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Sony will soon release a music player/alarm clock/speaker made specifically for docking by digital Walkman music players to play music.

The alarm feature allows you to choose music from your Walkman to be what you wake up to.

It has a retractable cover, so it can stay closed when you don’t use the Walkman port so it won’t get dusty.

There are some other external terminals, so you can play music from a smartphone or other device as well.

Price: 6,980 yen
Color: white, black
Size: 126 × 92 × 100mm
Weight: 482g

If you thought $300 was a lot of money to drop on the Big Jambox, Jawbone has just released an update that might make that amount a little easier to swallow. The 2.0 software for the large Bluetooth speaker brings new AAC support for iOS 6.1 that promises better audio streams with fewer interruptions, two more hours of battery life when streaming from a iOS 6.1 device, synced volume control, a mode that silences all voice prompts and tones, improved LED response time and last but not least, support for the PS Vita. Simply head over to Jawbone’s MyTalk website, plug in your Big Jambox via USB and follow the instructions on how to make your big booming speaker even better.

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: Jawbone MyTalk

Wren Sound Systems might not be too familiar a name with the average man on the street, but this does not mean that the company does not have anything special up its sleeves, especially for folks who want something that will deliver wireless audio throughout the room or hall, without having to deal with pesky cables that seem to take on an entire life of their own whenever you are not around, getting wrapped up in a tangled mess, as colonies of dust bunnies appear out of nowhere. No sir, wireless is the way to go, and Wren Sound Systems has just the tonic for you with the Wren V5PF.

The Wren V5PF is a wireless audio system which features DTS Play-Fi, which basically allows all Android-powered devices to be able to stream music wirelessly from smartphones as well as tablets. The Wren V5PF was specially designed by a team of audio industry veterans led by former Harman International consumer audio division president Mike Giffin, where it will merge cutting-edge technology, old school materials and build quality, in addition to classic audio know-how, of course. The result? A wireless speaker which will harness the latest audio and Wi-Fi technology, letting your ears enjoy detailed, room-filling sound, a basically dummy-proof user experience, all crammed into a refined, elegant design.

To make sure that the Wren V5PF will play nice with just about any and every kind of interior decoration, it will come in either a Real Bamboo or Rosewood Cabinet design. Basically, you would not be able to go wrong with either, as they exude a soothing look that ought to help you melt the day’s stress away. The cabinet of the Wren V5PF has been internally braced to provide a chassis free from resonance and coloration, while a reinforced, acoustically transparent grille frame will offer stiffness sans diffraction, and a 4mm low durometer silicone pad covers the base, which helps it do away with surface coupling buzz and sound coloration. The asking price for the Wren V5PF? $399 a pop, which ain’t too shabby, really.

Product Page
[ Wren Sound Systems announces Wren V5PF copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Long before the advent of the Jawbone Jambox, there was a portable speaker that was decently rugged, had tremendous battery life and amazing sound, and that was the Tivoli PAL. The PAL boasted an audiophile pedigree and an auxiliary input that made it a good partner for early iPods, but the introduction of decent stereo Bluetooth streaming made it fall behind somewhat in convenience when the Jawbone and its ilk came around.

Recently, however, Tivoli has updated the PAL with the PAL BT, a model that does offer A2DP Bluetooth stereo streaming, alongside the built-in AM/FM radio and auxiliary inputs found on the original. And if you’re in the market for a portable, powerful speaker with great sound, there’s nothing quite like it out there.

• Rated for 16 hours max battery life
• Built-in AM/FM tuner
• Bluetooth/Auxiliary connections
• Weights 1.92 lbs
• MSRP: $299.99
• Product info page

The PAL BT is frankly the best looking portable speaker available. My review unit was in glossy white, so the faceplate matches the rear casing, but those looking for a splash of color can opt to get it in a gloss black, blue or red finish up front, too. The styling is somewhat retro without feeling kitschy, and the ports and antenna are all easily accessible on the back, and protected by water and dust-resistant flaps.

The face of the speaker is dominated by the speaker grill itself, and also the large tuner dial for the built-in AM/FM radio. These are visually appealing, but more than that, the knobs and dials are actually very pleasantly textured and turn with a very satisfying amount of resistance. It sounds silly to complement a speaker based on the design and build of its controls and knobs, but when you use the PAL, you’ll notice immediately that attention was paid to their design.

The rectangular form factor isn’t the most portable among portable speakers, but it’s still a small, light device that is easily thrown into a carry-on or larger luggage.

Tivoli has a great reputation for delivering high-quality sound in a relatively affordable package. I’ve seen other reviewers knock the PAL BT for its sound quality-to-price value ratio, but to my ear, after extensive use and comparison with the Jambox and other Bluetooth speakers, the PAL still defends the reputation of its non-Bluetooth predecessor very well.

The Tivoli PAL BT is a mono speaker which might cause some potential buyers to hesitate, but that shouldn’t be a factor in anyone’s decision-making process. Sound separation in most portable Bluetooth speakers is dismal as it is, so they’re hardly “stereo” anyways. And the high-quality mono audio from the PAL BT even holds up pretty well when you crank up the volume (and it goes a lot higher than most of its competition, too, which is why it’s well-suited to backyard BBQs and other outdoor activities).

Battery life is another place where the previous PAL excelled, and the PAL BT is great there, too. Rated for 16 hours, you’ll get less depending on volume and whether you’re actively connected over Bluetooth, but no one would be disappointed by the duration of its battery no matter how you’re using it. I’ve been using it as my workday soundtrack next to the computer, and I often forget it’s a wireless speaker because of how long-lived it is. Plus, Tivoli equips the PAL BT with a user-replaceable internal rechargeable battery, so you could theoretically carry a back-up.

The Tivoli PAL BT is pricier than its non-BT version, and for bass-heads who actually like the exaggerated lows of companies like Beats and Bose, the sound might disappoint. But for audiophiles looking for a speaker that’s relatively affordable, long-lasting and still a category leader in terms of sound quality, this is a perfect device, especially as we head into beach, park and picnic season.

Bluetooth enabled speakers are dime a dozen, and these seem to proliferate just about anywhere and every accessory shop that you go to. Having said that, it would also mean it is more challenging to select the right kind of Bluetooth enabled speakers, considering the vast choice that there is available to the average consumer. This calls for a more discerning eye, and with the Satechi BT Touch Speaker, you know that your ears will be treated to quality sounds without having to break the bank.

The Satechi BT Touch Speaker would come across as a compact and portable Bluetooth speaker which has been touted to be ideal for both office and travel use. It is capable of delivering powerful, dynamic sound, despite its relatively small size, of course. This is yet further proof of not judging a book by its cover, or in this case, the quality of audio by the speaker’s size. This small yet mighty Satechi BT Touch Speaker is said to have the ability to fill a room with crystal clear audio thanks to its 2.5 X 2 watt dual-channel speaker system. The presence of a built-in microphone also enables the speaker to double up as a hands-free calling device which will play nice with just about any smartphone these days, as long as they support Bluetooth connectivity, that is.

Good design principles are not compromised or forgotten either with the Satechi BT Touch Speaker, where it sports a glossy, sleek black look that ought to find a place in any office aesthetic. The speaker itself will boast of modern, blue LED touch buttons which are able to control audio playback, volume and answer calls. Not only that, the extra features that were thrown into the mix include a rechargeable lithium ion battery as well as a built-in 3.5mm jack so that it can handle legacy, non-Bluetooth enabled devices. Right now, the Satechi BT Touch Speaker is going for an introductory price of $49.99 a pop.

Press Release
[ Satechi BT Touch Speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]