Up until now, I though my Vaja iPod case was opulent. Check out the Concerto Bianco (that's Italian for "I have a ton of expendable income") by Tunewear. It's a leather carrying case for the iPod Hi-Fi that features a snug fit for added protection and carrying strap for portability. Plus, it won't impede the removal or replacement the grille cover. You can pick one up for $295US. Go ahead, you deserve it.

If you  have to buy alot of stock photos, and I know you do , you might want to check out Adobe's offerings. Why is that? Well, between now and July 17, 2006 if you spend $2000,  or more, you'll get a free iPod Hi-Fi.

You do need to have a valid license to one of these pieces of software: Adobe Creative Suite 2 software, Adobe Production Studio, GoLive® CS2, Illustrator® CS2, InDesign® CS2, Photoshop® CS2, After Effects® 7.0, Adobe Premiere® Pro 2.0, Adobe® Audition® 2.0, or Encore® DVD 2.0, however, chances are if you're using that many stock photos you have Photoshop.

Consumer Reports weighs in with their review of Apple's new iPod Hi-Fi sound system and gives it a fairly lackluster rating, calling it a "mildly disappointing" entry with "so-so sound quality" in the iPod sound system game. They also didn't like its hefty weight (15lbs) and relatively poor sound performance when compared to competing products.

The magazine did like the easy-to-use remote control and the unique power-saving features of the iPod Hi-Fi but in the end didn't see much of an advantage over competing products already on the market like the Altec iM7 and the Bose SoundDock.

It's been almost a week since the iPod Hi-Fi was released and the reviews have started to roll in. Playlist Magazine's extensive review gives it a four out of five rating and calls the iPod Hi-Fi an "attractive option for people looking for good, room-filling sound in a compact package".

AppleTalk Australia's review includes some nice unboxing pictures and calls the iPod Hi-Fi the "best iPod speaker set on the market right now."

PC Magazine gives the iPod Hi-Fi a 4.5 out of 5 rating, calls it a "winner" and a "compact powerhouse that charges your iPod while it pumps out pristine audio."

Like many, my initial reaction to the iPod Hi-Fi was...meh, but I believe that was mostly because I personally don't like the aesthetics of the product or have much a need for for it. However, I'm definitely willing to allow my opinion to be changed. These reviews have all been overwhelming positive, so I'm rethinking my impression of the iPod Hi-Fi even if I doubt I'll ever buy one.

Apple announced the new iPod Hi-Fi at this morning's special event. While it's not terrifically exciting, it's an alternative (albeit a pricey one at $349) to third party iPod speakers. The Hi-Fi features a Universal Dock into which you can slide your iPod and another spot on the back for an iPod shuffle. (If you've got an iPod model without a dock connector, you'll have to buy a separate audio cable to integrate your iPod with the Hi-Fi.)

The iPod nano and the iPod with video will display a new Speakers menu for the iPod Hi-Fi. The menu will let you control tone (with settings like normal, treble boost, and bass boost), display large album art on the iPod while the Hi-Fi is playing, and set the iPod backlight to remain on so you can see the album art. Sorry, but apparently there won't be a Speakers menu or tone control for older iPods.

Theoretically, the Hi-Fi is portable. It will run on six D-cell batteries "for several hours" according to Steve. However, the size and rectangular design of the Hi-Fi makes it look like it will be awkward to haul around. It's about as big as a breadbox: 17" x 6.6" x 6.9"  with hand grips built into the plastic shell.

The Hi-Fi will charge your iPod while you're playing music. It includes an Apple Remote to control music playback from across the room. And it's got a combined analog and digital optical input jack, so you can connect it to your computer or to an Airport Express to use as a speaker system for those devices. However, the requisite audio cable is a separate purchase, which is too bad.

I'm no sound expert, but I can tell you that Steve was hyping the sound quality of the iPod Hi-Fi during the announcement, and the Apple site touts the Hi-Fi's sound quality across a range of frequencies. It's got two 80 mm speaker cones in dedicated chambers, and a 130 mm woofer for bass tones.

To be honest, I'm not likely to run out and buy this updated boombox. I'm happy with my Logitech mm50 portable iPod speaker for now. Have you got a big check left over from the holidays that you're just itching to spend? Will you spend it on this?