I ran across an pretty slick trendy Japanese gadget sight and thought I’d share.  It loads fairly slow but it is worth a look if you like gadgets with some spunk.

“Gizmine brings you to the heart of Tokyo. Get all the smartest gadgets, cutest (kawaii) culture, and lifestyle goods here”

www.gizmine.com

Engadget got some time with the new Zune HD.  I’m not sure why they say it “kind of rocks”, it looks pretty weak to me.  Not as slick and modern as an iPod design nor light weight even.  We’ve got a bit of a conversation going on the forums, and you can click over to Engadget to check out some more images.

image source: Engadget

Sunnyvale, Calif. — The licensing agency for the HDMI digital connection standard formally unveiled Thursday the HDMI version 1.4 specifications, which among other things will enable bi-directional communication allowing networking capabilities with Ethernet devices, and upstream audio transmissions.

HDMI 1.4 includes an HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) enabling data transfers of up to 100Mbps between supported connected devices, said the HDMI LLC, the agent responsible for licensing HDMI specifications.

The bi-directional connection allows a broadband-connected television using its HEC-enabled HDMI port to provide Internet connection sharing with another HEC-enabled device, such as a game console or DVR.

The HEC will require new HDMI 1.4 cables, which will be offered in two performance levels of low- and high-data rates.

read more on twice.com

source: twice.com

TRITTON Technologies to Grab the Gaming Industry by the Ears at E3 2009
E3 Expo 2009

LOS ANGELES & VISTA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TRITTON Technologies, a leader in gaming audio technology, will debut the newest additions to its unmatched gaming headset line at the 2009 E3 Expo in Los Angeles from June 2-4, 2009. Expo attendees will be able to test these new products and also participate in the “TRITTON Challenge,” where the industry leader’s entire line up will be pitted against the competition’s top products to determine once and for all who has the best gaming headsets on the market.

On the heels of the flagship AX Pro, an acclaimed 5.1 audio gaming headset, TRITTON Technologies will unveil at E3 two impressive 3D surround sound gaming headsets optimized for use with the Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Hi-Fi audio. The much anticipated AX 720 is TRITTON’s answer to gamers’ requests for a Dolby Digital headset featuring Dolby Headphone technology with inline audio controls and independent chat volume control. With features like USB microphone support for PS3, PC and Mac, voice compatibility with Xbox Live and a breakaway cable design that allows users to connect to an MP3 player or iPhone, the AX 720 is a complete audio solution for today’s gamer.

read more on businesswire.com

www.trittontechnologies.com

source: businesswire.com

Hopefully this is a start to a portable XBox.  We love gaming as well. Though does anyone buy this thing?  I’ve seen more G1 phones than Zune MP3 Players.

- audioREIVEW

Microsoft on Tuesday announced the latest iteration of its Zune music player, a touch-screen player called the Zune HD, as well as an extension of the Zune brand into the Xbox Live platform.

The new portable media player will, as its name suggests, have HD-related features for video and audio, while the integration of Zune into the Xbox Live user interface will primarily focus on video content.

for more details check out PCMag.com

source: PCMag

www.zune.net

The New Intimus 6-IC In-Ceiling and 6-IW In-Wall Speakers give discriminating listeners more control over sound and esthetics.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) May 27, 2009 - Aperion Audio, a direct-to-consumer manufacturer of award-winning home audio and home theater speakers, this week announced enhanced versions of their in-wall and in-ceiling speakers which include aimable audiophile grade silk-dome tweeters, and bass and treble adjustment switches — one of the features normally found only with more expensive in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. The new Aperion architectural speakers are voiced to blend seamlessly with the rest of the Intimus line of award-winning speakers.

“Our new line of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are an effective solution to the challenge of achieving excellence in sound for the music and movie lover, while also satisfying the interior design conscious who enjoy the invisibility of speakers set into the wall or ceiling,” says Aperion Product Development Lead, Mike Hopkins.

