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Hands-on with the Philips WAC3500D Streamium home stereo
We're refraining from screaming, "This is WAC!" at the sight of this, but we're not holding back on the photos. We happened across Philips' WiFi-sporting home stereo while we were making our way through the company's luxurious booth (complete with sit-down restaurant and everything), and we thought we'd stop and smell the musical-roses... er, yeah. Not much to write home about here, save for (of course) the built in networking capabilities, though we've got to say the design is a no muss, no fuss affair, which is just fine as far as we're concerned. Take a look at the gallery and form your own opinion.%Gallery-6713%
Philips intros WAC3500D Streamium home stereo
The goods from Philips just keep on comin', but it's not like we're kvetching or anything. On deck is the WAC3500D, the firm's latest Streamium home stereo, which weds an 80GB internal hard drive, iPod connectivity, and a USB port to create a fairly well appointed audio center. Additionally, the device touts the ability to "receive, play, and store MP3 or WMA tracks saved on a PC," rip CDs to the HDD in a variety of bitrates, and view ID3 tags on the backlit LCD. All music kept on the system can be wirelessly streamed "to up to five WiFi stations located anywhere in the house," and the built-in Class D digital amplifier drives the dual two-ways speakers. Currently, the WAC3500D is available in Europe for around £260 ($522).
Panasonic unveils HDD / SD-equipped boomboxes
Not that CDs are beginning to show their age or anything, but Panasonic knows that we'd still prefer to keep our tunes on one big hard drive rather than fish through dozens of plastic enclosures. That said, the firm's 160GB SX850 and 80GB SX450 enable users to rip tracks from the built-in optical drive to the internal HDD at 12x, and even gives folks the ability to transfer tracks to SD cards at 16x. Furthermore, the units tout 30-watts of power, an AM / FM tuner, MP3 / AAC / WMA support, and play nice with your iPod or SV-SD800N / SV-SD400V D-snaps with the requisite adapters. No word on pricing just yet, but those dwelling in Japan can pick either of these units up starting in early September.[Via FarEastGizmos]
Parrot announces DS3120 Bluetooth stereo, DS1120 Bluetooth speakers
Always one to cut cords at every corner, Parrot has taken advantage of IFA to unveil a range of new Bluetooth-equipped devices, including the stereo and speakers seen above. As you can no doubt surmise, the DS3120 Bluetooth stereo will pull tunes off your cellphone or other Bluetooth-equipped device and pump 'em through the unit's 20W speakers. Those looking to add a bit more ooomph to their phone calls can also use the stereo for some handsfree calling, with the integrated 1.8-inch LCD able to display phonebook information in addition to track and album details. On the non-Bluetooth front, the stereo packs a line-in port to accommodate other devices, along with an SD card slot and a built-in FM radio. If that's all a bit too much for you, you may want to consider Parrot's new DS1120 Bluetooth speakers, which ups the power output to a full 30W, with a Class-D digital amplifier in each speaker. Parrot's also thoughtfully bundled a Bluetooth USB dongle with the speakers, along with an RCA input to let you use 'em other devices. Look for both to be available this October, with the stereo running €169 ($230) and the speakers setting you back €199 ($270).Read - Pocket-lint, "Parrot launches DS3120 Bluetooth home stereo"Read - Pocket-lint, "Parrot launches DS1120 wireless stereo speakers"
GPS, music, power: Nokia busts out slew of accessories
Ear candy aside, Nokia showed a bunch of other goodies today to adorn that special handset in your life, too. First up, the LD-4W GPS Module adds a little style -- "Nseries style," sez Nokia -- to the previously released LD-3W, offering 10 hours of operation on a single charge; it'll be available for about €125 ($170) and promises compatibility with a "wide range" of Nokia hardware. Next, the MD-7W stereo Bluetooth speakers let you share the tuneage with those around you, willingly or not; they're also designed with the Nseries in mind but should work with any device supporting A2DP when they hit for €130 (about $177). Last but certainly not least, the DC-1 Power Pack acknowledges that media-centric phones aren't always the easiest on the battery, offering juice to one or two phones with 2mm Nokia power ports simultaneously. Look for this one to run about €105 ($143). All of 'em should be available "globally" in the fourth quarter of the year.
