GadgetReview

Huh.  Powered by USB or two AA batteries, this folding speaker’s design “creates a large resonance chamber and makes the sound richer than most other small speakers.”

For $18 it could be worth a try though at this point you probably already have a set of speakers for your MP3 scenarios. …Continue reading: Accordian Style Folding Speaker

Possibly looking pretty swank at your alpine lodge time share, the Maxell MXSP-D240 will hopefully be banging enough to get the party going as well.  Available in white or black, the MXSP-D240 is Japan only right now and goes on sale at the end of the month.

The MXSP-D240 is compatible with most iPod models and comes with a remote control.  Thanks to a balanced horn structure to radiate sound energy efficiently, this speaker dock could be worth looking into.  With so many speaker docks to choose from these days it’s nice to see one that actually sticks out visually.  Priced at around $112

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Zune HD owners rejoice.  Crickets?  Microsoft has recently announced that a batch of new 3D games is now available at the Zune MarketPlace.  For Free.  That’s right, the following games are available now for free:  Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Audiosurf Tilt, Vans Sk8: Pool Service, Lucky Lanes Bowling, Piano, and Checkers.

Totally cool for free right!  Hopefully this will help Microsoft move some units this holiday season, but  having not yet seen an actual Zune HD in person, I’m interested in how good the gaming will be on this thing. If you are a Zune HD owner and download these free games and let me know just how 3D they actually are!

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In America, there’s nothing quite like a good value.  I went to Burger King the other day because they had a $1 Double Cheeseburger.  It was quite a value as I had two.  This little iPod speaker from the Container Store is only $10.  What would make it a value?

For me, I don’t quite like how the speaker is facing backwards.  Other than that it looks OK.  Using four AAA batteries for power, I wonder how loud it gets, as lack of volume is generally the biggest downfall to speakers of this size.

It could be decent for some indoor situations, like a customer service call center cubicle during break time, but I can’t see this thing being of much “value” outdoors.

[via Unplggd]

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It’s amazing what some people will do to further what can be done with Air Guitar.  With the several air guitar apps for the iPhone and the wearable guitar shirt, I’m beginning to miss the original version.

In this video, some foreign gentlemen demonstrate  how their new air guitar peripheral works and what it sounds like.  It looks like they’ve got the speed down pretty good but the sound is like last call at some Hooka Bar.  Do you think this idea has some traction?

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Several months back, we introduced you to the Philips Tapster headphones.  But there’s some bad news here for everyone who was looking forward to them–there’s now pretty much no way they’ll hit store shelves.

The folks out at Crave on Cnet’s Asian subsidiary believe they know why, too–they don’t work.

It’s a strange theme these days, gadgets that don’t work, but the beat goes on (or rather doesn’t) from these headphones.  They were supposed to be a major innovation in playback and volume controls, which are supposedly controlled by tapping and swiping the ear modules.  Under normal circumstances, this would dislodge them from the ear, but with these, they didn’t dislodge.  Something of an accomplishment there, but the problem was, the purported tap-and-swipe system of volume and playback control never materialized.

So a little bit of vaporware for you, folks…and that’s always at least a little sad.

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Suffice to say it’s been a ripe year for Beatles fans.  With all the other Beatles stuff to buy comes along this Limited Edition Beatles Catalog stored on a Apple Shaped USB Flash Drive from EMI and Apple Corps.

Available now for pre-order, this $280 set has 16GB’s of re-mastered stereo FLAC and MP3 versions of the Beatles Catalog.  FLAC quality runs at 44.1Khz 24 bit, whereas the MP3’s are at 320 Kbps.  Priced at $60 more than the normal CD set, only 30.000 of these will be produced.

On sale starting December 8th, the drive will also include a 13 minute documentary about all of the studio albums as well as original UK album art, rare photos, and expanded liner notes.

I think Anvil needs one of these.

[via TechTree]

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As the list of creative USB flash drive hits beyond endless, this is the first tried and true instrument I’m seeing as a storage device.  Measuring in at a tiny 3 1/4″, you can even get one preloaded with a QuickTime instructional video to help you play it.

Handmade in the USA by some rusty barnacle, you can get this USB Harmonica multiple GB sizes at various price points.  Another cool holiday 09′ gift idea!

[via CoolestGadgets]

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What would probably look cooler in an actual booth at a Hard Rock Cafe than at your place, this cheapo “Limited Edition” iPod dock could make a decent gift idea for that certain nostalgia freak in your family.

At only $15, I can’t imagine the sound quality to be anything of value, but it is cheap enough to buy for your bathroom or walk-in closet.  Especially if you like the included digital FM tuner.  Also featuring a line-in for CD and MP3 players, it will also run off of 4 AA batteries or a wall plug.

Limited Edition always denotes a “Buy Now” type of attitude so don’t hesitate!

[via ChipChick]

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Coming to you today from the folks at fu-bi is the Retro Cube Mini Speaker With MP3 Player.

Basically, it’s pretty much what it says on the box.  It’s a speaker that hooks to your iPod or your PC, with either a headphone jack or a USB cable, and will give you about three hours of music for roughly every hour spent charging the battery.  You can also fill up a USB stick, MMC card or SD / SDHC card with music and play them directly from the speaker itself.

It looks like nothing so much as a old fashioned guitar amp, and this is probably where the “Retro” part comes into play.  They sell for about fifty bucks each, but only can be had in Japan for right now.  It’s kind of a nifty idea, but it’s a little bit short on execution.  I mean, great, congratulations. It’s a speaker.  I’ve got several.  But I like that it can be taken anywhere and will play music from outside media, turning it into a pocket stereo.  It’s the kind of thing I could’ve used back when I was in high school.

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