Aperion’s Lead Audio Speaker Engineer, Ken Humphreys, notes that once installed, an in-wall or in-ceiling speaker is fixed at a specific point in a room, making adjustments difficult. “The advantage of aimable tweeters for in-wall speakers is that the directional treble frequencies can either be aimed into the listening area for most applications or away from the listening area in order to get a more diffuse, ambient sound that is desirable in surround sound use. And since this type of speaker may or may not get placed near bass-boosting side-walls, we felt it was important to have a bass adjusting feature. From a design point of view, this is fairly hard to do as it requires the woofer to have two voice coils, one of them dedicated to the bass adjusting signal from a separate section on the crossover,” says Humphreys.

The Aperion Audio Intimus In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers
As the newest speakers in Aperion Audio’s acclaimed Intimus line, the 6-IW and 6-IC are not only built for visual assimilation in any home, but also produce fantastic, immersive sound with high-end features. In addition to aimable tweeters, the Intimus 6-IC In-Ceiling speaker features an angled woofer which may be pointed toward the “sweet spot” during installation.

Both Include:

- 6.5″ high performance woven-fiberglass dual-voice coil woofer
- Aimable silk-dome tweeter for direct high frequency control
- Bass and treble adjustment switches
- Paintable frame and grill to match any décor
- Installation templates and easy instructions

The Aperion Advantage
Aperion was the first in their industry to offer free shipping both ways with their Risk Free 30-Day In-Home Audition™, a One-Year Full-Price Trade-Up Program, and an unmatched 10-Year Warranty (3 years on amplifiers). Aperion’s “Home Theater Gurus” are available to assist those in the market for audio speakers from the decision making process through lifetime technical support. Plus, because Aperion is headquartered in Oregon, there is never any sales tax.

Pricing and Availability
Both the Aperion Intimus 6-IC In-Ceiling Speaker and Intimus 6-IW In-Wall Speaker are now available at AperionAudio.com, or at Aperion’s showroom at 18151 SW Boones Ferry Road in Portland, Oregon, and retail for $149. (Prices always include free shipping.)

Check out the
Aperion Intimus 6-IC In-Ceiling Speaker, and get all the details on Aperion’s Intimus 6-IW In-Wall Speaker.

Installation Made Easy - Aperion Audio Partners with Zip Installation
The 6-IW and 6-IC easily install into your ceiling or wall drywall with the included templates and instructions, allowing the installer to quickly begin enjoying their favorite music and movies. For those without the time or desire to perform their own installation, Aperion Audio has partnered with nationally known Zip Express Installation for a reasonably priced, expert job.

About Aperion Audio
Based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Aperion Audio is an award-winning direct-to-consumer speaker manufacturer for smart shoppers who are frustrated with the retail experience, and the only speaker company to deliver an honest and completely Risk-Free 30-Day In-Home Audition™. The company’s primary storefront, AperionAudio.com, is a fun and informative speaker shopping destination which is supported by “Home Theater Gurus” who supply generous support before and after the sale. At AperionAudio.com, everyone from the newbie to the audiophile is able to find the information they need to research and build an exceptional home theater speaker system or upgrade their audio environment. For more information, visit AperionAudio.com or call 888-880-8992.

CONTACTS:
Heidi Jeanfreau, Public Relations
pr at aperionaudio dot com
Mike Hopkins, Product Development
pr at aperionaudio dot com
Aperion Audio
18151 SW Boones Ferry Road
Portland, OR 97224
888-880-8992
www.aperionaudio.com

source: prweb.com

Features Low Prices; Wide Selection; Fast Shipping; 24/7 Customer Service Extends Company’s Leadership in Online Computer and Consumer Electronics Sales

Systemax Inc. today announced it has completed the acquisition of the Circuit City e-commerce business and launched the new and improved CircuitCity.com website. The new www.CircuitCity.com features low everyday prices, great deals, a wide selection of products, fast shipping, world-class 24/7 customer service, advanced search capabilities, and enhanced content, including photo galleries and videos of thousands of the most popular consumer electronics and computer products.

