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Qwerkywriter's retro iPad keyboard is a flawed masterpiece
The internet has made our culture impermanent, and in its confusion, humanity mistook nostalgia for authenticity. Our cameras take images in unprecedented detail, but we only share them if they look like Polaroids from more than half a century ago. The hipsters of today dress like they're about to teach a physics class in a Midwestern public school, circa 1954. That's why the Qwerkywriter feels like such a product of its time: a $399 84-key Bluetooth keyboard that's been styled to look like the love child of an Olivetti Studio 42 and an Underwood No. 5. A gleaming exhibit of the future designed to seem as if it's been in the back of a junk shop for the last hundred years. It was a Kickstarter success, but can the product vault the hurdle between nostalgia and authenticity to become an actual product?
New Sony iOS docks promise clearer sound thanks to magnetic fluid
You can only skim through so many iPad/iPod/iPhone docks before things start to get predictable, and when a speaker dock stands out, it's usually for a retro design or a little mood lighting. Sony's two newest iOS docks, the CMT-V50iP and the CMT-V75BTiP, may look like your standard options, but they aim to break the mold by using magnetic fluid instead of speaker dampers to move sound. Sony says this technology provides clearer audio with less distortion, and no dampers means a slimmer design. If your music collection extends beyond your iDevice, you can take advantage of the CD player and built-in DAB and DAB+ radio, or -- if you've migrated to the digital age -- stream over Bluetooth on the CMT-V75BTiP or connect via USB on the CMT-V50iP. Sony just announced these yesterday, and pricing info remains MIA, though The Verge reports that both models will drop in the next few months.
Scosche bassDOCK blasts Weezer from any iPad, available now for $150
If you're having trouble wading through the pool of iPad dock prospects, we're about to add another to the mix. Scosche has announced that its bassDOCK for both iPad models is now shipping. The dock will blast "My Name is Jonas" from a pair of 1.6-inch stereo speakers and a 3-inch subwoofer. As you'd expect, the kit charges your Apple slate in a cradle that sports both landscape and portrait orientations alongside tilt positioning for the optimum viewing angle. If you find yourself needing to switch over to a smartphone to bump your tunes, the bassDOCK has a 3.5mm aux jack for just that purpose. The speaker dock is available now via the source link for $149.99 and a closer look awaits you in the gallery below.
JBL On Tour iBT Bluetooth speaker now available for $150, iPad stand included
Have a soft spot for wireless speakers? There were tons of options out there already, but JBL just threw one more into the ring with its On Tour iBT. As we'd expect form the audio gurus, the system boasts wireless audio internals that play nice with both A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth devices. In addition to four JBL Odyssey transducers, the kit packs a built-in microphone for Facetime or hands-free calls, an adjustable iPad stand and a USB connector for charging -- when the Katy Perry tune blastin' device is plugged in itself, of course. Interested? It can be yours now via the source link for $150, but if you'd care to take a closer look before committing, peep the gallery below. %Gallery-135353%
iRoom iDock imounts your iPad to your iwall
One sure fire way to make sure you never lose your iPad? Stick the thing in your wall. Now available in North America from Bracketron, the iRoom iDock is a motorized dock for your Apple tablet that can be flush-mounted into your wall. Once connected to your power supply, the system's proximity sensor will open up when you're around to accept your tablet into its docky clutches, for some serious wall-charging action -- and if there's a power outage, the thing will open up automatically, so you can grab your slate back. The dock is available in landscape or portrait orientation and comes in black, aluminum or white -- or you can get a custom color to match your home's walls, because why not go all out with your wall-mounted iPad dock thing? Press release after the jump.
Sony unveils $300 RDP-X500iP speaker dock, gives your iPad some sonic assistance
Sony's churned out plenty of speaker docks for the smaller iDevices out there, but until now, it hadn't given the largest Apple handheld any love. It's a little late to the party, but the company finally jumped on the iPad bandwagon with its latest RDP-X500iP speaker dock. Sporting a built in subwoofer, magnetic fluid speakers and Sony's Clear Phase DSP sonic technology, this little gem purportedly packs a pretty good bass punch while delivering quality audio. Picking one up will leave your wallet $300 lighter when it's released next month, and you can reserve yours now by getting in on the pre-order over on Sony's website.
iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy
British football fans agree on very few things: how much everyone likes Jimmy Bullard, Arséne Wenger's need to buy a proper centre-half and how painful it is to be dragged out shopping just before kickoff on Saturday. It's those sympathetic and forward-thinking people at Sky who have the answer, at least to that last one. The company has teamed up with supermarket Sainsbury's (which has a track record of innovation) to trial a new trolley with a solar-powered iPad dock and speakers. Now you can watch the game, or anything else, via the Sky Go app on your device and get the grocery shopping done at the same time. Worried about getting so engrossed in Juan Mata's footwork that you'll be a danger to others? Rest easy, the cart has proximity sensors attached to let you know when you're about to sideswipe a pensioner. It's being trialled in the Cromwell Road Sainsbury's in West London -- all you need to try it yourself is an iPad, Sky Go access and a desire to be on the cutting edge of sports and technology. If the thought of shouting 'Taxi for Bent!' down the fruit aisle appeals, you can catch another pic and the press release after the break.
