iLuv will showcase some new products at CES 2008 on Jan. 7th. One of the coolest is the i399 audio system. The i399 BluePin 2.1 Channel Hi-Fi Audio System for the iPod is the first iLuv product that actually features the newest BluePin II technology, which offers the user more freedom from up to 300 ft. away. With the detachable BluePin II, users can choose to listen to music on Bluetooth headphones by sending music from another stereo Bluetooth device to the i399. Some other nice features include FM stereo radio capabilities, digital clock display and an auxiliary line input for 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation iPods as well as other audio devices.

The i399 promises a richer more true sound thanks in part to the patented jAura sound cell technology and a woofer built into its 2.1 channel speaker system. Another impressive capability is that the i399 can also do incoming and outgoing calls since it includes a speaker phone. Yet another nice touch is the rhythm-sensitive blue LED light. That’s always a nice touch.

Here’s a great design if you dare to be different. The Vintage iPod Tube Amp/Charger has the cool somewhat steampunk/Sci-Fi look of a mad scientists lair. According to the manufacturer, you ca enjoy your playlists with the “warmth and richness only a vintage tube amplifier can provide”. I don’t know about that, but I love the design.

Many musicians believe that the harmonic richness and the pure tone of tube-based circuitry can’t be beat. That’s their thinking with this device. Just plug your iPod into the Vintage Amplifier/Charger, sit back with the included remote, and browse through your playlists. They claim that audio details that have been lost in MP3 files through compression, dramatically re-emerge through the 25 watts RMS per channel, all-tube pre-amp system. It will cost you a hefty $800 to find out if they are right. No doubt some of us don’t mind missing out on the differences we can’t hear anyway, at that price.

Apple has a new patent application in the European Patent Office that details out a new volume control feature to help prevent hearing loss when listening to an iPod. People that have messed around with the settings on an iPod have likely already noticed that you can already set the maximum volume for your iPod to avoid an inadvertent blasts of sound that could damage your ear. The new feature would be available in iPods and the iPhone and would take into account not only how loud the volume is while your listening, but also how long you’ve been listening to decide when the listener may have had enough.

Our favorite Hedgehog is back. Sega’s 16-bit classic game has now made its way onto the iPod games section of iTunes. It will only cost you $4.99. It’s interesting to note that the Wii version of the title is nearly twice as much at 800 Wii points. That’s $8.

Just use the circular iPod touch wheel as a four-way d-pad, the center button takes place of the original ABC buttons from the Genesis controller. I imagine it takes some getting used to but should suffice. According to Crave however, in the later bonus levels, it doesn’t fair so well. For the $4 price tag, they even threw in some extras. Like being able to turn off the soundtrack and replace it with your own, while keeping some of the sound effects.

Who hasn’t looked at their iPod and wished they could play games with it. Well, now you can. Not Super Mario or Metroid kind of games, mind you, but your iPod just got a little more fun. The iNo Interactive Game System for iPod turns the device into a game of music trivia that plays off your own music library.

Simply listen to the music, buzz your remote control when you think you know the answer and guess the name of the artist, the song or the album. Rack up the points and win. But wait…there may be one slight hitch here, before you rush out and spend $79.99 of your hard earned money. Doesn’t the iPod owner know his/her songs by heart? I would think they would be the winner every time. Oh well, for $80 you will just have to be content to sit out the game and let your friends play, wondering why the experience cost you $80.

This could be a huge pain in the Apple for…well, Apple. The MiShare allows iPods to share information without a computer. Say your friend has pictures, playlists or mp3s on their iPod, that you would like to have on yours, but you don’t want to go through the trouble of getting out the laptop, charger cable, and iPod reverse transfer software.

MiShare makes it easier with direct iPod on iPod action. Just attach both iPods and press miShare’s button to start the transfer. It won’t disable iTunes DRM, but if you have regular MP3s you can now share away. The miShare is battery powered, and can be charged with an included AC adapter.

With the holiday season fast approaching, we see more and more products of a Christmas theme. Sometimes they are cool, sometimes they are silly. In this case, I suppose it will go with your Christmas decor as well as your reindeer sweater.

Listen to your favorite tunes as if Santa is singing directly to you.(Now that I think of it, if you are the type to stalk Santa like some celebrity, this will fuel your obsession to new heights.) And, it’s bound to look funny if you play heavy metal or some other completely un-seasonal music, all the while imagining these santas rocking out.

