About Electronics

Techradar: Pioneer has released details of its latest range of Kodo iPod dock setups, the XW-NAW1.

Bringing two 30w audio speakers, the docks have also been equipped with something called ‘neodymium tweetermagnets’ – which isn’t the name of a death metal band but speaker technology which brings “rich, powerful and outstanding sound”.

Wall of sound

The speaker system is wall mountable and definitely looks the business.

According to Pioneer, it is a mere 83mm thick and has been equipped with a remote control so once it is hung on the wall, you don’t have to keep getting up to change tracks etc.

The device NAW1 also has a component video out port, so you can also connect the system up to a TV to playback video.

And for those who don’t want to wall-mount the thing, the NAW1 is also said to be portable enough to blast out songs on the go.

The Kodo XW-NAW1 has a UK release date of September and is priced at £199.

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Techradar: YouTube has announced improvements to its free on-demand movie service, after signing deals with a number of major distributors.

YouTube has tapped up the likes of Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM and will be showing classic content through the site.

Although YouTube has been offering free movies for some time, the titles available have ranged from the obscure to the bizarre.

The new deal will mean that more recognisable movies like The Buena Vista Social Club will be made available.

Free films

“This is one of many efforts to ensure that people can find all the different kinds of video they want to see, from bedroom vlogs and citizen journalism reports to full-length films and TV shows,” explained YouTube head of video partnerships, Donagh O’Malley.

“We hope film lovers enjoy the range of titles in this free library, whether catching up on a mainstream hit or delving into the vast archive of classic films from decades past.”

YouTube has also announced a deal with Blinkbox, which will offer more than 150 movies of its archive for playback on the site.

This is the latest in a long line of link-ups the site has been doing, but the first for movies.

So far YouTube has been heavily investing in its TV output, signing deals with Channel 4 and Five.

Hopefully getting BlinkBox on board will be the start of something special for www.youtube.com/movies.

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Audio Junkies: Marantz’s new NA7004 network music player is the latest product in a growing new category of “front-end” components that are able to play back digital formats from a variety of sources while containing no actual storage. The NA7004 is DLNA certified for connection to a home network, and also offers coaxial, optical, and USB digital inputs. A front panel USB input allows for easy connection of a thumb drive or iPod, and Bluetooth streaming is also supported via an optional dock.

The NA7004 can also access thousands of internet radio stations, and supports a full complement of lossy (MP3, MPEG-4, AAC, WMA) and lossless (FLAC, 96/24FLAC, WAV, WMA-L) formats. The price is $799.

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Engadget: We can’t say they’re the most stylish noise cancelling headphones we’ve ever seen (far from it, actually), but Panasonic’s RP-HC700 sure do cancel out an awful lot of unwanted sine waves. In fact, these retro-inspired cans nix 95 percent of surrounding noise, and they’ll also ship in both black and white hues for somewhat obvious reasons. Other specs include 40mm drivers, a 10Hz to 30kHz frequency range and 15 hours of noise cancelling with a single AAA battery. If you’re into keeping tunes in while keeping — well, everything else — out, you’ll need to free yourself of ¥20,000 ($237) next month.

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Techradar: Back in 2008, Pioneer launched the SC-LX81 and we liked it. We liked it so much, in fact, it won awards and everything. It used ICEpower Class D amplification developed by B&O and it was the best-sounding implementation of the technology we had heard. It scooped all the Oscars for style and was festooned with must-have widgets, too.

A year later came the equally good and stylish SC-LX82, but by this time the peer group had caught up in sound quality and surpassed it on sheer features. ‘Righty-ho’, said Pioneer’s engineer’s (albeit in Japanese), ‘prepare to be blown away by 2010′s SC-LX83.’

Out with the black

At just shy of £2K, the SC-LX83 is not cheap, but you know you have bought something special. It is a huge, superbly appointed box, and is still the most alluring AV beast on the market, even if its once piano black fascia is now a more conservative brushed satin.

