A New Year of Surprises: Part Two
Altec Lansing
I couldn’t resist the opportunity to be completely surrounded by great audio performance in a sleek and sexy look. Altec Lansing’s new “Expressionist Bass FX3022” computer speaker system maintains the motto of “all the bass in half the space”. This slogan derives from the fact that there is a 4” subwoofer in the bottom of each speaker, unlike the usual separate subwoofer component in most speaker systems. The pair of speaker’s retail at $129.95 and feature volume control buttons as well as an auxiliary outlet for connecting your DVD, CD, or MP3 players. Because of the bass dominant sound, these speaker’s are perfect for gaming and movie watching...
CASES
Core Cases
Core Cases is a newer company that offers the first metal cases for every type of iPod and the iPhone 3G on the market. Made from aluminum, these cases offer superior protection within a sleek, sexy, modern design. Although the exterior on these cases is tough, the interior comes fully lined with EVA foam. The iPhone case is offered at $29.95 and comes with a free screen protector. The iPod cases start at $9.95 with the Shuffle up to $24.95 with the iPod Touch and Classic. Core Cases will also soon be offering laser imaging on the back of their cases, which is completely scratch and fade resistant.
Speck
Speck continued to uphold their industry-leading reputation by once again putting out some fabulous new products. A personal favorite of mine are the new CandyShell iPhone 3G cases. With the slogan, “Hard Shell. Soft Center. Sweet Looks.” these cases offer cool style and functionality at $34.95. This case is offered in four wacky colors including “Lemondrop Liquorice”, “Keylime Jawbreaker”, “Cranberry White Truffle”, and the newest addition to my personal iPhone, “Watermelon Gumball”. Speck also released a variety of laptop bags including the TuckPack- $39.95 (carrying sleeve for 13” Notebooks), PortPack - $79.95 (shoulder pack for 15” Notebooks), CorePack - $89.95 (messenger bag for 15” Notebooks), and the AftPack - $99.95 (backpack for 17” Notebooks). All of these bags are offered in either “Coffehouse Brown Plaid” or “Speakeasy Black Pinstripe”. Many of the attendees were spotted at both Macworld and CES carrying these new bags.
zCover
zCover continues to put out cases that feature the most durable silicon around. At Macworld we were shown just how much these cases can endure as their iPhone cover iSAglove 3G priced at $34.99 was twisted and pulled apart, but remained completely unaffected. zCover has continued to make their TypeOn Keyboard Skin for Apple notebooks, and now has one available for the new Aluminum MacBook, priced at $24.99. These keyboard skins are washable, dustproof, and are just as durable as their iPhone skin counterparts seeming to be nearly indestructible to any kind of torment. If you want your skin to last, this is definitely the product for you.
BAGS
Melissa Beth Designs
MacTribe had the pleasure of meeting with Melissa Zalev, the founder and sole designer of Melissa Beth Designs, often reviewed in our Techie Trendy section. 
Carrying her own “North South” bag ($79.00), she told us what she has in store for 2009. Her new line of bags, including her personal favorite, “4 Carat Diamond”, is, as always, cute, trendy, and extremely functional. Many of her bags are set at lower price points to accommodate those that want a cute bag without paying a fortune for it. In addition to her totes, Melissa Beth Designs, puts out a line of laptop sleeves, makeup cases, and new this year, camera cases as well.
Built NY
With their line of unusually shaped notebook sleeves, laptop backpacks, lunch boxes, and bottle totes, Built NY certainly stood out at CES. At the show they debuted their “Platform Laptop Case” retailing at $44.99. This product fits up to a 15” laptop and is perfect for anyone seeking a mobile office. It is a hard shell that opens with your laptop allowing users to keep their notebook inside the case while they use it. It also functions as a laptop platform because of its hard base. Another interesting product that they showed us was the “Bumper Laptop Case”. This sleeve definitely doesn’t look like the usual laptop case as there are actual “bumpers” lining ¾th of outer rim of the bag. Built NY explained that this scalloped edge effect helps protect the enclosed laptop. This sleeve costs from $29.99 to $37.99 depending on the size. All of Built NY’s products come in a variety of colors and prints.
ACCESSORIES
Targus
Targus was also at the show showing their new "Targus for Mac" product line. Targus currently offers a wireless mouse, Bluetooth laser mouse, USB Hub mouse, Bluetooth wireless presenter, file share cable, privacy screen, and a chill mat all strictly made for Apple products. In addition to these Mac accessories, Targus offers a wide variety of men’s and women’s laptop bags and cases functional for Mac users starting at a price point of $39.99.
Richard Solo
RichardSolo has solved one of the only problems that I have with my iPhone. The battery situation. Because there are so many functions on the iPhone, the more you use it, the more the battery gets sucked up, and it can be frustrating at the end of the day when you need to make that call or GPS yourself, and you don’t have any juice left. With RichardSolo’s new external battery 1800, you can always have a backup supply of extra power. The battery also comes with a Laser Pointer and LED Flightlight. It is also packaged with a clip to easily attach your iPhone to the battery. The RichardSolo 1800 can be used with all iPhone and iPod models.
XtremeMac
XtremeMac well regarded within the Mac community as offering a wide variety of Apple product cases, audio players, chargers, amongst others. New at the show was their iPod Nano voice recorder. The memo recorder plugs right into the bottom of the Nano with the mic running alongside it. The mic is flexible and can be pointed towards and direction. The microphone can also be detached and headphones and be plugged into its place so you can immediately listen to your most recent recording in silence, or unplug and listen to it from its external speaker. This device is perfect for anyone who wants to keep track of his or her business or personal interactions.
Axiotron
Axiotron’s new “Modbook” is perfect for creative professionals. Referred to as the “grown-ups etch-a-sketch” it looks just how it sounds- a MacBook with the no keyboard but with the screen on the actual hard drive. With this electronic notepad, users get all of the normal MacBook perks (incredible hard drive, GarageBand, iPhoto, etc.) while having the ability to create virtually hands on. It is truly the first of it’s kind.
Upek
As security in the airports as tightened up, it only makes sense that other aspects of life need additional security as well. Upek has created a device that allows users to use fingerprint technology as a way to protect their laptops. This device protects anything that the owner does not want seen by anyone but himself or herself. Attached like any other USB connected device, the fingerprint scanner will read your prints, and once programmed, it will only open when it recognizes that it is you who is trying to gain access. It also just looks really cool!
Read Lynette's Roundup Part One >>
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