NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, introduces the PP-3 Digital Phono Preamplifier, a sophisticated USB-friendly accessory that integrates turntables into today’s stereo systems and allows LPs and other audio sources to be copied directly to a PC, a Mac, or an iPod or other MP3 player.
Compact and cost-effective, the PP-3 Phono Preamp offers superb audiophile performance in a clean, simple package only 5.3 inches long by 1.38 inches high by 2.75 inches deep. It combines the design of its predecessor, NAD’s award-winning PP-2 MM/MC Phono Preamp, with a high-quality analog-to-digital converter, a USB interface, and CD-R VinylStudio(TM) Lite software. The program, supplied on a disc, lets users copy LPs directly to a PC in Wav or Mp3 file formats. Once in a PC, the digitized music can be burned onto discs, transferred to portable music players or otherwise manipulated.
Today’s digital components often overlook the needs of analog music fans, as expressed in LP records, an immense source of superb audio performances. Many A/V receivers, amplifiers, and preamp/processors simply omit phonograph inputs and phono-preamp circuitry. In many others, the phono section is an afterthought designed for the most basic functionality. In NAD’s view, this state of affairs creates a clear opportunity. The PP-3 has been designed to serve as serve as a high-quality upgrade or addition to existing line-level system.
An additional Line Input allows other analog sources — such as FM radio, audiotape, even a CD player’s analog output — to be converted to the digital USB format. It also adds back the input on an amplifier or receiver used by the PP-3.
The PP-3 Digital Phono Preamplifier is available now from authorized NAD dealers at a suggested price of $199.
The Koala Tube has a Burr Brown internal D/A converter with 20-bit resolution. On the back you’ll find XLR outputs, balanced analog outputs ” made with two Electro Harmonix 6922 mini-vacuum tubes for state-of-the-art performance.” A digital S/PDIF and IEC power socket are also found on the back.
The Koala Tube CD player is available now for $2,296 from authorized dealers and does not play Super Audio CDs. 
Surviving meetings just got easier. Today Canson, a supplier and manufacturer of the world’s finest art paper, is launching a brand new presentation and brainstorming product, Papershow, available for purchase on shoppapershow.com and directly on Staples.com for $199.99.
Papershow is an interactive paper and Bluetooth™ pen system used for digital communication and presentation applications designed to make meetings more fun and engaging for all participants. The plug and play nature of Papershow’s technology can revolutionize brainstorms and presentations, replacing antiquated flip charts and costly electronic whiteboards with fun, vibrant and interactive meetings anywhere, at any time. Papershow is compatible with PCs installed with Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows® Vista.
“Papershow is easy to set up and use,” said Diane Darling, CEO of Effective Networking Inc., speaker and author of “The Networking Survival Guide.” “Papershow is a hybrid presentation tool, combining the organization of Power Point presentations and the interactivity of writing—and the best thing is that you can use it right then and there!”
Papershow is extremely flexible and can attain perfect shapes and lines with varying degrees of thickness and colors. Users can export Papershow drawings into Power Point™ documents, quickly make comments or changes to a presentation image, and all creations can be easily modified or erased. All modifications made to a presentation, and all notes recorded during a brainstorming session can then be saved and e-mailed to meeting participants.
Awarded Consumers Digest’s “Best Buys in Digital Photo Frames” in the “Premium Selection” category, Image Moments 6 is one of the most upscale and feature-rich digital photo frames available, built for those that demand only the highest quality. Perfect for corporate executives, Image Moments 6 features a stunning two-tone chrome finish; beautiful screen; compact footprint; and advanced operating system features for the highest quality digital frame on the market.
Image Moments 6 (model IMT-063), along with its larger sibling, Image Moments 8 (model IMT-083) with its larger 8-inch 800×600 resolution screen, are based on a unique operating system with advanced functions not found on other digital photo frames.
