HD Radio Service
Founded in 1998, iBiquity Digital Corporation set out to create an In-Band On-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast system and today their product is called HD Radio. The technology offers a variety of benefits over the traditional analog radio. The receiver converts an analog radio wave signal into a digital one and even provides Program Service Data (PSD) such as a song’s title, artist, and album. If you are tuned into a weather or traffic station, it can even display condition alerts or simply a text advertisement during a commercial break.

The most noticeable benefit is the FM sound quality which gets a jump to CD-like quality while AM stations sound like FM stations. Audio quality is rather quite dynamic and clear, the quality generally associated with physical media. That’s because digital signals have fixed precision, factors such as temperature, interference, or weather won’t degrade the quality as easily. Plus as a bonus, the HD Radio can easily fall back onto the analog FM broadcast version of the same station if it happens to fail to establish a connection. The HD Radio technology let’s stations broadcast a digital version of channels of their choosing over the same frequency without effecting the respective equivalent analog transmissions.

View the 2010 HD Radio Station Guide (PDF)

HD Radio states they have over 2,000 stations across the country and over 1,000 HD2/HD3 channels. If you haven’t heard of HD2/HD3, it’s a method to let broadcasters transmit multiple streams on the same frequency. Supporting receivers can tune into channels that aren’t normally accessible to analog devices. HD Radio’s website stated that there would be about 36 channels including HD2 and HD3 in the Sacramento, CA area. I managed to find around 10 from Davis, CA including those multi-cast channels.

iBiquity has also opened the doors for more HD Radio features. For example, if the receiver manufacturers wish to do so, starting this year they’ll be able to integrate Album Artwork and have it automatically display while a song is playing. Devices such as the Microsoft Zune HD already support pausing live content. With support for Electronic Program Guides down the road, customers will have a TV Guide type interface to browse for content.

For the most part, I think HD Radio is on the right track. Their technology better integrates into existing infrastructures for stations versus Satellite Radio. While channels selection is still limited, it’s expanding quickly. Newer vehicles are likely enabled with equipment to support HD Radio stations. Unfortunately, your existing systems such as home theater receivers, audio systems, and portable devices will need to be replaced to receive HD Radio content. While I’m not going to go out of my way to go buy a dedicated HD Radio players, as the time to upgrade old equipment comes, I’ll like lean towards this over XM Sirius since there’s no monthly fees asides from the one-time equipment price.

Insignia HD Radio Portable Player
The device we used to test the HD Radio service was none other than Insignia’s portable player. I expected a fairly decent device, but was rather presented a cheap looking device from the 1990s with large plastic buttons and a low quality LCD display. To be fair, it only costs about $40 versus the $250 price tag of a Zune HD that can also access the same channels.

The Insignia player has a very simple and somewhat ugly-looking interface. It’s actually quite reminiscent of an early color cell phone. The controls are rather awkward and there are more buttons than probably needed. The display shows signal strength at the top left and will also show an icon when tuned into a HD station. I could quickly navigate trough stations using the up and down keys or use the auto scan feature to find the next channel with signal. Switching through HD stations had a noticeably larger delay than standard FM stations. Fortunately, the preset feature let me save 10 stations to speed things up.

There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top and Insignia included a pair of headphones, which is needed since it’s the antenna. While the buds sounded about on par with the famous iPod headphones, I would still recommend grabbing a better pair. This unfortunately also means that reception will likely be poor if plugged into an AUX jack of a car since there’s no antenna. Despite the complains, I should mention that the audio quality was drastically superior to standard FM music stations. I didn’t feel like I was listening to radio which usually has a noticeable ring to it, but rather my own tunes.

Insigina includes an arm strap for joggers which was quite handy. I was disappointed to learn that they didn’t include an AC adapter, but rather only a mini USB cable for recharging with a computer. Unfortunately, I was further enraged to find that the device entirely lacked AM channels. Considering that cheap radio tuners cost just a few bucks and are often stuffed into free giveaway pens and trade shows, I don’t think it would have hurt to include AM.

This leads me to a tough call about the Insignia HD Radio player. While it’s one of the few affordable portable devices that can receive HD broadcasts, it’s still simply not worth it. I wouldn’t recommend spending $40 for a device such as this one, but rather save up to purchase a Zune HD. A more widely supported device will last longer and offers numerous features I could spend a few articles discussing. But that said, the HD Radio service is a great addition and is truly the next step to the current aging infrastructure of AM and FM channels.

Links: HDRadio.com | iBiquity.com | Insignia.com

Editor’s Note: This article was co-written by Alex Chan-Kai and Sahas Katta.

Style ★★★★★
The SK-Pro’s are available in two different color schemes. One model is as colorful and prominent as you would expect from Skullcandy: a bold emerald green with white lining. The other model is perfect if extra-flashy designs aren’t for you: a sleek and simple black with bright lime-green highlights. The latter will easily blend into a open office environment. It might be hard to pick your favorite with looks like these, though you can’t really go wrong with either style.

Build Quality ★★★✩✩
The plastic body makes these circumaural headphones look a bit cheap and toy-ish when examined up close. However, with plastic this thick and a build this solid, I bet it could take a beating and still last a few years. Even if I’m wrong, you could throw the SK-Pro’s into a tree mulcher and Skullcandy will still send you a new pair for half the price. The headphones fold up for easy storage and better portability while traveling. This mechanism can also be used as a vertical adjustment, which allows DJ’s to comfortably move one channel out-of-the-way while listening to another. It becomes pretty annoying when holding up your headphones while mixing, therefore the ability to fold up one side is a huge advantage. This feature alone might qualify the SK-Pro for the “DJ headphones” title. The headset also sports a thick spring-coiled wire with a gold-plated 3.5mm plug, plus a push-in adapter for 1/4″ jacks.

Comfort ★★★✩✩
People with normal-sized heads say the SK-Pro’s are comfortable. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same since the SK-Pro’s couldn’t adjust laterally for my plus-sized noggin. The extra tightness creates a great seal, but it began to hurt my head after a couple hours of use. I can’t imagine why Skullcandy thought moderately plush foam wrapped in perforated vinyl would be the best choice for a cushion. It’s nowhere near as plush as $150 headphones should be, and induces sweating around your ears after prolonged usage. The tightness and extra sweat are common side effects of closed circumaural headphones, so it’s expected for the SK-Pro. I should note that the SK-Pro’s may look and feel like closed headphones to the listener, but they sound open to everyone else in the room. In other words, people sitting next to you on the bus can hear everything you are listening to. If you are looking for something a little easier on your ears (or your roommate’s ears), I encourage you to read this Consumer Reports article that explains the different types of headphones and decide which one is right for you.

Sound Quality ★★✩✩✩
The large 50mm drivers shake my skull during songs with a thumping bass. That isn’t an attempt at a “skull-candy” pun: these headphones have such a powerful bass driver that if you were to set them on a table while blasting hip-hop or techno, they may literally vibrate off the table. The lows are by far the most prominent characteristic. When the middles and highs aren’t garbled out by the bass, the SK-Pro headphones actually produce a deep, pleasantly bass-heavy sound. I like the sound these cans put out, but I’ve heard better for the $150 price tag. The SK-Pro’s simply don’t deserve the “Pro” title. Vocals and lead instruments compete with the boosted bass line, producing poor articulation. I can see the appeal for DJ’s and casual listeners, but if you are looking for clean sound that isn’t muddled by a pounding bass, look elsewhere.

Warranty ★★★★★
Skullcandy has a very admirable warranty that covers all of their headphones. Like I said before, you can do anything to these headphones and Skullcandy will still offer a 50% discount on your next pair. If you have a defective pair, they will replace it for you at no charge. You can even swap it for a different color if you want. No receipt is necessary; you only need to fill out a form. While cost may have been negligible for my $10 buds, it’s not going to empty your wallet to replace an expensive model.

Conclusion
The Skullcandy SK-Pro DJ Headphones are fashionable, durable, and come with a fantastic NBD warranty. If you are a casual listener looking for stylish headphones at a moderate price, the SK-Pro’s are a great choice. If you just bought an iPod and want a step up from the unholy stock iPod buds, these cans are huge improvement, though a bit bulky. If you intend to use these headphones during strenuous activity or harsh weather, or you are what Skullcandy calls an “aggressive listener”, the Skullcandy warranty has your back. However, if sound quality is a higher priority for you than style, then check out the Sennheiser HD-280 Pro or the Audio-Technica ATH-PRO5MSA for better articulation in the same price range. You will lose the warranty and the Skullcandy looks, but the difference in quality is well worth it. If you are ready to grab a pair of the SK-Pro, it’s available for $150 from Skullcandy’s website and through other retailers.

Buy: Skullcandy SK Pro DJ Headphones for $150
Links: Skullcandy.com SK Pro Headphones

No stranger to the audio world, Audio-Technica is a major player in today’s high-end consumer and professional market. Reaping in a well deserved Innovations Design and Engineering Award at this year’s 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Audio-Technica is spearheading the active noise cancelling market with the brand new ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint headphones. While Skatter Tech wasn’t able to acquire this award winner for review just yet, Audio-Technica did graciously provide us with their ATH-ANC3 active noise canceling earphones. If you’re thinking, “Earphones? Did you guys just settle for cheap, low-end, earphones?” While that might have been your initial thought, the sound that followed was quite impressive.

Packaging & Accessories:
The ATH-ANC3 comes packaged in a neat and professional looking box which displays the earphones and active noise control unit through a plastic window. The box advertises, “Up to 85% noise reduction (20dB) of background noise,” and displays a little diagram of how the active noise cancelling technology works. We know this product is for users who are always on the go, citing pictures of an airplane, commuter train, and office desk on the packaging.

