‘iPad 3’: Rumors ramp up as March 7 event nears

Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee said in an analyst note Wednesday that it’s likely that the new iPad refresh will be “significant” and include several important new features, including a better display, faster processor and integration of Siri software.

The key feature, Wu said, could be the inclusion of 4G LTE connectivity, adding that his check-in with the supply chain indicates that Apple has taken pains to make sure that its 4G devices will have good battery life. The ability to use 4G networks has been a serious drain to batteries, which has proven to be a downside for Apple’s competitors.

“We continue to believe this significant refresh will likely help drive higher iPad sales and help further differentiate” the tablet from competitors like the Kindle Fire, Wu wrote.

Retailers have already begun slashing the prices of Apple’s iPad 2 in anticipation of the event. The Verge reports:

It's like clockwork, really. When an updated Apple product looms on the horizon, prices for last year's model begin to plummet. The iPad 3 hasn't even been made official yet, and retailers are already taking some proactive steps to clear out inventory of its predecessor. Case in point: RadioShack. An internal company document provided to Engadget reveals that starting today, all iPad 2 models are seeing discounts between $20 and $50. The retailer's website confirms that the 16GB Wi-Fi configuration has been reduced by $20, with all other models receiving a $50 cut. Best Buy has also joined in on the fun, shaving $50 off all iPad 2 hardware this week (including the aforementioned base SKU). While Best Buy's rates are only temporary, all indications are that the new prices at RadioShack are permanent drops.

Still, we might recommend a bit more patience if you're looking for maximum savings on last year's Apple tablet. Retailers are likely to lower their asking price even further after the iPad 3's full reveal. For example, AT&T was unloading clearance 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G first-generation iPads for only $529 last March — that's $300 less than the original MSRP. You've gone this long without an iPad, after all. What's another few weeks?

The Apple event will take place March 7 at 10 a.m. PST. VentureBeat.com reports:

Apple’s heavily anticipated launch event for the iPad 3 tablet will take place on Wednesday, March 7th at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, according to an e-mail we just received from Apple.

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Looming iPad 3 launch sparks tablet trade-in stampede

Computerworld - Talk of the impending debut of Apple's newest iPad, including the company's announcement yesterday of a March 7 launch event in San Francisco, has pushed tablet trade-in volumes to record levels, buy-back companies said today.

Their reports were consistent with those from online auctioneer eBay, which said that it had fielded 10 times more tablet trade-in offers -- nearly 98% of which were for iPads -- on its Instant Sale site this month than during the same stretch last year before the iPad 2's debut.

"People are very eager for the iPad 3," said Anthony Scarsella, the chief gadget officer of Gazelle, attributing that enthusiasm for a 500% jump in quotes that his company has served compared to last month. "The jump in volume happened a lot earlier than last year for the iPad."

Gazelle is one of several companies that purchase older devices, including smartphones and tablets, from users, then refurbish and resell them direct to consumers via eBay and Amazon.com, as well as to wholesalers.

The new iPad, dubbed iPad 3 by almost everyone -- even though Apple hasn't officially given it a name, priced the various models or even disclosed changes from 2011's iPad 2 -- will be the third in Apple's tablet line. It's expected to go on sale shortly after the launch event Apple will hold in San Francisco next Wednesday.

Rival buy-back company NextWorth has also seen a massive jump in iPad trade-ins, Jeff Trachsel, that company's chief marketing officer, said in an interview today.

"There wasn't a lot of activity in January, I think because people were keeping their powder dry," said Trachsel about the rumors that swirled even then of an impending iPad 3. "But recently we've seen a pretty massive increase, as much as 800% above last month, in [trade-in] quotes for the iPad."

Both Gazelle and NextWorth provide trade-in quotes to potential customers, who select options to describe the conditions of their iPads and designate the model.

"Most of the trade-ins are iPad 2s, which shows that the early adopters -- people who bought an iPad and then an iPad 2 -- are the first to commit to the iPad 3," said Trachsel.

Scarsella agreed, saying that iPad 2 quotes accounted for 75% of all iPad buying offers Gazelle has given.

