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gadgets without cords [Virginian - Pilot](Virginian - Pilot Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) By Mark W. Smith Detroit Free Press Feel sorry for cord makers. It seems all the latest gadgets come with a central promise: Now completely wireless! Cut the cord! The chatter this summer centers on wireless music, fueled in no small part by the exciting Sonos Play:3 home speaker, which streams music from a computer or phone wirelessly. There are a few competing standards for wireless music streaming, including DLNA, Apple's AirPlay and Bluetooth. DLNA, which stands for Digital Living Network Alliance, is supported by a consortium of manufacturers that has quietly turned the standard into a leader in wireless music streaming. Many Android smartphones support DLNA, allowing music to be sent from the phone through a wireless home network to a speaker system that supports it. DLNA is also supported by the PlayStation 3 and several Blu-ray and DVD players, so you may have a wireless music set-up already and not even realize it. Apple's AirPlay standard also allows music to be streamed wirelessly to speakers on a home network. The iTunes jukebox program acts as command central and can be used to switch between speakers, selecting just one or a combination. A few AirPlay-enabled speakers are on the market now, with several more planned for this fall. Here's a closer look. Sennheiser RS 160 $260 is the retail price, but you can find these headphones for as low as $160 if you do some searching online from outlets like Best Buy or Amazon.com Why they're cool These premium over-the-ear headphones use another wireless standard called Kleer. The perk of Kleer is that it provides streaming of uncompressed music. Bluetooth audio, for example, is often compressed before transmission. How they work The headphones come with a pucklike transmitter, at left below, that hooks up to a stereo or computer. Audio is sent from the transmitter to the headphones, which can be as far as 60 feet away. Apple Airport Express Base Station $99, www.apple.com Why it's cool This wireless router also doubles as a handy bridge to stream music wirelessly to a set of speakers. How it works The AirPort Express has a standard audio jack on the bottom that can be hooked up to almost any speaker system. Then, in iTunes, music can be switched from the computer's speakers to the speakers hooked up to the base station several rooms away. Other features You can tell iTunes to use a combination of networked speakers, setting the volume of each from the computer. The AirPort Express also has a USB port on the bottom that can be hooked up to a printer for wireless printing from any networked computer. Jaybird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones $99, www.jaybirdgear.com Why they're cool These headphones are designed for the active set. How they work They pair to a smartphone - or MP3 player with an extra adapter - using Bluetooth and are certified to be sweatproof, the company says. They're bound together with a cord that conveniently wraps around the back of the neck as you exercise. Other features The earphones come with several earbud sizes for a snug fit. The headphones include a microphone so users can take phone calls when the phones are paired with a smartphone. Sonos Play:3 $299, www.sonos.com Why it's cool The Play:3 is the first low-cost speaker from Sonos, which previously catered to high-end consumers. How it works The speaker taps into a home network using an Ethernet port on the back, allowing users to stream music to the speaker from a computer on the same network. Customers can also buy a $50 adapter called the Bridge so the speaker can be placed anywhere in the house without having to be near an Ethernet port. Other features The speakers also work well with streaming music services such as Spotify or Pandora. If customers buy more than one, the speakers can be linked to play the same music in each room. An app for Android, iPhone or iPad is available to control the speaker. Cue Acoustics PS1 $2,500, www.cue.com Why they're cool With a hefty price tag, these speakers won't be for everyone, but for those who can afford them, they look beautiful and are almost completely wireless. The only cord here is the power cord. These speakers - which stand shy of 2 feet tall but promise big sound - are expected to be available next month. How they work The speakers connect using DLNA, so music can be streamed to them from any device that supports that standard, such as an Android smartphone or tablet. Cue Acoustics PS1 $2,500, www.cue.com Why they're cool With a hefty price tage, these speakers won't be for everyone, but for those who can afford them, they look beautiful and are almost completely wireless. The only cord here is the power cord. These speakers - which stand shy of 2 feet tall but promise big sound - are expected to available next month. How they work The speakers connect using DLNA, so music can be streamed to them from any device that supports that standard, such as an Android smartphone or tablet. Apple Airport Express Base Station $99, www.apple.com Why it's cool This wireless router also doubles as a handy bridge to stream music wirelessly to a set of speakers. How it works The AirPort Express has a standard audio jack on the bottom that can be hooked up to almost any speaker system. Then, in iTunes, music can be switched from the computer's speakers to the speakers hooked up to the base station several rooms away. Other features You can tell iTunes to use a combination of networked speakers, setting the volume of each from the computer. The AirPort Express also has a USB port on the bottom that can be hooked up to a printer for wireless printing from any networked computer. Jaybird Freedom Bluetooth Headphones $99, www.jaybirdgear.com Why they're cool These headphones are designed for the active set. How they work They pair to a smartphone - or MP3 player with an extra adapter - using Bluetooth and are certified to be sweatproof, the company says. They're bound together with a cord that conveniently wraps around the back of the neck as you exercise. Other features The earphones also come with several earbud sizes for a snug fit. The headphones include a microphone so users can take phone calls when the phones are paired with a smartphone. (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |