The Klipsch M40s are the first active noise-canceling headphones from the brand, designed to drown out distracting background sounds like jet engines and subway rattle. They feature dynamic dual 40mm woofers and 15mm tweeter drivers in order to provide solid sound. They are powered by a single AAA battery, and each is supposed to last for about 45 hours. One cool thing is that they don’t need batteries to provide sound. Some noise-canceling headphones, like the Dr. Dre Beats Studio, have no sound when the battery runs out. These continue running, and only the noise-canceling is deactivated.

The ear pads use a low repulsion foam (like in Tempur-Pedic pillows), making them good to keep on for long periods of time. One of the cables comes with a remote control and a built-in microphone. For those of you buying on specs, frequency response is rated from 20Hz to 20kHz, sensitivity is 97.5dB@1mW, at an impedance of 32Ω.

The new Klipsch M40 active noise-canceling headphones sell for $349.99(USD) at various online retailer and on the Klipsch website.

[via Fareastgizmos]

The cases from Schreer Delights certainly look authentic. They’ve got a couple of other models, including the G4 Graphite, and some non-Apple themed cases as well. The retro iMac iPhone case in Bondi Blue looks really good in my opinion. The graphics are printed deep in the plastic of the case, so even if the case is slightly damaged, the images won’t fade.

The cases are available for the iPhone 4 and 4S for $45(USD) each, but they might not be available for long, because Apple is sure to flex their legal muscles to protect their intellectual property rights. So if you want one, you’d better move quick.

[via core77]

The Porta Pro’s have an in-line three-button remote, microphone so that you can use your iPhone, iPod or iPod, and comfortable pads so that your ears aren’t crushed. They are collapsible and come with a carrying case for maximum portability. Specs include a generous frequency range of 15-25,000Hz, and a sensitivity of 101 dB SPL at 1mW.

They sell for $49.99(USD) over at Koss, which isn’t too bad for someone looking for distinctive headphones with retro appeal.

[via Uncrate]

The iBamboo was made by New York area Etsy contributor Anatoliy Omelchenko and I have to say that it does look good with an iPhone in place. It’s machined so that it can rest on a flat surface. You just insert your iPhone 4 or 4S on the top and press play. The natural resonance of bamboo will amplify your music – though I’m not sure how much. With openings on both ends of the dock, it’s supposed to produce a “stereo-like” effect, but don’t expect true stereo separation, since the iPhone only has a single speaker.

Each one is crafted from a single piece of bamboo, then finished with a black lacquer coating. Keep in mind that since iBamboo is crafted from a natural material, each dock will be slightly different. The iBamboo sells for $25(USD) on Etsy.

[via Make:]

The black light bar spans about 4 feet, so the device isn’t small. You have the option of having it output a soft glow (for mood lighting in your bedroom), a continuous strobe effect (for your dance party or to mess you up while you stare at it), or a an effect that flashes the light based on the BPM of the songs you listen too. I don’t know what a pulsating black light effect looks like, though.

I don’t know much about the quality of the stereo speakers, which for me is the most important when buying something like this, but the funky lighting does make me curious. If you want to check it out, the Pulsing Light Bar dock is available from Sharper Image for $149.99(USD).

[via Ubergizmo]

This is basically a solution if you have speakers that aren’t AirPlay-compatible, which is probably most of us. Instead of replacing them, you can just get the Griffin Twenty and plug in your AirPort Express base station. Then you’ll just have to wire in your speakers and you can stream songs from your iOS device wirelessly to your speakers. I have to say it’s a pretty cool idea.

As its name hints, the Twenty outputs 20 watts-per-channel, and it connects to the Airport Express via its digital output, ensuring the most pristine audio. Griffin hasn’t yet announced a price or a release date, but I’m guessing it’s going to be sold soon. You’ll also need to add your own spare AirPort Express base station to make it work.

The Samsung Audio Dock’s hybrid amp system combines digital amplification with vacuum tubes. The 2.1-channel speaker comes with a built-in subwoofer and produces 100 watts of sound. It has USB and analog audio inputs, support for AllShare, AirPlay and Bluetooth wireless audio streaming, and the dock is capable of accepting either iOS or Samsung Galaxy devices.

The DA-E750 is the flagship model, but there’s a 40-Watt DA-E670 model as well, which skips the fancy vacuum tube setup, and looks nearly as good. Pricing and a release date has yet to be announced.

