iPod/ iPhone docks used to be so simple: you got a docking port for charging, speakers for playing audio from your device, and a few other functions like a clock that basically turns it into a modern bedside alarm. Now? You get this thing. Called the HouseParty Airwave by UK company Gear4, this dock comes with the basics (charging dock, speakers, FM radio), but adds a lot more. Like access to over 11,000 live radio stations and podcasts from all over thanks to a Wi-fi connection and Internet radio support. If that’s not enough (although it should be), it also adds a DAB radio tuner that lets you tune into digital broadcasts.
Looking for something awesome to dock your iPod, iPhone or iPad onto? B&O just introduced the BeoSound 8, a speaker dock that features an adjustable holder for parking anything from an iPod nano to an iPad, high-end sound quality, and a design that should go well wherever you decide to put it.
Need a pocket-sized projector that can throw photos and videos from a mobile device? Optoma has already got that covered with the pocket-sized PK101. But if you want a pico projector that can dock and charge your iPhone or iPod, throw their stored content on a wall, and play music through a set of built-in speakers, Optoma’s got you covered too. This here’s the Neo-i, an iPhone/iPod speaker dock that Optoma also packed with a compact projector, amounting to an all-around A/V dock for your iPod and iPhone.
Remember the Apple Peel 520, the accessory that looks like an iPod touch case but packs an extra battery and SIM card slot to effectively turn the touch into an iPhone? Well it looks like it might get lawyered by Apple before you can get your hands on one. It’s already available in China for the equivalent of US$74, but it could face a legal challenge for infringing Apple patents, according to China-based Guangzhou Daily.
JBL just came out with a pair of portable iPod/iPhone speaker docks, the On Stage IV and On Stage Micro III, that features a unique weaved-speaker design. While we can’t be sure if the new design can give better audio quality compared to the usual front-firing sets, they definitely look good.
