Jan 07

The “World’s Smallest” MP3 Player, Again

Posted in: MP3, MP3 Digital Audio, Today's Chili

Smallest MP3 Player 2011.JPG

Speaking of dubious claims, there are usually more than a few every year in the CES International Hall. Over the years, the claims usually change to fit the latest technology trends. A few, however, are seemingly evergreen. Take the “world’s smallest MP3 player,” for instance.
There are a lot fewer companies claiming this feat in 2011 (most have moved onto the MP4 player field–no word on MP5 players yet, though), but a few are still carrying the torch. 
This is the Kube. It’s shaped like a cube (clever, huh?). It claims the elongated title of “the world’s tiniest thumb-sized MP3 player. It was manufacturered by a Sinapore company. It has 2GB of built-in memory and no screen–but it sure is tiny, huh?

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Jan 04

Altec-Lansing Speakers Will Toss Your Tunes 100 Yards

Posted in: audio, bluetooth, Media Players, MP3, speakers, Today's Chili

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LAS VEGAS — We’ve seen more than a few “wireless boomboxes” that can stream music from your computer to a set of remote speakers. Few promise as much as the inMotion Air from Altec-Lansing.

Announced here at CES Wednesday, this unit seemingly has all the bases covered. It can stream your music library from your computer up to 300 feet away via its own wireless adapter, and it can stream the songs stored on your phone or your iPad via Bluetooth. It’s smart enough to be able to navigate your existing shared iTunes or Windows Media libraries, and it comes with a remote control that works with both file systems, so you can call up songs, playlists or internet radio stations while the thing sits next to you on the back porch. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery will be good for seven hours, the company promises.

CES 2011The design of the inMotion Air is stark but monumental: It’s an austere, slim wedge with silvery buttons on top and a handle built into the back to carry it. It weighs a little more than a pound, and it comes in a matte black finish or in gunmetal gray. We haven’t had a change to hear it yet, so we can’t comment on the sound quality. It will cost $200.

Connecting wirelessly involves plugging a small adapter into the host computer. The adapter also has stereo outputs on it, you can just plug your desktop speakers into the adapter and leave the thing plugged in without having to swap any cables whenever you want to switch from one speaker system to another.

Anyone sitting nearby can sync their phone or iPad to the inMotion Air by connecting over Bluetooth and make it play the songs stored on their devices. Audio playback over Bluetooth is notoriously sub-par, but Altec-Lansing says it’s tried to keep the quality higher than average by using the Apt-X codec. The technology boosts the fidelity and clarity of the audio coming over the Bluetooth signal, Altec-Lansing claims.

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Dec 14

Amazon MP3 app hits BlackBerry phones

Posted in: amazon, app, BlackBerry, MP3, RIM, Today's Chili
It may not quite be enough to bring non-BlackBerry users into the fold, but RIM has finally scored one long awaited coup to keep its current users happy — it’s just announced that the Amazon MP3 application is now available for download from the BlackBerry App World. While still technically in beta, the app will let you purchase and download music both over WiFi and over the air, and it includes plenty of BlackBerry-specific functionality, including sharing via BBM in addition to the usual social networking features, and full integration with BlackBerry’s Universal Search and Media Library. Hit up the link below for a closer look, or simply download it yourself to try it out first hand — it is free, after all.

Amazon MP3 app hits BlackBerry phones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 09

AutoCon Streams Your Music to the Radio

Posted in: MP3, MP3 Digital Audio, Today's Chili

iKit.jpg

Sure, there are a lot of products on the market that can stream from your iPod or other MP3 player to your car radio. Well, now there’s one more. The AutoCon by iKit has a built-in FM transmitter that uses rapid auto scan technology to play music over any FM station with no interference. You can also use it with radios in your home. If you’re using a smartphone, the AutoCon works as a hands-free answering device, letting you answer the phone and have conversations without having to hold anything.

This package includes iKit’s USB car charger, so you can keep the AutoCon powered up while you drive. You can pick one up from the iKit site for $44.95.

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Nov 09

Daily Gift: Tape Express Turns Your Old Mixtapes Into MP3s

Posted in: audio, MP3, Today's Chili

Tape Express.jpgThe USB turntable, which converts vinyl records to digital MP3 files, is nothing new. But, how many cassette converters have you seen? Offered exclusively at Urban Outfitters, the Tape Express runs for $80, but just think of how much it’s worth to have all those old mixtapes that have been collecting dust since the early 90s finally in digital form.

The Tape Express is powered by either two AA batteries, or a USB cord (included). When you plug the device into your computer, it opens a preloaded software program that helps you turn each track into an iTunes-compatible MP3 file. You can even use it to just listen to tapes. It comes with an audio output for headphones (included), or speaker connection.

