PortableSpeaker
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Franklin Roadie modular music system needs a table to boom
We've seen speaker systems that use flat surfaces as a diaphragm before, but Franklin's Roadie might be the first modular to splash down in the new millennium. It's a three part system (if you want it to be), consisting of the EVS-2000, EVS-3000 and EVS-4000. In order of mention, you've got a base model that accepts sources via a 3.5mm input jack, a rechargeable battery with SD card slot, and a bonus tweeter / equalizer. It ain't much good in your hand, but slap it on a table (or any other flat surface, like a floor) and the tunes start to boom. Or become marginally more audible, anyway. The trio should go on sale soon for $99.99 as a bundle, while the 2000 and 3000 can be picked up by themselves for $49.99 / $79.99, respectively.
Logitech S715i rechargeable iPod / iPhone speaker unleashes next generation hyperbole
We know what you're thinking: not another iPod / iPhone speaker dock. Maybe, but it's way more than that if you listen to Logitech describe it. According to the boys from Cali, the $149.99 S715i "sounds like a beast" with 8 custom-designed, laser-tuned speaker drivers that deliver "next generation," "professionally tuned acoustics" capable of "filling a room" with "bold sound." So yeah, it's just another iPod speaker dock, although that 8-hour rechargeable battery is nice. Full PR and video overview after the break.
WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails
Portable devices that turn any surface into a speaker are hardly anything new, but the folks behind the WOWee One portable speaker (not WowWee) seem to be making some slightly bigger claims than most, and are even throwing out the increasingly popular "perfect companion for the iPad" phrase for good measure. As with other similar devices, the WOWee One conducts sound through any surface you rest it on (even a wall with an optional attachment), but it also has the benefit of patented "Gel Audio" technology, which promises to produce bass frequencies about three octaves below any other comparable device. You'll also apparently get about 20 hours of use from the built-in rechargeable battery, and your choice of three different colors -- all for the not so low price of $79.99. Head on past the break for a quick video.
Soundmatters' foxL v2 portable Bluetooth speaker rocks the suburbs
Soundmatters made a few (sine) waves last year with the introduction of its awfully cute foxL Bluetooth speaker, but for those preoccupied with other matters, there's nothing wrong with snagging v2 in order to catch up. The pocket-sized (5.6- x 2.2- x 1.4-inches) speaker sports new BT circuitry that allows for 3x better reception than the prior version, and it also automatically pairs and searches for Bluetooth devices. Users can now answer and terminate a call from the speaker itself, and as expected, you'll also get a bit more volume out of this one compared to the original. The rechargeable battery will keep the jams spinning for five hours on a full charge, and if the international charging prongs weren't enough, there's also the option to regenerate over USB. It's set to ship later this month to jet-setting music junkies for $199, while a wired (read: non-BT) variant will go for $30 less.
Bose Wave SoundLink wireless music system goes on sale today
Bose Wave SoundLink, the too-expensive, yet pretty OK looking wireless music system by the "too expensive, yet pretty OK looking" consumer electronics people over at Bose, has gone from rumor to reality as of today. Expect to pay $599.90 for the whole McGillicuddy or -- if you've already bought into the Bose Wave thing -- pick up that SoundLink upgrade kit featuring a USB Bluetooth dongle for a mere $149.95. A steal at a fraction of the price! PR after the break.
Logitech dishes two new iPod / iPhone speaker docks, one of them rechargeable
Not quite sure if you've noticed, but Logitech has been on a tear for the ages here recently. As the torrent of new gear continues, we're now faced with another pair of iPod sound systems desperately attempting to knock the "me-too" status and contribute something positive to the world. The Rechargeable Speaker S315i is the larger of the two, boasting a rechargeable battery that's supposedly good for up to 20 hours of listening. The unit is fully compatible with dock-connecting iPods and iPhones, and there's even an auxiliary input for those who aren't down with Cupertino's wares. The smaller Portable Speaker S125i plays and charges any iPod model and can be powered by an AC adapter, four AA cells or 8.43 tablespoons of Jobs' favorite fairy dust. Check 'em out this month and next for $129.99 and $69.99, respectively.
