Music
Good Vibrations: the musical and military instruments of Leon Theremin
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After the close of WWII, Russian schoolchildren presented the U.S. ambassador with a “gesture of friendship” in the form of a two-foot wooden replica of the Seal of the United States. Behind the beak of the eagle was a miniscule listening device so ingeniously designed that it took eight years before a routine check unearthed it. The era of electronic bugs had begun, and it was largely thanks to the brilliant mind of Leon Theremin: musician, inventor, and prisoner in Stalin’s gulag. Read More
Lenovo's IdeaPad S10 Reviewed
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Netbooks are typically a "me too!" product, created by manufacturers who think their Intel Atom-based, small form factor notebook is going to stand out from the countless others, despite little to no attention being paid to the areas that could differentiate their product from the rest. Lenovo's IdeaPad S10 is a welcome deviation from the norm that's just as suited to the touring musician as it is to the couch surfer. Read on for our full review. Read More
Gibson Les Paul Dark Fire - every imaginable guitar sound
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Gibson Guitars have pushed the envelope forward again - barely a year after the release of the self-tuning 'Robot Guitar' in 2007, the company has announced its next-gen technology with the Dark Fire, which incorporates an upgraded Robot tuning system and adds a piezo neck pickup system to let the player blend acoustic and electric sounds for a much broader tonal range. Gibson sees the Dark Fire as a guitar that tunes itself in seconds and offers such a wide range of tone that you only need the one axe for the whole gig - but how will this progressive instrument be received by the market? Read More
RXS launches two new Bluetooth adaptors
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November 19, 2008 Everyone hates headphone cords trailing around everywhere and getting in a tangle, which is one of the reasons Bluetooth has proven so popular for listening to music from Bluetooth capable players and phones. For those whose phones and portable music players aren’t Bluetooth capable, RXS has released two new adapters, which add Bluetooth functionality to iPods, iPhones or any device with a 3.5mm headphone socket. Read More
UK retailers create logo for promoting DRM free MP3s
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Ten years after the release of the first MP3 player, seven UK-based music download retailers are giving the universally compatible format a promotional boost by adopting an “MP3 compatible” logo to indicate they are able to be played on every PC, Mac and on virtually every digital music player. Read More
Onkyo upgrades THX Certified Home Theater Package
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The new Onkyo HT-S9100THX combines a home theater receiver with a 7.1-channel home theater speaker system, all of which were designed to conform to THX's Integrated System Plus certification protocols. It also boasts1080p capable HDMI v.1.3 connectivity, Faroudja DCDi video upscaling, Audyssey 2EQ and Dynamic EQ, and complete decoding for the latest high resolution audio formats. The system also includes the new THX Loudness Plus technology which compensates for the tonal and spatial shifts that occur when the volume level is reduced below the reference levels. Read More
Daito Manabe demonstrates bizarre electrified face-dancing
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October 28, 2008 Tokyo's Daito Manabe, an electronic music producer, programmer and designer, has pioneered a fascinating new form of music performance. In the YouTube video after the jump, Manabe wires his face up to a series of electrodes that cause his facial muscles to twitch and distort in sync with the music. A bit harrowing to watch, but compelling nonetheless. Read More
Sony's latest iPod dock range
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Sony's new range of iPod compatible products makes good on the company's stated promise to “continue to develop products that are compatible with popular hardware formats and audio codecs.” Not surprisingly, this includes Apple’s ubiquitous portable player. The five-strong range includes a mini hi-fi system with docks for two iPods and DJ functions, two designs of iPod speaker system and two clock radios, one having CD playback in addition to its iPod compatibility. Read More
Wii Music aims to take music gaming to the masses
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While music based rhythm games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band let players let out their inner Rock God, Nintendo, like they have done for the majority of their Wii titles, have aimed for a different demographic with Wii Music. With the standard lead, bass, drums and vocals combo pretty well catered for, Wii Music has widened the net by bringing more than 60 instruments to your living room. And unlike other games where the object is to hit the right note at the right time, Wii Music lets you put your own spin on songs. According to Nintendo, it’s all about improvisation, creativity and fun. Read More
Sandisk releases Sansa slotMusic Player
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SanDisk is looking to expand its market with the introduction of the Sansa slotMusic Player. The plug & play, portable music player was specially designed for use with the new slotMusic cards available today in the US. SanDisk are pushing slotMusic as a new format of high-fidelity, DRM-free MP3 music on a microSD card, which gives consumers the ability to listen to and quickly swap music between a mobile phone, personal computer, and any MP3 player with a microSD slot. Read More
The humble guitar-stand gets a clever revamp
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While they are a must have on stage, most guitar stands out there are either so over-designed that you almost need a trailer to transport them or, more commonly, so flimsy that they won't support your axe and inevitably fall apart - and even then they are an awkward shape to lug around when folded down. This design from RKS solves the problem. Read More
Portable party: the BoomCooler
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Take a 36" x 18" x 17 cool-box, add 2 x 240 speakers, a 10” Subwoofer, a 4-Channel Amplifier, then throw in wheels and a towing handle and you have yourself an ideal summer entertainment solution with which to terrorize the neighborhood.
