What mood are you in? White? Black? Red? Pioneer’s new slim mini component CD player – X-SMC00BT – will be out in late March. Music saved in your smart phone can be played wirelessly with it. You can enjoy music or internet radio saved in a Bluetooth compatible device wirelessly. Also, iPhone 5 and iPad mini can be connected to the USB terminal, and another iPod and iPhone can be connected to the dock. Of course, you can play a CD, FM radio and use USB memory, etc. But the …
Pyle Audio, manufacturer of home and car audio equipment released its latest in-vehicle sound system, a 10.1-inch In Dash Touch Screen Bluetooth/DVD Receiver (PLD10BT). The device has a motorized and fully detachable front touch screen panel. Users can take the screen with them using a carrying case included for extra security.
The screen has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and brightness of 400 nits. Passengers can control all functions of the system such as volume levels, repeat and DVD modes using a wireless remote control. (more…)
Earlier today, iFixit posted up their teardown walkthrough of the Pebble smartwatch, and noted that the device didn’t support Bluetooth 4.0 — only Bluetooth 2.1. However, there seemed to be some confusion between the specific chips used in the watch, as Pebble has responded to the teardown, saying that Bluetooth 4.0 is indeed supported.
The confusion seems to be warranted, though, as Pebble notes that while the chip used in the Pebble smartwatch doesn’t normally support Bluetooth 4.0, the company had the firmware of a different chip flashed on the ones used in the watch in order to support Bluetooth 4.0. The situation is definitely a little confusing, but Pebble says that this was done to speed up orders.
Pebble posted on Reddit the details of the situation, and note that the Pebble features a PAN1316 chip from Panasonic that uses Texas Instruments components. The chips that TI sent to Panasonic were labeled CC2560, which doesn’t support Bluetooth 4.0. However, Pebble had Panasonic simply flash the firmware of a CC2564 in order to get the latest Bluetooth support.
However, while the smartwatch does, in fact, come with Bluetooth 4.0 support, Pebble hasn’t yet switched it on in the watch’s operating system, but it seems they’ll be doing that sometime in the future, most likely with an update. It’s unclear why they’re holding back 4.0 support, but it could be a number of reasons at this point.
This week the folks at Telepathy Inc have revealed the smallest – and arguable the most fashionable – alternative to Google Glass yet revealed. With the “Telepathy One”, wearable technology has once again equipped prospective wearers with an eye-based glasses design, but this time it’s only just around one side of the face, and lenses aren’t even in the picture. This machine is also a startup, being shown this week on the Japan-based startup-friendly site “Startup Dating”.
This device works with a “virtual” 5-inch display that’s projected in front of your eye through a glass on the right side of your face. Like what we’ve seen several times before from several companies before, this is more of a virtual reality sort of situation than Google Glass, with Glass showing a tiny panel that’s much closer to your eye, making less assumptions about how large it actually is.
With Telepathy One you’ll also just be connecting to your smartphone with Bluetooth, so it’s a bit more of an accessory than it is a standalone device. You’ll be checking up on emails, seeing social networking updates, and sharing what you see through what must be a camera embedded in the device’s side – must be a tiny one, too! Have a peek at this rather fabulous teaser video to see how little you can see while getting excited about a product that’s only shown in the last few seconds!
Note that this project is off and running, too, with the CEO of the company letting the world know this week that he projects the device to be available by the holiday season (read: Christmas and the like) 2013 – that’s only a Summer, Fall, and a few months away!
Audio company Edifier has announced that its latest portable Bluetooth speaker is now available for purchase. The speaker is called the iF335BT Bric Connect and is designed specifically for home and office use as well as being portable so you can listen to your favorite music on the go. The speaker also has an integrated microphone allowing it to be used as a hands-free phone device.
The Bric Connect allows users to have hands-free phone conversations and multiple listener conference calls with high-quality sound. The speaker has a button on top for answering and ending phone calls when paired with your Bluetooth-equipped smartphone. The speaker supports music playback from any Bluetooth connected device.
It also has a standard 3.5 mm input allowing playback of music from devices that don’t support Bluetooth. The speaker has 12 W total power and has a pair of 70 mm full range speakers inside. The speaker enhances bass reproduction using a reflex port.
The included wireless remote control also has buttons allowing you to answer, decline, and end calls from across the room. The remote control can also change audio tracks and choose the input. The machine has the ability to operate from six AA batteries and can be plugged into the wall. The speaker is available in black or white colors for $99.99.
As the first edition so foretold, so too is there a second piece of this puzzle: Google’s Project Glass appears to have been shown at South by Southwest this past week in at least one well-attended keynote. While we’d seen some relatively blurry looks at this particular showing late last week, this week we’re seeing not one, but two relatively close-up versions of the presentation. While we’ve seen some still shots of the Glass device’s basic UI before, here we get more in-depth with how Email, Skitch, and Evernote will work.
