Technabob » Media Players

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A3 Audio Dock: Elegant and Useful, but Still Expensive

Range — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:09 +0000

This speaker system combines multiple elements so that it’s a pretty functional accessory. The only bad thing I can think of is the price, which is more expensive than most iPad models. It definitely looks comfortable, and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A3 is certainly distinctive for something you’ll probably end up using a lot at home.

The triangular module features speakers mounted on both sides, as well as an orientation sensor to activate the right stereo speakers, depending on the way that you are using the stand. Sound is provided by a Class D amplifier, and the speakers have an effective frequency range of 60 to 15,000 Hz.

The built-in battery is good for 5 hours of playback. It comes with an integrated dock connector, and will work will all generations of the iPad. The B&O Beoplay A3 sells for $730(USD).

NHK & Panasonic Unveil 145″ Ultra High Definition 8K Display: I Sense Another Star Wars Boxset in the Near Future

Lambert Varias — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:11 +0000

So you have a kick ass home theater setup, with a 72″ 3D HDTV as its centerpiece. I applaud your fat wallet. But if you want to keep being a great consumer, keep an eye on this new technology: a 145-inch Ultra High Definition plasma display. Either that or this is a picture of a 32″ HDTV and a very small lady.

Made by NHK and Panasonic, the display has a maximum resolution of 7,860 x 4,320, has almost 34 million pixels and other numbers bigger than the ones that your TV has. It also has “a new drive system to stabilize the picture throughout the panel, by scanning several pixels simultaneously in the vertical direction.”

I predict that in a hundred years, Sony will partner with ImprovEverywhere to bring us Liv3Theatr, an Ultra Hyper Mega 26-Hit Combo Finish High Definition Display that looks so real because it is real. Pick a channel and Sony will teleport improv actors behind your display to perform whatever show is on that channel or teleport you to where the show is being held. If you can find the remote.

[via Diginfo via Reddit]

Foco Acoustic iPad Amplifier: Another Boost for iPad Speakers

Range — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0000

The Foco is another acoustic amplifier for your iPad. It’s basically like the Amplifiear but the shape is a bit more conservative and practical. It’s designed to make sharing tunes or watching movies a lot easier and you won’t have to lug around heavy powered speakers.

Foco adheres to the back of your iPad thanks to a removable sticky pad. If you’re wondering about the name, Foco is Spanish for focus – as in the way it focuses the sound. It’s supposed to work with different protective cases as well, so you won’t have to take your iPad out of its protection in order to use Foco.

Based on the test of the Foco prototype the video below, the Foco can increase amplitude by about 10 to 13dB over the stock iPad speaker.

The Foco will work with the 3rd-gen iPad and iPad 2, and you’ll need to pledge at least $6(USD) to get yours over at Kickstarter.

[via Ubergizmo]

SleekSpeak Wireless Speakers Will Help You Bike to the Beat

Lambert Varias — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:55 +0000

Whether you’re a prize-winning cyclist, a hipster or just a human being who loves to ride bikes and does not fit a niche or stereotype, it’s not a good idea to wear earphones while cycling. They impair hearing and can get tangled, causing you to be distracted and perhaps die a horrible death, albeit one with a soundtrack. Better go with something like the SleekSpeak.

Despite its unusual appearance, the SleekSpeak is simply a Bluetooth speaker, optimized for bicycles. It has a shock- and water-resistant rubber case, a silicone rubber strap, and an internal battery that lasts for 12 hours and is charged via USB.

Inventors David Meisenholder and MK Li claim that the SleekSpeak can output audio at over 80dB. It probably won’t have decent bass, but 80dB is pretty loud. Meisenholder told backers that he’ll be uploading a demo video of the speaker soon, but for now have a look at their pitch video:

Bike on over to Kickstarter before May 9th, and pledge at least $69 (USD) to have a chance to own one of the first SleekSpeaks. If it becomes popular, you can say that you had one before it was cool. Not that anyone will care.

