.

However, earlier this month, Apple unveiled the next generation of the device, which boasts a two inch screen, 24-hour audio playback and enables viewers to use the device to view video for the first time.

On the respected tech.co.uk website, a reviewer said that this latest incarnation of the popular iPod series both “sounds fantastic” and “looks sexy”.

“The new eight GB iPod nano is an amazing device. Super slim and yet packed with brilliant features, you could do a lot worse than to buy one,” it concluded.

As well as the larger version, which is available in a variety of colour options, iPod fans can also get their hands on a four gigabyte nano in classic silver.

With all the publicity over the launch of the iPhone and iTouch, Apple has made sure that it does not leave the original iPod languishing in the past by giving it an upgrade that has won the approval of a technology reviewer.

Renaming it the iPod Classic, Apple are now offering two thinner versions of the original device, with the 80 GB model priced at £123 and the 160 GB version costing £172. Steve Jobs, chief executive officer of Apple, said: “The first iPod put 1,000 songs in your pocket—this new iPod classic can put 40,000 songs in your pocket” Mr Jobs added that the device was “ideal for people who want to hold everything on their iPod”. Reviewer Tony Smith, of technology site Register Hardware, commented in his review of the iPod Classic: “The name’s been tweaked, the user interface given a radical overhaul, and while the new model may look like the previous version, it’s actually quite different.” “As the latest hard drive iPod, the Classic - with its extra capacity and metal casing - is a good extension to the series,” he concluded