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New Apple iPod Recycling Program Offers Incentive

malebolgia   on 03 June 2005 - 20:00 · 46 comments & 4801 views

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In response to mounding pressure from environmental activists, Apple today announced a free recycling program for its iPod digital music players.

Beginning today, customers can bring iPods they no longer want to any of Apple’s 100 retail stores in the US for free environmentally friendly disposal, and those who drop off an iPod, iPod mini or iPod photo will receive a 10 percent discount on the purchase of a new iPod that day. iPods received for recycling in the US will be processed domestically and no hazardous material will be shipped overseas, Apple said in a statement to the press.

View: Apple iPod Recycle Website
News source: AppleInsider


Here are some key features of "Exact Audio Copy":

  • Usage of the Windows 95 and Windows NT ASPI Interface, so both SCSI and ATAPI CD-ROM drives are supported
  • Hidden sector synchronization (jitter correction)
  • Secure, fast and burst extraction methods selectable. Fast extraction should run at the same speed as other grabbers, but is probably not exact anymore. Burst mode just grabs the audio data without any synchronization.
  • Read error and complete loss of sync detection and correction in secure modes, as far as possible
  • Output of time positions of all non-exact corrections and listen to these positions
  • Copy of ranges of music data, not only tracks
  • Automatic Speed reduction on errors and fallback afterwards
  • Normalization of extracted audio
  • Usage of the Windows Audio Compression Manager (ACM Codecs) for direct compression e.g. to MP3 waves
  • Support for the BladeEnc DLL that is usable like an ACM Codec for online MP3 compression
  • Support of external MP3, VQF, RA and AAC encoders for automatic compression after extraction
  • Batch compression and decompression of/to WAV files
  • Compression offset support for exact compression/decompression
  • Detection of pre-track gaps
  • Detection of silence in pre-track gaps
  • Automatic creation of CUE sheets for CDRWin, including all gaps, indicies, track attributes, UPC and ISRC
  • CD player functionality and prelistening to selected ranges
  • Automatic detection of drive features, whether a drive has an accurate stream and/or does caching
  • Sample Offsets for drives with no accurate streams, including the option of filling up missing samples with silence
  • Option for synchronizing tracks for non-accurate stream drives
  • Filename editing with local and remote CDDB database and cdplayer.ini support and more features like ID3 tagging
  • Browse and edit local database
  • Certified Escient CDDB(TM) Compatible
  • Local CDDB support
  • Record and Loop Record functions for recording from LP, radio, etc.
  • Automatic rename of MP3 files according to their ID3 tag
  • Catalog extraction function
  • Multisession (CD-Extra) support
  • CD-Text support
  • CD-Write support for some drives
  • ID3 Tag editor with drag and drop possibility from track listing and database
  • Glitch removal after extraction
  • Small WAV editor with the following functionality: delete, trim, normalize, pad, glitch removal, pop detection, interpolation of ranges, noise reduction, fade in/out, undo (and more)
  • Program is Cardware, so feel free to copy

  • Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 46 additional comments
    (3 replies) #1 kgraphik on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:07
    That's not a bad offer. I will definetly be doing this when my 4G iPod dies on me. Can't wait to see what 5th Gen iPods will look like.
    #1.1 eminem213486 on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:32
    im sorry but i had to jump the boat here, i fail to see your point of view. why do you look at it in that prospect, when my 4g dies on me... thats very negative and tells us that you dont care you might be getting ripped off for a not even 2 year old expensive toy.

    i hate to sound like a fanboy though but damn, i take value with everything i buy, i dont think of when its going to die or break down on me. although if it does you better be sure ill fight for it. (the battery thing would piss me off)
    #1.2 ThunderRiver on 04 Jun 2005 - 01:02
    eminem213486, damn straight. I can't put it any better.

    Apple is good at ripping people off, so there is no way I will let it get away with it.
    10% discount is truly only useful if you have a complete dead iPod, meaning hard drive doesn't even work at all.. Otherwise, it is not an attractive deal at all.

