In addition to the new Mac mini announced at Apple's special press event last week, the company added two new iPod accessories to its product lineup. The least interesting is a $100 leather case, in sizes for the full-sized iPod and iPod nano. The other is more ambitious: an amplified speaker enclosure called the iPod Hi-Fi. Apple claims that unlike some other iPod boom boxes on the market, the new system produces "home stereo quality" sound.

<http://www.apple.com/ipodhifi/>

The iPod Hi-Fi has a three-driver system, with two 80mm mid-range drivers and a 130mm dual voice coil woofer with a ported bass reflex design. On the top is a universal iPod dock, which includes plug-ins for every iPod model that uses a dock connector; an audio port on the back lets you plug in an iPod Shuffle or an older iPod without a dock connector.

For portable use, the iPod Hi-Fi has built-in handles and runs on six D-cell batteries (though at 16.7 pounds (7.6 kg), you may not be quick to blast your tunes from your shoulder around the neighborhood). It also has an integrated power supply and an industrial design meant to look good on a living room bookshelf.

Thanks to a new iPod software update, iPods plugged into the iPod Hi-Fi will have a new Speakers item in the main menu to adjust speaker settings. The iPod Hi-Fi also includes the same Apple Remote included with Front Row-capable Macs.

The iPod Hi-Fi is available now for $350.

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