Klipsch has announced the launch of its ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers, apparently created for consumers "who want superior, full-range multimedia sound quality but do not want to give up the space or run the cables required for a subwoofer".

Klipsch informs us this speaker system works with iPods, other MP3 players, portable audio/video devices such as televisions, CD and DVD players, as well as laptop and desktop computers.

The ProMedia 2.0 offers the ability to simultaneously feed an audio signal (via 3.5mm jacks) from a laptop or PC and an MP3 player to the speakers for mixed sound playback.

Made up of two magnetically-shielded satellite speakers, each equipped with a 15W power amplifier while the control speaker hosts a bass level control along with the main volume, a headphone jack and auxiliary input jack for convenience.

Priced at ?119 a pair, the ProMedia Ultra 2.0 is available now from www.klipsch.co.uk, www.amazon.co.uk and other retailers.

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Klipsch iPod speakers

Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:01:36 +0000

Logic3 has announced the launch of the ScreenBeat USB speaker that's design specifically for use with laptops and netbooks.

A cylinder-shaped speaker, the ScreenBeat is made of "tough but lightweight" aluminium hooking up to a portable PC via USB, with compatibility with all Mac, PC and Linux-based computers.

The 8-inch tube offers 3 Watts of what's said to be "remarkably clear stereo sound and comes complete with a compact, protective case.

The ScreenBeat (SB332K) is on sale now from Amazon and www.logic3.com for ?19.99.

Tags: Audio Speakers Logic3 PC speakers

Logic3 ScreenBeat speaker launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:57:20 +0000

Announced in early November, we've managed to score a photo gallery and ears on with the new?Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 PC speakers?that according to the company will "revolutionise the experience" of music, video and games.

The speakers, which as you can see from the pictures look like two large towers, are stylishly designed, bringing with them some of the styling found on the B&W Zeppelin and the?Zeppelin Mini.

It's to be expected. After all the product has been built by the same team behind the company's?Zeppelin iPod speaker, and each channel contains a full range, active, near field monitor with two drive units that include an aluminium dome tweeter for snazzier treble.

Bass output shouldn't be too much of a problem either, says the company, thanks to various proprietary DSP techs that have been crammed in.

There's a headphone jack in there so you can switch over to quiet mode while at your desk and the whole system connects to your PC or Mac via a USB socket, so it can do the audio encoding and processing itself rather than letting your computer do it.

Sound wise, we heard a very early pre-production model (we actually saw them a day after the announcement, but they were empty shells) and are happy to report that they produce a very mellow sound that would happily fill your desk with sweet music. We were subjected to Seal, Razorback, and Pink, not a great choice admittedly, but the speakers coped well even though B&W were keen to point out a lot of work was still to be done. It would be interesting to see how they perform with some Dylan for vocals and Crystal Method or The Prodigy when turned up loud.?

We will wait for the final thing before giving a verdict, but from what we've heard so far, if you're looking for PC speakers with good sound and great style, this might just be the thing.

We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Bowers and Wilkins Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 Photos

PHOTOS: Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 ears on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:01:19 +0000

AQ Amigo has announced a new portable PC speaker that's designed to fit to the top of laptop screens for a stereo sound boost on the go.

Powered by NXT "Exciter" flat panel, bi-directional speaker technology it boasts USB plug and play functionality.

Compatible with both PCs and Macs, the speaker offers 2 x 1.2 Watt output, measures 260 x 60 x 25mm, weighs 170 grams and is on sale now for ?24.95.

Related links:

• Link - AQ Amigo

Tags: Audio Speakers Hardware PC speakers AQ Amigo

AQ Amigo offers screen-topping PC speaker originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:43:46 +0000

Hi-Fi manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins, which showed off its first pair of headphones the other day, has also built a pair of desktop speakers for use with computers. The MM-1 PC speakers claim to "revolutionise the experience" of music, video and games.

The product has been built by the same team behind the company's Zeppelin iPod dock, and each channel contains a full range, active, near field monitor with two drive units that include an aluminium down tweeter for snazzier treble. Bass output shouldn't be too much of a problem either, says the company, thanks to various proprietary DSP techs that have been crammed in.

