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.

[via LikeCool]

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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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Looking like anything but, this little USB speaker is capable of 360 degrees of sound output.  Priced at $25,  this could be a great addition to your set-up, especially if you don’t have a lot of space to work with.

This speaker could also be used apart from computers and placed in the center of the room for conference calls and such.  In addition to the omni-directional feature, the speaker also vibrates to help deliver its sound.  I question just how much bang this thing can produce given its small size.

[via CraziestGadgets]

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In what appears to be a product I’ve never seen the likes of, the Sparkz Projector Dock is a fresh and pricey new addition to aftermarket iPhone accessories.  The built-in pico projector accepts a variety of A/V and VGA inputs and is capable of displaying 640 x 480 resolutions at up to 60 inches.  Snaps.

There’s also some little stereo speakers attached but I can’t imagine them doing much banging.  The dock also charges your iPhone and it comes with a tri-pod.  At a $495 price tag, early adopters will want to make sure this is a quality product.  Maybe the video below will help.

[via Ubergizmo]

Read

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Remember how we just finished talking about the Tele Scouter, which interprets every language and translates automatically?  Well, it’s a bit of a misnomer because there’s one language it won’t interpret–American Sign Language.

That’s right, folks–Ameslan is completely out of the Tele Scouter’s bailiwick.  But now, we may have the answer for that one–the Sign Language Interpreter.

Basically, what this is is a camera connected to a microprocessor that “sees” the motions of sign language, matches them against its own internal systems, translates them, and announces the word or letter that the gesture is the equivalent of.  I’m doing a bit of interpolation there as the read link wasn’t exactly clear on if it can handle words and letters or only letters, but either way, a sign language interpreter gadget will change the lives of deaf people everywhere.

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Neil Poulton is known for some jaw dropping industrial design, so when they once again teamed up with Lacie to bring us the Sound² Speakers I was more than pleased with outcome, aesthetically speaking of course. But, as they say, you can’t judge a book by its cover.  So do the LaCie Sound² Speakers live up to all their meant to be?

Place these speakers next to any computer or on any desktop and you’ll sure to adhere some European cache.  Aesthetically the rounded speaker design complemented my desktop’s rather square facade – square desk, square monitor, square laptop – you get the point. The bottom of the speakers are fitted with two rubber feet to prevent them from rolling around. One small jostle though and they tend to overcome their rubber threshold and go into a roll; I almost dropped mine onto my floor a few times.

On the back of the control speaker – the one with the amp – there is a volume knob that reminds me of a truck driver’s steering wheel or a salad spinner. Turn on the speakers and a hidden LED emits a blue hue from inside. The range of the turning circle of the volume knob is pretty short as are the speaker’s amplitude, but more on that later.

Since the LaCie Sound² Speakers lack a sub, one speakers plugs into the other and the master speaker plugs into the computer or MP3 player. As for inputs you’ve got your choice of 3.5mm headphone jack (they’ve included a cord) or USB. While the 3.5mm headphone jack is a nice option for iPhone’s and player’s alike, using the USB port produced more normalized audio that didn’t distort as much and sounded more balanced overall. If you so opt you can power the LaCie Sound² Speakers off the USB plug alone, but adding the external AC adapter results in much more power (i.e. volume).

And this is where the review goes a bit south. The LaCie Sound² Speakers lack significant amplitude. Sure there only 30 watts, but I’ve used other 30 watt speakers before and they were louder and sounded better. At high volumes the the Sound² speakers tend to distort and lack the bass and fidelity for any music genre. At lower volumes, though, they’re relatively dynamic and can probably best be described or suited for those in an office environment – you know, where you can’t crank your tunes.

Oh and another thing: the AC plug is short, like awkward short. Anyone who has plans to place these on a desktop will have to strategically place them close to an AC outlet. While I appreciate the built in USB plug, a removable version would be nice to help me declutter my already rats nest of a desktop.

At $100 I can hardly recommend the LaCie Sound² Speakers as a resolve to your desktop audio needs. Aesthetically they score some big points but at the end of the day they’re all looks and no brawn.

