Both the N-30 and N-50 come with the ability to play standard compression audio formats such as MP3, AAC, and WMA, and through DLNA 1.5 capabilities expand to high-resolution audio playback with 192kHz/24-Bit FLAC and WAV files. AirPlay of course provides Apple’s lossless audio with native high-resolution formats. Both units are able to work with the iOS and Android applications made specifically for these units, with the iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone working right away and select Android devices coming soon. The N-30 is the standard version at $499, while the N-50 is a more premium experience at a cool $699 right out of your pocket.

What you get with the N-50 is an armored chassis all around to resist noise as well as gold RCA jacks for superior audio connections. You get Advanced Sound Retriever and Retriever AIR which enhance the quality of compressed audio files as well. This delivers near-CD quality from your portable media player, internet radio, and all manner of Bluetooth audio transmissions. The N-50 also includes twin EL transformers for interference reduction with a Hi-Bit 32-Bit conversion processor for an extra audio bump as well. Pick these monsters up over at Pioneer.

To refresh your memory, the Pioneer BDP-140 Blu-ray Player supports the latest and greatest high-quality formats including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio for crisp movie viewing, and Super Audio CD (SACD) for music playback. Furthermore, the BDP-140 has the ability to upconvert standard definition sources to 1080p resolution for all the full-HD displays out there. The BDP-140 also offers 3D video output with the most up-to-date HDMI 1.4a spec.

Last but not least, Pioneer’s completely free iControlAV2 App turns various smartphones and tablets into remote controls for the BDP-140. When your Blu-ray player is connected via Ethernet to a wireless router, the app enables users to have basic functions over the player. The iControlAV2 app is available for the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and for select Android devices. Get your BDP-140 now at Pioneer’s own website.

[via Pioneer]

This device also has DNLA 1.5, vTuner Internet Radio, and built-in wi-fi connectivity. You’ll be able to see all the action on the integrated 2.5-inch color LCD screen and the whole system is made to work with the free Apple Remote app for ultra-simple control. You can sync your DLNA-certified PCs and hard-drives to work with Music Tap to wirelessly stream music that way, and vTuner Internet Radio will give you access to thousands of internet-base radio stations from all around the world.

There’s another function in here that you can use in collaboration with another free app from the iTunes App Store, that being Air Jam, which when installed on each of your Apple devices allows up to four of them to be connected via Bluetooth to your Music Tap. With this setup you’ll be able to make a group playlist to play on your Music Tap – party time! Have a peek at this video to see what this whole thing is really about, then pick it up from Pioneer for $399.00 instantly.

Similar to Siri, Zypr responds to natural voice commands and is able to complete various tasks, such as finding the best local restaurant in your area or telling you what the weather will be like, all without you having to navigate through your phone. But Zyphr gives developers more freedom to integrate features and is a free and open platform that handles all the third-party integrations so that developers don’t have to do that individually.

The Zypr API aggregates and manages third-party APIs from services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google, categorizing their functions into a normalized API that developers can access for the stable delivery and integration of voice-controlled features to multiple devices. Being cloud-based, Zypr-powered apps can also follow users across multiple devices.

Pioneer is offering the Zypr API for free, hoping to monetize through paid search, advertising, and subscription services. The company is also offering developers revenue sharing based on the number of users accessing their apps.

[via Zypr]

The STZ-D10S-L“Solo” is a compact device in light blue colors for the individual user. It supports MP3, WMA, AAC, and LPCM formats. It has 4GB of internal memory, a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, a dock for the iPod or iPhone, and dual 40mm drivers with 5W of power. It runs on six AA batteries and sells for $299 starting in November. The next model is the STZ-D10T-G “Duo”.

The Duo has a sealed and ruggedized design with an iPod and iPhone dock, it supports the same audio formats and has 4GB of internal memory. It also rocks a 2.4-inch LCD and dual 40mm drivers and will sell for $349. The largest of the new audio devices is the STZ-D10Z-R “Crew”. This device has a 3.5-inch screen dual 25mm tweeters, and dual 75mm woofers. It has a total of 40W power and 4GB of internal storage. It will ship in November for $499.

For instance, Blue LEDs on the jog wheels show how close the mix phase is, pulsing more strongly when you’re closer in pitch. The channel fader lighting, meanwhile, match track beat with their flashing as well as showing output levels by their brightness. There are also dedicated controls for loops, filters and sample playback, while ports include a MIDI output, microphone input and line-out. The angled physical design means you can slide your laptop keyboard underneath and keep the overall footprint low.

The Pioneer DDJ-ERGO-V DJ Controller is available now, priced at £429 ($671). Buyers get a copy of Atomix Productions Virtual DJ Limited Edition in the box, though the controller should support other apps as well.

The S-DJ05 features 5-inch woofers and a curved waveguide enclosure that directs sound from the soft-dome tweeters in a wider pattern for enhanced imaging and staging. This means that more people across a larger area can hear the higher frequencies, while the Bass Reflex enclosure expands the lower frequency range as well

It also has a built-in linear equalizer that allows for fine-tuning of the frequency and a four-source (XLR, TRS, and two sets of RCA) input switcher that lets users simultaneously connect various devices, such as DJ equipment, computer, or other portable device. The speaker retails as a pair and costs $699 $899. For more details, visit the Pioneer DJ product page.

Each of these systems is different but the same, if you get my drift, each one prepared for a different cinema experience seeker. There’s two slightly more expensive flagship systems called BCS-717 and BCS-414. These systems consist of four large and tall speakers with a separate center speaker as well as a slim subwoofer. The other two systems are slightly less expensive, called BCS-313 and BCS-212 they use compact satellite speakers and a much larger subwoofer speaker for the bass.

Each of these four systems have the same 180w output on each of their speakers, the subwoofer in both cases reaching 200w. All four systems also feature a high gloss acrylic outer coating and a lovely blue glowing light around their volume dials. Finally, each of the four units feature Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio plus 1080p 3D Blu-ray playback so you’ll be able to play whatever the newest films throw at you.

The two higher-end models come with an iPod/iPhone cradle for easy access to your favorite tunes as well as Wi-fi connectivity for all your online video exploits. These units will cost you anywhere from $500 to $830 USD – go grab em all, just for fun!

There’s also a USB port, to plug in MP3 players and directly play back WMA and MP3 files stored on them. The idea is that you can play music without necessarily turning on your computer, though we think it would’ve also been a nice touch if the SD card reader would also show up as a drive on whatever computer you’ve got the Pioneer kit plugged into.

As for the S-MM301 speakers, they’re USB powered and, while the image below may be deceptive, are apparently only a little larger than a smartphone. The metal grills make for more resilience in your bag, and there are front-panel controls for handling volume and mute.

Both sets of speakers are on sale now, with the S-MM301 coming in at $49 and the S-MM751RU at $129.

The VSX-40 kicks things off with 80W x 7 channels, four HDMI inputs and one output, 1080p support and two zone audio support. The VSX-50 upgrades that to 90W per channel, adds DLNA, throws in Pioneer’s Advanced Video Adjust – which automatically tweaks the picture to suit LCD, plasma or rear-projection displays – while the VSX-51 gets six HDMI inputs instead of four.

Moving on the VSX-52 has seven HDMI inputs, 110W per channel, adds Pandora, Rhapsody and SiriusXM streaming support, various image processing tech like Marvell’s Qdeo, and video output to the second audio zone. Finally, the VSX-53 has seven HDMI inputs and two outputs, three zone audio out and two zone video out, and, like the VSX-52, is THX Select Plus certified.

Air Jam, meanwhile, allows up to four iPad/iPod touch/iPhones running Pioneer’s free app to hook up to one of the receivers via the optional $99 AS-BT200 Bluetooth adapter, each streaming music to a group playlist. All five will go on sale this summer, priced at $450 for the VSX-40, $600 for the VSX-50, $700 for the VSX-51, $900 for the VSX-52 and finally $1,100 for the VSX-53.

Press Release:

PIONEER’S NEW GENERATION OF ELITE RECEIVERS EXPAND
ON CONTROL AND CONNECTIVITY

AirPlay and iControlAV2 App Enhance the Home Theater Experience for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch

LONG BEACH, CA – (June 7, 2011) – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today unveiled its new line of Elite® branded AV receivers designed to meet the needs of today’s connected consumers and their portable devices. The five new Elite models, consisting of the VSX-40 ($450), VSX-50 ($600), VSX-51($700), VSX-52($900) and VSX-53($1,100), incorporate state-of-the-art performance and specifications based on Pioneer’s uncompromising standards of engineering and manufacturing. All five new receivers utilize the renowned Elite audio and video technology and the VSX-50 and up have advanced network features like Pioneer’s proprietary iPhone and iPad apps including iControlAV2¹ and Air Jam², as well as Apple’s AirPlay, DLNA Certified® (1.5) and Internet radio to become the hub of a consumer’s home network and entertainment system.

