I learned how to beat mix in 1987. Back then, everyone was using Technics 1200s (the first CD players with pitch bend came the following year), and any effects you wanted to add – which basically came down to two things, phasing and back-beating – had to be done manually with the records themselves. No Pro Tools, no effects processing, no digital anything. Mix tapes were done in one take; I’d plot out each side in advance, press record, and hope for the best. I averaged roughly 3.5 train wrecks per mix tape.

In 2000, I finally upgraded from vinyl to CD. Denon made, and still makes, fantastic DJ equipment for use with CDs, so I bought that, a Numark mixing board, and a cabinet. But making mix tapes was still a pain, the old one-take scenario, and transferring them to digital form was worse. Roxio – which back then was called Adaptec – had a program that could transfer analog sources to digital format if you had the right equipment, but the signal loss was incredible. Once you amplified it to a reasonable level, the tape hiss was unbearable. Eventually, I stopped making mixes, though that had as much to do with a more demanding job and family life as it did with the archaic process of making the tape itself.

All that gear, of course, is woefully outdated now. I haven’t made a beat mix since 2002. Sigh.

Needless to say, when the email promoting MixMeister Express landed in my inbox, they had my attention. The program’s layout is similar to the loop-based remix software Acid, another toy I played with a lot back when I had more time on my hands. And the way MixMeister analyzes songs and plots transitions from one song to the next is, well, ridiculously smart. In a matter of hours, I had assembled an 80-minute mix, and not a single train wreck in sight.

Few things entice me more than a glass of small batch bourbon. Over the past several decades, the list of quality craft whiskeys has grown exponentially, yielding a market place that can be as confusing as it is rewarding. F. Paul Pacult wants to help you navigate the sea of options and blends with an iPhone app called iWhiskey from Jolt OS.

This app is definitely the best resource I’ve found on whiskey for the iPhone. It opens on a “shelf” of whiskey bottles with options for American, Canadian, Irish, single malt Scotch, blended Scotch, and whiskeys from other parts of the world for browsing. There’s a search function if you’re looking for a particular brand and a feature that allows you to save some favorites to your own “My Barrel” section.

Each individual whiskey has a feature page, complete with tasting and bouquet information and a picture of the bottle so you can more easily locate your preference at your bar or the liquor store. There are quite a few with missing pictures, something I’d assume will be updated in the future. The app also features a selection of cocktails made with various whiskeys. The list is small, but again, easy to update.

The app only has two drawbacks. First, it needs a home button. The front screen is so pretty, but there’s just no way to get back to it without closing the app and reopening. The second problem is the price. It’s tough to say whether $10.99 is really worth this kind of information on a phone with web access. Pacult’s reviews are top-notch, and it is a one-stop shop for more than 600 whiskey reviews, but I think you’ll likely only see this on a very serious whiskey lover’s phone.

iTunes Link

I’ve spent the last two weeks with the Motorola Debut i856, a feature phone on the Sprint network that makes use of iDEN tech with push-to-talk. It’s the slimmest push-to-talk phone I’ve seen and has solid voice quality and a decent music player. Unfortunately, the keypad makes texting feel like a chore and with increasingly cheap smartphones, the i856 might not have enough features to keep your interest.

Design
The i856 is definitely a good looking phone. I’ve always preferred sliders to clamshells, and again, the thin body is a nice addition to the world of iDEN devices. At 4.19 inches long by 2.0 inches wide by 0.59 thick, it’s small enough to tuck into a pocket or a small purse. The front of the phone has a ring with four navigation buttons and a selection button. The left, right, and selection buttons control the media player whenever you have music playing. The rest of the time they’re used for standard browsing. The side of the phone has your volume rocker, the push-to-talk key (which also pulls up the contacts page) and a volume toggle. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing the use of your headset of choice.

One confusing design feature is the placement of the microSD slot. It’s inconveniently tucked under the battery cover – not a huge deal, but a pain if you like to switch out your music regularly.

The keypad design is where the i856 suffers most. It looks good, but the buttons are spongy and close together, making it almost impossible to text with two hands. The keys are raised, so it’s easy enough to dial by feel with one hand, but doing anything else is an exercise in frustration.

Features
With any feature phone, I look for it to do one thing really well. If I wanted something that could multi-task well, I’d step up to a smartphone. The i856 actually has a great little media player. It organizes tracks by artist, album, and genre, and (my personal favorite feature) it supports podcasts. You can set the phone to play music in the background while performing other functions, and the keys that toggle on the front of the phone make it easy to control what you hear. The player supports a wide range of formats, so you shouldn’t have trouble getting what you want on the phone.

The i856 also has a 1.3MP camera. It takes pictures of about the quality you’d expect, worse in low light. There’s a 600 capacity contact list with the ability to group contacts for push-to-talk and customize caller ID photos and ringtones. Beyond that you get the basic downloads for wallpapers, ringtones, and games.