It’s Mac and PC compatible, and is available online only.

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Nov 08

This Turntable Archives Vinyl Direct to Your iPhone or iPod

Posted in: audio, ipod, MP3, MP3 Digital Audio, Today's Chili

iPod TurntableThere are a number of turntables that are USB-enabled and will help you archive your vinyl to mp3 and save it on your computer’s hard drive, but this iPod Turntable from Sharper Image removes the middleman – your computer – from the process entirely. Simply plug in your iPod Touch or iPhone to the dock on the left side of the turntable, put your record on the platter and start playing, and the turntable automatically converts the audio to mp3 and stores it on your iPod or iPhone.

The iPod Turntable is also USB enabled so you can use your computer or record to your computer if you choose, but a computer isn’t required. The turntable also comes with conversion software you can use when you have it plugged into your computer, and a stereo audio-out jack so you can listen to your records through external speakers while you save them to your iPod, and a stereo input so you can import other audio sources.

For DJs who take a pair of iPods and a laptop to their gigs, this gadget may be a must-have.The iPod Turntable can be yours for $199.99 retail price.

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Oct 08

Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions

Posted in: audio, bluetooth, korea, MP3, mp3 player, Mp3Player, Music, official, PMP, radio, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

What was merely an indistinct outline in August is today a bona fide retail product. Cowon has made its X7 PMP official over in South Korea, letting us take a gander at the spec sheet if not necessarily buy one just yet. A 4.3-inch touchscreen takes center stage, backed by up to 160GB of hard drive storage and a battery rated to last for 103 hours of music or 10 hours of video playback. An FM radio tuner, built-in speaker, and Bluetooth chip fill out the “retro modern” body, while the software front reveals DivX-encoded video compatibility and a smattering of your usual note-taking and utility apps. The standard 160GB model is going on sale for 339,000 KRW ($304), or if you’re a globetrotter and need a set of preinstalled dictionaries, it’ll set you back 379,000 KRW ($340). There’s no word on US availability just yet, but this thing didn’t go through the chore of getting certified with the FCC for nothing.

Continue reading Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions

Cowon X7 debuts in home market of Korea with 4.3-inch screen, American ambitions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 01

SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ review

Posted in: media player, MediaPlayer, MP3, mp3 player, Mp3Player, PMP, review, Today's Chili
SanDisk’s original Sansa Fuze may have had a solid run — it’s been a particular favorite among those looking for a good, inexpensive player that doesn’t skimp on features or audio quality — but there’s no question that it was long overdue for an update, and SanDisk recently came through on that front with the completely revised Sansa Fuze+. Boasting a considerably sleeker design, the Fuze+ replaces the Fuze’s venerable tactile click wheel with a capacitive touch panel (but not a touchscreen), and it hangs onto many of the features that made the original Fuze stand out, including a microSD card slot, FM radio, and support for a wide range of formats (including FLAC and AAC). Are all the changes for the better? Read on for our full review.

Gallery: SanDisk Sansa Fuze+

Continue reading SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ review

SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 29

The World Is a Speaker with Roadie

Posted in: MP3, MP3 Digital Audio, speaker, Today's Chili

Roadie.jpgHere’s a surprising release from Franklin Electronic Publishers. The company will soon release its new Explorer line of Roadie portable speakers, a small, three-module speaker and two-way communicator. The Roadie turns any hard flat surface into the speaker itself, minimizing the footprint while delivering the sound of much larger speakers.

With the three-piece design, you can stack and tailor the device to your needs. The bass speaker, which contains a built-in mic for VoIP calls, plugs into any audio device. The second module contains a rechargeable battery, SD slot, and MP3 player. The third module holds an equalizer and hi frequency tweeter. The bass module will sell for $49.99, the bass and battery module for $79.99, and all three for $99.99. Look for them on October 1.

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Sep 27

Nielsen: growth of digital music sales flat in 2010

Posted in: MP3, Music, sales, Today's Chili
It’s a bit early for the big music companies to start panicking, but it looks like the heyday of double-digit growth in digital music sales may now be behind us. That’s according to market research firm Nielsen, at least, which found that sales in the US fell flat in 2010 after a 13 percent increase from 2008 to 2009, and a whopping 28 percent jump from 2007 to 2008. Nielsen is quick to point out, however, that it thinks this is a “plateau,” and that it “doesn’t mean that this digital consumption is going to drop significantly.” It also still seems to be a different story outside of the US, with Nielsen reporting that digital music sales were up 7 percent in Britain, 13 percent in Germany and 19 percent in France.

Nielsen: growth of digital music sales flat in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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