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Griffin's Beacon for iOS devices now shipping, post-remote living for just $80
Sure, you could get a Peel Fruit to turn your iPhone into a universal remote, but if you want a totally wire-free solution Griffin's Beacon is finally available as an alternative. If you'll recall, the battery powered base -- controlled by Dijit's remote control app -- takes your iPhone or iPad's Bluetooth signal, converts it to IR, and blasts commands to your A/V gear. We spent some time with the device at CES and found the package to be quite nice thanks to the versatile base and relatively seamless app. If you're feeling the urge to switch up how you've been flipping through channels, $80 will get you one from Griffin's website or an Apple Store starting today.
Video demo of the Griffin StompBox
TUAW music blogger Matt Tinsley covered the details of Griffin Technology's StompBox product earlier today, but here's a video we shot at CES to show you how it works when playing guitar. Griffin made the cable especially for the StompBox, designed by a guitarist and called the GuitarConnectCable. It comes with the StompBox. Also, the iShred Live app is thus far the only one set up to work with the StompBox. While that may limit some early adopters, there should be nothing preventing other developers from supporting the StompBox in the future. Also seen in the video holding the iPad is the Mic Stand Mount, which Matt also wrote about earlier.
Griffin CarTrip will track efficiency and show diagnostic reports (video)
We mentioned the CarTrip when they announced it earlier in the week, but after seeing this thing in person at CES, I really want one. Primarily because the device will allow you to clear the stupid "check engine" light in most cars made after 1996 with an ODB-II port. You see, the CarTrip features a dongle that plugs into the ODB-II port in your car, and it communicates via Bluetooth with an iOS device (in your hand or dashboard). The CarTrip can then show you certain codes from your car's "brain" and alert you to problems or clear the check engine light. Plus, a little plant sprout on the app will show you how efficiently your car is driving, and the device will track efficiency even if you don't have your iOS device in the car. Check out the video on the next page; we had a chat with Eric Weisinger from Griffin about the CarTrip. It should be available in the second quarter of 2011 for US$89.99.
Griffin Beacon universal remote control system hands-on
We visited Griffin's CES booth to check out the Beacon universal remote control expecting yet another Redeye clone, but instead wound up walking away impressed. Two notable features of the prototype Bluetooth to IR converter device are that it's battery powered and includes a 360 degree IR blaster. These are key since they give users the freedom to place the transmitter almost anywhere around an entertainment center. The free iPhone remote app built by Dijit was the real highlight though. The UI and functionality was incredibly intuitive, and we especially liked that the setup process doesn't require inputting device model numbers. Instead, users just pick the brand and then test a series of code cycles to see if their components respond. The TV guide and Netflix integration are also points of distinction over competitors -- since you can select shows or movies to watch directly from the app. Last but not least, your remote settings can be saved and downloaded to as many devices as you like. To give you a feel for the system, we've included plenty of shots of the app's UI in the gallery below along with more photos the device. %Gallery-113456% %Gallery-113458%
Griffin's Beacon Universal Remote Control System brings dongle-free control to your smartphone
Ditch those dongles and throw out those cases, the next level of smartphone-as-universal-remote technology is here. Beacon Universal Remote Control System from Griffin Technology and Dijits turns your iPhone and other iOS devices into omnipotent remote controls, by converting Bluetooth signals into infrared commands that your stereo, TV, and other devices can recognize. Paired with Dijit's Universal Remote App, Beacon, which looks something akin to a game show buzzer, converts your touchscreen to a remote, making all the added cases, dongles, and even cords unnecessary -- it can run up to two months on four AA batteries. Beacon hits the market in May 2011 for $79.99, but if you're lucky enough to be at CES this week, you can check out a demo at Griffin's booth.
