Tech Digest

DAB music downloads to get official launch in new year

Back in June we reported a trial of music downloads via DAB, being undertaken by the UBC media group in the Midlands, more specifically, via Heart FM. Well, things must have gone well, as the service will be rolled out in beta form this year, with an official launch in early 2007.

The idea is that you can download tracks as you hear them, each costing £1.25, but offered as two WMA files. One gies to your phone at 32kbps, with a higher quality 128kbps version accessible to download online. According to The Register, the first handset using the service will be Virgin Mobile's Lobster DAB-enabled phone (pictured).

More details nearer the launch date.

UBC Media Group

Via The Register

PC DAB radio - digital radio from your computer without a net connection

I was trying to work out why the PC DAB radio was a good thing - but then realised not everyone lives in a broadband/Wi-Fi world - and there could be times when you want some good quality radio on the move and of range of a network.

Obviously, you'll need to be in a DAB-friendly area. And if you are, just plug in the PC DAB radio into a USB port, install the software and away you go. You get auto/manual scan to locate your favourite stations, presets to save them, you can record shows onto your PC and there's full DAB information (track/station) on your computer screen.

It's available now from Gizoo, priced at £49.95.

Product page

Via Shiny Shiny

Trinloc Fusion - the world's smallest DAB radio

For all the merits of the new miniaturised shuffle, it's still only an MP3 player. The Trinloc Fusion can do that - and adds DAB, mkaing it the smallest DAB receiver in the world.

How small? 87.5mm x 37mm x 22mm and weighing in at 38g. The DAB tuner receives DAB Band III, with 20 DAB presets to save your favourites, along with FM radio if you can't locate a DAB signal. If you get tired of the radio, the Fusion is also a digital music player, good for MP3, WMA, WAV and OGG files (no DRM as far as we know). There's 1GB of storage for your tunes, or you can save JPEG photos and use it as a portable photo album (but don't expect too much of the 64 x 128 65k CSTN colour display).

Power is by 2x AAA batteries, which should give you 10 hours DAB or 22 hours MP3 playback. Available from November, expect to pay around £100.

Trinloc Fusion

Nevada launches ND-210E portable DAB/FM radio

Nevada has launched the ND-210E portable DAB/FM radio, a budget DAB solution - retailing for under £60.

Despite the price tag, all the basics are covered, with both DAB and FM reception, automatic and manual tuning, plus four favourite stations for each. The radio also features 2 x 4 watt speakers and a backlit "Cool Blue" LCD display for station name and related information. Power is via mains or 6x CC batteries.

Available now, you can pick it up for £59.99.

Product page

More DAB:
Roberts introduces Gemini 49 - their smallest portable DAB radio
Genus Type-R retro DAB radio

Bang & Olufsen's BeoCenter 6-23 LCD TV with DAB radio

Bang & Olufsen has introduced a typically stylish new TV - the BeoCenter 6-23 LCD TV. And it's a first - the first time a TV has come with an integrated DAB radio as standard (unless you know better).

The 23-inch LCD TV promises a 180-degree viewing angle and a front glass screen to keep the picture bright and clear, even when it catches the sunlight. There's also DVI input if you want to impress your mates and use it as a computer monitor, while BeoLink offers connectivity to any other Bang & Olufsen TV in the home.

There is a downside though. The TV isn't HD-ready, which might well put you off such a hefty investment and perhaps its worth thinking about how often you listen to the radio stations on your digital receiver before you buy a TV on the basis of it having DAB. I can count that on one hand. 

Still, there's no doubting it will look good in your living room in either of the six colours - aluminium, black, dark grey, yellow, blue, and red. If you want one, it will set you back £2,740 or £3,070 with the motorised stand.

Bang & Olufsen website

More Bang & Olufsen:
Bang & Olufsen's £180,000 entertainment system
Bang & Olufsen for the car?

Roberts introduces Gemini 49 - their smallest portable DAB radio

When it comes to portables, small is definitely best. Which means this Gemini 49 from Roberts, the smallest portable battery/mains DAB radio available, is well worth a closer look.

The Gemini 49 is just 215mm x 116mm x 40mm in size, operating through both battery and mains and featuring a built-in battery charger for the AA batteries it uses. The radio has both FM and DAB wavebands with 10 station presets. And despite its size, it still features an LCD display for station information and the clock, which features auto set.

