If you spend a long time with multimedia appliances, you would be wondering the necessity of a centralized control for all your media devices being used with the setup. Since, every multimedia device incorporates a good list of features, the ability to control the same becomes a bit complex.

But technology has driven our life towards a better experience with all the advancements, and it has become immediate to grab the control. Yamaha NeoHD, the remote control for devices connected that can centrally control any devices connected to the home entertainment system.

Not only can the Media Controllers seemlessly control a large number of sources, they can function as an IR remote junction. Three IR outputs allow wireless control of up to six other AV components. For example, the customer can operate a TV, a Blu-ray player and a game system using the neoHD remote control. A vast IR code library is built in, and the remote has sophisticated code-learning capability.

No more multiple remote controls sitting on the couch or coffee table. Now the customer needs only one! And people who are intimidated by large remote controls with many buttons will like this one. In addition to power, volume, channel and mute buttons, it has just a few others plus a cursor for making selections via the on-screen interface. The message is: “Not complicated! and Family friendly!”

In keeping with the overall design concept, the GUI (graphical user interface) is clean and simple, with cool, minimal graphics. It provides activity-based operation, which is more natural than just selecting from text menus. The user simply selects Watch, Listen or Play using the remote cursor, then chooses the desired source. All the other menus, such as song lists, are also easy to view, understand and make selections from. In addition, this attractive GUI provides high quality images, such as iPod or Rhapsody album cover art.

neoHD can display pop-up menus and a virtual remote control* on the bottom of the screen. They are unobtrusively overlaid on top of what is on the screen. The pop-up menus provide quick access to various functions. The virtual remote control makes it easier to control connected components.

* When the virtual remote control menu is displayed, the cursor keys on the remote operate the virtual remote control. When virtual remote control is off, the cursor keys control the source device.

eoHD Media Controller
Enjoy all your AV sources with a single high quality media controller. One remote control gives you total media management.
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neoHD WiFi Media Controller
Enjoy all your AV sources plus music streaming from your computer, Internet Radio and Rhapsody content.
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neoHD 2.1 system
A great system that includes a neoHD Media Controller, 2 stylish speakers and a powerful subwoofer
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Air Surround Xtreme

Achieves surround sound with clarity and sound imaging unlike any other two-speaker system. You can hear clear dialogue from the front, with distinctly separate surround sounds and smooth movement around the sound field.

7.1ch technology: Articulate Sound Source Expressions from Various Directions: ”The AIR SURROUND XTREME has employed a newly developed virtual 7.1ch technology that can independently recreate the surround-channel and surround-back-channel in stereo.  The result of it is the clearly and amazingly identifiable sound sources from various directions”.

Position Mode: Sideways Shift of the Most Effective Listening Point: ”This mode is capable of shifting the most effective listening spot on the row while keeping the sound field of multi-channel program. The amazing ability to shift the best listening point by a mere balance adjustment has enabled to provide an idealistic surround effect, even when listening not exactly in between two speakers”.

Wide Mode: Widening of Surround Effective Area: ”The “Wide Mode” is for two to three people listening laterally. Our original technology, “multi-points cross talks canceling” process has enabled to create a comfortable surround feeling in much larger area, adding a further value to the AIR SURROUND XTREME for the enjoyment with more than two people”.
Dolby TRUE HD
Dolby® TrueHD is Dolby’s next-generation lossless technology developed for high-definition disc-based media. Dolby TrueHD delivers tantalizing sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master, unlocking the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs. When coupled with high-definition video, Dolby TrueHD offers an unprecedented home theater experience that lets you enjoy sound as stunning as the high-definition picture.
DTS Digital Surround
The basic DTS 5.1 channel sound format. Uses a higher data rate than Dolby Digital.
HDMI
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first and only industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. With the ability to deliver crystal-clear, all-digital audio and video via a single cable, HDMI dramatically simplifies cabling and helps provide consumers with the highest-quality home theater experience. HDMI can provide an interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV), over a single cable.

Depending on the model of product, HDMI can support standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable . It can transmit all ATSC HDTV standards and supports 8-channel, 192kHz, uncompressed digital audio and all currently-available compressed formats (such as Dolby Digital and DTS), newer HDMI devices can support HDMI 1.3 technology which adds additional support for new lossless digital audio formats Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™.