There's a headphone jack, so you can plug in your own cans for a better listening experience than the jack port on your laptop or desktop. It also has a cable management system, as well as a pebble remote control that works with iTunes and Windows Media Player.

The MM-1 will be available from January. No word on pricing, but when we hear we'll let you know.

Related links:

• Photos - hands on gallery

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Bowers and Wilkins Bowers and Wilkins MM-1

Bowers and Wilkins reveals MM-1 PC speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:59:41 +0000

2009 has been something of a glass ceiling for gamers. Yes, the software has continued to come and in more inventive ways than ever, but it's been pretty much the same kinds of consoles available on the shelves. At the same time, at E3 this summer, we saw some of the most ground-breaking and exciting projects for years with motion sensitivity and augmented reality the stars of the show.

Unfortunately, there are no prizes in the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Best Gaming Hardware category for anything still caught up in the ether. The fact is what we need is feedback from people and that's exactly what we hope you give us in the comments below. Which do you think are the worthy winners?

The Machines

With the major boxes and handhelds still in their place, 2009 was very much a year of upgrades. The bloated PS3 went slim, the Nintendo DS got itself an "i" and the PSP, controversially, ditched its UMD slot favouring digital downloads with the PSP Go. With rumours already of a PSP-4000, you wonder whether that's a move that Sony regrets. Even the new gaming conundrum that is the iPod touch/iPhone only got a minor perk in power and performance with the new iPhone 3.0 software, and 3rd generation and 3GS releases. But, with apps getting all the more sophisticated, it's no longer a platform we can ignore.

Perhaps more interesting on the hardware side was the advance in PC gaming that's once again on the rise owing to a clutch of hugely popular and painfully addictive titles. Asus came out with two turbocharged super-PCs with the W90 and G60 - both featuring over 1GB of memory on the graphics units alone as well as all the usual trimmings. 2009 was also the year that Dell decided to hand Alienware the complete set of keys to its gaming line and brought out both 17 and 15-inch laptops in the familiar sci-fi-look colour schemes, complete with Alien language and more chip ports than you could shake a stick at. Even budget specialist Medion took the time to get involved with the launch of the Erazer. Naturally, it's a lot cheaper than the others, despite impressive specs, but the catch is that she ain't much of a looker.

Game controllers

With the machine manufacturers taking a breather - relatively speaking - it's given the peripheral gang an excellent chance to both catch up and really push themselves to get inventive. Naturally, those unleashing the limitless potential of the Wii have been having a lot of fun. To add to the already brimming closet of unused plastic you can now bag yourself a Wii Bowling Ball, a slightly disturbing baby doll controller for Baby and Me, a series of machine guns - as well as one that transforms into a sawn-off - and some dumbells. Mercifully, there have been some serious technological developments with the Wii Motion Plus improvement to the original WiiMote, as well as the addition of the Jog for Wii controller for fitness fans everywhere.

Probably the most interesting developments in the field have been in the controllers for the software explosion that is still the Rock Band and Guitar Hero games. You no longer have to put up with having Fisher Price-looking toys in your arms when striking out on a solo. Logitech brought out some enviable wireless instruments plus, of course, Harmonix splashed out on making guitars and even a drum kit that ape those of the Fab Four for the release of The Beatles Rock Band. Just a shame we're still waiting on the availability of the Krator Orpheous WG-07. Beyond that, Activision broke the mould with an entirely new device for DJ Hero, however there are very few opinions on just how well that's worked out as yet.

Of course, for Logitech, there's nothing peripheral about peripherals and it wasn't just music games where the company spent some money. Naturally, there's a load of mice and keyboards with their logo stamped on, but the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel and pedals complete with VR3 racer was quite clearly a drool-fest for petrol-head gamers and the G940 Flight Simulator was equally well-received by the specialists.

Last of all was the highly entertaining Novint Falcon gun controller for the PC, riding on the back of the success of games like Left 4 Dead. Anything with a realistic sense of recoil is always guaranteed to get a smile out of gamers.