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic Mobile Device
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What looks like an iPhone, functions like an iPhone, but isn’t an iPhone? Nokia’s new 5800 XpressMusic, that’s what. Nokia would most likely balk at suggestions their new mobile offering is in response to Apple’s ubiquituos device, but comparisons are inevitable with the 5800 sporting similar looks courtesy of a large touch screen, similar looking interface and focus on music. The 5800 XpressMusic will be among the first devices to support "Comes With Music", a Nokia service which offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue. Read More
Sonance updates outdoor speaker line
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Here's one for those looking to entertain outdoors without upsetting their back-yard's natural ambiance. Sonance is expanding its Landscape Series of outdoor audio speakers with the addition of three new models. The new products include two smaller rock-like speakers and a larger boulder-like enclosure to house Sonance’s Mariner outdoor speakers. Read More
Savant Systems' iPod media dock
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Savant Systems’ ROSIE Media Dock connects compatible iPod and iPhone models with SAVANT multi-room AV systems allowing users to navigate their personal media players via a ROSIE user interface, which also displays artist, album and track information. Read More
Toshiba's new slant on portable TV
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The permutations and combinations offered by portable multi-media devices just keep on growing and Toshiba's latest approach, the JournE range, takes a music player, video platform and photo viewer and combines it with a DVB-T Tuner, adding television to the list of entertainment options you can plug in to while on the move. The product range will kick-off with the 4.3 inch touch screen E M400 model which will launch across Europe later this year. Read More
Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker
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There's nothing like strapping on the earphones and cranking up your favorite tunes to help you through a serious bout of exercise, but in many outdoor scenarios, especially cycling, this can become a major safety risk by preventing you from hearing traffic noise and other potential hazards that might not be visible. This is the thinking that inspired Los Angeles entrepreneur Jeff Lotman to invent the Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker, a palm-sized unit that attaches to a bike or backpack and wirelessly transmits music and phone calls from Bluetooth enabled devices. Read More
Renault to reveal high-end Ondelios concept (UPDATED - NEW IMAGES)
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Renault has placed the emphasis on style, interior space and long-haul comfort in its new luxury crossover concept offering which is set to debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. The 15.7 feet (4.8 m) long, 5.2 feet (1.6 m) high Ondelios - the name being an amalgam of the French 'onde' (wave) and 'helios' (the Greek god of the sun) - is powered by a by a hybrid system combining a 205hp (150kW) version of the 2.0 dCi engine with two 20kW electric motors at the front and rear which give it the capability of a 4WD vehicle. The initial pics reveal the standout elements of the design - a striking inset aluminum-finish grille, inwardly curved tail lights, seven-spoke, 23-inch aluminum alloy wheels and butterfly-style side doors hinged to the roof to enable easy access to the three rows of seats. There's also plenty of technological goodies on show including a collaboration with Samsung that lets the driver use a cell phone to unlock the door and engage personal settings like seat-adjustment and music. Read More
Apple announces new iPod touch and iPod nano
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Apple's latest raft of product announcements includes a new, lighter and smaller iPod touch and the thinnest ever iPod nano, now in its fourth generation. The fresh models both boast sleek new designs but the nano gets the biggest boost in terms of functionality via a refined user interface and a built-in accelerometer which lets you performs tricks like automatically switching to Shuffle™ mode when the unit is lightly shaken. Read More
ION Audio's DESK ROCKER speakers
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ION Audio’s US$149.95 DESK ROCKER speaker system plays audio from any PC, Mac, TV, DVD, CD, and connected guitar or keyboard. The DESK ROCKER system consists of two self-powered desktop speakers, which plug into a standard wall outlet. Read More
Ego Cup FM in-car FM transmitter
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Drivers just might have to find somewhere else to stow their tasty beverages with the Ego Cup FM from German wireless in-car communications company Funkwerk Dabendorf. The Ego Cup FM is a plug and play FM transmitter designed to slot into car cup holders that connects to a mobile phone via Bluetooth and, as well as transmitting MP3s stored on the phone to the radio, also allows calls to be taken over the integrated speaker or through the car speakers. Read More
IRiver's SPINN MP4 Player
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Headlining iRiver’s 2008 lineup of personal electronics are the SPINN MP4 Player and the P20 portable multimedia player, stylish gadgets characterized by their high-quality Active-matrix OLED screens and analog toggle wheels. The SPINN MP4 Player can play and record digital music, images, video (in MPEG-4 and WMV9 format), and supports Flash Games 2.0, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 and Text Viewer. Read More
Able Planet releases budget version of noise canceling headphones
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Able Planet has introduced a new model of noise canceling headphones aimed at cost-conscious audio-philes who also like to protect their hearing. The new USD$99 Clear Harmony NC200 foldable headphones utilize the company’s patented LINX AUDIO and state-of-the-art active noise cancellation (ANC) technologies. Read More
Grundig announces return of Audiorama spherical speakers
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September 2, 2008 Grundig's disco-ball-esque speakers blasted funk in the 70s, and now the company is releasing a model for a new generation to enjoy. The Audiorama 9000 is set for an October release, for an RRP of €1100. The speaker set consists of two deep mid-range chassis, and incorporates a hyperbolically diverted treble system that provides clear 360 degrees surround sound without the “lattice fence effect”.
