If you want to have excellent audio quality rendering from your iPod and iPhone, you really need to look for external speakers. Searching for quality accessories for the Apple products is very easy nowadays, because all the important manufacturers offer a great variety of gadgets to improve your Apple device. From this point of view, you can understand that Apple doesn't offer the full package solution with their devices because of their partnership with some high tech manufacturers.

However, we all know (us Apple customers and users) that we enjoy purchasing a little bit of everything for our iPods and iPhone (big stereo speakers, small radio alarm clock, cases, headphones, auto integration and many others). Probably this is what potential buyers like about Apple products (all Apple products are recognized world wide from car builders to headphones manufacturers). The partnership between Apple and Bose goes for some years now. Bose Sound Dock Portable Music System is one of the best selling accessories produced by Bose for iPod (but iPhone compatible).

The design of this portable system is remarkable. Although it already has a few years it is still modern and sleek. It has a slim profile and it is offered in three colors (black, grey, and white). The system is made entirely out of plastic. However, in terms of build construction you will not be disappointed. Everything is well build and offers a solid feel. You don't actually get keys on the system, because everything is controlled by the infrared control remote (with the following keys, off, play, mute, increase volume, decrease volume, two playlist select keys, forward button, and reverse select).

The dimensions of this system are impressive, with a height of 6.75 inches (17.5 cm), wide of 12.06 inches (30.7 cm), and deep of 6.06 inches (10.3 cm), the Bose Sound Dock Portable Music System weight about 2.4 kg (5.2 lbs) including the battery. Once you have unboxed the package you will need to release the dock frame. In order to do that, you need to press and release the right side of the dock frame. The dock will automatically swing out to the left. Your system is almost ready to use depending on the iPod you have. On the back side of the system you will get a 3.5 mm mini plug in case you want to connect another iPod, or device to the sound system.

The Sound Dock performs better than you could imagine. It offers a great sound with a middle bass influence of 10 kHz. In the sound department, the Sound Dock provides good quality sound above 80 Hz, for its range. Bose offers a Lithium Ion battery that should provide almost three hours of music playback. However, if you listen to lower volume levels the Bose Sound System will deliver more time in music playback. You don't have to worry about consuming the iPod or iPhone battery either.

The Bose Sound Dock Portable Music System recharges the battery of your Apple device once you have connected it to the System. The only buttons you are going to get on the Bose speakers are the touch sensitive volume control keys. Bose ships the Sound Dock Portable digital music system with a power supply adapter, a power supply, and a remote control. Overall Bose Sound Dock Portable Music System offers good features and a solid design. Unfortunately for a device that is been on the market for a few years its price is too high ($399.95) for what if offers (only music playback, no LCD display, no radio stations no other attractive features).

I guess by now you already know that the '80 are back in style. No I am not talking about style in the fashion industry, more rather I am talking about the new Altec speakers for iPods (Shuffle, Classic, Nano, and Touch) and iPhone. The Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 Boom Box is the reinterpretation of the '80 portable audio (playing cassette tapes). Unfortunately, the portability is not necessary a key feature in the new Mix iMT800 Boom Box. Even Altec placed its product on their home page under the category "speakers for home". Therefore, the idea that Mix IMT800 Boom Box is an ultraportable device is based on wrong premises. Why? Let's take a look at this device's dimensions.

The Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 Boom Box has a height of 19.6 cm (7.7 inches), wide of 50.0 cm (19.7 inches), deep of 23.6 cm (9.3 inches). Even if it's lightweight, the Lansing Mix IMT800 Boom Box is a large device that uses eight d sixe batteries (when on the run, and not plugged in). However, its impressive appearance is mandatory in order to revive the '80 speakers look. This is wonderful in terms of functionality. Once you will unpack the Mix IMT800 Boom Box, you can either the device to the plug (just connect the AC adapter cable plug into the speakers system's jack, and plug the AC adapter into the wall) or install batteries in the speakers for a better portability. This, however, is a five step process.

