DXCSTORE's Technology NEWS

2010 CES Celebrity Appearances

dxcstore — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:53:40 +0000

Legendary musicians, atheletesa and familiar faces of the small- and big-screen come together at the International CES to experience, promote and cover the hottest products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry. Check back here for exact times and more celebrity listings.

Thursday, January 7

9 a.m.: Alan Kay, Creator of the Dynabook
Kids@Play
LVCC, North Hall, N253

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: James Worthy, NBA legend
Haier America
LVCC, Central Hall, #10427

11 a.m.: Jill Zarin, reality star on The Real Housewives of New York City
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

12 p.m.: Garfield
Kids@Play
LVCC North Hall, N253

1-2 p.m.: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
Sharp
LVCC,Central Hall, #11017

1-3 p.m.: Stan Lee
Marvell
LVCC, South Hall, #30642

1:45 p.m.: Drew Carey, host of The Price is Right
CNET
LVCC, South Hall 3 Lobby, CNET Stage

4 p.m.: Amber Ettinger, Obama Girl
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

4-5 p.m.: Rick Porcello, Detroit Tigers
Sharp
LVCC, Central Hall, #11017

Friday, January 8

10 a.m.: Martha Kanter, UnderSecretary of Education
HigherEd Tech
LVCC, North Hall, N264

10:30 a.m.: Jerome Williams (Junk Yard Dog – JYD), NBA fan favorite
Blackline GPS
LVCC, North Hall, #2035

11 a..-1 p.m.: Guy Kawasaki, author and founding Partner of Garage Technology Ventures
Marvell
LVCC, South Hall, #30344

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Chris Mullin, NBA legend
Haier America
LVCC, Central Hall, #10427

11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.: Jill Zarin, reality star on The Real Housewives of New York City
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

12-1 p.m.: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski
Tech Policy Summit
LVCC, North Hall, N255–257

12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.: Jon Heder, Krysten Ritter, and Josh Gad, TV stars of Woke Up Dead
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Joba Chamberlain, World Champion New York Yankees
Sharp
LVCC, Central Hall, #11017

1-3 p.m.: James Patterson
Marvell
LVCC, South Hall, #30642

2-6 p.m.: Deana Avila, former Ms. California
NTi (NewTech Infosystems)
LVCC, South Hall 3, #32038

2 p.m.: Tyson Gay, Olympian sprinter
Sennheiser Electronic Corp
LVCC, South Hall, #21240

2:30-3:30 p.m.: Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Sharp
LVCC, Central Hall, #11017

3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.: Soleil Moon Frye, American actress, co-founder of the Little Seed
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

4:15 p.m.: Shannon Miller, seven-time Olympic medalist gymnast
MommyTech TechZone
LVCC, North Hall, N262

5:30 p.m.: Kevin Streelman, professional golfer
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

Saturday, January 9

9-10:15 a.m.: Illeana Douglas, creator and star of Easy to Assemble
Up NEXT at CES
LVCC, North Hall, N250

9-10:15 a.m.: Bradley Whitford, The West Wing actor
Up NEXT at CES
LVCC, North Hall, N250

11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.: Jill Zarin, reality star on The Real Housewives of New York City
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

1-3 p.m.: Pauley Perrette
Marvell
LVCC, South Hall, Booth #30642

2-6 p.m.: Deana Avila, former Ms. California
NTi (NewTech Infosystems)
LVCC, South Hall 3, #32038

2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.: Soleil Moon Frye, American actress, co-founder of the Little Seed
Kodak
LVCC, South Hall, #31400

4p.m.: Tommy Lee, musician
The Public Record
LVCC, North Hall, #4322

JVC to Show 3D Front Projection Theater at CES

dxcstore — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:49:09 +0000

Two JVC DLA-RS4000 4K projectors will be the main components of 3D demo.

12.17.2009 — JVC will be showing a state-of-the-art 4K D-ILA front projection theater in its booth at 2010 CES, which takes place Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas.

Two DLA-RS4000 4K projectors will be the main components of the display at the show.

JVC also will be exhibiting its GD-463D10 46-inch LCD monitor that includes Xpol technology, which is said to produce a flicker-free stereoscopic image with inexpensive, passive glasses.

JVC will have several of these monitors in its booth showing a variety of content, including a station that features the FujiFilm W1 Finepix 3D camera.

