For many the sound of paradise is more than just drinks in
the blender. It is the soundtrack to your lifes destination and tropical vacation. Your perfect mix might be country, rock or just an island song. Whether you are chillin or rockin, it is the music that has always brought you there. Margaritaville Audio by MTX is the right blend of colorful style & perfect sound. It is the sound of paradise! Margaritaville and MTX deliver you a Paradisal Experience. Come join us in paradise. Visit margaritavilleaudio.com for more information. Available Spring 2014 Editor-In-Chief Maureen Jenson mjenson@napco.com Editor Howard Whitman (215) 238-5417 hwhitman@napco.com Online Content Editors Stephen Silver (215) 238-5226 ssilver@napco.com Hannah Abrams (215) 238-5464 habrams@napco.com Contributing Editors Ken Sander, Brett Solomon, Marshal M. Rosenthal Art Director Tim Dupnak Editorial Fax: (215) 238-5346
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E D I T O R S N O T E B Y MA U R E E N J E N S O N Dear Tell Reader, T his is the nal issue of Tell in print ... but fear not, were shifting our focus exclusively online. TechnologyTell.com extends the Tell brand that you know and loveTechnology for Everyday Lifeto a much wider audience than we ever had in print. Like Tell magazine did for over a decade, TechnologyTell.com provides consumer tech coverage for the rest of us. Were not addressing the hardcore techieplenty of sites do a great job of that. TechnologyTell.com is for everyday people who are interested in the exciting world of consumer technology. This stuff affects all of our lives to one degree or another. Were here to explain whats happening in consumer tech and how it impacts you. TechnologyTell.com features specic channels just for Apple, Gadgets, Home Tech, Entertainment, Gaming, Car Tech and more. Every day were adding new content with the goal of serving you the best info we can. Become a member of TechnologyTell.com now to get the most out of our site, including exclusive offers in 2014 and more. Its not only easy to sign upits free too! Heres the link: snipurl.com/techtellsignup Thanks very much for being a loyal Tell reader and technol- ogy advocate. Join us online at TechnologyTell.com for better coverage than ever! tell February 2014 technologytell.com 3 TechnologyTell.com Is Booming... Check Out The Latest Tech! CONTENTS 2 0 1 4 FEBRUARY 2014 Be sure to visit our TELL Network online and become a member at: TechnologyTell.com THE number one consumer electronics web portal that includes Gadgetell.com Appletell.com HomeTechtell.com Gamertell.com In-Car-Tech.com TeleRead.com Demystifyingdigital.com/ Stay Informed. Stay Involved. Stay Tech Connected. 4 technologytell.com February 2014 VERY TELLING DEPARTMENTS 3 Editor's Letter 6 Tech On Wheels Innovative products for the road from Bosch, Pioneer and Escort. 8 DiscWatch High-definition movies and music reviewsplus TELL's interview with Cinderella singer Tom Keifer! 34 TELL Tech Topper Going camping? Take along the PowerPot V generator. 24 TELL YOU ABOUT IT COLUMN 10 Silver Screens Why WWE was THE big story at CES 2014. TELL-ALL FEATURES 12 Smartphones Guide Today's smartphones play a crucial role in our lives. 16 Sony Curved LED HTDV Does Sony's new curved HDTV live up to its hype? 18 Dolby Atmos This system could bring better-than-movie-theater sound to your home. 20 Quiet Home Theater Expert advice on cutting out extraneous noise for a pure, direct home audio experience. 24 Wearable Tech Guide Gadgets we wear could be the next big electronics thing. Check out the latest, coolest wearable tech. SHOW & TELL REVIEWS: 28 Korus Wireless Speakers 29 Zoner Photo Editing Software 30 Moshi Audio Earbuds 31 OSD Audio Surround System 32 Sony PS4 Game Console rock with the block. Get the party started with iHomes new line of Bluetooth portable, rechargeable wireless speakers. The iBT16 model is available in multiple colors and in a rubberized nish. iHome is a registered trademark of SDI Technologies, Inc. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. Proudly Designed and Engineered in the USA ihome.com ihome ihome 6 technologytell.com February 2014 Pioneer Ramps Up App Compatibility Pioneer has rolled out a new car audio system that it hopes will provide the smarts and connectivity todays drivers crave. Retailing for $130, Pioneers new MVH-X560BT offers enhanced connectiv- ity by controlling music playback from a smartphone in lieu of a traditional CD player mechanism. On board is Pandora internet radio playback and con- trol, media app control, Pioneers exclusive MIXTRAX virtual DJ technology, Siri Eyes Free functionality, expanded Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and the ability to directly control and play music stored on many of todays most popular smartphones. According to Pioneer, The way consumers access and store digital music has evolved with the popularity of streamed music services, the availability of cloud storage options, and increased media storage capacity on the latest smartphones. As a result, more consumers are using their smartphones as the primary source for listening in the car. All of our new in-dash receivers are designed to take advantage of many of the smartphones entertainment and communication capabilities, while also enabling simpler and more convenient access and control. Info: www.pioneerelectronics.com Bad at Parking? Bosch Offers Driverless Solution Do you have trouble executing tricky parking moves, such as parallel parking? Youre not alone; lots of us do. For those of us challenged in this skill, Bosch has introduced its new Automatic Parking Assistant system, which will enable you to control parking your car while youre not in it, via your cellphone. Bosch says this will enable accurate parking in tight spots, even for larger vehicles such as SUVs, so you wont have to worry about dinging the car next to you as you get outbecause youll already be out! According to Bosch, the Automatic Parking Assistant will be available in new cars starting in 2015. Learn more at www.bosch.us E lectronics of many categories are placing a heightened emphasis on fashion and design. So why not radar detectors? Escort debuted four new Passport Max Limited Edition radar/laser detectors at CES, with an emphasis on fashionable designs for your windshield. The Passport Max Limited Edition series of detectors features four new colors for the discerning motorist: Glossy Black, Brilliant Blue, Burled Wood and Car- bon Fiber. Like previous models, they are all-digital solutions that are mountable on your wind- shield. Escort claims its Passport Max detec- tors go above and beyond competing products by using Digital Signal Processing to quicken response time, boost reception and detect even the lowest-level signals. Passport Max Limited Edition detectors retail for $599.95. Go to www.escortradar.com for more info. Radar Detectors Mix Fashion with Better Cop Evasion Toyota Cars Look Based on Videogame?! That cool look of Toyotas new FT-1 supercar may look familiar, especially to gamersand no wonder, as its design is based on a car from the popular videogame Gran Turismo 5. Reportedly, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda saw the concept in v5 of the game, and by the time v6 was out, the car was on its way to becoming a reality. www.toyota.com KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR THESE COOL MOVIES AND MUSIC By Howard Whitman KE KE KE KEE KE KE KEEEP EP EP EP EP EP EP Y YOUR RRRRR EEEEEY EYEEEEEE OU OU OU OU OU OUTTTTTT FFFO FO FO FOR THES ES ES ESSSEEEEEE CCCCCOOL L MMM MOVIES AND MMMMUSIC BBBBy HHHHooward d Wh Wh Wh Wh Wh Wh Wh Whit it it it it it itmmma man discWatch 1 Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Paramount | Blu-ray Combo Pack The new Jackass movie dumps the anthology for- mat of the previous three, wrapping its stunts around, believe it or not, a story. Not that its much of one, though ... Johnny Knoxville, in his Grandpa character from the Jackass TV show, has to take his grandson (Jackson Nicoll, a real find) to the kids deadbeat dad. This prompts a cross-country tour filled with outrageous stunts. Filmed Borat-style, with real people reacting to the crazy goings-on, Bad Grandpa doesnt hit the satiric heights of Sascha Baron Cohens masterpiece, but it has its own wild mojo of bathroom humor and painful stunts. It wont convey any wisdom about the human condition, but Bad Grandpa is filled with laughs. 2 Star Trek: Enterprise The Complete Third Season CBS Video/Paramount | Blu-ray The underrated Star Trek prequel series sharpened its focus in its third season with a season-long storyline centered around the Federations war with those evil aliens, the Xindi. The tactic actually gave sea- son three a fresh spin, a deviation from the typi- cal alien of the week Star Trek episodes seen in previous series. As with the previous two sea- sons, this seasons received a superb presenta- tion on Blu-ray, with a vibrant enhanced picture and a wealth of valuable bonus features. 3 The Worlds End Universal/Focus Features | Blu-ray The team of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright is together again. After tak- ing on zombie films in Shaun of the Dead and cop action in Hot Fuzz, this time around the witty Brits have fun with the apocalyptic sci-fi trope. Pegg plays a neer-do- well who wants to complete a years-ago-unfin- ished pub crawl with his buddies, who are now responsible adultsincluding Frost (who usual- ly plays a slob). The reunited gang runs into ... I wont ruin it, but the film is terrific, beautifully shot by Wright. Well-executed special effects and Pegg and Wrights hilarious scriptmake this an all-around winner. 4 Youre Next Lionsgate | Blu-ray Director Adam Wingard (best known up to this point for his chap- ters in anthlogy films like VHS) revives the slasher genre with this sharp (pun intended) horror entry. A well-off family is gathered for a reunion dinner when a couple of masked killers inter- rupt the proceedings with crossbows, knives, etc. There are some twists to the story that elevate it above the normal killing spree these films frequently degenerate into. And its nice to see horror vets like Larry Fessenden (Habit and The Long Winter) and scream queen Barbara Crampton (The Reanimator) joining in on the gory, depraved fun. 5 House of Lies: Season Two Showtime | DVD This Don Cheadle-led dark comedy returns for a second season that finds Martin Kaan and his posse of high- priced business consultants sinking further into the depths of ruthlessness. This time, the action shifts to Vegas as the team manuvers to out-hustle the hustlers there (and find they may be way out of their league). Of course, theres plenty of sexand more sex. Also, theres an interesting recurring bit about a night between Kaan (Cheadle) and Jeannie (Kristen Bell) that neither fully remember. Matt Damon makes a memorable guest appearance as evil Matt Damon. 