Griffin

MacWorld Update: Griffin Technology today announced the unveiling of its new lineup of powered speaker systems.

Spearheading the line-up on the show floor is an iPod-ready wireless speaker system with powerful, crystal clear sound.

Griffin’s Evolve is a speaker system with a flat charging base that holds your iPod in a Universal Dock. On either side are charging stations for two cube-shaped speakers, each housing its own long-lived Lithium-Ion battery pack. To charge these speakers, all you have to do is place them on the charging station — nothing to plug in, nothing to unplug.

The Lithium-Ion batteries will give you up to 10 hours of music, and each speaker cube features its own on/off power switch and automatic sleep mode for power conservation.

Evolve’s speaker enclosures are engineered for stellar sound, ease of use, and bang for the buck. The sound you get from this speaker system will knock your socks off — and so will the sleek industrial design that will look great in any decor.

Evolve features a wireless range of more than 150 feet, allowing users to listen wirelessly, and control the sound wirelessly with the included remote.

Griffin Technology today announced their 2007 lineup to debut at next week’s MacWorld Conference & Expo.

A new line of speakers highlight the many new products being shown on the show floor.

Amplifi is a high-tech contemporary-styled 2.1 sound system, designed for big sound with a compact tabletop footprint.

Amplifi’s all-wood, acoustically tuned enclosure yields warm, rich tones. The bass reflex port and special Resonance Drive construction gives amazing frequency response. Two front-firing 2-3/4″ neodymium drivers and a 5″ downward-firing woofer, boosted by Power Drive Technology, creates a clean powerful sound unheard of at this price point.

• iPod-ready with slot and six iPod adapters
• 3.5mm stereo input jack for audio devices
• Two 2.75″ neodymium high/midrange speakers
• 5″ woofer and bass reflex port
• Acoustically tuned wooden enclosure
• High-tech contemporary styling
• Slim full-function IR remote

Journi, Griffin’s personal mobile speaker system, has great sound wrapped up in an ingeniously designed, go-anywhere package. Journi’s innovative Wrapstand exterior protects your speaker system (and your iPod) when you’re on the go, then flips open to create its own sturdy stand.

Journi’s high-efficiency internal Lithium-Ion batteries recharge with the included AC adapter or through your computer’s powered USB port. Your iPod sits center stage within the adjustable dock bay while you control your music with the included remote. SRS Labs’ SRS WOW® digital signal processing pumps shimmering highs and deep, rich bass response through Journi’s two-way speaker system.

• 8-10 hours of play on a single charge
• Two 50mm high/mid-range drivers and two 64mm passive radiators use SRS WOW® digital technology to expand the audio image, improving digital audio and creating deep, rich bass response
• Sync iPod with your computer’s iTunes library as it charges
• Adjustable Dock Connector welcomes all iPod models with dock connector
• Auxiliary Audio Input for other digital music players

In addition to speakers, Griffin is introducing numerous innovative add-ons for the iPod.

• AirDock lets you play iTunes on your stereo, watch iPod photos and videos on your TV. The included RF remote allows you to control it all from up to 60 feet away.
• Griffin Dock Adapter for iPod Shuffle connects your second generation Shuffle to devices with an Apple Universal Dock. The all-in-one design is compatible with docks such as Griffin’s own AirDock as well as Apple’s HiFi speaker system and other accessories.
• TuneFlex AUX plays iPod’s music through car stereos equipped with a 1/8″ (3.5mm) auxiliary input jack as it charges through the auto’s 12V power outlet. The custom designed cradle holds your iPod secure while the pass-through dock connector leaves your options open.
• TuneJuice 2 is an improved version of Griffin’s popular battery backup for iPod. TuneJuice 2 adds more playing time for music and video making it ideal for air travel and road trips. Powered by 4 AAA batteries, it adds up to 14 additional hours of audio play and 2 additional hours of video play. And the first set of batteries is included.
• Reflect cases for iPod nano and full-size iPod with video are rugged polycarbonate hard shells that present a mirrored-chrome reflective face to the world — until you wake up your iPod, and the bright, clear iPod screen shows up as if by magic. The matte black rubberized case back gives you a sure grip.
• iClear® Custom — Griffin takes its popular see-through iClear iPod shells and goes them one better: a slot in the back accepts your own printed photographs and artwork (some sample templates and reflective inserts are included to get you started). Personalize and customize your iPod nano and full-size iPod with iClear Custom.
• Tempo for iPod shuffle now brings the same hands-free convenience and mobility to iPod shuffle as it delivered for the full-size iPod. Tempo’s adjustable armband fits any arm. Built-in cord wrap eliminates cable tangles. Reflective accents show up at night for safety. Maintain the tempo of your active lifestyle with Tempo for iPod shuffle.

