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Today, zoomMediaPlus announces the zoomIt, a SD card reader dock for iPhone and iPod touch.  The attachment allows the Apple products to access data on an SD card and share this data to and from the SD card.  The unit will be available in April and will sell for a reasonable $59.99.

Whether it’s giving your digicam images a way to get to Facebook or Flicr or off-loading your iPhone’s images, even casual photographers should see great benefit in this product.  Made to work with all memory levels of iPhones and iPod touch SDK 3.0 and above devices, the zoomIt will allow access to iPhone OS file types including photos, music, videos, and documents (.PPT, .XLS, .DOC, .PDF, etc.).  Users can forgo connecting to a computer to get access to their images and just connect to their iPhone or touch.

“We’re excited not only by what zoomIt does for user-generated content but by what it can also do to create alternative methods of content distribution other than optical CD/DVD and downloadable,” said Richard Sfeir, CEO, zoomMediaPlus. “With the iPhone and iPod touch being the dominant portable multimedia platform, we’re excited about enabling preloaded content on SD cards to give the industry and consumers new ways to distribute and consume protected content.”

Currently, protected content such as licensed movies, music and images will be supported in a future release.  The zoomIt team is working doubly hard to make that a reality as the company believes it can follow in the honored footsteps of Slot Music and the like for content sales on a SD card.  Sweet.  I kid here but the ability to load up several movies on a card for say a long flight would be welcome, especially to users who opted for an 8GB device.

Pre-orders are being accepted now.

Company site: [zoomitonline] via [Gizmag]

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If you live in Europe, are a fan of Michael Jackson and need a storage device, check out the new Samsung S2 Portable HDD.  This special edition external drive is preloaded with Michael Jackson’s “This is It”, timed with the release of the DVD and Blu-ray Disc release on February 22nd.  Samsung did not release the price.

Keen to help users building a movie collection on their PCs, the 500GB drive connects via USB.  Interestingly, Samsung seems to orient it’s product for those building content libraries they’d rather keep hidden, with the addition of “SecretZone™ that encrypts and stores data on a virtual drive as well as SafetyKey™, a powerful data-security function that offers dual data protection through a password.”  It seems like some high-powered protection for keeping the Star Wars saga safe.

The unit is quite brazen in gold with the “This is It” logo silhouette featured prominently on top.

A quick check online finds you can find a similar non-special edition Samsung S2 HDD for as low as $69.99.  We’d suspect the special edition would be just a bit higher.

Company site: [Samsung] via Press Release: [BusinessWire]

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This week on TechVi’s BottomLine Gadgetell’s JG Mason and Appletell’s Jake Gaecke faced off on the tech stories of the day.  From Facebook doppelgangers to the iPad to Amazon pricing to the Zune phone, TechVi’s Bottom Line will get you caught up on the latest in the tech world.

Watch: [TechVi]

• Is the iPad what consumers are looking for?
• Appletell reviews Logitech Touch Mouse for iPhone and Mac/PC
• The Apple Store is down, new MacBook Pros on the way?

According to Disney EVP Kevin Mayer , Hulu isn’t transitioning to a paid model of any kind any time soon.  Hulu, a video content distribution website partnership between Fox, NBC and Disney, has rocketed in popularity.  Mayer did add that Hulu will be asking it’s customers to pay, though it is unclear how that will work or when it will happen.

Mayer suggested it will come in the form of subscriptions, one-time rentals, or perhaps movie rentals.  The company hopes to augment it’s ad-supported free content with a revenue stream to capture dollars as some consumers consider transitioning to an online TV entertainment scheme.  The perhaps dangerous question for Hulu quickly becomes: will forcing consumers to choose between traditional cable and satellite TV subscriptions and online subscriptions hasten the transformation of their current business model?

It is interesting to note that Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, is on the Board at Disney and is a staunch advocate for removing Flash (on which Hulu is based) from our future.  Both the iPhone and coming iPad lack Flash support and that stance doesn’t look to change as more companies embrace HTML5.

Read: [All Things Digital

• Collect bailout cash in iBailout for iPhone, iPod Touch
• Many of Ubisoft’s Q1 2010 releases are shovelware
• The Apple Store is down, new MacBook Pros on the way?

Welcome to this weeks look back at the dumbest moves in tech I could find.  The thrum of iPad talks are dying as we enter the Apple waiting game for a few months while hot phones are expect to show up in Barcelona later this month.  Here are the nominees for tech moves sponsored by illegal narcotics:

• nook says customers come last
• Sony to build Walkman tablet
• Kindle stumbles
• Our Editor pays for IT

nook says owners are bottom of totem pole

This week a leaked memo revealed a firmware upgrade for the nook, version 1.2.  Our Editor, Robert Nelson wrote, “Unfortunately, while the memo revealed that the in-store display units would be receiving the update, it also revealed that they would be receiving it before the customers.”  The memo made no note of when existing users can upgrade, other than it won’t be first.

