New & Noteworthy

May 13, 2008 Contrasting Statement Although home-theater enthusiasts have always loved video projectors for the generously large images they create, many of today’s compact projectors produce insufficient contrast to deliver realistic, film-quality images. Parts of a picture that are intended to be black instead look gray, which takes the scare out of Hostel and wrecks the special effects in sci-fi movies. This problem should not trouble owners of JVC’s DLA-RS1X projector, which boasts a contrast ratio of 15,000 to 1—or twice the range typical projectors deliver—without resorting to optical or electronic trickery that can degrade images. The $5,995 DLA-RS1X features a lens that can be shifted to compensate for off-center mounting and zoomed to accommodate screens as large as 16 feet across. Resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels assures you see every detail of high-resolution TV broadcasts and Blu-ray discs. (973.317.5000, www.pro.jvc.com) —Brent Butterworth
April 29, 2008 Blu-ray Rising Now that the Blu-ray high-definition video disc format has vanquished rival HD-DVD, elite manufacturers are beginning to launch high-end Blu-ray players suited for the world’s finest home theaters. The first of these players to emerge is the Goldmund Eidos 20 BD player, which benefits from the same Swiss manufacture and precision engineering that makes the company’s other products such a privilege to use. The $16,900 player boasts a proprietary AC power-supply circuit; mechanical grounding technology that Goldmund says isolates the player’s drive mechanism from floor-borne vibration; and a magnetic damper the company claims reduces data errors. Goldmund cautions, though, that while the Eidos 20 BD does play DVDs and CDs, its conventional DVD/CD players deliver superior performance with those legacy formats. (888.GOLD.001, www.goldmund.com) —Brent Butterworth
April 15, 2008 Slim Possibilities No one wants to accessorize a sleek new TV with a portly audio system. So as flat-panel TVs get thinner, speaker manufacturers struggle to trim inches from their products too. At least one contestant seems to have won this battle of the bulge: Leon Speakers’ 414-LCR-X-A. This “sound bar”-style speaker fits beneath a flat-panel TV, and measures only 3 1/4 inches deep—not as willowy as 2008’s thinnest TVs but slimmer than most. Despite its inconspicuous presence, it manages to incorporate speakers for the front left, center, and right channels of a surround-sound system. Each $2,495 414-LCR-X-A is bespoke―sized and finished to match your flat-panel TV. Audiophiles may wonder how Leon Speakers’ engineers managed to squeeze three tweeters and six woofers into such a slim box. The rest of us can simply enjoy the enveloping sound they produce. (888.213.5015, www.leonspeakers.com) —Brent Butterworth
April 1, 2008 Media Master Many technophiles now center their home entertainment activities on their computers, but monitors and speakers still cannot deliver a rich entertainment experience for an entire family. Thus, the media center was born—a computer designed to interface easily with large TVs and surround-sound systems, with software focused on home-entertainment functions. One of the most graceful designs in this category is the Maingear Axess HD, which incorporates a DVD or Blu-ray player, a digital high-definition TV tuner with TiVo-like functions, iPod-like music-server capability, and display of your favorite photos into an elegant, minimalist chassis. With as much as two terabytes of internal data storage available, practically any CD and photo collections can be stored, along with hundreds of hours of HD TV programming. All of it can be accessed through an ordinary-looking remote control. Prices start at $1,395; a fully loaded model commands about twice that. (888.MAINGEAR, www.maingear.com) —Brent Butterworth
February 12, 2008 Delicious Dell Considering the state of conventional desktop computer styling―a fashionable PC generally means one in which the ubiquitous metal box is silver rather than beige or trimmed with enough flashing neon lights to inspire adolescent envy―Dell’s XPS One is something of a revelation. Although available in three variants ranging from $1,500 to $2,400, all XPS One models share the same elegant all-in-one design. That means the CPU, optical disc reader, and other key components are housed in a slim cabinet fronted by a 20-inch glass-face high-definition display surreptitiously suspended from a shapely aluminum stand perched on a smoked-glass base. Motion sensing technology softly illuminates sapphire blue accent lights in the XPS One’s slot-load drive and keyboard when a user’s hand draws near. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity help eliminate unsightly connecting wires and enable the XPS One to operate with a single power cord. All of which help shatter the preconception that styling and desktop PCs go together about as well as a hot fudge sundae and low-carb diet. (800.999.3355, www. dell.com) ―Scott Wasser
