aw1
Latest
Daily Roundup: PlayStation Vita hands-on, HP SlateBook x2 review, iOS 7 lockscreen bug, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Nikon's AW1 is the world's first waterproof interchangeable-lens digital camera (hands-on)
Have any interest in bringing an interchangeable-lens camera along on your next snorkeling adventure? You could pick up a pricey DSLR housing, sure, but you might want to consider Nikon's new 1-Series AW1, the first digital device of its kind to score an integrated waterproof enclosure. An O-ring combines with a regular bayonet lens fitting to create a reassuringly tough seal that will survive down to a depth of 49 feet, at the expense of requiring just a little bit more time and physical effort to swap lenses. You'll need to re-surface before attempting that, of course, and you'll also have to make sure you're using one of just two waterproof pieces of glass: either a 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6, which comes as part of the kit, or a wide 10mm f/2.8 lens that is sold separately. Regular 1-series lenses will still fit on the AW1, courtesy of a little accessory, but they won't offer any of the ruggedness of the dedicated pair -- which means you'll miss out on the water-proofing, dust-proofing, freeze-proofing (to 14-degrees Fahrenheit) and shock-proofing (from a maximum drop of 6.6 feet). Internally, the AW1 is similar to the CES-era J3. There's the same 14.2-megapixel CX-format sensor and 6400 top ISO, along with 1080p video capture, but the new model adds thrill-seeker essentials like an altimeter, depth gauge, GPS, compass and an accelerometer-powered option for switching modes with one hand. Finally, at risks of startling the little fishes, there's also pop-up flash that works underwater. All this will set you back $800 with the 11-27.5mm lens, when the AW1 ships next month, while the 10mm f/2.8 will be $200 more. Oh, and check out the hands-on video after the break to see how the AW1 fares in our own, hastily compiled durability test. Update: As some particularly knowledgeable readers have spotted, the AW1 is the first digital waterproof ILC, but not the first if you count the celluloid Nikonos series. Thanks guys -- the post has been tweaked. Sharif Sakr contributed to this report.
Look mom, no wires: Audioengine AW1 wireless audio adapter review
In case you missed it from this year's CES coverage, wireless connectivity across your A/V gadgetsphere is poised to be the next big thing, and one look behind the component stack of a modern setup will tell you all the reasons why. It's a rat's nest back there! Unfortunately, like most CES "big things," it will be a little while before this new feature really breaks out into mainstream products. But while wireless video may have to wait, the lower bandwidth requirements of audio make it a good candidate for wireless. With that in mind, we decided to take Audioengine's AW1 wireless audio adapter for a spin. Follow us after the break to get our experience with these little USB dongles that promise to set your audio free from its copper cage.
Audioengine intros AW1 wireless audio bridge
Powered-speaker manufacturer Audioengine has jumped into the speaker cable-free audio market with its AW1 wireless adapter. It looks like a focused solution that simply moves audio from one place to another, which we like because it won't lock you into speakers, amps or communication protocols. And better yet, it sounds simple to use -- plug in audio to the 3.5-mm jack on the transmitter, break out 3.5-mm audio on the receiver side, supply USB power to the units, pair the two halves and you're done! Transmission is done over 802.11 (but with a claimed data rate of 340Mbps), latency is less than 20-ms and the signal-to-noise ratio is a respectable 91dB. That's certainly good enough for wireless surround channels, so what are you waiting for?[Via digitalhomethoughts]
