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Filed under: Accessories, Audio, iPhone

New iPhone products from Griffin Technology

Those inventive dudes at Griffin Technology have come up with two new products for iPhones.

Griffin Technology AirCurveThe AirCurve for iPhone and iPhone 3G is a really cool idea -- an amplifier that uses no power adapters or batteries. Instead, it amplifies the sound from the iPhone's speaker using a coiled waveguide (think of an old-fashioned cheerleader megaphone wrapped around into a helix, and you've got the concept). The AirCurve is made of translucent polycarbonate so you can see the curving waveguide. There's a pass-through slot so you can charge and sync your iPhone. The AirCurve is much less expensive than powered alternatives, selling for $19.99.

ClarifiThe other new product, Clarifi for iPhone 3G is an attractive iPhone 3G case with a difference. It has a built-in lens that slides into place for taking close-ups. While the normal iPhone 3G can focus up to about 18 inches away from the subject, the Clarifi's lens can bring you in as close as 4 to 6 inches. The suggested price is $34.99. By the way, it's not as cheesy as the telephoto lens for iPhone we covered last month.

Both products will be available in October from the Griffin Technology website and retailers.

Filed under: Hardware, Hacks, Mods

Reuse an old Apple floppy drive as an amp

We love reading articles like this. Folks who use old gadgets for novel purposes make our geeky little hearts dance. Take as evidence the DIY iPod video projector and the iPod nano slide viewer.

Today we came across a post from jeffkobi at Instructables describing how he turned a 5.25" floppy drive into an amplifier. After building a prototype with a Tupperware container, Jeff (can we call you Jeff?) put the guts of a Sonic Impact 5066 T-amp into the drive case (it fit quite nicely, actually), attached a volume knob and in/out ports, connected his iPod and was in business. A retro-amp that looks cool on any desk.

Well done, Jeff!

Filed under: Humor, iPhone

Flickr find: Homemade iPhone Amplifier

The iPhone has a tiny speaker that distorts at high volume. To listen to music without headphones or external speakers, you'll need an amplifier. If you're a cheapskate with disdain for hygiene, check out this homemade version, rigged up by camh. The benefits include:
  1. Security. No one will walk off with an iPhone that's been stuffed inside this thing.
  2. Eco-friendly. Instead of putting a used, tattered roll of toilet paper into the trash, it goes on your desk.
  3. Economical. Enjoy a memorable audio experience at a fraction of the cost of decent headphones. John Williams via a 5 inch cardboard tube stays with you.
  4. Chick magnet. Nothing says "I have expendable cash" like an iPhone...in a roll of Charmin.
Enjoy your enhanced iPhone.

Update: Erica Sadun tested her own TP iPhone Amp against a cone made of stiff paper and a non-enhanced iPhone with a Radio Shack sound level meter (part 33-2055) at both the 60 and 70 dB base settings. Here are the results:

At 4 feet line of sight, there was no difference at all between any of them. They all measured pretty much the same 65 dB for the same segment of song played at the highest volume.

At 2 feet line of sight (yes, she used a ruler and tape markers), the same procedure yielded:
  • No enhancement: 68 dB
  • Toilet paper: 70 db
  • Stiff cardboard cone around iPhone: 75 db
A final test with no enhancement and the iPhone turned 45 degrees away from the sensor at the same 2 feet distance yielded 65 dB.

Now you know.

Tip of the Day

Holding the Command key (aka the Apple key) and pressing Tab will cycle through your open applications. It's easier to Cmd-Tab if you are Copy (Cmd-C) and Pasting (Cmd-V) to and from various applications.


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