More than a year after its launch, it was already clear that the iPhone needed to come up with something new, and since Apple released a new iPhone, they also refreshed the iPod touch line of products with a new one, although the first models were released not so long ago, back in September 2007. Anyway, since they did this, let's see what do we get from these new models, shall we?

To be honest, I expected to see more with the release of these new models, especially when talking about the iPhone. Anyway, the iPod touch could also get some serious improvements, such as the addition of support for Ogg Vorbis and FLAC audio formats, but I won't get into that now. For me, the iPod touch is not something worth buying, and that's all. If you're looking for better and cheaper alternatives, there are quite a few of them out there, and I talking especially about Cowon players.

Now, let's get back to yesterday's "big story". This story can be reduced to this: 16GB iPhone, and 32GB iPod touch. Other than that, it's silence. Nothing. No new features, no 3G support, no design improvements(is it me, or the iPod touch looks a bit too much like the iPhone?), and not at least better prices!

Well, here's the pricing - the new 16GB iPhone is available already through the Apple Store at $499, while the 32GB iPod touch costs exactly the same. In my opinion, the touch is outrageously expensive, but the new iPhone looks pretty interesting, sicne the 8GB model is priced at $399, currently.

If you love your iPod so much that you won't listen your music using any other device, then you could also considering an amplifier for it. That's useful when you want to share the listening experience with some friends, and also to annoy your neighbours... it's your call, and I won't get into that. What I want to do is give you a quick hint about a very interesting amplifier for your iPod...

Pictured above, Grace Digital's Lars & Ivan PA-40Ti is a hybrid power amplifier with a built-in iPod dock, designed to work as iPod amplifier, as well as stand-alone speakers to be used with various other sound inputs(Phono/CD/AUX/iPod input available to be selected).

The PA-40Ti is available in Silver or Gray, and features stereo headphone output, a subwoofer and a remote control. Specified output power is 40W RMS, with a frequency response between 22Hz ~ 22kHz, and 0.08% THD+N distortion at 5W ~ 10W. Signal to noise ratio is 67dB, with a specified dynamic range of 75dB and -55dB crosstalk. When used at 50% of its output capacity, the amplifier requires 79W/h.

At last, you should know that this amplifier weighs 4kg, has 91 X 232 X 356mm and, unfortunately, it doesn't come cheap, being priced at $449.99, its only drawback, apart from the missing Black color option...

Microsoft's last offer to buy Yahoo is still under the scope of the board of directors at Yahoo, and even if they accept, the deal must also get the green flag from the European and American antitrust organizations. While this deal has most chances to pass through, if Yahoo agrees with it, Google simply can't make any offer to buy them, being the market leader, but other can... and one of them is Apple!

To be honest, this came as a surprise to me. OK, Apple is going up these days, but can they cover so many market areas at the same time, and manage to remain efficient in all of them? Well, that's what remains to be seen, especially since all we have at this time is nothing more but rumors...

At this time, it seems that those with their eyes on Yahoo include Apple Inc., Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., the media conglomerate InterActiveCorp, as well as the leading Chinese Internet search company Alibaba.com, but let's focus on Apple, shall we?

In a report published yesterday, the Scotsman wrote "It is believed he would be particularly open to a rescue bid from Steve Jobs' Apple Corp, having openly expressed his admiration for the firm in the past.", but I think this is not true, at least for now. Apple is not the Bruce Willis of the industry, and Yahoo doesn't actually need to be saved. They got an offer, but they can simply refuse it, and then allow things to move on, so it won't happen any tragedy, after all.

The fact that Steve Jobs was invited by Jerry Yang to hold a surprise speech to revitalize Yahoo's management morale at a meeting held back in October doesn't say much, and taking things from here to a "rescue bid" is a bit too much, at least for now, but I won't call it "impossible". Just keep your eyes on us, we'll be there to let you know all there is to know, if and when it happens...

Apple's current growth needs, apart from new markets to sustain it with their demand, new people to help driving the company into the right direction. Since Microsoft got a new CIO from Walt Disney, now Apple made the same move, bringing in someone from a notorious company to help the higher level management team. This time, it's not about Walt Disney, but about Wal-Mart...

Less than 2 years ago, Wal-Mart released their own video downloads site, and at the end of 2007, they closed it. Now, the only message you'll get from the site is "The Wal-Mart Video Downloads Service closed on 12/21/07", and the reason should be obvious. Even Hector Martinez, HP spokesman, said the market was not as good "as expected". Since this happened, it was a good occasion for Apple to grab someone with experience in the field, this person being Kevin Swint, the former digital media head of Wal-Mart.

As one would expect, Swint's job at Apple will involve taking care of their international movies and TV services. Other than that, time will tell, but I think Apple can succeed where others have failed, so let's bid Kevin Swint "good luck" in making Steve Jobs' company go higher!

Despite the fact that iPods are being overrun by Macs, the iPod accessories market still comes up with a lot of new things, and maybe the most popular sector of this market is the one literally taking care of iPods. Yes, I am talking about iPod cases, and today I want to tell you about a new line of such products, coming from the notorious Tunewear...

The Tuneshell clear cases for the entire iPod lineup, pictured above, were announced to become available one of these days, so you should be able to grab one pretty soon, depending on your local retailer, but let's see what do we have here first, shall we?

All these shells are manufactured using clear polycarbonate plastics, offering full screen protection, while allowing you quick and easy access to the controls and ports of the iPod. Some models include belt clips, and if you don't have a clip, then a lanyard should be there to help you keep your favorite music player close to your heart...

The Tuneshell line's cases are priced between $20 and $30, and if you want to check the entire line-up of such cases available from Tunewear, including older models, feel free to visit this page.