6 The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun Hyde Park Live Eagle Rock | Blu-ray In their umpteenth live film, the Stones show theyve still got it after 50+ years. Shot in summer 2013, this disc fea- tures the band returning to Hyde Park (also the setting of a legendary 1969 Stones show) with its current touring lineup and return- ing guitarist Mick Taylor. This time around, over 100,000 Stones fans took in a lively set of classics ranging from 1960s radio hits such as Ruby Tuesday and Satisfaction to mid-period stompers including Brown Sugar, right up to 2012s Doom and Gloom. The stones bring their A-game (even Keef!). Mick Jagger is as energetic as everat age 70! Damn! 7 Joey Molland: Return to Memphis Gonzo Multimedia | CD The new CD from the sole surviving original member of Badfinger is most certainly not a new Badfinger album. Rather, Return to Memphis finds him exploring a root- sier, more earthy side, with refreshing and very compelling results. This album could easily have been recorded in 1973. It sounds like a good band playing through amps and into micro- phonesrefreshing! Mollands voice is a little rough in spots, but it fits the material perfectly. Another highlight: this CD nicely showcases Mollands lead guitar work. This is the sound of a veteran artist charting out new territory. Its not exactly soul music, but it sure is soulful. mat of the previou prequel series sharp f th D d d sinking further in G T s r i ing original m 8 technologytell.com February 2014 A ny fan of 1980s hard rock should remember Cinderella. For many fans, its standout element was the voice of Tom Keifer, who hit impossibly high notes in a sandpaper wail on hits like Nobodys Fool. Lately, Keifer is pursuing a solo career that was almost sidelined by voice problems. After 10 years in production, he released his solo debut, The Way Life Goes, in 2013. Tell recently talked to Tom about the CDs creation and the challenges it presented. Howard Whitman: I understand it took a while to record The Way Life Goes? Tom Keifer: Yeah, its a very long story. In the 90s, Cinderella parted ways with our record company, Mercury. ... So I started thinking about a solo record then and started to write for it. This was about 1995. And I just kept putting it on the back burner for years, but I kept writing, so I had tons of songs that were building up, and I finally decided in 2003 to start recording and pro- ducing the record. It was made independent- ly of a label because I just wanted to take my time with it. And I did, because it took the better part of almost 10 years to finish once we started actually recording. Whitman: You had some voice problems over the years while you were making this? Keifer: It started around 1991, when I was diagnosed with a partially paralyzed left vocal chord. The technical term is a paresis. And it wreaks havoc on the singing voice. I was told I would never sing again. Thats been a real up and down battle for me. And Ive had canceled tours, Ive had years where I couldnt sing a note. But over the years its gotten stronger and its gotten more consis- tent, and really in the last few years its got- ten stronger than ever. Whitman: Youve been touring solo? Keifer: Its been a blast. My voice has been really strong this year. Im having fun. Its nice to get out and play some new material. The Cinderella stuff is differ- ent because Ive been singing it for years, although that was challenging too. Whitman: What is the current status of Cinderella? Are you on hiatus? Keifer: Yeah, just on hiatus. We really toured pretty heavy for three years. At the end of last year we decided to take a break. Whitman: So do you foresee getting back with Cinderella for touring or recording? Keifer: Definitely touring, Im sure. ... Wed love to do some new music; that just would depend on the right opportunitya label thats serious about producing a new record and doing things right. Well see. Whitman: How do feel about Cinderella being labeled a hair band? Keifer: To me the sad thing about the term Hair Metal is that it just put the focus on the look and not the music. And I think a lot of music has been disregarded or discounted in some way because of a look, and thats just stupid to me, because every decade has a look. The 60s were you want to talk about big hair? The 50s, 60s and 70s had a look, and the 80s had an extremely over-the-top look because of the visual factor that was added by MTV and videos. ... Everyone was trying to push the envelope and be more outrageous than the next. Honestly, that wasnt just in the hard rock scene. It was in the pop scene tooI mean, look at Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Boy George. ... I think a lot of great musics been discounted as a result of the look or style of the decade that every decade has had. Whitman: What kind of gear do you use guitars, amps, that kind of thing? Keifer: I love Fender and Gibson guitars, Gretsch, Marshall amps and Im talking the early 70s stuff, late 60s-early 70s, a lot of the old Fender black panel amps and tweed amps. Ive collected that stuff over the years and Ive had a lot of cool old Gibson tweed tremolo amps. Im not a big pedal guy. I like to just plug into an old Marshall Super Lead with an old Les Paul and crank it up. Whitman: So, whats next for you? Keifer: Well, Ive always taken life one day at a time, because things seemed pretty dark in the 90s and then things changed. You never know whats around the corner, so you just live today the best you can. tell Tom Keifer Finds His New Voice SideNote with Howard Whitman Cinderella Frontman Reflects on 10-Years-in-the-Making Debut Solo Album, Vocal Challenges, the Hair Metal Phenomenon and Favorite Gear www.technologytell.com 8 Rockin Legends Pay Tribute to Jack White Cleopatra Records | CD What a cool idea: Retro rockers salute a guy whos been saluting retro rock for his whole career. Former White Stripe Jack White gets the tribute treatment on this clever CD, which features the likes of Robert Gordon, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bobby Vee and Chris Spedding rock- ing up Stripes songs like Were Going to be Friends, Seven Nation Army and of course, Icky Thump (which gets a stomping rendition by Los Straightjackets). The artists add some cool spins to the original arrangements on this well-recorded, nicely packaged disc. 9 Devin Townsend: The Retinal Circus Inside Out | Blu-ray/CD Devin Townsend has veered between the worlds of metal and melodic rock in his career, but his harsh, growly edge and more tuneful side are perfectly balanced in this amazing live presentation. The Retinal Circus lives up to its name its an ambitious, audacious multi-media presentation featuring acrobats, dancers, actors and a choir, as well as Townsends hard-hitting band and vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen, whose angelic quality gives the whole thing a strangely ABBA-like vibe. Amazing visually and sonically, with charged performances by Townsend and his musicians, The Retinal Circus is out-and-out brilliant. 10 Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me Magnolia| DVD Big Star never fulfilled the promise of their (optimis- tic) band name, but the Memphis quartet (and at one point, trio) left behind a legacy of music thats had a vast influence on a number of bands. Led by former teen idol (he sang The Box Tops The Letter) Alex Chilton, Big Star created a sludgy, dark (but melodic) power pop that could be cited as a progenitor to grunge. This welcome documentary tells the bands story through clips, photos and recent interviews. While some events (such as the exit of guitarist/singer Chris Bell) get short shrift, Nothing Can Hurt Me overall does a good job in showing why Big Star was so special.
M B p t M o a lllegacy ff of musiiic th th that C I D b m h gro l edge and more February 2014 technologytell.com 9 By Stephen Silver SilverScreens www.technologytell.com 10 technologytell.com February 2014 Who Won CES 2014? How About WWE? At International CES 2014, we saw a whole lot of revolutionary stuff. 3D printing. Internet of things. 4K TV, even the curved kind, which in Samsungs case was so miraculous that it rendered one of Hollywoods biggest directors speechless and scurrying off the stage in embarrassment. However, none of those things gain the title of the most amazing, potentially disruptive thing to come out of Vegas in 2014. That honor I bestow on an old media and entertainment company thats not a xture at CES and, indeed, isnt even in the consumer electronics industry. Im speaking of World Wrestling En- tertainment (WWE), which showed up at CES in order to announce the WWE Network. Not a wrestling fan? Well, I cant say I blame you. Ive gone hot and cold on the stuff a lot over the years. But you cant deny WWEs resilience and popularity. Its got a huge fan base, which crosses a lot of demographic lines, and even when its not in one of its periodic boom cycles, wrestling remains culturally ubiquitous. In a typical week with no NFL or NBA games and no ash-in-the-pan show on the air like Jersey Shore or Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, WWEs agship TV show, Monday Night RAW, nearly always takes the top spot in the weekly cable TV ratings. And while WWE has often struggled in moving outside its core business, whether with movie production, the World Bodybuilding Federation or the XFL, WWE in recent years has proven itself extremely savvy when it comes to the Internet, social and new media. Now theyve taken that in a new direction with the launch of a streaming network. The business model is really something, a sort of grappling version of Netix or HBO Go. WWE fans, for $9.99 a month, will gain access to the following: every new monthly WWE pay- per-view, plus access to every old pay-per-view; replays of the weekly Raw and Smackdown shows, which will remain on cable; various original programming, including a reality show called Legends House featuring the likes of Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hillbilly Jim, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Mean Gene Okerlund; and over 1,500 hours of old content for on-demand streaming. The network will be available to stream through iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as Roku, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and 