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JBL introduces OnBeat speaker dock for iPad, iPhone, iPod
If you've somehow avoided buying a speaker dock for your iPad, iPhone or iPod up to this point, then you might want to wait until next month before you make your decision. That's when the JBL OnBeat speaker dock will be available at Apple and Best Buy stores. Priced at US$149.95, the OnBeat is JBL's first foray into the iPad dock market. They've obviously put some thought into the design, building a swoopy design big enough to comfortably hold an iPad in portrait or landscape orientation and packing a pair of Phoenix full-range transducer speakers that can pump out your favorite tunes with great clarity and volume. The OnBeat produces 7.5 watts of computer-optimized, DSP-equalized audio per channel. Not only does the OnBeat dock handle your tunes, but if you happen to have a set of composite video cables handy, you can run 'em between the OnBeat and your TV. JBL supplies an IR remote with the OnBeat so that you don't have to get up from the couch to change tunes, and of course, you can use the dock to keep your favorite iToy charged up. As you can see from the image above, the OnBeat dock looks pretty cool, too. I don't know if it's just me, but with that iPad attached it looks like some sort of robot samurai... We'll try to get one of these docks soon for testing and giveaway. [via Engadget]
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.
JBL reveals wireless AirPlay speaker dock for iPhone or iPod touch
As you can see above, the JBL On Air Wireless AirPlay is a pretty intriguing speaker dock for your iPhone or iPod. Not only does it sport that Dyson-style ring, but it's got an attached FM radio, a dual alarm clock, and even a screen to display the current name and album art of the song you happen to be listening to. As you can tell by the name, it'll connect up to any AirPlay-enabled device, streaming your songs and media wirelessly for your ears to listen to. Looks great. Of course, at home I already have a nice speaker setup in the living room, but this seems like it would be great for a bedroom or maybe even an office space. The dock should be available to the public this spring, and no price has been announced yet. [via Engadget]
JBL's On Air Wireless AirPlay speaker dock gets official, unavailable to purchase
When we first peeked this AirPlay-enabled speaker dock, we were admittedly excited to see how things would turn out after it made rounds through the FCC. JBL just tossed up the splash page for the On Air Wireless speaker and we've gotta say -- it looks to be a promising means of streaming your jams. The system connects wirelessly to your AirPlay-enabled Mac and iOS device on 4.2 or later and packs a screen that'll display the track info of the song you're rocking out to. What's more, the rounded grill sports a dual alarm clock, FM radio, and a USB port for future firmware updates. As you might have surmised by now, the dock is not yet available for purchase and there's no word on price. If you're interested, though, be sure to hit the source link, sign up for more info and get ready to headbang this spring.
Soundfreaq's SFQ-01R Sound Platform goes red and black for Valentine's Day
Remember that SFQ-01 Bluetooth audio system you were swooning over late last year? If you twiddled your thumbs on buying one, here's a shot at redemption: Soundfreaq has just pushed out a limited edition red and black version just in time for Valentine's Day, and outside of the color change, everything else remains the same. It's up for pre-order now at Amazon for a penny under $200, and trust us, your significant other will love it. Even if said SO is... you.
Perch: the Bluetooth speaker / smartphone dock of your dreams, shipping soon for $180
Okay, so maybe that's a stretch, but there's no question that Quirky's latest socially-developed product is one of the slicker wireless speaker / dock combos out there. Dubbed Perch, this two-piece device acts as a standalone Bluetooth speaker if you'd like, but it also includes a dock / tray for holding your device while it's charging. It's model and brand agnostic, and it's up for pre-order right now for $179.99. Gallery's below, but don't dive in if you're easily swayed by eye candy. %Gallery-113323%
B&W Zeppelin Air looks cool, connects via AirPlay
At CES, Bowers & Wilkins announced the Zeppelin Air, its next generation iPhone/iPod speaker dock with AirPlay support. This lovely piece of audio hardware features class D amplifiers, improved bass thanks to Flowport technology and digital signal processing and exceptional performance courtesy of new 25bit-96KHz capacity DACs. In addition to its standard USB connectivity which lets you sync to iTunes on your computer, this latest Zeppelin model now supports AirPlay so you can wireless stream your music directly from any iOS 4.2 device or iTunes 10.1 Mac or PC. If you prefer to dock your device, the Zeppelin Air has a spring-loaded docking port that accommodates all models of the iPhone, all models of the iPod touch, the iPod classic and the iPod nano (6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd generations). Pricing is not yet available, but if previous models are any indication, this fusion of style and function will not be cheap. Click through for the press release after the break or head to B&W's website for all the details on this gorgeous AirPlay speaker system. [Via Engadget]
