Need a new buddy for your iPhone that takes advantage of your music library? The Sonos ZonePlayer S5 is an all-in-one wireless music system designed to work with the iPhone to bring all the music the internet has to offer to every corner of the home. Unlike traditional docks, you don't have to leave your iPhone connected and unavailable for use to enjoy music. With the S5, you can queue up whatever you'd like to hear from your own iTunes library collection or any of the major online music sources and slip your phone back in your pocket.

The S5 has a five-driver speaker system-- two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier and optimized to deliver room-filling sound with smooth tonal balance and deep bass. The free Sonos Controller for iPhone app lets you choose the music and control the volume. The S5 also includes free Sonos Controller software for your Mac or PC. It sells for $399 and will be available starting at the end of this month. Check out a video of the S5 in action after the jump.

I would love to be an iPhone app developer that is well connected to the luxury world. I would have clients waiting in line to get their own iPhone app making it possible for trendy mobile phone goers to check out watches and jewelry on the go. It is really effective actually. People who have iPhones are eating up their free time by always playing with apps. What used to be time for important self reflection and idle thought can now be used for enjoying more media consumption. It makes sense to have this time filled with virtual window shopping. Pictured is one of David Yurman's newest watches, the Classic Chronograph as seen in the application.

David Yurman's free iPhone application gives you a view of their jewelry and watch collection. You can look at images of the items up close in glorious detail, check out promotional videos, find stores close by so that you get yell at your driver to quickly alter their course, share your top picks with buddies, and even buy watches. Purchasing is done through a "David Yurman personal shopper," but this is one step closer to Internet sales, which is a fantastic thing. If you want this application, and you have an iPhone, I don't need to tell you where to get it.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

There's likely no end in sight to the number of iPhone apps to come. So I'm going to tell you about one more, OK? You'll thank me. Actually, thank The New York Times: Designer fashion hub Net-a-Porter.com released its iPhone application, the Net-App, in mid-July. Shoppers can browse handbags, clothes and shoes; read the site's weekly fashion stories; and make purchases. The Times noted that even though some people use their cell phones to buy virtual goods to use in mobile games or e-books to read on their phones, the masses have not shown much willingness to buy physical goods - especially expensive ones - from their cell phones. (Kind of like how early online purchases, of anything, were made by the few and the brave; now, it's second nature.)

But Net-a-Porter.com, which went live in 2000 and states it has 1.8 million visitors a month, succeeded in getting people to buy $4,000 gowns and $1,000 stilettos on the Web, so iPhone app success may be in sight. The potential for shopping on phones "is massive," said Alison Loehnis, v.p. of sales and marketing at Net-a-Porter.com, in the Times. "We feel very strongly that third-generation technology is the new shop window. No one wants to be bound to their computer anymore."

Net-a-Porter.com is not the first to offer an iPhone shopping app: there's Lucky at Your Service from Lucky magazine and ShopStyle Mobile from ShopStyle. Net-a-Porter, however, developed a tool it calls ClosetFlow, which shows users small images of new products to thumb through. Shoppers can zoom in, flip the phone to look at items from different directions, and read more detailed information about them. The shopper can add the items to a wish list to access later from a computer or buy from within the application, without opening a separate browser window.

Loehnis noted in the article: "Our customers love to shop from their homes or offices, but we want our customers to be able to shop from a cab or while waiting in line and really maximize what little free time they have."

[Thanks to my savvy sister, GP]

Everybody is getting into the iPhone app business this year, even outdoors retailer L.L. Bean. The purveyor of tote bags, flannel shirts other New England staples has a free game for the iPhone and iPod Touch called "Moosentration." It works similar to the game of Concentration only in this case the images include boots, canoes, fishing lures and other L.L. Bean merchandise. So far you can't buy L.L. Bean clothing through the app, for now it's just a test and a way to interact with customers. The company's core business is still done through its flagship store in Freeport, Maine and through catalog shopping but a free app is an interesting way to test out just how tech-savvy today's L.L. Bean shopper is.

[via Portland Press Herald]

Okay, so it seems like Christie's is looking for any way it can to get into your wallet. Can you blame the auction house? Even with the occasional touch of good news, 2009 has generally been a dismal year, thanks to a global economic crisis that has brought the art market back down to Earth (hell, some would say six feet under it). Any business guru would tell you that when the market sucks, you need to find a new revenue stream. And, iPhone apps offer a brand new bandwagon to jump on, so why not?

This is a pretty wild development for a company that celebrated its tenth anniversary when the colonies declared independence (Christies was founded in 1766, if you couldn't figure it out). The iPhone will stand alongside the gavel, if all goes well, as the implement by which an auction is defined.

Christie's hopes that the bidding application will attract new money bidders to the auction house, ideally to pick up some of the lots that aren't moving and to possibly push prices up a bit. Think about it: if you're not into the auction scene, going to one of those things is a friggin' drag. Unless you move heaven and earth to get "approved," you're stuck in the back with the prolies – standing. That's no way to spend money! And, the dress code? If I hit it big, my first move would be to never wear a suit again. My jeans would lead to discrimination, so the iPhone app makes sense ... as long as there are wealthy versions of me out there (and I think there are).

Obviously committed to promoting how brilliant this idea is, Christie's draws a parallel to bids from its Christie's LIVE website, which accounted for 11 percent of the lots sold last year. There's no comment on what the website's been worth this year. But, let's be fair. The auction house is having trouble selling through any channel, so we can't blame innovation.

