From your iPhone or other device, you will have access to your entire music library as well as thousands of Internet radio stations, accessible through your Sonos device. In addition, you will have direct access to legal online music download sites: Last.fm, Sirius, Napster, Wolfgang’s Vauld, etc.

Another particularly interesting aspect: the Sonos Controller application works with the Sonos Multi-Room Music System. It manages playback in different parts of the house. Wirelessly and directly from your smartphone touch screen, you can turn down the volume of jazz in the kitchen from the comfort of your desk where you are listening to classical music, while the children listen to rock in the basement. All this from the palm of your hand.

The application runs on Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The Android application will require 2.1 or higher version. Obviously, you need a Wi-Fi network at home to use the Sonos Controller application.

To download Sonos Controller on iTunes

The link to the Android application will be added upon its release, which is scheduled for late March.

Source: Sonos ?Image: Sonos

The Swiss brand also meets its country’s reputation for thoroughness. Each little detail has been thought through. The dock is motorized and re-descends into the box by itself when you put your system on standby. The display that lights up by itself behind the grid has the most beautiful effect. The controls are on a touch screen. The cabinets are made of wood, by hand, and available in different colours. Some models offer up to 600 watts of digital amplification. The sound quality is also very good, in addition to the ease of use.

Geneva Lab sound systems have a very sleek design, in addition to being at an affordable price. The smallest model, for example, iPod/iPhone compatible, with built-in speaker and integrated digital amplifier, radio and clock, all-in-one, is $329.

Several sizes are available, going right up to XXL (width 55 cm x height 61.3 cm x depth 37 cm). At this size, and given its design, your sound system becomes a true “objet d’art” of interior design.

The speakers for this 2.1 audio system are placed on either side of the rounded shell, like the control buttons, thus completely freeing up the face of the SC-SP100. The front, barely wider than the player, serves only to receive the iPod or iPhone and does so prominently. The visual result is quite successful and its design makes a choice to consider for those with limited space.

Besides the design, a very interesting element of the product is that it can be connected to your computer, via the USB port, and transferring files to your iPod/iPhone can be done without having to remove the base.

To ensure rich sound throughout the range of frequencies, the SC-SP100 is also equipped with a 2.5-inch subwoofer. The total power of 20W is not very impressive, but more than enough for your workspace. An auxiliary input jack is also available, allowing another analog source to be connected.

The suggested retail price is $150 and it will be available starting in March.

For more information, visit the Panasonic Canada website.

Image source: Gadgetlite.com

Source de l’image : Gadgetlite.com

]]> http://en.fillion.ca/blog/brands/panasonic/l%e2%80%99elegance-de-panasonic-2/feed 0 http://en.fillion.ca/blog/brands/bo/bang-olufsen-doesnt-make-mere-products-they-make-icons http://en.fillion.ca/blog/brands/bo/bang-olufsen-doesnt-make-mere-products-they-make-icons#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:52:27 +0000 Jean-François Gagnon http://newfillion.iworldfreak.com/?p=339 We mentioned in an earlier post that we at Fillion have decided to dedicate an entire room to demonstrate products from the company Bang & Olufsen. But let me say that this company is in the business of much more than just selling products. They’re first and foremost designers who develop truly iconic pieces! The company has existed since 1925 and has no reason to be envious of the big boys. An example? Take for instance, the Beosound 9000 6 CD Player that came out in the early 90s. Truly a masterpiece of design and technology. Whether it’s mounted vertically or horizontally, lying flat or hung, you get to choose how best to position this audio system with its 6 separately playable CDs. It allows you to personalize your selection of favourite music or to assign a particular style of music to each compartment. Just one touch allows you change from one CD to another in an amount of time that’s no longer than the normal interval between tracks. I don’t know of too many products out there that are selling with just as much enthusiasm now as they did when they first came out 15 years ago. The Beosound 9000 is one of those products because Bang & Olufsen have a passion for creating icons that stand the test of time. The designers at B&O are at the heart of research and development – the engineers only intervene afterwards and are required to “fit” the technology around the design. In the end, what the customer gets is a absolute work of art, no less. Does this remind you of another company? Apple, perhaps? I think that there are definitely parallels to be drawn between Apple and Bang & Olufsen, as both companies have the same love of design and are often the first to come out with products that spark emotion, elicit everyone’s interest, and sometimes even, provoke debate. Is it worth it to pay more because something’s beautiful? Umm, it’s not just beautiful, these products immerse you in a complete sensory experience. Just a little acknowledgement in passing… The ubiquitous “wheel” that appears on the iPod and that revolutionized forever the way we intuitively search for and select music, was actually first invented in the 1970s by Bang & Olufsen. To be precise, it was invented in 1974 with the release of the Beomaster 6000, designed by Jacob Jensen. Having whet your palette, I’ll be going into a new icon from Bang & Olufsen, released worldwide and already on display at Fillion… But that will be in another post!

For more information on the history of Bang & Olufsen up to the present day, feel free to consult this site.

First, the fact that you can easily select music coming from various digital sources, from anywhere in your home, is a major advantage. Secondly, it’s possible to listen to an incredibly wide selection of internet radio stations. The latter is constantly gaining in popularity due to fact that they are free, easily accessible on the web, and offer the possibility of discovering all kinds of music from all over the world! On top of that, don’t forget the online music service from Napster.

But that’s not all… Sonos has, in addition, finally released an update which allows an iPod Touch or iPhone, as the case may be, to control the entire system. Originally, there were only two ways to control the Sonos system – through a software program installed on a computer connected to the system, or via a remote control that was sold by the company. Now, you can do it just as easily via a really simple, user-friendly interface that was designed especially for owners of these new versions of Apple’s iPod. This interface, as you can see in the demo below, allows you to obtain the same information, as well as have the same controls as you would have had with the original remote control in your hands.

To get to know more, just watch the following video (in English):

Equipped with an AM/FM tuner, one of the interesting features of the new system from Sony is the dual source capability that allows users to listen to music coming from the iPod in one room, while people in another room listen to a radio station coming from the S-Airplay’s tuner at the same time.

Andrew Sivori, the director of marketing at Sony, explains that the S-Airplay allows you to take full advantage of the iPod without having to bring it around from room to room. In addition, I’d say that the S-Airplay makes it a lot easier and much more user-friendly for you to access your library of music.

The S-Air speakers include a remote control capability that controls the iPod and allows navigation of its music tracks. The speakers also incorporate a sleep timer and an alarm clock function. Finally, a composite A/V output allows the S-Airplay to easily connect to your home theatre system.

Like most iPod stations, the S-Airplay will charge your iPod while it is docked.