Motorola accessorizes Xoom tablet with docks, cases and keyboards
No tablet is complete without some accessories, and Motorola's just announced a bunch for its new Xoom tablet. Those include the Speaker HD dock that packs a pair of speakers for hands-free video chats and media viewing, the "Standard Dock" that doubles as stand while it charges the tablet, a new Bluetooth keyboard that'll also work with your phone and, last but not least, a portfolio case that's available in both leather and "durable" versions. No word on prices for any of them just yet, but we presume they'll be released alongside the tablet itself when it rolls out sometime in the first quarter of the year. Check them all out in the gallery below. %Gallery-112808%
Orbitsound T14 soundbar debuts at CES, will take its sweet time getting to market (hands-on)
You'll be forgiven for being a little misty on who exactly Orbitsound is -- the British company has only sold its T12 soundbar in the domestic market -- but today it's reminding everyone of its presence with a brand new product for CES-goers in the T14 you see above. The company's patented "spatial stereo" sound is still the big selling point, promising a revolutionary aural experience that eliminates the need to occupy the traditional sweet spot for enjoying stereo sound. That's achieved via six 2.5-inch drivers and a studio-class amp that "senses" surrounding acoustic conditions and calibrates output for best results. A bold claim, to be sure, but you'd expect no less for something that will cost $600 when it becomes Orbitsound's first global launch later this year. Wireless technology is also put to good use, with the T14 communicating through the air with its accompanying subwoofer and wireless iPod / iPhone dock. We'll be tracking one down while here in Vegas and trying to figure out just how spaced out its sound really is. %Gallery-112590%
JBL's AirPlay-enabled On Air Wireless speaker dock hits the FCC
JBL was one of the first companies besides iHome and Denon / Marantz to announce support for Apple's AirPlay technology, so it's no surprise that the company's On Air Wireless speaker dock just hit the FCC, complete with its manual -- we've been hearing that AirPlay will be all over the place at CES 2011. The On Air Wireless seems like a fancier riff on JBL's On Air line of speaker docks and alarm clocks -- it features that familiar swoopy-loop design but adds in a large color LCD display that displays album artwork while streaming music. Looking at the manual, the display also makes WiFi setup and configuration a little easier, which is nice. All in all, it looks promising, but we'll see what price and availability looks like when we get to CES.
PadDock 10 iPad speaker dock makes beautiful music
Here at TUAW, we get a chance to see a lot of iPad and iPhone docks. In fact, you may have seen our recent iPad dock holiday gift guide. One new iPad dock that we didn't know about at the time the gift guide was being published was the PadDock 10 speaker dock from SMKLink (US$99.99). The PadDock is well-made of black plastic and brushed aluminum, and it's quite solid and sturdy. The mechanism used to hold the iPad in place clicks when you push the iPad in, and you know that it's going to stay in place without moving. The iPad can be rotated 360° or more, and there are detents every 90° to lock the device into place in either portrait or landscape orientation. The base is actually thicker than that on an iMac -- it provides the weight on the smaller base to keep the PadDock from tipping over. With an iPad in place, the PadDock looks like a miniature iMac; so much so, in fact, that I am tempted to get one just to give my iMac a "Mini-Me" companion. The sound quality out of the speakers is very good. While it doesn't have quite the range of high-end speaker docks available for the iPhone and iPod touch, the PadDock does provide decent volume and frequency range that is good enough for listening to most music or watching movies.
Speakal's Cool iPig blasts iPod tunes with extra badassitude
You have to go to great lengths these days to distinguish your iPod dock from the teeming horde, but that's exactly what Speakal did here. To state the obvious, it's a pig, wearing sunglasses, and filled with stereo components. The beast has four-watt stereo drivers for eyes, a down-firing 15 watt subwoofer in the belly, controls in the snout, and ports in the tail region. There's also an internal lithium ion battery good for up to eight untethered hours on a charge. We're not sure what would possess you to buy the hog, especially for its $150 asking price, but it could be just the item you've been looking for to bolster your eccentric reputation... or ward off particularly annoyed fowl.
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.
