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Altec's Octiv Stage turns your iPad into a 'TV'

Altec Lansing's Octiv Stage MP450 is a new stereo dock system for the iPad (as well as the iPod and iPhone) that features a swiveling hinge that allows you to place your iPad at various angles for viewing--or even typing.

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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
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David Carnoy
The Octiv Stage MP450 retails for $149.95. Altec Lansing

We recently got a look at Altec Lansing's new Octiv Stage MP450 docking speaker system for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod, and we have to say it's got a pretty intriguing design that reminds us of the old armature iMacs.

Basically, once you've docked your iPad, the built-in "rotating connection arm" allows you to adjust the iPad to be viewed in portrait or landscape mode and tilted screen for multiple viewing angles. When you place it in an almost flat position, you can even type on your iPad while it's docked.

Altec Lansing is gearing this accessory toward people who want to watch video on their iPads--whether it be in the kitchen or bedroom--and the company has built the speaker with that in mind. It says its Audio Alignment technology "provides distinctive center channel voicing and enhanced stereo delivery for distortion-free performance even at full volume." The system also has a 3.5mm auxiliary jack for connecting additional devices.

In the limited time we had with the Octiv Stage, we were impressed with the design and it really does a nice job of converting your iPad into a small TV. The Octiv Stage has a list price of $149.95 and is available now. We should be getting a review unit shortly and will post a more substantial write-up soon.

 
The rotating connection arm in action. Altec Lansing