4 consoles. Xbox One support will come later, as well as individual smart TVs. One wrestling blogger I read was a skeptic about the whole thing, pointing out that you cant watch it on TV. But really, you canthe Xbox, PlayStation and Roku hook up to your TV. Youre just watching through those in- stead of your cable box. Since pay-per-view events traditionally cost $50and even more for Wrestlemania WWE is betting that it can sell enough subscriptions to offset the decline of the pay-per-view model. And perhaps most strangely of all, WWE only went this route because, after years of trying, they werent able to make a good deal for a traditional cable network. But any way you look at it, the network is a huge bargain for wrestling fans, whether diehard or casual, and whether fans of the current product or more partial to the wrestling of yore. I almost never watch modern-day wrestling anymore, and even I am thinking about signing up just to watch the old stuff. As WWEs competitors such as WCW, ECW and AWA have died off over the years, WWE has made a practice of purchasing the defunct companies entire video libraries, usually ei- ther out of bankruptcy court or otherwise for a pittance. This has given WWE a legacy content war chest comprising hundreds of thousands of hours of programming, something quite valuable when it comes to pro wrestling. Every wrestling fan of a certain age has a certain Is Streaming of Wrestling Content the Wave of the Future? degree of nostalgia for the wrestling of his or her youth, and WWE has been using that foot- age for compilation DVDs and pay-per-view specials; now it will be streamed. Of course, the launch of the WWE Network could have implications beyond wrestling. Because if it succeeds, youre going to see a lot of other companies try the same thingand it could seriously threaten the established busi- ness model of cable TV. Just imagine what could come from this: Suppose MTV wanted to relaunch itself as an app, featuring its entire 35-year history of videos as well as every episode of every season of The Real World and The Hills. Isnt there an audience out there that would pay $10 a month for that? Same with Saturday Night Livewouldnt you pay a premium to have streaming access to every episode going back to 1975, in addition to, I dont know, being able to watch the dress rehearsal live, or various cutting-room-oor bits? What about sports teams, or leagues? What if a baseball team determined it could make more money by selling $10 all-devices stream- ing subscriptions than by signing up with a local cable company? Efforts in Congress to establish a la carte cable may have gone nowhere, but if WWE and a few other content companies decide to turn themselves into mini-Netixes, cord-cutting could become such a phenomenon that cable collapses. Im not saying this is imminent, or even likely, but it just became more of a pos- sibility than it was before January. And it was Vince McMahon, of all people, who made it happen. tell We support business development and create brand loyalists through original short-form HD video that inspires, provokes and excites. Whats YOUR story? For more information, contact Eric Schwartz at 215.238.5420 or eschwartz@napco.com Video Production Services is the proud producer of A Division Of 12 technologytell.com February 2014 G o back just a decade ago, and could anyone have imagined that theyd be carrying around a device in their pocket that had more power than their desktop PC, enabled them to instantly send a text message to anyone in the world, captured/stored/shared all of their photo/ v|deo/mus|c f|es, and ||stened and reacted to vo|ce commands to surf the web for just about any information you desired? Seems insane, but as you are all already well aware, just such a device exists and were all guilty of taking all of the above for granted today as our smartphones have become more important to us than anything else weve every owned in our lives. Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Its very fortunate if you can work on just one of these in your career, the late Steve Jobs once explained when asked about the iconic iPhone. Wh||e the debut of the frst |Phone |n 2007 certa|n|y ||fted th|s By Michael McEnaney Devices Remain Central to Consumers Lives Smartphone Market Keeps on Keeping On SMARTPHONE GUIDE www.technologytell.com February 2014 technologytell.com 13 category to unthinkable heights, the race for supremacy in this mar- ket is on like Donkey Kong, as most of the major players are regu- larly bringing exciting new tech to this space at breakneck pace. Thus, |t seems a|most se|fsh and border||ne boor|sh to have the ga|| to ask, 'So what`s next?" . but th|s |s a gadget magaz|ne for gadget |overs, so too bad-we`re ask|ng. There`s |nnovat|on at every turn |n the smartphone market and the category cont|nues to enjoy stagger|ng growth numbers every year, so here`s a br|ef |ook at just a few of the new wr|nk|es the appendage attached to your hand m|ght see |n the com|ng year. Mr. DeMille, Were Ready lf you`ve been watch|ng smartphone commerc|a|s the |ast year or so, you`ve seen most of the major manufacturers h|gh||ght|ng the|r dev|ces` |mage capture capab|||t|es. |G |s current|y tout|ng the|r new |G G2`s opt|ca| |mage stab|||zat|on tech. Nok|a |s zero|ng on the |um|a 1020`s 41MP capture capab|||ty that a||ows you to do your zoom|ng |ong after you`ve captured the shot. A|most a|| of App|e`s |Phone ads at some po|nt focus on that dev|ce`s st|||/v|deo capture capab|||t|es and you can now add to a|| th|s the fact Samsung has announced that their 2014 smartphones will feature 16MP sensors and improved lens technology, again highlighting the image capture muscle of the companys future Galaxy releases. Were not very far off from the time when pro shooters will be able to use a smartphone for some of the jobs they do, said New York- based professional photographer Jim Cummins. And who knows whats in store with regard to future imaging apps? Thus, its safe to say the point-and-shoot digital camera mar- ket may continue to run, but it surely cant hide for much longer from the smartphone-clicking public. Displays on Display Beyond improved image capture capability, the race for manufac- turers to out-innovate each other includes literally every part of the smartphone, including the most obvious: the display screen. When Apple recently wowed us with their retina display on iPhones, attention quickly turned to the quality of the on-screen image, and considering the amount of still and video imagery consumers were taking in on their smartphones, this certainly made sense as a point of focus. The recent move to 1080p, offering full-HD display, was well received, but apparently the bar is being raised here yet again as you can look for screens displaying 1600 x 2560-pixel resolution (WQXGA) by mid-2014. Our guess is that these new displays would appear to be better suited for the larger screen size were seeing on tablets, so were expecting 6-inch screens might see this tech initially, as this category could be poised for an explosion in 2014. Not sure the average eye was detecting a huge improvement in quality on a 2-3-inch smart- phone screen from 720p to 1080p, so this may simply be a case of adding additional whipped cream to the sundae, but the tech gurus simply cant help themselves. Better Battery Life One of the few complaints coming out of Smartphone Nation is that the battery life the devices currently offer falls short of expectations. Sony is hinting that they are working on a solution in this area that we may see as early as the second half of 2014. The company is quietly claiming that they are huddling with a company called Rohm Semiconductor on a wireless charging device that cuts charging t|me down to |ess than an hour and prov|des a s|gn|fcant|y longer-lasting charge. 14 technologytell.com February 2014 SMARTPHONE GUIDE www.technologytell.com February 2014 technologytell.com 15 Hold Em or Fold Em? Weve covered the wearable tech category in previous issues (and on pg. 24 of th|s one} and we`re hear|ng rumb||ngs that fex|b|e or perhaps foldable display screens will hit the smartphone market by 2015-16, an innovation that would allow manufacturers to produce smartphone-esque devices that could wind up as part of all manner of appare|. Wh||e Samsung has a|ready g|ven us the|r Ga|axy Gear smartwatch, the company is also working on the aforementioned foldable display screen that could become a part of their smartphone offer|ngs at some po|nt |n the next 12 to 18 months. The general idea behind the foldable display is that your smart- phone can actually become a tablet once unfolded but you can carry |t around as a smartphone," exp|a|ned Devon James, a free|ance tech blogger. What becomes even more interesting are the new directions the mobile market could head in once this tech becomes a reality. More Durability You can a|so expect more manu- facturers to begin offering smart- phones that can take a licking and keep on ... er, text|ng. Sony is now offering Xperia models that feature a dustproof, shockproof and waterproof design. Nothing new here, but the durability is simply getting better and far more subtle. While no one is suggesting you take your smartphone on a snorkeling trip, immersion in water up to and even a bit beyond a few feet is okay. Our guess is this will become the rule rather than except|on by year`s end. Cornings Gorilla Glass is also evolving (pun intended) as more and more smartphone manufactures are realizing that more and more smartphone users inevitably drop the devices and crack the screens. Now the company is claiming that since they have essentially mas- tered producing crack-resistant, scratch-resistant and in general very durable glass, they have turned their attent|on to br|n|ng us a non-refect|ve and germ-resistant screen. The only bad news here is the fact the company admits we might not see this tech in our phones for another couple of years but at least you can keep dropping them a bunch of times until then. Well Keep You Updated Cleary a moving target so be sure to continue your daily visits to www.tech- nologytell.com to stay on top of the dizzying news breaking daily in th|s |con|c category, but suffce |t to say consumers w||| undoubted|y be lining up a bunch of times in 2014 to get their hands on the latest and greatest releases in the smartphone market. Now |f everyone wou|d just stop text|ng wh||e dr|v|ng, th|s category wou|d be perfect. tell Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Its very fortunate if you can work on just one of these in your career. -Steve