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Jam Sessions Performance Bundle includes mini-amp for your DS
If the DS hasn't managed to catch you in its deathly, irresistible, touch-sensitive grasp by now, Jam Sessions just might be the title that pulls it off. The "game" is basically a guitar simulator, and while you can play along with built-in songs if you so choose, the real power of Jam Sessions is in the improvisational aspects: you can pretty much play thing the like a guitar, and that's where Ubisoft's Performance Bundle comes in. You can pick up one of these First Act amp / Jam Sessions bundles in November (the game itself hits this month) and really crank the tunes -- and finally annoy your neighbors in a way you've never quite managed with Guitar Hero.[Via DS Fanboy]
Jam Sessions Performance Bundle revealed
What's the perfect accessory for a pocket-sized guitar? A teeny-tiny amp, of course! Ubisoft is bundling their remarkable Jam Sessions software with a First Act mini-amplifier in a special "Performance Bundle." Even though the standalone game is coming out on the 11th of this month, you'll have to wait until November 1st for this package. We hope this bundle signals the start of a big Christmas rush in terms of promotion by Ubisoft. Jam Sessions could easily become one of the more popular toys this holiday season, with the right advertising. It could also become one of the more annoying toys this holiday season, with the right amplifier volume settings.
Rainbow Audio unveils sleek iPaul line of car audio amplifiers
The almighty "i" prefix has somehow bled all the way over to the car audio realm, as Rainbow Audio has now glossed up a couple of amps and thrown 'em in the iPaul lineup. The iPaul 4.300 can put out 4 x 90-watts when ran at 4-ohms or 2 x 270-watts when bridged to two-channels, while the less powerful iPaul 2.400 outputs 2 x 130-watts at 4-ohms and takes up quite a bit less space. Both units sport a black / silver motif, obvious Apple influence, and of course, several levels of bass boost to keep the junk in the trunk appropriately jacked. Both amplifiers look to be available as we speak, and while the little fellow will run you £249.99 ($496), the 4.300 rings up at £299.99 ($596).[Via Audio Junkies]
iPod-controlling Nike Amp+ watch makes FCC appearance
Nike's iPod nano-controlling Amp+ watch has been making itself known since late last year, but it looks like it could finally be getting close to a release, with it recently making its debut on the FCC's website. That, of course, means that we can get a look at some less than flattering photos of it, along with the user manual and the usual test reports. One particularly interesting detail in that last item is that the watch apparently operates on the non-Bluetooth 2425MHz frequency, the very same frequency that the Nike+iPod Sport Kit uses. As further explained in the user manual, that means you'll be able to use the watch with your other Nike+ gear, with the watch giving you control over both your tunes and your workout. Click on through for a few more pics, including a look at the watch's innards.
Crate ships USB-equipped Profiler 5 mini guitar amplifier
While a USB keyboard may do the ivory-ticklers in the crowd some good, Crate is looking out for the six-string warriors by shipping its USB-equipped Profiler 5 mini amplifier. This five-watt combo guitar amp measures in at less than eight-inches tall and weighs just six-pounds, and aside from giving users the option of powering it via an AC adapter or six AA cells, there's also an auxiliary input for rocking along with your DAP. More important, however, is the rear-mounted USB port (shown after the jump), which enables guitarists to easily record their shredding without any external breakout boxes. So if you think you can give the twin four-inch speakers in Crate's latest all they can handle, the Profiler 5 is available now for $159.99.
