You’d be surprised how often it happens. You’re checking your email or updating your Facebook page on your iPhone and nature calls. You walk in, lift the lid and kerplunk! The iPhone is sitting at the bottom of the toilet laughing at you. It’s almost as if there’s a micro black hole that can tug on anything electronic and pull it into the bowl. Don’t panic, you can save it. Just grab it and do the following:

1. Turn it off … IMMEDIATELY

First, turn it off. The longer your iPhone is on, the more likely the moisture that has seeped into it will short circuit and cause permanent damage. Turning it off stops any electrical activity humming around the circuitry.

2. Remove the battery, if you can (applies to non iPhones)

If you have a phone that has a removable battery, you’ll want to take it out now and completely dry it off. Use a blow dryer set on low just to be sure. This will ensure that your battery doesn’t corrode later over time.  If you don’t, well, there’s really not much you can do but move on to step 2.

3. Bury your phone in uncooked rice

Rice?  Yes, I know it sounds strange, but the next thing you’ll want to do is fill a quart or gallon size Ziploc with a cup or two of uncooked rice and bury your phone in it. If it takes more, then fine. But completely cover it and seal it.Over a few days, the  rice will act as a desiccant to draw out any excess moisture from within the phone.  If you are in the habit of keeping those silica packets that come in electronics and shoe boxes, those will work, as well.  But you’ll need a lot of them.

4.  Time will tell

Now is not the time to be impatient. That phone is going to have to sit in the rice for a few days to get completely moisture free. So if you have an old backup phone, and your smartphone is a GSM phone, then you may want to remove the SIM and use that backup for a few days. Yeah, you won’t have your apps or music player, but you can live without it for a few days, right? Your patience will be rewarded.

5. Blow dry the finishing touches

While the rice will draw out most of the moisture, there may be a little bit left and it may show on your LCD screen in the form of a black area when you turn it on. Don’t panic. Just turn the phone back off and either place it back in the rice or, use a blow dryer on low for about 15-20 minutes to drive off the rest of the moisture. I had this happen to my iPhone 3GS and there was a small black corner on the LCD. So I just blow dried it in the rice until the corner came back. It didn’t come back completely, but over time, it gradually did. But don’t think that if you can do it on low for 20 minutes, you can do it on high for 10, or save yourself two days in a rice bath. The higher the heat, the more likely you could damage the interior or cause any glue used to secure parts to melt and loosen them. Again, your patience will be rewarded.

6. Living with it

While your phone will come back, it may not be perfect right away.  And there may be some minor annoyances over the long term. First, understand that depending on your smartphone, your mileage (results) may vary.  What will work well for an iPhone may not be the complete solution for your Android or Blackberry phone.  But it’s a good place to start.  Also, understand that there is a small dot in every smartphone that changes color to reflect water exposure. So if you have any problems with the phone – that is the first thing the technician will check. If they see that there has been water damage, the warranty will be voided and you’ll be out of luck. Some corrosion may also occur over time in areas like the on/off button.

Conclusion

But in the end, it should be manageable.  I dropped my iPhone 3GS in water about 2 years ago. Dried it out and it’s been working ever since. So don’t panic! Just remember RICE and TIME.  Patience is your friend.

So what is iCloud?  Well, it used to be called Mobile Me, but it wasn’t automatic and it cost $100 a year.   But starting next month, iCloud is Free.  And simply put, it’s your archive online.  It stores everything you want and syncs it to every device you need, whether your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac, or PC.  You take a picture at Disneyland of the kids with Mickey?  iCloud will automatically sync it to you Desktop at home.  Get a new client’s information with a fist bump to your iPhone?  It’s automatically synced to both your iPad and Desktop.  Download a great song you heard at Starbucks?  It’s on your iPod almost immediately.   And with a simple login, you can transfer all your apps and media to your new iPad from your iPhone.

That’s iCloud.  More than just a hard drive, it’s a syncing service.  And the best part is, it’s free.  Well, up to 5GBs worth that is.  But here’s the kicker on that – your purchased music, apps, books, photos and TV Shows don’t impact your 5GB space.  Just documents you share and CDs you rip.  After that, you need to pay a nominal fee (between $20-100 a year) for more space.  And here’s the awesome thing – with an upgraded plan, you can also just list the CDs you own and iCloud will automatically go get them.  No ripping required.  Man, that’s completely worth the upgrade price!

Although Apple’s iCloud won’t officially launch until Apple releases iOS 5 next month, there are several features which iPhone and iPad fans can enjoy right now. Here’s how …

Finding previously purchased Apps on your iOS device

If you want to re-download an App you’ve purchased before on your iPhone , iPod Touch, or iPad

1. Go into the app store and navigate to the “updates tab.”
2. There, you will see a new button called “purchased apps.”
3. Touch that and it’ll take you to another screen that will list every app you have purchased and downloaded.
4. There are two tabs – all apps and then apps not on this phone. Find the app you want and then click on the download icon.
5. The app will begin to download.

Finding previously purchased music on your iOS device

The huge development that iCloud is bringing is that users can now re-download music that they’ve purchased.

1. Just go to iTunes on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and click on the new “purchased” tab. You will see a listing of all the media you have bought divided up between music, movies, and TV shows. Select.
2. You will then see two tabs, “All” and again, “Not on this iPhone (or iPad)”. You’ll also see stats on how many you’ve purchased and how recent to break it down further. You will also note your songs broken down by artist and how many purchased.
3. Select an artist and you will get menu that shows the number of songs and each one listed with a download icon. If it’s on the iPhone or iPad already, it’ll be grayed out with “Downloaded.”
4. If not, you will see an iCloud icon to redownload it. Or, you can select the “Download All” option at the top of the screen.

Finding previously purchased music/apps in iTunes on your Mac or PC

1. Enter iTunes and log in.
2. On the main iTunes page you will see a option on the right that says “Purchased.” Click on it.
3. You will then see your media broken out into All Media, and Not in my Library. Then, it’ll further be broken out by Music, TV Shows and Movies, Apps and Books. You will then see it further organized, like in your mobile device, by artist and the number of each per artist.
4. Select your artist and you’ll get a separate page with each song or media broken down and a button to either download or you’ll see you’ve already downloaded. Then you can re-download whatever you’re missing, or turn on automatic downloads and they’ll download immediately without further action.
5. And in the lower right hand corner you’ll also see a download all button to download anything you’re missing off your desktop. This is advantageous if you’ve bought apps or music directly from your phone and you need to get them onto your desktop as a backup and to enjoy in iTunes directly.

