HeadAmp Pico Slim Portable Amplifier

[TheCool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo /img/forum/go_quote.gif while i am excited for the pico slim, summer has ended in many countries long ago or will be soon, and for others, never really ends. still, others are in deepest winter now. there is no such thing as technical when it comes to weather. as for the pico - it is getting to be a hot, exciting 'summer' with a few good amps to pick and choose from.

You're assuming that the end of a season depends on the weather. That's just not the case.

Autumnal Equinox — Infoplease.com

So, like I was saying, technically speaking, we have about 2 months

.

 

[fhuang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABathingApe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Even so. Headamp is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, so the summer Justin references will be in line with their seasons

no shigzeo got a point

we need this amp now

so do we get football first or this amp first?

 

[Pale Rider]

Given how early football starts, I suspect we will see it first.

 

[ABathingApe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhuang /img/forum/go_quote.gif no shigzeo got a point we need this amp now so do we get football first or this amp first?

yes, we do need this ASAP...

 

[jc9394]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABathingApe /img/forum/go_quote.gif yes, we do need this ASAP...

X2...

 

[MetroBBOY]

I went on the website, under the impression it was already available.. Stoopid me!
Although im excited with this one. Nice and thin and looks like a worthy partner for my iPhone + recently ordered IE8's.. Hmmmmm.

 

[justin w.]

In addition to getting the enclosures finished, I am also finalizing the design of the USB charger.

It appears that the Pico Slim will be the only USB-charging headphone amp on the market that follows the rules for USB charging.

A USB device must request permission from its host before charging. Charging can be done at up to 100mA or 500mA, or be denied any current such as when the computer is asleep.

Most USB devices simply try to charge at 500mA at all times by "stealing" power from the USB port without permission. This is the cheap and easy way to do it. There are risks and problems with this.

Risk of damaging a low power (100mA) USB port, or charging won't work at all because the computer will shut down the USB port.

While most new computers and full-size laptops only have high power (500mA) ports, low power ports are increasingly common in portable devices like netbooks, UMPCs, and PDAs that will have the ability to charge another device in this case a headphone amp.

The Pico Slim will find out if the USB port is a low power (100mA) or high power (500mA), and then charge appropriately. This means it will be compatible with all USB ports and all devices that can act as a USB host.

Find out if your USB charging amp does this, if not, you are risking damage to a computer/other host device, or you won't be able to charge at all.

 

[h.rav]

Justin, Thanks for the info.

 

[DLeeWebb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin w. /img/forum/go_quote.gif In addition to getting the enclosures finished, I am also finalizing the design of the USB charger. It appears that the Pico Slim will be the only USB-charging headphone amp on the market that follows the rules for USB charging. A USB device must request permission from its host before charging. Charging can be done at up to 100mA or 500mA, or be denied any current such as when the computer is asleep. Most USB devices simply try to charge at 500mA at all times by "stealing" power from the USB port without permission. This is the cheap and easy way to do it. There are risks and problems with this. Risk of damaging a low power (100mA) USB port, or charging won't work at all because the computer will shut down the USB port. While most new computers and full-size laptops only have high power (500mA) ports, low power ports are increasingly common in portable devices like netbooks, UMPCs, and PDAs that will have the ability to charge another device in this case a headphone amp. The Pico Slim will find out if the USB port is a low power (100mA) or high power (500mA), and then charge appropriately. This means it will be compatible with all USB ports and all devices that can act as a USB host. Find out if your USB charging amp does this, if not, you are risking damage to a computer/other host device, or you won't be able to charge at all.

I am wondering how one does this...?

 

[justin w.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLeeWebb /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am wondering how one does this...?

you need to program a chip to handshake with the usb host/computer. any serious product with a USB port will have one (any ipod/dap, cell phone, pda, even some novelty items like USB vacuums although those are the kinds of things that sometimes break the rules). you can't just consider the USB port a free source of 5 volts, thats not how it was intended to be used. maybe you can get away with it most of the time but if someone on the scale of Apple tried this, they'd have a class action lawsuit against them for sure

 

[DLeeWebb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin w. /img/forum/go_quote.gif you need to program a chip to handshake with the usb host/computer. any serious product with a USB port will have one (any ipod/dap, cell phone, pda, even some novelty items like USB vacuums although those are the kinds of things that sometimes break the rules). you can't just consider the USB port a free source of 5 volts, thats not how it was intended to be used. maybe you can get away with it most of the time but if someone on the scale of Apple tried this, they'd have a class action lawsuit against them for sure

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin w. /img/forum/go_quote.gif Find out if your USB charging amp does this, if not, you are risking damage to a computer/other host device, or you won't be able to charge at all.

No, I'm wondering how one can "find out"/make sure that their computer, iPod, iPhone etc. will work with the Pico Slim without anything getting damaged....

 

[justin w.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLeeWebb /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, I'm wondering how one can "find out"/make sure that their computer, iPod, iPhone etc. will work with the Pico Slim without anything getting damaged....

i was not talking about the Pico Slim because it will follow the specifications for USB charging. and at this time iPods/iPhones cannot act as chargers but in the future they probably will, see "USB On-The-Go" http://www.usb.org/developers/onthego/. the pico slim will be ready for this

 

[DLeeWebb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin w. /img/forum/go_quote.gif i was not talking about the Pico Slim because it will follow the specifications for USB charging. and at this time iPods/iPhones cannot act as chargers but in the future they probably will, see "USB On-The-Go" USB.org - USB On-The-Go

Oh OK Justin I thought that you were telling us to check our sources to make sure that they're compatible with the Pico Slim. I understand now, sorry...

 

[socrates63]

Justin, thanks for enlightening many of us on the USB charging issue.

It's good to know that you take pride in your workmanship and design and care about your customers to do things the right way. Keep up the good work. You continue to establish Headamp as a trustworthy quality brand, offering innovative features not found elsewhere.

Anxiously awaiting for the Pico Slim pre-order

 

[ZDaudiopenguim]

still not out yet?

It's either this or 3 move. Can't wait