Also making their first US appearances at MacWorld are Griffin’s iKaraoke for iPod and Elevator for portable computers:

• iKaraoke iKaraoke brings the fun and excitement of karaoke into your home — or anywhere you have a stereo receiver. And the best part is it lets you sing along, not from a limited menu, but with your favorite musical selections, straight from your iPod. iKaraoke fades out the lead vocals and brings your vocals up front …and sends your music and vocals to your stereo via wireless FM Transmission or Line-Level audio. Convenient buttons let you enhance your sound with three levels of reverb, or temporarily mute the music for PA announcements.
• Elevator is a sleek desktop stand for portable computers. The brushed aluminum stand positions the laptop screen at an ideal height for viewing thus allowing air to freely circulate around the laptop’s cooling vents.

Griffin Technology today introduced the Elevator desktop stand for portable computers. Elevator raises laptops off the desktop and helps users reclaim valuable desktop real estate.

Griffin has designed Elevator as a substantial realization of a simple design. Elevator uses a 1/2-inch-thick crossbar to hold two 1/4-inch-thick aluminum standards, positioning the laptop’s screen at an ideal height for viewing.

Crystal-clear polycarbonate and aircraft-grade aluminum with a matte silver finish meet in Elevator’s minimalist design to create a desktop accessory that looks as good holding the laptop as it does sitting empty, waiting patiently to be of service.

Elevator raises the laptop 5.5 inches (13.9cm) off the desktop to decrease user neck strain. Elevator’s open-air design allows air to freely circulate around the laptop’s cooling vents.

What to do with that newly created space under your laptop? Most users will find it handy for tucking keyboard and mouse away when not in use. The extra-resourceful among you will discover that the space also makes an ideal hideaway for that oft-stolen stapler, or the bowl of sunflower seeds that the guy from Marketing plunders when you’re not looking.

Compatibility

Griffin’s Elevator desktop stand accommodates all Macintosh laptops and other laptops 10 inches wide and wider.

Pricing and Availability

Griffin’s Elevator Desktop Stand for Portable Computers, $39.99, is now available.

Griffin Technology has announced that its new iTalk Pro, an accessory that turns an iPod into a CD-quality audio recorder, is shipping.

The iTalk Pro plugs directly into the iPod’s dock connector. One-touch operation allows users to concentrate on what they’re hearing, instead of how to operate the equipment.

iTalk Pro can record in stereo or mono. Built-in twin microphones record in stereo at 44.1 kHz to yield professional, CD-quality recordings. But iTalk Pro also features a stereo 1/8″ (3.5 mm) input jack to accommodate external microphones for greater stereo separation.

Versatile adjustable gain settings give the user control over the volume, making iTalk Pro the world’s most faithful, most portable handheld recording studio.

The iTalk pro is priced at $49.99 and is now available.

Compatibility

iPods with video and iPod nano 2G.

Griffin Technology announced today that they have begun shipping FireWave, an affordable 5.1 Surround Sound solution for Macintosh.

FireWave extends to Mac users the ability to affordably and effectively upgrade their sound systems by way of their FireWire ports.

FireWave’s small size makes it easy to incorporate into any computer setup, and makes it portable enough for use with laptops. FireWave gets its power through the FireWire connection, so there are no separate cables, batteries, or power supplies to tote. FireWave’s extra FireWire port lets you daisy-chain other FireWire devices, so it won’t hog your FireWire port.

FireWave lets you enjoy Dolby Digital encoded DVDs in 5.1 surround, or use Dolby Prol Logic II to make any audio source alive, whether from iTunes, QuickTime, or streaming audio. In addition, FireWave’s support of multi-channel playback from cross-platform OpenAL games like World of Warcraft and Unreal Tournament make it a must-have for gamers. Read more…