read more on eCoustics.com

There has been a forum thread on this for the past couple of days as well, check it out.

www.CircuitCity.com

source: eCoustics

New Receivers Feature Proprietary Sound Enhancement Technologies for Compressed Audio Files and are iPod/iPhone Compatible

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced that it is now shipping A/V Receivers that seamlessly integrate Apple’s revolutionary iPhone and iPod into a customer’s home theater. Pioneer’s VSX-819AH, VSX-919AH and VSX-1019AH A/V Receivers and also feature proprietary technologies designed to restore compressed audio data and recreate the dynamic listening experiences intended by the original musician.

read more and find out about the Pioneer VSX-919AH and Pioneer VSX-1019AH.

www.pioneerelectronics.com

source: eCoustics

NAD Electronics on Tuesday has announced the upcoming release of its Masters Series M2 Direct digital amplifier for home audio and theater setups. The result of a 10-year research project, the M2 is said to be the industry’s first true digital amplifier available to customers. NAD compares the amp to a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that drives a loudspeaker directly. It is rated to provide 500W of dynamic power on its two channels. NAD is also touting the M2 as being the first to fully exploit HD audio source files, the first to include digital error correction and use it to reduce distortion.

more details…
The M2 will be available later this summer, priced at $5,999.

source: electronista.com

With the exception of Robert Moog and Leon Theremin, perhaps, many of the names associated with the innovation and development of electronic music have slipped into obscurity. Sad too is the collective anonymity celebrating the memory of the early composers and performers for the electronic medium. Invoke the names Ussachevsky and Leuning and one is apt to not a knowing smile, but a glower of fathomless perplexity. Except for the notable, ardent few admirers, these names have all but faded from view: too bad, for their contribution to twentieth century music is incalculable; too bad for us, who listen oblivious to music unaware of the contributions of these and others, whose work made so much that is commonplace today possible.

Except for National Public Radio’s (NPR) Echoes, a program that airs electronic music nightly, there are few occasions for new electronic music listeners to give an ear to the compositions wrought on such instruments. Part of this is due, sadly, to the widely scorned image of such contraptions, which have been variously described as buzzing, cacaphonous sounding devices, capable only of producing eerie sound effects and perhaps a few intelligible notes. The other side to this despondent coin is found in the ubiquity of such instruments–synthesized keyboards mostly–which have become such a vital voice that they have all but disappeared altogether.

People who listen and have listened to electronic music will reject the first assertion without hesitation. They will gladly tell you that, even within the past forty-odd years, electronic instruments have become much more refined and are capable of presenting a multitude of sounds, or voices, of great, affective beauty. While many compositions written for such instruments truly is of an ethereal and other worldly quality, many other works are quite familiar in their tone; quite terrrestrial, indeed.

Consider, for example, the oeuvre of Wendy (Walter) Carlos. In 1968, Carlos released the seminal album, Switched on Bach, an homage to the great composer performed on Robert Moog’s synthesizer. The music was quite unlike anything many listeners had ever heard before, performed as it was on an electronic behemoth whose presence was anything but familiar. But listen to it again! Despite the strange, electronic emanations produced by the instrument, there is an unmistakable sense that in spite of that, the instruments for which Old Bach had written are pretty admirably presented. Consider again that that work came out in 1968….Well, you get the idea.  Among admirers of early electronic music, Switched on Bach is a favorite, and for good reason. Considering the impact the work had on introducing Robert Moog’s device and its encouragement of further development of the instrument, Switched on Bach is a classic in every sense of the term.

