IP Vision latest to file Project Canvas complaint
IP Vision, owner of Fetch TV, has lodged an official complaint to Ofcom regarding Project Canvas, calling the upcoming IPTV service "bad news for consumers".
It is no surprise that IP Vision has decided to lodge a complaint. At the moment its Fetch TV service is one of the few around that successfully melds on-demand content and TV – precisely what Project Canvas wants to do.
In the complaint, the CEO of IP Vision Eddie Abrams says: "As a leader in this nascent sector in the UK, we are all in favour of healthy competition that benefits both the industry and consumers.
"However, this group of industry Goliaths, supported in part by BBC licence fee funds, will have the power to dominate the sector – even though what Canvas will offer will not be superior to solutions already on the market. Surely this can't be good for the UK television industry or for the consumer?"
Consumers will pay the price
IP Vision's Fetch TV is currently seen the "only provider of a complete end-to-end solution" for IPTV through a set-top box by the BBC Trust.
Fetch TV hit the news earlier in the year for being the first set-top box to offer Sky Player.
Abrams believes that when/if Canvas comes to the UK it will make the market uncompetitive, explaining: "If Project Canvas rolls out as intended, market competition, consumer choice and technology and commercial innovation will be stymied.
"The consumer will end up paying the price of an uncompetitive market in the form of restricted content, service and technology choice."
IP Vision isn't the only company to complain about Project Canvas, earlier this month Virgin Media lodged a similar missive to Ofcom.
 |  |
Read More ...
SeeSaw links up with NBC Universal, offers premium shows
VoD service SeeSaw has signed a deal with NBC Universal which gives users of the site access to a variety of paid-for content from the entertainment company.NBC Universal has the rights to a number of premium shows, including House, The Office and Battlestar Galactica.
These will now be available to view on-demand for a nominal fee – prices range from 99p for an episode, all the way up to £17.99 for a series.
Premium content
If you 'purchase' a whole series of something, you have 90 days to watch it and 48 hours from the second you click on an episode.
SeeSaw rose from the ashes of Project Kangaroo and is a VoD service that offers free content from the BBC archives, 4oD and Five.
This isn't the first time that SeeSaw has offered up premium TV. Back in May it announced it had signed a deal with MTV and Comedy Central (both owned by Viacom) with prices for these shows similar to the NBC Universal offer.
| |
Read More ...
Virgin: Android 2.2 on HTC Desire and Wildfire in September
The long-awaited updates to the HTC Desire are still to drop on network-bought phones, but Virgin Media has come out with a more definitive UK release date.Both the HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire are up for an Android 2.2 reboot, and the good news is you won't have to wait very long, according to the official Virgin Media Twitter account:
"HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire - great news, we're expecting to release OTA updates to 2.2 (Froyo) early Sep :)".
What does it all mean?
Conducting some in-depth analysis into the Tweet, we can assume that Android 2.2 will be coming by 15 September for Virgin Media customers using the HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire, and the colon/close bracket combo is likely to indicate a level of satisfaction with the announcement.
Android 2.2 has definitely improved the performance of the HTC Desire, so we're looking forward to seeing if it has a similar effect on the HTC Wildfire too.
| |
Read More ...
Virgin: Android 2.2 on HTC Desire and Wildfire in September
The long-awaited updates to the HTC Desire are still to drop on network-bought phones, but Virgin Media has come out with a more definitive UK release date.Both the HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire are up for an Android 2.2 reboot, and the good news is you won't have to wait very long, according to the official Virgin Media Twitter account:
"HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire - great news, we're expecting to release OTA updates to 2.2 (Froyo) early Sep :)".
What does it all mean?
Conducting some in-depth analysis into the Tweet, we can assume that Android 2.2 will be coming by 15 September for Virgin Media customers using the HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire, and the colon/close bracket combo is likely to indicate a level of satisfaction with the announcement.
Android 2.2 has definitely improved the performance of the HTC Desire, so we're looking forward to seeing if it has a similar effect on the HTC Wildfire too.
| |
Read More ...
Pirate Party to host WikiLeaks' servers
WikiLeaks has signed a deal which will see the whistle-blowing website hosted on servers owned by the Pirate Party.Both factions are based in Sweden so it makes sense that the two have combined to "to take real responsibility" for changing the world.
The Pirate Party is to participate in Sweden's national elections in September, so the helping of WikiLeaks couldn't come at a better time.
The website is one of the most publicised in the world at the moment, due to the releasing of sensitive documents about the war in Afghanistan.
Making a difference
Speaking to TorrentFreak about the link-up Pirate Party chief Rick Falkvinge said: "I'm delighted that we're able to help WikiLeaks.
"I love opportunities to demonstrate that one of the biggest differences between us and the other parties is that we positively leap at any and all changes to take real responsibility for changing the world, rather than just commission reports and avoiding blame like the archetypal politician."
Julian Assange, the main spokesperson for WikiLeaks, also commented: "Our organisations share many values and I am looking forward to future ways we can help each other improve the world."
Just this week, WikiLeaks announced it would be releasing a further 15,000 war documents on to the website and has said it will "not be threatened by the Pentagon or any other group."
| |
Read More ...
In Depth: 5 ways to avoid looking like an email dumbass
We've all done it: the angry email to an ex after one shandy too many; the character assassination sent by accident to the person you're talking about rather than the person you were talking about them to; the offensive image sent to your mum instead of your mates; the message to a potential employer saying "see attached" that doesn't have anything attached to it. It's the twenty-first century - shouldn't technology be able to stop such shenanigans and stop us from looking stupid? The good news is that it can. Here's how technology can make your messages seem less silly.
