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Bowers & Wilkins' new Zeppelin speaker was built for streaming
Bowers & Wilkins has launched a new version of its iconic Zeppelin speaker, and the company says it was re-imagined for the streaming age.
Sergey Brin’s secret airship will deliver aid and schlep his family
Last month, news dropped that Google co-founder Sergey Brin is building an airship on the sly -- not a traditional airplane but an honest-to-god helium-filled dirigible. He insisted the project wasn't operating under the tech titan, even as his fellow co-founder backed a "flying car," it wasn't clear what Brin would be doing with the world's largest current aircraft. Now, details are starting to come out: Apparently, the zeppelin will split its time between delivering humanitarian supplies to remote locations and serving as a luxurious "air yacht" for Brin's friends and family.
Bloomberg: Google co-founder Sergey Brin has a 'secret airship'
A couple of days ago we got a good look at a "flying car" backed by Google's Larry Page, and now Bloomberg reports that Sergey Brin has a project too -- it's a zeppelin. The airship "which isn't an Alphabet project" is being built in a leased hangar at the NASA Ames Research Center, although it's unclear if there are any plans to make a business out of it. The report points to former NASA director Alan Weston as leader of the project, citing a radio interview where he described a helium-filled (it's actually flame-retardant) vehicle for cargo hauling and a LinkedIn profile that momentarily listed him as CEO of "Ltare."
Bowers and Wilkins' new Zeppelin speaker nixes the dock to go wireless
Eight years ago, Bowers & Wilkins released its first Zeppelin speaker dock. After a few updates along the way, the company nixed the dock and went wireless for the new model. The appropriately named Zeppelin Wireless keeps the airship-esque design while adding support for AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth aptX connections. While the look might be familiar, the company says it redesigned "every element" to re-imagine "what is possible from a single speaker system." To do just that, Bowers & Wilkins used a group of five speakers: two Double Dome tweeters from its high-fi CM Series speakers, two mid-range drivers and a 6.5-inch subwoofer to manage the low end. The cabinet itself was also retooled for added strength and to reduce vibrations for improved overall sound quality.
Goodyear's first new blimp design in 45 years... isn't actually a blimp
For 45 years, Goodyear has been using the same ole model for its Blimp fleet, famous for flashing ads in the skies and taking aerial shots of big events. Now, the tire company has finally launched the first dirigible in its next-generation fleet, and it's not even a blimp anymore -- it's a zeppelin. Considering blimp technology's remained largely the same all this time (imagine, the last time Goodyear bothered with a new design was when Apollo 11 landed on the moon), the switch is certainly understandable. This model (called Zeppelin NT) is capable of vertical take off and landing, and is larger and faster than the company's current airships, thanks to its three movable engines. Unlike traditional zeppelins with rigid structures, though, it's more of a zeppelin-blimp hybrid, as it relies both on internal pressure and a frame to maintain its shape.
Bowers & Wilkins intros classy A7 and A5 AirPlay speakers, leaves out the 30-pin dock
When it comes to Apple-focused audio wares, Bowers & Wilkins makes some of the of the ritiziest options available. Expanding on its its existing speaker range, the company has introduced a duo of new AirPlay speakers dubbed as the A5 ($500) and A7 ($800). Both HiFi boxes are nearly identical from the outside (aside from the size difference), and feature the same black and silver aesthetic as the MM-1 media speakers. The A7 nets you a duo of 25-watt 1-inch Nautilus "tube-loaded" tweeters" (just like the MM-1s), two 25-watt 3-inch drivers for the mid-range and a 50-watt 6-inch woofer, while the A5 shrinks things by forgoing a woofer and using a smaller speaker array of two 20-watt tweeters and two 20-watt mid-range drivers. The speakers on both units are independently driven, and both systems feature an "audiophile-grade" DAC that'll upscale music streams to a maximum 24-bit / 96kHz sample rate. As you'd expect, the units feature WiFi and Ethernet connectivity and 3.5mm inputs for hooking in sans wireless, but it's worth noting these audio boxes lack 30-pin docks -- at least you still get a remote. Check out the video after the break for a detailed look at both, and the source link below for all the juicy details.
Alt-week 7.21.12: Outer space, flying hotels and federal trolls
Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days. Whether you've got your head in the clouds, or your feet firmly locked on terra firma (or is that terrorist firma?) the last seven days in Alt have something for you. We look at a massive aircraft, that could revolutionize air travel as we know it, as well as look back at a real-world project that heralded a significant shift even further up in the sky. There's the NASA logo that never came to be, and lastly, for those less fond of heights, we hear how a US government department is heading in the other direction -- albeit culturally -- all in the fight against terror. This is alt-week.
Breakfast Topic: What's your favorite Blizzard art?
