ultimate

Ultimate Ears releases stellar Triple.fi 10vi for the iPhone

The Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10vi Noise Isolating Earphones are a slight variation on the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro. The 10vi headphones offer the same spectacular sound quality and gigantic earbuds found across the Triple.fi line, but come with the added bonus of an inline mic and call-answer button for use with your iPhone or other music-friendly cell phone.

Other handy features include a nice, hard-sided metal carrying case; several varieties of eartips, including the super-comfy foam variety; an extender cable; a quarter-inch adapter; and an airplane adapter cable. Be forewarned, though: the ear pieces are truly huge … Read more

Dynaudio Excite: Great modern Danish speakers

Of all the major high-end speaker-manufacturing countries in the world--the United States, England, France, Germany, Italy--Denmark is, in some ways, my favorite.

The Danes balance art and engineering better than anybody. I recently reviewed Dynaudio's latest series, Excite, for Ultimate AV magazine. You can read the complete review, but here are some excerpts:

The Excite system featured a pair of X32 towers (together costing $2,800), an X22 center channel speaker ($850), a pair of X12 bookshelf speakers (together costing $1,200) for use as surrounds, and a SUB 250 subwoofer ($1,000). None of them are very large or imposing; my nonaudiophile friends barely noticed the speakers' presence in my living room. That's probably a plus for folks looking for a 5.1-channel system that blends in with its surroundings.

All of the Excite models feature Magnesium Silicate Polymer cone woofers with die-cast aluminum frame baskets and aluminum voice coils. Dynaudio's specially coated soft-dome tweeters, with newly designed magnet structures, grace all the speakers.

The Excite speakers are available in real-wood maple, cherry, rosewood, and black ash veneers; my review samples came in the deep 'n' dark rosewood, which was truly stunning. … Read more

The ultimate tool for managing your PC

Despite the constant nag screen each time a command is selected, this utility comes packed with options for keeping your system in check. If offers users a file and registry cleaner, along with tools for tweaking your user interface and network.

Users will appreciate WinTools.net Ultimate Edition's easy to navigate interface. With straightforward command buttons running along the left side of the window, you'll be off and running in no time. The Scan Files and Scan Reg buttons quickly pulled up questionable files, and thanks to the full-use trial, we were able to just as quickly remove … Read more

Ultimate Ears announces new wallet-friendly earphones, iPhone-compatible models

In what can only be considered a wise move in the current economic climate, Ultimate Ears is expanding its line of noise-isolating earphones to include a $49.99 pair, the MetroFi 170, and a $79.99 pair, the MetroFi 220. The new earbuds will replace the MetroFi 2, which were previously UE's cheapest set at $80. The company is also offering smartphone-compatible models with microphones built into the cables. These versions, the MetroFi 170vi and the MetroFi220vi, will sell for $59.99 and $89.99, respectively. I'd say that 10-buck increase for call-answering capability is as easy to … Read more

For extra-wide peels, use an extra-wide peeler

It's always nice to have the right tool for the job. Anybody who has ever tried mashing potatoes with a spoon or mincing garlic with a fork can certainly attest to that. While it might be obvious that a peeler is a necessary tool for the kitchen, sometimes it's the little things we overlook.

The Kai Ultimate Wide Peeler available for $19.95 at Williams-Sonoma is an oversized utensil designed for specific tasks. Capable of producing buge slices of cheese, chocolate, or vegetables, this peeler is more versatile than the average standard-sized variety. Additionally, the extra-wide 4.25-inch … Read more

Nothing But Software has the Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate Upgrade for $429, after $110.95 savings.

Nothing But Software has Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate Upgrade for $429, after $110.95 savings. >> Regular price is $539.95 >> Sale price is $429 >> Savings $110.95 (20.55%) >> Click here for deal

Aperion's best-ever home theater speaker system?

I've reviewed hundreds of speakers, and back when I was selling high-end audio, I auditioned many hundreds more. Summing up those experiences here's what I've learned: they all sound different, but some sound more "right" than others.

"Right" connotes an even-tempered balance that doesn't call attention to itself and is likely to wear well over the years. The Aperion Intimus 5T-DB Hybrid HD should do just that. You can read my full review for Ultimate AV here.

The Intimus 5T-DB Hybrid HD ($2,829) is a six-piece system featuring a pair of 5T towers, the 5C center speaker, a pair of 5DB dipole/bipole surround speakers and a remote-controlled subwoofer, the Bravus 10D. True, the speakers don't look all that different than previous generations of Aperions, but as they say, the devil is in the details.

Aperion sells direct from its Web site with a 30 day money back return policy. UPS Ground shipping is free in both directions, and Aperion doesn't collect sales tax in the continental US. Feel free to try the Intimus 5T-DB Hybrid HD as I reviewed it -- and then if you decide, heck, I want the larger Bravus 12D sub that'll be no problemo. Aperion will pay for the Bravus 10D's return shipping and you'll just pay the difference in price between the two subs.

The Intimus 5T-DB Hybrid HD is a big step up from the Intimus 4T Hybrid SD ($1,569) I reviewed for CNET a few months ago. … Read more

Microsoft upgrades support with Premier Ultimate

As usual, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley delivers an interesting bit of news from Redmond. Microsoft, it would seem, launched a significant new support offering as of August 18.

(T)he new offering, Premier Ultimate, is aimed at the company's largest customers. Via the new program, Microsoft works with customers to create a three-year roadmap, including a suggested set of services. Reactive support becomes something provided on an "as needed" basis, said Charlie DeJong, general manager of Support and Health Services for Microsoft.

Customers who sign up for Premier Ultimate get unlimited problem resolution support (with some … Read more

Logitech snaps up Ultimate Ears for $34 million

Logitech on Thursday announced that it will be acquiring headphone-manufacturer Ultimate Ears for $34 million. The all-cash deal is expected to close later this month, but signs of the impending integration are already apparent on the Web sites of both companies (Logitech.com and Ultimateears.com).

Ultimate Ears specializes in in-ear "canal phones" for portable audio devices such as the iPod. While the company's flagship UE-10 Pro model--a set of headphones that are custom-molded to the listener's ears--cost upwards of $900, the product line includes plenty of other headphone products in the more mainstream $40-$250 … Read more