“By expanding on networked features such as AirPlay and DLNA, and combining them with exclusive control functions such as iControlAV2 and Air Jam, Pioneer’s new line of Elite receivers is making it easy for consumers to integrate their portable devices while still providing them with superior audio and video performance they expect from our brand,” said Chris Walker, director AV marketing and product planning for the home entertainment division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

The Power of Connectivity
Starting with the VSX-50 and up, each Elite receiver is network capable, offering Ethernet connectivity to provide consumers with a wide range of new content, set-up and control of their home theater system. Features and apps that consumers can take advantage of with the new line of Elite receivers include:

AirPlay – Elite consumers have complete access, control and playback of their entire iTunes music library wirelessly through their home theater system. The AS-WL300, optional wireless LAN converter from Pioneer (sold separately), is available to simplify the connection process. Users can quickly and easily enjoy all their music with song information and album art simultaneously displayed on a connected monitor/TV. AirPlay requires iTunes 10.1 or later and iPad, iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 4.2.

Air Jam – Encouraging social connectivity via entertainment devices, Pioneer’s free Air Jam App is available from the App store for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.apple.com/itunes/. Compatible with four of the five Elite receivers, the app allows pairing of up to four devices via Bluetooth (optional AS-BT200 Bluetooth adapter required). Once linked, each individual can cue songs from their own music libraries to create a shared playlist to play back on the AV Receiver. Each connected device also displays the list of songs added by all the users and which device a song plays from. The Air Jam App conveniently stores the lists of songs created for each session for future purchases at the iTunes Store.

DLNA Certified (1.5) – The new line of Elite receivers are also DLNA Certified (1.5), allowing music content to be shared from a PC to the receiver via the consumers’ home network. Through Ethernet or the optional AS-WL300 wireless LAN converter (sold separately), each receiver can access and play high resolution music (up to 192kHz/24-Bit). Audio can also be streamed and controlled through the Elite receivers using a device that supports UPnP / DLNA media servers and renderers, enabling an entirely new way for consumers to share and play their music collection.

Bluetooth Audio Streaming – With the optional Bluetooth adapter, the entire lineup of receivers features wireless Bluetooth transfer of audio content from any A2DP Bluetooth wireless enabled mobile device or personal computer. Pioneer’s AS-BT200 ($99) Bluetooth adapter allows listeners to keep their phone close to them while they enjoy music through their home theater system. And, with Pioneer’s exclusive Sound Retriever AIR technology, specifically designed to enhance Bluetooth audio transmissions, music playback delivered through Bluetooth is near-CD sound quality.

vTuner – The line also brings thousands of high quality Internet radio stations into the living room with vTuner for endless music entertainment. The feature is further enhanced on the VSX-52 and VSX-53 with the addition of other Internet radio based music services such as PANDORA.

Growing Mobility
Portable devices such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are becoming exciting and ever-expanding components of home entertainment systems. Pioneer’s Elite receivers are designed to utilize the wealth of content from these types of devices as well as provide a larger emotional experience of high definition multi-channel home theater.

Each receiver in the lineup is “Made for iPad, iPhone and iPod” and comes with a free USB/video cable to provide an “out of the box plug-and-play” convenience. Consumers can enjoy audio, video and photos stored on their mobile device with no “optional dock required,” in addition to charging while plugged into the receivers.

iControlAV2 – Pioneer is placing even more home entertainment control in the hands of enthusiasts with its iControlAV2 App enabling an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to control four out of the five Elite receivers. Available free from the App store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or www.apple.com/itunes/, the iControlAV2 App controls volume, bass, balance and room settings as well as the ability for the user to choose Internet radio stations and music files from network-attached storage (NAS) on a home network. For iPad users, the iControlAV2 integrates all four app controls into an intuitive single screen. The app also includes control for Pioneer Blu-ray Disc players. Additional features include sound adjustments that enable users to create their own equalizer settings by simply drawing their desired equalizer curve on the screen and for iPad consumers, detailed graphic representations of before and after Pioneer’s MCACC room calibration feature.

Maximize Television Performance
Taking advantage of Pioneer Elite’s long history as an industry leader in high performance video processing, the 2011 Elite receivers use proprietary enhancing technologies to maximize the user’s television performance with video conversion and scaling, image enhancement, and video adjustment for detail, sharpness, brightness, contrast, chroma level and black level for individual video sources. To enhance the video performance from any source connected, Elite receivers convert analog signals to HDMI and scale both analog and digital signals to 1080p resolution for a highly improved visual experience. Additional technologies include Marvell™ Qdeo™ processing, Advanced Video Adjust and Stream Smoother to enhance the picture quality of any source.

Marvell Qdeo video processors – The top Elite models, the VSX-52 and VSX-53, offer high quality video processing for maximum performance and flexibility powered by Marvell’s award-winning Qdeo technology. Marvell Qdeo offers a truly immersive viewing experience by capturing, processing and rendering a wider variety of video signals ranging from high definition Blu-ray Disc to portable video sources such as smartphones.

Advanced Video Adjust – Available on the VSX-50 and up, Pioneer’s new Advanced Video Adjust technology automatically optimizes video signals by the type of display (selected manually) connected to the receivers, such as Plasma, LCD and Front Projector. For example, the receivers can reproduce a detailed and virtually noiseless image on Plasma panels, enhance the black level of LCD displays, and produce sharper, more vivid image matching for front projectors. The receivers can further adjust and enhance images based on the user’s viewing distance from their display by utilizing the distance information established during MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System) calibration to determine how much adjustment is necessary.
Stream Smoother – Pioneer is among the first to create its own technology to enhance compressed video files with Stream Smoother, available on the VSX-52 and VSX-53 models. The feature automatically calibrates images coming from the Internet via other devices such as Blu-ray Disc players reducing compression noise and establishing more detailed, finer images. The technology is especially helpful with low bit-rate video sources originally intended for viewing on small screens.

AVNavigator (Interactive Assistance)
Wiring Navi – Pioneer is making the installation process for each receiver simple by providing consumers an interactive guide application with the use of a Window-based PC. Users simply answer a series of questions about the hardware connected to the system and the application will automatically update the receiver with the correct settings.

Interactive Manual – Once the receiver is connected using the Wiring Navi application set up, the Interactive Manual application provides a linked two-way interactive manual giving users a way to quickly learn about all of the new features of each AV receiver (i.e. a push of the ALC button on the front of the receiver will take the user directly to the portion of the manual that explains the Automatic Level Control feature). Alternately, users can click on a section of the owner’s manual and the feature of the receiver will automatically activate (i.e. when the user clicks on the FL Dimmer section of the owner’s manual, the Front Panel Display of the receiver will dim).

The new line of Elite AV receiver models will be available in the summer of 2011.

The AppRadio is an aftermarket head unit that should fit inside most vehicles without a problem. It features a 6.1-inch capacitive touchscreen with an iOS type of interface. It runs its official AppRadio app as well as third-party apps. It can even share the internet connection, stream music and video, or provide navigation via Google Maps. There are already several apps being developed for the system including from Inrix, MotionX GPS Drive, Rdio, and Pandora.

Additionally, the AppRadio can mirror some features of your iPhone or iPod, such that when connected, an adaptation of your i-device interface will be displayed on the AppRadio’s larger screen. Pioneer’s Dock Connector plug is easily accessible making it easy to plug in your i-device. The idea is to eventually make it so that you can connect your iPod or iPhone and throw it in the glove compartment and then be able to operate and navigate their interfaces via the larger AppRadio display.

To take advantage of the AppRadio’s full feature set you will need a fourth-generation iPod touch or an iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2 or above. The audio system is expected to arrive by late June and is priced at $500.

[via Electronista]

The head unit is a double DIN offering that will fit inside most modern vehicles without any issues. The model number for the AppRadio is SPH-DA01 and it hit the FCC yesterday. That should l mean that the radio is set to hit the market before long. The most interesting part is that the mockup of the interface shows what appears to be a iOS style interface. I would love to see a car stereo that has tight integration and allows my iPhone to shoot whatever content I am looking at out to the larger screen.

A tipster told CrunchGear that the unit feels exactly like the iOS experience. I really have to wonder if the radio is Made for iPhone certified or has permission from Apple to use what appears to be a knock off of the interface on its screen. I still hope that what the renderings show is just the mirrored interface from the smartphone. Presumably, the iPhone would be providing the web connectivity and the radio supports streaming radio from the web and more. I tend to watch a lot of Hulu Plus and Netflix in the car when waiting for school to let out and this would be perfect. I would also like to see the iOS GPS nav from my iPhone on the larger radio screen.

[via CrunchGear]

The company has already addressed the issue at the production line, but it does mean that any units already in the wild in the US and Europe will have to be returned and swapped for a new model. According to Pioneer, that swap should happen at the retailer, but with availability now pushed back until early April it’s probably worth ringing ahead to make sure they’ve an updated version for you.

