Audioholics Featured Reviews & Articles

Diablo 3 may be the most anticipated game of the decade, arriving 12 years after its predecessor - now it's finally here! The PC-only video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment continued its point-and-click, hack and slash fest last night at 12:01 AM PST. Die-hard fans either attended late night sale events or were downloading and installing the game at the stroke of midnight. Unfortunately for those of us on easterly time zones we had to wait considerably longer than midnight to actually play. Blizzard’s Battle.net servers hosting the online-only game were delivering an alarming Error 33, warning users that the game is not available yet. Considering Diablo 3 was first announced back in 2008 with no release date in site, a few more hours can’t hurt.

We work pretty closely with CEDIA, and lately, they've been taking a good hard look at some signals that indicate high resolution audio may be making a comeback. For years, MP3s and compressed digital files have been growing in popularity and dominance, but a taste for fidelity seems to be creeping back into the market now that the flat panel craze is winding down. It's not winding down because people no longer like flat panel TVs - it's just that everyone now has one... or two or three - in their home. Even vinyl has experienced a revival among the hardcore purists (although we don't believe vinyl is necessarily "pure" given the nature of the recording process). In any case, and awakening into the world of high fidelity audio means that consumers are waking up to realize there is more out there for them to experience and enjoy.

Spotify announced (finally!) their native iPad app this week. It's been a long tie in coming as the existing app didn't make much use (or any, really) of the enhanced space and real-estate available on the iPad. The new app also optimizes the app for use with the iPad 3's retina display. Here's a breakdown of the main features, which include Retina graphics for iPad, better browsing, a new ‘Now Playing’ full-screen view with HD cover art, enhanced (and unified) Search features, grouped inbox, gapless playback, crossfade, and - most importantly - Apple AirPlay integration.

Each year Electronic House announces its Hottie Awards to commemorate... oh, sorry, that's HOTY Awards. Apparently it stands for Home of the Year. Innocent mistake. In any case, the HOTY Awards are segmented into different categories to honor integrators and custom installation companies that go above and beyond in bringing superbly designed and executed home A/V and automation projects to life. These projects range in both price and complexity and fall into the several categories, each having an award for Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

There had been rumors of clamp-downs on non-HDCP broadcasting of digital content for years, but so far it's been more myth and "we can do this if we want to" than "we're actually doing it". Not anymore. Last week reports came in that some DirecTV subscribers were getting on-screen messages informing them that their non-HDCP outputs were being disabled and they'd have to switch to component video (see the photo, courtesy of theverge.com). What's odd, is that the message only had to do with HBO channels. Why is this even an issue in an age of HDMI-on-everything-including-your-refrigerator? Because early adopters to HDTV - you know, those people who paid thousands of dollars to help fund the low-cost TV production we now enjoy - received sets that pre-dated HDCP. Often, these sets had DVI inputs. It was only after the initial push of digital and HD sets that HDMI with its HDCP copyright protection hit the scene.

We can't wait for CEDIA. While no one has been exactly sitting on their laurels, Denon and Marantz haven't been leading the pack in terms of product releases. Apparently, all of that is going to change this year. This week, the company released a statement that it will be introducing an "unprecedented" lineup of more than 70 new products within the next six months. Now all of that will not just be high-end receivers and amplifiers, of course. The company hinted at new "lifestyle-oriented" offerings which will include headphones and other innovative dock speaker solutions. Let's hope that 20 of the 70 new products aren't those Chinese knock-off in-ear headphones everyone seems to be falling all over each other to produce.

On Saturday, Best Buy slipped out that it's shutting down 50 of its retail stores. In an attempt to avoid the fate of Circuit City (which officially closed in 2009), the retail giant is trimming the fat and cutting 400 corporate jobs and nearly $1 billion dollars in costs. What was odd was that the company indicated it would try and find jobs for those being laid off (which would seemingly counter the effort to actually "cut" jobs). In any case what was even more surprising was the matching announcement that the company would open up 100 new Best Buy Mobile stores in 2013. The new stores will be smaller than their big box counterparts and based on the most profitable side of the business. mobile phones and accessories.

The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) has announced new additions and changes to this year’s CEDIA EXPO. The new offerings will provide electronic systems contractors (ESCs) with access to the information they need to remain relevant in the rapidly diversifying industry, with a strong focus on both business and technical education. CEDIA has added more opportunities for peer-to-peer business discussion with the introduction of two roundtable series. CEDIA has also expanded technical education offerings centered around IP and networking.

Our "Mad Men" nostalgia for the aesthetics of the 60s is now reaching out to living-room entertainment systems. The floor-model, cabinet TV is making a comeback at IKEA as the Swedish furniture company brings its unique design and funny names to consumer electronics. Soon you’ll find budget home theater gear packed cleverly inside IKEA’s living-room furniture – after some assembly of course. Think of it as a Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) system packed inside IKEA living-room pieces. Dubbed Uppleva, the line of gadget-furniture has an LED TV as its centerpiece and includes a wireless 2.1 speaker system, internet connectivity and Blu-ray compatibility but the real value offered by IKEA – no unsightly wires. It’s budget home theater with the ultimate in spousal approval factor.