Eigenharp Alpha, Pico demo and mind-blowing concert (hands-on)

Remember the Eigenharp Alpha and Pico that we broke news of last week? Sure you do, but we bet you still haven’t a clue how those long, elegant sticks work. The forty employees at Eigenlabs probably heard us simultaneously scratching our heads so they kindly invited us to their London studio for a quick demo, and boy, those musical wands look great up close, not to mention their remarkable flexibility for user configuration as well. John Lambert, Founder and Chairman of Eigenlabs, managed to sneak out of his busy schedule to give us the lowdown on the Eigenharps. It all started in his Devon barn about eight years ago and over time the Alpha was groomed into a 132-key beast, followed by the recently-developed, self-explanatory Pico. The defining character of both Eigenharps lies in their “completely new sensor technology” consisting of pressure sensitive keys, that can do dual-axis vibrato (not dissimilar to string instruments), accompanied by strip controllers for applying filters or pitch bend, or anything at all depending on how you configure them on their Mac software suite (Windows-support due in January). Likewise with the breath pipe: once you’ve loaded your library and presets you can switch from a Kenny G to a Daft Punk at the simple click of a key. Heck, you can even configure the air pressure sensitivity as well if you’re tickling for a soft mood, or just feeling lazy. And those funky LED lights, you ask? Well, they’re actually indicators for the different modes you’re in rather than just being pretty. Watch the walkthrough videos after the break and you’ll get a better idea.

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Eigenharp Alpha, Pico demo and mind-blowing concert (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zoom’s high-fidelity Q3 pocket camcorder ships to America

Hailed as the first and only handheld video recorder to record HD audio, Zoom’s Q3 Handy Video recorder is definitely a unique offering amongst the legions of me-toos. After being announced in July and tickling our senses right around a month ago, the Q3 has finally begun to ship en masse to eager consumers. Just in case you’ve forgotten, this bugger records 24-bit/48 kHz audio via a pair of condenser microphones, gets powered by two AA cells and captures video at 640 x 480 (30fps). There’s also a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 LCD and an SDHC card slot, though you’ll have to shell out $249 in order to get this kind of technology into your own pocket. Order up, kids!

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Zoom’s high-fidelity Q3 pocket camcorder ships to America originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonos ZonePlayer S5 all-in-one wireless speaker lowers cost of entry (video!)

For many, the perceived high cost of getting into a Sonos wireless home audio system has been a significant barrier. While you crave whole-home, distributed audio that just works without pops, hisses, or clicks, you simply can’t justify dropping $350 on a ZonePlayer ZP90 and another $200 or so for a pair of decent amplified speakers. Even then, you’re still only talking about a single room — adding more rooms (or zones) and dedicated Sonos controllers jacks the price up even higher. Today, Sonos fills a significant gap in its product portfolio with the introduction of its $399 / €399 all-in-one ZonePlayer S5 speaker. The 217 x 365 x 123-mm S5 brings a decidedly Bose-like external design while packing a 5-driver speaker system (two tweeters, two 3-inch mids, and a built-in 3.5-inch sub) that’s meant to fill a room with Sonos’ wireless audio. And because the ZonePlayer is integrated right into the all-in-one chassis, it easily drops into your existing Sonos device network to extend audio into any room that needs it — no wiring required. There’s even a headphone jack for stealth listening in the bedroom. Of course, the beauty of Sonos is in the wide variety of audio sources available: freebies like thousands of internet radio stations, your iTunes library, CIFS NAS storage, or line-in devices like your home stereo or MP3 player; or subscriptions music services like Last.fm, Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius, or Deezer depending upon your geographic location.

If you already have an iPhone or iPod touch and the ability to easily network the S5 back into your router (via fixed Ethernet or close proximity), then $399 / €399 is what it now takes to get started with Sonos. Otherwise, you’ll need to add a $99 / €99 ZoneBridge to link the S5 to your router over Sonos’ proprietary SonosNet 2.0 (think 802.11n but optimized for distributed mesh audio) and another $349 / €349 for the dedicated CR200 controller if the free PC / Mac software controllers don’t serve your need. We’ll be getting our hands-on with a unit soon and will update you with our subjective listening experience. Until then, you can ponder the “end of October” and November 10th ship dates for the US and Europe, respectively. Video demonstration after the break.

