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Use Your iPod as a News Reader

TMO Quick Tip - Use Your iPod as a News Reader

by , 7:30 AM EST, February 15th, 2006

The iPod is so versatile that if it were from the Star Trek universe, it would be a Tricorder. That's why I love finding new ways to make my iPod even more useful, and Pod2Go does just that. Pod2Go downloads RSS news feeds, weather reports, movie listings, music lyrics, driving directions, gas prices and more. It can also launch applications, run AppleScripts and Automator workflows, automatically backup data from your Mac, and even copy music from your iPod back to your Mac.


Pod2Go turns your iPod into a portable databank.

I use Pod2Go every day to keep up on news and other current events, and to locate the cheapest gas prices in my area. It is compatible with all iPod models except the shuffle, and runs on Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher. You can download it at the Kainjow Web site, and it only costs US$15.

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Close Name:Guest
Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:30 am Subject: A Tricorder?

I think comparing the iPod to a tricorder is pushing the metaphor much too far. Don't get me wrong: I love my iPod, but at it's root, it's storage without interaction, creation, or editing. Sure, you can download and hold all this stuff, but the iPod can only display stuff when it's not hooked up to a computer. Now, if the (perennial) rumors about Apple buying out Palm ever come true, then things would get much more interesting. Imagine a unit combining the iPod's ease of use with multimedia and the Palm's networking and data processing capabilities. Now we're talking about something. Until that happens, my iPod may be what's playing music for me on the El, but my Treo will be connecting me to the internet, EDITING my calendar and contacts, showing me the best transfer to make to another train/bus, text messaging my wife to tell her when I'll be home, and starting a new letter or spreadsheet. Which sounds more like a tricorder to you?


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Close Name:Guest
Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:49 pm Subject:

Ah, the naivete of youth...


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