New products: Panda and friends connect - USA TODAY

By Deborah Porterfield, Special for USA TODAY

Updated

This weekly roundup takes a look at the practical and sometimes quirky aspects of tech products.

Electric Friends

Sing Sing the Panda is a portable docking station for your iPod or iPhone.

Panda & Friends connect

How cute! That's the best way to describe Sing Sing the Panda, a portable docking station for your iPod or iPhone. Part of the Electric Friends line, the white panda sports big black speaker eyes, perky volume-control ears and a removable lid that covers the recharging dock. Equipped with two five watt-speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack, the panda can deliver music via your docked device or a connected music player. While the speakers aren't powerful enough for an all-out party, they deliver plenty of oomph for small gatherings. The portable system can be powered by the included AC adapter or four optional AA batteries. Priced at $70 each, the lineup also includes Chew Chew the Dog, Kwack Kwack the Duck and Ki Ki the Cat.

www.bemyelectricfriend.com

Stop the tangles

Tired of untangling cords? You won't have to worry about tangles while wearing the CordCruncher Headphone. Designed with an elastic sleeve, the length of the earbud's cord can be adjusted from 16 inches to 3.5 feet long. Available in blue, white, black or red, the CordCruncher Headphone can be worn as a bracelet or necklace. It costs $25.

www.cordcruncher.com

Get away with all your tech favorites

If you can't imagine getting away â€" even for a weekend â€" without your laptop, e-reader and other gizmos, a new duffel bag from Skooba Design promises to ease your mind. Compact enough to stash in an overhead bin, the Laptop Weekend V.3 bag has a padded section that can hold up to a 15-inch laptop, a padded sleeve that can stash a tablet or e-reader and another padded compartment that can hold a phone, a camera and other tech gear. Oh, and it also has room for a couple day's worth of clothes. Made of tough nylon, the bag has a shock-absorbing shoulder strap, a sturdy handle and a rubberized bottom. It costs about $180.

www.skoobadesign.com

Headphones make the switch

Wicked Audio puts you in charge with a DJ switch on the cord of its Solus headphones. Depending on your mood â€" or the tune â€" you can switch between stereo or mono. You also can boost or lower the volume. Built with an adjustable headband and padded ear-cups, the red and black headphones come with a braided, tangle-resistant cord, an extension cord, a gold-plated plug and a carrying pouch. The headphones can be purchased for about $55.

www.wickedaudio.com

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E-mail new product suggestions to techporterfield@gmail.com.

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