FiiO PS1110 Walkbox portable speaker says 'buy more'
$15 for a hunk of metal and plastic that makes noise and looks pretty cool? Sure, it's not quite that pink cube that OMM told you pick up on the way home from your occupation, but FiiO's PS1110 Walkbox portable speaker is just that right blend of retro and modern that makes us all weak in the knees. Let us be thankful we have commerce.[Via technabob]
Devotec Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker hands-on and nano-review
So we've been playing with the Devotec Industries Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker system for a couple days now, and we've got to say we're pretty impressed -- we just wish it could run directly (and indefinitely) off the solar panel, instead of requiring an internal battery that takes 12-24 hours to charge from the sun or four hours to charge off USB. That said, you will get eight hours of decent audio when the battery is full, and it's actually relatively loud -- you'll be more than fine indoors and in quieter spots, although cranking things up all the way results in some audible distortion. Of course, it's A2DP, so setup is a breeze with most Bluetooth devices, including 3.0 iPhones, and you can hook most everything else up with the included 3.5mm headphone cable. (Just keep in mind that Apple doesn't properly support AVRCP, so the forward and back control buttons don't work correctly over Bluetooth.) Not bad for $79 -- and you won't have to burn through endless AAs to take your tunes on those summer picnics and beach trips.
Bose intros SoundLink wireless music system, charges $550 with a straight face
Ah, Bose. While almost any other audio company would be properly lambasted for charging $549.95 for a portable sound system with absolutely no hard specifications (driver material, amplifier type, wattage, etc.) to speak of, somehow or another Bose gets away with the practice. All bitterness aside, the fresh SoundLink Wireless Music System is actually rather attractive, and unlike its other models, this one arrives with a USB dongle that enables computers to stream tunes directly to it. 'Course, we're not told what kind of technology is used here nor how far you can stray without losing signal, but as we alluded to earlier, this is all par for the course for Bose. In brighter news, there's a rechargeable battery that keeps it humming for three hours on a full charge, and the bundled IR remote could probably be programmed to control your media app from afar. Oh, and there's a standard 3.5 millimeter auxiliary jack for linking things up the "old way." Start saving your pennies quarters, folks -- this one ships to those with more dollars than sense on August 27th. [Via HotHardware]
Crapgadget: Delicious salmagundi of decorative inanities edition
We're always big fans of mixed-use gadgets -- but these ones kind of mutilate the principle. On hand today we've got a two pack of bedazzled necklaces -- one an MP3 player, the other a USB flash drive / watch combo. We've also unearthed a USB speaker that claims to be a whale, but more closely resembles a weird, in our opinion. Finally (and this one was worth the wait, trust us), we've got a tiny Moto Horn for your bike, which makes it "safer" to ride your bike by... making vroom vroom motorbike noises as you zoom along. Consider these our best suggestions for what to do with your disposable income, folks.Read - USB Jewel Square Necklace MP3 PlayerRead - USB Jewel Watch Necklace Flash DriveRead - USB Cetacean Whale SpeakerRead - Moto Horn
Podio speakered PMP for cyclists sure to cause accidents, impromptu dance parties
We've seen plenty of speaker / PMP combos around these part, but the Podio -- which looks kind of like a hairdryer to us -- is designed for the cyclist on-the-go who just can't bike without jamming to Green Day at a semi-loud volume. The Podio comes with a harness to attach it to the bike's handlebars, and boasts a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that gets somewhere between nine and twenty hours of use per charge. The whole thing weighs 139 grams, boasts 2GB of onboard storage, and has a 1.5 watt speaker to get the party started. There are no details on pricing or availability as of now, but we'll let you know when they come around -- err... are on the market. One more photo after the break.[Via Oh! Gizmo]
X-mini Max II looks like a trash can, pumps out the jams
If you've ever thought to yourself, "I could use a pair of tiny, tinny, and aesthetically-impaired portable speakers for my laptop or PMP," this is your lucky day. X-Mini, known for pushing sound through something that looks like a cross between alien hardware and a donut, is back on the scene with the Max II. A stunning departure from the usual fare, this thing ditches the wagon wheel in favor of something that one of Dark Helmet's minions might wear in Spaceballs. Apparently, the new design also features a bigger driver meaning, you guessed it, "twice the bass." We didn't have the heart to point out that two times bupkis is still bupkis. We're not sure when this 2.5W sonic wonder will be released in the US, but we'll be keepin' our eyes peeled.
