Audio & Visual Gear

Gear Chat #17 Is Live…

On Gear Chat #17 Larry and Dan talk new iPods, iPad apps and more. Dan sent his iPod nano back and explains why… Larry finds that the iPod touch has the worst single feature of ANY Apple product and offers details. That and much more on the 17th episode of Gear Chat. Intro Music- Lean On Me- Sounds From the Ground Solarstone’s Chill Out Remix… Editorial note- we refer to questions as to whether or not the Apple TV was delayed during the episode which was recorded prior to said devices shipping earlier today.

Reviews

Review: Philips Multimedia Speakers 2.0. Cute But Party Hard!

I remember a day when listening to music meant a stereo was in the room with you. Since today out music is completely mobile, the old fashion stereo unit is almost extinct. I find myself listening to a computer or my iPhone. I have learned that a nice pair of powered speakers is all that is needed to listen to music or even watch streaming television and movies. I actually prefer powered computer speakers around the house to iPhone dock stereos. I recently received the Philips Multimedia Speakers 2.0 to try with my computer as well as around the house…

Reviews

The Able Planet EXTREME Foldable Active Noise Canceling Headphones with LINX AUDIO Review

Able Planet has made a name for themselves by manufacturing quality noise canceling headphones which are both comfortable to wear and produce excellent sound. Their Extreme headphone line combines their LINX AUDIO technology with fashionable colors and in the case of these bright pink earphones, a cause*. LINX AUDIO “creates high frequency harmonics that enhance sound quality and speech clarity of difficult to hear words or notes, and increases the perception of loudness without increasing volume.” The hope here is that if people can clearly hear spoken words and music when listening, they won’t feel the need to crank the volume louder, which can…

Editorials

Of Tootsie Pops and nanos…

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? According to this classic TV ad, it’s three. How many steps does it take to walk around the larger of the two lakes up here in Pennsylvania? Thanks to the a nifty but under-appreciated feature of the new iPod nano, I now know it is… … 4802. That’s how many of my steps it took while walking, according to the built-in pedometer on the nano. Sure the new nano is stripped down compared to its predecessor, but the more I use the diminutive music player the more I…

News & Features

Want to Make a Facetime Call From an iPod touch to an iPhone? Then You Had Better…

Here’s a quick tip to all of you who are going to be getting a new iPod touch… if you want to make a Facetime call to someone using an iPhone they need to be running iOS 4.1. What that means right now is that Facetime from a touch to a jailbroken iPhone is… not going to happen. Let’s hope a solution is found… or Larry decides to relock his iPhone and update it to 4.1!

Editorials

Gear Chat #16- New iPods Coming… New Gear Chat Already Here…

Larry and Dan serve up Gear Chat 16… In this podcast we talked about Apple’s September 1 announcement hits and misses, the new Kindle, iPhone and iPad apps and a new iPhone case company that understands good customer service… Intro Music- Lean On Me- Sounds From the Ground Solarstone’s Chill Out Remix…

Reviews

iPod/iPhone Accessory Review- Gear4’s StreetParty 4 Speaker System

There are lots and lots of speaker docks. Some are huge and offer big sound. Some have tons of bells an whistles. And some, like the StreetParty 4 I have been using for the last two weeks, make their mark by being small, easy to use and easy to carry. Sure, with such a small dock you give up something by way of full, rich sound but you more than make up for it in convenience. So if you are looking for a system that will replace your huge, expensive home system you can stop reading this review right now….

News & Features

The Speakers Won’t Sound Tinny… Papery Maybe but not Tinny

The Muji Cardboard Speakers are “collapsible cardboard speakers”. They come from Japanese-based, Muji and take packing light to a new level because they are made from… paper (or cardboard to be exact). So you can collapse them when you are on the go and pop them open when you arrive at your destination. Oh, and they will go well with the origami swan you made last night. They even come with a nylon pouch for easy and safe transport. Available from the MoMa store for $38 the surprised looks on people’s faces when you pull them out will be worth the cost…

Editorials

I Reviewed It and Still Use It, the Dan-Edition

We were having a conversation among the site’s editors last week with regard to items that we reviewed. It’s one thing to use an item for a few days or a week or two (which is the average) and quite another thing to use it for a month or two or three. There are times when an item looks great in the initial review but then there are some issues that arise with it down the line. Of course, if there’s any radical change in our perception of an item after using it for a while we will update the…

Reviews

Review: Bluw’s Mini Mixer

I have always wanted the ability to have 2 devices connected to my headphones or speakers at the same time. In the past, you literally had to have a DJ setup or a stereo and neither is very portable. Bluw has a Mini Mixer that is just a tiny bit bigger than an iPod and is just as pocket-able. Now you can mix that funky music almost anywhere. The mini mixer comes with 3 cables which are all double ended 1/8 inch stereo headphone plugs. Plug 2 cables into 2 mp3 players or phones with the other end being plugged into the mixer. The mixer has a…

Reviews

Review: Arctic Sound S11 Speakers And Arctic Power C1 Solar Charger

Arctic Sound calls it “the combination of this summer.” Basically, two ultra portable laptop speakers coupled with a solar power source make any summer trip in the sun complete with your favorite tunes. I absolutely love my MacBook Pro, but the speakers are far from useful in my eyes. This leaves me with a constant search for audio solutions. I have tried many combinations, some with good sound but no portability and others being portable with just ok sound. The S111 speakers are tiny making them easy to carry and the addition of the C1 Mobile makes them usable without…