Mail Goggles
Drinking and typing don't really mix, and writing emails when you're half cut can often have catastrophic consequences. If you tell Mail Goggles when you're likely to be plastered, Gmail will check its watch and if it's Danger O'Clock it'll ask you to do some sums before it'll send your message. Get the answers wrong or run out of time and your message remains unsent.
ToneCheck
Is the email you're about to send the most offensive thing ever written? Are you prone to typing things like "HOPE YOU DIE IN A FIRE, BUMFACE!" in messages to the MD? ToneCheck is shorter than a course of anger management therapy, faster than a P45 and plugs into Outlook 2003-2010, looking for and flagging "emotionally charged" phrases in your message when you press Send.
It looks and works like a spell checker, so while it shows you what you're doing wrong you can override it if you're sure you want your message to stay as it is. If you're like us, you'll set the Tone Tolerance settings to their most liberal and then go out of your way to try and hit the triggers.
Forgotten Attachment Detector
Microsoft and Google both offer Forgotten Attachment Detectors, which scan your messages to make sure you've included any files you meant to include. Google's version is built into Gmail while Microsoft's one is an add-on for Outlook.
Got The Wrong Bob?
We're beginning to wonder whether Google's engineers are the world's worst emailers, because Gmail's Labs are positively packed with embarrassment preventers. Got The Wrong Bob aims to prevent mixups such as mailing something to Bob The Boss when you meant to send it to Bob The Builder. The add-on kicks in if you're sending something to multiple recipients and asks "Did you mean….?" as you enter recipients' names.
Undo Send
This Gmail feature isn't as clever as it might seem, because once a normal internet email lands in someone's inbox you can't magically get it back again (you can undo emails in closed environments, so for example Outlook-based email systems in companies support undo, and you used to be able to undo AOL-to-AOL emails). What happens when you enable this feature is that Gmail hangs on to your message for 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds when you hit Send, giving you enough time to go "aaaaagh! Noooooo!" and cancel it.
| |
Read More ...
Nokia N8 UK release date pushed back again?
The Nokia N8, the first handset to run the new Symbian^3 OS, looks to be released within the next couple of months.While an official release date for the Nokia N8 has never been formally announced, the official Nokia website in the US has it available for pre-order, coming at the end of September.
In the UK, things are still a bit more woolly, as the British Nokia site has no information on pre-order or the like, although Play.com has the N8 available for £420 from the 8 October in the UK.
Back, back and forth
This is a big push back from the previously tipped 26 August UK release date, so it seems that Nokia may be suffering delays over actually getting this phone to market.
Given that the Nokia N8 was announced in April, if it's not launched soon then it's going to be a real embarrassment for Nokia. It has previously stated that it won't unveil the phone until the software is perfect, but if it's taking this long then something is clearly up with the new platform.
| |
Read More ...
Panasonic backtracks on 2D-to-3D conversion plans
Panasonic has announced that two new 3D TVs for the US market will feature 2D-to-3D conversion technology inside, despite the company speaking out against the tech in the past.The snappily titled TC-P42G25 and TC-P50GT25 range of televisions are set to debut in the US this year.
The 42-inch version of the GT25 range will be among the smallest 3D TVs in the market when it launches and is targeted at 3D gamers.
Sushi shock
The addition of 2D-to-3D conversion is a surprising one for Panasonic. The company's senior vice president, Bob Perry, is quoted in an upcoming Home Cinema Choice article about the technology and said that Panasonic wouldn't use the conversion technology on its TVs "just as a sushi bar should promise never to serve fake sushi-like food."
In short: it was pure Full HD 3D or nothing for Panasonic.
This was backed by Panasonic Europe's TV chief Fabrice Estornel explaining to HCC previously: "We don't think it's right to confuse consumers this early on with second-rate conversion technology."
Fast forward and now Panasonic is following in the footsteps of Samsung and will be implementing the technology – which we are now guessing is first rate.
Although there is no UK release date for the TC-P42G25 and TC-P50GT25 range, we do expect to see them at IFA 2010, where we will judge for ourselves if the fake 'sushi' tastes as good as the real stuff.
| |
Read More ...
22 billion web-connected devices 'by 2020'
There will be 22 billion web-connected devices in the world by 2020, according to a new study by IMS Research, with internet connectivity set to surge.At the moment, the number of web-enabled devices resides at around 5 billion.
In 10 years, this is set to quadruple as 2.5 billion TVs get web connected and 1.1 billion cars jack into the internet.
Couple this with the number of computers already hooked up to the web, the abundance of internet-savvy mobile handsets and myriad other devices such as digital picture frames which use Wi-Fi and it seems the world will have a network to rival that of Skynet.
Metal machine music
According to the research, the growth may well be even more explosive if you take into account 'machine-to-machine' systems.
Add smart grids, networked security cameras and things like fridges into the equation and the wonderful world of the web looks to become all dominant.
Earlier this month, it was found that machines were overtaking humans in subscribing to AT&T and Verizon networks in the US.
Now if that doesn't scare you into becoming a luddite, we don't know what will.
| |
Read More ...
Review: Theta Digital Compli Blu
What is your view of the ideal disc player? There are a number of possible answers to this, but definitely high on the list would be those models that bridge the apparently irreconcilable gap that distinguishes the various flavours of both the audio and video disc with the minimum loss of fidelity. Using versatility and performance as yardsticks, this new model from Theta Digital potentially, at least, comes near the top of the list and, perhaps, at the absolute pinnacle. How so?
Well this is a high-end transport which can be used as a full standalone player. It's happy dealing with almost any 12cm disc that is round and silver, be it audio or video.
