Archivi giornalieri: 27/07/2011
Steinberg HALion 4 £295 (Video)
When Steinberg unleashed HALion back in 2001, it represented a breakthrough of sorts by offering a fully kitted-out plug-in sampler for DAW users.
The company has trundled out a few significant updates since, but other products have sprinted ahead in terms of features, especially Native Instruments’ Kontakt, which has become the de facto standard for third-party sample libraries.
We got a taste of what Steinberg were cooking up for HALion 4 late last year when we looked at HALion Sonic, the sort of ‘read-only’ version of HALion. HALion Sonic is a powerful workstation instrument with an expansive sound library, much of which comes from Steinberg’s parent company Yamaha.
“Superb synths, orchestral sounds, electric guitar/bass, ethnic instruments, drums, and lots more.”
However, there will be users who prefer to be more involved in sound creation, and they will be thrilled with the deep sample manipulation and editing features of HALion 4 (well, assuming they’re not already neck-deep in Kontakt).
HALion 4 is a VST2/3 plug-in for Windows and a VST3/AU plug-in for OS X, with a standalone mode included.
Olympus SP-810UZ
The Olympus SP-810UZ is a new 14-megapixel camera with 36x optical zoom. Successor to last year’s SP-800UZ (read review), the Olympus SP-810UZ inherits its predecessor’s three-inch, 16:9 rear screen and 720p HD movie capture but adds a new 24-864mm equivalent lens, 3D shooting mode and “pet detection” mode. Also on board are 10 “magic filters”, intelligent Auto and beauty modes and features like AF Tracking and in-camera panorama stitching. Compatible with SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards including Eye-Fi media, the Olympus SP-810UZ will be available in black or silver from the start of September for £229.99.
Onkyo Unveils New Android Remote Streaming App
If you are lucky enough to have a Onkyo music system in your house you will be pleased to know that Onkyo have today announced the launch of their new Android remote control streaming application.
The new Android Onkyo application connects to your music system using your local Wi-Fi network and enables you to stream music from your Android devices to an Onkyo network audio system. The new Android App also allows you to browse your networked music collection without the need to view on-screen menus on a connected display, instead using the touch-screen GUI on your Android device to navigate menus and control system functions, all from the comfort of your arm chair.
The new Onkyo Android application will be available as a free download from the Android market next month, and is compatible with all of Onkyo’s network A/V receivers released in 2011, as well as with the TX-8050 stereo network receiver.
Source: Onkyo
MIDI Mobilizer II Connects MIDI Instruments To Your iOS Devices And Now Supports CoreMIDI
Line 6 has this week unveiled its MIDI Mobilizer II which builds on the original MIDI Mobilizer pictured below, but has now been updated to also support CoreMIDI for compatibility with the latest apps.
CoreMIDI is the newly developed standard for iOS MIDI apps, and an extension of MIDI, the world standard for all non-audio digital recording. CoreMIDI has now been established as the exclusive MIDI language for all iOS music apps, and is used by used by GarageBand and other newer recording apps.
The new Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer II comes with all the hardware and cables you need to connect to any MIDI instrument with a 5-pin in and/or 5-pin out. It’s easy to set up and its LEDs light up when MIDI messages are being passed through.
MIDI Mobilizer II is compatible with iPod touch (3rd and 4th generations), iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2 and iPad and is available to buy For $70 from Line 6.
Source: Line 6
Apple Working On Ultra Thin 15 Inch MacBook
Apple recently announced the 2011 MacBook Air, and now its seems that Apple may have another ultra thin MacBook in the works which will come with a 15 inch display.
The news comes from Mac Rumors, and apparently the new ultra thin 15 inch MacBook is in the late stages of testing, although it isn’t clear whether it will be called the MacBook Air or if it is designed to be a replacement for the MacBook Pro.
We have recently seen Apple remove DVD drives from the new Mac Mini, and now it would appear that Apple could have the MacBook Pro in its sights to remove the DVD drive, which would allow them to produce a much thinner MacBook Pro than the existing model.
