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JVC's UX-VJ3 and UX-VJ5 speaker docks play (elegant) host to iPad and iPhone
There's not much you can do to spice up speaker docks at this point -- they're pretty much old hat. But what if that dock allowed you to plug in your iPad and iPhone, or iPod simultaneously? Ah, now we have your attention. Slated to hit the land that begot Kurosawa in mid-summer, the JVC UX-VJ3 and UX-VJ5 make their iOS connectivity a folie à deux. Sporting an AM / FM tuner, video out and a PC input, these sleek connectors don't appear to part much from the typical feature set. It's the VJ5 that's the real standout here, with its six apartment-blending color options, USB port and ability to rip MP3s from a built-in CD drive. Sound swanky enough for you? We thought so, but with no announcement on North American availability, lusting audiophiles on these shores have a bit of a wait ahead of them. Check the source to get a glimpse of these iOS displays in their full color spectrum.
JBL ships AirPlay-enabled On Air speaker dock, charges stiff premium for wireless luxury
It's a familiar face, sure, but there's a key ingredient thrown here that's been lacking on JBL's prior iDevice docks: AirPlay. We're still waiting (and waiting) to see if Apple's going to expand its licensing program to allow third-party vendors the ability to toss in AirPlay video streaming, but for now, JBL's taking advantage of what's out there. The On Air Wireless AirPlay speaker dock -- which is shipping today to Best Buy and Apple Stores after being teased a few weeks ago -- is now good and official, enabling consumers to wirelessly stream their iTunes library from Macs, PCs, iPhones, iPods or iPads right to the dock. Aside from a rather unorthodox design (which should go a long way to dispersing jams in a 360-degree fashion), you'll also find a color LCD, digital FM radio, an inbuilt alarm clock, DSP technology and a proprietary adapter that enables it to be worn as headgear at your next rave. We're guessing that final bit makes the $349.99 price tag entirely more palatable.
JBL intros OnBeat iPad / iPhone / iPod speaker dock, prices it at $150
This planet we call home needs another iDock about as bad as we need another Charlie Sheen running around aimlessly, but no matter -- we're getting one, and it's being delivered from JBL. The company has just outed its first-ever iPad speaker dock, the OnBeat. Truth be told, it's capable of handling iPod touches, iPhones and iPads (no word on the iPad 2), but it's clearly engineered to hold the largest of the bunch best. Aside from providing joints and jams to those situated in your living room (or basement, if that's how you roll), it can also pipe Netflix and YouTube content directly to one's television via a composite video output, and if you're running around sans an iDevice, the 3.5mm auxiliary jack ensures that any other source will still function just fine. You'll also be able to charge and sync any docked devices, but you'll be asked to dole out $149.95 in order to bring one home when it ships next month.
Chinon's Avi Stylix iPod / iPhone docking station packs 7-inch LCD, streams Netflix*
It doesn't scream quality (or maybe the legion of professional stock photographers were all on vacation last week), but the June-bound Avi Stylix does have something that the vast majority of me-too iPod / iPhone docking stations do not: an embedded 7-inch LCD. The usual suspects are also here, including a Dock Connector port, twin two-watt speakers, USB port, SD card slot and a bundled remote. The kicker is its ability to stream Netflix, but there's an obvious catch; you'll need an iPhone or iPod touch with a live internet connection in order to do so. There's no actual WiFi module built into the main unit, so you'll need to rely on your connected device to pull in the content. Still, for $99.99, it might not be a bad bet for your guest room. Or your office desk, since you know you aren't getting any actual work done.
Xtrememac reveals InCharge Mobile iPhone 4 battery case, in-car USB chargers
Looking for a few peripherals to go along with all of this new gear being unveiled at CES? Have a gander at this. Xtrememac has just rolled out yet another rechargeable battery pack / protective case for Apple's iPhone 4, with this particular monster having a 2300mAh battery, an integrated kickstand and an on / off switch. The InCharge Mobile will go for $79.99, putting it in direct competition from the folks at Mophie. Next up is the InCharge Auto USB, which is a somewhat plain in-car USB charger that saves itself with ten watts of output -- plenty to juice up your iPad as it acts as the Road Trip Jukebox. The InCharge Auto Plus doubles it up with a second USB port, while the InCharge Auto AUX tosses in a 3.5mm auxiliary jack for easy connecting to one's line-in port. Those three will sell for $24.99, $29.99 and $49.99 in order of mention, and the trio should be available to ship right about... now.
Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video)
So, you've celebrated the landing of yet another construction deal by giving the whole crew their own Motorola Defy (except for Derick, who's saddled with a lowly i365), but there's still one problem: on-the-job entertainment. Enter Ridgid's Jobsite Radio, hailed as the first iPod-toting boombox designed to withstand just about anything. As you can tell, the device itself is encased in a ShockMount layer of protective armor, and we have to stress the "armor" aspect. Users simply flip down the lid in the front, slide their iPod in and then change tracks via on-board external controls or remote control from up to 25 feet away. Oh, and if Joe or Buck just so happens to bring their Zune HD into work, the 3.5mm auxiliary input will ensure that no one is publicly shamed. The unit is powered by a standard 120V or Ridgid 18V battery, and if you're curious as to just how hardcore this thing is, there's an enlightening video embedded just after the break. She's all yours after dropping $149 at the Home Depot. [Thanks, Thomas]
Yamaha's TSX-140 iPod audio system wakes you gently, won't rock you to sleep
Yamaha's been the go-to company when it comes to iPod docks that are a notch above average, and the outfit's latest is no different. It's a me-too world out there, and somehow the TSX-140 manages to set itself apart by offering an eye-pleasing motif alongside an IntelliAlarm feature. Put simply, the latter allow users to be awoken by music on their iPod, but rather than blasting firmly at 11 when the clock strikes way-too-early, it gradually ups the volume until your brain is alert enough to obliterate the snooze button. As expected, there's an iPod docking port on the top as well as a USB port, and you'll find a pair of 3.5-inch ported bass reflex speakers beneath the Earthy exterior. In addition to the illuminated buttons on the top panel, three front panel controls give access to source, volume, radio presets, alarm clock and equalizer functions, and while Yamaha claims that this guy provides "a gentle, stress-free feeling that makes waking up a pleasure," we're guessing it'll still be a chore doing everything after.
TikTok and LunaTik iPod nano watch kits look awesome, despite Ke$ha naming convention
We know it seems like everyone and their mom is turning Apple's latest iPod nano into a watch, but the TikTok and LunaTik concepts by Scott Wilson of Minimal Studios are definitely the best looking "iWatch" accessories we've seen to date. We say concept, because technically the products are still pipe dreams flowing through the funding platform Kickstarter.com -- but seeing as it has already doubled its requested funding goal, there's a very good chance these concepts will actually ship out. The TikTok features a simple snap-in design for quick wrist-mounting and is tentatively priced at $35. The LunaTik, on the other hand, is marketed as a "premium conversion kit" that secures the Nano in a two-piece CNC-machined aluminum case held together with stainless steel bolts, and should ship for $70. As with many Kickstarter projects, pledging some funding to the cause can score you either model at a cheaper pre-order price. Now if only the iPod nano was actually a good watch... Video after the break.%Gallery-107739%
Griffin announces iPod nano Slap wristband
Sure, you want people to notice your cool new iPod nano, especially when you wear it as a watch. But what if you also want them to think you're a time traveler from 1988? According to Cult of Mac, Griffin Technology has brought back the famed "slap bracelet" in blindingly bright colors for your Quantum Leap(ing), iPod nano-owning self. For use with the newly designed 6th-gen iPod nano, the Slap is a flexible wristband made from silicone and metal which slaps shut around your wrist while holding your iPod securely in place. Coming soon in a dizzying rainbow of colors, the Slap wristband/watchband is priced at US$24.99. Hopefully this version won't get banned in schools like in they did in 1990.