Universal Audio ships the UAD-2
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After four and a half years of being an industry standard DSP platform, Universal Audio's UAD-1 system was getting a little long in the tooth. While there were multiple versions of the card for desktop users and the portable UAD-Xpander, they all used a single, aging SHARC DSP. Read More
Limbo String: throw a party anywhere, anytime
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After something a little different for your box of party tricks? At the click of a button, the compact Limbo Stringunit releases a colorful circular string which arches across the room. The string is constantly fed through the unit so it remains airborne at all times and if you turn off the lights, the multi-colored, fluorescent string will glow in the dark. Read More
Leon Speakers introduces Profile 404-X-A on-wall speakers and A3-SUB subwoofer
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August 12, 2008 Leon Speakers, established in 1995, is a world leader of high performance, on-wall loudspeakers. The company's new Profile 404-X-A speakers allow you to set them up on, or against a wall. The shallow profile (3.25-inches deep) helps them blend with their surroundings, and a choice of veneers and finishes (including paints) are available to finish the look. Read More
TASCAM GT-R1 portable guitar recorder
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So you've nailed that killer riff but the studio is miles away. The latest solution aimed at songwriters in this predicament is TASCAM's GT-R1. The follow-up to the company's DR-1 model, this portable recorder for guitar and bass players features direct plug-in recording along with built-in condenser microphones for capturing rehearsals and live shows and amp simulation and effects. Read More
Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones
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July 23, 2008 Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are the result of collaboration between Dr. Dre, Monster Cable and industrial designer Robert Brunner. There's certainly no question that they look the part, but with an impressive list of features and specifications to back them up, you might just consider dropping USD $349 on a pair this Friday. Read More
Earplugs that fit in your wallet for an aural emergency
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Sound systems in clubs, pubs and music venues are regularly pushed to obscene levels, requiring conversations to be held at a shouting volume, and often leaving attendees with a ringing sound in their ears indicative of permanent hearing damage. Designer Shing Lo has an ingenious solution that means you will never leave home without ear protection. Read More
Rock Band 2 set list officially announced
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Harmonix, EA and MTV Games have announced the 84 tracks that make up the set list of the upcoming Rock Band 2 - and this time around, every single track on the disc will utilize the original master recordings. Read More
Parrot Party portable wireless audio system
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Designed as a quality alternative to the often unsatisfying speaker systems in mobile phones, this compact and totally wireless sound audio system offers four hours of playback from Bluetooth devices to a range of 33 feet, as well as a plug-in solution for listening to personal media or CD players while you're out and about. Read More
Alpine Electronics' ultra-compact subwoofer
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Alpine Electronics has developed a subwoofer solution for automobile enthusiasts who value space as much as bass. The subwoofer provides the same low frequency performance of a 12-inch model, but in a compact 100mm deep unit that can snugly fit in sports cars, SUVs and saloons. Read More
Camouflage speakers for the great outdoors
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Hooking up an outdoor sound system for your backyard can be unsightly with big black speakers unable to blend in with the surrounds. This line of camouflaged outdoor speakers from Niles Audio Corporation is designed to address these issues and look like common backyard items. Read More
Olive's 1000GB OPUS No4 home audio solution
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April 30, 2008 Featuring an intuitive touch-screen interface and capable of storing up to 3000 CDs in their original quality, the OPUS No4 is pitched at music lovers who want to spend less time managing their collection, and more time enjoying it. Read More