Not missing a trick in the style stakes, it's available in "iPod white" and should be in the shops now, retailing for aorund £60.

Find out more

More DAB:
Genus Type-R retro DAB radio
Pure Chronos DAB/CD alarm clock

BBC plans add-on DAB for MP3 players

The BBC is rumoured to be planning a DAB plug-in gadget to give MP3 players DAB functionality. And I'm guessing there's some substance to this rumour, as the story originated on the BBC website!

Plans are said to be at an early stage, with no firm details for the capabilities of the gadget or how much it will cost. However, speaking about the plan for the gadget, a BBC spokesman said the broadcaster was carrying out feasibility studies to see how easy it would be to make and market the clip-on gadget: "We have a duty to make sure digital radio is relevant and clearly portable MP3 players are a massive area of growth," he said.

The gadget isn't going to be limited to playing the BBC digital radio stations - and there could be versions for mobile phones too - which would make sense, with most phones being music players these days. The BBC spokesman wouldn't name potential partners, but said the corporation "would like to get something out sooner rather than later."

We'll keep you posted.

Via The BBC

Genus Type-R retro DAB radio

These days, if you enter the DAB market, it's not just about what your product can do, but how sharp it looks. And for me, the Genus Type-R DAB radio with its retro styling and touch sensitive controls is well up there.

Genus claims their latest model is designed to stand out in a market "crowded by amorphous plastic radio". There's certainly not a lot of plastic here. The Type-R features natural walnut end caps, an anodised aluminium chassis and a hand embossed genuine leather rear panel. The enamel badge of the Type-R that is even made by the same business that supplies badges to Aston Martin and Bentley. But it's the smart touch controls that really set it apart. The touch sensitive controls are hidden beneath illuminated graphics to deliver an impressively minimalist control panel. Just run a finger up or down the volume slider or touch a graphic to change your settings. In addition, proximity sensing technology picks up if a hand is approaching, then illuminates the touch controls and display to the optimum brightness.

The Type-R also features MaxxBass - a patented technology that increases bass performance, has a line-out so you can play DAB through a larger hi-fi system, a line-in if you want to use it as a speaker system and is powered by mains or rechargeable battery (sold separately).

Definitely one to look at if you want style over a huge list of features. It's available from the middle of October, priced around £150.

Genus website

More DAB:
Stylish DAB radio from Pure Digital
Pure Chronos DAB/CD alarm clock

Stylish DAB radio from Pure Digital

Pure have just launched their Élan RV40 DAB/FM portable radio with a number of cool technologies to make your radio listening more 21st century.

It's not just live TV that gets the pause/rewind/replay treatment - the ReVu technology allows live radio to be paused for up to 30 minutes and played back. Intellitext gives access to broadcast text that some stations send out, and textSCAN which can pause and control that text.

Up to 20 station presets, a mixture of DAB and FM stations, can be stored which should be ample for most listeners. There's even a USB interface for 'adding new features as they become available'.

The Pure website has a useful station checker, which will list the DAB stations currently available in your postcode area.

The radio itself looks pretty good, curved and finished in a graphite effect. It has two 3" drive unit speakers plus headphone and stereo outputs. It runs from the mains or battery (6 x C batteries or an optional ChargePak)

It's available now for £89.99.

Pure Digital web site

Pure Chronos DAB/CD alarm clock

If the Roberts Gemini 19 DAB digital clock radio from earlier this week was a little too basic for your bedroom, how about about the Pure Chronos DAB/CD alarm clock - which should give you a bigger blast - and more choice - in a morning.

Based on the original Chronos, the new version is more of a bedside stereo than a radio, combining DAB and CD, stereo speakers and an alarm. In fact, you get four completely independent alarms that can be set for weekdays, weekends, daily or just as one offs - each with the choice of waking up to either DAB, , FM, CD or a traditional buzzer. And there's also a sleep button to ease you into sleep - and a snooze if you can't quite get out of it.

An LCD display shows the current time plus the DAB radio information via textSCAN, which means you pause and control scrolling text, while a light sensor dims the output at night the night. The CD player is also good for CD-R, CD/RW or MP3/WMA discs, which should save you some swapping over or you can connect your iPod (or MP3 player) to use via the speakers. And if your Chronos is out of arm's reach, there's also a remote control.

It's available now, priced at £99.99

Find out more

More DAB:
Intempo PP-01 - DAB meets the picture frame
Genus Vero 2 DAB radio with SD card recording