Soundfreaq unleashes Sound Step wireless speakers for audio-loving multitaskers
Soundfreaq made quite the first impression last year with its Sound Platform SFQ-01 audio system, which is why our ears perked up when we heard about the company's newest creations -- the Sound Step and Sound Step Recharge compact wireless speakers. Compatible with all iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices, these Bluetooth-enabled docks allow users to remotely stream audio directly to their speakers, which feature a set of 2.75-inch, Kevlar-reinforced balanced drivers, a dedicated sub-woofer and a UQ3 spatial enhancement processor. There's also a 3.5 millimeter line-in jack and a USB charging port, meaning you'll be able to juice up multiple gadgets as you kick out multiple jams. And, since these guys are just 3.6-inches tall, you probably won't have to freaq out about making space for them, either. If your appetite's already whetted, you can grab the Sound Step for $139, or opt for the Recharge (with its six hours of rechargeable battery life) for $159. Otherwise, you can find more details in the full PR, after the break. Update: We've just received a bit of clarification from the company here. A "grey" colored model actually won't be on the docket, and as for the speakers, there's a pair of 2-inch drivers + a single 3-incher.
iHealth blood pressure iPod dock: another sort of Apple to keep the doctor away
Back in March 2009 at the iPhone OS 3.0 debut event, Apple's Scott Forstall pointed out medical devices specifically as one of the more interesting class of peripherals that could leverage the new custom app interface capabilities. And while it's certainly an interesting concept -- keeping tabs on your general health from the comfort of your own home -- we haven't really seen it catch on (only a couple of products come to mind). That isn't stopping iHealth; the company's blood pressure dock, available today from its online store (we're told it should be filtering through Apple's own channels later this month) ties in with a specialized iPhone / iPod touch / iPad app to monitor and track blood pressure from the comfort of your home, where theoretically there shouldn't be a stranger in a white coat making you extra nervous. In our brief time with the device, the interface seemed fairly intuitive and the whole process simple and not at all intimidating. The cost of entry is $99.95 for the hardware; the free app should be hitting iTunes today. Press release after the break. %Gallery-112421% %Gallery-112422%
Patents for multi-touch, iPad dock and MacBook Air awarded to Apple
Apple has been awarded several patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, one of which could be valuable ammunition in the flood of intellectual property lawsuits that has been swirling around the company lately. PatentlyApple is reporting that Apple now holds the patents for one of the primary elements of multi-touch; two or more controllers operating in a master/slave configuration. Apple's patent appears to indicate that the company could be interested in licensing the technology (found in most multi-touch devices made by Apple, including the iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, and possibly the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad) to others, as they state that it can be used in ATMs, point of sale systems, e-ticket terminals, and so on. Apple also received a patent for the hinged I/O port and housing that was found on the original MacBook Air models. Even though that hinged port is not on the most recent MacBook Airs, it could be used in future products. The company now has design patents on the iPad dock, on the Universal Dock and Dock Insert, and that slick armband that the company sells for the fifth-generation iPod nano.
TUAW TV Live today at 5 PM ET: Printers, iPad docks, and Office '11
This afternoon on TUAW TV Live, I have some rather fascinating demos to show you. First, I'll be using a new HP Photosmart C310a e-All-in-One printer to demonstrate how printing from an iPad or iPhone running iOS 4.2 is supposed to work. This printer is one of a handful that supports ePrint and zero-configuration printing, so you can literally set up the printer to work with Macs, PCs and iDevices without installing a driver anywhere, or print anything that you can email. It's an interesting look at the future of printing. Next, I'll be demonstrating a new iPad dock with speakers, the PadDock 10 from SMK-Link. For those who want to use their iPads to show off media, the PadDock 10 is a useful docking station for viewing, listening, syncing and charging your device. I also took advantage of a Cyber Monday sale to get a family pack for Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac Home and Student Edition, and I'll show you some of the features of the new Office suite. Hint: it's fast. Damned fast. Of course, we'll have some time to talk about whatever else is new in the world of Apple. Whether it's rumors of the iPad 2, the competition or just chatting about the coolest app you've ever used, we'll spare some time for your input and comments. If you've never watched TUAW TV Live, you're in for a treat. The show is about an hour long, and you not only see streaming video of some of the latest and greatest Apple technology, but you can also participate through our chat tool. To watch and participate in the show, just be sure to come back to TUAW.com at about 4:55 PM ET for full instructions on how to join in on the fun.
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%
iXtreamer bridges the extreme gap between your iPad and TV
Looking for more than just a regular standalone iPad dock? Then you might want to consider Xtreamer's new iXtreamer system, which is an iPad dock that also doubles as a media streamer. Of course, it will also work with iPhones and iPods, and the "dock" is quite capable all by itself as well -- it'll accommodate a 3.5-inch hard drive and up to two USB hard drives, and it'll support just about any audio or video content you can throw at it, including content stored on your computer or networked hard drive. Interestingly, Xtreamer also notes that it would like to let you use iOS apps on your TV as well, but it says that's up to Apple to allow -- in other words, don't bet on it. Head on past the break for a video overview, and look for the device to set you back €175, or roughly $235.
