They call it a ‘Magical and Revolutionary’ Product (Source:Apple). The Apple iPad is set to hit the market on April 3rd. It is expected (at least the by manufacturers that it will be a sure shot like the iPhone, since it has much resemblance with the latter. With the features and appearance, it makes a clear assumption that millions of iPhone lovers is going to grasp the half-an-inch portable device that will allow them to surf the web, enjoy the movies and let do a lot more. Apple will begin pre-orders from 12th of this month. So are you after the iPad?

It has a loads of features to enjoy your multimedia experiences from watching a movie to surf the web. But what it more lacks, it seems to me, are the productivity. It’s not for you if you’re looking forward to consider it for. Watch out! it’s for Play only but the lightest. Even though there are thousands of applications available to the platform, it’s not offering a comprehensive productivity solution. You may call it a XXL size iPhone.

In short, however, the device is lightweight, thin and brilliantly designed. The more advantage is that it has a ‘Unbelievable’ price of $499!

What lies in a modern day mp3 player do you think? The answers are very common. Ability to play mp3s.

So what’s different in this “XtreaMP3″? With this amazing device, you have the freedom to take your music anywhere. When I say ‘anywhere’ I really mean it. This durable and completely submergible XtreaMP3 player can let you listen to your favourite music even when you are underwater. The shockresistant and skip-free MP3 player can play up to 240 songs with its 1GB memory in high-quality surround sound. The XtreaMP3 player attaches finely to a comfortable neoprene arm strap which let you to enjoy your favorite music hands free, on the go. Specialized waterproof earbuds secure tightly, making for clear listening in any extreme environment. Most amazingly, the device is a wonder with the waterproof feature of up to depths of 15 feet (4.5m).

Short Specs:

* 1GB Memory: H olds Approximately 240 Songs
* Drag and Drop Songs & Playlists through USB Port
* Neoprene Arm Strap
* Digital Control Panel
* Shuffle Mode
* Pause / Resume Function; Song Next / Previous
* Volume Control
* 8-Hour Rechargeable Battery
* Compatible with MP3 and WMA Audio Files

Water is an essential element of Human life and we cannot survive without water. But if we talk about water in terms of its relationship with electronic devices, it is well known as a killer. As we know that I can’t get my favourite iPod wet while walking in the rain or moving around at the beach, when such happens is really disappointing and is considered to be an ‘accident’. It is even worse if my facourite electronic gadget gets dipped into the water!

It’s a matter of an worry even though the device is on warranty because NO ELECTRONICS company offers a warranty for wet products anyway. The latest technology can be a ray of hope. Now, there is a special kind of ‘WATER ABSORBING BAG’ available called the Bheestie Bag which may cost you around $20 or around. The role it plays is that there are water-absorbing beads in the bag which will dry out the cell phones, MP3 players or most such gadgets that has been wet. The fact is that the recovery is not guaranteed, yet it will definitely work better than using the hair-dryer or so and most interestingly it takes less time.

So, there is a new hope emerging to save our waterlogged electronics.

Do you love to listen music on the go? The you MUST check out these beautiful ear-buds from Solid Alliance. The company is promoting some excellent quality earbuds that really look crazy! the Katana earbuds is designed in such an amazing way that when you wear them it will look like a sword gone through your brains by your ears. You’d just love the way these earbuds will attract the people around you.

The only best way the response from the people is ‘Crazy’ and this is the word Solid Alliance is using to attract the crazy music lovers. Some of them looks like a sword when wore; some might just be confused with an arrow or a cherry or just a newly grown mushroom!

Check them out!

Finally it’s here! The Google and Verizon prediction has came out to be true with the Motorola flavored Droid phone that will be available to the Verizon users in later this year, probably by the mid-December. It is apparent that Verizon is targeting the phone for the Christmas-day buyers.

So, what do you get with the Driod? Motorola has a clear explanation of everything it holds. It comes with a ARM Processor running at a speed of 550 MHz. Android is the platform and it supports CDMA 1X 800/1900, EVDO rev A network only (That’s for the Verizon users, you see). It has got a 3.7″; WVGA (480 x 854 pixels); 16:9 widescreen TFT display which is not much attractive though, except for the high resolution that will enable users to surf the net with more visible content at a time. Like most other modern-day phone, it lacks a physical keyboard but has the touchscreen full QWERTY virtual keyboard in the large resistive touch display.