Versatile performer
First and foremost, the Compli Blu is a universal audio transport, that can recognise and play CDs, DVD-Audio and SACD discs, be they stereo or multichannel. The Theta is also HDCD compatible. This means that it will also play DVD (and AVCHD) video discs and, unlike almost all so-called 'universal players', Blu-ray discs.
Because the Theta has an HDCP-protected HDMI output, it brings a whole new level of capabilities to the party, by being able to stream music from SACD in digital form – Bitstream or native DSD, depending on menu set-up.
Of course, being a transport, this is dependent on your amplifier having an HDMI input, which current AV amps do have, but audiophile amplifiers do not.
In addition, the Compli Blu supports the main variations on the Blu-ray theme, including BD Live (interactive BD-ROM profile 2) and Bonus View, which adds PIP (picture-inpicture).
The Compli Blu also has a USB card reader as a media reader and rear panel socketry includes RS232 for system control and to flash the internal firmware.
Like an increasing number of well-connected components, there is also a LAN connector, which can be used to download additional BD-Live content from the internet – previews, trailers, special features and more besides.
No specialist producer can design its own Blu-ray player from scratch and the Compli Blu is no exception, being based on an Oppo BD83 platform. But although functionally similar, the two players are not the same, as noted on the Theta website entry for the this model which states:
'The Compli Blu is based on a manufacturing kit obtained from a third party then optimised by Theta Digital. In the past, we've partnered with Sony, Phillips and Pioneer. This time, we're pleased to partner with Oppo and establish yet another benchmark of performance by Theta Digital in the transport product category'.
So say what you like, but there is no attempt here by Theta to pull the wool over anyone's eyes as to the origins. Changes that Theta has made to the basic Oppo player are as follows: the mechanism is now damped rather than sprung and has been moved to a lower position in the transport for stability; while the chassis has been built from thicker-gauge steel and the PCB tracks doubled in thickness.
The internal firmware has also been customised for the Theta and is regularly updated. The high-capacity (seven-amp) power section has been completely respecified. It is now a linear design based on four independently rectified and regulated supplies and multiple transformers, headlined by an 80-watt torroid.
Finally, the player has been built into a case that mirrors the presentation of other Theta products, with obvious physical and visual benefits. What effects these various changes make to sound (and picture) quality is unknown, given that no Oppo model was available for comparison.
Our only criticism is that it's a pity (although in some ways understandable) that Theta feels it has to support the scourge of regional coding. Interestingly, the Oppo opposite number is available in an all-region version, though whether the hack involved can be applied to the Theta is not known.
In accordance with licensing requirements, the player can only be specified for a single region, though a patch is available to change which region is supported.
Tracking down
The fact that, as we mentioned earlier, the Compli Blu is not entirely Theta's own work has become a matter of some controversy. The Oppo, for example, is much cheaper than the Theta and some frenzied (and in some cases spectacularly misinformed) comments in the blogosphere seek to claim that the difference in price is questionable.
Before we leave the question of price and the cost differences between the Oppo and the Theta, it's probably worth mentioning that the Oppo BDP-83 is listed at around £600 for the Region Two (UK) model.
According to Theta, the price of its Compli Blu is consistent with other Theta models and given the quantities they reportedly produce this is certainly believable. If so, it makes any charges of profiteering seem wide of the mark.
In the end we remain agnostic about the value for money rating, but if you really want an out and out bargain, then the Oppo is possibly the player to go for. That's if you can find a Region 2 model and there's little or no reason to assume that it will outperform the Theta.
What's more, Oppo product is not exactly easy to track down in the UK (as we discovered when researching this review). Also, what strikes us forcibly about the Compli Blu is that, far from being expensive, it seems to be quite sharply priced.
True heavyweight
Any lingering thoughts that the Theta wouldn't stand up to the traditional virtues of the brand would be very wide of the mark. Although the Compli Blu is officially a transport rather than a player, the lines are blurred to say the least, because it does have analogue outputs, including twochannel and multichannel alternatives.
The main limitation is that the analogue outputs will not deal with high-resolution audio, DTS Master Audio and Dolby True HD from Blu-ray discs without a processor at the far end of the HDMI link, which is also needed to extract a high-resolution DSD (or Bitstream) data from high-resolution audio discs (SACDs in particular). Note that some discs will downgrade the audio to a slightly homogenised lower level – the instructions and your ears can guide you here.
One thing that will cause real surprise is the speed with which the Theta identifies what kind of disc has been inserted and then proceeds to play. This fast-tracking discs makes a pleasant change from the general sloth-like behaviour of many other players, including non-universal Blu-ray models.
On the minus side, the loading mechanism isn't the smoothest ever and the player is mechanically rather noisy during play, though you'll be unlucky to hear it in your listening room in practice.
As a plain Red Book CD player, the Compli Blu is a true heavyweight. It is smooth and articulate, with a delicately refined sense of detail and a layered stereo image, as well as certain degree of spaciousness, which works well with some of our usual acoustic, rich-flavoured musical fare. And yet it is suitably raunchy and outgoing with more rock-flavoured material.
You can also use the display dimmer and the pure audio buttons on the remote control to improve performance further – the pure audio circuits which kill the video circuits being by far the more useful of the two.
As a CD player, this level of refinement and musical ability is just what is expected of a brand like Theta. When used as an HDMI source, the final level of performance is partially dependent on what's available at the far end of the HDMI cable and the concept of audiophile-quality amplification which uses this interface is in its infancy (though it is only fair to say that it is on everyone's radar).
