Stuff that makes using your iPod or iPhone better.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005Altec Lansing IM5 Speaker System Altec Lansing Technologies has released their latest portable speaker system yet for full-size iPods: The inMotion iM5.The iM5 provides excellent bass sound without a subwoofer, and works with any iPod with a dock connector. You can take it anywhere, and play for more than 24 hours on 4 AA batteries. The unit also doubles as a dock for you iPod-- you can sync with iTunes and recharge your iPod. Get one for $149.95. Friday, October 21, 2005New iTrip Just for nano Griffin already has announced a dock-connector iTrip for all dock-connected iPods, but I guess they already had this one in the product queue: An iTrip designed for the iPod nano.This one uses the nano's display to display and navigate through FM frequencies, and it features a volume control feature which optimizes the iPod's audio output for the best sound through your stereo. The unit draws power from the iPod itself, and has a USB connector to allow you to sync and charge the iPod while connected. The iTrip nano is available for pre-order at $49.99, and should be shipping in November. (from TUAW) Thursday, October 20, 2005Waterproof case for iPod Shuffle Tunewear has announced a waterproof case for the iPod Shuffle called the WATERWEAR shuffle.Their website says the toughened plastic case has a waterproof seal to "stop any liquid from entering." Controls are still accessible through the silicone wheel window, and an isolator plug is included for your headphones. This may shock some of you, but it won't be available until November. Once it is, you can get it for $24.95. Sunday, October 16, 2005Another revised item from Griffin - the iFM (again) Griffin must be pretty pissed at Apple for doing away with the remote control jack on the 5th gen iPod, since they've been trying to sell products which exploit its use.Their marketing and art dept. have probably been been pulling all-nighters to create new dock connector versions of their products that formerly used the remote control. This time, it's the new Dock version of the iFM. We already covered the previous incarnation of the iFM, so you probably know it gives the iPod what the Sony Walkman cassette players had over 20 years ago: The ability to listen to radio through your portable music player. So now you can pre-order one of these little FM tuners which looks and works like a remote control (how ironic) for your iPod which connects through the dock connector. Oh, it's black, too. Whenever the engineering dept. catches up with marketing, you can get one of these babies for $49.99. Saturday, October 15, 2005Griffin Adapts Quickly With New SmartDeck It didn't take long for people to notice what was missing from the new iPod: A remote control jack. As soon as I read about it, I thought of Griffin, who just recently got their SmarkDeck cassette adapter to market after several months, only to have it rendered obsolete.Good news: Griffin has already announced a new version of their SmartDeck which works via the dock connector! It works with any iPod with a dock connector. Pre-order one now for $29.99. Thursday, October 13, 2005Speaker Tripod for iPod Tunewear has announced a portable tripod speaker system called the Boomtune Mini.Their website says that “With a style like you have never seen before, the tripod design can be used with almost any MP3 player from the small iPod shuffle to the iPod 4G/photo." Well, a style you've never seen unless you saw our review of the iPod Tripod back in March... I suppose Tunewear has a licensing agreement to sell these Korean speaker thingies in the U.S. One AAA battery gives you 10 hours of playback, pumping out those tunes at 1W per channel. It probably doesn't sound all that good, but it sure is different. Get one for $39.95. Nano skin that stands out from the rest iSkin will soon be shipping an iPod nano skin that sure looks cool in the ad photos: The iSkin Duo.Dual layers provide 360 degrees of protection, and the exterior is easy to hold onto, thanks to the "goose bumps" along the side. A clear screen protector is included. Sign up to be notified by e-mail when they're available. FM transmitter from Belkin Belkin will begin shipping their TuneFM FM transmitter in November.This clever little module sits right on top of your iPod, drawing its power from the iPod itself. It lets you tune to any unused FM frequency, displaying the frequency on easy-to-read LEDs. Once you find one you want, it can be stored as a preset. The TuneFM is a great idea that is a little late for its time... for it uses the iPod remote control jack. It seems that just the day before Belkin announced the TuneFM, Apple introduced a new generation of iPod that has no remote jack. Hey, why worry? Apple has already sold over 6 million iPods that do have a remote control jack, so I guess there's still a market. Get one real soon for $39.99. Monday, October 10, 2005A Better Round Speaker System I wasn't too impressed with the iSphere, but Oregon Scientific has hit a homerun with the iBall, a truly innovative speaker system for the iPod.Using 2.4GHz wireless, the iPod dock can be positioned up to 100 feet away from the bowling ball-sized speaker cluster. The iBall is wireless in every way, running off a rechargeable battery for up to 8 hours. Remote controls on the iBall let you control the iPod from afar, too. The base for the iPod also functions as a complete dock-- you can charge and synchronize your iPod in it. This clever and compelling little system is neither available yet nor cheap, but you can get one soon for $299. Sunday, October 09, 2005Turn your iPod into a Keychain Here's another case idea for diminutive iPods: The iKeychain.What you get is a lightweight, strong, machined aluminum case held together by magnets. Will that really hold? If it does, then you can feel safe clipping it to your backpack, belt, earring, whatever. They're currently available for iPod nanos and shuffles. Get one starting at $29.95. Friday, October 07, 2005New nano Speakers from XtremeMac XtremeMac is claiming in their press release that they are the first to market with a comprehensive line of iPod nano products. Of course, most of them are not available yet... you can pay for them now, but they will be shipping between now and the first week of November.Okay, so maybe they are stretching the truth a bit on "first to market," but their new line of nano gear is pretty impressive. They have new cases, an FM transmitter, and my favorite: The MicroBlast. The MicroBlast is the first portable speaker system designed for the nano. It runs on four AA batteries, charges your iPod nano if using the A/C adapter, folds up to protect the nano, produces 3W per channel, and it includes interchangeable black and white frames to match the color of your nano. Buy one now for $119.95. Monday, October 03, 2005Do you dream in Black & White? If not, try ColorWare Those iPod nanos are cool in black and white, but even Apple knows there's just something about color. Thank the stars for ColorWare.For just a leeetle bit more than the cost of a regular iPod nano (Okay, $66 more), ColorWare will sell you a colored iPod nano. There are 23 colors from which to choose! I think Jet Black is my favorite. Hey-- wait a minute... I wonder if they scratch easily? Pony up $265.00 if you want to find out. |