OINA bringing lossless audio to Bluetooth devices
Audiophiles hoping to get a bit more clarity out of those Bluetooth cans can officially get excited, as Open Interface North America (OINA) has just announced plans to introduce a new lossless codec for stereo audio known as SOUNDabout Lossless. Unsurprisingly, the firm is keeping its secrets on the DL for now, but recent demonstrations showed that it will have a latency as low as two-milliseconds and never exceed ten-milliseconds. Additionally, power consumption was intentionally kept low in order to preserve that precious battery life, and just in case you couldn't guess, it'll only stream properly with Bluetooth 2.0 gizmos. Sadly, there's no firm dates to mark on your calendar just yet, but the company is currently estimating that the codec will be ready to rock in detail never before heard over BT "as early as 2008."
Sony's XAV-W1 head unit: SACD in your dash
For the handful of audiophiles who simply cover their ears with their uber-expensive cans when the rational crowd invites them to stop hoping for SACD to take off, here's to you. Sony has launched the "world's first" (we believe it, actually) in-car head unit that supports 5.1 SACD. The double-DIN XAV-W1 touts a seven-inch WVGA LCD, SACD / CD / DVD playback, Dolby / DTS support, 3.5-millimeter auxiliary port, seven-band equalizer, 52-watt x 4 internal amplifier, a trio of AV inputs, an image viewer, MP3 / WMA compatibility, and comes ready to play nice with your iPod and satellite / HD radio receiver. Granted, this thing will run you more than some in-dash navigation systems, but paying $800 for this sure beats retrofitting a traditional universal player into your glove compartment.[Image courtesy of Krunker]
Sanyo intros NVA-HD1700DT double-DIN navigation system
Sanyo's taking a break from releasing all those projectors to focus on its in-car lineup, as it introduces a well-spec'd double-DIN navigation unit dubbed the NVA-HD1700DT. The head unit sports a seven-inch QVGA display, built-in DVD player and 30GB hard drive, and even a 1Seg TV tuner for catching up on sitcom reruns whilst stuck in traffic. Additionally, you'll find an FM tuner, 43-watt x 4 amplifier, and an integrated GPS antenna to keep you headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, there's no word on whether an Americanized version of this system will make its way over, but those in Japan can pick one up later this month for a staggering ¥285,600 ($2,332).[Via Impress]
TomTom DUO / Eclipse AVN2210p get reviewed
Granted, we can't imagine Eclipse's AVN2210p appealing to more than a minuscule chunk of you out there, but we can't help but take note when someone rips apart their dash and drives around with it for days on end. The mettlesome crew at GPSReview was able to take the multifaceted device for a literal spin, and while they weren't thrilled with the tricky installation, lack of an included traffic kit, and the omission of text-to-speech, everything else seemed peachy. The TomTom DUO that slots into the in-dash device churned through routing at a respectable pace, and the touchscreen management of the internal functions seemed to delight time after time. Of course, it's hard to say whether or not replacing your double-DIN stereo with this conglomerate is a logical step to take, but if you were tabling this do-it-all creation until some kind words were spoken, we'd suggest giving the read link some thorough attention.
Philips unveils iPod-friendly Bluetooth speaker stations
Continuing its strange obsession with unveiling products by the flocks, Philips has yet again given us numerous things to juggle at once. This time around it's a trio of iPod-friendly music / AV stations, two of which also include Bluetooth support. The $199 three-piece BTM-628 iPod speaker station conveniently docks and plays your jams from either the DAP or your BT-enabled cellphone, plays back MP3 discs and CDs, shows caller ID and enables handsfree conversations, and also includes a USB port and SD / MMC slot for playing back tunes from a flash card; the BTM-630 steps it up by adding a CD writer that can create MP3 discs from music stored on flash media. The $399 DCD-778 undercabinet system touts an AM / FM tuner, DVD player, ATSC TV tuner, 8.5-inch LCD, flip-down iPod dock, and the ability to play back videos stored on your Apple. Look for these goodies as well as an iPod clock radio to land sometime this fall.[Via T3]
Microsoft patent details in-car stereo with docking station