Quality and Performance
I was really impressed with the call quality on the i856. It’s crystal clear on both ends, so much so that my friend thought it was a VoIP call. Speaker phone was good enough for occasional hands-free use. Again, media features are strong and easy to control, just make sure you’re using a headset. The external speakers sound tinny and thin.

Overall, this is a decent phone if you’re really committed to push-to-talk. Beyond that, your $100 could get you a Palm Pre if you’re committed to Sprint (the i856 is also available through Boost), which is a much more flexible device.

Giveaway!
Motorola has offered us two of these handsets for a giveaway. As soon as we have details for the contest I’ll post them here. Don’t forget to check out our other reviews at the Gadget Teaser Reviews section.

I’ve got another app review for you today, this time from Cycle World (which is published under Hachette Filipacchi Media along with Car and Driver). The app, appropriately named “Best of Cycle World,” can be picked up from the App Store for free.

Before installing the app I read a few users reviews complaining about the update schedule and limited content. I would wholeheartedly agree if the app was billed as digital magazine, but it’s not. It’s a companion to a subscription magazine and should be considered as such. Bearing that in mind, I think the app is a great way to carry CW content in your pocket.

The app works like a content-rich RSS feed for the magazine’s best articles. It’s a simple list that links to individual articles, all of which have a picture gallery. While the content is decent, a few simple updates could improve the app. I’d recommend a system by which the reader can see what’s been read and what hasn’t. Also, adding a picture count (1 of 8, etc.) to the galleries would be a small improvement.

Overall, can’t complain much about free content. If nothing else, it saves you the embarrassment of carrying a magazine into the bathroom while your girlfriend’s over. That is, if you still care about that sort of thing.

When I look at mobile apps for popular magazines I always look for the same thing: content. A lot of publishers skimp on content just to have a name in the App Store. Luckily, that’s starting to change, and Car and Driver’s Buyer’s Guide is part of a welcome shift toward content-rich apps. The Buyer’s Guide is a great companion for anyone shopping for a new car, and best of all it’s free.

The app is simple and straight-forward. You search for cars based on make and model, whereupon you can find reviews, photos, specs for every trim level, and a list of competitor’s vehicles to consider against your choice. The main page also has general categories like “Latest Reviewed,” and “Fuel Misers.” These are especially helpful if you’re just starting your search or are unsure where to look. In any case, there’s always plenty of information. Of the 20 or so cars I browsed through, I never left the app thinking they’d missed something.

The app also has a general advice section including articles like “How to Test Drive a Car,” and “What’s the Right New Vehicle for Me?” The articles are full-length and offer the same kind of advice you’d get from the magazine or any male relative over 40.

If I have one complaint about the app it’s that there are ads, but that’s the price you pay to get a free app. Otherwise, it’s a great tool for anyone in the market for a new vehicle.

In the rush to release an iPhone app, a lot of publishers have missed the mark, omitting their best content for something quick and dirty that kicks your ass outside after you’ve had your five minutes of fun. FHM’s iPhone app is different, though. It’s loaded with content, frequently updated, and it only costs $1.99.

I was more than happy to consider reviewing the app since I knew what hid between FHM’s magazine covers. Everyone knows FHM gets the hottest women alive – just look at the Megan Fox shoot – and that’s the bulk of material the app delivers to the iPhone. The app works on a card system that’s actually a lot like the Palm Pre’s OS. The two most prominent cards are “Non-stop Honeys” and “Girl of the Week.” Each section allows you to view FHM photo content in a grid of four per screen, or zoomed to full-screen. You can then save or share the pictures you like and vote on your favorites.

The app also has a videos section with behind-the-scene content for a lot of the photo shoots. Again, content is updated regularly, so you should be able to find something new to watch as often as you come back to the app. To top things off, FHM feeds articles into the “Take Once Daily” sections, and adds that special FHM flavor with the “Useful/Useless Facts” section (who knew a five-minute kiss was illegal in Iowa?).

The whole thing is delivered in a slick little package courtesy of Zumobi. If you’re a fan of the FHM magazine, there’s no way you’ll be disappointed in the $1.99 you spend on this app.

FHM provided the software for this review

We have flat-screen TVs that mount directly into our walls, laptops that can pick up wi-fi in airplanes, and cellphones that can browse the Web, play music, and take 10MP pictures — so why are most of us still stuck with old-fashioned wired speakers?

Because wireless systems are clunky, expensive, and prone to all kinds of interference, that’s why. Until now, anyway: thanks to a combination of a low $299 price point and deep Amazon discounting, you can get your hands on an Eos Wireless Audio System starter package for less than $180. Given that this includes two speakers — one of which acts as a docking station that charges your iPod while it plays — this is an intriguing development. (Additional speakers — each station can handle up to four — are $115-$150 each.)

So now that Eos has established itself as an affordable option for the budget-conscious wireless audio enthusiast, the only question is whether its system has managed to avoid the “clunky” and “prone to interference” part. And the answer, at least according to several weeks of home testing with the docking station and two speakers the company loaned me for review, is “yes and no.”

