STAMFORD, CONN. —
Harman International
Industries unveiled its first JBL iPaddocking/
charging tabletop speaker, due in
March for $149.
The OnBeat loudspeaker docking station,
which can be used with any iPad, iPhone or
iPod device, enables users to stream Netflix,
watch YouTube, and Skype. However, users
cannot have Skype or Facetime audio conversations
when the iPad is docked, a Harman
spokeswoman told TWICE.
“Currently, Apple does not use the dock
connector as an option, and there is no microphone
on the OnBeat,” she added.
Features include dual Phoenix full-range
transducers with computer-optimized DSP
equalization, a universal connector that lets
an iPod or iPhone screen to rotate to portrait
or landscape mode, and an IR remote.
A composite cable can be connected to
the OnBeat to view content on a TV, and it
also has a USB connection for syncing and
charging, and a 3.5mm aux input.
The OnBeat’s design, described by Harman
as the JBL Weave, features brackets
to attach the iPod, iPhone and iPad to the
dock, and it can charge the device while
docked. It is not AirPlay compatible.