Slew of new Nike+ gear leaked
Nike's not doing the best of jobs keeping a lid on their expanding Nike+ CE line (get it, Jobs? Nevermind.), which is why we've got some leaked shots of upcoming gear, including the Nike Speed+ Watch Kit (which displays distance, pace, elapsted time, and calories), and three iPod controlling watch systems including the Amp+, and the so-similar-they-may-be-the-same-product Flight+ and Aero+ (which features voice feedback and a rocking bezel for music control). All are launching launching May 1st for varying prices: $130 (Speed Watch and Aero+) and $80 (Amp+).%Gallery-1270%
Roland kicks out trio of new audio gear at NAMM
While we certainly had our fun at this year's CES, Roland is off doing its own thang at NAMM this week, and the audio gurus have blessed us with a trio of new gear to tinker with, including a svelte guitar modeler. The VG-99 packs just about every guitar / amp model a player could ever find a use for, gives the owner full control over the dynamic controls, and provides alternate tuning on the fly for even more bizarre riffs. The device even features a guitar-to-MIDI converter for "direct connections to keyboards, sound modules, soft synths, computers, and other MIDI-compatible devices," which means it won't be too long before all these MIDI hacks get a dash of pickin' added to them. The MV-8800 "production studio" allows direct connection of an LCD and mouse for all-in-one mixing and producing action, and even boasts an internal hard drive, optical drive, and support for multitrack mastering / burning. Bringing up the rear is the V-Synth GT Elastic Audio Synthesizes, which looks to pull double-duty as a keyboard when you're creating tones to interact with the extraterrestrial. Although pricing information isn't yet available, all three of these units should be hitting showrooms (and sound rooms) real soon. Click on through for a few more snapshots.Read - Roland VG-99Read - Roland MV-8800Read - Roland V-Synth GT [Via MusicThing]
AMP: Front Row-like Touchscreen Interface
In preparing our recent carputer post, I came across AMP, the Front Row-like touchscreen interface Sam used for his car based Mac. Designed by author Aychamo with an extensible plugin architecture AMP already has plugins allowing you to import and access your iTunes library, movies, and photos. It even sports a mini-web browser and a war driving interface which lists detected Wireless Access Points. The interface seems to be optimized for a 800 x 480 touchscreen display which is common on the 7" LCDs that are often used in carputers. Aychamo already appears to be hard at work on version 2.0 of AMP and more information can be found on the AMP forum at MP3Car.com
Nike Amp+
Don't you love it when as yet unreleased products show up on Gift Guides? The Nike Amp+ was included on Men's Health's 2007 Tech Guide (there isn't a permalink, but it is listed under Media Players). What? You haven't heard of the Nike Amp+? Well, there is good reason for that, it hasn't been released yet.The Nike Amp+ is a wrist band which communicates with your iPod (with Bluetooth, I assume) so that you can start, stop, and browse your tunes. That's not all! It also talks to the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, so you can access information about your run without having to take out your iPod.I'm not a runner, but this is cool enough that I might just pick one up anyway. No details about pricing or availability are known at this time.Thanks, Barry.
Pure Technologies EVOKE-1XT DAB now comes in Marshall amp case
While Pure Technologies' EVOKE-1XT digital radio has already been out a couple years, the company decided its radio would look better encased in a Marshall amp. The radio's got everything that you'd expect from a Marshall amp, with the black wood durability, dark vinyl, but best of all -- this time it really does go up to 11. Further, there's apparently a "bass reflex port for enhanced bass performance" along with "active-filters to provide a natural 'direct-from-the-studio' sound," whatever all that means. Digital-Lifestyles tells us that this radio will sell in the UK for 100 quid ($190), hand delivered by Alice Cooper himself. We're not worthy.
95-decibel ring amplifier blinds, deafens you
You might think of this as the polar opposite of the "stealth" ringtone: an e-shop is offering a $60 device for blasting you with a 95-decibel ring (the same as a subway train at 200 feet, we're told) and a flashing strobe light when you receive a call. Now, we can clearly see some valid uses for this product -- for example, in a very noisy environment, when you can't be near your phone, or perhaps for the hard of hearing. But we can definitely see some misuses, as well -- if you have any friends giving the wine glass thing a try, can we suggest a covert nighttime switcheroo?
Pioneer VSX-516 6.1ch receiver with USB, MP3, AAC and WMA playback
Pioneer continues to pump out surround-sound receivers with the ability to play digital audio files via a USB port, and the latest in the line, the VSX-516, adds a few new tricks, including support for the latest Dolby standards. The VSX-516 also continues Pioneer's support for WMA9 Pro, for lossless playback. And the VSX-516 also represents a decent price drop: Pioneer's first amp with similar features, 2003's VSA-AX10Ai-N, went for a whopping ¥500,000 (about $4,400), while the new model is just ¥49,500 ($440), or about a tenth of the price of the older model. What a difference three years makes.
Pioneer updates Carrozzeria in-car entertainment systems
If you're looking to play almost every audio/video format known to man in your car, even MiniDiscs, then Pioneer has just introduced a whopper of an in-dash system that may be perfect for you (well, if you live in Japan, that is). The AVIC-VH009MD in-car multimedia system, which takes over the high end of Pioneer's Carrozzeria lineup, features a 5.1 channel amp, dedicated TV tuner, GPS receiver with birds-eye view, and a head unit that contains a 7-inch screen and plays back DVDs, CDs, MDs, and MP3/WMA files as well as DivX-encoded videos. Also new to the Carrozzeria line is the AVH-P90DVA, which also has a TV tuner and 7-inch screen, but *only* supports DVDs, CDs, VCDs, and the aforementioned codecs plus AAC, but not MiniDiscs or navigation. The all-in-one system will go for a cool $3,200, while the AVH-P90DVA costs $2,300, although if you want to listen to tracks from your cellphone, you'll have to forgo a lot of these niceties and stick with the Bluetooth-equipped AVIC-S1 that we brought you the other day.Read- AVIC-VH009MDRead- AVH-P90DVA