Hearing Microsoft's name and "in-car stereo" in the same sentence should elicit any forms of surprise, as we've long since known that Redmond was looking to up the ante of automotive entertainment in a bevy of Ford vehicles later this year. A recent patent was granted to the firm that details a "car stereo including a docking station into which an off-the-shelf handheld computer can be docked," and additionally, it insinuates that a multitude of devices will be supported. Of course, we already knew the iPod would play nice with Sync, and while it doesn't specify if each individual DAP that you cram in this thing will have its own interface to display ID3 tags and the like, it sure seems that the major ones will. Another tidbit is the inclusion of a memory system that will "maintain a record its current state when it is undocked from a particular type of appliance," meaning that when you return and re-dock your handheld, everything should resume without any hassle. Best of all, however, is the insinuation that it won't be limited to just DAPs and PMPs, as "another interface form may allow the user to select from resources such as GPS, internet, a printer over USB, etc."[Via InformationWeek]
Britax unveils speaker-packed car seat to rock baby asleep
Let's face it, it's not exactly feasible (or safe) to rock the kid to sleep whilst manning the wheel down I-5, which is why you should seriously look Britax's way for your next baby-related purchase. This luxurious car seat reportedly sports a "Reflection Sound System" that cranks out tunes around the infant's head, and while we all know it's just a ploy to keep the youngster from wailing any longer, the manufacturer is boasting about the mental benefits of piping Bach into your kiddo's brain at an early age. Portable sounds aren't the only thing it's got going for it, however, as the safety factor is also pretty high considering the well-padded surroundings, height adjustable head guard, automatic shoulder belt adjusting device, and a soft mat on the bottom to protect your whip's interior. Click on through for another snapshot while you mull over the ???710,000 ($767) pricetag -- hey, there's only 364 days 'til Mother's Day, right?[Via AVing]
Boston Innovative's iMep boombox sports iPod dock and LCD
We know, the iPod boombox market is entirely over saturated as it is, but Boston Innovative's latest attempt at joining the fray is so fully featured (and oh-so-cheesy), we can't help but check it out. The fire engine red device can purportedly be snapped up in black as well, and features a built-in iPod dock, seven-inch LCD, CD / DVD player, stereo speakers, integrated NTSC TV tuner, an AM / FM radio tuner, USB port, and support for SD, MMC, and MS flash cards. Notably, you'll also find optical and coaxial digital audio outs alongside the typical composite video output, as well as a connection for an external television or radio antenna. A couple of models enable users to pick a flip-up screen or a front-mounted display, and while we wouldn't count on the sound quality to be anything worthy of praise, you can pick one up for your next excursion for $300.[Via CNET]
Yamada stuffs seven-inch LCD into HTV-200XU boombox
Cramming Bluetooth, iPod capabilities, or even entirely too many speakers into a boombox are all fair game, but Yamada's latest rendition manages to include a seven-inch LCD for an all-in-one home threatre for the studio apartment set. Sure, we've seen LCDs big and small within sound systems before, but this media-centric conglomerate actually takes the video side of its duties quite seriously; you'll find support for DVB-T, DivX, DVDs, and MPEG4 movie files, while it even provides for a 5.1 output to cap off the "theater going experience." Additionally, the system purportedly hooks up to your TV if the built-in screen begins to hurt your retinas, rips your CDs, and also plays nice with MP3s, JPEGs, and FM radio when your video collection runs dry. The system itself reportedly packs 30-watts of RMS power, connects to your PC via USB, and will set you back around €220 ($300).[Via CNET]
B-Tube Bluetooth audio system streams music, phone calls
Looking to take some of that sweet, sweet Bluetooth handsfree action out of the car and into your home? Chinese manufacturer Linx is betting that for some reason you do with the release of the B-Tube, a wireless stereo speaker system shoehorned into a shiny silver tube. The unit is primarily meant for rocking tunes, letting you stream music from all those A2DP devices you have lying around, but the built-in microphone lets you shut the party down and take that check-in call from your parents. No word on size other than "compact," but battery life is estimated at 6 hours, and pricing is set at £49.99 ($99).[Via Crave]
Blaupunkt's Velocity 2Go boombox is car-mountable
