Damn them. Just in time for the tax refund, too.

I don't get a refund this year. I spent so much time working self-employed last year, with no taxes taken out of my check, I have to come up with about $1,000 by April 15th. Feh. FEH, I say!

Oh, Sean, that sucks something very large and unpleasant.

That sucks, Sean.

Well, at least you didn't wait until the last minute to do taxes, so you have a little warning.

ION, the Apple Boombox sounds nice - good integration between it and iPod. But no iPods with larger HD. If I buy a 60 Gig now, I'll probably have it filled again in a year or so.

iPod Hi-Fi
Home stereo. Reinvented.
Looks like a center channel speaker with iPod dock on top.
Comes with inserts for every iPod. Two buttons - volume control.
Pull black grille off of white box to reveal three speaker drivers.
Integrated power supply - no brick.
Power it off of six D-size batteries if you want. "Several hours outside."
Two 80mm mid-range drivers in sealed acoustic suspension.
In center is 130mm dual voice coil woofer, ported bass reflex design.
Great bass, doesn't distort when cranked up.
Universal Dock connector and integrated handles.
It's a sealed resin enclosure, and doesn't vibrate.
IPod integration: there's a software update for iPods that puts a speaker menu item in the main menu.
Tone control, backlight always on or off, large album art on or off.
Screen can go black and just show album art.
Controlled with the Apple Remote.
Price: $349 - Goes on sale today.

link has pictures.

I wonder how the sound would compare to my crappy stereo with really good speakers....

Oh well - I'll just keep on running a long cable from my iPod to my stereo for now.

eta. Huh. It does look cool....

I want the iPod stereo. HMOG, I want it. I just haven't figured out if it would work with my 4thGen iPod.

Deets on the new Mac Mini:

New Mac mini
Based on Intel
Intel Core Solo, Intel Core Duo versions
2.5x - 3.2x faster
Same exact form factor
Front Row software
IR sensor on right of disc slot
Six button Apple remote
-- New Features --
Shared Music - Bonjour technology, allows devices to find themselves automatically over a network, access music library wirelessly.
Shared Photos and Video - Same idea only for photos and videos. Can stream iTunes TV shows.
"Front row with Bonjour" is the software's name.
Media from any other mac or windows computer running iTunes will be piped over to the Mac mini hooked up to your television set.
Mac mini comes with iLife '06.
Standard features: Tiger + iLife '06, Apple Remote + Front Row, Airport Extreme + Bluetooth, DVI Video Out, USB, FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet.
1.5ghz Core Solo 667 mhz fsb, 512mb memory, integrated graphics 60GB drive, combo drive - $599
Second model with Core Duo - 1.67, 80GB drive + SuperDrive - $799
Both available today.

I have a dock set up next to the stereo in my bedroom. And I can stream MP3s to the TiVo for music in the living room.

I do need a good bathroom music solution, though.

My current Mini thinking is to put one in the living room hooked up to the TV with any video files I have, and a simpler method of playing music through the TV speakers. Now with this streaming and Front Row stuff, it gets cooler. Would I get a keyboard and mouse? Perhaps not, if I can VNC it and FrontRow it. Not permanently.

I want the iPod stereo. HMOG, I want it. I just haven't figured out if it would work with my 4thGen iPod.

I think Jobs said it would work with all iPods ever sold....