Jean-Michel Jarre designed iPod speakers hit France

There's certainly no shortage of eye-catching iPod docks / speaker systems to choose from, but this new so-called AeroSystem is the only one to get Jean-Michel Jarre's stamp of approval, and that's enough to get at least a few folks to take notice (though we'll personally stick with our Joy Division Zune). In addition to being a conversation starter, the speaker unit also look to be capable enough audio-wise, with it packing two 20W RMS speakers and a 45W RMS subwoofer into its retro-inspired enclosure, plus a USB port and a 3.5mm jack to complement the requisite iPod dock connector. As far as these things go, it's also not too ridiculously expensive, with it running €450 (or close to $580), though you'll likely spend a bit more than that if you hope to get one of these out of France.

[Via Gadget Lab]

[Backlin @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:42PM]

I would rather have another 32Gb iPod Touch.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:41PM]

That's sexy

[noyp @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:12PM]

Or x weeks of groceries

[Korpil @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:44PM]

Darn, had I known you would publish that news, I would have sent it before! :D

Also take a look at his photo-frame... I like the concept of it being detachable so you can pass it like an album, and then returning it to its base...

[iEye @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:46PM]

I'd rather have death!

Sacre Bleu! zees is an insult to Apple products... there is nothing apple esque about that horrid design... not even made fom one slab of alluminum..

[parazitu22 @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:43PM]

You're a douche bag!

[KarlW @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:55PM]

I'd rather give you death

[Dave Chappelle @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:30AM]

what? not apple enough design.. do you want a speaker shaped like an itouch, to put your itouch in?

i dont think thats the argument anyways, its unlikely common people are going to buy this, its REALLY big, and suited only for (well their marketing for) Ipods?. Lucky they got a 3.5mm headphone and USB or else they would not a pretty amount. Even with them i doubt this thing will go platinum in sales it looks more like a outdoor patio heater to me.

[Poom @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:25AM]

OK, everyone... after having read so many iEye comments... I'm beginning to develop a theory...

My theory is that iEye intentionally writes all his comments to be as bad as possible so that everyone will low rank him in a style of an Apple fanboy. Things to support my theory:

1. He really doesn't fight back or ask why he gets low ranked. He just posts stupid comments. Then no argument afterward.

2. His comments are just too stupid... I can't imagine that someone actually thinks like this all the time.

3. This thing looks beautiful and he says that it's an insult to Apple because accessories should have the Apple style... To me, this is really like he's intentionally acting stupid to get low ranked.

If my theory is wrong, then I really think iEye needs to get some help, seriously

[Jubei @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:52PM]

A beautiful product indeed. Only a product like the iPod Touch could seamlessly blend with this amazing speaker/dock system.

To build a system like this for the Zune "me too" product from MS, would require dumbing down the product design to early 1950's Russian Industrial design era. It would be equal in comparing an 8 track player to the iPod Touch.

[Backlin @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:22PM]

Hey! Don't go knocking Russian Industrial design!

[Kamokazi @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:38PM]

Were you born that way, or was it the result of a horrible childhood accident?

[noyp @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:59PM]

He's not always like this. Unless it is a different person named Jubei, lookie: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/zuneing-outside-us-367081/
He says he would like to try a zune!
What is it about engadget that brings the worst in people?

[Reader @ Oct 23rd 2008 12:46AM]

Everyone of his posts are practically the same. He has too much time on his hands to reformat the exact same message, "I LIK BUTTSECKS WITH STEVE JOBS".

[Dave Chappelle @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:32AM]

"1950's Russian Industrial design era"

lol what?
The 'Spruce Goose' is not Russia's only product pal

wtf is with the comments on this product?, and ewww i called him 'pal'

[j_g_puff @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:22AM]

Give me an 8-track over an iPod Touch any day.

[Zeus.:God @ Oct 24th 2008 1:11AM]

What are you talking about, Jubei? This is how I know you're really whacked in the head- these things are tacky as Hell- you say they look great, and then you say the Zune is ugly, 1950's Russian design-esque?

WTF?

