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a2dp

Open Interface raises bar on Bluetooth audio

Bluetooth developer Open Interface announced today that it has a new lossless audio codec that leaves the existing A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) standard in the dust. The codec is called SoundAbout Lossless and promises low-latency, low-complexity, multichannel Bluetooth audio, without compromising audio fidelity. Open Interface's Chief Operating Officer Rick Romatowski ran a demo of the new Bluetooth codec at our CNET offices last week, and we were definitely impressed. Jasmine France and I viewed a few scenes from House of Flying Daggers and were blown away by both the sound quality and the undetectable latency introduced by the … Read more

Belkin TuneStage II: Wireless audio for the iPod and more

The new and improved Belkin TuneStage isn't slated to hit stores for a few weeks, but got our hands on an early unit and give it a test run. Right out of the box, we had the TuneStage II up and running in less than two minutes. Plug in the base station, run a connecting cable to any stereo or powered speaker system, and you're ready to use your iPod as a wireless music box. The new and improved transmitter dongle uses the standard iPod 30-pin connector, so unlike the original TuneStage, the TuneStage II is compatible with … Read more

A Motorola in-car radio? You cannot be Sirius

Motorola's designers have been busy creating products that appeal to drivers. First we reported on the Moto T605 music and hands-free system that lets drivers stream audio files wirelessly from their Bluetooth 2.0-enabled cell phones and MP3 players. And now, Motorola is launching iRadio--its own music subscription service that looks like a cross between iTunes and satellite radio.

iRadio enables owners of select Motorola devices equipped with the stereo Bluetooth profile (such as the Motorola Q) to compile their own commercial-free playlists of songs from an online database and then use their mobile devices to stream the music … Read more

Motorola lets in-car music phones off the leash

Motorola has jumped on the in-car entertainment bandwagon with the release of its Motorola T605 Automotive Music & Hands-free System, which allows users to use their Bluetooth-enabled Motorola phones or digital music players to stream audio wirelessly through the car's speakers, while doubling as a hands-free calling device. The T605 also features a jack to enable users to plug in MP3 players that aren't equipped with the Bluetooth audio (or A2DP) profile, such as iPods. According to Moto, the T605 works in a similar way to OEM Bluetooth systems, in that it will pause music when it detects … Read more