Gadgetoid

ARCHOS have released an updated version of their feature packed but diminuatively sized 405 series portable media player now boasting a whopping 30gb capacity. That’s not bad for something so compact; the 405 is, in fact, the smallest PMP in the Generation 5 lineup from ARCHOS.

The 405 includes a great lineup of accessories and plug-ins which allow for on-the-go video recording from many sources, playback of MPEG2/VOB video files straight from DVD and Video Podcast support.

The 3.5″ screen strikes a good balance between portability and viewability, with 30gb storage now backing that up my 30gb 5.5g iPod video is begging to be ‘accidentally broken’.

You can get more information on the new 30gb 405 from the ARCHOS website.

 Save as pdf.

Yet another iPod dock has hit the market in the form of the IXOS XMI318 ARGO £49.99. Touting an already-obsolete FM Radio (seriously, give us some quality DAB love already!) and a solid 12 watts of power from 4 drivers all in a neat, compact package the IXOS is sure to appeal to someone. But that someone sure isn’t me!

The “portable” in the IXOS ARGO’s name comes from the fact it can additionally be driven by 6 x AA batteries, so it’s an ideal dock for adding music to the many outdoor activities you might embark upon this summer.

The ARGO will be supplied complete with a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, USB connection (which lets you sync your iPod whilst docked) the usual interchangable dock cartridges and, surprisingly enough, a mains adaptor with UK/European converters.

The third generation “fat” iPod nano will not fit in the ARGO out of the box, but IXOS are offering a converter free of charge via the contact section on their website.

 Save as pdf.

Sony’s marketing machine is at it again. Not wanting to be beaten at the game of creating the most elaborate live action advertisements (Skoda, we’re looking at you) they have unveiled a new project to promote the latest and greatest in their WALKMAN brand line-up.

Unsurprisingly the ad is centered entirely around music and sees 128 musicians each contributing single notes and beats to what ultimately will become a sweeping score- of course I’ve no idea what it’s going to sound like but once again those wiley marketing coyotes have convinced me that I must actually watch their advertising. Blast.

Still, I can’t help but like Sony for steering away from the norm- advertisements can be a form of entertainment too and I much prefer them to be entertaining than simply a pack of thinly veiled lies conveyed through not-quite-so-subtle imagery… Lynx I’m looking at you.

You can find out more about the advertisement here and watch a brief trailer that, I warn you in advance, cuts off before the music begins.

 Save as pdf.

Well I said “Potentially crushing the BOSE QuietComfort headphones like a bug” when I first posted about the Sennheiser PXC and I wasn’t far off the mark.

This October What HiFi? have given the Sennheiser PXC 450 “Cloak of Silence” headphones the 2007 award for ‘Best Noise Cancelling Headphone’. Sennheiser are delighted but, of course, were confident that their product was the best before us journalists even got our greasy paws on one.

The PXC 450 retail for about £300, but a little bit of searching can get the price a few beer-rounds under this mark.

 Save as pdf.

As if there aren’t enough portable speakers crowding the market IXOS are continuing their line of value brand lifestyle accessories and have released the First Cube Travel Speaker. It boasts a staggering 2watts of stereo audio grunt… okay so that’s not much but this is a portable speaker. A supplied 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable will hook you up to iPods, laptops and pretty much any portable audio player. The USB power cabl will alow you to power the XMM238 from a USB port instead of wasting batteries.

The Cube is now available at Play.com for just £11.99. A perfect stocking filler just in time for Christmas!

Read the rest of this post »

 Save as pdf.

Originally written for elektriq.com

The MX 55 VC headphones are one of the street series, they boast a twist-to-fit design that looks uncomfortable at first glance but, once properly configured, feels good and locks the headphones into your ears to prevent them falling out at every opportunity- as in-ear phones so often do. The phones come with a selection of rubber caps that adjust the fit for optimum comfort and security.

The strange attachments designed to hold the headphones in your ears will feel weird at first but it’s easy to get used to them quickly.

The sound quality, as is typical of Sennheiser, is excellent with the top, middle and bass represented to perfection, the headphones don’t entirely cut out external sound which is a good and bad thing depending on preference. The sound re-production is so good that it reveals line noise where lesser headphones would have dampened it.

The MX 55 VC come with an inline sliding volume control and the standard asymmetrical earphone arrangement with the left cable being shorter than the right. Unfortunately there is no clamp on the volume control meaning it weighs down on the phones and has a tendency of working its way down under clothing needing to be pulled up. A clip on the volume control would have made the headphones perfect, and much more suitable for joggers or people working out at the gym where lose cables would also be a pain. Sadly though the lack of a clip is a fatal flaw for anyone doing anything much more than walking but these headphones are otherwise excellent.

As a final note, the MX 55 VC also come with a bizarre slip carry case that keeps them protected in the depths of your bag, and additionally a set of replacement alternate colour inserts for, uh, style reasons!

 Save as pdf.