OctivStage
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Altec Lansing Octiv Stage (450) review
No matter how much you love your iPad, there will always come a time when you feel the need to prop up this hefty tablet while simultaneously giving its audio and battery a little boost. Well, Altec Lansing thinks you do, anyway. Like the $99 SMK-Link PadDock 10 we reviewed not long ago, Altec's Octiv Stage (or Octiv 450 outside the US) also provides a combo of swivel hinge and speakers for the iPad, but is this $149.95 dock worth the extra money? Read on to find out. %Gallery-108654%
Altec Lansing releases Octiv Stage speaker dock for iPad
Altec Lansing has finally released its newest speaker dock, the Octiv Stage, for iPads. The Octiv Stage differs from many docks in that it has a comparatively small footprint and can support the tablet in either portrait or landscape orientation. The iPad is clipped into a bracket on a rotating arm, and the base with the speakers spans virtually the same width as the narrow side of the tablet. While the iPad's display has excellent viewing angles, the arm of the Octiv Stage also allows the tilt angle to be adjusted for optimum viewing. Like other Altec Lansing speaker docks, the MP450 Octiv Stage comes with a remote that allows users to adjust the volume and navigate through playlists. According to the press release, the dock also supports the iPhone and iPods, although presumably only in portrait mode. A 3.5 mm auxiliary jack also allows the use of non-Apple players. The Octiv Stage MP450 is on sale now for US$149.95. [via Engadget]
Altec Lansing's Octiv Stage iPad speaker dock is delightfully understated
Better late than never, right? That's the mantra that Altec Lansing is following with the introduction of the Octiv Stage. It's certainly not the first iPad-specific sound system on the market, but it's definitely one of the least invasive. Color us crazy, but we're thinking this subtle guy could actually sneak away in a rear corner of your home without drawing unnecessary amounts of attention to it, and we get the feeling that's exactly what Altec's after. Designed to operate in both portrait and landscape modes (courtesy of a rotating connection arm), this here dock can also tilt back and forward to give you lots of viewing angles. It's out today for a somewhat understandable $149.95, and just in case your long lost cousin busts out a Zune, the 3.5mm auxiliary jack will ensure that no one's made to feel ashamed. No promises on that last one, though. %Gallery-107493%
