Well, that’s not completely true. The JVC Victor XS-SR3 doesn’t really offer anything in terms of ground-breaking technology, but you have to admit that the design is beyond contemporary. It’s almost like the iPod is floating and it is wrapped in a semi-aura of aural excellence. Something like that.

Available in your choice of black or white, this iPod speaker dock comes with a wireles remote, analog input, Virtual Dolby Surround support, and a pair of 2.5-watt speakers. Strangely, they say that it won’t work with the iPhone, but it should work with every other iPod. The analog input also allows for gaming systems, DVD players, and other MP3 players.

As with so many other products, the JVC Victor XS-SR3 seems to be a Japan-only product for the time being. Look for it to ship next month for about $190.

Source: Crunchgear

The iLuv i1166 isn’t completely groundbreaking in scope, since iLuv has already released similar products in the past, but this portable multimedia player is a great option for watching movies on the go. That’s because iLuv has stepped it up to a 9-inch widescreen digital TFT LCD display, making for a perfect size to watch videos on an airplane, bus, or car ride.

The i1166 will accept any contemporary iPod and the Apple device will actually be housed inside of the iLuv player, eliminating the need for messy cables and other attachments. The iPod will also charge up inside the i1166 if you have the player plugged in via the provided AC adapter.

In addition to iPod compatibility, the iLuv i1166 also has a spot for regular CDs and DVDs, including the data-only versions with DiVx video, MP3 files, and so on. Rounding out the specs are USB expansion, SD/MMC expansion, full subtitle management, and fast motion playback.

The iLuv i1166 portable digital multimedia player will ship in mid-October for $269.99.

Source: iLuv

However, not everyone wanted to take the trip into Downtown Vancouver to visit the Apple Store. As with the downtown cores of so many major metropolitan areas, parking in Downtown Vancouver is less than pleasant and it can oftentimes get quite pricey. Vancouverites yearned for a more convenient location.

Well, this weekend, the great people of Vancouver are finally getting their wish. We knew this day was coming, but now we have a firm date. The second Apple Store in Vancouver will be opening its doors at Oakridge Centre this Saturday, September 26. This is the 13th location in Canada, joining the ranks of other locations in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Laval, Mississauga, and Montreal.

In addition to the ability to check out the new camera-touting iPod nano and the aluminum unibodies of the MacBook Pro, you can also get some free swag at the grand opening. Be at the Oakridge Centre location, on the corner of Cambie and 41st Avenue in Vancouver, when they open the doors at 9:30am on Saturday and you’ll get a free Apple t-shirt… if you’re one of the first 1,000 people through the door.

Source: MobileSyrup

You don’t want to hold your iPod while you are listening to it, right? That’s where this new travel blanket seems to come into play. It seems to be a similar idea to the Snuggie, except it has pockets built into it for holding MP3 players, cell phones, and other kinds of portable electronics.

From what I can gather, this travel blanket is being designed largely for people on commuter flights and the like, but there’s no reason why you can’t use this from the comfort of your living room or even on the bus if that’s what you want to do.

You know, aside from the very real possibility that you could be teased, abused, and ridiculed for traveling around wearing a blanket with sleeves and pockets. Just put on more clothes, won’t you? The pocket-touting blanket sells for $28.

Source: GeekSugar

Starting with the iPod touch, we find that the 8GB model is dropping down from its current $229 price. The screenshot taken before the press event says that it’ll be $189, but I have just learned that the 8-gigger will sell for $229.

Again looking at the screenshot, we see that the 16GB iPod touch will be $249 (down from $299) and the 32GB model will be $279 (down substantially from $399), but I’ve also just learned that these are being pushed a bit too. The 16GB model isn’t mentioned in the event, since it is getting doubled to 32GB for $299. The current 32GB model gets doubled too, getting 64GB for $399. They also say that the 32GB and 64GB models will be up to 50% faster.

On the iPod nano side, the 8GB dropped $20 to $129 and the 16GB dropped $40 to $189. Could this be the new price for the potentially camera-touting new model? We’ll be finding out in the next hour or so!

Source: iPhoneinCanada

Lee Washington is a product design student from London and he has come up with a solution that will effectively eliminate cord tangle when it comes to headphones. Rather than having two separate cords leading to each ear, these two cords can snap together not unlike what you get with a Ziploc bag.

In doing so, you get a single, unified cord when you have your headphones stowed away, making for absolutely zero tangles. When it’s time to pump up the jam again, you simply unzip the headphone cords, just as you would undo the seal offered by a Ziploc bag.

Washington says that he is considering a patent for the idea, but I’m thinking he won’t be able to use the “Ziploc” name as part of his patent or product. To see his idea in action, peep the embedded YouTube demo video below.

