The Buzz

Just released from JVC, the NX-PN 7 a dual iPod docking station that’s configured either for two pure iPods or an iPod and iPhone. Of course it charges both, but it also allows you to switch back and forth between the two if you’ve got a couple of Party Mixes loaded up.

All it needs now is a remote that lets you do turntable-like scratching between two iPods. Hey, what an idea! We said it first. No fair stealing.

In a digital world filled with more and more devices to distribute and playback music, it’s amazing that not one of those fancy new items seem to actively pitch the sonic quality of the music that they’re making so portable. That’s what made the High Performance Audio section of CES so refreshing. It’s good to know that somewhere in the outer reaches of the tech world, dedicated lovers of real music are slaving away at things like pitch, modulation and clarity and developing the perfect tone arm for the even more perfect turntable. Thank you, folks.

The Clix: An MP4 Video Player, Music Player, FM Tuner, Voice Recorder and Text Viewer that comes in 2BG, 4GB and 8GB versions.

iRiver’s W7 - a GPS/MP3/FM Tuner/Floor Wax (kidding) - won the CES Award for Best Designed Music Player device. I’d agree with that, as would most of writers who attended CES.

So why so few pictures of it reports? Years ago when MP3 players were first launched, iRiver (along witH Creative) came out with competing players to the iPod that were, in nearly all functions, not only competitive but generally better. But Apple has the marketing magic and iRiver fell off the radar a bit. Now they’re back, better than ever, with industry standard design - but still, apparently, no marketing savvy.

Some ill informed PR person decided to go the way of Panasonic, Sony and some of the other biggies who can afford to make media do extra work and neglected to make product photos available to bloggers and the like. Fine for the first couple of days, but when it looks like you’re about to win major industry recognition, you figure someone would get it together. After a signficant amount of jostling with people clearly don’t share my sense of personal space, I got this photo.

B52 Audio Entertainment goes nuts with a prototype car stereo system.

Pioneer ups the quality factor in what it’s much better known for - music.  Along with new products for  launched the new flagship Pioneer Elite SC-09TX AV receiver, one of the best affordable high end receivers on the market.

Navigation and multimedia control in a single after market package.

An odd but huge trend at the show is the development of all kinds of non-navigation multimedia for the driver. GPS is essential, but unless you’re parked at beach (which makes sense), what’s the point of driver-side movie screens? Nevertheless, they look incredibly cool. This is the XDVDN 8190 from DUAL.

Until now, vinyl to USB converters have taken on the appearance of cheap toys. And it didn’t help that they were being sold in Urban Outfitters next to throw pillows. Veteran audio company Audio-Technica jumps into the fray with something a bit more sleek, in a color that matches most other components, and ties into the very good Creative CakeWalk sound editing program. Nothing they could do, however, about that problem of having to listen to the whole song before it gets recorded. If you’ve been downloading for the last couple of years, transferring files in real time takes some getting used to. Not to mention that fact that you have to write the album titles in by hand. But if you love your collection, you’ll take the effort.

Excuse the cheesy promo pic.