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Apple is now accepting iPad apps for a “grand opening” of the iPad App Store, according to an email just sent to registered developers.
“iPad will begin shipping soon and your opportunity to be part of the grand opening of the iPad App Store starts today,” the email says.
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Security Expert: “Mac OS X Is Safer, But Less Secure”

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Tech site H-Online has an interesting story today, quoting security expert Charlie Miller about his forthcoming talk at the CanSecWest conference next week.
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Apple Devotes Entire Home Page To Jerome York Obituary

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Coming Soon: Steve Jobs, the Sitcom

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iVictrola Amplifies Your iPhone Without Electronics (And Costs Only $425)

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Meet the iVictrola, the weirdest and possibly the coolest iPhone dock you’re likely to see this Christmastime.

Or should I say not likely to see, as it appears that the limited stock at Design Within Reach has already sold out. Oh well.

That’s not the end of the world, though. Consider it a moment of inspiration, and see if you can design your own acoustic amplifier.

After all, that’s all this is. There’s no electronics, just old-fashioned acoustic tricks. Like yelling through your cupped hands, it takes sound from the device’s external speaker and bounces around the metal horn, concentrating it and amplifying it. You can do the same thing if you have any cone-shaped objects lying around, or can manufacture one.

Of course yours might not look quite so stylish, but then it probably won’t cost you $425 either. (That’s DWR’s price; you might be able to find it elsewhere for less. Designer Matt Richmond has a web site, and a similar product called “iPhone Horn” is available from Dwell for $160-$200.)

And while looks matter more than anything else to some people, when it comes to iPhone docks, surely sound ought to matter most? I can’t help thinking that the iVictrola might be just a little bit, how can I put this – tinny?

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About the author

gilest

Giles Turnbull is a freelance writer in England. He is a columnist for PA, and has written for the BBC, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, MacUser, Macworld, and The Morning News. He has a blog you can ignore and a Twitter account you needn't follow.

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3 comments

    The best alternative that I can suggest is Griffin Air Curve, costs just 20 bucks. ;)

    That looks awesome.

    I’m glad these have been so popular! DWR just sold through my only stock of these but I hope to have a new batch ready in the coming weeks. Note – I sold the first few for $160 -$200 just to get the product out before DWR was selling them. That price didn’t really cover my costs as it’s not a mass-produced product.

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