08
Sep
2011
What HiFi: KEF has opened its first online store, enabling customers to buy its range of hi-fi and home cinema speakers through the firm’s website. All orders will be delivered directly to your home from the nearest KEF dealer.
Products available on the new online store include the Reference, Q, C and T series speakers, home cinema packages and subwoofers. (more…)
07
Apr
2011
NaviGadget: TomTom last week announced three new GPS navigation systems for professional use – each with 5″ display.
They all offer mileage logging, time logging, status reports, and more which are part of TomTom’s WORKsmart system. Some other features include IQ routes technology, ECO routes, lane guidance, text-to-speech, and hands free calling. The difference is PRO 7150 TRUCK offers truck specific routing which accounts for cargo, heigh, weight restrictions for 15 European countries. PRO 9150 on the other hand has integrated WEBFLEET connection which doesn’t require the TomTom LINK.
Here is what the recommended pricing is like: PRO 7150 359 Euros, PRO 9150 429 Euros, and PRO 7150 TRUCK is 399 Euros.
07
Apr
2011
Akihabara News: With the overhead headphone MDR-ZX300IP and two in-ear ones the MDR-XB41I and MDR-XB21IP, Sony want to bring a full set of compatible headphones to every single iPod and iPhones built since 2009!
All models will be put on the market at the end of this month in Japan and comes with a dedicated remote to allow you to control your iPhone/iPod volume and tracks, as well as including a little microphone in order to be used freely with an iPhone. These headphones are compatible with all iPhones, iPad, iPod Nanon 4th to 6th Generation, iPod Touch 2-to4th generation and iPod Classic 120/160Gb.
05
Apr
2011
Harman Kardon just began offering two home theater in a box systems. The BDS-400 and BDS-800 combine a Blu-ray, DVD and CD player along with an FM tuner along with a speaker system. The former uses two front speakers and a subwoofer, while the latter adds two rear speakers and a center channel.
Either receiver sports an HDMI output, a USB port for playing multimedia files and a preprogrammed/learning remote control. There is also support for iPods and iPhones, though the necessary dock is optional. Compatible files include MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3, WMA and JPEG. ID3 tags will also be displayed on a connected TV.
Both are now available, with the BDS 400 priced at $999 and the BDS 800 at $1,499. The BDS 2 SO receiver from the BDS 400 system can be had on its own for $649, while the BDS 5 SO receiver from the BDS 800 system costs $799.
28
Mar
2011
Cool Material: 90% of the time, we’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of warmth and clarity in favor of convenience. Drunken hazes not withstanding, we’re actually talking about music. Vinyl is fantastic and everything, but it’s a huge pain in the ass compared to the convenience of loading up your iPod/Phone/Pad with gigs and gigs of music. However, we also kind of miss the tactile feel associated with things like vinyl, cassettes and even cds (hard to believe even we’re old enough to call cds vintage.). The Stereolizer App for your iPad is the closest thing we’ve seen to a blend of vintage 80′s style cool with modern convenience. For $2, you can turn your iPad into an 80′s stereo with access to over 6,000 Internet radio stations, a “tape recorder” that works exactly like you’d expect it to and more than enough knobs, buttons and dials to amuse you for at least a few meetings.
23
Mar
2011
Ubergizmo: Wicked Audio has just announced their latest pair of headphones, the Wicked Helix. First making an appearance at CES 2011, the Helix earphones will feature EarHugger technology that lets you be as active as you wish without worrying about having them drop off during the most unopportune moments. Fitting in comfortably and snugly around your ear, they more or less guarantee an enjoyable listening experience. Featuring a 10mm driver and maximum noise isolation that helps inhibits ambient noise, your earbuds will be able to enjoy pure sound quality. With a gold-plated tip, you ought to receive a psychological boost when it comes to audio quality, and with a 1.2 meter cord for maximum flexibility, you shouldn’t be too worried about your favorite tracks sounding out of sorts. Coming in a trio of bold color combinations that are Blue/Orange, Magenta/Yellow, and Black/White, you can pick them up for $14.99 a pop.
