The GP 400N is nice since it slides back in while not in use, but you do have to charge it separately with a mini USB connection. You get twelve hours of playback on one charge. No real pricing info available yet. [GP-EL via Craziest Gadgets via Geeky Gadgets]

Update: Reader Dan found that they're shipping for $30 (+ shipping) and will come in blue, black, red and silver. Thanks Dan!

They're ¥10,800 ($118). [Product Page (Translated) via Technabob]

Unlike most products in this category, the Music Ball was designed with usability in mind. This foamy ball will sit anywhere, dangle or swing during playback, demanding no support beyond your device's headphone jack. The single white wire and range of appealing colors let the Music Ball double as a fashion accessory (though admittedly not the most masculine one), and the powered speaker ensures that you'll actually be able to hear your music. The battery only lasts about two hours, but it's USB-rechargeable.

The only catch is the price: it's kind of expensive even without importing costs, and once it's shipped over from Japan it comes in at just below $80. If that's not too rich for your blood, the Yuen'To ships in February. [Akihabara]

Each X-Mini II has a woofer and tweeter (pretty neat for such a small package) and is powered by an 11-hour rechargeable battery, which can be re-juiced via USB. Daisy chaining happens via a simple 3.5mm headphone hack that can be tucked away below when you're not pairing it with others. And CNET Asia says the sound quality is pretty exceptional for a compact speaker. I want some—they should be available in March. [CNET Asia]

All-in-all, the conversion cost around $100, with most of the cost tied up in shipping. In the end, a little soldering, gluing and dremmeling resulted in some sweet looking speakers that would naturally go well with any Mac setup. Hit the link for complete instructions. [Voiding Warranties via Hacked Gadgets via CraziestGadgets]

Zikmu, a collaboration between speaker company Parrot and noted super designer Phillipe Starck, is a set of 2.5 feet tall speakers that use Bluetooth to communicate with each other. They apparently broadcast sound 360° arround the room thanks to Parrot's NXT technology, which uses an extra-flat mebrane to create small-scale vibrations across the speakers' entire surface.

"We were not aiming to create just another speaker," says Philippe Starck. "Our design focused more on making the air vibrate. There is actually a three-dimensional feel to this vibration, meaning that the air is palpable, almost humanlike in presence, like a fragrance."

See? Isn't that SO something Nuni/Nooni would utter? What does that even mean? Those of you who appreciate the combo of high art and electronics more than I do can find out in Spring 2009 for the suggested retail price of $1,500. [Ecoustics]

Cases
A case will usually be the first thing people buy for their pods, and the first thing they'll lose. Luckily, they're just about the easiest thing to replace yourself. The most obvious solution is a custom-tailored sock, chosen to suit your taste in color and aroma and fitted to suit your choice in iPod. For a more refined look, sewing together some inner tube and suede will make for a stylish pouch, while utilitarians can opt for the quick, versatile rubber-only approach. If you're just too quirky for a regular case, the venerable Altoid Nano case might get the attention you crave, while the legitimately natty cut-up record sleeve case will do the job just as well, if not better.

Speakers
If you're handy with a soldering iron and have some old audio equipment lying around, there's no reason to dump dollars on a full-fledged iPod speaker dock when you can just build one yourself. Construction homemade unamplified speakers — which sound surprisingly good — is much less of an ordeal. Disposable cups and sheets of printer paper make great little megaphones for your earbuds, and lend themselves well to mounting as a part of a kid-friendly makeshift home stereo.

Docks and Stands
Apple gives iPod/iPhone buyers just about everything they need to throw together a huge variety of charging and sync docks — even the commercial ones are pretty much just the sync wire with some plastic trim. This hack starts small: fantastic iPhone and iPod Touch docks can be made with nothing but a binder clip. The possibilities for LEGO docks are limitless, but generally end up looking like an iThrone. This paperclip box dock provides a good template for chopping an iPod cable into just about anything of a similar shape. The paper clips themselves can be twisted into a 20-second stand, just as a business card can be origamically (?) reshaped into the same.

