Archive for the 'Audio' Category
I’m an audiophile and really can stand lackluster sound systems. If you look at the amazing wonder of your ear and awe at how it all works, you would probably be more inclined in feeding it luscious sounds. Sure, too luscious is too tough on the pocket book so give Wharfedale‘s new DX-1 Home Cinema Loudspeaker System a look. Booming in at a suggested $800, this high-gloss black (or white) 5.1 speaker system will make you enjoy your music as much as you enjoy the movie in which lays before your eyes. Aaah, yes, the eyes, another incredible item in your head. We’ll touch on that next time. Full details at the jump.
Watching favorite shows, movies and sports on a big-screen TV is undeniable holiday fun – however, great video is only half of the big picture. Immersive surround sound completes the experience – and this holiday season, the Wharfedale DX-1 Home Cinema Loudspeaker System delivers a powerful sonic punch in a compact, elegant package.
Wharfedale is one of England’s most respected names in sound and one of the founders of high-fidelity audio, having earned an international reputation for excellence for more than 80 years. Now available in the US, the DX-1 (SRP: $799) includes four wall-mountable satellite speakers, a center channel and a powered subwoofer. The DX-1 is available in high-gloss black or high-gloss white to complement any living space.
The DX-1′s satellite and center speakers employ 3-inch woven polypropylene woofers and 0.75-inch silk dome tweeters, for smooth and detailed music and movie soundtrack reproduction. The subwoofer has an 8-inch long-throw woofer, driven by a built-in 150-watt Class D amplifier to deliver articulate, impactful bass from a design that fits easily into a room. The beautifully designed, precision-engineered Wharfedale DX-1 adds a compelling sonic and emotional impact to movies, TV shows, sports, music videos and big-screen action – this holiday season and year-round.
For more information, please visit: www.wharfedaleusa.com for a dealer near you or call Wharfedale USA directly at 508-422-9788.
With the introduction of the iMatch setting on iOS last week, Apple is getting ready to flip the switch on iMatch, the service that lets you store all of your music easily on iCloud and even upgrade songs purchased or ripped outside of iTunes. Rinse has been introduced from RealNetworks to clean those tracks up you may have ripped prior to GraceNote’s help or songs “gifted” from a friend. With Rinse, it will find the correct metadata, such as incorrectly spelled song titles or missing album art. Heck, if the MP3 is completely missing everything, then Rinse will still be able to use “fingerprint” technology to find a match and correct it. Cool? For $40, you can clean up your library now, too!
Get ready for iTunes Match™ by cleaning up your music collection with Rinse from RealNetworks
Rinse music clean up product removes duplicates, fixes misspellings and identifies songs without titles so iTunes Match – and the Apple Siri™ digital assistant — works best
Seattle, WA—October 27, 2011—Users who plan to use Apple’s new iTunes Match music product to stream their matched songs from the cloud should consider using Rinse to clean up their music collections first, according to RealNetworks (Nasdaq:RNWK).
Rinse can fix misspellings of song title and artist names, identify songs without titles and remove duplicates, enabling the iTunes Match service to correctly identify songs in the user’s collection and allow streaming from the cloud.
“As cloud services like iTunes Match from Apple and other music services from Amazon and Google become popular, having an accurate music library will allow users to more easily sync and enjoy their music on all of their devices,” said Daniel Strickland, RealNetworks senior director and lead developer for Rinse. “Rinse is incredibly easy to use, so cleaning up a user’s music collection can be completed with just a few clicks.”
In addition, Strickland said Rinse will help the new Siri personal assistant, incorporated into the iPhone® 4S, be more effective for users. The Siri voice recognition software lets users verbally ask for a song to be played from iTunes. “Siri can play any song for you on request, but it works best if that song is correctly identified in your collection.”
RealNetworks also announced a new version of Rinse that incorporates advanced acoustic fingerprinting technology powered by Gracenote. Rinse can now identify and clean up songs without any titles or artist names — the “track 01″ songs that clutter a library — by listening to the audio data and identifying matches in an online database.
With Rinse, users can:
Remove duplicate songs in a music collection, even if the titles or artists are missing or misspelled.