JVC will launch its IF-2D3D1 stereoscopic processor that converts 2D video to 3D in real time. This unit accepts a standard HDMI or HDSDI input in HD and provides stereo output in a variety of formats:

Sequential
Side-by-side
Line-by-line
Checkerboard
Anaglyph
Separate L/R signals

Additionally, the IF-2D3D1 can be used for professional applications, including the ability to accept discrete L/R signals from a stereoscopic camera rig and converting the signals to a standard that can be displayed on the GD-463D10 3D monitor for use by 3D production crews.

California Passes Ban on Inefficient TVs

dxcstore — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:19:53 +0000

Ban to limit sales to only efficient TVs starting in 2011.

By Steven Castle

11.18.2009 — The California Energy Commission (CEC) voted 5-0 to restrict the sale of energy-hogging TVs up to 58 inches.

The new restrictions will limit the sales of TVs in the state to only those that meet energy requirements, starting in 2011. A second, stricter phase of requirements is slated to go into effect in 2013, and could include restrictions on sets larger than 58 inches in size.

The vote by the CEC culminates a battle fought contentiously by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The CEA disputes the CEC’s findings and contends that the CEC’s data is flawed and the energy savings overstated, therefore violating California law by imposing greater costs on consumers.

The CEC says California residents will save an average of $30.24 per TV unit in the first year and a total of $912.1 million per year in avoided electric bills. The CEC says the restrictions will also save the state 615 megawatts of electricity in peak demand reduction, resulting in $615 million saved on building a new power plant, at a cost $1 million per megawatt. It estimates greenhouse gas reductions of 43 percent per million metric tons of carbon dioxide and 3.1 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

After 10 years, the commission estimates the regulations will save $8.1 billion in energy costs and save enough energy to power 864,000 single-family homes.

A study the CEA commissioned by Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems claims that energy-saving technologies such as forced menu functionality that put a TV into a more energy-efficient home viewing mode and auto shutdown are likely to save California a minimum of 440 GWh per year.

“Savings from consumer education could reach 550 GWh per year, and the potential gains through consumer incentive programs could be as high as 560 GWh,” according to the study.

The CEA also claimed that the regulations will have a potentially devastating impact on commerce, costing California more than 4,000 jobs and approximately $46.8 million in tax revenue.

The first tier of proposed energy-efficiency standards, which would go into effect in 2011, would not be as strict as the new Energy Star 4.0 standard recently announced by the EPA, which starts in May 2010. The second tier of California standards, which would go into effect in 2013, would closely follow the Energy Star 4.0 standards of 2010 and not be as strict as Energy Star 5.0, set to go into effect in 2012. Energy Star, however, is a voluntary program and intended to identify more energy-efficient products.

Several representatives from the CEA spoke out against the proposed regulations during an Oct. 13 public hearing that was at times contentious, with a CEC commissioner at one point chiding the trade organization for “seemingly contradictory” statements in saying TVs can meet voluntary Energy Star standards quickly but cannot meet the CEC’s less stringent energy-efficiency levels. The commissioner also chided the CEA for failing, up to that time, to submit proof of its claims to the CEC during the public comment period.

On Nov. 2, the CEA delivered 91 pages of responses to the proposal to the CEC minutes before the deadline for public comment to effectively postpone a vote the Commission had planned on the matter for Nov. 4. The CEC’s Valerie Hall requested more time so the CEC could review the submissions.

ZOOM Q3 – Handy Video Recorder

dxcstore — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:32:20 +0000

Sound makes the movie.

Anyone who’s ever experienced a film with great audio knows how vital sound is to the movie. The Q3 Handy Video Recorder brings our renowned audio technology to the camcorder, making it the best sounding video camcorder you’ve ever heard.

Brilliant Stereo Recording…

Now on your videos.

The Q3 uses the same microphone capsules as our industry-leading H4n Handy Recorder and is perfect for recording anything where great audio and video are a must. From live musical performances and rehearsals, interviews, conferences to video podcasts, journalism, education, recitals, weddings or sports, the Q3’s pristine audio quality takes your videos to another level.

Designed with everything you need to make your movies right out of the box, the Q3 includes HandyShare software for editing, and a 2GB SD card for up to 1 hour of video recording time. And the Q3 will also accept up to 32GB SDHC cards for a staggering 16 hours of moviemaking!

Cutting room and distribution included…

When your shoot is complete, the Q3’s cleverly designed USB cable lets you upload your movies to your computer. Then use HandyShare to edit and share them on your favorite websites including YouTube, Facebook and MySpace. Or, plug in the included TV cable and watch your videos on television.

