Bluetooth
 

The most appealing feature of bluetooth is the ability to sync your phone with your car -- just carry the phone into the car and make and receive calls through your car's audio system.

Axiom Audio speakers
 

The other board is dead. Anyone familliar with Axiom Audio speakers? Thinking about a pair of m22tis. (medium size front channels)

www.axiomaudio.com

Axiom Audio speakers
 

Never heard them live. Axiom seem to be doing a TON of advertising on the internet, though. I'd be interested in hearing from someone who has them.

Axiom Audio speakers
 

Never heard them. But with aluminum drivers, I can only imagine that they're screachy as hell. (As are most Canadian electronics) 2 rather detailed reviews support that assumption, but overall no really glaringly bad reviews.

I guess they're OK for the money.http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...rs-9-2002.html http://www.audioholics.com/productre...faceoff3_g.php

Nokia 6230
 

So I got sick of my Motorola v600, and recently picked up a Nokia 6230. So far, it's a badass phone. Physically, it's tiny and light. it runs Nokia's Series 40 UI (if you've used a Nokia phone before, you'll know how to use this one). Bluetooth works great for headsets, data transfer, and as an internet conenction tethered to both my Dell notebook and my Powerbook. Data speeds using EDGE rip compared to GPRS. RF is terrific in my mostly GSM 850 mhz area, though I haven't traveled to fringe coverage areas to really give it a workout.

What clinched it for me, though was that it has an onboard FM radio and MP3 player, with a MMC slot that accomodates up to 1GB cards. A stereo headset comes standard (at least it did with my Cingular-branded handset). Using a card reader, i threw a bunch of music on the included 32 MB MMC card and pressed play: it works like any other solid-state MP3 player. The headphones are good quality, not boomy but also not shrill. Bottom line, I now carry only one device on my 20 minute walk to work, and can listen to news, etc. or to music. Like BT headsets, this is one of those "how did I live without this?" gadgets.

MP3 Players
 

Anyone ever heard of these devices getting fried by radar or X-ray machines? Both of mine are now fried.

The music MP3 player (Rio Sport) worked on the plane Thursday night, but was dead on Tuesday.

The audio book player (Creative Nomad MuVo) died on Tuesday during the drive up from NY to Beantown. It was working, I changed the battery at the Mass Pike toll plaza, turned it on and it made a pop noise and shut down.

Both devices went through two x-ray machines at the airport (NY and London) and there was a Mass State Trooper pointing his radar gun at me just after the Pike tollbooth.

I've tried several new batteries in both, neither will turn on. The Nomad jump drive is not read by my computer at work. Haven't tried linking the Rio to the PC via the cable yet.

Nokia hdw-3 bluetooth headset
 

I bought a new BT headset to compliment my Nokia 6230 handset (see my review above).

http://www.nokiausa.com/images/acc/1...c_hdw3_prd.jpg

While having a handset and headset by the same maker isn't imperative, it allows you to carry only one charger when traveling, which is a nice plus.

My initial impressions are very positive. The package included the headset, 4 different-sized ear loops, a small bag/carrying case, a manual, and a card with the BT passcode. Build construction seems excellent, way better than my Moto HS810: it feels like less of a toy. Pairing with my 6230 was pain-free.

Some have reported comfort issues with the hdw-3's predecessor, the hdw-2 (they're basically the same design, with different internals). I am using the largest ear hook and it feels very comfortable yet secure but, again, I have not had the chance to wear it for an extended period yet.

I have placed and received a couple of calls, without any problem. Incoming and outgoing audio sounded fine, and a couple of people I spoke with could not tell I was on a headset. I have not had it long enough to assess the battery life.

I will report back after a few days' use.

MP3 Players
 

Wow, that blows. Any changes in status? I've never heard of anything like this.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

I am looking for an inexpensive flat-panel TV in the under 27" range. One for a bedroom and one for an office. I will mount them on the wall, and they need to be able to accept a coaxial input. I would like them to be no more than around $1000 each. Size is better than high resolution of a bunch of features. I think 22" is probably about the right size. I prefer LCD.

Since I will mostly watch TV on them, I don't really care about widescreen. It might be nice to have EDTV for an occasional DVD, but HDTV is probably out; there's no sensible and inexpensive way to get an HD signal from the DirecTivo HD to these units. Even ED might be overkill; I am likely to watch DVD originating from my main system and ditributed as described below.

Right now, I am distributing video to my tvs in these rooms via a $20 coverter box which converts the DirecTivo HD RCA cable output to coaxial (no coaxial output on the DirecTivo HD) and runs it through the original coaxial wiring to the wiring hub, which is then distributed to the other rooms. There are signal amplifiers both right after the signal is converted to the coax, and right after it comes out of the wiring hub. It looks great. This is all kind of cobbled together and, perhaps, a little bit ghetto, but it works really well, and I haven't spent a lot of money. If I can pull off the wall-mounted flat screens, I will probably clean the rest of the system up a little.

