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Amazon UK has just launched its MP3 Music Downloads service. At first glance it looks very good. There are songs and albums from every genre and with albums from just £3 and songs from only 59p, this looks like a big competitor to iTunes from Apple. Key features of the Amazon service include:

• Can be played on all MP3 players, including iPods
• Can be loaded (via PC or Mac) into most media-enabled mobile phones
• Downloads instantly to iTunes, Windows Media Player and most other Mac and PC music players
• Free from DRM (digital rights management), so you’re not restricted in how you use the music you buy

I have bought some songs from Amazon MP3 Downloads and the purchase was very easy. The low prices might be an opening sales ploy but if they continue, I think Apple might have to revise their own pricing policy. I mostly buy single tracks and Amazon undercuts Apple by between 10p and 20p. At the same time, the MP3 songs at Amazon are encoded with a higher bit rate which normally means higher sound quality, particularly if you play the tracks through hi-fi equipment like I do.

It’s all good news for the music-loving customer as far as I am concerned!

As a fairly recent iPod purchaser, I have been amazed by the number of iPod accessories that are available. One of my recent iPod accessory purchases has been an iPod Gelaskin which will protect your iPod back, front, and screen, with a simple, thin, semi-adhesive ’skin’ that can be positioned over the iPod, and repositioned, with ease.

Once applied, the skin covers the surfaces of your iPod to prevent scratching and other marks. Best of all, the Gelaskins come in a range of different, artist-designed styles. I went for the ‘mod’ look but there’s something for everyone – see example below.

Of course, the skin is also a great way of customising your iPod!

Pre-Order Now! The Apple MacBook Air has an ultra thin, ultra portable design, making it the world’s thinnest laptop without compromising on performance.

Price £1199.00 – Free Delivery

» Apple MacBook Air from PC World

I usually buy myself a Christmas present every year [it beats another pair of socks] and this time I decided that an Apple iPod would be the choice.  The only difficulty was deciding which one to buy and where to buy it from.

Related » MP3 Players on Shop Junction

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After being available in the USA for some time, Apple’s much praised iPhone finally reaches the UK on 9 November, just in time for the Christmas season.  The iPhone is priced from £269 in the UK and it’s bound to be one of the best-selling products for Christmas.

The iPhone combines a revolutionary touch screen mobile phone, widescreen iPod, and Internet browser into one lightweight handheld device. It comes in a seductive black and silver casing with the same sort of style that Apple is famous for.  Only one word can describe it. Cool.

I might even have to upgrade my (very) old Nokia. Now, that’s saying something for an old stick-in-the-mud like me.