Featured Portables Reviews

Alpine was alive and well in the North Hall and the new INE-Z928HD AVN (Audio/Video/Navigation) DVD receiver is a big deal for the company. It's squarely taking aim at the 12-volt aftermarket and competing with some of the big names that have dominated that segment for some time. Alpine claims it as the first AVN system with a full 8-inch WVGA screen, but whose chassis fits into a standard 2-DIN opening. We weren't the only ones who were impressed, the INE-Z928HD won a 2012 CES Innovations Award in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category. The INE-Z928HD include Pandora Internet Radio control and station creation from iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry smartphones. It has a built-in HD Radio receiver and is compatible with SiriusXM.

Zagg has done it again. Not content to sit around waiting for the next SHIELD device, they went to work protecting your electronics products from the inside. Yes, we said FROM THE INSIDE. How? We have no freaking idea, but the demo is amazing. Zagg has figured out how to use a chemical to bond to electronics in order to prevent water from doing what water does - namely short out any electronics it comes into contact with it. How do we know it's real? Because Zagg demonstrated it in a fishbowl with an iPod that kept playing - along with a speaker connected to its headphone jack - for over 15 minutes. If this isn't hype and the process is able to be made to work for consumers, then this could be the the next evolution in manufacturing for electronics products. I just hope manufactures are willing to license it, because this is something that should come from the factory.

Altec Lansing just introduced its new inMotion iMT630 Classic and Sport speaker systems for iPhone and iPod. The inMotion iMT630 Classic and Sport speakers are designed to be ultra-portable audio solutions. With a rechargeable battery, the iMT630is quite portable, putting out sound through a pair of 2-inch stereo drivers. The iMT630 has a pretty unique style, and features fluid aesthetics with rounded corners. The Classic is available in Black, while the Sport model can be purchased in Teal and Red and closely resembles a clutch purse when carried in the hand (good for girls... not so hot for guys).

Every now and again we'll cross over into another area that fascinates us as audioholics - this time it's production audio. Of course, even this video requires that we capture audio in a way that delivers good quality sound so we can edit without worrying whether everything is audible. On top of that, we need a solution that's better than the microphone found on most cameras. In short, we need a tool like the Zoom H4n Handy Recorder. This is a really amazing little box that has so many features we can't even get into all of them now. I mean it's a guitar and bass tuner, a metronome. It's a universal remote control... not really, but that would be so COOL. Anyway, the H4n is a true workhorse and a dream machine for anyone who needs to capture good quality audio.

Can Sony take on Apple's iPad? The company today announced pre-sale of two new Sony Tablet devices (incidentally, Sony trademarked the "Tablet" name, which just goes to show how much the patent and trademark offices need to be utterly reformed). The new tablets will ship with the Android 3.2 "Honeycomb" OS and have some very unique styling that aims to improve on ergonomics and the way people utilize touchscreen devices. The Sony Tablet S looks like a notebook with its cover folded back on itself, and its 9.4" multi-touch display seems to directly take on the iPad. The Tablet S uses the brand new NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, which is designed specifically for mobile applications. Weighing around 1.3 lbs., the Tablet S should be very portable and we really like the styling to be honest. Sony is hoping that its new Tablet tablets (they deserve that, after all they named it!) will be recognized for having optimally designed hardware and software, excellent touchscreen response, solid network entertainment features and the ability to work well with other devices like PCs, smart phones and even Sony televisions.

When we got wind that a new iPhone 4 case was coming to market we said we'd give it a try. Trouble is, the company that brought it to bear, Concord Keystone, must have missed a few memos regarding how to make a successful iPhone 4 case and, as a result, they made some mistakes that render us unable to recommend the product as it currently stands. Starting with the good, the NautiCase is IP54-rated which is to say it's well-shielded (and certified) against dust and water spray - that's more than we can say for a majority of cases on the market today. While they may keep your iPhone 4 from cracking when dropped, get caught in the rain and you may find your device totaled in a short amount of time.

Portable music is really driven by the players these days, so it's difficult to find a system with good quality speakers that can be literally picked up and taken with you to a... party at the beach, for example. When we took at look at the Harman Kardon Go + Play II it was clear this product screams one thing: "take me out and play me loud". So we did. We took it outside and cranked it up. It plays really loud. We measured around 95dB SPL from 3 feet away. If you're using it inside, we'll bet you don't make it past half-volume.

Changing movies directly into unforgettable videos might often be a difficult task, however the Olympus LS-20M Linear PCM recorder helps to make it uncomplicated imaginative pizazz to virtually any production with the benefits of high-definition video. This is especailly good news for people looking to take up a new consumer-level video capture product now that the popular Flip Video has been kicked to the curb by parent company Cisco. The new LS-20M lets you capture a live recital, make home videos and publish incredible linear PCM audio tracks as well as high-definition video using the brand new Olympus LS-20M. Making use of technological innovation just like those which came out in the latest Olympus electronic digital imaging solutions, the innovative LS-20M is the 1st Olympus recorder which records as well as edits 1080p High-definition video while recording 24 bit/96 Hz Linear PCM stereo audio. Along with 4 unique Magic Movie special effects functions, the LS-20M lets consumers create home videos which appear and also sound just like professional shows from a product that’s so very small that it fits in your pants pocket.

The Harman Kardon MAS 102 Compact Stereo System has a sleek design and a price tag to match. At a buck under $1k you get stereo speakers with the signature HK sound, an integrated CD player, FM receiver, dual alarms and a sleep timer. Add eight inputs including coaxial, optical, phono, 3.5mm, and USB and you're looking at a system that can do most anything. Except native iPod support. With 65 watts per channel, maybe you don't care?