Cognition Episode 2 The Wise Monkey

A few months ago I reviewed the iPad version of the first ‘episode’ of Cognition, the adventure game series from legendary developer Jane Jenson and Phoenix Online Studios. Now we have Episode 2 of Cognition, and are on the case of the Wise Monkey. Let’s take a look!

Type of app: Adventure Game

Platform/where to buy: Mac or PC; available in the Phoenix Online Studios Store

Developer: Image-Line

Description:
Here are some of the features:
- Play as Erica Reed, FBI detective
- Solve a deep and intriguing mystery that involves your twin brother
- Investigate crime scenes, interact with other detectives, and hunt for clues
- Use Erica’s special powers to uncover the mystery
- Your choices have consequences!

Major features:

Once again you are playing as Erica Reed, a special agent for the FBI. In the first episode she lost her brother in the prelude, and it haunted her throughout as she sought the Cain killer. Now she is on a new case, and has a new boss in town. But in the opening minutes she faces potential poisoning, meets the new boss who is less than enamored with her performance, and … her friend and sometime love interest is kidnapped right out of the squad room – and his ear is chopped off and left behind. Now Erica takes over his ‘Wise Monkey’ case to find the connection!

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The Recliner Folio looks like most folio style cases, as it folds together to look like a notebook or folder. The case sports a tri-fold design; the flap that holds it closed is held in place with a magnet and will fold out of the way when in use. I like this design because it is easy to use and opens and closes quickly. I never had an issue with the flap opening when it was not supposed to, so my iPad stays safe and sound in the folio. The outside of the case is a soft faux leather material. The material feels good in hand, and it also provides some non-slip traction when the case is resting on a table or other surface. All of the ports and buttons are easily accessible, and the camera opening allows for full functionality.

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FLStudio Mobile Android

OK, I will admit to being almost entirely negative about the state of music production apps on the Android platform. Much of this centers on one absolute reality – iOS has core audio services built-in that take care of things for developers, whereas on Android not only is there a lack of such services, the audio system is so weak that there is no assurance of a low-lag environment on any device. That has meant it was up to developers to code their own low-lag audio system for their apps, and has also meant that very few apps are available. Now Image-Line has finally managed to bring FL Studio to Android based on their own engine – let’s see how they did!

Type of app: Music sequencing and production

Platform/where to buy: Android (also iPhone & iPad version); available in the Google Play App Store

Developer: Image-Line

Description:
FL Studio has loads of content, including:
• 133 high quality instruments, drum kits & sliced-loop beats
• Step sequencer for fast percussion programming and sliced-loop reworking
• High quality, battery-friendly audio engine (latency depends on the device)
• Drum loops and sliced loops ready to start your project with a cool beat
• Effects include Limiter, Reverb, Delay, EQ, Amp simulator & Filter to enhance your mix.
• 99 track sequencer and intuitive editing options
• Save and load your songs, export to WAV and AAC
• MIDI file import/export
• Share your songs via Email or Dropbox
• In-app user manual
• Android 2.3.3 required
• Works with all screen resolutions, but FL Studio Mobile is optimized for 1280×800, 800×480, 960×640 and 480×320 screens.

Major features:

FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity-Loops) was born as a PC-centric loop based music platform that has grown into a very powerful and popular music production system (referred to as a DAW or Digital Audio Workstation). It made the leap to iOS a couple of years ago, and has grown to a feature-rich universal binary app, and has now made the jump to Android. Neither of the mobile versions approach the desktop version in terms of functionality, but they are really very solid ways to accomplish on-the-go recording.

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I’m a big fan of Bluetooth enabled, wireless speakers in this age of cell phones, tablets, and computers.  We’re always on the go, always have our mobile phones with us, and therefore, many of us carry our music collections with us as well.  Even if you don’t carry your MP3 collection on your cell phone, most of our phones can use Pandora, Spotify, or any number of mobile music apps.  The market is ripe for great sounding, decently priced Bluetooth speakers.  Unfortunately, the Kinivo BTX350 does not meet that first criterion.

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Toddy Screensters

If you own any device with a touchscreen, then you know all too well how quickly and easily they get dirt and grease and all sorts of crud all over them. I tend to have a small microfiber wipe with me in my car and my laptop bag at all times, and a couple of my jackets have them on the inside pockets. But for those looking to wipe their screens with a bit more ‘character’ than a simple square microfiber wipe, Toddy introduced Screensters. They sent me a couple to try out, so let’s take a look!

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I reviewed Toast’s wood back for the iPad mini back in March. (Read the review.) It went on easily and looked good. Unfortunately a key shortcoming led me to remove it shortly after posting the review.

My summary comments on the iPad mini cover say it all…

What I Like: Three different wood options; Option to have a plain back or one of a number of interesting designs; Ability to customize the case; Easy to apply but hard to remove; Terrific attention to detail

What Needs Improvement: Top and bottom of the iPad’s back remain exposed

Here’s the original video review.

My video review of the original iPad mini cover

Yes, a back cover that leaves the top and bottom of the iPad completely exposed isn’t much better than having no protection in the first place. I wrote the review and, once it was published, pulled the cover off. Sadly Toast covers are not designed to be reusable. The wood cover came off in pieces and had to be thrown out. I felt bad wasting such a nice wood product but I really need iPad protection that actually protects.

Recently I learned that Toast had redesigned their iPad mini covers and, in so doing, addressed this key shortcoming. Obviously I was not alone in my criticism of back protection that only protects part of the surface. (Don’t you love when companies pay attention to feedback?) Toast was kind enough to send a new sample and I’m glad they did. By adding top and bottom protection the company has designed a wonderful way to merge the classic look and feel of wood with the newness of modern technology.

The new Toast Real Wood Cover for iPad mini looks similar to the original one. It is, of course, a bit longer since this new cover extends to cover the upper and lower portions of the iPad.

The cover is still available in three different woods and a number of different designs.

As you can see it is roughly the same size as the iPad mini. Toast sent the walnut cover with the “Birds on a branch” artwork etched and cut into it. I love the way it looks. At my request they also added www.geardiary.com to the cover!!

Before you apply the cover to the iPad mini you’ll need to make a decision. As Toast explains, the Apple SmartCover works best when the cover can come into direct contact with the iPad. While the SmartCover will work with the full Toast cover installed, if you plan to use one with the iPad on a consistent basis you are best served by removing the strip on the right hand side. It is perforated and comes off easily. The result is complete protection except for the side being exposed. It is a mixed bag. On the one hand the SmartCover does get a better hold on the iPad. On the other hand removing the strip means a portion of the iPad will remain exposed when you don’t have the SmartCover on. There are pros and cons to each approach.

Obviously I opted to remove the strip.

After deciding whether or not to remove the side strip you will want to install the Toast cover for iPad mini. The back of the packaging explains that you’ll want to expose a bit of the adhesive on the underside of the cover and line it up with the iPad. It took a few tries before I got it right. And while it is important to be careful you will also want to move quickly- the cover cures in a matter of minutes and if you try to move it after that you will end up destroying the cover.

