Universal

Universal Music tests the Mixtape Waters

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By Ed Christman and Hillary Crosley

NEW YORK (Billboard) - In a move designed to fill the void created by the Recording Industry Association of America's crackdown on the formidable business of mixtapes, Universal Music Enterprises (UME) is trying its hand at legal mixtapes. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Universal to sell Songs without Copy Protection

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Vivendi's Universal Music Group, the world's largest music label, on Thursday said it will test the sale of songs from artists such as Amy Winehouse, 50 Cent and the Black Eyed Peas, without customary copy-protection technology.
Read more

Posted on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:15:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Denon Introduces New PC Programmable Universal Remote

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Those looking for an alternative to the Harmony line of universal remotes form Logitech will be glad to hear there is one more option now available, this time form home theater giant Denon.

Denon’s new remote will do all the things you are used to with other high-end universal remotes, and if you purchase the optional base station the RC-7000CI will work through walls, all around the home thanks to RF control. Read more

Posted on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Philips SRU8010 Universal Remote, Good for Goose & Gander

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Philips is showing off a new universal remote called the Philips SRU8010 that is set to battle with Logitech’s harmony line of universal remotes. Philips is catering their new remote to both males and females.

They are doing this by putting his and hers buttons on the remote that allow fast access to customized channel lineups. That means you can keep your comedy central and G4 safely saved while your other half's HGTV and Lifetime don’t soil your viewing experience. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:36:37 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Universal Car Diagnostic Gadget Kingtec KT600

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You know that cars these days are basically a computer and you need more than a wrench to fix them. You need an electronic device that plugs into the cars computer to find out what is wrong.

Usually only the car shop supporting your brand of car has the fitting devices and tools. A Chinese manufacturer offers a universal handheld diagnostic gadget that works for many car brands like BMW, Ford, Buick, Mazda, Toyota to name a few.

The Kingtec KT600 runs on a 32bit ARM9 CPU and sports a 6.4 inch color touch screen. Via a CF card the vehicle specific data can be updated on the device. Read more

Posted on Mon, 28 May 2007 05:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Rocketfish Universal Wireless Rear Speaker Kit for Surround Sound

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Guys if you have wanted to set up your home theater system but have had a hard time passing the wife approval-o-meter thanks to the need to run wires around the room for the rear speakers, I have the solution. Rocketfish (Best Buy store brand) has a universal wireless rear speaker kit that will please you and the wife.

As the name suggest the kit is universal and will work with any make or model of home theater system. The kit promised crisp, clear surround sound without the need to run long wires from your system to the back of your room. Wireless range is up to 100 feet between sender and the receiver with uncompressed CD quality audio. Read more

Posted on Fri, 4 May 2007 15:42:55 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Universal Electronics NevoSL Review

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RemoteShoppe reviews the NevoSL universal remote from Universal Electronics.

Quote from the review:
"The first step in programming any new remote is to add your home theater’s devices. In NevoStudio 2.0 you just click the “Add Device” icon and a wizard comes up with several choices. Read more

Posted on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

News Corp. and NBC Universal Plan their own Youtube

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News Corp. and NBC Universal are spearheading a group of media companies to build their own Youtube.

The new video download site would launch this summer and offer will features full episodes and clips from shows such as Heroes, The Simpsons, 24 and My Name Is Earl. It will also feature movies, including Borat. All this is supposed to be free and paid for by advertising.

The media companies partnered with AOL, Yahoo! Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to compete with Google's Youtube.
News Corp. and NBC Universal should just partner (buy) with Joost. This would bring us a new cool online video experience with great content. Free cool content alone is nice too, but not totally mind-blowing.
Read more

Posted on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:38:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote Review

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If you are looking to loose some of the remotes you have acquired with your home theater components and go to a high quality universal remote control Logitech has a great one called the Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote.

