Sound Battle: Sony vs. Apple vs. Bose

Grok Headline matches for Sound Battle: Sony vs. Apple vs. Bose

Bose SoundDock: iPod Speaker System
Lacks Features But Offers Impressive
Sound Quality For Its Size

Bose SoundDock: iPod Speaker System
Lacks Features But Offers Impressive
Sound Quality For Its Size 12/30/2004 08:55 AM

At $300, the SoundDock is more expensive than competing systems. However, it's currently the best sounding of the all-in-one speaker systems we've tested, and its uncluttered elegance and ease of use make it an appealing offering for those willing to plunk down the change. By Dan Frakes, Macworld

German Walkman Inventor Wins Battle
Against Sony, Fixes Gaze on Apple

German Walkman Inventor Wins Battle
Against Sony, Fixes Gaze on Apple 06/07/2004 12:09 PM

German inventor Andreas Pavel has just settled a 20 year court battle with Sony over the origins of the Walkman, a device Pavel claimed to have patented in 1977. While Sony has spent the better part of two decades trying to ignore his claims of invention (despite the fact they paid him royalty fees for the first few years of the device's life), Pavel's near bankruptcy after a 3.7 million dollar court battle was finally rewarded by a confidential agreement in which Pavel was reportedly paid off to the tune of several million euros. Pavel, cock of the walk, is now planning to take a swipe at Apple, whose iPod has become the Walkman of this generation. Even better, Pavel has another patent in the wings: a 1989 US filing for a technology that combines the features of a portable audio player and a mobile phone. That patent will be decided on 'soon.'
Read [Management.Silicon via Blues]

Related
Sony VAIO Pocket Review [Gizmodo]
Old School Sony Walkmans (Walkmen?) [Gizmodo]

The Battle Over Directional Sound

The Battle Over Directional Sound 05/04/2004 04:44 PM
It's been almost exactly three years since we first wrote about directional sound technology that promised to (among other things) let everyone sitting in a car listen to their own radio stations (without headphones) without having to hear what anyone else was listening to. It turns out that the guy profiled in that article wasn't the only one working on the technology, and MIT's Tech Review has written an article talking about the two different inventors who are each working on directional targeted sound technology, and who are gearing up to battle each other in the marketplace. Of course, at this point, it sounds like both technologies are quite early on, and it makes you wonder if the two inventors (who appear to use similar methods) wouldn't be better off pooling resources and attacking the market together.

3 New Sony DVD Handycams Record True
Widescreen and 5.1-channel Surround
Sound

3 New Sony DVD Handycams Record True
Widescreen and 5.1-channel Surround
Sound 01/05/2005 04:03 PM
The new Sony DCR-DVD403E (DCRDVD403E), Sony DCR-DVD202E (DCRDVD202E), & Sony DCR-DVD203E (DCRDVD203E) DVD camcorders all record true 16:9 widescreen and 5.1-channel Surround sound producing complete multi-channel DVDs that can be played back to the full on a home theatre system. [PRWEB Jan 5, 2005]

"Instinctually I am listening for the
sound of her breathing or to the sound
of her swallowing, and if those noises
sound okay then I’m listening to the
sounds of the house to make sure
monsters don’t come out of the walls to
hurt her"

"Instinctually I am listening for the
sound of her breathing or to the sound
of her swallowing, and if those noises
sound okay then I’m listening to the
sounds of the house to make sure
monsters don’t come out of the walls to
hurt her" 08/27/2004 03:50 PM

The Big Sony BMG Pirate Battle

The Big Sony BMG Pirate Battle 06/17/2005 06:14 PM

Arrrr! Sony BMG is unveiling a new CD technology to provide a “speed bump” for those nasty pirates. The new CDs only allow for three duplicates to be made and can only be ripped to a computer in a protected format. Legal problems are already arising, though; the protected rip format forbids the music from being put onto the Apple iPod, so BMG is sending emails to inquiring customers with instructions on a backdoor route around this problem. Nice one, Sony!