January 29, 2008 Sparkling Sound Interest in Thomas Heyerdahl Jeweller’s diamond-draped iDiamond iPod shuffle reportedly is so keen that the Oslo jeweler felt compelled to perform an encore. Hence, Heyerdahl has announced the iDiamond ear, a pair of ear buds crafted by Diaro Digital Design in 18-karat white and rose gold, etched by lasers, and encrusted with 204 diamonds totaling 1.65 carats. Heyerdahl says only 1,000 pair of the $6,400 iDiamond ear will be made. But that is mass production compared to the unique iDiamond shuffle, the sole example of which is scheduled to be auctioned for charity in March. (+47 22552525, www.heyerdahl.no) ―Scott Wasser
January 15, 2008 Turning the Page on a New Era Few luxuries are as simple as curling up with a good book or flipping through the morning paper over breakfast. Perhaps this is the reason electronic books have been slow to gain popularity: They complicate the reading experience. In an effort to reverse this sentiment, Amazon has just introduced the Kindle, a device that may very well revolutionize the way we read. The sleek, handheld device can download books, magazines, and newspapers anywhere with cell phone reception. It plays audiobooks, provides access to blogs, and allows the user to upload personal documents. The Kindle, $399, is lightweight and sits easily in the hands. Instead of a backlight display that a computer uses, the Kindle uses high-resolution “electronic ink” that makes the text as easy and comfortable to read as print. What makes this device truly remarkable, though, is that it brings all these features together in a single, easy-to-use package that retains much of the readability of a real book. (www.amazonkindle.com) ―Daniel Curtis
January 2, 2008 Blu Moves Weary of sitting on the fence waiting to see which format emerges victorious from the high-definition video-disc war? Or perhaps you’ve simply tired of trying to decipher whether a disc goes in the Blu-ray or HD DVD player. Either way, LG Electronics’ new Super Blu Player can put an end to your indecision. LG’s second-generation dual-format player, the BH200, trumps its predecessor by fully supporting the latest interactive features for both formats, such as Blu-ray’s picture-in-picture function and HD DVD’s Web-based supplemental content. The $999 Super Blu Player features HDMI 1.3 connectivity and decodes advanced audio formats such as DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus. It also upscales conventional DVDs to 1080p and supports 24-, 30-, and 60-frames-per-second playback. (800.243.0000, www.LGusa.com/superblu) ―Scott Wasser
December 18, 2007 Techno Style Sleek. Fast. Powerful. These descriptors are often used to portray exotic sports cars such as Lamborghini’s Gallardo or Murcielago but seldom applied to something as mundane as a computer. Until now. If ever a PC deserved to be described with the awe and reverence reserved for a super car, the Asus-Lamborghini VX2 notebook imminently qualifies. An offspring of the marriage between Italian carmaker Automobili Lamborghini SpA and Taiwanese technology firm Asus, this notebook has clearly inherited both parents’ genes. Its lacquer yellow or faux-carbon-fiber finish, mag-wheel-style fan vent, leather palm rest with raised stitching, and prominent charging bull logo reflect inimitable Lamborghini style and panache. Its Asus DNA, meanwhile, is apparent in the VX2’s integrated fingerprint reader, built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam, 160GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and the computing horsepower of an Intel Core2 Duo T7400 processor and NVidia GeForce Go7700 video processing chip. Its 0-to-60-mph time is undetermined, but this $2,699 laptop is sure to make all Lambo connoisseurs’ hearts race. (888-678-3688, www.asus.com) —Scott Wasser
December 4, 2007 A Racy Proposition An immersive view, enveloping sound, and road rumble felt in the seat of your pants makes the VRX Mach 4 race simulator as close as you can get to driving a race car without ever leaving your home. The $25,000 Mach 4 is even built like a racing machine with a polished chrome steel chassis, powder-coated wheel and pedal mounts, and custom CNC billet aluminum “dashboard” (where the trio of 37-inch, 1080p Sharp Aquos HDTVs are mounted). Even the seat is a genuine Italian Sparco Monza racing model. Horsepower for this simulator is provided by four Xbox 360s, a 150-watt Harman/Kardon surround-sound receiver, and a 1,500-watt tactile feedback device that sends simulated jolts and bumps through the specially suspended seat. Racing realism is further enhanced by a Bose Acoustimass 5.1 speaker system, Microsoft force-feedback steering wheel, seven-inch LCD display serving as a rearview mirror, and a pair of virtual-speed-synced wind-in-the-face fans. About the only thing missing from the VRX Mach 4 racing experience, it seems, is a constraining four-point safety harness and “helmet hair.” (888.654.0452, www.virtualracerx.com) —Scott Wasser
