I also don’t care because it just looks perfect as an iPod dock, using a “10-watt solid-state amplifier and a high quality Blaupunkt … coaxial loudspeaker with a massive ceramic magnet”. [Pete Verrando via Retrothing]

According to Stuff.tv, the $US380 Heritage is well-built and produces sound far better than what you’d expect from a gadget looking as old as my parents. If you feel like spending nearly $US400 on a nice bedside companion then this could definitely satisfy your inner 60s child. I’m just plain gonna focus on keeping mine outta trouble. [Stuff.tv via Engadget via Unplggd]

Pitched as “the world’s most powerful iPod speaker”, the Wall of Sound is a $US4500, handcrafted iPod dock with a stocky 1m x 1.2m frame that weighs in at 102kg. As for the sound itself, the 125-watt system promises a frequency response of 40Hz–20,000kHz that will provide “graceful mids and crystal clear highs”, according to the product’s website. It’s also purportedly “for people who believe that music should be listened to loudly”. [Wall of Sound via geek]

My guess is that you will need all of that space to generate enough electricity to play your music for 4.5 hours at full volume/12 hours at a normal volume. Of course, it takes 20 hours of outdoor sun exposure (or 40 hours indoor) to reach a full charge. If you are not patient enough to wait, the Reverb can be powered up via a regular electrical socket — although I would suggest spending your $US2229 elsewhere if you see yourself doing that frequently. Speaking of being patient, the Reverb won’t be available until April of 2010. [Reverb via Gizmag via Inhabitat]

The ReNu probably doesn’t work as you’d imagine from looking at the photograph. Sure, you see an iPod dock with speakers, just as you’d expect. But that huge back plate is actually a solar panel/battery combo that you can remove from the dock to hang near a window to store energy. It takes about nine hours to charge in direct sunlight, or 20 hours to charge in indirect sunlight, to power music for 7-8 hours.

This ReNu panel actually supports a variety of different base units, including a pure iPod/iPhone dock (no speakers included) and an LED desk lamp.

I think the basic idea becomes something like, hang or place a bunch of solar panels in sunlight, then grab power as necessary. But in case you find this ease of use scenario as hard to believe as us, all of the docks and the ReNu panel itself will plug in should the sun’s juice fall short.

The base ReNu panel alone can be preordered now for 2010 availability. It runs for $US200. The accessories start at $US90 and work their way up.

[Regen via Treehugger via DVICE]

The Price

$US130

The Verdict

It’s good! We had three issues with the first one: wireless interference, the inability to adjust the volume from the computer when using the USB wireless audio dongle, and the price. To start, it’s $US130, down from $US150, and our volume changes on the MacBook Pro transferred directly over the air to volume changes in the player.

If you’re talking sound quality, the Mint Studio is decent. This is more about the convenience of wireless speakers than having a really great sounding set of speakers. For $US130, you get a not-too-shabby set that can also act as an iPod dock. It’s definitely better than the speakers you have in your laptop, so that’s already an upgrade.

Lastly, the wireless interference is reduced by hopping over two channels instead of just one, which should help to curb many problems unless you have a lot of wireless laptops using the same frequency. Also, 802.11n laptops and routers are pretty much de facto since we reviewed the previous Mint, so you shouldn’t see any interference if you’re using the 5GHz channel for your N traffic.

One bonus feature introduced in the Mint Studio is the ability to support three different units from one transmitting laptop. We tested this in our house, with the laptop source and USB transmitter on the first floor, and one unit on each of the three floors. It was able to reach all three floors with zero audible loss, which is pretty great, and within its household operating range (with walls and floors) of 30 metres.

It also still supports line-in and still acts like an iPod/iPhone dock, and works fine in those respects too. With the low price and improved featureset, I think the Mint Studio is a pretty good buy for people who want cheap multi-room audio that can also function as an iPod dock. [Mint]

Fixed interference issues and remote volume control from a computer

Cheap way to get wireless streaming music throughout your house

Sound quality isn’t astounding

It’s currently just a design, but Native Union, the folks who might one day peddle Michael Young’s Moshimy mobile phone dock claim that the dock offers “96% protection from the radiation emitted from every mobile phone”. Wow. Impressive. Until you keep reading for the reasoning behind that “protection”:

[U]sing a separate handset when not actually on the move can spare the user from 96% of radiation compared to using a mobile phone directly.

Ah, so it’s the distance from the actual phone that’s the protection then? OK, so how about rewriting the claim for those of us who like to hug our docks while talking on the phone? [Dezeen via The Design Blog]

The Geneva S features a clock and alarm function, comes in three high-gloss functions and has an IR remote control. The spec sheet also says it’s got a motorised dock, which sounds pretty freakin’ sweet, although looking at the design I’m not sure how it would actually work.

The dock will set you back $599, but given the somewhat unique, European design, I wouldn’t have expected it for a dollar less than $500 anyway. Which means that it will mostly be purchased by the wealthier among us with a penchant for modern design and a Platinum credit card…

[Geneva Lab]

Just like in cars, the next evolution is to eliminate the crank and have an automatic version. Preferably one that you can push down on once and it’ll crank all the way, but that can also turn slowly when you hold it down, for a more dramatic rotation. [Freewebs]