Product review: Sony bluetooth headphones and transmitter

By Aaron Burkhart

While headphones are mostly used for mobile devices, I’ve sometimes found that I want to watch a movie on the big screen but don’t want to bother the wife napping nearby on the couch. Really nice headphones don’t come with a long enough cord to sit far enough away from the screen, so I decided to pick up Sony’s bluetooth transmitter (TMR-BT10) and stereo headphones (DR-BT22) to see if they would fit my needs.

The transmitter is about the size of a thumb, with an alligator clip and a good length of cord to plug into any standard headphone jack. For my purposes, it plugs right into the stereo system, but would just as easily turn an iPod or even an old boom-box into a wireless audio source.

The headphones are collapsable for easy stowage, but as a result feel less than sturdy at times. They also can twist when putting them on, making it a little awkward if you’re not used headphones doing that, but once on they were snug and lightweight. Pairing the transmitter and headphones was easy (just hold the power button on both until the lights turn blue and they find each other), and the sound quality was pretty good, but not great. A tiny bit of background hum was always present, but not distracting.

When paired with my iPhone, there wasn’t the same hum. An odd note about pairing with an iPhone is it asks for a pin number, which of course it doesn’t do when paired with the transmitter. Turns out the pin is just 0000, which I had to look online for since I didn’t hang on to the manual. Otherwise the headphones work great as a hands-free option, as it picked up my voice easily and was still clear for both parties when I was almost 20 feet away from my actual phone. For whatever reason, though, when I switched the iPhone to iPod mode for music sound would only come out of the iPhone’s speakers and not the headphones. I couldn’t find any option to route the music through bluetooth, but when making a call it switched automatically as long as it was still paired. It just wouldn’t work with music or videos.

When using it with my home theater system and the transmitter, it worked with a similarlly long range of at least 20 feet, even through several walls. However, while my using it with a home theater may not be a standard use, I did find a syncronization problem when using it with a recorded DVR program. On DVDs it synced perfectly and there isn’t a problem with live TV. But when trying to watch a recorded program off the DVR the sound would be lagging behind the picture by as much as two seconds. Pausing and then unpausing would put the sync closer together, but it takes doing that a bunch of times before it gets close enough to sycn as to not be distracting.

Other than the iPhone music and DVR oddities, the headphones work great and have a surprizingly long battery life; I haven’t plugged them in for weeks and have watched around 5 hours of TV with them throughout that time.

Combined with the transmitter (which can be used to bypass the iPhone music gap), this bluetooth headphone set has a lot of possible uses and has been a satisfying purchase, if not flawless.

New camera captures images in 3D

With all the 3D displays, players and applications being shown at CES 2008, it stands to reason that there would be a device to let consumers capture their own 3D images. Well, the 3D VuCAM from StereoVision does just that, capturing images up to 300 feet away and storing a stereo pair of images that can be recombined in various formats for a 3D effect.

The 3D images can be used with special software to allow editing of the images, which can be either viewed on a 3D-ready monitor, or shown as a red/cyan anagylph for 3D viewing with glasses on a regular monitor, TV, or printed onto paper. StereoVision also sells glasses-free 3D displays, but I didn’t see them at CES so I don’t know how they look compared to the other 3D displays that use glasses.

Like many emerging technologies, the 3D VuCAM is geared toward industrial, law enforcement or other specialized applications, since the initial cost of the product ($1,667) is too high for casual consumers to consider worthwhile. It’s sort of a catch-22 of new technology: if 3D monitors find a consumer base, 3D capture devices will have a market, but without 3D content (besides just a handful of movies) there’s little reason to own a 3D monitor.

Solid state drives emerging as better (but not cheaper) storage

There are several key factors one looks for when buying a new computer, especially a laptop: Faster, lighter, less energy, less noise.

Well, just making the switch from hard disk drive to solid state drive will accomplish all of that at once.

HP announced last week that by mid-February it planned to have the industry’s first business desktop PC with an SSD available for $1,258, although the press release doesn’t say how big the drive will be. Searching around, it looks like it’ll be 16GB; small, but plenty enough for a business workstation.

According to SanDisk, who had solid state drives up to 72GB at CES 2008, SSDs have no seek or latency time and can speed up OS boot and application launches by up to 2 times. Without moving parts it also uses far less power than a standard hard drive, makes no noise, generates far less heat, is more durable, weighs less and can be a lot smaller. It improves on the hard disk drive in every way.

