Ipod

If you have iPod envy but no Mac to match it, SONICblue's new RioRiot digital music player might be what you're waiting for. Although slightly bigger and less elegant than Apple's svelte digital music player, the $399 RioRiot holds four times as much as the original iPod. SonicBlue says the device's 20-gigabyte hard drive holds 400 albums worth of music, a figure I can't dispute - after spending hours pouring 474 of my favorite songs into it, I still had 17.5 gigabytes of space to spare.

Calling Wendel Patrick multi-talented is an understatement. The 39-year-old Baltimore resident usually has a Fender Rhodes keyboard, two turntables, effects processors and a microphone for beat boxing and vocal percussion at his shows. When Patrick bumped into Erik Spangler (aka: DJ Dubble8) after a closing performance at last year's Artscape, they talked about creating an improv-based hip-hop series. Last November, they created the Baltimore Boom Bap Society, which now performs monthly shows around the city.

MIAMI -- Since the iPod debuted in 2001, Gregg Radell has used five of the music and video players. He lost one, another broke, a third ran out of storage space, and he decided to replace the fourth. Each time, he bought a newer model. Sensing a market in refurbishing rather than replacing the devices, the Miami businessman started PodSwap.com about 18 months ago. The company allows customers to credit the value of used iPods - even if they're broken - toward new or repaired ones. Customers also can trade in their iPod for its cash value.

Abell Avenue 3200 block, between 6 p.m. April 17 and 4:10 p./m. April 19. Side window screen removed in unsuccessful attempt to enter residence. Bellona Avenue 6000 block, between 2 and 9 a.m. April 15. iPod, iPlayer stolen from vehicle. Greenway 3800 block, between 10 a.m. April 17 and 10:45 a.m. April 18. 26-inch Fuji 24-speed bicycle stolen from unlocked garage. Kernwood Avenue 4600 block, between 6:50 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. April 16. Green, 2004 Buick Park Avenue with Maryland tags 88AN1230 stolen.

As a PC kind of guy, I rarely suffer from Mac envy, but I'll admit turning green last year when Apple announced its iPod digital music player. The elegant, 6.5-ounce gadget - about the size of a pack of cigarettes - featured a tiny but capacious hard drive and a slick, friendly interface that made competing players seem downright clunky. Now Apple has an iPod for the rest of us - or at least those who have the right PC and recent versions of Microsoft Windows. As expected, it's a pleasure to use, with superb sound and a beautifully simple control panel.

Microsoft yesterday unveiled its portable Zune music and video player and an online music store that is aimed at challenging Apple Computer's iPod player and iTunes service, which dominate the digital music field. The Zune, which can store 30 gigabytes of sound and video files, will come in a black, brown or white case with a 3-inch screen and a built-in FM tuner, which the iPod lacks. Microsoft said the product would be available in time for the holidays, but it did not release a specific date or price in its statement.

So let's say there are two of us and only one iPod. How'd you like to listen to it together, simultaneously, even if we're up to 30 feet apart? Didn't think so. Other than a possible teen bonding ritual, I can't come up with too many share-an-iPod scenarios in which the Aerielle's i2i Stream wireless digital music broadcaster would be worth $120. Too many people, particularly the demographic that Aerielle appears to target, already have an iPod, anyway. For those who don't own an iPod, $120 comes too close to the cost of a new Nano.

THE APPLE iPod digital music player was the hot item this past holiday season, moving 4.5 million units. From Hollywood hipsters to Washington deal-makers to middle America's middle-schoolers, the iPod was the gift to give or get -- if you could get it. The spectacular success of the fetish object of the moment raises interesting questions about the state of our culture. The iPod is just expensive enough to be chic, like luxury perfume, and just hard enough to get to be coveted, like last winter's Ugg boots.

The automobile took another step closer to becoming a full-blown entertainment center yesterday, with deals announced between Apple Computer Inc. and the top two U.S. carmakers. General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. will integrate Apple's iPod into their new models, further strengthening Apple's dominant position in the portable music player business. An iPod that meshes into a car's audio system is yet another example of how traditional communications boundaries are increasingly being erased.