The Pioneer DJM-900nexus has am integrated 24bit/96kHz USB sound-card, four audio channels and two mic channels. It has an X-Y controller and can connect to up to four CDJ-2000s/900s (or alternatively software sources) simultaneously. MRSP is $2,399.

The mixer has a bunch of different effects including new sound color FX with Space, Dub Echo, and Gate/comp in addition to Filter, Crush, and Noise that can be activated with twist knobs. The device also has Beat Effect with 13 effects including new Spiral and Melodic effects. A touchscreen is in the side of the mixer as well called the X-Pad that allows control and access to the 13 integrated effects and more.

The DJM-900nexus is designed for sound quality with integrated 24bit/96kHz high performance USB soundcard inside that can handle input from four stereo sources via the singe USB port. The mixer also has the same input and output circuits as the DJM-2000 for accuracy of sound and has booth outputs and headphone outputs along with a 32-bit DSP. The mixer has hoards of other features as well. It will land in March for $2,399.

Other new features in the 2011 NavGate series include more comprehensive maps database form Tele Atlas covering 44 European countries and millions of destinatiions and Points of Interest (POIs). The NavGate Feeds application allows users to customize their navigation by finding their own POIs from a range of sources including Google Maps or other internet POI sites. Geotagged images as well as safety camera locations that warn of approaching accident blackspots can also be added via this feature.

The most advanced of the three models is the AVIC-F30BT which includes 4GB of flash memory, a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen ad a 3D graphics acelerator, DVD playback, Dual Zone capability for rear seat playback, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB connectivity for iPod/iPhone, an SD card slot and a back-up camera input.

[Via Pioneer]

Inputs include USB, an SD card slot and an aux-in, and if you hook up your iPod or iPhone you can see album art, playlists, videos and other content on the Pioneer’s display. There’s also App Mode, which displays content from third-party iOS apps on the head-unit, as long as those apps have some sort of video output support.

There’s MP3, WMA and AAC support, and up to 32GB SDHC cards can be read; Pioneer also throws in an 8-band equalizer and various audio DSP tech to tweak the best out of compressed music. Finally, the MVH-8300BT gets Parrot Bluetooth hands-free. No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

The device is a computer for bicyclists that helps them keep track of vital details while they are riding. The cyclometer can track the users speed, cadence, heart rate, and power. The device in prototype form has a 2.2-inch LCD screen, a trackball for navigation, and a pedal monitor for measuring forces on the crank.

I am surprised the prototype doesn’t use a touchscreen, this seems a perfect occasion to use one. Perhaps that is an effort to keep the cost down. The device supports ANT+ and has a microSD card slot and a microUSB port. The battery promises 12 hour so use per charge and the computer itself is under 100g.

CrunchGear via Android Community

Red, black and white versions will be available when the TF-FN2000 goes on sale in Japan at the end of January 2011; Pioneer will also be offering extra wireless handsets. No word on pricing, nor whether international buyers will get a chance to express their love for boxy phones and retro graphics.

[via CrunchGear]

Those shared features include faster load times than previous players, steaming capability, WiFi ready, and support for control via a new iPhone app. The players use the new HDMI 1.4a standard for 3D support and has Pioneer PureCinema tech for upconverting SD to 1080p.

The players come with integrated Ethernet ports and can be fitted with the optional WiFi adapter Pioneer offers for accessing steaming content like YouTube, Netflix, and more as well as getting updates for firmware and BD Live features. The iControlAV app is for the iPhone and iPod touch and lets the devices be full function remote controls for the players. The BDP-430 sells for $299, the Elite BDP-41FD sells for $399, and the BDP-43FD sells for $499.

This is the gear that a Storm Trooper turned DJ would want to rock the Deathstar with. Other than the color, the gear has the same specs as the black offerings from earlier in the year. The CDJ-350-W media player has a BEAT display that helps the DJ to see where the beat position of a song is. It also has a beat loop, loop divide, and hot loop function. The device has tons of other features as well.

The DJM-350-W is a DJ mixer with functions that are the same as the black version and similar to other DJM mixers offered by Pioneer. It offers four effects including noise, short echo, filter, and jet. It converts analog signals to digital, and has multiple other features as well. The packaged pearl white DJ system with two CDJ-350W and one DJM-350-W will sell for $2445 and will ship in January.

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters [BYE BYE]
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg named TIME’s Person of the Year 2010 [ZUCKERBERRRRRRRG!]
FBI backdoors in OpenBSD claims covert coder [RUH ROH]
Nike Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleats & Pro Combat Uniforms debut [GEEEEAR]
Fossil watch concept uses Bluetooth to pull info from your smartphone [LOOK FAMILIAR?]

Android Community
GMail Creator Predicts Android Will Eventually Kill Chrome OS
Honeycomb Won’t Require Physical Buttons, Home and Navigation Built into the UI
Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters
HTC LTE handsets coming H2 2011, Mecha anyone?
Broadcom outs new Android platform for mass-market smartphones
O2 Dell Streak Froyo update releasing today
Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile Interview Video Available Now
Swiftkey Updated, 5 new languages and HD skin included

SlashGear
CrucialTec ultra-slim Optical TrackPad wants your finger
Apple GPU supplier Imagination promise “cinema quality 3D” after ray-tracing acquisition
Gigabyte and SOYO AMD Zacate mainboards leak
Quik Pod gets longer and works with DSLR cameras
Sanyo PLC-HF1500L large venue projector has 15K lumens
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg named TIME’s Person of the Year 2010
HTC LTE smartphones inbound for second half of 2011
The Convergence Con [COLUMN]
Notion Ink Adam pre-order status slips to mid-January 2011 [Update: only 50 customers affected]
Smartphone Coasters hold your smartphone up on the cheap
Silicon Power debuts tiny microSD card reader
Fossil watch concept uses Bluetooth to pull info from your smartphone
Verizon iPhone sales will come mostly at AT&T’s expense says analyst
MIC Store unveils 3-in-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit
Urbanears Tanto headphones get better
Broadcom outs new Android smartphone platform
AirPlayer opens Macs to AirPlay streaming from iOS [Video]
XFX outs new HD 6970 and HD 6950 video cards
FBI backdoors in OpenBSD claims covert coder
Apple TV 4.1.1 update fixes picture problems & download errors
VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX board promises 1080p HD in tiny footprint
Three pushes true unlimited data on refreshed The One Plan
Pioneer BDR-206MBK BDXL burner is $199 world’s first
Novatel MiFi 4082 WiMAX mobile hotspot clears FCC
Toshiba denies Apple Retina Display plant investment
Facebook for Android updated: Chat and push notifications
AMD Radeon HD 6970 and HD 6950 get official
Nike Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleats & Pro Combat Uniforms debut
Facebook Maps the World via Social Networking Relationships
HP ENVY 17 3D Laptop Hands-On and Unboxing [FEATURED]

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

With a single, quad-layer 128GB BDXL disc, you could store the equivalent of 27 single-layer DVDs in fact, but you’ll pay handsomely for the privilege. Happily the BDR-206MBK can also read BD-ROM discs, read/write triple/dual/single layer BD-R and BD-RE discs, read DVD-ROM, and read/write most DVD and CD formats.

One for the early-adopters, then; everyone else might do well to wait a while until media prices trickle down to more affordable levels.

Press Release:

Pioneer Ships First BDXL Computer Drive to Read and Write New Blu-ray Disc Recording Format

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. continues its innovation in the optical disc drive category with today’s announcement of its new professional, high definition BDXL internal Blu-ray Disc drive. The Pioneer BDR-206MBK, BDXL writer for Windows based1 personal computers, is the first drive to read and write using the new multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc format. BDXL more than doubles the current maximum Blu-ray Disc storage capacity and is ideal for various commercial uses such as video and broadcast archiving and storage, capturing and playback of high definition programming or data archiving needs. The BDR-206MBK also enhances recording accuracy and further limits artificial noise for quality playback.

By integrating additional layers to traditional Blu-ray Discs, BDXL offers up to 128 GB of storage capacity on a quadruple layer disc. The BDR-206MBK drive allows users to read/write BD-R XL and BD-RE XL triple layer (100GB) and BD-R XL quadruple layer (128GB) discs. Additionally, the drive can play back and record on virtually all disc formats including CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc. The drive comes bundled with CyberLink software to support BDXL and is ready for use out of the box. For a limited time, Pioneer is including a piece of BD-R XL 100GB media for free with each drive.

Further enhancing the user experience, Pioneer has incorporated proprietary technologies to significantly improve recording and playback quality. Its Limit Equalizer technology improves RF signals generated when reading data from Blu-ray Discs and enables improved playback capability. Along with a new, airtight structure that helps keep the drive quiet and protects against contaminants and dust particles, the Disc Vibration Stabilizer feature helps protect the disc from warping during the writing process, resulting in a higher quality written disc.

The BDR-206MBK is currently available for a suggested retail price of $199. The BDXL drive can be purchased at Fry’s Electronics and at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Video demo after the cut

However, automotive is just one angle the HUD system is being fettled for. Pioneer is apparently planning to use PicoP-based display engines in other consumer and after-market automotive products, though exact details of what we can expect – a Pioneer PMP, perhaps? – are unknown.