Pros:

• Cool design
• Volume knob doubles as a cord spindle

Cons:

• Just ok sound quality
• Poor frequency range – no bass
• Tend to roll off the table if slightly jostled

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You could buy Audioengine’s wireless speaker dongle system, but if you’re looking for the complete package for just under $200 Klipsch now has you covered.  The ProMedia 2.1 Wireless iPod/Computer Speaker includes 2 satellite speakers, a powered subwoofer and a 2.4Ghz USB dongle to wirelessly transmit your computer’s audio up to 30 feet to the aforementioned speakers.

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Sonos’ S5 wireless music system has began to ship in the US for $399.  In addition, Sonos has also issued a software update that enables Sonos controllers as well as their iPhone application to automatically Twitter what Sonos customers are listening to.  The Sonos S5 will begin shipping globally later this month.

Full feature list after the ‘leap’

SONOS ZONEPLAYER S5 NOW SHIPPING IN US: ALL-IN-ONE WIRELESS MUSIC SYSTEM CONTROLLED WITH AN IPHONE NOW AVAILABLE

· Wirelessly play music from iTunes® and the Internet in any room for $399 per room
· Enjoy room-filling, high-performance sound with all digital architecture
· Control your music experience with free Sonos Controller for iPhone™ app or any other Sonos Controller
· New Sonos Software 3.1 with Twitter functionality now available for all global Sonos customers

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – November 3, 2009 – Sonos®, Inc., the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, today announced that the Sonos ZonePlayer™ S5, the all-in-one wireless music system you can control with an iPhone, iPod® touch or any Sonos Controller, is now available for purchase in the United States. The S5 will be available globally later this month. In addition, Sonos released Sonos Software v3.1, a one-button free software update for all global Sonos customers that includes Twitter functionality. The S5 has a suggested retail price of $399 and can be purchased at Sonos US retailers or www.sonos.com. To view an introduction video about the S5, please visit: www.sonos.com/S5demo.

“This is the best time in history to love music,” said John MacFarlane, CEO, Sonos, Inc. “The marriage of devices such as the iPhone and the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 connects consumers to an entire world of music and gives them an easy way to control it all from the palm of their hand, in any and every room of their home.”

Key features of the S5 include:

• Room-filling sound: 5 integrated speakers and 5 dedicated digital amplifiers provide crystal-clear, great-sounding audio that fills any room with music.
• Unlimited music from iTunes and the Internet: Play way more than what fits on your iPod, including all your iTunes, free Internet radio and millions of songs and stations from the Internet.
• Control with an iPhone or iPod touch: Download the free Sonos Controller for iPhone app and search for songs, choose the music and control the volume in any room from anywhere.
• Wireless expandability: Add more S5s wirelessly and fill your whole house with music. Then, play the same song in every room or different songs in different rooms.

Technical specifications of the S5 include:

• Amplifiers – Five Class-D digital amplifiers
• Speakers – Five driver speaker system includes two tweeters, two 3” mid-range drivers, and one 3.5” woofer
• Volume/Mute control – Quick-access controls on the top of every S5
• 2-port Ethernet switch – Ideal for connection to your router or bridging Internet connectivity. 2-port switch (0/100Mbps, auto MDI/MDIX) allows Ethernet devices to connect through SonosNet.
• Headphone connection – Built-in, auto-detecting connection
• Analog audio inputs – Auto-detecting connection for iPod, CD player, TV, and more to your S5 enables music or audio playback on all ZonePlayers in your home.
• Audio formats – Support for compressed MP3, iTunes Plus, WMA (including purchased Windows Media downloads), AAC (MPEG4), Ogg Vorbis, Audible (format 4), Apple Lossless, FLAC (lossless) music files, as well as uncompressed WAV and AIFF files. Native support for 44.1kHz sample rates. Additional support for 48kHz, 32kHz, 24kHz, 22kHz, 16kHz, 11kHz, and 8kHz sample rates.
• Music services support – Last.fm, Napster®, Pandora®, Rhapsody® 3.0+, SIRIUS® Internet Radio, and downloads from any service offering DRM-free tracks, including iTunes, AmazonMP3
• Internet radio support – Pre-loaded 25,000 stations; streaming MP3, WMA support
• Operating systems (for stored files) – Windows® XP SP2 and higher; Mac OS X v10.4 and higher; NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices supporting CIFS
• Wireless connectivity – SonosNet 2.0, a secure AES encrypted, peer-to-peer wireless mesh network
• Power supply – AC 120/240V, 50-60Hz, auto-switchable
• Dimensions/Weight – 8.50 x 14.40 x 4.80 in (217 x 365 x 123 mm)/ 9.15 lb (4.15 kg)