Notice the corner cutouts? These allow the Toast cover to wrap around the corners of the iPad and protects them. It is a smart design and works well.

Once in place the cover looks and feels great. The branches are etched into the wood but the birds themselves are cut completely through. As a result the silver back of my iPad mini shines through and gives it a ton of visual interest. And, as you can see, the cutout for the camera lens and buttons are are laid out perfectly. (The lens is a tiny bit off center but that is user-error not something the company did wrong.) If you look at the right hand side you’ll see the SmartCover holding on.

I appreciate having the Gear Diary URL carved into the cover. It isn’t too obvious but it is there. That means anyone admiring the Toast cover on my iPad will also see, and hopefully visit, the site. Hey, free advertising is free advertising.

In all this is an awesome update to a lovely iPad mini accessory. It resolves my one and only issue with the Toast Real Wood Cover for iPad mini and, as a result, I can now recommend this cover without reservation! And, unlike the first iPad mini cover I reviewed this one won’t be coming off any time soon! You can learn more and order yours here on the Toast website.

MSRP: Plain- $35, Design- $40, Add $5 for personalization

What I Like: Three different wood options; Option to have a plain back or one of a number of interesting designs; Ability to customize the case; Easy to apply but hard to remove; Terrific attention to detail

What Needs Improvement: Cover not reusable once installed

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

When I began doing Couch to 5K again (something I need to do yet again tomorrow because I let too much time pass between runs) I needed a way to carry my iPhone. After all, during a run my phone is not only my music source but it is also my “trainer”… Walk 10 minutes, run half a mile, slow, fast etc. When I did the program the first time I had an iPhone 4S that fit into my iPhone 4 armband. Now that I’m using an iPhone 5 that armband no longer worked. So I went in search of a different solution.

My LifeProof frē was the obvious choice for protecting my iPhone from potential drops. The case, which we reviewed in December, is thinner and lighter than the offering for the iPhone 4S but still provides tons of protection. For my first few runs I held the LifeProof-encased iPhone. I hated carrying the phone in my hand however, so I went in search of a better solution.

That’s when it occurred to me that I might want to check out LifeProof’s armband. There had been an armband for the iPhone 4S LifeProof case, but it was big and bulky. Were the new armband to be similarly bulky, I would keep searching, but since the fre case was thinner and lighter I hoped the same was true for the iPhone 5 armband. Thankfully it was.

The company was kind enough to send one for review, and I’ve been using it since. continue reading

Geneva Sound markets the Geneva Sound System Model XS as “the world’s first portable audio system with true Hi-Fi sound”. That’s a pretty daring claim to make and one that can easily be dismissed as a good bit of hyperbole. Does this Bluetooth speaker whose design is inspired by the classic travel clock, truly sound like something much bigger and more expensive? We couldn’t wait to get out hands on one and find out.

We did get one for review, and were immediately impressed by the sturdy leather-like clamshell case. It really does look like the travel alarm clocks of old. Closed it has the appearance of a small, leather-like box. Flip it open and pull the speaker unit forward at an angle and you get a triangle of sound. Yes, as Geneva Sound notes it is “a stylish accessory small enough to slip into any briefcase” but that still leaves open the question of sound. What did we think? Read on.

When the Geneva Sound System Model XS review sample arrived, I was impressed by the packaging. The medium-size white box opens to reveal the included accessories and a cloth pouch. There I found the AC power adapter with cable, a rechargeable 2700 mA lithium battery, and an adapter cable with a 3.5mm plug on either end for creating a wired connection to an audio source. There was also a large white pouch in which I found the Model XS. Yes, without question the presentation was worthy of the $250 price tag.

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Samsung Galaxy S 4

The Galaxy S line has seen a level of success only felt on the smartphone scene by Apple with the iPhone, and the new Galaxy S 4 has done little to rock the boat. It has, however, packed the cargo hold full of stuff.

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I use my iPad for just about everything — notes, pictures, writing posts, browsing the web, etc. In many ways it is how I aggregate every bit of content I need, like, or want to reference. The iPad does all this for me on the hardware side, and I’ve been testing an app called Moxtra that does this for photos, documents, notes, and audio files. It can be standalone like a scrapbook or collaborative. How does it work, and how well does it work? Read on to find out!

Moxtra organizes your content into “binders”, rather than folders or categories, but the idea is the same. You can create a binder and add photos, documents, notes, videos, and pull from Dropbox and Box storage. So, for example, I have a “Gear Diary” binder. I can use this to add photos, notes for posts, documents, anything I would like to store under the “Gear Diary” category. Alternately, I could create new binders for each review, and set up notes and photos across several pages to lay out how the review might flow.

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A few months ago we brought word that JVC had upgraded their headphone line. The new versions of their headphones feature a rugged styling, a high-gloss finish and durable construction. The company is using heavy-duty Neodymium driver units and Extreme Deep Bass Ports to fill out the sound offered by the headphones. In addition, the company added a one button remote and microphone compatible with iPhone, blackberry and android devices to three of the models. The inline single-button remote lets you play, stop and skip tracks. It also lets you answer phone calls. They sent us a pair of the DJ-style over-the-ear HA-MR77X headphones for review. Here’s our video look.

As noted in the video these headphones have 57 mm drivers and wait just 14.90 oz. It’s clear who the target audience is for these headphones since the tag line on the product page states –

For the DJ life, flip up your cups, tough rubber protector and single-sided cord.

Every beat loud and clear with super audio backed by a 57 mm driver and extremely deep baseboard

Style that walks the walk added comfort and a remote mic with SmartSwitch.

JVC says they designed the headphones for comfort and excellent sound isolation. And while I do find them to be pretty comfortable I didn’t find that they block out the ambient noise as well as some other headphones we’ve tried including some on your styles. The sound was good but didn’t blow me away. Then again, as we note in the video, one needs to consider the pricing on these headphones. At under $100 MSRP these aren’t the priciest headphones on the market. if reviewed in an absolute sense they sound good but if viewed as headphones for under $100 there quite impressive.

Of course the main feature of this model is the flip up design that allows for easy hands-free monitoring in one ear while listening to the sound in the room with the other.

And, of course, when you’re not using then they fold up into a relatively small package.

The cable and plugs are described as “robust and built to last” and I have no reason to doubt that. Still, having the cable permanently connected to the headphones and not having the option to connect the cord to either ear was a disappointment. In all I think these are a decent buy for $99.95 and are great for the emerging DJ in your life. If you’re looking for a refined, high-quality amazing sounding headphone you’re going to want to look elsewhere but if you’re looking for a robust, bold statement that also sounds good these may be the headphones for you. You can learn more about the HA-MR77X DJ Headphones and the entire line here.

MSRP: $99.95

What I Like: Make a bold statement; Both ears flip up and out of the way DJ-style; In-line remote and microphone; Decent sound for under $100

What Needs Improvement: Good sound but not great sound; Block noise but not as much as I expected; 3.5mm jack is straight rather than right-angled

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

IK Multimedia iKlip Studio for iPad Mini

Just about a year ago, I reviewed the original iKlip Studio. It was a simple and short review, and for good reason – the iKlip was simplistic and direct in design, solid in build and materials, and well executed. Back at CES 2013, IK Multimedia announced they were building an iKlip for the iPad Mini. Today they have released it, so let’s see how it compares!