Forty one years past 1968, and the design and craftsmanship of synthesizers has resulted in folks getting a lot more out of the instrument than people like Carlos and Moog were, doubtless, able to presage. In Germany, Edgar Froese and his freunden were hard at work, experimenting with pre-recorded tapes and playing strange and wonderful music to back it up. Their group, Tangerine Dream, was eventually signed on to Richard Branson’s fledgling Virgin Records label, and the album Phaedra handily climbed the billboard charts with nearly the same brisk vitality of Branson’s other star artist, Great Britain’s Michael Oldfield’s Tubular Bells. With encouragement from the success of Phaedra and its follow-up album, Rubicon, it wasn’t long before Tangerine Dream was approached to compose music for film. It was William Friedkin, of Exorcist fame, who approached the Berliners, and they produced an album, Sorcerer, in splendid style. Since then, Tangerine Dream has shown little sign of slowing down. Although many personnel have joined and left the band, they have produced a staggering number of albums. As their sound has evolved, so has their contribution to electronic music, and Froese and his mates have consulted with many electronic instrument makers, like Roland, in the development of many of the instruments that are used today.

Another German composer who should be noted is Klaus Schulze, a former Tangerine Dream member who went solo shortly after his departure from the group. Schulze’s works are amazingly erudite and fertile numbers of great atmosphere and presence. Many works incorporates traditional instruments that are woven within the music in seamless and intricate tapestry. Listen to the album, Trancefer, to get the idea. Another Tangerine Émigré is Chritopher Franke, who left Froese after contributing much to TD’s signature eeriness, including work on the soundtrack to the Michael Mann movie, Thief and the Star Tek spin-off, Babylon 5. Other members like Johannes Schmoelling and Peter Bauman and the drummer Klaus Krieger all contributed their hand to this amazing and prolific Krautrock band.

In many ways, the British championed electronic music, and happily brought the enormous bundles of wires and plugs to the stage. Names like Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Richard Wright and dozens others  wowed audiences who were more than happy to light up and trip out to the music these wizards produced. Emerson’s virtuoso performances with Emerson Lake and Palmer floored fans with his dept prowess in performances of moog-drenched renditions of Copeland, Mussorgsky and others. Wright, on the other hand showed that keyboard synthesizers were not only of interest to psychedlic  music fans–of which he was more than happy to oblige–but fans who were interested in something more contemporary.  Wright’s super-sonic finger work on albums like Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here are truly terriffic performances that are ardently listened to today. Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum were glam artists, like David Bowie and Brain Eno, who were producing soundscapes of their own chord. Their compositions opened many doors of possibility and showcased the synthesizer as a truly, ambient instrument that could handily stand on its own feet. Eno’s work with Roxy Music, Bowie, Robert Fripp and his solo career have all added amazing color to the British kaleidoscope. Still, in other milieus, Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra dazzled erstwhile classical music listeners to their own form of pop music. Paying due respect to the masters, the ELO appealed to thousands of adoring fans with hits like Mr. Blue Sky, Living Thing and the album Eldorado.

Special note should go to the works of Michael Oldfield, who at about nineteen years old produced the monster album, Tubular Bells, whose (in)famous leitmotif was famously adopted by the producers of the movie, The Exorcist. Oldfield was well known even before that album, having been snapped up by Soft Machine’s Keven Ayers, who liked Oldfield’s bass picking. Since Tubular Bells, Oldfield has produced around 25 or so albums and soundtracks, nearly one a year since 1973, producing beautifully rendered vistas of sound in doing so. Oldfield plays many instruments, and his albums are testament not only to his ability as a composer, but as a rare performer whose sensitivity and canny knowing references have been widely noted by many smart people, including Arthur Clarke, whose Songs of Distant Earth was adapted by Oldfield in an album of the same name.

On the other side of the world, the Japanese artist Isao Tomita took to the synthesizer and created an album that showed listeners that electronic versions of classical were still relevant and quite commercially viable. His first album, Snowflakes Are Dancing, is an incredibly trippy but musical exploration of the works of Debussy. Since that album, dozens of others have emerged from Tomita’s murky collective, Plasma Music, including homage to Holst, Groffe, Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Mussorgsky.