Rather than being a standalone system, Pioneer’s Network Vision tech paired via Bluetooth or WiFi with a smartphone running your choice of PND app. The company suggests that by keeping notifications and GPS directions on the screen and at the regular eye-line level rather than on a dashboard display, driver safety will be improved.

[via PicoProjector-Info]

Press Release:

MicroVision and Pioneer to Jointly Commercialize Innovative Laser Display Products

MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a leader in innovative ultra-miniature laser display technology, announced today that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pioneer Corporation, one of the top original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets, to develop, manufacture and distribute display engines and display engine subsystems for consumer and in-vehicle head-up displays (HUDs) using the MicroVision PicoP(R) laser display technology.

Earlier this year, the two companies executed a joint development agreement to develop two critical components of the PicoP display engine: a laser light source module using direct red, blue, and green lasers and a separate display engine subsystem based on MicroVision’s patented PicoP laser scanning technology. Both are key pieces of the next-generation PicoP display engine that will offer OEMs significant commercial advantages in price, size, power, and performance for embedded solutions ranging from cell phones and eyewear, to airplanes and automobiles.

The MOU establishes the framework of a future manufacturing and commercial distribution agreement for PicoP-based display engines to be used in consumer, after-market and embedded automotive products. Pioneer has announced it is targeting commercial introduction of an in-vehicle HUD using PicoP technology into the consumer market in 2012.

“Pioneer has a strong history of bringing cutting edge technologies to mass markets,” stated Alexander Tokman, president and CEO of MicroVision. “We believe that by combining our respective market and product development capabilities, and leveraging best practices in manufacturing, MicroVision and Pioneer can accelerate introducing next-generation laser display products while reducing the total cost for both companies in getting there.”

Both Pioneer and MicroVision were recently recognized as finalists for the CEATEC Innovation Awards for 2010. Pioneer was recognized in the Automotive category for its demonstration of a HUD using laser scanning technology provided by MicroVision, and MicroVision was recognized in the Components category for its SHOWWX(TM) laser pico projector, powered by the PicoP display engine.

Video demo after the cut

It’s a little like automated reality for your car, though obviously more mindful of the fact that you’re first and foremost supposed to be paying attention to your driving.  Rather than integrate the whole PND system into the car, Pioneer’s setup allows you to pair a smartphone running your choice of PND app via Bluetooth or WiFi.

An RGB laser pico-projector system creates the graphics, and according to SlashGear Japan was reasonably visible even with the showfloor lighting.  Pioneer reckon that by avoiding the need to glance down at a dedicated or in-dash GPS you’ll spend more time watching the road, and are hoping to commercialize the system in the future.

The new speakers include the bookshelf SP-BS21-LR and SP-BS41-LR, floor standing SP-FS51-LR and center channel SP-C21 speakers as well as a subwoofer SW-8. The speakers are designed for music listening and can be used to create a 7.1 surround sound system for home theater.

The speakers are all entry-level units that are offered at low prices. The bookshelf SP-BS21-LR and SP-BS41-LR sell for $89.99 and $199.99 respectively. The floor standing SP-FS51-LR and center channel SP-C21 speakers are $199.99 and $79.99 respectively. The SW-8 subwoofer is $149.99 and has a 100W internal amp.

The HDJ-500 headphones have a $125 MRSP and are designed for comfort and fidelity. The headphones will come in black, white, and red colors. The headphones have urethane pads for the ears that mold to the users head for comfort. The pads are wrapped in leather and the main structure of the headphones is magnesium for lightweight and durability.

Pioneer ships the headphones with two cords with one 1M long and a coiled 1.2M cord that extends to 3M. The black and red headphones will ship in November with the white version shipping in January. The headphones have a frequency range of 5Hz to 28,000Hz, impedance is 45 ohms, and the drivers are 40mm.

Ports are minimal, though there’s a component video output for hooking up a TV and watching content stored on the iPod or iPhone.  Pioneer also throw in a remote control, and as you’d expect it recharges your PMP while it’s docked.

Clever enough, but we can’t help but wish Pioneer had given it a bigger docking bay and allowed owners to put their iPad in there instead: the big-screen Apple slate would look pretty nifty up there on the wall, and you’d be able to see it better from across the room, too.  The Pioneer KODO XW-NAW1 iPod speaker system will drop in September 2010, priced at £199 ($307).

[via Gizmodo]

The SX-A6MK2 and SX-A9MK2 amps each split the left and right channel amplifiers and power supplies into entirely separate halves, with the former using Twin EL Transformers while the latter gets Twin Toroidal Transformers.  The A6MK2 packs 60W and the A9MK2 70W, with the latter having a USB input among its other connections for playing media directly from an iPod or other PMP.

As for the PD-D6MK2 and PD-D9MK2, they get Burr-Brown and Twin Wolfson D/A converters respectively together with 16-bit to 24-bit upscaling on the D9MK2.  All four Pioneer Elite G-Clef components will go on sale later this month; the SX-A6MK2 and SX-A9MK2 will be priced at $700 and $1,500 respectively, while the two CD players, the PD-D6MK2 and PD-D9MK2, will be priced at $700 and $1,500 respectively.

Press Release:

New Pioneer Elite G-Clef Components are Pure High Fidelity

High-Design CD Players and Amplifiers Provide Music Lovers with AIR Studios-Certified Experience

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced new G-Clef components including luxury CD players and amplifiers that bring a professional-grade listening experience into the home or office. The high-style Elite G-Clef line includes two stereo amplifiers, SX-A6MK2 and SX-A9MK2, and two CD players, PD-D6MK2 and PD-D9MK2, all engineered with the purest approach to audio component design. All models are offered at affordable price points, for audio enthusiasts looking for high-end sound without the extravagant cost often found in prestigious audiophile gear.

Each of the models is fine-tuned and certified by internationally-respected AIR Studio’s sound engineers to ensure the most accurate recreation of the original recording possible. To earn that certification, Pioneer hand-selected state of the art internal components that accurately deliver signals to create a dynamic two-channel hi-fi experience. The new, more efficient power supply circuitry is highly responsive to demanding musical content and is designed for superior heat resistance to guarantee a warm, analog-like sound.

“The new G-Clef series is a perfect example of product developed with meticulous attention to detail at every step in the process,” said Tim Vine-Lott, technical director, AIR Studios. “Pioneer and AIR Studios have worked together for ten years developing products down to the screws. We’re proud to put our stamp on products that exceed our requirements.”

Elite G-Clef CD/SACD Players

For the purest digital to analog conversion expected by discerning audiophiles, the PD-D6MK2 (SRP: $700) and the PD-D9MK2 (SRP: $1,500) CD/SACD players feature Burr-Brown and Twin Wolfson D/A converters, respectively. The Pioneer exclusive technology, Legato Link Conversion PRO, utilizes complex algorithms to recreate the ultra-high harmonics lost in the digital conversion process resulting in smooth, natural sound. Additionally, Hi-Bit technology increases the sound data length from 16-bit to 24-bit to provide clear, rich audio, even from compressed MP3 files.

Both models are finished in glossy black with blue LCD displays. The PD-D9MK2 features a Honeycomb Chassis design, which contains hexagon shaped imprints in the metal plates that help to dissipate vibrations and alleviate jitter. Additional weight and stability features help to shield optical components from ambient interference that could cause imprecise sound. The PD-D6MK2 features an aluminum front panel, while the PD-D9MK2 touts a rigid under-base construction, TAOC Hi-Carbon composite metal feet and a full aluminum casing.

Elite G-Clef Integrated Stereo Amplifiers

The Elite G-Clef amplifiers feature a Twin Mono Symmetrical construction design to maintain electrical isolation between both channels from input to output. The left and right channel amplifiers and high efficiency power supplies are totally independent and exact mirror images of each other. This construction is also designed to minimize the signal path of each circuit block, providing minimal distortion of signal quality and clear, equal channel separation for superior sonic fidelity.

The SX-A6MK2 (SRP: $700) features Twin EL Transformers and the SX-A9MK2 (SRP: $1,500)employs Twin Toroidal Transformers, which are highly efficient with very low magnetic leakage. Both components increase available power, prevent signal interference and virtually eliminate noise even at extremely low frequencies. The SX-A9MK2 model is also equipped with a USB input, allowing high-quality transmissions of higher bit-rate music files such as an MPEG or FLAC from any enthusiast’s digital music library.

“The new components were born out of partnership between Pioneer and AIR Studios sound engineers working hand in hand to produce the highest quality sound possible,” said Dave Bales, marketing and product planning, home
electronics division at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “G-Clef products are a culmination of all we’ve learned over a 70-year legacy in audio excellence.”

The Elite G-Clef CD/SACD players and amplifiers will be available in August, 2010.