Sony BMG hinders music pirates with protected CD [Reuters]

Microsoft looks to Sony in digital music
battle

Microsoft looks to Sony in digital music
battle 01/06/2005 02:43 PM
iPodlounge Jan 6 2005 6:34PM GMT

Microsoft, Sony enter epic battle

Microsoft, Sony enter epic battle 05/10/2004 10:17 AM
San Francisco Chronicle May 10 2004 2:09PM GMT

Apple Dealers Sound Off About DJs

Apple Dealers Sound Off About DJs 11/13/2003 04:18 AM
Apple dealers are frustrated by the vendor's decision to sell its products at David Jones stores, but believe their 'specialist knowledge' will give them the upper hand when competing with the mass market retailer. By Byron Connolly (CRN via MyAppleMenu)

Nintendo, Sony Start Handheld Gaming
Battle At E3

Nintendo, Sony Start Handheld Gaming
Battle At E3 05/06/2004 02:28 PM

Sony enlists Vaio brand in iPod battle

Sony enlists Vaio brand in iPod battle 09/16/2004 09:27 AM
Personal Computer World Sep 16 2004 1:52PM GMT

Handheld video game battle between Sony,
Nintendo heats up

Handheld video game battle between Sony,
Nintendo heats up 01/05/2005 09:12 PM
SiliconValley.com Jan 5 2005 11:45PM GMT

Sony, Nintendo power up for battle of
the portable game consoles (AFP)

Sony, Nintendo power up for battle of
the portable game consoles (AFP) 09/26/2004 03:24 PM
AFP - Riding on the global success of PlayStation 2 (PS2), Sony has launched its first hand-held game console to challenge rival Nintendo, whose Game Boy Advance monopolizes the worldwide portable game market.

While Sony Tries To Become Apple,
Samsung Tries To Become Sony

While Sony Tries To Become Apple,
Samsung Tries To Become Sony 05/13/2004 03:41 AM
Has anyone noticed that it's becoming increasingly difficult to tell Samsung from Sony? It appears that almost everything Sony does, Samsung does as well. So, it's really no surprise that a little over a month after Sony announced plans to build out retail stores more for advertising than for sales, Samsung plans to do the same thing. Of course, while Sony says they're more interested in using the stores for advertising, Samsung has gone one step further. They believe so strongly that this "store" is just for advertising that they won't sell you anything at the store. It's for showcasing products only. Also, a random note in the article, but the same week that Sony and Nintendo announced their plans for their next generation handheld gaming devices, this article also mentions that Samsung is planning for its own N-Gage like phone/gaming device. Apparently, the dismal failure of the N-Gage isn't enough to scare them off.

Sony plans to out-apple Apple with
online movie downloads

Sony plans to out-apple Apple with
online movie downloads 03/31/2005 05:18 PM
Sony plans to begin making some of its movie library available online. Will it catch on in the same way iTMS did with music?

Sony Loses Patent Battle -- Told To Stop
Selling PlayStations In The US

Sony Loses Patent Battle -- Told To Stop
Selling PlayStations In The US 03/28/2005 06:00 AM
If you're familiar with the word "haptics," you're familiar with the company Immersion. They're the company that seems to own every possible patent having to do with the haptics space, and any kind of tactile response or force feedback device usually involves patents that were first licensed from the company. So, in some ways, it's pretty impressive that Sony has gotten as far as it has apparently without licensing patents from the company. A court has found, however, that Sony's force feedback controllers for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 violate Immersion's patents and not only have they ordered the company to pay $90 million in damages, but also told Sony it can no longer sell either console in the US. Sony, of course, will appeal the ruling, which will allow them to keep selling the consoles in the meantime. Of course, this is the same Sony that keeps insisting on the importance of stricter intellectual property enforcement to teach violators a lesson. Funny what comes back to bite you...

Early Apple sound designer Jim Reekes
corrects Sosumi myth

Early Apple sound designer Jim Reekes
corrects Sosumi myth 03/24/2005 04:52 PM
Xeni Jardin: Earlier this week on BB, I pointed to Jon Lech Johansen's blog "So Sue Me." Several astute readers reminded us that the blog's title is thought to be a punny reference to "Sosumi," an Apple system sound file with a colorful history. Over time, it became a widely mis-reported bit of computing lore.

Jim Reekes was the engineer on Apple Sound Manager for System 7, and he created the Sosumi sound -- so I asked him to set the record straight. Here's the Wikipedia entry (which is now being updated), and here's Jim's reply to Boing Boing readers!

