Posted by mtc on 23 October, 2007
HONG KONG — So for those who can put 2 and 2 and 4 together, it may not come as a suprise that I work for a company called Avnera. I’ve not mentioned it before since we’ve been in “stealth” mode, which has its advantages, no doubt. But it’s also a good thing when the story does get out, and that has begun as we issue our first press release and make some early product announcements with some of our early customers… customers whose products have been much discussed here at Alive Matters. Namely the RF-WHTIB from Rocketfish and the AWD210 from Acoustic Research.
Here’s a list of public information and press coverage of our company and products:
Additional coverage will be seeping out over the coming days, and most folks around Avnera are happy to be able to tell their families what the late hours have been about for the past 3.5 years.
It’s kinda funny to read how our meticulously crafted and technically-precise pitch has been interpreted and relayed to the masses. The craft of stroytelling and reporting is one I’ve grown up understanding from my father, who was a journalist by training and throughout most his life, lived with the spirit of storytelling. But as a technically-minded, detail-oriented person — who from day two has been continuously tasked with helping craft our “story” — to see what happens as the meat passes through a writer/critic’s gray-matter is a minor roller coaster. But overall, I am gratified that the core of our message has penetrated through. Our technology comes from a fundamentally sound, grounds-up systems-based approach to problem solving, and delivers a wireless audio solution that is robust and easy to use, and probably most important, affordable enough to enable true, mass-market applications. Premium performance, at mainstream prices. That’s why we’ve been able to raise $40+ Million, all on a positive-slope valuation curve, and enable a diversified set of early customer applications. There are still kinks in these muscles as we continue to “get warm”, and there will be growing pains, as anyone with startup experience knows, but it’s been an exciting adventure for a gadget guy who definitely shares the meaty grin of one of our founders, Chris O’Connor (pictured in today’s local rag, captured at the right).
Personally, I look forward to being able to share more about our progress and our technology. If detailed answers are what you seek, or if you wish to design with Avnera, contact corporate via the web. If you’re an interested tech-geek or general consumer, chime in on threads here at Alive Matters, if it’s fit to print, and I don’t smell a rat, you’ll get the most accurate take on matters that I am at liberty to discuss. And again, this blog is not officially affiliated with Avnera, and it will always be my intention to blog what I can and should. And it follows, that whatever opinions I express are strictly my own.
The covers have been taken off our first two product lines, but there is much more to come, so stay tuned…
Posted in Acoustic Research, Avnera, audio, cool technology, headphones, headset, marketing, personal, rocketfish, wireless | 2 Comments »
Posted by mtc on 6 October, 2007
Logitech ClearChat comfort USB headset is a nice piece. I really believe in usb headphones and headsets. They sound amazing, free of hard drive noise, and other audio imperfections you get from the standard headphone jacks on a PC. Using the USB socket ensures a purely digital stream that is crystal clear and enables cool things like playback controls and volume control from the headset itself via the USB-HID mechanism. HID stands for human interface device and is a way to add control to the mix. Keyboards and things like that use HID. But audio devices that make use of HID opens up many new application possibilities.
I can think of ways to make this experience much better. How about you?
I bet the World of Warcraft and Skype faithful know exactly what I am talking about. How can we make the PC audio experience better?
Posted in HCI, Logitech, USB, audio, gadgets, headphones, headset | Leave a Comment »
Posted by mtc on 18 September, 2007
Heh heh. The Q-Bean. For a while our customer has been telling us this thing was going to be huge. What I can say is that while it’s form factor is quirky, and its marketing even quirkier, the usability and sound quality you’ll experience is unmatched.
There are two variants of the Q-Bean. Basically the main difference is the type of audio transmitter device that it comes with. The Q-Bean-ST comes with a stereo line-input sender device that can run on batteries or be powered from the wall. The Q-Bean-U comes with a USB audio sender, and supports a microphone back-channel.
The Q-Bean-U version is simply plug & play, and converts your favorite pair of headphones into a full blown headset targeted at all manner of PC multimedia applications: Music, DVDs, VoIP, gaming, you name it.
One fascinating bundle that LTB Audio managed to cut was with One Voice. One Voice has a voice recognition software add-on for Windows Media Center that allows you to voice command your PC to do all manner of cool things. The bundle includes the Media Center Communicator application software and a Q-Bean-U, and it’s available on Amazon @ $174.99. It can also be bought directly from One Voice @ 174.99.