In addition, downloading is complete, the song or app will also be automatically synced to all of the other devices using the same iTunes account via iCloud, for up to 10 devices.

Automatic downloading of previously purchased App/Music

To sync purchases to all your iOS devices and your Desktop, you’ll need to enable Automatic Downloading, and here’s how …

1. For the iPhone or iPad, go into Settings.
2. Then, scroll to the Store menu and tap.
3. There, you can enable automatic downloads and decide if you want to use Cellular as an option to download them over 3G. If this is disabled, you will only be able to download via WiFi.

What to expect in October

And coming in October, users will be able to sync up to 1,000 pictures and videos up to iCloud and share them with those same devices through an app called PhotoStream. Documents, emails, calendars and contacts will also be synced to the cloud through iCloud.

Users will be given 5GB of iCloud storage for free, with additional space charged as follows:

10GB – $20/year
20GB – $40/year
50GB – $100/year

Additionally, users can buy iTunes Match for about $25 a year, with unlimited iCloud storage space and the ability to sync all music, not just purchased but also ripped music from CDs or purchased from other stores like Amazon. And users won’t have to upload them. iCloud will merely scan your iTunes account and add whatever is missing to other iCloud devices – up to 25,000 songs per account. Brilliant!

And the best part is, you don’t have to enable anything except automatic downloads. Starting with iOS 4.3, iCloud functions became available.

Tomorrow, Apple will unveil the next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 4GS or iPhone 5.  Not only will it be faster and have an upgraded camera, but it will be powered by iOS 5.  Here are the top 30 new and improved features that users are going to love.

1. Wireless Sync and activation

Literally right out of the box, new iOS devices will be able to activate without a PC with wireless activation.  That’s something that Apple customers have been screaming for as some don’t want a computer, they just want an iPad.  This new feature fills that need.  And iOS devices don’t have to sync through a USB connection to iTunes.  Using a WiFi connection, users can backup to iCloud, as well as sync to iTunes on their PC.  And with new over the air (OTA) updating, users won’t have to sync to iTunes to get the latest iOS updates, something Android users have enjoyed since day one.  And any time you plug your iPhone into an AC outlet to charge, the iPhone will automatically sync to the Cloud via WiFi and look for a software upgrade.

2. Notification Center

The next new feature is another that isn’t really new to Android users, but that iOS 5 does quite elegantly … it’s the new Notification Center.  When users receive a message, whether text or email, iOS 5 will drop down a notification bar in the upper edge of the screen without kicking users out of the app they’re using at the moment.  Users can then swipe down to pull down the bar for more details. If there’s multiple messages, users can simply swipe to reply to messages.  For messages that come in when the iOS device isn’t being used, the Notification Center has lock screen notification, and a simple swipe will reveal and swipe to reply.

3. Greater Accessibility

This is so high on the list because Apple has always made accessibility to iOS a priority.  And these tweaks really help those who are hard of hearing or blind to further use their devices.  Features include LED Flash and vibration activation for incoming calls, improved voiceover support, a hearing aid mode for altering voice and voiceover, and custom gestures to perform key tasks.  Other improvements include a  larger text option, New speak selection, New assistive touch settings, and the ability to Set Mono Audio left or right.

4. Twitter Integration

With iOS 5, Twitter comes built in.  All users need to do is go into settings, select to install the official Twitter app and sign in.  New users can register within iOS 5 without having to launch the browser and go to Twitter to sign up. Once installed and activated, users will find Tweet options in several places from the Safari browser, the camera app, maps, and contact information where Twitter handles can be added.  Additionally, the keyboard has been redesigned for more prominent #(hash-tag) and @ (mention) keys.  Location services can also be added to any Tweet, making Tweet ups easier to create.

5. Greater phone support

You remember that the iPhone is actually a PHONE right?  It can make and receive calls!  That’s what my wife likes to joke about.  Well with iOS 5, users have greater phone support including deleting of individual phone calls with a wipe, unsecured call warnings, location notifications for calls not in contacts, and users can now edit their phone number in settings.

6. Enhanced email features

With iOS 5, users can now add a little more flair to their emails with rich text editing of italics, bold, underline, and even indenting.  And to make addressing an email even easier, users can now drag email addresses to address fields.  Email also will have the ability to organize messages easier with the addition of custom folders. And users can now select & mark multiple emails as read.

7. Enhanced contact features

iOS 5 brings a few extra fields for contact management.  Users can now add family relations, as well as social media links

8. iMessage between iOS devices

Users can also send unlimited messages directly to users of other iOS devices with iMessage.  iMessage allows you to send pictures, video, text messages, group messages, and contacts to any other iOS device – iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch.  Users can set up to receive delivery notification and receipts.  iMessage works on both 3G and WiFi, and messages are encrypted.  And just for fun, users can now use animated GIF images in iMessage (only).

9. Airplay wireless mirroring

Airplay mirroring comes to iOS 5, allowing users to use their iOS device through AppleTV on their TV set.  Suddenly, that iPhone or iPad screen is 50″, making it ideal for meetings or even game play.  And the image will also rotate on the TV as it does on the iOS device as you alter it.

10. Enhanced camera control

Users have been screaming for this feature and now they have it.  In iOS 5, users will be able to take capture those instant moments with a Lockscreen camera control, meaning that they don’t have to go into the camera app to snap a picture.  Additionally, users can use the up volume button to snap photo.  And users have greater control over what the iPhone focuses on with one tap auto focus.  In camera editing features are also added including with red eye reduction, rotating, and cropping.   Users can also organize their photos in camera roll with the addition of albums. And here’s a great additional option – users can use their iPhone earbuds as a remote trigger by using the Volume UP button.

11. Photostream

Through Photostream, users can now automatically upload images and videos to the Cloud and directly to all iOS devices and their Desktop PCs.   Additionally, iCloud stores every photo for 30 days and every iOS device will store the last 1000 snapshots.  Your Desktop, however, can store them all.

12. Improved Facetime features

Apple has also finally freed Facetime from the confines of WiFi.  Users can now video conference over 3G.  And they don’t need a SIM to initiate a call either as calls can be made via phone number or email address.  And what could be better?  How about airplay support?  Facetime now enjoys airplay mirroring for video conferencing over your TV set through AppleTV.  And video quality is improved.