On the positive side, these things definitely aren’t clunky. Whether you buy your system in black or (slightly more affordable) white, the Eos is all curves and smoothly sculpted lines, and it’s dead simple to install: I literally plugged in the docking station, plugged in the speakers, and I was on my way. The system links to its satellite speakers via top-mounted antennae with blue LEDs that flash on or off depending on whether they can detect a signal (more on that in a minute). The station, controllable by remote, has its own volume setting, as do each of the speakers, which are controlled by a volume/power knob. It’s kind of a low-tech wrinkle for a high-tech gadget, and if you’re trying to precisely triangulate sound in a large room, it might be an annoyance, but if you’re that kind of listener you’re probably not in the market for the Eos system anyway.

The system’s sound itself will be another issue for audiophiles — but again, because of the limitations of wireless, audiophiles probably won’t be looking at something like this anyway. For what it is, the Eos is more than adequate; it doesn’t have the broadest dynamic range you’ve ever heard, but the company has tried to compensate for a rather thin bottom end by adding 2.1 sound and SRS to the mix. The result is a system that you probably wouldn’t want to blast at top volume, but for ordinary around-the-house listening, it’s just about perfect.

The only real drawback to the Eos — and it is, admittedly, a pretty major one — is an annoying tendency to drop its signal. My kitchen, dining room, and living room are all in one open area, and I arranged the dock and speakers in a triangle far smaller than the system’s advertised 150-foot range, but the Eos kept bumping up against some kind of interference, and the signal would go through random bursts of flickering. It might run for an hour with no issues, then go another hour with each speaker dropping its signal at least once a song. It isn’t the end of the world, but if I’d paid for the system, I’d probably be pretty aggravated, especially since the one option Eos gives you for boosting the signal doesn’t really work if you have the components in the same space — the system’s signal amplifier causes a slight echo that ends up being more annoying than the fade, and in my case, it didn’t even fix the problem.

Hiccups like these are probably to be expected when you’re going the extra mile to avoid dealing with speaker wire, however, and I wasn’t able to find reports of anyone else experiencing the same issue, so it could just be something specific to my environment. And even with the signal fade, the Eos is an attractive, affordable option for anyone looking to free themselves from the tyranny of speaker wires. Just make sure you buy them from a store with a good return policy…just in case.

I’ve spent some time over the last month playing with my new favorite iPhone accessory, the Mophie Juice Pack Air, which Mophie was kind enough to provide for this review. The concept is simple – provide extra power for your iPhone in as small a form factor as possible – and Mophie’s nailed it. The Juice Pack Air is the perfect case if you need your phone but won’t be able to charge it for some time.

The Juice Pack Air is basically a backpack for your iPhone. The plastic shell is a size increase for every dimension of the phone, as you might expect from an external battery, though the largest increase is just over a quarter-inch on the bottom of the phone. It’s a fully enclosed case with a removable top, a feature that comes in handy if you’ve got an oversized headphone connector. The remaining charge is indicated by four blue LEDs along the lower back of the case, which are activated with a push button. There’s also a power switch on the bottom to toggle between your phone’s battery and that of the case.

As for battery life, which is the big deal for this type of case, the 3GS will get nearly double life out of a single charge. Under heavy use I was getting a 65-70% extended life from the Juice Pack Air, but in most cases it was at or above 80%. The case’s battery has a 1200mAh capacity, which is among the lowest for this style case. As I mentioned, the capacity is a tradeoff for size, which is something I like about the Mophie. If you need something that gets you through two full charges or more, you should definitely look elsewhere.

Though I think Mophie hit the mark on a small, protective battery case, there are a couple things I would change. First, the connection is micro USB, which means carrying an uncommon cable type for charging. That can be frustrating on the road, where I like to pack as light as possible. I also don’t like that the case sits flush with the face of the phone. Just a little lip would mean you could set the iPhone face down without worrying about scratches. If you like to use a screen protector even that will be sitting higher than the edge of the case and without a lip may get peeled back when stuffed repeatedly into a pocket.

On the whole, though, I really like the Juice Pack Air. It’s small enough to still fit into a pocket with enough battery power to get you through most any day. You can get Mophie’s Juice Pack Air from the company website for $79.95.

There’s nothing quite as lovely as a brand new piece of tech gadgetry…and nothing quite as heartbreaking as that first permanent scratch or smudge on said gadget, which is why there are so many options for tricking out and covering up our precious grown-up toys. One of the latest contenders in the skinning sweepstakes is the aptly named MusicSkins, which takes the basic essential ingredient — a piece of adhesive vinyl — and adds a couple of interesting twists.

