Not surprisingly, two companies well-known to PC sound buffs have recently made some headlines of their own. There seems to be a disconnect when it comes to verbal communications. What we're attempting to do is to finally make computers true multimedia devices. But the only way people will feel comfortable using sound on the PC is if it works like a telephone. You can't worry about adjusting microphone levels, opening mixers, moving sliders, and so on.
Power is supplied by the USB cable, so it can be used with both desktop and notebook PCs.
Meanwhile, after years of working behind the scenes, SRS has introduced its first branded hardware product, the Wow Thing, an external sound-processor box. The Wow Thing also boasts some innovative technology underneath its blue hood. SRS's new Wow algorithm provides improved spatial enhancement of sounds played through ordinary stereo speakers, and the company's TruBass circuitry uses psychoacoustic techniques to simulate rich bass response in small speaker systems and headphones. Just as impressive is SRS's marketing strategy for the Wow Thing. SRS has also created a Wow Thing software plug-in for Winamp Media Player, which is being offered as a free, nonexpiring download from the site.