Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Andrew Liszewski

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 ]

By Andrew Liszewski

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. Read the rest of this entry »

By Evan Ackerman

Sometimes, you wake up, and it’s a purple day. Or a orange day. Or a blue day. You have the wardrobe to match your mood, and a complete set of iPod Nanos because that’s just how trendy you are, but oh no, what about your stereo? It’s so monochromatic! But worry not, for iHome comes to the rescue with yet another iPod accessory.

The iH15W is a cube with 2 speakers, a sub, and an iPod dock stuffed into it, along with enough LEDs to satisfy your wildest and most vivid color fantasies. A button allows you to change colors on a whim, or set it to cycle through them all to accompany your rapid and unpredictable mood swings. So, if you’re currently feeling in need of a “unique cube of beautiful color and sound” that promises to “illuminate your music and complement your mood,” the iH15w can be yours, as long as you’re also in the mood to pay $59.99 for it.

[ iHome ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Ok, so maybe it’s not the same kind of plastic wrap you use in the kitchen, but the SP-AW303 from JVC does appear to use some kind of highly flexible plastic faceplate that not only keeps your MP3 player safe from splashes, but also allows you to safely push all of its buttons, even if your hands are wet. The SP-AW303 itself is just as waterproof, and features a set of 28mm stereo speakers that will run for about 6 1/2 hours with the included batteries. There’s even a remote that can supposedly be used to control your MP3 player, but I imagine the functionality depends on which player you’re actually using.

The JVC SP-AW303 Splash Proof Portable Speaker is available from AudioCubes.com in your choice of white, blue or pink for $79.99.

[ JVC SP-AW303 Splash Proof Portable Speaker ]

By Andrew Liszewski

What’s better than having a miniature astromech droid sitting on your desk pumping out your tunes? Why 2 miniature astromech droids of course. This run-of-the-mill desktop speaker set makes you forget how crappy they probably sound with an awesome R2-D2 and R2-D1 design. The domes flip up revealing the actual speaker, and since they’re powered by the stereo headphone jack connector, don’t expect a THX experience from this pair.

You can pick them up from ThinkGeek for $39.99.

[ Star Wars R2-D2 Speaker Set ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While headphones seem like the obvious choice for enjoying your MP3 player while out jogging or riding a bike, they’re not always the safest solution. And that’s what inspired Jeff Lotman, a cycling enthusiast, to create the Cy-Fi speaker. It’s available in two wireless flavors, a bluetooth version which can connect to a cellphone, PDA or any other device that supports A2DP, and an iPod version that comes with a dongle transmitter that uses the Kleer wireless audio technology instead.

Both versions feature a rechargeable battery that’s good for about 5 1/2 to 6 hours of playback with a range of about 30 feet, and each one allows you to adjust the volume or change the track using a set of buttons on the speaker itself. However, the bluetooth version also allows you to use the Cy-Fi as a speakerphone for taking calls while you’re out and about. Both versions are available on the Cy-Fi online store, with the bluetooth model selling for $179.95 and the iPod model selling for just a bit more at $199.95.

[ Cy-Fi Wireless Speakers ]