iPod

Shockproof speaker lets iPod come to the party

By Michael Mulcahy

03:35 July 3, 2009 PDT

iPods might be extremely commonplace these days, but that doesn’t stop their owners obsessing about them. Now there’s a rather nifty accessory that’ll let you take your iPod poolside – or even to the beach – without having to constantly worry about it. This Portable iPod Outdoor Speaker is shockproof, water and dust resistant and, potentially, the ultimate party guest. Read More

Stop squinting - MiLi Pro gives iPhones the big picture treatment

By Darren Quick

06:31 June 29, 2009 PDT

The increasing popularity of mobile phones as complete multimedia devices has been hampered by one obvious problem – screen size. That problem has seen the development of different projectors and projection technologies eager to provide the solution. The latest to enter the fray is the Mili Pro - a stylish unit from mobile phone accessory developer PhoneSuit that is designed to give the big picture treatment to Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. Read More

Pioneer makes AVIC in-car navigation easier on the eye

By Michael Mulcahy

23:32 June 14, 2009 PDT

Concentrating on improved functionality, visual clarity and ease-of-use for the driver, Pioneer Electronics' latest update to its AVIC range of navigation systems offer a variety of screen views, pop-up highway signs for major junctions, on-screen info designed for ‘at-a-glance’ reading and more than 1300 3-D icons of major landmarks. Read More

Belkin TuneCast Auto Live FM Transmitter uses iPhone’s GPS capabilities

By Darren Quick

02:29 June 5, 2009 PDT

Belkin has announced the TuneCast Auto Live, a new FM transmitter for the iPhone that is one of the first devices to take advantage of OS 3.0’s support for third party peripherals. The TuneCast Auto Live acts in conjunction with Belkin’s ClearScan Live software application to display the FM frequency and TuneCast controls on the iPhone’s screen, as well as utilizing the GPS capabilities of the iPhone to identify the clearest FM frequencies, based on geographical data as well as results from other TuneCast Auto users in the same area. Read More

Archos 2 gives iPod Shuffle a run for its money

By Mick Webb

19:21 May 11, 2009 PDT

When it comes to ultra-compact portable music players, for many the choice

"du jour" has been the ubiquitous iPod Shuffle. Apple’s minute MP3 players have consistently offered an attractive price point and ever diminishing size with each generation of Shuffle, which has allowed the pocket player to claim the lion’s share of the market. Here to give them a run for their money is the Archos 2 portable music player, which packs a punch with size, specs and price. Read More

iHome iH15: the chameleon of iPod docks

By David Greig

18:26 April 21, 2009 PDT

If you are looking for a design twist that will set-your iPod dock apart from the crowd and audio quality isn't your highest priority, the color changing iH15 Stereo System from iHome may be just the answer. Read More

Are iPods killing music perception?

By Tim LeFevre

21:23 March 18, 2009 PDT

It seems that most people are content with the performance they get from their white iPod earbuds – subpar audio in a convenient package. Has the performance of a humble set of headphones been forgotten in favor of something more compact, and to some more fashionable? Yes is the answer according to an informal study by Stanford Professor of Music, Jonathan Berger, and apparently it doesn't end there - young people actually prefer the “sizzle” sound of MP3’s. Read More

Apple's new talking iPod Shuffle

By Darren Quick

23:20 March 12, 2009 PDT

Call it anti-social if you like, but a lot of people listen to portable music players to avoid being spoken to. This hasn’t stopped Apple adding a new VoiceOver feature that speaks song titles, artists and playlist names to the latest iPod shuffle while also shrinking it to nearly half the size of its predecessor. The third generation Shuffle can store 4GB (around 1,000 songs) worth of music in a unit that is smaller than an AA battery. This reduction in size has seen the controls moved from the unit itself onto the included earphone cord - an immediate issue if you don’t happen to like Apple’s earphones. The featureless aluminum design includes the usual built-in stainless steel clip for wearability, but the feature sure to get the most interest is VoiceOver. Read More

Protect your iPhone with recycled Columbian truck tires

By Jude Garvey

19:51 February 4, 2009 PST

Better Energy Systems have added new smart phone protective cases - including one for the iPhone - to their eco-friendly range. Tread cases are manufactured from re-engineered Colombian truck tires and the resulting recycled material is heat resistant, can withstand temperatures of up to 110 degrees C (230 degrees F), is not weakened by UV light and can even survive acid being poured on it. Read More