Motorola Droid, homes the Webkit HTML 5 web browser and is expected to be loaded with in-browser Adobe Flash Player 10. Now with Flash 10, it’s a performance question whether the phone hardware will be able to accelerate the renderings of Flash 10 or will give us a poor display performance.

Well, the phone comes with a number of connectivity options like Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi b/g and Data Access facilities. I am just sick of thinking that why it doesn’t come with Wi-Fi a/b/g/n!! By the way, as local connectivity, we get micro USB connection with USB hi-Speed; Of the other features, Motorola Droid has got the similar specs for Camera, GPS and 3.5mm connctivity as like the HTC Hero.

Since it’s a Google Android phone, you will definitely get loads of Google apps pre-installed on the phone, along with the very good you-tube application and Google Maps App. It also comes with some of the Google services like Google talk, Google search etc built-in with the phone. Let’s hope it will meet the consumer expectations.

HTC has recently unveiled one of it’s series of great smarphones; HTC Hero is undoubtedly a device that will draw the attention of the gadget lovers. With a Qualcomm® MSM7200A™ processor running at the speed of  528 MHz running beneath the Google’s Android operating system, it is definitely going to hit the market.

What HTC tries to make special with the phone (In fact with all the most recent phones they released), have widgetized the home screen so that the users can stay in touch with the world of social networks and information without a worry. Accessing information like weather forecast or latest news will be just in the hopescreen, as well as the maps.

The other specifications include a  288 MB RAM, 8.128 cm TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution. The phone supports a network setup of UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (900/2100 MHz), GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). A physical trackball will help you control the device more comfortably with that enter button in the middle. HTC Hero homes a internal GPS antennae, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with EDR. You can easily connect your device with a 3,5 mm Audio jack for high-performance Audio and/or use the HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one). Phone memory is expandable with microSD cards. So far the 5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus Camera has been reported very good in some user forums.

Apple’s iPhone is a very successful phone and is really a popular gadget of the time. Alongside the hardware features what makes is special is it’s powerful user interface, the iPhone platform. Google’s android, however, has been trying to overdo and compete the iPhone and it’s first attempt has received much admiration from the tech savvy people around the world.

Google, the internet giant, has been working to make Android a success and has been working in partnership with well known operators. Along with their present venture with T-Mobile and Sprint, recently they have came into partnership with Verizon which was considered to be a ‘unusual’ partnership; yet earlier this month, after working for 18 months, they are about to bring two mobile phones in Verizon USA network running Google’s Android mobile operating system and announces to continue the venture to make Android a more mature mobile operating system and expect to equip the platform in more smartphones. The company spokesmen, however, kept a secret about their partnership with the actual hardware manufacturer. But there is a rumor around that Motorola and HTC may work on the Android phone’s.

Smartphone industry has grown in a large proportion and may be Google has chosen Verizon keeping the huge number of subscriber, even though Verizon do not have a good history of feature-rich phones for their subscribers.

Google will be glad to continue it’s efforts in making Android a better mobile platform. Let’s see if Android could put a deep imprint in the smartphone market in these recession days.

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.
More Info

neoHD WiFi Media Controller
Enjoy all your AV sources plus music streaming from your computer, Internet Radio and Rhapsody content.
More Info

neoHD 2.1 system
A great system that includes a neoHD Media Controller, 2 stylish speakers and a powerful subwoofer
More Info

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.

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?

Apple is the developer of innovative devices. The company has made successful attempts to draw people’s attention with its devices like PowerMac, iPod and iPhone. Considering the mobile lifestyle of modern society and tech savvy people, Apple has designed Macbook Air. Macbook Air is considered as the world’s thinnest notebook featuring powerful processing capabilities yet measuring only 0.16-inch at its thinnest point and 0.76-inches at the highest part, which is significantly slimmer than the rest of the nootbooks available. Moreover, MacBook Air has go a 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display. Being powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache and 2GB of memory it can give a user a great computing experience while minimizing the size and weight of the notebook. Along with the general 802b.g wireless connectivity option, it features bluetooth. The video camera is just good enough to catch up the snap even in low light. One of the most interesting feature of Macbook Air is the back-lit keyboard. While it’s difficult to type in low lights in most nootbooks, this great device let you press the keys even in the darkness.

So, Macbook is really a interesting device that anybody would like to grab. Now it’s your turn to win the same! And all it comes for free! Just send ben behrouzi (BenBehrouzi on twitter) a simple “Tweet with the following message or something like it in your own words”. It’s really that easy! He is giving away the Macbook Air this March. So, hurry up! And Tweet him.