REVIEW >> Soundcast Systems OutCast brings everyone back home

Soundcast Systems know that having a fantastic audio system is the other half of a successful combination when you watch an engaging movie or music video, which is why they did not skimp on quality with their latest release – the new OutCast 3.4 multi-room, multi-source wireless speaker system with subwoofer that will definitely find a place in most homes this summer as folks watch reruns of blockbusters, including recently released movies. This is surely the right step to take if you are looking to live out a wireless lifestyle.

Not only does it come with a pocket friendly price as claimed by the press release (without actually divulging its price tag), you will also get to enjoy iPod/iPhone access and control. The Outcast 3.4 intends to be the most utilized speaker that you will ever own, so with such hype surrounding it, we do hope that it is able to live up to its billing!

OutCast 3.4 will deliver technology that allows you to easily access and enjoy up to three different sources of your favorite music in a quartet of areas of your home or business. Yup, that means you need just a single device for you to listen indoors as well as outdoors – different tunes in different areas, to boot! With a powerful wireless broadcast range that goes all the way to around 300 feet, it will allow clear, precise transmissions to travel easily through walls, doors, floors, ceilings and roofs, delivering rich, multi-directional, uninterrupted sound anywhere and anytime.

Other features of the Soundcast OutCast 3.4 include :

• Tri-amplified, high-definition audio reproduction w/DSP
• Long-range, interference-free wireless technology
• Internal battery provides 10-to-20 hours of wireless music (+/- power level)
• Easy to use backlit top panel keypad for control

Not only that, OutCast 3.4 will also be able to take advantage of Pandora, Rhapsody, iTunes, Radio, HD Radio, Cable Music and even legacy audio sources thanks to the receivers’ zone 2 output.

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REVIEW >> GRilli3D brings 3D to the iDevice

Considering the amount of mobile phones with glasses-free 3D displays being released recently, I’m sure that eventually iDevices will have them. This is assuming that this glasses-free 3D screens aren’t some passing fad.

If you want that 3D effect on your iPhone and iPad now, you can get it with GRilli. I recently saw it work on several different devices, and I was pretty impressed.

It works using this lined decal on the screen on the iDevice that can be easily printed on adhesive transparent sheets. Somehow, putting this thing on can trick the eye into seeing stereoscopic 3D, and it is apparently best in landscape mode.

If you have seen a 3D postcard, then you have seen the effect of the GRilli in a non-digital way. It probably is the closest thing to glasses-free 3D without altering the basic hardware of the device.

The drawback is that the transparent decal is somewhat tough to put on, and you have to make sure that you are seeing “parallel rainbows”.

GRilli is available for the iPod and iPhone for about $14.99, and the $29.99 for the iPad. If it is successful, then I am certain you will be seeing GRill3D on all sorts of devices like TV sets and other brands of tablets of cellphones.

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REVIEW >> 3D Bee by VEFXi does real-time conversion

For those that are interested in 3D conversion for their 2D systems, you might want to look at 3D Bee from VEFXi.

In a recent demonstration, I saw a two-dimensional animated film being brought to life in 3D, with the glasses. It was done with two vertically stacked 2D projectors and passive polarizer filters, providing crisp 3D that is brighter viewing than available with typical 3D ready projectors.

It is possible to get a kit for stacking the 2D projectors with the professional model, and it is also possible to get the 3D conversion for 3D-Ready projectors that require frame-sequential 120Hz 720p 3D format with the 3D-Bee trainer model.

Then there is the 3D-Bee home for 3D TVs. All of this is good for video game consoles, Blu-ray/DVD players, cable, satellite, not to mention media players, cameras, and computers. Somehow, this converts it to 3D, just like the 2D animated film that I mentioned before. I don’t know how they did it, but it is impressive.

It is also expensive. The 3D-Bee::home for 3D TVs is about $399, the 3D-Bee::trainer for 3D-ready projectors is about $499, and the 3D-Bee::professional with stackable 2D projectors is about $949. Right now, the VEFXi site and 3D-Bee site don’t have any news on when this will be available.