Onkyo's CS-V645 and CS-445 mini stereos offer iPod dock, a pinch of retro
Onkyo's got a knack for dishing out new kit with a semblance of yesteryear in the design, and we've got to say -- we dig it. The company's latest are designed for minuscule offices, studio apartments and your everyday bedroom, with the CS-V645 DVD / CD mini system leading the way. This guy's got an iPod / iPhone docking station on the top, a USB port on the front, built-in FM radio tuner and support for MP3, WMA, JPEG, and DivX file formats. It'll also upscale content to 1080p over the HDMI output, and in case you were worried about getting up each time to alter the station, a remote is bundled in for good measure. The CD-only CS-445 is practically identical save for its incompatibility with DVD and the removal of its USB socket, but as with its older brother, it boasts a 40-watt amplifier and a pair of two-way loudspeakers. The CS-V645 is expected to crash in early December for $399, while the CS-445 reaches retailers this month for $329. %Gallery-106827%
Yamaha PDX-31 iPod / iPhone speaker dock: too sexy for your 90s era living room
Truth be told, there's precisely no reason for the world to ever see yet another iPod sound system. If we haven't found one to suffice at this point, we're very clearly doing it wrong. That said, Yamaha has a knack for cranking out iPod / iPhone sound systems that look just as good (if not better) than they sound, and that's remaining the case on the PDX-31. Aside from reminding us of the gorgeous Oregon shoreline, this here speaker dock handles iPods and iPhones with a 30-pin Dock Connector, ships in a trio of hues (dark red, black and light gray) and offers up an auxiliary input for those other media players. It also houses a pair of 3.25-inch speakers, dual wall construction and arrives with a bundled remote for good measure. It'll carry an MSRP of $169.95, 80 percent of which is the premium for this thing looking so darn seductive.
JBL brings the twist to On Stage IV and On Stage Micro III iPod sound docks
We're guessing that we'll be seeing these iPod sound systems at the bottom of our Lucky Charms boxes next year, but JBL's trying to milk things while it still can. The company has just unleashed a new pair of iPod / iPhone-compatible sound systems, the On Stage IV and On Stage Micro III. Strangely enough, they look fairly identical, but the latter just so happens to be the more portable of the two (shocker!). The new duo sports a unique twisted base, with the On Stage IV housing four Odyssey transducers and having the ability to operate on a six-pack of AA batteries; the smaller Micro III uses just two Odyssey transducers, but it can pump out the jams for 24 hours on just four AAA batteries. Each one ships with an IR remote, touch volume controls and a built-in stereo mini-jack input for connecting those other PMPs you've got sitting around. The On Stage IV is expected to ship soon for $179.95, while the little guy goes for $119.95.%Gallery-104937%
Altec Lansing intros Octiv Duo iPod speaker dock and Muzx earbuds
Altec Lansing's Octiv Mini just a wee bit too bantam for your needs? Fret not, as the same company has just issued a jumbo-sized version by the name of Octiv Duo ($99.95; ships in October). As the title implies, this iPod / iPhone speaker dock is capable of holding (and charging) a pair of iDevices, and a third unit can be juiced as well through the integrated USB port. If your pal's Sansa Fuze+ somehow ends up over at your place, the model-agnostic auxiliary port should suffice. Oddly enough, it's a free accompanying app that really sells this thing -- the Music Mix application shuffles songs from both players and allows users to set the percentage of music played from each iPhone or iPod while docked, ensuring that you and your SO never stop bickering about who has the better playlist. In related news, the outfit has also introduced a trio of Muzx headphones, with the Core, Extra and Ultra editions shipping between now and next month for $29.99, $49.95 and $99.95 in order of mention. More details on each, along with a video of Music Mix in action, await you just beyond the break. %Gallery-102351%
Onkyo's HT-S7300 and HT-S6300 HTIB bundles are totally ready for 3D, man
Shocker of shockers -- Onkyo has outed a pair of home-theater-in-box bundles, and both of 'em are 3D ready. Crazy, ain't it? The HT-S6300 and HT-S7300 both have 3D-ready HDMI-1.4a inputs, 1080p video upscaling, lossless Dolby and DTS high definition audio, Dolby height processing, Audyssey automatic room equalization and seven total loudspeakers (plus a subwoofer). The primary difference between the two is the pair of 41-inch tall floorstanders that come with the S7300, as both systems ship with a 7 x 130W amplifier and a 290W subbie. As expected, there's also an outboard dock for iPod and iPhone, and the Faroudja DCDi Cinema processor should keep upscaled content looking its very best. The duo is available now for $749 and $899, respectively, and the full presser awaits just past the break should you find yourself interested.
