11/13, 8:26pm
Bluetooth clock radio charges devices, uses ambient light, music to wake users
Audio company JBL has revealed a new clock radio that pairs the company's sound with a gentle way to wake up in the morning. The JBL Horizon is a compact alarm clock with an LCD display that uses ambient LED lighting that gradually brightens to wake users up. On top of the LED lighting, one of two alarms can be set to use a digital tone, music streamed from a smartphone, or an FM radio station to entice people to get out of bed. To keep with the basic needs of an alarm clock, the Horizon has a snooze/light bar.
more
10/13, 6:19am
Red JBL earphones have 9mm drivers, inline controls
Chinese mobile device producer OnePlus has introduced a second set of earphones for its smartphone, less than a month after announcing another pair of slightly-smaller earbuds. Built in partnership with JBL, the E1+ Earphones are said to be "specifically crafted" for the OnePlus One, with the earbuds using 9mm JBL drivers with the company's PureBass technology, claimed to provide a high-frequency response between 10Hz and 22kHz and a considerable amount of bass.
more
09/04, 6:45pm
Cinema soundbar and base coming for entertainment, new portable Charge 2 speaker
This fall, three new products from JBL will be available for consumers looking to add some punch to their home theater setups without taking up much space or when listening to music on-the-go. The company announced that two new products in the Cinema line, the Cinema Base and Cinema SB350, and the Charge 2 Bluetooth speaker would be coming later in the year.
more
07/27, 8:52pm
Balanced sound, cleaver controls make wearing on-ear headphones enjoyable
For all the different configurations of headphones on the market, it's always a tough choice for buyers to get something that is just right. For consumers searching for a strong sound but who don't want to shell out a couple hundred dollars on over-the-ear headphones, on-ear is the next step down. But does that mean the sound quality is a step down as well? The JBL Synchros E40BT headphones aim to convince users otherwise, with their balanced approach to sound and mid-range price. Does that mean that the headphones are good, or something that consumers would be settling for? Find out in our review.
more
06/26, 3:55pm
Two sport models, four E-Series models offer large range of consumer options
Announcing a total of six units yesterday, JBL is bringing out new entries in the Synchros lines of in-ear, on-ear and around-ear headphones. With two Sports models and four E-Series models, consumers are offered a number of options to fit their specific needs. The new Reflect Sports headphones offer users flexibility with a wired or Bluetooth option. JBL's new E-Series units offer small in-ear units to large around-ear headphones to fit nearly any situation.
more
05/28, 9:00pm
Librify to launch an invite-only e-book service, Target to act as retail partner
Social e-book platform Librify has announced the upcoming launch of a new membership based service. Offering access to a "book club-like" experience, e-books will be accessible via a membership subscription, or purchased individually. Members can access book club management features as well as social features that aim to help organize and promote book sharing with friends. Target's partnership is retail focused, and combines Librify's e-book offering with Target's "Club Picks", which will be elaborated upon during its unveiling at Book Expo America this week.
more
01/08, 2:13pm
Audio collection includes devices with Bluetooth streaming, AirPlay, DLNA support
Harman revealed a number of audio products at CES, headed up by the JBL Flip 2 portable wireless speaker. The JBL Synchros S400BT headphones and J46BT in-ear stereo headphones accompany the Flip, as well as the AKG Y55 DJ headphones, the Harman Kardon Aura home audio system, and the Harman Kardon BDS 580 and 280 3D Blu-ray players.
more
01/07, 12:50pm
Units shoot for higher-than-CD audio
Audio gear maker JBL has announced two new wireless speaker systems, the Authentics L8 and L16. Both units support AirPlay, DLNA, and Bluetooth 3.0 streaming, as well as direct input via phono, SPDIF, or 3.5mm jacks. Notably, the pair also use 24-bit, 96kHZ signal paths, enabling better-than-CD quality.
more
09/07, 6:52pm
JBL Spark, Pebbles speakers added to lineup with unique features
JBL has added a pair of new speakers to its lineup. The new JBL Spark brings a unique megaphone-like shape in its design, which has the flexibility to be hung on a wall, or stashed in a shelf, or laid on a couch. The JBL Pebbles are a new set of plug and play speakers that are powered over USB by a desktop or notebook that also incorporate built-in cable management.
