07
Mar
2012
Electronista: Earbuds optimized to Microsoft Lync
Logitech has launched a new set of airbuds targeting business users. The BH320 USB Stereo Earbuds are designed primarily for voice and video chats, not music. The earbuds use a five-band parametric equalization technology to optimize both the audio and microphone to make it mirror normal speech. Echo cancellation also adds to voice clarity. (more…)
27
Jan
2011
Pioneer.eu: Mid February, Pioneer introduces 2 digital media receivers, made to enjoy music and movies on the road without having to take CDs or DVDs into your car.
The MVH-7300 and MVH-8300BT are specifically designed for the sources which are used most – whether that’s iPod, iPhone, USB, SD or other portable video and music sources via Aux-in. Now, the MVH-7300 also supports DivX video playback from SD and USB.
Both are single DIN receivers that feature an elegant 3-inch full-colour TFT Display. To add a personal touch, the display’s background and screen colours can be changed. As well as providing great video playback quality, it gives full access to all the playlists, album art, videos and more on a connected iPod or iPhone.
App mode
A new App mode even enables listening to music or watching video and navi content from various iPhone and iPod touch Apps, including games, video, internet radio, musical instrument simulators etc., provided the App supports analogue audio or video output.
With SDHC compatibility (32GB), it’s easy to take your whole library of film and video entertainment along on a journey.
Pioneer’s highly regarded 7-way rotary commander enables straightforward navigation and control. It allows you to browse or search through lists and quickly jump to new functions using just one handy dial.
USB and SD card slot on front panel
Detailed video playback is complemented by excellent audio quality. Both units play MP3, WMA and iTunes AAC music files via USB and SD memory card.
For easy access, the USB port is located directly on the front panel and the SD memory card slot is positioned discreetly behind the partially detachable front panel.
Pioneer equipped the receivers with its Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) to enhance the listening experience, particularly for compressed digital formats. This patented technology helps to restore the musical details lost when compressed music files are created.
With the 8-band graphic equalizer you can adjust the sound of the system to suit your vehicle and preference, while dedicated hi-volt (4 V) pre-amp outputs for front, rear, and subwoofer allow for flexible system building.
For hands-free safety and convenience, the MVH-8300BT integrates a Parrot Bluetooth module, enabling you to hear the conversation through the vehicle’s speakers while your voice is broadcast through the included external microphone, which guarantees optimum speech quality.
24
Sep
2010
Akihabara News: JVC today expanded its Procision series of premium-level products with the introduction of a new high-performance micro audio system. The new JVC UX-J51 is a three-piece system that combines class-leading performance with clean, elegant design.
The new JVC UX-J51 is a CD micro component system with a built-in dock for iPod, USB (2.0) input and an FM/AM tuner. It’s comprised of a single main unit and a pair of two-way, bass reflex speakers. Most functions are controlled using flush, top-mounted touch keys illuminated in blue, with the exception of volume, which is handled by a large, silver knob on the main unit’s front panel. A full function remote control is also included.
A key performance feature is the system’s separate left and right channel amplifiers, each rated at 40 watts. The two-way speakers feature a one-inch (2.5cm) soft-dome tweeter and a 4.3-inch (11cm) cone woofer. The audio performance is optimized using CONEQTM technology that matches amplifier and speaker performance to ensure equalized power levels across all frequencies, resulting in a clean, natural sound throughout the listening room.
For system expansion, the UX-J51 includes a digital optical input and output, analog input and output, aux input, and a subwoofer preout. There’s also a headphone jack, FM and AM antenna jacks and banana speaker jacks. The system also features a clock/timer.
The JVC UX-J51 will be available in October for $399.95.
03
Sep
2010
Akihabara News: Onkyo is now expanding its product line to include upscale separate components. With its announcement today of three new THX Certified components, Onkyo is now offering the higher levels of performance, quality, and capabilities typical of separates. These new products include Onkyo’s first A/V preamplifier/processor that is both 3D-Ready and THX-Certified, a powerful 150-watt nine-channel amplifier, and a full-featured Blu-ray Disc Player.
Onkyo’s flagship PR-SC5508 is a THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified, network-capable, 9.2-channel audio-video controller will function as the brains of the worlds most advanced in-home home theater systems. It has a 3D-Ready HDMI-1.4a interface, HQV Reon-VX video processing, ISF Video Calibration, and a long list of top-of-the line audio and video features unmatched in other products.