The built-in battery, which must be pretty big, can power the Backyard Blaster for up to 12 hours of use. The whole speaker is supposed to be somewhat rugged, which is good since it will get kicked around a bit at parties. It was made for iPhones and iPods, but other players, including the iPad, will need to use the auxiliary audio input. The blaster even has an integrated microphone from impromptu karaoke sessions.

The Backyard Blaster is being launched at this week’s CES show, and we should know more about a price and release date then.

[via Ubergizmo]

Gavio is a Singapore-based company and their Pill dock reminds me of the capsules in The Matrix, though I wouldn’t want to try and swallow one of these. It measures 5.78″ wide by 1.89″ in diameter, and appears to have a speaker at each end of the pill, as well as track and volume controls which are accessed located on a ring towards each end. The product page doesn’t mention any detailed specs, but they’ll probably update them soon.

The Pill dock will be available for pre-order soon. There’s no mention of price or availability, but my guess is that this little speaker dock won’t break the back. It looks like an easy and fun way to share your tunes if you use an iPod nano.

[via Ubergizmo]

Designed by Dean Ekkaia and Sean Solberg, the Audman is aiming to be the world’s smallest speaker dock and it will even charge your gadget on the go. The case has dual speakers, two headphone jacks for sharing, and large analog buttons to control your music playback. It even comes with a mixtape app that makes it look like you’re playing cassettes while listening to tunes.  With the lid closed, you can listen to music, and iPhone users can receive calls and make them using Voice Control dialing. However texting and using apps will be problematic, as the case completes hides away the screen of your phone unless you pop the lid open. When opened up, it still holds your iPhone securely and it even works as a small kickstand for viewing video.

The Audman is up for pre-order over at Kickstarter, and you need to pledge at least $125(USD) for the full Audman model. For $35 to $65, the Audman LT model is also an option if you like the retro looks but don’t need the speakers or charging capabilities. They’ve got 14 days left to attain their $42,000 goal and they’re at $7,000, so if you want one, you’ll want to get over there and make a pledge.

[via Ubergizmo]

But when it comes to actually choosing a stand for your iPad, well, let’s just say things get a whole lot harder. Because of the popularity of the iPad (and iPhone and iPod), there are literally thousands upon thousands of stands available out there in the market. Some are quirky, some are serious, some are all about functionality, while others are novel and clever in design. One that belongs to the last category is the Shadow Stand.

Designed by Nendo for Japan’s Elecom, the Shadow Stand has a slot to hold your device in place and is supported on the other end by a “shadow.” It’s not a real shadow, obviously, unless you think your device is actually a single flower in a vase in disguise.

It’s creative and quirky enough to warrant a second glance or maybe even more. No word yet as far as price or production details go, but I’d definitely want to have one of these when they do eventually get made and released.

[via designboom]

The Edifier Tick Tock Dock has a funny name, and it targets the entry-level market. The alarm “bells” are actually 1.5-inch omni-directional speakers, supposedly delivering 360-degree sound from 7W drivers. The LCD is round and well-lit, though your iPhone takes over for it when docked. It plays music via the SD card reader, USB input, FM radio, or any MP3 device via the AUX input. If you opt for the Bluetooth model, it can connect to your smartphone and play music wirelessly, but then doesn’t act as a dock.

Both the docking version and Bluetooth models sell for $79.99, while a basic model with neither dock, nor Bluetooth, and sells for $69.99.

[via Ubergizmo]

Designed by Jeremy Saxton and Jacob Hall, the ODDIO1 allows you to dock your iPod Shuffle directly into one side of the headphones. This eliminates the need for a cord flying about, and is ideal for exercise and outdoor activities.

Once the Shuffle clicks into place, you can still access the dock connector on the bottom so you don’t have to take it out of the headphones to charge or sync. I only hope they counterbalanced the headphones, otherwise the docked side might slump because of the added weight of the iPod.

The ODDIO1 is another Kickstarter project, and has thusfar reached just under $7,000 of its $45,000 goal. You’ll need to pledge $35(USD) or more to get a pair of these headphones.