November 20, 2007 Allure of Aluminum The mere fact that KEF Audio’s MUON loudspeakers made their debut at the renowned Milan Design Week suggests that the offspring of a marriage between KEF’s engineers and industrial designer Ross Lovegrove might be as tantalizing to the eyes as they are to the ears. And, one glance at the shimmering liquidity of MUON’s sensuous aluminum skin confirms that expectation. Standing a statuesque seven feet tall, MUON’s ultra-modern cabinet is created by molding malleable sheets of heated aluminum into a super-formed shell. Lovegrove calls the result “Organic essentialism; nothing more or nothing less than you need.” By incorporating no less than six 10-inch woofers, a 10-inch midrange driver, and a “Uni-Q” midrange/tweeter array, KEF lends credence to another Lovegrove proclamation that the MUON delivers “the best sound in the world, ever.” The opportunity to live with that sound will be limited, however, because KEF plans to make only 100 pair of $140,000 speakers available worldwide. (732.683.2356 x123, www.kef.com) —Scott Wasser
November 1, 2007 Vertu Launches Ascent Ti Vertu’s newest luxury mobile phone, Ascent Ti (Ti is the chemical symbol for titanium), is modeled after high-performance sports cars. Made with lightweight titanium and leather components, the $6,300 Ascent Ti’s onscreen chronograph and offset illumination of the keypad echo dashboard instruments. You can choose a high-octane ring tone as well: British composer David Arnold, who’s responsible for several James Bond soundtracks, composed three ring-tone options. Like other Vertu phones, the Ascent Ti has a direct line to the Vertu concierge, a 24-hour-accessible, international service that assists users in booking restaurants and securing theater tickets, among other conveniences. (www.vertu.com) —Alexandra Foster
November 1, 2007 Sleek Italian Design in a High-Tech Projector The Italians have long been known for packing plenty of performance into sleek, curvaceous machines, but those machines have typically been automobiles. With its new Grand Cinema C3X 1080 projector, however, Sim2 Multimedia proves that the Italians also are extremely adept at creating stylish, high-performance home electronics. Sim2 touts the C3X 1080 as the world’s smallest 3-chip, DLP-based, 1080p projector. We call it the elegant evolution of front projection systems, an example of electronics that is as appealing to behold as the images it produces. The $30,000 projector, available with two different lenses and in four lustrous finishes, including Italian racing red, the C3X 1080 is based on Texas Instruments’ DarkChip4 DLP chipset. It features Sim2’s proprietary “Alphapath” light engine, 10-bit video processing, two HDMI inputs, and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. (954.442.2999, www.sim2usa.com) –Scott Wasser
November 1, 2007 A Futuristic Take on the Remote Control Looking more like a futuristic tool that Star Trek’s Mr. Spock might employ during his interstellar exploits than a clunky, conventional consumer electronics remote control, Bang & Olufsen’s Beo 5 boldly goes where no remote has gone before. Who needs a Star Trek “tricorder” when you can operate all of your B&O components and select devices, such as shades and lighting, with the Beo 5? A definitive example of what happens when form and function are deftly addressed in the same device, it is constructed of brushed aluminum and tungsten for an elegant look and a heft that belies its size and helps ensure ease of one-touch operation. Featuring logical, intuitive, one-handed (left or right) operation with backlit keys, a 2.5-inch touchscreen, and a magnetic docking/charging station, the $560 Beo 5 is available at Bang & Olufsen dealers who can quickly customize it to your personal requirements for an out-of-this-world remote control experience. (866-520-1400, www.bang-olufsen.com) —Scott Wasser
November 1, 2003 iRIS Offers Apple’s iPods deliver remarkably sharp video on their diminutive screens, but that is the problem: Their screens are tiny. Now, there is a new option from Meridian Audio, which unveiled iRIS, a conventional looking iPod dock with unconventional video upscaling and conversion capabilities. Using a Qdeo™ digital processing engine from chip-maker Marvell, the $370 iRIS will open your eyes by delivering a full 1080p picture via HDMI from video-equipped iPods. Its component-video output delivers a 1080i or 720p signal, and there is also a standard-definition S-video output. Audio signals can be sent by iRIS via both coaxial and optical digital as well as headphone and line-level analog outputs. HDMI, S-video, and analog audio inputs enable external devices such as DVD players to be connected to and processed by iRIS. A wireless remote and onscreen display similar to the standard iPod interface helps ensure ease of operation. (404.344.7111, www.meridian-audio.com) —Scott Wasser