Jobs 16 technologytell.com February 2014 ony didnt earn their reputation by playing it safeor by not taking chances that other TV mak- ers would blanch at. Thats why I wasnt all that surprised to hear that Sony was making a curved HDTV available in limited quantities (the Sony KDL- 65S990A Curved LED HDTVretail $3,999). So I hoofed over to the Video & Audio Center in Santa Monica (Calif.) to see it for myself. The rst thing I noticed was that the KDL-65S990As chassis was easily twice as thick as that of the Sony 4K UltraHD TV nearby: that made sense since there has to be room for the 65 screens physical curvature. That also made room for the six-speaker audio system (40 watts)tradition- al box speakers could be used, which translates into really good sound. But most impressive was the way that the images play- ing across the display compared to that of other at screen HDTVs nearby; the Sonys curved screen seemed more enveloping. It made me think back to the greater feeling of immersion I had upon rst seeing a wide screen Cinema- Scope presentation of the movie 2001, where the images at the extreme edges of the screen caught and held my periph- eral vision even as I looked straight ahead. So was all this some optical trick or what? To get some answers. I hunted down Ray Stanley, Sonys Manager, TV Product Planning. The 65 KDL-65S990A Curved LED HDTV Sony Tosses a Curve Ball ... By Marshal M. Rosenthal MAKE THAT, SCREEN! www.technologytell.com February 2014 technologytell.com 17 Tell: The obvious question rstwhy a curved screen? Ray Stanley: Studies indicate that screens that are curved cause less eyestrainafter all, the eye is curved itself. Take a closer look at the movie screen the next time you go to a theateryoull see that the screen is actually curved, not at. Its designed this way to wrap around and give you the full image to look at, the cinematic experience, which is why you went there. Plus the viewing angle as you move off to the side is larger as a result. Youre not penal- ized from not being seated directly across from the screens center. When we go to home viewing, consider the days of the CRT tube models. Here the glass in front is actually curved away from the viewerits not inviting and the viewing angle really suffered as you had to be pretty much dead center if you didnt want to lose out. Flat panels and larger screens look better, obviously, but still there has to be that sweet spot that requires being positioned more in front than off to the sides. But by having a curved screen for home viewing, the viewing angle is dramatically in- creased, theres practically no drop off even at the extreme edges. This makes for better viewing for the home and a more cinematic experience akin to that of a movie theater screen. Tell: So a curved screen provides a better view? Stanley: Because of the curved screen, 2D images look more 3Dthats especially true in images where depth is present, such as watching golng or an NFL game in play. Theres a real advantage to watching on a curved screen compared to that of a conventional HDTVyou could watch three NFL games in a row, for example, because theres less eyestrain. And since the viewing angle is in- creased, more people can be off-axis and still get as good an experience as someone seated directly in front (the sweet spot). Tell: How difcult is it to make a curved HDTV, espe- cially at this size? Stanley: Its certainly a more sophisticated process to physically make a curved screen. But just as important is the amount of curvature that the screen has. Sony did a lot of studies on this, the most recent being done this year in Tokyo so as to understand what the curvature needed to be. What Sony came up with was that an increase of four percent would be optimal for the 65-inch panel. Stanley pointed out that the KDL-65S990A is in limited distribution and that it needs to be seen to be appreciated: Its our rst dive into a curved consumer television and were using all the technology that drives our high-end displays so as to provide a fantastic picture within the sets curved connes, he said, adding that its not something to talk about or look at brochures or gawk at on the Inter- netit has to be seen in person, which is why it makes sense for Sony having it presented in showrooms like the V&AC, so that consumers can go and get up close and per- sonal with it. I have to agreethats the only way to truly experience what the KDL-65S990A offers. tell 18 technologytell.com February 2014 m seated in the kind of auditorium made for watching movies: theres a huge screen at one end and me in a comfortable, cushioned chair at the other. And no other people at all, except for an engineer seated in front of a multicolor lit video/audio control deck and Stuart Bowling, Director, Market Development, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. The |arry m|ang Theater at the Do|by Burbank offce |sn`t des|gned for the public, but boy does it belt out the kind of sound that any movie theater would be proud to provideespecially if the sound is being driven by Dolby Atmos. To hear how Dolby Atmos works, just use your ears. But to understand the technology, start with the speakers. A traditional surround sound ar- rangement has a left/right and center, complimented by surround left/right speakers (7.1 or 9.1 just adding another set or two of speakers to those already there). Dolby Atmos requires a much more complex setup than that, because the number of speakers is not based on discrete channels but on how much space there is in the room to accommodate for up to 64 speak- ers. These surround the roomnot just from front to back and side to side, but also on the ceiling. Think of it as the difference between a helicopter heard to your right, then suddenly its in front of you, then just as suddenly to your left. Dolby Atmos isnt about discrete speaker channels, but about the smooth progression of audio movement from one point to the other. So if it was Dolby Atmos being used, the ear would hear the helicopter moving from right through left as a continuous movement. For a practical demonstration, Bowling cues a 5.1 music track called Troubadour featuring a male singer accompanied by an acoustic guitar. The vocals jump from the front to the sides to the back and return, but theres a strong feeling of disconnect; not just because the timbre of the voice changes as its picked up by each speaker, but also due to the voices abrupt movements from one speaker to the next. Bowling then repeats the track this time with Dolby Atmos: not only do the tonal qualities of the voice remain the same as it makes its way around the auditorium, but the progression is so smooth that it sounds completely natural. Bowling points out that this is due to the sound being matched from speaker to speaker: By balancing the sound throughout the entire speaker-set, were able to Dolby Atmos: Cinema Sound Surrounding You By Marshal M. Rosenthal DOLBY ATMOS I www.technologytell.com create a |eve| of aud|o fde||ty that |s unmatched," he says. Bow||ng a|so p|ayed the meerkats scene from '||fe of P|." The a||-enve|op|ng sound of the |nnumerab|e an|ma|s engu|fed and sw|r|ed around me and seemed to come from everywhere at once. lt created a more |mmers|ve exper|ence and l can see how |t g|ves sound m|xers more creat|ve freedom and a||ows them to p|ace sound anywhere |n the room, draw|ng aud|ences |nto each mov|e scene to make the enterta|nment exper|ence |n the c|nema more ||fe||ke and rea||st|c. Mak|ng a theater Do|by Atmos-compat|b|e requ|res more than just speakers and the d|g|ta| f|e p|ay|ng |n the Do|by Atmos O|nema processor OP850; an en- g|neer must a|so cert|fy the theater by tak|ng |ts phys|ca| s|ze, acoust|cs and the number of speakers |nto cons|derat|on. Once th|s |s done, the OP850 w||| be ab|e to output an opt|m|zed aud|o track 'on the fy" us|ng the parameters set. O|nema sound has a|ways been a draw for mov|es, but Do|by Atmos takes |t to a who|e new |eve|-one that mov|egoers can apprec|ate, espec|a||y s|nce there`s no way to ga|n the exper|ence at home. Wh||e |ts adopt|on has been |auded by a|| the major Ho||ywood stud|os-as we|| as Academy Award w|nn|ng d|rectors and sound m|xers, among others-not every theater as yet has the Do|by Atmos sound system |nsta||ed; present|y |t |s found |n 250+ theaters wor|dw|de, |n 27 countr|es (w|th 65+ t|t|es hav|ng been re|eased/ announced}. But after ||sten|ng to |t, l s|ncere|y hope that my next mov|ego|ng exper|ence |sn`t ||m|ted to 'trad|t|ona|" surround sound. tell 20 technologytell.com February 2014 H aving a home theater used to mean either a dedicated room or putting up with hav- ing all the electronic equipment crowding out a space in the living room or den. But wh||e fat pane| Tvs, sound bars and m|n|atur|zat|on of A/v equ|pment now makes watching television or a mov|e |n any room attract|ve, there |s no control over the acousticsthe noise pollution manifested as in the sounds of cars on the street, commerc|a|s com- |ng from your ne|ghbor`s Tv, or no|ses from fam||y members |n another room. All of this adversely affects the quality of the sound that you`re try|ng to hear, and just turn|ng up the vo|ume |sn`t the answer (not to mention getting nasty ca||s from the ne|ghbors or even a v|s|t from the police). Since apartments and condos (and even most homes} can`t have you tearing up the walls to install sound-deaden|ng mater|a|s, how do you keep out all that extraneous noise so a home theater`s aud|o system can perform at |ts best? And, w|thout spend|ng a fortune? You can start by us|ng common sense, such as p|ac|ng a foor draft guard aga|nst a door to muffe no|se com|ng from another room, or closing the drapes to keep sounds from refect|ng off the w|ndows. But |n order to |earn what e|se can be done, we turned to experts |n the fe|d. The|r answers may surpr|se you-not just be- cause they`re |og|ca| and cost-effect|ve, but because of how doab|e they are for anyone willing to make the effort. Ambient Sound Control Tam|ng amb|ent sound is vital to good audio reproduct|on, and a strong emphas|s shou|d be p|aced on contro|- ||ng the ear|y refect|ons that otherw|se degrade the soundstage and imaging. Strateg|c p|acement of sound-absorb- |ng pane|s can be p|aced |n a room us- |ng non-|nvas|ve methods (for examp|e, eas||y removab|e pa|nter`s tape or even st|ckp|ns}, wh|ch avo|ds damag|ng the surfaces they`ve been attached to. Er|c Sm|th, Pres|dent and Founder of Aura- |ex Acoust|cs, po|nts out that the va|ue of sound absorpt|on pane|s comes from the|r reduc|ng unwanted refect|ons and contro|||ng the 'futter" echo that occurs |n ||sten|ng