Moving into the packaging, we find a fair amount “extras” bundled with the earphones. We were pleasantly surprised with Audio-Technica’s forethought into all the accessories. Included with the ATH-ANC3 earphones is a 1.6 foot long (.5 meter) extension cable, cleaning tool, airline adapter, soft rubber tips, AAA battery, and a rather large nylon carrying case to store all the included goods. The rubber tips are softer than the ones included with most earphones and came in small, medium, and large sizes to suit various ears. We found these very comfy and enjoyable. For those that like storing their audio player in a backpack or near the belt-line, the 1.6 foot long extension cable will prove helpful. To further protect your earphones, Audio-Technica includes pre-inserted filters at the openings of the sound canals. This helps prevent dirt and debris from getting in. Should something manage to get in, the cleaning tool helps remove any earwax that builds up over time; I guarantee that it will be handy. The airline adapter will take the two mono lines from the airplane and combine them into stereo sound for the ATH-ANC3 earphones. Audio-Technica even includes a AAA battery so you can start enjoying the active noise cancelling abilities as soon as you open the box. The nylon case has internal storage nets for accessory organization. We even found that it’s the perfect size to carry your iPod Touch in addition to the ATH-ANC3 earphones.

The main components consist of the ATH-ANC3 earphones mated to the active noise cancelling unit. Combined they total at  3.3 feet (1 meter) in length. Design-wise, these earphones are more of a ”half in-ear-monitor.” Despite sitting in your ear canal, they are too shallow to earn the in-ear-monitor label.  A clip behind the active noise cancelling unit helps distribute the weight since it houses the heavy AAA battery. There’s an “ON/OFF” slider to enable the active noise canceling feature and a “monitor” button, which temporarily disables it when held down, allowing you to hear your surroundings. The wire is soft and flexible, but was thankfully robust. All of the plastics seemed durable and suited to last for years.

Sound Quality:
Based on previous encounters with earphones, we weren’t expecting a lot coming from active noise canceling devices. However, we were truly impressed with the ATH-ANC3’s performance. While active noise cancelling has been known to slightly degrade audio quality, the difference was barely noticeable due to Audio-Technica’s excellent implementation. We instantly noticed that the highs had definition and articulation which earphones and smaller headphones generally lack. Cymbals were crisp and clear to the point where we thought for ourselves, “Why can’t all earphones do this?” Needless to say, the highs were very enjoyable, despite being slightly recessed.

With the good highs coming from the ATH-ANC3s, we were also glad to hear quality bass. Being a high-end professional audio company, Audio-Technica knows the innate importance of a well balanced sound. That’s just the impression we were left with listening to the low-end of the ATH-ANC3s. The bass had a good depth, a nicely punchy articulation, and the perfect amount of synergy with the mid and high range. It was quite pleasing to hear a quality bass that wasn’t over emphasized by any means. If we could change one thing, we would have preferred slightly more impact in the bass. Feeling the “thud” and beat of the music enhances the experience. That doesn’t by any way mean the volume or intensity of the bass, but rather the actual physical kick that you feel running through you.

The sweet spot for these earphones came in the midrange. To be exact, the lower midrange. Male voices and lower midrange instruments came through beautifully. They gave off a rich sound filled with passion. While rich, the sound wasn’t altered by feeling colored or warm, yet you could tell it had been well tuned. Moving a little higher, the upper midrange was the only area where these earphones didn’t impress us. High female voices tended to get a bit harsh during climaxes in the music and didn’t have as rich of a sound as male voices. We also found them to feel slightly veiled and airy as if they could have used a bit more substance and prominence. Even with these shortfalls, the upper midrange maintained the rest of the sounds’ separation and articulation.

Overall, the ATH-ANC3 earphones carry on a great Audio-Technica house sound. The overall experience is neutral, yet not boring or tediously analytical. There’s no major emphasis on any region of the frequency range and this lends to a very balanced and well-rounded sound. Being earphones, these don’t have a stellar sound stage. However, as we’ve been consistently saying, these are definitely better than most earphones.

Noise Cancelling:
Seeing as the active noise cancelling unit is one of the primary features of the ATH-ANC3s, we thought we might elaborate on it a bit. With the one AAA battery that Audio-Technica provides, the active noise cancelling unit is still reasonably light and shouldn’t be an issue for those that don’t like extra baggage. On the box, Audio-Technica claims up to 85% of noise reduction. Listening to the these on the plane ride back from CES in Las Vegas, we can say that Audio-Technica’s figures sound pretty accurate. Unfortunately, while not listening to music, the attenuated sound of voices is still easily distinguishable. Passively, we estimate around 5-10dB of isolation, which isn’t much. If you are looking for complete passive attenuation, grab a full in-ear-monitor. Without music playing, we found that the active noise canceling gave everything an underwater feel. When trying to drown out ambient noise, the result leaves you feeling as though you are wearing a full fishbowl over your head.

Conclusion:
The AudioTechnica ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint Earphones are a strong player in the active noise cancelling earphone market. With an MSRP of $169.95, the price may seem a bit high, but street price seems to hover around $60 on Amazon.com. At this price the ATH-ANC3s are quite a good deal and easily earn Skatter Tech’s recommendation. Although intended for commuters or frequent fliers, these earphones will serve equally well in a home setting. The ATH-ANC3’s excellent performance has gotten us excited to get our hands on the brand new ATH-ANC7b headphones we saw at CES.

Buy: ATH-ANC3 for $50-60 on Amazon
Links: Audio-Technica ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint Earphones

EarPollution CS40 Comfort Series Specs

• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Speaker Driver: 40mm
• Cable Length: 1.6m
• Plug Size: 3.5mm
• Sensitivity: 115dB +/- 3dB
• Impedance: 32 ohms +/- 15%
• MSRP $40 (Available for $20-$25)

Style ★★★★✩
Usually it’s hard to give a concrete rating to Style since different people can appreciate different looks. However, with the CS40’s simplistic style, you can definitely find your pick and have the style grow on you. There are five color schemes to chose from and each come with the EarPollution logo on each earpiece. iFrogz has more stylish headphones available such as the DJ Style which I recently reviewed. iFrogz allows customizing your headphones with varying graphics, color schemes, material, and even fur. Although some of these other headphones were much bulkier, they did leave the CS40’s feeling naked and bare. Even though it would have been nice to at least have more color schemes available, the minimalistic approach of the series has less focus on presentation and more on functionality.

Body ★★★★✩
This was one of the most impressive aspects of the CS40 headphones. Unlike the DJ Style, these were more minimalistic in shape and size. The retractable headband is pretty thin compared to most headphones. The largest parts of the device are the earpieces. You won’t feel overwhelmed wearing them or when going out. In fact, at times you can even forget you’re wearing these. The EarPollution CS40 are also incredibly portable. Packing them with luggage is a breeze since the earpieces fold into the headband. When purchasing headphones over earphones, the additional bulk is expected. Plus they will be less subtle and more difficult to transport. However, with the CS40’s, users will be pleasantly surprised in its compactness and minimalistic build. The cables from both earpieces aren’t all that thick. Having a durable cord can definitely help the longevity of the device since the CS40’s are meant to be carried around. In general the Body and Size work together in making this product compact and sleek, but when it comes down to it the question is can this small package prove to be comfortable?

Comfort ★★★★✩
Spoiler Alert: CS40’s are extremely comfortable. Yeah I know… like it hasn’t been emphasized enough. But hey, iFrogz knows what they are doing when they repeat it over and over in the campaigns. Honestly it’s hard to imagine any headphones with “pillows” attached to them being uncomfortable. That’s more or less was these are. It’s quite an experience to use these headphones for the first time with the rubber cups and foam-like material being a cushion between your ears and your music. They work well and are big enough to cover your whole ear comfortably, rather than being too small or too big and feeling awkward. There is unfortunately one flaw in this design. The leather-like encasing around the cushion easily begins to get warm. Sure it’s nice in the winter because it acts like earmuffs, but in warmer weather, these could get uncomfortable quick.

Sound ★★✩✩✩
So it’s clear at this point that these headphones are compact, minimalistic, and comfortable, but are they good headphones? Without good sound quality, the headphones can look and feel amazing but that’s as far as they’ll go. To put it bluntly; these headphones feel like you are wearing a pillow on each ear. These may feel comfy, however these headphones also sound like you are wearing a pillow on each ear. Seriously, it sounds like you have a speaker on the other side of a pillow. It simply feels like it’s behind a veil. Plus, the delivered audio gets jumbled due to the padding. The quality is grainy and direct, reminding the user that they listening from a direct source, rather than experiencing the music as if it surrounds you– like quality headphones should. While the headphones try to emulate a strong bass, the same effort isn’t put into producing highs. This results in treble becoming indistinguishable from middles. The fact that the sound is louder overall makes it hard at times to distinguish one tone over the other. Once again, the obstructing padding makes everything more complicated. It would have been great if more effort could have been put into the sound quality and not leave them sounding like a set of free, airplane headphones. It left me wondering, why not spend $10-15 more and purchase better ones?

Conclusion
Overall, the iFrogz CS40 headphones are good for casual users. They prove to be comfortable and compact, making them convenient to carry around. It’s guaranteed everyone can appreciate its smart, simple style. It still keeps a unique look with a single color scheme complimented by the EarPollution logo. When it comes down to it though, the sound quality won’t impress. There was just way too much bass and not enough of the treble to match. It is true that these are cheaper headphones, but weighing the options was tough since you could even buy a better quality EarPollution set at about the same price. If the sound quality was better, these would have been “go out and buy now” headphones, but unfortunately they rely heavily on their compactness and comfort compared to their competition. If you want a pair of headphones for casual, expendable use, then these are some of the most comfortable and affordable ones out there.

Buy iFrogz EarPollution CS40: Blue | Black | Pink | Red
Links: iFrogz.com EarPollution CS40

Aside from a wide range of unique iPod accessories, speakers, and apparel, iFrogz also has a large selection of headphones. These are appropriately named EarPollution and are available in countless styles sure to compliment any personality. This review pertains to the DJ Style series with the Billionaire theme. Although it’s great to have options when finding a style that artistically represents you, I was pressed to figure out whether the DJ Style focused too much on looks and not enough on quality.

