Apple has quietly updated their Universal Dock product in the Apple Store. Instead of containing just the dock and various different device connectors, the product now comes with Apple’s $19 aluminum remote, as well as an extra USB cord and wall charger. Furthermore, the connectors in the current product are molded to fit any of the following Apple products: iPhone 4/3GS/3G, second-, third-, and fourth-generation iPod touch, and the fifth-generation iPod nano. All that said, Apple has also raised the price from $49 to $59.

The main feature I look for in an iPhone dock is just how far out of the way it can get. I don’t connect my iPhone to my MacBook by habit, but rather just when I’m syncing. The charge can happen overnight, and that’s what makes Scosche’s reviveLITE II – Docking Travel Charger for iPod & iPhone such a great solution. You plug it into a wall outlet, flip open the front, dock your iPhone or iPod, and head off to bed. Good night.

Too often, the divergent goals of portable music and high quality audio lead to sound systems that skimp on the sound quality while simultaneously falling oddly short on portability. Speakers that require AC power but provide only mediocre sound trump both the iPod’s goal of portable music and an uncompromising listening experience that audiophiles demand. Luckily, the i-DS3 Plus falls short in neither of those categories, and brings with it innovative features and a streamlined interface that make its use a truly enjoyable listening experience.

Apple connectivity is showing up in the strangest of places. Case in point? Denon’s newly introduced S-5BD BD/Receiver, an innovative single-component home entertainment solution that elegantly combines an audiophile grade 5.1-channel surround sound receiver with an advanced Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player featuring BD Live connectivity. Oh, and iPod connectivity.

Given its broad acceptance as an audio technology, it is only natural that Bluetooth is now cutting the cords between music players and speakers. The Tenqa SP-109 is an excellent introduction to that market, handily allowing the separation of your music source (laptop/iPhone/other device) from the speakers on which you listen to it.

Last week, we randomly selected a winner in our Red, White and iBoo giveaway. If you didn’t win, no worries; you can still take advantage of Appletell’s 20% off special at Sepakal through July 30th. While you’re at Sepakal’s, check out the other great products they planned for release in 2009. There’s some really cool looking stuff in there.

It’s July 12th, meaning it’s the last day of entries for our iBoo giveaway. Courtesy of our friends at Speakal, one lucky Appletell reader will be randomly selected to receive an iBoo iPod Docking Station and 2.1 speaker system ($89.99 value). And to enter, all you have to do is tell us what song you’d like to play on it.

It’s the 4th of July again, that time of year when the British celebrate losing control of us bothersome Americans, and we celebrate paying taxes to our own government, thank you very much. And what better way for you to join the festivities than to pay taxes on your very own giveaway prize…an iBoo iPod Docking Station and 2.1 speaker system from Speakal. The winner will be able to make his/her selection from the red, white or blue model.

The iHome iP9 is a dual alarm clock radio and iPod speaker dock unit that does everything you’d expect based on that description. It will play your iPod’s music, the radio and auxiliary audio, and it will do all of this for you in the wee hours of the morning we love so very dearly. What really sets iP9 apart from its competitors is the level of detail and quality that iHome put into this product.

This weekend, an event by the name of The Gadget Show Live is being held in Birmingham, UK. Hosted by the presenters of the Channel 5 program, The Gadget Show, featured over 120 companies showing off the latest tech. Although Apple didn’t make an appearance, their products and ideas still came through.