First make sure that no iPhone or iPod is in the system dock, and for that matter of fact no other devices are connected to the system. After you check, the first steps unplug the adapter from the speaker system, and open the battery compartment (on the bottom of the Lansing Mix IMT800 Boom Box). Further, you install the eight D size (LR 20) batteries in the battery compartment. If the batteries are correctly installed you should get up to 30 hours continuous music playback time.

After you install the batteries just close the battery door. Even if you are listening to music with your speakers plugged or with batteries on, always turn the system down once you are finished listening. Because the Lansing Mix IMT800 Boom Box offers full compatibility with all the iPods and iPhone, it was only natural that Altec provided adapters for all of these devices in order for them to connect with the system. What can you find on a Mix IMT800 Boom Box?

On the top of the system you get, a seven band graphic equalizer (multiple EQ modes let you select your sound), dual AUX IN jacks (to connect up to two additional audio players), Clip on full feature remote (with the following buttons and features, power on and off, source button, volume decrease button, volume increase button, track forward button, track back button, EQ button, play and pause button, FM preset buttons), also on top of the system you get the track back button, track forward button, FM antenna, two AUX IN jacks, power / volume increase / volume decrease knob, EQ button, and source button. In front of the speaker system the first thing you notice is the high contrast LCD (battery indicator, and FM stereo indicator), guard for iPhone or iPod, music pause (automatically pauses music when a call is received on your iPhone), universal dock for iPhone and iPod, the excellent speakers with extraordinary bass, and the grab handles to provide a better portability. A nice feature is that you can connect up to 4 Apple devices (or at least 2 Apple devices and to non dock devices) to the Mix IMT800 Boom Box.

The sound offered is excellent. You can actually hear all the great specs Altec provided for this system, powerful bass (XdB bass, with improved subwoofer and tuned radiator - 5.25 inches or 13.33 cm subwoofer and 5.25 inches or 13.33 passive radiator), audio alignment, and excellent EQ presets. Altec provided in the shipping box, besides the Mix IMT800 Boom Box, two AUX cables, full feature remote (using Irda), adapters for all iPod models and iPhone, AC adapter, and the mandatory user guide and quick connect guide. Overall, this Mix ITM800 Boom Box developed for the iPod but compatible with iPhone is the best balanced system on the market, offering not only excellent sound quality and full connectivity, but also a great retro design (solid build and excellent material quality).

On September 10, 2009, under the Magnate Interactive Company, seller Matt Braun released "Liberty Boom" a good balanced game for iPod touch and iPhone running the third operating system for the iPhone platform. "Liberty Boom" can be found in Games category on App Store with a price list of $1.99 for the version 1.0.2. Magnate Interactive is a developer and seller of software applications.

This company represents the collaboration of several web professionals with expertise in engineering, design, illustration, animation, photography, and video production. Matthew Braun, Ryan Lanciaux, Joel Derkin, Nick Lanciaux, Roger Tipping, and Benjamin Derkin are the people behind the scenery. Because of them all the application under Magnate Interactive will deliver great user experience. Magnate Interactive develop not only iPod and iPhone games, but also dynamic websites, desktop applications, and applications for other mobile platforms.

Magnate Interactive headquarters is in Ohio. Liberty Boom provides a good, fun timing based gaming. This game provides a good balance between reflexes, patriotism and explosions. The game was developed in partnership with Mourlam Studios. The game play is quite good. Because this game is a casual game you are not getting a story line. Therefore, the game sets you in a nighttime tour of beautiful US city skylines. Your "mission" is to put on a spectacular show. You have to blow up fireworks rockets before reaching a specific line and make the crowd cheer you on. However, the sky is not all that clear. You have to be careful not to hit a plane, blimp, or helicopter before you reach the specific line. If you hit something, you will upset the crowd, and not scoring any points.

Even so, you have to hit the UFOs that will appear on the screen. These USOs are bonuses (the crowd will cheer you even if you hit them). On top of the screen you will get a tab that displays the crowd cheers, current level, total number of points and the number of the rockets you launched. At the bottom of the screen you will get for tap zones so that you can better control the launches (and navigation) of your rockets to the specific boarder. You can control the air crafts speed. But keep in mind, slow in one direction means fast from the other.