22
Mar
2011
New Launches: German tuning company Brabus have decided to update its iBusiness multimedia system on all the Mercedes’ S-Class vehicles to version 2.0, following the launch of the iPad2. Available on any current S-Class model from the S350 to the S65, the iBusiness 2.0 system will see one or two iPad2 tablets in the rear compartment that are connected via Wifi to an internet-connected Mac mini placed in the trunk. The iPad 2 is used to control on-board entertainment system as well as the functions of the S-Class COMAND system including the radio, navigation and phone, all from the cushy comforts of the rear seat. The two iPad’s too, sit regally on custom-tailored version of the Brabus table set against the backrest of the front seats. The electrically-deployed and adjustable leather-covered tabletop also provides recesses for your iPad and Apple’s bluetooth keyboard. A 15.2-inch 16:9 TFT display can be found on the roof of the cabin that serves as an auxiliary monitor for the iPad, while screens have been placed on the back of the front seats too. You can also connect your digital camera to the Mac mini via their USB 2.0 ports, while music is provided by a 64 GB iPod touch.
The iPad 2 also allows for video conferencing capabilities, clearly converting your vehicle into a stunning and extremely efficient ‘on-the-go’ office!
22
Mar
2011
Akihabara News: Largely unknown from the general public, Stax, a Japanese company offer some of the most advance Earphones and Earphones accessories on the market.
Today, the company has introduced a new product, the SR-009, a new high-end headphone designed to replace the company SR-007 Series.
Featuring a new all aluminum chassis the SR-009 comes with a stunning 5Hz-42kHz frequency response, a 145kΩ Impendence and a sound pressure sensitivity of 101dB/1kHz. Performances and Style comes at a price and you will have to spend at least 390,000 Yen to get one of these, but remember, these headphones without their Amps are almost useless!
21
Mar
2011
DigInfo.tv: At Interaction 2011, a research group from Osaka University exhibited a fog display that enables multi-viewpoint observation.
“Ordinary fog displays use a single projector with fog on a flat surface, but this display uses three projectors, each showing a different picture. So when the observer moves around the fog, they get a three-dimensional view.”
This system utilizes the fact that dispersion of light by fog has directionality. It projects different pictures, from different angles, onto a cylindrical fog screen. In this way, the 3D form of objects can be recognized from the motion parallax, which is how the view of objects changes depending on the viewpoint.
“The starting point for this project came when we saw a fog display in an amusement park, and wondered if we could come up with something more interesting. As future developments, we hope this system will find applications in healthcare and entertainment.”
“We’d also like to find more useful content, and improve the configuration to make the fog display a bit more stable.”
If the fog screen can be made larger and the number of projectors increased, it’ll also be possible to provide a large-format, 360-degree display.
18
Mar
2011
What HiFi?: Arcam is offering the option of wireless streaming to owners of all iPods, not just those equipped with wi-fi.
The Arcam rWand costs £70 and can be used with any iPod with a 30-pin connector, plus all iPhones and iPads.
It uses Kleer lossless technology for full bandwidth, “CD quality” wireless streaming which, claims Arcam, delivers better sound quality and signal reliability than Bluetooth or wi-fi.
16
Mar
2011
The Register: When Nokia CEO Stephen Elop announced that Nokia was abandoning its development of its own smartphone platforms and APIs, and betting the farm on somebody else’s, many people asked why it was necessary.Nokia had spent 15 years trying to develop and maintain its own software, which it regarded as strategic to maintaining its independence. Elop’s decisions have ensured that Nokia didn’t just get another option to run alongside its own, but it would abandon these, writing off the investments it had already made. In his opinion, these weren’t good enough. Read more…
14
Mar
2011
BBC Technology News: Microsoft has sold more than 10 million Kinect sensor systems since launch on 4 November and – according to Guinness World Records – is the fastest-selling consumer electronics device on record.
The sales figures outstrip those of both Apple’s iPhone and iPad when launched, Guinness said.
Kinect is an infrared camera add-on for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 games console that allows it to track body movements. Rory Cellan-Jones reports.