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REVIEW >> Infra Red Camera Ready Nest Box

Now here is a little something for all of you budding voyeurs out there – the Infra Red Camera Ready Nest Box. It might seem like the average wooden bird house to the passer by, but this £84.99 purchase is actually a sneaky little camouflage for something more sinister – it holds all the relevant electronics inside so that you can always capture the goings-on of your neighbor – although we do know that you have a perfectly good alibi when the authorities question you – this little Infra Red Camera Ready Nest Box can also be used to study your feathered friends up close and personal without them knowing any better.

Even more brilliant is the kit comes with infrared lights and cameras that will help you capture night time images in black and white, so you can always have something interesting to look at once you are done surfing through all 500 channels on your TV.

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REVIEW >> Trioviz allows 3D images on 2D TVs, and more!

I’m not certain how much 3D is really going to change television as we know it, but if you have a 2D television, and you want to play 2D video games, then I have some good news.

TriOviz has some interesting technology called TriOviz for Games SDK (Software Development Kit) which “leverages existing three dimensional graphics information in games to greatly enhance the depth-of-field, geometry volume and position, and the rendering of characters within a scene”.

I got a chance to try out for myself, and played the Captain America: The First Avenger in the process. As you can see, the INFOCOLOR 3D Eyewear glasses are in slightly different colors than traditional red and blue. If used with the SDK software, TriOviz SDK allows the gamer to play 3D games with glasses on a 2D television.

So far, the process has been tried out on other video games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum, Enslaved, and another game based on a Marvel superhero movie out this summer: Thor.

Of course, this is actually old news as TriOviz launched this Games SDK over a year ago. Now they have Games SDK 2.0, which is compliant with 3D TVs.

Okay, so all we need to do is get TriOviz on all video games, and every TV set will be ready for 3D video games, right? I suppose that we will see, and I would like to see where we are on this 3D thing in the next two years. Check out more information about TriOviz at their official site if you want to know more.

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REVIEW >> SoundRacer Ferrari V12 engine

 

If you feel that your ride lacks enough ‘oomph’ underneath the hood, then you would do well to get a better paying job so that you can afford a faster car, or to just fork out £29.99 for the SoundRacer Ferrari V12 engine. This will definitely make your vehicle sound like an exotic supercar from Italy, although the only person you would impress would be the visually impaired – at least until they sit in it and wonder how come the acceleration is slower than what they expect.

Recorded from an actual V12 Ferrari, all you need to do is plug it into your cigarette lighter socket and you’re good to go. Just select a frequency, turn up your volume and let your speakers do the “talking” as you enjoy those high-quality revs that will send the adrenaline rushing, all without having to burn more fossil fuel than necessary. Just in case you’ve gotten bored of the same old revs, just hook up a compatible device via its 3.5mm audio socket and you can tune in to your favorite tunes.

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REVIEW >> Augmented Reality Cinema shows you the scene where it was filmed

Normally, I don’t report on Apps here, as we could do a blog for that. However, this one I just couldn’t resist, but it is sadly still a concept.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, and I am told that we have many, then you know that I am nuts over all things augmented reality. This particular one can be used a famous movie locations.

You can watch the video to see it in action, and it looks simple to use. Find the spot where a movie was filmed, like the Westminster Bridge in 28 Days Later, and you will see the scene played out.

As you can see in the video, the locations are in the UK. I hope this App will eventually come with locations for the United States.

Personally, I love going to places were movies were shot. I visited the town of Preston, Idaho, just so I could see the final shot of Napoleon Dynamite. It would have been very cool to use an App like this there.

In fact, I can see this App being used for movie-related tours. Forks, Washington could be used for a Twilight-based tour, and I’m pretty sure that L.A. and New York City have plenty of places to use this App.

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REVIEW >> Orange UK’s T shirts That Charge Your Phone With Sound

With portable devices becoming a more integral part of daily life, it may be important to keep them powered up all the time. But it may be not always possible since device chargers usually require a power outlet in order to get some charging power. There are now other options available such as solar powered chargers. Orange UK is offering a unique way to charge your portable devices- using T shirts that generate electric power through sound.

