Perennial iPod peripheral maker Griffin announced that their new PowerDock multiple-iPod / iPhone charging station would be available in June, and now it's apparently almost here.
Available in two- or four-dock models, the charging station is designed for nerdy families like mine with multiple iPods, or perhaps just gadget freaks. It supports most every flavor of iPod and iPhone, with adapter inserts included, and it's made of brushed metal which is always a lovely choice.
No word on a street date, but presumably it's still on schedule for a release this month. The two-dock version will run $49.99 and the four-dock version will be $69.99.
While Griffin's new $70 AirDock might sound like it's a contender to the wirelessly syncing WiDock's throne, don't let its name fool you. It doesn't sport 802.11x for syncing with a Mac or PC, but it does include an RF remote for controlling the AirDock, even through walls (Infrared, like in the Apple Remote, needs a direct line of sight). It also has an A/V out port for running your iPod media out to an entertainment center, but it doesn't have any kind of on-screen menu navigation like the more powerful $129 TuneCenter accessory. The other decent advantage for its price, however, is the inclusion of Griffin's PowerBlock, their compact $30 AC-to-USB charger that should be able to sync nearly any iPod with a Dock connector, as well as the 1G iPod shuffle due to its USB interface.
The AirDock is shipping now, and more details are available at Griffin's site.
The Griffin Elevator, which replaces and updates Griffin's iCurve, is now shipping. It's a desktop stand for laptop computers. Retailing at $40, it's just now hitting the shelves. TUAW reader Ray sends along this link to his Flickr collection of unpacking pictures.
I'm surprised by how well the final product ended up looking. I thought it would be a lot less elegant given how the redesign got rid of the originals' curves, but it's really quite attractive.
The iTalk Pro, the latest iPod accessory from Griffin Technology, is now shipping. $49.99 gets you this Dock connector device that captures 16-bit stereo at 44.1 kH or 8-bit mono at 22kHz audio using two built in mics. You can also connect your own external mic using the 3.5mm jack on the bottom of the unit.
The iTalk Pro is shipping now, and works with 5g video iPods and 2g Nanos.
We blogged about a possible update to Griffin's iCurve in October, but now it looks official. The Elevator seems to be the iCurve's less curvy replacement. It does the same thing, that is lift up your laptop and make it even with an external display, but it does it with a new style.
The Elevator costs $39.99 and it appears to be available now.
iLounge has gotten their hands on one of the more interesting forthcoming products from our friends at Griffin, the iKaraoke. Check out the iLounge article for a look at the UI on the iPod, and pictures of the product itself which looks very much like the rendered graphics accompanying this post.
The only problem I see with the iKaraoke is that I can never remember the lyrics to songs, and my music's metadata doesn't include lyrics. What's a singin' fool like me to do?
I know the iCurve isn't exactly at the top of the rumor mongering lists, but reader GillyGill noticed that Amazon has - again - leaked details on yet another unreleased product: Griffin Technology's iCurve 2 (either someone is really screwing up over there, or Amazon has launched a new We Leak™ marketing service). Since customer affinity for these stands can sometimes match (at least by ratio) Mac users' love for their machines, I figured this slip was worth a post, especially since Griffin's site mentions nothing other than the original version is out of stock.
Amazon says the iCurve 2 should be available October 1st, but *something* is telling me that didn't quite happen; maybe it's just the lack of any kind of 'buy now' button and that it's already the 6th. I guess iCurve lovers will have to wait for everyone to get on the same page.
Those folks at Griffin Technology never sleep. This week, they announced the pending availability of the iTrip Auto Universal. Why "universal?" Because it will work with any portable music player that has a 3.5mm audio out port, and doesn't require a dock connector. Once you've connected the device to your vehicle's 12 volt accessory outlet (remember when we could just say "cigarette lighter?") on one end and your iPod's 3.5mm headphone port on the the other, you're set to select a free FM frequency and enjoy your own music. Sounds good to me.
No pricing or pending shipping date information was available as of this post.
