Hasta La Gadget!

Do you drink your booze faster when you’re out at a bar or a restaurant than you do just sitting at home? You probably do, and apparently it’s because bars and restaurants have learned that loud, fast music makes you eat and drink more, at a faster rate. More »

HTC has scaled back its role in Beats Audio, with the headphones manufacturer buying back half of HTC’s shares in the company as the smartphone firm struggles to find its feet once more. Described as “a realignment of their business agreement” the deal will see Beats buy 25-percent of HTC’s 50/50 holding, ending up with 75-percent ownership; however, the two companies insist that they still intend to work together.

“Over the last year, HTC and Beats have made great progress in sound innovation, product integration and brand awareness with successes like the HTC One” the companies said in a statement this weekend. “HTC and Beats will continue to work closely, including a joint global marketing campaign later this year.”

As a result of the agreement, Beats Audio will have “more flexibility for global expansion” though HTC will continue to have a “major stake and commercial exclusivity in mobile.” That means no Samsung, LG or Motorola phones with Beats Audio tech inside.

Several HTC devices in recent months have included Beats technology, which usually comprises special tuning and/or EQ profiles along with bundled headphones that exceed the quality we’ve grown to expect from the usual in-box fare. However, HTC has yet to capitalize on the potential of Beats integration with a solid content sales strategy; as we’ve observed before, the company lacks a solid music store in the same manner as Apple’s on-device iTunes story.

Selling off some of the Beats stake will return some much-needed cash to HTC’s wallet; the deal to invest in 50-percent of the headphones company cost the smartphone firm $300m roughly a year ago. In the intervening months, however, HTC has seen sales struggle, though it has insisted that it remains committed to the Beats partnership.

HTC sells controlling Beats Audio stake as smartphones stumble is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Traveling with a guitar is always a pain in the butt. Anything as oddly shaped as a guitar is a pain to haul around with you. If only you could fold your guitar between gigs. Well, with this particular instrument, you can.


These folding travel guitars come from California-based company Voyage-Air. While not as compact as the Ministar guitar, these ones look like traditional guitars once assembled. They are designed to fold forward at the base of the neck and that makes them much easier to carry around. They come in acoustic and electric versions and yes they include their own specially designed carrying cases.

Of course, this kind of guitar isn’t cheap. Voyage- Air Guitars range from $399(USD) for an entry-level model to $1,700(USD) for the Premier edition. A foldable solid-body electric sells for about $750(USD). Not cheap, but if portability is important to you, it will be well worth it.

[via Laughing Squid via Like Cool]

What’s round and sits in the corner of your room spoon-feeding you Kanye West? If Sony has any say in the matter, it’ll be the latest members of the SA-NSx family of wireless speakers. The three new models — the 310, 410 and 510 — come on the coattails of the firm’s latest media players, and all come with built-in WiFi, AirPlay and that 360 degree design. As well as the wireless options above, there are apps for Android and PC, so non iOS users can keep the jams coming too. If you really want your music on the go, the 510 model also has a built-in battery for the extra portability. How much does all this fun and style cost? That’d be £150 (about $230) for the 310, £200 ($310) for the 410, rising to £300 ($470) for the 510. All of them available now.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Sony’s new wireless speakers let you enjoy music ‘SA-NS’ cables originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The feds are looking for an angle that lets them prosecute Megaupload on U.S. soil. And apparently the way they’re trying to make it happen is by pulling rapper and producer Swizz Beatz (a.k.a. Mr. Alicia Keys) into the case, by claiming he was CEO of the company. More »