The first — and arguably most important — of MusicSkins’ claims to faim is the sheer ease with which the stuff goes on and comes off. The company sent me a skin for my iPod Touch, which I decided to put through its paces by sticking it on while I was sitting in the front seat of a car with the iPod in my lap. Having tried (and failed) to achieve a bubble-free Belkin screen protector under what were close to lab conditions, I expected I’d have to re-fasten the MusicSkin indoors, with the iPod on a flat surface. I was pleasantly surprised, though — the stuff goes on easy, and isn’t prone to bubbling; what’s more, it comes off just as easily as the company promises, leaving behind very little in the way of residue. And, of course, while it’s on, it acts as a slick barrier for pretty much any scuffs or scratches; in order to even mark the surface, you’ve basically got to rub your device over asphalt. Ordinary wear and tear don’t even show up.

The other feature that sets MusicSkins apart is the fact that the company not only offers a huge assortment of skins (everything from phones to game controllers to guitars) and a wide variety of (largely celeb-focused) skin designs, it also allows you to customize your skins by uploading your own artwork or photos, thus giving you the opportunity to choose between covering your iPod, phone, or laptop with a picture of Madonna, Bob Marley, your company logo, or your cat. Not as important as whether or not the stuff really works, of course, but in a crowded product field, it’s the little stuff that sets brands apart, right?

MusicSkins run $15 and up. Visit the company at its official site to see more.

Say goodbye to your FM tuner, and the static and frustration that come with it. With the Sony Xplod’s USB 1-Wire, you can now hook your iPod, iPhone or any other USB-compatible digital music player right into your car’s stereo system and get the kind of crisp sound quality an FM tuner could never provide. And with Bluetooth hands-free calling capabilities, MP3/WMA/AAC playback, Satellite radio and HD Radio compatibility, and a wireless remote, the Xplod MEX-BT5700U, provided by Sony for this review, is ready for just about anything you can throw at it.

Give Sony credit for coming up with a menu style that makes browsing through your iPod’s library to find a particular song much easier than similar units. The Quick-BrowZer function allows users to search for music by artist, album, genre or playlist, but when you’ve got hundreds of artists and thousands of songs on your player, that’s just not enough. Fortunately, the Jump Mode gets you where you need to go much more efficiently by fast-forwarding through a category in 10% increments. No worries about having to turn the dial for five minutes just to get to your “R” artists. Finally, Zappin mode will play music in six-, nine- or 30-second segments to help speed up your search for that one elusive song.

Of course, some of us are stubborn and have grown very comfortable with our music player’s navigation menu, making the switch to a new format – no matter how intuitive it may be – a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, the Xplod features Passenger Control, which puts the menu back in the palm of your hand and allows you (or, ostensibly, your passenger) to control your tunes directly from the portable player. While it doesn’t take long to learn how to navigate the Xplod’s menu, it’s pretty handy to have the option of switching to Passenger Control when needed. Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t work with iPod Nano 1st generation and iPod 5th generation, much to my chagrin since I have no plans to replace my iPod 5G anytime soon. Ah, but don’t forget about the handy front auxiliary input, which lets me hook into the stereo while still controlling everything from my iPod. Of course, connecting this way won’t charge your portable music player, but it’s nice to have that option.

The Xplod’s appeal doesn’t end with the iPod connectivity. The unit’s Bluetooth capabilities are impressive, to say the least, and are fully compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The new Phonebook Access Profile feature allows you to browse your linked cell’s phonebook to make a call, save a contact, or download your entire phonebook (up to 300 contacts) for easy access via the Xplod’s Bluetooth menu. Speaking of the menu, there are all sorts of options to play with, whether you want to choose your phone’s ringtone or the stereo’s default tone, enable “Auto Answer” or “Echo Canceller/Noise Canceller Mode,” or set the microphone’s default volume level. And since the unit comes standard with an external microphone in addition to the built-in mic, you’re able to easily improve your audio quality. Finally, if your portable music player supports Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), you can stream your audio via Bluetooth.

In short, this is one heavy duty car stereo with more features than most people would probably ever use. As a bonus, the in-dash unit looks great, with a customizable, bright and easy-to-read display that offers up to four lines of music and phone call data, the ability to choose between red, blue or green illuminated keys, and a flip-down, detachable faceplate. Anyone who’s ever battled with an FM tuner will fall for the instant iPod connectivity the Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U offers, but the fun most definitely doesn’t stop there.

Click here to buy the Sony Xplod MEX-BT5700U.

The Joby Gorilla Pod has become one of the most popular tripod solutions that allows you to mount a camera almost anywhere. Joby’s taken that idea and shrunk it down to provide the same flexibility for mobile applications.

I’ve always been impressed with the quality of Joby products and the Gorilla Mobile is no exception. The joints hold up well, even under constant use (I used mine to entertain an 18-month old for a couple hours). Joby has also added extra functionality by including interchangeable mounts for different devices. There’s the standard camera mount – which is perfect for your point and shoot or a Flip video – an adhesive mount for anything without a camera bracket, and a suction cup which is for anything with a smooth surface (yeah, it’s pretty much for the iPhone, though your Blackberry might be alright there).

