Apple is currently looking into adding full-length movies to their offerings at the iTunes music store, and is currently in talks with major studios.

Apple hopes to have the service ready by the end of the year, but has run into a snag: what price do they charge?  Initially, Apple proposed selling the movies at a flat rate of $9.99 per movie, but studios rejected it.

Studios are not willing to sell new releases and older material for the same price, and want to be able to price the newer movies at higher prices.

Apple may allow studios to price their content in a range from $9.99 to $19.99 to allow them to distinguish between older titles and new releases.

USA Today recently conducted a poll to find out what’s “in” on college campuses.  In the history of the poll, beer has only been knocked out of the top spot once in 1997 by the “internet”.  This poll marks the second time beer has lost the top spot, this time to the Apple iPod.

The poll found that the iPod was mentioned by 73% of the student population, followed with beer and Facebook.com tied at 71%.  Numbers 4 through 10 on the list were drinking other alcoholic beverages (67%), text messaging (66%), going to clubs (65%), instant messaging (63%), working out (62%), and coffee (60%).

Clearly iPods are popular, but who ever thought that they would be more popular than the good ol’ college staple - beer?

Apple just announced the release of an updated version of the U2 Special Edition iPod, this time with video, more storage, and other perks. 

The previous version of the U2 iPod (released in October 2004) was made of black plastic, and offered 20GB of hard drive space. The newest U2 iPod is encased in black stainless steel with a red wheel, and offers 30GB of storage.  On the back, are the autographs of all the band members.

The U2 Special Edition video iPod can store 7,500 songs, has a battery life of 14 hours, displays video and pictures, and can be programmed to download podcasts. 

With the purchase of this new special edition iPod, U2 fans will be given an electronic coupon code to download 30 minutes of videos for free.

Another reason to pick this one up?  The price has dropped.  The original U2 iPod was priced at $349.  The latest one costs just $329 and has many more features. The price is just $30 more than the standard video iPod, and is now available for purchase.

(P.S. - I love U2 and if anyone wants to buy me this, go right ahead! )

Today Nike and Apple announced a joint venture that will take the iPod to a new level as a running accessory.  The Nike+iPod Sport kit is comprised of a sensor that can be inserted into compatible Nike shoes that wirelessly transmits information about the runner’s performance to a receiver on the iPod.

By installing special software, athletes can view data on time, distance, pace, and calories on the iPod’s screen.  Audible feedback will also be available through the iPod’s headphones. The information collected can also be downloaded to a computer for further analysis.

The wireless receiver that Apple is using uses a propriatary 2.4Ghz signal, crushing the hopes of many who were hoping for Bluetooth compatibility (and wireless headphones).

The Sport kit will cost $30 USD, and will be ready to ship in approximately 60 days.  Compatible shoes will include Nike Air Zoom Moire ($100), which will be on store shelves in July.  Nike plans to expand the iPod line with the introduction of six more shoes in the fall: Air Zoom Plus, Air Max Moto, Nike Shox Turbo OH, Air Max 180, Shox Navina and Air Max 90.

One thing that the Sport Kit is missing is wireless headphones, and a heart rate monitor. No one wants to mess with annoying wires when they’re running or biking, and a lot of atheletes like to track their heart rate.  If somehow the two of these features could be incorporated in the future, I think this product would appeal to athletes even more.

I also can’t help but wonder what happens to the shoe receiver in inclement weather.  Is it encased in some kind of weather-proof material?  Or are runs in the rain and mud out of the question?  This is something Nike/iPod should address if they haven’t already.