A multi-mode media system operable at a given time in one of a first or a second mode, selectively, the first mode comprising operation to access a media source co-housed with or connected to and operationally integrated with the media system and configured to stream media content to the multi-mode media system for playing by the media system, and the second mode comprising operation of the media system for controlling over a network a media source remote from the multi-mode media system for outputting media content on an output device separate from the multi-mode media system, the media system not being operable in both modes simultaneously nor operable exclusively only in a single one of such modes.

A user interface device includes: a proximity sensor configured to detect proximity of a user; an electrostatic switch configured to detect capacitance changes of a plurality of electrodes; an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration; and a microcomputer configured to control supply of electric current to the electrostatic switch and the acceleration sensor based on a detection result of the proximity sensor, and recognize a plurality of user operations based on detection results of the electrostatic switch and the acceleration sensor.

Systems and apparatuses for supporting electronic devices are described. Such systems and apparatuses provide significant adaptability to position an electronic device in commonly used locations by using an interface that is readily provided in virtually any location. Furthermore, the systems and apparatuses described herein include cradles that adaptable to a wide array of electronic device dimensions, including width and depth or thickness.

Embodiments are provided for an improved peripheral speaker. The peripheral speaker includes an exterior casing enclosing one or more drivers. The exterior casing further has a channel formed therein such that the channel is sized to removably secure an electronic device. The exterior casing is equipped with a connector lead which partially defines the cavity and that connects the one or more drivers to a port of the electronic device. The one or more drivers output audio according to an audio signal transmitted from the electronic device via the connector lead.

Systems and apparatuses for supporting electronic devices are described. Such systems and apparatuses provide significant adaptability to position an electronic device in commonly used locations by using an interface that is readily provided in virtually any location. Furthermore, the systems and apparatuses described herein include cradles that adaptable to a wide array of electronic device dimensions, including width and depth or thickness.

The present invention relates to an apparatus such as a clock with an electronics dock that is twistable relative to a body and with a rotatable connecting port having a plurality of heads. The body has a top generally lying in a plane, a first face with a display and a second face with a display. An electronics dock is secured relative to the body in a twistable manner relative to the body top. In this regard, an electronic device held within the electronics dock can be selectively rotated for viewing about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the body top. Further, a connecting port with multiple charging heads is provided, such as for Android or Apple type devices. The connecting port can be rotated about an axis to allow access to the desired head. A lock is provided to hold the desired head in position for use.

A speaker system is provided with a docking station and a removable housing that is mounted to the docking station. The speaker system also includes a receiver, a transducer and a processor that are supported by the removable housing. The receiver receives an audio signal from a mobile media device. The processor communicates with the receiver and is programmed to determine a location of the removable housing relative to the docking station, separate the audio signal into channels and provide at least one channel to the transducer based on the location.

An audio system includes a housing that defines an acoustic enclosure, an acoustic driver supported by the housing and arranged to radiate acoustic energy from a front surface of the housing, an acoustic exit located in a rear surface of the housing, opposite the front surface. The acoustic exit has a shape that facilitates a grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers and the thumb from a single human hand, such that at the plurality of fingers or the thumb can be inserted into the exit while the plurality of fingers or the thumb of the same hand can rest on a top surface of the housing.

In general, techniques are described for obtaining one or more first vectors describing distinct components of a soundfield and one or more second vectors describing background components of the soundfield, both the one or more first vectors and the one or more second vectors generated at least by performing a transformation with respect to a plurality of spherical harmonic coefficients.

Systems and method are disclosed for facilitating efficient calibration of filters for correcting room and/or speaker-based distortion and/or binaural imbalances in audio reproduction, and/or for producing three-dimensional sound in stereo system environments. According to some embodiments, using a portable device such as a smartphone or tablet, a user can calibrate speakers by initiating playback of a test signal, detecting playback of the test signal with the portable device's microphone, and repeating this process for a number of speakers and/or device positions (e.g., next to each of the user's ears). A comparison can be made between the test signal and the detected signal, and this can be used to more precisely calibrate rendering of future signals by the speakers.