Reviews

Arctic Sound P311 Stereo Bluetooth Headphone Review

The iPhone added stereo Bluetooth capability some time ago, but I have yet to try it. Finding quality with affordable prices can sometimes be difficult, so I never looked very far. There are times when wireless stereo headphones can come in pretty handy, so I was excited to test out the Arctic Sound P311 headphones. Most mornings I workout early in the morning long before the rest of the family wakes up. Speakers are not really an option to avoid waking the crew, so I always use headphones. Some of the exercises allow me to hold my iPhone in my…

News & Features

Turn your Apple iDevice Into a Universal Remote with the RedEye Mini

As Joel Evans from the Mobile Gadgeteer explains, “when it comes to Apple and its proprietary dock connector, many developers have been left out in the cold when it comes to wanting to create the perfect add-on for the iPhone or iPod touch.” But of course, no enterprising inventor is going to let a proprietary dock get in their way when there is another perfectly good non-proprietary dock available on every Apple iPod, touch, iPhone and iPad. Hello RedEye Mini … the headphone jack! Ahhhhhh! So what’s a RedEye Mini? Simply put, “it’s a dongle that plugs into your iDevice’s headphone jack,…

News & Features

Zoom’s H1 Handy Recorder Available for Pre-order

Zoom’s H1 Handy Recorder is small. How small? Here’s a picture of it in hand… In fact it is small enough to mount right on a camera. Despite its size the H1 records big sound. As the company explains… Like all Zoom recorders, the H1’s onboard microphones are configured in an X/Y pattern, for stunning stereo imaging. Because both mics are arranged on the same axis, they are equidistant from the sound source for perfect localization and no phase shifting. The result is great stereo recordings with natural depth and accurate imaging. The Zoom H1 has an MSRP of $159.99…

Reviews

Wowee One Portable Speaker Review

There is a constant issue I am on a quest to resolve. With all of these wonderful mobile devices and streaming music etc, I have spent a lot of time listening to my media on what are, at best, sub-par speakers. My iPhone, iPad and even MacBook Pro are all amazing devices, but none provide audio of acceptable quality. I do have several speaker devices around the house that sound great but none of them are particularly mobile. Recently the folks at Wowee One allowed me to review their new Gel Audio mobile speaker unit. The company promises full range…

Reviews

Review: iLuv iMM178 Vibe Plus- Dual Alarm Clock w/Bed Speaker Shaker for iPhone

iPhone/iPod speaker docks are multiplying around my home and at the office. And for good reason. Since I’m not an audiophile the music that is pumped out of a relatively inexpensive speaker dock is usually just fine for me. But while a simple speaker dock is fine for my office (I use a bluetooth system that I love… more on that another time) in my bedroom I want something that also includes an alarm clock. The other day I took a look at one that offers good sound. It costs $150, sounds good but isn’t compatible with iPhone due to…

Reviews

NOX Audio Specialist Headphones Works For Gamers and Office Workers

I found almost the perfect headset for both gamers and office workers. What am I talking about? The NOX Audio Specialist headphones that’s what! Let’s go over the basics. First, the NOX Audio headphones comes in a great case that has some structure to it. This is great for those who just want to protect their headphones while they are in their backpack. Opening the case reveals the headphones themselves. They fold so they can fit in the case and the cable itself is detachable and can be secured in the case. The cable looks like a microusb on one…

News & Features

Speakal’s New iPom Brings Apples, Flowers and Speakers Together In A Unique Package

Tired of your iPod speakers looking like speakers? Want something that looks a bit different but still delivers great sound? If so the iPom might be just the thing you are looking for. The iPom is– a floral themed speaker solution boasts a apple-shaped subwoofer with two removable flower speakers. It plays music from USB drives, SD cards, and any other sound source with a 3.5mm output. The specs of the iPom include… • 2.1 Stereo Speaker System • Plays music from USB Memory stick or SD card or any other music device that has a 3.5mm output, such as…

News & Features

Cambridge SoundWorks i525 iPod/AM/FM Clock Radio System – Review

If you’re an audiophile you still want to have a fancy powerful stereo system home. But for many of us, the sound coming out of our iPhones, iPods, or iPads is good enough when they’re connected to some sort of a speaker system. Since I am not an audiophile I’m perfectly happy having a dock in my home office, in the bedroom, and in my study at work so I can listen to music whenever I want. Over the next few days, I’m going to take a look at a number of different docks that are currently available. Some have…

News & Features

Vuzix Breaks Out New “Wrap Fashion Shades” Video Eyewear

Vusix has moved “video eyewear” forward yet again with their new Wrap Fashion Shades. The Fashion Shades offer an interchangeable collection features four different colors – red, blue, amber, and mirror – giving Wrap users several options when looking to personalize their video eyewear. The Wrap Fashion Shades cost $19.99 per pair or $49.95 for a 4-color pack. They snap on to all current models of the Vusix Wrap eyewear to add color and personalization. It is a far cry from the early versions of video eyewear that, for better or worse… …made you look like Star Trek’s Geordie La…

News & Features

Today is National Running Day! Here’s Some Gear Worth A Look

Today is National Running Day! It is a perfect day to check out the Couch-to-5K Running Plan Larry turned a bunch of us onto a few weeks back… …or grab one of the numerous C25K iPhone apps currently available in the App Store. There are a number of them. It is also a great day to check out some good accessories to go along for the ride run. Here are two examples… If you are using an iPod Nano during your run instead of an iPhone or touch (the C25K apps require OS iPhone) take a look at the iSkin…

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