This is actually a good business practice, as I hold the “buyers are liars” and customer is #453.  That is the model you should build on as alienating your early adapters can only bring good things.  Witness the iPhone: charge them an early adopter fee, then pull the rug out and drop the price - and the iPhone went on to win us all.  You can’t fault the nook folks for following such grandiose steps.  Also, can’t we just stick to normal capitalization rules.  Not capitalizing the nook seems disrespectful, crackheads.

Sony to build Walkman Tablet

Gadgetell writer Cheng Hung posted this about Sony, “Can Sony make one that’s on par with its rival? Oneda (Sony’s CFO ) admits that they are lagging “a little” behind Apple, but given their track record, Sony is usually a year behind Apple in terms of handheld devices. “

3 things bug me right there:
1.  As a marketing rule, you don’t let the CFO intro new product directions or concepts.  CFO’s follow money and while that is dandy they usually don’t buy into marketing vision or product vision.  So you end up with “we’re making this freakin’ awesome tablet that is going bring in bucket loads of cash.”

2.  Sony is lagging “a little” behind Apple; a year behind Apple in handheld devices.  From the CFO’s POV perhaps.  But from everyone else’s view, um, no.  The easiest comparison for me is the XPERIA vs iPhone.  Sony’s come a long way but still isn’t there.  Maybe by little, he mean like how there were little dinosaurs that were as big as my house.

And 3.  Facts I can tell you about Sony’s tablet: it will look pretty and be expensive.  Can they build something amazing?  Maybe.  The new XPERIA X10 looks handy with Android and they could parlay that into a tablet form that might work.  It will take a lot of work to get it to Sony standards (and by that I do not mean something that is liable to catch on fire).  A Sony tablet with nothing new to offer (aka most of Sony’s products for the past 15 years) will fall short of their and probably my expectations.  Don’t get me wrong Sony, I want to love you, it’s just you need to get off the rock and realize Sony doesn’t mean today what it meant in the 80s, in consumer products anyway.

Kindle stumbles

It was a good run, Amazon.  The dream of all books $9.99, peace and harmony in the world.  Well, that’s gone down the crapper: Our Robert Nelson writes, “Macmillan was upset because of the $9.99 pricing with Amazon, Amazon pulled their content, Amazon then later allowed them back in at the prices they wanted.”

Much has been writ in the media about Amazon blew this or Amazon won this.  The truth is Amazon got beat up in the school yard with everyone watching.  Now, Amazon doesn’t even both bringing in lunch money as it knows everyone is coming for a similar beating.  The cocky and possibly high, cool kid just got served, to use the vernacular of kids of 5 years ago -I am phat like that.

Amazon’s big plan is in turmoil, pricing is expected to go fruity, the Kindle’s next gen device can’t get here fast enough and now the king of integrated buying (iTunes) is coming to play.  Competing on price looks to have failed for Amazon, so what’s next?

Our Editor pays for IT.
I like to pick on Robert, mostly because (a) I knows he reads this and (b) because he can take it.  Last week, Robert revealed what he is willing to pay for in terms of web services.

“Personally I have never been one to shy away from a paid service, that is, assuming I actually use it and find value in it. The services that I pay for vary from time to time, but there always seems to be a core group that I keep.”

In looking at his list, so many are paid for options for more storage.  Photo storage, Evernote storage, MobileMe storage, SugarSync storage…  Good God man, how prolific a writer/phototog/digital content creator are you?  You’ve got more storage than a fleet of U-Hauls!

Not that I want you to change, heavens no.  Your generous contribution to all these paid offerings mean you shoulder my weight at most of them.  I take the freebie road and max out.  Then I add another alias and max that out.  You get a goodwill feeling for flashing the cash while I get a free smugness on how I am gaming the system.  That’s a win-win - so thanks Robert.  Even though I think you are on Crack for having that much storage.  Maybe that will change now that you’ve fallen for a pink Pogoplug?

• Barnes & Noble nook now shipping online, will be in-stores this week
• PlayStation Home Update: New Villian’s Lair at the Mall
• Palm Pixi Plus now free on-contract with Wirefly

Spotify looks to woo music labels with the idea that the album is not dead, as iTunes would have us believe.  In fact, Spotify says 30% of music download on their site is albums.  Spotify uses a subscription method that looks to transform users buying habits and it is using this concept to muscle into the US market.

According to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, Spotify launch is looking “pretty good” and he expects to launch inside of 2 months time.  The CEO stressed that Spotify is more than just a medium to sell music, it will be a way for artists (and labels) to touch their customers, to learn more about their demographics and open a direct line of communication to them.  So much more than that other sales tool, iTunes.

Says Ek, “we’re not only an ad-supported music company. We’re a subscription music company. And we’re a download music company, too. In certain territories, in downloads we’re number two or three after iTunes. So, through our platform there are different monetizations that are happening.”

When asked how the company will set itself apart, Ek replied, “I think if we start getting the entire music industry with us on this, we can see them experimenting on things like putting lyrics next to every track, or videos, or behind-the-scenes videos if you actually buy the album. Or you might be getting a playlist with the live set list of the show you saw.”

