Philips Remote Mimics iPod June 16, 2007

Read more Digital Audio , Gadgets , Hi-fi , Home Cinema , Home Entertainment , Peripherals , iPod

iPod lovers are even getting their own universal remotes now, thanks to Philips.

The new Philips SJM3151 does have that edge though since not only do get to fully control your iPod using the bundled dock but you get to control all the rest of your home entertainment kit too.

It offers control for up to six devices, from DVD players and satellite boxes to TVs and AV receivers, and thanks to support for the Zigbee RF wireless standard, it can communicate with your iPod at distances up to 100m – give or take a few walls.

Even better, the LCD screen mimics your iPod’s so you can see what’s on and choose what you like from anywhere in the house.

A PC version sporting a USB connector instead of an iPod dock is coming too. It’s due out this Autumn and will cost around £100.-Martin Lynch

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UK Firm Challenges DRM-free iTunes June 16, 2007

Read more Digital Audio , MP3 , Music , Online , Portable Media , Zune , iPod

Apple’s in for some competition – albeit limited – from UK download service, 7Digital, which has just announced a similar deal with EMI to offer its catalogue as DRM-free downloads.

Downloads will start at 50p – a lot cheaper than iTunes – and there’s also some big price cuts on selected albums. Unlike Apple, 7Digital will also sell content as 320Kbps MP3 files - almost CD quality. iTunes Plus offers tunes at 256Kbps in AAC format.

Even more innovative though is the online ‘Locker’, where whatever music and videos you buy online can also reside online. 7Digital’s Locker will let you access whatever you’ve bought from wherever there’s an a Net connection. Not bad for a minnow. -Martin Lynch

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