In the video shown earlier today, we saw a basic showing of how the camera will work, what we’ll see when we want information on the weather around us, and how it’ll feel to share content. Also shown was a nearly instant translation of English into Japanese spoken aloud as well as a glimpse at how Pinterest will be included in the first released build. It was there that we were also reminded that the touch interface on the side of the first Project Glass build will be touch-sensitive.
What you’re seeing above is the second of two filmings of this Google Glass UI demo at SXSW. This demonstration begins with a look at how Gmail will be integrated into the set right out of the box. A new email will, if you want it, be shown in brief complete with a user icon where possible.
You’ll see that the instant dictation feature present in many Google apps today will be a rather important tool in Glass. To reply to an email, you’ll have only to tap the side of your Glass unit once, see the reply button, tap again, and begin speaking. Here you’ll see the presenter saying “Are you kidding I can’t wait :-)” There’s a bit of a hiccup with the word “remind” at the beginning of the sentence, but other than that, dictation appears to be perfect.
Next there’s another sharing bit of action shown, with the presenter showing that once you’ve got a photo taken, you can tap, see that you’re able to share, tap again, and slide back and forth through your options for sharing. Here he shares to Skitch the same as he would to Evernote – in this case he’s shared to an Android device and Skitch brings up the image as soon as his Android device receives the file. This same sort of situation happens with Evernote, but with the big E, you’re saving to a massive archive rather than just sending a file via Bluetooth to your phone.
Have a peek at the timeline below to see additional demonstrations with Glass and see how and when you’ll be getting your own – in general – rather soon!
Looks like Mr. Eddie Fier, the man we hope is CEO of Edifier, is planning to wade into the Jambox-wars with this Bluetooth speaker-cum-speakerphone. The iF335 Bric Connect bonds with your devices over Bluetooth and auxiliary inputs, pumping out 12 watts of RMS power over a pair of 70mm drivers. It’s available from today for $99.99, assuming you can still type after the unremitting hilarity of our Eddie Fier / Edifier gag earlier.
Google’s Project Glass seems like it won’t be the only clothing accessory the company plans to improve through technology as they’ve announced another product called Google Shoes.
Google Shoes won’t become an actual product at this time, instead, Google hacked a pair of Adidas sneakers in order to show its new advertising platform called Art, Copy and Code. The purpose of the product demo was to show “how you can use objects to tell stories on the web today, said Google’s head of its advertising team Aman Govil. (more…)
If you’re in the market for a new portable speaker for your smartphone that uses Bluetooth connectivity, Divoom has a speaker up for pre-order called the Onbeat-X1. The speaker uses suction cups to stick to the back of your smartphone keeping it in place for you while you are gaming or watching video.
The speaker can also be used as a stand for watching your favorite videos with improved sound quality. The speaker has 4 W of power and 45 mm micro driver. The impedance of the speaker is 4 ohms and has a frequency range of 80-20 kHz. Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours.
The speaker will connect to any smartphone that supports Bluetooth 3.0 A2DP. It also has a 3.5 mm input for devices that lack Bluetooth connectivity.
The Onbeat-x1 is available in black and white colors with shipping set to begin on March 27. The speaker can be pre-ordered via Amazon and other online retailers for $39.99(USD).
“Nooooooooo” you are saying. “Not another speaker!” There are so many speakers out there, I agree. That’s why we try to keep to the out-of-the-ordinary ones. And Creative did it again with their Sound BlasterAxx. We featured previous Sound Blaster products in the past and have always been impressed with what they do to computer audio. Axx is no exception especially with PC audio’s growing and diverse range of functions.
First off, Axx looks to be more than just a computer speaker. It serves as a high quality speaker and microphone for effective two-way communication. Axx capitalizes on voice commands and voice recognition. The built-in microphone and Smart Voice Management function enable your voice and commands to be heard from a distance. Give a command or enable those on the other end to hear you with no volume loss, even while you move around the room. And Creative’s CrystalVoice™ technology reduces noise and echo, so your TV noise coming from the other room won’t disrupt your call. If that is not enough use the VoiceFocus feature. When activated, Sound BlasterAxx will only pick up noise from a select zone. CrystalVoice FX also enables you to alter your voice with your choice of effects, for those times when you don’t want to be yourself. Easily stream using built-in Bluetooth. Use your smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android) or PC to control settings, or use the touch controls on top when needed. Axx even looks like an advanced piece of audio equipment with two speakers vertically in one chassis. Check more of the details and purchase any one of the three desktop sizes on Amazon for $79.99–$199.99. I think you will be impressed with how far speaker technology (especially two way) has come.
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