I love riding my bike in the spring and summer, but sometimes the sound of my own brain rattling around gets to me. It would be great to be able to listen to music, but it is pretty much a given that music+helmets=major safety hazard.

TuneBug is offering a solution that solves this dilemma without requiring a fancy new bike helmet or an iPod implanted in my ears. Their “SurfaceSound” technology lets you listen to music through your bike helmet, keeping your ears clear to also hear any incoming cars, other bikers, or rabid squirrels. It’s a very cool idea, and one that works with any sport requiring a helmet. However, if you plan on blaring “Single Ladies” through your football helmet, you’re on your own.

Tunebug devices employ Surfacesound Technology, a unique approach to sound generation that allows sound waves to pass through surfaces

Revolutionary advancements in  speaker technology for music enthusiasts skiers, bikers, skateboarders and more on display during CES 2010 at the Hilton NXT Suite # 28-100 and at Pepcom Digital Experience on January 6, 2010

LAS VEGAS, NV CES – (January 6, 2010) – TuneBug, an innovative leader in SurfaceSound technology for portable speaker solutions, unveils a line of new products that will transform the current landscape for mobile speaker products.  Using NXT’s patented technology, Tunebug’s line of products generates sound waves that pass through the surfaces it rests on, turning those surfaces into speakers. One of the first sound generators from their line to be showcased includes the Shake, a small attachable device for bike, ski and skateboard helmets which create surround sound inside of the helmet by “exciting” the entire helmet surface which then becomes a speaker. Tunebug is also releasing the Vibe, an ultra portable SurfaceSound speaker for your desktop, tabletop, and other available surfaces.

“We are very excited to unveil our Tunebug products using the NXT patented SurfaceSound Technology at CES 2010,” says Dick Brown, CEO of TuneBug. “We hope to add an entirely new solution to listening to music while on the go, anytime, anywhere especially for bikers, skateboarders, skiers, and others who until now have not been able to listen to music safely while wearing a helmet.”

The Tunebug Shake is an ultra-portable sound generator for bike, ski and skate helmets, which can be connected to iPods, MP3 players, mobile phones, or any other portable music device wirelessly using Bluetooth technology or by audio cable. When mounted on one of these helmets, the Shake creates a surround sound experience and provides a great solution for bikers, skateboarders and skiers to avoid the danger of being unaware of their surrounding by having earphones in. It has a rechargeable battery with about 5 hours of playtime and charges via the included USB cord. Fill your helmet with surround sound music starting January 30, 2010 for $119.95 at www.tunebug.com>.