The Q-Bean has received a few mentions around the internets of late… check out reviews and listings here:
Q-Bean-U on Amazon.com @ $77.00
Q-Bean-ST on Amazon.com @ $85.00
Q-Bean-U on Radioshack.com @ $119.00
Q-Bean-ST on RadioShack.com @ $129.99
Coverage at Engadget
Coverage at CrunchGear
Review at OverclockersClub
Lust at I4U
Posted in LTB, audio, cool technology, gadgets, headphones, wireless | 1 Comment »
Posted by mtc on 18 September, 2007
LTB Audio (finally with a decent looking website) has launched their Q-Bass-USB wireless headset. Using a plug & play USB-Audio transmitter, the Q-Bass-USB is truly a unique solution for PC multimedia fanatics, as well as PC gamers. Simultaneously supporting CD-quality, uncompressed stereo audio, 25 ms fixed latency, and wideband, 16 KHz voice back-channel, these headsets are amazingly versatile. The range and battery life is quite impressive, too.
These headphones have discrete full range drivers and subwoofer drivers. Each was chosen to optimize frequency response across the entire audible frequency band. The effect is actually pretty damn impressive.
Another great feature, is the seemless support of USB-HID volume control. Meaning you can mute, and adjust volume when away from the PC. The volume level is completely synchronized to the operating system volume level, avoiding the annoyance of multiple volume sliders….
Think about it, you have not seen a comparably equipped device in the PC audio accessory space. For now, this is it.
It is available now on Amazon.com @ 135.99.
Posted in LTB, headphones, wireless | 1 Comment »
Posted by mtc on 9 September, 2007
Acoustic Research (a division of Audiovox) has recently updated their website to include the AWD210 headphone that Alive Matters mentioned last month. Having listened to these bad-boys not long ago, I can say that the audio quality is actually pretty amazing. Personally, I’d prefer a pair that had a USB transmitter since all my music is on my computer. But for most people, particulary those who know and trust AR, the analog in audio sender will be more appealing.
Alive Matters has also identified a few sites who are taking advanced orders for the AWD210. They are a bit random, but likely tied to a wholesaler that Audiovox works with.
Ambient Weather @ $117.49
Trio Computers @ $117.99
Posted in Acoustic Research, Audiovox, audio, gadgets, headphones, wireless | 6 Comments »
Posted by mtc on 26 July, 2007
This Gizmodo post shows some of the latest products coming from the Audiovox group of companies.
For those who may not know (I didn’t until I checked their website), Audiovox maintains the following brands: Audiovox, Jensen, Advent, Acoustic Research, Phase Linear, and most recently, the accessory business from RCA, which they acquired from Thomson.
Alive Matters is particularly interested in how the market reacts to the AWD210 which will be branded Acoustic Research. Can it deliver a better experience than the old 900 MHz stuff they offered?
Stay tuned…
Posted in Acoustic Research, Audiovox, audio, gadgets, headphones, wireless | 1 Comment »
It’s kinda funny to read how our meticulously crafted and technically-precise pitch has been interpreted and relayed to the masses. The craft of stroytelling and reporting is one I’ve grown up understanding from my father, who was a journalist by training and throughout most his life, lived with the spirit of storytelling. But as a technically-minded, detail-oriented person — who from day two has been continuously tasked with helping craft our “story” — to see what happens as the meat passes through a writer/critic’s gray-matter is a minor roller coaster. But overall, I am gratified that the core of our message has penetrated through. Our technology comes from a fundamentally sound, grounds-up systems-based approach to problem solving, and delivers a wireless audio solution that is robust and easy to use, and probably most important, affordable enough to enable true, mass-market applications. Premium performance, at mainstream prices. That’s why we’ve been able to raise $40+ Million, all on a positive-slope valuation curve, and enable a diversified set of early customer applications. There are still kinks in these muscles as we continue to “get warm”, and there will be growing pains, as anyone with startup experience knows, but it’s been an exciting adventure for a gadget guy who definitely shares the meaty grin of one of our founders, Chris O’Connor (pictured in today’s local rag, captured at the right).
The covers have been taken off our first two product lines, but there is much more to come, so stay tuned…