Music

I wouldn't call it a tech dynasty, but Oakley's Thump franchise has owned the MP3 player sunglass market (despite numerous copycats). Everyone from Manny Ramirez to trash-talking nerds has an opinion about the wearable music accessory that entertains both eyes and ears. Oakley's latest, the Thump Pros, have made it into the office. I have to say, while I'm not into the style, they are incredibly comfortable. Look for Jasmine France's review later today.

Available in up to 1GB, the lunettes de soleil electroniques are based on the athletic style of the open-edged Bottlecap. Details … Read more

Digital photo frames seem a dime a dozen nowadays, though some have some interesting features. But these new 7- and 8-inch screens from Mustek are different: They are relative inexpensive ($100 for the smaller version) and can play MPEG video and music with built-in MP3 speakers, as well as show off your treasured snapshots. Unfortunately, the media apparently can be refreshed only by changing a memory card, rather than a remote Internet connection--meaning that you can't just send new stuff to grandparents in another state, unless you want to snail-mail it to them. That's too bad, because it … Read more

Clever or clueless? That's our question for this latest marketing job by Sony, which features its own pink entry to the campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as seen on Shiny Shiny. There are a couple of reasons for our skepticism: One, the product isn't pink--instead, it's a 512MB Memory Stick Micro storage device that is pre-loaded with exclusive tracks and other material from the pop star named after said pastel. The other reason is, well, it's Sony. The company doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to its advertising acumen. After … Read more

Though Microsoft officially unveiled the Zune portable media player 48 days ago, the actual device has only seen a scattered few non-Microsoft hands, and usually within the confines of the Microsoft campus. Tomorrow, we finally get a hands-on demo of the Zune, which is slated for a November 14 release. Check back Wednesday evening for my first impressions of the Zune in the flesh, including how it looks and feels in person, Zune-to-Zune sharing, and an in-depth feature list. Look out for the First Look video, too.

(Photo: Microsoft)

Nothing says anti-corporate like "streetwear" right? One of the biggest names in all of corporate-ness, Microsoft, is reaching out to the cool kids by launching an auction of limited edition Zune players from Oct. 28 through Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.

In an event it is delicately underplaying by naming it "The La Brea Takeover," streetwear shops Union, Undftd and Stussy will periodically auction off two limited edition Zunes they've put their hip spin on.

Leaving aside the fact that "takeover" is a strong word for a trio of stores right next to … Read more

What is it with egg-shaped speakers, anyway? We're beginning to suspect that they're part of a satanic cult.

The latest (so far today, anyway) is this ovo-pair from Fatman, as seen on Tech Digest. Unlike many other in this specialty category, this pair isn't designed to work with the iPod or other MP3 players. And at $950 a set, these Fatboys are headed for the high end of the stereo market, regardless of form.

(Photo: Fatman by TL Audio)

Those of us who hammered out high school papers on this doodad called a typewriter used to listen to these shiny black things called records. Sometimes we'd even have to hike 10 miles in the snow just to hear a little Joni Mitchell! Times were tough.

Thankfully, our sister site CNET Asia has alerted us to a little gadget that makes it surprisingly easy to transfer those dusty LPs straight to a digital music collection. Just plug the 12-pound Ion USB Turntable into a USB port, fire up the Audacity software for Mac or PC, and start porting in … Read more

Maybe we're just superficial (OK, probably), but we've often suspected that appearances are a key reason that solar products haven't taken off with the masses. Too often they look like something you'd find listed under "contractor's special" than, say, at Bang & Olufsen. So leave it up to the marketing-obsessed electronics business to come up with some effective packaging. Case in point: Sanyo's new Eneloop device, whose solar-powered batteries can recharge products through a USB connection while looking decent enough to display in the open. Now the marketing department just needs to … Read more

You'd think a company like Boss could afford to get some better marketing help. Although the music icon has come out with what seems to be an interesting gadget, it's been christened with the unfortunate name of the "Micro BR Digital Recorder." Sounds like something you might find in a doctor's office or a lathing shop.

But if you're into guitars--and you can get past the name--this "ultimate palmtop guitar companion" might be worth checking out. The MP3 recorder and player, which is described as being slightly larger than an iPod, has … Read more