B&O Play H3 and H6 bring Bang & Olufsen's newer badge to headphones

B&O PLAY Launches Two New Sets of Headphones that Make Your Music Sound Better

B&O PLAY challenges the limits of technology with the launch of two new sets of headphones, to present a sound experience tailored for a life on the move. BeoPlay H3 is a superior and comfortable in-ear headphone for people in action, while BeoPlay H6 is a super soft, flexible over-ear headphone. Common for both sets of headphones is a sound performance that takes audio to another level. The headphones combine quality craftsmanship with enduring materials and use the latest technology to make music on the go sound better.

B&O PLAY by BANG & OLUFSEN builds on core values of craftsmanship and technology for a new type of contemporary products, which deliver excellent high-quality music experiences and are optimized for a life on the move. Now, B&O PLAY launches BeoPlay H3 in-ear headphones and BeoPlay H6 over-ear headphones using state of the art technology to reproduce the original sound material as authentically as possible while you are on the go. Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, VP of B&O PLAY says: "A wide range of headphones on the market today compromise on quality and sound performance. In the making of BeoPlay H3 and H6, we've worked with professional sound technicians and studio musicians, to offer people a pristine sound experience in a package that is a delight to wear".

Best in class audio performance

To get the best possible sound experience, B&O PLAY conducted extensive studies in the shape and curves of the human ear to find suitable geometries that minimise sound leakage and reveal all the fine details in the music at any given volume level.

BeoPlay H6 offers a truly natural and authentic sound performance with focus on getting a clear midrange and a balanced bass and treble performance. BeoPlay H6 is designed around 40 mm custom designed drivers with neodymium magnets that are perfectly angled to get the best distance and sound direction into the ears. BeoPlay H6 features an internal bass port to deliver a well-balanced bass performance in a closed headphone design.

BeoPlay H3 features a custom-designed 10,8 mm driver and the new Micro Bass Port for a dynamic and balanced full tone sound design. The structural rigidity of the unibody aluminium body provides acoustic precision for a clear musical experience. Together with the 23 ventilation holes, BeoPlay H3 is tuned to deliver an unstrained open sound stage.

Craft in craftsmanship

The main structural elements of BeoPlay H3 and H6 are made of anodized high-grade aluminium. With the long history of material excellence in aluminium, B&O PLAY is able to construct BeoPlay H3 and H6 to be surprisingly light as well as robust and scratch-resistant. The housing of BeoPlay H3 is milled from a single block of high-grade solid aluminium. BeoPlay H6 has anodized aluminium on the adjustable slider arm and cover plate to complete the design with a final vibrant touch.

B&O PLAY has collaborated with Danish industrial designer Jakob Wagner in the shaping of BeoPlay H3 and H6. Wagner is both trained as a mechanical engineer and industrial designer which make him skilled in all practical stages of the design process. With the new headphones, B&O PLAY and Jakob Wagner has created two unique products that are designed for music, crafted with high quality materials that are durable and long-lasting.

Price for H3 EUR 249 and H6 EUR 399. Available at, Bang & Olufsen stores, the B&O PLAY online store (beoplay.com), selected Apple retail stores, Apple Online, selected design and department stores, from May 2013.

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By: Unknown On 10:41 AM

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iPad Game Review: Baldur's Gate (for iPad 2 and newer) Review

iPad Game Review: Baldur's Gate (for iPad 2 and newer) Review

Reviewed by Tom Slayton

Baldur's Gate is an iOS remake of a classic role playing game from the 90's. It features 80 hours of scripted gameplay, online (limited) multiplayer, and an authentic old-school RPG experience.

Gameplay

If you're a gamer over the age of 25, you've likely played, or at least heard of, Baldur's Gate, the RPG masterpiece from BioWare and Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). This was an important game because, while there had been many computer role playing games before it, none of them had managed to turn the D&D tabletop ruleset into a playable computer game. So, does Baldur's Gate hold up to the multitude of great role playing games that came in its wake? Absolutely; this is still an amazing game, even 15 years later.