more
08/05, 7:28pm
Seven models cover most loudspeaker uses
Harman JBL Professional today introduced the PRX700 Series portable loudspeakers. The next generation in JBL’s PRX portable PA line, the PRX700 Series offers improvements in power, SPL and connectivity over the previous models. The PRX700 Series comprises seven new units: the PRX710, 10-inch, 2-way multipurpose loudspeaker; the PRX712, 12-inch two-way multipurpose loudspeaker and floor monitor; the PRX715, 15-inch, two-way full-range main system/floor monitor; the PRX725, 15-inch, two-way bass reflex loudspeaker; the PRX735, 15-inch, three-way full-range main system; the PRX715XLF, 15-inch, self-powered bass reflex subwoofer system; and the PRX718XLF, 18-inch self-powered bass reflex subwoofer system.
more
11/15, 6:42am
JBL intros OnBeat Micro and Venue LT with Lightning connectors
JBL has revealed its first speaker docks with native support for Apple’s latest propietary Lightning connector. The JBL OnBeat Micro and the Venue LT have been specifically designed for the new Lightning port equipped iPhone 5, iPad mini, fourth-gen Retina iPad and the new iPod touch models. The speaker docks will also support other non-Lightning devices via a USB port allowing users to connect an array of other devices.
more
09/04, 8:58pm
Revamp includes renovated Jonny Ive-designed Soundsticks
At Berlin's 2012 IFA show, audio giant Harman announced seven new products from JBL and Harman Kardon. Streamers JBL Flip, JBL Cinema Soundbar SB200, Harmon Kardon Soundsticks Wireless, JBL Micro Wireless, and JBL Cinema Soundbar SB 400 emphasize Bluetooth connectivity. The JBL Micro II and the Cinema Soundbar SB 100 round out the announcements.
more
08/23, 8:54am
JBL adds Jembe Wireless Bluetooth speakers to lineup
JBL has added a Bluetooth-ready version of its Jembe desktop speakers to its lineup. Although removing the need for a wire from the paired Bluetooth device, the new Jembe Wireless still requires a wired power supply that also powers an on-board power amplifier. To help ensure the best possible audio quality, the speakers incorporate Harman's TrueStream tech that ensures the speakers run the latest and most optimized software.
more
07/17, 11:30am
Deals on speaker systems, laptop stands, and more
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on speaker systems, laptop stands, and more. Woot.com has now lowered the cost of the JBL OnBeat Air Wireless Speaker/Dock, complete with built-in touch-pad controls, composite video output, and support for connecting to computers or laptops via USB. Currently featured at DealNN, the speaker system has now dropped to $99.99 in price, and offers savings of up to $200.
more
11/17, 4:25pm
JBL outs 30W OnBeat Xtreme iOS dock with BT
JBL has just announced it's shipping the OnBeat Xtreme iOS device dock. It can hold the iPad or iPad 2 as well as the smaller iPhone and iPod touch in its rotating dock connector. Bluetooth is its standout and gives it device independence, letting it pair with Android or any other Bluetooth audio source.
more
11/16, 4:35pm
JBL Jembe speaker system get 6W for each driver
JBL has just unveiled its Jembe desktop speakers. The powered speakers sport a 3.5mm input for connecting to devices other than just PCs. Styled using JBL's Weave design, they have metal grilles covering the drivers.
more
10/11, 8:20pm
JBL MS-2 inline DSP lets users tune car audios
Home, car and marine audio maker JBL has shown off the MS-2 digital signal processor. It promises to make stock in-car sound systems sound better, most of all for smartphones like Android and iPhone devices. It routes to the car's audio system through standard 3.5mm audio inputs and with a relatively hands-free design.
more
10/05, 9:00am
Dell Inspiron 2320 scales from budget to high end
Dell replaced the higher-end of its all-in-one desktops Tuesday with the Inspiron One 2320. It stays framed around a 23-inch, 1080p display with optional touch and freshens it up with a jump from AMD to the newest Intel hardware. Systems start off at the entry level with a twin-core Pentium and scale up to as much as a Core i7 and 8GB of RAM.
more
09/22, 7:25pm
Packs four speakers in six inch sphere
Harman, the maker of Harman/Kardon and JBL audio equipment, has launched a compact stereo music system aimed at mobile audiophiles. The JBL On Tour iBT is a portable two-channel all-in-one system that connects to iPhones, iPads, and iPods, as well as most other tablets and smartphones, using Bluetooth. The circular unit is relatively small at 6.5 inches diameter and just over 1.6 inches thick.