[via core77]

Designed by Jason Farsai, this Bose-inspired Multi-Dock concept would allow you to simultaneously dock up to five iPods or iPhones, and then automatically queue up a mega-mix of tunes from all of them. Jason’s “Bose iQ” speaker dock also includes a wide OLED screen which would display album art from the upcoming tracks, as well as a touchscreen remote for controlling the multi-device library. While Jason doesn’t specify, I’d imagine it would also charge all of your devices while docked too. That would certainly be an added benefit for party-goers.

While the idea of five docks might seem a little outlandish, I think the idea of everyone contributing to the party mix is pretty cool. Hopefully Bose (or some other dock manufacturer) will see Jason’s design and consider it for production.

Getting your butt out of bed isn’t exactly why the Questli app was created, but you could use the game that way if it helps you start your days with a little more motivation.

The Questli is actually a “treasure hunting game platform” for iOS. With the app, you can create virtual and web-based quests based on simple tasks and chores. For example, you can create quests for finding an object, going to a certain location, or doing a certain activity. Aside from that, the app boasts that you can “win real money and prizes just [by] using your brainpower.”

So how do you get goods? By participating in social or “competition” quests: By signing up with others you all will start playing simultaneously. Whoever gets to the end first, wins. This type of Quest may be played for real money. You pay a fee to participate and if you win, you will get 70% of all the raised amount of money. 15% will go to the person who made the Quest.



The app is available for download for free from the iTunes App Store.

[via TechCrunch via Dvice]

This pocket-sized add-on includes two high-quality, adjustable condenser microphones, an internal mic pre-amp and an analog to digital converter. There’s even a stereo limiter to deaden loud sounds and a USB port to charge it up. And since it can record at volume levels up to 125 dB, it can also be used to record concerts and music without a problem.

The iM2 stereo microphone sells for $80 (USD). It’s definitely worth checking out if you like to record sounds with your iPhone.

[via Uncrate]

Created by Dutch audio designers Thodio, the iBox XC is packaged in a handcrafted wood cabinet, and looks like it means business. The speaker system has a pair of 6.5-inch Kevlar coned drivers with soft-dome tweeters. Power output is a hefty 70 watts RMS (140 watts peak) per channel, so this thing is going to push out some serious sound.

The system weighs in at a hefty 19.8 pounds, partially due to the built-in rechargeable battery, which is supposed to give you about 12 hours on a charge. The iBox XC and can be custom ordered a variety of different woods, including MDF, beech, oak, teak and zebrawood, and there are options available for a Bluetooth audio receiver, or an integrated Apple universal dock if you prefer not to connect via the 3.5mm audio jack.

The iBox XC is available over on broodr starting at $495 (USD). That’s the price for the MDF model. Solid hard woods will run you a bit more.

Packaged in a relatively nondescript grey case, BeoLit 12 comes with a leather handle so that you can ferry it around easily enough. The speaker has Wi-Fi and Apple Airplay capabilities, as well as an Ethernet and USB port. There also appears to be a resting area on top for your device. There’s not much else known about its specs, but they’ll surface soon enough as Bang & Olufsen should be launching it soon.

We’re expecting great audio playback, but it makes you wonder if you’d really want to lug around a B&O speaker. It might get dinged up, and it won’t be cheap to repair. There’s yet no word on pricing – hopefully it’ll be less expensive than the rest of B&Os gear. It’s supposed to be available in time for the upcoming holidays.

[via wireless goodness via Ubergizmo]

The portable speaker has a four-inch woofer as well as a dedicated tweeter in a rugged looking octagonal enclosure. It has a 3.5mm input and a top-mounted iPhone/iPod dock. The monophonic speaker has a sturdy metal handle so that you can lug it about easily.

It comes in white, dark blue, green and black. Each color is accented by a color-matched, perforated speaker grille. The PDX-11 weighs about 3.3 pounds and can be powered by AC or 6 AA alkaline batteries, with a battery life of approximately 8 hours. It sells for $99.95 at Amazon.

[via Uncrate]

The bump may be a piezoelectric speaker that is normal enough in today’s mobile gadgets. However, it might be made from a space-age material that was used during the Apollo program called Kapton. During the Apollo program, the material was used for insulation on the lunar rover and some was put on the outside of spacesuits as well.

The speaker would have some sort of recessed area on the clip to sit in. That recessed area would apparently help to enhance the speaker sound. The wires used would be flexible as well so they can survive years of clipping and unclipping. Do these tiny iPods even need a speaker? What do you think?

[USPTO via Patently Apple]