ifrogz is well known for their custom protective casings for iPod, iPhone, iPad and whatever “i” there might be.

Less know are their headphones and ear plugs. Esp. the latter deserve our and your attention. There are a lot of stylish models in the “EarPollution” product range to choose from – and they all deliver very decent sound quality.

The Timbre earbuds with wooden chassis: will give you great dreams!

So if you are sick of Apple’s less than mediocre ear plugs or just want a new, stylish and great insert for your ears: take a close look at the Timbre, or, if that one looks to treehuggerish to you, one of the more technical and stylish designs in the EarPollution series. A good alternative would be the “Metal Drumz”.

Features and Technical Details

• Thick, rich bass.
• Crisp, high-definition stereo sound.
• Includes small, medium, and large soft-tip earpieces.
• Driver Unit: 10 mm
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Sensitivity: 103 dB
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Cord Length: 1.1 m
• Plug: 3.5 mm

There is also a model with microphone so you can use it with your iPhone.

How much?

The Timbre is currently at $ 39.99, the version with mic is $ 49.99, other EarPollution models start from as low as $ 14.99

Where to buy?

Order your new headphones or earplugs directly on the ifrogz website:
>>> CLICK HERE for more information and purchase !<<<

P.S.: Got a new shiny iPhone? While you are at ifrogz, grab one of their new iPhone 4 silicon cases, many colors, click here!

Me and my Procyon MindMachine - no seizures, just good vibrations ;-)

Can they?

Technically: Yes. In a similiar way that playing computer games does, because flickering light impulses are involved (the audio does NOT cause any problems).

That’s why there are all those warnings and disclaimers in the manuals. Do not put your cat into the microwave oven to dry it, it may be harmed… *lol*

Lets get this straight: there are exactly TWO scenarios where the use of a MindMachine or light goggle could cause something like a seizure.

1. Someone uses the machine against better knowledge for many hours, combining different sessions, thus stressing his brain and making himself prone to weird effects from the flashing light impulses. You drink too much booze, you get a hangover. Same thing.
2. Someone has a serious medical condition. But even many epileptics are known to use MindMachines without any problems at all, and for some regular brainwave entrainment has bettered their condition. However: if you do know that you have a certain problem, you will be cautious, right?

Otherwise I have NEVER heard of anyone experiencing serious side effects from the use of mind machines, unless you want to call spontaneous napping a seizure… ;-)
Sometimes a mild headache after the first few sessions, if you are totally unused to brainwave entrainment. Kind of a “training effect”. But that’s it, and even that is rare.

So – if you think about trying a mind machine: go ahead!

It does no harm, can help you to deal with a lot of problems, enhance your life, your intellect and help you on your path of personal development. Or just help you to relax and fall asleep faster.

No need to worry, just use some common sense.

Sirius Value Light and Sound Mind Machine Biofeed

• 21 programs for relaxation, learning, increased energy, visualization, sports performance, and more.
• AudioStrobe® decode circuitry. Unique random session creates a different session every time it runs.
• Manual control of pulse rate in tenths of a Hertz, from 0.1 to 40.0.
• ColorPulseTM decode circuit converts rhythmic sounds from your cassette/CD/MP3 player into pulses of light.
• AudioPulseTM decoder and built-in microphone converts any ambient sound into a lightshow.

Our Sirius is the best value for the money of any Light and Sound system on the market. It includes a number of features normally found in machines costing two or more times as much. Easy to use with 21 programs installed the Sirius Light and Sound Mind Machine converts rhythmic sounds (the beat) from your cassette/CD/MP3 player into pulses of light.

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 169.95

Price: $ 133.69

Proteus Light & Sound Mind Machine System

• Quickly Achieve Deep States of Relaxation
• 50 Built-In Sessions Created To Guide Your Mind Into Different States. Can Store 199 Sessions
• 30 Day Satisfaction Guaranteed Return Policy & Lifetime of Technical Support
• BioConnect Feature creates a fully-featured Biofeedback Device when used with our Thoughtstream unit
• Software & Cable for programming & downloading new sessions, real-time control and waveform editor

The Proteus is the most effective and advanced Light and Sound Stimulation System available. A Proteus experience results from the machine gently guiding you into different mental states by stimulating your senses using special patterns of synchronized light and sound. Extraordinary kaleidoscopic patterns of color are seen behind your closed eyelids that dance with thick washes and pulses of sound. The special combination of flickering color and sound pulses creating these incredibly beautiful v

Rating: (out of 14 reviews)

List Price: $ 229.00

Price: $ 159.00

Related Mind Machine Products

“World of Alternatives” has huge database of downloadable products, brainwave / mind sync sessions mainly, related to almost any topic you can think of.