There’s really nothing bad to say about this little tripod. It’s functional, fits most any device, and can be tucked into a pocket. My only hang up was getting the suction cup to fit the phone, but a quick cleaning and little spit gave it a solid hold. My one piece of advice is to make sure the interchangeable lock is in place before setting your camera anywhere. If you don’t have the locking ring in place, any kind of tilt could send your camera/phone sliding to its death.

You can get the Gorilla Mobile direct from Joby for $30.

Today I’ve got another video review for you. This time it’s the iSkin Revo2, a rubbery case designed for maximum shock absorption and a little moisture protection.

It’s a decent case, though it can be tough to get a good fit around the phone. At $39.99 it’s a little too expensive for what the product offers, but a decent buy if you can find it on sale. If you’re looking for a simple case that looks nice with decent shock protection, check out the iSkin Solo or Solo FX.

Today I’ve got a review of the Solo line of iPhone cases from iSkin. I decided to shoot the review as a video so you can really see the benefits of the case. Overall, iSkin’s put together an excellent product. It’s simple, fits the phone well, and looks great. My only complaint is price. At $29.99 for the Solo and $32.99 for the Solo FX, the cases are a bit more expensive than the features they offer. If you can get a deal on either, it would be worth picking up.

With the release of A2DP support for the iPhone, companies have started to make audio peripherals to take advantage of stereo Bluetooth support. That’s not to say the technology hasn’t been around for a while. It has, but it hasn’t been widely adopted for regular audio. Instead, it’s the connection of choice for wireless mouse and keyboard connections or phone headsets. The YUBZ Magnum, though, uses Bluetooth to deliver stereo sound through a powered speaker tube with just enough flair to make it desirable.

Appearance/Build Quality
The Magnum is a great looking device, though it may get your significant other wondering if you’re feeling a little..self-conscious. It’s a simple tube with speakers on both end, wrapped in padded leather, which features embossed buttons. The buttons are a bit hard to read, but after using the device for a half hour or so you should have the locations pretty well memorized. The bottom of the Magnum has a compartment for batteries (4 AA), an audio port for connection to any audio device, and an AC port for the included USB charger/USB wall adapter.

In the box you’ll also get a nice little carrying case (with a pouch for an iPod if you choose to connect via the included 3.5mm cable), the aforementioned USB to AC cable/wall adapter, and a 3.5mm male to male cable for audio connections. I think $110 is a little on the pricey side, but you get a nice accessory set and I can’t stress enough how great portability is.

Sound Quality And Features
As with any A2DP audio device, you need to put aside your desire for high fidelity music from any source. The speakers sound pretty average over Bluetooth, though the sound does improve over line-in connection. The Magnum puts out surprisingly decent bass and can get loud enough to watch a movie or listen to over the shower.

The Magnum holds a strong connection, though I couldn’t quite get to the stated 30ft. Then again, I always tried with walls in the way, so outdoors, at a picnic for instance, you might be fine. It connected quickly and easily to both my iPhone and my MacBook and played continuously for almost 9 hours before the batteries died.

I did have a couple problems with features. Though you can control some devices with onboard controls, others don’t seem to work. The previous and next functions worked with iTunes when connected to my laptop but not with my iPhone. Really this isn’t a big deal, because in the applications for which I’d use this thing, I’m likely to have my phone or my laptop close at hand. If you’re looking for something you could use outside while your computers streams from inside, though, connectivity may be an issue.

A nice bonus on the Magnum is the built-in microphone. If you’re connected to a phone you can still receive and answer calls, transfer them back to your phone if you don’t want to use the speaker, and even redial if the call gets dropped. Just remember, it’s a wide-area microphone next to a pair of speakers, so the person on the other end will be painfully aware he is on speakerphone.

The Verdict
If you want a portable music solution for your phone that puts out decent sound, the YUBZ Magnum is a great choice. It makes a perfect companion to the beach or a local park, where you’ll be able to wirelessly stream music for hours without much worry. Just make sure you keep your batteries fresh. The unit is simple enough to do what it does well, without adding on a bunch of unnecessary features.

For me, the telephony features are really secondary and I can’t say I’ll use them much. It is nice, though, that the Magnum alerts you to an incoming call and will forward the call straight to your phone at the push of a button.

When Apple released iPhone OS 3.0, one of the most exciting features was A2DP bluetooth support. Finally you could use a pair of Bluetooth headphones or stream to a pair of Bluetooth speakers without music sounding like utter trash. It also opened the door for devices like the iSkin Cerulean RX, an iPod/iPhone dock adapter that allows you to stream music to any dock wirelessly. The Cerulean RX isn’t limited to iPod/iPhone dock use, but that’s really where you’ll appreciate the wireless goodness.

Appearance/Build Quality
The Apple fanboy in me loved the iSkin Cerulean RX packaging. If I’m going to pay $89.99 for a little stereo Bluetooth adapter, it better be sexy, which the Cerulean RX is. It comes in a sleek black box with the main adapter tucked into a little cardboard cubby. All the cables and manuals are hidden from view, giving the impression that the adapter would be simple to setup and use. To my delight, it was.