env|ronments. They are ava||ab|e as portab|e, freestand- |ng un|ts that can be |nsta||ed qu|ck|y without damaging walls when it comes t|me to remove them. As an examp|e, there`s Aura|ex`s Sono||te absorpt|on pane|, prov|d|ng the means for ta||or|ng a room`s 'son|c space" through contro| of its acoustic properties. Stop Sound at its Source 'The fundamenta| cha||enge of m|n|- SHHH ... The Quiet Home Theater By Marshal M. Rosenthal HOME THEATER www.technologytell.com February 2014 technologytell.com 21 mizing sound transmission to or from the outside world is ones ability to physically isolate the structure in question, says Smith. He notes that without proper room construc- t|on-mean|ng foor, ce|||ng and wa|| |so|at|on, plus attention to windows, doors, HVAC, electrical and moreyoull never achieve a totally soundproof room. But dont fear, he says, for even in existing structures, there are often adjunct measures to take to improve the sound isolation of the space. One solution is to use temporary window plugs, which are removable and not all that expensive, as a means for improving the sound isolation of your windows. Isolating (or 'foat|ng"} the speakers can a|so |essen the transmission of unwanted sound, with the added beneft of |mprov|ng the aud|o sys- tems clarity and response while decreasing the transmission of low and mid frequencies to adjacent areas. Sound absorption pads can be placed beneath speakersfor exam- ple, Auralexs MoPAD Monitor Isolation Pads that are used to decouple loudspeakers from stands or furniture. For the subwoofer, a notable noise maker, a solution such as the company`s SubDude-HT w||| suffce by decoup||ng the subwoofer from the foor. The use of sound absorption materials also have the added beneft of m|n|m|z|ng v|brat|ons that color sound as well as enable more clarity from the woofers and tweeters. And as an added bonus, the use of such pads for controlling the sound in the room will also minimize the chance of being branded with the moniker of that noisy neighbor.
Mind the Gap One of the most important aspects of noise control is actually one of the easiest to improve but is often overlooked: the sealing of any and all air passages. As pointed out by Greg Stidsen, Director, Technology and Product Planning, NAD Electronics, these gaps found around doors, windows and e|ectr|ca| fxtures, can be sea|ed off us|ng the same procedures involved for making a home more energy effc|ent. The procedure involves calking all the gaps around doors, windows and any other air passage to another room, along with weather stripping. Additionally, non-invasive substitutes can be had, such as the use of window shutters, interior hangings and curtains. The end re- sult is to isolate and keep the outside noise coming into the room, along with keeping the audio from leaking out to the neighbors. Active Noise Cancellation A very proactive solution revolves around noise cancellation. Christoffer Ahlen of Dirac Research points out that in many peoples experience the most annoying disturbances are in the low frequency region, particularly below 600 Hz, with common examples being a whining air conditioner, a siren, or a fan. A real-time method for countering such sounds is through the use of active noise control (i.e., by measuring the disturbance in real time and sending it out as anti-noise through the speaker system}. Ah|en says that through the use of multi-channel audio optimization technology, improvements in the intelligibility of voices and overall tonal balance, which would normally not be Taming ambient sound is vital to good audio reproduction, and a strong emphasis should be p|aced on contro|||ng the ear|y refect|ons that otherw|se degrade the soundstage and imaging. www.technologytell.com discernible, can be obtained in addition to the disturbance silencing effect. Theres no practical way to have such a noise-cancel- ing system for ones home theater, but there |s an effect|ve and cost-effc|ent method for using this: noise-canceling headphones. True, th|s so|ut|on prov|des a 'fx" for one- person only, but the advantages such head- phones prov|de can be extreme|y te|||ng when worn and should not be discounted for solitary listening. THE EFFORT IS WORTH IT Not having a dedicated room for a home theater means living in a noisy world of compromise. By increasing your rooms iso- lation to whatever degree is feasible, by iso- lating your loudspeakers and subwoofer(s), and by taming as much of the ambient sound in the room as possible, a home the- aters audio intelligibility and capabilities will dramatically improve, allowing you to reap far more enjoyment than would otherwise be the case from your investment in sound and video gear. 22 technologytell.com February 2014 DIY ACOUSTIC CONTROL Controlling the sound in the home theater space can be done with products that dont requ|re extraord|nary or expert hand||ng. Here are some examp|es. Acoust|-Curta|n/Sound Absorb|ng Drap- ery Acoust|ca| Surfaces Inc. Made with sound absorbing material and designed to absorb more sound than stan- dard curtains, these drapes provide control of acoust|c refect|ons off of g|ass bes|des refect|ng therma| energy and b|ock|ng ||ght. lt |s custom des|gned to ft and match the interior space. Aud|o Techn|ca Qu|etPo|nt ATH-ANC9 Act|ve No|se-Cance||ng Headphones These headphones can reduce surface noise by up to 95 percent and offers three selectable noise-reduction modes to use on airplanes, trains and buses, in crowded places and at already-quiet locations. The 40mm drivers are encased in well-padded memory foam, and full functionality is avail- able without battery power (passive mode). Draft Dodger Door and W|ndow Insu|ator/B|ue R|dge Home Fash|on This polyester-covered horizontal bar is des|gned to ft aga|nst the bottom of a door or window and minimizes air leakage as well as muff|ng sound. Qu|et Door Acoust|c Pane|/sound- proofoam.com Reduces sound transfer through metal doors most commonly found in entrances and installs without the use of tools or glue. Also minimizes echoes within a room. MoPAD Mon|tor Iso|at|on Pads/Aura|ex Acoust|cs Designed to provide sonic isolation be- tween the speaker/monitor and the stand or surface it is on, it can improve audio clarity through the elimination of sympathetic reso- nances within a room. SonoL|te Sound Absorpt|on Pane|s/Au- ra|ex Acoust|cs The pane| reduces unwanted refect|ons and 'futter echo" |n ||sten|ng env|ronments. Each |s 24 x 24 x 1-|nch, composed of h|gh|y eff- cient absorbing acoustical foam and covered in a choice of black or tan velour fabric. SubDude-HT/Aura|ex Acoust|cs Designed to go beneath your subwoofer, the isolation platform provides for a more ac- curate low-frequency response, diminishes structural vibrations and negates resonant artifacts. Super Heavy Acoust|ca| Rubber F|oor|ng Under|ayment Padd|ng/DIYHome TheaterSupp|y This recycled rubber material greatly reduces home theater audible sounds and vibrations: an effect|ve 21db no|se decrease as we|| as impact reduction. It is used under carpeting, laminates, hardwoods and vinyl. te|| One of the most important aspects of noise control is actually one of the easiest to improve but is often overlooked: the sealing of any and all air passages. HOME THEATER August 2012 technologytell.com 23 This is THE ultimate online consumer electronics destination, where daily information, insights, reviews and interaction is offered within the fast-paced, ever evolving consumer technology world. www.TechnologyTell.com NETWOR VIEW OUR t o d a y ! K 24 technologytell.com February 2014 WEARABLE TECH From mood sweaters to foor c|ean|ng sneakers-wearab|e boom |s here. By Michael McEnaney Now More Than Just Bearable Tech www.technologytell.com www.technologytell.com February 2014 technologytell.com 25 Tiffany Tames is a 28-year old woman from New York who likes to think of herself as fairly in-step with todays ever-evolving tech world. She describes herself as a smartphone and tablet junkie whos always, Looking into whats new and cool in con- sumer technology. The active, outdoorsy sales rep admitted that she wears her GoPro camera when b|k|ng and recent|y took up surfng |essons with the same device tightly fastened to the front of the board. To catch my many and sometimes spectacular wipeouts, she recalls with a grin. Despite her clear connection to being constantly connected, even she isnt quite sure about where the wearable technology category is headed. A smartphone clipped to a belt or a digital camera occasionally fastened to a helmet is a far cry from a sensor embedded in a pair of glasses or a blouse no? She wonders at what point the sense of engagement one gets from a CE device turns into something more like, as she explains, Becoming sucked into another world where the technology is so seamless that its more in control of you than you are of it. Holy Demon Seed, Batman! Wearable Boom? The recent introduction of Google Glasses and the rumored debut of Apples iWatch have tech experts now predicting we are indeed entering a new era in what has been loosely called the Wearable Technology market. We`ve a|| seen the ftness brace|ets and anklets that track exercise regimens and cal- orie burning but the idea behind the Google and Apple products (and others similar to those) is more about consumer tech being even more constantly at hand with even less effort involved to interact with it. The idea behind wearables is to simply extend the tech that smartphones and tablets are already providing but to do that in a way where the user almost doesnt realize theyre even interacting with the tech, explained wearable tech blogger Seth Roland. The tech becomes an extension of yourself. A few of the products recently unveiled at a San Francisco wearable tech confer- ence and fashion show included a mood sweater that changes color depending on your emotional state, sneakers that clean the foor wh||e you wa|k and a s||ght|y |ess bizarre music player that matches music to your heartbeat. While the market for the aforementioned may currently be niche, those poking around this market feel that even though wearable tech has largely been nothing more than a sideshow to mainstream CE the last few years, the wearable worm is about to turn. Were seeing some fun but kind of goofy stuff come out now but products like Google Glasses (lightweight frames equipped with a hidden camera and tiny display that responds to voice commands) and a few others are taking the category in some use- ful and interesting directions, said Roland. More than a few analysts apparently agree with Rolands view as last year the market for wearable technology