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B&O adds a $299 option to its wireless headphone line
When it comes to Bang and Olufsen's audio gear, you have to be willing to shell out some extra cash to get the company's mix of design and sound. The Beoplay line does offer some more affordable options and today the over-ear Beoplay H4 wireless headphones make their debut. Priced at $299 (£249/€299), the H4s are $100 less than B&O's current most affordable wireless option: the over-ear H7.
LG's Sonos-fighting WiFi speakers add a battery powered option
The race to CES continues, and today we're saying hello to the 2015 generation of LG's Music Flow WiFi speakers. Last seen at the IFA trade show in Europe, the big addition this time around is its first battery-powered model, the H4. While Bluetooth speakers are a dime-a-dozen, LG claims that its approach -- linking the speakers via WiFi -- means users can keep streaming music from their phone, even when a call comes in, for example, or stream directly from any supported services. Sonos gained a direct WiFi link with its upgrade a few months ago, but this Music Flow setup (and related control app for Android or iOS) has been in the works from LG for a while. There are three other WiFi speakers and upgraded WiFi soundbars coming to the show in Las Vegas too, and hopefully when we see them there will be price tags attached.
Samson delivering Zoom H4n handheld recording device at CES
Samson isn't bothering to wait until NAMM kicks off on January 15th; instead, it's bringing its newest handheld recording device to Las Vegas. The Zoom H4n takes off where the H2 and H4 left off, offering up an improved user interface, built-in X/Y stereo condenser mics, a digitally controlled mic preamp and the ability to use internal and external mics simultaneously for 4-channel recording. You'll also find a spacious LCD, a Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) compatible time stamp, track marker functions and audio recording at up to 24bit/96kHz on SD/SDHC media. Unfortunately, there's no word on a price, but we are told that its rugged exterior can handle even the rowdiest of shows. Full release is after the break.
O'Neill's H4 Campack ditches iPod, integrates camera and media player
Ok, ok, it was announced back in August but we're only just now planning our off-piste gear purchases. Meet the H4 Campack from O'Neill which bests the H3 launched last year with increased durability, better controls, an integrated media player, and a true video camera (not just a video extender). The included 2.4-inch, 240k color, media player boasts a paltry 512MB of internal memory augmented by a 2GB SD card. That allows for about 2 hours of 320 x 240 pixel @ 25fps recordings from the sub-megapixel CMOS camera which can be helmet or goggle mounted. A button panel on the shoulder strap controls the recordings which can be dumped back to the PC via the player's USB jack or SD card reader. Unlike the H3, however, O'Neill has ditch the iPod integration and Bluetooth module for cellphone linkage. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any way to playback audio through connected headphones -- the 3.5-mm jack is for the external button controller. Nor does it feature a solar charging panel like the H2. If you're still interested, it should pop for retail in Europe is €269 or about $398 sometime this month. Video demonstration with plenty of stick riding action after the break. [Via Highsnobiety, thanks David F.]
