Alarm clocks and speakers

In the ever-converging worlds of geekdom and DYI religion, patron saint MacGyver is cited so frequently that he's become a verb. And 23 years since the ultimate DIYer's show first aired, he's still going strong as a brand name.

The latest example is Skullcandy's MacGyver MP3 watch, which includes 1GB of storage to handle a fair amount of your Tears for Fears anthology and other favs. As CrunchGear notes, it comes with a handy USB plug that's already built in, so there's one less cable to carry around for syncing purposes. Then again, that … Read more

The good news is that Sony seems to be coming out with some interesting new offerings on the home-media front. The bad news, at least for those of us who reside in the States, is that many of them are being released in Europe.

Just like the shiny aluminum high-end PC speaker we saw yesterday, Sony's Bravia DAV-F200 home theater system is designed to pack more power into a smaller form. In this case, according to Newlaunches, that means virtual surround sound without "the unnecessary clutter of six speakers." Instead, it uses its "S-Force Front Surround&… Read more

Everyone knows that there are virtually no products designed to work with the iPod, so iLuv has bravely decide to step in and fill the gaping void with an HD radio that includes a built-in dock for the media player. The i169 stereo can function as an alarm clock as well as receive HD transmissions, displaying song information and other data, though it looks fairly uninspired considering all the competition out there.

iLuv has made yet another bold move and produced a version that has no iPod dock whatsoever, providing the same functions as its sibling without the media player. … Read more

If you're an iPod owner searching for a way to share tunes, there's no shortage of iPod speakers from which to choose. The problem is distinguishing them from one another, and one of the easiest ways is to look for something with a unique or innovative design. Creative Labs manages to do both with the TravelSound i80 for iPod Nano, an ultracompact speaker that sells for $80 and gets surprisingly loud. It's only compatible with the third-generation iPod Nanos and it doesn't sound great, but it's cute and travel-friendly, so it's still a solid … Read more

If this is an indication that the latest incarnation of the boombox is dying, we're all for it. For some unfortunate reason the iPod has inspired a rebirth of the '70s staple in video form, which has resulted in some awkward designs. Even recent makeovers can't adequately disguise that polyester leisure suit we know is lurkig underneath.

Goodmans has released its own version of an iPod dock with an LCD, which is a welcome antidote to the retro ugliness that has stricken so many other models on the market. This multimedia station with a 7-inch display has a … Read more

Targus isn't a name that immediately comes to mind in any discussion of portable speakers, but it's certainly a brand associated with all forms of portable computing. That's why its new "Speaker Book" makes sense--and it even resembles a tiny laptop, if you have a good imagination.

Searching for well designed portable speakers has become something of an obsession for us, for unknown reasons we're afraid to explore. It was particularly disappointing, therefore, to find out from I4U News that this sleek folding mini-system is available only in the U.K., especially because it … Read more

Sometimes the most popular gadgets on Crave are the simplest of all. (Who could forget those drive-in speakers or the singing theremin doll?)

Perhaps the best example we've seen lately is the "Phonofone II," a ceramic device that requires no external power source and relies on "passive amplification" instead of any digital wizardry to work with the earphones of an iPod or other MP3 player. And now it's being offered in black, a special edition of 200 available for a limited time.

Simple doesn't necessarily mean cheap, however, and this version of the … Read more

When you hear the word "iTube," you're probably more likely to assume it's the name of a grossly self-obsessed version of YouTube. But you'd be wrong, as fans of Fatman--the company, not the game--would tell you. The iTube 452 is in fact Fatman's uber-stylish new valve amplifier and it comes with the ValveDock for seamless integration with iPods.

Valve amps claim to offer a warmer, more natural musical sound than that from today's common transistor-based amplifiers, and they're often favored by audiophiles. With the iPod's arguably good sound quality and … Read more

With festival season just around the corner here in the U.K.--don't forget your wellies, kids--it's time to look at battery-operated speakers. One of our favorites for times when size is of critical importance is Gear4's StreetParty Size 0--its thin form factor and easy battery operation makes it ideal for campers and festival goers.

But Altec Lansing--a company that once made speakers for Woodstock--has an attractive Bluetooth alternative to a typical iPod dock. At about 90 pounds (about $178) the inMotion SoundBlade is a more costly option, but it'll work with Bluetooth-enabled music phones … Read more