May 13, 2008

Contrasting Statement

Although home-theater enthusiasts have always loved video projectors for the generously large images they create, many of today’s compact projectors produce insufficient contrast to deliver realistic, film-quality images. Parts of a picture that are intended to be black instead look gray, which takes the scare out of Hostel and wrecks the special effects in sci-fi movies. This problem should not trouble owners of JVC’s DLA-RS1X projector, which boasts a contrast ratio of 15,000 to 1—or twice the range typical projectors deliver—without resorting to optical or electronic trickery that can degrade images. The $5,995 DLA-RS1X features a lens that can be shifted to compensate for off-center mounting and zoomed to accommodate screens as large as 16 feet across. Resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels assures you see every detail of high-resolution TV broadcasts and Blu-ray discs. (973.317.5000, www.pro.jvc.com)

—Brent Butterworth

April 29, 2008

Blu-ray Rising

Now that the Blu-ray high-definition video disc format has vanquished rival HD-DVD, elite manufacturers are beginning to launch high-end Blu-ray players suited for the world’s finest home theaters. The first of these players to emerge is the Goldmund Eidos 20 BD player, which benefits from the same Swiss manufacture and precision engineering that makes the company’s other products such a privilege to use. The $16,900 player boasts a proprietary AC power-supply circuit; mechanical grounding technology that Goldmund says isolates the player’s drive mechanism from floor-borne vibration; and a magnetic damper the company claims reduces data errors. Goldmund cautions, though, that while the Eidos 20 BD does play DVDs and CDs, its conventional DVD/CD players deliver superior performance with those legacy formats. (888.GOLD.001, www.goldmund.com)

