In 2013 we reviewed the Soundfreaq Sound Step Lightning and the Soundfreaq Sound Spot. Both impressed with their sound, value, and design. Now Soundfreaq has announced two new products — the Sound Rise and the Double Spot. The Sound Rise is the company’s take on the alarm clock; the Double Spot is two Sound Spots in one.
It seems like today, most everyone spends at least some part of their day searching for a place to charge. The mobile gadget lifestyle is great, unless you are plagued with dead batteries. The PowerBinder strives to alleviate the daily plug search with solar panels and an internal battery. It comes in at $149 and can charge a phone 2.5 times.
Sony is really pushing the boundaries with the Xperia Z Ultra. Combining the latest hardware and a 6.44-inch 1080p display into a svelte package, it sets itself apart from the competition. But can it walk the line between phone and tablet? After spending a few weeks with it, I’ve found the answer.
It is a “first world problem” but a problem nonetheless. As mobile gear multiplies, the need to charge them in a convenient manner becomes increasingly important. Bluelounge’s Sanctuary4 promises to keep up to four devices charge while conveniently keeping things organized and accessible. At $99.95 it might appear a bit pricey, but the convenience and functionality are sure to impress.
Hale Devices, Joe Born’s newest venture, successfully kick-started the Hale Dreamer via Kickstarter. The Hale Dreamer is an extension of the work that Joe and his team did on the Digital Innovations Speaker Dock. Thanks to the work on that dock, Joe and his team have put together the best alarm dock available for Andrioid devices.
Is there room for yet another small, portable Bluetooth speaker in an ever-more-crowded market? I sure hope so. The TYLT TUNZ is small but surprisingly powerful, easily customized and some features that make it a great option if you are looking to take your music on the go while charging your mobile device at the same time.
We just looked at JOBY’s GPod Mini Magnet tripod. It is designed for use with cameras and accessories that have a standard tripod screw mount. If, however, you are shooting with a smartphone that doesn’t have a screw mount the $14.95 JOBY MPod Mini may be just the thing. It works with most smartphones. It is inexpensive and it works!
It’s good to know the days of all portable Bluetooth speakers being little, black boxes is coming to an end. Leading the way is the Soundfreaq Sound Spot. This small, $69 speaker packs big sound, good battery life and it looks great in any one of its many colors. Mix and match Sound Spots for a great looking sound.
If you travel light, love messenger bags and need to convenient way to carry your camera, seven-inch tablet and a few accessories the Lowepro Nova Sport 7L may be just the bag for you. At under $60 it offers all the features of the Nova Sport line at a price commensurate with its small size.
If you have been searching for a better way to keep your tablet or eReader positioned in the optimal location for comfort and ease-of-use the FLOTE may be just the thing. The $299 FLOTE, which comes in a desktop or freestanding model, may be pricey but it is a solidly built, great-looking way to hold your tablet exactly where you want.
I love the way my JawBone UP tracks my steps and my sleep, reminds me to get moving and functions as my alarm clock. I HATED needing to plug it into my iPhone to sync data and, thankfully, my new Jawbone UP24 fixes that. The UP24 syncs wirelessly and offers real-time updates and notifications. All that for just $20 more!
The Anker 5-Port Wall Charger will be coming in quite handy during my upcoming travels. Instead of needing to carry multiple wall adapters this small rectangle of electronics will let me take just one adapter but still charge up to five different devices at a time. Best of all the $45.99 accessory is currently just $19.99 in our Amazon Store.
It’s hard to beat the 20,000mAh external battery Judie just reviewed, so I’m not even going to try. Still, while the $59.99 Trent PowerPak Xtreme External Battery Pack offers “just” 12,000 mAh of battery power (“JUST”!! lol), it comes in a rugged shell that built to withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it. And it is under $60.
The Boomerang NFC Speaker is a crescent-shaped wireless audio dock that “offers a portable home-theater for your mobile device or tablet”. NFC technology makes pairing simple and the unique “Expansion Sleeve Design” lets it work with numerous devices. Available in two sizes, the large Boomerang ($79.99) has two 6W speakers, while the mini Boomerang ($59.99) has two 4W speakers; both arrive in mid-December.
The Jabra Revo Wireless headphones continue to impress me and have a place in my gear bag most days. Now Jabra is rolling out the Jabra Rox Wireless in-ear wireless headphones. They let you “Go wireless and give up the wires without giving up great sound”. With simple NFC pairing, a rugged design and more they look great. Coming soon.
When packing for a day out, three things are always taken: my phone, iPad, and an extended battery. I’m not always near a power source, so planning how I’ll top-off my gadgets is my (slightly obsessive) concern. Until recently, I was carrying the MiLi Power King, but now my go-to battery is the 20,000 mAh Moka i6. Here’s why …
Since the 2013 Nexus 7 has been out for a while, cases for it have started to become easier to find. I have been using the Waterfield Slip Case; one issue with that is how the device is naked when you remove it from the case to use it. The STM Cape does not have this issue, and it has a stand!
If you want to travel light, but still need to carry your compact camera, 10″ tablet, smartphone and a few accessories, then you might want to check out the Lowepro StreamLine 250. It’s an everyday bag from one of the leaders in camera bags and backpacks. Light and inexpensive, the $44.99 bag carries a surprising amount of gear!
If you want serious protection for your Samsung Galaxy S4, then you’ll want to check out the upcoming Pelican ProGear Protector Galaxy S4 case. This $39.95 case offers serious protection thanks to a tough chamfer design on the outside and a soft elastomeric lining on the inside. It meets military testing specs to survive a six-foot drop!
The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is an engineering marvel. Packed with features, its stylus is more than a mere gimmick. Still, like far too many Samsung products, it feels cheap. That’s where the iLuv FlightFit comes in. For under $30 it promises to protect your Note 3 even as it props it up for easy viewing. Pre-order yours.
The Kingston MobileLite Wireless is a very interesting and handy gadget. With it, you’re able to read and write files to an SD card as well as a USB thumb drive, right from your phone with Kingston’s companion app. You can also use the MobileLite Wireless as a backup battery to charge your phone. Kingston’s MobileLite Wireless retails for $49.99.