[via Freshness]

Amazon, Netflix Pump Up Streaming Catalog Size with Marketing Speak

Shane McGlaun — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:30:27 +0000

When my wife subscribed us to Amazon Prime, it promised a huge number of movies and TV shows – 17,000 to be exact. Anyone that’s ever gone on to the website looking to stream a movie or TV show has probably been like me and wondered where exactly all that content promised was. As it turns out it appears Amazon is using some creative math to come up with the 17,000 movies and TV show number.

Where the confusion comes in is that Amazon is claiming each episode of the TV series as an individual show. That means if you watch something like the X-Files with over 200 episodes, Amazon considers that 200 different TV shows. That’s one show to anybody with a sane mind.

The real number of TV shows and movies available on Amazon Prime is 1745 flicks, and 150 different TV series. That doesn’t sound nearly as good in the marketing material as 17,000 movies and TV shows. This reminds me of the Where’s the Beef commercial from the 1980s. It’s not only Amazon Prime either; Netflix does the same thing with the claim that it offers more than 60,000 streaming titles. Anyone can look at the library and know Netflix is also counting every individual episode of every TV show. Something like Top Gear that has been on for years and years would represent a huge number of shows if you look at the number of shows that way.

[via Fast Company]

Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 Android 4 Tablet Rears Its Head

Range — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:30:50 +0000

The new Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 was just unveiled, and this new tablet runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It has a 4:3 aspect ration and a 9.7-inch IPS screen with a 1024×768 resolution. Will it be a worthwhile alternative for those considering an iPad or Kindle Fire?

It’s got a slim unibody design, and a 10-hour battery life. It’s only 8.9mm thick and supports Google Play as well as the Lenovo App Shop. The tablet has a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, but no rear camera, which is an interesting statement on the practicality of using tablets as cameras vs. just using them to do video chats.

The extra speakers, a Micro-HDMI and Micro-USB ports are definitely advantages over Apple’s tablets, but the resolution isn’t anything spectacular, and the omission of the rear-facing camera is an interesting choice.

The previously announced IdeaTab S2 is priced at $349(USD) and has a higher resolution (1280×800) display, as well as a rear-facing 5MP camera, so it’s expected that the IdeaTab S2109 will be more competitively priced. A release date hasn’t been announced, but it should be soon.

[via Phandroid via Ubergizmo]

Ledge iPad Wall Mount: Minimal, But Useful

Range — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:30:15 +0000

There are plenty of reasons to wall mount for your iPad, especially if you want to use it on a regular basis in your kitchen to read recipes, watch videos, or to use as a pseudo-intercom in combination with Facetime or Skype. Most of the wall mounts I’ve come across aren’t that pretty. The Ledge is succinct and minimal, which is perfect if you need this kind of a mount.

The Ledge was recently launched as a Kickstarter project by RNDM Design. There is a groove built into The Ledge’s CNC machined and sandblasted aluminum body, allowing to easily place or remove your iPad. It can be fastened to walls using 3M sticky strips or screwed into place.

There will be a smaller version of The Ledge which can be used for iPhones as well. A pledge of $25(USD) will get you the phone version, while $50 will get you the tablet version. You can pledge more for a family pack and different colors. If you’re interested in getting a Ledge for your iDevice, head on over to Kickstarter to make your pledge now.

[via Ubergizmo]

Sonicwalk Speaker Pack Plays the Soundtrack of Your Life as You Walk

Hazel Chua — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:30:05 +0000

Happenings in real life will never be as good or magical as the scenes you might see in movies for many reasons. One of these is that we can’t cue someone in the background to play some gushy love song or sad melody when something romantic or particularly tragic happens. Or can we?

That’s basically what the Sonicwalk allows you to do. It’s a backpack-slash-speaker that will let you play your favorite tunes or key background music wherever and whenever, as long as you’ve got it slung over your shoulders.

The Sonicwalk has two built-in speakers in its straps and hooks up easily with most mobile phones or MP3 players. It’s also got a small LED strip on the back to help make you more visible at night.

Just hit play, adjust the volume on the straps, and do whatever it is you were planning to do – like taking a hike, proposing to someone, or having a romantic outdoor picnic – with your very own soundtrack playing in the background.

The Sonicwalk is available for pre-order from Firebox for £89.99 (~$143 USD).

