LogitechMiniBoombox
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Logitech Mini Boombox packs a loud punch in a tiny package
Logitech has been on a roll lately with some very nice Apple accessories. Just last week, I raved about their Fold-Up Keyboard for iPad 2, and today I had an opportunity to blast out tunes with the new Mini Boombox ($99.99). Design There's no denying it -- the Mini Boombox is well designed. It's a little curved box that comes in either basic black or a bright, cheerful red. The front is a perforated grill with a tiny Logitech logo that lights up to tell you the status of the Bluetooth connection, the sides are made of a matte material, and the top and bottom are made of a glossy black material. There are rubber feet on the bottom to ensure that your Mini Boombox isn't going move if you really crank up the volume. In case you're wondering why this little noisemaker costs so much, it's probably due to the touch controls built into that glossy top. There's only one switch on the device -- a small power switch on the back. There's also an auxiliary port for plugging in a non-Bluetooth device, as well as a mini-USB port for charging the Mini Boombox. %Gallery-142032% The Mini Boombox works with any device that supports the A2DP Bluetooth wireless audio profile, such as the iPad and iPad 2, iPhone 3G and later, and all but the first version of the iPod touch. That auxiliary port will take input from any device with a 3.5 mm audio output. In addition to pumping out music, the Mini Boombox can also act as a speaker phone, supporting all generations of the iPhone and any other phone that supports the Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5). Functionality Once the Mini Boombox is out of the box, it's a simple matter of making sure it has a charge or charging it up, turning it on using that switch on the back, and then pairing it with your iPhone or other device. To do so, tap and hold on the Bluetooth / speakerphone icon that is glowing in red on top of the Boombox, and then the Logitech icon on the front of the speaker begins to flash blue and red. At that point, bringing up Settings > General > Bluetooth on your device allows you to pair to the Boombox. When playing music from your iOS device, you can stream it to the Mini Boombox by tapping the AirPlay icon and selecting the speaker. The sound from the Mini Boombox is surprisingly full for such a small device, including fairly robust bass and clear highs. You're not going to get Bose-quality sound out of the Mini Boombox, but if you're in the market for a Bluetooth speaker, it's definitely worth considering. During last week's TUAW TV Live, I did a comparison of the sound from an iPhone 4S speaker and the Mini Boombox. You can watch that video at the end of this post starting at 5:22 and see how this little gem works. Conclusion While a bit expensive compared to other Bluetooth speakers for iOS devices -- the IPEVO Tubular speakers ($79.00, currently on sale for $59.13) is a good example of bargain brand that works well -- the Mini Boombox is much less expensive than the $299.95 Bose SoundLink or $199.99 Jawbone Jambox. Sure, the Bose SoundLink speaker is incredible, but I'm not sure that I found the sound to be worth the extra $200. For a balance of small size, excellent battery life, smart design, hidden controls, and price, the Logitech Mini Boombox hits the sweet spot. There's still time to pick up one of these diminutive boomers before the holidays, so get to it!
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM ET: Demos, demos and more demos
It's demo day at TUAW TV Live! Today I have several accessories and apps to show off, including the: Logitech Fold-Up Keyboard (US$129.99) Logitech Mini Boombox ($99.99) Doxie Go ($199.99) ADDO SlateSHIELD, WriteSHIELD, and capacitive stylus Boinx iStopMotion for iPad and iStopCamera ($9.99 and free, respectively) The Opena bottle opener iPhone 4 case (AUD$39.99) and whatever else happens to arrive before the show goes live. As usual, I am totally expecting the viewers in the chat room to give the thumbs-up to products they like and to complain loudly (ALL CAPS) about those they hate. As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the demos start. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or any other favorite podcatching app. The past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel. The chat is now available as well on IRC: join us on server chat1.ustream.tv, chat room #tuaw-tv.
Logitech's Mini Boombox is a $99 Bluetooth speaker, we go hands-on (video)
$99? For a portable speaker? Yup, that was our reaction too -- especially when the Mini Boombox's larger sibling boasts four times as many drivers (eight instead of two) and costs just $50 extra. But then we gave this more suitcase-friendly version a whirl and discovered that it's actually loud and balanced enough to do some justice to your tunes while you're on the move. In fact, it could well make a smarter purchase than those $30 speakers you keep buying in airports and then deliberately losing. It's available from the end of this month, works with any A2DP Bluetooth-equipped smartphone or tablet and incorporates a mic for handling calls -- plus its rechargeable battery is claimed to last up to ten hours. Ears-on video and a quick round of 'name that tune' right after the break, along with the full PR. %Gallery-138133%
