WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails

Portable devices that turn any surface into a speaker are hardly anything new, but the folks behind the WOWee One portable speaker (not WowWee) seem to be making some slightly bigger claims than most, and are even throwing out the increasingly popular "perfect companion for the iPad" phrase for good measure. As with other similar devices, the WOWee One conducts sound through any surface you rest it on (even a wall with an optional attachment), but it also has the benefit of patented "Gel Audio" technology, which promises to produce bass frequencies about three octaves below any other comparable device. You'll also apparently get about 20 hours of use from the built-in rechargeable battery, and your choice of three different colors -- all for the not so low price of $79.99. Head on past the break for a quick video.

[Old fogie late bloomer Posted Apr 26th 2010 1:52AM]

I'm trying to not be impressed but three octaves is a lot... for instance, three octaves below 160 Hz is 20 Hz, the lower limit of human hearing.

[doutorpiranha Posted Apr 26th 2010 9:05AM]

as seen on This Week in iPad ! :D

www.thisweekin.com

[Massamura Posted Apr 26th 2010 6:06PM]

@Old fogie late bloomer I'm trying not to be impressed... but if that guy didn't break his foot... he's a helluva dancer

[yulebellow Posted Apr 26th 2010 1:54AM]

Oh yeah because the iPad uses one of those special headphones jacks; optimized for gimmicks and marketing.

[taligent Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:06AM]

@yulebellow Troll different.

[SteveyAyo Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:03AM]

@taligent well isnt that the only thing you can do different when it comes to apple products?

[SteveyAyo Posted Apr 26th 2010 1:59AM]

Ha ive used that exact image of that dancer when designing a dance/music center for a studio project... awesome

[taligent Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:08AM]

@Eli Haj .. It's called marketing and is how businesses make money.

[gltovar Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:09AM]

I'm buying one to see how well it could deal with the subwoofer out from my foxl v2

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/soundmatters-foxl-v2-portable-bluetooth-speaker-rocks-the-subur/

just for shits and giggles = P

[Alexster404 Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:14AM]

The video was creepy, right?

[JonnyB Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:24AM]

@Alexster404 You sir are correct

[Teslanaut Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:20AM]

WOWee! I'm not impressed.

[2mnyshp Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:23AM]

The stock photo of this dancer has been used too many times...

[Poolin1243 Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:30AM]

What game is she playing in that video? Can somebody tell me?

[n8equalsd Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:48AM]

@Poolin1243
Real Racing

[husher Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:57AM]

I wonder if the person wearing the hoodie ever gets royalties?

[palegolas Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:17AM]

$79.99, that's not too bad if it's just half as good as they claim.

[pyehac Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:30AM]

I had the Olympia SoundBug a few years ago, and the only bad thing about it was the suction cup getting dirty after sticking it to so many glass walls (and the fact that it didn't seem that loud).

I'll have to wait until I can see it in stores to try it out.

[tonicboy Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:37AM]

@Eli Haj
they DO say it works with everything. but they EMPHASIZE that it works with the iPad. this is no different than the dozens of mice that are advertised to "work with Vista".

[llSpaceman Posted Apr 26th 2010 3:59AM]

OK. I've got my hands on one of these Wowees . This thing works really well. The best part about it is the shock factor on peoples faces when I play my ipod songs on it and stick it to the window. Wow is not the reaction. It's more like "What the F*****!!!! And yes it works with any device you can plug headphones in.

[fast Posted Apr 26th 2010 4:10AM]

@tonicboy yes, because people that us pc os's need to work with them so a mouse is a thing to have and people who have an ipad need sound, because the ipad...you know the rest.

[XiaoBao Posted Apr 26th 2010 4:20AM]

Look familiar much?? ^^

http://www.gizmag.com/k-box-turns-any-surface-into-a-speaker/12299/

I have the K-Box and I like it! But I've had it for over a year and it was cheaper then.. I guess a new name does justify a higher price.. ;)

[Galley Posted Apr 26th 2010 7:08AM]

WOWee, I heard absolutely no difference!

[DoctarPeppar Posted Apr 26th 2010 11:56AM]

Now if Apple would have only put two decent quality speakers in that iPad instead of one (mono audio on a 2010 device? omfg..)...there would be no need for this 80$ oversized brick that basically does nothing.

[TrumanHW Posted Apr 26th 2010 1:47PM]

isn't it awesome how you can add speakers and a keyboard to an iPad?? Its like it could almost be a... a... netbook one day. Until then, make sure to keep it in that protective shell... and ask for 802.11 by permission of apple.. as well as upgrades.