Highlighted Features of Image Moments 6 include:
After playing around with this for a while, I was impressed with the output. I inputted all my features, slid my importance, and to my delight, it recommended I should get a Nikon D300. Thankfully, I bought it in March.
Give Mology a shot when looking for your next camera. I think you’ll be surprised how much better, and less annoying, it is than the kid a Best Buy.
There have been a few solutions for this problem, namely dragging your laptop around with you and off load your pictures that way. But who wants to do that? Man, the diaper bag alone is big enough for me to want to ditch it immediately! Other portable hard drive readers, some with screen and some without, have slowly made there way into the alternative space. Of course, you can just buy more flash cards, too.
Digital Foci goes with the hard drive solution. Its new Photo Safe II accepts Compact Flash (including Extreme III, IV, UDMA), MMC, SD/HC Card, miniSD, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, MS PRO Duo, and xD-Picture card. Ya, pretty much everything. All the pictures are stored on either an 80GB or 160GB internal hard drive. Once you get home or to the hotel, then you can connect the Photo Safe II to your computer and off comes all those saved pictures of both Shamu and the kids!
Photo Safe II is easy to use and only requires pressing one button labeled “Auto Copy”. At speeds of 5.0/MBsec, a full 1GB card will be copied in about 3.5 minutes. All file formats, including RAW, are supported. A backlit LED screen gives information as to space left, copy progress, and battery life.
Photo Safe II works on both Macs and PCs and retails for $139 for the 80GB version and $189 for the larger 160GB drive.
XIAS (pronounced: kí-as) adds convenience and style to the way consumers display their digital photos with the latest additions to its line of elegant digital photo frames at 2008 CES. They are the XIAS™ 8” and 10” Executive Digital Photo Frames with WiFi capabilities. All XIAS™ digital photo frames are designed by an award winning international product design firm.
“The new XIAS™ PF-821WF and PF-1021WF digital photo frames with WiFi are a great way for people to share their digital photos,” remarked Rick Stans, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing of Norcent Technology, Inc., an authorized licensee of XIAS™ products. “With 800 x 600 resolution, images and video are bright and crystal clear. Plus, this impressive, sleek, floating swivel design looks elegant in any setting from the living room to an executive’s office.”
The new models can display anywhere from one to 12 images at one time. Images are shown on an active matrix thin film transistor (TFT) LCD display that ensures high-quality, pictures. With an 800×600 screen resolution and 250 cd/m2 brightness, images are as clear and clean as they appeared in the viewfinder.
Each model supports seven digital media formats, providing outstanding compatibility with most digital cameras now available. Both models include two built-in memory card slots. Each also features four playback modes: full-screen browse, slideshow, thumbnail browse, and zoom (in and out). Viewing time in both browse and slideshow modes can be adjusted.
The units have a wood-grain outer frame supporting a bronze-metallic screen. The exclusive XIAS™ frames look natural in any home décor or office setting. Horizontal and vertical backing supports are included. A convenient on-screen display adds to their ease of use.
Pricing and Availability
The XIAS™ PF-821WF and PF-1021WF digital photo frames will be available in Q2 2008 with pricing to be determined.
The consumer electronics industry’s age-old dream of the celestial music jukebox in the sky for the digital home has finally been realized. Music lovers can now play what they want, when they want, anywhere they want, in the home. Think of a song, find that song, play that song, in any room…and all from the palm of your hand.
Sonos is committed to providing music lovers with the easiest way to access all the music they love and play it all over the house. Starting today with Sonos, you can now search and find all the music you could want from Rhapsody, Napster, Best Buy Digital Music Store or your personal music collection all from the comfort of your couch.
Sonos has added Napster and BB Digital Music Store to its industry-leading lineup of content services that Sonos connects directly to – no computer required. As the trend of network-enabled devices speaking directly to content services in the cloud continues to develop, Sonos now has five services to offer music fans – SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster and the Best Buy Digital Music Service.
