Kickstarter has become my favorite “gadget” website. Okay, it’s not really a site where you can technically buy gadgets. But I love reading about the new gadget proposals by enterprising individuals. Some of the things that have been presented there for funding are very “out of the box” and yet address real-world concerns. I bet you’ve visited that site and exclaimed to yourself, “yeah, I really need that!” [Read more…]
Rock With These Bluetooth Headphones
I love listening to music wherever I go. I especially love it when I’m walking around either at the mall or even inside my house. I feel like I’m walking to my own private music score and you know it makes you feel good whenever you do that. But sometimes it’s a hassle to walk around with headphones or earphones mainly because of the wires that snake between your buds and your music player. I often find myself trying to keep the wires away from me or sometimes the phones fall off because it gets snagged on something as I turn my head. It’s enough to really put a damper on how you enjoy your music. [Read more…]
Listen To your Jams Even While Swimming
Let’s face it. Working out is a chore. If not for the fact that exercising brings good benefits for your body we won’t even be bothered to stand up from our sofas. It’s a good thing that we can reduce the tedium of workouts by bringing our favorite tunes and listening to it while using the treadmill or lifting weights. But what will you do if your favorite workout routine is doing laps at the local YMCA? Swimming is a really good workout but it does get boring if you do lap after lap without some form of entertainment. [Read more…]
AKG K3003 Headphones
AKG K3003 Headphones
Audiophiles have their particular standards when it comes to what captures their passion most. I have always loved music, and my entire life, there has always been music in the background. (Now, whether the music was imagined in my head or it was actually streaming through speakers of one kind or another is debatable.)
Recently, I have been introduced to audio equipment that upped the level of my listening. I am a far cry from being a hardcore audiophile – I wouldn’t even dare claim that I am one, but I now accept the need to shell out a few more bucks (okay, maybe more than a few bucks) to get really good sound out of headphones, earbuds, or speakers.
Then I saw the AKG K3003 Headphones on Colette. ((Source)) I should have known better than to allow myself to want a pair when I knew that the headphones are being sold by Colette, but hardheaded me, I checked it out anyway.
At first glance, once can’t deny that the headphones do look nice. Having a propensity for things that have a brushed steel finish, I don’t find much that is not to like with the AKG K3003 Headphones. These babies are handmade and were developed using new technology that improves the sound that comes out of them. The headphones are supposed to provide listeners with totally undistracted listening, thanks to “sealing out most ambient sounds”. That sounds like noise canceling earphones to me, yes? The AKG K3003 Headphones also has an in-line mic and volume control, so they can be used with your favorite mobile phone.
I think that the most interesting things about these earphones are the design details, though – brushed stainless housing, steel remote face, steel “Y” connector, rubberized upper cable, and cloth lower cable. And the box. Oh my, what a box!
AKG K3003 Headphones in Case
All those things being considered, I still would say that I want one. That does not mean that I will get one, though. Not now. Not in the future. Not even if I won the lottery and had €1000 ($1187.71) to spare – because that is how much this thing costs!!! Oh, the dollar value is VAT exclusive, by the way, so at the end of the day, you need $1420.50. As much as I want a pair, I think Sennheiser is more than good enough for me.
Would you want to control your iPod with your eyes?
Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo has developed a pair of headphones that gives us the ability to control our mp3 players and phones by mere eye movements.
Via MYCE:
Designed to look like a set of regular earbuds, the NTT DoCoMo customized headset is able to read electrical changes on the surface of the human eye. A user who looks from right to left can pause music, right and then left glances skip to the next track, and rolling the eyes clockwise helps raise the volume. The company hasn’t announced plans to release the eye-based headset to the consumer market any time in the near future.This type of eye tracking technology is mainly used in the medical field, and hasn’t been widely explored by consumer tech companies. NTT DoCoMo modified the method used to track tiny electric charges, as the sensors on the Japanese company’s headset are located near the earbuds themselves.
I don’t think we can see this in everyday devices, mainly because it’ll be a real pain to actually switch tracks using our eyes, especially if we’re commuting and all. Imagine having to browse through an album using your eyes. I can actually see a use for this for disabled people, especially paraplegics who don’t have use of their hands. Something like this could be used to drive a wheelchair or type for someone who may only have physical control over their eye muscles.
Well then, I’m pretty much applauding this technology, unless they’re made available to the general non-disabled public. I mean, really, are we going to be that lazy that we can’t even be bothered to reach for a button?
Sennheiser intros Series 400 headphones
Following on from the HD 380 headphones announced last week comes a whole new series of headphones at a range of price points that should mean everyone can own a decent pair of Sennheisers.
The five pairs of headphones in the Series 400 are made up of one open and four closed backs, with prices starting at £39.99 and rising to £84.99.
Sennheiser announces high end HD 380 Pro monitor headphones
For those who are serious about their music, such as sound engineers, musicians and producers, a decent pair of extended frequency headphones is a necessary addition.
Sennheiser has pushed out its HD 380 Pro closed back headphones use high-power neodymium iron magnets, offering a wide 8-27,000Hz frequency response, detailed sound reproduction, sound pressure level up to 110dB, and an attenuation of external noise up to 32dB.
V-MODA intros iPhone-friendly Faze headset
I’m not totally convinced by V-MODA headsets — I really want to like them but they don’t quite cut it for me. They’re generally well constructed, though — just personal taste in headphone design.
Maybe the latest Faze headset will do it, though it’s an exclusive with Best Buy so I’m not likely to get my hands on one.
Sennheiser intros MM 400/450 Series luxury Bluetooth headphones
Following on from the HD 238 headphones comes two new pairs of luxury headphones from Sennheiser.
Both the MM 400 and MM 450 Travel feature the latest Bluetooth technology so you’re free to listen to your music without getting tied up in wires. Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP guarantees optimized hi-fi quality stereo sound. There’s also a removable cable and airline adapter, for times when you want to hook up to a standard or airplane audio output, plus a built-in microphone for use with mobile phones.
Sennheiser announces iPod friendly HD 238 headphones
Headphone specialist Sennheiser has just announced its latest set of open headphones — the HD 238 — which are great for home use and with portable media players.
Said to be optimized for use with PMPs, the HD 238s have compact, adjustable on-ear flat earpads, ultra-powerful neodymium magnets, low-resonance diaphragms, a frequency response of 16Hz-23kHz and OFC cable.
Not much more to say — they’re headphones — except that you generally get something decent with Sennheiser and these, at £70 (about $120), won’t break the bank.