With its high-quality, MPEG-4 SP video format at 30 frames per second, the Q3 renders crystal-clear video at 640 x 480 resolution. And the Q3’s large, 2.4″ LCD screen with a resolution of 320 x 240 makes viewing easy on the go. Its display also includes audio meters so you can quickly set and monitor your levels as you shoot.

Actual display 320 x 240 pixel resolution

True Stereo Sound

The Q3 has two condenser mics on-board, engineered in the same X/Y pattern that gives recording pros the best stereo recording possible. Arranged with the right and left mics on the same axis, this design ensures that the mics are always an equal distance from the sound source for perfect localization without phase shifting. The result is a great sounding recording with natural depth and highly accurate stereo imaging every time… all at the touch of a button.

Get Closer to the Action

The Q3’s X/Y microphones are directional, so you can “focus” the mics on your sound source like an “audio zoom” function. Use the onboard audio meters to set the gain to Low, High or Auto so you can record in very loud or very soft environments. Or use the Q3’s Auto Record Level function to automatically set the appropriate recording levels for the situation! Shoot your video with the confidence that the Q3 is capturing great audio at the absolute best level possible.

Sound Matters on YouTube

With the Q3, all your videos will sound like they were recorded in a professional studio. Ideal for shooting any kind of musical performance from jazz to classical to metal, solo to orchestral, the Q3 will make it fun and easy to shoot your music videos anywhere, anytime.

The Q3 also makes it easy to share your videos with your friends on YouTube. Simply plug the Q3 into your computer, launch the onboard HandyShare software and select the videos you want to put on the web. And if your vision needs a few edits, you can use HandyShare to cut your movie before you share it with the world.

Reduce the Learning Curve

To play music better, seeing your performance can be almost as important as hearing yourself. With the Q3, you get both capabilities. Music educators and students alike will find a plethora of applications for the Q3 from the classroom to the practice room. Ideal for recording auditions or making video lessons available to students, the Q3’s amazing stereo recording will capture every nuance while the video rolls.

Dress Up Your Videography

The Q3 makes an excellent accessory for anyone who does videography as a full-time occupation or as a hobby. Imagine being able to use the Q3 for individualized video shoots of the bride and groom before a wedding. Or give a Q3 to everyone in the wedding party for personalized video clips. Capture the wedding music with ease. The possibilities are truly endless. And with pristine, focused audio, you’ll never miss a moment, even in a noisy environment.

Make Your Own Sports Center

Have great seats? Every crack of the bat, swing of the club or bone-crunching tackle can be captured with amazing clarity… especially when you’re close to the action. Capture the sights and sounds of the game from the little leagues to the big leagues.

Go Blogging Heads

It’s never been more important for journalists and bloggers to be versatile in the field. Shoot “on the scene” video, edit and upload with ease, all with broadcast-ready audio. And because the Q3 has a standard tripod mount, you can put it just about anywhere for the perfect shot in any environment.

The Q3 puts a little bit of video and a whole lot of audio together in one quick and easy to use camcorder that lets you produce great movies on the go!

Included Accessories

Windscreen, Carry Pouch, 2GB SD Card, AV cable & two AA Batteries.

Technical Information

Operation Confirmed SD/SDHC Cards (PDF)

Maximum Recordable Time

Features:

Built-in stereo condenser microphones with X/Y configuration for true stereo imaging
Get up to 1 hour of video with bundled 2GB SD card
Accepts up to a 32GB SDHC card for 16 hours of recording time
Large 2.4″ LCD display with a resolution of 320 x 240
Video resolution of 640 x 480 at 30 frames/sec
Video Format: MPEG-4 SP
NTSC / PAL TV output
Optics Lens Type: Fixed Focus (0.8m to infinity) with 2x digital zoom
Audio formats with video include 44.1/48kHz 16/24-bit Linear PCM WAV or MP3 up to 320kbps
Audio only formats include 96kHz 16/24-bit Linear PCM WAV
Auto Record Level automatically adjusts audio levels during recordings
Uses two standard AA batteries or NiMH rechargeable batteries
USB 2.0 with built-in cable
Windows and Mac OS compatible
Built-in speaker and tripod mount
Includes on-board editing software, YouTube uploader software, Apple Quicktime, TV cable, softcase, windscreen, 2GB SD card, two AA Batteries

Numark INTRODUCING CUE 6 + VIRTUAL VINYL 6

dxcstore — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:18:16 +0000

Meet CUE 6. It’s the most advanced DJ performance mixing and remixing software we’ve ever offered. With powerful audio and video mixing capabilities, the ability to customize the program’s look and feel for your own style, new social music features, the ability to grab tracks off the web instantly, and much more, CUE 6 is ready for your inspection. And if you like the feel of 12-inch vinyl and all the power for CUE 6, check out VIRTUAL VINYL 6! If you already have CUE or VIRTUAL VINYL, /upgrading is quick and easy!