Show full PR text
SONOS INTRODUCES THE SONOS ZONEPLAYER S5: THE ALL-IN-ONE WIRELESS MUSIC SYSTEM CONTROLLED WITH AN IPHONE

  • Wirelessly play music in any or every room of the house for $399 per room
  • Enjoy room-filling, high-performance sound with all digital architecture
  • Access your iTunes(R) library, plus thousands of radio stations and millions of songs from the Internet
  • Control your music experience with free Sonos Controller for iPhone[TM] app or any other Sonos Controller

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – October 13, 2009 – Sonos(R), Inc., the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, today introduced the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, an all-in-one wireless music system that can be controlled with an iPhone, iPod(R) touch or any Sonos Controller. The S5 delivers crystal-clear, room-filling sound that rivals much larger, more complicated audio equipment. Plus, the S5 provides instant access to unlimited music with control from the palm of your hand. Now music lovers can find and play any song from an iTunes library, plus, a world of music and radio on the Internet, in any room of the house. The S5 will be available for $399 in late October. To see the S5 in action, please visit: www.sonos.com/S5demo. “Our customers tell us they listen to twice as much music after bringing Sonos into their homes,” said John MacFarlane, CEO of Sonos. “The new S5 is our latest effort to simplify the Sonos experience so more people can enjoy more music than ever before.”

The S5 features a 5-driver speaker system that packs a big sound – filling an entire room with music. Sonos uniquely designed the S5 with an all-digital sound architecture for precise sound reproduction. The S5 includes two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier and optimized to deliver room-filling sound with smooth tonal balance and deep bass. All filter settings, bass and treble controls, active equalization, and time-alignment are done in the digital domain through state-of-the-art DSP circuitry, so there’s absolutely no loss of audio quality or energy. With the Internet-connected S5, you can listen to way more music than you can with a dock that only plays the songs that fit on your iPod. The S5 gives you instant access to a world of music, including 25,000 Internet radio stations, shows and podcasts -all free of charge and pre-loaded on Sonos. Sonos works seamlessly with the most popular music services to provide computer-free access to millions of songs and stations from the likes of Last.fm, Napster, Rhapsody, Pandora, SIRIUS Internet Radio, and Deezer. The S5 also gives you instant access to any iTunes library stored on any computer or Network Attached storage, such as an Apple Time Capsule. The S5’s analog audio input lets you connect to an external audio source (such as an iPod, CD player, TV, DVD, VCR, or radio) and play music or audio on all ZonePlayers in the system.

When it comes to controlling your S5, you simply reach into your pocket for your iPhone or iPod touch. With the free Sonos Controller for iPhone app (available on the iTunes App Store), you can search for songs and stations, choose the music and control the volume in as many rooms as you like. And because the iPhone is controlling the music, and not the source of it, when a text comes in or you need to make a phone call, the music doesn’t stop. That also means you can keep your iPhone in your pocket, not stuck in a dock. The S5 also includes free Sonos Controller software for your Mac or PC. Or you can let everyone in the house share the control with the dedicated Sonos Controller 200 (sold separately). As with all Sonos ZonePlayers, the S5 is simple to set up, easy to expand and 100% compatible with all other Sonos products. Just plug in the S5 wherever you want music. One ZonePlayer or Sonos ZoneBridge[TM] (sold separately) must be connected to your router and all the rest will work wirelessly. When you’re ready to play more music in more rooms, simply add S5s or other ZonePlayers without adding wires. Now you can play the same song in every room with perfect synchronicity or mix it up by playing different songs in different rooms. The S5 will be available for purchase in the United States beginning in late October. To learn more or to locate an authorized Sonos dealer, please visit www.sonos.com or call 877.80.SONOS.

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Sonos ZonePlayer S5 all-in-one wireless speaker lowers cost of entry (video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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B&W’s $400 Zeppelin Mini iPod sound system up for pre-order, ships next month

Bowers & Wilkins has never been one to play the bargain game, and the $399.95 price tag on its new Zeppelin Mini is evidence of that very fact. The somewhat miniaturized iPod sound system is up for pre-order as we speak on Amazon, and we’ve heard directly from the company that it’ll be shipping out to US-based consumers in “early November.” So, is a flashy design, a pair of 3-inch drivers, 3.5 millimeter auxiliary input jack, USB 2.0 port and a promise of a better tomorrow enough to pry those four Benjamins out of your hand?

