I find that headphones are more than sufficient for my audio needs while traveling, but if for some reason you feel the need to bring a desktop-like speaker with you then the Orbit USB from Altec Lansing should fit the bill. It’s powered by the USB connection, which usually doesn’t bode well when it comes to volume levels, but its size (it fits in the palm of a generously sized hand) and something Altec Lansing calls ‘audio alignment technology’ apparently dishes out “astonishing volume.” It’s also got a small pop-up stand on the bottom, and the 16-inch USB cable winds into the base for easy transport. $49.95 according to the Altec Lansing website.

[ Altec Lansing Orbit USB ] VIA [ Acquire ]

It’s hard to find a compact speaker that doesn’t, well, suck when it comes to sound performance. And I can’t say for sure whether or not the U-Tube i-Speaker from Brando continues in that tradition of non-excellence, but it at least includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery so it’s not just relying on power from the headphone jack of an MP3 player or a laptop. The tube design might also be of some benefit when it comes to this speaker’s sound performance, but with a price tag of just $19 I have my doubts. It’s definitely compact though… I’ll give it that.

[ USB U-Tube i-Speaker ] VIA [ Datensklaven ]

Hot on the heels of the retro-themed Mighty Mini Speakers we brought you on Monday comes this slightly larger, though still miniature, boombox speaker dock for your iPods. And let me emphasize the ’s’ on iPods since this thing supports almost every iPod released in the past 5 years like the Mini, all iterations of the Nano and every version of the Touch and iPhone including the 3GS.

The speaker doesn’t require any batteries, which is nice, though that also means it will be draining power from your player, reducing your playtime. And since it also uses the iPod’s dock connector, you won’t be plugging in and recharging while it’s playing either.

$31.99 from USBFever.com (in your color choice of black, black or black) which doesn’t include a miniature square of cardboard so you can rekindle your fresh breakdancing moves.

[ Retro Cassette Stereo Mini Speaker for iPod / iPhone ] VIA [ Fosfor Gadgets ]

Call me cynical, but I’m finding it hard to believe these miniature Amp and Boom Box speakers provide anything other than a tinny, low-quality listening experience. Each one is barely larger than a quarter, but include a mini-USB port for charging the battery and a 3.5mm aux-in jack for connecting any external audio source. On a full charge they’re good for about 2.5 hours of playback, but something tells me the novelty will turn to annoyance somewhere around the 7-minute mark. ~$25 from BB Shopping.

[ Might Mini Speakers ] VIA [ technabob ]

By Evan Ackerman

Short on speakers? How about you try a K-box, a speaker that turns anything you stick it to into a better speaker using some kind of “patented ‘gel-audio’ technology.” Things like this have been around for a little while, but the K-box is supposed to put out clean, powerful bass (that is “guaranteed to deafen your neighbours”) all the way down to 40 hz, something that other stick-on speakers are notoriously lousy at. It’s about the size of an iPhone and comes with a 20 hour battery that recharges via USB.

Although you can supposedly buy this right now, there’s only one picture, and it’s very render-y… There are also no specs on what the audio output power actually is, or even what inputs it accepts. So, I’d maybe hold off on this until someone actually gets a pic of a real one or something. It sells for about $60 from Kerchoonz.com

[ K-box ] VIA [ Pocket-Lint ]

It seems like Buffalo decided to cast a big net when they designed this miniature iPod speaker, in order to appeal to as many users as possible. First, there’s the iPod users who think that everyone else wants to hear what they’re listening to. The OTOKORO speaker connects to your iPod (iPod Nano 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Gen. / iPod 4th, 5th Gen. / iPod Classic 80/120/160GB / iPod Mini 1st, 2nd Gen. / iPod Touch 2nd Gen) via the dock connector which not only allows you to blare your tunes, but also control the volume via a set of + and – buttons. (Even though the iPod’s own volume controls should still work fine.)

Also, I guess since the speaker is cube-shaped and has a couple of round buttons, Buffalo figured they could go the whole nine yards and make it look like a single die, appealing to the problem gamblers. And finally, instead of leaving a single dot on one side, they replaced it with a heart graphic, which should appeal to teenage girls and those who can’t wait for Valentine’s Day to roll around every year.