Other
In the commercial world, this space is inhabited by the shrouded likes of Brando. But who doesn't love that stuff? If you're looking for a jury-rigged AA iPod charging solutions, there's no reason to surrender your credit card number to an iffy Chinese e-commerce site. The same goes for the iPhone 3D image viewing apparatus, though I'm not even sure there's buyable analog for that, Chinese or not. iPhone macro lenses are cool, but almost certainly not worth paying for. Last, and probably least, even though you can't put a price on security, you can reduce the cost of paranoia.

Hat tip to Lifehacker, MAKE and Instructables.

Dealzmodo Hacks are intended to help you sustain your crippling gadget addiction through tighter times. If you come across any on your own that are particularly useful, send it to our tips line (Subject: Dealzmodo Hack). Check back every Thursday for free DIY tricks to breathe new life into hardware that you already own.

The XDR-S10HDiP a tabletop HD Radio with an iTunes tagging service. If you enjoy a song you hear on the airwaves, tag it for future download onto your iPod. Yours for $180.

The SRS-GU10iP is for fancy people. You can tell by the piano black wood finish and the lack of other more technical details. It retails for $150.

SONY DEBUTS IPOD AND iPHONE COMPATIBLE BOOMBOX, HD RADIO WITH iTUNES
TAGGING, CD CLOCK RADIO AND DOCKING SPEAKER

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 19, 2008 - Sony today is taking the wraps off four
audio products that work with current dockable iPod(r) and iPhone(tm)
devices.
The new CD clock radio (model ICF-CD3iP), boombox (model ZS-S4iP), table
top HD Radio(tm) with iTunes Tagging (model XDR-S10HDiP), and docking
speaker (model SRS-GU10iP) let you enjoy music from either iPod or
iPhone. All four products are part of the Made for iPod and Works with
iPhone programs.
Rise and Shine
The ICF-CD3iP device is Sony's first CD clock radio with a
hidden dock for iPod and iPhone devices. It gives users multi-function
flexibility that enables them to listen, wake and fall asleep to their
iPhone or iPod, CDs or radio in the form of a small footprint.
Featuring a large, highly visible liquid crystal display, this clock
radio charges both iPod and iPhone devices. It also includes a remote
control that provides full access to the menu of music functions. It
has a compact, vertical "floating" design that hides the docking
station, offers CD R/RW playback, and has an AM/FM digital tuner.
Tunes On The Go
For iPod and iPhone users who want to experience their music out loud,
Sony is introducing its first boombox that works with both devices. The
ZS-S4iP boombox adds iPhone compatibility and enhanced sound quality
through its Mega Bass(r) Sound system.
The dock on this new boombox secures and charges your iPod or iPhone
while on the go, and features a removable cover so you can directly
control iPod touch and iPhone. A wireless remote allows full menu
control for your CD, radio and the music function of iPod or iPhone.
The unit also offers 20 AM and 10 FM radio presets.
HD Radio for Your Ears
The XDR-S10HDiP is Sony's first HD Radio with iTunes Tagging that is
compatible with the newest generation of 3G iPhone devices, as well as
iPod players. It solves a need for those who want to experience their
music out loud, with rich bass and simulated surround sound.
This new product also charges your device while providing the benefits
of HD Radio, including multi-casting (which offers new FM channels, more
music, news and sports) and clear, crisp sound - all subscription free.
The radio also includes iTunes Tagging, which lets you tag the songs you
like on the radio, for future download to your iPod player. It also
features auxiliary input, as well as 20 AM and FM radio presets.
Dock Me Up
Sony's elegantly designed SRS-GU10iP docking speaker offers high quality
audio and a piano black wood finish. Unlike most docking speakers for
iPod players, this new speaker system is compatible with the newest
generation of 3G iPhone devices as well.
The system also features bass sound and a remote commander for
convenient access. It charges both the iPod and iPhone units, includes
an auxiliary input, and supports AC/DC operation (batteries not
included).
Pricing and Availability
The ZS-S4iP boombox will be available in October for about $100 in black
and white. The ICF-CD3iP CD clock radio will be available later this
month for about $100.
The XDR-S10HDiP HD table radio will also be available this month for
about $180, as will the SRS-GU10iP Sony iPhone/iPod docking speaker for
about $150.
Pre-orders for all four products are now being accepted at
www.sonystyle.com . The ZS-S4iP boombox,
ICF-CD3iP CD clock radio and SRS-GU10iP docking speaker will be
available at Sony Style stores across the county. All four products will
be available online at www.sonystyle.com ,
at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Sharp Docks with New Stereos [T3]