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B&W’s $400 Zeppelin Mini iPod sound system up for pre-order, ships next month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG’s 5.1 HB954SP Blu-ray HTIB system makes room for your iPod or iPhone

If you’ve somehow managed to hold out from joining into the HTIB revolution, the time for caving is upon you. LG has just tapped Sir Mark Levinson to engineer the acoustics behind its latest bundle, the HB954SP. Packing a 5.1-channel sound system that includes 1,000 total watts of power, a quintet of oval drivers and a ported subwoofer, the system gets direction from a BD-Live-enabled Blu-ray player that’s actually a fair bit more stylish than the tried-and-true black rectangle. You’ll also find a pair of HDMI inputs, an iDock function for charging and controlling your iPod / iPhone right from the BD deck, 1080p upscaling of traditional DVDs, touch sensitive controls, a USB port for loading up external media and an optical audio input. There’s nary a mention of price, but it should splash down this November for a hefty premium.

LG’s 5.1 HB954SP Blu-ray HTIB system makes room for your iPod or iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yamaha’s 1mm-thick prototype speaker is made from cloth, highly directional (video)

We’ve already heard first-hand how Yamaha can make surround sound emerge from a single soundbar, and now the outfit’s wowing again here at CEATEC. It’s latest aural innovation was tucked quietly away within its booth, disguised as an advertorial for the show itself. Essentially, the banner you’re peering at above is a one millimeter thick speaker that’s made from cloth, and it definitely has the potential to revolution billboards and possibly even portable media devices. As you can clearly hear in the video just past the break, the flat sound waves emitted from the cloth cannot be heard unless you’re standing directly in front of it; even separate audio files playing back just a few feet away didn’t overlap with what we heard coming directly at us. There’s no telling if Yamaha will ever take this public, but if it does, there are about forty billion ad agencies in the greater New York area that would like to speak to it.

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Yamaha’s 1mm-thick prototype speaker is made from cloth, highly directional (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultrasone goes ‘airy’ with $329 HFI-2400 headphones

They’re no Edition 8s, but Ultrasone‘s newest cans are still aiming to make a believer out of you. The mid-range (by its standards, anyway) HFI-2400 headphones are collapsible, over-the-head cans that promise an “airy tone” from the 40 millimeter drivers. Encased in black and silver, these definitely look the part, and the bundled velvet case and demo CD certainly go a long way towards making you feel like a real epicurean. The pain? Just $329, and they should be up for order as we speak.

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Ultrasone goes ‘airy’ with $329 HFI-2400 headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best wireless PMP for audio streaming?

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Magnus, who really, really wants Apple to make an iPod with integrated WiFi streaming. Or something.

“For a very long time I have been searching for a portable device where I can store all of my CDs in MP3 format and then stream the songs wirelessly to my HiFi system. The portable device must I’ve tried FM transmitters, they all suck. I don’t want a docking station. Any help? Thanks!” have a display so that I easily can scroll through the playlists (I don’t want to use a TV or monitor). I suppose that there must also be a second device that is connected to the HiFi system that would receive the wireless streams from the portable device.

Our first thought is to get a Bluetooth-enabled PMP and a BT-equipped stereo. Of course, our first thought could be awful. For any of you with experience in this field, why not throw this fellow a bone in comments below? He’ll be eternally grateful, we’re sure.

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Ask Engadget: Best wireless PMP for audio streaming? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iHome’s iP88 dual iPhone / iPod alarm clock gets all rectangular on us

Hey guys, guess what? iHome just popped out yet another iPod alarm clock. Hold the applause, please. The iP88 doesn’t differ too much from the units that have come before, but we do appreciate the dual docking capability for those who have two iPhones or iPods and must wake at different times of the day. It’ll also play back tunes through your ‘Pod, blast out FM talk show hosts and charge your devices all the while. It’s shipping now for a penny under $150, though we’re still struggling to decide whether we adore or loathe the decidedly boxy design scheme…

[Via Slashgear]

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iHome’s iP88 dual iPhone / iPod alarm clock gets all rectangular on us originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaCie’s Sound2 PC speakers look good… real good

LaCie isn’t exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think “sound,” but it’s definitely near the top in the design department. Neil Poulton, the same fellow responsible for designing the outfit’s line of sleek, sexy hard drives, has placed his touch on the speakers you see above. The simplistic Sound2 setup boasts 30 total watts of peak power, and all it requires to function is a free USB port, an open AC outlet and an Earthling kind enough to connect it all. If you just know these would look sound great on your desk, get ready to fork out $99.99 for the privilege.

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LaCie’s Sound2 PC speakers look good… real good originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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