The waning and waxing of trade-in activity is directly tied to the news and rumors that float to the top of the Web, said Scarsella and Trachsel.

When talk surfaced three weeks ago that Apple would unveil the iPad 3 the first week of March, trade-in interest shot up 400%, said Scarsella. News Tuesday that Apple had sent invitations to reporters and analysts for the March 7 event sent them soaring even higher.

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Prices will continue to decline between now and the actual unveiling of the iPad as sellers flood the market, then level off a week or two after the March 7 introduction, said Trachsel, who based his prediction on NextWorth's data and the trade-in activity around the launch of the iPhone 4S last October.

Both Gazelle and NextWorth have predicted the success of past Apple hardware, including the iPad 2, by the trade-in volume they're handled.

On that basis, the iPad 3 should do very well.

"We've never seen [trade-in volume] of this magnitude before," said Scarsella, comparing the current interest to 2011's debut of the iPad 2.

eBay echoed that, saying the site had fielded more than 125,000 tablet offers on its Instant Sale section, almost all of them iPads. The 125,000 figure was 10 times larger than the number of offers sellers posted in the weeks leading to the iPad 2's March 2, 2011, launch.

The top tablet on eBay's Instant Sale was the iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G for AT&T, but Gazelle and NextWorth both pegged the 16GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi only as their top trade-ins.

Facts still to be determined, including the price of the new iPad and new features or hardware Apple's added, as well as whether Apple will keep selling the iPad 2 at a lower price -- as most experts expect -- will affect the trade-in prices for older tablets, said Scarsella.

Prices paid out by Gazelle and NextWorth have already started to slide: Today, Gazelle offered $222 for a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 in "good condition," down from $230 on Tuesday. NextWorth said it would pay $250 for the same iPad 2 today, down from yesterday's $256.

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iPad 3 leaked

iPad 3 is to be announced on 7th of March 2012. Rumours say that it may even be the iPad 2S.
Th whole world awaits as rumours such as 20% thinner and 15% lighter surround the hallmark of the upcoming iPad.
Apple has called for a press nearing to an apple special event on San Francisco, that's where they launch this legendary device.
If believed from sources, the product will be having the same size screen, with a retina display of 370 pixels per inch, a 5 or 8 MP camera with LED flash technology and hd recording, a front standard VGA camera. It's gonna come with iCloud and iOS 5.
The main astonishing part is the A6 or the A5X chip, which would have a 1.7 GHz quad core speed!
Amazing tech specs is Wat comes first to ma mind. Apple also says tht it will have a longer battery life as they have worked very hard on it, it is also going to be lighter by around 15%.

Only apple can come up with this!

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Kolaveri Di

[DHANUSH] is proud to present to you a very sensational song, sung by Dhanush, a south Indian regional actor from the Tamil film industry...
This song has been mainly linked to publicize the song for the international viewers of this website, www.dhanush.tk.
To get some facts right, This song has gained a lot of popularity, gaining 2 million hits in a matter of just 4 days from release is a very big achievement, to be stated by the leading newspapers in the country, this song was made within 25 minutes, break up was 5 minutes for writing the song and 20 minutes for recording, though half the population do not believe this fact, we do...
so enjoy this song...

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APPLE's new announcements

The recent innovations announced by Apple have left fans in a tizzy, especially since most of these features will only be made available to end users in the coming few months. 

iCloud What’s Interesting? iCloud will be integrated with iOS5 and many of the apps like iPhoto, documents, apps, iBooks, contacts, calendar and mail will have built in iCloud functionality after the update.
The iOS5 update is free & includes 5GB cloud storage. You also get additional, unlimited cloud storage for apps, books and your Photo Stream — photos shared between all your devices. 
Backup to iCloud happens automatically over Wi-Fi when the device is charging (so that the battery is not drained). Changes will happen across all your devices. 
If you get an additional iOS device, simply entering your Apple ID and password will restore all your data to the new device. All your apps and books can be downloaded to 10 iOS devices. 
This Sounds Familiar Cloud storage per se is not new. Many smartphone apps like Dropbox and Evernote have been storing and syncing files across devices for some time now. And these apps are also available across platforms — available for iOS but not limited to iOS. Other free apps like Zumo Drive (Windows, MAC, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad and Palm) and Sugar Sync (Windows, MAC, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android) offer free space to sync media across all your devices. Google Docs allows you to store all your documents online to share and collaborate. And services like SkyDrive offer 25GB free online space for any data that you want. 
Needs More Clarity iCloud syncs all your data and stores it in the cloud, but what about security? What if all your personal info (including thousands of photos, emails) gets hacked? 
The speed of backing up large amounts of data depends on your internet connection speeds — you might end up waiting for backup to finish if you don’t have a fast connection. 
If data gets replicated across all your devices, be prepared for high bills. Most unlimited broadband connections aren’t really unlimited — fair usage policy still applies. 
There can be privacy concerns. Who owns the data in the cloud? Is everything you do being covertly tracked?

