Will this technology really take off?

TwitterPeek

Just like the iPod and iPhone has really taken off for Apple, the TwitterPeek could also be a real winner if this device evokes a true emotional attactment to the individual user. I am not sure at this stage if I would invest in a TwitterPeek since the Twitter service alone could be a short term fad that will be gone in a few years to be replaced by another online service.

One thing is that the product is currently only available via www.amazon.com which could be a good thing or a limiting factor for initial sales penetration. This certainly is one device that is worth following for the next 1 – 2 years to see where it leads.

Check out TwitterPeek

Oakley Thump MP3 Sunglasses - Image: Oakley

Now there is another company that has released a pair of sunglasses that is fashionable, includes a music player and also support Bluetooth for wireless connection your Bluetooth enabled cell phone. The Trispecs sunglasses do seem like a very interesting product but their website lacks all the necessary details for me to make any real judgement on their product. The details missing are the main hardware specifications. After some digging around, I was able to locate a PDF press release on their website that indicated some of the hardware details I was looking for.

 Specifications:

• Bluetooth 2.0 support + EDR with backwards compatibility to V1.2.
• Bluetooth Profiles: Handsfree, stereo headset, A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP.
• Stereo Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz.
• 5 hour of battery life when fully charged.
• 70 hours of standby time.
• Micro USB port

The retail price on these sunglasses is $199.00 USD. The price seems slightly on the high side especially when the hardware specifications are not in the forefront and the sunglass features are front and centre mainly. I get the impression that you are mainly paying for the quality of the sunglasses and not the hardware contained inside from the website.

Would I recommend these sunglasses?

Currently I am On the Fence.

Trispecs

Everywhere I go nowadays on the subway, I see people with an Apple music player of some kind. Various iPods, iPhone and the iTouch are certainly popular. I on the other hand use a traditional MP3 player or a Windows Mobile device for listening to music. For me, it has always been a Microsoft Windows CE based PDA for listening to music. There are a number of reasons why I stay with a Windows Mobile device but the main one is that most of my music is in a  Mp3 format.

What does this mean anyways when MP3 files are a popular file format?

When I first started out in listening to digital Mp3 music on a mobile device, this was true but now there are a number of different music file formats that are more popular now. What does this mean for someone that is just getting into buying a digital music player for the first time?

First not all file formats are created equal. To start, someone has to take the original music from the CD or another audio source and convert the audio file into a digital music file that can be played as a file on a PC or digital music player. Various file formats have been created over the years to balance the level of sound quality and the amount of file storage required for the song.

Originally the MP3 file format was one that was favored to minimize the file size over maintaining maximum sound quality since memory was limited and expensive. The trick was to remove the very high and the very low frequencies that would be least missed in the overall songs sound quality. This lead to a music file being approximately 1 megabyte per 1 minute of music (lossy). Newer more audio rich file formats (lossless) are closer to 10 megabytes per minute of music.  If you plan on buying a new music player nowadays, they start with around 2 gigabytes and go up in storage capacity built in. 2 gigabytes can store almost 2000 MP3 files but only about 200 lossless audio files. It would make sense to get music in a lossless file format if the sound quality is very important to you.  If you are considering buying a non Apple music player, make sure the file format you plan to listen to is supported on the music player first since each maufacturer has their own selection of file formats supported.

One popular format that has about a 2:1 file compression format is the Apple AAC. This format is used by all Apple products and other third party music players. File sizes are large but the sound quality is definately superior over standard MP3 file formats. The important issue to note is that all digital music players are created to handle certain file formats only. Therefore you truly need to understand the formats and get a music player that supports the file format you will be using and be aware how or where you intend to get the music files from.

If you have a large collection of CD music then you can spend the time to convert the music to the appropriate file format. Use the software that comes with the music player or download any of the dozens available online. This process is very time consuming and can easily takes days if not weeks for a large music collection. Most people now download from various commercial websites like the Apple iTunes Store. This saves you the hassle of converting your CD to a music file and also easier to get and organize your music. 

The trend now is to get an Apple music player of some kind for the convenience and the great sound quality. The only down side for some is the higher price tag for the devices compared to other music players on the market. Before you jump into this category, do your homework and decide which file format works best for you based on price of the device and file access convenience.

HERE is a good link to more information about the various digital music file formats.  

New Nintendo DSi Coming Soon 

Nintendo DSi - Image: Globe and Mail

Looks like Nintendo continues to innovate and produce new products that consumers will flock to. With the economy the way it is, it is good to see a major manufacturer stepping up to the plate with a new offering in the mobile device market. The latest offering has :

- A slightly larger screen. (8.25 cm. now instead of the 7.6 cm. on the older DSLite).

- Dual camera. One facing the user and one on the outside.

- Standard SD memory card slot. Supports 4 Gig on up.

- Support for music playback. The Apple AAC file format is supported. No Mp3.

The DSi continues to support the touch screen feature and is slightly thinner over the older DSLite. At an expected $200.00 Canadian price tag, Not sure how popular this will be at first but it will do well in the long run with access to over 850 games already available on the DS platform. You can go HERE for more details.

