Apple today announced iPod Hi-Fi, an all-new high-fidelity speaker system that works seamlessly with the iPod to redefine the home stereo system. iPod Hi-Fi delivers breathtaking acoustic performance and room-filling sound unlike any other speaker system designed for the iPod in an innovative, all-in-one design that can be powered from a wall socket or by six D-cell batteries. iPod Hi-Fi is easily controlled by the Apple Remote for an amazing stereo experience in any room in the house.
“Apple is reinventing the home stereo with the new iPod Hi-Fi, the first iPod accessory that adds true high-fidelity sound quality to the iPod,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in the press release. “iPod Hi-Fi’s unrivaled acoustic performance and stunning design is at home in any room in the house.”
iPod Hi-Fi has been designed and engineered by Apple to deliver unrivaled sound quality, realistic sound imaging and optimal audio performance. Its clean, all-in-one design features a unique isolated enclosure system that includes two custom designed wide-range speakers and a tuned, ported bass system, minimizing vibration while maximizing sound quality and allowing users to listen to their favorite music as it was intended with amazing sound clarity and rich, deep bass. iPod Hi-Fi features handles to easily transport your stereo anywhere, a removable front grille with precision-mounting clips, touch-sensitive volume control buttons, the Apple Remote for easy song and volume control from anywhere in the room, a universal power supply incorporated into the all-in-one design so there’s no bulky power brick to weigh it down, and the ability to power iPod Hi-Fi from six D-cell batteries for true portability.
Featuring seamless integration with all iPods with a dock connector, iPod Hi-Fi automatically recharges your iPod while docked and displays features of iPod that maximize the iPod Hi-Fi experience such as Tone Control, Large Album Art mode and volume mirroring (Tone Control and Large Album Art features available with iPod nano and fifth generation iPod). iPod Hi-Fi includes a dual-purpose 3.5-mm auxiliary input that accepts either analog or digital signals for easy connection to a wide range of audio sources. iPod Hi-Fi is compact and can be powered by AC or six D-cell batteries, providing more flexibility than any traditional home stereo and is perfect for use not only at home, but just about anywhere you go without compromising sound quality.
Apple today also announced new luxurious leather cases designed specifically for the fifth generation iPod and iPod nano models. The Leather Case for iPod is made with fine, hand-crafted Italian leather and features a soft and durable interior lining for a secure fit, making it the perfect carrying case for iPod or iPod nano.
iPod Hi-Fi includes the Apple Remote, a removable grille, an AC power cord and 10 Universal Dock adapters, and is available for $349 (US). The Leather Case for iPod is available in 30GB and 60GB models as well as an iPod nano model, each for $99 (US). iPod Hi-Fi and all models of the Leather Case for iPod are available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
See the new iPod Hi-Fi here.
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Jas, i assume you use hundred dollar bills and Apple software coupons for wiping you butt.
The Bose Wave radio/Cd player costs more than this, and their SoundDock doesn’t appear to be quite as sophisticated. This Apple product fits right in between price and performance-wise. I would consider this for my small office. I might have to go to an Apple Store to actually hear it before buying.
You are all wrong.
If you really think about it, it wasn’t apple that created all this hype, its rumor sites, and news sites that quote rumor sites, and analysts and experts who make all these unrealistic expectations. Apple simply sends out the invite and people run with it.
I mean did apple say anything about a cell phone, pda, ipod movie, movie downloads, etc.? guessing is part of the fun for us mac users, but the so-called experts are really pushing the guessing game as well.
face it, nobody f–ing knows whats coming. Now I’m thinking of getting the new mini. more kool-aid!
leather cases for ipod 5G – not even ready yet! – this means no ipod update for some time, which indicates recent rumours are for a pda or tablet – this bad news therfore could turn out to be good
“A plastic brick with 6 D cells”
How sad and how expensive
V E R Y D I S S A P O I N T E D A P P L E
they really should consider bypassing events like this. if they are really going to underwhelmed people they should have just released the products with a PR release. why all this fanfare for this…
Granted we were all hoping for more with all the rumors flying around. but i for one do not believe that the rumored iPod or iTablet were quite ready for this event. Yes we were expecting big thing. probably with false expectations.
For the release of products even for a medium level release, they should have just put it up online and do a press release.
a lot of people are watching Apple now. and now is not the time to fcuk it up.These kind of presentation will affect stock prices. and you can’t possibly tell me that as a responsible company and stock holder this merited its own dog and pony show.
Judging by the specs on the apple site, the pricing on this is very in-line with what speakers of this caliber cost…
These are no InMotion cheapo speakers folks… I bet this thing sounds amazing!
