iLuv Readies More iPad, iPod Speakers

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 24 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS – iLuv is planning two new iPad-docking speaker systems and two new iPod/iPhone speaker systems, all featuring a more angular design recently adopted by the company to meet consumer demand, said marketing director Pia Chon at International CES.

The two iPad docks are the iMM514 and iMM727, both of which can be used as portable work stations. The iMM514, for example, holds an iPad on a fixed-mount pillar at a backwardsloping angle above a backward-sloping speaker-equipped tabletop base. The iPad can be manually rotated for display in portrait or landscape mode, and it can be used with a Bluetooth keyboard to enter text and control functions. The keyboard will be offered both as an option and bundled with the iMM514, which is due in the second quarter at a price to be determined.

The second new iPad speaker, the iMM727, also uses a pillar to hold an iPod above a backward-sloping speaker-equipped base, but this pillar slides forward and backward while the iPad folds back at an angle so users can type comfortably on its virtual QWERTY keyboard, Chon explained. The iPad display can also be rotated manually to portrait and landscape mode. The iMM727 is due in the second quarter at a price to be determined.

A related product is the iCC888 iPad/tablet stand, which takes the shape of a horizontal tube that holds iPads and other tablets upright in horizontal or vertical mode. It lacks speaker or charger, but the tablet’s own charger can be snaked up through the bottom of the tube to connect to the tablet’s charging inputs. Pricing and ship date were unavailable.

In iPod/iPhone speaker systems, the iMM276 and iMM386 feature angled-back front face, with the iPod standing upright in the iMM276 and mounting flush to the iMM386’s angled face, Price and availability were unavailable.

All four docking speakers feature aux input and ability to sync with a PC’s iTunes application, as well as a free downloadable iLuv 3.0 integrated app that adds ability to stream thousands of Internet radio stations, choose four alarm clock displays, display local and national weather information, and search iLuv’s website for other iLuv products.