Gadgety News

When I read something about a new Soundgarden I instantly thought that the band had got back together - but you can blame that on me being of an age and being an 80’s rocker.

Whilst it isn’t news about the Seattle band’s reformation it is the fact that JVC has gone all eco-friendly with its latest speaker concept - the Sound Garden, or rather the Kirikabu, speaker.

This combines a plant pot with multi-directional speakers consisting of a woofer, and left and right channel stereo speakers powered by an internal amplifier.

See, you didn’t realise you needed this did you?

The manufacturer showed off the concept in Tokyo at the Designer’s Week exhibition.

I’m still slightly confused.

The Sony Rolly has always been an enigma to me.

Ok, it’s cute - It’s probably one of the cutest small speakers around.

But.

It’s a portable, trundling, dancing speaker - but the sound isn’t great for £250.

It’s a music player able to stream via A2DP Bluetooth or play from its internal flash but there’s no place to shove your 3.5mm lead.

 Sony are now updating it - and it will be controlled by YOU!! MWAHAHAHAHH!!!

Ahem.  Next month, Japanese Rolly buyers will be able to get the new SEP-50BT version complete with Bluetooth controls thus allowing them to make Rolly dance and spin like a performing monkey-bot all directed via their mobile phones.

I can imagine the high jinks and thoroughly wicked japes to be had through controlling the egg-shaped dancing speaker under somones chair and then unleashing a choice cut from ‘Cannibal Corpse’ as the little mp3 player starts its own circle pit :) 

The new system will actually give you control of up to seven of the little blighters at the same time using a mobile phone or laptop.

I reckon it’s time for some synchronised dancing……….

Gizmodo

If you’re looking for a little more Zen with your listening and would like the choonz  to enable you to “transcend to a different plane” how about ”a fully wireless speaker whose rotund shape defines its independence”?

Say “Hajimemashite” to the Kenwood Hibachi.

This round planter shaped cordleses speaker is designed to be at the heart of your living space.

With strong references to the Japanese foyer as the “warmest place at home” (Hibachi is also a warming plate in Japanese cooking), the speaker comes with a transmitter that hooks onto your audio source and has a 30-meter range.

It features an ambient light that can be set to glow at an intensity suiting your mood and is customisable.

This light is also a charging indicator, that lets you know when the speaker is fully recharged - then it’ll play for a full day.

You can even take it outside to help you meditate or play Parilament Funkadelic at your BBQ party!

Designlaunches

There’s so many ‘Hello Kitty’ products out there from car tyres to AK47’s, yup, really!

So I tend to let them all drift by and let other sites mention them.

This, however, is pretty noteworthy in a twisted, still a heap of junk, but fun kinda way.

It will cost you $25 and that buys you a Hello Kitty Action DJ Speaker.

DJ Kitty will move around in her booth to the rhythm of the music played on your digital audio player like the vinyl crazed feline that she is.

I want one just to see what she’ll do to ‘Black Seeds of Vengance’ by Nile……….

So if you’re in the market for an MP3 speaker featuring a bow wearing pussy cat on the one’s n two’s this is for you.

If you prefer your iPod dock to have more of a retro-anglepoise lamp vibe here’s just the thing!

The Hi-Fi Hi-Light has a built in 6 inch speaker and that all important dock for iPods and even a 3.5mm audio input for other MP3 players.

Its iron and plastic construction comes in a range of colours befitting your study or bedroom and you can buy your own Hi-Fi Hi-Light from the PBteen website for $149.

Sony is going to release a black Rolly music player into the wild.

Their big surprise was usurped by the FCC just last week. 

You’ll also be able to customise your Rolly with a selection of colourful end-caps at a cost of ¥1,500 (about £8) per set.

If you’re still confused about the need for a roving speaker, then the Japanese release date of April 19th for the new ¥40,000 (about £200) dancing-speaker bot isn’t really going to do anything for you either.

Via Impress

Whilst most mini speakers are no better than the speakers on the average mobile phone (and sound just as irritating) the X-mini from the XM-I boffins in Singapore are another matter.

Weighing in at a puny 52g it connects and charges via USB and gives you 8 hours of 2.4 wattage aural pleasure from a single charge.

Give the 52mm in diameter device a sideways twist and the X-mini pops upwards in an accordion-styleee.

Apparently it’s this extendable vacuum that acts like a loudspeaker, allowing the mini device to boom out in a surprisingly loud, full-bodied volume. This patented technology mimics the resonance of a sub-woofer.

This makes it a must have to keep in your luggage.

According to Engadget if you stick pins through the thin plastic sheild that covers the, quite frankly inept, iPhone speaker it is possible to get somewhere in the region of 40% better volume.

But be warned - this will be a warranty voiding excercise. Depends if you want to hear the ring tones, etc or have a vaild warranty!