In many ways the prospect of high-resolution audio (stereo and multichannel alike) is more exciting than HD video, but for this test we were limited to the AV amplifiers we had on tap – from Sony, Onkyo and Denon, none of which are from the top level of their type. Nevertheless, they worked well.
The Theta is a refined and capable video player, with excellent screen contrast and good colour, making for very subtle images. The audio is handled particularly well and the Theta has enough of what counts under the bonnet to show the potential of DTS Master Audio and Dolby True HD lossless codecs, the senior citizens of the audio world which are designed to bring HD audio into the world of HD video.
Knockout
The Theta seems a little ahead of its time in some ways, as a universal player/transport (call it what you will) that anticipates changes that are already in progress in the world of audio and video. By any standards the Compli Blu is a knockout piece of equipment.
It's presence helps to highlight the true potential for the new fledgling generation of HD audio codecs from Dolby and dts. And yet it supports the legacy formats, SACD, CD and even DVD-Audio, with real depth and conviction.
Related Links
| |
Read More ...
Review: Music First Audio Moving coil step-up transformer
Boosting delicate low-level signals from a moving coil pickup cartridge is one of the most difficult challenges in audio, because the gain required is huge. The slightest problem with noise or RF is emphasised to an alarming degree. It gets worse: things like circuit layout are hyper-critical. Slight errors in track routing or grounding, that would pass virtually unnoticed at line level, can produce significant losses of sound quality or noise with a phono stage. MFA's Moving Coil Step-up transformer is not a complete phono preamp, but the all-important first-stage.
It needs to be partnered with a phono-stage featuring RIAA equalisation and a standard type MM input sensitivity/impedance. Since nearly all modern phono stages include the option of a solid-state MC step-up device, you may wonder what's the point of this MFA device? Aren't you buying something you already have?
The simple answer is – yes; but that misses the point. Being (in effect) a passive device, a step-up transformer produces virtually no noise. It is, therefore, especially effective when used with ultra-low output MC pickups – say, those with an output voltage of less than 100uV.
While ultra-low output cartridges are usable with solid-state step-up preamps, you're on the borderline so far as noise and gain are concerned. An LP cut at a low volume level may require an increase in gain that reveals excessive preamp hiss.
High class
The MFA is a fairly minimalist device, with a single set of inputs and outputs and a three-position switch that offers a choice of 14, 20, or 26dB gain, plus an impedance switch.
When correctly configured and optimally positioned, the MFA should be completely hum-free. But it is very sensitive to ground loops and stray hum fields.
So you need to take care with wiring and placement. Screened interconnects are essential.
Stevens & Billington TX-103 transformers are employed and these are claimed to have a virtually flat response from about 5Hz to beyond 100kHz. Copper wire is used for the coil windings, with the option of silver at a higher cost.
Swiss-made switching
The casework is made from brushed aluminium and the unit has a classy look and feel.
High-quality, Swiss-made ELNA rotary switches, with silver contacts are employed and internal cabling is via 0.6mm silver-coated, single strand wire with PTFE insulation.
At £1,695, the MFA MC transformer is hardly inexpensive. And that's just for the copper-coil version; for those able to spend more, there's a variant with 99.99 per cent pure silver coils, priced at a cool £2,695!
For those comparing the MFA against solid-state alternatives, the former really comes into its own when partnered with ultra-low output cartridges.
With the MFA you will notice much less noise and a stronger cleaner sound. But even for those with higher output cartridges, the MFA still has tangible benefits. Put simply, through the MFA, the music sounds fuller, cleaner and more solidly focused.
Naturally, everything depends on the quality of the solid-state unit you compare the MFA to, but few (if any) will offer such a winning combination of rich, silky smoothness and focused incisive clarity.
Fine detail
The MFA – even the standard copper version – is not cheap. Yet it offers tangible improvements in sound quality and greatly reduced noise – even compared to the best solid-state MC step-up preamplifiers.
Used with MC cartridges having 300uV+ output voltage, the MFA is perhaps something of a luxury – albeit a very worthwhile one. But for those using ultra low-output (100uV or less) cartridges, the MFA transformer is all, but essential.
The sonic benefits of ultra-low output MC cartridges – incredible delicacy and subtle finesse – tend to be lost when a sold-state MC step-up is used. The MFA, however, lets you hear these cartridges at their best.
Related Links
| |
Read More ...
Scientists developing sign language for smartphones
A team of American scientists is developing technology to enable sign language via smartphones, for the deaf and hard of hearing.Engineers at the University of Washington have developed the first device that can convey American Sign Language over US mobile networks.
Phones for the deaf
"This is the first study of how deaf people in the United States use mobile video phones," said project leader Eve Riskin.
The device optimises the image clarity around the face and the hands, with scientists claiming that the data rate is down to a viable 30Kbits/sec.
The tech is called MobileASL and can also detect when either person is signing, with phones switching off broadcast mode when they are not in order to increase battery life.
Low bit rate video calling
"The point is to provide real-time video cellular communication for deaf people," says Jessica Tran, a doctoral student working on the mobile ASL project. "We are able to send video over both 3G and Wi-Fi networks at a very low bit rate."
The tech is currently being tested out with 11 participants using it in their daily lives and reporting back to the development team.
"We know these phones work in a lab setting, but conditions are different in people's everyday lives," Riskin said.
"The field study is an important step toward putting this technology into practice."
| |
Read More ...
THQ launches uDraw Pen and Tablet for Wii
THQ has launched a pen and tablet peripheral for the Nintendo Wii called the 'uDraw' for use with a painting app for the console called uDraw Studio.uDraw is what the publisher is referring to as a "GameTablet", and features a Wii Remote slot, which is how it communicates with your Wii console.