I am not looking for premium display quality; I get that on the main screen through the HD plasma. Here, I am looking for good enough for the price. I just can't find many flat panels that aren't HD.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

I'm not sure that what you want exists. When the public wants a flat screen, it generally wants HD. That said, Buy.com has a 27" Olevia HD ready for $1264.24.
I have not heard of the brand so Caveat Emptor.
You can get a 20" for $599. But the 27" are running around $2000.

http://www.buy.com/prod/Olevia

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

We bought our Samsung LCD HDTV from B&H . I found that they had the best prices of just about anyone, and have very reasonable shipping. I would definitely check them out.

ETA: I just knew this thread would drag NFH out of the woodwork...

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

Can I help it if I can't help it?
How's Comcast treating you?

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

Surprisingly well, actually. Their HD DVR works as promised, and they have a decent amount of HD content. So far, so good...

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

I still think they're blood sucking bastards for charging me more for broadband because I didn't get their stupid cable for the televisions in the house.

That said - dude the NFL package in HD is the BEST!!
Well except for last week. And the week before that. It's not so good when the games suck, but OMG the picture quality is so good. Also interesting to note that different stadiums use different gear, so you can actually see the picture quality differences when you channel surf.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

Fox, ABC, CBS and ESPN show their respective regular weekly games in HD, which is close enough for now. Plus, I think that NFL Sunday Ticket would lead to some serious conflict chez deLarge.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

ABC and Fox have still not jumped on the satellite bandwagon. Which sucks since Boston Legal is on ABC.

I checked out the schedule and if I stuck to CBS, ABC, ESPN and FOX, the only teams I would ever see are Tampa Bay and Green Bay. How do those guys get so much air time?
Besides, I can't believe how much $$ football tickets are now. I paid $500 to see the Hawks/Niners game. Club section, but still..
whatever we paid for NFL package was worth it.

new iPod
 

for your photos too!

In living color!

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/p/20...d_color_lg.jpg

Blackberry 7100t
 

Does anyone have one of these? Could you comment on how they compare to the older Blackberrys (like the 7230), particularly how easy/hard it is to input text and how annoying/non-annoying the screen size is? I anticipate using it for email that usually has MS Word docs as attachments.

Blackberry 7100t
 

Are you (or your firm) running Blackberry Enterprise Server? Without it, you won't be able to use attachments.

Blackberry 7100t
 

Yes, the firm is running the Blackberry Enterprise Server.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

The 27" is now at $1120, which is pretty cheap. I went with the new 26" Dell for $1499 because it has a lot of features I like, I trust the brand, and I am a sucker for free financing, but, at this price, I might pick up a 27" Olevia for the bedroom. The recent price drops have been great; it seems like the flat panel over traditional format premium is down to about 100% for sizes up to about 42". That $8,000 60" Samsung is still begging to go over my fireplace, though.

Blackberry 7100t
 

I played with one for about an hour over the weekend. The screen is fine. it's a bit narrower than the screen on my 7280, but it is higher resolution.

The keyboard, which I thought I would hate, works pretty well. With more time, I am sure that I would become as adept with the 7100 as I am with the 7280.

If RIM ever releases the 7100 for cingular, i might consider picking one up. For now, t-mobile's (very limited) network will keep me using my 7280.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

Plasma or LCD? I'm getting one this Xmas, but I haven't decided which. I plan to decide based on which lasts longer.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

I haven't checked recently, but the traditional coventional wisdom is that plasmas are much more susceptible to burn-in, decreasing brightness and other manners of deterioration after only a few years.

Flat panel TVs/whole house distribution!
 

LCD. We got it specifically because, based on current technology. LCD lasts about significantly longer than a plasma screen (50,000 hours v. 20,000 hours).

Noise Cancelling Headphones
 

Has anyone tried the Bose headphones, and if so, do they work? Do they only cancel out engine noise, or will they also reduce the drone of annoying cabinmates?

Also, does anyone have any experience with the less-expensive versions sold at Sharper Image?

E.g.,
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/ca...sku=FJ450#tabs

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/ca...html?sku=IG103

Noise Cancelling Headphones
 

My sister's BF loves his Bose headphones, and reported they are particularly good at the engine noise, less impressive, but still decent, at conversation, which is less predictable. Just turn up the volume on your iPod.

Noise Cancelling Headphones
 

I don't know which ones they were, but my sister got noise cancelling earphones for Christmas last year, and she reports that as advertised, they cancel all ambient noise. Her BART commute is much more peaceful.

Noise Cancelling Headphones
 

No doubt--does anyone with these (or even just the in-ear, non noise cancelling headphones) worry about personal safety? If they're as good as they claim, a riot could start without my noticing. Or a a maniac who's thoughtful enough to honk might just run me over. I doubt there's a noise on an airplane that would allow me to do anything to increase my safey, but elsewhere I'm not so sure.

I have the Bose. They rule. They are good enough that if I were given the choice of traveling coach with Bose, or upper class without, I would have to seriously weigh the options.

Benefits:
- no more engine drone
- you can actually hear the movie (music, whatever), without having to crank the volume all the way up for dialogue and then frantically cranking it down when the action scenes start
- you can listen to your iPod
- seatmates do not bother you because they assume you are listening to something, even if you aren't

Before I got them, I had no idea how wearing the noise of travel was.

