Apple Expo is underway in Paris, France, and iLounge Editors Jeremy Horwitz and Dennis Lloyd are on the scene with cameras and notepads in hand. Here are the first updates from the show floor. A huge photo gallery is also available from this link. We have created a second story and second photo gallery for additional updates.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition
Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

General Buzz

Without a significant Apple hardware announcement at the show, all of the buzz remains focused on the earlier release of iPod nano – and the disruptive effect it’s had on both iPod competitors and the iPod economy. While all of the vendors we’ve spoken with are thrilled by the slim new iPod, we’ve heard that many iPod mini projects planned for holiday release have been delayed, scrapped, or retooled, and little is on the show floor for public viewing. However, there are some exceptions – including some good ones.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Booth Highlights So Far

Altec Lansing

Altec has introduced inMotion iM5, the $150 price point replacement for the original inMotion and its follow-up bundle inMotion Plus. The docking iM5 system has a new compact design, four drivers, a light-up power button on its top, and rubber-covered volume buttons on its top right side.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

In partnership with Etymotic Research, Altec has also unveiled iM616 ($149) and iM716 ($199) headphones, with plans to debut a sub-$100 version in the near future. Both come with carrying cases; the more deluxe version features an in-line volume control.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

iM616 is based on Etymotic’s ER-6i Isolators, but with a different physical design, while iM716 is a tweaked version of the ER-4S series with around 90% of the original’s clarity, and a revised sound balance that defaults at enhanced bass levels – then offers a second bass boost via a switch on the in-line control box. They sound good, and especially for the price are going to be very popular. Both come with ear foams and triple flanges.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

The company has also shown two carrying cases for the inMotion iM7 speakers, one of which is open for carrying while listening, and the other of which is entirely sealed for protection.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Belkin

Belkin has shown its long-awaited revised TuneDok for the iPod, which turns out to be a windshield-mounted iPod holder with a gooseneck.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

The company also has a number of new iPod nano cases on display, and will be making them available to consumers in the next few weeks.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

DLO

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters came prepared with a big surprise, the HomeDock for iPod ($99.99), a complete photo display and music solution with a sophisticated remote control and video output capabilities. A multicolored light on the front indicates the unit’s status. The company says HomeDock will be in stores (notably Best Buy) in October.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

The company also showed its Distressed Leather Cases for iPod, as well as Mini Flings for iPod mini, both of which were announced prior to the show.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Griffin Technology

Griffin’s lineup appeared familiar – the SmartDeck cassette adapter, for instance, made another show appearance, only now in its final design. The big surprise is that a second version of SmartDeck is under production, featuring a Dock Connector rather than a headphone jack connector, and thereby will be compatible with the iPod nano. SmartDeck version 1 is beginning to ship right now.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

We’ve finally had the chance to see Chameleon cases in person, and they’re nice: slick medium-strength rubber with cool patterns and more resilience than we’d expected.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

The company also showed us version 2 of iFM – with a Dock Connector rather than headphone connector – working perfectly with an iPod nano.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Harman Kardon/JBL

While not showing any completely new speaker designs, Harman had an impressive display of its new colors for existing ones. Metallic red and silver aluminum versions of Creature II looked excellent, and a new black and silver version of On Tour was quite good, as well.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

The company also showed off new AKG headphones – models K27i (approx. $80) and K701 (approx. $350), each in iPod-matching white and silver colors. The K27i are smaller, while the K701 are full ear cups. We liked the K701s’ sound.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

 

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Logitech

Logitech brought the previously announced mm28 portable speaker system, which follows in the inexpensive traditions of its mm22 speakers (iLounge rating: B) with a flat panel, NXT-developed speaker design.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Macally

Macally surprised us with a few new designs, especially ones for the iPod shuffle. Most predictably, IceWave Pro (aka PodWave Pro, first shown in an advertisement in The Free iPod Book) was on display, combining a microphone with pocketable stereo speakers.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

But a new IceWave for iPod shuffle was also shown.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

So was a set of IcePro headphones for iPod shuffle – no battery is required, just drop your shuffle into the side of the headphones and go.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Monitor Audio

Monitor Audio had i-Deck (329 Euros) on display – its combination of remote-controlled amplifier, dock, and detachable speaker system. Approximately six feet of distance can be achieved between speaker and central dock, and audio quality is quite good, from what we could hear.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Numark

Numark brought a fully working version of its iDJ mixing console (359 Euros), which lets you (or a pro DJ) combine the music from two iPods into one audio stream. While nichey, the industrial design – particularly the glowing lights – is highly eye-catching.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Oregon Scientific

In addition to the previously announced and previewed iBall (below), Oregon Scientific brought a large collection of non-iPod and -Mac items, such as clocks, weather instruments, and music playback devices of its own.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

PodGear

PodGear unveiled via press release – but not with a usable unit – PocketParty for iPod nano, a speaker system that plugs into the bottom of iPod nano.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

Power Support

Continuing to break new ground in iPod case design, Japan’s Power Support unveiled a huge variety of new fashion iPod cases in various unique shapes, patterns, and sizes. The company has delivered the first front protective film for iPod nano (shown on the nano here), is working on nano cases (not shown), and already has this Mobile Stand ready for nano.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

More interestingly, the company also has these designs ready for the iPod family – fabric pouches, slings, bags and much more, designed by a Japanese fashion designer who has come up with new digital music player-friendly designs.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

 

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

The company has separately shown Tsuzumi, a non-iPod sound table that stands several feet tall, puts on an internal light show with colored LEDs, and makes pleasant, natural sounds.

Tunewear

Japan’s Tunewear has shown a number of new iPod nano cases, previously announced. We’ll have more on all of them tomorrow.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

XtremeMac

XtremeMac has shown FS1 ($149.95), its affordable, collaborative earphone product co-developed with FutureSonics. Besides boasting slicker looks than older Future Sonics, FS1 includes three types of ear pieces – foams, quadruple flanges and rubber caps – and produces very warm, pleasant bass.

Sneak Peeks: Apple Expo Paris edition

In addition to publishing details from the various exhibitors in our News section, we will continue to update this Sneak Peeks article with additional details throughout the course of the show, so please bookmark it and refresh throughout the course of the day for additional updates.

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Jeremy Horwitz

Jeremy Horwitz was the Editor-in-Chief at iLounge. He has written over 5,000 articles and reviews for the website and is one of the most respected members of the Apple media. Horwitz has been following Apple since the release of the original iPod in 2001. He was one of the first reviewers to receive a pre-release unit of the device, and his review helped put iLounge on the map as a go-to source for Apple news.