The other day I mentioned a company working on virtual shopping technology that lets you try on watches via computer. But how about engagement ring shopping by iPhone? Stuller has partnered with Gemvision Corp. on an app that lets you try on a ring no matter where you are using the iPhone camera. The app is called "Live Diamond Try-On (brought to you by Red Box Diamonds)" and will be available for free this summer from the App store. Users can select a diamond engagement ring, choosing metal, carat size, style and more then try it out for size on their own hand. To get the full effect you can put the iPhone on your hand and tilt it to get a sense of the ring's sparkle as it shifts. The image can be saved and e-mailed and posted on Facebook or Twitter. The user can then get the real thing using the app's "find a jeweler" function. Will this lead to virtual proposals with no real ring required?

Proving once again that luxury brands have no sense of humor, Cartier sued Apple over an iPhone app that displayed obvious fake watches including a version that looked like Cartier's popular Tank design. The "Fake Watch" and "Fake Watch Gold Edition" apps allowed users to show the time on " look-alike famous wristwatches" on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. The obvious fakes used names like "Relax" for Rolex and "Carpark" for Cartier. "Fake Watch" was a free download and "Fake Watch Gold Edition" sold for 99 cents in Apple's iTunes store. No word on if Cartier sued the maker of the app, Digitopolis Game Studio.

But almost as soon as the fracas began, it was over. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cartier is withdrawing the suit that it filed earlier in the same day after the apps were removed from iTunes.

The one word I keep hearing when people describe the new iPhone app from our sister blog Daily Finance is slick. And indeed it is. It offers free real-time stock quotes from BATS Exchange and 15-minute delayed quotes from NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX; real-time financial news that lets you track business, company, and sector news and dozens of other news topics from over 3,000 sources; interactive charts; the ability to create up to 25 different portfolios and watchlists and much more. It's user-friendly and it's the kind of app you can live in, following it from basic market status to the news and research on various companies. Best of all, it's free. You can download it here and see a video on how it works here and for some screenshots click over to TUAW's review.

Here's an interesting reason to go on a cruise, help with your gadgets. Crystal Cruises is offering the services of a "technology concierge" whose job it is to train and educate guests on their latest gadgets. The concierges can tell you how to get the most from your iPhone, Blackberry, Kindle or GPS device. The ships' Crystal's Bistros will offer the latest technology magazines and Crystal's "Gadget Committee" plans to continually add new technology and update their in-house education to ensure the Technology Concierges remain current. I just want to know where you apply to be a technology concierge.

I've been known to complain about pink gadgets and pink gadget cases but these pink iPhone cases are girly without being dainty. Element Case is offering a Limited Edition Valentine's Liquid Case that fits the classic iPhone and iPhone 3G. It's a tough case that protects your phone on all sides. The hard shell case is built to withstand rough handling and offers access to all ports. And once your phone is locked in, it's not going anywhere. The case has flip lids that protect the screen when not in use. Built especially for those that use play games on the iPhone, the case offers a little extra room to hold on, making it function a little more like a PSP or Nintendo DS.

The Valentine artwork was developed by graphic designer Nancy Ogami. They will make 100 custom back painted pearlescent pink cases each numbered and is customized with "your message or name" engraved on both the gray lid and the translucent flip lid. The case sells for $119 and the last order processing day for guaranteed shipping by Valentine's Day is February 10 (February 7 for Europe).

Bose is out, the iHome is in. The iHome is made specifically to house your various Apple devices and the sound it creates packs a punch!

The iHome devices are equipped to operate with iPods and iPhones as well as Zunes and most MP3 players with an audio cord - or even Bluetooth technology.

The range runs from $49.95 to $199.99 and any order over $99.00 comes with free earbuds. Our pick? The Rotating Alarm Clock, $79.99, at right. Check out the gallery to see what it does (it flips!), and for more cool products like the color-changing iPod player.

Shop the iHome store here (finally, a music site that doesn't crash your web browser).

Phone customizer extraordinaire Peter Aloisson is at it again, creating a new most expensive phone. We've seen diamond iPhones before but this one is worth 1.79 million euros (around $2.45 million). The phone doesn't just feature a generous sprinkling of brilliant cut diamonds around the edges, it also features the King's button, a home button with a 6.6 carat diamond. The diamonds are set in white, yellow and rose gold.

[via The Telegraph]

Perfect for any iPod device or iPhone, the DEOS diamond headphone covers add just a bit of bling to your earphone thing. Depending on the diamonds you choose the price can range from $4,500 in black and white to $60,000 when adding colorful diamonds of yellow and pink hues. If you're going to spend thousands to decorate your earbuds, especially more than $5,000, DEOS (Defining Expressions of Sound) is at least willing throw in a complimentary shuffle or iTouch.

[via Cult of Mac]

The iPhone 3G is a beautiful accessory, yet to be properly attired...till now. Orbino Italy has designed three cases for your iPhone 3G, and each is lovelier than the last. Finally, you can protect and adorn your iPhone without cheap plastic or garish designs.

At right, you see the Strada:
"The Orbino Strada Tre Case transforms your 3G iPhone into a premium Italian accessory with a case entirely stitched by hand in gorgeous Tuscan leather. The case features an open face for easy access and includes Orbino's patented spring-loaded removable combination belt clip and desk stand in polished palladium metal. Prices start at $99."

This is the limited Brown Crocodile edition, available here.

Click below to see the other two new 3G iPhone designs, as well as other elegant, Apple-specific cases from Orbino.

I'm not generally a big fan of diamond-encrusted cell phones but I think the iPhone lends itself to the idea better than others because it's so sleek and has such a limited area where diamonds can be placed. Claiming to be the world's first real diamond-studded iPhone, the Apple iPhone 3G by Swiss jeweler Knalihs Athem is made with 475 brilliant cut diamonds totaling 3.75 carats. Only 50 iPhone 3G handsets will be created on a made-to-order basis, with the first 10 units being sold at the special price of $10,000. iPhones 11-50 will be priced "sharply upwards."

I'm not sure what that translates to exactly but it sounds like if you want one you better move fast.