Lightning Strikes with Two JBL Speakers Sporting Apple’s New Lightning Connector

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Accessories equipped with Apple’s new, smaller Lightning Connectors are finally beginning to roll out. The other day we brought news of Belkin’s lightning-equipped car charger. Today we get word that JBL has announced two new speakers that also work with the iPhone 5, iPad mini and other current generation iOS devices. Priced at $99 and $199, one of the speakers is great on the go, while the other will happily take up residence in your kitchen or next to your bed.

Both feature the updated connection; here’s a look.

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The JBL OnBeat Micro is

…an ultra-portable, acoustically sophisticated speaker that fits easily into a backpack, purse or briefcase. The JBL OnBeat Micro provides up to 5 hours of playback when used with batteries and charges the iPhone 5, the iPod touch 5th generation and the new iPod nano when used with the included AC adapter. The portable speaker also includes a built-in USB connector to power and play other portable devices. The JBL OnBeat Micro includes a free, downloadable JBL music app to create customized playlists, adjust volume and browse album artwork.

At a price of $99.95 it is a cost-effective way to get better sound out of your iPhone 5 while getting power into it. And, thanks to its use of AAA batteries, you can take it on the go! Learn more here.

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At $199.95 the JBL OnBeat Venue costs double the price of the OnBeat Micro but delivers bigger sound and adds wireless Bluetooth streaming. The JBL OnBeat Venue LT

…features a hidden Lightning dock connector behind the JBL logo at the speaker’s base. Ideal for the iPad Mini and revised iPad with Retina display, HARMAN’s exclusive TrueStream Bluetooth wireless streaming technology allows the JBL OnBeat Venue LT to connect with up to eight devices, providing additional device flexibility. The JBL OnBeat Venue LT includes the free, downloadable MusicFlow™ app, which allows users to create customized playlists, edit mixes, adjust volume and EQ settings, and browse album artwork.

The JBL OnBeat Venue LT is $199.

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.