DJ Style Billionaire Specs

• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Speaker Driver: 50mm
• Cable Length: 1.2m
• Plug Size: 3.5mm
• Sensitivity: 105dB +/- 3dB
• Impedance: 32 ohms +/- 15%
• MSRP: $50 (Available for $35)

Comfort ★★★★★
After picking up the DJ Style, my initial impression led me to believe that these massive headphones would be uncomfortable to wear. After a few hours of use, I was pleasantly surprised. The padding around the speakers surround your ears in a way that it is not too tight or too loose. This assures they won’t slip off your head with rapid movements. A soft texture and mesh surround the headband, ensuring hours of listening with little pressure around your head. One of the best reasons to get these headphones has to be just how comfortable they are for long-term use. This type of comfort is ideal for its targeted market, for those in the DJ profession. Plus, it’s not bad for casual users either. As someone with long hair, I found that the massive size leaves an imprint after long hours of use. With such a bulky appearance, you wouldn’t really expect such comfort from this device, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised with its nearly perfect fit.

Body ★★★★✩
The DJ Style is surprisingly compact despite the bulk and cartoonish size. The device’s compactness comes from the earpieces degrees of rotation. They can swivel in almost a complete circle. The altarpiece’s freedom allows that entire part to fold into the band. With this ability, the headphones can be carried in one hand and stored in almost any bag. Although with larger headphones, it’s expected to have limited portability. Despite that, it’s quite compact compared to other bulkier headphones. The cable was also another feature of the body that’s important to comment on. The cable is an excellent length and can reach any device without getting tangling. The cable is fairly strong and thick compared to other headphone cables. Wrapping it around the headphones when folded up leaves no worry of destruction. The only real complaint I have about the body is that, being advertised to DJ’s, they don’t exactly sit that well if only one earpiece is on. It will fall off easily if worn that way. It’s something to keep in mind, but absolutely no problem for casual users.

Subtlety ★✩✩✩✩
I know, I know… when you buy larger headphones it’s expected that you will be getting a lot more attention, but when spending money for higher-end headphones, it’s probably important not to look like a fool while using them. In terms of size, these are a bit ridiculous. Even though their size does relate directly with comfort, it’s still something to consider since everyone will be staring and probably judging you when you’re out in public. Depending on the style you chose, the color scheme will add to just how much you stand out in a crowd. The Billionaire, for example, will assure that everyone stares at you and that you will get the maximum amount of attention from a crowd as possible. If this is what you’re going for, by all means get this style. But hey, I’m just saying… The reason this category is getting some credential, is because when these headphones are on, barely any sound gets out. So, although your neighbor on the bus can enjoy the bright colors, they won’t be able to enjoy your music.

Style ✩✩✩✩✩ or ★★★★★
The reason this category has either zero stars or five stars is simply because it’s just your choice. In other words, the themes are completely up to you to pick and depends on what you like. iFrogz is big on artistic variety, assuring you can find one that expresses you best. For example, I could not despise the Billionaire style more. I’m not going to even try lying here, I hate the color scheme. I think the design could represent me any less and the only graphic I like is on the speaker portion. With that little rant done, iFrogz has plenty other themes that I find appealing and just awesome in general. I’d gladly get in line for the Silver Spider DJ Style theme since the price is the same for any of the styles. So in terms of style, it’s completely up to you. Even though I think the Billionaire only looks good if you dress like a pumpkin, I’m sure others can appreciate it with their own style and personality.

Sound ★★★★✩
Now to get down to what truly matters for headphones, the sound quality. As one of iFrogz’s more expensive sets, the DJ Style is advertised as having excellent style and sound to match. This is expected since the device is even targeted towards the DJ profession who value sound quality. I have to say, the Billionaire’s sound was decent for the price range, but nothing special. The speakers emulate decent middles, good lows, but fair poorly on highs. DJ’s usually want headphones with good bass. While the DJ Style has plenty of bass to offer, it sounds a bit garbled. The treble on the other hand could have been more distinguished. This doesn’t hold back the product too much, but the overall tone isn’t perfect. With that said, the quality is definitely on par with other headphones in this price range. Plus, these headphones managed to isolate external sounds fairly well. Although it wasn’t impossible to not hear what was happening around me, it was definitely not distracting. There wasn’t much external noise being leaked either. Wearing the DJ Style headphones won’t bother  those around you.

Conclusion
Overall, the EarPollution DJ Style was a pleasant surprise. I’ll be honest here, when I looked at these things I wanted to hate them from the get-go. I started out with a bias eating at me from being a fan of earphones over headphones, then hating the design, and just being naturally afraid of its robot-like bulk. After using them and giving iFrogz a chance, these headphones found a place in my heart. The comfort is great for long-term use and it alone can make purchasing these headphones worth it. iFrogz also offers different themes of the DJ Style, assuring that everyone will be able to appreciate at least one. iFrogz is still a fairly new contender in the headphones business. The audio these produce aren’t going to be as good as the quality of the Sennheiser HD201 earphones that cost nearly the same price. These headphones are great for casual listening. The workmanship is fairly decent for the price range. If you can deal with the size and find a style that fits your personality, then you should definitely consider these. The headphones retail for a MSRP of $49 but are available for about $30 if you shop around.

Buy EarPollution DJ Style: Billionaire | Hustle | Union | Munich | Silver Spider
Links: iFrogz.com EarPollution DJ Style

Special thanks to Orig Audio (@origaudio) for sponsoring our giveaway!

How to enter the contest (TWO Options):

Option 1:

1. Become a Facebook Fan of Skatter Tech
2. Use Facebook Connect to leave a comment below

Option 2:

1. Follow @skattertech on Twitter
2. Click here to retweet the following message

Some Rules Apply:

• Don’t try to enter more than once. (We have robots!)
• Must live in the United States. 13 and older only.
• Winner is randomly chosen by computer auto generator.
• Entries close after Thursday 01/22/10 11:59 PM (PST).
• Winner will be announced on this post on the next day.
• Winner has 24 hours to respond to DM or Facebook Message.

That’s pretty much it. If you don’t know what Facebook Connect is, it’s simple. Just click on “FB Connect” next to the comment box and login with your Facebook Account. If you do that and become a Fan of Skatter Tech, you’re in! And for Twitter, if you don’t have an account, just get one! It’s quick!

UPDATE: Contest entries closed. We’ll be posting results shortly.

The Results: The winners are: Poline Chuon, David Chang, Dev Butt, Mariela Elizabeth Lopez, and Tuyen Nguyen! We’ll be contacting you shortly to get you your free set of OrigAudio Speakers!

Build Quality
The OrigAudio speakers arrived in a flat box. The packaging is made almost entirely from recycled cardboard. Once pulling the speakers out of the packaging, you’ll need to assemble them. As the name ‘Orig’-Audio implies, much like origami, you unfold them and shape them into cubes. There are pre-cut tabs that fit into slits and lock into place. The entire processes takes just a few minutes. There’s no need for a scissor, tape, stapler, or glue. The two cube speakers actually look quite unique and stand out from traditional ones. There’s a standard 3.5mm headphone jack that plugs right into an iPod, Zune, Netbook, or any device with a headphone jack. The cable is about 3.5 feet long. The speakers sit about a foot apart from one another. While this all seems neat, there are unfortunately a few drawbacks to the design. Since these are cardboard, they are not exactly too durable or stable. There’s an uneven distribution of weight due to the speaker being outfitted to the front face of the cube. The entire unit easily tips over with even the slightest nudge. The cardboard built also makes it susceptible to damage from water or moisture. But then again, I’ve never seen a pair of foldable speakers before. It’s easy to disassemble and pack away with your luggage when traveling. The unit we reviewed featured the Cityscape design, but the OrigAudio is also available in a few other varieties.

Audio Quality
If you like audio quality, you’ll want to pass on these. It’s that simple. While I’m not nearly a hardcore audiophile, even I found myself a bit disappointed with the audio quality. To begin with, I should mention these are entirely self-powered. OrigAudio’s speakers don’t require batteries or an AC power supply. While that’s a plus, it also means that these don’t get nearly loud enough. The speakers rely solely on the current provided from your MP3 player. While my Dell XPS M1530 was able to output enough power to get these 1 watt speakers loud enough, they were still fairly quiet when connected to my iPhone 3GS on max volume. While the speakers impressively didn’t begin to crack or hiss when maxed out, they still sound washed out and hollow. While these definitely can’t hit any highs, even the mid-range lacked a spark. Plus with nearly no bass, there wasn’t much of a wow factor. Fortunately, these stereo speakers sounded better than the mono speaker on my iPhone, which means I’d actually have a use for them. I wouldn’t mind using these to enjoy a YouTube video or listen to a podcast when I am traveling. As most customers don’t really care much for audio quality and since most traditional MP3 players don’t have built-in speakers, OrigAudio’s product will definitely be appealing to many.

Eco-Friendly Aspect
I never thought I’d ever be using a speaker that’s made from the same material as its packaging. The cardboard comes from recycled newspapers, phone books, and pizza boxes. With a large consumer base that’s focused on environmentally friendly and green technologies, it’s nice to see companies doing something innovative to appeal to them. While I doubt is possible to make high-end speakers from cardboard, I’m sure there are ways for companies to cut down on wasting new materials and leaving a lighter footprint on the environment. It would be nice to see others follow in this company’s footsteps. While OrigAudio does brand itself as “Mother nature approved,” that’s not entirely true. The actually speaker component and cables aren’t. The speaker is made from materials including plastic, metal, and magnets. As far as I’ve been told, none of those can be recycled. Despite that, these are still probably the most eco-friendly speakers out there and will be the biggest appeal for customers.

Bottom Line
There’s no question that the OrigAudio brings an innovative product to the market. They’ve been recognized by notable publications such as Time Magazine specifically for that. However that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the  best bang for the buck. While these sell for just $16, there are some other products worth considering. Altec-Lansing’s portable battery-powered Orbit speaker sells for just $19 on Amazon. Brand-name companies including Sony and Philips also offer portable speakers for just a few bucks more and will probably sound a whole lot better. Unfortunately, none of those are as environmentally friendly as the OrigAudio. As these are compact, foldable, and cheap, you won’t go wrong. These make a great gift for just about anyone who has a portable MP3 player, music phone, or any other gizmo with a headphone jack. If you want to pick on of these up, they are available for purchase directly from OrigAudio.com for $16 per unit or in a 6-pack for a discounted price of $66.