"Liberty Boom" is all about timing and reflexes. Beside the fun that it provides, you also get beautiful artwork and six original music tracks. Therefore you get great night skylines of New York (obviously), Miami, Dallas, Detroit, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. However, this game like others has its drawbacks. Not everything is as great as it should be for a casual game. It is somehow weird when a casual game doesn't deliver the fun that was supposed to deliver. The game play experience is not that special.

The huge colorful artifact which covers half of the screen of your iPod touch and iPhone, every time you will blow up an UFO or just the rocket (for the cheer of the crowd) will obscure your view. The game doesn't really save your progress. It says it does but it doesn't. The controls are hard to manage. You probably will just tap numerous times before the game will actually receive information. Don't get alarmed it's not your touch screen, it is just the game. On the bright side, you are going to get bored, but on the down side, you are not going to have fun either. Because of the nice views of various cities this game keeps a reality control in check. However sometimes you may experience boos of your crowd even when you blow up the UFOs. However, "Liberty Boom" is a flash prototype game, with a good premise and future upgrades, this game could actually provide what it is suppose to, casual fun.

On May 14, 2009 Big Fish Games released "Titanic: Hidden Expedition", a casual yet captivating game for the iPod touch and iPhone running the third operating system for the iPhone platform. Big Fish Games is a provider of internet media delivery software applications and games. The company was created in 2002 by Paul Thelen. Its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington. Although Big Fish Games provides software solutions for many categories, the most important line is the games line. Most of the games delivered by Big Fish Games can be found in free trial and not just in full versions.

"Titanic: Hidden Expedition" is a part of the casual games, very successful fame category for about 10 years. This casual console games where created in order to replace the old digitally distributed casual games. This category felt three major changes. The first wave started with "Bejeweled" and "Zuma". Excellent games played by anyone by now. A few years later "Betty's Beer Bar" was launched, followed by "Diner Dash". Both games are about management and represent the second wave in the casual game category. In November, 2005, Big Fish Games released "Mystery Case Files: Huntsville". This game is the third wave for the casual game market. "Mystery Case Files" was an instant success that inspired the new series "Hidden Expedition" and "Hidden Mystery".

You can find "Titanic: Hidden Expedition" with the version 1.0 on the App Store at a listing price of $0.99. The story line is very realistic. On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The game puts you in the shoes of an employee of the Titanic Museum. You are in charge with the recovery of artifacts from the wreckage. You will go on a great expedition in order to find all the hidden objects through the remains of the most known shipwreck in history. "Titanic: Hidden Expedition" provides 17 unique locations on board of the RMS Titanic. Your mission objective is to retrieve as many artifacts from the Titanic.

A nice feature is that every time you will play this game, the artificial intelligence that controls the game play will randomize all hundreds of items in different places. This is game is comfortable to play even in the subways or on bus, because not only you can play in both landscape and portrait mode, but also you can listen to your very own music library. Also you can use the fully integrated music controls if your device is updated with the latest iPhone operating system, and if you have the special headset available as an accessory. This game is very educational. Therefore if you or your kids want to learn more facts and figures about the Titanic, you just have to play the game. "

Titanic: Hidden Expedition" is an entry level game. It is easy, casual and fun. It will not crash your iPod touch or iPhone. It will probably just run smoothly. Therefore if you are interested in purchasing a great casual game you should probably give "Titanic: Hidden Expedition" a try.

In October of 2008, Apple announced the second generation of the MacBook Air. It was released at not even one year distance of the first generation of MacBook Air. Apple hurried with the second model because it knew that the first generation had its days numbered. The first MacBook model was too expensive, lacked too many features and eventually, after the attribute "new" got old, the sales were about to flop. Unfortunately a good piece of hardware (and software) like the MacBook Air was simply understood as being a "must" for those who don't really know how money are earned (here we can include spoiled teens and young adults).

