cd

In-car CD players go the way of the tape deck

We've known for some time that in-car CD players are ultimately destined for the recycle bin of consumer-electronics history, and a report out this week by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) confirms that the slide has already begun. According to this report in Twice, the CEA predicts that sales of OE integration products such as MP3/iPod adapters, auxiliary-in adapters, universal controllers, FM modulators, and Bluetooth-integration devices will surpass those of CD stereo head units in 2007 for the first time.

The report also highlights growth in the market for "mech-less" car stereos (or, stereos with no … Read more

Ten fingers and a seven string guitar: CD Review, Charlie Hunter Trio's Mistico

It seems like Charlie Hunter has always played a Novax eight string guitar, but for the new CD he slimmed the neck down and nixed a string.

Even so, those remaining seven strings never sounded better than they do on Mistico (Fantasy Records). Hunter's a major genre jumper, he teamed up with DJ Logic in 2005 to make his Longitude CD, his all-instrumental Bob Marley homage Natty Dread was a career highpoint; his funk outfit TJ Kirk exclusively played reworkings of James Brown, Thelonious Monk, and Roland Kirk tunes; and early on he covered Kurt Cobain's "Come … Read more

SpongeBob boom box doesn't make it hip to be square

I guess you could say that SpongeBob Squarepants is about as close as the U.S. gets to having the equivalent of Japan's Hello Kitty, in the sense that you can plaster its frighteningly cute face onto anything and it's more or less a guaranteed hit. (Full disclosure: I used to keep my pet goldfish in a SpongeBob aquarium. And that was, um, in college.)

So yeah, here's this SpongeBob radio and CD player, which retails for $45. It kind of reminds me of a twisted version of the old boom boxes that the "cool kids&… Read more

Video boombox for the iPod

We knew that one of these had to be out there. About a week ago we found a video boombox that seemed to have everything except an iPod dock--which, to many people, made it virtually useless. But Boston Innovative Products has come to the rescue with one that provides just that.

Its "iMep" line of iPod boomboxes are also equipped for DVDs, CDs, TV and radio, according to iLounge. They're a bit of a stretch for the manufacturer, which is better known for making air purifiers and other household appliances. But hey, Samsung and LG are making … Read more

The furniture-media mashup

If the furniture industry wised up, it would start designing a slew of lines with embedded media technologies. The combination of smaller devices and wireless connections could make entertainment options as common as choices of color and upholstery. And like any other quality product, aesthetics don't have to be sacrificed in the process.

The "Music Sofa" by designer Giongkun Wuqiongkun (conventional spelling) proves this point. The piece is beautifully done and fully functional with a built-in CD player and wireless speakers that can stream MP3 audio from an audio system within range, according to Yanko Design. And … Read more

Media system lets you eat what you want

With so many iPod accessories geared toward fitness activities, we appreciate that someone is catering to our lifestyle as well--in the kitchen. The DCD 778 "Docking Entertainment System" from Philips is a compact multimedia system designed to mount under a cabinet alongside the microwave and other appliances.

Kitchen systems are nothing new, but this one packs in a lot more than the usual combo. iLounge says this all-in-one package has a TV with an 8.5-inch wide LCD and can play DVDs, CDs and AM/FM radio and, of course, iPod tunes with two 2-inch speakers. And even … Read more

Crutchfield has the Panasonic CQ CB8901U Radio/CD/MP3 Player for $199.99, after a $300 savings.

Crutchfield has the Panasonic CQ CB8901U Radio/CD/MP3 Player for $199.99, after a $300 savings. >> Regular price is $499.99 >> Click here for deal

CD player for scooter culture

We're not quite sure why anyone would want something so cumbersome (and vulnerable to theft) as a CD system for a scooter. But we're not sure why anyone would want to risk their lives on a scooter in Tokyo traffic either. Nevertheless, Clarion has provided just such a product for the Japanese market to be mounted on the handlebar, which Akihabara News calls a "Drip-Proof" CD player--presumably meaning waterproof (we hope).

Music system looks like our first stereo

Break out those leisure suits--this sound system may be new, but it looks right out of 1974.

The "Gene Sound TAS-100" ("Gene Sound"?) combines digital and analog music in a system that can play and record old LPs and CDs as well as MP3 files, according to Newlaunches. The all-in-one system, made by Seagrand Japan, goes for an affordable $170.

There are a lot of systems that convert old and new recording media, but few have the distinctively retro look of this one, at least from this particular era. Regardless of how it sounds, you'… Read more