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Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
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iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

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Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • Wolfmother

    • 8 out of 10
    • Wolfmother
    • Black Sabbath, The White Stripes, The Stooges. There aren't many bands worth their salt that want to be compared to other bands, but when I listen to Wolfmother's self-titled American debut, I can

  • Guero

    • 10 out of 10
    • Beck
    • Beck is the modern master of the groove, and Guero is merely the latest example of this. From the opening power chords of "E-Pro," to the Pac-Man cuteness of "Girl," to the dirge-like lullab

  • Mystics Anonymous

    • 8 out of 10
    • Mystics Anonymous
    • Mystics Anonymous is the brainchild project of Jeff Steblea, a fantastic songwriter and good friend of mine, as well. In fact, I even played the drums on all but one of the tracks on this album. Jef
  • An Evening with George Shearing & Mel Torm�

    • 10 out of 10
    • Mel Torm� & George Shearing
    • Of the three men who taught me how to sing, the last was Mel Torme. Apparently, Mel Torme is a joke to anyone more than a decade older than me, a living parody of a Vegas crooner. But I stumbled on th
  • Suspended Animation

    • 8 out of 10
    • Fantomas
    • Mike Patton may well be one of the hardest working men in showbiz these days, and his latest with Fantômas underscores just about how far out he is willing to travel.

      Suspended Animation

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In-Depth Review

iceBar2 iPod nano Case & Speaker System

iceBar2, from Atlantic, Inc., is an integrated iPod case and miniature speaker system for all three generations of iPod nano. But it's a nano case and speaker system with a nifty twist -- the whole kit and kaboodle is waterproof.

The last time I reviewed a waterproof case (Otterbox; May 2, 2007) I was impressed, but in real life I never used it once the review was done, mostly because the waterproof earphones I reviewed with it (H2O Audio Waterproof Headphones; May 2, 2007) weren't very good. The nicest thing I could say about them was:

They work. You can listen to music, even when your head is completely immersed. But that's about all I can say for them. The sound quality is so-so, they're not particularly comfortable, and the coiled cable ("to eliminate tangles") is shorter than I'd have liked.

Because iceBar2 combines a case, amplifier, and a pair of tiny speakers, the whole waterproof headphone thing is a moot point. And as a result I'm using this product every day and enjoying it immensely.

iceBar2 has several compelling features besides its waterproof-ness and built-in speakers... For one thing, I really like the integrated flip-out stand:

And I appreciate the click-wheel membrane, which provides full control of my iPod nano. Another nice touch is that it includes a wrist strap and floatable buoy so if you accidentally drop it in the pool or bathtub, it won't sink to the bottom.

Speaking of submerging, the instruction booklet implies that it might not be such a good idea. To wit:

Although the product is waterproof, it is not designed for use underwater. Do not submerge underwater.

So, of course, I felt obliged to do just that. (There's no end to the things I'll do for you, gentle reader.) Anyway, I dropped it into the bathtub a couple of times for a couple of minutes and my iPod nano was dry and unscathed both times.

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out a couple of things that irritated me. First, while the unit has an automatic shut down feature, it works by detecting audio input. So although the feature works as promised, it only works if you pause or turn your iPod off. If you leave your iPod playing you'll not only run down the iceBar2 batteries (4 x AAA) but you'll drain your iPod's battery as well. I'd have preferred a timer that didn't depend on me remembering to do something (i.e. pause or turn off the iPod).

And although the amp and speakers sound pretty darn good considering the size of the unit, I found that I could barely hear soft passages -- like the introduction to Maroon 5's live acoustic rendition of If I Fell or the first part of Wilco's At Least That's What You Said, from (A Ghost is Born) -- in the shower.

Still, none of these gripes is a deal-breaker. I like this little device and expect to use it in my shower for a long, long time.

The Bottom Line

I like to listen to music when I shower, shave, or take a bath and so far this is the best thing I've found. I just wish it could be turned up just a wee bit louder.

Just The Facts

Pros:Works with all three generations of iPod nano, built-in amp, speakers, and stand; full iPod functionality even in the shower,

Cons:Occasionally not loud enough, automatic shut down only works if you pause or turn off your iPod, not submergible.

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