Draw-along-a-gaming
The pen is attached to the device, to ensure the kids don't lose it. uDraw features a 9 x 7-inch drawing panel and also uses the Wii Remote's buttons to control the app.
The minus-button on the Wii Remote acts as a last-action delete control, letting you (sorry, 'the kids') quickly scrap your last sloppy brushstroke.
THQ is already planning further educational drawing applications for the Wii, including a draw-along platformer called Dood's Big Adventure and a version of the family gaming classic Pictionary.
The publisher will be launching the innovative tablet-and-pen device and uDraw Studio in a $70 bundle in the US. No word as yet from the publisher on UK pricing and release plans.
| |
Read More ...
Review: Audio-Technica ATH-ES10
Portable is a vague term applied to headphones. Clearly even the chunkiest models are portable if you've got a big enough bag handy, while many would baulk at carrying anything bigger than an in-ear model. The new Audio-Technica ATH-ES10 isn't quite pocket-sized, but it's small enough to fit in a small briefcase or handbag; with the earpieces rotated it's about 25mm-thick.
We've spotted plenty of cool dudes wearing similar-size models on the street, and for the audiophile (or indeed audio professional) on the move, maybe expecting to spend quite a lot of time in trains, planes and hotels, it looks a practical proposition.
Must-have 53mm drivers
The big news on the audio front is that this model includes A-T's latest 53mm drive unit, not bad given each earpiece is only 75mm diameter on the outside. As we've noted before, 53mm is the current 'must-have' size and A-T developed this unit for high-end duty.
In this case it's housed in a closed-back surround made of titanium, with soft-leather padding which rests mostly on the ear, making this strictly a supra-aural design, though it's really betwixt and between that and circumaural.
The headband is similarly padded and that, plus the light weight, makes this a comfortable headphone, although the rather tight fit can lead to hot ears in warm weather.
Likes to go loud
The tight fit does ensure good isolation from the outside and if this doesn't quite give Etymotic-like sensory deprivation, it certainly does mitigate the annoyance of noisy surroundings.
Against that, we should report that the lead (which is very flexible) still transmits quite a lot of friction noise to the ears. Sensitivity is quite high and the moderate impedance is well judged to give ease of drive (hence good sound), but still plenty of volume from portable devices.
If A-T's numbers are to be believed, the maximum output is just about enough to blow your ears out – we didn't experiment!
Flip side
What this headphone does well, it does very well indeed. As luck would have it, we tried it out first on some well-produced classic rock and it gave a cracking performance.
The bass is just a little lifted compared with what we regard as neutrality, but only a little and the rest of the frequency range seems well balanced. At the same time, there's a really superb sense of rhythm and loads of detail, which all adds up to a highly convincing and persuasive performance.
The other side of the coin was shown by a familiar test recording of classical voice and piano. This was much less successful, both voice and instrument sounds coloured, with a synthetic quality to the piano, an uncomfortable imbalance between consonants and vowels from the singer and a general feeling that detail is blurred.
High-octane
Clearly if a reproducer sounds coloured with any one kind of sound it really is coloured, but the crucial consideration is how much that coloration affects any particular track one is listening to. It just happens that solo piano and relatively ambient male voice are the very worst things for this headphone, but with most recordings it sounds much more natural.
A couple of large-scale orchestral recordings proved that it's got nothing against classical music as such and its imaging is unusually good. These discs have plenty of detail which came through well and it was possible to hear some slight tonal balance anomalies, but nothing serious.
Clearly, the natural home of the ES10 is high-octane rock, jazz, pop and similar. It is one of those components that puts in such an energetic performance that minor blemishes in areas like tonality simply cease to matter.
With more laid-back sounds one gets used to the tone quality and sound seems to improve after a few minutes, but the right sort of music brings on a satisfied grin at the outset and total satisfaction.
Related Links
| |
Read More ...
Review: Musical Fidelity M3i
Over the last fifteen years, Musical Fidelity products have literally come in all shapes and sizes. They have sported both extremely high and comparatively low power outputs and frequently mixed a variety of valves into the mix. This has, of course, resulted in a number of interesting products, all of which incorporate design thinking from the flagship Titan power amplifier.
The M3i tested here is the entry level, full-width Musical Fidelity amplifier and it finds good company in the matching M3 CD player. It's also a styling match for the new M1 DAC, if you have moved beyond CD for music replay.
The M3i pitches into the keenly contested £1,000 amplifier market with a relatively conventional specification.
Unlike MF's rather pricier AMS units, which are entirely Class A, the M3i retains a Class A preamp stage, but the output stage is class A/B, which is a more practical proposition at this price point. This arrangement gives a claimed 70 watts per channel and in use seems unfazed by any remotely normal speaker load.
This is due, in part, to the customary care that Musical Fidelity has paid to the power supply of the M3i. The preamp section has its own power supply with separate transformer windings, effectively separating it from the power amp section. The transformer itself gives the M3i good current reserves and contributes to the ease that the M3i sets about most speaker loads.
Specs appeal
The M3i sports six line-level RCA inputs, one of which can be switched to act as a fixed input should you wish to use the M3i in an AV system. The balanced input and USB input of the larger M6 are lost, which is shame but understandable given the M3i is less than half the price.
The good news is that the M3i retains the sturdy, all-metal casework of its bigger brother (albeit in a slightly smaller size) and less the external heat sinks. As such it joins the new Musical Fidelity aesthetic that we, at least, think is rather handsome. The fit and finish is good – the all-metal casework feels sturdy and the controls are solid.
