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NEWS: The low down: Best Music Gadget 2009

Dan Sung — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:24:07 +0000

A closer look at the very best in their class

The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 are just 2 weeks away now. Public voting is live, but before you add your penny's worth, we'll be giving you the low down on each category up to the event itself to give you a better idea of which gadget you might want to support.

First up, it's the Best Music Gadget 2009. So here's a little more about the nominees and just why they deserve your vote. In no particular order...

Apple iPod touch 3rd gen

Type: PMP
Release date: 9/9/09
Price: ?149-?229
PL review rating: 8/10

There's plenty to like about the Apple iPod touch. We know the Apple's premium PMP very well these days and although the 3rd generation didn't come with a camera, as many of us had expected, it still manages to deliver in pure quality of performance. Apple didn't add much onto this edition of the device. The Cupertino cult didn't really need to.

The 16GB version was ditched for the ?229 64GB model and they each now come with voice control as well as the iPhone 3.0 software as standard. The most important boost though, has been the addition of the same hardware guts as the new and improved iPhone 3GS. Now with 256MB of RAM, an 833MHz ARM Cortex-X underclocked to 600MHz and an improved graphics accelerator, Steve Jobs' claims of a gaming device to take on the DS and the PSP are looking more realistic.

Etymotic/ACS hf2 custom fit headphones

Type: In-ear headphones
Release date: 29/4/09
Price: ?190
PL review rating: 9/10

The Etymotics hf2 in-ear headphones are a very decent set of listeners. There's no two ways about it. They're very good but they're not amazing. Let's face it, spend ?50-?100 more on earphones and you'll get better sound quality. In fact, arguably the likes of the Ultimate Ears Super-Fi and similar sets of the same class will give you a better experience than the hf2s will. However, what Etymotic has done is team up with custom mold specialists ACS to multiply the clarity of sound experienced by a factor of 10 while only extending the cost two-fold.

With the perfect size, tailor made ear buds blocking out all ambient sound from your audio experience, your PMP will give you astounding playback quality at comfortable low amplification levels where it won't distort the sound. What's more, because they fit like a glove, they're also incredibly comfortable. The hf2s themselves feature a microphone so they can be used in conjunction with an iPhone, but they'll work with anything so long as it's got a 3.5mm jack. These things simply have to be tried to be believed and have induced claims such as "life changing" from their users on more than one occasion.

Griffin MyPhones headphones

Type: On-ear headphones
Release date: 18/09/09
Price: ?26
PL review rating: 9/10

Cutting edge technology is not always the key to the perfect gadget and the MyPhones are an excellent example of that. What's great about these is that Griffin has aimed them at children and done it really well too. For just ?26 parents get peace of mind and the kids get headphones that are great to use. The sound quality is competent but the secret is that they have an always-on noise level limiter set at an ear drum-friendly 85dB no matter how hard your children might try to bypass it.

They come with a nice long cable to prevent accidents from erratic movements and the cans are customisable by the young ones who can draw their own designs to adorn their ears. Really nice idea, really well executed.

Monitor Audio Airstream 10

Type: Networked radio & music player
Release date: 08/07/09
Price: ?221
PL review rating: 9/10

We're not the only ones to have recognised the genius of the Airstream 10 this year. This superbly crafted networked radio and music player has been turning heads the tech world over. On the spec attack its audio in and out ports, its ease of Ethernet and Wi-Fi internet connection and simple set of digital file support with MP3, WMA, RA and AAC are not utterly mind-blowing. Granted, the sound quality you get out of its single 3.5-inch woofer is astonishing, but the real buzz is the way this thing looks.

There's an austere resonant quiet hum about it that exudes class and it'd simply be a pleasure to own. You do pay for that privilege with the price tag but it's the kind of device that'd look great even in 30 years' time. It does FM, DAB, internet radio and just about anything else you ask it to do with minimal fuss. A real joy.

Sonos S5 ZonePlayer

Type: Speaker system
Release date: 13/10/09
Price: ?349
PL review rating: 9/10

Sonos says that people who own one of their systems listen to music at least twice as much as they did before and the best thing about the S5 is that, for the first time, the company has finally made that dream affordable. At the very basic level it acts as a really good iPod dock without the need of an actual dock to plug your PMP into. This thing works wirelessly as well as playing back music stored on your computer networks or a NAS drive too.

It's a 5-driver speaker system, including two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in subwoofer, but you will need an Ethernet cable or the ?80 Sonos ZoneBridge to connect it to your network. Once online, it also supports Last.fm, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS in the US and Last.fm, Napster, Classical.com and Deezer in the UK. No Spotify sadly. The only other issue is that there is no remote control unless you happen to own an Apple iPod from which you can control it over your network. A lovely device with great functionality.

NEWS: Best Music Gadget 2009 nominations

Stuart Miles — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:02:39 +0000

And the nominees are...

Here are the nominations for Best Music Gadget in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009.

The following products were chosen because we feel they represent the best music gadgets on sale in the last 12 months that are available in the UK.?

The nominations are:

Sonos S5 ZonePlayer

Monitor Audio Airstream 10

Etymotic/ACS hf2 custom fit headphones

Griffin myPhones headphones

Apple iPod touch 3G

A notable commendation should also go to the Zune HD MP3 player from Microsoft. As it isn't commercially available in the UK though, we were unable to consider it for nomination.