IK Multimedia iKlip Studio for iPad Mini

Description

Here are some of the features:

• Sturdy, durable, lightweight, shock-resistant thermoplastic construction holds your iPad securely without scratching or marring it
• Rubber foot-pads grip the desktop and prevent unwanted sliding
• Flexible orientation allows iKlip Studio to tilt from a very low-profile angle to near-vertical positioning
• The device can be quickly rotated between its horizontal and vertical position
• Perfect for the studio, office, travel, home and school use
• iKlip Studio for iPad mini works with other 7” tablets (Kindle Fire, Galaxy Tab, Nook, etc.)
• All controls, buttons, connectors and camera of the iOS device are accessible
• Fast installation — can be mounted in seconds
• Folds up for easy storage
• The support tray fits most tablet cases

Overall Impressions

One of the big things that impressed me about the original iKlip Studio was the rugged set of materials. My kids and I threw it around, quickly assembled and disassembled … and yet a year later is as good as new. The iKlip Studio for iPad Mini is basically the same thing – but this time centered around the iPad Mini and other 7″ tablets.

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The Hype

The glamour. The exhilaration. The intensity. The speed. With drivers cruising a smooth 200 mph — minimum — and cutthroat teams carving out dynasties of speed, Formula One is the most elite racing circle in the world and the most thrilling motorsport tearing up the tracks. Every curve of the track, every control on the dashboard and every strategy in the pit lane is of utmost importance in this intensified world — and it’s all re-created in stunning detail. Let breakneck speeds and ultra responsive cars transport you to the glamorous world of Formula One as you race toward the finish line.

Get behind the wheel and experience the new Circuit of the Americas before its real-life debut with this breathtaking game. This dramatic new track features 20-turn circuits that take inspiration from some of the world’s most difficult corners, including Silverstone’s Becketts and Istanbul Park’s Turn 8, and boasts elevation changes of up to 133 feet. An advanced weather system produces localized weather that can leave sections of the track wet while others stay dry for a dramatic and unpredictable race experience.

Take part in training tutorials, such as the all-new Young Driver’s Test at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, to become familiar with the nuances of F1 racing and learn how to get the most speed out of your car. The new Lap Tutorials feature can help you perfect your car’s performance, as F1 test driver Anthony Davis walks you through a lap of each of the 20 circuits, offering expert advice. Do you have what it takes to handle the world’s toughest race circuits and steer your car to victory?

The Reality

In F1 2012, racing fans get an in-depth Formula One racing experience with refined game modes and numerous experiences for new players. This racing game has recovered well after noticeable glitches after the initial release, the fourth installment in this game series from Codemasters.

F1 2012 lets players experience the 2012 season that involves 12 teams and 24 drivers. Customization options are extensive and include mid-season changes. Races include 20 circuits and Grand Prix including the circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The young drivers test provides a great tutorial for novice players and greatly reduces the learning curve that intimidates many players in F1 games. Here players can immediately learn, get on team or drive in a non-pressure environment.

Once the skills are set, then starts earning medal and championship points or try the proving grounds. The time trial lets players race against friends, ghost cars or selected rivals created by the best players in the world. The time attack offers various scenarios where players conquer three different challenges to earn a medal.

Constant adjustment and button pushing is the name of the game here, so memorize the control scheme as soon as possible. The custom race options are a great feature allowing for players to choose race location and length.

The dynamic weather condition scenarios and graphics are impressive while the convenient  flashback option help players avoid restarts when they make mistakes. Use the flashbacks wisely because they are in limited supply.

F1 2012 still has strong challenges, but the various driving assistance options really help novice players ease their way into a great experience as they learn what they might have been missing (myself included).

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Isla Dorada

Having just come off of the euphoria that was Special Enquiry Detail 2, I was ready for my next hidden object puzzle adventure. It comes in the form of an island-based game called Isla Dorada – Episode 1: The Sands of Ephranis HD, which has you taking on the role of Jessica Pandora, an archeologist drawn to a hidden site sought by many treasure hunters. What happens to her once she arrives, and is this a good game? Let’s take a look and see!
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Special Enquiry Detail 2

It has been nearly two years since I reviewed the iPad version of Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds, and I absolutely loved it. The sequel came out for PC a while back, but has just now arrived for iPhone . Let’s dig in and see if this story and character driven hidden object puzzle adventure can live up to the original!

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game

Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version is here.; available in the Mac App Store

Developer: Floodlight Games / G5 Entertainment

Description:
Special Enquiry Detail 2 has loads of content, including:
Six highly intriguing chapters
44 locations to examine
22 mini-game puzzles to solve
A challenging case with multiple suspects

Major features:

The reasons I loved the original Special Enquiry Detail are many: great characters, interesting story, good sense of mystery and intrigue, and solid puzzles and hidden object gameplay. Ultimately there was nothing for me to critique, but I mentioned the British linguistics, as they caused me to need hints more than I would have otherwise.

As you begin the game, a murder of a woman in a wedding dress takes place, and next thing you know Turino and Lamonte are on the scene hunting for clues. They were not the detectives in charge of the Engagement Killer’s case – there have already been multiple killings – but they quickly take over based on a special request. From there they need to revisit the old crimes and try to piece together new and existing evidence to find connections and clues to solve the crimes before the killer claims another victim!

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If you’ve read my review of the Toshiba Z930 Ultrabook, then you know two things: I loved the computer, and I hated Windows 8. Much of that animosity comes from the awful Start screen/Dashboard, which is obviously designed for touch interfaces and not mouses and keyboards. ReviverSoft thinks they can help people like me with their newest product, the Start Menu Reviver. Can it get me to accept Windows 8, or at least tolerate it? Read on to find out!

Installing and setting up Start Menu Reviver is a snap. Once you download it, there’s a quick setup that remaps your windows key to Start Menu Reviver, and a small icon that looks like the Windows flag is added to the taskbar. If you don’t want to remap your windows key, you can easily change that in settings, so it’s easy to switch around based on your workflow. The Start Menu itself is great; it’s like the Windows 8 dashboard, and the old Start Menu have merged. So you get the benefit of a tiled look, but in a compact, Start Menu-sized package. I chatted with the CEO of ReviverSoft about Start Menu Reviver, and according to him the tiled design was not an accident. They were aiming for something that worked well with both touchscreen/hybrid computers as well as traditional mouse and keyboard Windows machines, and it works quite well. They also purposely aimed to evoke the tiled/icon style of smartphone user interfaces, since that’s become quite familiar for the average user, and it works well at making the Start Menu immediately clean and easy to use.

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Let me start off by saying that I’ve never used Pocket Informant.  I knew of its existence, but I hadn’t given it much thought because the built-in iOS calendar app worked well enough for me … how wrong I was.  But when Alex Kac, CEO and Founder of developer WebIS, invited us to check out a sneak preview of the 3.0 version of their productivity app, I couldn’t resist.  As soon as the app was installed, I was instantly impressed with how detailed this tool can get with my time and task management.

