Ipod and Iphone

Friday, May 9, 2008

Gear4 DUO iPod speaker-dock with removable speaker section

It’s tough to think of a new concept in iPod speaker-docks; most of the more reasonable (and some of the ridiculous) shapes have been done, and you can opt for a tiny speaker that clips like a barnacle to the bottom of the PMP or a towering plinth of musical splendour. However UK firm Gear4 have gone for flexibility with their latest DUO system. While it may look straightforward, the front speaker section actually unclips from the main body of the DUO and, courtesy of a rechargeable battery, can be used as a portable speaker setup in the garden or anywhere away from the mains.

Gear4 DUO iPod speaker-dock

Back in the house, re-clip the front panel to the main body and not only do you have the li-ion battery recharged but the benefit of a 20W subwoofer too. The front section on its own is 18W, and has a flip-out dock connector that makes the whole speaker section flat for easy transport. Gear4 are yet to suggest how long the battery will last in use.

Finished in black and silver, the DUO will launch in Europe on Friday for €200 and the UK for £150. Gear4 are planning an American DUO for later on this year, priced under $300. It should work with all the current range of iPods.

(Via SlashGear.)

JVC launches miniature RA-P30 iPod sound system

JVC has introduced two portable sound systems for the iPod - under the name RA-P30...

(Via Tech Digest.)

iSH2 from H2O Audio

H2O Audio has just announced that its new Natalie Coughlin Signature Series: iSH2 product is now available for sale exclusively at Apple Stores from this month onwards. Guess folks who have been hankering after an integrated waterproof headset can finally lay their hands on the iSH2 which was specially developed to work with the Apple iPod Shuffle Gen 2 and 3. Of course, it goes without saying that if you purchase this, it is also compulsory to have some sort of waterproof casing for your iPod Shuffle in the first place as water and electronics do not play nice with each other. Interestingly enough, the product was conceived by H2O Audio and developed with the assistance of world record holder and Olympic multi-medalist swimmer, Natalie Coughlin to turn the fatigue of lap and distance swim training into a music-energized experience.

According to Natalie Coughlin, Olympic Athlete and H2O Audio Product Advisor, ‘For years runners have benefited by adding music to their workouts and H2O Audio has now made it possible for swimmers to use that same energy and motivation to push their performance to the utmost. I have been using the iSH2 since its inception and am excited to see this offered in Apple Stores now so people everywhere can enhance their sport experience and performance.’

Some of the features on the iSH2 include :-

A patent pending integrated waterproof headset and case for the iPod Shuffle that works up to 10 feet underwater

Designed to be worn on any swim goggles or optionally with the supplied sportband

Fingertip access and full control of the Shuffle’s circular control pad

The Natalie Coughlin Signature Series iSH2 has been priced at $79.99 a pop. Will this actually make you quit jogging and head for the waters instead to get your weekly workout?

(Via Coolest Gadgets.)

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Kensington Battery Pack and Charger allows you to use your iPhone/iPod little longer

Kensington Battery Pack and Charger

We've already covered few extended battery packs/chargers for iPhone in the past - iPowerRush and iPhone 'juice pack'. Now Kensington unveiled its own offering which comes in two sizes, regular/standard and mini. The former has a larger capacity and relies on cable to connect with your iPhone/iPod; while you can simply attach the latter at the bottom of your device. The 0.22-pound standard model extends play time to up to 100 hours of music, talk time to up to 6 hours and costs $69.99. On the other hand, the smaller, more appealing (at least for me) mini version will add 30 hours of music and 3 hours of talk time to your existing iPhone battery life and will take $49.99 out of your pocket… And that's it. These are the simple battery chargers we're talking about here, nothing too fancy, yet quite useful.

(Via IntoMobile.)

Griffin FlexGrip, FlexScreen and Screen Care Kit for iPod touch

Griffin, maker of all things iPod has just announced (2 days ago) the new FlexGrip and FlexScreen cases for iPod. They’ve also released a new Screen Care Kit for iPod touch. The full info below and somehow I feel I’ve seen this type of casings before but I can’t feel that out yet.

