Any iPhone or iPod user knows they are capable of amazing things. After only having mine for just over a week, I have found that I can listen to any radio station in the world, calculate my daily intake of calories, and monitor my workout statistics when I run (among endless other cool things).

Apps come in so many variations and are downloadable free or a small charge. Nike and Apple have combined forces to create the application for monitoring workout statistics using a small, inexpensive device. The Nike + sensor, for iPod and iPhone, will calculate time, distance, pace, and calories burned during your workout.

The Nike + sensor is easy to use, but seems to always elicit one question over and over again…. How can I change the battery? The short answer, you can’t—or better said; you shouldn’t. Nike + is disposable.

The Connect Tech computer repair center in the Abt showroom, along with Josh Davis wanted to test the idea of changing a battery. We filmed it so that you too would be able to see why disposing of the device and buying a new one for $19.99 really is the only option.

-Kelly B.

So, I did it. I joined the iPhone revolution. I love the phone and now I get to spend time getting accessories and apps for it.

Yesterday I walked into the Apple Store inside the Abt showroom to look for a case. I had an idea of what I wanted, something stylish and functional. The Tech 21 iBand is the one I had my eye on.

Tech 21 changed the iPhone case market. The iBand is capable of withstanding a beating—literally. It is made from a material that is pliable like play dough yet when stressed becomes as hard as a rock. It will protect an iPhone if dropped from a two story building. Certainly, that would be the case for me. I also purchased a Switch Easy screen protector for additional security.

Admittedly, I was a little intimidated looking for accessories for my phone. It’s new and I haven’t used anything like it before. The Apple sales specialists calmed my nerves and were able to answer all of my questions.

If you would like more information on cases for an iPhone, iPod, or Apple accessories, speak with an Apple sales specialist today.

-Kelly B.

The Sonos S5 Zone player has arrived. This is a really cool innovation from Sonos. It’s a wireless, one-piece speaker system that works with an iPhone or iPod Touch. Unlike most docking stations, the S5 doesn’t require the iPhone or iPod Touch to be docked in the unit itself.

Sonos took speaker systems to another level with the S5. Controlling the S5 is done from your iPhone or iPod Touch using a downloadable, free app. Set-up is a breeze; all you have to do is search for the new speaker on your iPhone or iPod Touch, press two buttons on the S5, and you are ready to go. By having multiple S5 speaker systems you can play different songs in different rooms or using party mode—play the same song in different rooms.

The S5 gives you the freedom of keeping your iPhone or iPod Touch with you instead of docking it. You can browse through 25,000 free internet stations, millions of songs streaming on the internet, or your entire iTunes library—not just what is stored on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Also, if you receive a text or incoming call while music is playing, it won’t interrupt the music.

-Kelly B.

Will Motorola’s new Droid be the future of smart phones? Available for pre-order now, the $199 Droid has some features that other smart phones don’t have.

Voice activated search is the stand-out characteristic this phone has that others don’t. How does it work? By using the voice-activated search, users will be able to say something like grocery store into the phone and it will immediately create a list of grocery stores in the area—with turn-by-turn and spoken directions.

Will the Droid give iPhone a run for its money, according to the executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon, no. The Droid is looked at as more of an alternative to the iPhone—not a replacement.

Motorola boasts a richer web, sharper photos, and a DVD-quality recorder. It’s got the thinnest QWERTY sliding keyboard on the market and super-fast 3G speed for quicker searches.

Will you see the Droid at Abt? Come in or check out our selections of cell phones.

-Kelly B.

September 9-12, 2009 was the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) expo in Atlanta. Mike Abt and Jim Kozicki checked out all the new electronics that we can expecting to see at the Abt store in upcoming months. They saw some really cool new technology.

Pioneer and Yamaha both brought new iPod speaker systems and sound bars. Pioneer’s a new 2.1 speaker system and a new 2.1 soundbar system with a wireless subwoofer. E-Tap is their new web-based media storage system. With E-Tap storage of photos, music, and streaming video will be available on the internet.

Yamaha’s new iPod speaker dock, the PDX60, comes with a wireless dongle which transmits music to the main station from a remote location. PDX60 is iPhone compatible and because the wireless dock overrides the main dock operation it is possible to charge two iPhones at once. Yamaha’s soundbar has a slim speaker bar with a subwoofer and controller unit that runs the whole system. There was also a cool network receiver, new from Yamaha, the RXV2065. It has an App which works on the iPhone and iTouch that controls the receiver.

Quite a few new speakers made an appearance at CEDIA this year. Definitive technology, Klipsch, Kef, and Polk Audio had a great showing. Definitive showed their new MYTHOS speaker. Meant to be wall mounted, at a svelte 1.5” deep, it’s thinner than some LED TVs on the market. This MYTHOS speaker is a multi-woofer, single-tweeter LCR speaker. In keeping with the tradition of the MYTHOS line, this speaker too, is made out of the extruded aluminum.

Klipsch’s offering at this years expo, is their new down-firing, lower-priced subwoofer. The 8” SW350 will retail at $349 and the 10” SW45 will be $449.

Kef displayed a wireless subwoofer and a new wireless soundbar product.

Polk Audio also brought an ultra-thin 50” soundbar. New additions to their IHT line were new at the expo. They showed a larger speaker for use with a 50” TV, and a shallower version for a smaller TV. There were also inwall/inceiling speakers that had a unique bezel that almost vanishes when painted.

Denon brought a Blu-ray-receiver unit that combines a high-quality Blu-ray player and amplifier in a one-piece solution for just $1799.

Panamax came up with something really unique for the show and consumers this year. They have come out with a surge protector/line conditioner, the M4315, which can be programmed with an IP address for remote monitoring of a system—from a power angle. The unit will store data about spikes, surges, and dropouts for the life of the system. An additional battery will be available for the unit too, model MB1500.

Sonos was excited to let everyone know that when using their new CR200—you can Tweet about what you are listening to—or anything else.

The XBR10 was the TV, from the Sony camp, that got a lot of notice. It’s a side-lit, ultra-thin, LED TV with a wireless media box that keeps the TV free from wires, giving it a super-clean look. Also, from Sony this year, a new network Blu-ray player that streams music and video from the web. The Blu-ray, BDPN460, will sell for $249. Finally, from Sony this year, is a receiver that can be programmed with an IP address for remote troubleshooting. This receiver is compatible with Crestron and Control4 products right out of the box, equaling no complicated programming

For more information on the products at CEDIA, contact an Abt sales specialist.

-Kelly B.