In France, the synthesizer entranced the artist Jean Michel Jarre, son of world-famous film composer, Maurice. After studies at the Lycee, Jean Michel was soon creating his own music after being encouraged to produce sounds from a variety of electronic sources. His albums Oxygene and Equinoxe are still favorites of many adoring fans. Another French composer of no little note was Jean Luc Ponty, a violinist of amazing ability and proficiency. His jazzy performances on albums like Enigmatic Ocean have caught the ear of many keen-eared admirers, like Elton John, who used him in one or two albums of their own.

In Italy, electronic music composition was championed by groups like Milan’s Premiata Forneria Marconi, whose progressive contributions were proof positive that their competitors, such as England’s King Crimson were not the kings of the mountain. Albums such as The World Became the World are still terriffic and awful–true musts for any fan of the genre.  To many people, associations of Italian electronic music conjure the likes of Georgio Moroder, whose driving beat and erotically pulsing throbs were the darlings of the disco era. Moroder’s artistic sensibility is quite formidiable, however; his musical versatility noted by Paul Schraeder, who employed Moroder to score his 1982 hit movie, Cat People. Other works in Midnight Express and Scarface are noteworthy scores that belie the talent that was scarcely noted on the dance floor, where Donna Summer reigned supreme.

In Greece, the creation of electronic music was of keen interest to the piano prodigy who soon would simply be known by the name, Vangelis. Vangelis, a keen pianist of rare and brilliant artistry, soon went solo after embarking in his career with the band, Aphrodite’s Child. Best known for his soundtracks to films like Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire, Vangelis’ music has been widely heard on numerous television advertisements and on Public Television, where a portion of his album Heaven and Hell (which featured Yes’ Jon Anderson) was used as the theme to Carl Sagan’s Cosmos.

In America, the use of synthesized and electronic music was widely used and the patheon of innovators and inventers is encyclopedic. Mention has already been made of Wendy (Walter) Carlos for her variations on Bach. No less important was Carlos’ work on film, with musical contributions made to movies like Tron, Clockwork Orange and, of course, The Shining. Carlos’ has produced many albums and has been instrumental in developing many of the technologies used in modern day instruments. Her album, Beauty In the Beast shows the artist’s study of intonation and form, which is displayed in an blindingly lurid collection of pieces inspired, in part, by Balinese music.

Another early American electronic music pioneer is Laurie Anderson, who has explored the medium extensively, and has produced many fine albums, including Big Science, Mister Heartbreak and Life on a String. Anderson’s craftsmanship has an ethereal, ambient sound that is visceral and vibrant, nevertheless. Even today, after many albums, she continues to evoke images that are astonishingly fresh and virile.

Another American pioneer is Larry Fast, also known as Synergy, is another pioneer of American electronic music, whose works were noted by Rick Wakeman, who took him on to assist with their album, Tales from Topographic Oceans. Fast has also worked extensively with Peter Gabriel and the popular American rock group, Foreigner, producing a sound that was, and is, quite appealing to many adoring thousands.

In a sense, electronic music is the red-haired step child of music proper, the very antithesis, in many music lovers’ minds of what constitutes music. But what is music, if not a pleasing presentation of sound to evoke mood? Even before the strange and ethereal sounds of the Theremin, the thought that electricity could be harnessed to produce mellifluous tones was seen nearly as anathema to those who thought that only strings, wind and percussion were capable of presenting anything earworthy. Other pioneers like Mager, whose Spherophone (AKA Electrophone) introduced the music early, but their contributions are scarcely remembered.

Today, the electronic message is a forceful, but anonymous presence that reminds us that the quest for sound and innovation is a continuing journey that has as much appeal today as it did when things Electronic Music-wise took off. Today, groups like Air and Stereolab continue to pay homage to their progenitors, but they are rare exceptions to the crowd of musicians who scarcely know anything of their origins….

In these paragraphs, only a cursory introduction to the masters of the form is presented; there is so much more to listen to and explore that this poor tribute is but a meagre beginning. For those of you thirsting for the real thing, you must seek them out, now, for yourself!

images source: media.bluedistortion.com and of course the awesome Moog