13. iCloud

Here’s the biggie.  Users can take advantage of the Cloud with wireless backup and restore.  Users can also schedule daily over the air backup or disable iCloud syn via 3G to save bandwidth.   As previously mentioned, iOS 5 will also automatically sync and backup to iCloud every time users plug in their phone to recharge and look for updates.   Images, videos and files are also backed up to the Cloud and synced down to other iOS devices as well as your PC via iTunes.  And speaking of iTunes, users have the option of a free 256kb upgrade of songs if backing up to iCloud, with any apps or music purchased not counting towards their monthly cap.  Users get 5GB free, with additional storage options ranging from $20-100 annually.  And  Find My iPhone is also available as a part of iCloud integration with an option to disable it.

14. Calendar enhancements

Calendars become more useful with a tap to add event option, tap and drag to adjust time and duration of an event, swipe left or right to view a different day, and viewing of event attachments.

15. Location based Task manager

iOS 5 makes people more productive now with the Reminder Task Manager.   Tasks can be created and checked off, as well as syncd w/ iCal and Outlook.  Reminders can also be location based, meaning when your iOS device sees where you’re in the vicinity of a task, it’ll remind you to do it. reminders. Reminders — Instead of taking notes on your iPhone’s notepad app or putting a reminder in your calendar, you can now use Reminders in iOS to create a digital to-do list right on your iPhone. The geo-location abilities will trigger surrounding events for you to choose from.

16. Storage usage and clean-up

Here’s a nice feature for housekeeping of your iOS device.  iOS 5 brings Storage Usage Clean Up so that we not only see what files have taken up space but also the option to empty that space of Apps, Game saved data, Music, Videos etc. with single wipe.

17. The Assistant

iOS 5 brings a Voice activated assistant feature.   With a long press of the home button, your iOS device will interact and respond to voice commands. Users will be able to drive hands free and tell the phone to send email, texts, get maps, tweet, and even make phone calls.  Based on the popular Siri app, which Apple recently purchased.

18. Split keyboard for iPad

If you’ve ever used an iPad, you know how hard it is to thumb type.  So iOS 5 adds a split keyboard option to make it easier to type in portrait mode.

19. Video and music now separate apps

With iOS 5, the iPod app is retired in exchange for separate video and music apps.  Seems kind of odd, but it was actually done with the iPod Touch, so this change makes it consistent across all iOS platforms.  Users can also move between tracks with a swipe to the left or right (iPad only) and a slide will delete a song right away.

20. Custom Tones

To make the iOS experience more personal, users can now add custom tones for Calendar events, send/receive mail, voice mail, week view on calendar, year view on calendar (iPad) and more.  And of course, that means a new TONES App store!

21. Dictionary

Not an earth shattering feature, but it’s nice that dictionary has been added and is available in every app.

22. News stand subscriptions

Available through iBooks, users can now subscribe to magazines and newspapers.  Searching by popularity of subscriptions is also a plus.

23. Cellular Network for App Store

If users want to be stingy with their bandwidth and only download apps over WiFi, they now have the option to Enable or Disable App Store downloads via GPRS and 3G.

24. Faster Safari

Safari has become streamlined and is faster to load.  Users can also save web pages in reader mode which eliminates all ads to make them easier to read.  They can also be saved off line to read later.  And in the iPad, Safari also offers Tabbed Browsing support.

25. Alternate Routes in Google Maps

Ever frustrated when Maps gives you a route that’s longer or goes out of the way?  In iOS 5, users can choose alternate routes that are more to their liking.  For those who prefer things old school, users can now print directions from their iOS device.

26. HD YouTube

Users now have the option to stream HD/HQ videos through YouTube over 3G.  For those concerned about bandwidth, the ability to disable HQ video playback is also available in settings.  Nice.

27. Disable In-app Purchases

As a dad, I really appreciate this option.  With iOS 5, users now have the option of disabling in-app purchases.  No longer will I have to pay for things I didn’t want to buy because the purchase was done in-app without our knowledge or consent.

28. Game Center Enhancements

By contrast, Game Center now allows in app purchases of games.  Users can also further personalize their account with photos, and decide if your profile is private or public.

29. Weather updates

The iOS weather app becomes more useful with hourly updates, local weather, and the ability to swipe the weather widget in Notification Center to see a 5 day forecast.

30. MultiTasking

Users can now do gesture based multi tasking (iPad only).  With a swipe of 4 fingers, the app switcher appears.  Pinch will return to home screen.  And a swipe left and right to switch between  any actve apps

There are over 200 new features to iOS, and depending on which iOS device you use, some or all are available to enjoy.  But it’s certainly a well thought out and welcome update which will only get better with the addition of the new iPhone!

“Glee” is hitting the big screen with the release of Glee the 3D Concert Movie, and for all the “Gleeks” out there, we’ve prepared some cool stuff to inspire your musical talents and get you moving and grooving like some of your favorite “Glee” characters.

Sing-A-Long Tongs

Bust out a note and pretend you’re on “Glee” while you cook with these cool Sing-A-Long Tongs that feature a locking handle that this faux mic in place as you get ready for dinner and a show!

iDuck Wireless Waterproof Speaker

We’re sure many of you Gleeks like to sing in the shower, which is where the iDuck Wireless Water Proof Speaker comes in handy! Not only is it the perfect bath companion, but the duck is fully waterproof with a built-in speaker so that you can listen to your favorite tunes and sing along (also great for drowning out the sound of your bathroom performance if you prefer no one to hear).

iPod Toilet Paper Holder

Here’s another great way to practice your Glee-inspired singing in the bathroom, this time while you’re “handling business” with the iPod Toilet Paper Holder. It’s both a speaker set for you iPod and a fully functional bath tissue holder!

iKaraoke Microphone for iPod

Practice your favorite “Glee” moments as you bust some karaoke using the iKaraoke Microphone that’s designed to interface between iPods (with dock connectors) and your home stereo system. It’s great for parties or right after you watch “Glee” when you’re most inspired! The iKaraoke mic also features cool built-in reverb effects, so that you can transform your voice like a pro!

Shazam Encore LyricPlay

Not sure of some lyrics? Don’t fret because Shazam Encore LyricPlay lets you sing along to every song! It’s a new update for Shazam’s Encore app ((Encore is the premium version of Shazam where you have to pay $3.99/year or a one-time fee of $5.99), that will definitely come in handy when you need to rehearsal that song you just heard on “Glee” and don’t know the words to. It’s available for Android, iPhone, iPad, iPo, Nokia and BlackBerry devices.

Just Dance 3

Learn to move and groove to all the latest songs that are often performed on “Glee” on your favorite gaming station with the game Just Dance 3! Made for all platforms, including Wii, Kinect for Xbox 360 and Playstation Move, the game will have busting new moves in no time.