Sonos Software v3.1 software integrates Twitter into the Sonos Controller interface enabling customers globally to send the name and artist of the track playing on Sonos to their friends and followers. Sonos makes it easy to send tweets about what you’re listening to by auto-populating a variety of messages with the name of the song and artist. The Twitter functionality is available on the Sonos Controller for iPhone*, the Sonos Controller 200 and the Sonos Controller for Mac or PC. Other features of Sonos Software v3.1 include:
Ø Full support for the S5 allowing it to work seamlessly with all previous generations of Sonos products
Ø Graphical Music Menu featuring icons and logos makes finding music easier and more fun. Available on the Sonos Controller for iPhone and Sonos Controller 200
Ø Unicode metadata for music libraries in the following character sets: Cyrillic, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese are now displayed on the Sonos Controller 200

To learn more, locate an authorized US Sonos dealer or make a purchase, please visit www.sonos.com/S5Demo or call 877.80.SONOS.

*Sonos Controller for iPhone 3.1 is currently awaiting approval from Apple.

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Either April fools has come early or I drank my fair share of snake oil this Halloween, because the WOS (Wall Of Sound) Speaker is one bad ass looking iPod speaker dock system.   Stuffed inside this 102 kilo (225lbs) behemoth are 28 elements (I guess that includes the speakers as well) and a tube amp for pitch perfect sound.  It measure 3′ x 4′ x 1′ (HxWxD) and boasts a 40hz to 20,000khz (I think they mean 20,000hz)  frequency response.

The first iteration has sold out, but you can plunk down $4,495 to get in line for the next build.

[via Cultofmac]

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If the ReNu solar powered iPhone docking system piqued your interest then listen up, because Regen is at it again.   The REVERB is a giant speaker that stands 35-inches high and can be powered by, you guessed it, the sun’s solar rays.  Up top is an Apple 30-pin dock, 2x USB ports, 1x USB input for charging the unit and a 4-inch LCD to display all the track info your eco heart desires.  Speaker wise were looking at a set of stereo drivers and a 6-inch subwoofer.  A full charge in direct sunlight outdoors takes 20 hours, while inside takes 40, which produces 4.5 hours of play time at full volume or 12 hours at ‘normal’ volume.

The REVERB will be available this coming April for a mere $2,299, but you can preorder one now for $500 down.

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While I’ll reserve my judement on sound quality until I get my hands on one of what Vestalife calls their ‘iconic’ speakers system, their latest line of bug inspired speaker systems do posses an attractive facade that will get most performing a head turn.

The Ladybug II is an upgrade version of their first Ladybug and adds better electronics, stronger bass and a ported subwoofer.

The Mantis totally flips its lid and has a down firing subwoofer.

The Firefly is the more elegant of the three and looks extra bug like.

All three speaker systems work with the iPod and every iteration of the iPhone.  They come in a special tactile soft-touch finishes; metallic red, metallic silver and metallic black, all featuring black chrome accents.  There’s no official word on price or availability, but I’m hearing $130.

[via Coolbuzz]

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In a land where product names have nothing to do with anything, Yubz reigns supreme.  Put the word Magnum next to Yubz and now you’re onto something.

