Philips outs iPhone/iPod docks, more pre-CES
updated 12:00 pm EST, Sat December 13, 2008
Philips CES iPhone Audio
Philips has sought to preempt its usual CES presence by announcing a quintet of digital audio systems headlined by a newer generation of iPhone and iPod docks. The Docking Entertainment System DC350 offers a relatively rare vertical clock radio that not only plays iPhone and iPod audio but also carries its own Bluetooth link for making hands-free calls from the iPhone or any other Bluetooth cellphone. The 6W system comes with a remote and should be available in January for $150.
An updated version of the iBoom from Philips' DLO sub-label should also be available and adds iPhone support to the largely unchanged speaker system, which continues to center around an advanced remote with a display that shows current track information. It sells for $200.
Beyond iPhone and iPod support, the company is also introducing two new Streamium network radios. The basic NP2500 and four-speaker, 32W NP2900 both have a large LCD to navigate and pick Internet radio stations, local computers' content and subscription music from RealNetworks' Rhapsody service. Philips prices the core NP2500 at $220 and lifts the price to $320 for the full NP2900.
A final update, the Multimedia Speakers 2.1 SPA5300, brings a simple but designer computer-oriented speaker setup that adds a dynamic bass boost feature to potentially improve the feel of low-frequency sounds. It comes with a wired remote for controlling sound independently of the satellites' positions. Pricing isn't currently available. [via Wired]
Docking Entertainment System DC350

DLO iBoom

Streamium NP2900

Multimedia Speakers 2.1 SPA5300