The core power amplifiers remain unchanged, being the same Direct Energy HD ICEpower devices as its forebear. This is no bad thing, as Pioneer’s implementation of them not only sounds great, but also claims to use a frugal amount of electricity – about a third of traditional Class A/B amps, in fact.

The brand’s PQLS anti-jitter system has been further advanced and now works on bitstream signals, as well as LPCM multichannel and plain old, standard stereo PCM. With a compatible PQLS Pioneer Blu-ray disc-spinner, digital jitter over the HDMI interface is all but eliminated, resulting in a cleaner and more accurate audio transfer from player to amp.

Add to this a new suite of 32-bit DACs prior to amplification and the LX83 has all the potential to be a sonic diva with high-resolution material. Even if you are listening to compressed formats such as MP3, WMA, A2DP transfer Bluetooth audio or even old school, DVD-based Dolby Digital or DTS (ah, how passé…), Pioneer’s latest Sound Retriever Air system is on hand to rekindle some depth and vibrancy to the sound.

And it comes as no surprise that this baby offers the full gamut of HD-audio decoding, 3D-compatible V1.4a HDMI connections and upscaling of any video to 1080p. Interestingly, it remains a stoically seven-channel amplifier, even though it features Dolby ProLogic IIz decoding for front height channels.

Instead, the rear-back output can now be assigned to front height duty, and there is a 9.1 channel line-level output suite should you fancy going for the full complement of rear-back and height channels.

Like its forbears, this is a top-spec THX Ultra2 Plus certified machine, complete with all the associated post-processing suites, and is fine tuned by Air Studios. But this receiver really excels on its controls and connections.

App control

Yeah, everyone does Ethernet and USB networking, but the LX83 adds a fully A2DP-compliant Bluetooth dongle for wireless music streaming and control. Pioneer’s genuinely revolutionary iPhone/iPod/iPad iControlAV App will also operate the bulk of this receiver’s day-to-day functions. Moreover, it does so with a grace and animated style that makes traditional remote controls look like objects for the Antiques Roadshow.

The iControl AV software is inspired and allows your i-whatever to speak to the LX83 either directly over the Bluetooth dongle, or via your Wi-Fi router and hardwired Ethernet to the amplifier. Either way, it works seamlessly, offering genuine two-way communication, has informative videos and is simply the coolest thing in AV since Ice Age 3.
 

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3Dradar: Sony has announced two new 3D Bravia TVs this week, both due for release later in 2010.

The latest models – the NX713 and NX813 – feature dynamic edge LED backlighting, with Motionflow 100Hz Pro on the former, and Motionflow 200Hz Pro on the latter.

Sony is still to confirm exact UK release dates and pricing. We will be sure to bring you these details as soon as we get them.

Elegant ‘monolithic’ design

In the meantime, Sony’s press release announcing the new NX713 and NX813 TVs notes that the two new network models “combine 3D capability, connectivity and elegant design.”

In addition to full high definition 3D, both sets feature Bravia Internet Video, “for on-demand, online entertainment.”

Somewhat strangely, consumers will need to add a 3D Sync Transmitter and glasses to get the 3D experience, with these not being provided out of the box.

Still, if you are already gearing up to invest in a new 3D Bravia for this coming winter, the marginal extra cost of one or two sets of 3D glasses is hardly going to put you off…

Movies, TV and games content

But what of 3D content? What can you actually watch on your shiny new 3D Bravia later this year?

“All 3D Bravia TVs are supported by a rapidly increasing variety of 3D content,” adds Sony’s release, “including the latest Hollywood movies on Blu-ray 3D disc such as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs; sport, music, natural history and entertainment from new 3D cable and satellite channels; even 3D games such as WipEoutHD and MotorStorm Pacific Rift for the PlayStation3.”

Sony adds that Bravia Internet Video will let you watch catch-up TV services and YouTube without the need for a PC, “plus exclusive content like the FIFA World Cup Collection and streaming movies from Lovefilm.”

