Daily deal – Polk Audio portable iPod speaker dock for $30

by Scott Carmichael on

My daily deal for today is for the Polk Audio miDock iPod speaker dock. This stylish portable iPod speaker is powered by 4 AA batteries, or the included AC adapter.

The miDock is only 100% compatible with the 5th generation iPod. Other iPod versions like the 2nd and 4th generation Nano will play, but they will not charge. The iPhone and the iPod touch don’t fit at all, and will need to be connected to the aux input jack of the speaker.

So, if you have a 5th generation iPod, this is a great way to get a high quality speaker dock for under $30 ($29.99). The miDock is on sale at Woot.com, which means you only have till the end of inventory or the end of the day, whichever comes first. Shipping is $5.

Included in the box is the speaker, an assortment of iPod adapters, a carrying case and an AC adapter.

Daily deal – JBL Onstage II portable iPod speaker dock

by Scott Carmichael on

My daily deal for today is a great product for travelers who’d like to bring their music on the road. The JBL Onstage II is a portable stereo speaker dock with inserts for most iPod models (the iPod Touch and iPhone are not compatible).

With your iPod inserted in the Onstage II, you can even use the included remote control to change the volume and skip tracks.

The JBL Onstage II can only be powered off AC, so it is not the best option for taking on a camping trip. Included in the box is the speaker itself, an AC adapter with international power compatibility and the RF remote control. If you are looking for a battery operated speaker, check out my review of the Altec Lansing Orbit speaker.

This speaker dock usually retails for around $70, but you can pick one up today for just $29.99. Shipping is through UPS ground and is just $6. Stootsi is another “one deal a day” site, so please do keep in mind that this item will be gone soon.

Product review – Kensington Mini battery pack and charger for iPod and iPhone

by Scott Carmichael on

Today’s product review will take a quick look at a kind of product that has suddenly become quite popular.

Many owners of the new iPhone 3G have been rudely awakened by its poor battery life. In some cases, the phone won’t even last till the end of the afternoon. Since an outlet and charger are not always available, Kensington have developed a portable power source to help get you through the day.

The Kensington “mini battery pack and charger for iPod and iPhone” is a 1.5oz/42g pocket battery pack with an iPod dock connector.

The battery pack contains a Lithium-Polymer battery with enough capacity to fully recharge most iPod and iPhone models. On most devices, you’ll add up to 30 hours of music playback or 6 hours of video. On the iPhone, you’ll add up to 3 hours of talk time.

The battery pack can be charged using your computer or any other power source with a USB connector, including the AC adapter included with some iPods.

Using the battery pack couldn’t be easier, you simply plug it into the bottom of your device, and let it charge. On the front of the battery pack are 4 lights. Three of these lights show the charging status of the iPod or iPhone, and one turns on when the battery pack itself is being charged. One of the other big advantages of the Kensington battery pack is that you can charge your phone using USB, which means you can leave the Apple charging cable at home (of course, you can’t synchronize your device through the battery pack).

Included in the package is a handy retractable USB cable and a plastic cover to protect the dock connector when you are not using it. The only minor complaint I have is that the battery pack adds close to 2 inches to the total length of your iPod when it is plugged in. An alternative product is the Kensington ultra portable battery pack, which I reviewed last week. Of course, with that product you will lose some of the convenience of having such a light battery pack, and you will need to carry your iPod charging cable.

The Kensington “mini battery pack and charger for iPod and iPhone” costs $49.95 ($47 from Amazon).