Griffin gets an iPhone all up in your car's OBD-II port with the CarTrip Bluetooth adapter
If you're not a car person there's a good chance you don't know much about the OBD-II lurking mysteriously beneath your dash. It's there -- if your car was built since the first Bush administration, anyway. Usually its needs go unfulfilled until your check-engine light pops on and some mechanic with greasy paws clumsily stuffs a code checker in there, but more and more tools are coming out to change that. The Autobot Mavia is one, and now Griffin is doing similar with the CarTrip. It's an OBD-II adapter that connects wirelessly to an iOS device or writes directly to SD card, storing information on information related to car mileage, even giving you a real-time efficiency readout on your display with the CleanDrive app. And, yes, it'll even pull warning codes and the like if things aren't quite running how they should. All that for $89.99, a fair bit less than the Mavia will potentially be and available sooner -- sometime before the first quarter is through.
Review: Griffin Loop for the iPad
Griffin Technology is known for making handy accessories for the Mac and iPod/iPhones. The MacBook Pro that I am using to write this article is currently supported by the Griffin iCurve (which was later replaced with the Elevator), which I've been using for about 6 years now. When I saw the Loop for the iPad, I knew it was going to be something that I wanted to use. As shown above, it will hold your iPad in either "portrait" or "landscape" orientation, but if you look at the very front of the Loop, you will see a slight edge there as well. You can rest the iPad at a lower angle, which is more comfortable for typing (see image here). What is harder to see in the pictures is that the notches to hold the iPad in the upright position (as shown above) are cut a little wider than necessary. This turns out to be a big benefit if you use a case for your iPad, since you can use the Loop without taking it out of the case. Another nice touch is that, when held in portrait mode with the dock connector on the bottom, there is enough clearance to keep the iPad plugged in. The same is not true for the SD card reader and USB camera connector kit accessories for the iPad, but I use those far less often than the sync cable. The Loop is heavy enough that it won't move around, even if you are tapping on the touchscreen. It has some non-slip material on the bottom of it as well. My only (relatively minor) complaint is that the material doesn't cover the entire bottom of the base, which seems like a strange decision to make; it means there are several edges that can get caught and pulled off, making the Loop uneven. I haven't actually had this happen, it just seems like a risk that could have been easily avoided. At US$30, the Loop is on the more expensive side of the various iPad stands out there, but it's versatile enough to give you different ways of using it. If my experience with the iCurve is any indicator, you should be able to use this for many years to come. The ability to keep the case on the iPad is a big "win" for me. Given that the Loop's notch is open, I suspect that whenever Apple announces the second version of the iPad, the Loop will be able to hold it securely, too (even if Apple "tweaks" the design, as they have shown they like to do with the iPhone). Of course, only time will tell.
Flickr find: Creative Griffin case mod nets owner a family of cases
If there's anything we love to hear about here at TUAW, it's great customer service. Reader Cristina made our morning with a story of how the team at Griffin Technology went out of their way to turn a bad situation into a happy one for everybody involved. Cristina had purchased a standard Griffin Reveal case with white sides to protect her iPhone 4. After a few weeks, she noticed that the "sides got really nasty," so she decided to bring it up to Griffin. She contacted customer service at the company through their website, talking to a customer service agent named Curt. The two talked for a bit about the issue. Curt wanted to see the case to view the damage and also asked why Cristina couldn't just return the Reveal to Best Buy. Well, a quick glance at the case shown that she had modified the case into "Lester," who you can see at right. Yes, a pair of stick-on googly eyes and a red smear of paint had given the plain case a personality and a name. Curt was in awe of the case mod, and mentioned that it would look good on his desk. Curt offered to send Cristina two new Reveals (one black, one white) if she'd send Lester back to the company. Cristina agreed, but only with the guarantee that Curt would take good care of Lester. A few days later, Cristina received the black Reveal case. Yesterday, she received a much larger box containing what she thought would be the white case. Much to her surprise, inside were six Griffin Reveal cases, all with names and faces except for one labeled "Design your own." You can view Cristina's new family of cases in her Flickr gallery.
Griffin Technologies announces iPad power and desktop accessories
Today, Griffin Technologies announced a family of new products that are sure to make iPad owners happy. For those of you who don't want to purchase the Apple Keyboard Dock or the "regular dock," Griffin has developed the A-Frame Tabletop Stand (US$49.99, see photo above). This is a folding aluminum stand with a soft silicone cradle in the bottom. The iPad sits contentedly in the cradle in either portrait or landscape orientation, and Griffin says that the dock connector is accessible regardless of how the iPad is oriented. When you're done, the A-Frame Tabletop Stand folds flat for easy travel. It's also possible to use the stand in the folded position to help support the iPad when it's on a table or other flat surface.
