Apple introduced the new iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a continued partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG). The new U2 iPod is based on the fifth generation 30GB iPod and holds up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos or over 75 hours of video and features a distinctive, all-black stainless steel enclosure, red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. U2 iPod customers will also receive 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video downloadable from the iTunes Music Store.

The new U2 iPod is available immediately for $329 on the AppleStore.

Digidesign announces that TrooTrace plug-in by Troodon Technologies will be included with all VENUE Pack 2.0 promotional bundle. TrooTrace is a TDM plugin for tuning, equalization and time-alignment problems. It contains ten essential audio analysis and system alignment tools that run directly on VENUE's DSP mix engine.

Please also note that Venue's owners who purchased their systems before April 14, 2006 are entitled to receive $100 off when purchasing the TrooTrace plug-in bundle at the regular $495 price.

M-Audio announces three Wirelss MIDI devices : the new MidAir 25 is a 25 key controller featuring the new MidAir receiver, eight MIDI-assignable knobs, mod&pitch bend wheels, assignable sustain button and a pedal input. The MidAir 37 features 37 and nine assignable faders. At last, the MidAir receiver is a 2.4GHz wireless USB-MIDI interface working on Mac .

The MidAir 25 ships now for $249.95. The MidAir 37 will ship in July ($299.95) and the MidAir wireless MIDI interface will ship in August (price TBA).

Sonic Studio today announced a new driver for their Series 300 hardware that includes a Sonic equalizer. Running in the +DSP environment of the Series 300 hardware, the new Sonic EQ carefully recreates the minimal phase equalizer that first appeared in the original Sonic System. The Sonic EQ is a proprietary implementation of equalizer that includes 12 different topologies, including multi–order parametrics, multi–order shelves, multi–order high/low pass, multi–order bandpass/stop, infinite notch, DC removal and de–emphasis for both AES/EBU emphasis and RIAA pre–emphasis.

The new driver that includes Sonic EQ, is available now to all current Series 300 owners by direct download on Sonic Studio's site.

Swar system announces that both SwarShala and Swar Librarian have been compiled as Universal Binaries and therefore run natively on both Intel and PowerPC (PPC) computers. Swar also announces the release of two new updates :

- improved Swar Librarian : BPM control, drag&drop and more..
- SwarShala Pro update : drag & drop sequences to your sequencer.