CES 2013: Ion Audio
posted:
1/15/2013 6:46:00 PM
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CES 2013
I stopped by the Ion Audio booth again this year to see what they had in store for iOS and Android users. While they weren’t showing off any updates to their popular iCade lineup, they did have quite a few cool accessories for gaming on hand. As with most things at this CES, there was a heavy emphasis on audio, as Ion was showing off DJ gear, speakers and party rockers.
I first looked at the All-Star Dance, which is a wireless dance mat for the iPad. The mat comes with a free dancing app that teaches the basic moves while playing the game, it connects via Bluetooth and lights up (with embedded LED light) as you dance on it. It was quite responsive and works seamlessly with the iPad and application it ships with. One other item of note, there is a stand for your iPad included that will elevate it to the height you need to watch while dancing. The All-Star Dance will ship in May at an MSRP of $49.99
The next item I looked at was the Party Rocker cubes. These are a combination speaker, amp and karaoke machine all in one solid wood box. It will ship with a microphone and has an internal 50-watt amp with color choices of white or black and also connects via Bluetooth to your iOS or Android device. The coolest feature (especially if you are hosting a slumber or New Year’s Eve Party) is the light show that moves to the music. The Party Rocker will have an MSRP of $149.99, and a slightly smaller version called the House Party will come in at $99.99.
Probably the smallest gadget Ion brought to the show was the Clipster. This is a very portable wireless speaker that can clip to just about any object. It includes a built-in rechargeable battery, connects via Bluetooth and will be available in April for $29.99 in Red, Green, Blue, Black and Pink. This would be great to use for music, games or video when you are working outside where headphones would get in the way or just chilling out sitting on the couch.
The last item that I saw in Ion Audio’s booth was their DJ accessories. The iDJ 2 Go Plus (shipping in June for $99.99) and Scratch 2 Go ($19.99) give aspiring DJs a way to convert their iOS devices into instant music machines. The DJ 2 Go has a physical board and works with several DJ apps (including Ion’s iDJ 2 Go app) and connects via the lightning connector, making it compatible with iPhone 5 and iPad retina or newer devices. The Scratch 2 Go comes with physical controls that sit on any iPad, so as long as there is a compatible DJ app, this will hook up and work. I am not big into DJ games or apps, but both options seemed to work well during the demo and should appeal to those that enjoy the creativity of being a DJ. You can probably hook it to the Party Rocker to create some interesting effects.
I would like to thank Wendy, Ion Audio’s Product Manager, for showing me around the booth.
I first looked at the All-Star Dance, which is a wireless dance mat for the iPad. The mat comes with a free dancing app that teaches the basic moves while playing the game, it connects via Bluetooth and lights up (with embedded LED light) as you dance on it. It was quite responsive and works seamlessly with the iPad and application it ships with. One other item of note, there is a stand for your iPad included that will elevate it to the height you need to watch while dancing. The All-Star Dance will ship in May at an MSRP of $49.99
The next item I looked at was the Party Rocker cubes. These are a combination speaker, amp and karaoke machine all in one solid wood box. It will ship with a microphone and has an internal 50-watt amp with color choices of white or black and also connects via Bluetooth to your iOS or Android device. The coolest feature (especially if you are hosting a slumber or New Year’s Eve Party) is the light show that moves to the music. The Party Rocker will have an MSRP of $149.99, and a slightly smaller version called the House Party will come in at $99.99.
ION Audio Party Rockers in action.
Probably the smallest gadget Ion brought to the show was the Clipster. This is a very portable wireless speaker that can clip to just about any object. It includes a built-in rechargeable battery, connects via Bluetooth and will be available in April for $29.99 in Red, Green, Blue, Black and Pink. This would be great to use for music, games or video when you are working outside where headphones would get in the way or just chilling out sitting on the couch.
The last item that I saw in Ion Audio’s booth was their DJ accessories. The iDJ 2 Go Plus (shipping in June for $99.99) and Scratch 2 Go ($19.99) give aspiring DJs a way to convert their iOS devices into instant music machines. The DJ 2 Go has a physical board and works with several DJ apps (including Ion’s iDJ 2 Go app) and connects via the lightning connector, making it compatible with iPhone 5 and iPad retina or newer devices. The Scratch 2 Go comes with physical controls that sit on any iPad, so as long as there is a compatible DJ app, this will hook up and work. I am not big into DJ games or apps, but both options seemed to work well during the demo and should appeal to those that enjoy the creativity of being a DJ. You can probably hook it to the Party Rocker to create some interesting effects.
ION Audio's Scratch 2 Go DJ Controls for iPad.
I would like to thank Wendy, Ion Audio’s Product Manager, for showing me around the booth.
