With the recent iPod & iTunes updates, there’s been a surge in news about Apple’s portable media platform. Here are a few highlights:

• Apple breaks video out with new iPods. iLounge’s Jeremy Horowitz points out that Apple has locked the TV Out feature of the iPod classic and video-capable iPod nano, preventing users from outputting iPod content¬†using¬†add-on displays, docks, and other devices that worked with 4G¬†and 5G iPods. It sounds like Apple may be¬†using encryption chips to make accessories that aren’t licensed by Apple obsolete.
• Get Free Ringtones By Typing Three Letters. Cleverboy has posted instructions on how to “convert” AAC music files to ringtones in iTunes 7.4. Ringtones and song files are only distinguished by file extension. The file extension for ringtones is “M4R”. Change the file extension, and your music file becomes a ringtone. How long until Apple breaks this?
• Apple has quietly introduced “iTunes tagging”. The service lets listeners with HD Radio receivers that have a special tag button “tag” songs they hear on the FM dial for subsequent purchase via Apple’s iTunes.¬† “iTunes tagging takes music discovery on the radio to the next level,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod Product Marketing, in a statement.