Blizzard hires some of the finest artists in the land to do its designs, concept art, world building, and settings. It's no surprise, then, that I adore the World of Warcraft concept art and am always delighted to see just how close in substance and style that the art team got in translating an image into a finished product. Suffice to say, Blizzard concept art is some of the best in the business. One of my favorite art pieces from the original World of Warcraft was a crashed zeppelin image that just always stuck with me. While my art book isn't next to me, I remember cracking open the book or at least a website and seeing that shot, analyzing it, looking at that little scale dude at the bottom. I have no idea what about the image is awesome to me. Maybe because the image eventually came back in spirit in the Cataclysm cinematic when that zeppelin over Orgrimmar hits one of the central buildings. That being said, we have not seen the concept art for the newest mount to hit the pet store, the Heart of the Aspects. I'm willing to bet it's pretty cool, and I want to see it. Which pieces of Blizzard concept art are your favorites? Let's show off our favorite Blizzard art pieces.
Patch 4.3 PTR: New pets and mounts from Darkmoon Island
As you saw in our Darkmoon Faire video tour, the revamped Faire is now active on the PTR. It brings a batch of new companion pets and mounts for you to collect, including the Darkmoon Dancing Bear, the Swift Forest Strider, and seven brand new companion pets. Each of these mounts and pets must be purchased with game tickets, which are earned by winning the game attractions once per day. Hop past the jump for all of the new pets and mounts and their ticket costs.
'Miraculous' Aeros airship set to fly by 2013, thanks to DOD funding
Are you nostalgic for a time when the word "zeppelin" stood for leisurely intercontinental travel for the rich and famous, rather than bass-heavy portable sound and MotoBlur phones? Take heart, as Ukrainian entrepreneur Igor Pasternak claims to have solved the "buoyancy problem" that has long limited the usefulness of airships. The problem is that burning fuel or dropping cargo lightens the ship, which then needs to vent costly helium to return to earth; without a way to control buoyancy, take-offs and landings become complicated to the point of uselessness. Pasternak claims to have solved this sticking point by compressing the pricey gas, thereby conserving it for later use. The Defense Department (which loves its warblimps) has contracted his company, Aeros, to provide a working demonstration by 2012-13. Dubbed Pelican, it will only fly without a payload at first -- but if the technology proves feasible, we might just see a new Era of Airships.
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air review
What's that, an alien egg? Nope. Memory foam iPillow? No, silly, it's a Zeppelin, a Zeppelin Air more specifically. Bowers & Wilkins brought us the first iPod-centric Zeppelin in the middle of the great iPod dock flood of '07. A few years later they downsized and brought us a mini version. The logical extension after the advent of AirPlay is here: a Zeppelin that does its thang without wires. We've been beaming music to it for a few weeks now -- wanna find out how our relationship has been? Click through, captain. %Gallery-122679%
Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Air speaker hands-on
Fine purveyor of high end audio products Bowers & Wilkins is on hand here at Digital Experience showing off its latest product, the Zeppelin Air. An addition to its existing Zeppelin line, the Air adds in AirPlay functionality for effortless streaming from iTunes or an iOS device. Stainless steel accents complement the oblong shaped boombox, and it can connect to your home network using either WiFi or Ethernet. We couldn't objectively judge sound quality in the acoustics of this massive Caesar's Palace conference room, but we'd expect nothing less than the best considering the price tag -- a steep $600. Feel free to feast your eyes on some speaker porn in the gallery below, that doesn't cost a thing. %Gallery-112854%
B&W announces Zeppelin Air with AirPlay
It's no secret that Bowers & Wilkins has a tight relationship with Apple -- so it was only a matter of time until AirPlay made its way onto the company's design-a-licious Zeppelin line. Now after being teased in Apple's own promos, the Zeppelin Air is official. On the outside, it looks virtually identical to its older blimp brethren, but internally the speaker has been completely redesigned and features new 24bit / 96KHz capacity DACs. B&W is so proud of the result that they're touting it as their best sounding iPod speaker ever. Another bit of good news is the Zeppelin Air is compatible with every current iPod and iPhone out there granted it runs iOS 4.2. A handy USB input also provides flexibility for streaming music directly from a computer and even syncing an iPod / iPhone without removing it from the dock. Price is still an unknown but based on the other Zeppelins we're guessing it won't be cheap. For the full details be sure to read through the PR after the break and drool over the included gallery. [Thanks, Steph] %Gallery-112734%
T-Mobile CLIQ XT spotted in the wild
Looks like the Motorola CLIQ XT / Quench is getting closer to its US debut -- here it is all dressed up in T-Mobile branding. We've already done a full video hands-on with this bad boy, so we'll just point you to that for the full rundown, and to the read link for a few more pics.
