Parrot Unveils New Zikmu Designer Speakers

CES - Parrot - Zikmu

Parrot is perhaps more known by most consumers as the manufacturers of Bluetooth and wireless calling peripherals, but the company came to CES with some high-end designer peripherals that looks and sound fantastic. Parrot’s Zikmu wireless iPod dock and speakers have been on the market for a while, but Parrot announced four new colors of their high-end home audio product specifically for CES. 
The Zikmu, which previously came only in glossy black, is now available in white, gray, and lime. All of the colors are available now, and support an iPod or iPhone via the docking station at the top of the speaker, or streaming audio from your PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
 

Geneva Labs CES lineup: you might have to hide your wallet

We’re probably not alone here when we say that we have a penchant for European minimalism, and the latest out of the audiophiles at Geneva Labs certainly doesn’t disappoint. With five different models (the Models S, M, L, XL, and XXL), the firm has put together arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing audio lineups on the market today. From the incredibly sleek rounded edges, to the hidden LED display behind the speaker grates, the attention to detail is second to none. We’re also crazy about the touch sensitive control panel on the Model S, which can control your iPod’s menus from the panel or from the bundled remote control. Alright, now that we’ve successfully whet your appetite, check out some hardcore audiophile erotica in the gallery below.

Geneva Labs CES lineup: you might have to hide your wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tunebug Turns Your Bike Helmet Into a Speaker

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Need some tunes while you ride? Check out The Shake from Tunebug. The device does away with potentially dangerous headphones, by turning your helmet into a big speaker via conduction.

The device mounts of most kinds of helmets and is water resistant. It communicates wireless with iPods and other MP3 players, via Bluetooth. The device weighs 2.4oz and should last about five hours on a charge.

Audiovox goes wild at CES: digiframes, camcorders, remotes, iPod sound systems

Are you ready for this? No, we mean are you ready for this? We sure hope so, ’cause Audiovox is about to drop eight new products on you here in the desert. Kicking things off is the Acoustic Research brand with two new iPod / iPhone-friendly sound systems: the ARS1i (36-watts) and ARS2i (50-watts). Both of these guys arrive with twin 2.5-inch carbon fiber woofers, two dome tweeters, AM / FM radio functionality, a bundled remote, backlit LCD, soft touch front keys and an auxiliary input jack. The latter also touts a built-in rechargeable battery and portable handle, and while it will list for $199.99 this Spring, the lesser-specced sibling will sell for $50 less.

Moving on, there’s the RC60i and RC66i iPod clock radios from RCA, with the latter running on standard alkaline batteries and designed for the on-the-go crowd. That one will sell for a penny under $100, while the AC-powered RC60i will be offered at $79.99 when they hit this Spring. Staying on the RCA beat, there’s the new line of Small Wonder pocket camcorders. The EZ4000 is a rugged, waterproof version that can capture 1080p clips onto a microSD card for $169.99 (available this Spring), while the palm-sized EZ5000 ($169.99) and EZ5100 ($199.99) look entirely more like a conventional camcorder and offer up 720p / 1080p video recording, 8 megapixel still shots, a 2.4-inch flip-out LCD and a rechargeable battery. The smaller EZ1000, EZ2000 and EZ3000 models round things out on the low end, with full specifications of these in the press release after the break.

The outfit is also introducing the DPF8100 ($129.99) and DPF8300 ($129.99) digiframes, both of which are a part of the newly created Décor series; if those are just too classy for you, there’s also a 7-inch DPF7407 ($129.99), which fits squarely in the cutely named Celebration series. Closing things out are the $39.99 RCA Voice Control Remote (which gladly listens to commands that you bark at it), a gaggle of new AR outdoor wireless speakers, a few new Jensen in-car head units and Zentral Home Command smartphone remotes. Feel free to dig in for more information on those just past the break.

Continue reading Audiovox goes wild at CES: digiframes, camcorders, remotes, iPod sound systems

Audiovox goes wild at CES: digiframes, camcorders, remotes, iPod sound systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LumiSource Releases Slightly More Girlfriend-Friendly Gaming Chairs

Dedicated followers of PCMag’s gaming coverage will recognize LumiSource as the maker of the BoomChairs: soft, comfy, floor rockers with built-in speakers that blow away the tiny tweeters mounted in your TV. Still, for all the BoomChair’s charms, you are still pretty much sitting on the floor. That makes it tricky to use with PC games. Also, whenever I have 5x Admiral.jpgsuggested putting one of these in my living room, my girlfriend has nixed the idea. At CES this year, though, the company is showing three new chairs that just might pass the girlfriend test.
 
The Admiral (Price TBA)
PC gamers can now belly up to their desktops with the Admiral. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary 30-by-32-by-43-inch office chair, complete with wheels and an adjustable headrest, tilt and tension control. But the Admiral also includes two 2-way speakers along with adjustable volume, so you can augment your desktop gaming experience.

Chance it will pass the girlfriend test: Excellent. “Just an office chair, sweetie.”
 
5x_boom_SKY LOUNGER.jpgSkyLounger ($299)
The SkyLounger is still a floor-based model, but with a new design that should be a little more acceptable to your domestic partner. The 35-by-26.5-by-40-inch chair features chrome rails that lift you slightly off the floor. It has two 2-way speakers and a 4-inch subwoofer.

