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SOL Republic intros Amps and Tracks headphone lines, we go hands-on
Oh my is this interesting. Monster Cable's VP of marketing Kevin Lee (a key figure involved with its Beats by Dre headphone line) has co-founded a new headphone company dubbed Soundtrack Of Life Republic, and we were able to get a very brief hands-on with some handmade prototypes. It's no secret that we're not fans of Monster around these parts, but being that SOL Republic isn't directly tied to it -- and because the headphones bring with them some interesting features without being crazy expensive -- we've decided to give them a quick whirl. It's all detailed just past the break. %Gallery-131400%
Scosche BoomCan ups your mobile device's sound for $25, annoys anyone near you
Sure, you could use the built-in speaker on your tablet or cellphone to crank your tunes on the bus or at the office, but Scosche's BoomCan may be the ticket for those looking to pump out a bit more volume. It's not wireless like some other options, but twenty-five smackers gets you a 2 x 2.5-inch aluminum Can loaded with a 40mm driver, an audio / USB charging cable and a pouch for scratch-free traveling. You'll have seven hours to rock on its internal battery, and although any chance of stereo separation looks pretty slim, you'll be able to daisy chain a few of them together for a mini rig. The BoomCan is up for order now at Scosche's website in red, blue, black or silver if you haven't heard of the breakthrough in portable sound technology known as headphones. Full PR past the break.
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: headphones
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're giving your ears some love with a plethora of headphones that will keep you rocking around campus -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Whether you're dubstepping, duck walking or just plain sprinting to and from classes, you may want to add a soundtrack to your campus travels with some slick new headphones. Although, with so many choices and styles it can be a bit overwhelming to find a set that's right for you. Luckily, we're here to help! Don't forget to enter our giveaway as well if you want a shot at winning your own set B&W's brand spankin' new C5 in-ears -- not to mention more than $3,000 worth of gadgets that are sure to induce an extreme case of Gadget Acquisition Syndrome!You'll find some of our own recommendations just past the break, and another chance to enter our back to school giveaway. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and click on over to our giveaway page for all the details.
V-Moda remixes headphone lineup with Crossfade M-80 supra-aurals, yours for $230
V-Moda's been in a vampire swing recently, sinking its design teeth into some True Blood branded headphones. It's finally seen the light though -- one of its existing on-ear headphones, the V-80, has now officially been re-released as the Crossfade M-80. The metal-clad M-80 looks nearly identical to the company's veteran LP over-ear headphones, but this noise-isolating set is actually 53-percent smaller using 40mm dual-diaphragm drivers (down from 50mm) equalized to 31 points for more versatility across musical genres. There's memory foam padding on the earcups with an ultra-flexible headband wrapped in suede to keep things comfy, and vents on the swappable faceplates for a wider soundstage. Two kevlar-wrapped cables with a microphone and different in-line controls are included to support most smartphones. When it's finally time to take them off an included hardshell case will keep 'em safe -- though V-Moda claims they can survive over 70 six-foot drops onto concrete. Hot stuff, and thankfully above the collar. The M-80s are available now for $230 from V-Moda -- PR with more details after the break. %Gallery-130484%
Bowers & Wilkins C5 in-ear headset review
Bowers & Wilkins has seriously been ramping up its consumer audio game in the past few years -- notably, with products like its Zeppelin speaker systems for iDevices and its MM-1 desktop speakers. While speakers seem like an obvious choice for a company famous for HiFi systems, you probably wouldn't have thought of B&W for your next set of iPhone-compatible headphones -- that is, until its $300 P5 mobile HiFi supra-aural 'phones released last year. This year, the company has taken a second step into the game with its C5 in-ear headset. Priced at $180, they're a possible contender for those who'd prefer earbuds to on-ears, or maybe want some B&W headgear at a less expensive price point. We've grown fond of our leather-clad P5s for chit-chatting on the phone and rocking out during the commute, so we were curious to see, hear, and feel what the C5s could bring to the table. Luckily, B&W dropped off a pair of the in-ears on our doorstep, and we got to give them a healthy amount of use while commuting in and out of NYC to find out if they'd also win us over. It's all detailed just past the break. %Gallery-129412%