The EDC Experience gives viewers a chance to go behind the scenes of what it’s like to attend the festival, which just might inspire you to become a DJ after you finish watching the movie. We’ve got you covered and have some cool gadgets to help you on your musical journey!

Phone Apps: Beatronik’s DJStudio for Android and DeeJay for iPhone

Start practicing your DJ skills on your phone with Beatronik’s DJ-oriented apps. For those that have Android devices, DJStudio features a variety of cool functions, such as: crossfading, cueing, looping, twin decks on the same screen and an automatic crossfade called Automix. For iPhone users, DeeJay Remix is a unique virtual turntabl,e which combines a classic disc deck and a built-in sound sequencer (soundMatrix). In a party, your sofa or your bed, have a turntable at your fingertips and let express your creativity with both apps!

Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card

Every DJ needs a business card, so why not one that puts vinyl in your pocket! The Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card is a plastic business card with a turntable on the back that allows you to make scratching noises when you rub your fingernail on it. Cool and musical, the Plastinkuzz DJ Scratch Card will help you spread the word about your newfound DJ skills!

Numark iDJ Live

Once you’ve gotten perfected your DJ skills on your phone, it’s time to move on to something a bit more realistic, like Numark’s iDJ Live. The DJ software controller for your iPad (or even iPhone or iPod) enables you to DJ parties, events and even clubs, using the music that is already on your iPod via Algoriddim’s djay or other Core MIDI-enabled apps. Even if you’ve never tired the real thing, iDJ Live makes the entire process simple.

Gemini DJ FirstMix

Employing the popular tried-and-true setup of two decks and a mixer, the Gemini DJ FirstMix is a very comprehensive DJ too that allows you to take your DJ’ing skills to new heights. Whether you’re an aspiring DJ or just a music lover, FirstMix allows you to discover your talents in a fun and easy way! Boasting many of the best features from Gemini’s professional DJ products, FirstMix interfaces with your PC or Mac via a standard USB connection, so you can easily use the included MixVibes Cross LE software to choose songs and sound files from your existing collections, even your iTunes libraries.

Numark DJ In A Box

Once you’ve mastered your talent on all the other, it’s time to up the ante with Numark’s DJ In A Box which has everything you need to perform and record with vinyl and an iPod! You can also perform with tracks from your iPod, connect optional gear like CD players, mics, and preview your mix in HF125 DJ headphones. Once you’re able to flawlessly mix on these babies, you just might be ready to take your skills and showcase your talents to the rest of the world…who knows, if you’re really good, you might be in the next EDC movie!

Yesterday, we saw what might be the next generation iPod Nano.  Now we have what is supposedly the next gen iPod Touch.  While the blurry photos and few details lend itself to a healthy dose of skepticism, a few things seem to indicate that this may in fact be the real deal.  

In this version the physical home button we’ve all grown familiar with has been removed in favor of a capacitive version.  This seems logical since it not only removes the possibility of lint and other debris from getting jammed into the gap, but could streamline the production process and lower the cost since a separate piece doesn’t have to be manufactured and installed.  The leak also points towards 128GB of storage, which is twice the capacity of the current iPod Touch model.  Lastly, the aluminum back is still present, which might mean that it’s older than we think, or that perhaps Apple hasn’t entirely abandoned this finish, which could mean good news for the iPhone 5.   Less interesting is that model number, MC550LL, and that it’s running iOS 4.2.1 – we can’t derive much info from those two clues.

To add some perspective to the matter, we hardly think these aforementioned features are worth drooling over or getting that excited about. However, it does point to the next evolution of devices that we can expect from Apple and could perhaps lend credence to future leaked device, provided of course we see a comparable feature set, which in this case is the capacitive touch home button, something that we’ve been hearing about for some time now.

Read

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pros

• Little to no sound distortion or interference
• One-size-fits-all for current iPods and iPhones; plus an AUX-in
• Crisp, clear audio presence at medium volumes

Cons

• Isn’t actually “portable” with a 15-volt requirement
• Bass is present, but not impressive
• For $40 more, doesn’t improve much on PDX-30

With just a handful of rivals, Apple’s i-products permeate nearly every facet of consumer culture. From workout companion to digital black book, their ubiquity is matched only by the various appliances and accessories created to enhance, protect and customize them. Housing compressed audio files, iPods and their cousins can’t replace the aural fidelity of physical formats; nonetheless, docking station-speaker hybrids, like Yamaha’s PDX-31, embrace that user-friendly, portable mindset to create easily accessible amplifiers that are perfect for passive listening areas.

Available in a set of color schemes, Yamaha’s PDX-31 docking station is the company’s iterative successor to their prior desktop audio solutions. Not much has changed since their release of the PDX-30. Still built as a box-within-a-box construct, the flattop device houses twin 3 1/4-inch cone woofers inside of a 13 3/4-inch by 4 1/4-inch by 4 7/8-inch plastic shell. To match the all-black, all-white, or burgundy-with-black-trim choices, similarly colored fabric mesh cover the forward-facing speakers, altogether making for a casual, unobtrusive design.

Weighing in at 3.7 pounds, the PDX-31 is a featherweight of stereo options. It’s light weight, along with the limited-albeit-universal color palate makes for a product that’s easy to transport and rearrange anywhere in a house or office. Don’t expect to stray too far from an outlet, though, since the only way to juice your music is by way of a 15-volt plug-in.

Made for convenience, a textured top side gives you back any counter space the system takes up, allowing you put all of your out-the-door essentials in one place. Yet no matter it’s location, as a “Made for iPod/iPhone” device, Yamaha’s dock welcomes and charges all current generation Apple devices (in some cases even while encased in protective outerwear), including: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano and 5th generation iPods.

Looking at the feature set, few major difference separate the PDX-31 from the previous PDX-30 aside from inclusion of an auxiliary audio-in port. Needed cables aren’t included in the packaging, but a quick trip to an electronics store lets the speakers play more than just mobile i-devices. This also avails users limited mixing options as audio from both the 30-pin connector and mini stereo jack can play on top of each other. (For presentations, perhaps?)

Tested with an iPhone 3GS and 5th generation iPod nano, the PDX-31 produced rich audio at a comfortable 50 percent volume level. Varied tones from Hans Zimmer’s “Discombobulate” (Sherlock Holmes) spilled into a larger living room setting where quick violin attacks supplementing the playful hammered dulcimer and accordion melodies were clean and enjoyable. Less impressive were punchy, boxy bass tones from the cellos and brass of the same soundtrack, as well as the deeper beats of the Blue Scholars’ catalog. This is understandable given the size and purpose of the product, and it doesn’t detract from the minimal-to-no distortion heard even when streaming music from Pandora. Still, if you’re running full-tilt boogie on your indoor treadmill and are looking for that added adrenaline boost via thumping rhythm, you’re going to need a better solution.

