Paul Ridden

While wireless technology has liberated many guitarists from the restrictions of a cord running to the amp, stomp box effects can still threaten to sully the stage with spaghetti madness. Ahead of the 2013 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, Diablo FX has launched what's claimed to be the first high fidelity wireless all-in-one effects pedal management system. In addition to making the working area a safer and tidier place for players to strut their axe-wielding stuff, the Sound Control 6 system allows players to turn multiple analog or digital effects on/off in one stomp.  Read More

The days when the handy pocket snapper was the weapon of choice for grabbing a quick photo or two have all-but gone, thanks largely to the increasingly capable cameras on the ubiquitous smartphone. Manufacturers looking to tempt folks into buying a dedicated compact camera are having to up their game a notch or two and offer consumers top quality sensors and powerful image processors, more manual control over the end result, and a little more style and finesse. Such is the case with the new vintage-styled MX-1 from Pentax Ricoh Imaging, featuring brass top and bottom plates, a dedicated exposure compensation dial in addition to the mode selection dial, and supporting both RAW and JPEG image formats.  Read More

Though e-ink watches have been around for a few years now, most, like the Touch Time, tend to follow the same form factor as their LCD-screened cousins, which are themselves based on analog ancestors. The patent-pending CST-01 from Chicago-based Central Standard Timing is a different proposition altogether. Claimed to be the world's thinnest watch at just 0.8 mm thin, yet still managing to squeeze in a rechargeable battery, it makes use of segmented (rather than pixel-based) e-ink technology, has no buttons or knobs and has only one function ... to let its wearer know what time it is.  Read More

Although sales of digital music tracks are rising year-on-year, it's clear that U.S. music lovers are still spending most of their hard-earned cash on physical media. According to Nielson SoundScan (which measures point-of-sale of recorded music products), of the 316 million albums purchased stateside in 2012, 193 million were on CD, compared to 118 million digital downloads. Amazon has launched a new service called AutoRip that will save many of those spinning disc buyers the trouble of converting the just-arrived CD to MP3 for playback on a modern portable music player. Anyone who buys an AutoRip CD from the online retail giant will also get a digital copy free-of-charge.  Read More

Being able to wander from room to room throughout the house and enjoy one continuous streamed audio experience can, unfortunately, be a very expensive luxury indeed. Happily, the UK's Pure is getting ready to launch a new range of wireless speakers that promise quality audio at a much more attractive price point than similar multiroom systems offered by the likes of Sonos. The first of the new Jongo series to hit the market will be the S340B portable speaker, followed by the A140B hi-fi adapter and the T640B stereo speaker.  Read More

According to recent league tables, Samsung is king of the hill when it comes to smartphone brand popularity in China. If you were asked to name the company biting at its heels in second place, however, what would be your guess. Apple? Nokia? Huawei? Perhaps you'll be surprised to learn that it is in fact Lenovo, the world's second largest computer maker. The electronics giant has confirmed its commitment to become the number one supplier of handsets in its home country, and power into other regions, by unveiling six new models in Las Vegas this week ... the most impressive of which is the stunning IdeaPhone K900.  Read More

I was lucky enough to sample firsthand the incredible viewing experience offered by big screen OLED TVs at the IFA 2012 booth of consumer electronics giants LG and Samsung last year. Both companies have new models scheduled for commercial availability in early 2013 and both, it would appear, are claiming a world first at CES in Las Vegas this week ... each claiming to be first to debut a curved OLED TV.  Read More

At the risk of becoming something of a tradition, Fujifilm has pulled back the curtain to reveal a new snatch of cameras for digital image technology lovers at CES 2013 to salivate over. Included in the bunch are two additions to its retro-looking X Series pro-thusiast camera range, some mighty superzooms, a pair of compacts, and a rather tough cookie.  Read More

Michigan's Fulton Innovation has been perfecting its eCoupled wireless power transfer technology for over 14 years, and is really pushing the boat out at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a number of new breakthroughs. In addition to demonstrating the first ever example of two-way wireless power transfer, the company is also showing off an interactive printed poster featuring an illustration of a DJ console that can actually be played, and a new Nokia Lumia phone that charges while it's inside a handbag.  Read More