Klipsch's AirPlay-enabled Gallery G-17 Air soundbar pleases ears sans cords for $530
No, that's not some oversized Kinect KIRF. What you're looking at is Klipsch's latest soundbar, the Gallery G-17 Air. Seem familiar? If you'll recall, back at CES it was known as the Gallery Studio -- the smallest of three AirPlay-enabled speaker systems the company let us demo at CES. Although not totally new, its full specs have been revealed and its price re-vamped from $400 to a slightly spendier $530. The bi-amplified stereo rig features four individually powered drivers that aim to deliver full-range sound via two Tractrix-horned .75-inch tweeters (10 watts each), and dual 2.5-inch, 20 watt woofers. Although you'll probably be streaming music over WiFi from iDevices or iTunes, the unit's equipped with USB and 3.5mm inputs should you ever want to plug-in directly or juice-up your battery. There's an ultra-svelte grill-cloth magnetically attached to the front, playback and power buttons on the side, and it also comes with a remote. The system itself sits atop a tempered glass base, but if space is at premium it can be mounted to a wall. The G-17 is set to release this fall, but if your ears are already tingling you'll find more info in the source link below.
Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears
Hey there, high roller. If you splurged on Cowon's beautiful, profoundly expensive D3 Plenue, you've probably wondered when you'd get an upgrade from Android 2.1. Well, that day is today, as the company's released an updated, Gingerbread-based firmware. The new code adds some miscellaneous new features – a sleep timer for the music app, some more music search options, and VoIP – and ought to improve system stability. It also promises better touch responsiveness, which we hope alleviates the sluggishness that made the little PMP so difficult to use. If similar frustration with your D3 rendered it an elegant paperweight, glide over to the source link to see if the update soothes your pain. [Thanks, Stefan]
Bowers & Wilkins C5 headphones ooze luxury into your ear canals for $180
Maybe you've wanted to step up your iPhone listening-game with Bowers & Wilkins P5 headphones Maybe its $300 price tag or supra-aural fit just weren't appealing. Well then, maybe you'll be pleased hear about the company's new and extra-mobile $180 C5 noise-isolating in-ear headset. Crafted mostly from aluminum, its bullet-shaped earbuds look like a posh blend of the Zeppelin Air and Mini geared for mobile. The 'buds come equipped with an iDevice compatible inline remote / mic to get a handle on phone calls or swap though playlists, and have a few unique features to boot. To ensure a proper fit on-the-move, you'll find Secure Loops that can be adjusted to hug the inner cartilage of your ear, along with added heft (Tungsten Weighting) near the inner-ear side for a tight seal. Internally, there's a Micro Porous Filter to widen the perceived soundstage, while also preventing any leakage to folks around you. We'll be checking these out in due time, but for now, audio lovers will find full specs at B&W's website linked below.
iriver P8 player pops up on Russian site, packs prodigious battery life
It's been a while since iriver last updated its P series of large-screen portable media players, -- so long in fact, that we thought the series had simply been retired. Imagine our surprise, when this five-incher popped up on the company's Russian site, sporting a long list of supported file formats, and an even longer battery life (up to nine hours of video and 40 hours of audio). The P8 comes in 8GB and 16GB flavors, but also packs a microSD slot for tacking on additional storage. You're not limited to watching clips on the 800 x 480 touchscreen either, the player boasts an HDMI port for pushing HD content straight to a TV. Of course, whether or not this half-inch thick, half-pound device ever makes it to American shores or how much it will cost when it does remains to be seen. Check out the gallery of press shots below. %Gallery-127675%
Gadmei P83 PMP does glasses-free 3D for $179
A no-name PMP selling for $179 at Brando -- purveyor of all things inexpensive, electronic and often USB-powered -- may not ordinarily make the grade for us, but this so-called Gadmei P83 device has one somewhat notable trick up its sleeve. It packs an 8-inch, 1,280 x 768 display that's able to do glasses-free 3D video. Of course, you're left to yourself to actually hunt down or provide your own compatible video files, and the PMP itself is decidedly ordinary otherwise: 4GB of storage, an SD card slot for expansion, and the usual media playback capabilities and nothing more (no one's going to confuse this for a tablet). Still curious? Head on past the break for a video that offers a slightly more accurate depiction of the device than the image above.
