Archive for the 'Audio' Category
![iPhone FMJ [SC-FMJI] : Skullcandy](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2334074798_c9d8487881_m.jpg)
Yes, the Skullcandy is back in our head and we have spoiled ourselves again.
In just one week, SvenOnTech has brought you two reviews of iPhone earbuds. Now you can decide which is the right fit for you. But we’ll warn you, it’ll be tough because the Skullcandy FMJs are mighty fine earbuds. You’ll find yourself playing with the EQ a lot more, too, but hey, that’s what Apple put it in the Settings panel for anyway, right? (BTW, Apple, lets get some quick access to that from within the iPod program.)
Anyway, we think you’ll enjoy the FMJs as much as we did but a word of caution, they are pricey at $80 a pop. Read the review and then decide for yourself.
If you’re looking to replace the less than desirable earbuds that came with your iPhone, then you’ll want to read our review on Maximo’s iP-HS1. With its easy to grasp switch at the base of the V in the cord, Maximo has gone a different direction than Apple and all the copycats with it’s earbuds for the iPhone. With true Maximo dynamic sound and fitted at a reasonable price, we think you’ll like these offerings from Maximo. Take a read and see if the iP-HS1 will fit your ears just right.
Warner Bros. Records’ R.E.M. and leading social music discovery service iLike announced today that Accelerate, the best-selling rock band’s 14th studio album, will stream in its entirety exclusively on iLike and its syndicates beginning March 24th. A first for the company, the iLike Worldwide Listening Party will continue through March 26th, six days before the album’s North American release on April 1st, 2008. Additionally, R.E.M. will record an exclusive video message introducing and discussing the album that will be available via iLike for distribution across the Web.
“Collaborating with iLike, and debuting Accelerate across the Web is in keeping with the spirit and immediacy of the album.” says the band’s frontman Michael Stipe. “We wanted to do something superfast and super real. Music, art, and pop culture are about right now, and nothing else matters. Accelerate is our turbo-charged response to the times we live in.”
In addition to being available on iLike’s website (www.ilike.com), the iLike Worldwide Accelerate Listening Party and exclusive R.E.M. video message will debut through the iLike Sidebar desktop plugin for iTunes and Windows Media Player (www.iLike.com/download), as well as across the Web via iLike’s leading applications on Facebook, Bebo, hi5, and for the iPhone. R.E.M. have already been using the iLike Universal Artist Dashboard to post content, reaching their fans across multiple syndication channels via iLike’s “Post Once, Publish Everywhere” platform. The album will also be available for pre-order via iLike’s retail links to iTunes and Amazon.com.
“With 11 songs clocking in at just 34 minutes, Accelerate is intense and relevant, with songs inspired by the WTO riots in Seattle, the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and other topical themes,” said Ali Partovi, CEO of iLike. “We are honored to play a role in helping R.E.M. introduce this album to their fans across the Web. This is our first-ever Worldwide Listening Party and R.E.M. has set a very high bar.”
In many ways, Accelerate marks a break from R.E.M.’s recent albums, 1998’s Up, 2001’s Reveal, and 2004’s Around The Sun — all finely crafted works exploring the textures and possibilities of the recording studio. Accelerate ties together the band’s entire canon as part of the vision for the new album turning old dreams into a new reality.
To listen to R.E.M’s Accelerate and watch the band’s exclusive video message, please visit: www.iLike.com/R.E.M. To learn more about iLike’s multimedia blogging tools and other free services for artists, please visit: www.iLike.com/forartists.
One of the first things I had hoped to see come the iPhone accessory line was a boombox. It mattered not to me, just as long as something would play the music from my iPhone while avoiding any artifacts from the GSM phone radio in the iPhone. You know, that really annoying buzz sound that happens when near any speaker. Sadly, it took nearly a year for that to happen. Happily, Altec Lansing was the first one to do it. Read our joy.
