(Credit:
Altec Lansing)
Back in the 1980s, when portable audio was synonymous with "cassette tapes," boom boxes were a mainstay of music culture. While luggable, battery-powered speaker systems still exist today, they tend to be somewhat dainty iPod speakers. Altec Lansing's $300 Mix iMT800, meanwhile, aims to mix and match the best of the old and new. It has the look and feel of an old-school, crank-it-till-your-ears-bleed boom box--albeit a rather stylish one--but it boasts an iPod/iPhone dock (and it's GSM-shielded to boot, so you don't need to flip the iPhone into airplane mode).
While this can certainly be used as a stay-at-home stereo, Altec isn't shy about mentioning that it also makes for a good party system indoors or outside. On top, you'll find a handle, and you can also pick the unit up using the "grab" handles on the front of the speakers.
While the Mix doesn't have a second iPod dock, it does offer two 3.5-millimeter line inputs that allow your friends to plug in their MP3 players and cue up their playlists. The inputs are conveniently placed at the top of the unit, and there's a depression under the handle that's reserved for parking additional devices. Additionally, the Mix has a telescoping antenna on top of the unit. While there's no AM radio onboard, it does do FM, with four presets available.
So, how does it sound?
Read the full review of Altec Lansing's Mix iMT800 to find out.
On Sale Now: $199.99 - $222.24
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The Roland BA-330 portable P.A. system gets real loud using eight AA batteries.
(Credit: Roland)For those who like getting loud in places where power outlets are hard to come by, the Roland BA-330 delivers all the comforts of a full-fledged stereo P.A. system using just eight AA batteries.
Just how loud are we talking? Cranked all the way up, the BA-330 can hit a 109dB sound pressure level--roughly the equivalent of standing next to a jack hammer. The eight AA batteries can deliver up to 10 hours of continuous power, although probably not at full blast (plug-in AC power is also available).
The front of the system offers four 6.5-inch and two tweeters, all wired for stereo. On the back, you'll get a four-channel mixer with XLR, 1/4-inch, RCA, and minijack inputs, and an effects section for adding EQ, reverb, delay, or a stereo-widening effect. If 109dB of ear-melting sound just isn't enough, a stereo link feature allows you to wire two BA-330 speakers together.
Of course, at around $829, street musicians are going to have to hustle hard to get their hands on this thing. Consider this your head start, since it's not due out until November.
On Sale Now: $599.00
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Fab 5 Freddy attempts to follow Dong's advice.
We start off with probably the weirdest opening ever. Where was I going with that? Your guess is as good as mine.
That opening sets the tone, though, since we jump right into Dong's promised dating advice from last week that's completely full of fail. Seriously, don't try this at home, or on the street.
There are bad segues and then there are bad segues. This one here is probably the worst ever, and we deliver it to you, unedited, raw, real. Real dumb.
From fail dating advice, to fail segues, to something that is potentially full of win: 2,000 movies on one DVD. From there we have lengthy discussion on installing Windows 98 on your home system, why we love the smell of plasma rifles in the morning, and why Dong can't stop obsessing about turning something fun into a job.
Also, Dong whips out his ruler to give Acronis a light spanking.
All of this, delivered to you in a clear, concise and professional manner. Indeed.
To subscribe to this podcast, visit us at our main page and click the podcast link on the right. Don't forget to leave us voice mail at 1-800-947-6399 or e-mail us at insidecnetlabs@cnet.com.
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PlayStation 3s, iPods, and Wiis are the toys of today's tots, but I still hold a soft spot in my jaded heart for Legos. Brick by brick, they taught me the value of patience and creativity, and you know what? They didn't cost $200. That's why I'll always support these toys, even when they release a boom box with a CD player and analog radio.
The boom box is 10 times the size of the classic eight-knob rectangle and features two 1-watt speakers on the front faceplate. The big knobs on top control the volume and tuning of the analog AM/FM radio and the CD player, and there's also an auxiliary-in jack to pipe in music from an external source. I'm about 75 percent sure right now that audio quality is going to be a few notches less than superb, but what do you expect out of a stereo that look like a giant Lego brick? Just don't try to eat it.
The Lego boom box hits stores this summer for $39.99.
(Via Engadget via Digital Blue)
The Sony ZS-E5 boombox is adorable (and cheap).
The ZS-E5 boombox unveiled for Sony's 2009 line show is a bit of an oddity. Instead of slapping on an iPod dock like most of today's portable speaker systems, this little toadstool-esque music box keeps things simple with a CD player, aux input, and AM/FM radio. The CD player works with CD-R/RW discs and includes an LED track number display and large buttons.