So what’s the catch? Right now it’s the price. Although the numbers are going down, a 32GB SSD will still be around $1,000, with no pricing information available for larger sizes yet. Storage size is the other issue; those who’ve installed a terabyte or larger in their system will likely scoff at going back to under 100GB, especially at the current prices.

An interesting compromise is found in SanDisk’s Vaulter Disk, a PCIe flash-based card that works to speed up frequently used applications without actually replacing the hard drive. It’ll be at a lower cost than a full SSD, while allowing users to still have a larger hard drive. It obviously won’t have all the benefits of an SSD, since the HDD will still be needed, but it’ll act as a bridge between the two technologies.

As memory cards continue to grow in storage space while dropping in price, expect solid state drives to follow suit.

Gaming Industry Reaches $18.85 Billion in 2007

Interestingly enough, shortly after my last post on the growth of the gaming industry I got a press release (click link for full statement) with the official numbers:

“Computer and video game software sales reached $9.5 billion in 2007, 28% over the previous year, and set a new record according to final data compiled by the NPD Group and announced today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The industry’s economic impact is illustrated further through data showing that Halo 3®, the best-selling title of 2007, took in more revenue in its first day of sales than the biggest opening weekend ever for a movie (Spider-Man 3) and the final Harry Potter book’s first day sales.*

The ESA cited data showing that the industry sold over 13.4 million portable game units in 2007, easily trumping the much-hyped Apple iPhone®, which sold just four million units.

According to the data compiled by the NPD Group, overall U.S. video game console software sales reached $6.6 billion (153.9 million units), computer games sales were $910.7 million (36.4 million units), and a record $2.0 billion (77.5 million units) in portable software sales. In terms of total units sold, approximately 267.8 million computer and video games were sold in 2007.

*These figures are reported by Microsoft, Sony, and Scholastic Inc.—Halo 3 – $170M in its first day, Spider-Man 3’s entire opening weekend – $151M, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ first day sales – $166M.”

And with games not affected by the current writers’ strike or any other Hollywood nonsense, the industry may see further growth from casual gamers looking for quality entertainment that’s lacking elsewhere.

Gaming had greater presence at CES 2008

CES 2008 has been over for a while, but I’ve barely been able to scratch the surface so far on what I saw. The thing about technology is that it keeps moving forward, with new products, announcements and industry news coming out every day, so this will be my last recap of CES 2008, as I’ll focus on newer news or in-depth looks at CES products from a more current angle.

My last thoughts on CES 2008 is the growing impact that gaming is having on the industry. Whether it was cell phones that could play games, new computer components advertised as speeding up your game, 3D displays, wireless networking, specialty peripherals or furniture that rumbles, almost everything could be tied into gaming. 

Gaming celebrities, like girl gaming group the Frag Dolls and pro gamer Fatal1ty were also on hand to challenge showgoers’ skills and draw crowds to their respective booths.

Of course, CES is still a far cry from E3, so no real gaming news came out of the show, but I did enjoy seeing Metal Gear Solid 4 in person at the Sony booth (still very cool, but not as wowing as I thought it would be, since its once-cutting-edge graphics are already seen in released titles like Call of Duty 4). I also wasn’t very sold on Little Big Planet before seeing the enthusiastic demo a Sony rep was giving a CNN reporter, but now it has my attention.

The only real gaming event wasn’t part of CES itself; Sony Online had a special launch party for Pirates of the Burning Sea, the new pirate-based MMO just released live. It’s pretty cool actually, with more tactical thought in its combat, especially it the ship-based combat sections. Things like wind direction plays into how ships steer, and it’s a lot more involved than just target-and-click combat.

As E3 goes smaller and gaming grows its place in the industry, maybe CES 2009 will have even more to get gamers’ attention.

Corinex GameNet turns electrical outlets into wireless ports

By Aaron Burkhart

One of the more practically interesting technologies I saw at CES 2008 was the Corinex GameNet system, which creates a secure wireless network connection using the electrical wiring already in the home. The power-line network is supposed to be faster, more secure and easier to set up than a traditional wireless network and will work on any device with an Ethernet port. Hooking up to the power-line net is as easy as plugging the device to the adapter which connects through any power outlet.