The Yubz Magnum is a wireless speaker that will connect to any BlueTooth device.  The Magnum is capable of playing music as well as acting as a hands-free loudspeaker for your cell phone.

Resembling a “pleather” meat log of sorts, the Yubz Magnum is a cylindrical device with speakers on both ends.  It feels really nice actually, and is soft and lightweight.

Taking power wirelessly through 4 AA batteries or a USB wall charger, the Magnum will also accept devices through its 1/8″ input.  That means it is ready for a host of scenarios making it accessible to those un-hip to BlueTooth or wireless styles.

Setting my iPhone up to “discover” the Magnum was quick and easy and I was playing tunes wirelessly as soon as I put in the AA batteries.  Even when the iPhone 3G shut off, the music was still playing and the 30 foot range between the two allowed me to put my phone in my pocket and walk around my house.  Very cool.

What is not very cool is the barely legible button markings on the Magnum.  It’s really, really difficult to tell what the buttons read.  Even with my glasses on with a light shining down I could barely distinguish the volume buttons from the…?  Yeah it’s that bad.

In regards to the sound, the Magnum was decent.  It could go pretty loud but was heavily distorted when it got there.  Due to the way the speakers are angled, it presents an interesting stereo field, but not one that’s unlikeable.  I didn’t mind the distortion too much actually, and you can really tell that the Yubz meat log is working its little ass of to bang out some tunes for you.

The loudspeaker feature was more novelty than anything else and while it works fine I probably never really use it just for that.  That basically means that I never use it to make a call but would take a call through it if I was already playing music.

The Magnum comes with a handy carrying case that lets you use it while on the go.  It has a shoulder strap and also what appears to be bike handlebar attachment straps.  Or you can wear it around your forearm.  What I didn’t like about that case was that it was hard to align the input jacks with with the cords because the holes are so small and everything is so black it’s difficult to see what you are doing.

Despite some flaws in design and performance the Yubz Magnum still finds itself in a good place among other similar gadgets.  The loudness and the wireless BlueTooth connectivity should attract consumers far and wide as this is a great item for the beach, campsite, or any other place you need loud music.  The BlueTooth feature should also allow groups with multiple iPhone users to connect back and forth and compliment each other on how tech they are.  Just stock up on some rechargeable AA batteries and you are good to go.

I like this product much better than the eWoo eFizz iPod Dock I reviewed a while back, and the Yubz is a lot cheaper.  Just for the record, my buddy Naiche’ has a Gen 1 iPhone and could not connect to the Yubz Magnum.  I’ll also mention that this does not work wirelessly with the “I Am T-Pain” App unfortunately.

Pros:

• Loud
• Easy to connect (iPhone 3G)
• Competitive price

Cons:

• Distortion
• Illegible buttons
• Carrying case could be easier to use

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There’s a startup company out there called Backyard Brains, run by a pair of neuroscientists who are marketing a piece of equipment they designed and built themselves called the SpikerBox.  And when you hear what this thing can do, you might be interested in becoming a shade tree neuroscientist yourself.

So what does a SpikerBox do?  Well, basically…it lets you read the minds of insects.

With a SpikerBox, you can effectively “eavesdrop” on the patterns of neurons firing in a bug’s mind by inserting metal probes into that insect’s leg.  The probes then transmit back data on the bug’s neural activity, called “spikes”, which can then be translated into sounds you can hear on the device’s onboard speaker or seen on your PC.

Admittedly, there’s not a whole lot of practical use for the SpikerBox, but it’s still a pretty sweet idea.  You ever read the mind of  a bug before?  SpikerBox is counting on your desire to do exactly that, and they’re looking for grant funding right now.

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I really hope this item doesn’t cause an uproar at the airport, though I’m sure some fool will whip this out and say “what do you think of my bomb” once on board.  For those of you who like to share what’s on you iPod or iPhone with strangers and friends without swapping earwax you might want to give this bomb a looksy.