As soon as you install the app, you’ll be greeted with a setup assistant which, you might have guessed, guides you through the many settings available to you in Pocket Informant.  You’ve got choices of everything from the basic “which calendars would you like synced”, to “would you like to display ISO Week Numbers”, to whether you’d like to show your tasks (think Reminders) in your calendar.

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This third person action-shooter game takes place after the high quality 2009 Star Trek film and before this year’s sequel Star Trek Into Darkness. Single player and cooperative/multiplayer (online and offline in split screen) modes are available.

The Hype

The award-winning Star Trek game casts players for the first time ever as Kirk and Spock in a totally original co-op experience worthy of gamers and fans. Set in the new canon of director and producer J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009) reboot, players will be immersed in the game’s rich story and action-packed combat.

Developed by acclaimed Ontario-based developers Digital Extremes (Bioshock 2, Dark Sector, The Darkness 2), Star Trek features an original story by BAFTA award winner and God of War writer, Marianne Krawczyk, in collaboration with the writer/producers of the new Star Trek films, Bob Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Production was overseen by Paramount Creative Executive Brian Miller.

The Reality

Captain James T. Kirk and Spock must work together in the co-op mode against the antagonistic and reptilian Gorn, who are trying to disrupt the New Vulcan colony.

Spock and Kirk on Star Trek: The Video Game

In Stark Trek: The Video Game, players can play this third person action-shooter sci-fi game with Captain James T. Kirk or the formidable Vulcan named Spock. Both get basic weapons like phasers and communication tricoders – both are upgradeable. Kirk’s phaser is a bit more powerful…and louder, while Spock’s weapons can freeze plus he uses the famous nerve pinch and mind meld powers. Kirk can also order airstrikes from their home ship The Enterprise.

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When it comes to HD action cameras there are a few key “musts” the device needs to have if you are going to take it seriously. It has to be tough. After all, action cameras need to endure bumps, bruises, vibration and moisture. It has to be mountable, since an action camera that can only sit on a tripod is called… a camera. It has to be simple to use, since having to stop in the middle of an activity to turn the camera on or off defeats the purpose. And, of course, it needs to take good quality video and, if possible, stills. At under $200 the ContourRoam2 couldn’t possibly offer all of these features, could it? Of course it does! That’s why I’ve been having so much fun playing with it ever since it arrived.

A few weeks ago, Perry reviewed the Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon action camera. (Read the review.) It shoots to different perspectives at the very same time. That’s a good trick not offered by the ContourRoam2. And while it would be fun to shoot two videos at once, I didn’t find that not having it detracted from the overall experience of using the ContourRoam2. Let’s take a look at the HD action camera on video and then dig a little deeper into its specs and features.

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“Another Bluetooth speaker?” Elana asked when the package arrived? (Okay she actually didn’t say that but she COULD have said it, considering just how many Bluetooth speakers we have reviewed in recent months.) Yes, the Scosche boomBOTTLE is yet another Bluetooth speaker that has made its way into the marketplace. This one, however, is an award winner, having been recognized at CES 2013 this past January.

Why does this Bluetooth speaker stand out? Does it deserve the recognition? Let’s take a look so you can decide for yourself.

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The Orbino Pantera Cinque iPhone 5 Case

I got into a funk not too long ago; because I had dropped my iPhone and managed to ding it up a bit, I knew I needed to change my device carry habits. I already knew that I wouldn’t be interested in a rubber or plastic iPhone case, and while the right wooden case might have appealed to me, I was ready to try something different. I was going for leather, and as I had on my iPad mini, I was going for handmade.

So at the same time I placed the order for my Orbino iPad miniPadova case, I also added a Pantera Cinque iPhone 5 Case to my shopping cart. Hand-stitched and tailored for the iPhone 5, the Pantera Cinque is available in a number of gorgeous Tuscan leather colors. For those who want something truly eye-catching, exotic ostrich, ostrich leg, crocodile, snake skin, and even stingray are offered; the only exotic skin I can think of that is missing is ring lizard! I opted for the Tuscan leather in pecan. This case is solid leather without any lining; it smells and feels terrific.

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BLING! That’s the only way to describe the Monster Diamond Tears Edge Headphones. These fashion headphones stand out thanks to their crystal encrusted ear cups and music control. The sharp edges of the headphones immediately remind you of the facets on diamonds, and the transparent crystalline look of the Clear Diamond review sample we were sent (they also come in black) catches light and makes the appearance even more striking. Clearly targeted to a female audience, the Diamond Tears Edge headphones make as loud a fashion statement as you are going to find.

There is no doubt what Monster was aiming for with these headphones. As they explain on the product page, “The Diamond Tears high-definition headphone was created much like an object of high fashion…” Yet despite targeting these headphones to a fashion-conscious female audience, Monster goes to great lengths to focus on these headphones as a high-end audio accessory. They note:

When you’re hearing Diamond Tears, you’re hearing your music the way you’ve never heard before: through proprietary driver technology and the cut-no-corners materials required for high-performance audio. It was the only way to deliver the ultra-accurate response that Diamond Tears promises.

The Monster Diamond Tears Edge come in nice packaging that is reminiscent of opening a jewelry box. Lift the top of the inside box, and the headphones move toward you. It makes for a striking unboxing experience that is worthy of the over-$300 price tag. Speaking of the box, inside you will find:
- Monster Diamond Tears Edge headphones

- ControlTalk and Control Talk Universal for hands-free phone and music control

- Low profile, right-angle connector

- Three no-hassle, tangle-free cables

- Monster Cleaning Cloth with advanced Aegis Microbe Shield

- Touring Case, stylish protection for your headphones (It is actually a cheap soft case…)
Here’s a look at them on video.
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Put down your smartphone. I know you’re rushing to your favorite App Store, trying to figure out what a whiteboard calendar app is. You won’t find this on your phone or tablet. But it’s the greatest shared calendar solution that Sarah and I have tried. It is open enough that we can customize it endlessly, but also has great privacy settings depending upon the use environment. It also never needs a software update, reboot, or recharge. Yes, it is a simple, wall-mounted whiteboard. But it has done more to keep us organized than any Google Calendar or variant smartphone app!

The truth is, there is no great shared calendar solution. We have access to each others calendars in Google, but those aren’t terribly centralized. Either we end up with duped entries, because both of us list the same event, or we just plain miss things because we don’t look closely enough at our smartphones. But a whiteboard in the middle of our kitchen is hard to miss. And we consciously choose to only note important items (birthdays of note, visitors, shared plans), making it easier to plan our schedules and know at a glance how busy life is.

Admittedly, it is a bit of a pain manually updating the months, and my handwriting is awful so sometimes that it’s a guessing game WHAT we have scheduled that day, but the trade offs are worth it. Life is getting busier and busier, and both Sarah and I feel less overwhelmed with a good visual of our plans. It is amazing that with two iPhones, an iPad, a Kindle Fire, and a few laptop computers between us, the simple, super low-tech solution is the best!