Motorola CLIQ XT / Quench joins the Android family at MWC
Motorola has just announced its eighth Android phone at MWC, dubbed the CLIQ XT or Quench outside the US (and previously known as the Zeppelin). Highlights include a 3.1-inch touchscreen with a mysterious "high-resolution" (last time we heard, it was 480 x 320), "pinch and zoom" touch capabilities, 5 megapixel camera (with autofocus and LED flash), a navigation touchpad and a dual-mic noise cancellation system. The rest of the features are pretty bog-standard: stereo Bluetooth, AGPS, FM radio, Motoblur and Adobe Flash Lite. Unlike the CLIQ there's no physical keyboard here, but if that's how you roll then look out for T-Mobile USA's launch and pricing for this phone next month. The rest of us shall quench our thirst with something else for the time being.
T-Mobile getting Moto CLIQ XT, HTC HD2, Nokia Nuron next month?
The ironclad legitimacy of this slide can't be confirmed, but considering what we know and what we've heard about T-Mobile USA's plans for the next few months, we can totally buy what we're seeing here. The PowerPoint masterpiece -- which showed up on a PPCGeeks forum thread recently -- has the midrange Android-powered Motorola Zeppelin as the "CLIQ XT" with a target launch of March 10, giving customers already flush with choices yet another way to get their Google on. Next, the Nokia "Nuron" (which looks an awful lot like a 5230 to us) is being billed as a "low-cost touchscreen" with 3G and Ovi Store access for a March 17 date with destiny, and finally, the mighty HD2 -- which we already know is coming to T-Mobile -- is said to be ready come March 24. Now, don't get us wrong, the HD2 is a helluva phone -- but if Windows Mobile 7 is really unveiled in a few days at MWC like everyone expects, that's going to make the launch of a high-end 6.5 device just a little anticlimactic.
Motorola Zeppelin spotted again, Android-ness confirmed
Yes, we've seen this puppy before -- but last time, we'd merely heard it was running Android. This time around, we've got a little more confirmation that the so-called Zeppelin from Moto is sporting Google code (allegedly Cupcake, sadly) with a dash of Blur added in for good measure. Gizmodo Brazil -- which scored some time with a prototype -- suggests that this'll see duty on the lower end of Motorola's smartphone lineup, and we tend to agree considering the HVGA display that takes up far less space than it could if Moto had wanted to go for broke. A keyboardless companion to the CLIQ / DEXT, perhaps? Carriers are an open question here, but we've heard rumblings of interest on T-Mobile USA's part; the site says it'll hit streets in March, so we shouldn't have long to wait to find out.
Motorola Zeppelin spotted hopping train to Barcelona?
First, a disclaimer: we've heard the "Zeppelin" name before, both from Motorola and from Palm before that -- we have no idea why it keeps coming up, particularly given the obvious references to epic disasters. That said, mobil.cz is reporting that this rather shapely device is an all-new Motorola smartphone bearing Android and the Zeppelin name that's scheduled for unveiling at MWC in Barcelona next month. It's said to have touch-sensitive buttons below the display, a 5 megapixel cam, 3.2-inch HVGA display, GPS, and Blur, presumably (well, hopefully) based on Android 2.0 or 2.1. In other words, it won't be the highest-end phone on the block, but it won't be the lowest, either -- and it could very well be the most stylish. If this is legit, we shouldn't have too long before we find out.
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini impressions
Bowers & Wilkins isn't a name that's generally associated with "mere mortals." Sure, you'll find B&W gear within palatial mansions and the drool-worthy motorcars, but by and large, these guys stick to the high-end and never bother coming down to the level of the layperson. Thanks to Apple, it seems that even this company couldn't resist the temptation of pumping out its own iPod sound system, with the Zeppelin Mini being the second that it has sold. At $399.99 (MSRP), this one is positioned alongside more pricey options like Bose's SoundDock, JBL's On Stage 400P, Altec Lansing's Mix iMT800, iHome's iP1 and Boston Acoustics' i-DS3. As is typical with B&W gear, the Zeppelin Mini is nothing short of beautiful, but do the acoustics really match the design? Read on for a few of our impressions. %Gallery-80388%
Motorola's shiny XT800 shows off its Android
Could this end up being the prettiest Android device to date? We don't want to call it before we have it in our own two hands, but China Telecom's likely entrant from Motorola -- the XT800 -- is looking better than ever in these live action shots unearthed by Chinese site tgbus. What's interesting here is that Moto's reusing the font first seen on the Droid's dock standby screen for a new home screen date / time widget, but the old-school Power Control widget below it has us believing that we're looking at an older Android 2.0 build (or heck, who knows, 1.5 or 1.6). It'll apparently have a 3.7-inch WVGA display with 720p playback and, as we've mentioned before, an HDMI-out for some serious multimedia street cred. It's still unclear whether this is being thrown around internally as the Titanium, Zeppelin, or something else entirely, but whatever -- Verizon, Sprint, bring it on over, alright?