[via Red Ferret]

Karaoke Anywhere for the iPad 2: The Most Dangerous Apple Accessory Ever Made

Lambert Varias — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:30:28 +0000

Are you looking for a way to let the world know that you can’t sing but you don’t care anyway? There’s a stand for that. The Karaoke Anywhere for the iPad 2 is basically a speaker with two microphone inputs, allowing you and a friend to assault ears anywhere there’s an AC outlet.

The stand itself can be adjusted from a horizontal position up to a 75° angle. Below there’s a 10W speaker with knobs for volume and echo in front. I don’t know what the third knob does, but that’s not the strangest thing about this product. Watch the video to see what I mean.

Does that sheep shearing game only work if you have the stand? Do you have to play the game before you can sing? So many questions, only one way to find out. Take one for the team and order the Karaoke Anywhere stand from Japan Trend Shop. $178(USD) gets you the stand, an AC adapter and two microphones. Murder possibly included.

Futulele: Not the Cheapest Way to Play Ukulele, But It Is the Geekiest

Technabob — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:00:39 +0000

You can pick up an actual ukulele for under 50 bucks, but if you don’t like the idea of plucking real strings and would rather remain in your virtual world, you might want to check out the Futulele – which lets you play ukulele for the low, low price of both an iPad and an iPhone or iPod Touch, plus the app, plus a Futulele case.

Created by music app makers Amidio, Futulele is an upcoming ukulele simulator for iOS. While you can play it with a single iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone, the app really shines in connected mode. This requires the use of an iPad for the string box and strumming, and the iPhone or iPod Touch for the fret board. Here, check it out in action:

Sure, the idea is kind of silly, but it is pretty cool how they network the two devices together using Bluetooth to create one larger instrument. I’d love to see what other sort of instruments could be created this way too.

The app portion of Futulele is headed for the App Store this April, but Amidio is still looking for manufacturers to make the body of the instrument. For now, you’ll just have to improvise with some cardboard and duct tape. Or buy yourself an actual ukulele.

[via Holy Kaw]

Ford SYNC Can Now Access Tablets Using Voice Commands

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:04 +0000

Today was a big day for fans of Apple with its press event unveiling the new iPad. With tablets at the forefront of many consumers minds today, Ford took the opportunity to boast that it was the only automaker in the world that provides a voice control system in their vehicles that is able to access a tablet.

Ford says that its MyFord Touch (powered by Microsoft SYNC) can be used to access music, audio books, and podcasts that are stored on tablets. The USB port inside the Ford vehicles is also able to charge some tablets, though probably not the iPad which needs more power than most.

The iPad isn’t the only tablet the MyFord Touch system has control over. The updated software can control the iPad, iPad 2, Amazon Kindle, Kindle Fire, HP Touchpad, HTC flyer, Nook Color, and the Sony Tablet S. Ford says it will be testing with the new iPad when the tablet is available. Presumably, it will work with the new iPad, since both older versions of the tablet are supported – though if it needs any software changes, Ford isn’t exactly the best with releasing regular updates to SYNC.

[via Autoblog]

Plugication iOS App Restarts Music When You Plug Your Headphones Back In

Lambert Varias — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:00:01 +0000

Here’s a first-world problem that has bugged the hell out of me. If you’re listening to music on an iOS device using a pair of headphones and for some reason you unplug them from your device, the music player will pause the playback. That’s a thoughtful gesture, but when you plug your headphones back in, the music player isn’t thoughtful enough to start playing again. The stock earphones that come with the iPhone and iPod Touch have built-in remotes that make it easier to restart the player, but I’m not going to use them just for that. So I was very intrigued by this jailbreak app.

Despite its awkward name, the Plugication app seems like a good fit for my needs, and perhaps for yours as well. All it does is allow you to command your iOS device to automatically resume music playback when it detects that headphones are plugged in. Here’s a demo of the app by YouTuber myjailbreakmovies:

Plugication is a free download from the Modmyi repository, but you do have to have a jailbroken device to get it. YouTuber rarestname also pointed out another alternative for iOS users with jailbroken iOS devices. The beta 1 of Activator 1.6.2 has a new field called “Headset Connected & Disconnected”, so you can trigger playback using that as well. Lifehacker commenters have suggested a few alternatives for Android users, including Just Shake and Tasker. I just hope Apple will be kind enough to include this feature in the vanilla iOS someday.