Stay tuned as Skatter Tech will be giving away a couple of these guys in the coming days. I’ll also publish a few questions I asked Jason Lucash, OrigAudio’s founder, during a quick interview. I’ve also got the scoop on their upcoming product. Find us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated.

Buy: OrigAudio Speakers

Budget: $0-$50

Koss KSC-75

Punchy, fun, and energizing, the Koss KSC-75 clip on headphones offer incredible value for the money. Utilizing the same drivers as Koss’ more expensive and popular PortaPro, the KSC-75 lets you listen to your holiday tunes with precision while on the go. The KSC-75’s have a rubber coated wire clip to secure them to your ears. This clip is bendable to be compatible with whatever shape your ear may be. While sounding fragile, the KSC-75’s are quite durable and will not cause a fit being tossed around. Sound-wise these headphones are very engaging and bright. They bring you into the music in an engaging and energizing way with surprisingly good bass impact for such tiny drivers. Mids are pronounced and forward. The only thing lacking with the KSC-75’s are slightly veiled highs. At around only $15-$20 however, the KSC-75’s have great bang for the buck!

Buy: Koss KSC-75 ($15-25)

Sennheiser HD201

For the more laid back and relaxed listener the Sennheiser HD201 full-size, circum-aural headphones are great for the house. The extremely lightweight (yet durable) HD201’s carry on the great Sennheiser-house sound-signature of its extremely well revered and more expensive brethren. The HD201’s feature a generous 9.8ft (3m) long cable along with a 1/8″ (3.5mm mini) to 1/4″ (6.3mm) stereo jack adapter for your high end audio equipment. The long cable allows you to move about a room while listening to your music unimpeded. The leather ear cups are adequate and don’t cause any sweating issues. While not the absolute cleanest sounding headphones, the HD201’s carry the Sennheiser house sound of being laid back. They offer a pretty decent sound stage with a neutral, unaltered sound giving you your holiday music just as the artist intended you to hear it. The bass extends accurately down well, although lacks slightly in impact (you definitely hear it, but doesn’t have the big OOMPH!). The midrange of the HD201’s is accurate and true, not recessed and not too pronounced. The high’s have accuracy and clarity that many other headphones lack, with a slight roll off. If your ideal holiday season is sitting bundled up in bed with a cup of hot chocolate reading your favorite Christmas story, the HD201’s make a great companion.

Buy: Sennheiser HD201 ($20-$30)

Midrange $50-$200

Sennheiser HD280 Professional

A common sight in recording studios all across the nation, the HD280 offers professional sound in an innovative package. The HD280 is very robust and durable headphone designed with sound accuracy in mind. With great sound attenuation (up to 32dB) the HD280’s will let you listen to your holiday tunes in peace even if family and friends are being noisy. Should you need to get on the go, the HD280’s conveniently fold up into the headband for efficient storage. To ensure recording studio accuracy, the HD280’s have a very flat frequency response. The bass extends down far and comes out tight, accurate, and clear, although slightly lacks impact. The mids are delightfully crisp, clear, and precise revealing every last detail. On the high side, the sounds are clear and articulate, a nice detachment from the airy and veiled sound from most headphones. Overall, the sound is analytical, while not injecting any extra excitement or energy into your music, the analytical sound lets you pinpoint every detail for the more accurate and true to recording sound.

Buy: Sennheiser HD-280 Professional ($70-$100)

Audio Technica ATH-A700

Accurate and precise like a samuri’s katana sword, the Japanese Audio Technica ATH-A700 features a space-age design that creates a functional and clean sound. The unique headband cushions and deep ear cushions on the A700 provide an extremely comfy experience complete with a great sound. With a broad soundstage, the A700 ensures a rich and full sound experience. The bass is deep, tight, and has an authoritative presence. Moving into the mid-range you’ll glide right through its smoothness and silky-ness which extends seamlessly into the clear and revealing highs. The sound is very articulate, letting you pinpoint all the different elements in the music. Overall, the sound provided by the A700 is a very passionately constructed experience.

Buy: Audio Technica ATH-A700 ($110-$200)

Audiophile $200+

Sennheiser HD600

If by chance you absolutely, positively cannot make the local and extravagant Christmas concert, sitting down with the Sennheiser HD600’s at home later is likely to make you forget you missed anything at all! The rich and enveloping sound of the HD600’s will instantly transport you to your own private concert giving you a front and center seat. Innovatively, the HD600 is constructed in an open backed design in oder to prevent reflected sound waves distorting the ones going to your ears. Large cushy velvet padding keeps your head and ears situated perfectly throughout your listening time. Being an audiophile grade headphone, the HD600’s require a headphone amplifier in order to be driven to its fullest potential. While still sounding great even without an amplifier, would you run a 91 octane sports car with only 87 octane grade gasoline? The wide soundstage of the HD600 puts you dead in the center of a broadway concert hall with the music flowing from all directions. Deep and clear lows contain the perfect amount of impact while staying tight and punchy. The mids come through richly, yet accurately and perfectly balanced. The singers sound as if you’re the only person in the auditorium and they’re singing just for you. Up high the HD600’s provide crisp and clear sound that brings through details that most other (including good) headphones recess. The combination of such a balanced and true sound is total audio euphoria.

Buy: Sennheriser HD600 ($350-$550)

This Gift Guide is a part of our ongoing Skatter Tech Holiday Gift Guide.

Body Design: 4/5 stars
As the name suggests, the Jabra Halo simply resemble a halo. As I removed it from the packaging, it struck me a luxurious gadget. They felt quite lightweight as I picked them up and the black trim was elegant. After skimming through the product info sheet, I looked at the quick-start guide for directions before trying them on. Ok, easy enough, just unfold and snap in to lock the headphones into position — wait… ’snap’? Although I was a bit worried, I realized that the headset actually had a joint to fold. This wasn’t just to make the device more compact for travel, but it was actually what turned it on and off as well. It’s unique, new, and the sharp look definitely certainly got me a few glances.

Controls: 3/5 stars
All physical controls are on the right side of the headset. There’s one big multifunction button that serves as an Answer/End key and the Play/Pause control. The multifunction can answer an incoming call or end a call in progress. If the music is being played back it then can be used to pause or resume the track. The side of the right ear piece has a touch sensitive strip that allows adjusting volume or navigating tracks. Simply sliding your finger up or down the strip increases and reduces volume, respectively. To skip tracks, you’ll need to hold down on either the top or bottom portion of the strip. This may sound great on paper, but it takes quite a bit of getting used to. It was just difficult to find the position of the touch strip since there’s no groove to help guide your finger. The only other issue was the responsiveness probably due to the Bluetooth Protocol. It often took a second or two to react to a change in volume, track change, or pause. It’s not a big issue, but hopefully there will be improvements in the future. On another note, it would have also been convenient if separated the multifunction button into to dedicated keys: one for answering/ending calls and one for playing/pausing music.

Comfort: 4/5 stars
I generally avoid over-the-ear headphones since they are too bulky to carry around. Plus traditional headphones have messy cables to deal with. That’s not the case with the Jabra Halo. It’s sleek and even folds up into an included pouch. Plus it feels great to wear. The insides are lined with a velvet-like material, which are quite comfortable. It might even help dampen outside noises. The inner lining unfortunately gathers some lint and since it’s black; it’s quite visible. The side ear-pieces can be pulled out further for a better fit. Unless your head is too large, this should adjust to fit just about anyone. Even with extended periods of use, the headphones were quite comfy.

Dual Pairing: 3/5 stars
I’ve had numerous complications in the past dealing with pairing new devices. Sometimes these things just don’t pair right, take too long discover the device, or PIN is nowhere to be found. The Jabra Halo simply works. Just hold down the multifunction button until the light starts to blink. Once once it appears on your device, just key in the default 0000 pin that’s mentioned in the manual. Since this device supports dual pairing, just repeat the process again to connect a second device. That was easy, but the Halo has problems after that. It’s theoretically suppose to be able to handle two devices at once. So if you get a phone call on one, it should be able to answer that, but also handle calls from another phone too. The problems starts with a long delay when switching between devices. It took at least about 20 seconds before the sound was transferred to the headset after pressing the multifunction button to answer a call. It may sound convenient, but it will also truly annoy the caller since they’ll have no idea what’s going on. If it was a little faster, I would happily be able to pair this to my computer to listen to music, but also answer calls on my HTC Hero.

Battery Life: 4/5 stars
According the advertising and info sheet, Jabra claims a 6 hours of music playback. So of course, I tested that claim. After a full charge, I found that I was getting about 4-5 hours of playback at medium volume. That’s certainly enough for a day’s use. They could surely make some battery life improvements in the future, but it works just fine. To charge the device, Jabra has provided a AC wall charger with a standard microUSB tip. It plugs into the port on the bottom end of the right ear piece. There’s an indicator on the inside of the headset that display’s both the battery level and the Bluetooth connection status. Here’s the other neat aspect, the headset supports a wired connection mode. So when it runs out juice, just plug it in with the included microUSB to 3.5mm headphone jack and you can keep on rocking! There’s even an additional microUSB to USB dongle included to re-charge with a computer. The connector was a bit loose, which was an issue since it stops charging if you move it unintentionally. However that might just be an issue with the review unit we received.

Sound Quality: 3/5 stars
For a Bluetooth Stereo Headphones, the sound quality is superb. It definitely sounded better than what came out of the Altec-Lansing BackBeat. Unfortunately the quality rapidly deters the further you get away from the paired device. The range was quite short, sound began to quickly get choppy at about 25 feet. That’s not too great compared to the Altec-Lansing which worked from at least 75 feet away with no physical obstructions. Things however change when you switch over to the wired mode. The audio quality immediately becomes a lot more crisp with better highs and lows. The bass was also at decent level. As for phone calls, the quality was satisfyingly clear for both me and person on the other end. It doesn’t cancel out background noises for the microphone too well. It becomes harder for the person on the other end to hear you in noisy environments. Although you’ll probably have the paired device in your pocket most of the time, it still would have been favorable if the range was further.

