Music

Laugh as you might at this item, but it represents a perfect storm where three hot gadget trends intersect: The iPod, retro chic and alarm clocks.

This dock clock from RadioShack works with the iPod's alarm function and has a 9-minute snooze button (why 9 minutes, we have no idea). No matter what you think of it, at least it doesn't fly.

With plasma screens getting bigger all the time, it might be time to start a new trend and go in the opposite direction (and save a few thousand bucks at the same time). Try the "Pocket Plasma" on for size. At 3 inches in diameter, it may not be as small as phone, camera or media player LCDs, but this mini-screen can do something that the others definitely can't: You can wear it on your clothes. As Red Ferret notes, the $45 "sound-sensitive" Pocket Plasma will light up io voices and music. For more discreet … Read more

There's a dirty little secret among MP3 owners: Even some of the most ardent iPod loyalists still have CDs. The horror.

But rather than hide them in the closet, we say this: If you've got it, flaunt it. And we can think of no better way to do that than with these "MixIt CD Stickers" from the Container Store. Popgadget notes that you can personalize your otherwise boring media storage with "colorful dots, happy stripes or cheerful florals." And if you change your mind, they can always blend in with the wallpaper.

The world has been waiting for the ultimate all-in-one uber-device for years, only to be disappointed time and again. So many of us are destined, at least for now, to carry a few gadgets at a time. But where do you keep your cell phone, camera, MP3 player, PDA and anything else you can't do without?

Brookstone has one alternative with its "Technology-Ready Fleece Jacket," which goes where iPod apparel leaves off. The jacket has 12 hidden pockets designed to carry all your precious possessions, as well as a "patented routing system" for earbuds and … Read more

Every blog and major media outlet has reported in recent days about the imminent arrival of a cell phone made by Apple Computer.

Most of the reports have scant evidence and are being written by outlets with dubious track records when it comes to predicting what Steve Jobs & Company are up to. (For the record, CNET News.com quoted a source in September of '05 as saying "we know that they are going to build a smart phone--it's only a matter of time." And who was the source? Ed Zander, CEO of cell phone kingpin Motorola.) … Read more

We're convinced that some people deliberately buy certain home entertainment equipment simply because it looks impossibly complicated. That way, they can pretend to be experts even if they have no idea how it works.

This Shanling CD player falls squarely under that category. Even though it uses the latest drive and decoding chip from Sony, as described by Chip Chick, it doesn't need to look as if only an engineer could work it.

Then again, if you're spending $3,000 for a CD player, it should probably look like something only a studio professional would use. But … Read more

This little guy is worth keeping around the house as a conversation piece if nothing else: You can keep your friends guessing its use for hours until you turn it on.

It may look like a toy, but this "Nano Head" is actually a powerful amp, according to distributor Zachary Vex. And not just any amp, he says, but the "world's smallest production tube amp."

This could come in particularly handy if you're trying to get just the right tone for your riffs. Because, let's face it, you'll need all the help … Read more

Given our slothful nature, we miss those individual jukebox controls that used to adorn booths at diners and other fine restaurants we frequent. At most places now, you have to get up and walk at least 10 feet to drop a couple of quarters in the slot. Irritating.

The French understand this, and they've responded with an innovative solution in the form of an SMS Jukebox. Orange France is testing a service that lets patrons send a text message to the jukebox without leaving their seats. Red Ferret says the designated song would then be played in seconds, but … Read more

As any regular partygoer can tell you, mobile phones are an essential part of the nightlife experience. You can use them to text-message from noisy dance floors, quickly grab the digits of cool new people you meet, and even find out where all your friends are thanks to social networking services like Dodgeball. But with a new service called PartyStrands, you can use your cell phone to actually shape the party.

Last Thursday night, I had the opportunity to hang out at the TechCrunch 8 Meetup party at BED (see photo), a pretty cool nightclub in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood. … Read more