The new MacBook Air is basically identical to the old model. The only visible change is the Mini Display Port connector that replaces the micro DVI connector (Apple did this in order to ensure for the new MacBook Air the possibility of being connected to the new 24 inches LED Cinema Displays). Apple developed the Mini Display Port from a standard Display Port. By doing so, Apple became the only hardware company to offer a Mini Display Port. The most consistent feature of the new MacBook Air is probably the embedded NVIDIA 9400M chipset (the same found on the MacBook and the MacBook Pro line).

The 2009 MacBook Air suffered a drop price. By doing so, Apple is trying to add to its list of Air customers, people that actually buy for objective reasons this device. Apple offers two configurations. The first one starts from $1.499 and offer an Intel Core 2 Duo processor 1,86 GHz with 1066 MHz front side bus, 2GB RAM DDR 3, 120 GB SATA hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics. The second configuration available for the Air brings an Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2,13 GHz with 1066 MHz front side bus, 2 GB RAM DDR 3 memory (6 MB of L2 cache), 128 GB solid state drive and the same NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics at a price listing of $1.799.

Compared directly to the old model, the new Air has upgraded its RAM memory from the 667 MHz DDR 2 to the new 1.066 MHz DDR 3. The new 120 GB serial ATA hard drive is a boost from the rather small 80 GB parallel ATA hard drive from the 2008 Air. Also improved were: the L2 cache - from 4 MB to nearly 6MB, a faster front side bus - from 800 MHz to 1.066 MHz. also improved is the graphic chipset, from the integrated GMA X3100 to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M. Even if MacBook Air is the thinnest notebook from its range, it still has good competitors (and less expensive).

The most important manufacturer that rivals the Apple Air is Sony with TP3XP, Vaio TZ and the Vaio TT. Sony, however, has a common feature that lacks completely from both new and old Air models, a built in disc drive. The MacBook Air design is flawless. The brushed aluminum chassis is a true work of art. The new MacBook Air also benefits from the new aluminum unibody design. The benefit from this design is the durability. The revolutionary unibody design replaces many parts with just one and results in a clean, seamless appearance. The dimensions of this notebook are incredible. With a height of 0.4 - 1.94 cm, wide of 32.5 cm, deep of 22.7 cm, Air only weights 1.36 kg. Even if it is an extremely small notebook, MacBook Air sports a glossy 13.3 inches LED backlit display with up to 16.7 million colors. LED technology makes the Air more power efficient; therefore the battery will last longer. Also this display is mercury free and has arsenic free glass.

The display supports various resolutions with a native 1280 x 800 pixels with 16:10 aspect ratio. MacBook Air also features a pretty good keyboard, with good features like backlit keys. Also it has a built in ambient light sensor that will automatically adjust keyboard illumination and display brightness for optimal visibility. The track pad sports the multi touch technology.

Because of the Mac operating system you can successfully use all multi touch features. The connectivity is ensured by Wi-Fi wireless networking based on 802.11n specification (but it is also compatible with 802.11 a/b/g) and built in Bluetooth 2.1 plus enhanced data rate. A huge drawback for this great device is the lack of peripheral connections. Therefore the MacBook Air only sports the Mini Display Port, 1 x USB 2.0 port and the audio out 3.5 mm jack. Don't think you are going to have a great music experience with the Air because you can't, it only has a built in mono speaker. Therefore the Air must be connected to good speakers in order to enjoy music. These bad features are saved by the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphic processor with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory.

The MacBook Air battery is a lithium polymer with only 40 Wh; therefore a not so great standby time is expected. However Apple appreciates that the Macbook Air is capable of up to 5 hours wireless activity. With prices from $1,499 to $1,799 (without any other customized features) the MacBook Air is shipped with a 45W Mag Safe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord, USB Ethernet adapter (for your only USB port), Install and Restore DVD, display polishing cloth and mandatory printed and electronic documentation. Overall this is an excellent notebook, but not for everyone, it is in some way exclusivist. But even so don't get fouled. If you buy this MacBook only because it is expensive and you want to make a statement, then you are wasting your money. This MacBook is only for people who need the maximum portability from a light weighted notebook.