encompass- ing everything from new hearing aids to wristband pedometers totaled almost $9 billion. That should climb to $30 billion by 2018, according to a recent report from IHS Global Insights. While those numbers are certainly eye- popping, other recent studies indicate con- sumer enthusiasm, like that of Tames, remains a bit tepid for wearable tech. Global CE researchers TNS Global released the results of a recent study they did on wearable tech that concluded consumer response to this market remains rather lukewarm. The study claims that approximately 75% of respondents were aware of this categorys emergence and that 55% felt such products were too expensive or didnt meet their needs. Only 10% responded that they intend to purchase these products in 2014. So then, while this emerging tech indus- try waits for consumers to hop on board, perhaps the biggest question were left with is this what exactly is available today in the wearable tech market? A good question and heres a brief (no pun intended) look: The Smart Diaper The diaper has certainly functioned quite well for its intended purpose for the many centu- ries weve been using them. The last major improvement in this garment came back in the1940`s when the frst d|sposab|e d|aper came to market, so I suppose we were long overdue for the Smart Diaper. A company ca||ed P|x|e Sc|ent|fc has deve|oped a d|aper that can detect possible urinary tract infec- tions, kidney dysfunctions, and dehydration, and yes, you guessed it, when the baby has done a boom, boom. The outside of the diaper features different colored squares that each represent an interaction with a protein, water content, or bacteria. The patches change color if they detect something out of the ordinary or sometimes simply some- thing out. www.p|x|esc|et|c.com Social Fashion Cant get enough of your social network circle perhaps Ping is for you - a social network- ing garment which connects the wearer to their social media accounts wirelessly. The simple movement of gestures such as lifting the hood, bending or swinging your arms or moving the zipper allows you to interact with your social network friends when they send you a comment or message. A smartphone app allows you to customize messages sent by sensors that track when you move your clothing. www.e|ectr|cfoxy.com/p|ng/ Your Bodys Talking This one is more concept than actual product but certainly caught or attention. The RISR Vest is a proposed piece of clothing that is essentially aimed at helping people with their posture but perhaps the more ambitious goal is to help folks who struggle with social inter- action and body language. In theory, the vest contains a web of sensors that are connected to a smartphone that scans the target person you are interacting with and vibrates in order to tell the wearer how best to correct their body language in return. Again, concept-only at this point but certainly intriguing. www.r|sr.com Mood Ring Now a Sweater? We cant imagine why anyone would want to reveal to the world exactly what their mood is at a given moment but the makers of the Sensoree Mood Sweater apparently feel oth- erwise This garment emits a clear blue light to indicate that you are feeling calm and relaxed or it may quickly shift to a more vibrant mauve when someone inevitably pisses you off. The company tells us the Mood Sweater uses the same technology behind the classic lie detec- tor test. Its sensors read your excitement levels and translate the data into a spectrum of colors. www.sensoree.com Under Armour Plus Weve certainly seen plenty of wearable tech that fa||s |nto the ftness category and you had to fgure the nder Armour peop|e were jumping in here eventually. Their new Armour39 system combines a small Bluetooth LE-enabled pod with a chest strap and an app that tracks your level of exertion, award- ing you WILLpower points along the way. This one is really for the hard core athletes among us and we assume future versions could get quite interesting. t|nyur|.com/underarmour39 26 technologytell.com February 2014 WEARABLE TECH www.technologytell.com The CTPG Store is THE place for any consumer electronics professional thats looking for hot tips, research ndings, educational courses and more to help them learn about the industry, get strategy tips and, most importantly, push their business to new heights. store.ctpgonline.com By Maureen Jenson I n mid-December my sister was having foot surgery and had to lay around for a week. What better opportunity for me to put her to work? I brought the Korus V600 and V400 wireless speakers to her home for her to unbox and set up. She has been around the audio industry for many years and is an old hand at helping me with various systems in my own home, so I knew this should have been a no-brainer for her. What I didnt expect was how quickly she called me back and said, These sound really great so a day later, I drove back over to my sisters 900 square-foot condo to check them out for myself. I arrived, laptop in hand, to make some notes of her initial ndings. I have to admit that upon walking into her living room, the rst thought that hit meafter not seeing them in person for many monthswas just how aesthetically striking the speakers really are. Both have a curved design with curved grilles on the front, with the V400 being a Mini Me of the V600. Controls are an array of six silver buttons along the top edge of the speakers. There is an integrated carry handle and the speakers are in glossy black plastic. Dont let the plastic part fool you; these speakers are beautifully made, with one of my sisters rst comments be- ing, Wow, these are really gorgeous. Now, there are plenty of Bluetooth wireless speakers on the market and other options like Apples AirPlay, WiFi and of course the popular Sonos whole-house sys- tems. What makes Korus different is, the company is using its own proprietary SKAA streaming system that it says reduces the lag time found in other systems. Korus has Batons or dongles for audio transmission, lightning and 30-pin dock options and a USB option for PC or Mac. An Android version will be coming soon. My sister found setup to be a breeze. Seriously, it was a case of plugging in a dongle and streaming whatever you want from, in her case an iPad and desktop. Of course, she could have streamed from her iPhone as well. Set up, the length between the speakers was within the companys recommended up to 65 feet of internal range. When it came right down to it, the sound quality just rocked. We both enjoyed it deep, rich, room-lling bass, and neither speaker was a slouch in the higher frequencies as well. One of the cool features of the Korus speakers is the ability to sync up to four speakers so that they are all playing the same music with no lag. Theres also a free Korus iOS app that can be used to ad- just volume levels on the speakers remotely. So impressed were we both, my sister used them for her annual Christmas bash instead of her regular system. Lets face itnothing quite says the holidays like Mtley Cre, and with the bass response from the Korus V600 and V400, they kept the party going. The convenience of being able to move the speakers around so easily that is another great benet; while I wouldnt call them portable in the usual senseyou wont be taking them to the beachthey are denitely moveable with fantastic sound reproduction qualities. Korus is a real winner! tell REVIEWS > FAST FACTS KORUS V600 & V400 WIRELESS SPEAKERS INCLUDING ALL ACCESSORIES APPROX. $449 & $349 www.korussound.com Amazing sound reproduction No-hassle baton plug and play set-up Easy portablity from room to room and outside Sync up to four speakers so that they are all playing the same music with no lag 28 technologytell.com February 2014 Korus V600 and V400 Wireless Speakers > Zoner Photo Studio 16 I f your notion of photo editing involves more than absentmindedly slapping an Instagram lter on a photo of your em- barrassingly large hamburger, read on. Zoners Photo Studio 16 brings a powerful set of editing and photo management fea- tures to Windows users. In its latest version, the software adds support for touch controls on Windows 8-based PCs. Theres also a new interface for the editor that brings most of your available editing tools into a quick edits pane on the right-hand side, so you dont have to go hunting through drop-down menus to nd it. Theres also a very powerful content-aware resizing tool that intelligently crops and/or shrinks your photo without removing important elements. Photo Studio 16 is available in a Home edition for $44, or you can pay $89 for a Pro version that adds support for RAW image processing, advanced creative tools such as HDR and tone-mapping, noise removal and greater editing functionality. (You can get a 30-day free trial of the Pro version at www.zoner.com). We tested the Pro version and were very pleased with the results. Using Photo Studio The software divides its tasks into four windowsImport, Manager, Viewer and Edi- torso Photo Studio is conveniently built for your entire photo workow. Each tab contains a wealth of options for the task at hand with plenty of features photographers should nd useful. For instance, when importing new photos, the software will allow you to simul- taneously create a backup le on an external drive (or cloud drive if you have a cloud folder from Box, etc. on your desktop). When work- ing in the Manager, you have a traditional folder view of your photos or you can ip to a map-view and plot out images with GPS data on a map. Photo Studio 16 does a ne job with basic photo importing and organizing tasks, but its when you switch into editing mode where the program really shines. From quick xes, red-eye removal and instant lters to clone stamping and RAW processing, Photo Studio 16 is packed with more than enough editing punch to satisfy us- ers of all skill levels. A Quick Edits menu on the right hand side of the software lets you make detailed ed- its to contrast, exposure and more using simple slidersor pop into Quick Filters and give your images dramatic effects (the software will preview each effect on the image in question as you move your mouse over the various lters). Theres very little you cant do. Hidden Gems One of the best features of Photo Studiobeyond its editing toolsis the integration with Zonerama, the companys online photo network. Much like Flickr, Zonerama is a place to store and (if you choose) show off your images (without the creepiness of social networks using them in ads). Unlike Flickr, Zonerama promises unlimited free photo storage. Whats more, you cannot only quickly upload images to Zonerama from