The fuse is your input jack and the little bomb speaker has a internal rechargeable battery that will last for 4 hours.  Since it is powered I’m guessing it might not sound like total crap.  On sale now for $22.

[via CoolestGadgets]

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I may be the only musician that is a proficient guitar player but who really sucks at all things Rock Band and Guitar Hero.  I just played Beatles Rock Band a week or so ago and was just horrible.  Oddly enough, while I couldn’t make it through a song on guitar on medium, I did manage to complete one on the drums.

To sprinkle some fairy dust on the “living vicarious through” Guitar Hero and Rock Band dreamscape, comes Altec Lansing’s Stage Gig Mini-Monitor Speaker.

For anyone who has seen live music beyond the coffee house acoustic jam will have noticed speakers on the stage that face the musicians.  These are called monitors and they give the musician a sense of how they are sounding.

For $100 each, you can really outfit your living room like a live sound stage with as many of these as you can afford.  I guess Altec Lansing’s though was that 5.1 or even 2.1 sound can be sacrificed for the feeling you’ll get when you throw a leg up on one of these.

[via JoyStiq]

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Finding the perfect iPod speaker system can be a daunting task at best.  With so many choices to choose from and seemingly hundreds of new brands emerging all over the place, it can end up being quite the process.  What most docks have forgotten however, is old media.  While some of us may have totally abandoned CD’s, there are probably more than a handful of us that still use them here and there, depending on the scenario.  I actually still use CD’s when taking a shower using and old CD player boombox I’ve had for over a decade stuffed on a shelf in my bathroom.

The JVC UX-LP5 is one of the only shelftop iPod dock systems I’ve seen that also has a CD embedded within.  This by itself is a huge selling point for this product that shouldn’t be missed for those of you using both MP3’s and CD’s.

The JVC UX-LP5 keeps it easy straight out of the box as all the major features and inputs are right on the face of the system.  The iPod dock flips up and stows away when not in use and the aux input and headphone jacks are accessible and right in front of your eyes.

The whole system looks really attractive as well with a sleek and futuristic twist using some neon blue accents to highlight the clear and black plastic.  Each speaker uses a sharp chrome ring to bring out contrast between the speaker itself and its container

The whole system is really lightweight and moving it about and adjusting the speakers is no problem at all.  One thing you will notice is that this system picks up a ton of smudges and dust.  If you’re like me and have OCD when it comes to clean and shiny gear, you might want to keep a micro-fiber cloth at arms reach at all times.

When speaking of the sound of the system, the JVC UX-LP5 is really loud at 70 watts but ends up being a little dull and muddy.  Even with the two JVC proprietary sound boosters (Sound Turbo and HBS), the sound ends up being a bit too lopsided.  Crank up the bass and it sounds too muddled.  Turn up the treble and it ends up being too shrill.

There never seemed to be a good balance that could be reached no matter how hard I tweaked the settings.  Regardless of the shortcomings in the audio department, this system can really crank and would be absolutely perfect in households that entertain and party.

The remote was very robust and contained a plethora of options including:  Sleep, dimmer, sound settings, and more.  The thing is, is that many of these functions aren’t accessible on the system itself, so you be amiss if you lost the remote.

I did experience some weird issues when testing out the UX-LP5.  Often times the indexing of my iPod got all screwed up and I would be looking at one song but hearing a totally different one.  Other times the UX-LP5 didn’t seem to know how to handle what input in which it was assigned.  Slow to switch over from CD to iPod, it would just start playing music regardless of where in the menu my iPod was.

All in all, the best parts about the UX-LP5 is the volume capacity and the CD player, which is also capable of playing MP3’s and WMA’s.  The sound is nothing special but that’s just a sticking point given what the system can do for your household.  For under $150, this shelf or desktop system has some great things going for it.

