News Archive
Mon 17 July 2006
‘Package’ home entertainment system which won’t vomit cables all over your lounge
Always one for trying to minimise cables through wireless technology, Philips’ new 2006 CES Innovation Award winner, follows the same strategy. The HTS9800W is one of the first systems around to offer Dolby Digital EX 6.1 surround sound processing using wireless rear speakers. The new slender form but powerful 800 watts HTS9800W features HDMI connectivity, 720p/1080i video upscaling and multichannel Super Audio CD playback, it also supports DVD, DVD+/-R/RW, (S)VCD, SACD, MPEG4, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA/MP3-CD and JPEG CDs. In terms of ins and outs there is a progressive scan-enabled component video output, RGB Scart output and digital coaxial input as well. Control is via a sleek touch screen control panel.
Expect to pay around £700 for this, which is reasonable to say it gives you the feel of something much more expensive. Hopefully the Philips will give B&O systems a run for their money.
Related article:
Custom Install v. ‘Off-the-shelf’ home entertainment systems
Mon 17 July 2006
Bluedelta’s new IR extender: control your av equipment from a different room
Got sky in your bedroom but the box is in the lounge? Sick of not being able to change the channel? Let the Smart-Eye and Smart Blaster help you out. Quite simply you put the Smart-Eye in your bedroom and the Smart Blaster in the lounge, you can then take the remote to your bedroom and the process is as thus: signal from remote -Smart-Eye - Smart Blaster – Sky box. Another bonus feature is that the output signal from the Blaster is also strong enough so that the unit doesn’t have to face the equipment.
Sinces it’s not only limited to digital satellite but works with any video equipment use your imagination for other applications.
For one Smart-Eye and one Smart Blaster you can have a kit for £29.95
Read more on remotes: Control Freq!
Fri 14 July 2006
Wired or wireless networks? UStec says both!
UStec, a leader in digital home networking, announced it had been granted a U.S. Patent for a wireless wallport that will vastly improve the performance and reliability of wireless devices and networks for residential and commercial applications.
Quite simply their system allows signals from a central router/Ethernet switch to be distributed via Cat5 cable to wallports throughout a home or business and then be transmitted wirelessly within the rooms where each wallport is located.
In addition to wireless internet access, the wallports could potentially transmit cable or Satellite TV signals (including HDTV), digital audio, and signals from home automation networks that control lighting, temperature and security.
The UStec wallport enables the convenience and uncluttered appeal of wireless networking while overcoming its inherent limitations. It avoids transmiting signals through walls and over distances and thus by lowering the signal strength required, their system can reduce privacy-issues, interference with neighboring systems, and the potential health risks associated with high RF levels. What’s more, by limiting the necessary distance from the wallport to a wireless device, this should overcome the reliability and Quality of Service issues that haunt the high-bandwidth, short-range wireless networks available today.
Noble objective with sensible ideas, let’s hope they deliver. Come on UStec!
Related article: Structured Wiring – Smart-Home Cement
Fri 14 July 2006
Music and Massage?! At the same time?! I like the 'sound' of that!
Look at how happy this chap is! That’s cus he’s plonked himself on the iJoy ZipConnect Massage Chair, not only is it a massage chair but it also has built-in speakers on either side of the headrest, a sub woofer and the ZipConnect module which allows you to connect any audio device (not just an iPod) to the chair with an 18-inch cable. On the massaging side of things the realistic ‘Human Touch™ Technology’ is designed to replicate the techniques practiced by professional massage therapists and chiropractic specialists with smooth rolling, deep kneading, tapping percussion and therapeutic compression.
If you want to be your own favourite person and self indulge in this luxury, you can get it a SharperImage for a special price of $599.95 check their site by clicking the image for more info, more images and video.
