Music

SanDisk's quick rise to No. 2 in U.S. MP3 player sales has spurred the creation of a fledgling accessories market, including the introduction of the first speaker system dedicated to Sansa e200 owners. Now you can listen to your tunes in your car--without the need for a generic, or worse, a Made for iPod FM transmitter--using Maximo Products' Car FM Transmitter and Charger, model number SAN-360.

This in-line-style FM beamer can tune into "all FM frequencies" (88.1 to 107.9 MHz), includes 3 presets, and can actually search for open frequencies. It also boasts "… Read more

After posting an item about water-resistant music players, we started to wonder how many situations would require them. Then we saw the SwiMP3 on Shiny Shiny.

This waterproof player not only affixes directly to your head via goggles--which are provided, by the way, though you can use your own--but it also sends soundwaves through your cheekbones to enhance underwater listening. Judging by the photo, it's not the most flattering accoutrement, but you'll presumably be submerged while wearing it.

The SwiMP3 isn't cheap. It retails for $250, though it's available at lower prices. But if you're … Read more

This think looks more like a space station than a music player. Maybe because its design team included aerospace engineers and French military equipment manufacturers, according to Chip Chick.

The stainless steel Kalista CD Transport weighs 56 pounds and is supposed to yield superior sound quality. It should, for $28,300. At that price, it should include a spin on the space shuttle as well.

As CDs join the ranks of LPs, cassettes and 8-track tapes, it's interesting to note that equipment to play obsolete media seems to get more expensive with each year--a kind of high-end retro. For … Read more

There's a funny thing about being a female in the tech industry: vendors and PR reps are always pushing pink gadgets on you. Don't get me wrong--I like pink just fine, but it's not like I'm draped in it 24/7 a la Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. And I'm a fan of colorful gadgets, but I prefer muted green or deep purple to pink. And black is, well, black; it's always in style. But I digress. I'm mainly trying to let you know that Pioneer has released a pink version of the … Read more

For all its hype, Microsoft's Zune obviously faces a daunting challenge against the wildfire popularity of the iPod. So what magic arrow does Microsoft have in its quiver? The closest thing might lie in the wireless realm, as indicated by CEO Steve Ballmer in a video interview with CNET News.com. Ballmer suggested that a wireless network connecting all Microsoft media properties to Zune--such as its Xbox and Media Center, as well as phones and other products--could go a long way toward helping the device catch up.

Maybe we're crazy for asking this this, but does anyone really need a remote for a portable music device? That seems about as necessary as a separate handset for a mobile phone.

Apparently somebody thinks it's a good idea, such as the people at Advanced Technetix who are marketing their "Visual Remote" with a backlit screen that controls your iPod "without removing it from your bag or pocket," according to Krunker.com. We're going to wait for the remote for this remote.

(Photo: Krunker.com)

V-Moda gets it. Not only does the company produce high-quality earphones, but it also makes them look good. We must digress: We're surprised at the uninspired designs of most earphones on the market--after all, unlike most tech products, they're worn on the head.

V-Moda had already introduced some impressive styles, but Popgadget points out that a new line has just come out with even more head-turning colors: metallic pink, blue, silver and polished alloy silver. As soon as we find the right one to match our comb-over, we'll be hitting the clubs.

(Photo: V-Moda)

Is round the new square? That seems to be the case where digital speakers are concerned. Just a few hours ago, we posted an item on an egg-shaped speaker. Now we find this speaker product on Aving.net, which looks like an iEgg cracked open. Samsin Innoctec apparently debuted this pair of wireless speakers at the Korean Electronics Show this week. The battery-powered Bluetooth speakers can run for eight hours.

We love Korea-based Cowon and its multitude of feature-packed and great-sounding MP3 players. We also admire its "who cares about the iPod anyway" attitude. Probably the biggest complaint about Cowon digital audio players today--outside of tricky interfaces, mostly due to all those features--is that most of their flash-based players currently max out at 2GB.

Well, we've just heard from the dudes over at Cowon America, and they'll be bringing 4GB versions of the iAudio F2, the iAudio U3, and the iAudio T2 in November. Eight gigs would be nice, but four gigs seems to be today'… Read more