Pros:

• Looks Killer
• Ready For Parties
• CD Player

Cons:

• Lackluster Sound
• Weird iPod Interface Issues
• Lose The Remote And Lose Features

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I’m loving Sonos’ new Sonos ZonePlayer S5.  It’s a tad on the pricey side, but what is lost in affordability is gained in pure simplicity and quality.  The device connects to your Internet and can play 1000s of Internet radio stations, stream the most popular of music services (Pandora, Last.fm, Napster, etc) and pull music directly from your computer’s iTunes library.  It’s also compatible with Apple’s wireless Time Capsule hard drive, which means your computer doesn’t even have to be turned on to access your tunes.

And like Apple’s commercial says, there is ‘an app for that’.  Sonos’ S5 can be controlled via the iPhone or iPod Touch.  In fact, that appears to be the only way to operate this WiFi infuzed, music streaming device (aside from other Sonos hardware or computer software).  So if you don’t have one of those, well, you can just forget about the S5.  The Sonos app let’s you control multiple S5s, allowing you to play different music through each speaker system or sync them all up and adjust volume individually.

Under the hood are 5 speakers: two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier.

The Sonos ZonePlayer S5 will be available October 27th for $399.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – October 13, 2009 – Sonos®, Inc., developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, today introduced the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, an all-in-one wireless music system that can be controlled with an iPhone, iPod® touch or any Sonos Controller.  The S5 delivers crystal-clear, room-filling sound that rivals much larger, more complicated audio equipment.  Plus, the S5 provides instant access to unlimited music with control from the palm of your hand.  Now music lovers can find and play any song from an iTunes library, plus, a world of music and radio on the Internet, in any room of the house. The S5 will be available for $399 on October 27. To see the S5 in action, please visit: www.sonos.com/S5demo.

“Our customers tell us they listen to twice as much music after bringing Sonos into their homes,” said John MacFarlane, CEO of Sonos.  “The new S5 is our latest effort to simplify the Sonos experience so more people can enjoy more music than ever before.”

The S5 features a 5-driver speaker system that packs a big sound – filling an entire room with music.  Sonos uniquely designed the S5 with an all-digital sound architecture for precise sound reproduction.  The S5 includes two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier and optimized to deliver room-filling sound with smooth tonal balance and deep bass.  All filter settings, bass and treble controls, active equalization, and time-alignment are done in the digital domain through state-of-the-art DSP circuitry, so there’s absolutely no loss of audio quality or energy.

With the Internet-connected S5, you can listen to way more music than you can with a dock that only plays the songs that fit on your iPod. The S5 gives you instant access to a world of music, including 25,000 Internet radio stations, shows and podcasts —all free of charge and pre-loaded on Sonos. Sonos works seamlessly with the most popular music services to provide computer-free access to millions of songs and stations from the likes of Last.fm, Napster, Rhapsody, Pandora, SIRIUS Internet Radio, and Deezer.  The S5 also gives you instant access to any iTunes library stored on any computer or Network Attached storage, such as an Apple Time Capsule.  The S5’s analog audio input lets you connect to an external audio source (such as an iPod, CD player, TV, DVD, VCR, or radio) and play music or audio on all ZonePlayers in the system.

When it comes to controlling your S5, you simply reach into your pocket for your iPhone or iPod touch. With the free Sonos Controller for iPhone app (available on the iTunes App Store), you can search for songs and stations, choose the music and control the volume in as many rooms as you like. And because the iPhone is controlling the music, and not the source of it, when a text comes in or you need to make a phone call, the music doesn’t stop.  That also means you can keep your iPhone in your pocket, not stuck in a dock. The S5 also includes free Sonos Controller software for your Mac or PC. Or you can let everyone in the house share the control with the dedicated Sonos Controller 200 (sold separately).

As with all Sonos ZonePlayers, the S5 is simple to set up, easy to expand and 100% compatible with all other Sonos products. Just plug in the S5 wherever you want music. One ZonePlayer or Sonos ZoneBridge™ (sold separately) must be connected to your router and all the rest will work wirelessly. When you’re ready to play more music in more rooms, simply add S5s or other ZonePlayers without adding wires. Now you can play the same song in every room with perfect synchronicity or mix it up by playing different songs in different rooms.

The S5 will be available for purchase in the United States beginning in late October.  To learn more or to locate an authorized Sonos dealer, please visit www.sonos.com or call 877.80.SONOS.

About Sonos, Inc.
Sonos® is the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home. The Sonos Multi-Room Music System is the first, wireless multi-room music system that lets you play all the music you want all over your house – and control it all from the palm of your hand.  Sonos liberates the music stored on a computer so it can be enjoyed all over the house.  In addition, by partnering with audio services like Audible.com®, Last.fm, Napster®, Pandora®, RadioTime, Rhapsody®, SIRIUS® Internet Radio, and more, Sonos gives music lovers instant, computer-free access to millions of songs, thousands of radio stations, audiobooks and more.  The award-winning Sonos Multi-Room Music System is available at more than 4000 retailers in over 60 countries worldwide; or direct from Sonos at www.sonos.com.  Sonos is a privately-held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA with offices in Cambridge, MA, Hilversum, Netherlands and Penang, Malaysia.  To find out more about the company or the Sonos Multi-Room Music System, please visit: http://pr.sonos.com.

© 2004-2009 by Sonos Inc. All rights reserved.  Sonos is a registered trademark of Sonos, Inc. in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), Japan, Mexico, Germany, Russia and Australia, and a trademark of Sonos, Inc. in other countries. Sonosnet, ZonePlayer, ZoneBridge and all Sonos logos are trademarks of Sonos Inc. in the United States and other countries. iPod and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. All other products and services may be trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners.

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve got an old cell phone or two laying around the house and you’re about dying to get rid of it.  But you’ve got no idea where or how to dump it.  We all know there are loads of hazardous material laws to grapple with, and those collection drives expect you to pay to dump your hardware.

Enter the EcoATM, a device the size of an actual ATM that’ll let you dump your hardware quick, easy, and sometimes, profitably.  Simply drop your old phone or other device into the EcoATM’s slot, and the machine will determine if it has any value.  The machine will then make you an offer for the device, which it will pay off from a separate slot, usually in the form of a gift card.

What if your device is worthless, you say?  Not a problem–there’s no such thing as a worthless device to the EcoATM.  Even if it has no residual value, you’ll still be able to leave the device with the EcoATM, but you’ll also get a “freebie item”, plus EcoATM will arrange for a tree to be planted in your honor somewhere, which still beats having to pay off the collection people all hollow.

EcoATM is actually doing pretty well so far–its first day in operation netted 23 phones and passed out a full hundred bucks in gift cards.  Word is it got a BlackBerry Curve in prime condition.  So chances are, this prototype will likely be coming to an electronics store near you.

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Thanko doesn’t exactly have a good record when it comes to their gadgets, folks, but here’s an exciting piece of news–apparently their MP4 viewer is coming to be regarded as a solid buy!

Now that’s exciting enough as it is–it’s almost like saying “Man, this fried cockroach tastes delicious!”–but not only will this little item, the DIGITAL MP4 AudioPlayer AV, play your MP4 videos, but it also serves as a digital camera.  It has 8GB of onboard memory, with miniSD cards fully supported, even if they only work with Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista.

Moreover, it also includes a 4.3-inch screen, a mini remote, two mini speakers and an estimated battery life of four to six hours, making this one of the most portable media viewers ever.  Thanko is already selling this device to Japanese customers–word is that the English store will be selling it soon, in case you want to take the chance that this is Thanko’s best product ever.

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Approaching a very DIY aesthetic, these new Lacie Sound2 Speakers are ready for compliments from your friends about how tight your set-up looks.  Designed by Neil Poulton, the speakers are specifically angled for computer use but can still be hooked up to a wide range of audio and video components.

Taking design cues from acoustic engineering company Cabasse’s loudspeaker technology, this system is capable of banging out 30 Watts at peak loudness.  Included is an integrated USB cord and will sell for around $142.  Where’s the dedicated sub I ask?  Now available at Lacie’s website.

[via UberGizmo]

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