[via Lifehacker]

Energy Stream Radio&TV 120 Packs Internet Radio and TV in a Portable Package

Technabob — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

With services like Pandora, XM and Sirius, you might think FM radio is well beyond its heyday. You’d be right. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t listen to FM with a modern gadget. This handy pocket sized device from Energy Sistem combines an FM radio with media player and Internet radio/television streamer.

The Energy Stream Radio&TV 120 has built-in Wi-Fi and can stream music from over 15,000 internet radio stations and over 2,000 internet TV channels. In addition, it’s can play a wide variety of audio and video formats through its internal speaker (or headphones) and its 2.4-inch LCD screen. It’s got 4GB of on-board storage, and can be expanded up to 16GB extra using a MicroSDHC card.

Energy Sistem hasn’t posted its dimensions or weight, but the entire device is clearly small enough to carry around in your backpack or bag, though it looks like it might be a little big to fit in your pocket.

If you’re interested in the Energy Stream Radio&TV 120, it sells for €89.90 (~$119 USD) over at Energy Sistem’s website.

G.O.D.’s Literati Roll Case for Blackberry Playbook: Roll Up Your Tablet

Range — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:24 +0000

This new case from Hong Kong’s Goods of Desire is called the Literati and it’s made to work with the Blackberry Playbook. On top of having a sweet name, G.O.D. makes some interesting accessories. The case is a play on Apple’s Smart Cover, though it works a little differently.

The idea for this design comes from ancient manuscripts from China, where before paper was invented, they used to carve their books into strips of bamboo held together by string. G.O.D. notes that in Chinese culture, people still hold printed books this way.

The Literati Roll Case uses the same approach, breaking the tablet’s cover down into individual strips which can be rolled up. The case can be used as a stand as well. While the prototypes were made out of bamboo, the production models will be made out of plastic, available in black or white. Since the case was designed specifically on behalf of Blackberry, it’s unlikely that the Literati will be available for the iPad or other popular tablets any time soon.

[via designboom]

Craftsman Tool Cabinet Has Built-in Speakers: No Modding Required

Lambert Varias — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:00:55 +0000

Last week we saw a Craftsman-sponsored mod that converted one of the company’s tool chests into a boombox. But if you need something bigger and louder, wait until Craftsman releases the Contour Powered Series Tool Storage.Not only is it decked with drawers, it also has two 220W speakers built-in that connects to music players via Bluetooth.

Craftsman’s press release also mentioned that the tool cabinet has a “built-in power charging station” for up to four devices, so I’m guessing there are four powered USB ports – or maybe even a whole power strip – somewhere on or in it. The Contour Powered Series Tool Storage will be available in the 2nd quarter of 2012. Hopefully mods of the cabinet will come soon after.

[via NotCot via Apartment Therapy]

Buyers Sold Clay Instead of iPads

Conner Flynn — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:43 +0000

How’d you like to plunk down $500 or more for a brand new iPad 2 to find out that you just bought yourself a box filled with clay? Apparently, at least ten customers were sold bogus boxes containing clay instead of iPads over the holidays from several Canadian electronic stores. The boxes appeared to be sealed iPad 2s, but they just contained slabs of clay instead of tablets.

The thought is the scammers purchased the iPads and replaced the tablets with a block of clay weighing the same as the iPad. Then they rewrapped the iPad in retail-grade cellophane and returned them to the store. Then the retailers returned the units to the shelves. Most stores log the customer’s ID on large returns, so they would have had to be clever about that to not get caught. Best Buy, Apple and Future Shop are investigating the situation. Hopefully this won’t happen to you. Maybe someday they’ll have to start x-raying high-priced items when they get returned to prevent this.

This wouldn’t be the first (or last) fake iPad scam – a while back, a woman was sold a wooden iPad for the low, low price of $180. However, that bait-and-switch didn’t happen at a legitimate retailer.