Sure, the features are basic, the design is a little cartoonish, and the handle is a little small (for grown-ups, at least), but the $40 price is right on target. The ZS-E5 boombox will be available this April in four colors: red, blue, pink, and aqua.
Smoking caterpillar sold separately.
On Sale Now: $39.99
View the latest prices for Sony ZS-E5 (pink)
On Sale Now: $28.00 - $39.99
View the latest prices for Sony ZS-E5 (red)
On Sale Now: $39.95 - $49.99
View the latest prices for Sony ZS-E5 (blue)
On Sale Now: $34.99 - $39.95
View the latest prices for Sony ZS-E5 (aqua)
The Cowon D2+.
Jasmine's back and has no problem falling into her old habits of forcing her opinions on others. This week, she and Donald discuss the new D2 from Cowon, an intriguing new artist package from iTunes, and the joys of 32GB of flash memory.
Also this week: check out a boombox with legs that encapsulates all that was the 80s and get some follow-up info on some CES MP3 players.
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... Read more
(Credit:
(via Boing Boing))
First off, massive geek respect to anyone who's managed to hold on to their "Empire Strikes Back" AT-AT Imperial Walker from childhood. But it takes a geek visionary to tastefully slap a boombox into the side of one and paint the thing K.I.T.T. black. This thing is like an '80s nostalgia heart attack. If you know who did this, give them a hug from me.
(via Boing Boing)
The Harman/Kardon Go+Play is one of the best-sounding portable iPod speakers we've tested, and it's on clearance.
(Credit: CBS Interactive)It may be over 2 years old, but Harman/Kardon's Go+Play is still one of the best-sounding portable iPod speaker systems money can buy. Unfortunately, the $350 price tag has kept this luxury boombox far out of reach for much people--that is, until now.
Amazon slashed $140 off the Go+Play's price Friday, putting the oldie-but-goodie down to an affordable $210 (also available as a refurb, should the sale expire).
Realize that this is an older iPod accessory, and today's iPhones, Nanos, and iPod Touches might not charge or fit properly in the dock. It's more than likely that the reason for this sale is to blow out old stock to make room for an updated model with improved device compatibility.
Still, if you're hanging onto an older iPod (even a recent iPod Classic will work), this thing sounds fantastic! It eats Bose SoundDocks for breakfast.
To find out more on the Harman/Kardon's Go+Play, check out our full review.
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 |
EPISODE 107 |
Pottery Barn makes 'Star Wars' bedsheets cool again--kind of
Moldy bag prevents your lunch from being stolen
Vacumm in style with the Issey Miyake + Dyson Limited Edition (thx Richard)
Hello Kitty Watch
Hello Kitty robot coming to clean you with cuteness (thx Sheala and Gregory!)
FUG!
Ferrari station wagon is a crime against cars
Kill me.
PMS Buddy isn’t at all offensive to women. Oh, wait…
What a concept
AI helicopters. Awesome.
Pink Watch
Memorex miniMove boombox
Griffin's TuneBuds Mobile headphones make it less obvious that you are using an Apple product.
(Credit: Griffin)
Well, sure, there are accessories, but I want the iPhone 3G! Don't you?
You are not alone. I've been to many AT&T and Apple stores over the last few days--the furthest of those being in Sacramento. (I live in the Bay Area and went there to visit some friends over the weekend.). At each AT&T store I was told to wait for more stock, and at every Apple store I got discouraged by the long line and withdrew. It's crazy.
Now, I can't help but wonder why Apple is doing this. Obviously they have tons of iPhone 3Gs at the Apple stores, but they only supply limited amounts to the AT&T stores. My only guess is that Steve Jobs gets a kick out of our frustration from waiting in line for a product that he's deliberately stripped of many basic features, knowing that we'll get even more frustrated when we actually get one. And yet we can't help wanting it. How embarrassing!
So, to ease the pain and make the wait worthwhile, why not just go get some accessories instead? You will want to have some of them anyway.
If you haven't found anything you want in my last blog, Griffin today introduced another slew of stuff that you can use with your iPhone 3G. The list includes:
- Wave for iPhone 3G: $24.99
- Nu Form with EasyDock: $24.99
- Elan Clip for iPhone 3G: $24.99
- Streamline for iPhone: $29.99
- TuneBuds: $19.99
- TuneBuds Mobile: $39.99
- StereoConnect: $14.99
Personally, I like the TuneBuds Mobile, as the original white headphones that come with the iPhone are just too telling (like "Look at me! I have an Apple product!") and don't offer very good bass.
