Bowers and Wilkins has announced the launch of the Zeppelin Mini, a compact iPod/iPhone docking speaker system. Designed as a Zeppelin for situations where the original model would occupy too much space the Mini, which is about half the length of the rugby ball-shaped original, is said to be ideal for use in kitchens, bedrooms or on office desks. The £299 Mini connects with the iPod through USB so by-passing the analogue output stages of player and feeding a digital signal directly to its on-board DSP circuitry. It also uses USB for streaming music from a PC or Mac, and for synchronizing your iPod and computer.