more
04/13, 1:05pm
Harman Kardon co-founder Sidney Kardon dead at 92
Sidney Harman, the co-founder of the Harman Kardon audio equipment brand in 1953, died on Tuesday at 92 due to complications from acute myeloid leukemia. He left the company in 2007, which is now called Harman International Industries and had since been teaching polymathic studies at the University of Southern California. Last year, he was in the headlines after buying Newsweek magazine for $1 while assuming its liabilities.
more
04/11, 10:20am
JBL AirPlay-ready On Air iPhone, iPod dock ships
JBL on Monday began shipping its promised On Air speaker dock. The previously unveiled iPhone and iPod dock is JBL's first with AirPlay and will take any audio from a matching source over Wi-Fi, including iTunes, key apps on iOS 4.2, and a wider range again under iOS 4.3. A color LCD will display album art and other details from at least a locally docked source.
more
04/06, 4:40pm
JBL outs 5.1-channel Cinema speaker systems
Harman on Wednesday revealed the latest in its line of home theater products with the Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 speaker systems. Either is a 5.1-channel system and has voice-matched satellite speakers for consistent sound. The center channel in both systems houses two PolyPlas cones.
more
03/29, 10:45am
JBL intros $150 Apple dock with rotating stand
JBL on Tuesday debuted its On Beat speaker dock for portable Apple iOS devices. The universal dock is shaped to fit iPads along with iPods and iPhones, and can rotate them by 90 degrees to simplify watching videos. The dock will charge the devices and has an equalizer for its 360-degree sound stage.
more
03/08, 9:25am
JBL On Air dock official with AirPlay audio
After a recent appearance at the FCC, JBL's first AirPlay-capable dock has launched on Tuesday. The On Air pipes audio wirelessly from any iOS 4.2 or later iPad, iPod or iPhone, as well as the iTunes library on Macs and Windows PCs. The dock comes just in time for iOS 4.3 and will have the full range of AirPlay sources.
more
02/28, 4:30pm
Rinspeed BamBoo concept sports Harman tech
At the Geneva Motor Show, audio gear maker Harman has announced it teamed up with German concept car maker and tuner Rinspeed on what the two call the world’s first social networking vehicle. It sports Aha Radio tech that will read out text-based content from Twitter, Facebook, podcasts and streaming music, along with an integrated Wi-Fi connection. It will also have the ability to integrate with Android smartphones and HTC-made tablets for SMS and e-mail integration.
more
01/04, 12:00am
Lenovo specs out Y560p and Y460p
As a minor element of its IdeaPad revamps, Lenovo today detailed the specs of the Y460p and Y560p it previewed last month. They can use the full range of Sandy Bridge chips from the 2.1GHz Core i3 through to the quad 2.5GHz Core i7. Either has the option of a 32GB or 64GB SSD as an OS drive that can dramatically speed up the boot time without sacrificing a primary disk up to 1TB.
more
12/21, 9:35am
JBL On Air Wireless AirPlay dock at FCC
One of JBL's plans for CES was given away today as an FCC filing has uncovered its first AirPlay-capable speaker dock. The On Air Wireless will let users either play from a docked iPhone or iPod as well as push audio over Wi-Fi from those same devices as well as an iPad or computer. Despite the network link, it won't stream Internet radio directly and still needs an outside device.
more
11/23, 3:50pm
Dell Inspiron Duo to arrive in US on December 15
The convertible netbook that turns into a tablet that is the Dell Inspiron Duo has now popped up for pre-order on Dell's site. The 10-inch device starts at $550 and will ship beginning December 15. The major specs, as revealed at its introduction last week, include a dual-core Atom N550 CPU, Windows 7 Home Premium preloaded on the 250GB or 320GB hard drive, and 2GB of RAM.
more
10/12, 9:50am
JBL On Stage iPod docks get fan blade design
JBL revamped its iPhone and iPod speaker docks in unusual fashion today, launching the On Stage IV and On Stage Micro III. Both make a sharp break from earlier design and use a new "weave" design reminiscent of a fan blade. Audio output doesn't change with the new design, which includes four transducers on the full-size On Stage and two in the Micro.
more
09/17, 3:25pm
Dell prepping Studio XPS 15, 17 notebooks?
