GeekSugar

Boom Boom Pow: BoomCase Speakers Bring the Noise

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 03:47:55 PDT

I love a little ingenuity, so of course I'm flipping over these wireless BoomCase speakers ($250 and up), which are crafted from vintage wood and leather luggage.

First of all, wireless? I'm pretty stoked about that. This means you can take these anywhere - the backyard, your bedroom, living room, or even on the road. Holding a charge for up to seven hours, the BoomCase will blast tunes from your iPod, iPhone, or other MP3 player, and can be customized to your liking with special paint. You can even supply your own suitcase if you're partial to one you found in a vintage shop. Plus, if you aren't planning on toting a BoomCase around, you can always outfit one with a plug-in, so it can stay powered up full-time. To order, just browse the available models and start customizing. They're all pretty fly, so you can't go wrong.

See a few more images when you read more.

Innovative Libratone Speakers Let You Ditch Your Wires

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 08:30:51 PDT

Wires and cables can create clutter, which can cause a lot of stress for those folks (like myself) that crave organization and clean surfaces. If I had my way, everything would be wireless 'cause it's just more convenient! I've been recently on the hunt for some cord-free speakers to place around my apartment, and it seems I've hit the jackpot with these.

Called the Libratone Beat, these speakers connect to your iDevices and computers via an Apple 30 pin connector or USB transmitter, and can fill your room with sound thanks to its multi-directional innards and open-backed design - no wires required. Use your Mac or PC, Apple TV, Airport, or iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad with the transmitters, or wire it up the old fashioned way (if you must) to your mobile phone or TV with the mini jack connector.

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Find out more about the Libratone Beat (including where and when you can get your hands on one) after the jump.

iHome Jumping on the AirPlay Train Early

GeekSugar — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:30:08 PDT

After last week's Apple event, I've been pretty excited to test out the upcoming AirPlay feature on the iPad and new Apple TV. Now, iHome has me even more pumped with its new line of AirPlay-enabled speakers that are coming this holiday.

The iHome AirPlay speakers will presumably connect to your home's WiFi signal, allowing you to stream your tunes via your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch from anywhere in your house. Details about the systems are scarce now, but I'm sure like all iHome products, they should provide seamless integration with your various Apple iDevices.

Stream Tunes From Anywhere With Ipevo's Wireless Speakers

GeekSugar — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:47:17 PST

Sometimes, you just need to have some music handy to set the mood - during your day in the park, your weekend away, or your camping trip with friends - but you don't always have room in your bag for a big 'ole ghetto-blaster like you did in the '80s. These days, if you have a Bluetooth-enabled device, a digital playlist, and these speakers, you're already set to go. The Tubular Wireless Speakers ($80) from Ipevo connect wirelessly over Bluetooth and will blast your tunes for up to eight hours on a full charge. Small enough to fit in your bag, but powerful enough so that you can actually hear your favorite songs, the Ipevo speakers come in stereo so you get a full sound out of the tiny package. Plus, they would look good on your desk if you decided to keep them all to yourself. I don't blame you - they're pretty cute!

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I Don't Need a Bird to Love the Music Cage

GeekSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:33:33 PDT

Let me start off by saying that this is not a birdcage. Although I wouldn't mind the sound of a little bird tweeting to wake me up in the morning (instead of my annoying alarm clock), this is something way geekier.

Called the Music Cage, this speaker plays your tunes wirelessly over a computer or a Bluetooth connection via your mobile phone. You can prop it up on a nice side table, or let it hang from your ceiling like you would a real, very classy birdcage. Although Nendo, the Japanese company that brings this unique piece of gadget artistry doesn't say what the little switches are for on the front (I assume one of them is the power switch. Just guessing here.), I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one to find out.

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The PLUG + PLAY Wireless Speaker System

GeekSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:00:40 PDT

This PLUG + PLAY wireless speaker system came about during a ten week industrial design bachelor degree project whereby research was conducted to better identify the needs of the user. Designer Per Brickstad worked in collaboration with Swedish speaker company Audio Pro to develop these unique transparent speakers that can play music from cell phones, computers and mp3 players. In its early design phase, audio files were sent from each device by small plug elements.