This device has the same club layout as the professional level media players like the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900. The 850 has a 206mm jog dial with rotary selector and browse buttons. The device supports a range of media formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, and AIFF form CD-r/RW discs or USB drives.

The 850 ships with rekordbox software that can analyze data like Wave, Beat Grid, BPM, and ID3 tags. The user can create cues and loop settings as well as create and edit playlists. The CDJ-850 will ship in August for $999.

When running on the iPhone, Pandora shows up as a separate source on both the new AVIC-Z120BT and Pioneer’s existing AVIC-X920BT in-dash unit.  A free download, the app allows for track rating – using Pandora’s thumbs-up/thumbs-down system – from the head-unit’s touchscreen.

Even if you haven’t got an iPhone, there’s plenty to like about the AVIC-Z120BT.  Voice-controlled navigation, a customisable homescreen, choice of 30,000 different LED colors to match your car’s own scheme and an ECO Driving mode that plans navigation by fuel economy and CO2 emissions.  The Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June, priced at $1,599.

Press Release:

Pioneer’s Flagship Navigation System Also Entertains with Pandora

The AVIC-Z120BT Offers Quality Navigation and Endless Entertainment Capabilities

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. continues to stay ahead of the curve in in-car entertainment and information technologies with the official launch of its top-of-the-line, AVIC-Z120BT in-dash navigation system. The highly sophisticated flagship unit introduced at the 2010 Pioneer Car Electronics Road Show for dealers, brings together the best route guidance features with more entertainment and convenience attributes that include PandoraLink for Pioneer App, MusicSphere™, Pioneer’s proprietary music analysis software, a revolutionary 3D user interface and ECO Graph for eco-friendly drivers.

“In 1994, Pioneer was the first company to bring in-car GPS to the U.S. market, and today we are continuing to advance the navigation category with the launch of our highly intuitive, flagship AVIC-Z120BT. Our team of designers and engineers devised this model to not only deliver reliable route guidance and high quality audio and video, but also to enable users to easily adapt their personal devices to their cars. And, now with its capability to deliver Pandora’s popular Internet music service, Pioneer again redefines the navigation category,” said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics department, sales and marketing division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

Navigation and Entertainment from A to Z
The AVIC-Z120BT is the latest entry in Pioneer’s prestigious Z-series navigation systems, offering the best in in-dash navigation with compelling entertainment and sound quality features. It features an elegant, motorized high-resolution 7-inch WVGA touch screen display, 3D graphics accelerator, onscreen iPod/iPhone control, built-in Bluetooth1 for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming, USB connectivity2, SD card slot located behind the motorized front panel, high quality CD/DVD audio/video playback, back-up camera input and is SIRIUS XM3 satellite and HD Radio4 ready. The AVIC-Z120BT’s comprehensive map database from Tele Atlas® covers the entire United States, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii, enabling users to route to millions of destinations including more than 12 million points of interest (POIs). Additionally, the unit features enhanced voice recognition, including the capability to input destination addresses by voice.

Unique to the 2010 Pioneer navigation line, the AVIC-Z120BT features dual zone entertainment, which enables rear passengers to enjoy DVD video and audio on a separate rear display and headphones, while front passengers listen to AM/FM or XM or Sirius satellite radio sources. Additionally, the unit also features several sound quality components, including Supertuner™ IIID, Radio Data System (RDS), dual A/V inputs, 7-band graphic EQ and 4-Volts preamp outputs (X3).

PandoraLink – Pandora internet radio fans using the service on an iPhone now have the same control interface directly on the AVIC-Z120BT. When users launch the PandoraLink for Pioneer App, Pandora will be displayed as a dedicated source on the AVIC-Z120BT and provide similar functions on its onscreen display such as detailed track information and album art. In addition to the capability of rating a track with “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” the dedicated user interface provides easy navigation on a large 7-inch touch screen display and allows users to bookmark a song or artist, skip the currently playing track, change stations and select Quickmix playback.
Advanced User Interface – 3D animation utilized in the navigation maps has also been applied to the audio interface providing a completely new in-car experience. The intuitive touch slide control capabilities of the AVIC-Z120BT feature dynamic shortcuts for source selection, expanded display of album art and improved display of audio track data. The receptive touch slide interface is also utilized for searching through music content with a new, improved dual-speed scroll for ABC and List Searches. The customizable home menu allows users to drag and drop up to 15 function icons into the home page display for easy one-touch access.
MusicSphere – Pioneer’s new proprietary MusicSphere5 technology enables iPod and iPhone users to enjoy their library of music in a new way by creating unique, mood-based playlists that can be accessed onscreen with a distinctive 3D animated sphere. MusicSphere analyzes the user’s entire music library and creates 40 specialized playlists based on various musical attributes of the songs, such as feeling (bright, energetic, gloomy, relaxing calm), rhythm pattern, Beats Per Minute (BPM) and year of the song and/or date added to the device. The specialized playlists can be accessed on the navigation display through an animated 3D sphere that can be rotated with a touch of the screen, providing a quick and highly visual method of selecting MusicSphere generated playlists. Additionally, the MusicSphere software allows users to create a “DJ Playlist” which will create a non-stop mix of the selected music types with the ability to blend between songs using transition effects.
ECO Driving – The system also features the second generation ECO Driving function which provides driving status reports as well as the driver’s impact on the environment with visual graphics onscreen. Through Pioneer’s proprietary AVIC FEEDS®6 PC software7, the unit can estimate the fuel cost of trip as well as the vehicle’s CO2 emissions through detailed Drive Reports. Through a proprietary fuel consumption algorithm, AVIC FEEDS can also log and archive driving data and analyze driving habits to generate various reports with suggestions to improve fuel efficiency. The ECO Graph shown on the navigation unit visually represents the user’s environmental impact, illustrated in 2D, 3D and divided map views. Additionally, when a route is set the system will calculate a Drive Score based on driving efficiency which factors abrupt stops, accelerations and idle time.
The AVIC-Z120BT can be fully integrated into a large number of vehicles with a 2-DIN dash opening, and can match any vehicle’s dash lighting with its more than 30,000 customizable illumination colors.

The AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June for a suggested retail price of $1,599.

Pioneer’s Car Electronics Department is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, seamless connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.

NOTE: Do not use your Pioneer system if doing so will divert your attention in any way from the safe operation of your vehicle. Always observe safe driving rules. In some states certain operations of devices while driving may be illegal. Where such regulations apply, they must be obeyed.

1Bluetooth functionality requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Certain Bluetooth features may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices or by certain wireless carriers. See more details about compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/BluetoothCompatibility”.

2Not every USB device is compatible with a Pioneer head unit containing an USB port. See more details at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/USBCompatibility”. Pioneer head units containing a USB port are compatible with USB MSC (Mass Storage Class) devices only, and are not compatible with DRM (Digital Rights Management) contents and MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) connection devices. For size and other limitations, please see Owner’s Manual. Unauthorized copying of music or other files is strictly prohibited. Optional USB extension cable is available for use with front USB ports.

3SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio is a subscription service not affiliated with Pioneer Electronics – service is available everywhere within the continental U.S. More information is available at “http://www.siriusxm.com”. The “XM” and “SIRIUS” and related marks are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. Ability of the Pioneer system to access the SIRIUS and/or XM satellite radio service is subject to change without notice and could be affected by any of the following (but not limited to the following): changes to the SIRIUS XM Radio service; or, discontinuation of the SIRIUS XM radio service.

4HD Radio and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.

5PC systems requirements for MusicSphere software includes:
OS – Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows7
Windows Hardware
A PC with a 1GHz Intel or faster processor
512MB of RAM or greater
Screen resolution of 1024×768 or greater
Broadband Internet connection to use MusicSphere data download

Windows Software
Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, 32-bit editions of Windows Vista, or 32-bit editions of Windows 7
64-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7 doesn’t support
iTunes 9.0.3 or later
QuickTime 7.6.4 or later
Internet Explorer 7 or later
300MB of available disk space

6Functionality available via AVIC-Feeds varies by AVIC model.

7PC systems requirements for AVIC-FEEDS software includes:
OS – Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition / Professional (Service Pack 2 or later), Microsoft Windows Vista, Only supported by 32 bit version. (Not compatible with Mac OS)
CPU – Pentium III 500MHz or higher (Recommended: Pentium III 1.0GHz or higher)
Memory -256MB or more (Recommended: 512MB or more)
Hard Disk – 100MB or more of available hard disk space
Display – Display capability of 1024 x 768 resolution, 16-bit color (65536 colors) or higher
Other – Internet Explorer 6.0 or later preinstalled, USB/SD Card-accessible interface, Google Maps-capable internet environment

Press Release:

Pioneer Brings Pandora Into the Dash with New App

New In-dash Navigation Systems Provide Pandora Internet Radio and More

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced the availability of the PandoraLink for Pioneer1 App on the App Store. Through an iPhone, the free PandoraLink for Pioneer App provides complete control of Pandora’s internet radio music service on Pioneer’s new AVIC-Z120BT and AVIC-X920BT in-dash navigation systems. The recently announced models integrate sophisticated navigation capabilities as well as new groundbreaking features, including a revolutionary 3D touch slide interface, Pioneer’s proprietary music analysis software, MusicSphere™ and ECO Graph for ecologically aware drivers.