within Photo Studioyou can also edit those on- line images right from the software. Whats Missing If youre not comfortable with histograms and color curves, the software is a bit less approachable compared to Googles Picasa, which has none of Photo Studios sophisti- cation but is more straightforward to use. Another quibble is the size of the iconsin an effort to bring as much functionality out of the drop-down menus and onto the screen, Zoner compressed the icons down in size. This frees up real estate to get a nice, large view of your photo, but if youre not already familiar with the software, it lengthens the learning curve of understand- ing just what it is each button does (for- tunately, though, a quick text description emerges whenever you hover the mouse over a given icon). Bottom Line If youre a Windows user in the market for a powerful photo editor, Photo Studio 16 should be at the top of your list. Theres plenty to keep seasoned photog- raphers busy and the tight integration with Zonerama makes it compelling for amateurs looking for an online space to call home. tell By Mark Hawver FAST FACTS ZONER PHOTO STUDIO 16 $44 (HOME EDITION) OR $89 (PRO VERSION) www.zoner.com Powerfu| set of ed|t|ng and photo management features Packed w|th more than enough ed|t|ng punch to sat|sfy users of a|| sk||| |eve|s 0reat pr|c|ng February 2014 technologytell.com 29 REVIEWS T he Moshi Audio Mythro earbuds are lightweight yet powerful, just enough to provide you with a very enjoyable music experience. The price point, coupled with the aluminum casing of the earbuds and the high quality audio really makes this a great buy. Better yet, they come in a multitude of colors for those who choose who live a bit more colorfully. Design The design of headphones is critical to me in reviews, as we constantly use them everywhere we go; the way they t in your ear and how they look really affect how you choose to use them in your daily life. Simply put, if you like them a lot, youll constantly use them. Fortunately for me, the Mythro earbuds were a perfect t, and I found myself switching from my higher- end JBL headphones when I wanted to listen to music at night when going to bed. The earbuds clearly provide excellent sound, more or less on par with Apples EarPods which I used to use before. One thing I really liked was how each earbud was color coded so you know right away which ear it goes in without having to look for the tiny L or R on most earphones. Though the earbuds themselves were great, I wasnt a big fan of the cable de- sign, which seemed to be of lower quality than you would expect. I also wish there could be some integrated volume controls, something that seems to be standard on most headphones on the market now. The Mythro earbuds do come with a single button for answering/ending calls and skipping song tracks, and also have an integrated mic for phone calls. The head- phones also come with a tiny strap right on the cable to keep the cables organized when not being used. Sound I keep these earbuds around for casual use, so I dont constantly carry them around with me everywhere. However, when I do use them (mostly at night), I nd that they have the perfect amount of bass and overall good sound quality. Moshi Audio has some great steel alloy earbuds on the market and they have a good repu- tation for producing high quality products, so I knew that these headphones would provide good sound when I rst started using them. Ive noticed better sound on the Moshi Mythro earbuds than I did on the EarPods, even though Apples headset put up a good competition in terms of bass. The Mythro did beat out the EarPods when it came to clarity, especially because it provided a tight seal in the ear which helped to keep in the bass and sound (you get a number of different ear tips for use). As Ive mentioned in every other earphone review Ive ever done, Im not too fond of in-ear headphones, in gen- By Kaled Ali Moshi Audio Mythro Earbuds > 30 technologytell.com February 2014 eral, because they thump in your ears when you hit the cable with your jacket or your hand. With the Mythro earbuds, Moshi Audio has done a great job of bringing a low cost and high quality pair earphones to the market. The price tag is very competitive with other earbuds out on the market, including Apples EarPods. tell FAST FACTS MOSHI AUDIO MYTHRO EARBUDS $30 www.moshiaudio.com Color-coded for left/right placement Value price point Single-button control > OSD Audio Sound Platform SP2.1 Table-Top Surround Sound System By Joe Paone L et me say it up front: Ive listened to a lot of soundbars and other one- piece audio systems, and the OSD Audio Sound Platform SP2.1 is as good as Ive heard. Once I placed my TV on top of the Sound Platform and set it upwhich took virtually no time at allmy wife and I quickly real- ized that this was a piece that greatly en- hanced our sound setup, such as it is. That is to say, we were using the built-in speakers of a Samsung Smart TV, which surprisingly arent terrible. But the Sound Platform took us to a whole new level. Thats right, by the way: I put my TV on top of the Sound Platform. This isnt your everyday (relatively) puny soundbar that you hang or place beneath or in front of your TV. Its a solid, 25-pound piece of sonic equipment that rocked us to the core. It can support TVs of up to 85 pounds and 65 inches. The OSD Audio Sound Platform SP2.1 can support TVs of up to 65 inches in screen size and weighing up to 85 pounds. If you dont have the option, or dont want the option, of installing a full-blown stereo system near your TVan AV receiver, at least two speakers, all of the cabling that goes with themthis device is a very ne compromise. It delivers weighty, clean, distortion-free sound at any volume. Its got serious cojones. Dual down-ring 5.25-inch subwoofers provide really meaty bass reproduction. Four front-facing 2.5-inch midrange speak- ers handle dialogue very well. Two one-inch silk tweeters do a bangup job with the highs. Its a really well-executed mix that sounds real, which I mean as a high compliment. There is one gimmick here, though: the DSP-enabled surround sound setting. Im not a fan of digital sound processing, but this simulated surround mode was OK. Not something I plan on using too much, but worth a listen if youre into movies or sports especially. You can connect your audio from your cable box or TV to the Sound Platform via its inputs for RCA analog, optical or coax digi- tal. We used L-R analog and had no issues. Whats really cool is that you can connect to this bad boy via Bluetooth too, so the tunes were owing from my HP Chrome- book 11 and Samsung Galaxy S4 smart- phone, and did they ever sound awesome. It was night and day compared to our TVs speakers as well as many other soundbars Ive heard. Its an exceptional stand-in for a full multi-component audio system. Eighty watts of amplication will do that. The cool thing with this piece is that its not a monolithic 80 watts. According to OSD, the Sound Platform provides inde- pendent amp channels for each woofer, each set of midrange drivers, and the tweeters. This bi-amp design, I suspect, provides nuance and depth as well as raw power. So do, I also suspect, the units front and rear panel bass ports, which are two pairs of tuned openings in the cabinet that the company says allow air to release and enhance the low frequencies. The included remote control, which enables input selection and bass/treble up/ down, is a typical tiny bugger that offers no feedback to the user beyond a blink- ing blue status LED on the front of the Sound Platform. Like many such remotes, I found it to be not very responsive. But OSD included a nice touch on the remote: an EQ Reset button that takes you back to the factory settings. This is especially handy if youre ddling with the bass and treble, since you have no real way to know at what specic levels youve set them. The OSD Audio Sound Platform SP2.1 is currently available on Amazon for a nice price of $399. We recommend you check it out! tell FAST FACTS OSD AUDIO SP2.1 SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM $399 www.osdaudio.com Supports TVs of up to 5 |nches and we|ghts up to 85 |bs. |nputs for 80A ana|og, opt|ca| or coax d|g|ta| 80 watts of amp||cat|on 0|g|ta| Sound Process|ng (0SP} surround sound February 2014 technologytell.com 31 G aming is an expensive hobby. New console games average price is $59.99 each, and you cant even look at a new console unless youre willing to invest $200. A $399.99 invest- ment in a PS4 is a leap of faith on the part of the consumer. After all, there are only 23 launch games, most of which are also avail- able on other platforms, and theres always the stigma that day-one adopters ll a role as guinea pigs. Yet, after ve days spending every free moment with the PS4, I cant help but feel the system is worth it. I would have appre- ciated a stronger launch lineup, of course, but Sony, the PS4, and the PlayStation Network have come through like rockstars. An Astonishingly Powerful Black Box I must admit that I was a bit under- whelmed when I rst saw the PS4 at E3 2013, and later at a demo station in my local Target. While Sony was touting the consoles streamlined and stylish form, I was looking at another black box. It was a distinctive black box, sure, with a pleasing parallelogram silhouette and a contrasting glossy and matte nish, but I wasnt overly impressed. That changed once I actually had a PS4 in my hands. At 275mm x 53mm x 305mm, it was about the same size as my PS3 slim, but felt about two pounds lighter. I was pleased, as Im someone who enjoys taking consoles over to friends for gaming nights. I was also more visually impressed with the PS4 after setting it up. Its subdued and unassuming, with the only ash be- ing a pulsating line of light that appears across the top of the console, between the matte and glossy nishes. It glows blue in standby (or when something is wrong), and white in use. Also impressive was the systems subtlety. The power and eject sen- sors are nestled in a break between the glossy and matte sections on the front of the console, and the disc drive and controller USB ports tucked into a crack in the fascade. Unfortunately, I found I was out of control of my PS4 s layout. Where the PS3 could be praised for its customization options, everyones PS4 home screen looks alikeno themes to change the backgrounds and icons. The layout of games and apps is deter- mined by the console. I was disappointed. Get into the Games The PS4 is a powerful machine, and one that will be capable of great things. Lets get the technical jargon out of the