Macworld at CES: Even more cool products

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by Jonathan Seff,
Macworld.com

After my colleague Dan Frakes and I shared the interesting products we saw at the Digital Experience press event at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Dan followed up with some of the other standout gear he say on the show floor. Now it’s my turn to sound off.

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DreamGear charger and cases

DreamGear showed off the i.Sound Portable Power Max, an external backup power supply with a whopping 16,000 mAh battery. Besides the huge capacity, the $140 charger has five USB ports to let you charge multiple iPods, iPhones, iPads, digital cameras, and other USB-powered devices at the same time. The built-in flashlight may be a bit of a gimmick, but I was pleasantly surprised by its light weight and attractive design. (There’s also an 8000 mAh version for $90.)

But the products from DreamGear that will be the biggest hit in my house are the officially licensed Sesame Street cases for iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches. The company offers cases for the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4, as well as the second- and third-generation iPod touch, for $15 a piece with either Elmo or Cookie Monster designs (or, for $25, you can grab a twin pack with one of each), and the iPad cases go for $25. Best of all, the cases are made of food-grade, dishwasher-safe silicone, which means you don’t have to worry when your kids (like my 19-month-old twins) decide that iOS devices make great teething toys.

Positive vibrations from the Marley family

Freedom Speaker Dock (

The House of Marley, a joint venture between the family of Bob Marley and HoMedics, teamed up to launch a series of earbuds, headphones, and iPod/iPhone docking speakers and boomboxes ranging from $30 to $500. Products are arranged in three price/quality tiers: Jammin’ (good), Freedom (better), and Destiny (best).

Jammin Earbud (The company says it focused on sound quality (with bass being “the driving force in every product”); sustainability (built with FSC-certified wood and recycled or recyclable aluminum and plastic, and with environmentally friendly packaging and storage bags, some made from—insert your joke here—hemp); and charity (a portion of proceeds go to the 1Love non-profit movement.

All the products I saw were beautifully designed, such as the $249 Roots Rock speaker bag boombox and the $149 Stir It Up over-the-ear headphones with mic and three-button controller. As the person who showed me around the booth said, the higher-end products lines are “less rasta,” but even those were nice to look at. Products should be available starting in the second quarter of 2011.

iPad holder

Another neat product I saw was the iProp from Aspire Innovation, a hands-free iPad stand for use around the house, studio, or office. The V-shaped base can slide under a couch, desk, or bed, and the three-foot arm (the top 24 inches of which are flexible) makes it easy to position the iPad wherever you want it. The holder attaches to the arm using a ball-and-socket connector, which means you have full rotation and tilt to get the angle just right. After playing with one for a few minutes sitting in an armchair in the company’s booth, I could see how the iProp could be a cool add-on for musicians or just those who like to read their iPads in bed. The $80 iProp should be shipping in February.