Yearly, top-ranked Apple speaker maker iHome involves CES with a powerful array of latest merchandise — together with one thing to point out off Apple’s newest expertise — and it isn’t disappointing on the 2015 CES. In an advance briefing earlier than the present formally opened, iHome revealed its first Apple HomeKit product, SmartPlug ($40), in addition to some daring new speaker and headphone designs…
…like the primary speaker we’ve seen hidden inside an exquisite ingesting flask. It’s known as SoundFlask, and is available in coat pocket- ($50) and residential bar-sized ($100) variations. Even the smaller model sounds actually good given its measurement, and the flask cap twists to regulate the quantity. All that’s lacking is the power to really maintain fluids. Learn on for extra.
HomeKit. iHome’s first Apple HomeKit product, SmartPlug, will allow iOS customers to manage any linked system utilizing Siri. One model (iSP5) will probably be a pass-through for units with three-prong wall plugs; one other (iSP6) will add a USB connector, and a 3rd (iSP7) will embrace a distant management. A companion app known as iHome Management tied into HomeKit will allow you to flip units on and off simply by talking into your iPhone or iPad.
Kineta. The brand new Kineta sequence of audio system is a very fascinating riff on iHome’s commonplace Bluetooth portables and clock radios: every mannequin has its personal built-in however ejectable 2600mAh battery, which could be pulled out and used to energy your iPhone on the street, or stay contained in the unit to energy the speaker. We actually appreciated the Kineta designs, and an analogous idea is coming to inexpensive Timex audio system.
Noti-fi. X1 + X2 Noti-fi are challengers to Final Ears’ widespread UE Growth 360-degree audio system, one roughly the identical measurement as UE Growth — but full of six audio system and promoting for under $99 — whereas the opposite is the scale of UE’s new Megaboom, with seven audio system, an built-in deal with, and a $199 price ticket.
Phaze Shade-Shifting Audio system. We’ve liked iHome’s color-shifting lights for years, and now it has new fashions, together with the globe-shaped iBT29 speaker, the iB37 Phenom — a pair of color-changing headphones that look straight out of a Daft Punk video — and a tube-shaped speaker known as the iBT74 with apparently contoured sides.
Wearable Audio system. iHome can be debuting a group of wearable or simply carryable audio system. The splashproof iBT15 ($40) is probably the most conventional, a monaural speaker with a clip and a carrying rope. One other mannequin is formed like a rounded dice and could be connected to pants, with surprisingly good sound given the value.
A triangular mannequin known as the iBT5 could be carried with a strap or connected to a bicycle, whereas a very nice shirt-, hat-, or automotive visor-clippable speakerphone lets you have each a speaker and mic mounted near your mouth for occasions when headphones aren’t applicable. Launch dates for all the merchandise are unfold throughout the late March to late Summer season timeframe.
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