Round the back, the connections are gold-plated and well spaced, while the speaker terminals are solid enough to accept heavyweight cabling without baulking.
The M3i is also fully remote controlled, with both volume and input selection being available from the handset, as well as controls for the matching CD player. The handset itself is not the last word in elegance, but it is logically laid out and is easy to use.
A slight gripe is that the motor in the volume pot is not especially fast, so quick changes in volume are better done by hand. The result is a solid proposition at the asking price.
It is possible to find more highly specified amplifiers for the same money – internal phono stages are available, as are balanced inputs, USB or other digital connections and more power.
While, the M3i does not have these features, it retaliates with solid internal engineering and sturdy build. The power output is unlikely to constrain your choice of loudspeakers, or require you to change existing ones and the six line inputs and AV bypass ought to allow it to slot into most hi-fi or AV systems without a problem.
Ultimately, the decision on whether this is sufficient will rest on any requirement you might have for the features that the M3i does not have. It is also worth considering that elsewhere in the range, the very competitive V Series components can give the M3i, digital inputs, a headphone amp or a phono stage for a small increase in cost.
Of course, we would always encourage that any purchasing decision of this type be reached with the aid of a demonstration and should you do this, the case for the M3i grows rather stronger than from the specification alone.
Out of the box with zero running-in time, the M3i gives a good impression of what it can do. None of the key personality traits change dramatically with more hours under the belt, but there is slight sense that the amp frees up a little and becomes a little more open.
This amp is a revealing and insightful performer, able to extract great amounts of detail from recordings without losing sight of the performance as a whole. In part, this is due to a slight lift in the top-end performance, which pushes detail which can often be overwhelmed a little further forward and gives a pleasing vibrancy to performance.
This could potentially become too much of a good thing and we would advise against partnering the M3i with very forward loudspeakers, but running into a pair of Neat Momentum 4i's, the results are lively and exciting without tipping over into harshness or aggression.
Pushed very hard indeed, the M3i will harden up a little and lose some of the sweetness it demonstrates at lower volumes, but the level this occurs at is a great deal higher than what we would regard as 'normal' listening levels.
Tonality is good throughout the frequency spectrum, with instruments and vocals possessing a convincing realism and a very natural sense of attack and decay.
Special mention must go to the reproduction of piano pieces, which is a harder trick to pull off than is generally assumed and can prove a challenge for amplifiers that are rather more expensive that the M3i.
Sonic attributes
The well-lit top end and excellent tonality combines with a deep and musical low end that is amongst the best in class. The results are never less than convincing be it the reproduction of a kick drum, bass guitar or purely electronic rumble.
Give the M3i a complex and fast-moving bass line and it will reproduce it with fantastic speed and assurance that makes it a must-listen for anyone with preferences towards rock or dance music.
Timing can be a tricky concept to define and explain but by most standards the M3i has it in spades. When given gentler music to work with, this can manifest itself as if the M3i is trying to add pace and excitement to material that is less suitable for it to work this trick on. For some, this slight relentlessness might prove distracting while others will revel in this sense of liveliness.
To round off an impressive set of sonic attributes, the M3i generates a substantial and convincing soundstage with musicians placed believably within it. The results are not as panoramic as some of the competition, but neither is there the sense of sound clinging closely to speakers and giving a very 'left/ right' presentation.
Life in the fast lane
Summarised in one word, the M3i could only be described as 'entertaining'. It will replay anything with a sense of excitement and liveliness that is hard not to like. That this punch and timing is coupled to excellent tonality and soundstage and placed in a well-finished and relatively well-specified box, results in a very strong performer at the price point.
The slightly boisterous presentation it can sometimes display with gentler music may not be to everybody's taste, but many will revel in the sheer enjoyment that the M3i can bring to listening.
If this is the result of a new Musical Fidelity philosophy and an example of what we can expect in the future, then we hope it is one that the firm will follow enthusiastically for some time to come. The M3i is definitely a welcome addition to the fold.
Related Links
| |
Read More ...
Bose targets smartphone users with new headphone range
Audio specialists Bose is targeting music fans that are using their iPhones and smartphones to listen to their favourite tunes, revealing its latest range of in-ear headphones this week.Bose has released details on its new IE2, MIE2 and MIE2i 'phones, with the latter two also featuring an in-line microphone to allow you to make and receive calls on your mobile.
Music-enabled mobiles
Bose informs us that the IE2 audio headphones are "for listening on-the-go," while the MIE2 and MIE2i mobile headsets have been "designed specifically for music-enabled mobile phones."
"Each is engineered with proprietary Bose technologies for improved audio quality, and feature new Bose StayHear tips for greater stability and a comfortable fit."
Bose claims that all three headsets "offer an enhanced acoustic design using a more sophisticated application of proprietary Bose TriPort acoustic headphone structure," adding that, "Music sounds smoother and more natural, instruments have better detail and definition, and high frequencies and vocals are reproduced with improved clarity."
Bose's new soft silicone StayHear tips have been designed to attach more securely to the headset itself, while also remaining more securely in the ear while in use.
The IE2 and MIE2 will be available on August 23rd and the MIE2i will be available in October. UK pricing is still to be confirmed. For more head over to www.bose.co.uk
| |
Read More ...
Shareholder 'revolt' at Dell
Dell's shareholders are apparently unhappy with the performance of chief exec Michael Dell, with a quarter of them withholding support for the company's founder.Around 378 million of a total of 1.5 billion votes from Dell shareholders revealed an opposition to Michael Dell's continued presence on Dell's board of directors, it was revealed in a regulatory filing made public this week.
