Is there still room for more iPod speaker docks?  New company Sound Freaq reckon so, and their SFQ01 is an attempt to take a slice of the lucrative market.  Designed with – as they themselves said – love-it or hate-it aesthetics, the slab-sided dock system promises above-average sound quality thanks to the company’s own UQ DSP system.  Meanwhile, a companion iPad app allows for straightforward remote control, together with streaming from the Apple slate itself.

Download the app, and you can switch between the SFQ01′s sources – an iPod docked in the speaker itself, the iPad streamed via Bluetooth, an FM radio or an aux-in source – together with remotely controlling the docked PMP or choosing from the iPad’s own audio files.  Alternatively, you can pipe through music, soundtracks or game audio from the iPad, if you’re unhappy with the quality from the Apple tablet’s own speaker.

On the crowded ShowStoppers floor, the SFQ01 certainly sounded loud enough, though we’ll need to spend some proper one-on-one time with it to see if it lives up to the sales pitch.  We’re also cautious about audiophile-style claims, whenever regular Bluetooth A2DP is involved, since the format generally involves plenty of compression along the way.

The SFQ01 will land first in the UK, priced at £199.99.  In the US, the Sound Freaq SFQ01 will launch arrive in mid-October, in time for a November sales promotion in Target.  There it will be priced $199.99.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

• Sound ID 510 Bluetooth headset gets its own iPhone App
• SoundClip is a passive Iphone amplifier, only $8
• Concept: JVC Quasar, 360 Degree Sound
• Alpine OEM Audio Processor: PXE-H650
• Sound ID unveils new 400 Bluetooth headset

Netflix has released its new app [iTunes link] for the iPhone and iPod touch, a free download that allows subscribers of the service to stream movies and TV shows direct to their device.  Promised back in June, Netflix v1.1.0 is a universal app that works on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch; you can search as well as view and add titles on your Instant Queue.

Video demo after the cut

You can also resume watching content that you’ve started on another Netflix-enabled device, handy if you’ve begun viewing a film at home and then have to head off to work.  Netflix subscriptions are required, obviously, and kick off at $8.99 per month.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

• Netflix iPhone movie streaming on the way?
• Unboxing – Apple iPod Touch
• Another geek shows off untethered Jailbreak for iPod and iPhone
• iPod Touch – A case of identity crisis
• Rumor – New video-capable iPod nano on the way

Who knew that credit card processing would be the new hotness for smartphones? The Square mobile payment system has been making waves by letting small businesses receive credit card payment directly on their smartphones. Now, mophie and Intuit are looking to get in on the same action with their Complete Card Solution for iPhone. It’s a $179 package that includes both mophie’s card-swiping phone case and the 3.0 version of Intuit’s GoPayment app. After a quick application users are said to be approved (or, erm, declined) within 15 minutes and can immediately start accepting payments. Full details, including just how much users will be forking over in fees, after the break.

Continue reading Mophie and Intuit partner to create Complete Card Solution for iPhone, try to make Square look square

Mophie and Intuit partner to create Complete Card Solution for iPhone, try to make Square look square originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments