Digital Downtown: Sampling the tech wares

Photo credit: Urbanite

Sampling the Dr. Dre headphones, above, and the HD-1-V Drums, below. (Photos by Simone Herbin)

Digital Downtown continues through Saturday at the World Financial Center. Urbanite’s Simone Herbin stopped by and shares five gizmos that caught her eye.

1.) Headphones by Dr. Dre

Manufacturer: Monster Cable

Price: $399

Availability: Apple Stores and Best Buy locations this summer

These headphones allow you to hear the most subtle of notes. They were specifically designed to capture the low bass sounds of rock and hip-hop music with the help of legendary music producer Dr. Dre. You will hear music artists intended for their listeners’ ears. They are perfect on the go, folding up neatly into a little portable case.

2.) HD-1 V-Drums

Manufacturer: Roland Corporation

Price: $799

Availability: Guitar Center, Sam Ash Music, and other music stores

This small, compact set is easy to use and designed for home players to refine their drumming skills. The volume can be controlled with both the volume knob and headphones so you can play discreetly while hearing your music in peace. It includes a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), which functions as a USB for music. You can record performances and later alter the speed of the music without affecting its pitch. With the external input, you can also play along with your CD player, iPod, and other music playing devices.

3.) 5.2” Modero Viewpoint

Manufacturer: AMX

Price: $4,200

Availability: www.amx.com

This wireless touch panel puts the control of all your home devices in the palm of your hand. It can be programmed to control your home entertainment system, lighting, thermostat, as well as security system. Its wide screen allows for easy navigation and lets you view your security cameras. It also accesses the Internet through Wifi, giving you information such as the weather when you need it. It’s sleek design blends in seamlessly into any décor.

4.) Eco Television

Price: $1,399

Available at major electronic stores

This flat high-definition 42-inch LCD television gives the sharp picture viewers crave with several built-in energy-saving features. Using proprietary dimming technology, it measures the amount of natural light in the room and lowers LCD backlight, reducing energy consumption. All this is done without sacrificing picture quality. The television was made using lead-free and flame-retardant materials and is shipped in recycle materials.

5.) LifeBook U810 Mini-Notebook

Manufacturer: Fujitsu

Price: $1,000

Available at most computer stores

This compact notebook performs all the tasks of a traditional notebook but is nearly half its size. It runs Windows Vista and through USB you can easily transfer work from your home computer to your mini-notebook to work on the go. It accesses the Internet via Bluetooth or Wifi. The 5.6-inch pivoting screen provides a sharp image and it all weighs only 1.56 pounds.

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