According to iPodLounge iPod Gadgets Lovers are going Nuts at the latest CES; here are a collection of new iPod accessory announcements :
Alpine:
The aftermarket car accessory maker has announced the Full Speed Connection for iPod ($30, below), an iPod connection cable that is its “third-generation solution for integrated iPod use in the car.” Full Speed is promised to be 200% faster than the prior Alpine solution, providing full ID3 tag details through one of seven 2006 model year source units, which range from $200 to $1200 in price. Quick Searching and Percentage Searching features enable the iPod to be scanned quickly for files, the latter feature only available in four of the source units.
Audio-Technica:
The Japanese headphone and microphone developer has announced plans to release the Import Series, a series of Japanese headphones “available for the first time in the U.S.” All of the headphones have been on the market in Japan for some time, and are being sold in the United States at significant premiums. Models of most interest to iPod owners include the ATH-CM7 SV ($249) and ATH-CM7Ti ($299) earbuds, ATH-EC7 GM ($249) earbud/clip-on hybrids (discussed on iLounge in last month’s report from Tokyo) the clip-ons ATH-EW9 ($329), ATH-EM9r ($299), ATH-EM7 ($119), and foldable earcups ATH-ES5 ($169).
Belkin:
Belkin is showing TuneFM ($50), the iPod FM transmitter previously highlighted in our Holiday Buyers’ Guide, and TuneBase FM ($80), the FM transmitter and car mount system featured in the same Guide. Newly announced is TuneCommand AV ($80), a docking station that provides audio-video output to a television set, and a wireless RF remote control with promised control distance of 120 feet. TuneCommand AV works with all Dock Connecting iPods via a system of replaceable trays, and provides eight buttons on its remote.
The company has also announced the separate Belkin AV Cable for iPod ($20), which offers a 12-foot distance from your iPod’s headphone port or dock to a television or stereo system for audio and video playback.
Denon:
The home theater and audio company has announced two new S-Series all-in-one Home Entertainment Systems, models S-301 ($1599, shown below) and S-101 ($999), each providing 2.1-channel audio, “simple, convenient connectivity,” and iPod control. They are “complete and compact, featuring integrated DVD/receiver units with a stylish remote, dual satellite speakers and high-performance subwoofers,” complementing the company’s previously released AVR-4306 Home Theater Receiver, which included iPod integration.
iPort/Sonance:
iPort has unveiled iPort FS ($150 and up), a series of black or white “freestanding iPort music systems that let iPod owners stream audio and photos to their home entertainment system and sync with iTunes, switching between the functions at the touch of a button.” The company also notes separately that these docks, and its earlier ones, are compatible with iPod video streaming, as well. More deluxe iPort FS units “offer expanded benefits including the ability to control volume directly from the iPort itself, as well as the ability to view the iPod’s song, album, artist and playlist information on high-end touch-screen control systems.” The new iPort FS systems are planned for release this month.
Harman Kardon/JBL:
iPod speaker maker JBL’s Audioaccess division has announced the Audioaccess iPod Docking Station (price TBA, release date this month), which as the name suggests is an iPod docking station for its W.H.E.N. (Whole-House Entertainment Network) multi-room residental AV system. The Station holds the iPod on a table, connecting via cable to the whole-home network so that you can hear iPod music anywhere the system’s speakers have been installed in your home. It provides power input and both audio and menu information output, so you can view iPod menus on an optional Color Audioaccess Touchscreen Controller (CATC) mounted elsewhere in the house. Intriguingly, an optional Audioaccess Control Server (CS-IP) will let you control your iPod and the system from a PDA, cell phone, PC, or other Web-compatible device.
JBL parent Harman Kardon
also announced that its premium AVR 740 7.2-channel AV receiver ($3499) - the highest-end version of its previously debuted iPod-compatible home AV systems (AVR 140, 240, 340) will be shipping in February, with new 440 and 640 models at lower price points yet to be announced. An optional accessory called The Bridge, previously shown on iLounge, is required to connect your iPod to these systems, with an attractive on-screen interface appearing on your television screen upon connection. Your Bridged iPod can also be controlled with a new Activity Based Remote Control (TC30), which features an integrated color screen.