Bottom Line:
Overall, the Jabra Halo is still one of the best Bluetooth Stereo Headphones on the market. It offers both wired and wireless connectivity modes. Sound quality is excellent. Although a bit slow to react, it still offers the ability work with two devices at once. The headset even folds up and tucks away into the included pouch. The battery life is decent and the device is fairly durable too. The Jabra Halo is however a bit pricey, costing nearly $135. And there’s a reason for that, these are premium headphones. Competing products such as the Altec-Lansing sell for nearly half the price, but also do lack audio quality and premium features. If you have the cash to spend and are looking for a new pair of wireless headphones, you can’t go wrong with the Jabra Halo.

Buy: Jabra Halo for $130 [ships free + no tax]
Links: Jabra.com Halo

Stay tuned for more updates including the top digital movie downloads of the week!

The download contains official album artwork for the original 12 studio albums by The Beatles. (Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles For Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let It Be) The image above is a preview of what will be included. There’s a link to download a ZIP file below. All the files are JPG images in an amazing 1636×1482 resolution. Grab them and enjoy!

Download:
the-beatles-remastered-album-art.zip (~4.6 MB)
Note: Download only contains JPG images, we never distribute spyware/malware/adware.

Buy: The Beatles on Amazon.com

Update: As requested, the ZIP above has been updated to include two more Beatles Album Art: Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters. And it’s been updated again, now to also include The Beatles in Mono. (15 Album Covers Total)

Specifications Speaker Type:

• Dynamic MicroSpeaker II
• Sensitivity (at 1kHz): 105dB SPL/mW
• Impedance (at 1kHz): 16
• Frequency Range: 22Hz-17.5kHz
• Cable Length: 18 in. (45 cm)
• Warranty: 2-Years
• Price (MSRP): $119

As always Shure provides a kit with a variety of earpieces to ensure that the buds comfortably fit into your ear canal. The earphones have a modular cable which can extend from just 18 inches to 54 inches with the extension. Shure provides a 2 year limited warranty on these earphones, so rest assured that if they happen to fail or cause problems, you’ll be able to have them replaced. The headphone jack is a standard 3.5mm pin, which will fit into any standard computer, laptop, cd player, or digital audio player.

The earphones will become available for purchase in Spring 2009. Although the expect sale price is $99, it should be available for cheaper through many retailers. We’ll be getting a unit to review as soon as we can, so check back for a full review! Meanwhile checkout our review of the Shure SE110 and the SE210.

Links: Shure.com SE115

LG VX8560 Specifications:

• Provider: Verizon Wireless (CDMA 800MHz / 1.9 GHz)
• Form Factor: Flip phone with external display
• Display: 2.2 inch, 320×240 pixels, & 260k colors
• Media: MP3, WMA, & Unprotected AAC(+)
• Imaging: 2.0 mega pixel camera & camcorder
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, & microUSB
• Others: microSD, FM Transmitter, & 3.5mm headphone
• Size / Weight: 3.87″ H x 1.94″ W x 0.64″ D (inches) / 3.4 oz
• Battery Life: 4.5 hours talk time & 350 hours standby
• Price: $100 with a new 2 year agreement

The Body – 4/5 stars
The Chocolate 3 is fairly compact and can fit into most pockets. It is a bit too long when flipped open and will reach past most people’s ears and mouth in both directions. This is the first officially branded Chocolate phone which isn’t a slider, but rather a flip phone. It retains some elements from its ancestors such as the click wheel on the front, unfortunately it isn’t touch sensitive. The front side of the phone also features an unusually large 1.76 inch display which has a beautiful rotating interface. The camera is also on the front and allows taking self portraits using the external screen. The microSD card reader, the Music key, and lock button can be found on the right side of the phone. The left side contains the 3.5mm headphone jack, the volume toggle, voice command key, and the microUSB port. The inside of the phone is quiet basic; it has a standard numeric keypad, four way navigation, two soft keys, and the Send/END buttons. The only real downside I encountered was finger print magnet nature of the shinny metallic finish on the front side. Other than that body of the phone is well built and should last.

The Display – 3/5 stars
The 1.76 inch external display with a 176 x 220 pixel resolution looks excellent, but unfortunately only in doors. Due to the glossy finish, it is quite difficult to view outdoors or when covered with fingerprints. The 2.2 inch internal display is fortunately much better and looks quite sharp with its 320 x 240 pixel resolution. There’s nothing too impressive here, but is just fine for most simple tasks.

The Interface – 4/5 stars
Verizon once again has used their standard interface on this phone, but it’s got a couple of special themes as most phones do today. Browsing through the menu system was smooth and clean. Navigation was consistent and easy to follow. The external display has a couple of functions: music player, photo gallery, the camera, calendar, and messages. This secondary interface was actually quite polished for once. It easy to use and performed as expected. It was quite easy to take self portraits and listen to music. But regarding the internal interface, there’s not much that has changed in the past couple of years, so hopefully we’ll see something more revolutionary in the near future. All you get with this phone is the standard icon menu which opens up into the classic tabbed interface.

Messaging & Contacts – 4/5 stars
The Chocolate 3 is a fairly decent phone for messaging. Although it has just a numeric keypad, the software allows text, picture, and video messaging. The standard Verizon Wireless Mobile IM client for AOL, MSN, and Yahoo is also available. Email can be accessed through either the WAP browser or the Mobile Email client. The phone supports 1000 contacts with plenty of extra fields for extra numbers. The Chocolate also has the standard call history views for displaying missed, incoming, and outgoing calls.

Music Playback – 4/5 stars
Since the VX-8560 is a music phone, you would expect it to do quite an excellent job at playing music. Although this might be the best Chocolate 3, there has not much improvement that has been made in this area over the past couple of years. To start listening to music, you can just hit the Music key on the side, which will quickly launch the player. As always you can browse your library in different by Albums, Artists, Genres, Songs, or Playlists. There were also some preset equalizers which may help some music sound better. The Chocolate 3 supports pushing the music app into the background allowing performing other tasks. The music is also automatically paused and resumed when a call is received. The player flows between the external and internal display smoothly. So if you start playing a song with the phone open, the interface will move over to the external display when closed. Overall it is a fairly decent player for a phone, but once again there was room for a lot of improvement.

FM Transmitter – 5/5 stars
Lots of people still don’t have an auxiliary port or an iPod connectors built into their vehicles. Most of those people use a FM transmitters to listen to music from their portable device on their stereo. The Chocolate 3 doesn’t need any extra accessories to broadcast music on a station since it’s got that component built right in. All you’ll have to do is find an open frequency, set it on the phone, tune into that channel. The quality was pretty good during most test runs. It is obviously not comparable to Satellite Radio, CDs, or a wired media player; however this is probably the next best thing for many. The only downside might be that battery life takes a steep hit when using this feature. LG claims 24 hours of transmitting FM if the phone is placed into the “music only” mode.

Syncing Music & microSD – 4/5 stars
The LG Chocolate 3 supports up to 8GB microSD cards, which is great for those planning to use it as their music playback device. 8GB cards have also come down in price and can be purchased for as low as $30 through some major online retailers. When you connect your phone to your machine using the included microUSB to USB cable, you can enter the data or sync music mode. The data mode will turn the microSD card into a mass storage device so you can add or remove content directly onto it. The sync music mode will allow syncing media with Windows Media Player 11. Unfortunately Vista users will have no choice but to install the horrid V Cast Music Manager to get the phone working with WMP11. If files are placed directly into the music folder, the phone will manually re-index them the next time the music player is started. So to put all of that together, the phone can be synced as a media player device, a mass storage device, or by using a microSD card reader.

Speakers + Headphones – 4/5 stars
The 3.5mm standard headphone jack is the main feature that gives the Chocolate 3 the ability to call itself a music phone. Users of this phone can now plug-in their own headphones without the need of any additional adapters or a special headset. The playback quality is decent. Audiophiles won’t even consider it; however the majority of people probably won’t be able to tell the difference between the Chocolate and an iPod for instance. The speaker is quite loud and is fairly clear; however I probably would never use them for listening to music. As for the speakerphone functionality, it works just great.

The Camera – 2.5/5 stars
This phone wasn’t really made for taking pictures, but nonetheless it has a simple camera for snapping photos occasionally. It’s got some basic features such as changing brightness, resolution, digital zoom, and some color effects. Nothing is too interesting. The LCD screen which is the view finder will only display a small portion of a picture that is being taken, which is often annoying. The image quality was mediocre; my two year old LG enV was on par if not better than this phone’s camera. The only neat feature might be the ability to take self portraits using the large external display since the camera is already facing you. The phone can also record videos, but those are also not too pretty. One improvement was the gallery which offers many more options on ways to handle the images you have taken. Overall imaging is an extra feature; the music playback is the main focus of this phone.

Extras – 4.5/5 stars
A small feature which I loved was the power supply that was included with the phone. Instead of providing an addition data cable, the power supply is actually a USB cable in disguise. The cable can be unplugged from the head and can be plugged into a USB port to charge or sync data. As for software extras, the phone’s got the standard extra goodies such as Get It Now, WAP Browser, Bluetooth tools, Clocks, Calendar, Calculator, Tip Calculator, Alarm Clock, Notepad, Voice Commands and more.

Conclusion
This phone is a major improvement over the previous two Chocolate phones; however it now has a new form factor which may not be appealing to the owners of the previous models. This is an excellent mid-range phone and will not disappoint. Those who are looking for a high tech phone probably won’t find this too satisfactory. As mentioned before this is a perfect fit for those who are also looking for a phone that can playback music while on the go. The phone is available in stores and online for around $100 with a new two year contract. If you are eligible for upgrade you should be able to knock off $50!

