Hasta La Gadget!

Been fancying a new set of in-ear headphones as of late? If you’ll recall, it was last week when Klipsch quietly revealed its new $200 Image X7i and a trio of Image S4 (II) series in-ears. Today, after getting our mitts on the new Image One on-ear models at its NYC event, we were able check out the in-ears for the first time. To refresh your memory, the X7i is the company’s first set crafted from ceramic materials, featuring balanced-armature drivers and intended as a step-down option from its $350 X10i. The S4 (II) models, on the other hand, are unsurprisingly refreshes of its tried and true S4 line. So if you’re interested in finding out more, join us past the break for our detailed impressions.

Continue reading Ears-on with Klipsch’s latest intra-aural headphone lineup: Image S4 (II) series, X7i

Filed under: Wearables

Ears-on with Klipsch’s latest intra-aural headphone lineup: Image S4 (II) series, X7i originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As if updating and expanding its in-ear headphone lineup wasn’t enough, Klipsch has gone ahead and unveiled its revamped Image One on-ear set here at Irving Plaza in NYC. As we’re told, the new Image One is acoustically similar to its predecessor, but now it has a more stylish and robust design that should hold up better over time. Notably, the headphones only have a single cable leading into the left earcup (rather than splitting into both cups like the original), and it’s also of the flat variety to prevent tangling. The earcups can still fold flat, but now they can fold into the headband as well, making a smaller footprint for storage in a stuffed bag. In terms of comfort, the leather earpads are now a totally flat to provide an improved seal and better comfort. Beyond that, an Apple-certified inline remote / mic will help you control your music and calls on the go. An airliner converter, a 1/4-inch adapter and soft-shell carrying case are naturally included, and best of all, pricing still remains set at 150 bones.

Rather than just tweaking the original, however, Klipsch has decided to finally enter the wireless headphone game by offering a $250 Bluetooth-equipped variant for those who hate cords. This version looks nearly identical, with the subtle tweak of having the playback and volume controls positioned as buttons on the outside of the right earcup. The Image One Bluetooth also sports a built-in rechargeable battery, yet the set only gains 10 grams of weight (180 grams total) on top of its wired sibling — should the battery die, a detachable cable allows for passive functionality. What’s more, audiophiles will pleased to know that aptX and A2DP are both baked-in for high-quality lossless audio streaming. If your ears are already tingling with excitement, the new Image One and Image One Bluetooth are set to hit shelves by the end of the month. We’re already putting both sets of cans through their paces here at the event, so check back soon as we’ll be updating this post with our initial impressions.

Update: You’ll find images of the headphones below and our brief ears-on after the break.

Continue reading Klipsch revamps Image One series headphones, intros first Bluetooth variant (update: ears-on)

Filed under: Wearables

Klipsch revamps Image One series headphones, intros first Bluetooth variant (update: ears-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week we’re taking a peek at the official Google Play sold Nexus 7 case for the rather popular 7-inch tablet. This case snaps around the tablet and flops down unto the tablet for a full all-around protection situation. While there is a magnetic sensor in the tablet, this standard case does not make use of it, just working as a much more basic bash-protectant instead.

The case itself will cost you $19.99 when you pick it up from Google and is made entirely of TPU. There’s no silicone here, which we’re thankful for as that stuff often picks up dust and hair galore, and the whole unit is high quality as we would expect from the makers of the tablet. ASUS is involved in the creation of this case as well as they are in making the tablet itself.

Above you’ll see Cory Gunther from Android Community applying the case to his own Nexus 7 tablet with white back from Google I/O 2012. As he notes, the case is durable, easy to apply, and certainly does “get the job done” without any frills. Cutouts exist along the back and sides for each of the device’s ports, mic, and speaker as well. The whole case weighs in at a measly 4.7oz and comes in one color: dark grey.

You needn’t worry about which model you’re getting here as both the 8 and 16GB versions of the Nexus 7 fit perfectly well. This case comes in a tiny box surrounded by a massive amount of packaging from Google and you’ll get it in just about as short a time as Google can possibly get it to you because they’re certainly not running short on supplies. The tablets themselves, on the other hand, that’s a different story entirely.

Don’t forget to check out our original in-depth review of the Nexus 7 and stick around for future tablet action with SlashGear as this device continues to take off!

Google’s official Nexus 7 case hits homes and hands-on is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s not often that we stumble upon classical music on the floor at SIGGRAPH, so the tune of Bach’s Cantata 147 was reason enough to stop by Gocen’s small table in the annual graphics trade show’s Emerging Technologies hall. At first glance, the four Japanese men at the booth could have been doing anything on their MacBook Pros — there wasn’t a musical instrument in sight — but upon closer inspection, they each appeared to be holding identical loupe-like devices, connected to each laptop via USB. Below each self-lit handheld reader were small stacks of sheet music, and it soon became clear that each of the men was very slowly moving their devices from side to side, playing a seemingly perfect rendition of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The project, called Gocen, is described by its creators as a “handwritten notation interface for musical performance and learning music.” Developed at Tokyo Metropolitan University, the device can read a printed (or even handwritten) music score in real-time using optical music recognition (OMR), which is sent through each computer to an audio mixer, and then to a set of speakers. The interface is entirely text and music-based — musicians, if you can call them that, scan an instrument name on the page before sliding over to the notes, which can be played back at different pitches by moving the reader vertically along the line. It certainly won’t replace an orchestra anytime soon — it takes an incredible amount of care to play in a group without falling out of a sync — but Gocen is designed more as a learning tool than a practical device for coordinated performances. Hearing exactly how each note is meant to sound makes it easier for students to master musical basics during the beginning stages of their educations, providing instant feedback for those that depend on self-teaching. You can take a closer look in our hands-on video after the break, in a real-time performance demo with the Japan-based team.

Continue reading Gocen optical music recognition can read a printed score, play notes in real-time (hands-on video)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Handhelds, Peripherals

Gocen optical music recognition can read a printed score, play notes in real-time (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that the Samsung Galaxy S III is out on the market not only internationally but with each of the main five carriers here in the USA, it’s time for the purveyors of next-level protection, Tech21, to grab hold. The group known as Tech21 lives in a world of Impactology in which they’ve demonstrated with us that the same orange mess we used to purchase as Silly Putty or Gak is made much more adult as a protection agent against – you guessed it – heavy impact. With this junk in the Snap Case for our Samsung Galaxy S III, we’ve nothing to fear from drops, tosses, or even bashes.

The case itself is rather simple, just clamping around the sides, top, and bottom of the device with a precise fit. It’s the technology inside this case that counts the most. Though we’re appreciating that the back of the case does indeed have space for the LED flash, the camera, and the speaker, it’s the orange stuff inside that counts – and in this case, you’ll never lay eyes on the orange stuff unless you’re taking the case off or putting it back on again.

Have a peek at the video below to see what we’ve seen – the CEO of Tech21 mister Jason Roberts explaining what the goop is and what it’s good for. The name of the orange substance is D30, and it’s been used for a whole range of products produced by Tech21 including military padding, of all things. You can also pick up cases for a whole range of technology outside the smartphone realm as well – check out the MacBook Air holder for a real treat.

And as for this Galaxy S III case: you’ll be dropping 24.99 in British pounds – that’s closer to $30 USD – then they’ve also got a collection of similar solutions that cost more such as the Impact Band and the Impact Slip Leather case. Tech21 also makes a Shell and a Mesh case for the Galaxy S III for you extra hardcore users. Grab em all, why don’t you!

Galaxy S III gets a taste of Tech21 orange goo protection is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.