Spotify inked a deal with Telia in Sweden that preloaded Spotify on devices and even 3G data cards.  Not only did this grow Spotify, but according to the company, reduced churn for the teleco.  That is something Spotify will use to get it’s hook into the US market.  Reports have suggested even Google is on board.

Clearly, Spotify is looking to gain support from music labels and mobile carriers as they know consumers will follow.  With iTunes seen as the backbone of the iPhone, Spotify could be a welcome competitor.

Read [Billboard]

Image credit

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To make their products more appeasing to IT security mangers, Google has added some security to their Google Apps.  Google is looking to provide a similar security experience to Microsoft’s Exchange.  These changes make smartphones accessing company data much more secure.

The new security settings allow IT admin to add layers of security to smartphones that access company data.  Google has given power to the IT department to remote wipe, enforce password protection, style and size, and lock devices when idle.  IT will be able to push these requirements out to users devices.

Initially, the only supported devices will be iPhones, Windows Mobile and Nokia E series.  No word on BlackBerry yet though Android and Nexus One were mentioned to have “similar features” soon.  Premier and educational users should start to see these features added today.  Admin can access these settings from the Mobile tab in the Google Apps dashboard.

Read [Google] via [VentureBeat]

• Collect bailout cash in iBailout for iPhone, iPod Touch
• T-Mobile’s BlackBerry trackball replacement program delayed
• Many of Ubisoft’s Q1 2010 releases are shovelware

Acer won’t play that.  According to DigiTimes, Acer Taiwan President Scott Lin says he won’t follow Apple down the rabbit hole to tablet computer land.  Instead, he says the company will focus on ultra-thin notebooks.

Lin reportedly explained the while creating a tablet is child’s play for Acer, creating the ecosystem around it is Apple’s forte and is not easily repeated.  Lin hinted other companies will try to duplicate the hardware, but will fall short in software.  Therefore, Acer will focus on what it does best notebooks and ultra-thin notebooks. 

Lin noted he expects the iPad not to draw sales away from his product line.  He believes the iPad will draw from a very different customer base than those that seek Acer products.  It will be interesting to see if Apple can convert netbook buyers or even notebook buyers into iPad buyers or if Lin is correct and they’ll pull from a different base.

Read: [http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100201PD208.html] 

• Appletell reviews Logitech Touch Mouse for iPhone and Mac/PC
• The Apple Store is down, new MacBook Pros on the way?
• Gadgetell and Appletell get grilled on TechVi

According to a phone interview with Venturebeat, the JooJoo tablet computer will begin shipping to pre-orders later this month, within the time promised by the company.  With all the hype behind the Apple iPad tablet, the timing could be perfect for Fusion Garage to launch the JooJoo as Apple has done the hard part of whipping potential customers into a frenzy for the next great thing.  The JooJoo is listed for sale at $499.

Revealed during the call is manufacturing assistance by a phone manufacturer in southeast Asia.  Though Fusion Garage refused to name the company, the move will reduce the high up-front costs of small run manufacturing in exchange for a royalty of each JooJoo sold.  This should help keep the company stable throughout the launch cycle.  Fusion Garage raised $3 million in first round funding and expects to announce a new round shortly.

When asked point blank about the JooJoo’s chances over the iPad, Fusion Garage CEO said, “t has a much larger screen, 12.1 inches instead of 9.7 inches. The resolution is 1368 by 768 pixels instead of 1024 by 768. There are an extra 300 pixels of length, so it’s 16:9 widescreen resolution instead of 4:3. Watching video on it is a joy. And the Web browsing experience is even better than the iPad, because of the size of the screen.”

JooJoo started as a partnership between Michael Arrington of TechCrunch and Fusion Garage.  The relationship has since deteriorated with both partners bringing legal claims against the other.  It is unclear if those claims will delay shipping to customers that have pre-ordered.  The pre-orders reportedly have surprised Fusion Garage.

The JooJoo won’t have an app store according to the interview, believe that the web can provide much of the content brought about by these applications.

Product page: [JooJoo]

• Gadgetell and Appletell get grilled on TechVi
• Appletell reviews Logitech Touch Mouse for iPhone and Mac/PC
• The Apple Store is down, new MacBook Pros on the way?

As tax time rolls around here in the US, TurboTax has jumped on the Twitter bandwagon and will answer questions tweeted from taxpayers.  TurboTax is using Twitter to answer general tax questions as well as support questions for their tax software, TurboTax.  TurboTax is the nation’s best-selling tax software.

“People are increasingly going online to file their taxes. Now they can just as easily go online to get answers from @TeamTurboTax on Twitter,” said Scott Gulbransen, lead for @TeamTurboTax. “This expands the options people have to get answers – whether it’s on Twitter, on the Web or on the phone.

TurboTax looks to have a team of 13 on Twitter responding to questions.  So far, there looks to be a lot of activity and the team seems very responsive.  It’s an aggressive move by the TurboTax team and as we’ve seen from some companies, a very handy well to assist customers.  You can get your tax questions answered at @teamturbotax.

Company site: [TurboTax]

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