Buy Now: LG Chocolate 3 for $69 (special via Amazon)
Links: Verizon Wireless

Every once in a while you stumble over a product that is so marvelous you wonder if you’ve actually discovered the holy grail. A creation that offers something for everyone, and at a price that is affordable. It’ll suit you whether you’re a neophyte or a connoisseur. Fortunately for us, one of those little gems has come to our attention recently from a small company in California. EarPeace Technologies presents us with the Livewires in ear monitors.

EarPeace Technolgies has taken up the task of producing a custom molded in-ear monitor (IEM) for the masses. Traditionally worn by (and only affordable for) professional artists on stage during concerts, the Livewires have opened a segment of the audio market for many who can appreciate the sound quality and comfort that custom molded earphones have to offer. Custom molded IEM’s offer improved comfort over normal universal headphones. Even though a plethora of different tips made of different materials and different shapes are available for standard headphones, a significant amount of people still discover comfort issues with those. While the fit of universals may work for some, it frequently becomes fatiguing after a period of time. Livewires seem to disappear once you insert them in your ears. In my experience I’ve worn them for over eight hours without experiencing any comfort issues. A custom molded IEM offers all of the noise isolating and sound quality properties of a normal universal IEM, yet also offers a level of comfort no universal IEM can achieve. Livewires are EarPeace’s first forray into the audio market and it looks like they have a strong chance of being rookie of the year.

Purchasing a set of Livewires isn’t as simple as going to your local white box store and ringing them up at the register. Since Livewires are custom molded, there are a few steps involved in making a purchase. The first step would be to contact EarPeace Technologies or one of their distributors (list included at the bottom). The folks over at Livewires are all very friendly and will help you accordingly with your inquiry. They’ll eventually refer you to a local audiologist to have impressions of your ears made. The appointment normally only takes around 15 minutes. The impression material is thick goop that feels strange, but doesn’t cause any discomfort during the procedure. Once you have your impressions the next step would be to ship them over to EarPeace Technologies. They’ll have your Livewires made at their lab and you should have your brand new set of headphones within a few weeks.

The emphasis on Livewires is their customability, and that certainly doesn’t stop with just the fit. Livewires are offered in a multitude of different color configurations. The ear piece itself is constructed of a shell (molded part that goes into your ear) and the faceplate (visible while wearing and where the cable plugs into). Faceplate color options include red, blue, black, dark brown, tan, white, and clear. I opted for their standard configuration of red and blue. Another neat custom feature on Livewires are the replacable cables. Should Livewires ever release a new cable or if you need a replacement for a torn cable, the cables are easily detachable from the ear pieces. Sound-wise, the Livewires are simply shocking. Livewires utilize a dual balanced-armature driver design to produce a very crisp and clear sound. Outstanding seperation and articulation are some of the strong points you will immediately notice when listening to Livewires. Seeing as how this is a dual driver design, each earpiece has one high frequency driver and one low frequency driver to deliver a more extensive frequency range at a greater quality.

The sound signature of Livewires has a very comfortable characteristic. It’s been described as having a sound similar to another popular high-end IEM (althougn not custom) the Westone UM-2, yet not as warm and improves drastically in the high end range. The overall sound leans towards being a bit warm, yet not too much that it becomes fatiguing. Bass extension is very deep, especially for an IEM. It is also very punchy and tight. It doesn’t sound bloated or muddy, instead offering a nice balance. On the high-end, Livewires offer crisp highs that don’t disappoint. High-hats and other cymbals come through well, although not as strong as the midrange or bass, which are simply phenomenal. Vocals come through extremely well and amazingly accurate. In many test tracks I was able to hear the vocalists taking breaths which had been non-existent in other headphones. Female vocals come through better than male ones, although both have that wow factor. A universal flaw among IEM’s is their tendancy to not have much sound stage. Due to the design, IEM’s have a difficult time representing a larger concert hall and seem very narrowly focused. It was a great shock to me as the Livewires appeared to produce a significant amount of soundstage. Granted, it isn’t what you’d experience with a quality full-sized headphone, it is prevalent and a welcome trait.

Applications-wise Livewires aren’t really “custom,” but universal! The sound they offer meets the stringent requirements of professional artists and is used during live concerts and monitoring. Their compact size makes them an easily portable source of high end audio for those on the go. Business travellers have found use for Livewires during commutes in public transportation or aircraft since Livewires isolate outside noise well. Audiophiles will appreciate a custom monitor at a low price with quality sound. Also garage bands and other small groups now have the option of a high quality monitor at an affordable price. Where Livewires unfortunately fall short is the package. Included with Livewires is a carrying case, cleaning tool, and short manual. The case isn’t asthetically pleasing at all and is bulky for an IEM case. The initial presentation isn’t very exciting, although it says nothing about the sound.

One quirk that Livewires do have is their very high sensitivity. Since they need to meet the high standards demanded by professional artists they have a high sensitivity that is able to pick up the noise created by cheaper amplifiers in many portable audio players. A slight hiss will be audible with many portable music players, although it isn’t noticable once playing music in most cases (unless your audio player has a REALLY cheap amplifier). The earlier iPod generations will exhibit this hiss, although the 5th gen and up don’t really have an issue. Another little quirk is that since the Livewires are so accurate, if you’re listening to a lower quality recording (128kb MP3 for example) you’ll notice it. Livewires will reveal the improvements of better compressed quality encoding (such as 320kb mp3).

Compared to the competition, Livewires maintain an ultra-low price and a very competitive sound. Normally, a custom molded IEM will cost over $600. EarPeace Technologies is offering Livewires at an astounding $249 including shipping. That price should come out to around $300 after audiologist ear impression fees and shipping fees. While overall cost may seem like a significant amount for headphones, Livewires are a high quality product and the sound they produce are well worth it.

Links: EarPeace Technologies (LiveWiresForYou.com)
Distributors: Todd the Vinyl Junkie (USA) | Jaben Networks (ASIA) | Soundcat (ASIA)

It has been over a month since Apple launched the third generation iPod and it’s probably a bit late for a review, but we’re publishing ours anyways. Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, first unveiled the original iPod Nano about two years ago by sliding it out of his famous pair of blue jeans. A year later (2006) Jobs announced the 2nd generation aluminum-encased iPod Mini looking version. And last month Apple announced the 3rd generation Nano which has an entire newly designed body and for the first time, can play videos. At first I wondered why anyone would want to bother watching videos on such a small screen. After a few weeks with the iPod Nano, the reason became clear. I actually found myself watching some video podcasts and unwatched TV shows when I was on the go. It was pretty nice to be able to carry around video content in such a small device. Also if you were like me and felt the device look pretty fat and ugly, that all changes once you actually hold a 3rd generation iPod Nano. It is thinner and smaller than you would have imagined. I would have to say this iPod was a very needed and an impressive upgrade, it can not be considered Apple’s best work. (They’ve done better before.)

Apple iPod Nano (3G) Specs:

• Type: Portable Flash-Based Video Player
• Capacities: 4GB and 8GB
• Screen: 2-inches 320×240 pixel LCD
• Music Formats: AAC, MP3, & WAV
• Video Formats: H.264 and MP4
• Special Functions: Video Output
• Colors: Silver, Blue, Red, Green & Black
• Connection: USB to Dock Connector
• Price Range: $149 to $199

The Body: – 4/5
To describe the iPod Nano right off the bat, it’s pretty much a tiny version of a iPod Classic. The unit looks elegant and impressive because of its size. The Nano stands just 2.75-inches tall, 2.06-inches wide, and only .26-inches thick. It is the same thickness as the 2nd generation Nano. The front is made of a anodized aluminum and the back, unlike its predecessor, has the classic shinny steel material, which is easy to scratch. Because of the dimensions and the material, the 3G Nano unfortunately seems to be a whole lot more delicate than the 2nd generation. The standard touch sensitive click wheel can be found right below the screen, but it is abnormally skinnier and smaller. The wheel was a bit more difficult to use compared to the older Nano, however wasn’t really a problem after a few minutes of use. Apple has managed to move the hold button, the headphone jack, and the dock connector to the bottom, leaving nothing behind at the top. The rest of the controls such as volume and brightness are all managed through the interface using the click-wheel.

The Screen: – 5/5
The 2-inch (diagonal) LED backlit LCD was bright, clear, and sharp enough to watch videos on. It once again is the brightest iPod Nano screen yet. The resolution is a standard 320×240 which plays at a max of 30 frames per second. One thing that makes the screen look different is the gap found between the body and display which creates a different effect. The Nano can playback both 4:3 and 16:9 clips by formating and resizing the video to best fit the display.

Battery Life: – 4/5
As always, Apple has managed to vastly improve the iPod’s playback time. According to Apple, the battery can offer 24 hours of audio playback or 5 hours of video playback. From our test, with the brightness slightly lowered and at a normal listening volume, we surprisingly found it to last much longer than advertised. Although this is better than any previous iPod, it still remains on below what’s offered by other flash-based portable multimedia players from Creative, Sony, and Microsoft.

Media Formats: – 5/5
In general, just about any major format of audio will work with the iPod Nano. The iPod can playback AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, WAV, and music purchased from iTunes. The Nano also supports playback of DRM-Free files from Amazon’s new MP3 Store and obviously iTunes Plus. For video the 3rd generation Nano supports MOV, MP4, or M4V files encoded in MPEG-4 or H.264. Apple iTunes does a fairly good job of converting most content into a compatible format. And for photos, the feature I personally rarely use, it can read and display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG images.

Interface: – 3/5
The new interface is one of those things you love, but hate. The Nano now has a new default split screen view which displays the standard menus on the left, while displaying moving album artwork thumbnails on the right. Although this looks beautiful, we felt is slowed down browsing through the library by a lot. The Nano now can do neat things such as displaying Artwork next to each album or adding an extra line of information below each song, which saves having to return to the previous menu to find out what it was a part of. Although I’m not a big fan of Cover Flow, Apple was impressively able to get it to run on the Nano fairly well. It remains a bit sluggish, but it’s pretty good for such a small device. (Even my laptop struggles to run it on iTunes) The reason we took away two points was because the interface was horribly buggy. We often found that the menu would display the wrong number of songs or albums. We also entered menu’s that didn’t or shouldn’t exist. For example we entered a weird menu by clicking on the play button over a podcast folder instead of hitting the center button. Overall it’s a major UI overhaul, which is great, but honestly such a major mainstream product shouldn’t have any problems. Hopefully Apple will roll out a firmware upgrade fixing these issues. Another which annoyed me was that all the settings were no longer in the same place. For example some settings for Video could only be modified from the Video menu, not form the Settings Menu. Hopefully they’ll keep everything in one place, it will be a headache to have to visit a different menus to each type of setting.

