Posts in Music & Play
iPod touch gets Bluetooth after OS upgrade
Donald Bell | Mar 18, 2009
Will OS 3.0 unlock the existing Bluetooth capability of the iPod touch?
A Broadcom BCM4325 chip revealed in iFixit's teardown of the second-generation iPod touch back in September of 2008 was originally thought to be used strictly for the device's wireless Nike+ support. It turns out the chip is most likely capable of full-fledged Bluetooth audio and data transmission, but has been purposefully left dormant by Apple. After being unlocked by the OS 3.0 upgrade, the iPod touch (second-generation only) should be capable of Bluetooth features such as A2DP, wireless accessory control (including gaming), and peer-to-peer connections.
In the end, adding Bluetooth functionality to the iPod touch is worth every penny of the $9.95 OS upgrade, and makes the device more competitive against iPod alternatives such as the Samsung P2 (soon to be the P3) and the Cowon S9. Still, existing Touch owners must feel a little burned that Apple purposely withheld the feature up until now.
Via Crave CNET (Source: iLounge)
Sennheiser HD 800 headphones here to save world
Nate Lanxon | Mar 17, 2009
The symmetrical cabling detaches from each open-backed ear cup, a little like Apple's MagSafe power cables--accidentally trip over the cable and it pops out instead of breaking.
(Credit: Crave UK)
Crave UK flew all the way to Germany last week to hear what was promised to be the best headphone in the world--the greatest, most paradigm-shifting personal audio equipment man has ever seen. With his ears.
After an afternoon of listening tests at Sennheiser HQ with Professor Sennheiser himself, even Sceptical Cat (she travels everywhere with us) admitted she was close to believing the company's claim. They're the successor to the superb HD 650s, Sennheiser's new flagship headphone--Damen und Herren, the $1,400 HD 800s!
Our first glimpse of the HD 800s was at CES back in January. They use an entirely new type of doughnut-shaped diaphragm for bouncing sound toward you, and at a slight angle to mimic the way sound enters the ear from floor-standing speakers--an idea dating back, CEO Jorg Sennheiser told us himself, to 1994. The HD 800s didn't begin development until 2002, but have been painstakingly perfected ever since, until their launch this year.
After giving them a close look and listen, we concluded that if you want the most inspiring, mouth-wateringly gorgeous and stunning personal audio on the planet, these are the headphones you want to try out. Click here to read more about how we reached that conclusion.
Via CNET Crave
Ion LP2CD turntable rips, burns, and rotates
Donald Bell | Mar 17, 2009
The Ion LP2CD is just itching to turn one antique format into another.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CBS Interactive)
Ripping vinyl to your computer is a huge hassle. First, you have to drag a turntable over to your computer (or vice-versa). Next, you have to make sure you have all the right cables for connecting everything together. Then you need to make sure your computer is up to the task (audio card, software, etc.). In the end, you'll be tied to your computer, spending the weekend watching dusty records rip to your computer in real time, and laboring with edits, song titles, and iTunes conversion.
To ease the unpleasantness, the Ion LP2CD (US$399) offers a simpler, faster solution, by recording your vinyl directly to blank CDs. The system doesn't offer the same fine-grain control as recording to your computer, but it makes the whole vinyl archiving process much more streamlined.
If the LP2CD seems like it might solve your record-ripping dilemma, check out the full report and video here.
Via CNET Crave
Grand Theft Auto to make its DS debut March 17
Jeff Bakalar | Mar 17, 2009
Triple homicide in your pocket.
(Credit: GameSpot)
Chinatown Wars features an older GTA game play style as you'll be viewing the world from a top-down perspective. This viewing mode was how GTA was originally played before it made the jump to 3D with Grand Theft Auto III on PlayStation 2.
You can also expect a change in art style as the game adopts a refreshing cel-shaded sort of look, most likely to lessen the workload on the DS hardware. Expect classic GTA mission-based action mixed up with some inventive ways of using the DS touch screen.
Read more »
Report: iPod shuffle accessories to get Apple "tax"
David Carnoy | Mar 17, 2009
Getting chippy: Some bloggers think that the iPod shuffle's accessory situation is a nightmare scenario for iPod fans.
(Credit: CNET)
In not-so-shocking news, iLounge is reporting that third-party headphones and headphone adapters for the new buttonless iPod shuffle will require an Apple-licensed authentication chip.
This doesn't come as any great surprise to us because exacting licensing revenue from iPod accessory makers has become a brilliant way for Apple to add to the company's bottom line. But that "Apple tax," so to speak, does get passed on to consumers, and iLounge and others are now assuming that Apple headphone adapters will cost a minimum of US$19 and possibly as much as US$29. The handful of VoiceOver-compatible headphones that have been announced carry a starting price of US$49.99.
Read more »
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