(view the Specifications of each product for details on HDMI compatibility)
USB
This unit is equipped with a USB port that allows you to enjoy WAV (PCM format only), MP3 and WMA audio files from a USB memory device (USB flash drive).
CINEMA DSP Digital
Conventional multichannel audio reproduction systems base their sound on Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, using matrix and steering technologies to create surround sound effects. Yamaha CINEMA DSP is much more advanced, actually creating richly realized independent sound fields that envelop you in an unmatched surround sound experience. With dialogue, music and effects from ideally located in these separate sound fields, you will hear sound with accurate placement, smooth movement, exceptional clarity and richness, and startlingly realistic presence. It will seem as if the walls of your room have disappeared and you are in the middle of your own immense theater! The decoding circuitry performs Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES (DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 and DTS-ES Discrete 6.1), DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24 decoding with extreme accuracy, as well as all digital sound field processing.
Compressed Music Enhancer
Yamaha employs sophisticated digital signal processing with exclusive algorithms to enable playback that improves the performance of compressed music formats, including MP3 and WMA. With the Compressed Music Enhancer, highs and especially lows are richer and smoother, bringing music back to life to be as close to the original as possible.
YPAO Automatic System Calibration
Yamaha’s YPAO system uses a small microphone and sophisticated equalization to automatically set the best sound for any room, no matter where the speakers are. First it checks the speaker connections and phase of each speaker. Then it sends out tones which are captured by the microphone to analyze the room acoustics and sets a variety of parameters, such as the speaker size, the distance of the speakers and even the sound pressure level, etc. Until it achieves the best sound conditions for your room and you don’t have to do anything!
YMC-500 neoHD MEDIA CONTROLLER
TV, movies, music…it’s all right at your command. Get ready for beautiful images and dynamic sound with ultra-easy control.

The neoHD Media Controllers are completely different than ordinary AV receivers. Instead of more functions, more buttons and more complicated operation, their basic concept is simplicity. You can connect all the equipment that you use to enjoy audio and video, and operate them all with one simple remote control! No more bother with multiple remotes. The on-screen display has an icon-based interface that’s extremely easy to use, and the sound system is also simplified—you’ll enjoy realistic surround sound even from just two speakers. neoHD: one look tells you this is a new idea in home entertainment.
MAIN FEATURES

* Easy Operation GUI
* Simplified remote control
* 1080p-compatible HDMI (3 in / 1 out)
* Video upconversion to HDMI
* HD audio format decode
* iPod / Bluetooth compatibility via optional accessories

* USB port for music and photo playback
* AIR SURROUND XTREME
* CINEMA DSP
* Adaptive DRC
* Compressed Music Enhancer

No studying manuals, no confusing procedures
—just quick and easy operation
First you have to set up your AV system for optimum surround sound. Complicated? Not at all! In fact, the neoHD Media Controller does it all for you, using Yamaha’s automatic YPAO setup system. Then its time to start enjoying your music, games, TV and movies from any of the sources you’ve hooked up.

Operation is refreshingly simple…even the basic design of the remote control is reassuring. All you need to do is touch a few buttons and adjust the volume. No complicated choices or adjustments are necessary. And you’ll really like the clear and simple GUI (graphical user interface). You simply select Watch, Listen or Play using the cursor on the remote control, then choose your desired source. All the other menus, such as song lists, are also easy to view and understand.
neoHD YMC-500 Network
Click Image to Enlarge

neoHD Control

Yamaha AIR SURROUND XTREME
Yamaha’s exclusive AIR SURROUND XTREME achieves surround sound with clarity and sound imaging unlike any other two-speaker system. You hear clear dialogue from the front, with distinctly separate surround sounds and smooth sound movement around the sound field.

