Wish List: Zeppelin iPod speaker system sounds as good as it looks

This sleek, sculptural device is designed with ergonomics in mind but doesn't skimp on performance.

Zeppelin, Dh2,490 at Archimedia, Bu Ameem Building, Umm Hurair Road, Dubai (04 337 0181).

When it comes to electrical goods, smart manufacturers know that aesthetics are just as important as performance. It's no longer enough that your top-of-the-range TVs, speakers and iPod docking stations get the job done - they have to look the part, too. As an ubiquitous feature of any modern home, they have to be design elements in themselves.

Enter the Zeppelin iPod speaker system, with its sleek lines and elliptical shape. Made of polished stainless steel with a black trim and grilles in black cloth, the Zeppelin is more sculpture than speaker. It's also designed with ergonomics in mind, with a docking port that allows the user to grasp and use the iPod as if it were resting in the palm of their hand.

The spring-loaded docking port also flexes to accommodate iPods of varying depths and can work with all of the latest generation iPods, including the nano, classic and touch versions. It also works with and charges the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Moreover, the award-winning Zeppelin is produced by Bowers & Wilkins, the makers of some of the most advanced high-fidelity speaker systems in the world, so it sounds as good as it looks.

The Zeppelin costs Dh2,490 and is available at Archimedia in the Bu Ameem Building, Umm Hurair Road, Dubai (04 337 0181).