“Pioneer’s robust in-dash navigation systems will excite music enthusiasts who can now discover new bands and songs while driving with Pandora’s massive audio library and full onscreen control with the new PandoraLink for Pioneer App,” said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics department of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

PandoraLink for Pioneer App
Pandora internet radio fans using the service through iPhone now have the same control capabilities directly on the new Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT and AVIC-X920BT navigation systems. The PandoraLink for Pioneer App is displayed as a dedicated source on the units and provides Pandora users with the familiar functions of the online service including onscreen display of track information such as title, artist and album art. In addition to the capability of rating a track with “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” the dedicated user interface provides easy navigation on a large 7-inch or 6.1-inch touch screen display while driving, which allows users to easily bookmark a song or artist, skip the currently playing track, change stations and select Quickmix playback.

“Pioneer is one of the first manufacturers to transition our service from the home or office into the dash of a car with complete onscreen display and control. Our listeners will definitely enjoy the Pandora experience while in a car,” said Tim Westergren, chief strategy officer & founder of Pandora.

2010 Navigation Models
The recently announced AVIC-Z120BT carries the reputation of Pioneer’s Z-line of navigations systems, offering the best in navigation with compelling entertainment and sound quality features. The double-DIN unit features a large 7-inch WVGA touch screen display, a map database from Tele Atlas® with 12 million points of interest (POIs), DVD playback, 4GB of flash memory, rear seat entertainment, built-in Bluetooth2 for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB connectivity3, SD card slot, back-up camera input and is SIRIUS XM4 satellite and HD Radio ready. In addition to advanced navigation capabilities the AVIC-Z120BT also incorporates PandoraLink for Pioneer App, MusicSphere which creates mood-based playlists that can be accessed onscreen with a distinctive 3D animated sphere and Eco Driving reports for the connected and environmentally aware driver. The AVIC-Z120BT also features hi-volt pre-amp outputs, 7-band graphic EQ and custom designed power supply capacitors for improved sound quality.

The currently available AVIC-X920BT was named CNET’s Best of CES finalist for the Car Tech and GPS category at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, and was noted for its comprehensive navigation capabilities in addition to its new music technologies incorporating PandoraLink for Pioneer App and MusicSphere in addition to Eco Driving, which helps drivers become more aware of their environmental impact. The double-DIN unit features a large 6.1-inch WVGA touch screen display, a map database from Tele Atlas® with 12 million POIs, DVD playback, 4GB of flash memory, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB connectivity, micro SD card slot, back-up camera input and is SIRIUS XM satellite and HD Radio ready.

The Pioneer AVIC-X920BT is currently available for a suggested retail price of $1,099, and the AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June for a suggested retail price of $1,599.

The PandoraLink for Pioneer App is currently available for free from the App Store on iPhone at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Pioneer’s Car Electronics Department is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, advanced connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.

NOTE: Do not use your Pioneer system if doing so will divert your attention in any way from the safe operation of your vehicle. Always observe safe driving rules. In some states certain operations of devices while driving may be illegal. Where such regulations apply, they must be obeyed.

1 Pandora App required in conjunction with PandoraLink for Pioneer App

2 Bluetooth functionality requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Certain Bluetooth features may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices or by certain wireless carriers. See more details about compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/BluetoothCompatibility”.

3 Not every USB device is compatible with a Pioneer head unit containing an USB port. See more details at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/USBCompatibility”. Pioneer head units containing a USB port are compatible with USB MSC (Mass Storage Class) devices only, and are not compatible with DRM (Digital Rights Management) contents and MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) connection devices. For size and other limitations, please see Owner’s Manual. Unauthorized copying of music or other files is strictly prohibited. Optional USB extension cable is available for use with front USB ports.

4 SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio is a subscription service not affiliated with Pioneer Electronics – service is available everywhere within the continental U.S. More information is available at “http://www.siriusxm.com”. The “XM” and “SIRIUS” and related marks are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. Ability of the Pioneer system to access the SIRIUS and/or XM satellite radio service is subject to change without notice and could be affected by any of the following (but not limited to the following): changes to the SIRIUS XM Radio service; or, discontinuation of the SIRIUS XM radio service.

Video demo after the cut

The hard work is all done by a regular in-dash Pioneer PND unit, with the NaviRobo crab just being assigned the basic pointing duties.  Hopefully Pioneer will be doing some work to streamline their route-programming interface before the system’s launch, since having a friendly ‘bot to guide you is useless if you can’t figure out how to tell him where you actually want to go.

The two companies reckon NaviRobo will be of particular interest to those with hearing impediments and the elderly, who might have trouble following audio navigation prompts or complex on-screen displays.  It’s expected to go on sale within the next 2-3 years, priced at around 10,000 yen ($110).

[via PlasticPals]

All three models are 3D-ready, and have HDMI 1.4 ports (four on the 920-K, six on the 1020-K and 1120-K) and Dolby ProLogic IIz support.  An ethernet port not only grants remote iPod touch/iPhone control but internet radio support (though not on the 920-K).  As for power, the 920-K and 1020-K each have seven channels of 110W, while the 1120-K boosts that to seven channels of 120W.

The new Pioneer VSX-920-K and VSX-1020-K receivers will go on sale in May 2010, priced at $399 and $549 respectively; the flagship Pioneer VSX-1120-K will follow in in June 2010, priced at $749.  If you want Bluetooth A2DP support, meanwhile, you’ll have to find an extra $99 for the Pioneer AS-BT100 dongle.

Press Release:

Pioneer Brings Unprecedented iPhone and iPod touch Control to New 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver Line

iControlAV App Available from the App Store, 3D Ready Feature for Next Generation Home Theater Experience

LONG BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Consumers looking for the ultimate A/V control center with seamless iPhone and iPod touch integration will find it in Pioneer’s new line of A/V receivers. The three new 7.1 channel, “Works with iPhone” certified receivers, the VSX-920-K, VSX-1020-K and the Pioneer-branded flagship receiver the VSX-1120-K, offer enhanced iPhone and iPod touch control and functionality, are 3D capable with the advanced version of HDMI and feature wireless Bluetooth audio streaming for Bluetooth-enabled devices1. Additionally, Pioneer today announced availability of its iControlAV App, which turns compatible iPhone and iPod touch into a fully functioning remote control for the Pioneer receiver, on the App Store.

“This year, with the addition of our new app and Bluetooth audio streaming, we expect to hold the leadership position in this category for the second consecutive year by continuing to provide iPhone and iPod touch users with seamless integration to their home A/V experience.”

“Last year, the Pioneer line of A/V receivers set record growth in the under $500 price point. We know that the dramatic growth was a direct result of our enhancements to convenience and connectivity options expected from Apple users,” said David Bales, marketing manager of audio products for the home entertainment division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “This year, with the addition of our new app and Bluetooth audio streaming, we expect to hold the leadership position in this category for the second consecutive year by continuing to provide iPhone and iPod touch users with seamless integration to their home A/V experience.”

iControl AVR App & Expanded iPhone Functionality

The 7.1 channel models deliver expanded iPhone functionality with the top two models featuring the Company’s first app for their home entertainment products and Bluetooth Audio Streaming for wireless devices.

“Works with iPhone” Certification – The new line of 7.1 receivers are iPhone certified and allow for playback of content on an iPhone and iPod touch including, on-screen display of track data, album art, photos and video on a connected TV. With an included USB/ video cable, users can listen to their music, view photos and watch downloaded as well as stream audio and video such as YouTube and Rhapsody music services all while charging their Apple devices when connected to the receiver.

iControlAV App – Pioneer’s first app compatible with their home entertainment products, iControlAV, provides iPhone and iPod touch users convenient integration of their devices with their home theater system. The free iControlAV App turns iPhone and iPod touch into a fully functioning remote control for the VSX-1020-K and VSX-1120-K Pioneer receivers. When the receivers are connected via Ethernet to an existing wireless router, the app allows users to wirelessly control their home theater receiver and includes graphical representations of these four controllable elements:

Control – Adjusts the main volume, mute, select and switch inputs including multi-zones as well as display audio/video status information with a slight touch of the screen.

Precision – Allows users to turn on/off two of Pioneer’s proprietary sound enhancements, PQLS which achieves jitter-free signal transmission via HDMI and Phase Control which permits precise phase control of multi-channel speakers. Video tutorials on each technology are also included.

Balance – With a roll and hold motion users can adjust the output balance of their speakers for 360 degree sound leveling to match their present listening position.
Emphasis – With a tilt and hold motion users can adjust dialogue and bass levels of the center speaker and subwoofer for optimum clarity of soundtracks with dynamic vocals or video games with extra bass. The display additionally shows a graphic of the status of each speaker.

