Cost: $500

What to enjoy:
Apple’s newest innovation sports a glossy screen that surfs the internet, checks email, provides access to movies and television. The device works through a wireless connection or a 3G version, with data plan, is available for an extra 129 dollars.

Features:
With a number of applications made and many more in the works, the apple iPad offers a variety of options for the consumer, including a easy to use Netflix application as well as Apple’s own iTunes.

Video:

Editor’s Assessment:
The iPad seems to be the magical product that Apple claims, building more and more applications every day. While the 500 dollar price may be high for some consumers, the Apple iPad shows to have multiple uses, from a media player to ereader to a home entertainment remote. And with over 3 million ipads sold, it seems like Apple has found another winner.

Cost: 249.99-199.99

What to Enjoy:
PSP features UMD movie quality (much better than portable DVD players), live streaming video from Sony’s LocationFree TV accessory, and can play music in many formats. 802.11 Wi-Fi is on the PSP which should allow for fast downloads.
PSP Go features 802.11 Wi-Fi, 16MB of internal flash memory, and bluetooth.

Third-Party Features:
Both allow access to the Playstation Store and can connect easily to a PC for transfer of music, video and photo files. Also with Slingbox, PSP and PSP Go users can watch TV directly from anywhere with a wireless connection.

News & Reviews:
Crave (6/2/2009): PSP Go: The offical details “The PSP Go may have been the worst-kept secret of this year’s E3 show, but Sony’s press conference has now supplied the official details. For the most part, there’s little that wasn’t already revealed or correctly assumed: the PSP Go is smaller, has a slide-up screen, no UMD drive–and no game-changing upgrades, such as a touch screen or second analog stick. ” {Read more}

Cost: $219 (16GB) | $289 (32GB)

What to Enjoy:
Microsoft introduces Zune HD as a competitive alternative to the iPod Touch. Perhaps the coolest thing about the Zune HD is that it uses one of the most powerful chips to go into a portable media player yet: Nvidia’s multicore Tegra processor. This optimizes the Zune HD’s benefits: HD Radio, HD (720p) video, Wi-Fi, a Web Browser, built-in accelerometer, and touchscreen “QWERTY” keyboard.

Third-Party Features:
Zune HD has Xbox LIVE integration which eventually means they’ll (hopefully) offer the full digital entertainment experience spanning screens, devices, platforms and geographies, delivering on Microsoft’s connected entertainment vision.

News & Reviews:
CNET News (08/13/2009): Zune HD packs a big processing punch – “The Zune HD comes with a 3.3-inch, 16:9 OLED (480×272 resolution) screen. And also includes an HD (high-definition) Radio, HD (720p) video out, Wi-Fi, a Web browser (with tap-to-zoom technology), built-in accelerometer, and touchscreen QWERTY keyboard.” {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:
01/15/2008: Microsoft announces the expansion of the Zune entertainment service to new platform and markets; confirms new Zune HD portable media player – Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. {Read more}

Buy:

Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum)

Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player (Red)

Want to get your movie fix on your iPhone or iPod touch? There are a multitude of great apps out there that can help curb your craving, whether you want to manage your DVD library or Netflix queue, watch clips and trailers, or just find the right film to see later in the day…

Find Apps:

1. Flicktweets – Free
The first site to organize and filter tweets about movies, Flicktweets presents only the most relevant tweets, helping moviegoers determine what movie to see whenever they’re ready to see it. Flicktweets covers current releases, DVD releases, and film classics.

2. Fandango – Free
Browse movies now playing and movies coming soon, watch trailers, get showtimes, and purchase tickets. This app also cues up Google Maps to get directions to theaters.

3. Boxee Remote – Free
The Boxee remote app turns your iPhone into a Boxee remote control. The Boxee remote application connects to Boxee over WiFi and has two modes: Gesture Mode and Buttons Mode. The Buttons mode allows you to connect through buttons on the iPhone while the Gesture mode allows the user to use your thumb on the boxee logo to link up with boxee on your screen. It takes some getting used to but has big benefits.

4. Netflix – Free
The Netflix iPad application allows the iPad user to use instantly watch TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix Instant. You can watch as often as you’d like and it’s a part of your Netflix Unlimited membership.

5. IMDb – Free
Browse for movies opening/playing, movies coming soon, box office results, showtimes (search by zip code), watch trailers and clips, and get full movie data (cast, credits, synopsis).

6. Slingplayer Mobile – 29.99
Watch and control your home television and DVR with Slingbox and this helpful app. This app works over 3G and Wi-Fi in connection with Slingbox SOLO, PRO or PRO-HD.

7. Amazon Moblile – Free
While allowing the user to purchase the wide variety of merchandise available through Amazon, Amazon Mobile also has Video On Demand available including movie trailers.

8. LogMeIn Ignition- 29.99
This application allows the user to remotely access one or more computers anywhere, anytime. Mac Mini users who set up their Mac Mini as a HTPC love this application for easy remote control.