Orange UK has developed the prototype Orange Sound Charge T shirt that allows users to connect their mobile phones to it and charge them using power generated from any type of sound in their immediate environment. The prototype T shirt cum charger is equipped with special piezoelectric film that absorbs sound and generate power enough to recharge a mobile phone. Since it generates power through sound, Orange UK will be testing the prototype t shirt at the Glastonbury Festival this year. There would truly be enough sound to go around and power up that phone.

Image Source: Orange UK

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REVIEW >> Soundcast OutCast 3.4 Outdoor Wireless Speaker

Going wireless seems to be the order of the day for most people nowadays when it comes to their gadgets. Accessories that may be connected to them might as well go wireless too. For audiophiles, having a wireless speaker like the new SoundCast Outcast 3.4 might just be welcome addition to a wireless home.

The new SoundCast OutCast 3.4 Outdoor Wireless Speaker offers a versatile listening option for those who enjoy music listening wherever they are in the home. The OutCast 3.4 Wireless Speaker comes with a broadcast range of up to 300 feet, more than enough to give you the option to put the speaker anywhere in the home, be it inside different rooms or out in the backyard or veranda.

The wireless speaker also features a tri-amplified, high definition audio reproduction with DSP to give high performance audio quality. It also supports Apple iDevices, MP3 players or the PC to source out your music from. Its powerful internal batteries allow wireless music enjoyment for up to 10 to 20 hours for each charge. The Soundcast OutCast 3.4 Wireless Speaker has recently been introduced in the market. There’s neither an availability date nor pricing info provided yet for this outdoor wireless speaker.

Image Source: Soundcast

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REVIEW >> Audio-Technica AT-SPG51 Rugged Compact Speaker

Having a compact speaker to bring along should also be designed for toughness aside from good audio quality. It is common for compact speakers to go through the rough and tumble of mobility so it must be tough enough for such journeys. It is a good thing that there’s the new Audio-Technica AT-SPG51 Rugged Compact Speaker for just the thing.

The Audio-Technica AT-SPG51 Rugged Compact Speaker is designed not only to provide good audio quality for such a small speaker but also a higher level of toughness to boot. The compact speaker is designed with a black mesh grill to protect the speaker and an extra padded, hardened plastic for added protection. It also comes with a built-in amplifier for producing high quality sound and strong bass. It uses 3 AAA batteries that can last for 29 hours of continuous playback. The Audio-Technica AT-SPG51 Rugged Compact Speaker is available at AudioCubes for US$76.

Image Source: AudioCubes

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REVIEW >> Polk Audio Releases Performance Line Up Headphones

Polk Audio has recently introduced a new lineup of headphones for the audio quality discerning set. The Polk Audio Performance Line Up will be coming up with several headphone models that will fall under the UltraFit and the UltraFocus banners. They aim to cater to the certain differences that different people need and look for in headphones.

The Polk Audio UltraFit headphones will come in 4 different models available in a number of different colors. They are considered as sports headphones and will come in water resistant designs, iPhone or iPod controls as well as Kevlar-reinforced hinge points for added durability on areas considered as general weak points for headphones.

The Polk Audio UltraFocus headphones with come in a pair of different models, both coming with active noise cancellation features. This is the type of headphones for people who might wish to use it on noisy environments. The Polk Audio Performance Line Up Headphones will be made available to retailers by this Fall. No pricing data has yet been provided.

Image Source: PRNewswire

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REVIEW >> Pioneer AppRadio for iPhone and iPod

Pioneer has unveiled a new car stereo, although this one is a little different than your standard car stereo, called AppRadio. The Pioneer AppRadio will enable you to use iPhone and iPod Touch apps in your car and the apps will have top be modified slightly in order to run on the display, but according to Pioneer this is easy for developers to do.

Pioneer AppRadio Review

Pioneer AppRadio offer a hinted-at 6.1-inch capacitive touchscreen as its interface and As a conventional AV head-end, the AppRadio can use the official iPod Out feature to show an adaptation of Apple’s official interface, including for Genius playlists and other newer features. At the moment there are only a handful of applications that are supported by the Pioneer AppRadio include a free navigation app from Inrix , 99 cents MotionX GPS Drive , free Rdio app, and a free Pandora app.
 