You can get it from AudioCubes for $39.99, and it apparently comes in 6 different colors that each feature a different ’special mark.’

[ Buffalo OTOKORO Mini iPod Speaker ]

By Chris Scott Barr

In case you missed it, yesterday was the first day of April. To those not in the know, some people call this “April Fool’s Day.” At one point this used to mean that individuals played fun pranks on other individuals. However, in the age of high-speed internet, it means that approximately 78.3%* of all news posted on that day is complete BS. Bear that in mind when reading about this product. I’m not saying that it’s fake, but if it ends up being such, at least I warned you.

Warwick Audio Technologies has created a nearly paper-thin speaker (which looks a good bit like ordinary tin foil) that can be hung on walls like pictures to shout at you as you’re passing by. While I’m sure that advertisers would love to get their hands on this stuff, I really don’t look forward to a time when ads are talking to me every time I pass one, ala Minority Report. I won’t pretend to completely understand the mechanics behind the speakers, so I’ve reposted the explanation in its entirety after the jump.

Speakers work by converting an electric signal into sound. Usually, the signal is used to generate a varying magnetic field, which in turn vibrates a mechanical cone, so producing the sound.

The technology behind the FFL assembles thin conducting and insulating materials, resulting in the development of a flexible laminate. When activated by an electrical signal, the laminate will vibrate and produce sound.

The developers say the speaker laminate operates as a perfect piston resonator. The entire diaphragm therefore radiates in phase, forming an area source. The wave front emitted by the vibrating surface is phase-coherent, producing a plane wave with very high directivity and very accurate sound imaging. Translation: crisp, clear sound in big, noisy spaces.

*That’s a very scientific number I made up to sound smart.

[ Warwick Audio ] VIA [ Crave ]

Here’s something a bit more useful from Hammacher today, a dock that lets you leave your iPod but take the speakers with you. Those wireless, 2-3/4-inch 3-watt spherical speakers operate on a wide 915 MHz frequency to ensure there’s minimal interference from other wireless devices, and they’ve got a half-decent range of about 120 feet. Each speaker is powered by a rechargeable battery that’s good for about 8 hours of playback, and when used together they operate in stereo mode, or old-timey mono when separated.

The dock itself accepts most iPod models, but also has a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting pretty much any other audio source as long as you’ve got the right cabling. $149.95 on the Hammacher Schlemmer website.

[ Wireless Speakers iPod Dock ]

If the speaker on your cellphone or bluetooth equipped MP3 player just isn’t cutting it, Sony Ericsson’s new MS500 portable speaker might be of interest to you, as long as you’re not expecting much. The wireless speaker connects to your devices via Bluetooth A2DP, and has a range of about 32 feet. It comes attached to a lanyard allowing you to clip it to your belt or bag keeping it in easy reach, but if you do decide to push the limits of its range, the MS500 also has its own set of play and volume controls which means you don’t necessarily need to have access to the device it’s connected to.

A basic set of AA batteries should provide up to 5 hours of music, and the splashproof shell means you can take it to the beach or use it during other outside activities. Unfortunately there’s no info on pricing or availability at this time, but when it is released you’ll have your choice of the black and orange color scheme pictured above, or white and pink.

[ Sony Ericsson MS500 PR ] VIA [ SlashGear ]

By Evan Ackerman

Surround sound is pretty awesome, but it’s rarely easy to set up, what with the wires and the other wires and the connectors and all that crap… Not to mention having ugly-ass speakers sitting all around your living room, and if you’re doing it properly, bolted to the ceiling. The SoundBulb is a combination lightbulb and wireless speaker system designed to solve all of these problems by letting you stick everything up in the ceiling and inside lamps.

Stuffed inside the form factor of a regular incandescent bulb is an array of LEDs to provide (eco-friendly!) light, with an 8-ohm speaker behind it. The speaker is connected wirelessly to your home entertainment system, and you can adjust the volume of each speaker by simply twisting the top of the bulb.

No idea when this concept might see production, but it’s a damn good idea and I’d absolutely buy a bunch of them. If they’re cheap. Which they probably won’t be. Internal diagram after the jump.

VIA [ Yanko ]