I've been looking at these new accessories from XtremeMac for the iPod shuffle, in particular, the Wrapz.
I think whilst it both adds colour to the shuffle, it also adds full
protection and helps to solve the lanyard issue, whereby anyone could
just rip the shuffle from around your neck. And I must say the AirPlay FM Transmitter for the shuffle is also looking very nice. Perfect if you need to take the shuffle in the car.



I've contacted the Australian reseller, Techlynx, but so far no response. (Updated 28/3: Still no response. Sheesh - still I've got the Airplay on order from Streetwise.)

Andrew Sullivan of the Times Online
writes "There were little white wires hanging down from their ears, or
tucked into pockets, purses or jackets. The eyes were a little vacant.
Each was in his or her own musical world, walking to their soundtrack,
stars in their own music video, almost oblivious to the world around
them. These are the iPod people."



"But what are we missing? That hilarious shard of an overheard
conversation that stays with you all day; the child whose chatter on
the pavement takes you back to your early memories; birdsong; weather;
accents; the laughter of others. And those thoughts that come not by
filling your head with selected diversion, but by allowing your mind to
wander aimlessly through the regular background noise of human and
mechanical life."



That's EXACTLY why I listen to choons, to drown out everyone else on
the train. I don't want to be at work thinking about the conversation
that a couple of school kids had ... and don't get me started on mobile
phone ringtones ...

Nextbyte got back to me today
about my query about the Software Coupons that came with my iMac. They
said the coupons are actually issued by Apple and that all I had to do
was come into their store and pick up my copy of iLife '05, which is
great, because I'd been reading in MacFormat all about how to do stuff with iPhoto and iMovie, but I was like "Hey, I don't even have that version on my machine".



Now I have an iLife ;)

Yes ! I got my iPod Shuffle today from JB Hi-fi in the city after learning that they had stock from the Appletalk forums. There was still no response from Nextbyte,
which is kinda slack. I've sent them another email so we'll see what
happens. However, it appears there is a shortage globally and locally
with some companies having 10,000 units on back order ... looks like
I'm one of the lucky ones :D

I attended the Microsoft Security Summit 2005 at the Southbank
Convention Centre today. Sexpo was also on today ;) and at the keynote
they begged us that we not wander off into "one of the other events".



*** UNFORTUNATELY ... I typed up a really, really long review of this summit. Then I clicked Save on my CMS - Mambo and guess what, I lost my connection to the Internet, the page timed out and when I clicked back, I'd lost everything. This is where the Internet and writing packages that don't save to a file have a real issue.