Overall, the PDX-31 is a fairly simple-to-use product. An included card-type remote gives users a 9-button setup that makes for intuitively easy access to iPod menus. The hardware itself is fairly bareboned with only volume controls adorning the speaker’s top-front precipice. This means all of the equalizer controls are handled natively on your iPhone or iPod for varying depths of sound and amplification, but you’re just as likely to stick with the default settings while cooking or cleaning.

Designed as a portable speaker system, Yamaha’s PDX-31 is a subtly stylish, easy-to-operate gadget. Thanks to some smart volume monitoring (another newer feature), you’ll never blow out your ears setting your go-to Apple device in the charging cradle since it will automatically tune down or up to the previously used setting; the unit will power off when not in use; and incoming calls won’t rattle your listening session as music fades out and your ringer fades in. Bass production won’t knock your socks off, but crisp sound quality and presence make it an acceptable addition to any space you’d like a simple mobile music hookup.

That said, unless you’re in need of having more than just your iPod rocking out at any given time, the system’s predecessor, the PDX-30, is a near identical solution that can be found for $40 cheaper than the PDX-31′s $169.95 asking.

5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Best design yet, excellent screen and feel
• Faster, thinner, lighter
• Facetime and 720p video recording

Cons:

• No FM radio, no numerical battery
• Low resolution and low quality still photography

Product perfection is next to impossible. There’s no way to please everyone, and as we all know, the minute you buy something new, something new and better has just come out. In our everlong search for perfection in anything, gadget or otherwise, the iPod Touch aims for kingship. Does it take the throne?

With the iPhone 4, a huge makeover to the handset promised to reshape Apple’s media player, and it did. Including the iPhone 4’s A4 processor, Retina display and front-facing camera for Facetime, the 4^th generation iPod Touch includes almost everything the tech giant’s latest phone introduced. It accomplishes all this while still thinning down and shedding weight, from the already absurdly-thin design.

The iPod Touch 4G makes older models look fat in comparison. The mirrored back surface still scratches easily, and rounds the glass off to an almost razor-thin edge. Past iPod’s had much larger, rounder edges – this iPod is by far the sleekest. The power/standby button has finally been moved over to the right side, as on the iPhone. The volume rocker has thicker, rounded buttons which are easy to press, though iOS4 on the iPod does not support quick mute like on the iPad.

The 2nd Gen iPod Touch left of the 4th Gen

4th Gen iPod Touch, Top, with it’s rounded, separated volume rocker above the 2nd Gen

Past iPod touch models had qualities that made them seem less professional, less clean. The Wi-Fi antenna showing, thick rounded edges, etc. The iPod Touch 4G, however, does not. It’s clean, crisp, and looks and feels great. The thinness of the design is excellent for holding in a pocket, though like the Nano, it’s easy to forget because it’s so light and thin. Yet with that miniscule frame, the iPod is still tough. Users can safely play a game of ball with the Touch in a pocket. I’ve on more than a few occasion forgot it was even there.

Performance is stellar. It seems silly that each new i-device is considered snappy and fast thanks to performance boosts, yet the same applies with this iPod Touch. There isn’t a faster mobile device on the market today.

Many have thus far been impressed by the Retina display, boasting a higher resolution 960×640 display and 326 pixels per inch. I’m not. Yes, it looks great, and yes, it is much clearer than older every other screen I’ve tested. But having switched back and forth between my iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch 4G, it really isn’t that big a deal. Some journalists have openly stated that the upgraded screen makes the iPad useless, but I couldn’t disagree more. There is certainly a difference, but that’s not worth upgrading for alone.

What is more significant is the improved brightness and contrast. The difference in lights and darks has been significantly improved over previous models. It’s not as good as the Super AMOLED displays used on Samsung’s recent Galaxy S mobile phones, but it’s a significant step forward in LCD displays. That contrast is far more important than the picture clarity because the human eye is more sensitive to the differences in lights and darks than it is to anything else, except for motion. So unless you plan on spending inordinate amounts of time reading – for which the pixel density and higher resolutions do matter  – the update in contrast and brightness is most noteworthy.

For gaming, however, pixel density changes everything, or at least it can. Games with heavy graphics can look amazing on this screen, though few have helped flaunt the upgraded hardware thus far. More importantly, the upgrade in processing speed, screen quality and overall build, help to push the iPod ahead of mobile gaming competitors. This iPod is easily the most powerful gaming device, not to mention the smallest, most useful and most inexpensive (through cheaper downloadable games).

The addition of not just one, but two cameras is huge, but not as big as it could have been. The main camera in the back is capable of shooting 720p video. A few test videos I shot proved to be noisy and a little fuzzy, but picture quality was fine, above par for what we’ve come to expect with 720p-ready cellphone cameras. Reducing the size to 480p improves the quality.

The lack of a proper still camera is more frustrating. Both the rear and front (640×480) cameras can shoot stills, but only at low resolutions with mediocre quality. The rear camera is limited to about one megapixel. It was my biggest hope to see the iPod Touch become a competitive photographic device, but Apple’s obviously more intent on leaving that with the iPhone for now. Maybe next year…

Using Facetime has been a blast. Calling family and friends is gimmicky, but fun. It works perfectly, and the results of several dozen calls proved that the technology is solid. The bigger problem is how we communicate as a society. Conversation becomes awkward quickly – with Facetime, you can’t do anything besides for look at the person on the other end and speak. Your appearance matters. You can’t play with your hair or do something else. In a way, it puts more pressure on the conversationists. Facetime demands a person’s full attention, one which we as a society will need to adjust to.

FM radio, which made its way to the iPod Nano, is still missing for the Touch, though one could argue the point that with Wi-Fi and apps, an FM transceiver is unnecessary. I argue that Touch owners who plan on using the device to exercise won’t be carrying a Wi-Fi signal with them, and we all can’t live in Mountain View. There is also no numerical battery life indicator, which I always use instead of the graphic battery bar.

With this fourth iteration of the iPod Touch, Apple brings sweeping upgrades, but not sweeping changes to their acclaimed media device. Those upgrades are fantastic: a powerful processor, more memory, a vastly better screen, all while maintaining excellent battery life. The few changes – the inclusion of two cameras – are a start in the right direction, but not the leap we’ve seen Apple take so many times before. The company is quickly closing in on a perfect, do-everything device, but this isn’t it.  Still, the 4^th generation iPod Touch is by far the best portable media player, and the closest one to perfection.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Excellent design and user interface
• Touchscreen more accurate than 99% of smartphones
• FM radio, finally!