Michael Dell owns 11.7 per cent of Dell's outstanding shares.
An iconic figure
Standford Law Professor Joseph A Grundfest, told The New York Times: "Mr. Dell is quite properly an iconic figure at the company.
"It is extremely rare to have that amount of shareholder disaffection directed toward an executive who is so central to the company's past, present and future."
Dell recently paid $100 million to settle up charges of accounting fraud from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, with $4 million of that coming out of Michael Dell's own pocket.
Dell was accused of misleading investors by not disclosing the amount of money it was being paid by Intel in order to bump up the bottom line and meet its quarterly financial targets.
Dell spokesman David Frink defended his chief exec, saying: "Our board of directors has previously reaffirmed its confidence in Mr Dell's leadership and a majority of shareholders agreed."
| |
Read More ...
Microsoft integrates Facebook chat into messenger
Microsoft has announced an update for its Windows Live Essentials 2011 Beta, bringing updates like Facebook chat to messenger, video chat, facial recognition and integration with Office. Microsoft states that it has had 3 million unique users for the beta version of Messenger alone, and the feedback has helped shape the changes to the software - aka Wave 4 beta.
"First, we want to say thank you for your help, blogged Microsoft's Chris Jones.
"For Messenger alone, we had over 3 million unique users, 3.5 million updates to display pictures, 6.2 million video calls, and 7.6 million updates to status messages.
"Your beta feedback and usage has helped shape the many improvements we've made and continue to make across Messenger, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Writer, Mail, and Family Safety."
Facebook chat
One of the key additions is integration of Facebook chat into messenger - with a huge overlap between users of the social network and Microsoft's online applications.
"Many of you have been asking for Facebook chat, and it's finally here," adds Jones.
" More than half of all Messenger customers also use Facebook. With the new Facebook chat integration, you now...have one place to chat with all your friends.
"And if you use Facebook but don't use Messenger today, you now have an always-on "people app" on your PC that gives you instant access and notifications as people come online in Facebook or Messenger."
Other improvements listed by Microsoft are:
A quicker Messenger – The time it takes to sign in, and to refresh contacts and social feeds, as well as animation speed, are all faster than in previous versions of Messenger.
More efficient video chat - Messenger video chat uses 30% fewer CPU resources by offloading work to the GPU.
Better facial recognition - Photo Gallery facial recognition is improved significantly and works more quickly.
Larger movie uploads - Movie Maker will upload higher resolution movies to SkyDrive (480x640 vs. the previous 320x480).
Higher bit-rate movies - Movie Maker now supports higher quality (bit-rate) content.
Better spell-checking - Writer has significantly improved the quality of its spell-checking.
Better integration with Office - Writer is much better at retaining all formatting when you copy and paste from Word and other Microsoft Office programs.
Better handling of Gmail – Mail now automatically handles Gmail's spam and trash folders properly.
Faster web filtering - Family Safety web filtering is 35% faster than in the previous version.
| |
Read More ...
Sony announces ITV Player and movie streaming service for PS3
If the idea of watching movies and catch-up TV via your PlayStation appeals, then you will be happy to hear that Sony plans to launch ITV Player and a PS3 movie streaming service in the UK this coming October.Sony's announced at GamesCom in Germany this week that Sony will get another streaming film service called Mubi, which will launch in October.
The service will appear on the XMB, alongside iPlayer and the like.
Sony also announced that the PS3 will also be getting additional TV on-demand services, such as ITV Player.
However, the rumoured agreement with Channel 4 to bring 4OD to the platform was not mentioned.
You will access the movie streaming service via PlayTV's crossbar. Mubi will also include a number of community features, such as a forum for discussing your favourite flicks, alongside a rating system.
Ad-supported subscription packages
Costing is still to be finalised, though Sony is promising an ad-related subscription plan. We will of course bring you further news on that when we have it.
IPTV content agreements have been signed with providers in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Finland.
Finally, in addition to movie streaming on PlayTV, Sony also announced a new service called PlayTV Chat, with features such as Facebook integration and live chat with friends.
| |
Read More ...
Sony announces 320GB PS3 Move, GT5 date, Virtua Tennis Move
Sony has announced a 320GB PS3 Move bundle at GamesCom this week for €347 (£265) and a 160GB PS3 that is set to replace the current 120Gb model. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has also finally put a date on one of the most highly anticipated games of this generation, with Gran Turismo 5 set to arrive in UK stores on 3 November later this year.
Sony has also announced plans to release a Move-compatible version of Sega's Virtua Tennis 4, an announcement which is sure to get Sega fanboys everywhere hot under the collar.
Could this prove to be the definitive version of Virtua Tennis that we've hoped for for so long?
Create your own story and in-game characters
Elsewhere, Media Molecule's much-anticipated LittleBigPlanet 2 was shown off at Sony's GamesCom event this evening.
You can see the game's new trailer over on Sony's website, which shows how you can create your own music, cinematics, story, characters, controls and more.
LittleBigPlanet 2 releases on November 16 in the US, while a European date is still to be confirmed.
A beta arrives very soon. Stay tuned for updates on that.
| |
Read More ...
Sony announces 320GB PS3 Move, GT5 date, Virtua Tennis Move
Sony has announced a 320GB PS3 Move bundle at GamesCom this week for €347 (£265) and a 160GB PS3 that is set to replace the current 120Gb model. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has also finally put a date on one of the most highly anticipated games of this generation, with Gran Turismo 5 set to arrive in UK stores on 4 November later this year.
Sony has also announced plans to release a Move-compatible version of Sega's Virtua Tennis 4, an announcement which is sure to get the Sega fanboys in the audience hot under the collar.
