Posts in Music & Play
Replug unplugged
Juniper Foo | Oct 29, 2007
Charger Bracelet: When games are your life
Mike Yamamoto | Oct 24, 2007
If you give an item like this any kind of consideration at all, it's probably a sign that you're spending more time playing games than with your loved ones. Actually, it may mean that you don't have any loved ones at all, or won't for very long.
Thanko's Charger Bracelet is designed for addicts who just can't put down their handhelds when the batteries run dry, supposedly providing another 4.5 hours for a PSP and 28 hours for a DS Lite with a recharger strapped to the wrist, according to Engadget. On the other hand, given the fashion statement that this will make, there'll be plenty of time for those games every Saturday night.
Via Crave CNET
Is this the iPod touch?
Reuben Lee | Oct 23, 2007
Possibly one of the best iPod touch lookalikes we've seen thus far, the li touch has only 2GB of storage, but it also comes with FM radio and USB 2.0 connectivity, among other features written in German in an ad we couldn't decipher. Better yet, it's selling for less than S$300 (US$204).
Apple can't be too happy about this and, true enough, this player has caught the Cupertino company's attention. According to Engadget, an Apple spokesperson has commented that the company will examine this case closely. But seriously, we doubt it can do much to stop the endless attack of clones, from iPod nano to iPhone copycats. Instead, just take it that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Via Engadget
Picture credit: Welt Online
Wireless iPod speakers that are... actually wireless
John P. Falcone | Oct 23, 2007
There are a lot of dubious claims in the world of consumer electronics. Some of my favorites are "DVD-quality video" and "CD-quality sound" (for digital media that is often anything but) and the always classic "installs in just minutes." But one of the biggest truth-benders in recent years has been "wireless speakers." As resident blogger Steve "The Audiophiliac" Guttenberg recently pointed out, many so-called wireless speaker systems actually introduce more wires into the equation. That's exactly why Griffin Technology's new Evolve Wireless Sound System looks so promising: The US$299.99 iPod speaker system includes two speakers that look to be completely and totally free of cables.
How'd Griffin do it? By including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in the speakers themselves. Once they're fully charged (just sit them on the base station's cradle), Griffin says they can be placed anywhere within 150 feet. And because they communicate via RF, walls and obstructions shouldn't pose a problem--adjoining rooms and nearby outdoor spaces (patios, decks) are fair game. Griffin says the fully charged speakers should deliver 10 hours of playing time before needing another juice-up. And the detached speakers aren't limited to what your iPod can play; the base station's line-in cradle accepts a stereo input from virtually any source. (Yes, the base station still needs a power cord--but that's the only wire that the system should require if you're listening to your iPod.)
Of course, there can often be a big chasm between concept and execution. Griffin's sending our CNET.com counterparts a review sample, so we should know if the Evolve measures up in just a few days. (It begins shipping today, and will be available at selected US retail outlets. It is expected to be available in Asia in January or February next year.) In the meantime, you can find more detailed info at the product's dedicated Web site at evolvespeakers.com.
Via CNET Crave
R2-D2 speakers for moderate "Star Wars" freaks
Mike Yamamoto | Oct 21, 2007
Sure, we like R2-D2 as much as the next geeks, but only up to a point. A projector that runs US$2,500 seems a bit excessive, for instance, and even the US$350 Webcam is steep in our book. At the same time, we can do better than just a lame Mimobot.
The perfect compromise may be a pair of R2-D2 computer speakers like the cheeky duo shown in the photos here from Japan's Taito. But did they have to come up with a design that forces their decapitation to reveal the speakers? (We couldn't help but think of the final scene from Kill Bill.)
Anyway, standing at 4.72 inches tall (with head intact), the US$40 speakers are just the right size to display your allegience to The Force without reeking of date repellant. But even though Technabob says they're expected to ship in December, we don't recommend them as a holiday gift for the romance in your life.
Via CNET Crave
Picture credit: Taito
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