You get what you pay for… If you want quality sound, it’s gonna cost more than $150 bucks…
Don’t forget it is also airtunes ready and has a built in dock..
no amount of professional photography can make this turd look like 350 bucks
Bitch whine bitch moan.
Man you guys are a bunch of friggin babies. If you don’t like it then jsut dont buy it for cripes sake.
I showed my wife and said “look we can get rid of my shelves of stero equipment”…..you know what she said…
“Where’s the radio…I like to listen it sometimes”
So I guess we’ll keep the stereo for now.
I’ll admit it…this is underwhelming. Nice…but not gorundbreaking. Not that everything apple needs to do should be…but this is an odd space for them to enter…the field is filled with “boom box” options both low and high end.
They should move onto the next big thing…I figure they have about a 1-2 year window before the iPod starts to fade or is eclipsed…so they better be working on the next thing. It’s not like the old Sony Walkman days when you could milk a technology for decades…life and trends move too quickly now.
None of this stuff is revolutionary. Apple is just releasing their versions of products that already exist. What’s the point? Unless he’s just biding his time until he really drops a bombshell. Whatever he has in the lab he better get it out soon before origami and whatever other crap Microsoft starts peddling.
Has anyone seen power or frequency specs on this? How long would 6 d cells last powering Steve’s stereo?
MDN word: Else, as in “What else is there?”
It seems what ever Apple introduces, it’s going to dissapoint. The expectation levels are always way to high. Dissapointment is inevitable then. Think of the recent MacWorld, people were expecting plasma screens with Mac minis built in! This time it was video iPod, Movie downloads, MacBook and so on.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple have these or similar products in the pipeline. But one can’t expect everything at the same time. It takes time to develop these things properly. There are lots of factors involved. There is no point announcing new product too early; then they’ll just dissapoint because they aren’t available immediately or there is such a long waiting period.
People are already judging the iPod HiFi without even testing it.
Give Apple a break!
What’s with the millimeter crap?
Why not just say one 4 inch speaker?
Woofers don’t come in 4 inches Steve
BTW –
Bose is the joke of the audiophile industry AND any speaker with an input IS Airtunes/Airport ready.
Can you tell we are pissed?
$350? for speakers?
Why not just buy a compact stereo system with CD, Radio, plug in one´s iPod to it. The speakers are not attached and so can be moved. Got me a great Sony system that does just that and paid $199.
(And with this Apple speaker system one has to take one´s iPod out of its protective case everytime they want to plug it in the speakers.)
$99 for a leather case for a nano iPod? And I have to use the little black ribbon to pull it out of the case every time I want to view the screen or adjust it?
Well…I like my Mac (PowerPC) and my iPods…but no sale today Steve.
Dear Apple:
I am so dissapointed at you, i wanted a Newton…
-Loru
No FM Tuner?!!! WTF!!! <hehehe> <just kidding>
Guys, IT’S SO OBVIOUS. Apple nixed something from the presentation at the last minute. Some production requirements couldn’t be met, or they decided to improve upon things. Any kind of PDA device was put on hold because of Microsoft’s origami. There is NO WAY that they planned for the event to end with the boombox, impossible. This was a very smart thing to do, and you guys have to realize that there is an amazing product around the corner. Just wait. Sam said it first.
$99 for a simple leather pouch! I honestly thought that was a typo. I was sure it should have been $19! Who on earth is going to buy one of these when you could buy another iPod for that!
Looks like a toaster oven.
Hey, guys, stop complaining! Aren’t we all supposed to be Apple zombies that do nothing but gush about any product presented by Steve Jobs? I mean, that’s what all the Windows trolls say!
The next time some a$$hole says “If Steve Jobs introduced [stupid competing product], you’d all think it was great,” point him to this page.
As for my opinion? iPod Hi-Fi looks awesome… but I have no use for it. It wouldn’t fit anywhere in my cluttered home, and I already have an expensive 5.1 sound system. I was really hoping for a portable iPod companion system, maybe with a larger video screen. I’m sure there’s a market for this device, but I’m not in it.
(Oh, and so much for all the analyst’s predictions of a movie service, huh?)
These products did not need a special media event like this.
To announce a $99 leather case for an iPod???
A set of speakers and an update to the low-end computer.
These type things should just have been released quietly to the website.
(Now that the price is bumped way up on the mini, calculate how much it now costs to build a complete system with mouse, monitor, keyboard…yikes! Buy an iMac.)
Why does this iPod hi-fi system look like a 1970s Sears & Roebuck toaster? And the iPod on top looks like the piece of toast sticking out of it…