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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If you were this close to snapping up a new Zune after Microsoft pushed out its 3.1 software update, boy, are you glad you held off. At least, if you’ve been eying a Zune of the flash-based variety. Beginning today, the US Zunes are coming a little more in line with their Canadian brethren by falling from $129 to $99 (4GB), $149 to $139 (8GB) and $199 to $179 (16GB). The Car Pack / Dock Pack are also seeing a $10 decrease while the Home / AV pack is being reduced $20. You already purchased two in the time it took to read this, didn’t you?

Microsoft ratchets down pricing on flash-based Zunes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We asked how you would change the Zune 3.0 software and Microsoft responded — by upgrading Texas Hold ‘Em. In addition to adding a multiplayer mode and some new single player difficulty levels to the venerable card game, the 3.1 update (out today) should find Zune Social easier to navigate, and a new “like minded listeners” feature lets you compare your music tastes to other users on the service. Additionally, the update promises an overall increase in stability and performance for the Zune PC app and the device firmware, including improved play count reporting and content synchronization. Rounding out this embarassment of riches, the new software packs in freebies of Checkers, Sudoku and Space Battle. What are you still doing here, Zuneophiles? Hit the read link!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Zune 3.1 update out today - now featuring Sudoku! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Portable Audio

Rather than just introducing these five items individually, Sony reckoned the world at large may pay more attention if they were unveiled in one fell swoop. To that end, we’re left staring at a new pair of noise canceling headphones (MDR-NC7; $50), travel speakers (SRS-M50; $50), a universal remote (RM-VL610; $30), EX Series earbuds (MDR-EX36V; $30) and stereo Bluetooth headphones (DR-BT160AS; $160). While the first two are pretty self-explanatory, color lovers will appreciate the three swappable back plates for the remote, and the water-resistant BT ‘phones pack a built-in microphone, rechargeable Li-ion cells and A2DP support. Everything should be available now if you look hard enough, and the full release with all the gory details is waiting just after the break.

Continue reading Sony unveils five new audio accessories: headphones, speakers and remote

Sony unveils five new audio accessories: headphones, speakers and remote originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

We’ve definitely seen more expensive earphone covers in our day, but these are certainly amongst the most pricey ‘buds out there. A single set of these Casa Gi-designed earbuds are currently being sold in Bristol for £3,499 ($5,253), and all that money goes towards 59 diamonds (per bud) and an 18-carat gold coating. Quite frankly, we tend to feel that these are pretty garish, but we’ve no doubt whatsoever that someone, somewhere will make the trip over and snatch ‘em up. ‘Course, we can’t say how long they’ll remain safely lodged in the owners ears given the gadget crime rate in Britain, but we get the feeling these won’t really be used for casual listening, anyway.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Gilded, diamond-encrusted earphones go for £3,499 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video

It sure is tough for iPod docks to stand out from the pack these days, but it looks like Logic3 has found one fairly unique way to get its new i-Station Rotate unit noticed, with it packing a rotating mechanism that will let you adjust your iPod or iPhone to suit your screen format. Other than that, it looks to be a fairly standard speaker dock, with it boasting a whopping 10W of total output power, a video output for some larger screen viewing, a 3.5mm line-in jack to accommodate your non-Apple devices, a remote control, and accommodations for four AA batteries to let you take it on the road. You won’t be able to get your hands on this one until January, however, when it’ll set you back $130.

Logic3 intros i-Station Rotate iPod / iPhone dock originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Storage

After a flurry of leaks and announcements caught our attention last year, we’ve heard nary a peep from Toshiba about its multi-faceted device since. Suffice to say that’s it’s out in parts of Europe and countries with a penchant for the backward “R” and “N.” Great, but what is it and how well does it do what it does; that’s the convoluted question. Fortunately, IntoMobile went hands on with the USB memory stick / alarm clock with snooze / MP3 player / 7.2Mbps HSDPA USB modem / tri-band GSM cellphone and came away with the opinion that “the device is excellent.” It pulled a respectable 2.7Mbps off O2’s UK network and performed reasonably well as a “backup phone.” The 160MB of storage for MP3 / AAC music playback was disappointing but it served its purpose in a pinch. Still, that’s a lot of device for £140.

[Via IntoMobile]

Toshiba’s unusual G450 cellphone / MP3 player / HSDPA USB modem reviewed, liked originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Storage

After a flurry of leaks and announcements caught our attention last year, we’ve heard nary a peep from Toshiba about its multi-faceted device since. Suffice to say that’s it’s out in parts of Europe and countries with a penchant for the backward “R” and “N.” Great, but what is it and how well does it do what it does; that’s the convoluted question. Fortunately, IntoMobile went hands on with the USB memory stick / alarm clock with snooze / MP3 player / 7.2Mbps HSDPA USB modem / tri-band GSM cellphone and came away with the opinion that “the device is excellent.” It pulled a respectable 2.7Mbps off O2’s UK network and performed reasonably well as a “backup phone.” The 160MB of storage for MP3 / AAC music playback was disappointing but it served its purpose in a pinch. Still, that’s a lot of device for £140.

[Via IntoMobile]

Toshiba’s unusual G450 cellphone / MP3 player / HSDPA USB modem reviewed, liked originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

There must be a fashion-forward young man or woman out there brave enough to sport V-Moda’s new Vibe II with Microphone. These stainless steel alloy headphones follow in the footsteps of the popular (and much better looking) Vibe Duo and feature the noise-isolation, in-line handsfree microphone, call and music controls that we expect from the line. In addition, the ‘phones possess “solid and tactual sensation comparable to the finest jewelry and watches.” Right. If you’d like to see for yourself, these beauts are available for $128, exclusively at the Apple Store.

V-Moda’s Vibe II, platform shoes not included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

While the iPod sound system boat has already sailed (numerous times), there’s always a minor boom in copycats when the holiday season draws near. Thankfully, ASUS’ latest contribution to the over-saturated market is one with a differentiating factor, as the AIR3 tunes into internet radio stations as well. According to the posted user’s guide in the FCC, the unit can play nice with dock-connecting iPods, stream WiFi radio stations and play back music from any other DAP via the 3.5-millimeter auxiliary jack. You’ll also find a 128 x 64 resolution FSTN graphics display, S-Video / composite video outputs, an Ethernet jack and a total of four drivers to kick out the jams. An obligatory remote is also bundled in, though there’s obviously no indication of a price tag or release date in those absolutely riveting FCC documents.

ASUS AIR3 iPod speaker system / internet radio hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

First it was just new colors; now, it’s just more Zune Originals designs to choose from. A half year after Microsoft tapped a gaggle of Canadian artists for a few more Originals designs, the suits up in Redmond have evidently deemed it suitable to give prospective Zune buyers another handful of choices. Or, you know, forty-six new choices. The new options include “exclusive artwork of Eastern and Western astrology from Catalina Estrada and Iosefatu Sua,” all of which can be selected now from the online design studio. Unfortunately, you’ll probably have to burn a vacation day just to sift through ‘em all, but at least you’ll be having fun. Maybe.

[Via Zunerama]

Microsoft reveals 46 new Zune Originals designs — how will you ever choose? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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