The best and worst of the new product introductions for fall…

By Richard M. Sherwin

Bose-Os

Bose, the formerly top notch elite audio company, which has morphed into a sort of airline terminal super overpriced retailer hasn’t had a breakthrough product in a decade. While it still makes a ton of money from its decent noise cancelling headphones and its under-featured and underperforming speaker systems which benefit from great advertising, it still doesn’t sell Blue Ray players and its iPod dock is a me too product…not much better than some from low end firms selling for $100s less. Well, Bose has finally branched out with an extremely dubious LCD-TV with built in stereo speaker set that sells for over $5,000 nearly three times what you can get for a better made TV with a better audio system from companies like Mitsubishi and others.

The 46 inch TV is an in-between size not large enough for a big den and too big for a bedroom. However, even if size doesn’t matter, the TV comes with no Internet capability, fewer input and output jacks than TV sets costly $1,000s less .  Bose Unify™ intelligent integration system, designed to make home theater easier, isn’t as sophisticated as any of the Harmony or Universal branded remotes on the market.  So far, Bose’ foray into audio-video systems reminds me when I was working for IBM and Bose attempted to  partner with Big Blue on a PC-Home theater system that luckily for IBM blew up in the Labs before ever going on the market.

Logitech Wireless Trackball

Replacing your mouse and desktop keyboard? No biggie with the new Logitech® Wireless Trackball M570, the perfect alternative to touchpads or traditional mice. Haven’t tried a trackball yet? One of the many benefits is that it stays put – you don’t have to move your arm to move your cursor so it’s a great space saver. If your desk is small or cluttered that’s a feature you’ll really appreciate. The laser tracking sensor uses the ball, rather than a surface, to guide movement – so you can use it almost anywhere… comfy sofas and lumpy beds are all no problem. The Wireless Trackball M570 uses the tiny Logitech® Unifying wireless receiver. It stays in your laptop, so there’s no need to unplug it when you move around, and the advanced 2.4 GHz wireless means a robust connection with no dropouts from up to 30 feet away. Plus, you can easily add a compatible keyboard, number pad or additional mouse to the same receiver so you don’t fill up all your USB ports. You can go for up to 18 months without replacing the included AA battery – and the convenient battery indicator ensures that you’ll never be caught off guard.

The Ultimate Battle for Your Desktop and Keyboard

It only took these firms about 8 years, but the leading PC accessory makers both have found a way to save valuable USM space by introducing extremely comfortable mice and keyboard combinations packs.

The Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 Keyboard and Mouse Set merges design and comfort in this new keyboard mouse combo, giving you a powerful desktop set that can make your time on the computer more comfortable and productive. It enables you to type more comfortably with low-profile Quiet Touch keys. The palm rest and removable feet create a slope for a more comfortable wrist posture. And the Comfort Curve design encourages natural wrist posture and is easy to use. The mouse features Microsoft BlueTrack Technology which, according the Microsoft, is the world’s most advanced tracking device that goes more places than optical and laser. Don’t know if that’s true, but it sure is comfortable and easy to use. You can easily switch between open windows with the click of a button and the 2.4 GHz wireless USB Mini-Transceiver connects wirelessly right out of the box with up to a 30-foot range.

The Logitech MK520 WLS Combo is a sleek set for comfortable control features a roomy full-size keyboard, contoured laser mouse, and a single wireless receiver that connects them both to your computer. The full-size keyboard has a palm rest for comfortable typing and concave keys with softly rounded edges let your fingertips glide from key to key and barely make a sound. And, it’s power-efficient design gives you up to three years of battery life for the keyboard and one year for the mouse, so you hardly ever have to change batteries. Logitech Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless offers powerful connectivity with virtually no delays or dropouts and the 128-bit AES keyboard encryption is one of the highest levels of security available. The contoured, full-size laser mouse stays put with soft rubber side grips for smooth, accurate cursor control on just about any surface. And, oh yeah, my favorite part, one tiny Unifying receiver connects the keyboard, mouse, and other compatible devices like a number pad so there’s no need to tie up your USB ports with multiple receivers. It stays in your computer so your keyboard and mouse are always ready to use. And handy one-touch media keys change volume, mute or skip to the next song instantly—without using your mouse. Biggest other difference between the Microsoft and Logitech packages is that Logitech’s batteries are already insert into the devices.

Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515

This wireless, rechargeable speaker gives you rich, full stereo sound from your laptop, iPad or iPhone—no strings attached. Plug-and-play wireless lets you stream your music from anywhere in the room—up to 50 feet (15 m)* away from your laptop. Dual two-inch drivers let you hear every note the way it was meant to be heard. A mobile music marathon—this portable speaker lets you listen to up to 10 hours** of music wherever you go.

