Verizon Wireless is planning to launch a service that allows parents to track their children via cellphone.  Parents can set geographical limits and be alerted when they venture too far, and can view their whereabouts on a map on either a mobile phone or computer.

The location viewing feature costs $9.99 per month, or as a package deal you can get location viewing and boundary setting for $19.99  per month.

The service will initially be available for parents with children using the Migo phone, a special phone with just 4 buttons made for children.   Verizon says that they may introduce a similiar service for older children with more sophisticated phones, but mentioned nothing further. Parents are able to access the service using 10 different Verizon wireless phones.

Personally, I think this is going a little too far.  Since when do 5 year olds need cell phones?  And do they really need to be tracked?  They’re likely to lose the phone at some point, so tracking them then would be pointless. 

Why don’t we just install tracking chips in our children if we need to know where they are at every moment of the day? Geez.

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! )

The first functional prototype of the $100 laptop was recently unveiled at the Seven Countries Task Force meeting last week. These computers will be made available to children in third world and developing countries through the One Laptop Per Child initiative.

The $100 laptop is no longer expected to cost $100 when it is expected to be made available during mid-2007. Rather, the price will initially be about $135. The $100 price point won’t be possible until late 2008, and won’t be a reality until at least 5 million units have been manufactured. The price may drop below $100 eventually, when even more units are produced.

The increase in price is significant - over 40% - however, governments still seem to be interested. A meeting was recently held and attended by representatives from Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, Nigeria, India and several other countries, who all expressed interest in the program.

The laptops will be available in shades of green, yellow & orange, and blue (see photo). It is important to note that the screen displays on the prototypes are 25% smaller than those that will be mass produced. Each of the laptops in the photo is slightly different - some include speakers and four-way controllers around the screen, while some do not. The laptops will run on Linux technology, which significantly reduces costs and may in turn help catapult Linux into more mainstream acceptance.

For more photos of the laptops, check out the photoset on Flickr.

Upset that Apple’s iPod dominates the mp3 market, Microsoft has joined a consortium of nine Japan-based companies who are colluding to create what they hope will be the the iPod killer.

The consortium includes the likes of NTT DoCoMo (a mobile handset manufacturer), Toshiba Cor, Napster Japan, and others.  The “iPod killer” software will be based off of Windows Media Player.  The software will thus be given to Toshiba who will develop a device this summer with audio and video playback. NTT DoCoMo is also expected to come up with a mobile phone device that will utilize the Microsoft software and audio/video playback capabilities.

It is believed that technology-hungry Japan is the perfect launching place for the new device.  If successful, Japan could serve as a launching pad to moving the device into other markets.  The iPod currently has more than half the share of the Japanese market.

I am going to disagree with the experts and analysts here.  Not everything Microsoft touches turns to gold.  If Microsoft wanted to compete, they should have done this, oh say, 2 YEARS ago.  At this point, they are like the old geezer in the room desperately trying to stay hip. 

In my opinion, its too little, too late. iPod has gained an intensely loyal following, and they clearly have some of the best marketing, ever.  The iPod store and its ease of use is another integral part of their success.  Unless Microsoft can create something that blows the iPod out of the water, they’re just wasting their time. The iPod is here to stay, at least for awhile.

 

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.

Sony Ericsson has teamed up with KDDI - Japan’s #2 mobile phone carrier - to offer consumers a Walkman-branded mobile phone.  Users will have the ability to download music directly to the phone, without the need for a PC.

Walkman mobile phones are presently available in other countries through a number of other partnerships, however, this marks the first time that a Walkman mobile phone will be available in Japan.

The phone features 1GB of memory, or enough space to store approximately 630 songs.  It also links to KDDI’s music store - Listen Mobile Service - for direct music downloads. Pricing for this model has not yet been announced.

With upwards of 90% of downloaded music in Japan going directly to cell phones, it is about time that Sony got into the game with the Walkman phone.