9. i.TV- Free
Find local TV listings, Netflix, iTunes, and use your iPhone as a remote for TiVo HD DVRs and Roku Players (including Remote DVR scheduling for broadband-connected TiVo DVRs). Also this app allows users to share what they’re watching with friends with Facebook and Twitter.

10. Vudu- Free
The VUDU Movie Catalog application for iPhone and iPod Touch allows the user to browse and search through VUDU’s expansive movie catalog.

11. redbox- Free
The official iPhone app from redbox allows you to browse and reserve a movie and find the nearest redbox.

12. Blockbuster- Free
Search the 95,000 movie titles and add, delete and reorder movies in your Blockbuster Movie Queue. The app also allows you to find the nearest Blockbuster store and see if the movie you want is in stock.

Cost | What to Enjoy | Features | News & Updates | Sales Info | Press Releases | Buy

Cost: iPod Classic = $249 (120GB) | iPod touch = $229 (8GB) | iPhone = $199 (3G S)

What to enjoy:

iTunes

iPods come packaged with the ability to sync video along with your music, giving you the ability to take your favorite music and movies wherever you go. At the heart of the operation is iTunes, Apple’s media player that is compatible for both the Mac and PC. Use iTunes to copy your entire CD library to your iPod, as well as download new music and movies through the iTunes Store. Simply sync your iPod up and you’re ready to enjoy it all on the go.

iTunes opened its music store in 2003, and in the years since, has gone on to sell over 6 billion songs. In 2008, iTunes surpassed Wal-Mart, becoming the number one music store in the United States. Along with music, you can rent or buy audiobooks, music videos, movies, TV shows, games, and the very popular apps. iTunes 9 has made great strides in better organizing the store, including easier browsing and navigation, app management, as well as new products: iTunes LP – download full albums + artwork and liner notes; iTunes Extras – DVD bonus material (audio commentary, deleted scenes, etc.) packaged into movie downloads. iTunes comes with an add-on, Genius, which turns your playlists more into a radio station by playing similar songs based on the artist or genre.

Movies and TV shows are available for rent or purchase, and can be synched over to iPods, the iPhone, as well as Apple TV. Movie rentals last for 30 days, and must be fully watched within 24-hours of it being started. Most content is available in SD, however there is a growing library of HD content, currently priced at $19.99. TV content can be bought as single episodes, or as a season pass, giving you access to each new episode as it comes out.

Third-Party Features (via the iPod touch & iPhone):

The iPod touch and the iPhone further enhances the mobile movie-going experience. The iTunes Music Store app allows you to make purchases and rentals directly through the device, saving the extra step of “synching.” There are also many apps that you can download, giving you the ability to stream live via a Wi-Fi network, manage your Netflix queue, and even allow you to control your set-top box remotely.

News & Updates:
Mashable (09/09/2009): Apple Announces iTunes 9 – “Today is Apple’s Rock and Roll keynote, where the company is expected to announce a range of new products and software upgrades. One of new products has leaked a little early though: iTunes 9. While iTunes 9 is not yet downloadable, we were able to gaze over Apple’s promotional feature list.” {Read more}

BBC News Magazine (06/29/2009):Giving up my iPod for a Walkman – A 13-year old boy exchanged his iPod for the Sony Walkman, comparing the modern portable media player to it’s now 30-year-old grandfather. {Read more}

Variety.com/Technotainment (04/20/2009): Forget Apple TV… the iPhone is becoming Apple’s set top box – The Apple TV has, to be blunt, been something of a dud. Not that many people are willing to spend $230 to get all the TV show, music, and movies they download from iTunes onto their television. {Read more}

Sales Info & Figures:
Mercury News (09/28/2009): Apple: 2 billion ‘apps’ downloaded by iPhone, iPod touch owners – “iPhone and iPod touch owners have downloaded 2 billion “apps” from Apple’s iTunes App Store, the Cupertino company reported today. More than 85,000 software applications, or apps, are available for downloading, Apple said in a statement. Some of the apps can be downloaded for free, and others for a fee.” {Read more}

CNN Money (05/18/2009): iPod sales headed for their first decline analyst – Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster puts a positive spin on it, but his analysis of retail data issued Monday afternoon by the NPD Group suggests that the Mac, whose sales declined year-over-year last fiscal quarter for the first time in nearly six years, will be joined next quarter by the iPod. {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:
06/22/2009: Apple Sells Over One Million iPhone 3GS Models – Apple® today announced that it has sold over one million iPhone™ 3GS models through Sunday, June 21, the third day after its launch. In addition, six million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software in the first five days since its release. {Read more}

04/16/2009: Apple Premieres Movies on the iTunes Store in Germany – Apple® today announced that movies from major film studios including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), The Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures Television and independents including Universum and Shorts International are now available on the iTunes® Store in Germany for purchase and rent. {Read more}

Buy:

Apple iPod classic 160 GB Black (7th Generation)

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (3rd Generation)