Alltel Wireless, America’s largest network, providing coverage across the nation, today announced it will offer Voicemail MAXTM, an application which enables customers to personalize outgoing voicemail greetings with the voices of Hollywood stars, comedians, celebrity impersonators, and top-selling music artists. Developed by 9 Squared, a Zed Company and leading provider of mobile content in the U.S., Voicemail MAX features content from Larry the Cable Guy, Steve Harvey, Orlando Jones, T.I., and popular voices from COMEDY CENTRAL’S “RENO 911!”
“With Voicemail MAX from Alltel Wireless, our customers now have a fun way to personalize their wireless service,” said Kristi Crum, director of multi-media content for Alltel Wireless. “With hundreds of messages to choose from, customers can select voicemail greetings that match their personalities for incoming calls from friends, family and colleagues.”
Voicemail MAX is available on select phones and provides access to over 500 audio clips recorded by premier voice talent. The application is available for download and preview at no additional cost via the phone’s main menu. One greeting may be purchased for $2.99, and customers can choose from a wide variety of content categories including Hip Hop Celebrities, Rock Stars, Sports, Business, Holiday, Cartoon, and many others.
“Voicemail MAX establishes a new category for mobile personalization. Our unique content from providers like Warner Music Group and MTV Networks allows Alltel Wireless subscribers to customize their voicemail greetings with entertaining clips from the worlds of comedy, music and pop culture,” said Brian Casazza, Chief Executive Officer for 9 Squared. “We are pleased to team with Alltel Wireless, a leading provider of cutting-edge, fun and engaging solutions for their subscribers.”
Peripheral Electronics®, AAMP of America’s innovative OEM integration division, announced today that its powerful eight-channel PCH8 Line Output Converter (LOC) is now shipping. The PCH8 integrates aftermarket amplifiers into factory car stereos, maintaining system integrity while significantly enhancing audio performance.
The PCH8 works with factory multi-channel amplified systems. It accepts two, four, six, or eight amplified speaker level channels, and converts those channels to a high-quality pre-amp signal. Internal summing lets users group together selected channels, combining different frequencies into one full-range signal. This is extremely important to dealers, allowing them to install a new amplifier without replacing the factory head unit.
Other installer-friendly features include a 12-volt output and turn-on circuit. The circuit monitors speaker level signals and automatically turns on the converter when a signal is sensed. The 12-volt output can be used to turn on aftermarket amplifiers and processors. A connection jack also lets users add the optional subwoofer control included with every PCH8.
For more information, please visit www.peripheralelectronics.com or call a Peripheral Electronics Sales Representative at 800-477-2267.
Stinger®, AAMP of America’s high-performance car audio accessories division, announced today that its 2008 HPM Hybrid Capacitors are shipping. With a stylish new look, the capacitors deliver exceptional power to high amperage systems for superior bass response.
The HPM Hybrid Capacitors include the 15 Farad SHC5015 ($499.99 MSRP) and 30 Farad SHC6030 ($649.49 MSRP). By combining the benefits of electrolytic and carbon capacitors, the SHC5015 and SHC6030 provide extremely fast cycling and the highest possible power along with unparalleled power reserve. Both capacitors deliver strong, steady voltages to even the most demanding systems.
Completely redesigned, the capacitors feature a sleek satin-chrome finish and angular housing with corner LED lighting. Digital blue readouts display system voltage for the SHC5015, and system voltage and amperage for the SHC6030. The result is a sharp, sophisticated design that goes great in any install.
Together, the new Stinger HPM Hybrid Capacitors represent a new era in power management technology. For more information, visit www.stingerelectronics.com or call a Stinger Sales Representative at 800-477-2267.
Mid-week during Macworld off the halls of the Moscone Center, I was privileged enough to be part of a special first time ever concert featuring Tommy Shaw of Styx and Jack Blades of Night Ranger. Playing for a crowd of maybe fifty people, the classic rock icons performed various hits in a side room just down the corridor of the South Hall without a PA system. This wasn’t done to keep the noise down and prevent a mob of fans from busting down the doors to gain entry to this amazing acoustic concert, but rather to highlight some amazingly new wireless headphones by AKG. Well known for its professional microphones and headsets, AKG is bringing the sound of pros to consumers this year and through Harman/Kardon, AKG’s brilliance was highlighted on this night.
