Apple Expo 2006: iPod's reign continues

Posted on 12 Sep 2006 at 15:50

MacUser's Editor Nik Rawlinson takes a tour of the exhibition floor to check out what's hot this year at Apple Expo 2006 in Paris.

As much as any year, this year's Apple Expo, currently taking place at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, is dominated by the iPod.

Manufacturers of all sizes from across Europe and beyond are using the event to debut both new products, and variations on existing lines.

With Apple set to announce new products or services with a working day of its opening, though, there is much trepidation about what will - or will not - still be relevant by the second morning.

One manufacturer, showing MacUser its latest iPod cases, sounded almost consigned to defeat in admitting, 'this may be irrelevant by tonight, but we are prepared for that.'

In the meantime, Griffin is using the event to introduce iKaraoke, a small, light microphone powered by the iPod battery.

Buttons on the microphone itself let you control the iPod interface, and tailor the reverb and the blend of your vocal accompaniment. Existing vocals on your track are faded into the background, leaving just the instrumental accompaniment for you to sing over. A built-in wireless connection then sends your performance to a suitably-paired hi-fi.

It has also updated its iTalk voice-recorder, which now sports a 'pro' moniker. Now stereo, it boasts improved sound quality and a re-thought design that compliments the fifth-generation iPod. Currently it is available only in black.

Competitor Gear4 was meanwhile showing off the HouseParty 24/7, as previewed in the most recent edition of MacUser. This combined clock radio and iPod dock has the look - if not quite the finish - of a Bose Wave radio, with 2.1 channel output rated at 6W per channel. It's set to retail at £99.99 including VAT.

Its smaller brother, the X-Clip Street Party, reminds us of the Xtrememac Nanoblast, launched at this event last year. Fully enclosing the sides and back of the nano, this battery-powered speaker set drives twin three-watt speakers.
'The concept behind the X-Clip range is unique, innovative and above all functional,' said Tom Dudderidge, managing director of Disruptive Technology Channels. 'It allows you to keep your iPod protected in its hard protective case and simply snap it between interchangeable X-Clip accessories, without ever having to remove the iPod from its case.'

By far our favourite accessories, though, are the felt iPod, MacBook and even chair covers from Laurent et Paulina.

Called Les Bibis, they certainly give Apple's already highly desirable kit a more friendly face. Information is thin on the ground, but they had most visitors cooing over their stand right by the entrance, so remember their name and expect to see them invading the Mac RSS feeds in the very near future. In the meantime, Google their name to find short reviews in the French female lifestyle press.

Author: Nik Rawlinson