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iHome's SD63 headphones will satisfy your vague sense of nostalgia
Okay, so iHome's SD63 headphones may not be quite as "retro" as their name suggests, but there are certainly some design elements that harken back to a simpler time of beanbag chairs, black lights, and physical media -- a fact helped along by the inclusion of the old Soundesign brand. The SD63 Retro-Style Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones pack 40mm neodymium drivers, a volume knob on on the outside of an ear cup, and a coiled six-foot cord. They're available now for $50, which totally would have bought you a lot of Jethro Tull records, back in the day.
SmallHD goes smaller, denser with DP-SLR monitor
Care for another nugget from NAB show floor? Good. The folks behind last year's SmallHD DP1 monitor are back, this time with yet another display with (nearly) too many pixels to count. In an effort to cram more into less, these guys have crafted a field monitor that measures just 4- x 6- x 1-inches, yet the resolution has actually increased. The 5.6-inch (diagonal) display on the DP-SLR packs a 1,280 x 800 native resolution, and you'll also find HD-SDI inputs (optional), four mounting points and support for voltages from 5x to 18v. Users who get in now will see their units ship in June, but you'll have to hand over $899 (or $1,199 with SDI) in order to get in line. Oh, and don't even bother letting your mind run wild with home automation uses for this if you know you're lacking in the disposable income department.
iHome shows its input peripheral side with LifeWorks tie-up
Clearly not content with just pumping out one iPod alarm clock after another, iHome has decided to broaden its horizons a bit by creating a new LifeWorks line of input peripherals and computer accessories. Slated to launch in earnest sometime this summer, the new line contains just a few standout inclusions. The iPhone-friendly iConnect Keyboard (pictured above) and HTPC-centric Media Keyboard both look like formidable options for those needing a new set of keys, and there are also a gaggle of mice, webcams and headsets to choose from if those items are more your style. Unfortunately, true innovation is still few and far betwixt, but at least your USB ports will appreciate the effort.[Via CNET]
Neutrik delivers a 1080p HD/SDI connector to pros, and it's not HDMI
HDMI has certainly taken hold in the consumer AV space and component video connection -- despite its merits and supporters -- is in decline. Looking around at the back of a receiver, you might think that small, high density connectors used for digital signals are just better, right? Not necessarily -- consider the rearTwist BNC connectors Neutrik is bringing to the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show for 1080p HD/SDI (serial digital interface) use by pros. That's good-old coax design, specced out to 4.5GHz, with a kind of in-field reliability that our beloved HDMI connectors can only dream of. We're not bashing HDMI -- it's now mature, has lots of nice features and puts great performance within the reach of lots of people. Also, discrete coax connections like these Neutrik connectors are too pricey for consumer gear; but don't be fooled into thinking that the move to HDMI was all about performance, either.
