Design & Looks

The Chinese company sE Electronics’ vocals microphone classic is the sE2200A, a large-diaphragm studio microphone that connects through Balanced XLR cable. For some time, sE Electronics has been offering a special version of the sE2200A. The resulting USB2200A is stuffed with high-performance custom-designed electronic circuitry and has both a USB and analogue connection capability.

Its looks are open for discussion; you either love it or hate it.

Performance

The USB2200A is an all-round microphone for vocals, voice-overs, podcasts and whatever else you can think of that employs the human voice and is meant to enhance an online or otherwise digital multimedia experience. We tested the USB2200A with our own voice, but also while whistling. We tested it in different surroundings, with and without sound-muffling material in front of the microphone.

The results were always pleasing, the USB2200A showing off its capacity to produce stunningly accurate and sometimes warm sound. The USB connection enables you to create dual mono output, so that telling a story without someone being interviewed at the other side sounds as good as when two persons are talking to each other. The microphone does have a cardioid polar pattern, so most sound is picked up directly in front of the mic.

User Friendliness

Except for a too small turning knob that allows you to set the sound pressure of the included monitoring headphone connector, the microphone handles like all studio mics. Ideally it has to be either suspended or attached to a microphone stand. The USB2200A isn’t heavy, so you can use a cheap stand at that.

Mac OS X users can plug in the (USB) microphone and it will be automatically recognised by all audio applications. When connected through the XLR cable, the USB2200A becomes an analogue mic, and therefore requires a microphone amplifier capable of providing phantom power. On the Mac platform, an Apogee Duet delivers stunningly beautiful results.

Price & Availability

The sE Electronics USB2200A isn’t cheap at approx. 300.00 EUR. But for the price you’ll get a professional studio microphone that can do double duty in analogue and digital recording environments.

Design & Looks

Altec Lansing, the sound specialists, today announced the launch of the new inMotion iM500, the company’s most compact portable audio system to-date. Light in weight and superbly thin for maximum portability, the iM500 speaker system perfectly partners the iPod Nano; slim, sleek and portable and with an output that defies it’s size.

Performance

The iM500 features an ingenious foldaway design and packs quite a punch in both sound volume and quality, making it perfect for sharing music on the move. Super thin, the iM500 is a tiny 21.5cms (8.5”) wide, 1.8cms (0.7”) deep and 1.2cms (5”) high. Weighing in at only 340grams (12 ounces), the compact speaker system is similar in thickness to a DVD case and perfectly compliments the ipod nano.

User Friendliness

The iM500 can be powered by either AC mains or six AAA batteries, providing up to 8 hours of continuous play and includes a protective carrying pouch.  The built-in iPod docking station charges and synchs the iPod nano, and the auxiliary jack enables users to plug in other audio devices, including other iPods, CD, MP3 and portable DVD players.

The inMotion iM500 portable speaker system is available in consumer electronic stores and online at http://www.alteclansing.com at an MSRP of 99.99 EURO

Design & Looks

The new Philips LFH 7890–MKII is now available. This multimedia memo recorder features the world’s biggest capacity for as many as 576 hours of digital voice recording. Ergonomically and stylishly designed, it is easy to carry with you, weighs just 50 grams and slips into any bag or pocket.

It’s a memo recorder, but also a MP3 music device. In these modern times, we can’t stand to be without noise, can we?

Performance

The Philips LFH 7890-MKII marks a new phase in crystal clear digital stereo voice recording for anyone wanting to make and store spoken digital notes anywhere, anytime. Users can select from various quality levels for recording. On-the-move listening to music and radio news on the built-in FM stereo radio, recording (programmed) and listening to it in high quality MP3 are among the unique possibilities of this multifunctional companion. It’s not really noise the Philips makes, after all.

Apart from listening to the radio and playing music through earphones or the built-in loudspeaker, you can also use the LFH 7890-MKII for storing data. A USB flash memory of up to 1 Gigabyte allows you to take digital files, such as Word documents, PowerPoint, XLS or photos with you anywhere. Ideal for the traveller on the move is the clock and built-in alarm with timer. Simple to set, the alarm plays back a pre-set voice message.

User Friendliness

Using the software included enables you to download, manage, shorten or split files and to select them for sharing via email. This is ideal for students wanting to archive and share recorded lectures, or journalists wanting to record interviews, quotes and other sound bites. The Philips memo recorder is also indispensable for fitters or architects, those with commercial occupations such as representatives, psychologists wanting to record their consultations with patients, account managers and frequent traveller entrepreneurs wanting to make notes at those times when using pen and paper is inconvenient or not possible.

Often it is also to be found on the bedside table of creative people who do not want forget an idea that comes to them at night. The voice recorder is optimised with variable microphone sensitivity for close or distant recording, and there are connections for external microphones and the supplied stereo microphone and earphones. USB enables recordings to be transferred lightning fast to and from the PC for emailing spoken notes or saving the files.

Design & Looks

Dymo is known for its labelling products, but recently, the company has added an oddball to its product range: a direct-to-disc inkjet printer. The new contraption is called DiscPainter and resembles an inkjet like my foot. DiscPainter rotates the disc while printing --euh, sorry: painting. When I first saw it, and read the mumbo-jumbo on Dymo’s web site, I thought to have discovered yet on of those hypes that is as short lived as a white rat in a pharmaceutical lab.

But when I got the chance of reviewing the DiscPainter, I was quickly enchanted with the DiscPainter’s performance and features. If you want to read the review, visit the DiscPainter review on IT Enquirer.