It has been over 25 years since the MIDI standard was established  giving birth to all sorts of synthesizer New Wave music in the 80′s . It  is amazing that the General MIDI Standard is still supported today with a number of newer extended formats available. I am disappointed in some ways that MIDI has not really become a household name defining music composition, electronic music programming and as a general form of study for music enthusiasts. My impression is that MIDI is still considered as some kind of BLACK BOX used by hardcore dance music creators or known as a file format used for ring tone use only.

MIDI is so much more than that and can truly be a wonderful tool to take advantage of. Here is a list of some scenarios that make good use of MIDI.

- A MIDI instrument (keyboard, violin, guitar, drums etc,) connected to a computer with sequencing and notation software will allow you to record your compositions in a digital format. Afterward, the MIDI can be automatically translated into a musical score that can be printed.

- A synthesizer keyboard can be set to emulate 100′s of different traditional instruments and also play some electronic sounds. These selections can e programmed and saved as a patch which can make live performances very easy to setup. The exact keyboard setup can be saved as a patch and then transferred back into the keyboard instantaneously via MIDI when required. No knob adjusting prior to each song. Just selection the new settings via the computer or transfer a set number of patches and preset a number of buttons on the keyboard for the performance.

- Non musical instruments can be programmed using MIDI like lights, and mixing consoles.

- Performance Control. Lights, curtains and other show aspects can be controlled by MIDI allowing precise timing to ensure special effects to create the proper mood of the performance is applied on cue.

- When recording or composing a song, the audio mixing console can use a favorite setting saved as a MIDI file. This allows changes over time to be applied to certain channels being recorded automatically without human intervention. This does not apply to MIDI instruments only but to the specific audio channels being recorded which can be digital or analog.

MIDI should not be confused with actual music. A MIDI file only includes a set of instructions and no music or sound. MIDI is heavily used in the entertainment industry but little is known within the general populous. MIDI over LAN could be a great way of allowing home automation and other benefits that could make a physically challenged individual more productive. MIDI is not just for music and I would love to see more non music related applications being made available in the future.

DRM

Digital Rights Management has been an issue since the day it was released. DRM tries to prevent the copying of the material or conversion to other formats. Users have always found ways to circumvent this DRM technology by purchasing specialized software tools or even utilizing some FREE software tools. Recently APPLE announced that much of their music library will be DRM FREE in the iTunes Store. This is welcome news and will allow more users to take advantage of the iTunes Store and download more paid music files. Users will always copy and use one file in multiple locations. This has always been the case even as far back as records and cassette tapes. Users will still continue to purchase songs from iTunes and other music download sites regardless of how easy copying a commercial song may become now.

HOW SMALL WILL MP3 PLAYERS GET?

I recently purchased a small MP3 player just for the fun of checking out a very small unit. The product is manufacturered by a company called Newsmy.

Newsmy B007 MP3 Player - Image: Newsmy

The B07 MP3 player with built FM reciever + transmitter from Newsmy is the size of a fat USB memory drive. I just had to see how well something this small with a built in LCD display can perform and even be functional. I was certainly surprised at the sound quality from such a small unit. It plugs into a USB port for recharging and the transfer of music. The unit I purchased came with 2 Gigs of ram. Amazing nowadays how much memory is available in these small packages. The FM radio picks up all the typical radio stations my home stereo system picks up and then some. This tiny little unit also has a built in voice recorder too. Really sweet. I will be posting a complete review soon on this little gem of a MP3 player.

Manufacturer: Ferguson Hill

Fergusan Hill FH007 and FH008 Mini Sound System

Ferguson Hill FH007 Speaker Sound System

I love my music. . . Unfortunately I do not love the fact that I require a hard drive on my PC to store my digital music files, a memory card to store copies for use on my MP3 player and lastly another copy burned onto a CD to play on my home stereo system.
Before MP3 or digital file music, I was happy with a CD that played great music on my home stereo, on my PCs CD-ROM drive and on my portable CD player. Nowadays, it is hard work to ensure I have the flexibility to play my music anywhere.

External speakers for MP3 players have never really been in a league that competes with home stereo systems in sound quality until now. There are companies like Altec Lansing, Boston Acoustics, Sony and many other traditional home stereo speaker manufacturers that have gotten into the MP3 marketplace. Another company is called Ferguson Hill. Ferguson Hill has transformed their traditional home stereo system and created a desktop version. The sound quality revivals most other desktop sound systems created for digital music enjoyment.

First, no one currently comes close to the Ferguson Hill FH007 in styling and visual appeal. The look of the speakers system is out of this world. Mainly created with the use of aluminum and acrylic, this speaker system is the perfect eye candy for any design enthusiast. The base system which is classified as the FH007, comes with the amplifier, 2 loudspeakers to handle the high and mid range sound plus 2 bass speakers. The horn on the loudspeaker and the sphere shaped casing of the bass speaker are made of clear acrylic.