—Brent Butterworth

April 15, 2008

Slim Possibilities

No one wants to accessorize a sleek new TV with a portly audio system. So as flat-panel TVs get thinner, speaker manufacturers struggle to trim inches from their products too. At least one contestant seems to have won this battle of the bulge: Leon Speakers’ 414-LCR-X-A. This “sound bar”-style speaker fits beneath a flat-panel TV, and measures only 3 1/4 inches deep—not as willowy as 2008’s thinnest TVs but slimmer than most. Despite its inconspicuous presence, it manages to incorporate speakers for the front left, center, and right channels of a surround-sound system. Each $2,495 414-LCR-X-A is bespoke―sized and finished to match your flat-panel TV. Audiophiles may wonder how Leon Speakers’ engineers managed to squeeze three tweeters and six woofers into such a slim box. The rest of us can simply enjoy the enveloping sound they produce. (888.213.5015, www.leonspeakers.com)

—Brent Butterworth

April 1, 2008

Media Master

Many technophiles now center their home entertainment activities on their computers, but monitors and speakers still cannot deliver a rich entertainment experience for an entire family. Thus, the media center was born—a computer designed to interface easily with large TVs and surround-sound systems, with software focused on home-entertainment functions. One of the most graceful designs in this category is the Maingear Axess HD, which incorporates a DVD or Blu-ray player, a digital high-definition TV tuner with TiVo-like functions, iPod-like music-server capability, and display of your favorite photos into an elegant, minimalist chassis. With as much as two terabytes of internal data storage available, practically any CD and photo collections can be stored, along with hundreds of hours of HD TV programming. All of it can be accessed through an ordinary-looking remote control. Prices start at $1,395; a fully loaded model commands about twice that. (888.MAINGEAR, www.maingear.com)

—Brent Butterworth

February 12, 2008

Delicious Dell

Considering the state of conventional desktop computer styling―a fashionable PC generally means one in which the ubiquitous metal box is silver rather than beige or trimmed with enough flashing neon lights to inspire adolescent envy―Dell’s XPS One is something of a revelation. Although available in three variants ranging from $1,500 to $2,400, all XPS One models share the same elegant all-in-one design. That means the CPU, optical disc reader, and other key components are housed in a slim cabinet fronted by a 20-inch glass-face high-definition display surreptitiously suspended from a shapely aluminum stand perched on a smoked-glass base. Motion sensing technology softly illuminates sapphire blue accent lights in the XPS One’s slot-load drive and keyboard when a user’s hand draws near. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity help eliminate unsightly connecting wires and enable the XPS One to operate with a single power cord. All of which help shatter the preconception that styling and desktop PCs go together about as well as a hot fudge sundae and low-carb diet. (800.999.3355, www. dell.com)

―Scott Wasser

January 29, 2008

Sparkling Sound

Interest in Thomas Heyerdahl Jeweller’s diamond-draped iDiamond iPod shuffle reportedly is so keen that the Oslo jeweler felt compelled to perform an encore. Hence, Heyerdahl has announced the iDiamond ear, a pair of ear buds crafted by Diaro Digital Design in 18-karat white and rose gold, etched by lasers, and encrusted with 204 diamonds totaling 1.65 carats. Heyerdahl says only 1,000 pair of the $6,400 iDiamond ear will be made. But that is mass production compared to the unique iDiamond shuffle, the sole example of which is scheduled to be auctioned for charity in March. (+47 22552525, www.heyerdahl.no)

―Scott Wasser

January 15, 2008

Turning the Page on a New Era

Few luxuries are as simple as curling up with a good book or flipping through the morning paper over breakfast. Perhaps this is the reason electronic books have been slow to gain popularity: They complicate the reading experience. In an effort to reverse this sentiment, Amazon has just introduced the Kindle, a device that may very well revolutionize the way we read. The sleek, handheld device can download books, magazines, and newspapers anywhere with cell phone reception. It plays audiobooks, provides access to blogs, and allows the user to upload personal documents. The Kindle, $399, is lightweight and sits easily in the hands. Instead of a backlight display that a computer uses, the Kindle uses high-resolution “electronic ink” that makes the text as easy and comfortable to read as print. What makes this device truly remarkable, though, is that it brings all these features together in a single, easy-to-use package that retains much of the readability of a real book. (www.amazonkindle.com)