Way back during Macworld SF Griffin announced the FireWave, a $99 Firewire device that brings 5.1 surround sound (with the magic of Dolby Digital™ to your Mac. It looks like, several months later, the FireWave is shipping (and it is still only $99). Your Mac will need to be running OS X 10.3 or 10.4 to take advantage of this, but that is not too much of an imposition for sweet, sweet surround sound.
Griffin has beefed up their PowerBlock USB charging accessory with international adapters, allowing your iPod and any other device that juices up through USB to roam the world and keep on kickin'. The three included adapters cover Continental Europe, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Japan. I think this pictured travel bag is also new; at least, I don't remember it from their previous press release. Either way, the PowerBlock Travel is priced at $34.99 and is available now from Griffin's site.
I use a Griffin RoadTrip as an iPod charger/FM transmitter in my car. It works wonderfully, but there is one thing I don't like about it. While it allows me to swivel the iPod up and down, I can't move it left to right. The power outlet in my car is situated so that the iPod is essentially facing the passenger's seat, making it very difficult for me to read its screen. This is aggravating and dangerous at 65 m.p.h. The TuneFlex looks like it addresses this issue.
It's a charger that mounts your iPod on a fully flexible arm that includes a line out port (if you have one of those cassette adapters) as well as room enough to attach an iTrip. Sure, you've got to buy two products to get auto charging and FM transmission, but that's much more desirable that hitting a telephone pole.
The TuneFlex ships with a wired cassette adapter and a trial version of iFill. Check it out for $49.99US.
CenterStage and BackStage make up a dynamic duo which gives FrontRow a run for its money. The free software suite reached version 0.6 today, bringing with it some exciting new features and Intel support. Media management app BackStage got madeover with a new unified UI, while FrontRow-esque component CenterStage now features support for the Apple remote, Elgato eyeTV, and Griffin RadioShark, as well as a new UI for photo browsing. While the programs might not be as polished and feature rich as MediaCentral, the price can't be beat, and new features are being added rapidly.
Griffin Technology, the company that just can't stop making iPod products, announced 3 new iPod case lines (and 1 that's been around for a bit). Pictured above is the Trio for the iPod nano. $24.99 gets you a nano case with two interchangeable covers (hence the name).
Griffin is also offering the Tempo which is an armband that can hold either a full sized iPod or a nano for $24.99. The Vizor is a leather case designed for a full sized iPod that has a flip cover and a clip for $24.99 (I'm noticing a trend). Finally, the iClear, which Griffin has been offering for awhile, is a transparent polycarbonate case for the shuffle, nano, or full sized iPod that protects the iPod but still allows you to see it and access all of its controls for $19.99.
Griffin Technology today announced the newest member
of the iClear case family, the iClear for the 5th
generation iPod (with video). The nice thing about this polycabonate case, as you can see, is that it is
transparent allowing you to watch videos on your iPod whilst still saving it from scratches.
The case will
set you back $20, but it will accommodate both 30 and 60 gig iPod models.
If
you ever wonder why TUAW seems to be an iPod accessories blog some
days, you may stop to reflect on this fact: the iPod accessories market accounted for 1 billion dollars last year and
is still in an upswing.
A New York Times
article released today [warning registration required] enumerates the growing market of iPod add-ons. As I
personally had the chance to talk one-on-one with Griffin
representatives at the last Paris Apple Expo, I can confirm that manufacturers of add-ons do take the iPod market
seriously, and for good reason. Even if manufacturers find themselves scrambling when a new revision of iPod is
released, the competition is steep and well worth the effort.
Another interesting note from the NYTimes
article is that iPod cases have 50 percent profit margins for
vendors while circuit-based accessories only 25 percent.
While Griffin's new $70 
The Griffin Elevator, which 
We blogged about a possible 
iLounge has 
Those folks at Griffin Technology never sleep. This week, they announced the pending availability of the 
Griffin has beefed up their 
I use a 
CenterStage and BackStage make up a dynamic duo which gives FrontRow a run for its money. The free software suite 
Griffin Technology today announced the newest member
of the iClear case family, the 
If
you ever wonder why TUAW seems to be an 