MSRP: Varies, ours was $9.99 on sale at Michael’s, you can find similar ones on Amazon.

What I Like: Simple way to keep our schedule organized

What Needs Improvement: No Google Calendar sync

For some time it seemed that if you wanted to be taken seriously as a business person, you had to have a BlackBerry device. Research In Motion — or RIM as the company was commonly called — built smartphones that were solid, had excellent QWERTY keyboards, they were secure, and they were the first devices to have PUSH email.

Side note: PUSH email may be something many of us take for granted now, but there was a time when if you wanted it, you had to own a BlackBerry. Those of us on Pocket PC phones, Treos, or other phones with email capabilities who weren’t willing to pay for expensive Exchange server fees had no choice other than to set our devices to synchronize on a schedule, or we could manually sync (or PULL) email to the device when we remembered to. 

As recently as summer 2008, if you asked a middle schooler what phone they wished they had, they would say they wanted a BlackBerry. Dan says that in 2008, every student in his tenth grade class had a BlackBerry. That’s probably because RIM’s huge consumer push was working — it seemed like everyone had a BlackBerry device at that point — moms, teens, movie stars — and of course, the business men and women BlackBerry devices had always appealed to.

Somewhere along the way, RIM became a company that seemed to have stopped innovating; they appeared to be secure in the fact that their devices were desirable, that businesses would always support workers using BlackBerry devices, and that consumers would want BlackBerry devices just because they were “cool”.

And then, rather quickly it seemed, that all fell apart.

In 2009, iPhones began to seriously gain market share; app developers were embracing the new iOS operating system, and the device that many had perhaps initially dismissed as an “iPod that was also a fashionable phone” began to be seen as one of the smartest smartphones yet. In 2008, Android phones began to sell, and before long that OS was also seemingly embraced by business and non-business consumers alike. What did iOS and Android have in common? They were touch-optimized operating systems that did not require a physical keyboard for data entry; they also had larger, full color screens.

RIM tried to keep up. They introduced the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm and later the Torch … but both devices were buggy, cumbersome, and lacking in features when compared to the iPhones and Android devices they were trying to compete against. Similarly to how Microsoft had failed when they tried to re-skin their stylus-based PocketPC operating system into a touch-based operating system, RIM was failing because they were trying to turn a predominantly text-based device into an app-powered pocket computer; the difference being that iOS and Android had launched as exactly what they were trying to be — touch-based pocket computers.

RIM was not keeping up with the new app and feature driven mobile phone market; the popular apps and features that everyone wanted and expected to see on their smartphones simply weren’t there, and as a result BlackBerry devices were no longer the cool phone to own. To illustrate that point, I asked Kev’s almost 14-year-old daughter how many of her friends had BlackBerry phones these days, and she couldn’t name one. Dan says that last year only one 10th grader in his class had a BlackBerry, and this year … none of his 10th graders have one.

The one card that BlackBerry could always play was that their platform offered security that the others didn’t have, but that is no longer the case. On May 3rd, Samsung announced that the Department of Defense (DoD) had approved the use of their latest Knox-enabled Android smartphones and tablets. Although for now this only includes the new Galaxy S4, “Samsung has said more devices would ship with the platform in the near future.” Apple devices running iOS6 are expected to be cleared by the DoD later this month. In other words, BlackBerry has now lost the last solid business advantage that they could claim.

Over the last three years, I’ve felt like the fly in the ointment anytime someone had something positive to say about BlackBerry devices. As far as I was concerned, you could stick a fork in RIM, because BlackBerry was DONE. Granted, RIM has managed to hang on longer than I would have predicted, but I stopped considering them to be a true competitor in 2009.  For me, BlackBerry devices were an aging institution, and it was inevitable that anyone who was using one would be upgrading to the latest iPhone or Android device as soon as their current contract was up.

With the late 2012 announcement of BlackBerry 10′s imminent release, along with all the promises that were made about how it would change the way we viewed and used BlackBerry devices, how the new operating system would shake up the mobile phone space, and how RIM would be revitalized in the eyes of consumers and investors … Well, let’s just say that the upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices had a lot to live up to.

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When shopping for a pair of headphones, it seems that things keep getting harder and harder. After all, in the battle for your ears there are an ever-growing number of headphones vying for attention. Admittedly we haven’t done much of anything to make the task any easier. After all, in just the past few months we’ve reviewed headphones from Phiaton, Monster, AKG and many more. Worse- or better- yet, pretty much all the headphones we have reviewed recently impressed us enough that we would recommend them to a family member looking for some new cans.

Is there room for another pair of headphones in the lineup of “Gear Diary Recommended Headphones”? If that pair of headphones are the Harman Kardon NC over-the-ear noise canceling headphones, then the answer is a loud and confidant, “YES!”. The reason for this is simple — these headphones are amazing.

We reviewed the Harman Kardon NC over-the-ear headphones last summer. (You can read the review here.) I loved pretty much everything about these high and Bluetooth headphones. I found them to be comfortable, sound great, and run for an acceptable period of time on each charge. Judie found them to be rather interesting, so I sent them down to Texas. They continue to be one of the two pair of headphones she switches between. At the time I expressed interest in the possibility of checking out the noise canceling version of these headphones upon their release. I have had the opportunity to do just that for the past month and a half and, as I mentioned in the introduction, I am thoroughly impressed with these headphones.

I have a pretty complete review of the headphones and my thoughts on them in our video review, so let’s jump into that and then look at a gallery of images.

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Don’t let this happen to you…

“Elana do you know where the Harman Karden NC headphones I’m reviewing are?”

“Where did you last use them?”

“If I knew that I wouldn’t be searching for them… Oh, got ‘em!”

“Where were they? Buried under the pile on your desk?”

Yes, there is an advantage to keeping your headphones hung up and close by the way they are when you use the Just Mobile’s HeadStand. It prevents them from getting lost under a pile of papers. It keeps them safe and protected from someone who might sit on them after yo accidentally left them on a chair. And there is the added benefit that your stylish headphones look great hanging from the HeadStand. Just Mobile describes the HeadStand as “The high-design headphone hanger [that] is the perfect place to hang your high-design headphones.”

The aluminium desktop stand keeps your headphones on display and within reach while offering the added benefit of cable storage hidden in the dual-layered aluminium base. It keeps your desk neat and tidy and shows off headphones like these White Tuxedo Monster DNA headphones. We reviewed the silver HeadStand and are now back to look at the even cooler, even classier black version. Check them out.

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John Deere EZtrak Z235 Zero Turn Mower, Images by Author

In 1837 in a rural Illinois farming community, a humble displaced Vermont blacksmith fashions a new type of plow from discarded materials, and John Deere Plow Works is born. The rest, as they say, is history – bathed in colorful “John Deere Green.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the company’s residential product line and recently invited me to “test drive” one of its newest zero-turn mowers. Of course I jumped at the chance, what with already being a John Deere customer, myself.