Griffin iTrip now features iPhone OS 3.0 integration
Griffin, known for its accessories for the iPod and iPhone, has just announced its latest and greatest (though just how great is still in question). The latest iteration of the iTrip takes full advantage of iPhone OS 3.0, allowing you to control the FM transmitter from your iPhone / iPod touch itself. Aren't luscious touchscreen controls preferable to the iTrip's tiny buttons anyways? In addition to app integration, the transmitter features track and artist information on RDS-compatible radios, SmartScan technology for finding the best available frequency in any locale, and a micro-USB port for charging any USB-powered iPod or iPhone from a charger. iTrip is available for $49.99, and the iTrip Controller software can be downloaded for free from the App Store.
Griffin's volume-limiting MyPhones can't crank to 11... or 8
Griffin Technology's MyPhones are far from being the first cans on the market with volume limiting tech built-in, but unlike some parent-friendly options, these can never, ever be cranked to levels appropriate for ear bashing. You see, rather than giving adults (you know, those Earthlings that are already hard of hearing) the chance to set the limit too high for their offspring, Griffin has implemented an "always-on sound-control circuit to cap peak volume levels at 85 decibels." That's the maximum level recommended by many auditory health organizations, and if you don't like it, tough noogies. But we mean, just look at those two kiddos above -- don't they just look elated? Kidz Bop 14 at barely-audible levels tends to have that effect, or so we hear.[Via Macworld]
Griffin freaks out on the accessory tip
Tons of little accessories from Griffin today -- here's a quick breakdown, pictures in the gallery! SmartTalk Bluetooth headset: dual-mic headset featuring STEPvoice "acoustic voice separation" technology to kill background and wind noise, and features voice feedback during pairing. $100, now shipping, or wait until February to buy it in a bundle with the PowerJolt car charger for $120. TuneBuds Fit: In-ear headphones with 10mm drivers in an "anatomically correct" aluminum curved design. Sure, okay. They'll be $50 in February. Noise-reducing auxiliary audio cable: Car-oriented headphone cable with an inline dual-element noise filter to eliminate hum from vehicle electrical systems. If you need this -- you know if you do, trust us -- it'll be well worth the $20 in February. SmartShare USB: Sure, lots of people could use this $20 two-port USB hub with a unique splitter-like design, but Griffin's targeting it at MacBook Air owners, because let's face it -- it's fun to point out how limited the MacBook Air is. PowerBlock Reserve: Adds a removable battery to the popular PowerBlock USB charger that allows it to charge your iPod / iPhone away from an outlet. A little steep at $40, but the battery is held in place magnetically for extra awesomeness. PowerJolt Reserve: Same deal as the PowerBlock, but in an iPod / iPhone car charger package. Charge Converter FireWire to USB: We're still unclear as to why all these iPhone 3G FireWire charging adapters are all so expensive, but $30 will get you Griffin's take on the idea sometime later this month. %Gallery-40800%
Griffin ships iPod / iPhone-compatible iTrip AutoPilot
It's been a hot minute since Griffin Technology loosed a new iTrip, but the newest member of the family is one we can't help but high-five. The iTrip AutoPilot not only charges and transmits iPod audio to your FM stereo, but it also does the same with Apple's iPhone. As expected, the device plugs into one's cigarette adapter on one end while sliding into a Dock Connector on the other; the SmartScan technology will do its best to locate the clearest frequency for transmitting on, and it will then display said station so you can dial in with your radio. Not a half bad piece for $99.99 -- 'tis a shame FM transmitters are all but worthless in even modestly large cities.[Via Macworld]
Microsoft talks third-party Zune accessories
You can't run around launching fancy new music players these days without a secondary offensive of cases and car chargers following close behind, and Microsoft's new Zunes have a veritable cavalry behind them. In addition to the official accessories we've already heard about from J Allard and crew, the company's lined up a number of third-party manufacturers to crank out 60 different Zune-friendly products, including Polk, Belkin, DLO, Monster, Altec Lansing, Targus, iHome, Memorex and Griffin. Microsoft's new pals will be releasing everything from speaker docks to RCA cables, so it looks like you'll be able to build a happy little home for that new Zune of yours when it launches next month.