[kyle allen @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:54PM]

isnt Jean-Michel Jarre that guy who made creepy tehcno music in the 70s?

[papafew @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:43AM]

@ kyle allen

you seem so clever you kid. jean-michel jarre is a precursor, a genius, a master. a bit like you when you are talking bullshit. feed your emptiness. open a book. or search the web.

[J.C. @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:54PM]

Somthings not quite right here:

"and we're that's enough to get at least a few folks to take notice"
^sure?

[Jeremy @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:09PM]

Dumbest design ever if you ask me.

Let's put our delicate, highly expensive iPod or iPhone on top of a tippy metal post and put it in a room where people are maybe dancing? Yeah, great idea.

[Aaron @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:04PM]

T-ball!

[happy_penguin @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:13PM]

I don't like it. But what the hell do I know?

[ethana2 @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:55PM]

For one thing, you know the engadget comment system sucks.
..You also seem to know the difference between a desktop environment and an operating system kernel..

Wait, you like Hello Kitty?

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:15PM]

It really is beautiful , what a shame to use it for an inferior product like the iPod.
Could it be connected t some decent player too?

[gad get @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:03AM]

The iPod doesn't deserve the hate it gets (nor the love it gets). It's really not a bad product (nor a great one).

[Mike G @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:16PM]

Needs more lasers and a projector big enough to use your nearest sky scraper as a screen

[happy_penguin @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:21PM]

Frickin' lasers?

[Federico Cáceres @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:21PM]

Lasers, the Jarre style :)
The 3.5mm Jack will come in handy to plug other cool stuff into it.

Time to play some Rendez-Vous!

[solarpos @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:19PM]

Creepy? He's the one who composed beautiful ambient music in the 70's-present. Zoolook is my favorite with Yogi Horton on drums and Laurie Anderson backing vocals.

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:04PM]

zoolook is a big part of my childhood.

[ethana2 @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:50PM]

Yogi Horton sounds like the kind of name a person would sue their parents over..

[kyle allen @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:21PM]

creepy like as in erie

[gad get @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:04AM]

Can a person actually sue their parents over a name?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:27PM]

Gotta hand it to Europeans, they sure make/sell/buy avant-garde stuff that us 'mericans are too boring to buy.

[G @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:45AM]

Ever heard of Japan or South Korea?

[bvhj @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:36PM]

Jean-Michel Jarre is a fraud...

[MikeWard1701 @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:09AM]

a fellow Bill Bailey fan!!!!

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:38PM]

All I see here is a nose-hair trimmer.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:42PM]

OMG that's it! I couldn't put my finger on it but that's it!

[StalematE @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:15PM]

100% exactly.

[ethana2 @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:58PM]

..and 60% of the time, it works every time.
...just like all the other nose hair trimmers.

[rita hainsworth @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:16PM]

Isnt this one of those things that kills mosquitoes?

[Brian @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:22PM]

What's the point?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:32PM]

To reproduce a string of ones and zeros stored on a small 'music player' device in a manner that is pleasing to the human ear.

Or not, in the case of Alanis Morrissette.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:47PM]

If these are to represent a true master of audio's style and passion. I would have to surmise that beautiful tones of light would have to spurt forth in accordance to the audio enlightening tracks that are to be infused upon such a dynamic device.

[ethana2 @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:49PM]

Verily!

..like a visualization engine or something! Great use of money there.
"Yeah, I want tall rod speakers... with built in projectors.. to spurt forth beautiful tones of light.. you know, in accordance with my totally enlightening audio-infused tracks."

[LilTmac2003 @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:51PM]

I can totally see rich people buying this that don't own an iPhone nor and iPod Touch.

They'll use it as 'decoration'.

2 1/2 8GB iPod Touch's > Speaker.

[One4Show @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:54PM]

Is it just me or has the grammar absolutely gone done the toilet lately??? It seems like every post has two or three errors in it. Looks like AOL and Engadget need to freshen up a bit on some Writing 101.

[One4Show @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:56PM]

and then I go and make an error. "...down the toilet"