TechPin

I, for one, find wires not only annoying, but also old-fashioned for this new wireless era, and it gets on my nerves when I see them all around the house, piercing into walls, floors and ceilings and forming nasty webs.

Wires are so last-generation also concerning home theater setups; still, lots of not so very open-minded people are not yet interested in giving up on their hi-fi gear and replacing it with its wireless counterpart.

In the past few years we have witnessed the release of dedicated systems that include wireless speaker hookups designed and commercialized by several manufacturers. But what people really need right now is a simple wireless solution that can be used with any speaker. Based on the consumers’ needs, JBL launched at this year’s CEDIA show the On Air WEM-1 Wireless Expansion Module, a device that helps users to unwire ordinary speakers, regardless of brand or make.

This is very handy when you want to offer multiroom capability to an existing audio system or to add surround speakers to a home theater system without running speaker wires. On the other hand, the WEM-1 can distribute music from a computer to anywhere in the place.

The device package includes the following pieces: a transmitter module which connects to an audio source, a receiver/amplifier unit that connects to a pair of speakers, a remote control and some accessories. According to JBL, the new WEM-1 transmits two channel audio to a maximum operating range of about 70 feet (21,33 meters) over a 2,4 GHz wireless connection. The WEM-1’s compact transmitter unit connects to an audio source via its RCA audio-jacks and includes a 3,5mm mini-jack adapter for connection to the audio input of a computer or portable audio device. Therefore, it offers a variety of connection options, including line- and speaker-level outputs, which make it easier to accommodate a wide range of audio source components and A/V receivers.



Concerning the receiver/amplifier unit, it features a 50-watt-per-channel amplifier, a subwoofer output, a local input also, and allows users to directly connect a portable device or other audio source to it at a remote location. In addition, it’s provided with five equalization curves for different JBL speakers and with an unequalized bypass setting.

As expected, such an enhanced level of versatility will go on sale later this month, with a suggested retail price of $359, which might not rush people into stores.

(Source Dvice)

The modern times we live in today are a continuous and exhausting struggle to survive in the new industrialized world and oblige us to a constantly accelerated velocity we very often can not cope with. The lack of time is the most overwhelming pressure we have ever felt on our shoulders and we are all looking for the 25 hours day. Taking care of our body and being sensitive to its needs, giving it enough rest and relaxation – mentally, physically and emotionally – is nowadays the last of our concerns. Time is money, time is knowledge, time is quite everything these days.

We somehow have to restore and renew everyday, if we don’t want to suddenly break down. At the end of the day, everyone should afford the luxury of “compromising” a few hours and taking care of themselves.

Designed by OSIM International, the OSIM uSpace is better known as the Well-Being Chair, and for good reason. The uSpace is a revolutionary chair which provides a multi-sensory experience through a powerful union light, sound and massage therapy and brings you in the world of deep relaxation. “The OSIM uSpace fuses the therapeutic qualities of sight (light), sound (music) and feel (massage) for a total sense of well being that is unmatched by any other massage chair”, said Mr Ron Sim, Founder and CEO of OSIM. The chair has 5 distinct combinations of clinically proven Mood Light, Synchronized Music and Massage Programmes which help you relax, sleep, recharge, harmonize and massage well. “It is no longer just about massage. The making of the OSIM uSpace marks a quantum leap, not just for OSIM, but for the entire massage chair industry”, added Mr Sim.

After a two years intense work and study into the needs of today’s stress filled individuals and their lifestyles, the OSIM research and development team created a butterfly’s cocoon shaped chair, a unique and private space of well-being and retreat.