Blockbuster to Close 960 Stores by End of 2010

dxcstore — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:14:19 +0000

Competition from Netflix, Vudu and Redbox has hit the movie rental chain hard. Perhaps it’s shifting from brick and mortar to Blockbuster On-Demand.

By Tom LeBlanc

09.16.2009 — Blockbuster will close up to 960 stores by the end of 2010, leaving it with about 20 percent fewer stores in the United States.

It’s not a surprise. It’s a sign of the times. About 18 percent of Blockbuster’s stores aren’t making money and 47 percent are only mildly profitable, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The once dominant movie rental chain, which had already closed 276 stores as of mid-August 2009, has seen intense competition lately. Netflix seems to be popping up everywhere with TV, Blu-ray player and media server manufacturers offering its popular “watch instantly” streaming feature directly through its components.

Netflix, which now has 10.6 million subscribers, earned $55 million through the first half of 2009. Blockbuster lost $15 million.

Vudu, an on-demand movie service that boasts “the most HD movies,” has partnered with mainstream manufacturers like LG Electronics.

But it’s not just the transition to digital content streaming that seems to be collapsing Blockbuster’s business model. Inexpensive disc rental alternatives, such as Redbox, also are taking a toll.

Perhaps Blockbuster’s decision to close 960 stores reflects a transition rather than a setback. Blockbuster hopes to have 10,000 kiosks across the country by the middle of 2010. At the end of August 2009, it had 500. The brick and mortar store also offers on-demand streaming. It recently partnered with TiVo and Samsung to provide Blockbuster OnDemand in TVs, DVRs and Blu-ray players.

Whether by design or necessity (or both), Blockbuster is definitely reworking things. In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, it said that along with conversion of certain stores to outlets and lease mitigation or termination efforts, total store closures would be in the range of 1,335 to 1560, Reuters reports.

Blockbuster, which says it serves over 50 million customers in over 20 countries, saw its NYSE shares close at $1.40 on the day the store closings news broke.

Apple Drops 40GB Apple TV, Lowers 160GB by $100

dxcstore — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:10:22 +0000

Apple TV now only available in one size, dropping price of 160GB version by $100.

09.15.2009 — We’ve known for a while that Apple TV is a mere “hobby” for the company, so the recent Apple store shuffling just emphasizes that … or maybe Apple has something up its sleeve.

The Apple store has slimmed its Apple TV offerings in half, from the 40GB and 160GB models down to just the 160GB.

So the bad news, for now it seems, is that you can’t grab a cheaper entry model. The good news is that the price of the old 40GB model is now the price of the 160GB version. The 160GB has gone from $329 down to $229.

While Apple TV may not have become nearly as popular as Apple’s iPod or iPhone products, it does have its merits for renting and purchasing high-def and standard-def movies, streaming iTunes and watching photo slideshows on the big screen. A bunch of consumers also use it as a big-screen interface for all of the streaming accessible from Boxee.

One thing Apple may be keeping in mind is that 40 gigs just isn’t enough for media storage these days, especially high-def movie storage. Perhaps a terabyte or the like is waiting in the wings for our little Apple TV? Or maybe it’s going to be tied into some bigger-and-better media server? We’ll have to wait and see.

By Arlen Schweiger

NEW HEADPHONES WITH LADY GAGA STYLE AND THE SOUND OF DR. DRE

dxcstore — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:58:25 +0000

MONSTER AND BEATS™ BY DR. DRE™ ANNOUNCE FIRST ARTIST LINE:

“HEARTBEATS BY LADY GAGA”

– Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Monster Continue the “Beats By Dr. Dre” Line with New Headphones that Offer Unprecedented Audio Quality, “Lady Gaga” Style –

BERLIN, Germany, September 7th, 2009 — Legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre, Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine and Monster®, the leader in audio/video accessories, are proud to announce the official introduction of Heartbeats by Lady Gaga, the latest addition to the hugely popular Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ headphone family from Monster.

“Heartbeats by Lady Gaga” are engineered to deliver all the music the artist intended you to hear, with incredible sonic clarity, pounding bass, and all the power demanded by today’s music. The self-inspired design, including every detail developed with Lady Gaga, is both a unique reflection of Lady Gaga’s style and fashion sense as well as her commitment to the sound quality of her music and the way it’s heard.