Just some of the keywords you will see at their site:
Psychic, astral voyages, clairvoyant, chakra, magick, manifestation, memory, IQ, telepathy, stress relieve, sleep induction, meditation, chi, tinnitus, past Life, jet Lag, hgh (“human growth hormone”), pain, learning, hypnosis, subliminal, depression, endorphines, om, lucid dreaming, insomnia, weight loss, stop smoking, impotence…

I have only checked out a few of their well over 100 products – and it seems to me their downloadable brainwave sessions are well done and give great value for the money.

But look for yourself:

World of Alternatives – Mind Sync. etc. Brainwave Downloads.

Actively conditioning your brain helps - even to fall asleep.

Still working on the site, but just came across an interesting news article I want to share with you.

It delivers further “scientific” proof:

actively “shaping your brainwaves” actually does help falling asleep and is regarded a potential long-term cure of insomnia by the researchers.

Learning To Shape Your Brain Activity

BrainA study in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that the successful manipulation of sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) amplitude by instrumental SMR conditioning (ISC) improved sleep quality as well as declarative learning.

ISC might thus be considered a promising non-pharmacological treatment for primary insomnia.

This study allowed participants to “shape their own brain activity” by directly modifying certain electroencephalographic (EEG) activities. Findings support the theory that an increase in relaxation and a decrease in muscle tension might lead to less movement during sleep and thereby augment the restorative and learning enhancement benefits of sleep.

Significant changes in SMR amplitude from early to late conditioning sessions confirmed the success of ISC. EEG changes transferred into sleep and improved immediate memory retrieval after learning. The study’s 27 participants were able to fall asleep faster (decrease in “sleep onset latency”) and increase memory performance after two weeks of ISC.

“The aim of the study was to improve sleep quality and memory performance by ‘rewarding’ the existence of certain activities of the brain,” said the study’s workgroup leader, Dr. Manuel Schabus, researcher for the division of physiological psychology at the University of Salzburg in Austria.

Instrumental conditioning of different EEG parameters has long been used as a therapeutic tool to treat different kinds of disorders, including epilepsy and attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Prior research has found that ISC can be effective in treating psychophysiological insomnia, a form of insomnia associated with worrying.

Twenty-seven healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either an ISC group or a randomized frequency group in order to examine the effects of ISC on sleep as well as declarative memory performance. Participants attended the laboratory on 13 occasions, during 10 of which they were connected to a feedback system that allowed them to keep track of their current brain activity by looking at a computer screen.

Participants were encouraged to use physiological relaxation combined with positive mental activity in order to “shape their brainwaves”; all participants remained blind to their group assignment and were not debriefed until after the investigation had ended.

Participants trained the enhancement of the SMR over the course of two weeks and were rewarded with a pleasant image whenever they succeeded to enhance this specific type of brain activity.

Subjective data about sleep quality and depression and objective data about memory and intelligence were also collected. Participants were asked to perform a declarative word-pair association task before and after a 90-minute nap periods in the laboratory; naps were taken before and after treatment sessions.

The researchers suggest that future studies focus on the effects of ISC on various cognitive tasks and address the potential clinical significance of this kind of training for the long-term treatment of insomnia.

(found on sciencenewsden.com)

The perfect solution for sleep.

One of the annoying facts about brainwave entrainment is that it works best with headphones. Yes, there are recordings out there that work with ordinary stereo speakers as well, but still the effect is stronger with headphones.Normally thats no problem – get a pair of decent stereo headphones or high quality in-ear plugs if you are a hifi-maniac, and you are set.

But what if you want to use brainwave CDs (or some sleep inducing brainwave sessions on your iPod) to fall asleep?