[via TechCrunch]

Atari 2600 Speaker Dock: iTunes Goes 8-Bit

Technabob — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Most of us who have a need for a speaker dock for our iPhones or media players already have one. But if you’re among the few who haven’t already invested in one of the myriad docks out there, you might want to check out this unusual dock, built out of an old Atari 2600 console.

Daniel McLeod of Black Mountain Audio gutted an old Atari 2600 (made back in November 1980,) and replaced its innards with a couple of computer speakers, and added a dock where the cartridge usually goes. It also comes with an external subwoofer, which he wasn’t able to cram inside the console itself.

He swapped out the power connector with a 3.5mm jack, suitable for plugging in any media player. While I love the idea of this, I wish that it could actually accommodate a 30-pin dock connector for charging an iOS device. Maybe you could cram one of these in the cartridge slot instead. There also should be some way that you could still play games on it – especially since you can still connect controllers to it. It’s just too tempting.

Still, it’s a pretty cool conversation piece if you’re into retro gaming, and want a unique dock for your media player. It’s currently for sale over on Etsy for $100 (USD).

ION Duo Deck Converts Both Vinyl and Cassettes to Digital

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:20 +0000

We have seen plenty of the USB connected turntables over the years that can play your vinyl records and convert the track to digital files. The devices are perfect for the people that want their old school tunes on an iPod or other MP3 player. ION has been making and offering these sort of things for a while.

At CES 2012, the company has rolled out a new turntable called the Duo Deck. It gets its name because not only will it convert your 33-1/3or 45 RPM vinyl records to digital tracks, it also has a cassette player in the back that will convert your 80′s cassette collection to digital too. The deck also works as a standalone turntable and tape player, thanks to a built-in speaker. It even will run on batteries.

The device comes with EZ Converter software and Audacity software to clean up the tracks once they make their way to your PC or Mac. ION didn’t talk price or availability yet, but it should be around $100 or so I’d figure. ION is rarely way out there with their pricing. This may be the best way yet to get those Milli Vanilli cassette and records onto your iPod.

SolarKindle Cover: Recharges Your Kindle for Almost Unlimited Autonomy

Range — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

When you tend to spend a lot of time reading with your Kindle out on the road or on vacation, it’s nice that it can run for so long. Still, it would be nice if you never had to plug it in at all. SolarFocus has just released information about their SolarKindle cover, which allows you to use the sun to power your Kindle for a whole lot longer, while at the same time protecting your Kindle.

Its makers state that with the cover in place and a reasonable amount of sunlight, you’ll be able to use your Kindle for three months straight before needing a regular recharge. The SolarKindle cover also comes with an LED lamp, to allow you late night reading. The lamp will be juiced up for 50 hours of continuous use.

The cover can also be recharged via USB, so it doubles as conventional battery in case there isn’t much sun around. Thanks to the Kindle’s minimal power requirements, an hour under the sun translates to 3 days of reading. The SolarKindle cover will retail for $79.99 when it’s launched.

Roku Streaming Stick: Smarten Up Your TV

Range — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:11 +0000

It looks like Roku has been reduced to a USB stick. The new Roku Streaming Stick is about to make your dumb TV a whole lot smarter, without much of a fuss. The stick now looks like a simply USB flash drive, and I have to say that I like this form factor.

The Roku Streaming Stick packs Wi-Fi, a processor, memory, and custom software that allows it to connect to MHL-enabled HDMI ports on modern HDTVs. This means that you’ll be able to access services like Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu Plus and Pandora without any problems. It hasn’t yet been confirmed whether it will offer 720p or 1080p resolution, as Roku typically only includes 1080p on their top-of-the-line models.

While many sets these days have built-in digital content capabilities already, Roku makes a good point that by going with their approach, you’ll be able to upgrade to the latest tech inexpensively and without having to buy a whole new TV. Good news for consumers, not so much for the TV manufacturers though.

The only problem I see with the Streaming Stick the need for the special HDMI MHL port, that not all HDTVs have. If you haven’t got it on your TV, you won’t be able to use this version of Roku. Some sets from Samsung and Toshiba already have this port, and many more are coming out this year. However, if you have an older set without one, you’ll need to stick with a regular set-top box.