Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Nov 4, 2011

Friday, November 4, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

The Audio Bulb from GiiNii
JBL On Time Micro iPod/iPhone dock
BubbleShield Reusable Waterproof Sleeves, protection for smartphones and tablets
Soundfreaq rolls out Sound Stack
Libratone Lounge and Live brings AirPlay to your living room
iPawn Games brings classics to a touchscreen experience

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 08:30 AM PDT

I always like reviewing GiiNii’s products like their Digital Picture Frames. I was very pleased to try out one of their most awesome products, the Audio Bulb.

The Audio Bulb is a very simple product to explain: it is two light bulbs designed to be left and right speakers. It syncs wirelessly with an iPod/iPhone using an included cradle with a range of 50 to 100 feet.

I found that the sound was good, and I like how it comes with a remote control for volume, play/pause, as well as the brightness levels of the bulbs at 4 different levels. It even has a Bass Boost that you will notice when it is on, be careful not to bust the other bulbs around.

I have to admit that I like the idea of using light bulbs as speakers. If you have a room with two lamps, and you want to hear music from your iDevice, this is probably the best device to do it with. In other words, I recommend them highly. By the way, the Audio Bulbs can function as a very super-efficient LED light bulb that can last for years.

According to the official AudioBulb site, it is available “after Halloween”. I found it on Amazon for about $299.99.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ The Audio Bulb from GiiNii copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

JBL On Time Micro iPod/iPhone dock

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 08:05 AM PDT

Lately I have been seeing a trend in iPod/iPhone docks. A lot of them are small, round, and they tend to put out more sound than you would expect. Such is the case of the PURE Contour, the iHome iA17, and now the JBL On Time Micro.

I got a chance to try out the On Time Micro, and I thought it was pretty loud on one of the lower settings. The On Time Micro uses two JBL Phoenix transducers for computer-optimized equalization for its good sound.

The On Time Micro is really made to be an alarm clock dock for the iPod or iPhone, because a lot of people need that. Not only will it charge the iDevice while you sleep, but you can wake up to whatever your favorite song on your playlist.

There is a bright LCD display and is easy to navigate through the menu. It can be done with the included IR remote, and it has an AM/FM radio with five station presets.

If you like the idea of the JBL On Time Micro next to your bed, feel free to head to the JBL site and pay $199 for it. It used to be $249, so you might want to get in on this deal before it goes back to the original price.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ JBL On Time Micro iPod/iPhone dock copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

BubbleShield Reusable Waterproof Sleeves, protection for smartphones and tablets

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PDT

Some of you might remember when I was willing to test out the Dry Case with my own cellular phone. I put it in the waterproof case, and I was willing to let my phone sink to the bottom of a fish tank.

Similar protection for mobile devices can be found with the BubbleShield Reusable Waterproof Sleeve. It has an enclosure with two zippers that allow the user to block out dirt, sand, grease, oil, fingerprints, and water (of course).

That is the BubbleShield for smartphones, as for the BubbleShield Pro, a Waterproof Bag for Tablets, it has triple zippers to keep out the bad stuff, and it is good for 1 meter depth under 30 minutes.

In addition to the bags being reusable, they also have a convenient rings so you can put it on a hook or conveniently on your finger.

You should be able to purchase the BubbleShield on the Joy Factory site. The BubbleShield for Smartphones comes in packs of 5 for about $19.95. The BubbleShield for Tablets comes in a pack of three for the same price.

As for the BubbleShield Pro for Tablets, those will be available soon in a package of one for $49.95. The reason for the price increase is because that type of protection is stronger with an IPX7 rating for waterproof protection.

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[ BubbleShield Reusable Waterproof Sleeves, protection for smartphones and tablets copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Soundfreaq rolls out Sound Stack

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 06:30 AM PDT

The Soundfreaq Sound Stack is yet another player to join the wireless speaker movement, although this particular model has been augmented by the inclusion of DubSub technology which we will look at in closer detail after the jump. At the moment, here are some details on the Sound Stack – it has been touted to be the company�"s latest and largest Hi-Fi wireless speaker to date, and is also the third Bluetooth home speaker under the Soundfreaq umbrella to keep the highly acclaimed Sound Platform, Sound Step and Sound Step Recharge company.