Harmon/Kardon set up Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades on a tight stage that found Tommy knocking his many guitars into others through the night. Tommy and Jack have played together since the early 90’s when they formed Damn Yankees with wild man Ted Nuggent. It was easy to see how well they get along through the night as they joked with one another and Tommy even took on a Night Ranger song lead vocals. Tommy’s masterful guitar playing was highlighted when he played the lead to “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” in which Jack leaned over and listened for a brief moment and proclaimed, “He’s playing the lead to Hotel California!” So well done, no one noticed anything off until it was pointed out. Amazing.
Also amazing was the music in which we heard coming into our ears via the wireless AKG’s. I grew up in the boom-boom car beginnings, I like my music loud, but the AKG’s never pushed the envelope in volume, just sound. The sound was realistic sounding, not fabricated in any way. I removed the headsets a few times to “compare” live with, well, live on the headsets and never could I detect any difference. It was incredible. Toward the end of the concert, I did get static a few times from possibly fading batteries, but a quick press of the resync button had me in music bliss once again.
It was great singing as loud as I wanted “Too Much Time on My Hands”, “Sister Christian” (with a great behind the scenes story), “Blue Collar Man”, and classics by Yes, and Simon and Garfunkel to name just a few. It was a mind blowing honor to meet my guitar hero of my childhood, Tommy Shaw, after the private show as well. What a night!
Look for the headphones to grace our shores (already available in Europe) sometime this late spring. As for Tommy Shaw, he’s currently on tour with Styx (sans Dennis DeYoung). Catch them if you can.
Tekkeon unveils the first dock with on-TV navigation to support the iPod nano 3G and iPod classic. NavDock™ Home Media Center with On-TV Navigation for iPod navigates the iPod through on-TV menus to play videos, photos and music on a connected television. NavDock includes a 16-button wide angle infrared remote that is housed in the dock. The remote provides a five-way navigation pad and quick keys that jump directly to the Videos, Photos, Music or Settings menus. Buttons for volume control, mute, shuffle, repeat or skip songs, and fast forward or rewind through music or videos are also included on the remote.
With NavDock, users have complete control over the content that appears on the TV screen. The language for the menu items (English, Spanish and Japanese), menu color scheme, screensaver, and navigation speed can be customized to suit a user’s tastes. Direct access is provided to the iPod equalizer settings, and lyrics and full-size album art can be displayed at the touch of a button. The iPod docks into NavDock via a universal dock adapter, three of which are included with the product. While docked, the iPod is charged whether or not NavDock is turned on.
“With NavDock, we wanted users to have virtually complete on-TV control of their iPods,” says Jerry Yang, president of Tekkeon, Inc. “Rather than just provide minimal access to some of the iPod menus, NavDock enables users to take advantage of commonly used features, like lyrics and equalizer, all with
the NavDock remote.”
With an MSRP of $129.95, NavDock comes with an infrared remote, standard AV output cable (6 feet), universal dock adapters (3), power adapter (100-240 VAC) and user guide. Tekkeon products are available through retail and major on-line stores, and from the Tekkeon store at www.tekkeon.com. NavDock comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Looking for some better headsets for your iPhone than Apple slapped you with? Like rich sounding music? Got Will Smith kicking some jiggy beats into your ears and you need to feel that bass? Like the highs in, well, stuff that has highs? Oh ya, want to still have the ability to take calls and skip songs with a press of a button ON your headset? Yup, we got that on tap for you. Maximo sent us its iP-HS2s for review and we’ll give all the dets on them. Why don’t you take a look at these bad boys via our SvenOnTech Review and then purchase them from Amazon while its exclusively offered from the A to Z online retailer.