Pioneer AppRadio Features

Both an official AppRadio app and third-party apps with the relevant code can share the Internet connection, pipe music or video, or navigate the car using Google Maps. Pioneer claims an edge over other digital radios. it has the Dock Connector plug easily accessible. Owners can tune into AM or FM radio as well as make Bluetooth calls routed from a phone. The company anticipates the Pioneer AppRadio arriving in stores by late June for less than $500 when it goes on sale, it certainly does sound interesting.

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TriMount Turns Your TV Into an Ugly But Organized Gaming Nirvana

Once upon a time, it was possible for hardcore gamers to ply their avocation inconspicuously, their games and controllers stored in boxes, and their consoles tucked away behind the doors of their entertainment center or component cabinet.  These days, however, motion is A Big Deal, and as a result, taking full advantage of a modern console requires placing a sensor of some kind out in the open, usually on top of your TV.  But HDTVs only have so much real estate on top of their ever-slimmer frames, and naturally the big three console makers have no interest in making it easy to use a competitor’s sensor in addition to their own, so the number of consoles a gamer can use effectively becomes limited by how many sensors one can haphazardly stack on top of one’s TV.

Well, multi-platform gamers need fret no longer, because the dreamGEAR TriMount is here to solve our sensor-placement woes for good.  Attaching easily to most HDTVs via an adjustable screw or to a wall via a wall mount, the TriMount provides space for the Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor, the PlayStation Eye, and the Wii Sensor Bar.  The resultant amalgamation of cameras and sensors ends up looking like some sort of dystopian Big Brother surveillance device, but at only $29.99 it may be just what the doctor ordered, presuming that your doctor’s last name is “Mario”, “Robotnik”, or “Wily”.

The TriMount is currently available for pre-order at the dreamGEAR website, and will begin shipping on 8/15/2011.

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REVIEW >> JayBird JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Earbuds Put Wireless Music In Your Ears

If there’s one thing I hate about exercising while wearing earbuds, it’s that it’s far too easy to accidentally snag the cable on something and yank one or both buds out of my ears.  Bluetooth headphones solve the cable problem, but most Bluetooth headphones are either circumaural or supra-aural, and thus too big and heavy to wear while exercising.

JayBird has brought together the best of both worlds with their JF3 Freedom Bluetooth earbuds.  Designed specifically for active users, the JF3 earbuds are lightweight and sweatproof, and come with a selection of ear tips and secure fit ear cushions to help keep the earbuds seated during your workout.  The right-side earbud features volume and playback controls for devices that support AVRCP, and a microphone so that you can make or receive phone calls without missing a beat.  JayBird claims that the JF3 battery will last for 6 hours of music playback or phone talk time, which should be enough for even the most hardcore fitness regimen.

The JF3 Freedom Bluetooth earbuds are available now for $99 at the JayBird online store.

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REVIEW >> MSI graphics card is now possible to "overclock" using a smartphone

Afterburner utility is one of the main features of MSI video cards, which provides the user possibility to overclock and the state of the graphics card, providing real-time indicators of temperature, clock frequencies, voltages and load level.

The company has developed a mobile version of the application with which you can control the video card from a smartphone running the Android OS. This makes it possible to change overclocking settings, or turning the gameplay, and immediately observe the result.

Probably the application must be running on the PC to which the mobile application is connected via wireless network. Sounds cool in case you want to monitor your MSI video card realtime.

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REVIEW: Mad Catz has more Xbox 360 licensed audio headsets for gamers

When it comes to gaming, you surely place a premium on expensive peripherals if you feel that you want to remain at the top of your game always – after all, let’s just say that if your mouse is slightly faster thanks to its wired connection that has gold-plated USB connectors, it is worth every penny since it might mean the difference between life or death in that particular fragfest. Mad Catz has long been a name associated with quality gaming peripherals, and they have just worked to release a new exclusive range of co-branded, licensed audio headsets for the Xbox 360.