    You paid $300 for a hard drive, and you are going to throw it away for $30 (10% discount) because of a dead battery? Not me
    #1.3 deiong15 on 04 Jun 2005 - 01:29
    can companies get any gayer. its like dell brign your old computer so we can recylce it and they dotn even offer you any cash for it. i'd rather keep it for parts or something. as for the ipod. same thing. some companies are as bad as satan when it comes to ripping off the customers. they want it all. .
    #2 Chad on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:14
    Now let's keep this iPod story clean, hmmm?

    kgraphik: I agree, it isn't a bad offer at all. Especially when you consider there was no offer previously.
    #3 Syphonic on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:19
    Why couldn't they have started doing this last month
    #4 Syphonic on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:19
    Whoops double-post sorry.
    (1 reply) #5 raid517 on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:21
    This may seem like a dumb question, but do Ipods support MP3 natively, or do they need to be converted to some Apple propriatory format or other?

    What formats and what bitrates are supported?

    I'm asking as if they do support MP3 natively, I intend to go tomorrow and buy a 60GB Ipod IPhoto.

    GJ
    #5.1 joseph- on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:26
    Yes, they support mp3 natively.

    I use VBR/ABR of 256kbps via LAME for my personal encodes, and it works fine on my iPod.
    #6 Syphonic on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:21
    Yes, all iPods support MP3 natively.
    (2 replies) #7 Steven on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:22
    10 percent off? Just sell your used iPod on ebay you'll get a lot more than 10 percent of its value.

    When I sold my 2nd generation iPod on ebay I got $175.00 for it.
    #7.1 machorro on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:54
    but your iPod still worked

    if you are going to give away to apple a used but functioning ipod then that is your fault, this benefits ppl that their iPod might have died and can't claim the warranty...
    #7.2 roadwarrior on 04 Jun 2005 - 02:06
    I've seen even old iPods with dead batteries and busted screens go for more than $50 on eBay, which is more than you'd likely get with this program. People buy them for the parts to repair other iPods. Sometimes you can buy two broken ones for $50 each and put together one working one, if you know what you're doing.
    #8 soothsayer on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:35
    Wise move, I doubt many will be able to resist using that 10% to get a new one.
    #9 TheSarge on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:48
    I think this is aimed at people who want to dispose of old iPods that are'nt worth much anymore. (ie. broken iPods) Why else would they offer only 10% back?
    I think this is mostly for disposal of the battery and other electronics.
    (9 replies) #10 uiop on 03 Jun 2005 - 20:53
    Everyone is missing the entire point of this!
    This wasn't put in motion so that you get 10%, its meant to improve the disposal of toxic chemicals and hazardous material from sitting in landfills. This is an environmental issue and not an economic one!
    #10.1 machorro on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:01
    when something like this is comming from a company it will always be an economic one, they might be concerned, but to think that its only b/c of the good will of that company its just dumb
    #10.2 christracy on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:11
    yeah its an environmental issue but u best believe that apple is thinking of those that will buy another ipod for that 10% off just as much as they are looking out for the environment.
    #10.3 theyarecomingforyou on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:28
    QUOTE
    yeah its an environmental issue but u best believe that apple is thinking of those that will buy another ipod for that 10% off just as much as they are looking out for the environment.


    Exactly... if they can get enough new customers in then it's great PR and the sales cover the operating costs of the recycling program. Savvy business sense, but this should have been put in place years ago.
    #10.4 Yvo on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:31
    It is a win win situation. Apple will sell another ipod and at the same time help out the environment.

    There must be some sort of government or state incentive that we aren't being made aware of considering how the government (whether its federal or state) is giving incentives to companies having some sort of enviromental policy in place.
    #10.5 TheSarge on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:57
    Enviromental issues are economic issues. You can't have your cake and eat it too, y'know?
    #10.6 Valkyre on 03 Jun 2005 - 23:21
    OH NOES, NOT THE ENVIROMENT! AIIIIE!!

    I'm off this planet in less then 80 years. I don't care about the ozone being destroyed. I care about my iPod. How's that for human apathy?
    #10.7 theyarecomingforyou on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:41
    QUOTE
    I'm off this planet in less then 80 years. I don't care about the ozone being destroyed. I care about my iPod. How's that for human apathy?


    That's about inline with the US's environmental policy.
    #10.8 SquareSoft0 on 04 Jun 2005 - 04:17
    Actually, as much as I'd hate to admit it, I think Bush's new environmental plans are a big step in the right direction.
    #10.9 theyarecomingforyou on 05 Jun 2005 - 02:59
    QUOTE
    Actually, as much as I'd hate to admit it, I think Bush's new environmental plans are a big step in the right direction.