If a home doesn’t already have a wireless network in place, it’s the easiest way to connect devices without running a long Ethernet cord to the nearest available socket, which can be few and far between compared to power outlets. Even with a wireless network in place, a power-line network is more internally secure, since the information is transmitted through the home’s power-lines, which aren’t freely hackable like LAN, WAN, or WiFi. In fact, there might even be some advantages to switching to a power-line network over a wireless one. Data rates are can go up to 200 Mbps, although home power use can affect performance, but the Corinex system has filters to eliminate most noise and interference. Having a power-line network connected to a wireless network would give the best of both worlds.

I’d love to demo one in my own home, but for now I can report that the system worked as advertised at the show, connecting two Xbox 360s even through the show floor’s patchy electrical connections, even as other demonstrators trying to show off wireless devices that day had trouble connecting to the show’s wireless signal. For more information, How Stuff Works has a pretty simple explanation, although outdated to the technology Corinex is using, in which case you can just go to www.corinex.com.

Personalization options can add style to mobile electronics

From cells phones to laptops, modern electronics can come in a wide range of colors and styles to fit consumers’ preferences. Now laptop carrying cases are getting into the personal style arena with flashy patterns and designs to help its user stand out from the crowd.

Isis Dei (above), Designer Sleeves (upper right), and Built (right) were all showing their colorful neoprene protective laptop sleeves on the CES show floor, with patterns and artwork of all tastes on display.

Isis Dei had skins and designer bags on display as well. A live DJ and Booth Babe were also on hand to draw in the cool crowd.

Built had a thin neoprene backpack made to hold a laptop comfortably and not much else, making the pack less bulky for those who’ve gone completely digital. Other slim carrying solutions had multiple pouches for holding a variety of gadgets and accessories.

Designer Sleeve’s display showed off designs with full-color graphics and photos, going beyond just designs and patterns. Like the other companies’ sleeves, the neoprene material works as moisture and shock protection.

Gelaskins is another personalization option that adheres a removable vinyl skin right to most portable devices, and the stylized art comes in a very large variety from many different artists. Up-and-comers can also submit their portfolio and if their artistic style matches Gelaskins they might be able to contribute to the growing library of styles.

While laptops and cellphones used to be business items, they’re used by more youth than ever and it’s about time the styles caught up with the market.

Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD at CES 2008: Sometimes a picture can speak volumes

Today is airport travel day, so this post will be short and let the images do the talking. With the high-def wars heating up with Warner Bros.’ Blu-Ray exclusivity news, one only has to look to the show floor to guage industry interest. The booths were close by each other, and it was like this every day:

Maybe it was just better booth placement, but everyone who saw the Blu-Ray display had to stop and just watch for a while.

New displays at CES 2008: A thousand words will have to do…

… because no pictures can possibly do justice to the visual display products shown on the CES show floor. It would be like showing the pictures of the first color televisions, but taken with black and white cameras and shown on black and white TV sets; it has to be seen to be understood.

Three different areas took TVs and displays beyond the current level: the higher contrast in the new OLEDs, the smoother 120+ Hz refresh rates, and good ol’ 3D imaging.

Sony’s OLED TV display had the now-on-sale 11-inch models and the prototype 27-inch model. While the thinness of the screens (only 3mm on the 11-inch models) were what first caught my attention in the press release, even more impressive in person is the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, meaning the absolute deepest blacks (OLEDs aren’t backlit, unlike LCDs, so black pixels are simply turned off) and brighter vibrant colors that stay that way from any viewing angle. The refresh rate was also remarkable, with no blur of any kind. The 11-inch model sells for around $2,500 but many videophiles will be willing to pay for quality over size. There were also a lot of100-inch or larger TVs being showcased, by a wide range of companies, so size apparently matters somewhat, but when OLEDs go down in price they’ll definitely have my attention.

TVs with refresh rates of 120Hz (and Texas Instrument’s 240Hz) are another area that can’t be seen on normal screens, since 60Hz is the standard. Higher rates mean smoother pictures and less blur, although for now upconverting methods would have to be used to even see a difference from normal programs. Quite frankly, I didn’t really see that much of a difference (the human eye can only process information so fast) but if the cost isn’t much more than standard, it would be worth looking for higher refresh rates before buying an HDTV for those who haven’t upgraded yet.