Griffin announces iPhone auto charger
Why, just yesterday I was driving along and thinking, "I wish I had an auto charger for my iPhone..." Lucky for me, the Griffin Technology Psychic Friends Network answered my unspoken plea.The PowerJolt for iPhone fits into your car's 12v jack (we used to call it the "cigarette lighter" back in the day) and features a USB to dock connector that attaches to your iPhone, charging it up and sucking your car battery dry. It also ships with a mini USB cable.The PowerJolt costs $19.99US and is available now.
Griffin releases the AirDock
While Griffin's new $70 AirDock might sound like it's a contender to the wirelessly syncing WiDock's throne, don't let its name fool you. It doesn't sport 802.11x for syncing with a Mac or PC, but it does include an RF remote for controlling the AirDock, even through walls (Infrared, like in the Apple Remote, needs a direct line of sight). It also has an A/V out port for running your iPod media out to an entertainment center, but it doesn't have any kind of on-screen menu navigation like the more powerful $129 TuneCenter accessory. The other decent advantage for its price, however, is the inclusion of Griffin's PowerBlock, their compact $30 AC-to-USB charger that should be able to sync nearly any iPod with a Dock connector, as well as the 1G iPod shuffle due to its USB interface. The AirDock is shipping now, and more details are available at Griffin's site.
Griffin previews the Amplifi
Now that you can get 256kbps, DRM-free music from iTunes (well, in May, anyway) you're going to want to hear what that extra $0.30US buys you. You could pick up an iPod HiFi for $350US, or wait a bit for the Amplifi by Griffin Technology.The Amplifi is a 2.1 sound system for all iPod models (it accommodates other players as well) that features a wooden case and bass reflex port plus two 2-3/4" neodymium drivers on the front and one 5" woofer underneath. It also features standard audio in and a remote. Check out this video of our very own Scott McNulty talking Amplifi with the Griffin folks at Macworld for some first hand impressions.Now for the million dollar question...what's it going to cost? The iPod HiFi's price tag has successfully kept many shoppers away, and no information is currently available on the Amplifi's cost or shipping date. If it's more moderately priced than the HiFi, it could be a winner.
Macworld 2007 Show Floor Showoff: Griffin Technology
We continue to relive the wonder and joy that was Macworld Expo 2007 with yet another showfloor interview. I got a chance to speak with Jackie from Griffin Technology about the Evolve and the Amplifi. Both iPod speaker systems sound impressive, though the Evolve is a little more exciting. Check the video for more details.You can grab an iPod ready version of the interview here.
Griffin's new iPod speakers Evolve -- beyond wireless
You didn't think the Mac-daddy of iPod accessories was going to go through CES, letting other companies show off wireless speakers for the famed MP3 player without throwing down its own now did you? The Evolve is a $350 system that comprises of a dock, RF remote, and two rechargeable, wireless speakers. The system streams "CD quality sound" over an unspecified wireless protocol as far as 150-feet. Finally, the dock doubles as a charger for the iPod as well as the speakers. There is however, no date specified yet for release.[Via iLounge]
Griffin releases Proxi 1.0
Back in April we wrote about the public beta of Proxi, which is the easy-to-use scripting software from Griffin Technology. Proxi lets you automate complicated routines, much like Automator or QuicKeys. Earlier this week, Griffin released version 1.0 of Proxi. Changes to version 1.0 include support for the following triggers and tasks (among others): Griffin AirClick (as well as several other Griffin devices) Applescript iTunes monitor iChat monitor Mail monitor Growl notification Open file Open URL Write to file Proxi requires Mac OS 10.4 or later, is free and universal.
