New speakerless television from Bose
The first HDTV from developer Bose isn’t the most advanced in terms of video technology, but its audio capabilities will make you question your earsand eyes. There are no speakers visible on the television, so where is the surround-sound coming from?The answer is a new technology known as VideoWave, which projects sound out of the screen. This sound can then be manipulated with a Click Pad remote control, which also has a conspicuous absence: there are no buttons. Instead, the control is a touch pad which is used to control on-screen commands.Bose demonstrated the technology to Dvice.com by having what looked like cloth-covered speakers mounted on the walls, and then removing the cloth after the surround sound had begun. Of course, there was nothing underneath. They also took one of the speakers out of the television (for the record, consumers shouldn’t be digging around in their own sets) and paired it up with a laser pointer to show how it could project sound. As if this all wasn’t enough, the new VideoWave features ADAPTiQ technology, which makes sure that the sounds are specialized to your own room’s acoustics.The TV is retailing for 5,349 (including delivery) only at Bose retail stores. There’s been a sharp backlash in the blogosphere for this price, although it’s not unexpected. Since Bose’s inception in 1964, the company has become known for both premium sound and premium prices, spurred by Amar Gopal Bose’s research into psychoacoustics (why we hear what we hear). For those who feel that money would be better spent on a higher-end display with separate speakers, there are certainly plenty of options. This new entry into the audiophile wars is certainly unique, though, and could be the start of a whole new front in the competition.
