As I’ve written in recent months, I’m deeply entrenched in Amazon’s Alexa voice services but I’m slowly being won over by Google’s offerings. I reviewed a JBL smart speaker last year (read my review) and Google’s Nest Mini last month (read my review). I’ve had a chance to play with the Google Nest Hub Max, and I have to admit that I’m impressed.
A little over a year ago, I went looking for a new router for our home. I tried a few and was disappointed. I eventually settled on a system Perry recommended. It’s okay, but I’ve spent the last few days checking out the brand new Nest WiFi from Google, and I’m impressed.
It would be easy to discount a portable speaker that comes with a built-in light show as a jack of all trades and a master of none, but in the case of the JBL Pulse 4, doing so would be a huge mistake. The Pulse 4 delivers 360º sound and an LED light show that can both soothe or enliven.
One of the new devices that caught my eye at CES this January was the Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant. It wasn’t just that this particular smart display was sized similarly to a traditional bedside clock, it was that all of its features had been thoughtfully curated for bedroom use.
There are countless numbers of Bluetooth speakers on the market today. Some float, some glow, and many unfortunately still charge using micro-USB, but one speaker that has truly amazed me over the last few weeks is the SOUNDBOKS.
Berlin’s annual IFA show is the largest consumer electronics event in Europe with “more digital lifestyle products in one place than any other show worldwide.” After walking the show floor, sitting in on private pre-briefings, standing inside packed press conferences, and attending media-only showcase events, these are the items we’ve chosen for Gear Diary’s Best of IFA 2019 Awards.
Roku, long known for their streaming devices, has decided to up the ante in the audio market by introducing the new Roku Smart Soundbar and Roku Wireless Subwoofer. The Smart Soundbar is said to produce excellent sound on its own, but the new Wireless Subwoofer should a punch of bass. Preorders are open now on Roku.com for October 2019 shipping.
Sonos has become a leader in home audio for those who want great sound throughout their home. Sonos systems are not only easy to set up, but they are also intelligent, connected, and beautifully designed. The one thing missing from their line-up was a portable Bluetooth speaker; today that gets rectified with the Sonos Move.
JBL has a solid reputation for making some of the best audio products you can buy. For IFA 2019, they’ve unleashed a Pulse update, three new soundbars, and two new LINK Google-Assistant speakers.
Anker has got your students covered for the dreaded back to school blues with some great music accessories as well as a fantastic power bank. All of these gadgets are small enough to travel with while offering great features and functionality at a reasonable price. Anker sent each of these products my way to test before I recommended them.
As a personal fan of Creative’s products, I was pretty stoked to hear that they would be releasing three products that would be sure to bring the noise. I had a chance to check out all three, so let’s dive in.
The Anker Soundcore Wakey that I’ve been using over the past few weeks has truly impressed me. As someone who hates clutter, especially wires, the Wakey’s easily one of the best alarm clocks I’ve ever had.
A substantial upgrade from the Original 10.1-inch Nixplay Seed comes the Seed Wave, complete with a larger screen, built-in speakers and even the addition of video.
A brand that I knew absolutely nothing about prior to receiving their products to check out on a whim have really convinced me that sometimes it’s not the name branded on the device, but the actual items themselves After testing them for the last month, Cleer’s headphones and Bluetooth speaker have left quite the impression on me.
I’ve reviewed plenty of oversized connected speakers, but the JBL PartyBox 300 takes that concept to the next level. It’s cordless when you need it to be, it has microphone and guitar inputs, it can put on a light show, it’s loud enough to fill your backyard, and man — it sounds amazing!
Ultimate Ears makes some of the better sounding Bluetooth speakers on the market, so much so, that Dan has insisted that the original Wonderboom is one of his favorites. I’m wondering how the company will impress him with their Wonderboom 2, as it’s the upgraded version of what was an already very good Bluetooth speaker.
If you’ve wanted a capable under $300 Android tablet that also doubles as an Alexa display, you’re going to love the Lenovo Smart Tab P10 2-in-1 Smart Dock. It’s an Amazon Alexa enabled device with a 10.1″ FHD screen, but you can pull the display from the dock and use it separately as a regular Android tablet, too.
Ultimate Ears describes the BOOM 3 Bluetooth speaker stating it is, “It’s the ultimate go-anywhere speaker.” This is the case thanks to its, “balanced 360° sound, deep bass, one-touch music control, water, dust & drop proof, and stunning, high-performance fabric.” With myBOOM Studio, you can create a unique, one-of-a-kind myBOOM 3.
If you happen to like playing the guitar or are just a music fan, Roland’s BTM-1 Bluetooth Speaker might be the one device you need to entertain your family and friends this summer.
A few weeks ago, Tejas wrote about the Stealth Labs Speaker Backpack that’s currently on Indiegogo. At the time, I thought a backpack with a built-in speaker could be an interesting idea, but only if it were executed properly. After being sent a pre-release model to try out, I’ve decided that this backpack, for what it is, is nearly perfect.
The first hardware I ever reviewed was a set of Audioengine A2 speakers; they were small, powerful and sounded amazing. In fact, the only knock I had was their lack of wireless capabilities that required me to get a Bluetooth adapter. Now Audioengine has released the Audioengine A2+ Wireless Desktop Speakers, and all I can say is “wow!”