―Daniel Curtis

January 2, 2008

Blu Moves

Weary of sitting on the fence waiting to see which format emerges victorious from the high-definition video-disc war? Or perhaps you’ve simply tired of trying to decipher whether a disc goes in the Blu-ray or HD DVD player. Either way, LG Electronics’ new Super Blu Player can put an end to your indecision. LG’s second-generation dual-format player, the BH200, trumps its predecessor by fully supporting the latest interactive features for both formats, such as Blu-ray’s picture-in-picture function and HD DVD’s Web-based supplemental content. The $999 Super Blu Player features HDMI 1.3 connectivity and decodes advanced audio formats such as DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus. It also upscales conventional DVDs to 1080p and supports 24-, 30-, and 60-frames-per-second playback. (800.243.0000, www.LGusa.com/superblu)

―Scott Wasser

December 18, 2007

Techno Style

Sleek. Fast. Powerful. These descriptors are often used to portray exotic sports cars such as Lamborghini’s Gallardo or Murcielago but seldom applied to something as mundane as a computer. Until now. If ever a PC deserved to be described with the awe and reverence reserved for a super car, the Asus-Lamborghini VX2 notebook imminently qualifies. An offspring of the marriage between Italian carmaker Automobili Lamborghini SpA and Taiwanese technology firm Asus, this notebook has clearly inherited both parents’ genes. Its lacquer yellow or faux-carbon-fiber finish, mag-wheel-style fan vent, leather palm rest with raised stitching, and prominent charging bull logo reflect inimitable Lamborghini style and panache. Its Asus DNA, meanwhile, is apparent in the VX2’s integrated fingerprint reader, built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam, 160GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and the computing horsepower of an Intel Core2 Duo T7400 processor and NVidia GeForce Go7700 video processing chip. Its 0-to-60-mph time is undetermined, but this $2,699 laptop is sure to make all Lambo connoisseurs’ hearts race. (888-678-3688, www.asus.com)

—Scott Wasser

December 4, 2007

A Racy Proposition

An immersive view, enveloping sound, and road rumble felt in the seat of your pants makes the VRX Mach 4 race simulator as close as you can get to driving a race car without ever leaving your home. The $25,000 Mach 4 is even built like a racing machine with a polished chrome steel chassis, powder-coated wheel and pedal mounts, and custom CNC billet aluminum “dashboard” (where the trio of 37-inch, 1080p Sharp Aquos HDTVs are mounted). Even the seat is a genuine Italian Sparco Monza racing model. Horsepower for this simulator is provided by four Xbox 360s, a 150-watt Harman/Kardon surround-sound receiver, and a 1,500-watt tactile feedback device that sends simulated jolts and bumps through the specially suspended seat. Racing realism is further enhanced by a Bose Acoustimass 5.1 speaker system, Microsoft force-feedback steering wheel, seven-inch LCD display serving as a rearview mirror, and a pair of virtual-speed-synced wind-in-the-face fans. About the only thing missing from the VRX Mach 4 racing experience, it seems, is a constraining four-point safety harness and “helmet hair.” (888.654.0452, www.virtualracerx.com)

—Scott Wasser

November 20, 2007

Allure of Aluminum

The mere fact that KEF Audio’s MUON loudspeakers made their debut at the renowned Milan Design Week suggests that the offspring of a marriage between KEF’s engineers and industrial designer Ross Lovegrove might be as tantalizing to the eyes as they are to the ears. And, one glance at the shimmering liquidity of MUON’s sensuous aluminum skin confirms that expectation. Standing a statuesque seven feet tall, MUON’s ultra-modern cabinet is created by molding malleable sheets of heated aluminum into a super-formed shell. Lovegrove calls the result “Organic essentialism; nothing more or nothing less than you need.” By incorporating no less than six 10-inch woofers, a 10-inch midrange driver, and a “Uni-Q” midrange/tweeter array, KEF lends credence to another Lovegrove proclamation that the MUON delivers “the best sound in the world, ever.” The opportunity to live with that sound will be limited, however, because KEF plans to make only 100 pair of $140,000 speakers available worldwide. (732.683.2356 x123, www.kef.com)