Chance it will pass the girlfriend test: Pretty good. “I bought it from Design Within Reach, honey.”
 
Stealth ($189)
Finally, the company is releasing the Stealth, basically a Thumbnail image for 5X_boom_STEALTH.jpgtraditional boom chair with a little elevation and reinforced padded arrests. The speaker system is the same 3-inch 2-way speakers and a 4-inch subwoofer found on older models. The elevation is a good thing, but it does make it look a little like Captain Kirk’s chair on the Enterprise.

Chance it will pass the girlfriend test: Not likely. “But darling, you said you liked the last movie.”

iHome Announces a Pair of App-Enhanced Alarm Clocks

iHomeiA100.jpg

iPod Touch and iPhone owners are app-crazy, as evidenced by the news that over 3 billion apps have now been downloaded. Gadget-maker iHome is taking advantage of that with its latest offering.

The iHome iA5 and iA100 alarm clock and speaker systems will both work with the upcoming free iHome+Sleep app to gain even more features. The app offers sleep pattern tracking, customizable alarms, weather data, and the ability to share your sleep and wake times with your Facebook and Twitter friends.

The iA5 is a compact system that looks like a shelf speaker with an iPod dock. The iA100 (above) looks more like a bedside alarm clock. It includes an FM radio, can stream music from Bluetooth-enabled devices, and comes with a remote control. Both clocks will be available later this year, although the company isn’t giving the date or the price just yet.

Olive and Thiel Unveil $7,900 Networked Audio System

Olive_Thiel_Music_System.jpg

Okay, this one isn’t exactly for those who listen to MP3s through their iMac’s built-in speakers. Olive and Thiel Audio have unveiled the Olive+THIEL HD Music System (HDMS), a high-end audio setup that consists of three parts: a server, speakers and cabling.

The flagship 4+ HD music server holds 6,000 CDs or 20,000 24-bit HD music tracks, and comes with a touch screen LCD and support for an iPhone and iPod touch control app for use as a remote.

Meanwhile, Thiel’s SCS4D loudspeakers are two-way bookshelf models that work in both upright and sideways configurations (no small feat, as the audio response changes dramatically when you do this). Each speaker features a die-cast aluminum front baffle, a 24-bit DAC, and a 200-watt class D amplifier.

The system connects together with Ethernet cables, and lets you connect up to four pairs of Thiel SCS4D speakers. That’s assuming you’ve got the money, because the base system with one pair of speakers costs $7,900. Head over to www.olivethiel.com for more details.

Olive and Thiel team up for a high end, high priced audio server

Call us crazy, but we think this is an idea that just might work. Olive, known for high-end music servers, and Thiel, who we’ve seen in this space purveying high-end speakers and IP-based audio solutions, have joined forces to rock your condo, trendy loft space, or dentist’s office. Built around the Olive 4HD (with its 2TB storage, 24-bit / 192kHz sound, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, and an iPhone / iPod touch remote control app), the Olive+Thiel can rock up to four pairs of Thiel’s SCS4D IP-based self-powered speakers with 6.5 Inch Coaxial/Coincident driver and 200W Class D Power Amp. In addition to the server functionality, this bad boy can rock you out via its analog and USB digital audio inputs — trust us, Butterfly by Crazy Town has never sounded this sweet! (OK, maybe its never sounded that sweet to begin with.) Available this month for $7,900. PR after the break.

Continue reading Olive and Thiel team up for a high end, high priced audio server

Olive and Thiel team up for a high end, high priced audio server originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iLive storms back with 33 new iPod / iPhone-friendly audio products

Man, we’d usually say it’s been a hot minute since we heard from iLive, but when you’re pushing a full year, that’s just a woeful understatement. Nevertheless, the peripheral outfit is hitting back in a big way here at CES, tossing out no fewer than 33 new iPod and iPhone-compatible audio products. We won’t bother detailing the lower-end gear, but a few of the highlights include the iTDP610B bar speakers with built-in DVD player — which touts a motorized door that opens to reveal the iPhone dock and to load and unload a DVD– and the iHP310B micro audio system. The former can be had in two sizes (32- or 37-inch) for $199.99, while the latter is pegged at $99.99. Peep that source link if you’re hungry for more, and give the gallery a look for some visual eye candy to accompany it.

iLive storms back with 33 new iPod / iPhone-friendly audio products originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IPEVO Tubular wireless speakers aren’t quite totally tubular, still slightly rad

IPEVO’s products may not always push the envelope in terms of design, but the company definitely seems to have stepped things up for its new Tubular wireless speakers, which we can only hope sound as good as they look. Intended primarily as a portable solution, the speakers are Bluetooth-based, can be charged via USB (for up to 8 hours of playback time), and they can even be locked together to form a tube (hence the name). At $79, however, they are far from the cheapest option around, but you can at least get a closer look at them in the video after the break courtesy of IPEVO itself.

Continue reading IPEVO Tubular wireless speakers aren’t quite totally tubular, still slightly rad

IPEVO Tubular wireless speakers aren’t quite totally tubular, still slightly rad originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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