New iOS accessories could be music to your ears

In this week’s roundup of new-or newly announced-iOS accessories, we’ve got a heavy emphasis on music making.

Akai Pro: DJs have always been big fans of Appleproducts, including the iPad. Akai Pro’s new MPC Flyis a double-hinged case that opens up to reveal a full suite of musicproduction hardware. Used in conjunction with the MPC Fly iPad app, thesystem lets users record and overdub music sequences along four trackssimultaneously. A variety of effects are available, and recorded trackscan be saved to Soundcloud, Facebook, or Twitter. The device wasintroduced at the NationalAssociation of Music Merchants show last weekend. Akai hasn’tyet said when the MPC Fly will ship.

Behringer: Also at the NAMM show, Behringerintroduced its line of Xenyx iX mixers, all of which feature a built-iniPad docking station. The deviceslet iPad users record and craft musicusing 32 editable presets such as reverb, chorus, flange, delay, andother effects. Behringer did not offer price or shipping informationfor these Xenyx iX mixers.

Energy Sistem: The $142 EnergyDocking 300 is a wood-bodied docking speaker system that canbe paired with your iPhone or iPod touch to project three-way sound.This tower-of-power can also be used in conjunction with yourentertainment system, and includes its own FM radio and digital clock.

Waterproof speaker system
Grace Digital Audio: Afraid to use your iPhone andspeakers at the beach? No worries with the EcoTerra boombox, a waterproof speaker system that can bothfloat and be completely submerged while still protecting your iOSdevice. Above the surface, Eco Terra’s boombox can run 25 hours on fourC-cell batteries, pumping out music from a pair of three-inch speakers.The boombox isn’t yet available for purchase.

iConnectivity: Musicians looking for a “palm-sizedpersonal mini-mixer” that works with their iOS device may look to thenew $230 iConnectMuse.This gadget includes two USB device ports, a hub-able USB host port,two input and two output audio jacks, a headphone-monitor jack, anethernet connection for network sharing, and a MIDI pass-throughinterface. The iConnectMuse will be available this spring.

IK Multimedia: IK Multimedia is known for productsthat help musicians get the most out of their iOS devices, and thecompany just introduced two more products to assist in that mission.The $40 iRigPre is a “microphone interface” that lets users connect anytype of microphone to their iOS device-not just those builtfor usewith iPhones and iPads. The $30 iKlipStudio is an iPad stand designed to give musicians easyaccess to the tablet’s apps while keeping cables organized and out ofthe way.

Numark: The iDJPro Premium DJ Controller docks your iPad between twoturntables and works in conjunction with Algoriddim’s Djay app, whichlets users move seamlessly between the music in their iTunes libraryand vinyl records spinning on the attached turntables. The device isalso AirPlay compatible. Numark has not yet announced price or shippinginformation.

Safe in-car iPad use
Tallon: Want to safely access your iPad whiledriving? Tallon’s new $70 EliteSocket mounts your tablet to the dash of your car and leavesboth USB and 12-volt power connections accessible along the way.Alternatively, the Elite Socket can support an iPhone or MacBook inlieu of an iPad. The mount lets drivers safely listen to music, usetheir iOS device as a GPS guidance system, and power their device whilein transit, according to Tallon.

Ten One Design: Ten One has a pair of new,interesting products-an iPad stand and a stylus line. The $50 Magnusstand uses magnets to hold your iPad in place, with options forportrait or landscape orientation. The $15 PogoSketch Plus line of styluses provides a new-and-improvedcapacitative tip to the company’s venerable line of Pogo Sketchtouchscreen writing tools. Each stylus includes a clip to attachdirectly to your iPhone or iPod touch, but does not-unlike some of thecompany’s other stylus lines-come with extra replacement tips.

USBFever: Like Ten One Design, USBFever also has twoproducts out this week that caught our eye. The $63 Tunemax Energy Jacket is a casefor the iPhone 4 and 4S that also provides battery-backup power to thephone. Second up is the $9 USBOTG cable, which lets you transfer data files from deviceswith USB interfaces-such as digital cameras, USB keyboards, and memorycard readers-to your iPad.

Zagg: The $80 ZaggKeysFlex Tablet Keyboard & Stand is a portable, two-piecesystem that includes a Bluetooth keyboard-it’s clearly designed foryour iPad, but it can also be used with your iPhone. The keyboard has alithium battery that ZAGGKeys claims can be used for several monthsbefore recharging is necessary. The kit includes a Micro-USB chargingcable.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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