Cowon C2 portable media player review
And here you were assuming the tried-and-true PMP was dead. Au contraire. Cowon's not giving up on its dream quite yet, but after the D2 hung around at the company's low-end for the better part of four years, it's an alphabetic step backwards that's taking over as the successor. The diminutive C2 is about as simple as a PMP gets -- design wise, anyway -- but it's actually capable of supporting both music and video on its 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel. And then there's the purported 55 hours of battery life, included microSD card for expansion and the company's world-class audio quality. Still, $135 goes a long (long!) way in the portable music industry these days -- does the C2 pack enough punch to make your short list? Head on past the break to find out. %Gallery-127150%
Brando's Bombshell MP3 player gives the TSA something new to balk at
Nah, grenade and bomb-shaped PMPs aren't anything new, but we'll confess to never seeing anything quite like this. Hosted up at the always-unpredictable Brando website, the USB Bombshell MP3 Player acts as a portable speaker, a radio and a markedly volatile MP3 player. There's an inbuilt USB port and SD card slot for loading up your favorite Rise Against albums, and the integrated Li-ion battery pack should keep it ticking for an undisclosed amount of time. 'Course, sneaking this one past airport security could be an adventure unto itself, but those willing to live life with the pin pulled can get one headed their way for $43. [Thanks, Lawrence]
Patent reveals Microsoft's Zune Nano, reminds us of an ambitious past
See that there? That's a hope and a dream, both of which are seemingly situated in a nondescript box six feet beneath the surface of reality. Thanks to a bit of digging by the folks at Techie Buzz, a Microsoft patent was unearthed containing pictures and descriptions of a bantam media player, not unlike the sketches here. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is an iPod nano competitor, and one has to wonder when exactly the plug was pulled from such an initiative. The application itself was originally filed in April of 2009, and was just made public within the USPTO database today -- the last Zune device to be produced was the HD (which landed in the fall of '09), and given Redmond's insistence on making Windows Phone 7 its next Zune, we're guessing this little guy won't ever see the light of day. Maybe in another life, though. For now, feel free to pour one out as you think of what could've been, and give that source link a poke if you're good at holding back tears.
Samsung Galaxy Player priced on Best Buy mobile app, dares you to rate it
Look at what one curious tipster stumbled upon while thumbing through Best Buy's mobile app -- it's the five-inch version of Samsung's soon to be released Galaxy Player. The PMP is, for most intents and purposes, the Galaxy S handset devoid of that pesky 3G and calling functionality -- in fact, it's still known as the Galaxy S WiFi elsewhere in the world. Priced at $270, according to the app, the 8GB touchscreen player has two cameras (a VGA on the front and and 3.0 megapixel on the rear), a microSD slot, and an FM tuner. Back in March, we heard that the music player would be hitting our shores this spring, between this and its FCC appearance a couple of months back, we've got our fingers crossed that it will still make it in under the wire. [Thanks, Josafat]
iRiver's T9 is the affectionate, all-purpose MP3 player your inner schoolgirl always wanted (video)
Been searching for an MP3 player that can do it all, including whisper sweet nothings in your ear? Behold the iRiver T9, a slim, Barbie pink number with screen savers that say, "I love you" and "enjoy your life." For such a gimmicky device, it actually offers a healthy feature set, including an FM radio, voice recorder, step and calorie counters, a built-in USB connector, and the ability to shake to skip. Too bad the storage taps out at a puny 4GB. No word on pricing, but for now you can peep a less patronizing color palette in the gallery below and head past the break to play a game sweeping the Engadget staff: "spot the MP3 player in the video of dancing schoolgirls." %Gallery-124097%
Creative debuts compact, Bluetooth-enabled Zen Style M300 PMP
It may not be quite as convenient to wear as a watch, but Creative's new Zen Style M300 PMP does have a leg up on the slightly smaller iPod nano in one key respect: it packs built-in Bluetooth 2.1 support so you can use wireless headphones with it. You can also expand the PMP's memory beyond its basic 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB capacities thanks to its microSD card slot, although you won't get a touchscreen here -- the 1.45-inch display is simply complemented by a couple of touch buttons. Otherwise, you'll get a built-in FM radio, a mic for voice recording, a promised 20 hours of battery life, and your choice of four different colors: black, white, red or yellow. Those that can do without Bluetooth can also opt for the slightly cheaper, and otherwise identical M100 model -- look for both to be available in June, with prices running from $40 to $90. Full press release is after the break.
