Other Gadgets (general gadgets)

[Mr. Man]

Originally posted by bill killer
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.

[Atticus Grinch]

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.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
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.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Mr. Man
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.

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.

[lookingformarket]

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?

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by lookingformarket
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?

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.

[NotFromHere]

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.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by NotFromHere

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

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

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Different--Sony has partners, and the less easily adopted technology this time.

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.

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

[mmm3587]

Most of the accessories don't work with the iPod Mini, and the capacity is too small, I think. Others might disagree, but at least with the 20G, you can put all or most of your shit on there. With 4G, you're changing it around constantly.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
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.

Reason #168 why I'm more than a little frightened of you. But intrigued.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Flinty_McFlint
Reason #168 why I'm more than a little frightened of you. But intrigued.

HEY!!!!!!!!!

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
HEY!!!!!!!!!

Relax, you have always been my favorite.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by neighsayer
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

The iPod is the best one out there. As for capacity, I'd look at how much music you have. If you have more than the capacity, you'll need to shuffle playlists. If you have so much music that you'd need the biggest ipod ever then it really doesn't matter. I have a 15gb, which isn't big enough for all my music. But honestly it doesn't matter, because I don't really need to shuffle through all 4000 songs. Instead, I create playlists, which are a much better way of using things. Then, I can alter the playlists when I sync. Not a huge hassle. Small one, but not huge.

As for accessories, it depends on which accessories you're talking about. If the car adaptor is a cassette from the audio out, or an FM adaptor, they work with all of them. In fact, you don't need an apple branded thing to use that. As for others, like the dock, I don't know, but I suspect they may be different.