John Deere brings its legacy of plowshares and farm implements to your yard, thanks to a broad lineup of residential and commercial products including riding tractors and the EZtrak zero-turn mowers. New for 2013 is the EZtrak Z235 and Z255 consumer models. The good folks from Deere set me up with a test model Z235 from my local dealer Storm Lawn and Garden in Grand Prairie, Texas.

No sooner did they unload the mower in front of my residence, than the neighbors were all coming out to see the “new arrival” while also “volunteering” their yards for my test track. Our lots here range in size between a little over half to two acres, so opportunity definitely presented itself.

The EZtrak Z235 and my 100-series rider/Image by Author

As I mentioned, I already owned a John Deere riding tractor (100-series), and my father-in-law struts around on his v-twin 300-series yellow and green rider. While I love my tractor mower, there are areas in our yards that present a bit of challenge to mow quickly and efficiently — and even cause me to have to (ugh) break out the push mower or weed eater.

After a quick lesson from the employee from Storm Lawn and Garden, I found myself literally zipping off on the EZtrak to attack that overgrown lawn.

As with any new vehicle I test, there was a bit of a learning curve with the zero turn model, as steering is significantly different from my rider. While I miss the “traditional” style of the riding tractor, I absolutely fell in love with the maneuverability of the EZtrak; once I had mastered the twin lever steering action, I found myself not being able to part with the Z235.

And lo and behold, I discovered that John Deere has some nifty financing deals going on for spring as well, so after a quick trip to meet with Matt Storm over at the dealership I walked away with not one but two new John Deere products (the second being a cool pedal tractor for the grandson).

John Deere EZtrak Z235 Zero Turn Mower, Image courtesy John Deere

By the numbers, the Z235 mower features a 42-inch Edge Cutting mower deck with side discharge and is powered by a 20hp 40 cu. in. v-twin four-stroke OHV gasoline engine. Power is sent to the rear wheels via dual Hydro-Gear EZT units with 1-inch axles.

Forward speed is rated at 0-7 mph, but it sure seems faster than that while zipping down the road to Poppy’s house. Reverse speed is 0-3.5 mph and that is where I really appreciate the EZtrak, as no adjustments are necessary to mow in reverse like my riding tractor – just pull backward on the twin levers and we’re mowing.

A word of caution for newbies on zero turn mowers – these things turn on less than a dime and will drag that inside tire on your grass. Doing a few Ken Block-type Gymkhana moves on the grass will yield unsightly divots thanks to the awesome grip of those drive tires.

The EZtrak mower is very comfortable, easy to mount and dismount, and that larger footdeck will have you riding around til you run the 2.1 gallon fuel tank dry. The PTO engages and disengages quickly with the flip of a switch, and the twin cutting blades are driven by a single belt and cutting height is adjustable between 1-4 inches.

List price for the EZtrak Z235 is $2,499 and the US warranty is 24 months or 120 engine hours (mowers and tractors utilize engine hourmeters to monitor usage instead of odometers found in passenger vehicles).

John Deere EZtrak Z235 Zero Turn Mower, Image courtesy John Deere

The EZtrak cuts cleanly and quickly and discharges efficiently. I did not notice as much bunching up of cut grass in my wake as I get with my single-cylinder riding tractor. A mulching system is also available, as is material collection system. The Edge mower deck features a wash port making for quick cleaning of the business side of the EZtrak.

I had not experienced a single problem with the first John Deere product I purchased, a fact not lost on helping to make my decision on my new purchase. The financing deals and dealer support helped seal the deal. Now I gotta get busy building that pedal tractor for the grandbaby.

Not everybody’s mother is a golfer. I know mine never was because every year when I was gone away to college she would give away my clubs to Goodwill. “But you didn’t use them all winter!” Arrgh.

But of course I still love her, and if she did like to knock around the little white ball, I would seriously consider buying her the new SensoGlove, the world’s first digital golf club. To incentivize you, they are offering a special deal for Mother’s Day with 20% off until May 13. That makes the $89 glove only $71.20 if you use the coupon code MothersDay13. That’s a lot cheaper than a couple of gold lessons.

But does it work?

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Here is a picture of two iPod shuffles. Yes, they are different colors but have the same shape, design, controls and capacity.

If you look, touch or listen to these iPod shuffles, the ONLY difference you might notice is that the buttons on one are a tiny bit stiffer than the other. There’s no other difference.

You would, however, only be willing to do this with one of those iPod shuffles…

Put the wrong one in this ramekin of water, and you will be left with a tie clip (read: malfunctioning iPod shuffle) rather than an mp3 player. Put the other in the ramekin and … you can listen to music, change tracks, and even use voice over to learn what you are hearing. Welcome to the wonderful world of Underwater Audio, a company that takes your everyday, ordinary iPod shuffle and hits it with a layer of waterproofing from the inside out. That yields an iPod shuffle that looks like any other iPod shuffle — but it is now one that is completely waterproof. It not only works, but it works well.

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One of us is in the US while the other is in Australia; both of us have been using the HTC ONE for the last bit. With HTC pushing the phone this weekend through special sales promotions, we thought it would be a good time to share some of our thoughts.

Dan: A couple of weeks ago, I wrote some of my first impressions of the HTC ONE Android Smartphone. My initial impressions have only continued to be positive, and I am more enamored with the device now than when I first gushed about it. At the time, I described the HTC ONE as being as close to jewelry as a smartphone can be. I stand by that statement. I also noted that the look and feel and build of the phone rivals the iPhone 5 and might even exceed it; I stand by that statement as well. In that initial look, I noted that the dual front-facing speakers were like nothing I have ever heard from on a smartphone before; that statement is perhaps close to an understatement. The phone is amazing as a standalone music or video device. My time with the HTC ONE is coming to an end, but Mitchell’s time with his is just beginning.

Mitchell: My HTC ONE journey really began on April 5. My local carrier Telstra sent out an email blasts announcing that HTC ONE pre-orders were now open. Within minutes of that email I had my order in for a gorgeous 32GB Black HTC ONE.

I’ve been using an LG Nexus 4 for over a month and, convinced that I could switch to Android after four generations of iPhone, I was certain that the HTC ONE was going to be my next long-term smartphone, replacing my 64GB iPhone 5.

Finally receiving the HTC ONE this week, I tore into the box immediately, and I was definitely struck but the solidity of this phone. HTC waxes lyrical about the materials and overall build of the HTC ONE, and its not hard to see why. In a sea of plastic, the HTC ONE definitely stands out.

HTC ONE By the Numbers

Let’s get the specs and other factual stuff out of the way.

The Screen is Gorgeous

• Android with HTC Sense (They are careful not to list the numbers. If you dig deeply you will see it is “Android OS, v4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)”)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.7 GHz quad-core processor
• 32GB Storage
• 2GB RAM
• 4.7″ 1080p Full HD screen with 468PPI
• HTC BoomSound
• Dual front speakers
• Built-in amplifiers
• Beats Audio
• HTC UltraPixel Camera
• Optical Image Stabilization
• 2.1MP front camera
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC

In the box

HTC continues to offer a less-than-exciting unboxing experience. This time out, the ATT version includes:

• The HTC ONE
• An AC charger
• A MicroUSB sync cable
• A (cheap) 3.5mm headset with microphone
• A SIM eject tool
• A Quick Start guide

HTC ONE Look Feel and Build

Dan: I’ve said my piece regarding the look, feel and build of the ONE. Mitchell has both of the current heavy-weight contenders in the Android smartphone competition, and he can give far more color than me.