The networking features offer DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7 compatible connection to PC audio and internet radio. The system is configured for Pandora, Rhapsody, Mediafly, Slacker, Napster, VTuner, and Sirius Internet Radio. The PR-SC5508′s component circuitry is at the far edge of the technology envelope, both in terms of sound and video quality and processing. Superior video performance comes in the form of HQV Reon-VX processing, 1080p upscaling, and individual ISF calibration capability for all video sources. This THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified system offers exceptional surround sound, height channels, setup calibration, and state of the art processing from Dolby, THX, DTS, and Audyssey, including the latter’s new MultEQ XT 32. The PR-SC5508′s extensive connectivity options includes 8 HDMI inputs, dual USB’s, two balanced line-level XLR audio inputs, and nine XLR preamp outputs to drive the matching PA-MC5500 nine-channel power amplifier.
The Onkyo PA-MC5500 is a powerful nine-channel THX-Ultra2 Plus certified analog power amplifier that is 8-ohm rated at 150 Watts per channel, and up to 400 Watts dynamic power into 3 ohms. It utilizes Onkyo’s exclusive WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) design philosophy, which proscribes low negative feedback, low distortion, extended frequency response, and a power supply with high instantaneous-current capability. To achieve all this, the PA-MC5500 uses large, custom output transistors in push-pull configuration and massive power supply consisting of a large toroidal power transformer and two 22,000 µF storage capacitors. Despite all this power, the PA-MC5500 preserves the subtle details of the sound with a three-stage inverted Darlington circuit to remove distortion and the use of professional balanced line-level XLR inputs for the optimal interface with its ideal companion, the Onkyo PR-SC5508. The 51-lb PA-MC5500 has a rigid, anti-resonant chassis, gold-plated inputs and outputs, plus multi-zone and bi-amp capability to allow full utilization of all channels no mater what the system configuration.
The Onkyo BD-SP808 is a THX Certified and DLNA 1.5 Certified Blu-ray Disc Player with a full array of state of the art technology, including Video On Demand, premium Marvel Qdeo™ video scaler, and studio-master quality Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ sound. Its superior build quality provides a robust and versatile playback solution for Blu-ray, DVD, and CD. Harmful vibrations are minimized thanks to the highly rigid chassis construction and a balanced, center-mounted drive mechanism. An Ethernet port enables interactive Profile 2.0 BD-Live features such as picture-in-picture and web-sourced firmware updates. An SD card slot allows playback of downloaded web content or stills and video from a digital camera. In HDMI Source Direct mode, the player can output the video signal in its native resolution for optional external processing.
These products will begin shipping to dealers in September. The PR-SC5508 will have a suggested retail price of $2,199, the PA-MC5500 will be $1,699, and the BD-SP808 will have a suggest retail price of $599.
18
Mar
2010
The Red Ferret: Bring out your inner Ibizan with the Discover DJ by Ion Audio. It’s a twin deck USB DJ controller with all the same controls that the big kids have. It will play m4a, aiff, wav, mp3, flac and ogg audio files, you can loop, cross-fade, scratch and tempo match. It also comes with the MixVibes software to mix and record your hits.
The deck is completely plug-and-play and only needs USB power to run. Best of all, the deck and software work with PC and Mac. £99 from Firebox. Read more…
03
Nov
2009
Electronista: Kingston and Paramount unveiled an unusual deal today that will see the latter’s movies made available on SD cards and USB flash drives.
The partners haven’t detailed the formats involved but say the movies will be available both in bundles as well as individually. Neither company has committed to a release date.
The gesture is one of the few commitments to providing movies on non-optical storage and is considered a means of spreading video to systems that don’t have Blu-ray or DVD drives, such as netbooks or handhelds. S
tandard definition movies are most likely as these can usually fit into 2GB or less of storage.
22
Sep
2009
Engadget: You heard it here first, folks: SuperSpeed USB is a reality. After waiting around for what feels like ages, USB 3.0 can now say it has its first certified product in NEC’s xHCI host controller.
We know this may not be the most exciting first product to get the all-important seal of approval, but you’ve got to start somewhere. And hey, for those who know a thing or two about building a product to spec, having a legitimate host controller could sure come in handy.
