Altec Lansing Technologies Inc. on Wednesday announced inMotion, a new external speaker set designed specifically to work with Apple’s iPod models. Designed to match the iPod’s color scheme, the two-speaker portable sound system is about the size of a paperback book.
inMotion includes a docking bay that lets users of Apple’s third-generation iPod plug the device in to transfer data and synchronize (it works with older FireWire-equipped iPods as well, according to Apple). inMotion measures 8 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches and weighs about 15 ounces, and it’s designed to fold together for portability. inMotion is ideal if you want to use the iPod’s Alarm feature to wake you up, too, according to the manufacturer.
Also included is a headphone jack, an auxiliary input jack to connect your PowerBook, iBook, other MP3 players or other sources, and built-in flush mounted power and volume controls.
inMotion sports four full-range neodymium micro drivers (the same element used for the earbuds included with the iPod) and also features “MaxxBass” technology, which Altec Lansing says delivers natural-sounding bass. MaxxBass operates using a psychoacoustic principle called the “missing fundamental illusion,” whereby the system generates a specific set of harmonics in response to bass input (thus tricking listeners into “hearing” the bass).
Powered by four AA batteries (not included), inMotion works for about 24 hours on a single charge. An AC power supply is also included.
inMotion is priced at US$149. Altec Lansing and Apple have an exclusive deal through the month of October to sell iMotion through the Apple online store; after that, it’ll be available in Apple retail stores nationwide.