While 3D has been around for awhile, the new polarizing method (replacing the less-focused and headache-inducing blue and red method) is being incorporated into more monitors (including some of the wearable models previewed yesterday), but the catch is that movies and player have to contain and transmit the extra information correctly, so going fully 3D will be some years down the road. However, more movies, like Superman Returns and the latest Harry Potter, are now being shown in IMAX 3D, which means it will be easier to convert these movies to a good-quality home 3D experience. Also, at Zalman’s 3D convertible LCD monitor booth, they showed that computer games like World of Warcraft (which automatically contain 3D information) can be quickly made into 3D. So games that use 2D textures to simulate depth will still be flat in those areas, but all the objects themselves will look like they’re at the proper depth.

These displays must be seen in person to be truly appreciated, so I’m sure high-end retailers will be showing them off soon.

-By Aaron Burkhart

CES 2008: comparing video glasses (or whatever they’re called)

By Aaron Burkhart

My pace the remaining days was a little slower (tip for future CES goers: start building leg endurance a few months before show time) but there was still plenty to see, so I limped through the next several days with purpose. In this spotlight, I compare the latest in video eyeware (or personal mobile viewer or head-mounted display or whatever each company calls the concept before a term catches on).

I found at least six different companies selling video eyewear, not a new concept but making a comeback thanks to all the mobile video players. The six I tried are the i-Vue, the Argo, the TDVisor, the Lumus Video Eyeglasses, the Vuzix iWear, and the MyVu personal media viewer.

The TDvisor tried to pass itself off as for gaming but its quality is as if the technology can from five years ago – bulky with a fairly good quality display. It has 3D capability, but it never quite came into focus for me. In the TDvisor’s defense, it’s being positioned as a medical/military/education technology also, where I think it’s strength will be; I doubt it will win over consumers after seeing the rest of the videowear.

The Lumus looks like a pair of 3D glasses found in a modern IMAX theater, and (while not the most stylish look) it’s the only video eyeglasses that work as regular sunglasses when the screen is turned off. In fact, the screen is displayed on the lens so that it can still be seen through, allowing wearers to keep full awareness of their environment while using it. Besides videos, using a heads-up display on the glasses would work great when connected to a phone with a GPS map function or other information. You might think that’s a distraction, but probably less so than having to glance down every few seconds trying to read a Blackberry while walking.

The picture quality on the remaining four was equally sharp and clear, appearing as though watching a large-screen TV, with the iWear and Argo supporting removable blinders. The iWear was the only system to incorporate the audio into the arms of the visor, all the others have earbuds that either come off the frame or are simply your own. It’s disadvantage is that there are separate models for each application (gaming/TV, PC, or mobile), with the gaming model featuring the ability to share one input to multiple visors and choose what part of the screen each display sees – great for an in-home gaming match instead of a split screen although you’d have to have three other friends with a pair of iWears (can the industry please hire marketing people that can go beyond the iNaming trend?).

Speaking of marketing, Myvu has the rest of them soundly beat with it’s young and hip campaign and stylish designs. They’re also designed to sit lower on the nose so that it’s almost like bifocal lenses, allowing one to maintain a degree of situational awareness. Three models are available: Edge (very sleek), Shades (pictured, which has a sunglass material extending over the top of the screen), and Crystal (the newest and highest quality picture, due out this spring, with a translucent amber lens/screen). The price on most of the other brands runs at $300+ while most of the Myvu models are supposed to retail for $199.

The Argo has a range of models, but the basic $199 model has lower resolution than the other brands and models. The high-end version is 3D enabled and comes with a screenless portable DVD player, in the $400 range. The 3D was clear while watching a 3D encoded “Meet the Robinsons” and it comes with a bunch of other goodies, like a travel case and adapters. A negative is that the bug-eye design makes the Argo glasses front heavy and can slip fairly easily.

The i-Vue (no photo) is only in the $250 range (although I couldn’t get a price on the upcoming high-end version), but nothing else really stands out about it. It’s got an OK design and a good picture. It’s very middle-of-the-road without any glaring faults or spectacular features.

So, with the best looking models, the best marketing, and the lowest price, Myvu is my favorite of the bunch. Special runner-up goes to Lumus who has a great product but should’ve added some style to its R&D budget.