Although it has been quite some time since Blaupunkt made any substantial noise in the CE biz, the audio outfit is back in full force with the forthcoming Velocity 2Go lineup. The flashy (albeit ill-favored) boombox sports a carry-handle design for those throwback moments of atop-the-shoulder sidewalk strutting, and also features a car-docking solution with the bundled straps or QuickOut mounting kit. Specs wise, the unit operates on rechargeable AA cells, touts a "die-cast aluminum" enclosure, and sports 3.5-millimeter / RCA input jacks to play nice with just about any external audio source in the book. Dubbed the "world's first mobile active speaker system," the device also rocks a built-in active subwoofer to fill in the lows, and while the Velocity2Go 5 (£249.99; $499) will get things rockin' with 80-watts of RMS power, the Velocity2Go 6 (£299.99; $599) purportedly ups the volume by four decibels in case you can tell the difference. Click on through for a shot of the rear.[Via CNET]
Kyocera Bluetooth Music Gateway streams jams from your mobile
Kyocera's Bluetooth Music Gateway most definitely isn't the first of its kind, but the dashing musical liaison is indeed adding a hint of differentiation to the streaming Bluetooth middleman category. Encased in a sleek black / metallic gray enclosure "about the size of a deck of playing cards," the three-ounce BT-enabled device receives streaming tunes via your A2DP-capable cellphone, DAP, or PMP, and then channels the audio to your home stereo via a pair of stereo RCA cables. Furthermore, users with an AVRCP device can enjoy volume / track control right from their mobile, removing the need for a separate remote control and furthering its overall appeal -- and before the non-Bluetooth users go crying foul, Kyocera's also offering up an optional $34.99 adapter that converts any 3.5-millimeter stereo jack into a Bluetooth transmitter. The Bluetooth Music Gateway should be landing sometime in the April timeframe, and you'll be looking at $99.99 with the Wireless Audio Adapter thrown in, or $79.99 without. [Via Slashphone]
MTI Whirlpools' Stereo H2O throws tunes in the tub
We know, you're already skeptical about this one, especially considering all the dodgy material that's already floated your way, but unless someone at MTI Whirlpools is blowing hot steam, this one is for realz. The Stereo H20 bathtub actually does manage to integrate audio-blastin' equipment into a container full of water without guaranteeing any sort of unexpected electrocution along the way. Touting the soothing benefits of "full-bodied sound," the tub rocks several acoustic transducers on the shell's exterior near the waterline, which should theoretically create a bucket of sound to "envelope" the bather in question. Additionally, the digital amplifier that powers said speakers includes provisions for your iPod (or any other DAP, we presume), CD / DVD player, or even an eight-track jam if you can find the correct adapter. Unsurprisingly, there's no word yet concerning the pricetag on this unique piece, but if it's anything like the musically inclined Aquagate shower, it'll probably be reserved for the more affluent set anyway.[Via OhGizmo]
Bose Media System crams GPS / media playback into your dash
Although Bose has become somewhat of a mainstay in the iPod speaker / overpriced headphone departments, the always controversial firm is kicking out a new device suited for your vehicle's dash. The simply-named Bose Media System head unit looks to replace that entirely antiquated cassette player you're still using, and offers up a solid mix of abilities all the while. Aside from the obvious navigation and CD playback functions, the universal player will also handle SACD, DVD-A, MP3, and AAC files burned onto a CD / DVD-R, and can also tune into XM (and Sirius?) broadcasts when not locked onto AM / FM transmissions. You'll also be graced with 5.1 playback, the uMusic mood-sensing system, proximity control sensors, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, USB 2.0 input for portable media access, and in typical Bose fashion, a mysteriously sized hard drive that reportedly holds "up to 200 hours" of content. Of course, don't expect Bose to divulge any details regarding wattage, screen specifications, or any other tidbit that could be helpful in weighing your in-dash options, but folks eying the forthcoming Ferrari 612 Scaglietti can expect it to debut in their ride for a currently undisclosed price.
Makita intros giant rugged on-site AM/FM stereo
Japanese power-tool slinger Makita's new BMR100 Job Site Radio boasts a burly exterior to protect against "rough handling," is water-proof for up to 5 minutes in the rain, and features AM / FM radio technology, a backlit digital display, and two integrated 5W speakers -- not exactly the kind of tech treasure you'd expect to be outfitted for on-site performance. Think of this as the Toughbook of behemoth radios. But hey, even construction workers enjoy a few jams throughout the day, and conveniently enough, the stereo can be powered by either an AC adapter or cordless Makita batteries. Unfortunately, Makita opted to dismiss any kind of aux-in options -- a sure disappointment to the DAP-toting blue collar crowd. On the plus side, there'll be no worries about losing the 9.2-pound BMR100 in a pile of sawdust. [Via Akihabara News]
