Designed to complement the look of the 2007/2008 aluminum iMac, respected French high-end speaker maker Focal JMlab’s new Focal XS system ($599) combines a large standalone subwoofer unit with two aluminum-suspended satellite speakers that can be placed on a desk next to a computer monitor, and controlled with a six-button Infrared remote. Each of the satellites includes 3/4″ and 3″ drivers, while the subwoofer packs a 6.5″ bass-reflex driver,…

As the third in Noreve’s Tradition series of leather cases for the iPhone 3G, Tradition C ($40-50) is a simple sleeve-like holder with holes on the top and bottom. The bottom hole is sized for the iPhone’s Dock Connector, while the top one is large enough for insertion and removal of the device, though denying volume button and screen access while inside. Twelve smooth leather colors are available for $40 each, while three vintage colors such as the…

Norway consumer advocate Bjoern Erik Thon is taking Apple to the country’s Market Council seeking to force Apple into adjusting its iTunes Store music offerings to ensure they play on digital players other than the iPod. Norway is leading the European campaign that began two years ago, claiming the DRM restrictions violate Norwegian law, and is backed by Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. “We discussed this at a meeting…

After many weeks of having to sift through depressingly mediocre game releases, the great news is that virtually all of the titles in this week’s iPhone Gems games column are actually worth checking out—assuming you’re a fan of the genres they represent. Two updated classic arcade games from Atari are the week’s highlights, but thanks to their increasingly reasonable prices and interesting uses of the iPhone and iPod touch…

The editors of iLounge are delighted to announce the birth of Hannah Mae Lloyd, daughter of publisher Dennis Lloyd and his wife Denyse. Hannah was born at 6:11am on September 28, 2008, weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long. Mother and baby are both healthy and happy. Please join us in wishing congratulations to the Lloyds on their new bundle of joy! For those who missed the Backstage announcement over the summer, iLounge’s…

Based almost entirely upon the earlier, excellent CapsuleRebel for iPhone 3G, SwitchEasy’s new RebelTouch ($25) similarly combines soft and hard plastic shells together to form a body frame, using clear front film and an included, detachable Dock Connector port cover to protect almost all of the rest of the second-generation iPod touch. Volume and Sleep/Wake button covers are integrated into the soft plastic part of the body, while a spine-like…

SwitchEasy has introduced its new RebelTouch case for the second-generation iPod touch. Like the company’s prior CapsuleRebel case for iPhone 3G, RebelTouch is a hybrid case featuring a inner layer made of Adaptive Dynamic Soft Polymer (ADSP), a material which is stronger and more UV resistant than silicone, yet soft enough to protect the finish of the iPod touch. A Lexan polycarbonate “UltraFrame” attaches to the outside of the ADSP shell,…

Electronic Arts has released an updated version of Spore Origins for Click Wheel iPods that adds support for the accelerometer found in the fourth-generation iPod nano, allowing the user to move their character simply by tilting the device. As was the case when the company released an updated version to fix the iPod classic lock-up bug, users who have already purchased the game should receive an email informing them of the update and explaining that…

Apple has quietly changed the App Store’s review policy, now requiring users to have actually downloaded or purchased an application before they are allowed to review it. This improvement has been long-requested by developers, who at times saw the ratings on their apps drop due to negative reviews from users who had never even used the application. Now, if a user attempts to review an application that they haven’t used, they are greeted…

This week’s Ask iLounge topics: iTunes HD TV episodes showing up twice, Shure MPA-3C and iPod touch, Synchronizing iPod to a new iTunes library, Problems updating iPhone applications, Managing iTunes media files on an external hard drive, Managing multiple iPods on one computer