Wi-Fi printing app for iPhone

By Darren Quick

19:12 January 26, 2009 PST

Air Photo is a new iPhone app that is sure to be handy for the multitude of iPhone users who use their device for taking photos. The app lets users browse through their photos and cuts out the Mac or PC middleman, enabling printing of photos directly from the iPhone. Simply install the Air Photo Server app onto your Mac or PC and the Air Photo app onto your iPhone and you’re ready to go. Read More

Powcell's green smartphone-charging solution

By Noel McKeegan

20:56 January 21, 2009 PST

We live in an era where pocket-sized mobile devices can keep us in touch with almost every corner of the globe, but this golden age of communication can quickly turn sour when your battery dies, and it usually happens when you most need it. To combat this issue there are a smorgasbord of mobile recharging devices now on the market, with our favorites being those that use alternative energy to get the job done like the Solio or HYmini solar/wind charger. Now there's a new kid on the block in the form of Powcell, a charging sleeve for iPhone, iPod Touch and Blackberry Curve that draws on almost any light source to provide a power top-up on the go and reduce your dependence on wall sockets. Read More

Scoshe passPORT solves iPhone / iPod charging needs

By Mike Hanlon

11:32 January 12, 2009 PST

The iPhone 3G and latest iPod models have created problems for Apple fans because their old docking accessories are not able to charge their new purchases. Scosche has a solution which will be on sale this month - the US$40 passPORT has a female pass-through connector that can snap into any iPod universal dock or in-car iPod integration system to support charging for the iPhone 3G, iPod nano 4th generation and iPod touch 2nd generation. Read More

Audience response app for iPhone/iPod Touch

By Mike Hanlon

16:41 January 5, 2009 PST

January 6, 2009 The Apple iPod/iPhone/iTunes App Store ecosystem is producing some remarkably useful tools for life, work, play, and now education. A free app for the iPhone or iPod Touch from ResponseWare transforms them into wireless, interactive audience response tools that could transform the way people learn and collaborate in many environments. The app allows alphanumeric entry for single response, multiple response, fill-in-the-blank and essay questions and the diversity of response types it offers enhances a presenter’s communication options. It displays the question and answer choices on the iPod/phone during polling and participants logged into an interactive session can review previous polls as well as instant message the leader/ with questions and feedback. Beyond education, we also see the platform getting a serious workout in any collaborative environment as a way of exploring and responding to the needs/views of an audience in any forum. This idea has legs! Read More

Marantz's versatile hand-held iPod dock

By Noel McKeegan

20:47 December 28, 2008 PST

Marantz is set to release a best-of-both world's solution for those who want the convenience of a hi-fi docking station without giving up the use of the iPod's intuitive interface. The IS301 system effectively turns the iPod itself into a remote control via a detachable, Bluetooth-equipped hand-held module that lets you stroll about with your iPod while controlling the audio output from your home system. Read More

US$15 Pogo Sketch turns MacBook Trackpad into pen tablet

By Mike Hanlon

20:13 December 23, 2008 PST

December 24, 2008 It’s not often we report about potentially disruptive technology in a US$15 package, but that’s the way we see the Pogo Sketch. Made specifically for use with the newest MacBook multi-touch trackpad, the stylus is claimed to transform the notebook into a pen tablet for premium drawing programs and artistic applications. Without trying it, we can’t be sure it’s the real deal, but we acknowledge the massive potential of adding tablet functionality to any computer for just US$14.95. We recently raved about Ten One Design’s Pogo Stylus for the iPhone and iPod touch which uses the same special conductive tip to transfer the signal from the user’s hand to the capacitive touch screen display. Indeed, the Pogo Sketch can also be used on an iPhone and iPod touch too, so it’s potentially a game changer in our humble opinion. Read More

Parrot announces sleek Philippe Starck designed wireless speaker system

By Noel McKeegan

21:25 December 21, 2008 PST

Renowned and prolific French Designer Philippe Starck has added to his diverse portfolio in a collaboration with wireless specialist Parrot. The result is the 'Zikmu', an iPod ready wireless speaker system that combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability with 360° NXT surround sound in a design that's a fusion of modern minimalist lines and 70's bell-bottom fashion - it certainly works for us. Read More

myPower charges iPhone on the go

By Kyle Sherer

22:18 December 10, 2008 PST

Another solution for those looking for a little more up-time out of their iPhone, myPower is both a protective case and back-up power source which doubles iPhone battery life. myPower can fully charge in three hours, and is compatible with the iPhone, iPod classic, iPod touch, and iPod video. Read More

iPhone speaker-dock caters for landscape viewing

By Emily Clark

22:14 December 9, 2008 PST

One of the issues with many iPhone and iPod speaker docks is inability to view pictures or watch video in landscape view without straining your neck. The i-Station25 is the second design from Logic3 that's aimed at solving this problem, but rather than allowing the media player itself to be rotated this unit solves this problem with accelerometer technology that enables users to simply turn the whole thing sideways with out diminishing the sound output quality. Read More