FH007 connected to laptop

You might think this speaker system is just an art piece and has little value when it comes to music enjoyment but this is not the case. I was surprised when I first plugged in my MP3 player (i-Mate Jas Jar Windows Mobile PDA to the FH007. Until I saw and heard it myself, I never would have believed that my MP3 player could deliver such sound quality and clarity. The FH007 clearly improves the volume level and overall sound output coming from a very small music device.

As a comparison, I have connected my MP3 to the JVC RX-6030V Home Surround sound stereo amplifier. The auxiliary input on the JVC just does not have the capacity to handle the headphone out of my MP3 music player and reproduce the music with any true fidelity. Normal to loud volume levels would introduce massive amounts of distortion and in the end not suitable as an amplifier for my MP3 music. The Ferguson Hill sound system is truly the opposite. Normal to loud volume levels would produce crisp and clean music. I can now listen to MP3 digital music files directly from my MP3 player without the use of headphones and also allow others to listen together.

Original CD players and CD based music would allow you to hear all the subtle sounds and various layers in the music especially when you listen to classical, jazz or orchestral music. MP3 files on the other hand lose much of this clarity and full sound depending on the MP3 player and headphones used. Definitely, plugging an MP3 player to a standard home stereo system does not improve the sound quality. Most external sound systems geared for MP3 players do provide the added volume and sound output but not the true home system sound quality level. I can say the Ferguson Hill sound system does deliver the true home stereo sound quality from a MP3 player.

FH007 Connected to TV

When I watch movies at home, the JVC system handles the Dolby surround sound and feeds the signal to my Boston Acoustic surround sound speakers and to my Audiosource book shelf speakers. These sound great and do provide the sense of being in a theatre.

To really see how well the FH007 performs, I connected my TV sound to the FH007. I was blown away at how well a normal TV program sounded. The sound was much fuller and cleaner. The FH007 system blew me away and though it does not support surround sound, the impact of the action movie like Top Gun was still a joy to watch. The diameter of the FH007 bass speakers are larger compared to my home stereo book shelf speakers and this alone could be one contributing factor to the awesome sound.

FH008 Subwoofer

Now that I was truly intrigued and happy at the sound quality of the FH007, it was time to connect the FH008 subwoofer and see how much better the sound might be. For those that do not use a subwoofer on their home stereo or home surround sound system, you are missing a layer of sound that truly makes the movies sound life like. Listening to sound emanating from a subwoofer alone is not impressive by any means. The sound is more like very low rumbling noise than clear distinct sound. By adding this to the overall sound output, you enhance and broaden the range of the sound coming from the regular speakers and truly bring action movies and documentaries to life.

FH008-Subwoofer Front View

When I first turned on the FH008 subwoofer I was also amazed at how well the very low bass sound came through and enhanced the overall quality of the TV sound. Now switching back to regular music, I inserted a number of different CD’s from classical, Crowded House to a combo 80′s New Wave synth pop CD. The fuller and richer sound coming from the FH007 and the FH008 is truly astounding. My current home stereo system just does not come close to the overall sound reproduction and clarity coming from the FH007 and FH008. The last test was to connect my MP3 player back in. Now that the FH008 is connected to the F007, I was again blown away at how well the bass sounds were coming through. The subwoofer has on the back its own frequency and volume level controls. I had to adjust and readjust these often depending on the CD or MP3 file I was listening too. It was not an issue with movies though. Just set it once and the levels where OK. I would have preferred the controls to be on the front since the back does not really look appealing.

FH008 Subwoofer Back View

Installation Ease: 8

Fun Factor: 10

Usability: 7

Documentation: 8

Online Support: NO

CONS:

- No treble or bass adjustments. Only Volume.
- The volume knob is too small.
- Loudspeakers are too tall for use on a normal book shelf
- Cables are permanently attached which prevents custom lengths to be easily used.
- No provisions for multiple sound sources.
- When using the FH008, the bass can be overpowering depending on the original recording levels.

PROS:

- Excellent reproduction of digital MP3 and other music file formats.
- Speakers blend into the surrounding making them a pleasant addition to the decor.
- The amplifier has a small foot print and light weight compared to traditonal home amplifiers.
- Great sound even at low volume levels.

OVERALL:

FH007 COnnected to an Apple iPod

Compared to the original MSRP of the i-Mate Jasjar which was my first source for the MP3 music, the FH007 and FH008 combination price is slightly lower at around $1000 USD. The cost is still a bit high for me since most good home surround sound stereo systems are under $600.00 USD. A home stereo system allows for multiple input sources like CD, DVD, video, TV plus the use of an optical digital sound input. The FH007 only provide analog sound input. The FH007 plus the FH008 still is a great option for those music enthusiasts willing to spend the extra to get a truly stylist and rich sounding external sound system for their portable music player. I would recommend this package to those not limited in space and the pocket book. Ferguson Hill has captured the true essence of what a speaker system should sound like when connected to a portable MP3 music player. Now, can you imagine the sound quality if I was using a more sophisticated digital music player like any of the Apple iPods as the sound source?

Overall Rating: 8.25

You can go to Ferguson Hill for more details.