Specifications
Channels     5.1
Dolby TrueHD     •
DTS     •
Dolby ProLogic IIx     •
DSP Programs     5
Adaptive DRC     •
Air Surround Xtreme     •
Compressed Music Enhancer     •
HDMI Auto Lip Sync     •
Analog Video to HDMI Upconversion     •
HDMI Pass-through     •
Deep Color 30 / 36 Bit     •
x v Color     •
YPAO (w/Optimizer Microphone)     •
On-Screen Display     • (GUI w/ HDMI Overlay)
Simplified Main Remote Control Unit     •
Main unit cablable of Learning IR Commands     •
Firmware Upgradeable     • (via USB)
Wireless Capability (802.11b/g)
Ethernet Connection (10/100)
1080p Compatible HDMI (In/Out)     • (3 / 1)
Component Video Inputs     2
Composite Video Inputs     1
Digital Inputs (O: Optical, C: Coaxial)     (O: 1, C: 1)
Analog Audio Inputs     1
Remote Control IR Ports (In/Out)     • (1 / 3)
Speaker Terminals     5 Ch
Subwoofer Output     •
Dock Port     • (for optional YDS-11/YBA-10)
USB Input* (Photos, Music)     •
Internet Content
Local Area Network (LAN) Content
Access to PC/Mac iTunes Library
iPod Music     • (w/ optional YDS-11)
Bluetooth (A2DP) Audio     • (w/ optional YBA-10)
Product Dimensions (W x H x D)     11-3/4″ x 3-5/8″ x 12-3/8″
Product Weight     7.9 lbs
Shipping Dimensions (W x H x D)     16-1/8″ x 7-1/4″ x 14-7/8″
Shipping Weight     11 lbs.

World leaders in environmental movement urges that alternative energy resources should be discovered and utilized to make the world a better place for the next generation.

Solar Power, which is an enormous source of power has always been a point of focus. The developments in Solar Energy as a renewable and efficient energy source for the people around the world are getting popular. The only problem has been the complexity and technical skills required in setting up a solar panel and maintaining it. Good news spread really fast and in recent years, scientists have developed and nourished a technology through which solar cells can be made with plastic components only that can turn the sun’s huge power into electrical energy regardless of the clouds in the sky.
The plastic material used to produce electric current from  solar power uses nanotechnology through harnessing the sun’s invisible, infrared rays. These cells are the first of the kind to absorb the infrared rays of the sun and turn it into power. This breakthrough has led to an idea that sooner, the plastic component based solar technology will gain more and more popularity and efficiency as well as become cost effective.

The best of the news is that the components are too light and small that the composite can be easily sprayed onto other materials, similar to the paint we use.  Plastic solar cells are nothing new but the latest development has enabled it to harness the invisible power in the infrared spectrum.

Now the form can be utilized in many different ways from charging our cellphones through the power generated by our jacket painted with solar cells or to meet our day to day power requirements.

The researchers expect that Solar Power will potentially replace traditional power sources reducing the risk of environmental damages.

Portable e-book readers sony kindle has become popular in recent days marking a future demand of the electronic book reader industry a pavement to research more and make the platform more and more user friendly. The monochrome e-book readers also known as e-papers use a very low power consuming technology that enables its users to use the device for longer period of time. Unlike other colour display technology this kind of displays give the user a less irritating view so that upon longer use of the device, there will be fewer health issues.

That’s why the researchers has found it really difficult to implement all these things in a colour package. However, recent words from e-book readers makes a promise of releasing colour e-book readers by the next year. So, what extra do we get from the colour e-book readers? There will be a two-fold benefit from the colour version of the device, both for the consumers and the advertisers. While the readers will be enjoying stunning and vivid colour graphs and images, the advertisers will take the benefit of this platform.

So, should you be waiting for the colour version of the e-book readers?

The concept of twitter is to follow your favourite people and know their updates in real time. TakeTake is a similar application going to be launched later this month which will have the same idea implemented but in this case the program will let the users follow their favourite stuff.

With the opening of taketake, following the favourite gadget or books and games will become really easy. Along with sharing the stuff, one can maintain a list of things that a user presently have, previously had or wishes to have in the future.

However, all the expectations will be evaluated once the service is open to the public. Bookmark now to stay in touch with the future updates.

In recent years of computing technology we’ve seen the usage of multiple monitor desktop computers by various it professionals especially by those who are working in the field of design or sometimes is researching about something. For the rest of the world, it seems to be quite useless. And this time it’s not the desktop; computer manufacturers have always wanted to present something new to the users to keep the computer industry interesting, up and running.

A notebook with two displays will sound fascinating but in reality it has already been rejected by the tech savvy people because of it’s being disadvantaged of having a bulky weight and poor battery life experience. So, the primary concern of portablity is significantly questioned.

May be the lighter and more energy efficient versions of notebook having two displays will be able to meet the expectation of the users.