Along with the adapter, which uses a 30-pin dock connector to attach to your dock/speaker system, you get a 3.5mm extension cord, a 3.5mm female to RCA male adapter, and a USB/mini USB cable. Unfortunately, you need most if not all of those accessories to use the Cerulean RX with any non-dock stereo. The adapter, which also includes 3.5mm output, has to be powered via the included USB cable to produce sound through the 3.5mm. While the unit is pretty much plug and forget when connected to a dock, it’s locate your cables and a usb charging plug (you can get one on Amazon for $3.15 shipped) before you can listen. No problem if you plan to plug it in and leave it. If you want something a little more mobile, it’s a bit less than elegant. I do appreciate, though, that they included the accessories. Without them I probably wouldn’t recommend the product.

Sound Quality and Features
If you can put aside your inner audiophile, the Cerulean RX is more than fine. Though I wouldn’t recommend it for close listening (certainly not its intended use), it’s a great solution for more casual audio enjoyment. Through a dock the sound is fairly clear and crisp. My signal held strong and the unit stayed cool to the touch. Streaming music from my iPhone for a few hours left me with 70% battery life or so, which is really quite decent. Music was fairly crisp and clean, and Ira Glass was clear as ever.

Using the unit with my Macbook yielded similar results. I used my iPhone charger to provide the power and plugged the 3.5mm cord into a Sony 5.1 system. Bass came through clearly enough, though it took some EQ tweaking to get a balanced sound. Again, it’s a nice setup for casual listening, and I would gladly tuck one of these things behind my stereo if it meant I could stream music from my laptop whenever I wanted. My girlfriend especially loved this idea.

One note for using the Cerulean RX with your computer. Most computers recognize the device as both a Bluetooth headset and a pair of Bluetooth headphones. When selecting your audio output source, be sure you pick “headphones.” Selecting headset gives all the mono quality of Bluetooth 1.0. You’ll come back here thinking I lied about the sound quality. I didn’t. Your computer just wants to confuse you.

The last feature I should mention is call interruption. There is none. The best experience I had with the Cerulean was streaming music while I was doing some work, hearing my phone ring, and being able to instantly pick up my phone and take the call. The music paused and, on hangup, resumed where it had left off. That’s good on both the iPhone and the Cerulean RX.

The Verdict
The iSkin Cerulean RX is a great device for cutting the cords between your audio source and your speaker system. Sure, it’s on the more expensive side of wireless solutions at $89.99, but you’re really paying for versatility. iSkin did a smart thing by including all the cables necessary to use the unit wherever you see fit. Remember to get that USB plug from Amazon if you’re planning to put your Cerulean RX on a non-dock stereo. PIck one up from the iSkin store.

Maximo, who you may recall from my recent review of their iM-590 earbuds, has just released a new earbud product targeted at the smartphone users among you: the iP-HS5. The headphones are of similar make to the iM-590 but Maximo has added an in-line microphone and control button that works with most smartphones on the market today. As with the iM-590, the iP-HS5 produce quality sound and ship with enough accessories to make the headphones a positive experience.

Appearance/Build Quality
I’m going to say “as with the iM-590” a lot in this post, so just get used to it. The products are very similar, and for a lot of good reasons. The packaging is smart as ever, with everything well organized for the consumer to see. Open it up and you’re greeted with all the accessories you’ll need to use the iP-HS5 with the smartphone of your choice.

The headphones ship with a 3.5mm jack installed, but include two 2.5mm adapters for various smartphone wiring configurations. This ensures the product will work with whatever phone you happen to have. For iPhone users, no adapter is required. You also get a 4-foot extension cable, four sets of earbuds, a shirt clip, a carrying case, and a detachable lanyard.

Maximo has again employed their knit cabling, which I’m still not sure I’m a fan of. While it has its benefits, the sound produced if anything rubs along the surface is pretty tough on my ears. Attaching the shirt clip, at the recommendation of a Maximo rep, did improve things significantly.

The included lanyard is also a bit of a puzzler for me. While I understand you might not always want noise reducing earbuds in your ears, wearing them around your neck seems similarly out of the question. The included carrying case can be worn on your belt if you really need a place to store the headphones. For someone like me, the extra use I get from the lanyard isn’t worth the frustration that comes with having so much extra cord. Read the rest of this entry »

This was originally posted by Mr. Rick Broida over at the Cheapskate Blog. If you aren’t a regular reader, I highly recommend him. He’s consistently got the best deals on seriously useful tech, and as is the case with this one, useful tech with massive geek appeal.

The gadget in question is an 8GB flash drive tucked into a Livestrong-styled rubber bracelet for just $12.35. Originally the bracelet came in at $26.99, but thanks to a recent price drop and a coupon code listed directly on the page, you can have one for under $13. Nevermind that it’s a great way to show your geek pride, or smuggle sensitive pictures away from your friend’s laptop, it’s a boatload of storage for next to nothing. Working at McD’s would net you one of these bad boys in under an hour and a half.