Altec Lansing serves up angular Octiv Mini iPod / iPhone sound system
We know -- you need another iPod sound system about as bad as you need another mortgage, but why leave any one room lacking, right? Altec Lansing has cranked out a rather unorthodox looking device this fine evening, certified to play nice with iPhone and iPod and deliver soothing jazz to whatever ears are fortunate enough to get close. The Octiv Mini (M102; $59.95) is yet another iPod / iPhone alarm clock, though this one ships with the Alarm Rock app in order to customize one's wake-up tunes from their bedside. Full specs should be popping up in that source link momentarily, and it'll ship to the last five remaining Americans who actually need one of these type devices in July. %Gallery-95971%
flOw wireless speaker concept flips jams based on your handling
She's but a concept at the moment, but David Boyce's flOw mockup certainly has legs. The five-speaker set can be arranged in a fanciful iPod docking station for in-home use, and on a whim, any of the speaker balls can be grabbed and taken elsewhere, all while the music follows via a touch of wireless magic. But that's hardly the kicker -- each ball has integrated gesture sensors and accelerometers, enabling the user to quiet the volume by turning it over or switch from "Smooth Operator" to "Master of Puppets" by simply jostling the speaker with an intense level of force. Talk about revolutionizing a played market sector. [Thanks, Paul]
Finite Elemente's Hohrizontal 51 iPod / iPhone dock is its own shelf
The world needs another iPod / iPhone dock like it needs another billion gallons of oil floating around in the Atlantic, but there's something eerily seductive about Finite Elemente's latest piece. The Hohrizontal 51 is no average dock, and in our estimation, it's a design element first and Apple accessory second. Designed to be wall mounted and hold up to 55 pounds, this stunning shelf integrates an iPod / iPhone dock into itself, and the inbuilt speakers / video outputs make it even more functional. There's plenty of space for a bedroom-sized HDTV, and if you're careful, maybe even an iMac. Too bad the $660 MSRP all but eliminates the hope of you ever springing for one, but hey, if you ever needed encouragement to sharpen your carpentry skills, you needn't look further than the source link below.
i-Got-Control IRB1 dongle gives your iPhone / iPod touch universal remote functionality
No need to spot clean your spectacles, and no need to brush the cobwebs out of your dome -- you really are seeing yet another IR dongle for Apple's dear iLineup. Hot on the heels of New Potato's FLPR, ThinkFlood's RedEye mini and Power A's solution comes this: an all-too-similar way to convert your iPod touch, iPhone or forthcoming iPad into a universal remote. Functionality wise, there's really nothing here that the other guys don't provide, though the beefed-up database of over 40,000 IR codes should make setting up your system a breeze. Users simply plug this into their dock connector, download the free application from the App Store and then dial up whatever components they have; once loaded, the IR beamer should do the rest, nixing the need to keep those 40 remotes around. It's expected to start shipping any day now for $69.95.
PRS Guitarbud jacks your axe, ego into iPhone / iPod touch
Whatever happened to that dreamy Line 6 / Apple tie-up? Who knows, right? While those two sort out their future behind the scenes, Paul Reed Smith Guitars is stepping up to take advantage of an obvious market opportunity. The newly announced Guitarbud is a simplistic accessory that allows axe slingers to jack their guitar into an iPhone or second-generation iPod touch, all while providing a headphone output in order to keep the noise making to yourself. We're told that the device works with pretty much any recording-supported app (even Apple's own Voice Memos), though PRS obviously recommends that you check out its JamApp guitar amp simulator / tuner / training tool. Best of all, it's available today for £29.95 (or $29.95 here in the States), putting you just a few yard mowings away from securing your own personal aural sanctuary. Too bad the reviews from early adopters aren't so promising...
Gear4 ups the iPhone alarm clock ante with SmartDock
These things are a dime a dozen, sure, but you can't fault Gear4 for trying. In fact, it has managed to create something that's marginally unique in a world full of me-toos, as the SmartDock relies on hardware and software aspects in order to shine. At first blush, the actual dock isn't much to look at, but the bundled app enables you to search through stations using the iPhone's touchscreen and pause / rewind at will. You can also sync the alarm clock to play through the dock's speakers, and it'll work just fine on the iPod touch. We certainly wish a remote would've been thrown in for good measure, but hopefully the whole package will be cheap enough to make us overlook the omission. Wink, wink.