An unconfirmed report originating from French-language forum LesDeLLiens maintains that Dell will soon replace its Studio XPS 13 and 16 notebooks with the XPS 15 and 17, respectively. They are due to show up in the French market sometime in late October or early November, which means they could arrive in the US sometime before then. There are also some leaked technical specs for each flagship notebook, optioned up to their limits.
more
09/09, 10:00am
Apple in rare partnership with third party vendor
Apple has reportedly entered into a rare partnership with third-party vendor BridgeCo to help showcase its new AirPlay feature. At the company’s Sept 1st music event, CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated an iPad streaming the movie Up to the new Apple TV. Apple is said to have given BridgeCo -- a software and embedded audio chip specialist -- unique access to iTunes code, in particular to enable AirPlay on devices made by Denon, iHome, Marantz, JBL, and Bowers & Wilkens. All of the companies are listed on Apple’s website as featured partners.
more
05/26, 11:35am
JBL shipping On Stage Micro II iPhone dock
JBL has shipped its promised successor to the original On Stage Micro iPod dock with its On Stage Micro II. Like the earlier Micro, the dock is made for traveling and has has a four AAA battery housing. It improves on the original by coming equipped with two Odyssey transducers that provide a fuller sound.
more
03/18, 11:45am
Harman and JBL refresh audio for spring 2010
Harman Kardon and its sub-label JBL this morning refreshed their audio lineups for the spring, centering attention on a unique car audio kit. The MS-8 is the first car audio tuner designed explicitly for owners themselves: it combines a digital audio processor with adjustment controls and headphone monitors to tune a car's existing speaker system. A step-by-step process theoretically improves bass, dynamics, frequency response and other factors within 10 minutes.
more
12/02, 1:55pm
JBL Creature III more compact than before
After a brief tease earlier this fall, Harman's JBL label today released its Creature III speakers. The successors to JBL's 2.1-channel computer speaker line keep a similar alien-like shape but have a more compact subwoofer that more readily fits on a desktop. It also glows from beneath and now remembers volume set by the touch-sensitive controls on one of the satellites.
more
11/19, 3:00pm
Dell Studio 17 Touch appears
Dell today quietly slipped the Studio 17 Touch into its lineup as its first touchscreen notebook. The 17-inch system adds multi-touch input and carries Dell's own suite of touch apps, such as its photo browser. Most of the design remains the same and is treated as a desktop replacement and media center hybrid with a 2.1-channel JBL speaker system and HDMI output.
more
09/23, 2:05pm
Dell Studio notebooks with Core i7
Dell today backed its Alienware updates with the addition of Intel's mobile Core i7 processor as an option to three of its self-labeled systems. The Studio XPS 16, Studio 15 and Studio 17 all have the choice of either the 1.6GHz or 1.73GHz quad-core processors as a build-to-order upgrade. The high speed choice boosts the price of a Studio 15 to $999, while the larger Studio 17 to $1,099 and the lone Studio XPS update to $1,249.
more
06/15, 9:35am
JBL and Roxy Earphones
JBL today dipped into more fashionable gear with the formal launch of its Roxy Reference line of earphones. Both the in-ear Reference 230/250s (shown) and the over-ear Reference 430s come in dual tones of either blue and green or orange and pink and are meant for girls looking to customize their appearances while they listen. The in-ears produce about 50mW of power, with the 230 using a closed-back design and targeted at music players; the 250s use a semi open-back design and have an in-line mic and button to answer calls from iPhones or other supporting cellphones.
more
02/27, 4:25pm
DealNN: JBL Spyro
Today's featured DealNN deal is available this weekend only J&R.com. The JBL Spyro speaker system is regularly priced at $129.99, but for this weekend only get it for $49.99. Featuring a pair of flower shaped speakers and a subwoofer with one touch volume controls, the Spyro speaker system can be used with almost any multimedia source via the stereo mini jack.
more
02/17, 3:45pm
JBL, modu music jacket
Manufacturer of the world's first modular cellphone, modu, and audio hardware maker JBL on Tuesday announced the release of the modu music jacket for the handset, giving it standalone capabilities as a music player. The phone enclosure contains two JBL Odyssey speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB connector, as well as a digital sound meter. It also brings with it a 2.2-inch display and a 3-megapixel camera with flash.
more
06/02, 4:10pm
JBL Control NOW Speakers
JBL today rolled out a unique set of speakers it says is an ideal match for unusual home audio setups. The Control NOW has an unusual curved shape that allows them to sit either horizontally or vertically against any surface: they can rest against the wall in the corner or on a shelf, rest flat on a table, or even hang in a circle from a special pole mount, the company says. The tweeter and dual 4-inch woofers are tuned to produce a similar sound regardless of where the speakers are facing.
more