Repair misspelled songs, artists and album details, making it easy to browse the collection without having to remember exact names. For example, users don’t have to remember that Steve Miller is actually “Steve Miller Band.”
Add missing album art to a music library. Rinse automatically finds high resolution album art so users can enjoy it on their computers, in iTunes®, on smart phones and other devices.
Identify a song even without titles or artists names. Rinse can identify a song’s “fingerprint” by examining just a few notes of a song and then matching it with its industry-leading, 100 million track database.
Edit entire collections at once or song by song — it’s the users’ choice.
Free Trial of Rinse
Rinse is a downloadable product available for $39 at www.rinsemymusic.com and is compatible with iTunes collections on both Windows and Macintosh. A free trial version is available that cleans up 50 songs in a user’s library.
Follow Rinse on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rinsemymusic
Follow Rinse on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/rinsemymusic
Read the Rinse blog: www.rinsemymusic.com/blog
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks creates innovative applications and services that make it easy to connect with and enjoy digital media. RealNetworks invented the streaming media category and continues to connect consumers with their digital media both directly and through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media type and social network. RealNetorks corporate information is located at www.realnetworks.com/about-us
RealNetworks and Rinse are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
iTunes, iTunes Match, iPhone and Siri are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
All other trademarks, names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
Hey keyboardists of the world, it’s time to grab your iPhone or iPad and let it help you excel in your playing. With the new SampleTank free app for the iPhone or iPod touch, it will give mobile musicians more sounds to grove it to via the iRig MIDI interface. You can get 8 instruments which gives you 400 rhythmic and melodic patterns that will round out anything that you may be playing. In essence, you’ll have the entire band packed into your iOS device and keyboard!
October 2011, Modena, Italy – IK Multimedia is proud to announce that SampleTank® Free for iPhone/iPod touch is now available in the iTunes App store. Together with the newly-released regular version of SampleTank, the two apps are the first pro-quality, sample-based sound and groove modules available for the iOS mobile platform.
Both can be played using the built-in keyboard and patterns, but they truly excel when used with an external keyboard controller and a MIDI interface – like the newly-released iRig™ MIDI – to replace older hardware sound and synthesizer modules for live performance. Together with iRig MIDI, SampleTank offers the most portable and best quality sound and groove module solution for mobile musicians to date.
SampleTank sounds are known for their high quality and extreme variety that is unmatched on the iOS platform. For the first time in a mobile device, users are able to experience the same quality of sounds they are used to from the most sophisticated software or hardware instruments like IK’s range of virtual instruments for the Mac and PC.
SampleTank Free users can immediately start using 8 instruments (4 + 4 by registering) on their favorite iOS device including Drums, Bass, Electric Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Synth Lead and Woodwinds. The instruments also come with over 400 rhythmic and melodic patterns so that anyone can compose high-quality grooves in seconds right out of the box.
Users can expand their sonic palette to over 400 instruments and 900 patterns by accessing the in-app store where they can find 16 categories of sounds covering the entire set needed for the most demanding live players and producers: Pianos, Organs, Strings, Basses, Guitars, Drums, Synths, Woodwinds, Brass, Ethnic Instruments, Percussion and more all instantly accessible from right inside the app. Single instruments categories can be added for only $4.99/€3.99 or as a complete collection for a discounted price of only $39.99/€31.99, a fraction of what instruments with an equivalent quality would cost as regular software or hardware instruments. Free version users can also upgrade to all the sounds included in the regular version of SampleTank for only $9.99/€7.99.
Both in the free and in the regular version, users can access three main sections of the app:
The Sounds page is where users can quickly browse and audition the hundreds of available sounds and patterns which are organized in easily recognizable icon-based categories. Both the included instruments and the add-on instruments can be auditioned here making it easy to choose what the user prefers. Here users can play up to 4 simultaneous instruments and save or recall them using the built-in preset system.
The Edit page is where the user can personalize the sound and effects parameters through easy-to-understand knobs for immediate sound and effect parameter tweaking. Each SampleTank sound is “production-ready” since it comes with pre-programmed built-in effects of the highest quality for the platform to further emphasize the musicality and character of sounds.
The Play page is where every type of musician finds a convenient play environment directly in their iOS device with a dual piano-style keyboard, a scale-based keyboard or drum pads.
