Yamaha Expands iPod Speaker Lineup

Yamaha has announced new iPod compatible desktop audio products to further bolster their lineup in the segment. Recently, Yamaha had released the TSX-120 and the TSX-130 audio systems which seem to have been received warmly by the crowd looking for higher-end audio accessories for their iPods. Now, Yamaha is announcing products like the PDX-130 Player/Dock and even going so far as to make items available in multiple color options to suit those who need a little extra spice on their table-tops. More models are to become available in October and right before the holidays, as well.

Best Price Audio Video has a great selection of Yamaha products and you can check out all of the currently available Yamaha iPod speaker systems and docks, here.

Navigon iPhone GPS App - Wow, Where'd THIS come from?

So Navigon - yes, the same brand easily called Navi-GONE after they completely failed to make an impact on the US market with their oversized, super-slow GPS handheld units that their reps told dealers would "out sell Garmin 2 - 1" (Riiiiight) - resurfaces over here with an iPhone app, called MobileNavigator. It was available starting in late July and has earned a fair reputation out there even though most of the discussion has been about the TomTom iPhone GPS app. Now, Navigon has updated their app with some nice features; namely text-to-speech, iPod control and location sharing. This is a surprising revival of a brand I admittedly thought was long gone.

With the car kit already out, a decent interface, nice app response time thanks to the app being mostly stored right on the iPhone's internal storage and some enhanced navigational views this is a very strong app and one that TomTom surely has taken note of. TomTom is familiar with Navigon as both companies really grew up and honed their brands in Europe first, but now competition for the millions of iPhone users around the world is sure to heat up the competition between the two, once again.

HotHardware has a nice write-up on the new Navigon MobileNavigator updates.

New iPod Nano Hans On (Gizmodo)

Solid review and some pics of the new iPod Nano from Gizmodo, here. Also, check out the comments below - hillarious how bent out of shape people can get while reviewing life-critical products such as one's iPod. I especially love the one from zfleeman - "Apple took a big dump on my face by not putting a camera in the iPod touch". Come on... really? Really? Wipe your face off zfleeman, I'm betting you'll live - or you'll just have to do with the cell phone camera or pocket sized powershot or coolpix you're probably packing already.

And yes, to confirm, there is no still photo capability in the new iPod touch - as of today anyway.

iPhone MMS Arrives September 25th, But AT&T Network Concerns Loom

From Consumer Reports Blog:

Finally, AT&T, the exclusive carrier for iPhone, this week announced that that it would make good on its promise to offer MMS. It will be available by September 25 to owners of the iPhone 3G and 3G S.

Despite the promise, there are growing signs that the carrier’s data network may already be overstretched, suffering more than the usual network congestion. As the New York Times noted this week, AT&T is facing increasing ire from iPhone users, especially in certain cities, as networks slow as iPhone owners swell in numbers and employ a growing range of apps and functions.

Things are so tight that back in July, AT&T 3G data service went offline, leaving iPhone users stranded on the much slower 2G network. Apparently, the New York Times reports, the network slowdowns primarily affect users in large cities, where there is a higher concentration of iPhone users vying for the same resources.

There are rumors that iPhone may be coming to Verizon, a top-rated carrier that has a very strong and fast 3G network. But Verizon, too, may find iPhone too much of a data guzzler for its renowned 3G network. And it won’t be just iPhone. Other cell users have fallen hard for social networking apps like Facebook and Twitter, as well as other apps that reports stocks, weather, sports scores—which continuously draw on carrier data networks—can easily bring any carrier to its knees.

One ray of hope is the next-generation cell network called 4G, which provides a much fatter pipe for handling data, plus it’s many times faster to accommodate high-definition video streams, movie downloads, and other forms of network-choking entertainment. In theory, at least, it’s even fatter and faster than the broadband connections people have at home. But best estimates for practical 4G deployment is at least several years away.

—Mike Gikas, Consumer Reports

BPAV Launches Long Awaited Beta Site

Good Day Everyone,

My friends at BPAV have launched a new site that they tell me is essentially a secure and working BETA for superior order and content management. One of the more important features for their site is an enhanced SEO module that completely changes the way their links appear throughout the web. So if you're linking to them, consider updating your pages to link to the new pages. Here's some of their most popular pages:

Best Price Audio Video Electronics Shopping Home Page - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/

Best Price Audio Video Home Audio Category - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/home-audio/

Best Price Audio Video HDTV & Video Products Category - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/hdtv-video/

Best Price Audio Video Cameras & Camcorders Category - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/digital-cameras/

Best Price Audio Video GPS & Outdoor Products Category - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/gps-outdoor/

Best Price Audio Video Gaming Products Category - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/gaming/

Best Price Audio Video Office & Phones Category - http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/office-phones/

The site still works with the shortened BPAV.com domain name as well, it will redirect you or your visitors. From what I have been told, there will be a couple weeks needed to work some kinks out, but that the site is completely secure for checkout purposes and ordering, and that the last pieces to add to the system will include an upgraded customer returns system and more friendly return policy as well.

We'll keep an eye out.

Cheers!

Toshiba's First Blu-Ray Player Available In November

From Consumer Reports...

If you can't beat 'em, join them. That's finally Toshiba's message as the company readies to roll out its first Blu-ray player, the BDX2000, this fall. The player will arrive in November, at a price of $250.

The BDX200 is a BD-Live-ready player (you have to add 1GB of flash memory for the BD-Live Internet feature to work), and it includes an SD card slot for playing digital music, photos and video--including high-def AVCHD files—on your TV.

The player has a "smoked mirrored" front panel, with a drop-down door that conceals the primary controls. When used with a Toshiba Regza TV, the player and TV can both be controlled from a single remote. From the announcement, it's unclear whether the layer internally decodes the high-resolution lossless audio formats—Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-Master Audio—internally, or sends it out via bitstream for decoding in a receiver. [Note: We just learned the player decodes these formats internally.] —James K. Willcox, Consumer Reports.

Black Wii Remotes & Nunchucks For The Holidays

Gotta say, at first look, I really like the look of the Black Nintendo Wii remotes and nunchucks. Not sure if I'll swap my existing remotes out for them, but if I end up having to replace any or buy new ones for any other reason I might just go with the black ones.