It looks like Apple may want to get rid of the DVD as it did with the floppy disk, OS X Lion is the companies first operating system to ship without a DVD or physical disk, although it will be available via USB later next month.
Also with the launch of Apple’s new iCloud service, MacBook’s will need less storage as much of your music and video can be stored in the cloud, this would allow Apple to launch a new ultra thin MacBook Pro with a solid state drive as standard like it does with the MacBook Air.
Source Mac Rumors
Fujitsu Toshiba IS12T Windows Phone 7 Mango Smartphone Announced
Earlier we heard that Microsoft had released Windows Phone 7 Mango to manufacturing, and now we have the first Windows Phone 7 mango handset to be announced, the Fujitsi Toshiba IS12T Windows Phone 7 handset which is headed for KDDI in Japan.
The Fujitsu Toshiba IS12T will hit KDDI in Japan in September, and it is the first smartphone to be announced with Windows Phone 7 Mango, it comes with a 3.7 inch touchscreen display with an 800 x 480 resolution, and it features a Qualcomm MSM8655 processor.
Other features on the Fujitsu Toshiba IS12T include a 13.3 megapixel camera and 32GB of built in storage, and as you can see from the photos above it will come in a range of colors.
Facebook Launches Facebook For Business
Google’s new social network Google+ has come under a fair bit of criticism over the last week on the way it has dealt with businesses that wanted to use Google+, basically a number of businesses were allowed to set up business accounts on Google+, but this wasn’t available for everyone, and the service is still not available for people who want to setup a business account on Google+.
Many large websites, who we wont name setup these accounts anyway, and some have had their accounts closed down, whilst other have been able to keep their accounts by switching them to a persons name, his has caused quite a bit of controversy, and now it looks like Facebook has decided to capitalize on Google’s mistakes with the launch of Facebook for Business.
Facebook for Business, is basically the same feature that Facebook offered before for creating a business page on Facebook, but what they have done is make it easier for businesses to create pages on Facebook, by providing them with all the information and guides they need to get things set up.
So whilst Google is still working out exactly how businesses can use Google+, Facebook has decided to make it perfectly clear and much easier for businesses to get their Facebook profile set up.
Halo: Combat Evolved, un trailer per il “Grunt Funeral” Skull
Certe volte fare il preorder di un gioco può regalarci delle sorprese veramente inaspettate e sicuramente una di queste è il Grunt Funeral.
Si tratta di un’attività speciale che se attivata trasforma i Grunt morti in delle bombe, così da semplificare di molto il procedere nei livelli; ricordiamo che il gioco uscira il 15 novembre 2011.
Battlefield 3: le armi di gioco presentate in video!
Continuano ad arrivare dal web interessanti informazioni su quel che sarà Battlefield 3, sparatutto bellico in prima persona che arriverà sui mercati – per PC, PlayStation 3 e Xbox 360 – il 28 ottobre prossimo.
Come è ormai ben noto, DICE ha distribuito a pochi fortunati alcuni codici che permettono di accedere – tramite Origin di EA – alla versione alpha del gioco. Battlefield 3 appare ancora lontano dall’essere in veste definitiva ma, dai filmati che potrete vedere dopo il salto, è già possibile scorgere moltissimi dettagli su quelle che saranno le armi presenti in gioco.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in un nuovo video del gameplay
Nei giorni scorsi, durante il Comic Con, è stato pubblicato sul web un nuovo filmato di The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, attesissimo quinto capitolo di una serie che ha fatto la storia dei videogiochi.
Nel video sono concentrati in meno di due minuti moltissimi dettagli di gioco e si può scorgere abbastanza bene quello che dovremo attenderci sul fronte del gameplay. A seguire il filmato.
Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag
We’ve seen some rather inventive USB chargers in our time, but surprisingly few have managed to make charging while traveling a painless process. Aviiq’s new Portable Charging Station, on the other hand, has threatened to make the outside world a more welcoming place when it comes to juicing up. Acting as a sort of USB hub in a bag, this little black travel sleeve lets you pack and power three USB devices — even an iPad — with one outlet. What’s more, the station allows for easy syncing by way of a retractable USB port. So $80 ain’t cheap, and it won’t cook up pork and beans while you sing Camptown Races, but if you’re willing to shell out a little extra scratch for a practical USB travel charger, you can get your hands on one at the source link below. Full PR after the break.