This remote programs via software on your PC and an included USB cable meaning you don’t have to enter codes to set up your devices like you do on most cheap remotes. You can control up to 15 devices with this one remote including compatible lights and appliances. Read more

Posted on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:35:52 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Vivendi Universal Music Gets a Share of Zune Sales

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Microsoft tries everything to tackle the portable music player overlord Apple. Now they give Vivendi Universal Music a Share of the Zune Sales.

No, Universal Music is not giving any free content for that. It is just some 'nice gesture' from Microsoft. Other large labels got the same offer from MS. No details have been revealed though on how much the studios get from Zune sales.

Maybe it does not matter much financially for Universal music.
USA Today just reviewed the Zune, and the reviewer's verdict is that he sticks to his iPod. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Nov 2006 06:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Marantz IS201 Universal Apple iPod Dock Available

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The Marantz IS201 Universal Apple iPod Dock is available now through Japanese gadget exporter Audio Cubes.

What I like about this dock, is the separation of the connectors from the iPod stand. This way you can hid the cable mess better.
The IS201 docking station includes stereo phono, S-Video, RC-5, IR-Flasher input and RS-232 connections and external power supply plug.
With the remote control you can lean back and watch videos and photos stored on your iPod on your TV. Of course it also lists your play lists on the TV.

The Marantz IS201 was announced in May in Europe. It is available from some stores in Europe, I have not seen it available in the US yet.

Audio Cubes sells the Marantz IS201 for $169. Read more

Posted on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 03:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

First Look at the Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote

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Digital Trends takes a first look at the new Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote. The Logitech Harmony 1000 also has an advanced price of $499.99.

Quote:
"When you think of a consumer focused remote control which doesn’t require an installer to put in, what comes to mind? A $20 universal remote from Radio Shack?
Logitech is hoping you’ll think outside of the box with the recent unveiling of their latest Harmony remote control called the Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote. "
Read the full report. Read more

Posted on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 05:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Philips SRU9600 Touch Screen Universal Remote Review

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The good news up front: the Philips SRU9600 is a really easy to use universal remote that is stylish too.

Quote:
"Philips announced the stylish and sleek SRU9600 LCD touch screen universal remote in February 2006. The 8-in-1 universal remote control hit stores recently.
Philips actually had sent me the RC9800i universal touch screen remote a long time ago for review. I never got to review it because the stylus driven remote did not appeal to me and it did not feel intuitive. This experience made me skeptical of the new SRU9600, but I was pleasantly surprised. "
Read the full Philips SRU9600 Review.
Read more

Posted on Fri, 6 Oct 2006 09:58:19 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

One For All Kameleon 8 Motion Activated Universal Remote Review

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The Designtechnica team reviews the One For All Kameleon 8 universal remote control.

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"The Kameleon remote control, made by One For All, is one of the best remote controls out there. This is a dynamic controller with a changing overlay that displays controls for whatever device you're using.
You can switch among eight devices and control them individually. The Kameleon should be considered by anyone with a lot of home theater or home audio equipment; it will give you a more enjoyable movie watching experience. Besides, you'll almost never have to leave the couch again. "
Read the full One For All Kameleon 8 Review.
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Posted on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 03:32:47 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Deal: Philips Wireless RC9800I Universal Remote with Free SL300i Wi-fi Streamer

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The Philips Direct Store has a interesting bundle on sale.

Philips sells for a limited time the RC9800I ueber universal remote for $399.99 bundled with a free Philips SL300i Wireless Multimedia Link (value $149.99).

The RC9800I is a touch screen remote with wi-fi. Together with the SL300i you can watch videos, view photos and listen to audio files stored on a PC on the RC9800I universal remote.
Read more

Posted on Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:16:32 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Flexible OLED Display by Universal Display Corporation

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Flexible displays are a good step towards the holy grail of foldable displays. Universal Display Corporation announces a full-color, active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) display prototype on flexible metal foil.

Philips has already shown a roll-able ePaper prototype based on the Polymer Vision Flexible Electronic Paper. Fujitsu also showed a flexible color ePaper last Summer.