It ships from Meritline, which has given some folks pleasure, some folks pain. You can also expect shipping to take about 2 weeks, which might be a dealbreaker for some. May I remind you, though, that it’s 8GBs. And it’s $12.35. Just go buy one.

I’ve spent the last week with the Maximo iM-590 Enhanced Definition Earphones. Maximo, though not a major player in the earphone market, has put together some welcome surprises. The earphones are fantastic for casual listening and offer excellent sound for the price. As with many earbuds, I would not recommend them for active use but they’re great for most other uses.

Appearance/Build Quality
Straight from the box, Maximo is trying to win customers with smart packaging and design. The box has a flap that opens to a transparent view of the contents within. The headphones are smartly organized for a quick view of the contents within. On pulling them out I loved that they weren’t sealed, only to be opened with an army knife or worse.

The earbuds come with just about all of the accessories you’ll need. You get four sizes of earbuds (more on this as it relates to sound quality), a 2.5mm adapter, an airline adapter, a clothing clip, a cable extension, and the earbuds, which peek out of a round, zippered case. The phones are well-built, with none of the physical blemishes you might find on your average pair of $60 headphones.

The cable is braided, instead your standard rubber or vinyl. This a great feature with regard to tangling. It’s nearly impossible to knot these things, and the braided coating means they wrap into the provided case without any twisting. The only problem with the cables has to do with movement.

As with a lot of earbuds, any thump on the cord sounds like someone punching the business end of a stethoscope with the earpieces in. It’s loud, and it kinda hurts. The braiding also provides a texture so that when rubbed against itself or piece of clothing you get the same inner ear noise. This can be alleviated by two methods. The first is a smaller earbud fit, but that’s not really great because it means your bass isn’t nearly as good and the earbuds occasionally find their way out of your ears. That’s why Maximo included the clothing clip. The clip allows you to shorten or lengthen your free cable at will, reducing the amount of free play involved. Still, any movement on the cord will produce some noise in your ears. This is why I would recommend the phones for casual listening, like watching a movie on your laptop or listening to music in a coffee house.

Sound Quality
As far as sound is concerned, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a pair of headphones that sound as good with all of the included accessories. I bought a pair of over-ear Sony buds for working out and they sound roughly half as good. The lows don’t have nearly the presence of the iM-590 and the highs are rough and tinny when compared to Maximo’s headphones.

I would follow the advice of a small tag that comes attached to the cord. It recommends you “burn in” your headphones by pushing 8-10 hours of moderately high volume noise before your first real listen. Before the burn in the highs were insanely crisp, like they’d been run through a sharpening filter 3-4 times. At anything above 50% volume on my laptop they were blistering. The burn-in took the edge off, leaving the highs crisp and clear but without the aggressive, ear-bleeding edge. The bass also got a touch deeper, producing quality you would expect from an expensive pair of Shure phones or the like.

A note about earbud fit – make sure you get a decent seal around the inner ear. With earbuds that’s what gives the impression of heavy bass. With the iM-590 it also produces some level of passive noise canceling. With an improper fit the phones lose a lot of their quality. Play around with the different sizes to see what suits you best.

The Verdict
Maximo has put together a strong pair of earbuds with the iM-590. They sound great, they look great, and they come fully accessorized for just under $60. If you need a great pair of headphones for watching movies or casually listening to music I would highly recommend the iM-590s. You can find Maximo’s full list of specifications on their website.

Yesterday, Two days ago (damn you Time Warner), I covered the hub of your college life – your desk. While I may have harped on just how much work you’re going to be doing, there’s also plenty of time for fun in college. This edition of Pimp Your Dorm is designed to help you have a little, and to do so in style.

Today we’re focusing on that part of your dorm room that’s sure to get plenty of attention – the entertainment system. When I say system, I mean the part of your room that’s dedicated to producing various forms of visual and aural entertainment. Whether it’s music, movies, or a little gaming you’re after, this guide will have your room set as the center of attention.

TV
This is where entertainment starts. Your TV selection is important, because it can provide you with benefits you might not otherwise see if you went with that cheap all-in-one from Wal-Mart.

I’d highly recommend the Samsung LN26A450. A 26-inch TV isn’t huge, but it’s also not going to break the bank. Frankly, your dorm room is going to be small, so sticking with a smaller TV is probably a good thing. The unit comes with 3 HDMI inputs to take advantage of the 720p resolution, which will also make the smaller image seem crisp enough that you won’t care. Most of the time this baby will run you a cool $500, but B&H has used models listed for just $349.99! Even if you have to pay full price, remember that you want quality. I replaced two TVs in three years at school because I was cheap. Total cost? Almost $450. Pay the money up front and you won’t have the headaches later.

Receiver
You need something to push your audio, right? Right. Again, don’t skimp and try to save the extra $40-50 here. Spend that money now and you won’t have to consider upgrading down the line.