Mitchell: I’m lucky enough to have the new Samsung Galaxy S 4 on my desk as well, so I have been comparing the two relentlessly.

Like the iPhone 4, the HTC ONE is a solid, hefty chunk of technology that exudes quality. The black metal looks very slick, and has a reasonable amount of grip despite its smooth texture.

Having carried an iPhone 5 for the last 8 months, the extra heft of the HTC ONE is very noticeable  Some accuse the iPhone 5 of being too light, but I’m not one of them. Even the Samsung Galaxy S 4 feels a lot lighter (143 vs 130 grams), despite a mere 13 g (or 9%) separating the two.

Since I actually OWN the HTC ONE in my possession  I have been quite careful with it, occasionally toting it naked, other times in one of the three cheap-o cases I ordered in eBay weeks ago. So far it has picked up nary a mark, and indications online would suggest it’s better at “wear and tear” than the black iPhone 5. That said, the amount of info on the black HTC ONE is few and far between compared to the silver.

Up against the Samsung Galaxy S 4, the HTC ONE unquestionably feels like the more premium product. Though I wouldn’t go so far as to say the Galaxy S 4 feels slimy as other publications have done, the Galaxy S 4 feels solid without feeling special. On high volume, the S 4′s rear-facing speaker makes the battery cover vibrate, and while the silver band around the edge looks nicer than the equivalent on the Galaxy S III, it’s fake.

The HTC ONE exhibits none of these qualities. My concern is scratching that beautiful aluminium body, since it doesn’t share the GS4′s ability to bounce or flex should rock meet hard place.

Strangely, I have been finding the Samsung Galaxy S 4 to be easier to hold and use in day-to-day situations. Despite being marginally wider (less than 2mm), I feel much less nervous texting one handed.

As for design, I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with the HTC ONE in the flesh. The back looks fantastic, with gorgeous symmetrical lines and a subtle curve that catches the light especially nicely on the black model. The front is where it slightly loses its appeal.

The top and bottom speaker grills are glued onto the phone, which is fine (though it seems a bit out of whack with the whole “unibody” line that HTC is selling), but they add significantly to the amount of non-display area on the front of the phone. Compared to the Galaxy S 4, the screen looks surprisingly small due to the rather large black bezels on all four sides of the display.

4.7-inch vs 5-inch is inconsequential, and in fact I prefer the former since it can make-on-break one handedness, but on the HTC One it feels like a wasted opportunity to make the phone just that little bit smaller.

Ditching the third soft key for a non-function HTC logo is a strange decision too. Why couldn’t the HTC button act as “Home”, flanked by back and multitasking keys?

Mitchell’s Gallery of HTC ONE vs Samsung GALAXY S4 Pictures

Dan: I think I’ve largely said my piece. The HTC ONE is gorgeous and built beautifully; it is as refined as any smart phone on the market, and it feels solid without feeling like a brick. Both visually and from a tactile perspective it is a far more interesting device then the iPhone 5. When compared to the Samsung Galaxy S 4, it is on another planet. One is big and plastic, while the other is metal, glass, and gorgeous. Hands-down if you’re looking for the best phone from an industrial design perspective, this is one of the top contenders if not the knockout winner.

HTE ONE Software and Operating System

Dan: I was an early detractor of Android, but I’ve been softening as of late. The operating system has become increasingly refined, and it is not the dog I once believed it to be. While I prefer iOS to Android, I would certainly be more than happy to use an android handset. The HTC One is most certainly an Android handset. That’s good and bad. On the good side there is the fact that the phone is running Android v4.1.2; it’s polished and works well. Even with HTC Sense skinning the operating system (I happen to like Sense), the phone is plenty zippy. That, of course, is thanks to its speedy processor and healthy amount of RAM. During my use of the device, I never had a slowdown or other issues with it. That’s saying a great deal since that is usually not my experience with Android.

As noted, however, this is truly an Android handset. What that also means is the fact that the phone is shipping with v4.1.2, a version of Android that is already old. And while it says “upgradable to v4.2.2 we haven’t seen best track record for HTC Android handsets getting updated to newer versions of operating system. And even if it does, by the time that happens, v4.2.2 will be outdated.

My rule of thumb is this:

When buying an iOS device, you can figure that you will see at least two full point operating system updates before the device is sunset. With the second update you may not get all of the new features, but you’ll get most of them — and the device will continue to work solidly.

When purchasing an Android handset, you have to go into the acquisition with the mindset that you’ll used the phone with the current operating system for the life of the device. Never, ever assume you will see an update, since you likely will not. Since this phone already has an obsolete version of Android, I’m a bit mixed.

Two things worth noting despite not being unique to this device are Google Now and Google voice recognition. Google Now works incredibly well on the HTC One, and is a phenomenal feature that I am appreciating on all of my devices now that it’s available on iOS as well. My phones and tablets are work devices as much as they are entertainment machines, and Google Now makes them even better from this perspective.

It’s also worth noting that the HTC ONE has excellent microphones and, when combined with Google’s much improved voice to text transcription software they work quite well with terrific although not perfect accuracy. I also love the fact that you can use voice recognition off-line. This is something that isn’t available with iOS or earlier android handsets. Combined, these two features make the HTC One an excellent productivity tool.

And there is one more feature worth mentioning — HTC’s BlinkFeed. This makes the start screen more useful by putting the information you want right in front of you when you first turn on your phone. Many will hate it. I happen to like it, and I am looking forward to seeing this type of information presentation becoming more refined and allowing even more customization.

Mitchell: I think HTC has made an error with the software skin on the HTC ONE.

The HTC ONE uses a 1080p Super LCD 3 panel, which in a word looks PERFECT. Colours are vibrant, brightness is excellent, and outdoors it is very usable. Despite its amazingness, it will never be able to beat AMOLED on black levels.

That is why I’m stunned that HTC has made such liberal use of grey in its Android skin. Not only is it dull and corporate, it is completely unflattering to a display technology that has to compete with the rather eye-pleasing Super AMOLED panel that graces the 5-inch face of the Galaxy S 4. All the grey makes the display feel washed out, an impression that instantly disappears when you make a photo full screen.

Other than that, HTC have gone very minimalist with this latest outing of Android HTC Edition. Where the Samsung Galaxy S 4 is full of (often confusing) options, features and menus, the HTC ONE is remarkably simple, almost bordering on Nexus levels of simplicity.

Setting up an Android novice (or iPhone convert) would be a much simpler task on the HTC ONE than Samsung’s new flagship (or HTC’s previous one, for that matter).

For the tech savvy, however, the Galaxy S 4 is a tour de force, offering a dizzying array of features that dwarf any claims to fame put forward by HTC.

