Looks like Samsung is going to be the beneficiary of PortalPlayer's announcement that their media chip was not chosen by Apple for their next generation flash-based iPods.

"An executive from Samsung said the company won the MP3 media processor business for Apple's next-generation iPods."

Samsung has reportedly been working on the design for some time with Apple. The chip is a 32-bit processor based on ARM technology.

Samsung also supplies much of the Flash RAM for Apple's iPods. PortalPlayer's stock took a nosedive following last week's news.

Posted by igear at 09:35 PM |

As followup to the counterfeit iPod story from the other day, it appears that these fake iPods are actually very popular items. TaipeiTimes reports that the iPod nano knockoffs are flying off the shelves making it dificult to keep up the demand.

This particular brand of fake is called the "Nano Apple" and is made in China and marketed in Taiwan. They come in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB sizes, are 1/2 the price of Apple's iPod and also support Video.

According to the report, the company provides customer support/service for the units after they are sold.

"We provide after-sales service and irresistible functions that a real iPod nano is not able to offer. It is a simply a matter of supply and demand"

Posted by igear at 01:58 PM |

T3 reports that Apple will be launching new 8GB and 10GB iPod Nanos this summer -- at least, that's what Piper Jaffary analyst Gene Munster is claiming.

Munster thinks the full-fledge video iPod won't be coming for some time, so Apple needs something to keep customers interested in the meanwhile.

Apple's nano comes in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB sizes for now.

Posted by igear at 07:59 PM |

PortalPlayer has been a major component supplier for the Apple iPod from the start. The company, however, has had a major setback today when it was announced that Apple will be switching from PortalPlayer to another supplier for chips in some of its iPod product line. PortalPlayers next media processor chip will not be used in Apple's new mid-range and high-end flash-based iPods.

The company does believe "that the [current chip] will continue to be used in other members of the iPod family. "

PortalPlayer generates about 90% of their sales from Apple's iPod alone.

Posted by igear at 10:52 PM |

Apple released their 2nd Quarter 2006 Financial Results.

The iPod continues to sell well and sold over 8.5 million iPods during this quarter. This is up 61% from the same quarter last year. Apple's profits rose 41% this quarter with net income up to $410 million or 47 cents a share, from $290 million, or 34 cents, a year earlier.

Remember... Apple sold a record 14 million iPods during the holiday quarter for 2005. Apple's been doing so well in recent years, they will be opening a 50-acre campus near its current headquarters. The new campus will take three or four years to complete.

Posted by igear at 07:14 PM |

Apple's iPod has become so popular that counterfeiters are making their own versions and passing them off as authentic. At first glance, the fake iPods appear very real. Apple is warning its resellers of the existence of these fake iPods and how to identify them.

Continue reading "Counterfeit Apple iPod Nanos and Shuffles" »

Posted by igear at 10:56 PM |