These headsets will be co-branded under the TRITTON and Xbox 360 brands, where it will comprise of a couple of wireless headsets and a wired headset. After all, gaming audio is a vital cog in Mad Catz’s business, and is touted to be a key growth driver in the immediate future. Expect these new headsets to ship in time for the holiday season this year, where we will look at them in greater detail in the extended post.

TRITTON Warhead 7.1 Dolby Wireless Surround Headset for Xbox 360

This model is touted to be the first truly wireless Dolby 7.1 surround sound headset for the Xbox 360 in the world, so don’t expect to be tethered to your Xbox 360 in any way, letting you play in the laziest of postures that you are accustomed to while gaining the ability to hear every single footstep made by your opponent.

• Truly Wireless – Utilizes Xbox 360’s secure Wireless Xbox Live voice communications (no cable to the controller)
• 5.8Ghz Wireless Technology – Clear surround sound without interference from
• wireless devices (range 33ft/10m)
• Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound – Expands native stereo and 5.1 game and movie audio to immersive 7.1 surround sound
• 50mm Neodymium Drivers – Precision tuned and balanced speakers
• Two Hot-Swappable Rechargeable Battery Packs – Change batteries on the fly for endless gaming
• Selective Voice Monitoring (SVM) – Allows the gamer to enable or disable the ability to hear their own voice
• Audio Control – Independent voice and game volume controls with mic and game mute
• Built-in EQ – Gamer can choose from pre-defined equalizer settings for movies and games
• Designed for Extended Play – Padded adjustable headband and plush around-the-ear earcups
• Everything Needed to Connect to Any Xbox 360 – Supports both analog and digital audio connections and includes Digital Audio Adapter (for use with HDMI installations)

TRITTON Devastator Wireless Stereo Headset

As for the TRITTON Devastator Wireless Stereo Headset, this is also a wireless model that will offer Selective Voice Monitoring (SVM), delivering clear, balanced stereo sound, analog input, where it will be juiced by a couple of AA alkaline batteries.

Last but not least, the TRITTON Detonator Stereo Headset for Xbox 360 won’t have any wireless capability but that doesn’t mean it is any less in terms of performance, and since it is wired, that means it will play nice with other compatible devices such as portable media players and handsets. Features of the TRITTON Detonator Stereo Headset include :-

• Wired Stereo Headset provides clear, stereo sound
• Selective Voice Monitoring (SVM) – Allows the gamer to enable or disable the ability to hear their own voice
• 50mm Neodymium Drivers – Precision tuned and balanced speakers
• Audio Control – Independent voice and game mute and volume through wired in-line remote
• MP3 Player and Phones Support – 3.5mm jack supports both media playback and voice communications
• Designed for Extended Play – Padded adjustable headband and plush around-the-ear earcups
• Everything Needed to Connect to Any Xbox 360 – Supports analog audio connections and includes Analog Audio Adapter (for use with HDMI installations)

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110606005673/en/Mad-Catz%C2%AE-Announces-Range-Xbox-360%C2%AE-Co-Branded

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REVIEW: KOR-FX is the neatest thing I’ve seen at E3, and it isn’t just for video games

 

While I was browsing the back area of E3, I saw a booth marked Play N Trade, and I didn’t think much of it until I saw this device that you see in the image.

I was then given a demonstration of its power, as this harness-shaped media enhancement device was placed upon my shoulders and plugged into an iPhone. I watched a scene from Jurassic Park. It was the famous one where the T-Rex shows up and the water does that rippling thing. I could feel the footsteps rock through my entire body, and I felt like I was in a 4D experience.

In short, the KOR-FX is nothing short of awesome, and any other extreme adjective that you care to use. I believe that it is the future of mobile technology, and perhaps later models will fold up for more compact use.

But you see my point. We seem to be taking our musical and video experiences with us on our mobile device. Why not make them more intense? I tell you, if the screen had been movie-sized, then my experience with Jurassic Park on the KOR-FX would have been better than when I first saw the movie in the theater.

