Review of Kogan Wi-Fi DAB+ Deluxe Internet Radio

The first thing that attracted me to Kogan Deluxe is that it had stereo speakers. The second was the price at only $199 including free delivery anywhere in Australia.

Delivery was excellent and fast and it arrived 2 days after ordering it.

The Kogan Deluxe has shiny black glossy finish to the top and sides and matt black on the front. The rear has a telescopic antenna and connections for earphone, R/L line out, Aux input, and Ethernet LAN connection. The manuals are available online rather than in the box, which contains the radio unit itself and the remote control.

The twin speakers are unusually placed on either side of the unit rather than in front which means that the unit is best placed in the open and not in an enclosed shelf. On the front is a tweeter, the display, power and control buttons which are in an unusual circular design which at first may seem confusing but becomes very intuitive.  The remote is a bit disappointing and is a credit card sized flat type with all the functions on it as well, however I found that the buttons themselves needed quite a firm press for it to register on the radio itself.

One of the best things about the Kogan Deluxe is the display itself. Rather than the one or two line displays of some DAB+ Digital Radios, the Kogan has an orange three line OLED display with brightness settings. It will display artist and song title as well as news and information that in most cases does not need scrolling. 

Modes are DAB Radio, FM Radio, iPod, Aux In, Internet Radio, and Music Player for music sharing.

Setup for internet radio was simple via a wireless connection, but you can also use an ethernet cable direct from a router or modem. The Kogan deluxe also plays and charges iPod's and I had no issues at all with my 3rd Gen iPod Nano. 

Sound quality is fantastic for a digital radio in this price bracket. Base is good and strong, sounds excellent from the twin 30W speakers. There is a sub woofer under the unit.

I have been using the Kogan Deluxe Wi-Fi DAB+ Radio for over a week now and am not only impressed with the sound quality but the feature set. At this time there are not many full stereo DAB+ units available under $200. With what you get here with DAB+, iPod Dock, Internet Radio, and Music Player, this is a no brainer.

$199 from Kogan Online http://www.kogan.com.au

Banned: iPad Wi-Fi too hot for Israel

Israel has banned imports of Apple's hottest new product, the iPad, citing concerns the powerful gadget's wireless signals could disrupt other devices.

Israeli customs officials said they have already confiscated about 10 of the lightweight tablet computers since Israel announced the new regulations this week. The ban prevents anyone - even tourists - from bringing iPads into Israel until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards.

The US Federal Communications Commission allows devices with Wi-Fi capability in the US to broadcast at higher power levels than are allowed in Europe and Israel - meaning that the iPad's stronger signal could throw off other wireless connections.

"If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference," said Nati Schubert, a senior deputy director for the Israeli Communications Ministry. "We don't care where people buy their equipment. But without regulation, you would have chaos."

Some Israelis successfully got the popular devices into Israel before the ban.

Amnon, a software developer who took an iPad into Israel legally but asked that his last name be withheld to avoid potential government repercussions, said he and other high-tech businessmen needed the iPad to develop new applications for the device.

"There are several hundred people in Israel who make their livelihood developing apps ... and there are going to be companies that suffer, because they can't deliver the services they're supposed to be delivering," he said.

The iPad combines the features of a notebook computer with the touch-pad functions of the iPod. It went on sale in the US on April 3. Apple this week delayed its international launch until May 10, citing higher than expected demand.

Israeli officials said the ban had nothing to do with trade and was simply a precaution to make sure that the iPad would not affect wireless devices already in use in Israel.

Although Israeli standards are similar to those in many European nations, Israel is the only country so far to officially ban imports.

Schubert said he expects the problem to be resolved as Apple moves closer to the international release.

In the meantime, confiscated iPads will be held by customs - for a daily storage fee - until their owners leave the country or ship the gadgets back to the US at their own expense.

Apple's chief distributor in Israel, iDigital, declined to comment on the decision, and messages left at Apple's headquarters in California were not returned.

Source: smh.com.au