Kenwood:
The mobile audio company has announced KDC-X990 ($580, shown above), KDC-X790 ($350) and KDC-X590 ($260), new premium Excelon aftermarket car receivers with External Media Control, an integration system that lets the stereo control a connected iPod. X990 has a new 4,096-color Organic Electroluminescent display, and can make voice announcements of playlist, artist, and track data, while the lower-end models use less impressive displays and lack the voice announcement functionality.
Motorola:
The maker of RAZR, ROKR, SLVR and PEBL is showing its most recent versions of each of these devices. ROKR E2, which as previously reported on iLounge no longer supports iTunes, appears to otherwise be a very significant improvement on the widely panned E1. A high-resolution display with all-new user interface, 1.3 Megapixel integrated camera, and terrestrial radio tuner are just a few of the new features, and the revamped black body looks less disposable (though thicker) than the prior model.
Nyko: Video game and iPod accessory maker Nyko is showing off Speaker Dock II, an iPod-docking speaker system that runs off of wall or battery power and looks like a second-generation iMac; a separate pair of slick non-portable iPod nano-specific speakers that run off of battery power and include a remote control; and a pocket-sized combination of distressed leather iPod nano case and stereo speakers .
Otter Products:
Otter is publicly showing its OtterBox for iPod nano.
Shure:
The high-end headphone specialist has announced E500 ($499), “the new flagship for the award-winning E Series product line.” Like Ultimate Ears’ ultra-premium UE-10 Pro earphones, E500 uses a triple-driver design inside of a “tiny,” over-the-ear “comfortable new bronze metallic” enclosure. One tweeter is paired with two woofers, and external sound isolation is listed as 30-37dB with soft sleeves. A new Push-to-Hear modular accessory is bundled with each E500 headset, allowing users to “alternate between complete immersion in their music or [have] a connection with outside ambient sounds,” “activat[ing] an external microphone and mut[ing] the music.” The accessory will also be sold separately for other Shure headsets for $59. Both will ship in May, 2006.
Targus:
The vendor of excellent prior-generation iPod RF remote control RemoteTunes (iLounge rating: A-) has announced RemoteTunes for iPod with Dock Connector ($60) and RemoteTunes TX for iPod nano - Wireless Remote and FM Transmitter ($80), both scheduled for release in March. As with the first RemoteTunes, these devices appear to be identical to new iJet offerings recently announced by ABT and shown on iLounge. The iPod nano RemoteTunes includes both a remote control and FM transmitter, while the standard RemoteTunes works with all Dock Connecting iPods, including the 5G version.
Targus also announced the 9-Pin to 30-Pin Adapter ($20), also for March release, which sounds identical to the accessory announced by ABT to convert old iPod top-mounting accessories into ones compatible with current model iPods. When connected to discontinued iPods, the Adapter also allows two top-mounting accessories to be used at once.
Altec Lansing: The speaker and headphone company debuted three previously unannounced iPod speaker systems, the sub-$100 iM11 with two drivers and an iPod dock, the water- and shock-resistant black iM9 ($200), and the iM3c blk, a black version of the previously released iM3 that sells for the same $180 price. No new iPod-specific headphones were on display.
Belkin:
The company showed working prototypes of its TuneBase FMs for iPod and nano (noted in the prior report), as well as glass display-encased TuneCommand and TuneCommand AV, TuneFM for iPod and nano. TuneFM for iPod uses an extended but sturdy Dock Connector, ensuring compatibility with open-bottomed cases.
TuneCommand AV uses Apple’s Universal Docks and a 120-foot RF remote control, and will include AV cables for its $80 price.
Belkin also showed a new version of its car Auto Kit with a more compatible iPod connector, and a black version of TuneDok for iPod nano. The Auto Kit was connected to an iPod and a car video screen with the company’s new AV Cable, demonstrating the potential integration of the company’s existing components with new iPods and display technologies.
CTA:
New iPod accessory vendor CTA showed off Sound Scale, a dockable iPod speaker solution with two separate speakers, as well as a collection of other speaker systems that appear to have been retrofitted with iPod docks.
The company also showed off i-Cruise, a bottom-mounting FM transmitter with an LCD display.