According the brochure that I received, the KOR-FX is only available from Play N Trade. However, you can pre-order it at this site for about $189.99.

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REVIEW: Replicating Reality at the E3 2011: I feel dizzy

 

Just to let you know, that guy sitting in the driver’s seat isn’t me, but I did get to go after him. Man, I am glad that I did.

This was the Fourth Dimensions Displays (ForthDD) booth at E3, and it took me for a ride. I would say literally for a ride, but it was only virtually. In my little Matrix, I was a race car driver. My viewer was in 3D, so objects in the virtual space like my steering wheel and the other cars seemed to be distant. I could turn my head, and it was like I was turning my head in actual reality.

What really sells it is I really felt like I was in motion. In the game, I kept crashing into the other cars, which thankfully resulted in undamaged nudges off the track. I kept going out of control, and I think I know why. Other cars were hitting me from behind. Too bad that I didn’t have any side or rear-view mirrors. That was my only limitation, but otherwise, I felt motion-sick afterward (this is a good thing).

In all honesty, I don’t really understand why we don’t have this type of technology in every home. Part of it has to do with the high cost of the equipment, as that headgear I am wearing costs a whopping $5,000. Still, I seem to recall the early nineties, and I felt like we were promised this virtual reality world that never did come to being. Instead, we got MMO games and social networking.

If you want to know more about Fourth Dimension Displays, check out their official website.

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REVIEW: Jaybird and their JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Buds

 

Free as a bird – or so that is what most people would like to be. Well, we do know that when it comes to headphones and earbuds, a wired connection tends to end up in a tangled mess unless you have a cable management system of sorts. Jaybird knows this, and hence has decided to roll out their JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Buds. With Bluetooth thrown into the mix, you are more or less guaranteed that wires are a thing of the past with this pair of buds, just make sure that there is enough battery life left inside them before you rock out.

Key features of the JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Buds include its (obviously) wireless connectivity, a secure fit that will cater for sports enthusiasts as well as those who live an active lifestyle courtesy of its proprietary honey comb design ear cushions, superior sound performance that has been tuned in a way so that the listener will not suffer from any fatigue, while a sweat proof design makes it one of the more hygienic solutions around – with a Lifetime Warranty Against Sweat backing it up, yo!

Without any wires, you are more or less free to do just what you want, but of course, we won’t advise bringing this pair down with you when you go snorkeling or scuba diving since it isn’t that rugged. The new hexagon design ear cushions are touted to deliver superb comfort and a secure fit for sports, where its honey comb center offers a balanced amount of resistance against the back bowl of the ear. With three sizes to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice and it ought to fit most of the general populace.

The JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Buds has been out since April, but now JayBird decided to sweeten the deal by offering new secure fit silicon sports ear cushions. You can pick up the new and enhanced version for $99 with free shipping thrown into the mix.


http://www.jaybirdgear.com/press/press-release-jf3.html

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REVIEW: Under the JDome at E3 2011

While at E3, there was a huge area devoted to an organization known as Pro Vs. GI Joe. According to their official website: “Pro vs. GI Joe sets up real-time video game competitions between professional athletes, musicians, celebrities, high-ranking military officials & politicians in the states and troops stationed overseas via online gaming”.

In other words, it gives the chance for bigwigs to play video games with the everyday soldier. The purpose of their E3 booth was to get more donations, but at display was the jDome. For those who aren’t aware, the jDome is a cloth hemisphere designed to be a very immersive type of gaming screen. I have reported on it before, but I finally got a chance to try it out.

Standing before it really makes me feel like I am actually there. It is good for first person shooters, but without my feet moving, the illusion felt incomplete. Perhaps I could have a treadmill under my feet, but I’m guessing I would lose my balance. Apparently, the jDome helps the military train. and they play a lot of Call of Duty, which doesn’t surprise me.

Was the jDome the most immersive thing that I saw at E3? Actually, no. As far as sound was concerned, that award goes to the KOR-FX. As for vision, you’ll have to read about Replicating Reality. If you want to find out more about the jDome, read up on the official site here.

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