SampleTank features
4-part multi-timbral professional quality sound and groove module
Expandable sound library with more than 400 instruments in 16 categories
Huge selection of melodic and rhythmic patterns for accompaniment or groove creation
Built-in insert effects and master reverb
Easy-to-use, intuitive mobile interface
Sound and effects editing with multiple parameters
Play interface with piano keyboard, scale-based keyboard and drum pads
Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4th and 3rd generation, iPad 2 and iPad with iOS 4.3 and newer
Designed in concert with iRig MIDI interface for iOS devices
Pricing and availability
SampleTank Free for iPhone/iPod touch is now available on the iTunes App store. < http://itunes.apple.com/app/sampletank-free/id464775965?mt=8>
The regular version of SampleTank with 72 built-in sounds is also available for an introductory price of only $9.99/€7.99. < http://itunes.apple.com/app/sampletank/id464783893?mt=8>
A universal iPad version of SampleTank is also in development and will be available soon. Current users of SampleTank for iPhone / iPod will be able to update to this version for free when it becomes available.
iRig MIDI, the Core MIDI interface for iOS, is already shipping and is available for only $69.99/€54.99 in selected music instruments and electronic retailers. Owners of iRig MIDI also get an exclusive sound-set of 48 sounds to use in SampleTank for free simply by registering.
Looking to put some boom into your computer experience? Wanna have sophisticated looking speakers up on your desk too? How ’bout stuff that has built-in amps that sound GOOOOD? Dude, you may want to check out the Audioengine 5+ then. Deets down below.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – October 12, 2011 – Audioengine today announced the release of the Audioengine 5+ Premium Powered Speaker System
Audioengine 5+ (A5+) Premium Powered Speakers deliver audiophile-quality sound and features at a price that continues to set the standard for affordable high-quality audio. Connect your iDevice, computer, TV, or any other audio component for great stereo sound in any room. The new A5+ incorporates the same award-winning design as the original A5 but includes customer-requested upgrades and features.
A5+ features and upgrades
- built-in power amps
- advance tuned cabinet with rear-ported waveguide
- remote control
- dual RCA and mini-jack inputs
- upgraded connectors
- improved thermal management
- variable preamp line out
- new stand-mount threaded inserts
- user-selectable sleep mode
Pricing and Availability
Audioengine 5+ starts at US$399/pair and is available from over 200 authorized resellers or online direct: audioengineusa.com
Does A5+ sound better than the original A5?
Email to request a sample and find out! Also keep us in mind for any upcoming holiday product giveaways or contests.
If you’ll be in Denver this weekend, please stop by and listen to the A5+ and check out our other new products:
Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF)
October 14-16, 2011
Marriott Denver Tech Center, Room 438
Everyone seems to have at least a smartphone now if not at least an iPod or other music player. CDs are so 1999 and now with the ability to put your entire library into the palm of your hand, getting it on the car stereo is a dream for any commuter. JBL helps you make that happen minus the difficult installation or messy wiring or purchasing a new stereo. The JBL device also sets on the tones just right for your device and car stereo so premo sound is all you hear. Take a look at the jump.
STAMFORD, Conn. – HARMAN International Industries announced the availability of the innovative JBL® MS-2 music accessory, a plug-and-play car stereo component engineered to vividly improve car audio performance from any portable music player or smartphone. The JBL MS-2 uses digital signal processing to optimize the sound emanating from existing speakers in any car, making it the perfect iPod, iPhone or Android™ smartphone accessory for music fans.
The JBL MS-2 is a deceptively simple device that packs the punch of a new car audio system. Requiring no installation, the JBL MS-2 plugs into the auxiliary jack available in most factory-installed and after-market car audio decks* and then connects to an Apple iPod or iPhone, Android smartphone or other portable music player. Once connected, press the Setup button and the JBL MS-2 will automatically tune the tonal balance, bass impact and sonic clarity across a car’s existing speakers. It adjusts each speaker to optimize the sound quality and includes separate buttons for bass, treble, impact and image to allow for fine-tuning music based on individual sound tastes.
