Taiwan-based Agios Technology Company has launched the Podio – a portable digital Hi-Fi player made specially for bikes. The cylindrical, pocket-sized music machine has been designed to produce a clear, natural sound, which is intended to be listened to without the need for ear buds. The Podio or portable audio has a proprietary microamp and a full-range Foster speaker adapted from speakers normally fitted into notebooks and palmtop devices. It has 2GB memory capacity, USB 2.0 transfer capability and is compatible with MP3 and WMA players. It has speakers at the front and control buttons at the back. Its battery offers between nine and 20 hours listening time (depending on volume) in speaker mode and up to 60 hours if using earphones. It takes six hours to charge using a USB port and delivers 94 db via a 1.5 watt amp, with total harmonic distortion of just 0.15 percent.

The Podio also features a sleep shutoff mode, which reduces the volume of the music by half after 30 minutes and then switches off completely after an hour. It can be worn around the neck, carried in your pocket or attached to your bike handlebars and is ideal for camping or hiking. It can be used in temperatures of between 14 F and 122 F (-10 C and 50 C).
[Gizmag]