Griffin Technology has announced a product that will make many potential iBook owners very happy indeed. The company has announced iMic (you have to LOVE that name!) which allows iBook owners to use almost any microphone on the market, according to Griffin Technology, through the iBook's USB port. According to Griffin Technology:
Griffin Technology, Inc. today announced the iMic Audio adapter which allows users to take advantage of virtually any inexpensive microphone on the new Apple iBook systems. The iBooks, which are slated to ship in September are the first Macs in recent history that do not natively support sound input. The iMic will provide this support through the iBook's USB port. The iMic will provide professional quality sound input with support for stereo input at up to 48 Khz. The iMic is slated to ship at the same time as the new iBook computers.
"This product rocks," said Jason Litchford, product manager for the iMic. "It will allow iBook owners to immediately use any of the thousands of microphones that are already available". The iMic, just like the Griffin Technology NE Mic Plaintalk audio adapter which brought mainstream microphones to the Mac desktop, is a universal audio solution for Mac users.
At $25.00, Griffin Technology iMic audio adapter will offer a great low priced solution for both novice and professional Digital Musicians, Audio/Video producers, Multimedia Designers, Voice Recognition users, and Anyone who wishes to record sound with their iBook. The adapter is USB based and has both 1/8" and RCA left and right inputs. It can also support XLR and 1/4" connectors with a separate adapter. The iMic will be available for for direct, reseller, and OEM sales.
Key Features:
- Supports better than CD quality at up to 48 Khz sampling.
- Works with virtually any microphone.
- Both 1/8 " stereo and stereo L&R RCA inputs.
- Incredible value at only $25.
Supports:
- Line Level Microphones
- Mic Level Microphones
- Multimedia devices
- Headsets
- Communications devices
Griffin Technology is accepting pre-orders on the iMic, though the product will not ship until the iBook ships in September. You can find product information and ordering info at the company's web site.
The Mac Observer Spin: First of all, how awesome is the name iMic? We totally think that is one of the most clever names to come down the pike in a long time. That aside, this is a great product for iBook users. The two biggest complaints we have heard about the iBook is the lack of a sound-in port and the lack of video out.
With the iMic, both of these needs are met through third party products (USBPresnter from AverMedia being one of the solutions for video-out). It certainly will add more cost to the product, but having those options built in to the iBook would have had the same affect.
Griffin Technology
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