Lady Gaga explains her motivation behind “Heartbeats by Lady Gaga”: “In the deepest hour of the night, I confess to myself three things; I would die if I was forbidden to write, forbidden to love, or forbidden to fashion. Heartbeats embody the trinity of my human-being, with one additional vow: that SOUND matters. Wear heartbeats, love each other, and celebrate the art and lifestyle of music.”

The goal of the Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ headphone family from Monster has always been to improve the listening experience and hear music the way the artists create it to be heard. Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, worked closely with Dr. Dre and Head Monster Noel Lee to tune and refine the Beats by Dr. Dre headphone sound, to ensure that Lady Gaga’s vision of great sound and style was reflected in the final product

Noted Mr. Iovine: “The combination of Lady Gaga’s sense of fashion and music with the innovative sound and look of Beats made it the right fit.”

To create “Heartbeats by Lady Gaga,” the Beats by Dr. Dre team worked to ensure the very best audio reproduction capabilities while refining and adapting the style of the headphones to reflect the sensibilities and vision of Lady Gaga. From Beats by Dr. Dre, comes the astounding music reproduction of Heartbeats, made possible by the fanatic audiophiles at Monster, utilizing the latest in headphone and manufacturing technologies.

Noel Lee, Head Monster, noted: “Heartbeats not only had to look great, they had to sound great. Using Monster’s latest headphone technologies, that vision comes true. There is no headphone that sounds quite like it, regardless of price. Hope you love listening to it as much as we did creating it. Enjoy.”

Added Kevin Lee, Monster’s Vice President of Marketing and Product Development: “Monster has always been authentic in what we do, and Beats by Dr. Dre is no exception. Beats delivers on the promise of a better music experience and we are honored to have Lady Gaga to launch Heartbeats and continue that commitment to sound in a way that is stylistically Lady Gaga and sonically Dr. Dre.”

“Heartbeats by Lady Gaga” are designed to give users a high-performance headphone option that literally doubles as a high-tech fashion accessory or attractive piece of jewelry. They feature a multi-faceted, glossy surface and high-tech build materials, with a jewel-inspired earpiece cosmetic. The headphones are available in three separate versions, including a metal body with rose red jewel-shaped earpiece, metal body with all chrome jewel-shaped earpiece and black-on-black body and jewel-shaped earpiece design. The headphones are outfitted with a specially design stylish and tangle-free cable.

The new “Heartbeats by Lady Gaga” come in a beautifully designed red carrying case and an assortment of eartips to ensure maximum comfort and fit for every wearer. They also feature Monster’s exclusive flat cable design that that not only integrates into the look and feel of HeartBeats, but makes them tangle-resistant. They will be available in October in a wide range of colors and different feature options – prices will range from $99.95 – $149.95.

To provide users with the ultimate in convenience and performance when used with today’s portable music devices, all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are being made available with “ControlTalk,” an advanced on-cable feature that provides users with full control of their listening experience when using their 3GS iPhone®, iPod® shuffle and other new iPods and portable music devices.* The special Monster ControlTalk™ headphone cable features an integrated high grade microphone and answer button and allows users to access their music and answer phone calls without having to reach into their pocketbook, backpack or pocket. In addition to its availability with all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones from Monster, the ControlTalk feature is also being made available as an option with all Monster brand headphones.

The ControlTalk remote and mic are supported by iPod nano (4th generation), iPod classic (120GB), iPod touch (2nd generation), and iPhone 3GS and newer, but not all, Blackberry models. The remote is supported by iPod shuffle (3rd generation). Audio is supported by all iPod models. Requires software version 1.0.3 for iPod nano (4th generation), 2.0.1 for iPod classic (120GB), and 2.2 or later for iPod touch (2nd generation). Support for Blackberry varies by model. Subject to change.

ABOUT LADY GAGA

Lady Gaga exploded onto the global cultural landscape this year with her catchy pop anthems and her fashion-forward aesthetics. Worldwide she has sold more than four million copies of her debut album, The Fame, and more than 15 million singles, making her music’s biggest breakout star of the year. She is only the third artist in history to claim three #1 hits from a debut album (“Just Dance,” “Poker Face” and “LoveGame”).