Ear plugs have the tendency to fall out or change position slightly so you do not have similar levels of volume on both ears. In-ear plugs stick out – so if you turn and twist a lot, this is not for you. And bulky normal headphones are only for the very serious ones… ;-)

There are two possible solutions for the problem:

• a pillow with integrated stereo speakers
• a headwrap/ headband with integrated headphones

Which one is better for you depends on your personal preferences. If you go all twitchy and itchy and CAN’T SLEEP if there is the slightest pressure and physical presence of “something” around your head, the SleepPhones are not for you. But otherwise they are ideal.

The effect is much stronger – if you change position, they turn with you, opposite to the speakers in the pillow. The fabric is of good quality and “feels good”, it is 100% polyester fleece and washable. The headband can be rolled up and fits into your travel bag easily. It comes in two colors (lavender / grey), three different sizes and can be individually adjusted.

The headband is adjustable and comes in different colors (grey or lavender).

The integrated speakers are of course not comparable with high-priced speakers for audiophiles. But the quality is ok, even if you want to use them to listen to “ordinary” music as well. For brainwave entrainment CDs they are just perfect.

The set comes with the headband (cord with standard plug works perfect with iPod or whatever MP3-Player or personal stereo you have), a CD with brainwaves / ambiente sounds and a little bag with herbs. OK – the herbs could have been left out, and instead they could have produced a better CD.

But that does not do any harm. The CD does it’s job – its just that compared to other sleep induction CDs (like the “Delta Sleep System” I reviewed here as well) it is a bit “semi professional”. Anyways – the sleepphones are worth every penny by themselves, just take the CD and the herbs as complimentary gifts!

Verdict: must have gadget for any brainwaver and sleeper!

Please click the image for further information and purchase:

And be sure – it will not be the last one… ;-)

Thompson simply publishes some of the best brainwave-related products.

Not the newest sleep CD. But still one of the best.

This one is aimed at those who want to get a full night’s sleep. It can be cycled/repeated all night long and will support natural sleeping patterns.

To quote one happy user:

“I have sleep apnea, insomnia, and I snore like a bear. I have had Delta Sleep System for over a year now and it has made a huge impact to my overall stress / energy levels. With it I fall asleep in 5-10 minutes and get actual real refreshing sleep. It also reduces my snoring (however this is not a cure). The next day I feel calm and happy.

The music / ambient noise itself is clearly designed to slow the mind down. It’s not just white noise like surf or rain. The effect is better with a quality stereo or headphones. As a very skeptical person in general — I must say this has convinced me.

I typically set it to loop both cds and find this does move me up / down the various levels of sleep. The only issues I have are: 1) after prolonged use I crave a little more variety, 2) when I wake up if I do not IMMEDIATELY turn it off, I can’t move / fall back alseep. 3) The effect is hypnotic — just thinking about it can lure me into a nap.”

But not all humans and sleep improvement CDs are created equal, and not everyone reacts in the same way to this kind of recording.

Some have pointed out there are some “weird” or “spooky” sounds in there (probably triggering off their unsolved fears regarding monsters and demons under the bed… ;-) ) and others have noticed there are some sudden changes in the music and in the sound volume, which “startled” them.

The first one is a totally personal experience – I can not confirm it. The second is true – but usually this is due to users listening to brainwave recordings WAY to loud. Turn down the volume. This stuff should be just above the level where you ask yourself “errr, did I press the play button??”, so when correct volume levels are maintained the “peaks” won’t startle you but just have the desired effect: induce the natural slepping patterns where phases of deep sleep are mixed with times where you sleep less deeply.

Oh, one more thing: some people are afraid that they will need this kind of “music” forever, like a drug. But opposite to chemical drugs brainwave-related sleep enhancers “train” your brain to relax and follow natural sleep rythms. Many people report that after a couple of months they do not need the CDs any more (but often still use them just because they love them).

Verdict: one of the best sleep improvemend CDs out there. Get it. Sleep better.

For more information and purchase click one of the cover images:

1 CD, Second Edition: 2-CD-Set:

(please note: there are several versions available. I recommend getting either the “older” 2-CD set – my favorite – or the “Delta Sleep System 2.0″ which is one CD and has had some improvements if you use it with ordinary speakers instead of headphones.)