How does computer-free access to millions of songs work with Sonos? Check out this flash demonstration (click on ‘Get Music’).
DXG USA announced today their new DXG-711 next-generation, slim and sexy 7 Megapixel digital camera, with all the features consumers crave at an affordable price. The DXG-711 starts with a sleek silver body and adds a 7 Megapixel CCD sensor, large 2.5” high resolution LTPS LCD, 3X optical zoom, and an instant out-of-the-box experience, so consumers can quickly start taking photos without spending hours studying the manual.
At less than an inch think, the DXG-711 camera will capture everyone’s attention and can still be conveniently tucked in your pocket – perfect for road trips, vacations and everyday occasions. The DXG-711 is equipped with a digital voice recording function so users can record to-do lists and capture thoughts on-the-fly with audio files saved directly into MP3 format. The camera comes with a built-in flash, 32MB onboard memory and supports Direct Printing for easy printing without the need of a computer.
The DXG-711 is perfect for users who want to migrate to more features, better technology and a device that is multi-functional, convenient and affordable, like parents who are looking for a replacement unit for their “old” 35mm cameras, and college students.
The DXG-711 is a true 7 Megapixel Digital Camera that can also capture vivid stills to up to 10MP, in addition to recording high-quality 640 x 480 video at 30 frames per second. When connected to your PC via the USB cable, the DXG-711 also functions as an additional hard drive and can store documents and other files with the built-in SD card slot.
The DXG-711 offers 15 different scene modes that users can choose from. These scene modes allow users to capture an image in various environments and light situations without having to worry about the clarity and quality of the pictures. Modes include Sports, Fireworks, Best Shot, Blur Reduction, Face Chaser, Monochrome, Sepia, Vivid and Night View.
DXG-711 Features:
- 7 Megapixel digital camera
- Records video at 640 x 480, 30 fps with sound
- Digital Voice Recorder
- Portable Storage Device
- 3X Optical, 4X Digital Zoom
- 2.5” LTPS screen
- Built-in flash with a variety of modes
- Pre-Set Scene and Macro Modes for optimal automatic exposure settings
- ISO 400 Sensor Sensitivity
The DXG-711 is available immediately with a suggested retail price of $149.99 through major retailers and at www.dxgusa.com.
Western Digital Corp. today announced it is now shipping its 250 GB WD Scorpio™ 2.5-inch Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives. The drives employ perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology to achieve the highest capacity available in a small form factor drive and have WD proprietary features that make the drive quiet, use less power and run at cool operating temperatures.
“The 2.5-inch market continues to be a major focus for WD, and this 250 GB WD Scorpio drive represents our second-generation PMR platform,” said Jim Morris, WD’s vice president and general manager of notebook storage. “The WD Scorpio 250 GB hard drive is a direct result of the significant investments WD has made in proprietary head technologies as well as significant system level feature innovation. With the introduction of our latest-generation WD Scorpio drives, WD continues to offer mobile computing and portable storage customers the same outstanding quality, reliability and performance that have earned the company a leadership position in the desktop PC market.”
According to market research firm, IDC, adoption of PMR technology in mobile 2.5-inch hard drives will sustain an increase in the average capacity shipped close to the average growth rate of 32 percent for the past five years. The firm states that by 2011, shipments of mobile 2.5-inch hard drives will more than double 2006 shipment volumes.*
Demand for 2.5-inch hard drives continues to increase at a rapid pace, driven by notebook computers, portable storage devices and consumer electronics products. Users of these applications need high capacity drives to manage storage-hungry content. WD Scorpio drives deliver the performance and features to meet demands that are specific to notebook PCs and portable storage devices, such as WD Passport® portable drives: quiet operation, high shock tolerance and low power consumption.
The new WD Scorpio drive further expands the company’s breadth of 2.5-inch mobile hard drive offerings to capacity points ranging from 40 GB up to 250 GB.
WD Scorpio Exclusive Features Read the rest of this entry »