Richardsolo iPod back-up battery

By Emily Clark

20:35 December 4, 2008 PST

RichardSolo.com, the brainchild of founder and former CEO of The Sharper Image, Richard Thalheimer, has launched a new back-up battery designed specifically for iPhones. The pocket-sized RichardSolo 1800 has the capacity to more than double the usage time of your iPhone. Read More

The iPhone Refrigerator

By Mike Hanlon

19:43 November 25, 2008 PST

November 26, 2008 An emerging prestige manufacturer and designer of quality and innovative household goods, Slovenia’s Gorenje graced our pages earlier this year with its wow-factor SmarTable, and has backed up with two prototypes (modern and retro) of a very clever iPod refrigerator and the news that the soon-to-be-available production versions will be followed by an iPhone refrigerator in 2009. Slip your iPod into the dock on the front and it’ll charge, play music and video through the refrigerator’s two built-in 7 watt speakers, and connect to the internet if you have wifi. Gorenje’s plans are ambitious, and include using the touch screen on the iPod to control other Gorenje appliances and there’s an internet portal under development which will enable the remote control of its wifi-enabled oven and dishwasher and plans to add wifi to other Gorenje appliances in the near future. The iPod fridge will cost around EUR1200 and comes with an iPod Touch. Read More

Pico projector features built-in media player

By Noel McKeegan

21:53 November 23, 2008 PST

Aiptek's PocketCinema V10 is both a stand alone media player and a highly-compact projector capable of throwing a 42-inch image at a distance of up to 6 feet. As a projector device can be used in conjunction with iPods, cameras, mobile phones, game consoles or other portable media devices and as a media player it supports SD cards up to 8GB in addition to its 1GB of internal memory. Read More

i-Station Rotate iPod dock goes both ways

By Darren Quick

19:43 November 20, 2008 PST

Logic3 has come to the rescue of all those iPhone and iPod Touch users who have been straining their necks sideways so they can watch full screen videos while the iPhone or iPod is housed in their speaker dock. The i-Station Rotate is an iPhone/iPod speaker dock that features a clever built-in rotating mechanism that allows an iPhone, iPod Touch, or new iPod nano to be turned sideways for watching videos in all their widescreen glory. Read More

RXS launches two new Bluetooth adaptors

By Darren Quick

03:21 November 19, 2008 PST

November 19, 2008 Everyone hates headphone cords trailing around everywhere and getting in a tangle, which is one of the reasons Bluetooth has proven so popular for listening to music from Bluetooth capable players and phones. For those whose phones and portable music players aren’t Bluetooth capable, RXS has released two new adapters, which add Bluetooth functionality to iPods, iPhones or any device with a 3.5mm headphone socket. Read More

Onkyo upgrades THX Certified Home Theater Package

By Darren Quick

21:48 October 30, 2008 PDT

The new Onkyo HT-S9100THX combines a home theater receiver with a 7.1-channel home theater speaker system, all of which were designed to conform to THX's Integrated System Plus certification protocols. It also boasts1080p capable HDMI v.1.3 connectivity, Faroudja DCDi video upscaling, Audyssey 2EQ and Dynamic EQ, and complete decoding for the latest high resolution audio formats. The system also includes the new THX Loudness Plus technology which compensates for the tonal and spatial shifts that occur when the volume level is reduced below the reference levels. Read More

iBangle wearable design concept

By Noel McKeegan

19:57 October 26, 2008 PDT

Apple has a well deserved reputation for churning out slick designs and is equally adept at keeping us guessing as to what's around the corner. Designer Gopinath Prasana is one aficionado who has decided not to wait and see, instead coming up with his own take on what the iPod of the future might look like. Dubbed the iBangle, the concept design turns the iPod into a wrist worn, aluminum bracelet complete with an adjustable air chamber on the inner face that can be inflated to ensure a snug fit. Read More