CES 2009: Vestalife Unleashes New Customizable Lifestyle iPod Docks
Vestalife is a new and upcoming name in the world of iPod accessories. Their Ladybug dock was released last year to wide acclaim, winning a Best of Show award from iLounge.com at MacWorld 2008 along with an Innovations and Design award from CES. Personalization is the watchword for Vestalife, and they look to shake up the often bland field of iPod docks with an expanded series of products aimed at a wider demographic.
The Firefly iPod dock is essentially a beefier version of the Ladybug that should be more palatable to the masculine crowd. The 2.1 system packs left- and right-channel speakers into fold-down wings, with a rear-firing subwoofer built into the back of the unit. Recharagable Lithium-Ion batteries will allow owners to easily take the Firefly with them, and an AC adapter is provided for home use. Touch-sensitive controls are built into the front panel of the unit, and a full-function remote will be included as well. While the details have not been completely hammered out, expect the Firefly to pack between 20 and 25 Watts of power. Vestalife encourages owners to customize their products to suit their personalities. To this end, the Flirefly will ship in multiple color schemes with 3 interchangeable faceplates, as well as a blank decal kit that allows users to print and stick their own designs.
Aimed at the chic and sophisticated crowd, the Jewel Box dock is all about personalization too. It shares similar features with the Firefly, including the fold-apart design, touch controls, Li-Ion batteries, and interchangeable speaker meshes.
Vestalife's final product for 2009 is the Butterfly dock and monitor, which will be available separately. while the dock handles standard charge and play functionality in a `tween-friendly customizable package, it's the monitor that really impresses. With the touch of a button, it will turn any photo or video on your iPod into a 3-dimensional image. At this time, no other portable monitor has this kind of functionality. The image does get a bit grainy with the 3-D mode engaged, but it actually works well and the viewing angle is good enough to keep the effect from disappearing if you're looking at it off-axis.
Vestalife's products are compatible with all current iPod models, and can also play iPhone-based media. Common to all of their docks is a dedicated A/V output, a first for the industry. Vestalife has also packed a couple of convenience features into their docks. If the volume gets cranked too high, a limiter kicks in to prevent distortion. Also, the unit's volume resets to a low level when it is powered down, which is a nice touch. Look for Vestalife's new products to drop in Q3 2009.
--Jon D.
lindsay on January 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM
wow they look really cool.i can use it as ipod dock or as my desktop gadget.its really nice.thanx.