Source: TheProvince.com

Don’t let its cute appearance fool you into thinking that it’s just some cheap toy for people who don’t care about how anything sounds. The iPig iPod speaker system from Speakal comes with a strong pedigree and it is perfectly capable of handling the entirety of your music collection.

Features and Highlights

Do you remember the iBoo iPod speaker dock that I reviewed a few short months ago? The iPig takes on much the same philosophy, except the Pac-Man inspired theme has gone hog wild, so to speak, tossing in a subwoofer and four stereo speakers to boot.

That’s not to say that the Speakal iPig is a 4.1 system, however. It’s still very much a 2.1 stereo speaker system; both the right speakers pump out the same channel, just as both the left speakers pump out the same sound. The downward-firing 15-watt subwoofer rounds out the package, bringing the total output to 25+ watts.

For the four speakers, we turn to the two eyes in the front, but underneath the ears is another pair of speakers. That’s a clever way to “hide” them while allowing the sound to still penetrate out into the environment.

The mostly spherical design of the iPig, along with the placement of the four speakers and the elevated position of the subwoofer, is meant to provide us with 360 degrees of sound. It’ll dock all contemporary iPods and iPhones, but there’s also a 3.5mm auxiliary jack in the back for game systems, TVs, other MP3 players, laptops, and so on.

What’s in the Box?

Looking inside the box, you’ll get everything that you’ll need to get started with a tune-filled summer. Aside from the iPig speaker system itself, you get the power brick, power cable, a series of iPod adapters, and an instruction manual. Not pictured but also included is a remote control.

The credit card-style remote is very similar to the one we saw with the iBoo, but it comes with a few extra buttons. There are two buttons for switching between the iPod and auxiliary feeds, another pair to adjust the bass, and another pair to handle the treble.

As before, you also get a set of buttons to control the iPod’s menu. This is so much more than going forward and back in tracks, because you can actually make your way through the menu for playlists and such without having to actually touch your docked iPod.

Peeking in the Back

The iPig is a little more expensive than the iBoo and it comes with a suitable level of upgrades as well. Rather than hiding the power switch on the bottom, the iPig places it in the back where it can be more easily accessed. There’s also the 3.5mm input jack, the bass dial, and the port for the power brick. It does take an external power supply, so the iPig isn’t quite as streamlined as its iBoo cousin.

I find it a little curious that the iBoo has a bass dial along with the controls on the remote, since the dial has a definite minimum and maximum.

Sound Quality and Usability

Remember how I said that you shouldn’t underestimate the performance of the iBoo? While the subwoofer doesn’t offer the same level of impressive bass as the mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb, I thought the overall sound output was very impressive for a speaker system of this size.

In going through some songs with heavier bass content, like “Stronger” by Kanye West, the speakers seem to get overwhelmed and there is noticeable distortion. Handling other songs, like “Disarm” by The Smashing Pumpkins, appears to be just fine. The speakers are loud, clear, and crisp.

With most speaker systems of this kind, the 3.5mm auxiliary input oftentimes leaves much to be desired. I am glad to report that the sound quality from this input is almost as good as the direct iPod input via the dock. That’s a definite plus.

It is unfortunate that the only on-board controls for the iBoo are for volume control (on the ears), without any touch-sensitive controls for switching tracks or play/pause. You need the remote for that.

Conclusion

Speakal has done a pretty good job with the iPig speaker dock for the iPod. The cute appearance and range of colors will make it a great complement to the bedroom of a child or even a teenager, though it may not be quite as appropriate for a grown-up’s home. That’s debatable and largely a matter of personal preference.

You do have to realize that you get what you pay for when it comes to speaker systems like this. The cheaper sub-$50 iPod docks aren’t much better than clock radios, but this $100+ iPig is just as good as many bookshelf stereos. The distortion with heavier bass is disappointing, but the overall sound quality and output level is impressive.

Overall, I rate the iPig iPod Speaker Dock a solid 8.0/10.

Where to Buy (and Coupon Code!)

The iPig, along with other Speakal iPod speaker docks, is available in Canada now via The Source. This is their first foray into Canada.

For our neighbors to the south, a better deal can be had through the Speakal online store. They’re currently offering free ground shipping in the USA and we have a special discount code for 20% off any purchase, including the iPig and iBoo. Enter mobilemag20off in the coupon area to get 20% off.

What you see here are a couple of leaked images of new iPod cases. The blue one is for the iPod touch and the black one is for the iPod nano. As you can see, both cases come with a very notable hole in the back. What could that hole possibly represent?