Performance

On Gadget Weekly, we don’t do reviews. We casually talk about stuff that has the looks and functionality to become hypes all by themselves. Well, the Dymo DiscPainter may look strange at first, but it has all the characteristics to become an overnight success.

Especially its sparing usage of ink is something to embrace.

Design & Looks

Mobility and elegance are the hallmarks of the new External 2.5” Hard Drive from Verbatim --but especially elegance, as you can see from the photo. With storage space for up to 320 GB, the new Verbatim portable drives are perfect for sharing data securely and quickly with friends and business colleagues.

The slim-line hard drives weigh just 150 grams, fit comfortably into the palm of the hand and offer unbeatable convenience for life on the move. They can be carried around with the utmost ease, pop one into the inside pocket of jacket or drop it into a handbag.

When it comes to design, Verbatim has stayed true to the idea that slim and stylish is beautiful. The new hard drives shine in their fine black and silver case, harmonizing perfectly with the design of the latest laptops. Verbatim’s mobile hard drives are also compatible with the latest operating systems - Vista (Windows) and Leopard (Mac). Depending on customer needs, the drives offer storage capacities of 120GB, 160GB, 250GB or 320GB and are priced at between £49.99 and £119.99 (RRP). 

Design & Looks

Altec Lansing says the VS2421 delivers powerful, full spectrum sound from custom-engineered, dual 2.5” satellite speakers and a slim 5.4” subwoofer which has been designed to fit easily under the user’s desk (the system can be wall mounted to maximise desk space).

This compact 2.1 speaker trio is said to deliver rich sound and features an innovative built-in microphone that makes the VS2421 perfect for VoIP and interactive gaming. This voice capability allows the user to make phone calls over the internet without the need for a handset, headset or extra cables. An automatic feedback cancellation feature is included as standard. Hmm, I’m sure that works well, but I’ll stick to my Ipevo handset if you don’t mind…

Performance

The VS2421’s innovative control pod, which is part and parcel of the new sound system, has a true plug-and-play AUX input for alternative sound sources, such as iPod, MP3 or CD player, and has a conveniently located headphone jack for private listening.  The control pod allows fingertip command of volume, tone and mute functions.

The system’s innovative tri-ported design provides three system ports in the satellites and subwoofer to extend the lower frequency response. Additionally, the black design with dark red detail lifts the new speakers above current mass market offerings.

An integrated power supply, eliminating the clumsy brick plug common with other PC speakers in this price category adds a further advantage to the design and ergonomics of the VS2421. The Altec Lansing VS2421 sound system is now available with an RRP of 49.99 euros. 

Design & Looks

Altec Lansing debuts the T612 digital audio system for the iPhone and new iPod family of products. The T612 provides crisp sound for music and multimedia, while also featuring iPhone incoming call support.

iPhone In-Call Support

The T612 complements key features of the iPhone, including support for incoming calls. If a call comes in while music is playing, the iPhone gives priority to the call by pausing the music. Once the call is completed, the iPhone is re-docked in the T612 and the music resumes playing the same song in the same place.

Performance

The T612 also supports internal GSM shielding to keep its speakers from picking up potential intermittent noises emitted by the iPhone or other mobile devices.
Designed after Altec Lansing’s successful M602 digital audio player, the T612 features powerful neodymium speakers and XdB bass-enhancement technology for exceptionally rich audio reproduction and solid bass response for a desktop system of its size.

The T612 sports Apple’s Universal Dock to play and charge all iPhone and new-generation iPod models. In addition, the rear of the T612 provides a standard auxiliary-in jack for connection for MP3 players and audio devices.

The T612 utilizes Apple’s Class 5 authentication chip, giving additional control features for both the iPhone and iPod via the wireless remote. Users can now shuffle songs, access the menu as well as Track Back, Track Forward, Play/Pause, control the Bass, and Treble, Power On/Off and control the Volume.

Available in Springtime 2008, the Altec Lansing T612 system will be sold at leading CE retailers and is priced in the region of £139 (inc VAT)/ €199 (inc VAT).

Design & Looks

Altec Lansing, the Sound Specialists, today launched their first Bluetooth stereo speaker - the SoundBlade. Designed to release the music of Bluetooth stereo enabled devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and laptops, the SoundBlade is essential for music loving users on the move.

The SoundBlade stereo Bluetooth speaker system has a stylish look. It sounds as good as it looks; the sound panel features dual 2 inch full-range high output drivers, SRS TruBass and full stereo Bluetooth v.2 for wireless connectivity with most stereo Bluetooth mobile phones and laptops.

Equipped with AVRCP, a mobile handset can be used as the remote control, giving two-way remote volume, mute and track forward/back. The “blade-like” design, carried over from the successful iM500 iPod speaker, measures 6.125” H x 11.125” W x 1.0” D (15.6 CMSS X 28.3 CMS X 2.54CMS) for easy portability. Supporting both AC and battery power, the SoundBlade delivers up to 24 hours of continious playback on 6AA batteries.

Performance

“The trend is clear, people love to listen to their music on the move, with their phones, on their MP3 players and laptops” says Luc Ackaert, the European Marketing Director for Altec Lansing. “Our goal is to give consumers what they need to enjoy and share their mobile entertainment lifestyle with easy, portable and powerful speakers.The SoundBlade is perfect for people who listen to music on the go, super thin and lightweight with fantastic sound.”

Weighing only 455g and only 1 inch thick, the SoundBlade is ideal for business travellers who demand great quality sound from a speaker that can easily fit into any laptop luggage. With a built-in echo-canceling microphone the SoundBlade also converts to a wireless speakerphone, ideal for conference calling.

The SoundBlade will be avalable in stores from March and will costs in the region of €119.99 / £89.99 inc VAT.