Syncing Media: 4.5/5
Our experience with syncing media was just as we expected it to be, excellent. The only thing I wish the iPod Nano could do is to allow dropping files right onto the device without the need of iTunes. If you were to do so with a current iPod, the file would just be stored on the device and would never appear anywhere in the interface. But if you are using the latest version iTunes, everything works great. Managing songs, videos, and photos is a cinch. You can manually manage content or ask iTunes to take care of it for you. The iPod Nano even doubles as a flash drive unlike the iPod Touch.

In The Box: – 4/5
When you open your neatly and fancily packaged box from Apple you’ll find a set of standard iPod earphones, a USB 2.0 cable, a Dock adapter, and a quick start guide. As always, we recommend upgrading your generic headphones to something along the lines of Shure’s SE110 which will offer a very different experience. Finally no software is included, therefore an internet connection is required to acquire the latest version if Apple iTunes.

So in conclusion, we weren’t too impressed with the iPod Nano, but it is a great upgrade on some levels compared to its predecessor. We would recommend upgrading if you want the ability to playback video, which worked very well. If you plan just to listen to music, there’s not too much else this device can offer. We in fact on some levels would recommend this over the iPod Touch for those on a strict budget. The 8GB Nano costs half that of the 8GB iPod Touch. As for the software bugs, it is only expected and natural for Apple to roll out some patches soon. The only other major problem we found was that it seems to be way more delicate than the 2G Nano. (Buy a case!) Anyways if you wish to purchase this, it’s now available in retail stores and online for $150 and $200 for 4GB and 8GB models, respectively. You should be able to find it for a bit cheaper from other retailers. We recommend this because it is one of the most affordable iPods yet and retains just about all the features that the iPod Classic has.

Buy Now: iPod Nano 4GB – $149 | iPod Nano 8GB – $199
Links: Apple iPod Nano | Apple Store

Following up with a tradition of excellence, Shure Inc. introduces us to their latest in ear monitor (IEM), the SE110. Priced fairly reasonably, the SE110 aims to pick up where the aging and now discontinued E2c left off. It also introduces a new low-end product for Shure’s general consumer “SE” series since the “E” designation is now being used for professional IEM models.

Shure SE110 Specifications:

• Speaker Type: Balanced MicroSpeaker
• Sensitivity (1mW): 113 dB SPL/mW
• Impedance (1kHz): 27 Ω
• Frequency Range: 22Hz – 17.5kHz
• Cable Length: 18 in (54 in w/ extension)
• Colors: Available in Black and White

The Shure SE110 utilizes a single dynamic driver design that is capable of a frequency range from 22Hz – 17.5kHz. This isn’t the most impressive frequency range for an audio enthusiast, but it is very sufficient for many people. All of this technical wonder is contained within a clean and good looking housing that is available in either black or white. Also included with the SE110’s is Shure’s classic package of many different tips to fit the plethora of ears that these IEM’s might satisfy. Shure provides a set of rubber and foam tips in sizes small, medium, and large with their package to help obtain a greater seal while maintaining a good level of comfort. A helpful cleaning tool is also included in the package to keep out any ear wax that may have entered the headset. In order to protect and not lose these accessories, Shure provides a soft and thin profiled case to carry your headphones and extra sleeves around. The case is nothing special, but it serves its purpose and even has a carabiner to attach onto a backpack.

With the most important aspect of any headphone being sound, Shure’s SE110’s perform quite well at their price level. The dynamic driver provides plenty of bass impact for all genres of music as well as a warm sounding midrange. Seeing as how this is the low-end model of Shure’s SE lineup, the SE110 does lack in bass extension and the definition of its highs. Either way, it’s certainly an improvement over the last generation’s tinny sounding E2c earphones.

The SE110’s main strong-point is their mid-range. The mids on the SE110 are defined well and are certainly not lacking in their fullness. While they aren’t as articulate and separated as other IEM’s it doesn’t feel jumbled together either. Shure puts a warm emphasis on the mid-range giving them a more forward feeling and sound. While the mid-range comes across well with the SE110’s the bass and high-end are somewhat lacking. One thing the SE110 offers is a strong bass impact (the oomph!). In some cases it might feel overwhelming. While the bass impact is strong, the extension of the bass into the lower frequencies suffers. In many of the selected test tracks, other IEM’s were able to bring out the details of the lower bass frequencies that the SE110’s had difficulty displaying. The high-end on the SE110 also lacking. The emphasis on the high-end quality doesn’t seem to be there just yet. Cymbals felt empty with no punch behind them and certain highs in different pieces couldn’t be brought out at all.

Despite the SE110’s shortcomings, at this price-point of just $99 (MSRP is $119) and product line placement, it carries a pretty good value. (Available in stores and online now!) The majority of users purchasing the SE110 will probably be taking a good first step into the high end audio world and the SE110’s won’t be disappointing. If you wish for something a step better you may also be interested in the Shure SE210 Earphones. In the future, however, it will be worth upgrading to higher-end IEM’s whether they be from Shure or other manufacturers such as Westone, Ultimate Ears, and Etymotic.

Buy Now: Shure SE110 Earphones – $79! (free shipping + no tax)
Links: Shure SE110 Headphones | Shure.com
Related: Shure SE210 Earphones Review

Microsoft announced two new Zune players today in addition to new software, social features, and marketplace store. Both new Zunes will sport features such as a new touch-pad technology labeled “Zune Pad” and wireless music sync with network computers. The first model is available only in black, holds 80GB of media on a standard hard-drive, has a 3.2-inch screen, is 1/3 thinner than the original, and comes with “premium” headphones. The second announced Zune is flash-based, available in 4GB & 8GB capacities, has a 1.8-inch display and is offered in pink, green, black, and red. In addition to supporting playback of music, photos, and videos both Zunes have a built-in FM Tuner.

The most notable feature by far is the Wireless Sync, which allows owners with wireless networks to setup automated sync with their computer. With this feature, the Zune can keep up to date with the latest downloaded podcasts or any new media added to the computer. Songs can also be shared between Zunes wirelessly and can be kept without time restrictions. Since the new devices are also compatible with Windows Media Center, any recorded show can be transfered seamlessly to a Zune. The unit now supports MP4 and H.264 formats in addition to WMV.

The upcoming upgrade to the Marketplace will include a directory to thousands of podcasts, millions of DRM-Free songs, a new layout, social networking features, and plenty more. The new Zune Pass, costing $15/month, will offer access to unlimited amounts of music downloads. The best part of the new announcement may just be the fact that Microsoft will continue to completely support the original Zune by releasing a firmware upgrade which will include all the the features the new Zune has. As for the new models they will be in November costing $250 for the 80GB model, $200 for 8GB, and $150 for 4GB.

Links: Zune.net (Offical Site)
Pre-Order: View All Zunes

UPDATE: Microsoft has just confirmed that the Zune will be available on November 13th!

Skatter Tech recently got a hold of Sony’s NWZ-S610 Video Walkman to review and we have been messing around with it for a few days. We’ve got to say that Sony should be proud since they have finally taken a big step by launching Video Walkmans which are also “open format.” (Means support for most DRM-Free music formats.) If they keep up the pace, this could help them regain their market share in the portable media sector. Getting back to the review, since this was Sony’s first Walkman in the U.S. that can playback video and the first to be “open format,” we weren’t expecting too much. As we got more into the player’s features and capabilities, we were surprisingly impressed with what Sony has turned out. Just to heat things up, we’ll even go as far to say that we’d recommend this over Apple’s new iPod Nano!

Sony NWZ-S Walkman Specs:

• Type: Portable Flash Video Player
• Capacities: 2GB, 4GB, & 8GB
• Screen: 1.8-inch 320 x 240 LCD
• Music Format: AAC, MP3 & WMA
• Video Format: MP4 Only
• Special: FM Tuner w/ Presets
• Colors: Silver, Black, Pink & Red
• Connection Type: USB 2.0
• Price Range: $99-$179

The Body: – 3.5/5
The S610’s body is simple and elegant, but not eye-catching. The unit is quite durable and wouldn’t be easy to break. The Walkman is just 3.25 inches tall, 1.7 inches wide, and .45 inches thick, making way sleeker, but thicker and taller than the new iPod Nano. On the front you’ll find the display followed by the navigation controls right below. At first we assumed the four-way commands were touch sensitive, but it ended up that all the controls on the unit are actually hard keys. The ‘back’ and ‘option’ buttons, which are awkwardly placed at the top left and top right, are used to return to the previous menu and bring up an options menu. We felt both these buttons should have been placed elsewhere, but it wasn’t a problem after some getting used to. The ‘play’ button in the center acts as the enter key. I actually prefer hard keys since it is easier to navigate the player without having to be looking at it. The hold key can be found on the left side and the volume controls are on the right. Other than that the stereo headphone jack can be found on the top of the unit while the data port for syncing and a reset pinhole are on the bottom.

The Screen: – 5/5
The 1.8-inch display, just .2 inches smaller than the Nano, is surprisingly bright and sharp enough to watch videos on. The resolution is a standard 320 x 240 and plays at 30FPS. We didn’t notice any lag or audio/video sync issues and the screen didn’t go dark when viewed at from angles as it does on many portable players. Instead of making the S610 “fat” like the new Nano, to retain the form factor the screen has instead been placed on the unit vertically. This of course means to utilize the entire display, the unit must be held sideways when watching videos. To make the unit friendly to left and right handed owners, the video and photo orientation can be set in the options to rotate to the preferred side.