This is one of the neater iPod docks that I have seen. The Vestalife ladybug iPod dock is not just another boring place to park your iPod. It has a digital amplifier, built-in-subwoofer for extra bass, and a cool remote that resembles an iPod. It comes in a nice shiny red or gray finish and yes it resembles a ladybug. Especially when open. When closed it just plain looks cool. This is an iPod dock that’s all about style.

Of course, it also charges the iPod and can run on AC or battery. Another plus is the USB port that has been integrated to sync your iPod when it sits in the speaker.

Do you need cash and have a broken iPod or iPhone? Ebay is not the only option anymore. BuyMyBrokeniPod.com is offering a new service that is quick and environmentally friendly. Best of all you’ll get a return on your old useless device that is just gathering dust. Beginning next week, they will even take gaming consoles.

They will take your old iPhone or iPod regardless of it’s physical condition. Yes, even if it is completely dead. So, do your part and make sure that it does not end up in a landfill somewhere. Give them a proper “burial”. After all, they served you well during their short lives, didn’t they?

The folks over at Retro Thing have recently done an impressive comparison of Apple’s iPod player and Lloyd’s V128 8-track player with some surprising similarities, despite the 40-year age gap between the two “white plastic music dynamos”.

Some of points of comparison we found most interesting include the price of music between the two players. When you can get 8-tracks at a flea market for a dime-a-dozen it’s tough for iTunes to compete, even with a DRM. Both players also will display the current playing track, have a big round thing on the front and hold the distinctive white colored design we’ve all become all too familiar with.

Those of you still following this saga will be happy to know that the hackers who have been dismantling the iPod touch have apparently now decrypted the ramdisk and installed applications. That means your iPod Touch can do all kinds of nifty things, like run mail, Google Maps, and many other 3rd party apps.

Ipod Touch users everywhere are rejoicing. Well, until apple decides to brick them at least. Also, it remains to be seen how well these apps truly run. It’s a fascinating technological and cultural event at any rate, as devices get hacked, bricked and hacked again in an endless circle. I say just cut out the middle man and let these guys work for Apple.

Apple made a quiet release of a firmware update for both the iPod classic and the 3rd generation iPod nano on Saturday. The new version 1.0.2 mostly consists of bug fixes according to Apple but ended up revealing a little bit more once installed. Aside from some improvements on calender and contact synchronization MacNN reported installing the new firmware through iTunes updates and finding upgrades to the Cover Flow making it more similar to iTunes 7.4. The new firmware also had another “Ask” option added to the TV output option which allows users to turn on the TV out mode when the iPod is connected to a device capable of showing video output from the iPod. Nothing too spectacular but little surprises like these are always nice.

Even as Apple rolled out the iPod touch and new nano today the more basic model which started it all got a facelift and a new name. Apple is now making available the sixth-generation iPod, called now the iPod classic, for $249 for a 80GB model and $349 for a 160GB model.

That’s right – the first thing you’ll note with the iPod classic is the increased hard drive sizes. They are housed in a new all-metal anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel enclosure which is thinner than previous generations. The user interface has also been enhanced and includes the ability to browse music via cover art.

Apple did what many people thought it would do today as it unveiled a new generation of iPods by debuting one which shares the same touch screen interface as the iPhone. Enter the iPod touch, set to be available later this month in an 8GB model for $299 and a 16GB model for $399.

The iPod touch sports a 3.5-inch widescreen display which is touch sensitive and the heart of controlling this iPod’s features. Users touch the screen to select features they want, be it music, videos or digital photos. There’s also a lot more under the hood on the iPod touch, including Wi-Fi wireless networking for downloading music and browsing the Web, Cover Flow display for browsing music by cover art, a built-in ambient light sensor and up to 22 hours of audio or five hours of video playback.

Take a look at this smooth looking Travelsound i50 iPod Shuffle dock/speaker from Creative. Mount a Shuffle on the top and clip it to your stuff to have a portable, rechargeable 2 channel 700mW speaker output wherever your go.

The i50 measures 128×47×15mm, weighs only 85g and is powered by an internal lithium polymer battery that charges via USB (and can charger your Shuffle at the same time) to give as much as 15hrs of continuous sound-sharing playback from the speaker dock.

The Travelsound i50 is currently selling in Japan for $69 each.

FarEastGizmos via Gizmodo