“With 3D capability, the connectivity of Bravia Internet Video and stunning monolithic design, the NX713 and NX813 are perfect for people who want both style and performance from their TV,” says Christian Brown, Senior Category Marketing Manager, Sony UK.
 

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Pioneer.eu: Pioneer has been presented with three highly respected awards by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) – Europe’s premier consumer technology awards association. The KODO XW-NAC3 digital speaker system was named “European Sound Station 2010-2011”, the AVIC-F20BT was recognised as “European In-Car Navi-Media System 2010-2011” and the TS SW3001 was awarded “European In-Car Subwoofer 2010-2011”.

EISA is the largest editorial multimedia organisation in Europe, with a membership of 50 magazines drawn from 19 European countries. Every year a panel of judges selects outstanding products and technologies across a wide range of audiovisual product categories.

European Sound Station 2010-2011: Pioneer KODO XW-NAC3
Commenting on the KODO XW-NAC3 the EISA jury said: “This compact and well-designed gadget sports no less than two docks that accommodate both iPods and iPhones. With its special shuffle function you can mix the libraries from two combined iPod/iPhones for a whole night of exciting entertainment. The XW-NAC3 includes Bluetooth capability together with a technology called ’Sound Retriever AIR’ that attempts to restore much of the audio quality before compression and transmission. There’s also a USB input for playback of popular formats including MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, FLAC and LPCM. Furthermore, you can connect to thousands of internet radio channels from all over the world.”

European In-Car Navi-Media System 2010-2011: Pioneer AVIC-F20BT
The EISA judging panel commented: “The Pioneer AVIC-F20BT is the new star among the AV navigation systems. Its genuine navigation software and new 3D user interface combines best performance with easiest usability. It offers accurate and clear road guidance, multiple multimedia functions and Bluetooth connection. Pioneer’s ingenious NavGate Feeds system allows data uploads from computers and smartphones. AVIC-F20BT easily handles huge music collections stored on CD, DVD, iPod, USB or SD offering high-end audio and video quality without compromise. The unique Music Sphere function helps you find and play the only song you want from thousands you have stored, to listen to right now!”

European In-Car Subwoofer 2010-2011: Pioneer TS-SW3001
The TS-SW3001 was praised for offering all the power and performance of a superior system, with only using a fraction of the space. “Pioneer’s unique Air Suspension Excursion Control System, which enables the subwoofer’s damper to be replaced with a sealed pocket of air, allows for a drastic reduction in enclosure size.” Commenting on the TS-SW3001 the EISA jury said: “High quality bass is not only for those who are prepared to sacrifice space in their cars. This technologically advanced subwoofer from Pioneer sets not one but two records of compactness. Not only is the driver so slim that it takes very little space inside the enclosure, the enclosure itself can be made surprisingly small. A few liters of volume is enough for this 12’’ driver to deliver really powerful, audiophile bass in the car.”

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Guardian.co.uk: Predictions that the internet would kill the television star appear to be premature. Just as the cinema survived the advent of home video, TV is booming despite the growth of digital media and popularity of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Viewers watched an average of three hours and 45 minutes of television a day in 2009, 3% more than in 2004, according to research published today by the media regulator Ofcom. TV continues to take centre stage in people’s evenings, boosted by the popularity of shows such as The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and Doctor Who.

Television’s popularity has also been boosted by digital video recorders (DVRs), now in 37% of households – and the introduction of high definition television, now in more than 5 million UK homes.

“Television still has a central role in our lives. We are watching more TV than at any time in the last five years,” said James Thickett, director of market research and market intelligence at Ofcom.

New technology offered viewers an enhanced, easy-to-use viewing experience, with 15% of all viewing time spent watching programmes recorded on to a DVR, he said.

“Unlike VHS, which was such a hassle to set up and record a programme that only a very small proportion of viewing was on video, DVRs give viewers the chance to watch the programmes they really want to watch. It is bringing people back into the living room.”