iOS5 Update, or All-New? Notification center combines all incoming notifications into a single menu that can be accessed by swiping down from the top. The lock screen also displays notifications now. 
Twitter Integration allows various applications to use your Twitter ID for sign-in and post directly to your timeline. Camera and photo apps can tweet images from within the app directly. 
Wireless Sync will not only allow data to be synced over Wi-Fi, but will also allow activation without connecting to a computer. Devices can be updated over the air as well. 
iMessage is a free push message service for iOS users. It will indicate when the other person is writing a message and give you delivery and read receipts too. It will work over Wi-Fi or 3G. 
Seen This Before? iOS5 brings in a lot of new features that were missing earlier. However, most of the things that Apple has added now, have been available for a long time on other devices. The Notification Centre has always been a key feature of Google’s Android OS. On iOS5, it works the same way as it does on Android devices. iMessage is the same as BlackBerry Messenger — both offer free push messages over any network (and you get delivery reports too). Other features like lockscreen notifications and Wi-Fi Sync were already available through Cydia for users who chose to jailbreak their devices. 
But What About... Older iOS devices like the iPhone 3GS/3rd Gen iPod Touch will have limited support for the new features. The iPhone 3G/1st & 2nd gen iPod Touch are ignored. 
Some apps that automatically store and use your Twitter credentials might post promotional tweets with ads/links without your confirmation. 
FaceTime video chat still only works over Wi-Fi and it is still limited to Apple devices. It would have been great if FaceTime was updated to work over 3G. 
Although the lockscreen shows notifications, there is still no option to add third party widgets.

OS X LION What to Expect Full screen app support enables users to run applications in full screen with a dedicated button to enable/disable fullscreen mode — utilising the entire screen estate on their machine. 
Available on the MAC App Store only, Lion will have to be purchased for $29.99. It will create a restore partition, so that in case of a crash, it can be re-installed easily without re-downloading. 
The ‘Resume’ feature allows you to open applications from where they were closed. Even if you restart the machine, all open applications are restored. Lion will also auto-save open files. 
Airdrop will allow users to share files wirelessly with other MAC users running Lion. It makes a direct connection with the other MAC (30 feet range) to transfer data at high speeds. 
Anything Really Groundbreaking? Lion brings over 250 new features to the operating system, but many of them have always been available to Windows users. Most manufacturers offer a restore partition for the Windows operating system. Also, a large number of applications come with full screen mode functionality. Windows PCs have had Hibernation since Windows XP. It performs the same task as the Resume feature on Lion. Hibernation saves the desktop state as it is and then restores it to the way it was when the PC is re-started. Plus, the auto save feature (added into Lion for documents), has always been there for applications like Microsoft Office. You could always restore a document from the last auto-saved copy. 
Major Concerns The Lion update can only be purchased from the MAC App Store and not a physical store — users will have to sync their credit cards with their Apple ID to download the update. 
The OS X Lion download will be 4GB in size. Considering bandwidth speeds and FUP (fair usage policy) limits imposed by ISPs in India, this a massive download for most people. 
Rosetta, a compatibility package distributed by Apple, will not be available on Lion. Rosetta enables older applications made for Power PC processors to run on Intel-based MACs. 
Lion will only run on MACs with IntelCore 2 Duo (or newer) processors. Core Duo/Core Solo machines are not supported.

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Apologies!

