iLuv Adds Tablet-Docking Speakers

By Joseph Palenchar On Jul 5 2011 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — iLuv is gearing up to ship an expanded selection of iPad-docking speaker systems and the industry’s first docking speaker system designed specifically for Samsung’s Galaxy Tab tablets.

iLuv plans late-July shipment of two new iPad-docking systems, shown in mockup form at International CES. They’ll join the iPad-docking iMM747, shipping since November in black, recently available in white, and re-priced to a suggested $99 from $149.

At the end of July, iLuv plans to ship the $169-suggested iMM514 ArtStation Pro and $99.99 iMM727. Both iPad-docking speakers double as tablet workstations because of their design.

The iMM514 for example, holds an iPad on a fixed-mount pillar at a backwardsloping angle above a rectangular speaker- equipped tabletop base. The iPad can be manually rotated for display in portrait or landscape mode, and it can be used with an optional $69-suggested Bluetooth keyboard with iPad hot keys. The iMM514 will also be bundled with the Bluetooth keyboard at a suggested $199 and called the iMM517.

The second new iPad speaker, the iMM727 Art- Station, also uses a pillar to hold an iPod above a backward-sloping speaker-equipped base, but the pillar slides forward and backward while the iPad tilts back at an angle so users can type comfortably on its virtual QWERTY keyboard. The iPad display can also be rotated manually to portrait and landscape mode.

Both iPad speakers also hold an iPod or iPhone and will be available in black and white. Both can be used with a free iLuv app that accesses thousands of Internet radio stations, provides alarm clock functions and accesses international weather reports.

For August shipment, iLuv plans the iSM524 Art Station Pro for Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series of tablets. It’s designed like the iPad-docking iMM514 but uses the Galaxy Tabs’ proprietary 30-pin connector. It holds the 7-, 8.9- and 10.1-inch versions of the Tab.

The iSM524 can be used with an optional Bluetooth keyboard equipped with Tab hot keys. A speaker/workstation bundle will also be offered. Pricing wasn’t available.

In other audio products, iLuv has launched the $59-suggested MusicPac tablet case, which incorporates exterior stereo speakers and volume control. It’s sized for any 10-inch tablet and connects the embedded speakers to the tablet’s headphone output.