The flexible 100 dpi AMOLED from Universal Display Corporation is 0.1mm thick and the current prototype has a 4 inch diagonal size. Universal Display Corporation has delivered prototypes of the display to the U.S. Department of Defense. Read more

Posted on Wed, 8 Feb 2006 10:38:34 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

B-On Universal Bluetooth Receiver

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The BT-1000 pendant style Bluetooth receiver can be paired with mobile phones, mp3 players and PCs.

The little Bluetooth box comes in several colors. I guess the device is geared towards kids. These days they need to manage Skype Calls on the PC, Mobile Phone calls and still listen to the latest Madonna Confessions on a Dance Floor CD. With the B-On they can do all this with only one headset - cool!

Looks like the device is only available in Korea as of yet. Read more

Posted on Mon, 7 Nov 2005 12:32:14 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

T-Mobile Launches MDA PRO aka HTC Universal

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T-Mobile launches tomorrow in Germany the MDA Pro Windows Mobile 5.0 3G smart phone.

The T-Mobile MDA Pro is one of branded versions of the HTC Universal Windows smart phone we reported about.
T-Mobile calls the MDA Pro a mobile mini notebook. It integrates W-LAN, UMTS and GPRS technologies in one device. Well and they are right. This mobile phone features Microsoft's latest Mobile OS and a full QWERTY keyboard. The TFT screen has 480 x 640 pixels resolution and 65,000 colors. Other specifications include: 520Mhz Intel Bulverde CPU, 43.5MB RAM, SD-Card Slot and 2 digital cameras.

The T-Mobile MDA Pro will selll for 499.95 Euros including a 24 month postpay contract with the Relax 100 rate or 430.99 Euros with a contract with the BusinessRelax 100 rate.
More details in this T-Mobile press-release. Read more

Posted on Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:07:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

PoGo! EZPower Battery Free Universal TV Remote Review

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We reported about the unique PoGo! EZPower universal remote control first time in February. The cool thing about the PoGo! EZPower is that it does not need batteries.

I4U reviewer Ken Wold just tested the EZPower.

Quote:
"Someday, someone, somewhere will give us those nuclear powered, encapsulated power providers for all of our hungry devices we use and last forever. Until such time, the EZPower remote control gives you that freedom and allows you to quit running to the local store every five minutes to replace dead “juicers” for all of those remotes you have. "
Read the full review.

Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Jun 2005 08:39:28 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

HTC Universal 3G Mobile Phone first to run Windows Mobile 5.0

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Taiwan's HTC (High Tech Computer Corp.) announces the HTC Universal 3G mobile phone that is the world's first 3G phone to run the new Windows Mobile 5.0. The web site of HTC is currently down - I guess they are not used yet to all that publicity.

T-Mobile will sell this phone as MDA IV, other carriers will also offer this powerful smartphone under their name in the 2nd half of this year. HTC usually is not talking about its products as it is the OEM manufacturer for other companies. This is a first.
More details in this press-release. msmobiles hosts a super hi-res photo of the HTC Universal.

Read more

Posted on Wed, 11 May 2005 09:16:02 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Deal on Refurbished Sony Universal Remote Controls

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Most of the times refurbished Gadgets are not that exciting. They should be heavily discounted and not totally outdated.

We just found some Sony Universal Remotes on eCost that look like a great deal.

With the holidays upon us, chances are high people need a new unversial remote control with all the new DVD Recorders, Tivos etc.

eCost offers the refurbished Sony RM-AV2100 Universal Remote Commander for only $64.00. Compare that to $215.99 the Sony Unversial Remote RM-AV2100 costs new at Amazon.com.

eCost also offers the more powerful Sony RM-AV3000 Remote Control for $104.94. Th RM-AV3000 is actually right now on sale at Amazon.com for $119.84. So here it does not really make sense to buy refurbished.

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