“This is the ultimate portable music accessory, specifically designed to improve the sound in any car – regardless of the audio system that’s already installed. You can even use it in another car or with a music player in your house,” said Sachin Lawande, EVP and co-president of HARMAN’s Lifestyle and Infotainment divisions. “We think music fans will love this simple, lightweight device. In fact, we are so confident the JBL MS-2 will dramatically improve car audio that it includes a ‘defeat switch’ to turn it off so you can compare the performance with or without the MS-2.”
The JBL MS-2 uses digital signal processing, known as DSP equalization, to automatically compensate for the sonic characteristics of your car’s existing electronics, speakers and interior. The MS-2 works with all car and home audio systems that include a 3.5-mm auxiliary jack – standard on Apple’s iPod, iPhone and iPad, as well as the majority of digital music players and smartphones from leading brands.
The portable JBL MS-2 weighs 3.2 ounces and easily slips into a pocket. It ships with input/output cables and a 6-volt DC power supply to plug into a car’s cigarette lighter adapter (CLA). A separate 6-volt DC power supply is needed for home use (not included).
Pricing and Availability
The JBL MS-2 has a suggested retail price of $239.95. For additional information or to purchase, visit www.JBL.com.
*According to the Telematics Research Group, more than 150 million cars will include an auxiliary jack by the end of 2011.
As seen in this image, there are a few people trying to make a buck or two off of Sennheiser’s good name. Today, Sennheiser is taking action and filing 12 suits in California’s Federal Court to put an end to the illegal use of Sennheiser’s name and product models. Headphones seems to be the item of choice to rip off and Sennheiser hopes to put an end to the manufacture and sell of these fake cans. More deets below in the Press Release.
Los Angeles — October 11, 2011: On September 20, 2011, Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co.KG and Sennheiser Electronic Corp. filed its first wave of federal lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The lawsuits target a number of Internet based pirates and counterfeiters located throughout the United States who are engaged in the sale of counterfeit Sennheiser™ branded merchandise, including the popular models CX200, CX300 II, CX380 II, CX500 and PMX80 lines of headphones.
The lawsuits have been filed against a variety of individuals and business entities that are conducting business throughout the United States in locations including New York, Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida. The complaints are based upon Federal Trademark Infringement Laws, including but not limited to violations of 15 U.S.C. §1114, 15 U.S.C. §1125, Lanham Act, and the California Business and Professions Code. The filed complaints demand substantial damages in the form of declaratory relief and injunctive relief, along with all attorney’s fees and costs against counterfeiters. Sennheiser has identified more than 100 other domestic pirates — along with numerous domestic websites — which are targeted for further enforcement operations.
Sennheiser is a world leading manufacturer of high performance and best-selling headphones and microphones, considered indispensable among music lovers, audiophiles, recording studios, sound professionals, custom-installers and home theatre enthusiasts. Sennheiser products feature superb sound reproduction quality, making them first choice for many high-profile recording artists.
Sennheiser began this counterfeit enforcement campaign after recognizing an increase of warranty returns and complaints about the quality and workmanship on some Sennheiser branded products. Further investigation determined that the complaints originated from consumers who purchased their Sennheiser™ products online; often from a website based in China, or from a domestic eBay seller who acquired the counterfeit merchandise from a Chinese wholesaler of counterfeit products.
The Sennheiser brand has achieved enormous popularity and with that recognition has fallen victim to the ever-expanding counterfeit industry. The manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit Sennheiser™-branded products abroad has resulted in the widespread domestic sale of pirated merchandise, all of which is composed of inferior materials and substandard workmanship. Counterfeit merchandise is not only prone to malfunction, but can also result in injury to the consumer and damage to the environment due to deficient quality control and attention to detail during the production process.
“Sennheiser will vigorously defend the Sennheiser brand name, representing premium quality and performance, by taking action against counterfeiters and ensuring our customers know how to avoid purchasing counterfeit products,” said John Falcone, President/CEO of Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. “Customers are urged to purchase only from authorized Sennheiser dealers.” A complete list of authorized US Sennheiser dealers is available at http://www.sennheiserusa.com/serviceandsupport_dealer-locator_authorized-retailers. Consumers who have questions about counterfeit products, or suspect they may have purchased a counterfeit product, should visit http://www.sennheiserusa.com/serviceandsupport_counterfeitalert.