Our apologies that we could not upload new news on our website, we will soon be back and serving your needs, now we have also upgraded our website for mobile users, and fast browsing. Thanks to the ideas of some of my friends and also others. We appreciate your recommendations and hope to provide you better results.

CEO [DHANUSH], 

Mr. Dhanush R Parekh.

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[DHANUSH] now on Mobiles!

now a different view of www.dhanush.tk on your mobiles! :)

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Why you need to know about...4G INTERNETMOBILE

Next time you try to watch a YouTube video on the bus and it stutters to a halt after a few blocky seconds, close your eyes and imagine it’s 2013. By then we’ll be surfing the lightning-fast waves of 4G, or ‘LTE’, internet – a standard that combines the go-anywhere freedom of mobile broadband with the kind of speed our current net connections can only dream of. Some US networks support 4G already, and several US-only gadgets are equipped to take advantage of the tech. HTC’s Evo has it, a version of BB’s PlayBook will come with it and Motorola’s Atrix will get a similarly skilled incarnation. So why the wait for us then? Well, before the airwaves can be opened up for 4G they have to be auctioned off to the mobile phone operators. We’re hoping this will happen in early 2012, with the network up and running the following year. After that our gadgets could be experiencing 
download speeds of up to 1Gb per second – over 100 times faster than what we’re used to, and more than sufficient for 1080p video. Thanks to the switch from analogue to digital TV, the long-range 800MHz band has been freed up for 4G signals, making it even better suited to on-the-move use, too. That should mean an increase in internetconnected cars and trains – and absolutely no escape from the web. Yep, 2013 can’t come soon enough.

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THE TOP 10

Entertainment on-the-go demands quality cans that cut out unwanted sound. Try these for the absolute best audio.

Phonak Audéo PFE 012 3960 It’s not easy creating the perfect headphone. Music is so subjective that one human’s perfect pitch is a little lacking in bass for 
    another, and too bright-sounding for pedant no.3. The PFE 012s do about as good a job of satisfying disparate tastes as any in-ears we’ve tried. Building on the success of the pricier 111s, they dig up bags of detail, deliver sweet vocals and a palpable soundstage, and up the bass to party-worthy levels. They’re also barely-there lightweight and subtly attractive. They could easily sell for twice the price.

Klipsch Image X10i 12,000 Though the X10s were our favourite in-ears for years, the X10i now looks too pricey for the no.1 spot. Built-in iPod/iPhone controls are useful, but it’s the sound and size that really impress – the buds are slim as lolly sticks but sound thrilling and insightful.

Sennheiser CX300-II 2790 Thanks to amazing price reductions, the CX300-IIs represent even better value for money. Replace your bundled headphones with these and you’ll find out what you’ve been missing: deep bass, sparkling detail and dramatic dynamics. You’ll thank us later.

Powerbeats by Dr Dre 15,000 We never had Dr Dre down as a fitness fan, but the headphones he’s designed for sweaty gym sessions are seriously impressive. Expect powerful, weighty and dynamic sound, then be pleasantly surprised by the in-line mic and three-button iPhone remote.

Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10vi 24,995 Offering audio that’s full-bodied and punchy, with excellent levels of detail, the 10vis will stay firmly nestled in your lugholes thanks to a shapeable over-ear band. With phone controls on-hand, they’re a marvellous choice for affluent iPhone owners.

Bose QuietComfort 15 21,263 Bose’s latest long-haul headphones are its finest yet. Wearing a pair is as comfortable as binding pillows to your head with silken thread, and both sound and noise cancelling are exemplary. For a louder, more rocking listen, try Monster’s Beats Studio.

Shure SE530 35,000 Shure is the pioneer of the sound isolation game, so when it came to designing the best in-ear monitors in the world, it knew what to do. Each earpiece has three separate drivers, delivering a staggering soundstage and insight across the spectrum.

Shure SE535 31,000 Your eyes don’t deceive – that is how much Shure’s flagship threedriver IEMs cost. They look and feel it, though, with a thick, replaceable cable that attaches to the buds via articulated joints. And the sound? Unbelievably detailed, utterly uncompromising.