Samsung's Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 now rolling out to countries far away from you
While Samsung has yet to announce an actual date for its new Galaxy Players in the US, their international counterparts are already heading towards other parts of the world for a head start. The Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 is said to be debuting in Russia followed by other countries, whereas its 5.0 sibling will be launched in Switzerland. In terms of specs, not much has changed since we last saw these 1GHz, DivX-friendly Android PMPs, and yes, they'll still be shipped with Froyo "with a possibility to upgrade to 2.3 Gingerbread." As always, we'll let you folks know when we eventually find out about the US launch (if ever), though to be frank, we'd rather just go for the beefier Galaxy S II instead.
Philips GoGear Connect gets Gingerbread and some new threads, we go hands-on
It's been a while since we last saw Philip's GoGear Connect PMP, and in the meantime it's acquired a new look and a new flavor of Android. The new GoGear has gone from white to black, lost its trackball in favor of a capacitive touchscreen display, and exchanged the lowly Android 2.1 for Gingerbread. Like its competition from Samsung, the device also has access to the Android Market and all those apps that lesser PMPs lack. After getting some quality time with a prototype of the new device, we found the copper-colored buttons and speaker grill running along its right side to form an intriguing design, but the overall fit and finish -- not to mention the lack of a backlight for the screen -- demonstrated that it wasn't quite ready for primetime. Luckily, there's plenty of time to work out the kinks, as Philips has pegged a September debut for the 8GB and 16GB versions (at $179 and to-be-determined price points, respectively), and promised a 32GB iteration will come later. PR after the break. %Gallery-121655%
Cowon's minuscule C2 PMP picks up where the D2 left off
At this point, Cowon's D2 (and to a lesser extent, the D2+) is getting a bit long in the tooth, and it looks as if the Korea-based outfit will be taking an alphabetical leap backwards in order to supplant it. The newly revealed C2 is slated to land at the end of April or early May in order to give barebones PMP users yet another alternative, boasting a 2.6-inch resistive touchpanel (320 x 240), a composite video output, microSD expansion slot, 4/8/16GB of internal flash storage, USB 2.0 connectivity, an internal microphone and a rechargeable battery that's good for up to ten hours of video playback (and a whopping 55 hours when listening strictly to audio). Per usual, Cowon's supporting every file format under the sun (and the moon, for good measure), and we're expecting nothing less than world-class aural performance based on the company's past. We're still waiting to hear back on a price, but you can use your limbo time wisely by deciding on white, black or gray. %Gallery-120698%
Galaxy Player 5 stops by the FCC, only takes the easy tests
When you only have WiFi to worry about, testing in the foam rooms of doom at the FCC gets a little bit easier. Or so we'd imagine, anyhow. Samsung's WiFi-only PMP, the Galaxy Player 5 (aka YP-G70, aka Galaxy Player 70), just got rubber-stamped by our favorite federal body, passing with flying colors. While we weren't treated to any teardown antics, we do have the lovely sketch above showing you where you can find the FCC logo. It's the thing on the pointy end of the red arrow above, a label that hopefully you'll be able to see in person very soon. [Thanks, James]
