Zune
Microsoft
www.zune.net
Calling all gimme-anything-but-an-Apple enthusiasts! Microsoft has finally entered the portable digital music player battle with its 30GB Zune. Storing up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video, Zune’s brings the upper-hand with a built-in FM tuner and wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing—enabling you to send and receive sample tracks and listen to full tracks before purchasing. The Zune Marketplace online music store provides easy file transfer and Zune software will automatically import your existing music files with ease.
$250
MP3/ATRAC3 CD Walkman Player
Sony
www.sonystyle.com
Can’t part from that beefy collection of CD’s? Get Sony’s Mp3/ATRAC 3 CD Walkman Player. Light and compact, the Walkman uses ATRAC 3 Plus software to upload and burn up to 490 tracks on one CD. You may not be the coolest kid on the block, but the skip-free technology and 18 playback modes offer an efficient way to cart your tunes without transferring your disc library. With easy thumb button access, the 4-ounce player fits in your hand for up to 100 hours of playback.
$200
G-Tech iPod Messenger Bag
Good Hope Bags
www.g-techworld.com
Schlep and shimmy with your stuff using G-tech’s iPod-enabled messenger bag. With an integrated external speaker and a spot to store your iPod, cell phone and laptop; the Eleksen’s ElekTex fabric technology allows you to control your iPod from the strap of the bag. The stereo-quality, built in speaker offers a 3.5mm extension cable for use with other audio sources. Sling this over your shoulder and put a spring in your step, as well as in the steps of those around you.
$129
Specktone Retro Speaker System
Speck Products
www.speckproducts.com
Being hip isn’t always about wearing the right goodwill t-shirt or drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon, it also takes a sweet method of showing off that obscure music collection. With Speck Products’ Spectone Retro Tabletop Stereo, the built-in iPod dock lets you blast your tunes from an aesthetically pleasing, high-glossed piano finish speaker system. The wood construction and super retro style houses speakers that bump at a 28-watt output, surprising even your Grandma.
$150
iDJ2
Numark
www.numark.com
Live out your “Oakenfold/Fatboy Slim/DJ AM” fantasy without buying turntables or scouring garage sales for rare vinyl. Numark’s iDJ2 uses one or two iPods to simultaneously play and mix tracks digitally. Use the two large jog wheels for searching and real-time scratching. With hookups for auxiliary and mass storage devices, you can plug in your mic, CD player, memory sticks and hard drives. The iDJ2 allows the DJ to record performances to an iPod or hard drive with the ability for full playback.
$900
Steve Cooper is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Hitched. You can follow him on Twitter at @hitchedmedia.