    Not ratifying the Kyoto agreement and ignoring global warming is the right direction? Drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the right direction? That's a backward step against everything Clinton worked for, prioritising the environment over energy production. Clinton, however sleazy his personal life was, built bridges to other countries, particularly the UK - Bush seems to be burning them at every step.
    (4 replies) #11 win2000b on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:37
    normally companies do this to stock pile old models and strip em down to get good parts to fix older products sent in for repair.
    #11.1 TheSarge on 03 Jun 2005 - 22:01
    Um, not in the portable devices market they don't.
    These things will be striped, yes, but not for parts; for valuable metals (gold, copper, zinc, etc.) The rest is worthless. Do you really think anyone wants an old iPod drive or a used LCD screen?
    It's all shiped off to China or India where cheap labour and no enviromental law enforcement ensures cost efectiveness for the corporations, a toxic waste dump for a living room for the rural town unfortunate enough to have the "recycling industry", and an early death for thousands of children exposed to horrendous levels of mercury.

    Fun for the whole family, right?
    #11.2 beanwaur on 03 Jun 2005 - 22:53
    read the whole article mr. smarty pants

    QUOTE
    iPods received for recycling in the US will be processed domestically and no hazardous material will be shipped overseas, Apple said in a statement to the press.
    #11.3 TheSarge on 03 Jun 2005 - 23:12
    Hah! I suppose you belive that no prisoners will be tortured in Iraqi prisons, too.
    #11.4 CheeseCow on 04 Jun 2005 - 08:36
    QUOTE
    iPods received for recycling in the US will be processed domestically and no hazardous material will be shipped overseas, Apple said in a statement to the press.

    That doesn't mean they won't ship it of to China, it just means they will remove the nukes from the iPods first.
    #12 cjrciadt on 03 Jun 2005 - 21:52
    Very good move considering the millions that have sold in the past year(not including before 04). Could we see this expand to include the PowerBooks or even PowerMacs??
    #13 nic on 03 Jun 2005 - 22:23
    Well, if my iPod broke because I dropped it all horribly, or smashed it into something all negligent like...then I'd probably take that 10% offer for a new iPod. If it died just because of manufacturer defect I'd recycle it, but i tend to hold grudges and encourage competition.
    #14 Cubiz on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:29
    Nice, but it says "...Apple’s 100 retail stores in the US..." - what about other countries?
    #15 Xylene on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:48
    This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Anyone who does that for 10% off of a new iPod is w moron when they can sell it for more than that.
    #16 ir0nw0lf on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:55
    Too bad many many people in the US don't live anywhere near one of the retail stores, like me.
    #17 Dark_INk on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:56
    wtf- sell it! or use it as storage!
    #18 ThunderRiver on 04 Jun 2005 - 00:57
    I am sorry.. but hard drive alone costs more than their stupid 10% discount.

    I would rather hold onto my old iPod and replace the battery.. Only filthy rich people will throw away hard drive like that
    #19 pyu on 04 Jun 2005 - 02:01
    It would be wonderful if it was applied internationally. /me looks at dead 2G iPod.
    (2 replies) #20 skooter on 04 Jun 2005 - 03:56
    In Australia, people can send their unwanted iPods to me. I'll "recycle" them just fine.

    Thanks.
    #20.1 denzilla on 04 Jun 2005 - 04:15
    I'll be your US branch.
    #20.2 SquareSoft0 on 04 Jun 2005 - 04:15
    Free harddrives.
    #21 Caleb on 04 Jun 2005 - 06:06
    I won't be getting an iPod anytime soon unless it supports FLAC. (and possibly OGG)
    (2 replies) #22 ANova on 04 Jun 2005 - 06:21
    If I bought an ipod and the damn thing stopped working after only 1-2 years of use and Apple refused to repair it, I would most definitely not give it to that cheating company nor would I buy anymore of their products.
    #22.1 ThunderRiver on 04 Jun 2005 - 14:52
    Oh.. they will repair it.. except the reapir cost is going to be as much as a new iPod. What gives?
    #22.2 daveoc64 on 04 Jun 2005 - 19:16
    No company selling a portable music device would repair it after that amount of time. Most offer some form of Warranty but only up to a year.
    #23 koppit on 07 Jun 2005 - 06:22
    F*** returning it. If you have an old ipod send/sell it to someone like me!
    I can fix almost anything, wouldn't you rather it go to someone who'd use it rather than the trash heap? (hell, $30 is nothing to give up for older technology, it's what you'd get if you took it back to apple, and they'd just throw it out)

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