way. It has a single-chip custom processor, an 8-core, x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU, a 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next engine, with 8GB GDDR5 memory, 500GB hard drive, and an optical drive capable of reading Blu-rays and DVDs. The PS4 is substantially more powerful than both the Wii U and Xbox One, the two other next-gen consoles. That means it will provide better performance when running games. They will be more de- tailed, have higher framerates, and should also give the console a longer lifespan. The only downside to this initial build is the size of the included hard drive. While 500GB seems adequate, especially considering the average PS3 hard drive is 250GB, there are other things to consider. For example, after other applications and rmware, a PS4 actually only has about 400GB. Not to mention, PS4 games are substantially larger than PS3 games And unfortunately, the initial array of PS4 games is less than astonishing. Of the 23 launch games, 20 are available on other platforms. The only exclusives are Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack and Resogun. Fortunately, three games are totally free-to-play, two are temporarily free to PlayStation Plus members, and two more are cross-buy games. So when my PS4 experience began, I had access to Blacklight Retribution, Contrast, DC Universe Online, Resogun, Sound Shapes, and Warframe. Since a PS4 comes with one free month of PlayStation Plus and a $10 PlayStation Store credit, everyone can have access to at least four games immediately. There is some benet from having so many cross-platform launch games. It allowed me to compare performance between systems. I was able to see how DC Universe Online, Sound Shapes, and Warframe looked on the PS3 and PC compared to the PS4. While Sound Shapes didnt seem much different, both PS4: An Investment in Excellence REVIEWS > 32 technologytell.com February 2014 By Jenni Lada DC Universe Online and Warframe looked and played much better on the PS4, with clearer visuals, improved frame-rates, and it even seemed like more responsive, online multiplayer. Gripping the DualShock, Sounding off on the Mic The PS4 isnt the only thing that comes in the box. New console owners also have the Dualshock 4, Sonys latest controller crea- tion, and a rather basic, headset. To start, the DualShock 4 is the most comfortable gaming controller Ive ever used. Admittedly, Ive been a fan of Sonys controllers for a while, but this iteration is the most comfort- able thus far. The DualShock 4 has a nice weight to it and feels comfortable in the hands, but isnt too heavy. The back of the controller is textured, to prevent hands from slipping, and the button spacing allows a players hands to comfortably wrap around the grips, with thumbs resting on the dual analog sticks and pointer ngers falling on the curved left and right shoulder buttons. Even the touchpad is easily accessedI found myself naturally swiping my right thumb up or down on it to activate Warframe powers. The only downside is, the DualShock 4 does use more power than the PS3s Du- alShock 3. I suspect its the newly implement- ed, and largely supercial, light bar to blame, and perhaps the speaker built into the controller as well. It wasnt a horrible drain, as I could still go through about six hours of continuous use before needing to charge, but I was more familiar with a DualShock 3 that could go for two days without a power-up. Show Me Something New However, I think most people are going to herald the PS4 for its revolutionary, social- izing measures, rather than its impressive show of power. I have never had an interest in livestreaming game footage as I played before, or in watching other peoples ses- sions. I liked the Vitas screenshot feature for work purposes, but eventually grew tired of needing to open a separate application or connect it to my computer to share these images with others. The PS4 has made me care about lives- treaming and content sharing. Even more notable, I decided I needed a Twitch.TV account because of it, and have even shared a few screenshots on Twitter and Facebook for fun. Its so effortless, and with a push of a button Im live. Maybe no ones watching, but perhaps someone is going through it with me. It never hurts to turn that share button on and give it a try. Even with my av- erage internet connection, with its occasional dips from 15mbps to 7mbps, I can livestream a session without it affecting my experience. Im amazed at how social the PS4 gaming experience is. I never really talked with peo- ple online when playing PS3 games. Id hop on the microphone for Mass Effect 3 coopera- tive missions with friends, and sometimes have it on when ghting people in Persona 4 Arena, but it didnt really matter to me. A Matter of Trust As with any next generation console, the PS4 launched to concerns about the systems reliability. Early reports from news outlets and contest winners had touched on HDMI output problems, and many have taken to the internet to report their consoles were bricks on arrival. Already, the Blue Light of Death has been coined, with people dread- ing the thought of a puls- ing blue light appearing on their new system. I was among them. Id heard the horror stories, and the fact that my PS4 was arriving via UPS made unlikely scenarios dance through my head. It was to the point where I wondered if I would among the alleged 0.4% to get a faulty console. I had to get over it. You cant live your life babying a device, wondering if it could maybe die. So, after gingerly fawning over it for the rst 24 hours, I decided to see what my PS4 could take. I played Resogun, Contrast, and Warframe, for a period of ve hours straight. The PS4 responded like a champ, with no overheating. It was every- thing a console should be.
Our New, Indispensible Friend The PS4 has taken its baby steps, and is ready to walk with us into the future of entertainment. This gaming rig is ready to provide a quality gaming experience for its owners, one that can be enjoyed alone or savored with friends. Its a smooth, beautiful machine with so much potential. A part of me will mourn the lack of backwards compatibility and homescreen customization, but the ability to instantly transition between games, talk with any friends online, share important moments, and enjoy what will hopefully be a 10-year life cycle more than makes up for it. The future is bright for the PS4, especially with an alleged 180 games in development, and theres plenty of room on this bandwagon. Its a substantial investment, to be sure, but one that will pay off. tell February 2014 technologytell.com 33 FAST FACTS PLAYSTATION 4 $399.99 us.playstation.com Lightweight design Plays Blu-ray discs Streams content Socially interactive gameplay www.technologytell.com TELL TECH PRODUCT OF THE MONTH 34 technologytell.com February 2014 S olar power is a popular choice for camping and outdoor activi- ties. Sunlight is free, and a good solar panel collects plenty of energy over a day. But what if its too cloudy, or the sun sets? Thats where the PowerPot V from Power Practical truly shines, due to it being a thermoelectric generator. This gadget turns boiling water into useable energy, providing users a means to charge their USB devices whenever they wish. Right out of the box, the PowerPot Vs design fits in with the modern styling of camping cookware by top manufactur- ers. The brushed aluminum looks great, and it will look better over time as it collects light scratches or discoloration like a favorite pair of trusted, comfort- able jeans. The handles on the pot and lid fold out neatly. Theyre built well and secure. The lid (technically, we consider it a bowl first and lid second in terms of use) fits neatly on top of the pot. Its also the perfect size to heat up a 16-oz. half-can of Bushs Best Baked Beans. The PowerPot V comes with a fast- charge cable as well as a flexible-neck USB LED light. The cable provides 30-pin, Mini USB, and Micro USB connectors, which covers pretty much every gadget out there. The included USB light is actually a really nice accessory. This light is pretty darn bright. Its more than powerful enough to read a book by, moderately illuminate a 10-person tent, or safely navigate a campground in the middle of the night. At CES 2014, Power Practical demonstrated how a backpacking stove achieves what a coil burner and Coleman gas camping stove cant do so well. Without a doubt, the PowerPot V makes for a great camping companion. Its lightweight, durable, and maintains a steady, consistent output. Even though we have yet to achieve its rated 5W maximum output, the PowerPot V does deliver useful energy to mobile gadgets. If youre looking for a single solu- tion for outdoor device charging, the PowerPot V wont be able to fulfill those demands. It would take 3+ hours of maximum boiling power to fully charge up the average smartphone battery, and that translates into a lot of propane being used. But when youre cooking, especially at night when solar panels are of no use, every bit of energy counts. This is especially so when you think about how 30 minutes of charging can provide a few more hours of music from a portable speaker. Those who spend a lot of time camping, hiking, or backpacking will undoubtedly find the PowerPot V to be a new favorite. tell PowerPot Thermoelectric Generator #1 Overall Home Video Vendor #1 Appropriate Assortment #1 Product Reliability #1 Product Innovation #1 Technical Support #1 Resolution of Service #1 Ease of Doing Business
Go to www.epson.com for more information www.epson.com EPSON is a registered trademark and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. 2013 Epson America, Inc. 888.798.9692 EscortInc.com/MediaFlair Facebook.com/DriveSmarter Department TELL 2013 ESCORT Inc. I n t r o d u c i n g by Pe r s onal Me di a On- The - Go! Watch movies on road trips Share presentations and documents Listen with friends MediaFlair is an exciting new way to listen, watch and share your media. Using the power and simplicity of WiFi, MediaFlair streams your personal content to your favorite smartphone or tablet using our free and easy to use app. Simply load your music, movies, photos and documents onto the included SD card and take it with you. Its perfect for road trips with the kids, business travel and tailgating with friends and family. Its small, lightweight and provides up to 4 hours of use on a single charge. Plus, multiple people can watch or listen to any fle thats on your SD card at the same time. MediaFlair $99. 95 with 8GB SD Card, 12v Adapter, and USB Cable Li s t en. Wat c h. Shar e.