And the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i

Looks like a beauty. Sounds like a beast. With its compact design, travel case and rechargeable battery, this high-fidelity speaker lets you play up to 8 straight hours of music wherever you go. It carries the Apple seal of approval, so you have the ultimate assurance that your speaker will work flawlessly with iPod and iPhone. It has a powerful eight-driver audio which gives you crisp high notes, rich mid-range and deep booming bass from speaker drivers custom-tuned to give you big, balanced sound.  And, thanks to its eight-hour rechargeable battery, you’ll have longer power for mobile music marathons without the cost and waste of disposable batteries.  Its pack-and-go design lets you take your music anywhere—the included travel case holds the compact speaker, A/C adapter and remote control. It even has a wireless remote control

for functions like volume, play, pause, shuffle, skip and repeat from up to 30 feet away.

Logitech Alert™ 750i Master System

Think of it as peace of mind in a box… this Logitech Security System is complete video security that you can easily (hey if I can do it, anybody can) set  up yourself, and count on it when you need it. With its smart cameras, powerful software, and free viewing online or on your mobile, it’s everything you needed to help protect what’s important to you. You use your existing electrical outlets and wiring to connect your camera to your network and transmit video. The system automatically records video when motion is detected and can send e-mail alerts by computer or mobile phone. See October Consumer Tech for full review.

JVC introduces 3D-enabled D-ILA Home Theater Projectors

JVC U.S.A. has unveiled six new 3D-enabled D-ILA projectors. All six host native contrast ratios that are tops in industry, with the top models delivering a 100,000:1 native contrast ratio. The new projectors are the Reference Series DLA-RS60, DLA-RS50 and DLA-RS40, to be marketed by JVC’s Professional Products Group, and the Procision Series DLA-X9, DLA-X7 and DLA-X3, to be available through JVC’s Consumer Electronics Group. “3D has recently become a major box office draw. Now, with 3D broadcast channels emerging, and a growing number of 3D Blu-ray titles available, consumers want the immersive 3D experience in their homes,” said Gary Klasmeier, product engineering manager, D-ILA Systems, JVC Professional Products. “Our new line of D-ILA projectors sets a new standard for home cinema. It’s an immersive home 3D viewing experience.” For 3D content, each projector includes two HDMI 1.4a ports and supports side-by-side (broadcast), frame series (Blu-ray), and above-below 3D transmissions. An external 3D Signal Emitter (PK-EM1) syncs the projected image with JVC’s Active Shutter 3D Glasses (PK-AG1). The external 3D signal emitter ensures solid signal transmission to the 3D glasses for a superior 3D experience, no matter what type of screen is used or how the home theater has been configured.

The new flagship projectors, the DLA-RS60 and DLA-X9, are built using hand-selected, hand-tested components and provide a 100,000:1 native contrast ratio. For 3D display, both models come with two pairs of 3D glasses along with a PK-EM1 3D Signal Emitter. Both projectors also have a three-year warranty. The new JVC D-ILA projectors will be available in late November at the following prices: DLA-RS60/DLA-X9 ($11,995); DLA-RS50/DLA-X7 ($7,995); DLA-RS40/DLA-X3 ($4,495).

Projecting Affordability at Epson

Epson has  seven new 3LCD 1080p high-definition home theater projectors – the PowerLite Pro Cinema 61000, 31000, 9700 UB, 9350 and the Home Cinema 21000, 8700 UB, and 8350. The feature rich yet affordable line of new projectors includes the PowerLite Pro Cinema 61000 and 31000, and the Home Cinema 21000 feature the world’s first 3LCD Reflective technology, along with Epson’s UltraBlack technology, for exceptional picture quality and astounding contrast ratios. The Home Cinema 21000 and Pro Cinema 31000 achieve a 500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio while the Pro Cinema 61000 produces the world’s first mega contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000:1.

The PowerLite Pro Cinema 9350 and 9700 UB feature deep blacks and bright images with contrast ratios up to 50,000:1 and 200,000:1, respectively.  Designed for the custom AV installer channel, these projectors are full-featured solutions delivering an exceptional home theater experience with state-of-the-art image quality.

The PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 and 8700 UB are priced in the sub-$1,300 and sub-$2,200 categories, respectively, offering consumers two options for affordable high-definition home entertainment.  The value-packed projectors offer Epson’s latest 3LCD™ technology with C2Fine® chip sets for amazing color and detail, high contrast ratios and road-tested reliability.

Panasonic offers 3 new interchangeable lenses that combine compact size with high optical performance

– Panasonic, following up on its award winning 3D Plasma TVs announced three new interchangeable lenses for its LUMIX G Series of cameras, including the world’s first1 interchangeable 3D lens, the H-FT012. The lenses, all based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard, are compact while featuring high optical performance and are compatible with Panasonic’s LUMIX DSLMicro cameras, such as the newly-announced LUMIX DMC-GH2. Previously, 3D shooting with an interchangeable lens system camera was possible only by using panorama systems or by combining two lenses and two CCDs. However, these systems are not ideal and have difficulty capturing moving objects. Panasonic’s new 3D-capable interchangeable lens allows instant 3D shooting (35 mm camera equivalent: 65 mm3)4, without time lag between left and right images – even when shooting objects in motion.  As part of Panasonic’s 3D ecosystem of 3D-capable VIERA® televisions and Blu-ray™ 3D Disc Players, the 3D images taken with this lens – even close-up shots – are easily viewed on Panasonic’s 3D VIERA televisions.