Play Music
Lego has really hit the ground running with it’s digitized products recently. From mini speakers to cell phones the brick look just never gets old.
Now there are two new brick modeled gadgets on the market. The lego MP3 player and the lego boombox. With 2 GB storage and color display the MP3 players are pretty cute (especially with a $39.99 price tag). They look just like you could have put them together all by yourself.
The boombox on the other hand isn’t quite as builder friendly, as it’s designed to look like a singular brick in and of itself (though a rather large one). It plays both the radio and CD’s and has a digital clock. Priced at $39.99 as well the only decision you’ll have to make is whether you need your music to travel with you or not.
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend
GeekSugar has a rundown on some interesting gadgets for the beach like waterproof cameras, flash drives and speakers. There is also a set of sunglasses from Oakley with built in mp3 player.
I think my favorite thought is this cooler bag from Pottery Barn with built-in speakers. Perfect for some poolside tunes or beachfront book reading. The bag runs $79 and runs on 4 AA batteries.
Summer Sounds
Portable speakers are always fun but lets not forget the wonderfulness that accompanies speakers that are both portable and wireless.
The Sony Ericsson Bluetooth speaker is just what the doctor ordered before summer starts. To begin with the speaker streams music from most Sony bluetooth cell phones (which people carry with them anyway) , convenient. Sony cell phones can also be used as remotes to control volume and change tracks. The speaker runs on AA batteries and is water resistant. What else do you need at the beach?
Traveling Music
It’s another portable speaker, but this one is attempting to be especially fashion friendly, and cute.
The music balloon (currently only available by order from Japan) is a portable speaker that looks like a clowns nose attached to a white wire. It’s simple in that all you need to do is plug the speaker into any headphone jack and you have music. Let it dangle, swing, whatever, as you listen without the aid of headphones.
The music balloon comes in any of five different colors for personalization and added cuteness. But this speaker may have to stay in Japan and stay cute for the almost ridiculously high price of $80.
Speaking Small
Lets be honest, some portable speakers aren’t all that portable. Well, the X mini has a new design, and new features, and remains pretty mini, and pretty portable.
The X mini II is slightly larger than the original X mini, but with features to match. It can be charged through a USB connector cable, can boost volume of laptops, MP3 players, and phones, and (if you get your hands on more than one you can chain them together to get especially pumped sound.
With a small globe esque design the X mini II is backpack friendly, which is exactly what a portable speaker should be.
Speaking of Speakers
Ipod accessories are everywhere, but the most useful remain those related to playing music. Specifically, I mean speakers.
Using the USB charger to play an ipod through iTunes still works, but there are perks to a separate set of speakers. I like the extra mobility a set of iGroove or a Bose sounddock can give me. (Even with a laptop I’ve got too many extras plugged in to make on the go music incredibly convenient on a day to day basis.) Speakers can come with their own extras as well.
The most common speaker/dock I’ve seen at college is the ihome. The ihome can blast ipod tunes as well the radio (on certain models anyway) and, it tells time! What’s more convenient than a pair of speakers that not only charge your ipod but can get you ready for classes as well? I know it’s hard enough to get up in the morning you might as well have whatever it is that wakes you be as cheerful as possible. With the ihome you can set the tune (or tone) you want to go off as your alarm the next day.
The ihome, iGroove, and sounddock all charge the ipod as they play (which means your ipod is always ready to go even after a loud night of blasting party tunes). Charging is definitely an important part of most portable speakers, though not a necessity.
Another versatile option is a set of simple external computer speakers. Not only can they up the sound of iTunes but most sets can also be plugged directly into the headphone jack of an ipod or MP3 player. External speakers are my favorite because they also enhance my laptop DVD viewing experience as an added bonus. Whatever you want to get out of your speakers there is an option.
The Sound of Satellites
I have very little patience for a lot of things. I hate standing in lines, I’m not a fan of extended waits between sequels to anything, and I hate commercials. Commercials on TV, commercials on the radio, it’s all the same, I just don’t really like them.
This age of technology however has probably fed my impatience as well as aided my escape from the particular problem of commercials. Beyond an ipod while I’m driving satellite radio too has cut the ties that used to bind me to commercials. Satellite radio, while not in my car, is basically the best thing I’ve ever come across in anyone else’s car. There are over 100 channels on XM satellite radio (the service I’ve listened too) as well as on Sirius satellite radio. (Though a merger between the two companies has now been approved). My music options go up and my impatience levels go down. There’s even a cinema channel for soundtrack music, scores, and occasional dialogue.
It is an extra expense, but in an age of satellite dishes and digital cable television why should radio not be offered the same expanding opportunities? You don’t just get movie channels with cable nowadays, and it’s the same with music. Beyond expanding the melodic options, talk shows, and sports also have a commanding presence over the satellite waves. The radio is no longer a slave to chart topping hits, and neither are consumers.
An extra bonus to many satellite radio units is their versatility outside of the driver’s seat. Many of the radio consoles available today can be moved from a car to a docking station and speakers indoors. For versatile music there have to be options that promote versatility. Now if only everything else in life was as accommodating.