I avoided telling this story while I was at Apple, but now I love to talk about it. Back in 1989 when Apple Corps (aka the Beatles) sued Apple Computer, System 7 was still under development. One of the new features of System 7 was the new Sound Manager (which I wrote, and have patents for it!). I created a sound called "Chime" (although everyone tells me it was "Xylophone", but I had a large collection and was busy naming them all so maybe it was Xylophone). Anyways, Apples' legal department left a message for the person in charge of the System 7 disks, Sheila Brady. We had spent many late nights on System 7, and sometime after midnight in comes Sheila to tell us we have to change the name of the new sounds I had just added.

But before I get ahead of myself, I was also supplying the legal team with documentation, emails, and even header files of the Sound Manager. I was also very close to the MIDI Manager product development, which Apple Corps considered proof positive. (BTW: I have a postcard invetation to a music conference showing a keyboardist, Apple logo, and the words "Compose yourself", which was also proof positive). Anyways, I was getting really tired of this whole thing when the laywers told me I had to change an API from the "noteCmd" to "frequencyCmd" (and thereby breaking applications). I knew I had to find my revenge.

So, upon hearing I had to change the name of my new beep, I immediately thougth of the perfect name, "Let it Beep". Of course, I was joking but it was brilliant right? As everyone was laughing, someone even took me seriously and said I could never get away with that! I said, "so sue me" and that's when I realized my scheme. I told Sheila the new name would be spelled "s-o-s-u-m-i". I asked she return the message to legal, but not to use voicemail (since she'd have to pronounce it) and instead send an email with some story about it being Japanese and not meaning anything musical. (so I don't know what she actually told them).

I'm very happy the name remains a part of the Mac culture. There's a source of trademark lawsuits that contains a side bar about the Sosumi story. It seems most people have copied this as the source for the myth. At least it's the earlist source I can recall. Back then, see, there wasn't a WWW but I did "leak" the story through Usenet once: Link to PDF file.

P.S. I am also responsible for the startup sound you hear everytime a Mac is booted.
[P.P.S.] I love BoingBoing.

Link to a very very long /. thread regarding DVD Jon and PyMusique, which includes a c omment spat w ith Jim over the Sosumi myth. Jim adds, "Funny, it may actually be true. The sosumi beep may have originally came from Crystal Quest!" (Thanks, Apple alum Wayne Correia!)

Boing Boing reader Anna adds,

Just a side note to the "Sosumi"-story: Jim Reekes will recognize a lot of his work in this minimalist song composed solely from Mac System 7 sounds: Link (61 kB .wav-file).

Real and Apple Battle On

Real and Apple Battle On 08/17/2004 01:09 PM

Direct and Related Links for 'Real and Apple Battle On'

Real Networks has undercut Apple by slashing their music downloads to 49 cents a song. In comparison to Apple’s 99 cents a song, it is a big drop in price. After Real Networks said a few weeks ago that they have found a way for their songs to be played on Apple’s IPod, Steve Jobs can not be a happy camper right now….

In clapping both hands a sound is heard:
what is the sound of the one hand?

In clapping both hands a sound is heard:
what is the sound of the one hand? 12/03/2003 04:54 PM
What is the sound of one hand clapping? An interesting excerpt from The Sound of the One Hand: 281 Zen Koans With Answers that involves a dialogue between the master and the student that answers this koan. (I suppose this could technically be considered a spoiler.)

Inside The Channel's Battle With Apple

Inside The Channel's Battle With Apple 01/06/2005 12:12 AM

Steve Jobs can smile over recent success, but Apple's practices are killing loyal resellers. By T. C. Doyle, VARBusiness

Linux Vs. Apple: An Uncomfortable Battle

Linux Vs. Apple: An Uncomfortable Battle 06/07/2004 06:48 PM
In the end, Linux represents a threat and an opportunity for every software and hardware company. Apple is once again at the crossroads. By Rob Enderle, TechNewsWorld (via MyAppleMenu)

Bose SoundDock

Bose SoundDock 09/24/2004 04:30 PM
The new Bose SoundDock, available exclusively on the Apple online store, brings your music to life while charging your iPod or iPod mini through its docking connector. Bose technology produces room-filling sound on a wide stereo sound stage from your iPod. Comes complete with remote. [Sep 24]

Apple Wins iTunes Cybersquatting Battle

Apple Wins iTunes Cybersquatting Battle 03/17/2005 03:09 AM

By Andy McCue, Silicon.com

Bose SoundDock for iPod

Bose SoundDock for iPod 09/27/2004 09:04 AM

There is a certain poetry when Apple and Bose team up in offering the new SoundDock digital music system. It's basically yet another dock with a pair of speakers attached to it, something we're not in the least opposed to, but it does set one to wonder what happens when blowhards like Bose work with blowhards like Apple to "elevate your iPod listening to a whole new level."