About Sennheiser
Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Conn. Sennheiser’s pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For more information, please visit www.sennheiserusa.com.
While HTC has been in the news of late concerning Apple and its thinking HTC devices are a bit too much like an iPhone. Well, HTC revealed its Rhyme today in New York City showing off how very un-iPhone it is. Let’s see, the plumb color definitely isn’t iPhone. Uh, the Charm – “an innovative approach for discretely alerting you to incoming calls or messages while the HTC Rhyme is deep in your bag” – can’t be found near an Apple Store. Ya, the Sports Armband is something you can get from someone else but HTC gives your Rhyme the time with its own way to help you stay in shape. All in all, this HTC is a pretty sweet Android-driven smartphone that will excite many people when put on sale this September 29th for $199.
Need more convincing? Read the press release below.
NEW YORK CITY – September 20, 2011 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, today unveiled HTC Rhyme™, a new kind of phone created for people who require advanced features but want a phone that is sleek and fits seamlessly into their lives. The result is the elegant HTC Rhyme that delivers a fresh approach of integrating distinct colors, HTC Sense™ and complementary accessories for a natural personal experience.
“HTC Rhyme represents an entirely new approach, based on recognition that there is a substantial group of consumers who want their phones to be more personal and complimentary to every moment of their day,” said Scott Croyle, vice president of design, HTC Corporation. “HTC Rhyme is focused on delivering this through a fresh new style and experience that includes a family of innovative accessories like the HTC Rhyme Charm and Docking Station that are meant to naturally integrate into people’s lives.”
Sleek, Fresh and Stylish
HTC Rhyme offers a smart, elegant unibody design with every detail carefully crafted to deliver a unique sensory experience. The materials, the curves, and the dimensions are all designed to feel great in your hand, without sacrificing advanced features. HTC Rhyme comes in three colors: Clearwater, Hourglass and Plum, the color Verizon Wireless will be offering in the U.S.
“The HTC Rhyme is an exciting new approach to the mobile lifestyle that integrates hardware, software and accessories in a unique way,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “We believe this clean, intuitive experience and signature design is a testament to HTC’s ability to interpret what customers have said they want in a mobile device. We are thrilled to offer the HTC Rhyme exclusively on the nation’s largest, most reliable network.”
HTC Sense
HTC Rhyme is not only defined by its soft, simple design and distinct color scheme but by the refreshed HTC Sense experience. This unique twist on HTC Sense carries over the visual language of the hardware design and includes an all-new home screen that provides a clean and uncluttered way to interact with the essentials. The home screen enables quick, uncluttered previews of your appointments, messages or whatever is important to you. HTC selected custom wallpapers to offer a variety of original art to complement the HTC Rhyme experience.
With a beautiful 3.7-inch WVGA, super LCD display and high-quality stereo sound, HTC Rhyme also offers advanced imaging capabilities that begin with its 5-megapixel camera that includes auto focus, power LED flash and instant shutter for capturing those memorable moments whenever they arrive. In addition, the camera features a number of photo-taking and sharing elements, including face detection, which ensures that friends are always in focus, action burst scene, which automatically takes five consecutive shots of a scene, and panoramic mode, which lets users stitch several photos for those larger-than-life views. The HTC Rhyme’s locked home screen can be customized to display the most important content, making it quick and easy to see social updates, photos, snapping a photo or the weather forecast by simply turning on the display.
HTC Rhyme makes entertainment come to life through HTC Watch, which features a wide selection of movies and TV shows that can be downloaded for instant viewing.
Integrated Accessories
HTC Rhyme’s suite of accessories is designed with the same sensory focus in both function and style. Created to help you experience HTC Rhyme as a natural part of your life, the integrated accessories make your phone more personal than ever before.
· HTC Rhyme Docking Station – The Docking Station simultaneously recharges the phone while turning the Rhyme into an alarm clock and music center so you can wake to your favorite songs played directly from the built-in Bluetooth capable speakers.
· HTC Rhyme Charm – The Charm is an innovative approach for discretely alerting you to incoming calls or messages while the HTC Rhyme is deep in your bag. The Charm is a small light-emitting cube that attaches to the phone by a cord that can dangle from your bag and also be used to quickly pull the phone out of your bag. It also makes it easy to find your phone buried in your cluttered purse or backpack.
