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Sharp announces HT-SB500 soundbar at CEDIA, some iPod docks too

by Nilay Patel posted Sep 11th 2009 at 5:58AM


Sharp mostly re-announced stuff we're already seen at CEDIA today, but it did have a new soundbar for us -- the $349 3.1-channel HT-SB500, which adds a center speaker to the usual stereo setup. Sharp says the bar can use Dolby Virtual Speaker to simulate 5.1 audio from DTS, Dolby Digital, and Pro Logic II sources, which is almost but not quite extremely interesting. There are also two new iPod docks, the $189 DK-AP8P and the $129 DK-AP7P, both of which should do a fine job of providing adequate audio on the go, with batteries that last up to six hours at a clip -- and the cheaper one apparently folds up into itself, so that's very fancy.

P.S.- That's a picture of the older HT-SB300 up there -- the SB500 has a redesigned control panel, but Sharp hasn't released images yet.

Brando HD Media Player Docking Station does multi-format 1080p

by Paul Miller posted Jul 27th 2009 at 2:56PM


It seems that Brando can't go a month without bringing out yet another slightly-improved domicile for your orphaned SATA HDDs. Following in the footsteps of the very recent Multimedia Dock, the latest unit adds H.264 decoding to the already present DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4, while output graduates to full 1080p. Featuring HDMI and a plethora of supported media formats, the humble docking station has certainly grown up, but is it enough to compete with standalone media players? Input flexibility would suggest so -- the new device accepts 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives, alongside USB flash memory, SD, MMC, and MS cards -- but alas, Brando loses the plot at the final hurdle, asking for an astronomical $199. With prettier alternatives available at half the price, this is unlikely to sell like hotcakes, but Brando's breakneck refresh cycle give us the feeling it won't be long before we see that perfect do-it-all dock.

Movie Cowboy iPod media streamer goes heroic with DC branding

by Darren Murph posted Apr 24th 2009 at 9:06AM


We won't front -- our heart goes into overdrive each time Japan's own Digital Cowboy births a new product, and we're especially jazzed about its latest Movie Cowboy. Known for introducing markedly outré home entertainment gear, the company's freshest piece is an iPod-friendly HDD-based media streamer that inexplicably boasts branding from DC Comics. So far as we know, the DC-MC35ULI doesn't come loaded with a director's cut of Watchmen, but it does provide room for a single 3.5-inch hard drive along with an Ethernet jack, USB 2.0 sockets, coaxial / optical digital audio outputs, HDMI, a few composite hookups, iPod streaming and charging capabilities and support for an array of file formats. Still, for ¥24,800 ($255), we'd definitely expect some built-in storage... or the promise of eternal invisibility, one.

[Via Impress]

Gallery: Movie Cowboy iPod media streamer goes heroic with DC branding

Meridian's iRIS iPod dock upscales videos to 1080p via HDMI

by Darren Murph posted Sep 5th 2007 at 4:50PM


If you're having a flash of déjà vu, fret not, as this device certainly isn't the first from Meridian to output 1080p content from your iPod. Unveiled today, the iRIS universal dock for iPod claims to pump out your stored videos in resolutions as high as 1080p via HDMI, all thanks to the "high-end video upconversion processing." Of course, we're admittedly skeptical about how well this thing truly walks the talk, but nevertheless, users who opt for component outs instead of HDMI can purportedly witness 720p / 1080i content straight from their Pod. Notably, the Qdeo technology is said to "further incorporate advanced DSP for per-pixel, motion-adaptive video processing that corrects both color and contrast losses," and while there's no word on whether this thing plays nice with the new family of iPods, users will enjoy the coaxial / optical audio outputs, headphone and line-level outs, and the HDMI input for external sources. We know you're intrigued, so look for this bad boy to land in November for $379.

BEXY's iMirror remotes your iPod, enriches your life

by Joshua Topolsky posted Aug 22nd 2007 at 3:52PM


Are you feeling constrained by your iPod, tired of plugging in unsightly and unnecessary cables, and just ready to break free of your earphones and start remotin' the hell out of your music collection? Well if that's the case, you might want to check into BEXY's iMirror; a dock, remote control "mirror" (i.e., it displays what your iPod does), and video-out for your player (with video, obviously) that lets you snap your chains and get out of the box... literally. The iMirror can charge and sync your pod via USB, output audio from RCA or mini-phono jack connectors, control playback via the remote, and pipe archaic S-Video output to your TV for the viewing of fond memories -- and it does it all for the low, low price of $149.99. Sure, we've seen products like this before, but this particular iteration is definitely better looking than most, and certainly a more practical solution than say... using your teeth.

Keeping it real fake, part LXX: Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff

by Erik Hanson posted Aug 13th 2007 at 12:29PM

Blue Raven Maestro 1070 iPhone hi-fi dockBlue Raven has introduced the Maestro 1070, an iPhone and iPod hi-fi docking station, with 70 watts powering a 5" center sub and two 3" satellites. Looking suspiciously like the official iPod Hi-Fi -- but with handles on the side, not the top!! -- the universal dock accepts and charges Apple's hardware, and also has an auxiliary port for those rocking other players. The Maestro includes a video-out jack for connecting to a television, a 12-key remote control, comes in black or white, and retails for $199.

GEAR4's HouseParty Blu system handles iPods and A2DP streaming

by Darren Murph posted May 11th 2007 at 8:01AM

There's iPod sound systems, and then there's Bluetooth streaming music stations, but GEAR4 is looking to meld both worlds together with its new HouseParty Blu. The multifaceted speaker station allows dock-connecting iPods to flank the top and recharge its battery while cranking out the jams, and moreover, it doesn't shun the elegant A2DP audio streaming capabilities of your BT-enabled music phone in the process. As with most portable sound systems, this one also includes a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary input for every other music source in the world, and specs wise, you'll find a pair of stereo drivers, 30-watts of amplification, touch-sensitive backlit buttons, and a wireless remote. So if you've been keeping an eye for a noise maker that would natively play nice with your Pod and mobile, you can snap up GEAR4's latest for a reasonable £79.99 ($159) right now.

Creative releases Xdock, i600, and i500 iPod docks

by Erik Hanson posted Apr 11th 2007 at 4:51PM

Creative Xdock Wireless for iPodsCreative continues to cater to the iPod crowd with three new lines of docking accessories for Apple's players, including two with speakers, and one for pairing with home theaters or televisions. The X-Fi Sound System i600 is a copy of Creative's Z600 for Zen Vision:M, and the Playdock i500 and TravelSound i are modifications of the Zen's Z500 and TravelSound Zen V, all three going the built-in speaker route. Finally, the Xdock Wireless, which we first saw at CES, connects wirelessly to X-Fi remote receivers. From there it's wired to powered speakers or a home theater through line out, digital audio, S-video, or composite. Now let's hope Creative will put some of that iPod accessory income to good use building the next Zen Vision player.

Sony introduces Bravia TDM-IP1 iPod dock

by Erik Hanson posted Apr 3rd 2007 at 6:50PM

Sony Bravia iPod dock
These days, it seems like no home theater is complete without an iPod accessory of some sort, so why should your new Sony Bravia LCD HDTV be any different? Now you can officially get your groove on with the TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port dock, which unlike Sony's other stab at iPod docking, connects your compatible Bravia set with your iPod and charges it while playing back your favorite audio and video media. It retails for $99, which is way overpriced for a video iPod dock, but this is Sony after all.




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