Do both Reality Distortion Fields cancel each other out? Is it possible this $300 set of speakers is actually a good product? I'm not sure I'm man enough to find out.

Product Page [Bose]

Bose, Ihnatko on Your Mac Life

Bose, Ihnatko on Your Mac Life 09/22/2004 07:48 AM
Wednesday's Your Mac Life QuickTime radio show will feature Lino Pucci of Bose, who will talk about the new SoundDock for iPod. Mac writer and pundit Andy Ihnatko will be on hand to discuss his new book and more. And Peter Cohen of MacCentral.com and Macworld will have the latest Mac game news. Your Mac Life is Webcast live from 5:30PM to 8:00PM Pacific Time, 8:30PM to 11:00PM Eastern, every Wednesday night. You can listen to an audio-only feed or watch on video too.

pl let me know the min price of bose
speakers

pl let me know the min price of bose
speakers 09/04/2004 03:40 PM
TechTree Sep 4 2004 5:46PM GMT

Bose Suspension System

Bose Suspension System 12/24/2004 12:57 PM

That's right. Bose.

The latest trick coming from the 74 year old Dr. Amar Bose is an active suspension system; the Bose Suspension System. It's been in development since 1980, and so far they've only got it on a 1994 Lexus test mule, but rumor has it that Cadillac may offer the Bose system as an option on an upcoming car.

The proprietary Bose suspension system couples linear electromagnetic motors and power amplifiers with a set of unique control algorithms. For the first time, it is possible to have, in the same automobile, a much smoother ride than in any luxury sedan and less roll and pitch than in any sports car. The Bose research vehicle provides superior comfort by gliding smoothly over bumpy roads and superior control by keeping the car body level during aggressive maneuvers.

When you think about it, it's not that much of a stretch for an outfit like Bose to go from speakers to automobile suspensions. A speaker is essentially a linear motor that uses electromagnetism to move a speaker coil to produce sound waves; the suspension Dr. Bose has assembled uses four linear motors that basically use the same principle to keep the car on an even keel, no matter how the driver and road thrash the thing.

We've talked about the inherent problems of sophisticated electronic systems in vehicles before, and I don't think I'd want something like this in my car... At least not until the technology has matured for several years. Stories of Land Rover suspension systems failing at high speeds and causing deadly accidents is enough to make me want to stick with plain old shocks and struts.

The January print issue of Motor Trend has a brief article on it, but a more extensive writeup online, complete with a video of the test mule in action. In the grand finale, the Lexus actually jumps over a 2x6 on edge at 35mph!

Apple-Style Music Service to Battle
Napster

Apple-Style Music Service to Battle
Napster 03/13/2003 10:15 AM
Tue 1AM EST -- The LA Times reports (Free registration required) that Apple will soon be venturing into the realm of online music sharing, though their version will implement micro-revenue streams and complete Mac OS X integration. Rumors of the service first appeared on MacRumors.com: "Sources report that Apple will be introducing an MP3 music-downloading service to users. The service partner to provide the music has not yet been identified, but songs are expected to cost $0.99...

Imitation is purest flattery as Apple,
Microsoft battle

Imitation is purest flattery as Apple,
Microsoft battle 04/19/2005 06:22 AM
Companies' new operating systems--Tiger and Longhorn--bear a resemblance. But just who copied who?

Analysis: Apple, Microsoft in streaming
media battle

Analysis: Apple, Microsoft in streaming
media battle 06/14/2004 04:13 PM
With news that Apple Computer's QuickTime player surpassed 250 million downloads, analysts say Microsoft and Apple are both poised to take the lead in the streaming media battle.

Apple, Microsoft poised for streaming
media battle

Apple, Microsoft poised for streaming
media battle 06/11/2004 02:37 PM
With news on Thursday that Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime player surpa ssed 250 million downloads, industry analysts say Microsoft and Apple are both poised to take the lead in the streaming media battle. What may make the difference is the level to which each company supports industry standards, an area where Apple has taken the lead so far.