· HTC Rhyme Sports Armband – The Sports Armband allows you to work out in style while keeping your apps and music close to you.
· HTC Rhyme Tangle Free Headphones – The Tangle Free Headphones take the hassle out of listening to your favorite music.
· HTC Rhyme Bluetooth® Headset – The wireless headset follows the same design cues as the phone itself and enables for easy hands free use.
· HTC Rhyme Bluetooth® Car Speaker – The wireless speaker clips onto sun visor in your car for easy and safe driving.
Availability
HTC Rhyme will be available in the coming weeks in the United States, exclusively with Verizon Wireless, and across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific in October. In the U.S., the Docking Station, Tangle Free Headphones and Charm will be included in the box.
About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
Noise cancelling headphones are probably the best sort of headphones on the market today to help get rid of unwanted sounds. When choosing noise cancelling headphones there are actually two different types; you can choose from active noise cancelling headphones or passive noise cancelling headphones. Each pair works a little bit differently, however each pair has the same end result in mind, and that is successfully reducing unwanted noises.
Passive noise cancelling headphones work to muffle offending sounds. They have a special design known as circum-aural sound dampening. Basically this means the headphones are built into the shape of cups. These cups are then made to fit the entire perimeter of the ear. These cups are constructed of high density foam. This foam is specially made to muffle or reduce the decibels of certain sound waves. As a result, passive noise cancelling headphones can keep out noises as high as 20 decibels.
The second class of noise cancelling headphones is active ones. Active noise cancelling headphones are made of a design similar to that of the passive models. Again the circum-aural dampening design is used but another feature is added on to the active noise cancelling headphones. Technology has been created to be part of these headphones and they are designed to eliminate unwanted sounds.
A microphone is included in the active noise cancelling headphones to pick up sounds from the surrounding environment. These would be any sound that cannot be muffled out by the foam in the headphones. The sound is analyzed so the active noise cancelling headphones can then create the exact opposite sound. This sound is then made by the headphones and neither this sound, or the annoying sound, are ever heard by the ear.
There are significant implications when choosing active noise cancelling headphones. For instance, there is no longer a need to hike up the volume of a device in order to try to block out the background sounds. The active noise cancelling headphones do this job for you. This helps save your eardrums from music that is way too loud.
Between the two methods, active noise cancelling headphones are the better option to preserve your hearing. If you want anymore information visit lindy.co.uk.
Ever go to a different country and have no idea what the person in a store or a train station or on the street said to you? While Google Translate works pretty well, typing in accurately a different language on the fly doesn’t work.
What if you could just hold your iPhone up to a foreigner and have them speak into and then, and then your iPhone translates in spoken word for you to hear? Well, science fiction fantasy is now reality with Vocre, winner of TechCrunch Disrupt Best Mobile App and Audience Choice Award, is now in the iTunes App Store. For free. After your first 20 translations, it’s pay as you go but if this thing really works as well as Robert Scoble claims it does, then the discounted 20 translations for a buck is more than worth it!
Here’s a video of how it works with the press release under it.
Tschüß!
SAN FRANCISCO (Sept 15, 2011) Vocre, the new instant language translation app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, launched earlier this week at the highly-competitive TechCrunch Disrupt SF event and won Best Mobile App and Audience Choice Award categories.
Vocre enables its users to communicate with people from around the world regardless of the language. The app is very intuitive and mimics an interview-style behavior by speaking into the mobile device while the iPhone is vertical. When flipping the phone horizontally, the phone’s accelerometer instantly cues the app to translate and magically speaks what you’ve said into the receiver’s native language. The receiver can then respond in real time, breaking down all language barriers, whether it’s negotiating a transcontinental business deal between Asia and North America, or simply asking a local for directions while on vacation.
