Wired@Home.blog

The iPod goes Hi-Fi

There's already been much written today about the Steve Jobs keynote, "Fun New Products" today but I thought this was worth sharing. CNET News has posted a video of Steve introducing the new iPod Hi-Fi, which brings you, in his words "home stereo quality" to your iPod.

The iPod Hi-Fi is a $349, portable speaker box with a built in amplifier and power supply. It can also run on 6 'D' batteries and charges your iPod through the dock connector. The built in iPod universal dock is compatible with any iPod with a dock connector and includes all the universal dock adapters you would need. The Hi-Fi also has a combined, analog 3.5mm and S/PDIF optical digital miniplug input on the back so it can accomodate the iPod Shuffle or any other MP3 player for that matter.

 

 

I've scoured Apple's web site but can't find any power output ratings for the built-in class D amplifier although they continue to mention the audiophile quality sound. The marketing copy reads very much like Bose.

In the Box

• iPod Hi-Fi and removable grille
• Apple Remote
• 10 iPod Universal Dock Adapters
• AC power cord
• Product documentation and user guide

Apple iPod Hi-Fi

HDTV Magazine: HD DVD Primer

HDTV Magazine has as indepth primer, or as I like to call primers, Everything you never knew you wanted to know about...". In this case, it's HD DVD you'll be learning about and just in time because if you aren't already nauseated at the thought of another format war, here it comes.

How-To: Load your iPod with DVDs

Here's a short, easy and, maybe legal or maybe not legal guide to "backing up" your DVD collection to your iPod...Putting Your DVDs on a Video iPod

[via Wired via Lifehacker]

TiVo Hack: Skipping the commercials

I guess I'm a little late to the TiVo commercial hack party but in case you were as unaware as I, here you go...

Skipping the commercials on TiVo

So here it is:

1. Play a previously recorded program
2. Press Select
3. Press Play
4. Press Select
5. Press 3
6. Press 0
7. Press Select.

That's it! Now use the small button with the right-hand arrow, located beneath the fast-forward button, to skip those nasty commercials, pushing it once for every 30 seconds you want to jump ahead.

[Thanks PVRWIRE]

Sonance Introduces Weather-Resistant Speakers for Indoor & Outdoor Enjoyment of Music

Sonance, who manufactures quality speakers for Home Audio & Home Theater applications, has created a new line of weather-resistant speakers, The Mariner Series, that can be used indoors or out so your music can follow you or, you can follow your music!

“We’ve devoted extensive development to creating the best-sounding,
highest-performing loudspeakers possible that remain reliably weather-proof under even the most strenuous environmental conditions,” says Scott Sylvester, Director of Product Strategy for Sonance. “Sound reproduction is amazing and the designer friendly cabinet integrates easily with any décor.”

They range in price depending on driver size and are sold in pairs. Sonance says they're available now from an authorized Sonance dealer.

Read the full press release

The Subwoofer That Shook The World: A True Infinite Baffled Subwoofer

After reading the articles, The Subwoofer That Shook The World and Twelve Shivas Dancing, and after viewing the pictures, I was speechless and blown away! I'm wishing now that I had a basement but those are hard to come by in Southern California. And I thought my SVS 20-39PC-Plus Subwoofer was funky...

I was totally unaware that there is this subwoofer/bass underground or, Cult of the Infinitely Baffled as they are called. I thought at first it was a group of clueless people trying to find a way through life but what I found are a bunch of bass-heads trying to build the ultimate subwoofer for Home Audio & Home Theater. I love good, clean, low bass as much or more than most people but I have to say, these guys are nuts! I say that in a respectful way because I really admire what they're all about. Like I said in the beginning of this post, I wish I had a basement!

[via Make]

How-To: Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

Tired of visiting coffee shops and paying extra to use their Wi-Fi connection? Boss says no to paying extra for High Speed Internet at hotels? I've just read two very fascinating how-to articles that will help solve these issues and get you surfing, downloading and whatever else you do with a High Speed Internet connection on the go.

The first article, Wi-Fi to Go: The Hot Spot in a Box, is by David Pogue of the New York Times and he reviews the various portable Wi-Fi routers available from several manufacturers. He goes into nice detail about the features, cost and which cellular carriers each model is compatible with.

The second article, EVDO Stompbox Project, by Tor Armundson, is a true DIY project. Once completed, you will have a sweet, low cost, portable Wi-Fi connection for your car, briefcase, hotel room or wherever you wish to use it. This project is specifically for the Verizon EVDO BroadbandAccess service.

[via Make]

NETGEAR® Teams with DS2 to Bring 200 Mbps Powerline HD Solution to Market

By turning any electrical outlet into a high-speed broadband connection, the fast 200 Mbps speeds provided by this collaboration will enable consumers to easily maximize the use of their network-enabled devices, such as digital video recorders, game consoles, personal computers, print servers or the NETGEAR Storage Central for storage, file, and print sharing, backups, Internet gaming, and video streaming. This proprietary technology using standardized DS2 chipsets will offer video Quality of Service (QoS) that makes it possible for users to seamlessly stream high-definition video throughout the entire home.

[via Engadget]

How-To: Build your own Home Theater PC

It seams that almost everyday I'm reading another article or how-to on home theater/media center computers. They are gaining popularity, especially for recording and watching HD content. I haven't taken on this project yet but when I do, you will definitely read about it. Until then, here's a great article from PC Magazine, Build It: A Homemade Media Center PC. If you've built a HTPC, please post your experiences or comments.

How-To: Play HD content on your PC

Ben @ HDBeat.com has a very interesting DIY How-To article on viewing HD content on your PC. Definately worth the read.