Bose Personalized Amplification System

Bose Personalized Amplification System 02/11/2004 01:51 PM

Ever gone to a concert where it's so loud you think you're ears will start bleeding, and in spite of the volume level you can't understand the lyrics? Dr. Amar Bose and his namesake, Bose Corportation, are trying to change all that, and change the entire amplified performance paradigm with their new Personalized Amplification System (PAS.)

Bose's approach to solving this problem is pretty radical, and at the same time surprisingly simple. It involves nothing less than, as they put it, “changing the fundamental properties of loudspeakers,” and yet the idea, once it's explained, seems obvious.

The company's new product is called the Cylindrical Radiator Loudspeaker. Two dozen or so (we weren't allowed to peek inside the units) small drivers are arranged vertically in a flagpole-like structure about 3.5 inches in diameter and seven feet high, which is set into a floor stand. The arrangement of the drivers is designed to eliminate all vertical dispersion: The sound is projected forward and in a 180° arc horizontally, but there's nothing projecting above the top of the column and nothing bouncing off the floor.

The most obvious effect is that, in theory at least, the sound is transferred to the room much more efficiently than with a standard spherical-front speaker. In fact, we were invited to walk directly toward the speaker from across a large room while a guitarist played, and observed that the difference in sound level as we approached was remarkably small, even when we put our ears right up to the speaker. Therefore, musicians can play at lower levels and still fill a space. Vocals sent through the system can be loud enough to project, but the potential for feedback is greatly reduced.

(quoted from a MixOnline article)

The Cylindrical Radiator speaker is placed behind the performer on the stage, providing sound for both the performer and the audience. This is a total departure from the traditional amplified sound system, which requires separate amplifiers & speakers for the audience and the performers, a mixing console, miles of cabling, and a sound technician to make it all work, and even then it often works poorly. The PAS returns simplicity to the idea of amplified music performances, and makes for a much more natural sound coming from the stage, with the amplified sound from each performer coming from where that performer is on the stage. According to many posters on Bose's online forum, the system is also ideal for DJ's and playback of recorded music.

This is an answer to many prayers from frustrated performers and sound techs alike, tired of overly complicated systems for small to medium-sized rooms, not to mention concert-goers who feel the need to bring ear plugs along.

Look for the PAS to show up on stage at a nightclub or church near you.

Click here to comment on this entry

Bose debuts SoundDock for iPod.

Bose debuts SoundDock for iPod. 09/17/2004 12:36 AM
MacCentral: Bos e debuts SoundDock for iPod. I like it.

Announcement: Bose SoundDock for iPod

Announcement: Bose SoundDock for iPod 09/17/2004 10:16 AM
Bose announced the SoundDock digital music system for 3G and 4G iPods and iPod minis, a single piece unit that includes a dock and a remote control.

Bose debuts SoundDock for iPod

Bose debuts SoundDock for iPod 09/16/2004 03:17 PM
Bose has introduced the $299 SoundDock digital music system, specifically designed for Apple Computer Inc.'s third- and fourth-generation iPods and its iPod mini.

Bose and Andy Ihnatko on Your Mac Life

Bose and Andy Ihnatko on Your Mac Life 09/22/2004 04:20 AM
Your Mac Life, an Internet-based Mac radio show hosted by Shawn King, has announced the lineup for this evening's broadcast (8:30 p.m...

Apple, Microsoft poised for streaming
media battle (MacCentral)

Apple, Microsoft poised for streaming
media battle (MacCentral) 06/11/2004 12:54 PM
MacCentral - With news on Thursday that Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime player surpassed 250 million downloads, industry analysts say Microsoft and Apple are both poised to take the lead in the streaming media battle. What may make the difference is the level to which each company supports industry standards, an area where Apple has taken the lead so far.

iTunes 'cybersquatter' takes Apple name
battle to High Court

iTunes 'cybersquatter' takes Apple name
battle to High Court 03/29/2005 09:29 AM

Other News: Apple vs. Sony-BMG Merger

Other News: Apple vs. Sony-BMG Merger 02/13/2004 11:54 AM
Apple doesn't think that a Sony-BMG merger would exactly help the problem of a few media mammoths monopolizing the music market.
Grok Description matches for Sound Battle: Sony vs. Apple vs. Bose
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Sound Battle: Sony vs. Apple vs. Bose

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