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year released in the UK.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available in the UK between December 2008 and December 2009.

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Monday 7 December.

If you would like to order tickets to the event please visit our awards event page.

Public voting will start on Wednesday 18 November.

NEWS: Sonos Controller iPhone/iPod app gets Twitter update

Stuart Miles — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:22 +0000

New features and support for new S5 ZonePlayer

Sonos has released an update to its iPhone and iPod touch app, bringing it in line with the new?Sonos Software 3.1?update released recently for the music systems dedicated controller and computer software.?

The new update, which is now available in the Apple App Store, allows?Sonos owners?to tweet what they are listening to, as well as tweaking the menu system with new icons and logos for the relevant music service.

It also brings in support for the company's new?Sonos S5 ZonePlayer, which includes a built-in speaker. Handy, as the iPhone and the iPod touch app is the main way the company hopes to entice new users in to the streaming music system.

The Sonos controller iPhone app is available across the globe.

Read

Tags: Audio Sonos Phones Mobile phone apps Apple iPhone iPod

Sonos Controller iPhone/iPod app gets Twitter update originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:22 +0000

NEWS: Sonos Software 3.1 with Twitter support released

Amy-Mae Elliott — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:25:58 +0000

Update will let users tweet their tunes

We brought you news this was incoming, and it's now been released as Sonos makes the Sonos Software 3.1 available to all Sonos users globally.

The free one-button update integrates Twitter into the Sonos Controller interface, which means Sonos users can send the name and artist of the track playing to their friends and followers.

The Twitter functionality is available on the Sonos Controller for iPhone, the Sonos Controller 200 and the Sonos Controller for Mac or PC.

Other features of Sonos Software 3.1 include full support for the new ZonePlayer S5 which means it will work "seamlessly" with all previous products.

The update also brings a graphical music menu featuring icons and logos on the Sonos Controller for iPhone and Sonos Controller 200.

Sonos says the Controller for iPhone 3.1 is currently awaiting approval from Apple.

Tags: Audio Sonos Software updates Twitter Media streaming

Sonos Software 3.1 with Twitter support released originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:25:58 +0000

NEWS: Sonos hints at more speakers beyond S5

Stuart Miles — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:05:12 +0100

EXCLUSIVE: Could a Soundbar be in the works?

Sonos has hinted that it could make more dedicated all-in-one speaker systems for different situations in a "fire side chat" with Pocket-lint.

"It is possible", said Thomas Cullen, one of the co-founders of the company, when Pocket-lint asked him about the possibility of making a Soundbar for under the TV.

"Everything that is under the speaker is clutter", said Cullen pointing to a TV stand with the?Sonos ZonePlayer S5, and two Hi-Fi separates underneath echoing previous conversations with us.

"Or what about putting them in the ceiling?" Cullen questioned pointing to a speaker in the ceiling in the hotel suite we were in. "You could power it via Ethernet and let the mesh network do the rest".

That "mesh" network is at the core of how the system works with each ZonePlayer connecting to the system at the press of a button. Users can then get individual control over the system via a remote control that works on the same network.

"We are trying to simplify the process to two actions; your finger and your ear", says Cullen. "Your finger to control the music and your ear to listen".

The news comes off the back of the official launch of the company's new offering, the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, a 5-driver speaker system, including two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer.

Internet-connected, the system works in exactly the same way as the current Sonos system with control provided by a desktop application (in the box) although users can buy a dedicated controller or download the free iPod touch or iPhone app.

"The iPhone killed the speaker dock", states Cullen. "Here users don't have to lose the music if a phone call comes in."

The ZonePlayer S5 will cost ?349 in the UK and $399 in the US. Users will have to either cite the S5 next to their router or buy a ZoneBridge adapter that means they can then put their new speaker anywhere in the house.

Current Sonos system owners can connect the S5 to their system at the press of a button.?

NEWS: Sonos S5 brings all-in-one unit to Sonos music system party

Stuart Miles — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0100

Cheaper entry-point confirmed with kitchen-esque player

Sonos, the company that lets you to stream music around your house via a range of audio devices with the same name, has announced a new member of the family, the Sonos Zoneplayer S5.

The new model, which has a kitchen radio look and feel, will come with a built-in speaker, cost ?349 and fit into current Sonos networks at the press of button or alternatively be the starting point to the system.

Featuring a 5-driver speaker system, including two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer, Sonos is hoping that the considerably lower price point for the system will bring more people to the music system.

"Our customers tell us they listen to twice as much music after bringing Sonos into their homes", said John MacFarlane, CEO of Sonos. "The new S5 is our latest effort to simplify the Sonos experience so more people can enjoy more music than ever before".

Like other Sonos Zoneplayers, users will be able to access up to 25,000 internet radio stations and music, connected to the system via a NAS drive or computer and via music streaming services like Last.fm and Napster.

The S5’s analogue audio input lets you connect to an external audio source (such as an iPod, CD player, TV, DVD, VCR, or radio) and play music or audio on all ZonePlayers in the system.

The S5 will be available in the UK for ?349 from 10 November and in the US slightly earlier at the end of October.

Tags: Audio Sonos Networking Sonos Zoneplayer S5

Sonos S5 brings all-in-one unit to Sonos music system party originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0100