Oh - they reduce, but don't totally block, intermittent unpredictable noise, like conversation; I usually take them off to give the flight attendants my drink order and so on. So, if you have some braying idiot behind you, s/he might not be totally cancelled out, but it will still be a lot better.

I will say that the way to go if you want good sound without engine noise (or crying babies) is to go the noise blocking earphone route rather than noise cancelling headphones. I am familiar with both technologies and the noise cancelling ones just don't sound as good (including the Bose). Plus the noise cancelling technology can only block about 10db (the Bose a bit more I recall), while the noise blocking models cut out between 15db and 25db depending how serious you get. They are also the only way I know of to hear actual musical detail on a plane, like vocal reverbs and musical "space." They look more like earplugs too, so they are less intrusive.

Something to consider at least.

Check out models by Etymotics Research and Shure for models that are not crazy expensive.

I have the Bose. I can attest:

Works well on jet noise.

Works so-so on prop noise, which is more intermittent as the left and right go in and out of resonance sync. Plus, prop noise shakes your bones, and no magic headphones in the world will cancel out vibration that goes into your ear through means other than the ear canal.

Has almost no effect whatsoever on conversations. The chip can't even come up with a cancelling wave fast enough --- it has to be a steady sound like a jet. You can have a regular conversation in a quiet room while wearing them. On a jet, not so much, but I imagine that would be equally true of earmuffs as $200 headphones.

Coolest moment: putting them on in my office, and discovering for the first time that there is a constant drone from the A/C. Which, of course, sucks to live with after you first hear it's there.

The point being, though, that you have to live with it. Wearing the Bose on a transcontinental flight may engender momentary envy from fellow passengers, but it passes.

At work, wearing them consistently engenders feelings from colleagues as well, but they are neigher envious nor momentary.

Here is a comparison of noise-isolating v. sound cancelling headphones. Definitely worth a read.

Keep in mind, though, that the study was commisioned by Shure, so evaluate the results accordingly.

Cellular Headset
 

I need a new headset for my non-Bluetooth cell phone. Anybody have any good recommendations for a headset with good sound and a great microphone?

Cellular Headset
 

I don't know if you can buy them separately, but the headset that came with my RIM-brand Blackberry* still works great. I use it with my cell phone, as it has outlasted several other similar format headsets which either came with my cell phone or I bought separately. If you can find the Blackberry one (it has a points plastic part coming out the outside of the earpiece and a silver mute button in the microphones) and need a 2.5mm headset, I would buy that. It is the kind that has the mic on a bauble hanging down, but both the sound and microphone quality are very good.

* I know that all Blackberries are technically RIM-branded, but a lot of people seem to call all Blackberry-type devices Blackberries, so this is just for clarification.

Blu Ray
 

LOS ANGELES - The Walt Disney Co. plans to release its movies and other content in the Blu-Ray format, one of the two major contenders for next-generation DVDs that will deliver high-definition images to TV sets.

Blu-Ray was developed by Sony Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., which makes the Panasonic brand, and Philips Electronics NV. It has the support of Columbia Pictures, which is owned by Sony, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which was recently purchased by a group led by Sony.

Blu-Ray also has wide support among consumer electronics makers and computer giant Hewlett-Packard Co., which said it will start selling PCs with Blu-Ray disc drives late next year, coinciding with movie releases.

Last month, three other large studios announced they would release films in the competing HD-DVD format, which was developed by electronics makers Toshiba Corp. and NEC Corp.

Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros., which includes New Line Cinema and HBO, said they would start releasing films in the HD-DVD format in time for the holidays next year.

Both of the competing next-generation DVD formats promise increased storage capacity and movie resolution superior enough to get the most out of high-definition TV sets. And both would contain stronger anti-piracy protection, a key factor in the studio’s anxiousness to adopt a new format.

The software that protects current DVDs is easily circumvented.

Look forward to another Beta/VHS duel. If Sony's involved, pick the other.

Blu Ray
 

Different--Sony has partners, and the less easily adopted technology this time.

Blu Ray
 

That's what Sony said last time. When they invented Beta Hi-Fi, there was supposedly no technical way that could be accomplished on VHS. Then came depth multiplexing and a higher grade of tape.

IPOD questions
 

Long time no see, and Happy Holidays Everyone!! Mrs. Santa Claus is bringing me an MP3 player for Christmas, but she needs to know what kind to get. In fact, I will probably get it for her and put it under the tree for myself, but I digress.

I had a few questions for the group, if you'll indulge my cluelessness. I immediately thought of the Ipod Mini, but then thought maybe 1,000 songs isn't enough storage. Also I wonder if the Mini fits in all of the neat Ipod accessories (like the thing that lets you play it in the car, or the thing that you can use to play it with speakers, etc. etc.). And what about battery life in the mini vs. the real one? And does the steel exterior make the mini more durable? I've heard that dropping the I-pod even a few inches, like on a table, can ruin it. I want to use mine for running and when I ride horses, so maybe I should get something more durable?

Does anyone think there are other, more superior, MP3 players on the market??? Have I just succumbed to the Apple hysteria like a lemming??

Would love your feedback!

Neigh