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%
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 welcomes iPads, iPhones and iPods into its emporium of awesome
iPod and iPhone users aren't exactly bereft of choice for places to dock their audio transporters, but what if you prefer to keep your music collection on your iPad? Okay, actually there are a couple of options for you out there as well, but few will be quite as bodacious (or as expensive, we're sure) as Bang & Olufsen's latest. The BeoSound 8 straps a pair of cones to a connecting bar, adds some feet, a wall bracket, and a remote control, and sends you home to enjoy some "outstanding sound performance." USB and auxiliary line-in connectors are available if you're not dancing to Steve Jobs' tune, while the body can be had in white or black and the speaker covers come in a variety of colors to express your individuality with. Look for the BeoSound 8 at your nearest B&O outlet later this month. [Thanks, Jesper]%Gallery-107107%
iHome's iA100 iPad stereo speaker system now on sale for $199
Took 'em long enough, huh? iHome's iA100 was actually introduced way back in July, and at the time, it was essentially the only iPad-friendly home stereo system on the planet. Now, iHome has a bit of friendly competition out there, but at least it's getting this guy out on store shelves long before the holiday shopping season hits full swing. For those who missed it the first go 'round, this here docking system touts Bongiovi Acoustics' DPS technology, an inbuilt alarm clock, Bluetooth and support for the iPad, iPhone and iPod via a 30-pin Dock Connector. Too bad it'll set you back a full $199.
SMK-Link PadDock 10 review
It's funny that the most interesting iPad accessories so far have been the ones that try to squeeze Apple's tablet into more traditional shapes -- we've seen a wave of rebranded Bluetooth keyboard cases that ape the netbook form factor, a number of cases that aim for a Moleskine vibe (including some from Moleskine itself), and even an official Etch-a-Sketch case. And now we've got SMK-Link's PadDock 10, an iPad stand that unapologetically turns your tablet into the tiny touchscreen iMac you've maybe always wanted. But is it worth $99 for a rotating stand and some speakers? We just got one to play with -- read on for our full review. %Gallery-105082%
Debunk: Leaked iPad photo doesn't show next gen design
By now you may have seen some photos of an alleged iPad casing doing the rounds that is purported to be the next generation of Apple's tablet. In the pics, you can clearly see that there are two distinct slots for the company's 30 pin dock connector, which would allow you to plant the iPad in either landscape or portrait mode. Unfortunately, this isn't a sign of things to come -- it's a future that never was. According to a trusted Engadget source, what the image actually shows is a rejected concept from the current generation iPad. The story goes that originally there had been plans to feature two dock connections, but close to the last minute a design decision was made to kill the landscape port. It's still possible that Apple has decided to go back to the two-port design, but in all likelihood this is a piece of a prototype which has found its way into the world. If the story we've been told is correct, then there would likely be dozens if not hundreds of these back pieces floating around China. From what we can suss out, this is not the direction Apple is going in for the next version, but hey, if come January we see a new iPad with two dock connectors -- drinks are on us.
First stereo iPad dock available from iLuv
iLuv, makers of numerous accessories for Apple devices, have released their first stereo speaker dock system specifically designed for the iPad -- the iMM747. Built to accommodate your iPad's rather large stature, with a flexible docking structure that adjusts to fit your iPad, you'll be able to listen to your music, use your apps and watch your favorite TV shows and movies with "orchestral tri-component sound in a speaker dock." With separate drivers for treble, mid-range and bass, Howard Kim, the Sr. Marketing Manager at iLuv, says you'll "fill any room in the house with superb audio." The iMM747 charges your iPad "ultra fast," and syncs your iPad to iTunes while your iPad is still in the dock, too (using a sync cable). The iMM747 is also compatible with the iPhone / iPod touch as well as just about every other iPod under the sun. And for your old CD player, the iMM747 comes with an auxiliary line input for any device with a 3.5mm output socket. Being that there's not much in the way of iPad speaker docks, if you're in the market for one, the iMM747 looks like it's worth checking out. Available in early October, the unit is priced at US$149.99 from the iLuv website. [via IPADMODO]
iLuv's iMM747 iPad speaker dock keeps it classy, classic
iLuv has a long history of cranking out too many iDevice speaker docks to count, so we can't say we're shocked to see 'em pushing out an option that's suitable for the iPad. It's tough to make one of these actually look respectable when it's hoisting a 9.7-inch tablet in place of a pocket-friendly PMP, but the iMM747 actually looks fairly decent. There's a triple driver speaker network, a radiator subwoofer, an auxiliary line input (3.5mm) and a 30-pin Dock Connector that'll also play nice with your iPhone and / or iPod. If you're in the market, it'll be splashing down in the next few days for $149.99.