We spoke to Jeff Ravencraft, president and chairman of the USB-IF (the group that oversees certification and the like), and he stated that (officially) the group is still anticipating end products to hit shelves in early 2010.
That said, this here host controller is available now in the open market, and he did confess that a number of manufacturers would likely try to get USB 3.0-equipped wares onto store shelves before that magical day in December.
He also noted that a smattering of companies would be showcasing USB 3.0 gear at upcoming trade shows, with a Buffalo external hard drive, an ExpressCard-to-USB 3.0 adapter and even a full-on laptop with a functioning USB 3.0 port making a stop at IDF later this week.
19
May
2009
Electronista: NEC claimed a minor record on Monday by becoming the first company to produce a hardware controller that supports the new USB 3.0 standard.
The µPD720200 will let computers and other devices talk to USB 3.0 peripherals and theoretically allows for the peak 5Gbps transfers of the format, or roughly 10 times the speed of USB 2.0.
The Japanese chipset nonetheless remains backwards compatible with both the 2.0 spec as well as 1.1 devices, although USB 3.0 ports themselves won’t support 1.x. In launching the technology, NEC says its hardware should be particularly useful for external hard drives and particularly solid-state drives, many of whom can transfer data at speeds far faster than USB 2.0 can handle and need the extra speed. These would also typically overwhelm FireWire 800 connections.
Test versions of the NEC chips will be made available to companies building USB 3.0-aware devices next month and should cost those companies $15 per part. When the first products will carry the chipset aren’t mentioned, but hipments should climb to 1 million
14
Apr
2009
Newlaunches: The newly unveiled Denon DP 200USB is a fully automatic turntable with USB port and built-in MP3 encoder.
This gadget allows vinyl lovers convert all of their favorite records to MP3 audio tracks without the need for a PC.
Denon claims at a simple push of a button to a connected USB memory stick or hard drive, records are recorded as MP3 files in 192 kbps quality.
The Denon DP 200USB player will cost you approx $294 (€221), and is bundled with Trans Music Convertor that features tools to edit tracks for those that do want to get their PC in on the action, with Gracenote metadata services able to add info to the files.
18
Mar
2009
Engdaget: We’ve already seen a number of mainstays in the turntable game crank out decks that easily archive vinyl records to MP3, and now we’ve got a new pair from Stanton making that same claim.
The T.92 and T.55 USB turntables each feature USB and S/PDIF outputs and come bundled with Cakewalk Pyro Audio Creator and Audacity software.
On the hardware front, you’ll find an S-Shaped tone arm for lower distortion and reduced record wear along with a built-in DSP with key lock for controlling tempo without affecting pitch.
As for differences, the T.55 is a belt-drive turntable that features a straight tone arm, while the T.92 touts a high-torque direct drive motor. Check ‘em both right now at popular music retailers across the globe for $299/€230 (T.92) and $199/€150 (T.55).
11
Mar
2009
Engadget: We’ve heard the details and watched the bits fly in person, and now representatives from Agilent Technologies Inc. are saying that test specifications for the SuperSpeediest standard ever will be fully ratified by the end of June.
Sure, you probably don’t care much about the internal workings of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF for those fond of acronyms), but without tests manufacturers can’t certify their devices, and with no certification that 500MBps external USB HDD of your dreams will never come to market.
However, if all goes to plan and those standards fall in place before the dog days of summer begin, USB-IF members expect consumer devices should hit shelves in 2010. Better start saving.
11
Jun
2008
PC World: An official job listing at Nintendo of America suggests that multiple USB devices are on their way to Wii, this amid storage concerns for the console that lacks a hard drive.
The job opening, as posted on Nintendo.com four days ago, is for a “Software/Hardware Tester” that can create and execute a “test plan for Wii’s USB devices.” Nintendo has yet to publicly announce any USB devices for Wii, however, although the console supports the protocol.
The news comes as Wii owners struggle to manage downloadable content and games, given the console’s limiting 512MB internal memory. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 feature internal hard drives for mass storage.
Nintendo responded to storage concerns last week saying, “Consumers have the option of either deleting the game and downloading it again for no additional Wii Points, or transferring the game from Wii to external SD memory card.”
Previously, Nintendo has likened the file management and limited storage space of Wii to that of a refrigerator, suggesting gamers should “pull something out and put something back in” when software isn’t being used.