Sony has launched a new range of MP3 players, the Sony Walkman B Series, which are a range of wearable MP3 players designed to be used when your out running or playing sport.
The Sony Walkman B Series MP3 players come in a range of different colors, and you get a choice of either a 2GB model which is enough for around 470 songs or a 4GB model which is enough for about 980 songs.
According to Sony, the B Series Walkman features a battery life of about 18 hours, and it supports a range of formats including MP3 and WMA. These new MP3 players from Sony will go on sale in June 2011, there are no details on pricing as yet.
I have known people in my life that are always taping and drumming away on any surface as soon as they sit down. It can get really annoying for sure. If you are the person that likes to drum away on your desk or table Korg has something just for you. The device is called the Wavedrum Mini and it is a portable drum synthesizer.
The device looks like a mini Roomba that straps to your leg. It has a clamp that you connect to your surface and then you can start drumming away on the surface. The round device can turn your slaps on the table into amplified percussion sounds. The device runs on rechargeable battery power.
Inside the synthesizer are six metal hydride batteries that promise to work for over four hours per charge. The device also has a pad for taping directly on the synth. The user has over 100 pre-recorded sounds from a virtual drum kit to tuned percussion and stringed instruments among others. Pricing is unknown, but the device is expected to launch in Q3.
Now that the bitter cold of winter is done and over with for those living in the northern hemisphere, it is time to get out and play. Of course, for folks who do not live in apartments but rather, on landed property, it makes perfect sense to spend your time outdoors since you will be able to bask under the sun, sipping on a pina colada and reading your favorite book.
Of course, having some music in the background is also part of the appeal, so getting a good pair of speakers is always worth the investment. Why not settle for the AQ Wireless Outdoor Speakers instead? Sure, it might come in only black or white shades (no doubt the former will be a whole lot easier to maintain due to its dark color, that you need not clean it so often), but either way, the £89.99 speakers are waterproof to withstand those rainy days, and are more than capable of unleashing your favorite tunes within a 100 meter radius from its source (30 to 40 meters through walls and ceilings) without missing a beat.
Musicians have a new gadget to drool over thanks to the geniuses at TASCAM. The DR-07mkII may look like someone’s tricked out TASER, but it’s not. Those protruding silver extensions are pivoting cardioid pattern mics that can be adjusted depending on the recording environment.
Below is a good chunk of juicy features from the product page:
Sharing some features with the new DR-05, the DR-07mkII makes recording simple enough for any musician. The Peak reduction function sets the optimum recording level even in recording to avoid the over level. Quick Menu selects commonly used parameters in playback or record like auto level setting or limiting, while deeper settings are available through a full-featured setup menu.
Some DR-07mkII features that aren’t found on the DR-05 include Overdub mode, which records over your previous take but keeps a copy of the original. The portable recorder also includes Auto Record and Auto Mark settings for hands-off operation. A reverb effect is also provided to give your recordings that mastered polish.
Getting great-quality stereo recordings has never been easier than TASCAM’s DR-07mkII.
The TASCAM DR-07mkII is coming out at the end of the month and will retail for $279.99.
So what makes the Trip Sound stroller suitcase different from the rest? Speakers, is what. You can blast out your favorite music and upset fellow travelers with this special type of luggage.
The Trip Sound has two 15W speakers built-in its silvery exterior that’s capable of delivering 12 hours of non stop audio gratification. Aside from this distinction there’s ample room inside for the usual travel accoutrements, with a special compartment for a laptop.
Even though the Trip Sound is being marketed for the upscale crowd, we can’t imagine anyone playing their music on this stroller without causing a fuss among nearby travelers, who are often grumpy and jet lagged. It’s especially hard if you’re into AC/DC and all the other fellow plays on their Trip Sound is Lady Gaga (or worse, Ke$ha) full blast. What a nightmare.
The Trip Sound isn’t cheap though and will set you back more than a thousand dollars. Now that’s not nice.
Kenwood has today announced a new iPhone/iPod compatible compact audio system they will be initially launching in Japan.
The new Kenwood C-414 is equipped with a dedicated iPhone/iPod dock with DTS Envelo Technology that will give you direct access to your iPhone/iPod music library together with a FM Radio tuner and CD player.
The Kenwood C-414 also support play back from either an SD Card or through its USB port and external hard drive. DTS have tweaked the system to provide a improved audio quality reproduction, regardless of the format used to store your music on your DAP thanks to the use of DTS Envelo Technology.
Kenwood C-414 will be available in three different colour variation but unfortunately no information on pricing or worldwide availability has been released as yet.
Sure, the iPhone and iPad have microphones, and there are other iPhone accessories and iPad accessories like mini-microphones out there for the devices, but what about a full-sized mic? IK Multimedia thinks there’s a need for one, offering up the iRig Mic as a solution.
The unidirectional condensor mic is designed for singers and vocalists, but can also be used to record speeches, instruments. It also comes with three official apps: VocaLive, which provides realtime vocal effects and processing, AmpliTube, which enhances instrumental recordings with effects and levels, and iRig Recorder, which . The mic uses the 3.5mm jack on the iPad/iPhone and has a second jack built in so you can plug in headphones for monitoring audio levels.
That’s great and all, but what it really needs is an epic Karaoke app for the iPad. The iRig is available for preorder now and will cost $60 when it comes out.
JVC have just unveiled their latest portable audio creation the RD-R2 that has been specifically designed for “street dancers” and musicians.
The new JVC RD-D2 is equipped with a microSD/SDHC slot allowing you to store and play music on cards up to 32GB is size. It can record music through a built-in stereo mic and support media in either MP3/WMA/linear PCM (WAV) or AAC formats.
Its quipped with 2 x 2.5W speakers and a number of special features including a countdown feature or an automatic hand clapping feature to help get you into the rhythm. Its also fitted with a USB port, an FM tuner, a guitar input, and a KORG/metronome tuner.
The new generation of boombox is definitely smaller that the original 80′s versions and will no doubt have a longer battery life but does it have the same soul?
The new JVC RD-R2 will be arriving in Japan next month for around $460 and a smaller model the RD-R1 will also be available without the guitar input and the KORG tuner for $290.
If you are stuck on a low after the highs and lows of the holiday season a new concept Valkee earbuds have been developed to combat the dark blues of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
But rather than taking the traditional method of shining light into your eyes the new concept shines the light into your ear canal. After researchers at the University of Oulu, Finland, discovered that it’s not the eyes that need the light, it’s the brain and your ear canal provides a perfect route straight to your brain.
In their clinical tests, approximately 9 patients out 10 experienced total relief of symptoms with only 8-12 minutes of use a day. If you are interested in giving the concept a go earbud devices are available to purchase direct from the Valkee website for €185 in either black or white.
Asus has added another media player to its O!Play range with the launch of the Asus O!Play Mini, unfortunately the O!Play Mini doesn’t support USB 3.0 like the O!Play HD2, but it does offer support for Full HD playback in 1080p.
Other specifications on the Asus O!Play Mini include one USB 2.0 port, a multi format card reader which supports SD/MMC/MS/XD cards, there is also a HDMI 1.3 port in the rear.
The Asus O!Play Mini also comes with 7.1 channel Dolby Digital audio, AC3, DTS 2.0+, True HD and DTS-HD sound, and it supports a wide range of file formats which includes MP4, MOV, XVID, AVI and many more.
The O!Play Mini will go on sale early in 2011, and it is expected to retail for around $90.