Keyboards and Mice

Of course, if it's all about PC gaming for you, then there's no more important tools than your keyboard and mouse and, as ever, 2009 has seen advances here too. Whether or not, they help you get more kills is another thing altogether but at least it might make it a little easier to keep up with the pack. Logtiech has been as busy as ever with the highly inventive G19 keypad as well as the full G110 board and the G500 mouse and headset too. Razor has honed in with the RazorNaga MMO mouse with more buttons and shortcuts than ever right where you need them - all very well if you can remember what they're for - and Sidewinder has stuck with wireless and produced the X8 mouse which the company considers to be the fastest in the world.

Audio

Audio is rarely top of most people's lists for gaming, but add the right piece of kit and it can add a profound finish to your experience. If you need to do things on the quiet Verbatim, Sennheiser and Creative have each come up with excellent value solutions at a respective price increase. Whether you're after a heavy sub, some in-ear isolation or on-ear noise cancelling, they represent something for everyone.

Of course, if you're happy to blast the premises, Creative and Logitech have sculpted and tuned several high quality and good looking options for serious desktop power and Altec Lansing have gone and invented something highly unique for the home in the shape of a stage-monitor type speaker for guitar console games. You can even put your foot on it like you're really there having underwear thrown at you. Hello Cleveland!

Displays

Last of all come the screens on which you get to enjoy your interactive entertainment, and 3D has been the new projector in 2009. Yes, the likes of Epson, Optoma and LG are still supplying some wonderful hardware to make your Street Fights 60 inches tall, but ViewSonic, Nvidia and Vuzix are working on the idea of your avatars actually leaping out and punching you in the face. Admittedly, this works with varying degrees of success, depending upon whether you're going for a goggles or traditional monitor solution but it's certainly a serious edge that can add to the fun.

What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Gaming Hardware 2009? What have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

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Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - games
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - software, services, apps
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - laptops

Tags: Gaming Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Xbox PlayStation Nintendo PC games Mice And Keyboards Keyboards Mice Speakers PC speakers Logitech

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - gaming hardware originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Teufel has unveiled a pair of PC speakers, the Concept B 200. Intriguingly they connect via USB rather than through the typical 3.5mm jack, meaning that they include a sound card and amplifier, allowing the quality to be ramped up above the bog-standard sound devices that are usually found built into motherboards.

It's a 2.0 system, with four 30W power amplifiers in a metal case which supply juice to high and mid-low drivers in each speaker. That USB connection also powers the system, meaning that you won't have to plug them in, either. The amp also includes a USB hub for connecting other devices.

Teufel says that the speakers?"offer incredible sonic performance over a USB connection without a sky-high price tag". We'll let you be the judge of that. The Concept B 200 USB speakers cost ?184, and are available now.

Read

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Teufel Teufel Concept B 200

Teufel unveils Concept B 200 speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:36:59 +0000

MSI has announced the launch of new PC peripherals in the UK with the Syren Speaker Mini going on sale.

Available in black or white, MSI says they are "specifically designed to be used with laptops, netbooks, PCs and all in one machines".

The 2 Watt speakers have a built in Class D amplifier, LED lighting and hook up to a computer via USB.

Complete with a travel pouch, the MSI Syren Speaker Minis are priced at ?19.99 and are available from ebuyer.com.

Tags: Audio Speakers MSI PC speakers Ebuyer

MSI launches Syren Speaker Mini originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:23:57 +0000

Creative has announced a set of wireless speakers for your PC - the Creative Inspire S2 Wireless. The set comprises of a subwoofer and two satellites, as well as a tiny Bluetooth dongle which you plug into a USB port on your computer to bring the noise.

Each satellite measures 7.4 x 7.3 x 10.3cm, which Creative reckons is small enough to make them most useful for laptops. They have a range of about 10 metres, and contain dynamic 2-inch drivers which apparently emit "well-balanced audio". The subwoofer contains a front driver and rear-firing port tube that should mean that more bass reaches you - rather than getting lost in the floor or walls.

If you're finding your neighbours complaining, then there's a control knob on the subwoofer that should allow you to turn it down (or up, if they've been stealing plastic flamingos from your front garden). There's a remote control on the right speaker which has an aux-in input, a headphone-out connection and a LED that displays speaker status.

The Inspire S2s are available now and cost ?130. A wired version is also available, for ?70.

Read

Tags: Audio Speakers Creative Creative Inspire S2 PC speakers

Creative introduces Inspire S2 speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:48:08 +0100