It’s very well known the fact that light directly affects the way we feel, because there’s a special connection between daylight and our brainwaves. Different cultures, such as Egyptians, Greeks and Indians have used the therapeutic effect of light and colour. The uSpace is provided with three scientifically proven preset Mood Lights: Relax, Rejuvenate and Balance. The Relax Mood Light promotes calmness and reduces stress by using “cool” colours like blue, turquoise and green, widely recognized to be soothing and calming to our system. This mood helps a great deal in lowering the pulse rate, the respiration rate and blood pressure. The Rejuvenate Mood Light improves the alertness and the creativity and it’s based on “warm colours, from red to orange and yellow. These colours invigorate and awaken both mind and body, enhance the pulse and respiration rate and also stimulates the nervous system. The Balance Mood Light harmonizes and promotes energy boost. This mood displays a mixed “colour bath” (the full rainbow spectrum) which has an overall harmonizing effect on the body.

On the other hand, neuroacoustic research has shown that there is a certain resonance between brainwaves and our sound environment. Therefore, uSpace Music uses the energizing effect of sound to soothe our moods by the sounds of gentle singing. Dr. Jeffrey D. Thompson, an international expert in the field of brainwave entertainment, thinks that there is a way to influence a person’s state of mind through specially composed music. The method uses a natural technique called “entrainment”, which is the possibility of brainwaves to adjust to our sound environment. Based on this research, Dr. Thompson has designed 3 unique uSpace Synchronized Music: Relax, based on Alpha waves, to help reduce stress, Sleep, which uses Delta waves, to slow down brainwave patterns and to induce a deep state of sleep, and Renew, based on Theta waves, to promote concentration, peak performance and mental renewal. Music-Synchronized Massage is a programme that harmonizes both mind and body through simultaneous music and massage. Whenever the movements of massage correspond to your choice of music, the sensory experience gets to another level.



Meanwhile you experience the wonders of Synchronized Music and Mood Lights you can enjoy the benefits of a relaxing or an invigorating massage. The OSIM uSpace detects vital acupressure points on your body through advanced optical sensors and automatically orientates the rollers to massage around those points, ensuring you to benefit from the effects of a therapeutic massage. Based on the most advanced technology, the chair offers Automatic Acupressure Point Detection, Music-Synchronized Massage, Manual Massage Mode and eight HealthCare Programmes: Full Body Relief, Stiff Shoulders, Lower Back Tension, Leg and Hip Fatigue, Acupressure, Morning, Night Time and Seat. Other massage modes include: roller massage, simulating the expert hands of a skilled masseuse, air and vibration massage for strong, squeezing action, heat therapy for a better circulation and relief of soreness.

The OSIM uSpace resembles a first-class airline seat, having the unique state-of-the-art and an ergo-recline mechanism that allow the leg rest, seat and backrest to slide in perfect tandem and in one fluid motion to smoothly cradle one’s body into a supine position. Another important feature is the personal soundtrack. Yes, the chair has its specially orchestrated music tracks, but you can connect your personal mp3 or CD player to stream your favorite music. There must not be forgotten the luxurious plush leather upholstery which invites you to another dimension where you can feel the warmth and cosiness of a heavenly place. Anti-bacterial coating on the leather upholstery helps maintain the highest level of hygiene and comfort.

OSIM uSpace was launched on Singapore and Hong Kong’s market and subsequently it arrived in the rest of Asia, with US, Europe and Middle East, during the first quarter of 2008. Today, the OSIM uSpace can be achieved for an amount of about $6000.

(Source Dvice)

Everytime you work hard on some project of yours and you come up with the greatest idea of them all, you see how the sun is slowly going down, taking away the light you need so much in order to continue. The amount of the available light isn’t enough anymore and all you can do is to just take a break and obediently wait for the next day. It is the most terrible feeling and it brings you at your wits’ end.

But here’s an unusual lamp design concept that catches everyone’s eye even if it does nothing special at all. It looks like a science fiction movie setting object, as if it were the result of an alien civilization.



The Chris Natt designed lamp is a device that keeps up the light level constant: this means that the spherical shape and surrounding panels have a specific function, to constantly adjust the lamp’s light levels to correspond with that coming in through the windows. The so called Stimuli 3.0 is “a lighting system whose shape and therefore light output sensitively varies inversely with the surrounding natural light intensity”, says its designer. For example, at dusk, illumination gradually increases as natural light recedes.