Cons:

• Small. Small enough to lose very, very quickly

As gadgets get smaller and smaller, we begin to reach the absurd size problems we remember from Zoolander. The departure from the past iPod Nano design, as well as the complete reworking and shrinking of the latest device is highly questionable, and interested consumers are all wondering whether it’s worth the upgrade.

Is it?

Apple’s complete makeover for the iPod Nano may look like the company is confused, but their history proves otherwise. Every product they make, every filing they submit, and every word out of Steve Jobs’ mouth is intentional. The latest Nano does not buck that trend.

The 6^th generation iPod Nano rids itself of video recording and playback, effectively cuts the size in half, and has finally removed the last remnant of Apple’s renowned scroll wheel. In its place, a 1.54” capacitive touchscreen running on a slimmed down version of iOS.

The loss of video recording and playback is nothing to fret over. Yes, it was convenient, but the tiny screen was, frankly, ridiculous to watch video on. I’m glad Apple acknowledged that and rid of the function. Recording video on such a small device was likewise handy, yet the light weight and small size, not to mention low resolution and mediocre picture quality, made the feature a last-resort for users. Most video shot on the Nano never even left the device, thanks in part to no Wi-Fi antenna.

This latest Nano is trimmed of all the fat from the previous model and gets down to the very core of the device: a small music player that’s simple, intuitive, and easy to use for anything. For kids to store their music collection on; for adults looking to exercise to a beat; for the busy salesman who already carries around too much in his pockets and needs something small and simple.

For these users, the Nano is an excellent fit. In practice, the Nano is an exceptional media player. With up to 16GB (8GB or 16GB models available), there’s more than enough space for the daily excursion or even a month-long trip. Battery life is rated for 24 hours of continuous audio playback, and the recharge time is quick, capable of a full recharge in just a few hours (or 80% charge in 1.5 hours).  In fact, there’s only one thing that doesn’t make the Nano the ultimate road warrior: its size.

Like all small things, the latest Nano is easy to lose. Scaling back in every way for this latest Nano simplifies the device, but also makes it a chore to keep an eye on. While testing it, I lost the Nano several times, each time slightly more than the last. Luckily they were all around the office or home. Had I left it on some store counter or doctor’s office, it would be as good as gone.

The iPod Nano, thicker than the 4th gen iPod Touch thanks to its clip

With the iPod Shuffle, such a loss isn’t a big deal. $50 is a much easier replacement than $150 (or $180) for the Nano. The inclusion of a clip to holster the Nano is great, to wear on the belt or an armband, though while testing I only used the clip for exercise. For the sake of not losing it, I recommend using the clip whenever possible.

Features are limited for the Nano to what’s already on the device, and the Nike+ add-on. The Nano is not strictly speaking an iOS device, though many of the functions feel and look identical. Rotating the screen (a 240×240 pixel square) is done with two fingers turning the image on-screen. This method is convenient and intuitive – much better than using accelerometers for the same function. Instead of a dedicated home button, pressing and holding a finger on the screen for three seconds returns to the home screen. Because there is no way to exit apps besides for holding on the screen, swipe functionality plays an important role on the Nano. Swiping left on almost any screen will go back one screen.

Apps on screen can be moved around, but none deleted. Four pages of apps include quick links to music (playlists, artists, now playing, Genius mixes, etc.), settings, photos, fitness, clock, and an FM radio. The photos app is almost identical to other iOS devices, though as I found out when putting pictures on the device, it took my 7000+ photos roughly two hours to be resized specifically for the Nano. It won’t store full-size images, and for good reason: there is no pinch-zoom function on the Nano, only a double-tap to zoom in enough for the full screen to be utilized.

The clock app includes an analog clock, stopwatch and timer. Fitness includes a silly pedometer, which uses the internal accelerometer to count steps. A history of the Fitness app’s use is also recorded.

The FM radio uses headphones as an antenna, and undoubtedly built the relatively weak iPod headphones to work best for reception. Other, higher-quality headphones I tested didn’t receive as good a signal as the iPod headphones, but users will have to determine quality of the sound versus quality of the earbuds for themselves. Unlike the Zune HD, this is no HD radio, just a standard FM receiver. Any number of stations can be set as favorites. A special “Live Pause” feature allows up to 15 minutes of radio to be stored, in case you don’t want to miss anything. Battery life cuts down significantly when using the FM radio. In my testing, I averaged between 6-8 hours listening to FM radio.

The iPod Nano also has voice control, though the included headphones do not include the required microphone. Interested users will have to purchase a separate set for $30.

Apple’s latest iPod Nano is a simplification of media playback devices. The computer and cellphone giant has finally made three (technically four) separate mobile entities: the Shuffle – light, inexpensive, and for music only; the Nano – screened, high capacity for photos and music, and an excellent exercise companion; and the Touch (or iPhone) – the do-all media device for music, videos, pictures and games. The Nano performs its function marvelously, though interested consumers can purchase similar media players for cheaper. But they won’t find a better, crisper, and cleaner device than the latest 6th generation iPod Nano.

Amazon has the 16GB for $172.

Well, the rumors were true. The new iPod Touch was announced at Apple’s press conference today, and it is basically an iPhone 4 without the phone part. You’ve got the same specs: a custom A4 processor, dual cameras (FaceTime and HD video recording included), updated GPU, 512MB RAM, and Retina Display. Of note is the fact that, due to it not needing the phone parts of the iPhone 4′s construction, it’s a much slimmer device than its cousin. Also new is the removal of the the 4GB and 16B capacity options. The prices and sizes are now 8GB for $229, 32GB for $299 and 64GB for $399, and they’ll be in stores next week.

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Guys, I know how excited you were when you read that headline. Yes, there is now a Hello Kitty iPod Speaker Dock, available in both white and pink. I can’t believe this wasn’t released sooner, since they love putting Hello Kitty on pretty much anything. In case the fact that the design isn’t cool enough, the speakers also have “Surface Mounting Technology” and “Lossless Energy Amplification Technology” for creating a full room sound, and you can adjust the volume by touching the ears. It can be had for $150 on September 24th (unfortunately, it’s Japan only for now).

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Well, it looks like a new version of the iPod Touch is basically confirmed at this point, but we weren’t as sure about the rumors of a one-inch touchscreen iPod we saw back in July. No longer, though. A picture of a case has emerged for such a device, so I’m pretty sure a new touchscreen Nano will be part of their music event on Wednesday. The case has holes for headphones, a standard Apple dock connector, and more. Personally, I wonder how well a touchscreen that small will operate, but if anyone can do it, it’s Apple.

