iLounge

First Looks

Welcome to our new, continuously-updated First Looks - a collection of previews showing brand new iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories that we’re currently in the process of testing. Here’s what’s hot right now:

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Company: Nuu

Website: www.gonuu.com

Model: Splash

Price: $99

Compatible: All Bluetooth-Capable iPods, All iPhones, iPads

Nuu Splash Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Best known for its iPhone keyboard cases, Nuu has expanded its product lineup to include Splash ($99), a waterproof Bluetooth wireless speaker. Having earned an IP55 rating, it's capable of withstanding splashes, dust, and more. It looks essentially the same as many of the Jambox-like portable wireless speakers on the market right now, offering users the choice of a silver, red, or black aluminum casing. The internal battery is rated to last for seven or ten hours on a single charge, depending on which number you read on the company's site, and speakerphone capability is built in as well. A wall charger with a Micro-USB plug is included, as are an aux cable and neoprene travel bag.

Company: Boombotix

Website: www.Boombotix.com

Model: Boombot Rex

Price: $130

Compatible: All Bluetooth-Capable iPods, All iPhones, iPads

Boombotix Boombot Rex Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Shipping at the end of this month, Boombot Rex ($130) is the latest Bluetooth speaker from Boombotix. Packed inside the hexagonal speaker are a pair of 36mm drivers, as well as a woofer and noise-cancelling microphone. A built-in clip lets you attach it to your backpack, clothes, or elsewhere. The speaker is also water-resistant and ruggedized, able to take some abuse without falling apart, as well as offering a replaceable front grille. Physical buttons let you control volume, playback, and phone features, with ports for line-in audio, line-out audio, and Micro-USB for charging. Included with Boombot Rex are a Micro-USB cable and two sets of audio cables, one of which is retractable. It'll come in blue, green, black, or white versions.

Company: Belkin

Website: www.belkin.com

Models: Dyle Mobile TV

Price: $130

Compatible: iPad, iPad 2, iPad (3rd-Gen), iPhone 4/4S

Belkin Dyle Mobile TV for iPad + iPhone (Dock Connector)

Announced in January 2012, Belkin's Dyle Mobile TV ($130) is a TV tuner for the iPhone and iPad, arriving a year and a half later with some pretty serious caveats. Reliant on the all-but-discontinued 30-Pin Dock Connector to connect to Apple's devices -- but compatible with Apple's Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter -- the black plastic Dyle Mobile TV sports a telescoping silver metal antenna to pick up local over-the-air TV broadcasts, as well as a watch battery compartment for power. A carrying case is included to make it easier to tote around when it's not in use. Once you load the Dyle app, you're prompted for a bit of demographic information to help the software figure out the local stations you can tune, providing a clean-looking list of options on the screen. Unfortunately, Dyle's service for whatever reason is location-restricted -- a coverage map showed no service at all in our area -- so the app can't actually display anything here for the time being. We'll revisit the accessory in the event that local support is added, but we were surprised to find it useless here given the lengthy development time.

Company: Cambridge Audio

Website: www.truprotection.com

Model: Minx Air 100 + 200

Price: $449-$599

Compatible: All Bluetooth-Capable iPads, iPhones + iPods

Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 + 200 Bluetooth + AirPlay Wireless Speakers

Although we've covered hundreds of Bluetooth accessories and dozens of AirPlay alternatives, it's rare to see both wireless streaming technologies together in an all-in-one speaker. Cambridge Audio now has two of them: Minx Air 100 ($449) and Minx Air 200 ($599) look almost identical save for their size. They're both made of surprisingly substantial-feeling plastic and metal, with significant heft, though their speakers are somewhat surprising: 100 has twin 4" drivers, and 200 has twin 2.25" drivers with a 6" subwoofer. The numbers in their names represent their differing wattages. Each also has Internet Radio as an included feature. On the back, they both have a power input, bass control dial, AirPlay button, Ethernet port, Micro-USB port for service, aux in, and analog audio output. Minx Air 100 and 200 come with three international power adapters, plus an Ethernet cable, and a remote with battery.