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DVICE: Apple completely overhauled its iPod line while also showing off coming updates to iOS, promising impressive new features for iPhones and iPod Touches. Besides completely redesigned versions of the iPod Shuffle and Nano, Apple unveiled iOS 4.1, which introduces a Game Center, a new system that will tie iOS users together in a network similar to Xbox Live. But wait, there’s more!

iOS 4.1: With Game Center, you have two lists: a list of games that go through Game Center, and a list of friends that you can play said games with. If you’ve used Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, the features here will be familiar. You can invite people to play games with you, and you earn achievements for accomplishments in-game. Developers will be able to build Game Center into their games, so don’t be surprised if most big games from now on use it. Luckily, it’s free. Look for the iOS 4.1 update to drop next week.

The update will (hopefully) fix some proximity sensor problems on the iPhone 4 and add some HDR photo support, and — this is really cool — the ability to upload HD video wirelessly. That’ll come in handy for the iPod Touch’s new HD video camera (which you can read about down below). Sorry, iPad users — this ain’t for you. Keep reading to see what you’re getting.

iOS 4.2 Apple also offered a glimpse of iOS 4.2, which will land in November and be geared toward the iPad and improving AirTunes. AirTunes will now be AirPlay, and will allow you to stream music, videos, photos and what-have-you right to your iOS device.

We may hear more as we get closer to its release, but right now the only other exciting addition will be wireless printing. That’s right: you’ll now be able to print from, say, an iPad using Pages, over your home network.

iPod Shuffle: The other big tidbit that Apple has dropped is the announcement of a super cheap, ultra compact iPod Shuffle. For only $50, you’ll get 4GB worth of music storage and a clickwheel much like on the Shuffle’s larger cousins, though no screen. It’s nice to see that the clickwheel is back — the previous Shuffle felt a little bit like a shot in the dark without any real controls.

iPod Nano: The Nano has been my iPod of choice since it came out, and it’s looking good with the latest refresh. Its new stamp-like body is all display and no body thanks to the addition of a multi-touch screen. So for $150 you get a touchscreen Nano with with 8GB of storage ($180 for 16GB) in any of four colors and a sleek new interface.

iPod Touch: There’s also a new, slimmer iPod Touch on the way. It’s still mostly the Touch you know and/or love, though now it’s got a rear camera for HD video recording and a front-facing cam that can make FaceTime calls between other iPod Touches and iPhone 4s over Wi-Fi. There are three models: $230 gets you 8GB, 32GB for $300 and a 64GB unit for $400.

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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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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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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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Newlaunches 

It’s a bit of bad news for the Android community as the virus are seeping their way into the little green robots functions. The latest report is straight out of Kaspersky Labs (more…)

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Akihabaranews Denon in Japan introduced this morning 3 new headphones with the AH-D1100 and AH-D510 and AH-D310.

(more…)

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Newlaunches: For those who haven’t given in to the hype of a tablet/slate device or the iPad and who’s primary focus for owing a large screen anything is to comfortably watch videos while travelling then the iLuv i1166 portable media player is just what the vidiot ordered. It’s equipped with a 8.9 inch widescreen TFT LCD display that pops open to reveal both a DVD player as well as an iPod dock. If that’s not enough, and it’s not, an SD card slot as well as a USB port are also on hand. It even has two 3.5mm ports so two users can watch simultaneously. There’s even a remote if you want to get lazy or don’t want to smudge the screen with your fingerprints. It’s a really innovative idea but the price tag of $299.99 is a bit uncomfortable. I’d rather go in for a tablet.

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iPodNN: Empire Brands on Wednesday revealed three new earphone collections for its Wicked Audio brand. The Chill, Reverb and Tour all feature graffiti-inspired designs. They are made of plastic and sport comfortable ear cushions. The cords are nearly four feet long and the 3.5mm plugs are gold-plated for superior sound signal transfer and to prevent corrosion.

The Chill earbuds can be had in gold, white or black, priced at $15. The Reverbs, styled after city streets, have better bass performance, and cost $30. The Tour line can be had in one of three two-tone designs. They cost $20. All are now shipping and available at electronics shops.

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Cube me: The brief was to design a new packaging for the Stereo Earphones RP-HJE 130 that clearly communicates the product benefit: the unique sound quality. The packaging design has to appeal to a target group that usually owns well-designed high-class mp3 players.

By specially arranging the earphones inside a special box they appear to look like two eighth notes. So the earphones show at first sight for whom they are made: for passionate music lovers.

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GDGT: The new Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic are engineered for superior acoustic accuracy, balance and clarity. So you hear details you’ve been missing with other, lesser headphones.

Two is better than one.
Unlike many small headphones, each earpiece of the Apple In-Ear Headphones contains two separate high-performance drivers — a woofer to handle bass and mid-range sounds and a tweeter for high-frequency audio. These dedicated drivers help ensure accurate, detailed sound across the entire sonic spectrum. The result: You’re immersed in the music and hear details you never knew existed. Even when listening to an old favourite, you may feel like you’re hearing it for the first time.

Hear, hear.
The Apple In-Ear Headphones deliver a truly immersive sound experience by drastically reducing unwanted outside noises. The soft, silicone ear tips fit snugly and comfortably in your ear, creating a seal that isolates your music from your surroundings. Three different sizes of ear tips are included so you can find a perfect fit for each ear. Also included are a convenient carrying case for the ear tips and a cable-control case for the headphones themselves.

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Gizmodo: Hoodies have strings around the neck, right? Have you EVER used those strings? Why you’d want to tighten a noose around your neck, I’ll never know. The HoodieBuddie cleverly replaces the strings with earbuds; the pocket contains a 3.5mm jack.

All you need to do is whack your iPod into that 3.5mm jack, hiding in the front-right pocket, and you can listen to music without your wires getting tangled. Really, I’m surprised this type of innovation costs $44.

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iPodNN: Monster Cable showed the first universal 3D glasses on Wednesday with the Monster Vision Max 3D. The shutter-system glasses will purportedly work with any brand of 3D TV and use 2.4GHz RF communication as opposed to the IR common to other 3D glasses. They have interference rejection software and sync correction, and can instantly react electro-chromatically.

At the same time, Monster Cable introduced the Clarity HD Modular in-ear headphones. With solid-metal construction, they will include the company’s signature ear hooks for a solid connection with a wearer’s ear, making them a better pick for runners. To properly block out noise, Monster includes 10 pairs of SuperTip composite foam eartips. An inline remote with a microphone gives iPhone and iPod touch users voice support.

The 3D glasses and a transmitter as a kit is due out in September, priced at $250. An additional set of eyeglasses will cost $170. The headphones are also coming in September in black-and-red and chrome-and-red version, with a $200 price tag.
 

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