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Apple, in keeping with tradition the past few years, has announced a media event for September 7th. That’s the day their annual education deal ends (which is how they get rid of their old iPod Touch stock) to announce the latest edition. The iPod announcement should be interesting this year, especially if it’s packing a Retina Display, but there might be other announcements, too…like a certain iTV. We’ll find out in just a couple weeks.

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Rumors have been going on for a few months now that the next version of Apple’s iPod Touch would feature iPhone 4 features. Confirming this, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber said very matter-of-factly in a post about the Dell Streak yesterday that “if you wait a few weeks to buy the Touch, you’ll get one with a Retina Display and dual cameras” (for FaceTime). Gruber is usually right about these things, and he didn’t say “maybe.” So expect to do some FaceTiming with an iPhone 4-lite this fall.

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Everyone already knows that the iPod Touch is basically an iPhone without the phone part, but now even that might not be true. The Apple Peel 520 is a very interesting product that claims to turn your iPod into a full-fledged phone, while also acting as a protective case and extra 800mAh battery, giving the device 4.5 hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby. So how does it work? You apparently insert a SIM card into the Apple Peel and, thanks to some jailbroken apps (which are totally legal now!), you can use your iPod as a phone, making texts, calls, and more. Here’s a video of the device, though take it with a grain of salt.

The Apple Peel is available soon for $44 to $74.

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The iPod Shuffle doesn’t get as much recognition as Apple’s other devices, but it does serve a very useful purpose as an affordable MP3 player and serves a good use for runners. Which is why I got excited that a new device, that could be the new Shuffle,  leaked today via a Chinese gadget site. It’s got a 1.2×1.2 inch screen, which is quite tiny. Since the iPod branch of Apple has been steadily decreasing in revenue, something new like this could rejuvenate the brand. Or maybe it’s Apple’s new pocket iPad. Would be a little hard to pinch-to-zoom with this thing, though. I’m sure we’ll find out just exactly what this thing is come the fall.

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Rumors hit today that Apple’s next version of the iPod Touch will feature HD video recording and the FaceTime app currently featured on the iPhone 4, with a marketing focus on teens. This information makes a lot sense — the iPod Touch update comes out in September as school’s starting, and the device usually gets most of the features of that previous summer’s iPhone release. Remember that he Touch was supposed to get a 5MP camera last year, which never happened, and FaceTime is definitely something teens would be happy about. Personally, I wonder if the iPod will be getting a redesign like the iPhone’s, and whether or not the display is going to be the Retina Display or something of lesser quality. We’ve got a couple months to wait and see.

Sure, the iPhone 3G and second-gen iPod Touch support iOS 4, but they don’t have enable multitasking, one of the OS’s biggest new features. But before you start crying into your pillow, enterprising hackers have found a way to enable the multitasking on these devices (as is the usual case with these sort of things). Lifehacker’s compiled a great guide to doing it that seems relatively simple. And if you’re worried that it will slow down your device to unusable levels, users who have done the hack report that their iPhones and iPods are as fast, if not slightly faster, than before. So take the plunge if you dare.

Amplitube has alway been widely recognized as a premier tone shaping plug-in and stand alone application that has pretty much become synonymous with all things associated with digital recording.  IK Multimedia has now taken their tried and true GrooveMaker formula and applied it to Amplitube.  Aimed at guitarists and bass players, Amplitube and the iRig connector effectively transform your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad into a very portable and convenient practice studio. Before I get to into the review, let me first say that this application doesn’t have any multi-tracking.  As much as I wanted it to, it is purely for practicing and jamming along with your favorite MP3′s.

Anybody that’s familiar with the several Groovemaker applications available will feel right at home with Amplitube.  The design is near flawless with it’s ease of use and friendly interface directives.  The sliders feel smooth and navigating the application really couldn’t be easier.  The graphics are representative and clear, never allowing you to feel like you’ve led yourself astray through navigational choices.  For those that may be new to this sort of thing, there is a fair amount of help and a whole demo embedded within the App to get you where you need to be. The iRig 1/4 Inch to 1/8th Inch adapter (purchased separately) is the liaison between your guitar and the iPhone.  Super simple, it plugs right in and works as soon as the App is booted up.  The whole piece has a nice matte finish to the plastic and it is almost weightless.

As far as performance goes, Amplitube is a sure fire winner.  I didn’t notice any such latency and everything about the App responded in a moments notice.  There was some slow down here and there when loading stomp boxes and amps but it it wasn’t too bothersome all things considered.  One thing I did run into was that you need to extend the auto-shutdown time of your phone as I ran into some issues with Amplitube not knowing what was going on.  It does in fact work with the screen shut down (see pic below) but there were times when weird and pervasive digital noise invaded the headphones upon screen shut down.  It was very unsettling, so watch out.  Other than that, I was impressed with how Amplitube dealt with the live conversion from analog to digital and most guitar players will agree that they’d never imagined playing guitar so smoothly on their IPhones.

The biggest disappoint for me was the quality of the sound reproduction.  Way too digital.  For the sake of reference, I was using an ESP LTD Viper 400 with Active EMG 81 Pick-Ups.  A decently “hot” guitar, I was also using a pair of Sony MDR-7504 Headphones as monitors.  At no point was I blown away by the tones produced through Amplitube.  However, knowing what you’re doing will definitely help you get the most out of Amplitube and the iRig.  Trying to get a suitable clean tone while using the Metal Amp isn’t going to work and vice-versa.  You can chain three effects simultaneously in conjunction with an Amp set-up, your cabinet of choice, and either a dynamic or condenser microphone.  I liked the Clean and Metal Amp set-ups the best.  Crunch and Lead Amps were filed in the “whatever” category but it will largely depend on what type of guitarist your are.  I got some real heavy Stoner Metal style tones out of the Crunch Amp but it was rather muddy and useless for more precise and technical playing.  Most all clean tones sounded OK with occasional distortion appearing when the strings were hit harder.

If you want to jam along with some of your favorite songs, you can import up to 20 tunes wirelessley provided that your phone and computer share the same wireless network.  The app gives you and IP address for you to input into your URL, and then you upload the tracks from there.  Overall the process was easy and painless.  The preferred format is MP3 but I had no trouble booting up an Mpeg-4.  Once the track is in the App it just takes a moment to expand and then it’s forever yours.