Battery Life: – 5/5
Sony’s always been on top of things when it comes to battery life. My 3-year-old thumbdrive sized Walkman often lasts up to 50 hours. In the case of the S610, it supposedly lasts up to 33 hours for music playback and an amazing 9.5 hours for video playback. This of course depends on many factors including volume level, screen brightness, file sizes, and plenty more. Either way that’s quite good considering that the new iPod Nano is limited to approximately 24 hours of audio and 5 hours of video.

Media Formats: – 5/5
As we mentioned in the intro, Sony has finally gone “open format” with this Walkman and two others. They have dumped Sonic Stage, the Connect music store, and even the ATRAC format. For music, the S610 now supports MP3, AAC, WMA, and WAV all of which have to be free of DRM. The player is also compatible with Napster’s Subscription Based service and iTunes Plus tracks. As for video, the S610 will playback MP4 formats encoded in H.264/AVC and AAC. This part was a bit disappointing since they don’t exactly offer much leniency onto other formats. It even got worse when we realized that they hadn’t included any conversion tools, specify where to download samples, or to know exactly what is supported. This wasn’t an issue for us since we’ve got tools to re-encode videos, however some one-click conversion tool like the one in iTunes should be included for general consumers. We also found that all the Movie Trailers we downloaded which were encoded for iPods on iTunes worked just perfectly. Finally for the part people almost never use, photos, the unit has been limited only to JPEG.

Interface: – 4/5
We were quite pleased with the interface as not only looked fancy, but was also clean and quick. The learning curve is short, only requiring a few minutes to master. The Walkman has even got some neat features such as holding the ‘back’ key will take you back to the main menu and the ‘option’ key will power down the Walkman. Music can be surfed through by Album, Artist, Genre, Year, or in a long list of All Songs. Photos will appear in a simple folder layout just as they are copied onto the unit. Videos on the other hand will appear in a straightforward single list with thumbnails. The Now Playing screen displays standard song data plus Album Art. In addition to the standard Shuffle, Sony has added an interesting “Time Machine” Shuffle now randomly selects a year and plays songs within it. A search feature, which only works for music, can be found in the main menu, however was quite disappointing since it only lets users search for the starting alphabet of an Album, Artist or Song. The settings menu were pretty clear-cut, offering equalizer, volume limiting, and playback mode settings for music, slideshow interval settings for photos, and orientation plus brightness options for videos.

FM Radio: – 4.5/5
The quality of the built in radio was strikingly good. It has been hard wired and coded into the unit and isn’t just an extra add-on. Browsing through channels was both smooth and quick. The Walkman utilizes the plugged in headphones as an antenna to gain better signal. Users can save their favorite stations into any of the 30 available presets by simply holding down the “play” key.

Syncing Media: – 5/5
Transferring data to the NWZ-S610 was a cinch. We didn’t have to deal with any drivers or compatibility issues, both my Vista and XP machines detected and self-configured the device automatically after connecting the USB cable. Since the unit is “Play For Sure” it works with Windows Media Player 11. We had no issue copying songs over and received no errors. Since the songs are DRM-Free the unit isn’t limited to just a few “licensed machines” as iPods are. Songs can be taken from one machine and a friend can easily copy, add or remove your files. We didn’t have a chance to test the unit on a Mac OS X computer and Sony doesn’t mention anything about it. We’re going to assume that if a Mac is able to recognize the unit as a mass storage device there shouldn’t be any problems since the Walkman automatically creates Music, Picture, and Video folders, which can be seen when the drive folder is opened. When compatible media is copied into the corresponding folders, the Walkman will automatically index them after being disconnected, and the items will appear in the interface.

In The Box: – 3.5/5
Other than the S610 Walkman, Sony bundles a pair of stereo headphones, a USB cable, a dock adapter, and a Quick Start guide. For such a great Walkman we were very disappointed to see how poor of quality the included headphones were. If you purchase this Walkman or even an iPod for that matter, we suggest upgrading to the Shure SE110 or SE210. Anyways, back to the box, a CD with Windows Media Player 11, Napster (trial), and a MP3 Conversion Tool (based off SonicStage) was also included.

Overall we give Sony’s Video Walkman a BIG THUMBS UP! Even though some work still needs to be done around the video part, I was satisfied to see that they have finally dumped DRM which was holding them back. I will bet that if they continue to keep their players open to a variety of content, they will be able to boost their sales. As we mentioned the video codecs are a bit limited, but most iPod formatted content should work. This should also be resolved possibly with a firmware update or when they launch a second generation Video Walkman. As for this one, it is available online and in stores as of this month and is very reasonably priced at $99, $129, and $179 for 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB. Exactly $20 cheaper than each of the new iPod Nanos of the corresponding size capacities. We recommend this Sony Walkman to anyone who is finally willing to give iPods a break, wants to be free from DRM, likes occasionally listen to the radio, and is looking for a cheaper unique product which everyone else doesn’t have.

Important Note: The unit which was provided by Sony and was used for review was the NZW-S616F which held 4GB and was silver.

Buy: Sony NWZ-S616 (4GB) | Link: SonyStyle.com

Shure recently introduced the more affordable SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones, which are aimed more towards average consumers. This is great purchase for iPod, ZEN, and Zune owners plus for those who wish to listen to music on their computers. Even though these earphones are the furthest down on Shure’s product line, with their MicroSpeaker and Sound Isolating technologies, these will offer an incomparably better performance than generic headphones included with your media player.

In addition, as always, Shure will include a variety of Sound Isolating Sleeves (aka. earpieces) in three sizes to ensure that they will fit your specific ear. The headset’s cable is also modular, including a 3-foot extension for personal customization. Other than extra ear pieces and cable, Shure also throws in a carrying case. And finally it come standard with a Two-Year Warranty.

The SE110 will be available in stores in just two weeks, September 17th to be exact. It’s MSRP is set at $119, however will be available in retail stores for just $99! Shure also offers a variety of accessories including music phone adapters. We’ll be getting a pair to review very soon, so check back! Meanwhile, please take a look at our review of Shure’s $150 SE210 from earlier this year.

UPDATE: Shure SE110 Earphones Review

Links: Shure SE110
Related: Shure SE210 Review

Earlier today (September 5th) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs introduced a bunch of new products. Some of these include a new iPod Nano, iPod Classic (aka Video), and the iPod Touch. The new lineup (picture above): iPod shuffle, nano, classic, touch, & iPhone.

iPhone Updates & Price:
As we are heading backwards though the keynote, the last item Apple touched on was the iPhone. Since the 8GB iPhone was so popular, the price has now been dropped to just $399, which is a $200 price-cut (originally $599). As for the 4GB model, it will no longer be produced or found in stores. The 8GB iPhone will be available at it’s new price online and in Apple and At&t Stores. A new update will also be available soon, which will include support for the Mobile iTunes Store.

The iPod Touch:
The ‘touch’ looks quite similar to the iPhone, has just about all the features, and even features an almost duplicate multi-touch interface, but doesn’t have a the “phone” part. The unit uses a 802.11b/g WiFi signal instead of the 2G At&t network for all its communication needs. Just like the iPhone, the iPod Touch has a Safari browser with built in Google/Yahoo search. Plus while connected to a hotspot or home network, the ‘touch’ allows browsing and playing YouTube content and even purchasing and downloading new songs on the go with the new fully fledged iTunes WiFi music store. The iPod Touch sports a 3.5-inch widescreen display for music, photos, videos, album art, coverflow, web browsing, and features an accelerometer to detect the unit’s upright or landscape orientation. With an ambient light sensor, battery life is conserved by adjusting the brightness to the unit’s surroundings, in result offering 22 hours of music and 5 hours of video playback. The iPod Touch will be available later this month (no exact date set just yet) in capacities of 8GB and 16GB priced at $299 and $399 respectively.

The iPod Classic:
The iPod ‘Classic’ is the successor to the iPod Video. This 6th generation iPod is available in capacities of 80GB and 160GB!, but both models remain slimmer than the previous lineup. The iPod Classic is enclosed in a all new metal-case and has a new interface featuring CoverFlow. Users may now browse content on one half of the screen, while the other half continues to display media. The battery life is also a huge improvement, offering 40 hours of listing to music and 7 hours of watching videos on the 160GB model and 30 hours of music and 5 hours of video on the 80GB. According to Steve Jobs, new games are heading to iPod Classic soon (everyone gets 1 FREE game). Both the 80GB and 160GB models, which come in silver and black, are available as of now for $250 and $350, respectively.

The iPod Nano:
Apple also displayed the completely revamped the Nano during the keynote. The unit, which now looks more like an iPod video, can in fact now play videos, movies, TV shows, and music videos! Nano users can also utilize Coverflow to browse through their library or even play purchased games from iTunes on their bright 2-inch display. The battery life remains at about the same level as the previous Nano, offering 24 hours of music playback or 5 hours of video in this case. Just like the iPod Classic, the Nano too is enclosed in an all-metal stainless steel case. As seen in the image above, the Nano is available in 5 colors. The unit is available TODAY in capacities of 4GB and 8GB costing $149 and $199, respectively.

Same Old iPod Shuffles:
Apple’s smallest family member, the shuffle, remains the same. Instead of introducing a 2GB model as some had anticipated, Apple simply spray painted the same 1GB models with some new colors, one of which is Product (RED). Some rumors indicate a black shuffle with 2GB could still be around the corner.

iTunes WiFi Store and Ringtones:
During the keynote, Apple introduced the new iTunes WiFi store which allows iPhone and iPod Touch owners to download songs directly onto their device when connected to the internet. Songs which are purchased on the go can be synced back to a computer or be re-downloaded. The best part, the pricing on the mobile store is exactly the same as what is available on regular iTunes. This will give Apple a big advantage over other cell providers such as Verizon and Sprint who charge extra fees for mobile purchases. For an additional $.99 a custom 30 second clip from a song can be converted into a ringtone for the iPhone. As for iTunes, version 7.4 will be available soon with plenty of new features.

Links: Apple iPhone | iPod Touch | iPod Classic | iPod Nano | iPod Shuffle
Pre-Order: Amazon (no tax + free shipping)