Vocre is the latest product from myLanguage, which is the #2 free Travel app in the Apple app store boasting a user base in excess of 1.5 million users, and has regularly been featured as the premiere language translation solution on the Apple App store.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the future and genuinely thank Robert Scoble for evangelizing our app before we even launched it,” said Andrew Lauder, founder and CEO of myLanguage. “TechCrunch afforded us an amazing platform for launch, and we are grateful for that, intending to rapidly expand and improve upon our service based on the awesome feedback from the event’s exuberant attendees who we must also thank for the Audience Choice Award. To further celebrate the victory and show our gratitude to the community, we are doubling the amount of translations to 20 for only $0.99. ”
At launch, Vocre supports the following languages with many more on the near horizon:
· English US/GB/AU
· Spanish (Spain)
· French (France)
· Italian (Italy)
· German (Germany)
· Japanese (Japan)
· Chinese (Mandarin/China)
Features present at launch include:
· In Person Speech-to-Speech Conversation Translation via accelerometer/orientation activation.
· Powered by crowd sourced translation suggestions. Simply shake the device to edit the translation, and it will be uploaded to the server.
· The ability to purchase additional translation credits in-app, in addition to initial free credits.
· Social media sharing of the app via Facebook, Twitter, SMS, and Email.
The Vocre App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://www.iTunes.com/AppStore
About myLanguage, Inc.
myLanguage is the fastest-growing app-based language translation and learning community. With millions of downloads and more than 30 million unique translations provided to date, myLanguage is changing language translation and learning with applications that are fun, engaging and practical. Learn more about myLanguage Phrasebooks and myLanguage Translator at http://www.myLanguage.me
About TechCrunch Disrupt
TechCrunch Disrupt, Sept 12-14 2011, at San Francisco Design Center Concourse, 635 8th Street (at Brannan), is TechCrunch’s marquee conference in San Francisco attracting over 2,000 leading technology innovators and investors and over 150 new startups. TechCrunch is a leading technology media network, dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies. Founded in 2005, TechCrunch and its network of websites reach over 8 million unique visitors and more than 25 million page views per month.
myLanguage is a registered trademark of myLanguage, Inc. myLanguage Phrasebooks, myLanguage Translator, the myLanguage logo are trademarks of myLanguage, Inc. Vocre is a trademark of myLanguage, Inc.
Apple, iPod, iPhone, iTunes and the Apple App store are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Corporation.
SvenOnTech are fans of Harman and anyone who has heard the sweet sounds that come from its products will understand why. Now Harman’s Lexicon DD-8, a multi-room power amplifier, has grabbed three major industry awards including Best Power Amplifier Resi Award from Residential Systems. With its patented DriveCore amplifier technology, the DD-8 can shove out 1,000 watts of power in a slim and sleek looking box.
If you’re looking to play it in multiple rooms and play it loud – yet cleanly – then you may want to read the press release for more deets.
At CEDIA 2011, HARMAN’s Lexicon DD-8 multi-room power amplifier was honored with three major industry awards. The amplifier was presented with the Best Power Amplifier Resi Award from Residential Systems, as well as CEDIA Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards for Best New Product and Sustainable Lifestyle Product Innovation.
Lexicon was the only manufacturer to receive three prestigious industry awards for a single product at CEDIA 2011 and the sole winner of the Sustainable Lifestyle Innovation, recognizing the environmental friendly element of the product.
The Lexicon DD-8 Multi-Room Amplifier, an eight-channel amplifier that utilizes patented DriveCore amplifier technology to deliver 1,000 watts of power from a sleek, compact design, while operating with greater efficiency than ever possible before.
“We knew with the introduction of the DD-8, Lexicon established an entirely new design paradigm for consumer amplifiers,” noted Jim Garrett, Market Manager, HARMAN Luxury Audio Group. “These three awards reaffirm our commitment to providing our dealer base with the most innovative high-quality products that make a difference in their business. DriveCore technology provides smaller size, lighter weight, greater efficiency, more environmentally friendly manufacturing and most importantly better sound.”
The Lexicon DD-8 delivers 125 watts into each of its eight channels, yet measures just 1.7” H (one rack space) x 17.3” W x 14.9” D and weighs only 9.2lbs. The DD-8 achieves its unparalleled power and efficiency through the use of Harman’s new DriveCore amplifier IC chip. This chip, co-developed with Texas Instruments™ Incorporated exclusively for Harman, incorporates an unprecedented level of component integration into an IC that is smaller than a postage stamp.
The Lexicon DD-8 Multi-Room Amplifier is available at a suggested retail price of $2,500.
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.8 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2011.