FlexGrip

FlexGrip provides the ultimate in silicone protection for iPod nano and iPod touch against dirt, dings, dents and scratches. The two-color case is smooth on top with a textured, nubby rear surface for easy grip. It goes on easily and allows full access to the screen, connectors, and controls. FlexGrip for iPod touch includes a static peel touchscreen protector and cleaning cloth.

FlexScreen for iPod nano

FlexScreen features the same textured back as FlexGrip and adds a crystal-clear, scratch-resistant polycarbonate face shield. This incredibly durable shield easily snaps onto the outside of the case for added protection.

Screen Care Kit for iPod touch

Griffin’s new Screen Care Kit for iPod touch includes five static peel screen protectors, and a premium lint-free cleaning cloth to remove smudges, dust, and fingerprints. Cleaning and care instructions are included, making this kit a necessity for the iPod touch user who wants to preserve the screen from damage.

(Via The Gadget Blog.)

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Digital Opera iPod Adapter

DigiFi of Korea has just released its wireless earphones with an iPod adapter, dubbed the Digital Opera. Contrary to popular belief, the Digital Opera will not operate via Bluetooth but instead uses Kleer's wireless technology instead which is actually 'point to multi-point listen-in technology' that allows up to four people to listen to the same audio stream simultaneously. Of course, all of them will need Digital Opera earphones in order for this to happen. Each pair has enough battery life to last for up to 10 hours of non-stop playback time, and will retail for $98 a pop.

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Hands On: GrandMax Music Band-It iPod Case With Retractable Headphones

Lets face it, we all hate wires. Whether they're refusing to stay hidden behind your svelte new TV, or eating peripherals alive in a deadly web of tangled death behind your PC, wires are the bane of an electronics-obsessed existence. And no music-lover's commute can commence without spending several tortured moments in the Rubic's-like pursuit of tangle-free tunes. So when a company comes along promising to make my portable music tangle-free, I tend to take notice.

The Grandmax Music Band-It is essentially a pair of retractable ear buds and a neoprene iPod pocket that attaches to a backpack strap. It's a nice idea, but in practice, I found it far from perfect.

The case isn't bad, necessarily. Is it offers two pockets, one for your iPod and one for the headphones. The pockets connect at the bottom, allowing the headphone jack to snake through and hook to the bottom of your iPod Mini. Adjustable Velcro straps keep it hugging most any backpack strap with relative security. The problem is, once your iPod's in place, you lose access to the controls, and getting your iPod in and out of the case while it's strapped to your backpack next to your chest isn't exactly easy. Thankfully, a number of backpacks now come with a similar pocket built right into the shoulder strap. But if your favorite bag has no iPod shoulder holster, the Music Band-It might be useful to you.

The main selling point for the Music Band-It, though, is the company's patented retractable ear buds, which promise to 'eliminate cable mess.' The problem is that what they eliminate in mess, they add in bulk, mediocre sound, and the jarring interruption of music, as the buds occasionally go flying off your head, returning to the case.

The iPod-like white buds are of the large, sit-outside-your-ear variety, which is fine but doesn't make them very secure. A pair of included in-ear silicone adapters might help, if it weren't so hard to actually get them on the earphones. Without them, the phones sat outside my ear canal, pumping tinny sound, and waiting to fall off my head at any given moment.

Also, the retractable mechanism is just too powerful. Give the phones an accidental tug, and they fly back to their home at a speed that seems to approach Mach one. OK, so it might not be that fast, but trust me when I say you don't want any stray fingers, faces, or babies in the way when these headphones decide to fly south for the winter. And the housing for the retractable cable is a bulky, white disk that seems much larger and thicker than it needs to be to house 4 feet of thin headphone cable. Personally, I'd go for the Sony MDR-Q clip-on headphones over these ear buds. They sound better, they look better, and their retractable cable mechanism is decidedly less spastic.

The $29.99 GrandMax Music Band-It is available now for all flavors of iPods. You can pick one up by hitting up one of the three online retailers listed on the GrandMax site.

(Via Gearlog.)