The Android market is, as we all know, woefully fragmented. Thankfully, Philips has finally figured out how to make a standalone speaker system that can connect to any Android device, regardless of manufacturer.
The Philips Fidelio series comprises three tiers of devices, the flagship AS851 model and two smaller versions. The AS851 features 30 Watt speakers, a multi-position micro USB port, five band equalizer and remote control. The micro USB port can be reconfigured to fit any brand of Android phone, yet isn’t actually used to play music— it’s really only for charging the device. Instead, users are expected to rely on the Philips Fidelio App that wirelessly streams music from the device via a Bluetooth connection. Huzzah?
The AS851 retails for £199 and is currently available. It’s not quite as elegant solution as the audio docks coming out of Cupertino, but is handy for households that don’t use Apple (like mine). [Philips via PC Advisor]
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