Klipsch Image S4 4490 The chaps at Klipsch sure know how to make a sound-isolating headphone. Combining the bass attack of the yoof-oriented “street” headphones with the refinement and clarity you’ll find in audiophile IEMs, these are great fun and stonking value for money.

AKG K701 from 19,990 With a swanky headphone amp, these referencequality, open-backed headphones create a sound to rival hi-fi speakers ten times the price. Got more dosh? Try the supremely revealing Sennheiser HD 800s or breathtaking Grado GS1000is.

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5 GREAT ANDROID APPS

Apps such as these are crying out for the big screen tablet experience, and prove Honeycomb is one to watch

Swiftkey Tablet tba This Android keyboard was one of the hits of CES 2011, learning your writing style and offering precise prediction that appears to know what you’re going to write before you do.

ANOVA HD 218 Gameloft’s futuristic sci-fi shooter owes a lot to Halo, and it’s better for it. At the moment, like many Android apps, it’s only compatible with 7 inch tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Sketcher free A bare-bones drawing app featuring some amazing brush effects, which can turn the lamest doodle into a work of stunning penmanship. Works best with a stylus.

Amazon Kindle free Apple’s iBooks app looks neat, but the catalogue of books doesn’t come close to the Kindle Store. And because Kindle is cross-platform, you can get your library on any tablet.

VPlayer 145 Like format-straddling PC media player VLC, this plays a huge variety of movie formats – including WMV and DivX – without dropping frames. Works with HD videos, too.

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5 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT ANDROID 3.0

Better graphics Android 3.0’s Renderscript engine exploits the power of the GeForce graphics accelerators found in the new hardware, providing a more PC-like experience than any phone is currently capable of.

Updated apps Camera and Gallery have been redesigned for big screens and Contacts and Email have a new, dualpane UI. Books looks better than iBooks and Youtube’s new 3D video wall is just stunning .

Better web browser Based on Google’s superb Chrome, the new browser uses the same approach to tabs. Users can choose to automatically sign in to Google sites and sync bookmarks with their desktop Chrome account.

Customisable homescreens New widgets allow homescreens to display 3D-flippable grids and lists, and the interface has been redesigned from the ground up to support new gestural controls.

Multitasking The system bar has a list of recent apps to make toggling programs a cinch, and uses visual cues to display a snapshot status of each app. This makes them identifiable as they run in the background.

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ANDROID'S ATTACK ON THE IPAD

iPad might have a huge headstart but the competition is catching up and how! Android's latest weapon is the Motorola Xoom, being launched in the US of A as you read this. It looks better on paper and packs in a powerful punch when it comes to pipping the iPad to the post. But does it have the aspirational quality of the famed Apple?

Motorola Xoom tba | motorola.com The Xoom is the lightning bolt that reanimated Moto. It’s the first tablet to run Honeycomb, and the hardware feels fantastic. Under the hood roars a dual-core, 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 system-on-chip, 1GB RAM (that’s four times what the iPad has) and more connections than a stopping service to Sydney. On paper, it’s almost beyond reproach. But wow, it’s expensive. 
The Xoom’s case is a beguiling mix of soft-touch plastics and sculpted aluminium. It weighs 730g and comes in at 249x168x12.9mm – that makes it almost identical in weight to the iPad 3G, but with more of its fascia dedicated to screen than bezel. Moto clearly thinks Apple already got the size and weight just about right. The Xoom has a 10.1 inch, 1280x800 screen to the iPad’s 1024x768 9.7 inch display, and both use power-saving IPS tech. They’re about the same in area, but the Xoom’s is longer, thinner, and has a pixel density of 160dpi to the iPad’s 132dpi, with a greater-than-720p HD resolution. It’ll play 1080p vids for up to 10 hours, and can do so externally via HDMI 1.4. With a fixed-focus 2MP camera at the front for video calls, a 5MP autofocus snapper at the back and 720p video capture, it’s a decent shooter, but no match for the LG Optimus Pad’s 3D 1080p skills. More fun is ensured by a gyroscope (which the iPad lacks), accelerometers and a digital compass. This should make a fine gaming machine.Moto’s jumped on the accessories bandwagon with a pair of docks for the Xoom and an Android-centric Bluetooth keyboard. The Standard Dock both charges it and props it up for watching movies on that lovely screen, while the Speaker Dock extends the HDMI-out and has, you guessed it, built-in speakers.

