Tried and tested - MP3 & 4 players and accessories - Tiscali Shopping

Take a look at this week's tried and tested products for inspiration on what's new in the market. Time to upgrade your MP3 player for a flash new MP4 one? Find out what we thought.

"Simply plug in your iPod, MP3 player or even your mobile phone, for a fun way to listen to music and carry personal possessions securely."

What we thought: I wish I knew the person who came up with the concept for Shady Beats. Clearly, my lifestyle is somewhat lacking in leisure activity if I never had the need before now for this product. I can see an indispensable place for it in my future, however. Shady Beats is a sunglasses case with a portable speaker in-built so you can listen to your "beats" whilst reclining on the beach with your sunglasses on, watching the world go by, safe in the knowlegde that your MP3 player and sunglasses are protected. The hard casing is water-resistant and made from a hi-tech fabric that protects it from scratching, sand, dirt and water. You plug your MP3 player into the lead attached to the case itself and zip the whole thing up into a neat self-contained battery-powered package. The design on the casing is quite funky and comes in different options, whilst the sound quality is impressive.

The concept is a clever idea and obviously is not restricted just to the beach. I can see that I'll find it useful for traveling as its small and lightweight and there's a handy pouch inside for keys of coins. The other appealing aspect of the Shady Beats is that it's quite discreet (it doesn't have any obvious speaker outlets on the outside) and is therefore unlikely to attract the wrong kind of attention. Full marks for an ingenious concept and for design practicality.
  £24.99

"Appearances can be deceptive so don't be fooled by the iDS-05's compact exterior as the 15watt speakers provide fantastic quality audio output in an extremely small space.The slim line remote will also adjust the treble and bass and has a sophisticated menu button which will allow you to directly access your iPod listings."

What we thought: This is one great looking piece of kit - black, glossy and very stylish. The remote control that comes with it is just as gorgeous. Now onto the sound - excellent, especially for such a small unit. The bass is unbelievable even at the highest volume setting. The bass and treble are also adjustable. However, when it comes to fancy features it does end there. I would love to see this as an alarm clock. Also available in silver and white. Loved it.
 

Touted as the 'ultimate party pack' capable of using 'any digital music player...listen to music on-the-go.'

What we liked: Available in either pink or blue, this back pack is clearly aimed at the 'yoof' market with it's funky, patterned design on the front. Incredibly simple to use (3 AA batteries required) - just connect your music player (we tried a second generation iPod) to the supplied connecting wire and off you go. It's a novel idea, and would be brilliant in the garden or at festivals/the park with friends. The front panel acts as the speakers, which is rather unusual, and musical vibrations can be felt whilst carrying the pack. With in-built speakers this pack means there's no the need to carry around any extra kit. Internally, the backpack has many useful compartments, with a multitude of inner and outer side pockets and zips, but I particularly like the 'secret' inner section at the bottom of the rucksack, very useful if this pack is likely to be left in amongst a group of people. Adjustable straps and padding on the back make this a comfortable backpack for people of all shapes and sizes.

What we disliked: Whilst on full volume the sound was not incredibly loud, however on the flip side it was also loud enough not to intrude on people's privacy in a public places. We really feel that this backpack would have been so much more energy efficient (and provide unlimited music use) if it had been solar powered - especially as this backpack is likely to be sitting out in the sun whilst being used! Also, there was nothing provided to help prop up the backpack to fully project the music.

Reviewed April 2007.
  £99.99

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