15
Jul
2010
GPS Business News: Last week BMW Group announced their support for “iPod Out”, a new feature in Apple iOS 4 that allows BMW and MINI infotainment systems to display and control the music playback feature in iPhone and iPod touch in the vehicle’s main display. With this technology the iPod navigation menu can be operated through the vehicle’s interface controls. BMW Group will offer this feature in 2011 vehicles (BMW and Mini). (more…)
01
Jul
2010
iPodNN: Home theater manufacturer Onkyo on Tuesday detailed the upcoming release of two new high-end receivers, the TX-NR3008 and TX-NR5008. New features include 3D-compatible HDMI 1.4a inputs, DLNA 1.5 media sharing with Windows 7 support, and media streaming. The receivers otherwise share three-zone support, HQV Reon VX video processing, two HDMI outputs and a maximum of 9.2 channels.
Both Sidy-By-Side and Top-and-Bottom 3D broadcasting standards are supported by either receiver. An Ethernet port lets users connect them to the Internet through a computer and stream Internet radio or music from all the big name sites, as well as digital audio files, with nearly all common file types supported.
Audyssey’s room-correction and equalization feature is included for helping account for a room’s unique acoustics.
The TX-NR3008′s front-side USB port and the TX-NR5008′s front and rear USB ports can play back audio from thumb drives or play music and display album art from connected iPhones or iPods.
Either receiver has separate transformers for audio and video processing, and the TX-NR5008 adds a toroidal transformer and 22,000 uF capacitors. Other shared features bring a VGA input for connecting to computers, HDMI throughput and a backlit and customizable remote.
The TX-NR3008 will cost $2,100 and the TX-NR5008 $2,700 when they ship in August.
03
Jun
2010
Electronista: Sonos today refreshed the ZonePlayer S5 to add a black color. The new model adds to the existing white and mostly helps for those whose home theater systems or living rooms wouldn’t match the original. Functionally, the system is the same as before and includes both an Ethernet connection and an internal Sonos wireless receiver with a high-powered 2.1-channel speaker system.
The system still costs $399 and should be available today. To use it wirelessly needs a $99 ZoneBridge to share the connection from a home router. Most input requires a computer, iPhone, iPod touch or Sonos Controller, though the desktop and iPhone apps are free.
28
May
2010
Akihabara News: Back in February Panasonic released a new Slim Stereo, the SC-HC40. It not only offers a clean and sleek design but also the possibility to get full control of your iPod touch or iPhone without cables or any other clutters. Now, several months later Panasonic finally have put its SC-HC40 on the market and we had the chance to secure one of them for a test.
Specs
- iPod Dock / CD Player / AM/FM Radio
- Plays CDs, CD-R/RW, and MP3 CDs
- 40 watts
- 2 – 1/2″ bamboo cone speakers
- Wireless Bluetooth feature means you can connect your iPhone to this dock wirelessly
- Motorized sliding door that conceals CD tray and iPod/iPhone dock
- Additional 1/8″ Mini input
- Charges iPod or iPhone while playing
- 4 EQ presets
- Treble/Bass control
- Programmable timer / sleep button (to use as alarm clock)
- Dimensions (HxWxD) = 7-29/32 x 19-11/16 x 4-1/32
- Weight = 6.6 lbs
Design
Simple, minimalistic, “Bose” or “B&O”-like, the Panasonic SC-HC40 design is just what we have been looking for quite a long time now. Obviously entirely made of plastic, the SC-HC40 does not feel cheap or fragile, and Panasonic ’s subtle “Chrome”-like effect and usage of blue LED give the user a warming sensation of using a High-end product rather than your average “Boom-Box”.
iPod and other DAP functions
Besides its elegant design, the SC-HC40’s main selling point is its incredibly well implemented iPod support. With cleverly integrated docking station accessible thanks to a sliding door, you will easily be able to plug your iPhone or iPod to your SC-HC40. It not only givies you the possibility to charge your iPhone, but also to have full access to your Phone’s basic functions including its audio contents, your alarms but also your phone.
Although I am sure you will easily understand how the SC-HC40 can take full control of your Audio files sorted on your phone, the part that is about having control over your iPhone communication, however needs some explanation.
Thanks to the basic support of Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with A2DP, AVRCP and HFP or Hands-Free Profile, you can, in fact either receive calls or place calls from the comfort of your sofa without the need of touching your iPhone. As you may have seen on the video we published alongside this article, the SC-HC40 will fully use your iPhone’s Hands-Free capacity and let you talk to anyone freely as you do with any other conference call system.
While in fact for us the reproduction quality was impeccable, we could clearly hear the person who was calling us, this very same person, however had a nasty “echo” giving a rather annoying experience whenever you would use your SC-HC40 Hands-Free mode.
Now we are not sure if this was due to our test unit that was, in fact not a final product version but rather a pre-release one, or if this “echo” will affect most people calling an iPhone dock on a SC-HC40.
Not only limited to the iPhone you could potentially use the Bluetooth mode of your SH-HC40 with different DAPs or Phones… Also thanks to its additional 1/8″ Mini input, you can plug any external audio sources to use your SC-HC40 speakers and “unleash” the sound stored on your Zune HD or your PC for example.
So what about the Sound?
Well, this should be in fact the most important aspect of our stereo and to be honest the SC-HC40 performs just fine. Made to be mainly used in a small room rather than a loft, the sound coming of our SC-HC40 2x 1/2″ cone speakers were noticeably clearer thanks to Panasonic’s unique usage of bamboo in speakers.
The addition of Bamboo not only gives a sharper voice reproduction but it also helps Panasonic to get the best sound possible in the slimmest package ever.