A section of Crownsville has been transformed into the 16th-century English village of Revel Grove for the Maryland Ren aissance Festival. On weekends through Oct. 22, visitors to the fair can enjoy games, music, crafts and other attractions.

The following is compiled from police reports from the Cockeysville Precinct. Our policy is to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. Parkton York Road , 17300 block, between 7:15 a.m. and 7:35 a.m. Nov. 29. Two Hereford High School students were outside when male tried to kiss female, then fondled her. Stablers Church Road , 800 block, between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11. Woman accepted a ride from a man in Silver Spring, Md. She fell asleep and woke up to find him massaging her leg. When she told him to stop, he said he was taking her to his house.

North Calvert Street 2700 block, between 7:40 and 7:55 p.m. Oct. 24. Mac Book stolen from residence. Entry gained through unlocked rear window. North Charles Street 2800 block, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Catalytic converter stolen from vehicle. 3200 block, between 6 p.m. Oct. 24 and 9 a.m. Oct. 25. iPod, TomTom GPS, phone charger, video camera, camera, lens stolen from unlocked vehicle. Cresmont Avenue 2800 block, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 and 5:10 p.m. Oct. 26. Schwinn Frontier bike stolen from outside of residence.

North Calvert Street 2800 block, between 4 p.m. Sept. 20 and 5 p.m. Sept. 21. Schwinn 10-speed M20 mountain bike stolen from porch by cutting off lock. 3000 block, between 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and 4 a.m. Sept. 23. Car battery stolen. 3000 block, between 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and 6:20 a.m. Sept. 22. Silver Toshiba laptop and case stolen from residence. Entry gained by climbing though open window above kitchen door. Charlcote Road 4200 block, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sept.

Abell Avenue 3300 block, between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Aug. 25. Burgundy, 1990 Lexus LS400 with Maryland tags 6FMM35 stolen. S. Edgecombe Circle 2900 block, between 2:45 p.m. Aug. 22 and 12:59 a.m. Aug. 23. Gold, 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Maryland tags 61147M6 stolen. St. Paul Street 3600 block, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 22. Garmin GPS, GPS stand stolen from vehicle. Tudor Arms Avenue 3900 block, between 12:01 and 8 a.m. Aug. 25. Stereo, iPod stolen from vehicle.

With a B.A. in dance and psychology, 24-year-old Melissa Talleda keeps busy, dancing and choreographing with Baltimore modern dance company the Collective and teaching preschool children in Bolton Hill life skills such as manners, sharing and respect. She took some time to talk with b in the days preceding the Collective's newest show, a collaborative effort between the dancers, Baltimore band The Water and DJ Relax. Check out her talent on Friday, but check out her answers now: Worst pet peeve?

AK Slaughter, the dual voices of Emily Slaughter and Aran Keating, have been making music in Baltimore since their college days at Goucher, mixing fast with slow and musical simplicity with quirky complexity. Their answers for this week's Like/Dislike are almost as entertaining as their sharp lyrics and funky beats. Don't miss them at the Fifth Annual All Rap Round Robin at 9 p.m. Friday at Floristree, featuring 12 different talents. They'll be releasing their new split EP with RapDragons there.

The other day I saw something that caught my attention: a 16-pack of Duracell AA batteries with a free set of white earbuds. That may not seem particularly unusual, but the earbuds appear to be replicas of those issued with Apple's iPods. The earbuds are shaped exactly the same and have the same gray-shaded plastic around the earpieces. Each earpiece also has six small vent holes on the outer shell. But a closer inspection reveals minor discrepancies. The small circular "L" and "R" labels are gray on the iPod earbuds, black on the Duracell pair.

If you're among the 100 million iPod owners who won't be buying an Apple iPhone when it goes on sale tomorrow, don't worry. There are plenty of gadgets that can satisfy your desire to part with bundles of cash for an improved "i" experience. In fact, for the same $600 that Macolytes are spending on high-end iPhones, you can engage the services of George, an elegant if pricey speaker dock with one of the coolest remote controls I've seen. Yes, that's a $600 accessory for an iPod whose list price tops out at $350.