Commercial broadcasters should not rejoice too much, however, as DVR owners have the option to skip through the adverts.

The increase in TV viewing has also been driven by the growth in the UK’s ageing population: older people are likely to watch more television, with the average 65-year-old watching five hours and 14 minutes a day.

Older viewers were also more likely to say that the quality of television had deteriorated in the past year, according to Ofcom’s research, with 53% of over-65s saying programmes had got worse.

Digital television passed the 90% threshold for the first time last year, with 92.1% of homes having digital TV by the first quarter of 2010. The average weekly reach of multichannel television exceeded that of the five main TV channels – BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – also for the first time in 2009.

“More people are getting access to a greater number of channels and that’s translating into greater number of viewing hours per person,” said Richard Broughton, a senior analyst at the audiovisual research company Screen Digest.

“Various people have predicted that the internet would kill off television but we have always said that TV would be here for a long time to come. It’s much harder for broadcasters and production companies to monetise content online, and there are all sorts of things that broadcast can do that online can’t, such as high definition.”

Broughton said viewers were using Facebook and Twitter while watching the television, rather than switching it off altogether. “In many cases television is complemented [by social media platforms] and not necessarily a direct competitor,” he added.

“It’s interesting to see what comments people are making while you are watching TV, and set manufacturers are now looking at putting functionality on TV that would allow you to watch Twitter feeds or go onto Facebook while you are watching your favourite TV programme.”

Viewers are also watching more on-demand television on catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player. Live television retains a unique appeal among viewers, however, especially for talent shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor – both masterminded by Simon Cowell – and big sporting events such as the World Cup. Cowell’s two ITV1 talent shows accounted for four of the five most watched programmes of 2009, with the final of Britain’s Got Talent on 30 May taking the No 1 spot with an average of 16.5 million viewers.

The BBC1 sitcom The Royle Family was the most popular non-Cowell show in fifth place with 11.4 million viewers for its Christmas Day episode last year. EastEnders, Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and Coronation Street made up the rest of the top 10 programmes, based on average audience, in 2009.

Ofcom said the growth in audience to video-sharing sites such as YouTube had begun to slow over the past two years.

Like television, the popularity of radio continues to surge ahead, with a new high of 90.6% of the population – 46.8 million adults – tuning in at least once a week in the second quarter of 2010.

However, the amount of time we spend listening to the radio has fallen, down 5.3% in the five years to 2009.

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iPodNN: Bose will soon release new in-ear headphones made specifically to work with multimedia-capable smartphones. The three will include the IE2 headphones and MIE2 and MIE2i mobile headsets. The last two have built-in microphones and call control buttons, with the MIE2i made to work with the iPhone, iPad, iPods and recent Macs, granting access to some of the devices’ voice-capable apps and navigate music. Each will include proprietary Bose technology to boost sound quality and three sizes of StayHear tips more comfortable than with previous Bose in-ears.

The IE2 headphones will replace the currently available in-ear headphones and will cost $100 when they ship on August 23. The same day will see the release of the $130 MIE2 headset, while the Apple-oriented MIE2i arrives in October for the same $130.

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GPS Business News: One year after the inception of turn-by-turn GPS navigation apps on the iTunes store, German provider NAVIGON claims over 1 million users worldwide.

“Part of our success is dedication to consistently innovate the navigation market with new possibilities and delivery through free updates. In its first year, MobileNavigator led the navigation application market with its six cost-free, major updates that included over 30 new functions,” said Gerhard Mayr, NAVIGON vice-president worldwide mobile phones & new markets.

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The Audiophiliac: Few big-screen-TV buyers are willing to invest in bona-fide home theater systems with a receiver, five (or more) speakers, and a subwoofer. Most folks are satisfied with the sound from the tiny stereo speakers built into the display. That’s sad, since based on what I’ve heard from the displays being reviewed at the CNET offices the sound is at best barely passable. In fact, the quality of the built-in speakers is getting worse with each passing year. Great-looking high-definition video matched to lo-fi sound doesn’t work for me, but we all have our priorities, don’t we?