Edifier:
The speaker maker was showing some new iPod dockable speaker systems, in addition to numerous non-iPod systems.
eMagin: The first wearable display maker we visited was eMagin, which showed off its “not to exceed $599” wearable iPod display eyeBud. This system consists of a white and black-bodied monocular (one-eyed) video display with an 800x600 output resolution, capable of being positioned forward or backward in a diopter-like fashion to properly focus with your eye.
The company described the eyeBud on display as a working, early prototype that will likely change cosmetically and otherwise before its summer release. Currently, it uses a headband to hold tight on your head, and includes detachable “iPod-quality” wired earbuds that can be connected to its temple pieces. Otherwise, you can connect your own earbuds.
At the moment, eyeBud’s second biggest issue is a separate battery and video output pack, which the company sees as something you’d wear on a belt with your iPod in a separate case. The pack is large, but the company is talking about engineering it down to a smaller size before release. Its other issue - a more major one - is the single display.
Positioned over one eye, you have a detachable plastic plate you can use to cover your other eye, and can detach the plate to walk and view at the same time. While the resolution is crisp, and the device presently upsamples iPod video output to match the resolution, the color saturation and noise levels aren’t yet where they need to be, and the company is actively working to improve them.
Icuity:
The second wearable display maker we visited unveiled iWear/eyeWear ($299), a pair (yes, a pair) of 320x240 displays in a black colored enclosure. iWear connects directly to the bottom of an iPod using a standard Dock Connector cable, and does not require any additional battery pack. Because there are two displays inside of the enclosure, both eyes can watch the same images - or 3-D movies that have been encoded with 480-pixel MPEG4. The 3-D imagery is believable and, for the price, impressive.
When connected, it plays back iPod videos clearly and vividly through its dual screens, draining the iPod’s battery at virtually the same rate - says the company - of the iPod’s own screen. For that reason, you get the same run time from an iWear-connected iPod as you would from an iPod with its screen in use for display - 2.5 hours for the 30GB iPod, 3.5 for the 60GB.
Each pair of iWear glasses comes with two sets of stems - one large, and one short - for different head sizes. Earbuds are included, but are detachable if you prefer not to use them. The company also sells higher-resolution versions of the glasses (the red ones shown above) with a breakout box that can be used with non-iPod devices; these provide VGA or better resolution for $549. In our view, iWear is the winning wearable display technology for the iPod at CES.
Kensington:
Kensington showed off its Entertainment Dock 500 for iPod ($100), a smaller competitor to DLO’s HomeDock, now including an RF remote control, an Apple Universal Dock, and video cabling for its price. Dock 500 looks like the company’s earlier Stereo Dock (iLounge rating: A-), but the chrome remote holder has been replaced with a brushed metal bar. Interestingly, the included remote has Select, Up and Down buttons, allowing you to navigate the iPod’s menus without touching its controls. We think this feature will soon become more useful than it presently appears to be.
Kensington also showed its Micro FM Transmitter ($50) and combination FM Transmitter and Radio ($80), both of which connect to Dock Connector iPods and use LCDs for tuning. They use Aerielle’s radio technology for superior sound quality, but were not testable on the floor.
Logitech:
The wireless, speaker and headset accessory company has no new iPod accessories, but did show a sleek new Mac-ready wireless keyboard and laser mouse set ($100) with iTunes and iPhoto keys, as well as its first Bluetooth 2.0+EDR keyboard and mouse set for PC owners ($150).
The latter keyboard has a highly impressive LCD display integrated into its top surface, letting you see and control music playback from Media Player without needing to call up a window on screen.
Plantronics:
Still in the process of completing its merger with Altec Lansing, the headset maker showed off Pulsar 590A, a Bluetooth wireless headset that simultaneously integrates with an iPod and a cell phone, letting you interrupt iPod music to take phone calls.
Pacific Technology International:
This new Made for iPod-certified accessory maker was showing off two pairs of iDream speakers with radical, retro-influenced designs.
Qool:
Several new speaker systems were on display under the Qool name, featuring iPod and other portable device docks integrated into their bottoms and sides.
S.C. Chow & Associates:
Actively looking for partners was this new company, which showed the Nichetech nPanel speaker system, which used an interesting plastic and metal enclosure to dock an iPod.
These are only a few of many interesting iPod gadgets vendors to grace the show floor of the CES this year.