La Boite Concept LD120 is the hi-fi desk your laptop's been crying out for (video)
Why more people aren't doing this kind of thing, we don't know. La Boite Concept, a French design studio with a focus on electronic acoustics, has put together the above piece of laptop-loving music furniture, dubbed the LD120. It features a total of seven drivers, including a down-firing subwoofer and a stereo pair at the rear, the latter of which is intended to bounce sound off a wall and neatly into your ear canal. You'll still only be getting 2.1 audio output at the end of it, but when it emanates from a leather-trimmed desk equipped with its own USB sound card and a cable-tidying channel in one of its legs, we're kind of willing to overlook that little detail. We only wish we could be as blasé about the price, which at €980 ($1,300) places the LD120 strictly on our "hope someone buys us one" list. [Thanks, Samiksha]%Gallery-108325%
Altec Lansing releases Octiv Stage speaker dock for iPad
Altec Lansing has finally released its newest speaker dock, the Octiv Stage, for iPads. The Octiv Stage differs from many docks in that it has a comparatively small footprint and can support the tablet in either portrait or landscape orientation. The iPad is clipped into a bracket on a rotating arm, and the base with the speakers spans virtually the same width as the narrow side of the tablet. While the iPad's display has excellent viewing angles, the arm of the Octiv Stage also allows the tilt angle to be adjusted for optimum viewing. Like other Altec Lansing speaker docks, the MP450 Octiv Stage comes with a remote that allows users to adjust the volume and navigate through playlists. According to the press release, the dock also supports the iPhone and iPods, although presumably only in portrait mode. A 3.5 mm auxiliary jack also allows the use of non-Apple players. The Octiv Stage MP450 is on sale now for US$149.95. [via Engadget]
WowWee Cinemin Slice takes the pico out of your pocket
We can't say we've ever dreamt of a pico projector / speaker dock combo, but we also can't say the idea doesn't make a bit of sense. Continuing its expansion into the projector space with its Cinemin sub-brand, WowWee's Slice is much more than your usual unitasking pico -- it packs six-watt stereo speakers along with a 854 x 480 resolution, 16 lumens DLP projector. As you can see, it's been designed for your choice of Apple products -- its 30-pin connector is compatible with the iPad, iPhone 3G/3GS/4, etc. -- but the back of the device does hold additional VGA, mini-HDMI and AV ports for hooking up whatever other gadget you've been dying to project on a wall. Speaking of that projection, the maximum image size is 60 inches, though you'll have to set it back quite a bit from the projected surface to achieve that viewing size -- WowWee says the viewable range is anywhere between 11 to 125 inches. We caught a look at the Slice at the CES Press Preview event in NYC, and have to say it's not a bad looking dock -- the glowing red LED buttons give it some pizzazz. Obviously, it was hard for us to judge the image and sound quality from the brief look, but we were able to hear Bolt over the event background noise if that counts for anything. The Slice will be priced around $400 but won't be hitting stores until January -- until then you've got the pictures in the gallery below and some more tech specs at the source link. %Gallery-107130%
iHome's iW1 AirPlay dock gets detailed
We're all expecting iOS 4.2 to hit sometime this week and bring AirPlay streaming with it, and it looks like iHome is getting prepared -- the company just updated its AirPlay speaker dock page with more info. The iW1, as it's been named, is much slicker than its minimalist looks would suggest: the portable speaker system features a built-in lithium-ion battery with an inductive charging base so you can just grab and go, Bongiovi Acoustics audio, capacitive touch controls and support for iHome's iOS configuration apps, and a USB port for charging and local audio playback. Oh, and it can stream music from iOS devices and iTunes using AirPlay, of course. Sadly, there's still no price or ship date, but if this thing is priced anywhere close to earth we'd say the Sonos S5 has got itself some serious competition.
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%
Altec Lansing Octiv Duo (202) speaker dock review
If you frequent small house parties like us, chances are you would've witnessed the many occasions where guests take turns to hook up their iDevices to the speakers; if not, just picture yourself fighting your flatmates over your communal HiFi system -- Altec Lansing claims that on average there are 2.2 portable audio devices per household, and they're most likely iPods. Naturally, a dual-docking speaker -- which is nothing new -- would somewhat ease domestic tension and reduce interruption to the tunes, but think smarter: what if you could let music alternate between the devices, as well as having the ability to instantly change the amount of play time on both persons' music libraries? Better yet, what if the speaker doubles up as an alarm clock? These are pretty much what Altec's offering with its $99.95 Octiv Duo (or Octiv 202 outside the US), with a little help from its two free iOS apps: Music Mix and Alarm Rock. You know the drill -- read on to find out whether this new box would end your little social crisis once and for all.%Gallery-105089%
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.