Drift Innovation unveils compact Drift HD, still up for your extreme antics (video)
Fan of recording extreme death-defying stunts, yet find your current helmet cam just too darn unwieldy? Drift’s creatively named Drift HD might fit the bill, as the firm’s managed to cram the 170-degree field of view rotatable lens / LCD combo from the HD170, into a 25 percent smaller package. The nine megapixel 1080p shooter also features a bevy of redesigned mounts, a replaceable lens and support for 32GB microSD cards, allowing it to keep chuggin’ where lesser cameras would have otherwise called it quits. Connectivity junkies will also swoon at the inclusion of micro-HDMI and a 2.5mm microphone input. We weren’t exactly smitten with the HD170, but this $369 makeover might be enough to change our minds. If you’re dying to find out for yourself, the Drift HD will be available August 31st, but do us a favor and keep your eyes on the snow — we wouldn’t want you to end up like this guy.
New Sony Walkman pops up on UK retail site
The portable cassette players once nearly universally identified as the Walkman may have seen better days, but their spirit is still alive, so far as Sony is concerned. The company is apparently set to release the latest entry in the line, the slick-looking NWZA865B, a 16GB portable media player with wireless file sharing and music streaming capabilities. CNET points out that the device likely won’t have built-in WiFi, due to evidence from the FCC, which does seem to limit the aforementioned streaming options. The 16GB model is also likely one of a number of capacities to be offered, ranging from 8GB to 64GB. The device is available for viewing on UK retailer Buy.com with a £130 ($213) price tag and a July 31st release date.
HP's AMD-powered Pavilion dm1-3010nr arrives at Verizon with LTE, $600 price tag
It’s Verizon Wireless’ first LTE-powered laptop, but is it really anything to write home about? The familiar HP Pavilion dm1 — which emerged last year on Big Red’s 3G network — has undergone a minor revision, this time surfacing with a 4G radio and a far more respectable processor. The dm1-3010nr is expected to ship two days from now (you know, alongside that grotesquely overpriced Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE), with an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) LED display, 1.6GHz AMD Zacate E-350 APU, 320GB hard drive, 2GB of DDR3 memory, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a VGA webcam, multi-format card reader and a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. It measures in at 1.2-inches thick and weighs 3.52 pounds, and so far as we can tell, the $599.99 asking price doesn’trequire a constricting two-year data agreement. We’re awaiting specific word from VZW to confirm, but as of now, it looks as if you can get 5GB per month for $50, or 10GB for $80. Looking for that $30 / 2GB plan? Tough luck, bub — she ain’t available here.Update: We’ve confirmed with VZW that no two-year contract is required with that price. You buy it outright, and then pay month-to-month for data.
HTC CFO says it's time to 'figure it out' with Apple
Samsung's LTE-equipped Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes to Verizon on July 28th
It’s a Galaxy Tab 10.1, but with 4G. No, not that 4G. Not even that 4G. This 4G. You know, the LTE variety, being spread around like Christmas ham by the folks at Verizon Wireless. Cosmetically, the slate offered up by Big Red is no different than the WiFi-only model that we peeked earlier in the year, but the LTE radio tucked within obviously makes it the one to get if you’re looking for top-tier speeds on the go. VZW will actually hawk two separate models LTE Tab 10.1 models (in white or grey), both of which are priced outrageously with two-year agreements: $529.99 for the 16GB model and $629.99 for the 32GB model. That’s a pretty penny (to say the least!) given the albatross that is a 24-month contract, and those who’d rather provide their own connectivity can opt for the WWAN-less Metallic Grey edition for $499.99 (16GB). Access plans start at $30 per month for 2GB, with $50 per period getting you 5GB, or $80 getting you 10GB (no mention of tethering, unfortunately). Your pickup date? Two days from now, or July 28th for the calendar-challenged.