Specially designed and developed for audiophiles, Sound Stack is said to have captured the nuance of every note, while complementing every genre of music at virtually any volume. Well, without much further ado, let us delve into what the Sound Stack offers right out of the box.

For starters, Sound Stack will come with DubSub, which is a special 2.2 speaker configuration that will pair a couple of full-range drivers alongside an equal number of active subwoofers. DubSub technology when merged with custom-engineered Kevlar-reinforced drivers, a tuned triple-ported housing and Soundfreaq�"s proprietary UQ3 spatial sound enhancement, is said to deliver a totally new level of acoustic innovation that cannot be found on your typical speaker dock. It is said that Sound Stack can deliver power to fill even the biggest room in your home, without sacrificing on clarity and fidelity. Of course, I would think that this claim caters for the ordinary folk, as others from a more privileged class and live in mansions might think this is not the bee’s knees at all, but rather, far from it simply because their rooms are humongous.

Just like all the other offerings from Soundfreaq, the Sound Stack will enable users to stream music sans wireless from any Bluetooth compatible device such as an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android and Blackberry smartphones. Not only that, the Sound Stack will also let you dock and juice up your iDevices, while other non-Apple players can always rely on the handy universal USB-charging port. Soundfreaq has slapped a $399 price point for this puppy – are you willing to give it a go?

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Soundfreaq rolls out Sound Stack copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Libratone Lounge and Live brings AirPlay to your living room

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Wireless connectivity is all around us, and with this development, one is able to live without the clutter of nasty cables (who seemingly have a life of their own, I might add). Well, Libratone engages the wireless generation with a couple of speaker systems – the Libratone Live and Libratone Lounge that will support the AirPlay standard for the ultimate sound experience right smack in the middle of your living room. With Apple’s AirPlay support, you can now stream songs from your iTunes music libraries on Mac or PC, in addition to the tracks stashed away on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, over a Wi-Fi network.

First of all, let us take a look at the Libratone Lounge system that was specially designed to fill up every corner of your room with perfect audio – you will be able to choose from Slate Grey, Blueberry Black and Vanilla Beige as standard where that will set you back by a rather handsome $1,299, and if you desire to add a dash of class by having it come in red and green cashmere, then the price goes up by another $100.

As for the Libratone Live, this is a far smaller device that brings up a notch of versatility as to where you want to place it. Knowing Libratone, this is not going to be dirt cheap either, where the standard model which comes in grey, black and beige shades will retail for $699 a pop, while those who want something more premium can always pick up the red and green cashmere model at a cost of $799. Of course, regardless of either model you purchase, you will still need to download the free Libratone App that will pave the way for you to perform a complete customization of the FullRoom feature, letting you adjust individual nuances of the sound to fit most rooms without any hassle. Any takers? So far either purchase would seem like an indulgence at this moment, what with the worldwide economic crunch and all.

Just make sure that you have one of the more recent models of the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in order to have them play nice with both Libratone offerings.

Product Page

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[ Libratone Lounge and Live brings AirPlay to your living room copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

iPawn Games brings classics to a touchscreen experience

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 05:30 AM PDT

When was the last time your kid enjoyed a classic game? I am quite sure that if you ask any teen these days what constitutes a classic game, he or she will most probably rattle off the following – Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., the list goes on – before you realize that those are all electronic in nature. What happened to good old Monopoly, Snakes & Ladders, and even Scrabble? Well, I guess there is something which will remedy the situation – the £9.99 iPawn Games that merges the old and the new.

iPawn Games will require you to own an iPad (or iPad 2) first, where it will be transformed into a modern day tabletop game to handle all the popular classics that you once enjoyed as a little boy or girl. There is the mandatory iPawn Snakes and Ladders which sees counters being made from ABS plastic, and they will conduct tiny electrical charges from your fingertips to the iPad�"s screen, letting the display respond to the counters only when you touch them. Not only that, the snakes on the “board” are also interactive as they writhe and hiss whenever your counters dance past them. Good for up to four players, other titles include iPawn Fishing, iPawn Game of Goose and iPawn Air Hockey.

I would think that the iPawn Air Hockey game might be a bit too fast and furious – what if someone is overzealous and exerts far more energy than required – is the iPad’s display able to stand up to the pressure? Ah well, at least there are no bits and pieces to stash away once you are done.

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