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANDROID OS

Your mum may think that the iPhone is lovely, but it’s set in its ways: no freedom to change. With Android on the other hand, you can do what you want. Play Flash videos, change its keyboad style, turn it into a bad-boy PlayStation emulator or just let it play in its natural element, which is pretty darn good anyway. The iPhone abides by Apple’s strict laws; Android is limited only by your imagination.

FLAGSHIP HANDSET GOOGLE NEXUS S 
    30,400 (est) 
This Samsung-made phone is a thing of minimalist beauty, and the buttonless case and subtly curved 4 inch screen are the perfect stage for Android 2.3 (‘Gingerbread’). The new OS isn’t packed with new features, save for a better keyboard and enhanced copy-and-paste, but it looks classier and has major underthe-bonnet improvements that make it a lot faster. It’s lag-free, too, thanks to the graphics chip built into Samsung’s 1GHz Hummingbird processor. There are still a few frustrations, such as the way the 16GB storage is split to give you just 1GB for apps, or that while the 5MP camera is great in low light, video shooting is at a less-than-HD 720x480 pixels. Still, the 4 inch Super AMOLED display is bigger and brighter than the iPhone 4’s, although it can’t match Apple’s razor-sharp resolution. It’s also the first smartphone to feature near-field communication, meaning it can read RFID tags and could be used as a cashless wallet or travelcard once NFC apps become available. 
JULY 2005 Google buys Android, Inc, a startup developing a Linuxbased mobile operating system.NOVEMBER 2007 HTC, LG, Samsung, Intel and others throw their weight behind Android as part of the Open Handset Alliance. SEPTEMBER 2008 Android 1.0 is released into the wild on the T-Mobile G1 - and is described as “a dream to use” by Stuff. OCTOBER 2009 Android 2.0 (‘Eclair’) is a true rival for iPhone, with Microsoft Exchange support and an improved UI. THE FUTURE... 
PlayStation phone arrives. Android 2.4 (‘Ice Cream’) revamps built-in media player. Android 3.0 (‘Honeycomb’) for tablets keeps iPad on its toes.

DOWNLOAD THESE

• Dolphin HD free Currently the best browser for Android, it offers fast multi-tab browsing, gesture controls and powerful third-party plugins to block ads, download videos and more.

• Swype free Swype takes the pain out of using a virtual keyboard; instead of tapping letters, you slide to make an approximation of the word and let the app do the work. Uncannily accurate.

• Gensoid 183 Find yourself some classic Sega Megadrive ROMs and this emulator will play them – from Sonic to Speedball – at full speed. You won’t find anything similar on the App Store.

ALTERNATIVES

• LG Optimus One 13,500 | lg.com/in A remarkably good value Android phone. The 600MHz processor won’t win any races, but it still performs well and runs Android 2.2, which means it offers free sat-nav and Flash.

• HTC Desire HD 27,499 | htc.com/in With a vast 4.3 inch screen, 1GHz processor and Android 2.2, there’s little to choose between this and the Nexus – though some will favour HTC’s weighty build and slick Sense UI.

• Motorola Atrix tba (due mid-2011) | motorola.com The ‘superphone’ packs a dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and the crispest screen of any Android. Attach it to its netbook or desktop docks and it becomes a computer.

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Music Streaming hi-fi systems

