GadgetReview

The Hercules i-XPS 120 Portable iPod Outdoor Speaker might be one of many in a long line of Apple iPod accessories, but at least it will protect your player from the pool or beach side elements.  A water tight door keeps it dry while a set of exterior buttons lets you control what is playing without having to remove it from the dock.  It’s also shock proof in case your drunk friend stumbles over it and runs off 4x C batteries, AC plug or car adapter.  Yours for $99.95.

[via Gizmag]

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As a “musician” the very first thing I questioned about the TailGater is whether or not it will sound good.  Guitar amps are generally tailored for certain specific frequencies indicative of a guitar, bass, etc.  They also are generally mono.  So combining an instrument amplifier with an iPod speaker dock sounds weird to me.  It could be a speaker system disguised as an amp though.  What makes me think this is the internal battery inside the TailGater that can run up to 8 hours and has a level indicator.  I think it would be difficult for a true guitar amplifier to power a guitar like that.  Especially if it can achieve high decibel levels.  Anyway, the TailGater by Ion Audio has a rugged construction appeal to it and would look very appropriate in the back of an F150 at an Allman Brothers concert.  It has a variety of inputs and even comes with a microphone for hollering drunken gibberish in the parking lot at some Nascar event.  The specs don’t say whether or not you can have multiple inputs going simultaneously.  I think that would be a huge feature for this product especially for a guitar player wanting to play over songs in order to learn them or practice soloing or whatever.  I’ll try and get one for review and let you know how it sounds.  Available now for $199

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Following on the squeals of the iPig, Speakal released the iBoo iPod speaker system today.  Reminiscent of a ghost (I’d like to think Casper) the iBoo is a bit lighter in the toes that its animal brethren and offers less speakers and power; 3 speakers and 15watts to be exact.  As always Speakal has tossed in a remote and ironically ‘humanized touch controls’.

The iBoo is available now in red, white or blue for $90.

[Speakal]