All the effects sounded as they should with some being better than others.  The wah pedal effect was a bit weak but the envelope filter and octave pedals were killer.  The noise suppressor is totally essential and without it your are going to be hearing your fair share of digital hiss, so you need to incorporate it with all of your set ups.  When it came to distorted tones, the low gain ones were pretty unbalanced even when set at high gain.  During other set up experiments I couldn’t dial in enough treble and everything sounded like it was coming from the neck pick up.  They were all pretty harsh, but I honestly wasn’t expecting all that much given the fact that even my MacBook Pro can’t render live tones all that well (Amplitube Metal w/ Pro Tools LE).  Changing around the cabinets and microphones will definitely provide some much needed “scooping”, but by and large you are going to find a couple key tones and make them presets and stick with them, in which the App can hold up to 36.  It’s quite the astonishing feat that IK Multimedia has succeeded where it has with bringing live guitar to such a small device, and I’m interested in seeing if it will sound any better on the iPhone 4, as I did all my testing on an iPhone 3G and an iPad.  I didn’t notice any differences between the two minus the fact that Amplitube has yet to be optimized for the iPad’s larger screen.

There are several choices one can make when buying Amplitube and the iRig.  The iRig itself will cost $39.99 when it is released in the first week of July, and there will be 3 different versions of Amplitube for you to consider.  The full version with all 11 stompboxes, 5 amps/cabinets, and 2 microphones will run you $19.99, whereas the LE version with 5 stompboxes, 1 amplifier/cabinet, and 2 microphones will cost $2.99.  Lastly, the Free version will contain 3 stompboxes, 1 amp/cabinet, and 2 microphones.  With either the LE or the Free versions, you are welcome to buy stomp boxes at an A La Carte price of $2.99 each.  None of the versions will work without the proprietary conversion of the iRig so you know.  You can also use the headphone input as an out to an amp but that sort of defeats the purpose of the App.  If I were me, I would buy the iRig and start with the Free version, as if I’m just jamming and not recording all I need is a clean and distorted channel without craving such effects as flange, phase, and delay.

My overall impression of IK Multimedia’s Amplitube and iRig for the iPhone is one of vast applause.  Never has digital instrumentation been this accessible and innovative.  Even if the sound reproduction isn’t stellar, the impact of convenience and low to zero latency will surely standout.  I know that Line 6 has a similar product, but I’ve yet to test that one out.  While I would have greatly appreciated the inclusion of multi-tracking or tone sharing, I still think that Amplitube and iRig is a huge step forward for guitarists looking to keep their chops tight no matter where they are.  I can see this as being a great alternative for when you’re home for the holidays, away from your other rig, or practically anywhere you need to get your jam on.

Pros:

• Zero to low latency
• Quality user interface
• Multiple options for the budget conscious

Cons:

• Tone shaping
• No multi-tracking

Truth be told, at the end of the day most iPod speaker docks just aren’t loud enough.  Sure they may sound good, but often end up distorted when cranked at a higher volume.  If they even can get that loud.  The JVC RV-NB50 does not suffer this problem.  While not a perfect iPod speaker system by any means, the Kaboom does enough stuff right to satisfy anyone looking to seriously blast some loud music without the loss of fidelity.

To start off with the Kaboom’s visual presence would be the obvious one.  It pretty much looks like a bomb, which must have been the idea since it literally goes off like one.  I personally liked the way it looked, but my roommate and some others thought the aesthetic was too gaudy and didn’t fit into the modern contemporary feel of our apartment.  I mean, most people would say that they wouldn’t want anything sitting around their place that looked like a bomb right?  Especially in these trying times I’m sure!

Apart from the glaring resemblances an aforementioned detonation device, carrying this beast could have been dealt with in an easier manner.  The shoulder strap was uncomfortable and the hand grips on each side of the Kaboom should have been more ergonomic.  The strap used your typical weave, and could have easily had a cushion insert so your shoulders didn’t wear the mark of carrying it around for more than 5 minutes.  The grips could also have easily had some squishy adhesives instead of the open plastic backing that exposed the handles innards.

Function-wise, the RV-NB50 plays MP3 and WMA files from a CD or a USB drive in addition to whatever is on your iPod.  People still do that?  The front side USB input didn’t charge an iPhone, I can tell you that.  The included remote lets you navigate through folders and settings with ease just don’t lose it because you won’t be able do do a lot of stuff without it.

What I found to be the most troublesome aspect of using the JVC RV-NB50 was that it would never recognize my iPhone or iPod touch immediately.  I would have to remove it and place it back in the dock all while futzing with the play/pause button on the face of the RV-NB50.  Pretty annoying really.  I have run into this with other JVC speaker docks and I don’t understand what their problem is.  It also always wanted to put me in airplane mode which just added to the frustration.

Another gripe I had was managing playlists and songs in the RV-NB50.  While the casing surrounding the iPod was clear, you had to unlatch it to change the songs.  Being that it was set so low in the RV-NB50 and depending where you have the boombox situated, changing songs and artists can be a real pain.  The remote lets you get through the menus OK, but it’s much faster on the actual iPod.  What would have made the RV-NB50 crazy awesome would have been a resistive screen that let you touch through to an iPhone or iPod Touch.  Also, the connector is really wobbly and didn’t feel all that secure.

Once you got the iPod playing, however, the RV-NB50 cranked some serious jams.  The bass knob had 6 levels of low end that was easily adjustable and really sounded great across almost all of my MP3′s.  The RV-NB50 had a bunch of preset sound settings that added a nice touch to the sound spectrum.  I noticed that the RV-NB50 would also pick apart your bit rate whenever it wanted to, and really stressed the importance of quality MP3′s, which in the end is a good thing I’d say.  The RV-NB50 really held its quality of sound once the volume was turned up and is easily the biggest selling point of this boombox.

The radio also sounded really nice and clear with the bass adding what most radio signals desperately need.  The LCD display was a bright blue and was pretty easy to read with its everyday clock style digits.

So while facing some serious interface and connectivity issues, the JVC RV-NB50 will still be optimal for any BBQ, beach outing, or any other scenario where you need your tunes to be heard.  Clear and unobtrusively banging, the RV-NB50 is a great addition to anyone who needs loud and responsive music around the house or on the go.  Capable of being wireless, you gotta stuff 10 D batteries up in the RV-NB50 ( buy some rechargeable ones ), and there’s even an separate after market car plug for your next Honda Element adventure.

Pros:

• Excessively loud
• Great bass and overall sound
• Various modes and functions

Cons:

• Whack interface and connectivity issues
• Uncomfortable strap and handles
• Questionable visual flair

Buy the JVC RV-NB50 Kaboom System here for $240!