—Scott Wasser

November 1, 2007

Vertu Launches Ascent Ti

Vertu’s newest luxury mobile phone, Ascent Ti (Ti is the chemical symbol for titanium), is modeled after high-performance sports cars. Made with lightweight titanium and leather components, the $6,300 Ascent Ti’s onscreen chronograph and offset illumination of the keypad echo dashboard instruments. You can choose a high-octane ring tone as well: British composer David Arnold, who’s responsible for several James Bond soundtracks, composed three ring-tone options. Like other Vertu phones, the Ascent Ti has a direct line to the Vertu concierge, a 24-hour-accessible, international service that assists users in booking restaurants and securing theater tickets, among other conveniences. (www.vertu.com)

—Alexandra Foster

November 1, 2007

Sleek Italian Design in a High-Tech Projector

The Italians have long been known for packing plenty of performance into sleek, curvaceous machines, but those machines have typically been automobiles. With its new Grand Cinema C3X 1080 projector, however, Sim2 Multimedia proves that the Italians also are extremely adept at creating stylish, high-performance home electronics. Sim2 touts the C3X 1080 as the world’s smallest 3-chip, DLP-based, 1080p projector. We call it the elegant evolution of front projection systems, an example of electronics that is as appealing to behold as the images it produces. The $30,000 projector, available with two different lenses and in four lustrous finishes, including Italian racing red, the C3X 1080 is based on Texas Instruments’ DarkChip4 DLP chipset. It features Sim2’s proprietary “Alphapath” light engine, 10-bit video processing, two HDMI inputs, and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. (954.442.2999, www.sim2usa.com)

–Scott Wasser

November 1, 2007

A Futuristic Take on the Remote Control

Looking more like a futuristic tool that Star Trek’s Mr. Spock might employ during his interstellar exploits than a clunky, conventional consumer electronics remote control, Bang & Olufsen’s Beo 5 boldly goes where no remote has gone before. Who needs a Star Trek “tricorder” when you can operate all of your B&O components and select devices, such as shades and lighting, with the Beo 5? A definitive example of what happens when form and function are deftly addressed in the same device, it is constructed of brushed aluminum and tungsten for an elegant look and a heft that belies its size and helps ensure ease of one-touch operation. Featuring logical, intuitive, one-handed (left or right) operation with backlit keys, a 2.5-inch touchscreen, and a magnetic docking/charging station, the $560 Beo 5 is available at Bang & Olufsen dealers who can quickly customize it to your personal requirements for an out-of-this-world remote control experience. (866-520-1400, www.bang-olufsen.com)

—Scott Wasser

November 1, 2003

iRIS Offers

Apple’s iPods deliver remarkably sharp video on their diminutive screens, but that is the problem: Their screens are tiny. Now, there is a new option from Meridian Audio, which unveiled iRIS, a conventional looking iPod dock with unconventional video upscaling and conversion capabilities. Using a Qdeo™ digital processing engine from chip-maker Marvell, the $370 iRIS will open your eyes by delivering a full 1080p picture via HDMI from video-equipped iPods. Its component-video output delivers a 1080i or 720p signal, and there is also a standard-definition S-video output. Audio signals can be sent by iRIS via both coaxial and optical digital as well as headphone and line-level analog outputs. HDMI, S-video, and analog audio inputs enable external devices such as DVD players to be connected to and processed by iRIS. A wireless remote and onscreen display similar to the standard iPod interface helps ensure ease of operation. (404.344.7111, www.meridian-audio.com)

—Scott Wasser