The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed. – Lloyd Jones

Samsung has thrown an incredible amount of “stuff” into the GS4, from persistant eye tracking to air gestures, and just enough of it works well and is useful that you can’t dismiss it as mere gimmicks anymore.

But the one area that HTC ONE has scored an indisputable goal is …

HTC ONE Audio Output

Dan: My HTC ONE X has an indication that it carries Beats Audio inside. It’s a step in the right direction, but unless you are using Beats headphones it won’t do you much good. Fast forward a year to the HTC ONE (getting confused by the naming convention HTC is using? Me too), and you now have Beats Audio built in at the OS level, driving two forward facing speakers, and working with any audio device you throw at the phone. The result is the best sounding phone-as-MP3 player ever. I’ll let Mitchell dig more deeply into this, since this was the key feature he first mentioned to me after receiving his phone.

Mitchell: Aside from the build quality, audio output was the thing that most excited me about the HTC ONE. I spend a lot of time on the road for work, and spend more than my fair share of time in hotel rooms. I often watch videos and listen to music when the day is over and I’m relaxing in my room or tucking into bed, and mre phone speakers (or those on my iPad mini) just sound poor when cranked to levels that would attempt to fill a small room.

The HTC ONE is simply amazing in this regard. Instead of a crappy, tiny mono speaker firing through the battery cover into whatever surface your phone is laying on, the HTC ONE’s dual speakers pump out stereo sound up and into the room.

The first time I piped Avicii and Fall Out Boy through the HTC ONE, I was blown away by the fidelity of the sound. Never has a smartphone sounded this good. Volume levels are excellent, and while the bass won’t rock the world, it’s far more noticeable than your average smartphone speaker. In fact, the HTC ONE would put many laptop speakers to shame, they are that good.

I have to admit to being disappointed that the Beats tech doesn’t work its magic on ringtones. You can set your own music as a ringtone, but it doesn’t sound quite as good as playing it through the stock media player or something like Double Twist.

HTC ONE Camera and Photography Software

Dan: HTC is doing some interesting things with their phones cameras these days. Last year with the HTC ONE X they spent a great deal of time and energy focusing (apologies for the pun) on the camera and some of the software. A year later they’ve done the same thing, but they have moved in a slightly different direction. They stepped off the megapixel bandwagon and are now focusing on the overall experience of the camera and applying what they refer to as UltraPixel. I found it to work rather well, and we have included a gallery of images shot Mitchell took with the camera.

HTC UltraPixel Camera

• BSI sensor, Pixel size 2.0 µm, Sensor size 1/3′
• Dedicated HTC ImageChip
• F2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens
• Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
• Smart Flash: Five levels of flash automatically set by distance to subject
• Front Camera: 2.1 MP, 880 wide angle lens with HDR capability
• 1080p Full HD video recording with HDR Video
• HTC Zoe with Sequence Shot, Always Smile and Object Removal
• Gallery with Video Highlights and HTC Share
• Continuous shooting and VideoPic
• Slow motion video recording with variable speed playback

Dan: HTC has done some of the same gimmicky stunt stuff that I first saw at the release gathering for the Samsung GALAXY S4. They are packing in features like their new Zoe functionality that look great and offer some eye candy, but these are things that end-users are likely to use on an infrequent basis. Take Zoe for example. It shoots video and stills, and then lets you do some rather neat stuff that … you are NEVER GOING TO DO! Zoe is really quite intriguing, looks great on paper and in videos, but when I actually set out to use it I didn’t find myself all that moved to continue using the functionality. If I’m not going to use it, the mainstream smartphone user is even less likely to do so. I get packing in features, but I think we may have entered into an era where there is “feature creep” when I would instead prefer that companies focus their time, energy and resources on making the basic functionality even better.

That noted, the camera on the HTC ONE certainly holds its own admirably, and you won’t be unhappy with the pictures or video you get from it unless you are expecting the same caliber images that you would get from a standalone camera.

Mitchell: I haven’t spent a huge amount of time taking photos with the HTC ONE, but it doesn’t feel as remarkable as HTC would have us believe. Low light performance is ok, but not the knock-your-socks-off-wow that I was hoping for.

HTC ONE Nitpicking

Dan: The battery life on the HTC ONE is pretty much what you would expect. I haven’t done any systematic battery rundown tests, but I wasn’t expecting to get a full day of use from it, and I didn’t. The HTC ONE joins the ranks of all of the other high-end phones I’ve been using, in requiring an external battery.

Mitchell: Battery life is one of the biggest bug-bears I have with the HTC ONE too. Every time I lit up that amazing display, the battery indicator seemed to start dropping at an alarming rate. The HTC ONE was ok when in standby, but as a pretty heavy user that doesn’t cut it for me. I have no problem with an integrated battery, as long as it can go the distance. The Galaxy S 4 (in my admittedly unscientific testing so far) seems to last a lot longer.

The HTC ONE also takes much longer to charge, which is more pronounced by the middling battery life. The Galaxy S 4 and iPhone 5 are both very happy to take quick top ups that add a noticeable boost in battery percentage. According to Brian Klug over at Anandtech, the HTC ONE doesn’t use Qualcomm’s Quick Charge tech, which may account for the sluggish charging.

Should You Buy an HTC ONE?

Dan: With so many excellent smartphone choices currently available the real question is … Should you buy one? I hate this question (and I’m one of the people asking it)! As Mitchell’s and my take on the phone demonstrates, phones are a truly personal decision. From the OS, to the screen size, to the aesthetics, to the specific features a phone offers, it’s really a matter of individual taste and choice. Is this a solid device? Absolutely. Is this the phone for you? Only you can answer that, but I’ll give it a shot.

Mitchell: Technically, I have already have bought the HTC ONE. The question I’m currently asking myself is whether I’m going to keep it, or stray across to the plastic side and make the Galaxy S 4 my go-to. The HTC ONE uses beautiful materials and has amazing speakers, but I think the Galaxy S 4 is able to match or beat it in most other areas. So far, the latter is looking likely. I’ll be posting more thoughts on the Galaxy S 4 in another article.

So there you have it. A silver HTC ONE in the US and a black HTC ONE in Australia. One who wants to be on record that, we’re he required to use Android, this would be the phone for him and the other who is likely ditching the ONE and moving full time to the Samsung GALAXY 4S. I both cases we see the HTC ONE as an excellent phone but not the clear home run winner we wanted, and HTC needed, it to be.

The HTC ONE is available from AT&T, Sprint & T-Mobile in the United States.

MSRP:
From AT&T: $199 for 32GB and $299 for 64GB with a two-year contract; $599 for 32GB and $649 for 64GB contract-free
From Sprint: $99.99 for 32GB with a two-year contract; $549 for contract-free
From T-Mobile: $99.99 today for the 32GB model, and $20 per month for 24 months

What We Like:
Dan: Solid build; Good camera; Fast; Amazing audio
Mitchell: Best ever phone speakers; solid metal body

What Needs Improvement:
Dan: Battery life needs help; Already running an obsolete version of Android; Almost too large for my taste; Non-expandable storage
Mitchell: Battery life; slow charging; barely smaller than its 5-inch competition despite smaller display