Hurrah for Danish Laydeez Birgitte Smedegaard and Stine Weiss, who have knocked up these Jamo i200 iPod speakers in their garden shed. And they're not too pricey, either—we found them for $149—which is not bad for the crisp sound they will give to your choons. Available in black and white, you can either wallmount it, or stick it on your shelves and have everyone admire it. Remote controlled, the sound system has separate woofers and tweeters, and you can even connect it up to a separate subwoofer should you want more power, Captain.

And while we're at it, hurrah for Brigitte Nielsen too—I'm pretty sure you could wallmount her if you ask nicely. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [B&H Photo Video via Crave at CNET.co.uk]

Compatible with iPods and other MP3 players, you can plug your tunes into these powered speakers and drift off into psychedelia. Don't be scared, it's a round trip. – Charlie White

Lightwave Colour Changing Speakers [Gizoo]

Take the QDOS Genesis vivre en musique portable speaker out into the world, and you'll be carrying 360-degree surround sound wherever you go. Plug your iPod into its dock connector, and its four AA batteries will power four amplified speakers, each driving 3 watts of power, for eight hours of continuous music.

Back at home, it functions as a dock, where you can synchronize and charge your iPod for your next foray out into the wide open spaces. It's $164. – Charlie White

Product Page [QDOS, via Shiny Shiny]

And bamboo, is, you know, sustainable. Get yourself a solar power unit for that iPod, and you'll be set to hunker down all the way through The End Times, where the definition of "sustainable" may mean lasting into the next day. What song will you listen to during the upcoming apocalypse? – Charlie White

Bird-Electron EZ-TAKEGTF2: Electricity-Free, Portable Bamboo Speaker [Treehugger]

The JLab Audio MiniBlaster for iPod nano is a portable speaker system into which you insert your iPod nano, and out comes some really big sound. The small device has the same shape as the iPod nano, except it's about an inch thicker. Using either four AAA batteries or the included AC adapter, the MiniBlaster's two 40mm mylar cone drivers are powered by .5 watts per channel, but crank out a remarkable amount of sound.

Build quality is good, and that 450Hz to 20,000Hz sound spectrum the company says these drivers are capable of is probably an honest spec. Of course, the laws of physics won't let speakers this tiny crank out bass much lower than 450Hz, but the sound coming out of the speakers, while lacking earthshaking bass, was still clean, well defined, and pleasant.

What about volume levels? How loud will they get? Well, holding the unit about 2 feet away from my face, the music was loud enough actually hurt my ears. It's a kick to hold that much sound in the palm of your hand—this baby has enough mojo to make you wanna dance. All in all, I'd say it's a great product for $49.95. Highly recommended. – Charlie White

Charlie's Full Review [Consumer Electronics Net]
Product Page [JLab Audio]

The DJ is a cradle and speaker system that looks like a robotic DJ. Not an animatronic version of Candace Cameron from Full House—an actual DJ. This thing also shines lights and pretends to scratch the wheels of steel while interrupting your music with phrases like "Drop the Beat!" and "Here's another FUNKit exclusive".

Available this fall for $99. – Jason Chen

Too Cool For Old Skool [Popular Mechanics]