stage

An amazing 3D sound game for children

Brett Paine Murphy developed the SoundStage tabletop board game for children (or adults) to explore 3D audio in a playful way. I experienced SoundStage at the recent Dumbo Arts Festival in Brooklyn, NY, and was bowled over by the sound. It was a breathtaking display of technical virtuosity, but one that a 6-year-old child could enjoy. More specifically, SoundStage uses a double quadraphonic sound system with four speakers arranged in a square, and four more speakers closer to the floor. Within the eight-speaker sound cube there's a 2-foot square table, illuminated from below, and a large number of "… Read more

Dell joins media-streaming fight with Stage software update

Joining, Amazon, Apple, and others, Dell today becomes the latest vendor to offer dedicated media-streaming software. Dell's newly update Stage software, included with Dell's Android devices, desktops, and laptops, allows users to stream music, movies, and photos between Dell devices and DLNA-equipped home theater components on a local network. Stage also provides 2GB of cloud-based storage via a Nero-powered feature called SyncUP.

To try Stage, you must have a Dell device with the most recent software update. New Dell systems shipped since July 7 have the updated version already, and older Dell PCs can get the update via download. Owners of Dell's Streak tablet or its Venue smartphone can also download an application called Stage Remote, which lets you manage streaming between PCs and supporting devices without sitting in front a keyboard. In addition to its core functionality, Stage has built-in support for Hulu, Facebook, Flickr, the Blio e-reader, and other services.… Read more

Apple releases MainStage update, suggests 10.6.8 imminent

Apple has released an update to its MainStage software, which is a component of its Logic Studio package that brings studio tracks and effects to a live performance, mimicking the controls on common musical instruments. Not only is the update relevant to musicians and Logic users, but it claims the operating system requirements are for OS X 10.6.8 or later, suggesting an imminent release of the next version of Snow Leopard.

The update addresses a number of bugs with the program, including the following:

Fixes an issue where presets for Audio Unit plugins were incorrectly displayed. Addresses an … Read more

Multimedia slideshow maker

PhotoStage from NCH Software creates and saves video slideshows using your pictures, video clips, and tunes. It can save your slideshows to your PC, burn them on a DVD, send them to a mobile device, or upload them to a Web site. With drag-and-drop capability, video conversion, and download-on-demand features, it proved a capable tool for creating multimedia slideshows.

PhotoStage has an efficient layout that takes a step-by-step approach to creating slideshows. We began with Step 1, adding photos, music, and video clips to the Media List, which also let us insert blank spaces. Step 2 involved selecting effects from … Read more

Altec's Octiv Stage turns your iPad into a 'TV'

We recently got a look at Altec Lansing's new Octiv Stage MP450 docking speaker system for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod, and we have to say it's got a pretty intriguing design that reminds us of the old armature iMacs.

Basically, once you've docked your iPad, the built-in "rotating connection arm" allows you to adjust the iPad to be viewed in portrait or landscape mode and tilted screen for multiple viewing angles. When you place it in an almost flat position, you can even type on your iPad while it's docked.

Altec Lansing is … Read more

Apple issues security, raw, and MainStage updates

Along with yesterday's release of OS X 10.6.5, Apple issued a few other updates for currently supported software. These include a security update for OS X 10.5 "Leopard," an update to the MainStage music production application, and a digital raw compatibility update.

Security Update 2010-007 "Leopard Client" (240.74MB)

This update is a patch for OS X 10.5, which incorporates the same security updates that were addressed in the OS X 10.6.5 update. Apple's description of the update is the standard one that it "improves security," … Read more

Sanyo gives portable power to guitarists

This past week I had a chance to try out Sanyo's new rechargeable power supply for guitar pedals, called Pedal Juice. It's a weird name that to me conjures images of sweaty feet, but someone at Sanyo was smart to leave the name off the actual product.

Instead, the design is a stark, simple white box with a single button for power and a reassuring Eneloop logo. Initially, the color and dimensions of the box reminded me of a block of tofu, but after considering it, it dawned on me that Sanyo smartly modeled the form after a standard Boss guitar pedal. In fact, if you have a Boss-style pedal board, the Pedal Juice fits right in to the cutouts.

So, what's the catch? Well, it's $150.

Even the most devoutly environmentally sensitive, patchouli-soaked, jam band in the world has to admit, $150 is a bitter price when compared with a disposable $2 9v battery or a $30 power adapter. Unless Sanyo is insane, there must be more to the product than Berkeley street cred.

Well, there is.… Read more

JBL goes splat with new On Stage speaker docks

The JBL On Stage series of iPod speaker docks are practically an institution at this point. We have On Stage reviews dating back to 2005.

This year, JBL is doing something a little different with its iPod-amplifying staple, offering a new design that looks like it's been crushed by an elephant and artfully glued back together.

All kidding aside, the daring design of the newest On Stage systems is available on two models. The On Stage IV ($179) is the larger of the two, with a total of four JBL Odyssey transducers, battery power up to 16 hours, and … Read more

Custom Mustangs on Display at 2009 SEMA Show

Earlier this week, we took a quick glance at a few of the many production and concept cars making their debuts at the 2009 SEMA Show last week at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Well, today's video needs little explanation, simply because I don't have much extra information to give you. This Web clip shows off four nice customized Ford Mustangs that were exhibited at the most recent SEMA Show in Vegas, and really, this video is just a lot of nice eye candy for Mustang enthusiasts. Observe...

This video is more or less a commercial for Stage … Read more