If the rumors are to be believed, that hole is meant to accommodate the camera that could be implemented in upcoming models of both the iPod touch and the iPod nano. Further still, if these cases are in fact legitimate, it also means that the form factor for both will remain largely unchanged in the new versions.

Will your iPod touch and iPod nano soon be able to snap pictures and record videos just like their iPhone cousin? If so, should casual cameras like the Flip Video be concerned?

Source: Crunchgear

It’s not quite the same as having a second iPod, but the touchscreen remote seems to better replicate the controls that you get on the iPod itself. The self-charging 3.5-inch touchscreen remote has what looks almost like a click wheel too, so you should have no trouble going through your podcasts, playlists, and all that.

The Sony NAS-Z200iR speaker system has a spot for your iPod, of course, but it’s also got a slot-loading CD player if you’re still into optical media. The whole thing has Wi-Fi and is DLNA compliant, and you can get your music through the available USB port too. The Wi-Fi side means you can stream tunes from your computer.

For the thump, you get a pair of 20W stereo speakers with double neodymium magnets. There’s no subwoofer, unfortunately, so I hope those 20-watters provide enough jump for your house party.

The Sony NAS-Z200iR stereo system with wireless touchscreen remote is listed at about $1,000. A less expensive version without the remote will launch next month.

Source: Gadgetreview

It seems very easy to recommend the most expensive set of headphones that you can find, but that’s not really the point, especially in today’s economic climate. I want the most bang (and thump) for my buck. The official journey, for me, began with a set of V-Moda Vibe Modaphones. Up until that point, I had not owned a single pair of earphones that cost more than about thirty bucks. Now that I’ve had a taste of premium (the Modaphones retail for about $100), it’s hard to go back to cheap earphones.

Will the less expensive Maximo iM-590 Isolation Earphones stand up to the test?

The Objective Facts and Figures

As its namesake implies, the iMetal iM-590 Isolation Earphones are constructed with a couple of lightweight alloy metal earphones, as well as a gold-plated 3.5mm audio connector. Available in your choice of platinum white (as pictured) or graphic black, the iM-590 is said to offer “performance with style and comfort.” The proprietary eartip design “provides optimal noise isolation and extended comfort.”

Going through the specs and features, you’ll find a pair of 9mm neodymium earphone drivers. They have a frequency response rate of 12Hz to 22KHz, sensitivity of >100dB, and maximum SPL output of over 120dB.

So Many Accessories, So Little Time

The last time that I reviewed a set of Maximo iMetal earphones, the package contained little more than the earphones and a carrying pouch. Such is not the case today.

Listed at $59.99, the iMetal iM-590 comes loaded with way more accessories than you could possibly expect. In addition to the earphones themselves, you get four sizes of silicon eartips, a 2.5mm stereo plug adapter (great for my Nokia E71), airline dual-plug adapter, two-foot extension cable, shirt clip, carrying case, and user guide.

That’s quite a bit of additional gear, making the iM-590 quite a good value. With so many similar products, you’d have to buy the airline and 2.5mm adapters separately. The extension cable is also a nice inclusion, especially if you’re going to toss your iPod (or other music player) in a backpack or something.

Initial Reactions and Sound Quality

What good are a stylish design and a box full of accessories going to do you if the earphones themselves fail to impress? As instructed on the earphone cord, I let the iM-590 go through its usual “burn-in” process before giving it a real listen.

My initial response was one of being impressed. Considering that these earphones are about half the price of so many other “premium” earphones, I didn’t expect the world. They easily outperform the cheaper $30 earbuds from Griffin and they’re comparable to some sets of $100 or more.

I tried a variety of music, ranging from the bass-filled beats of Kanye West to the mellow ballads of Coldplay. I also tossed some Offspring, Howling Bells, and Paramore into the mix.

In going through my playlist, I found that the iMetal iM-590 didn’t offer the same heart-thumping bass response as the appropriately named Radius Atomic Bass Earphones. The bass was still quite good, but not nearly as overbearing or ear-splitting. With songs that hit the upper end of the register, particularly with high cymbals on drums, the sound got pretty harsh.

Conclusion

If your music tends to hit the higher end of the treble side quite often, the iM-590 might not be the best earphone solution for you. For just about everything else, I was quite pleased, especially at this price point. That said, I’m still not a fan of the “knit cables” used here, since the cloth-like texture lends itself to the transmission of sounds when the cord brushes up against clothing.

Even though these earphones don’t cost over $100 like some of its competitors, the iM-590 iMetal Isolation Earphones provide a comfortable and powerful aural experience. The eartips create a good seal, the audio range is good, the bass response is perfectly respectable, and the range of included accessories is a definite bonus.

Overall Rating: 8.0/10