Discussed on Yanko Design, the only problem with this plug and play method was its inability to be comprehensive on the whole. So the designers tweaked the prototype to create a system of speakers with bluetooth receiver, and plugs with bluetooth sender. The existing plug goes into the side of the speaker for charging, and the speaker has a transparent LCD-display in the glass which shows the music equalizer and provides song title, etc.

To check out more images and read what I think about this device, read more

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The device interests me for three reasons. No. 1, it's shaped like the Helio Ocean device. No. 2, it's transparent and chic. No. 3, wireless speakers are always intriguing, but very rarely as amazing (in terms of sound quality) than their wired counterparts. Could this one be different?

Speakers That Can Go Anywhere: Turtle Shell by Outdoor Technology

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:10:46 PST

Taking your tunes with you wherever you roam is easy with an MP3 player and some solid headphones, but what if you're riding a bike, hanging at the lake with some friends, or camping? Enter the Turtle Shell by Outdoor Technology. This small speaker was made to hit the road (or trail) with you. The geometric-shaped speaker fits in the palm of your hand, is water-resistant, comes with a built-in microphone for connecting to your Bluetooth devices (like an iPhone perhaps), and even connects to a Gorillapod for clamping down on the nearest tree or a specialized rig to attach to the front end of your bike. A bike trail sing-along? I'll take it.

The Turtle Shell won't be out until May of this year, and Outdoor Technology also has some sweet wireless Bluetooth headphones with the same geometric flair going on sale in June, most likely through Urban Outfitters. See more of both products in the gallery!

Libratone AirPlay Wireless Speakers Now Available in US

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:45:29 PDT

We've gotten giddy over Libratone's sleek speakers before, but since the goods were only available in the UK, we could only dream of a Scandinavian-influenced home stereo experience. Design geeks will be happy to hear Libratone has officially brought its minimalist look to the US with the launch of the wireless Live and Lounge speakers. They use Apple AirPlay technology to stream music from their Mac or PC iTunes libraries as well as songs stored on an iOS device through their WiFi networks.

Each speaker incorporates what is called FullRoom technology to ensure the full acoustic, clear sound is heard throughout the room via a single (and supremely stylish) speaker. The focus on design is reflected in the speakers' materials, which are crafted from luxe Italian cashmere, chrome, and wood.

At 40 inches long the Lounge was created with larger living room spaces in mind, and is available in gray, black, and beige for $1,300 or red and green for $1,400. Intended for smaller spaces, the Live also comes in gray, black, and beige cashmere for $700 or red and green cashmere for $800. Both Libratone speakers are available in the Apple Store.

iPad Gets an Old-School Makeover

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:31:09 PST

Geeks nostalgic for the all-in-one look of vintage Apple products can now add a dash of retro to their gadget with the iStation, a docking device reminiscent of an Apple I desktop. What set Apple apart in the early days of personal computers was the bundle design that integrated the keyboard, speakers, and monitor within one shell. Even those not wistful for technology designs of yore can appreciate the prospect of occasionally using an iPad more as a desktop.

Available in a faux wood-grain finish with a white keyboard or white glossy finish and white keyboard, the iStation is compatible with both the iPad and iPad 2, as well as iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Each unit comes with an iStation in your color of choice, Bluetooth wireless keyboard, USB charging cable for the keyboard, 3.5mm mini-stereo cable, built-in stereo speakers, and an AC power adapter; and for $86, it's a fairly affordable tech frill. Check out a

Download of the Day: AirCassette

Kelly Schwarze — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 11:49:31 PST

I miss all the quirky tricks of creating a perfect mixtape: timing the perfect pause between songs, watching the tape spin in the player, and deciding which songs are more of an "A Side" fit. Granted, this can still be re-created if I try, but with the new iPhone AirCassette app ($2) I get the look of a cassette with all the re-imagined fun of the digital age.

Choose your favorite familiar blank cassette tape look, then pick songs from your device's library to include in the mix. Skip to the next song or listen to a previous track by tapping on one of the tape's turning spindles. Move on to a different mixtape by swiping through your cassette collection. AirCassette even supports Apple's AirPlay to listen to music via wireless speakers, which is way more than I remember my mixtapes doing.