First of all, Baldur's Gate doesn't play like a port. The touch interface is responsive and accurate (with the exception of some targeting bugs that have yet to be squashed by the developer), the graphics have been enhanced for high resolution devices, and the menus have been cleaned-up and streamlined a bit. One of the nicest modifications is the inclusion of pinch/zoom capabilities; a very welcome feature, indeed. Although the developers made significant modifications to the interface, thankfully they left the actual gameplay alone, so what remains is a magnificently updated classic, ready to be enjoyed by a new generation, and rediscovered by those who fell in love with it a decade ago. When you begin a new game, you will be faced with a staggering amount of options. If you're a seasoned player, dive right in, secure in the knowledge that whatever you craft will not be a cookie-cutter character. For those of you new to the genre, I recommend beginning by selecting one of the pre-made characters. All of them are well-balanced, and completely playable through the entire adventure. Why a pre-made character? Do you remember when I described the character options as "staggering?" Well, if you don't know what you're doing, it's possible to create a character so inept that you won't be able to complete the adventure (think: Don Knotts as Aragorn). Once you begin, you will see the story arc unfold, meet new party members, fight enemies, learn skills, and save the world. Trust me; 80-hours of gameplay will go fast, and you'll be wishing there was more when you're done. Thankfully, there is more, in the form of The Black Pits, a combat adventure that throws you into increasingly challenging gladiatorial battles, where only the strongest survive.

Baldur's Gate for iPad comes with the Sword Coast expansion built into it, and also features multiplayer via direct IP connection. Unfortunately, this requires you to open some ports in your firewall, and is less than user-friendly as a result. Fortunately, Overhaul Games is busily working on an update that will not only fix the interface glitches, but will also add a friendlier game matching service.

Graphics

The visuals of Baldur's Gate are excellent. The game supports retina displays on capable devices, and the game world looks crisp and clean, although zooming in completely will reveal some pixelization. The spell effects are colorful and varied, the characters are smoothly animated, and their appearance changes depending on how they are equipped. We can repeat the mantra: It's all about the gameplay until we are blue in the face, but there's no substitute for a visually beautiful game to really immerse you in its world.

Sound

The music and sound effects hold up well from the original, but it's the quirky voices of your companions that steal the show. Even 15 years later, hearing a big brute of a fighter give battle commands to his pet hamster (Go for the eyes, Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!!!!!) still brings a smile to my face.

In-App Purchases (IAPs)

There are a number of characters available via IAP, and also some character portraits. None of these are essential to enjoy the game.

Conclusion

In spite of a few interface glitches, and primitive multiplayer support, Baldur's Gate for iPad is still a masterpiece, and is not to be missed. Seriously; stop reading this and go buy it.

Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):

Graphics: - 5 - Retina-enabled and updated for modern devices.
Sound: - 5 - Everything sounds better than ever, especially the fantastic voices of your party members.
Controls: - 4 - Combat is a bit glitchy at times. An update is planned, however.
Gameplay: - 5 - A computer RPG high-water mark. You will get lost in here, and develop a surprisingly strong attachment to your character by the end.

Playing Hints and Tips:

If you want to play a magic user, start as a fighter and go dual or multi-class (dual is better). All character classes can get some benefit from starting as a fighter. Spend some time rolling stats for your character. Spending 30-60 minutes doing this up front will make a HUGE difference as you play. Don't ignore charisma! If it's low, characters may not join your party; if it's too low, it will even affect dialogue.

App Facts:

Developer: IdeaSpark Labs/Overhaul Games
Release Date: December 7, 2012
Price: $9.99
Buy App: Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition

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Check out our full list of iPhone/iPod touch game and app reviews:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/iPhone-game-reviews.htm

Check out our other iPad game, app and book reviews:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/iPad-game-reviews.htm

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By: Dilusha On 12:07 PM

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