Bluetooth Audio Streaming – The full line of new models feature wireless Bluetooth audio streaming from any Bluetooth-enabled iPhone, iPod touch, Android™ platform, other smart phones or personal computer with an optional Bluetooth adaptor. The Pioneer branded AS-BT100 ($99), Bluetooth Adaptor, allows consumers to keep the phone close to them while they enjoy music through their home theater system.

iPhone Control Button – The VSX-920-K and VSX-1020-K feature a front panel button that transfers iPod navigation control and on-screen display from the A/V receiver’s remote control back to the connected iPhone or iPod touch so users can easily and quickly navigate through their library of media files directly on the device.

3D Ready Features

As 3D technology is introduced to the mass marketplace, Pioneer has incorporated features into its line of A/V receivers that allow seamless integration into a 3D home theater system.

HDMI 1.4 – The latest HDMI version 1.4, provides more high definition connectivity options for consumers seeking compatibility with the latest audio and video formats. HDMI 1.4 allows for passage of the high data transfer rate required by the Blu-ray 3D specification as well as a new 3D specific command protocol. Additionally, the flagship VSX-1120-K features an Audio Return Channel, which allows a receiver to reproduce audio from a compatible TV’s built-in tuner.
Dolby ProLogic IIz® Decoding – Audio performance is paramount in an A/V receiver, and all the new Pioneer receivers are equipped to decode new HD audio formats including Dolby True HD® and DTS Master® with the new Dolby ProLogic IIz height channel. For the ultimate home theater experience, Dolby ProLogic IIz identifies non directional audio cues that occur naturally in a surround sound mix. The appropriate elements of the signal are directed to front height speakers for an enhanced surround sound experience. Creating the depth and dimension of a lifelike soundstage, this speaker configuration is compatible with all 5.1 and stereo entertainment content, is ideal for gamers and may also complement a 3D video experience. The new technology provides new 7.1 speaker placement options for consumers as well as easier installation solutions. Additionally, the top two models feature Pioneer’s proprietary Front Wide Mode which adds versatility and dimension to a 7.1 speaker arrangement.
Multi-Media Connectivity and Pioneer’s Proprietary A/V Technology

Pioneer incorporated its proprietary audio enhancement technology that restores Bluetooth transmissions as well as advanced room calibration technologies into its 7.1 channel line.

Sound Retriever AIR – The VSX-1120-K and VSX-1020-K feature the new Pioneer-developed Sound Retriever AIR. Similar to Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR), Sound Retriever AIR restores critical audio data that is often removed from compressed audio files during the encoding process and for the first time, restores data from Bluetooth transmissions.

Internet Radio – When connected to a home network, users can enjoy thousands of Internet radio stations worldwide, ranging from music and news to sports and talk on the flagship VSX-1120-K and VSX-1020-K. Both models come with 24 preloaded preset stations, easy URL entry of personal favorites and optional keyboard entry through the front USB input.

Video Processing – Pioneer A/V receivers have a strong heritage as the ultimate in video processing, and this year is no exception. All receivers feature high performance video conversion to HDMI and 1080p video scaling to ensure the highest quality video reproduction from analog digital and lower resolution video sources. The VSX-1120-K also features a Pioneer-tuned Marvell® Qdeo™ video processor providing the highest quality video switching for superb clarity and accuracy that was only previously found in flagship Elite models.

Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration – The VSX-1120-K is THX™ Select2 Plus certified to create the power and performance of the cinema in your home theater and utilizes high power discrete transistors for accurate, multi-channel amplification. Additionally, Pioneer’s proprietary room calibration and sound tuning technology, MCACC, is utilized to analyze the room’s speakers and optimize each one to balance out any room-induced acoustic inaccuracies. MCACC provides an optimal, customized audio experience in any room configuration. The VSX-1020-K and VSX-1120-K feature Advanced MCACC which adds a wider variety of room calibration enchantments including an adjustable 9-band EQ and on-screen graphic user interface.

Precision Quartz Locking System – The two top models feature the proprietary Pioneer Precision Quartz Locking System (PQLS) which utilizes the digital clock in the A/V receiver to exactly synchronize the signal passage from a compatible Pioneer Blu-ray player. This creates absolute synchronized and jitter-free playback of all advanced audio formats. The VSX-1020-K features two-channel PQLS for jitter-less CD playback while the VSX-1120-K additionally offers multi-channel PQLS for enhanced DVD and Blu-ray Disc playback.

All models are finished with a premium glossy, black. The VSX-920-K, VSX-1020-K will be available in May 2010 and the flagship VSX-1120-K will be available in June 2010.

Pioneer’s iControlAV App is currently available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

It all began with a passion for music that Pioneer founder Nozomu Matsumoto hoped to share with the world. He started Pioneer in 1938 as a specialty speaker company, building products out of his garage. Today, Pioneer’s Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group continues Matsumoto’s enthusiasm, developing award-winning audio and video home theater products including A/V receivers, Blu-ray Disc® and DVD players, and speakers. Long-standing partnerships and collaborations with the creative community have provided Pioneer unique insight in its quest to capture the purity of a movie or musical artist’s original vision into its broad range of home entertainment products. The company’s brands include Pioneer® and Elite®. More details can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

1 Bluetooth audio streaming requires iPod touch (2nd generation or later), iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS with iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

The CDJ-350 lets the DJ create music with different format music files including MP3, AAC, WAV, and AIFF files. The files can be accessed from USB drives or CD discs that are burned. Pioneer rekordbox software is used with the device to categorize tracks by genre and beat position. An auto beat loop function is integrated including beat loop, loop divide, and hot loop.

The Pioneer DJM-350 mixer has four different kinds of effects and an isolated 3-band EQ. A front USB port lets users record mixes onto flash drives to make a tape or listen on different devices. The four effects include filter to change the tone of tracks, crush for accenting sounds, jet applies the sound of a jet taking off, and gate alters track rhythms. The device converts analog signals to digital and has a number of other features. The CDj-350 will sell for $850 and the DJM-350 will sell for $750 with both shipping in June.

The device has the industry’s first 5.8-inch multitouch screen effects, Evolved Beat Effects, Pro DJ Link, and MIDI controls. The color LCD also lets the DJ set up seven different dynamic audio effects with touches and movements on the screen.

Other features include Pro DJ Link to link the Pioneer CDJ-2000 or CDJ-900 turntables to the mixer and a Live Sampler for taking sounds from as mic or master output to use in the mix. A 3-band EQ is built-in and the Cross fader function can be assigned and adjusted. The DJM-2000 will ship in June for $2,999.

If we told you that you’ve got a few options at your disposal here, that’d be a bold-faced understatement. For processors, you’ve got the Intel N450 1.66GHz variation, or the N470 1.83GHz if that suits you a bit more. From the title you can discern on your own that the notebook is rocking a 12.1-inch display, but what you may not know, is that it’s not just your normal LCD. Nope, this one’s packing an LED monitor, so basically it’s just a feast for your eyes while you’re playing your favorite games. It’s got the normal slew of inputs, including three USB ports, the LAN port, and an option for an HDMI port. It comes standard with a 4-cell battery, but you will more than likely push out the 10 hour battery life from the optional 6-cell battery.

It’s also got WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, a standard 1.3MP camera, and 3G is also optional. The Operating System is apparently up to you: it supports Windows XP/Vista/7, as well as Ubuntu 9.10 and Linux. So, while some things are just more run-of-the-mill options, we’re pleasantly surprised to see an LED display on this gaming notebook, and if that 10 hour battery life actually holds true, that’s beyond fantastic news. Look below for the full specifications list.

Specifications

CPU
Intel N450 1.66GHz, Intel N470 1.83GHz

Core Logic
Intel NM10 Express Chipset

Display & Graphic
12.1” LED BL HD 1366×768 (16:9)
nVidia ION2 GT218M Graphic, Up to 512M

System Memory
DDR2 667/800MHz Support
One So-DIMM DDR2 slot support up to 2GB

Storage
Support 2.5” SATA Hard Disk Drive
Support 4-in-1 card reader, SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro

Keyboard and Pointing Device
78keys with 19.05mm key pitch and 2.0±0.5mm key stroke
Support Multi-national Languages

I/O Ports
VGA port: One 15-pin VGA Port
Audio port: Two jack (MIC in & Headphone out)
LAN port: One RJ45 Port
USB port: Three USB Ports
Card reader: 4-in-1, SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro
HDMI: One HDMI Port(Option)
Power port: One DC-In Port
Kensington: One

Power System
Polymer battery, 4 cells 7.2V/4600mAh, 6 cells 7.2V/6900mAh Optional
AC 110~240V, DC 19V @ 65W AC Adapter

Power Management
ACPI V2.0
S0, S3, S4, S5 support

Switch Control
Power On/Off Button
Two Function Button
WIFI/3G/Bluetooth Hardware On/Off Switch

Option Items
Bluetooth V2.1+EDR
HDMI Port
3G module and antenna

Features
Wireless LAN: One Mini PCI-E Slot, 2 Antennas, Support 802.11 B/G/N, Half Size
Ethernet LAN: 10/100 M Ethernet Controller
PC Camera: 1.3M(1 Digital Microphone option)
Audio : HD Audio, Built-In 2 Speaker(Internal Microphone option)
3G Module: 3G Board Option(USB interface, one mini PCI-E Slot, one SIM Card Connector) , Antennas Option
Bluetooth: On USB Interface(Option)
LED Indication Power LED
Battery Charge LED
HDD Activity LED
WLAN Activity LED
3G Activity LED
Bluetooth Activity LED
Number Lock LED
Caps Lock LED

O.S.
Support Windows XP/Vista/7
Support Ubuntu 9.10 Linux

Certification
CE
FCC
RoHS
CCC
C-Tick

Weight and Dimension 302mm x 213.4mm x 27mm
N/W: 1.45 kg

Both of the receivers feature optional Bluetooth to allow wireless transfer of audio from smartphones and other devices with a $99 Bluetooth device. Both of the devices are also 3D ready with support for HDMI 1.4. The 820-K receiver is works with iPhone Certified as well.

