Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung has a history of pumping out Bluetooth speakers with unorthodox designs, so we can’t say we were totally taken off guard when this one popped up in the FCC’s database. That said, it’s hard not to be a little shocked when checking out a speaker that looks more like a pair of black flowers than an audio maker, but that’s exactly what’s presented in the BSP6000. This mobile companion not only allows for BT music streaming, but it also pairs with your handset in order to initiate / answer / end calls. Predictably, Sammy threw in a standard 3.5 millimeter auxiliary jack for connecting any other music source, and we’re told that it’ll work with your BT phone so long as it’s within a 30 foot radius. Obviously, there’s no mention of a price or release date (though that would be nice of you to find out, FCC), but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more. Shouldn’t be too hard to miss.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Samsung’s flower-inspired BSP6000 Bluetooth speaker hits FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With only two buttons, intuitive indicator lights, and familiar connectivity options, the iRecord Pro from Streaming Networks is easy enough for literally anyone to use without even reading an instruction manual. Simply connect a video source using the included cables, attach any of a number of compatible devices using a USB cable, and hit Record. The iRecord Pro transfers video in a compatible format from sources such as a cable box or CD player directly to your iPod, Microsoft Zune, Nokia N95 cell phone, PlayStation 3, or even USB flash drive or external hard drive–you get the idea.

The list of compatible devices goes on, with even more added on a regular basis through firmware updates.

Electronics maker Bang & Olufsen is releasing a 500GB digital audio player this month that uses an intelligent ‘music identity’ system similar to Pandora.com’s and Microsoft’s MixView. But sadly, its BeoSound 5 system is likely to only end up in the showcase rooms of America’s richest families. It’s expected to be priced at a massive $5,900.

Suddenly, the value of the other two smart music analysis services seems to grow. Not only are they both free, but their livelihood on the cloud allows for customized hardware and wireless applications.

But you have to give B&O it’s due on one thing: It’s an extremely sleek, beautiful-looking system. I especially like the $500 floor stand that makes the player look a prop from Star Wars. Still, I’d stop myself before calling it ‘sensual,’ which is what the company did in its statement. That’s nuts.

The BeoSound 5 system comes in two parts – the BeoMaster 5 black box that includes its storage, web, and PC connections, and the futuristic BeoSound 5 master control. The control has a smart juke box program called ‘MOTS’ (for ‘More Of The Same’) that takes WMA tracks from your digital library and creates playlists based on appropriately similar attribute matches.

According to B&O, the identity attributes are analyzed by a complicated math formula, but there’s no word on whether the system will tell you the reason for its choices. Pandora, for example, uses interesting (some would say uselessly vague) explanations like ‘we’re playing this track because of its mild rhythmic syncopation.’

The control is flashy, especially the cool aluminum wheel, and the UI seems very smooth (check out the video below) and definitely different from other visual controls. But if you’re paying almost $6000, shouldn’t it have an OLED screen and come with a butler or something? It currently has 10.4-inch LCD. It’s also wireless, with direct connection to web radio stations.

As we’re reminded every day now through layoffs and discarded product lines, the economy is really beating down electronic makers. So this high-end gadget will probably have a hard time getting traction. But someone will manage to pick it up and you know it’ll look awesome in the middle of any room.

Pardon us while we gush profusely, but this is easily one of the most amazing audio products we’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. The Speak-er, which honestly looks like something straight from the labs of Art Lebedev Studios, is quite simply a speech bubble-shaped speaker. It measures in at 4- x 6- x 2-inches and is constructed from polished white ABS with a matte black steel grille. We don’t even know what kind of driver resides within, but we don’t care. All we know is that this amazing piece of art will be on sale later this year for $120 per pair, and we can’t wait to hear the words “now shipping.”

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Speech bubble-shaped Speak-er on sale this year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If we had to name two essentials to any geek home, well, we couldn’t. But if we were jacked upside the wall and forced to, we’d likely pick sound and lighting. It goes without saying that designers Hoang M Nguyen, Poom Puttorngul and Anh Nguyen would agree, as they’ve dreamed up the conceptual Soundbulb that you see above. Essentially, what you’re looking at is a light bulb that includes a small driver along with an embedded wireless module that would enable it to receive streaming audio from a transmitter. Oh sure, you wouldn’t get any of that soul shaking bass from these guys, but just think of the convenience factor.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Household

Soundbulb serves two great purposes, at least in theory originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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