Elsewhere, Media Molecule's much-anticipated LittleBigPlanet 2 was shown off at Sony's GamesCom event this evening.]
Create your story and in-game characters
You can see the game's new trailer over on Sony's website, which shows how you can create your own music, cinematics, story, characters, controls and more.
LittleBigPlanet 2 releases on November 16 in the US, while a European date is still to be confirmed.
A beta arrives very soon. Stay tuned for updates on that.
| |
Read More ...
Breaking: Sony announces 320GB PS3 Move, GT5 release date, Virtua Tennis Move
Sony has announced a 320GB PS3 Move bundle at GamesCom this week for €347 (£265) and a 160GB PS3 that is set to replace the current 120Gb model. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has also finally put a date on one of the most highly anticipated games of this generation, with Gran Turismo 5 set to arrive in UK stores on 4 November later this year.
Sony has also announced plans to release a Move-compatible version of Sega's Virtua Tennis 4, an announcement which is sure to get the Sega fanboys in the audience hot under the collar.
More soon.
| |
Read More ...
Orange offers up new iPhone 4 price plans
Anyone sitting on the fence when considering a new iPhone 4 may be swayed by a new offer from Orange.The fruity network is adding to its range of tariffs, basically sacrificing minutes for more data and extra elements.
For instance, where previously users would pay £35 per month on a two year plan to get 600 mins and 500MB of data, on the iPhone Extra plans users will get 400 mins, but 750MB of data as well as free sat nav through Orange Maps and 50 photo messages.
Bundle-o-rama
The iPhone Extra plans extend from £35-£75 per month, and feature between 750MB and 1GB of data- and the top end tariff beings 3GB of tethering data, 20MB of roaming data and 100 roaming minutes too.
However, the price of the iPhone 4 hasn't changed anywhere, so you'll still be paying a high premium to own Apple's latest handset (although you can get the 16GB version free if you fancy forking out £50 per month on a two year deal).
If you're still interested, then head on over to Orange's website and see if picture messages and free sat nav are the kicker you've been waiting for.
| |
Read More ...
On sale: Buying a new TV? We make it easy
TechRadar's second print magazine, the New TV Buying Guide, is now on sale.The TechRadar New TV Buying Guide makes the tricky process of buying a new TV much easier with 132 pages of dedicated buying advice, step by step guides and detailed reviews.
Organised by screen size, it makes it easy to find the right TV, whether LCD, plasma, Freeview or 3D, no matter your budget.
Plus with full explanations of the various model ranges and highlights of what ranges have reviews, you can be sure you are getting the right TV for you.
Pick it up from WHSmith or:
Buy the TechRadar New TV Buying Guide now.
| |
Read More ...
7-inch Apple iPad readied for Christmas launch?
A seven-inch version of the Apple iPad is to hit shops before Christmas, according to a report by Taiwanese media.The Economic Daily News, a Chinese newspaper-language newspaper based in Taiwan, is claiming that a smaller version of the Apple iPad (we are going out on a limb and calling it the iPad 2) is already in pre-production and could be this year's surprise Christmas hit.
Christmas release?
The article, according to Macworld, states that a number of Taiwanese companies have won the rights to develop components for the Apple iPad 2, with Chimei Innolux supplying a seven-inch screen which utilises the same in-plane switching technology the iPad uses. Currently the iPad has a 9.7-inch screen.
The Economic Daily News is also stating that Compal Electronics have been enlisted to assemble the iPad 2.
Given Apple's track record for major releases, a Christmas release does seem doubtful. If the rumours about a smaller iPad are true, then it is more likely that the company is getting its stuff together early for next year's WWDC in June.
Saying that, the Economic Daily News has a decent track record in predicting Apple-related releases.
It was one of the first to rightly note that Apple was working on a tablet device in the first place.
| |
Read More ...
11 comments:
Great article! We are linking to this great article on our
website. Keep up the great writing.
My webpage - how to make a lot of money fast
So once you have decided on what it is you want to do then you need to try and find a position that is not only partime but maybe even a
once a week job. However Forex trading is not suitable for everyone.
Many of people in India find themselves frustrated with such problems.
Here is my webpage - Part time work from home (chatspotmd.com)
Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other person's
webpage link on your page at proper place and other person will also do similar in support of you.
Here is my webpage ... co to jest cellulit
Great article.
Feel free to visit my web page: labradors
Veerу good аrticle! We will be linking to this particularly great
content onn our site. Keeρ up the great writing.
My web site sugar daddy dating site free
Je ѵoudraii vous dire que c'est clairement du bonheur de venir sur ce
site internet
Feel free to visit my web-site: gang bang hard gratuit
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I
could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter
updates. I've been looking for a plug-in like this for
quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like
this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy
reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
my web-site :: Seo Companies
Good day! I know thіs is kinda off topoic bսt I was
wondering which blog platform arе you using for this sіte?
I'm getting tired оf Wordpress becɑuse I've had issues with hackers and I'm looking ɑt options for
another platform. I would be fantastіc if yyou cοuld point me in the
direction of a good platform.
Also visіt my blߋg post: Remodeling Your Home On A Budget
For a better solution please click the link to this blog slut
(Www.Tripleeffectseyeserum.org)
You've made some good points there. I looked on the net to learn more about the issue and found
most people will go along with your views on this site.
Stop by my website :: autolocksmithdirect.com ()
This is certainly cool how to unlock iphone 5 ios 8 stay in independent from
all of the companies and judge the information plan depending on your desires and wishes.
Being unlocked means having the ability to insert
any SIM card for any mobile company and get the signal.
Post a Comment