Both of the devices support 5.1 surround sound, Dolby ProLogic IIz decoding, and have automatic room calibration. The 520-K will sell for $229 and has three HDMI 1.4 inputs and more. The 820-K will sell for $299, has four HDMI 1.4 inputs, and has an onscreen display. Both units have 110W of power on five channels and will ship this month.

The crafty Aussies have also slotted in a choice of 2.5-inch drives, up to 256GB SSD or a full 1TB of regular HDD, together with optional 3.5G.  Graphics are courtesy of Intel’s GS40 UMA chipset – with both VGA and HDMI outputs – and WiFI b/g/n is standard; you can also throw in Bluetooth while a 1.3-megapixel webcam is standard.

Other ports include three USB 2.0, audio in/out, a 4-in-1 memory card reader and ethernet, and the whole thing measures 289.7 x 201.5 x 26.9 mm.  It’s on sale now, priced from AU$699 ($629).

If you have dreams of Project Natal gaming with some of your existing favorite Xbox 360 titles, it seems you will be out of luck. Project Natal is unlikely to be compatible with existing games for the console. TomTom whipped out a new GPS device early last week called the XS 340S Live with AT&T connectivity. The device offers a slew of local search features along with live traffic. The downside is after three months you have to pay for the AT&T connection.

Nikon is set to launch a new DSLR camera on October 15 with 1080p video. The camera is rumored to be called the Nikon D3s and I am sure it won’t be cheap. The Apple App Store hit another milestone with week when it passed two billion downloads. It’s crazy how mainstream the app store has gone, even my 7-year-old knows how to grab games from the App Store, which reminds me I need to change that iTunes password.

Panasonic showed off a 50-inch 3D plasma HDTV this week that I want very badly. When 3D TV and movies come to the living room, I will be a happy camper. A new HP dv3 TouchSmart notebook computer was leaked this week along with some deets on a new consumer laptop line. One of the notebooks crams a Core i7 inside to replace your desktop.

We reviewed the Sprint Instinct HD by Samsung this week. In the end, we found it has some strong features with particularly good video for a mobile phone, but we don’t think the handset is good enough to keep ahead of the game. Speaking of Samsung, its new 12MP W880 camera phone leaked this week. The thing is basically a camera with phone bits crammed in rather than the other way around. We also reviewed the HP Z60 Workstation, a system that packs a whole lot of performance.

Verizon has a new HTC handset inbound and set to hit this month called the HTC Imagio. The device is pretty slick looking and is a Windows Mobile world phone. The Dell Latitude Z 600 went all official this week with wireless charging. The downside is that the price isn’t at all recession friendly at nearly $2,000.

Rumors tipped up that the long rumored Apple Tablet computer would come in two flavors — one with 3G and one without. The device is also said to run the iPhone OS, which is not surprising. The iPhone OS is very good. AT&T and Garmin dropped the details of their G60 nuvifone this week set to hit on October 4 priced at $399 before the MIR.

The Android-powered ODROID handheld gaming system went up for pre-order with full release set for December. The little gaming device will cost you about $320 if you have to have it. TiVo launched a new app for Blackberry users to allow them to schedule recordings remotely. The app supports single episode recording and season pass.

DoubleSight unveiled a line of cheap 7″ and 9″ USB powered LCDs this week. The little screens sell for well under $200 and should be great for the netbook user wanting more screen space. A video of a very serious man wearing the Activelink Power Loader exoskeleton with force feedback tipped up mid-week. Why does this thing remind me of Sigourney Weaver?

We tossed a video of the QNAP NMP-1000 HD network media player up this week. In addition to allowing you to stream media, the little device also allows for network backups. Intel Classmate PC orders have been cancelled. These are the machines that were low cost and fought against the OLPC XO laptop for the minds of kids in developing countries.

Pioneer whipped out the first 12x Blu-ray writer this week. More speed is a big deal when you are talking about writing huge amounts of data to a Blu-ray disc. OnLive announced this week that it has secured more venture funding to continue to develop and deploy its cloud-based gaming service.

If you are excited about the Nokia Booklet 3G we found out this week that the device will be a Best Buy exclusive selling for about $500. Why you would pay that much for the thing is my big question, you will need a 3G plan for it anyway so you might as well just grab one of the subsidized netbooks and save yourself a few hundred bucks. I predict a big bag of fail for Nokia. iHome pulled the wraps off a new iP88 iPhone/iPod alarm clock this week that has dual docks for charging two devices at the same time. The thing may be great for homes with multiple devices.

The Blackberry Storm 2 9550 was previewed this week and said to have lots of rough edges. And here we were assuming that Blackberry would actually make the touchscreen device better than the first. Then again, perhaps “a few” rough edges is better than the original Storm. AT&T and TerreStar announced that AT&T would be distributing the Genus satellite phone that will operate on the AT&T 3G network as well as satellite networks for anywhere coverage.

Haleron debuted a slick dual CPU Intel Atom netbook called the Swordfish Net 102 Dual this week. The thing is appealing in a way, but the battery life has to be atrocious. Verizon sent the Hub home phone to the death chamber this week killing the thing off after only 8 months on the market. Did anyone really think that the Hub would work?

A new patent app from Apple turned up late in the week showing that Apple as plans for full-hand multitouch. No more two fingers, now Rosie Palm and all five of her sisters can get in on the act. Rumors that the Palm Pixi would hit Sprint on October 20 tipped up Friday. The Pixi is the next Palm webOS device. I continue to be surprised that Palm went with Sprint for another exclusive handset.

T-Mobile USA confirmed that Android 1.6 was being rolled out OTA to all Android handsets. The exact day that the OTA distribution will happen is unknown, but it should be anytime considering T-Mobile said in the “coming days.” A cool camera concept called the PUNCH concept broke cover Friday. The digi cam takes a picture like you expect, and then you hit the back of it to get a punched paper picture.

Amazon tried to kiss and make up with Kindle owners after pulling the 1984 eBook from users devices and giving them a $30 refund. One man didn’t like that and filed suit ultimately costing Amazon $150K when the case settled this week. Asus introduced its most appealing nettop yet called the EB1501. The new EeeBox machine sports both a DVD slot and NVIDIA Ion power.

Finally, we will wrap up this edition of the week in review with the dumbest guy of the week. A man in Cincinnati walked into an Apple store and threatened to shoot his iPhone right before brandishing his concealed 9mm handgun. He’s lucky Steve Jobs didn’t pop out of a MacBook and beat him with a copy of Windows 7. Until next week, have a good weekend!

Pioneer announced a new application today called AVIC Feeds for the iPhone that interfaces with the AVIC-U310BT and AVIC-Z110BT in-dash navigation systems. The App lets users link the iPhone and the navigation units via Bluetooth.

Using the app iPhone owners can run a POI search, drop a pin at the location, and then send the location to the navigation unit for automatic routing. The app also lets the user snap a photo with the iPhone camera and geotag the image for use as a POI. Saved photos and photos from the internet can also be used as POIs. The app is available on the app store for free now.

Both of the XW models are single-unit speakers, but Pioneer wanted them to stand out ahead of the crowd, and made sure that 2.1-channel, digitally 60W output was used to the best of its capability. Behind the grill are some stealth displays, and if that’s not enough, you don’t even need to physically connect your iPhone or iPod Touch, as the speakers will connect via Bluetooth for streaming your music.

The XW-NAS5, which is pictured above, comes in several colors like black and red, and stretches out beyond just playing music from your Apple products. It actually has a radio, and just in case you can’t sleep without some kind of sound, can play ambient sounds. The XW-NAS3 is stuck to a white model, and can only play music from an iPhone or iPod product. There’s no word on US pricing at this point, but Pioneer is hoping to get these to our shores by the end of the year.

[via Electronista]