ABOUT MONSTER

Monster is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009. The company was founded by Head Monster Noel Lee with a commitment to creating products under the Monster Cable® brand to literally “make music sound better.” Today, Monster has grown and diversified to become the world’s leading manufacturer of connectivity solutions for high-performance audio, video, car audio, computer, console and computer gaming, as well as a leading innovator in the field of iPod® and iPhone™ accessories and professional audio and sound reinforcement. Additionally, under its Monster Power® brand, the company is the leading manufacturer of high-performance AC power line conditioning and protection products for audio/video systems. Explore the world of Monster at www.monstercable.com.

ABOUT BEATS ELECTRONICS LLC

Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. In January of 2008, Dre and Iovine announced a partnership with audio innovator Monster Cable to engineer “Beats by Dr. Dre,” the most advanced headphones ever developed that are sold exclusively at Apple and Best Buy. Today, Beats Electronics continues to work with Monster to improve the quality of the portable audio experience and expand the Dr. Dre family of headphones to include in-ear speakers and artist branded products. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com/

Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre Announce “Beats Solo™”

dxcstore — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:55:49 +0000

– New Addition to Popular “Beats™ By Dr. Dre™ Headphone Line is Lightweight, More Compact Option; Available in Black and White Versions –

BERLIN, Germany, September 7, 2009- Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre, today announced an exciting new development in the evolution of the popular “Beats™ By Dr. Dre™ headphone line – the on-ear “Beats Solo” headphones (MAP: $179.95, SRP: $219.95). The new Beats Solo high-performance headphones offer users an ideal entry level Beats by Dr. Dre personal listening experience in a lightweight and smaller version. Beats Solo will be available in November 2009 in both black and white versions.

Noel Lee, the Head Monster, noted: “When Monster teamed up with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine for Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ headphones our goal was to change the way people experience their music by simply letting them hear what musicians recorded in the studio – with the extreme clarity, deep bass and full power that had been lacking in conventional headphones. Thanks to Beats, people have begun to understand that sound really does matter. Now, with the introduction of Beats Solo, we’re thrilled to make the Beats by Dr. Dre from Monster experience available in a smaller, lighter on-ear headphone.”Mr. Lee continued: “There were significant challenges in the creation of Beats Solo, including how to achieve really great sound from a small speaker driver. This required serious innovation and creative audio engineering. We were also challenged to take the familiar Beats design and morph it into something smaller and more compact, yet still recognizably ‘Beats.’ I’m delighted to say that we rose to both these challenges – the result is one of the easiest-to-use, easiest-to-wear and best-sounding headphones ever created, with a look that is pure Beats and pure Dr. Dre.”

Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M said: “For Beats Solo, Dre and I worked along with with Monster to create the best sound possible in light, comfortable but powerful headphones.”

To provide users with the ultimate in convenience and performance when used with today’s portable music devices, Beats Solo headphones feature “ControlTalk,” an advanced on-cable feature that provides users with full control of their listening experience when using their 3GS iPhone®, iPod® shuffle and other new iPods and portable music devices.* The special Monster ControlTalk™ headphone cable features an integrated high grade microphone and answer button and allows users to access their music and answer phone calls without having to reach into their pocketbook, backpack or pocket.

In addition to its availability with Beats Solo and all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones from Monster, including the new white version of Beats Studio and Heartbeats by Lady Gaga from Monster, the ControlTalk feature is also being made available as an option with all Monster brand headphones as well.

ABOUT MONSTER

Monster, under its Monster Cable brand, is the world’s leading manufacturer of connectivity solutions for high performance audio, video, car audio, computer, console and computer gaming, professional audio and sound reinforcement. Monster, under its Monster Power® brand, is also the leading manufacturer of high performance AC power line conditioning and protection products for audio/video systems. Explore the world of Monster at www.MonsterCable.com

ABOUT BEATS ELECTRONICS LLC

AKG Winners!!

dxcstore — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:50:47 +0000

The renowned German HiFi Test magazine performed several tests on headphones in the in-ear and hi-fi categories (issue 1/2009). The AKG brand was represented in this testing by the K 142 HD and K 514 for the hi-fi category and the K 317 for the in-ear category – and with success!

Beating (more expensive) competitors such as Sennheiser® CX400II, Philips® SHE 9800 and Shure® SE102 headphones, the AKG models achieved impressive results. With reviews like “test winner” (K 142 HD), “price tip” (K 317) and best price/quality ratio (K 514), these AKG products were put on the map in a convincing way.

Here are some of the results:

K 317: “price tip: K 317 excelled both in optical and acoustic categories”

K 142 HD: “test winner: K 142 HD lives up to its legendary name”

K 514: “best cost/performance ratio”

Conclusion: AKG takes three wins in ONE test review!