Those considering stepping up to a $300 sound bar speaker are more sophisticated buyers, and by the time we get to home theater in a box systems, with five or more speakers and a subwoofer, we’re getting to the elite buyer class. I’m not joking, HTIB buyers can deal with a tangle of wires, and nearly all the setup hassles associated with a receiver-based home theater system. If you want an even higher quality home theater system with a receiver and full-size speaker/subwoofer system plan on spending close to $2,000. Sure, you can spend less, but you’ll just wind up with something that doesn’t sound much better sounding than a really good HTIB.

Here are my recommendations for the best-sounding affordable home theater solutions. (Editors’ Note: The following list is Steve Guttenberg’s personal opinion, based on his evaluation of sound quality and audio performance. For a more complete list of CNET’s official product recommendations [which takes design and features into account], check out CNET’s in-depth list of best home audio products.)

The Samsung HW-C450 sound bar ($300 street price) is a worthwhile step up from your TV’s built-in speakers.

Want something better? If you already have a DVD or Blu-ray player, put Onkyo’s HT-S3200 HTIB on your short list. It comes with five nice speakers, a hefty subwoofer, and a component grade receiver, all for around $350!

For a 5.1 channel HTIB with a built-in Blu-ray player, I like Samsung’s HT-C6500 ($650 street price).

For an entry-level receiver, I’d go with Pioneer’s VSX-920 ($399) matched up to a Klipsch RF-10 ($1,464) speaker package with tower speakers, full-size center speaker, dipole surround speakers, and a 200 watt, 10-inch powered subwoofer. This system will blow away the pitiful speakers built into your TV, as well as every sound bar and home theater in a box ever made. Chances are you’ll own this system long after your shiny new TV is taking its place in a landfill.

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whathifi 

So, nearly 70% of people under 25 admit to communicating by text or email with someone in the same house.

That’s according to the latest research by Best Buy, which has been investigating our attitudes to technology.

Now don’t worry, I’m not about to come over all Daily Mail on you and start ranting about “the youth of today” and how “in my day we made do with washing-up bottles and sticky-backed plastic” (Blue Peter, for those of you too young to remember).
But Best Buy’s report did get me thinking. As someone who (ahem) falls into the over-35 age bracket, I should, apparently, be one of those who switches on the kettle when I first get home for a sit-down and a nice cuppa, before firing up the laptop or switching on the TV (presumably after slipping on my favourite cardigan and M&S slippers).

The thing is, though, I think we’re all just getting more used to technology and multi-tasking. I frequently watch TV at home with the laptop on my knees, perhaps doing a bit of web surfing if the programme I’m viewing gets a bit boring. And the first thing I do in the morning when I come downstairs (before putting the kettle on) is check my emails on my iPhone.

Now I may not have resorted to texting someone else in the house, but I will admit to having on occasion phoned from upstairs to see if the other half in the kitchen has got lunch ready. Shocking, I know.

They don’t make ‘em like this any more…
So I don’t think age comes into it. I have an elderly aunt who bought a laptop, took lessons on how to use the web and is now a highly proficient silver surfer. And I’ve recently introduced my parents to the delights of multichannel, high-definition TV and they couldn’t be happier.

So let’s not beat ourselves up about our 21st-century habits. Technology can be infuriating, especially when it doesn’t work properly, but it can also be liberating. Wi-fi lets me work on the laptop in the garden, or stream music on Spotify through my iPhone. And if I can’t be in the office, I can still work on the web from anywhere in the world.

Did we manage in the past without all the gadgets of modern day living? Yes, of course we did. But let’s be honest, making things with old coat hangers and washing-up bottles wasn’t half as much fun, whatever James May says.

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