WolfsonMicroelectronics
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Wolfson ready Digital Silence noise-cancelling headphones for Spring 2012
Noise cancellation maestros Wolfson Microelectronics have announced a pair of buds, designed for mobile phones. The Digital Silence DS-421D is fitted with microphones in each earbud and promises to last for 14 hours of audio playback on a single battery charge. The headset totes three different ANC profiles; a wide-frequency general, airplane for low-frequency engine hums and office for neatly sidestepping the daily workplace banter. Fortunately, the Gundam color scheme isn't final, but you can expect to see the finished articles in Spring 2012. Check the full specs in the press release below.
Nokia's Bluetooth BH-905 is 'the best headset ever made'
Pretty strong words from Nokia calling its new BH-905 headset "the best headset ever made." The claim comes as a result of a partnership with Wolfson Microelectronics to add its 10-microphone "feed-forward" active noise-cancellation technology to the headset -- 8 mics for capturing background noise, 2 for your voice. The headset can connect wirelessly over Bluetooth or via a selection of plugs for your home stereo, MP3 player, or airplane jack. It also features high-performance speakers with stainless steel audio controls on one can, phone controls on the other. They'll hit globally in August for a steep pre-tax price of €285 / $403. Hey, that's not bad for the best ever.[Thanks, Stephen R.]Read -- AnnouncementRead -- Microsite with video
iPods will gain in battery life with new Wolfson audio chip
Wolfson Microelectronics, the company behind audio chips found in almost every iPod model, is unveiling a low power masterpiece, the WM8985. The new chip will give up to 70 percent more listening time according to Wolfson. This means if your current iPod can play music for 14 hours (a statistic for a typical 5G iPod), with the new Wolfson chip and a similar battery the same iPod would be able to play for 23.8 hours.This type of statistic is rather unrealistic because each iPod upgrade means larger screens and a higher screen brightness and therefore a device that consumes more batteries. A 70 percent increase in battery life for this single chip is, however, quite a leap (most gains in chip power consumption are in the 20 to 30 percent range). It will be interesting to see if the WM8985 chip stays at a price point favorable to Apple with this new release.[via Macworld UK]