SUPERTEST Denon CEOL RCD-N7 Most would agree that this system has an attractive mix of style and specs. As well as an iPod dock it features a USB input, Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking, and an optional upgrade to AirPlay. Oh, and there’s a CD player and radio tuner, too, along with a 2x65W amplifier. And, like all the systems here, the Denon can stream thousands of internet radio stations. As far as the sound is concerned, it’s gutsy and involving – especially if hooked up to some good budget speakers. There’s even a Party Mode, which allows up to four Denon products to be connected over a network to play the same music at the same time – instant multiroom fun. VerdictWith a great mix of style and features, the CEOL is well worth a place in any living room 
Marantz M-CR603 Also known as the Melody Media, the Marantz draws comparisons with the Denon. Look closely and there are some big differences, though. While it has AirPlay as an upgrade, its network connection is wired only. It trumps the Denon in the radio stakes, however, with FM, AM and internet streaming, and there’s also provision for an add-on Bluetooth receiver. The system can drive two pairs of speakers (as opposed to the Denon’s one pair). There’s a remote control app called the Marantz Wizz App, and despite its horribly twee name it’s well worth having, putting the controls, track information and extras in the palm of your hand. And this is a system you’ll want to use: it sounds superb, wherever you source your music and, apped up, is as slick in operation as it is in looks. Verdict 
The Marantz lacks wireless networking, but its sound quality more than makes up for it 
Naim UnitiQute So, you’ve spent a king’s ransom on a small black box. Oh, and the iOS app to control it costs $37.99. Once you’ve turned it on (the remote has all the buttons you need), you’ll get your answer: sound quality that knocks the others into a cocked hat. The Naim is real-deal, high-end hi-fi equipment, and it delivers accordingly: speed and timing are superb, and bass notes come alive – where the others might lump lows together, the Naim introduces tonal variation, complementing its openness and convincing soundstage. While the N-Stream iOS app might seem a big rip-off, it does offer a superior level of control, allowing every aspect of the Qute to be accessed. If you’re after an uncompromising music streaming experience, it’s a bit of a bargain even at this price. Verdict 
It’s mighty expensive, but the UnitiQute is clever, flexible and sounds sensational 
Rotel RCX-1500 Rotel’s all-in-one streaming system is a hairy-chested, tattooed, old-school biker of a hi-fi. There’s even a touch of grease under the fingernails in the way it streams: rather than an integrated solution, it comes with Wi-Fi and Ethernet dongles to plug into a USB port on the back. With a single digital input (a choice of optical or coaxial connection) and a single analogue in, it’s a bit light on resources for other devices, but the Rotel sounds big, impressive and controlled, whether with the B&W speakers we hooked it up to or even bigger boxes. It’ll thunder out top tunes and still seem to have lots of power in reserve; it’s not a subtle sound, but it’s enormous fun. It’s big, yes, but not entirely clever. Verdict 
You get a lot of bang for your buck, but there are smarter streamers in this test 
Teac CR-H500 DNT Conventional. That’s the word that kept crossing our minds when testing this Teac. Networking is via Ethernet and Wi-Fi, there’s a digital iPod input on its front-panel USB, three analogue inputs (including one for a turntable), an FM/AM tuner, a CD player and two 40W outputs. Unfortunately, the sound fits into the ‘ordinary’ category, too. It’s respectable for a small system, but lacks the power, impact and detail of the comparably-priced Denon and Marantz systems. It’s very listenable, but the rivals really make you want to listen more. And for the money, that puts the Teac at a distinct disadvantage. Verdict This Teac is a bit run-of-the-mill next to similarly priced rivals 
Tech Talk DENON CEOL RCD-N7 44,800 
Power 2x65W Connectivity AirPlay (optional), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, iPod dock, USB Formats AAC, FLAC, MP3, WAV, WMA Audio inputs analogue (x3), optical digital 
MARANTZ M-CR603 TBA 
Power 2x50W Connectivity AirPlay (optional), Bluetooth (optional), Ethernet, iPod, USB Formats AAC, FLAC, MP3, WAV, WMAAudio inputs analogue (x3), optical digital NAIM UNITIQUTE 1,55,000 
Power 2x30W Connectivity Ethernet, Wi-Fi, iPod, USB Formats AAC, FLAC, MP3, WAV, WMA Audio inputs analogue (x2), optical digital (x2), coaxial digital (x2) 
ROTEL RCX-1500 1,11,375 
Power 2x40W Connectivity Ethernet, Wi-Fi, iPod, USB Formats MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC Audio inputs analogue (x3) Teac CR-H500 DNT 45,600 (est) 
Power 2x40W Connectivity Ethernet, Wi-Fi, iPod, USB Formats MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC Audio inputs analogue (x3)

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