I’d recommend the Onkyo TX-SR507. It’s a 5.1 receiver, which is just about perfect for most dorm rooms. With the right speakers you won’t be taking up too much space and you’ll still get great sound. Dorms are certainly not the optimal place for a home theater, but you can make do. I also like that this receiver runs HDMI audio and video, so there’s no screwing around with a optical ports. More on this later. TigerDirect has the Onkyo Receiver for $344.

Speakers
Every time someone brings up “reasonable speakers” I point them to the Polk RM6750. It’s a 5.1 system with a full-size woofer (none of that short-throw crap that’s going fart every time you watch the opening sequence from Fellowship of the Ring) and reasonably sized satellites. The woofer has a built in amp, too, so you don’t have to worry about your receiver trying to push too much bass. Pair with that Onkyo you’ll get great sound for movies, music, and any game you might want. $208 from Amazon.

Game System
Speaking of games, it’s time to discuss your system of choice. I realize that for most gamers this is a matter of deeply personal interest. You don’t want me telling you what to do. I won’t. I’ll tell you what I would do and why.

Were I headed back to college I’d be looking at a new 360 with the Jasper chip (this guide from Anandtech will show you how to identify the Jasper chipset). The chip is cooler, faster, and supposedly more reliable, meaning you won’t have to worry about the RRoD. The 360 also sports a larger installed base than the PS3, which gives you more options for getting some quick game time on the hall. There’s nothing like coming back from class on a rainy day to the sounds of Halo booming from three or four rooms. Trust me, it’s what I did for four years. The 360 Elite comes with HDMI, which is perfect for your setup (and again, no optical ports necessary). Your games will look great and so will the rest of your media.

That’s another great reason to get a 360. It’s really the best for moving content from your computer to your home theater. You can watch your movies, TV shows, and listen to your music with the fidelity of your full system.

For the die-hard PS3 fans, this setup is perfect for you, too. Again, HDMI support, a great sound system, and a TV to make your Killzone games look crisp and vibrant. Either way you go, I’m sure you’ll be happy.

Cabling
I’ll leave you to find your own cabling, with just one caveat – buy cheap HDMI. I know I’ve spent the majority of this guide encouraging you to spend some cash, but in some cases that’s just not necessary. HDMI cables can get ridiculously expensive and it’s usually for no benefit. Rick Broida over at The Cheapskate posted a 3-cable deal for just $10 a while back. By all accounts consumers have been just as happy with their three dollar cables as people who spend $30-40 for a single six-footer.

That should do it for our entertainment edition. Check back tomorrow (internet going to the crapper notwithstanding) for the final edition of Pimp Your Dorm Room: Everything Else. I’ll be covering the little things that will make your college life easier, more enjoyable, and make your dorm more like a home.

As a budding college student, you’re going to spend massive amounts of time at your desk. I know, I know, we’re not supposed to talk about that. I’m supposed to tell you about all the parties, the booze, the great friends you’ll make, the beautiful women you’ll meet. Between all that, though, is the very real fact that either you or your parents are paying big sums of money for you to get an education. So why not get one in style?

This edition of Pimp Your Dorm Room focuses on that haven of study (and perhaps the occasional video game), to help you create a space where you can get in, get your work done, and get on to the other parts of college there are to enjoy.

Laptop
This one word is probably the single most important word for your studies over the next four years. You need a laptop. Forget the desktop gaming days, or maybe you can have both, but at the very least you should invest in a good laptop. I would highly recommend the new Macbook Pro.

Since lowering prices, Apple has made the Macbook Pro an affordable, entry-level machine that has enough power to last you a few years. The 13-inch model starts at $1199, but you can knock that down $100 with an education discount and even nab yourself a free iPod Touch. The operating system is robust, and OS X viruses are still few enough that you shouldn’t see too many problems in the near future. If this is your first Mac, you can even take a free course at a nearby Apple store to help you get acclimated. Simple features like the backlit keyboard and automatic screen dimming will come in particularly handy when your roommate wants to sleep and you need to get some things done.

Option: Microsoft Office – Office is still the standard on most campuses, and the software with which most people are familiar for word processing, spreadsheet work, and creating presentations. Wait until you’re on campus, though, before buying. MS runs some pretty nice deals on certain campuses that could save you hundreds.

Headphones
Here’s an item I would again recommend for those times your roommate might be sleeping or someone’s hosting a loud party (one you’ll hopefully be a part of when you finish your work) and you need to finish a paper. Noise-canceling headphones are a godsend, allowing you to focus on your work without interruption and without annoying anyone else.

We just ran a review on the able planet Clear Harmony NC1000CH headphones, which sport some of the best noise reduction (18dB!) in the industry. Granted, they aren’t as high profile as something like a Bose Quiet Comfort, but they’re easily as good, better if you run out of batteries. Tiger Direct has them for $249.99. Trust me, they’re worth every penny. The NC1000CH comes with a case so you can store your phones safely while you’re away. Read the rest of this entry »