Now it is always difficult to evaluate the quality of sound reproduction of one product when you do not compare it to another one but, as I said earlier, the SC-HC40 gave us good, or above average sound quality that will please most of us. And if you feel the need to tweak things a little for your own pleasure, you can always play with the SC-HC40 EQ to get the most of your sound.
Other Goodies
Being above all a Slim Stereo, the SC-HC40 comes with a CD player and an SD, SDHC and SDXC card reader, meaning that you will not only be able to listen to CDs, Rip CDs to a memory card but also be able to listen to music stored on any compatible SD Card, a little plus always welcome if you happen to get a few SD cards lying around.
Conclusion
Well-built, nice design, overall good iPhone integration and above average sound quality the SC-HC40 is a Slim Stereo that we can recommend without hesitation. Unfortunately giving a “weak” audio experience for people calling you directly on the SC-HC40 on our test sample, just make me either wish for a fix or hope that the product available on the market is exempt from this problem. But once again if you are looking for a nice Stereo with clutter-less iPhone integration, the SC-HC40 is what you are looking for!
21
May
2010
Pioneer.eu: This week Pocket-Lint.com interviewed Dom Feeney, Pioneer Product Executive, resulting in a video tour of Pioneer’s new iControlAV app for iPhone & iPod Touch. The free application can be used to control Pioneer’s new AV receivers and Blu-ray Disc Players.
The iControlAV application provides iPhone and iPod touch users convenient integration of their devices with their home cinema system. The free app turns an iPhone and iPod touch into a fully functioning remote control for the VSX-920, VSX-1020, and VSX-1025 receivers. When the receivers are connected to an existing wireless router via Ethernet, the app allows wireless control of the receivers and includes graphical representations of the following controllable elements:
In addition the iControlAV app is a fully functioning remote control for the BDP-LX53 and BDP-330. When they are connected to an existing wireless router (via Ethernet or Wireless LAN), the application allows wireless control of playback and navigation functions.
01
Apr
2010
NaviGadget: As you know may already know we’ve been keeping a good track of all the GPS navigation apps for the iPhone. We had already mentioned MapQuest there but this is worth mentioning again since they just released MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone – which is totally free.
We say it was time for iPhone users to get a taste of free GPS navigation. Android users have Google Maps in the U.S, Nokia users all around the world have Ovi Maps – now one our first internet favorites (late 90’s?) MapQuest comes to the rescue for iPhone users. Read more…
01
Apr
2010
Popgadget: The Plattans feature an in-line microphone and remote compatible with the iPhone and Nokia, HTC and Blackberry phones along with two extra cable extensions making the headphones compatible with a majority of all devices. Also featured is the “zound plug” which allows you to daisy-chain another set of headphones to let a friend listen in. This set also folds up to a neat, compact size for convenient transport. And, finally, the best part: 14 fashionable colors to choose from, with everything from basic black to ocean blue and salad green.
25
Mar
2010
What HiFi?: If you’re after a new set of earphones for your iPhone and want to be able to take calls without a panic-ridden struggle to free your ears, then Sony has two new offerings for you to consider.
Both models feature an in-line remote control that puts volume, play/pause and skip track buttons within your reach, while an integrated microphone allows you to chat hands-free without removing the earphones. Read more…
18
Mar
2010
Akihabara News: Announced yesterday in Europe, the ICF-DS11iP and ICF-C05iP are the latest dock and alarm clock made for both the iPod and iPhone made by Sony.
The first model, ICF-DS11iP, include the Basic Dock and Charging features as well as the support of both Video & Audio playback, FFWD/REW and volume control via Remote, as well as the basic Alarm features ranging from the usual Buzzer Radio or any music stored on your iPod/iPhone while the second model the ICFC05iP, offers in the other hand only the support of Music on top of the Dock/Charge function and the advance Alarm features giving you access your iPod/iPhone music library. Read the press release
10
Mar
2010
Wired.co.uk: You’re not crazy, and neither are we: The touchscreen on the Apple iPhone really is more responsive than the screens on the BlackBerry Storm, the Motorola Droid, the Nexus One and many other phones, even though all of these devices use essentially the same touch-sensing hardware.
Though handset makers buy their touchscreens as components from the same select pool of suppliers, a good touchscreen experience requires more than just hardware. It requires a bit of design alchemy blending software, engineering and calibration for the perfect feel. Few smartphone makers have managed to get that balance right, say experts. Read more…
04
Mar
2010
What HiFi: Afraid you might miss an important call when listening to your iPhone? Well you won’t with the new Intempo Phono, which will automatically stop the music and take the call when the phone rings.
And if that’s not handy enough, your iPhone can also swivel through 90 degrees when in the dock, so you can use it to view films or videos on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Although it’s designed specifically for the iPhone, the Intempo Phono will work with any iPod.
The dock will charge your iPhone, has built-in speakers and a subwoofer, a claimed power output of 20W and digital EQ for altering treble and bass settings, plus a loudness control.
You also get an FM tuner with 20 presets, a multi-functional LCD display, alarm and snooze functions, and a remote control.
Intempo’s Phono is available now for £99.99 from Amazon.
17
Dec
2009
iPodNN: JVC on Wednesday introduced a new iPod dock with built-in speakers that has a unique wraparound design and supports virtual Dolby surround sound.
The XS-SR3 can hold iPods and iPhones either horizontally or vertically, depending on whether the user wants to listen to music or watch videos.
Four clips are included to hold different models of iPods. The speakers output 5W of power through neodymium magnets.
The dock can also play music from other sources through both analog and optical input. A remote control is included. JVC ships the XS-SR3 later in December for $150 (€102).