The device is provided at its heart with an unique 3 axis gear box that shifts and rotates the panels to either increase or decrease the brightness of the light. Therefore, the panels block out more or less light. That depends on how much light there is coming from outside.



This is a very weird lamp, you must agree, and it would be perfect for an environment designed to astonish and amuse its inhabitants. It looks like a thing of the future and it would be a great achievement for Chriss Natt to actually mass produce such an attractive prototype and to release it on market under a reasonably price. If the concept will get to see the light of the day, then the designer might consider himself a very lucky guy and make a hit.

(Source Dvice)

There are too many companies that try to gain notoriety by claiming all sorts of things about their products. Claiming stuff is something and having those things actually working as you claim is something different altogether and loudspeaker company THIEL Audio seems to be knowing this principle. Although I haven’t hear of it, and I’m sure most of you haven’t either, THIEL now announces world’s first truly plug-n-play, multi-room, multi-channel, audiophile quality distributed audio system featuring the pure THIEL sound.

Known as the Zöet, the system utilizes your existing home Ethernet network combining it with THIEL’s lossless proprietary wireless network in order to locate and connect the self-powered IP-addressable speakers via a special dB1 distribution processor.

According to Ubergizmo, this concept was also presented at CES 2008 earlier this year under the THIELnet brand name. Back then, THIEL used a 5xwireless SCS4 monoblock 250watts speaker managed by a ThielNet DB1 system. The concept was slightly altered with Zöet. Now, you can operate it with the aid of an intuitive remote control. The entire thing can be accessed via a simple web interface which also provides system changes and firmware upgrades.

THIEL claims that the biggest issue with networked and wireless audio systems is that sound between speakers is never properly synchronized. Unlike other wireless products, Zöet provides better performance by integrating innovative technologies that preserves signal synchronization to improve imaging and reduce echo effect common to other network-based systems.

This way Zöet performs almost the same with traditional high-end systems, and you don’t have to worry about those expensive cables. Price and availability are still unknown.

You know how companies are doing everything they can to include as many functions as possible in their devices. I think we can agree that smart phones can be considered as the epitome of multi-functional devices. LG now comes with yet another model, which practically takes us to the next level of multi-functionality. With the new LG-KC910, you won’t be able to tell if you are holding a compact digital camera or a sleek PDA/smartphone.

LG advertises it as the only 8 megapixel multimedia phone with a full 3” touchscreen interface. The press release informs that the latest fashion phone from LG combines the latest multimedia features and an intuitive user interface evolved far beyond what preceding models like Viewty offered.

“With our new flagship handset, the LG-KC910, we’ve once again combined a high-end camera with top-notch multimedia features and full touchscreen interface to provide the ultimate multimedia experience,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “According to our customers a full touchscreen interface is essential for fully utilizing high-end multimedia features and this is one of many areas where the LG-KC910 excels.”

The 8 megapixel image sensor is complemented by superior Schneider-Kreuznach certified optics, a xenon flash and ISO sensitivity up to 1600. Behaving similar to a top of the line compact digital camera, the LG-KC910 also integrates an image stabilizer, auto-focus, manual focus, Face Tracking, Smile Shot and blink detection. Additionally, you get an embedded GPS receiver to geo-tag photos for later plotting on an interactive map, plus a variety of image presets and modes. The video capabilities are comparable to those of a compact video camera. The LG-KC910 can record video from 5fps up to 120fps, so you can later edit it and come up with some impressive slow motion footage. The multimedia phone plays DivX and Xvid movies at 30+ fps.

On the audio part of the device, we find that LG collaborated with Dolby to bring the Dolby Mobile standard to smart phones. This standard features an integrated suite of audio processing technologies which provides depth and richness as well as clean, powerful bass to the music listening experience.

The interface comes complete with customizable features such as widgets and shortcuts. Other advanced features include an A-GPS module compatible with 3G HSDPA networks for connections up to 7.2Mbps and Wi-Fi for even faster internet access.

The KC910 is expected to hit the shelves in October, and the price will be revealed at launch time.