X-mini Happy arrives for quasi-spherical MP3 playback
There's just something slightly alien to the X-mini, and this latest "Happy" model does little to assuage our unfounded fears of it. What's new this time around is MP3 playback, thanks to an SD card slot. Size and shape-wise it's almost identical to its X-mini II predecessor. Happy can handle about 6 hours of playback, or 11 hours of speaker work, on a charge, and the USB cable not only charges the ball but also allows the unit to work as a slightly-less-difficult-to-misplace SD card reader. You can also still daisy chain Happy speakers like with the X-mini II. Happy is currently in prototype stage, and should hit the market sometime around Q3.[Thanks, Yutaka]
Soundmatters foxL Bluetooth speaker gets reviewed
For audiophiles, it's a perpetual challenge to find a portable speaker that carries even half the tunes of your assuredly expensive towers at home. Soundmatters has attempted to halt your looking, however, with the recently-unveiled foxL. This portable speaker, which is also available in an entirely-more-delectable Bluetooth flavor, was recently put to the test by Sound & Vision, and the reviewer came away more than impressed. Put simply, no system this small -- at least in the critic's mind -- ever came close to "sounding this good." In testing, he found that the frequency response of the foxL "looked like that of a well-engineered, $2,000-per-pair bookshelf speaker," and honestly, when the biggest complaint is that it can get too loud for the average hotel room, you pretty much know you've got a winner on your hands.
Soundmatters reveals foxLmb portable Bluetooth speaker
Soundmatters already has the living room taken care of, so it makes sense to see it aiming for those times when you need sound everywhere else. All set to debut at CEDIA, said company has unveiled its foxL portable speaker, which measures in at 5.6- x 2.2- x 1.4-inches and promises "audiophile" grade sound quality. The foxL is also available with integrated Bluetooth (foxLmb), and both flavors include a pair of 1-inch "Twoofers" (yes, we're serious) and a Li-ion battery good for around five hours on a full charge. Expect these to surface in early September for $199 and $249, respectively.
Yamaha boasts world's most powerful USB speaker, the NX-U10
Question: what's the most common complaint about USB speakers? Answer: they suck. And why do they suck? They're woefully lacking in power because of the limitations of the USB port, which only outputs 5V/0.5A. Yamaha claims to have gotten around this hurdle by developing its flux capacitor "Charged Capacitor Amplifier" that, via the magic power of technology, throws out 10x the normal power to achieve 10W x 2. And to turn it up to 11, Yamaha added its SR-Bass technology to produce the "deepest bass ever" in proportion to its size. The speaker sports a stereo mini-jack and can also be battery-operated for those rare moments when you and your laptop need some "separate time." You'll be able to pick up the NX-U10 early this year for £149, or about $193 USD.
Sony VGP-USP1: a 1.1-inch thin USB travel speaker
So you've picked up a Sony speaker for your PSP and Bluetooth-enabled Walkman, but man, if only they had one for your super-swank VAIO. No worries, Sony's got you covered. The VGP-USP1 plugs into your laptop's USB port to deliver 2x2W of thimble shaking power. Still, at just 30-mm / 1.1-inches thin and 520-grams / 18.3-ounces, it makes for an easy packing, on-the-go solution for those lonely nights in front of the minibar.
Third Wave's new tiny MP3 player and integrated speaker
Japan often comes out with sweet stuff (we're looking at you, moon-colonizing robots), and this latest MP3 player with a built-in speaker carries that novelty torch. While we don't have much to go on besides Third Wave's site and a few scattered hits across the web, we are nevertheless intrigued. The nameless player (we don't read Japanese, remember -- these guys do, though) comes with a little 6W woofer and a pair of 3W tweeters (collectively called the "Speaker 8030"), all inside a little cylindrical case that measures 6.7 inches tall and is 4 inches across. It'll hold a half gig's worth of songs, and the company will even throw in a remote for about $45 (¥5,280) and is available starting September 8. Now instead of lugging around that boombox on your shoulder, you probably could loop this onto your sunglasses -- yeah, that'd be totally sweet.[Via AV Watch]
