November 26, 2014

Bose SoundLink Color Review

November 26, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Bose is back with its second highly portable wireless Bluetooth speaker called the SoundLink Color. Not to be confused with the more premium aluminum-made SoundLink Mini, this isn't quite yet the successor to one of the greatest portable speakers ever made, but instead a more affordably priced and colorful addition to Bose's growing lineup of wireless speakers. Offered in white, black and three other vibrant colors to match your style, the SoundLink Color has a compact form factor and boasts a quirky new original design we haven't yet seen before, and up to 8 hours of battery life. Like the SoundLink Mini, the new SoundLink Color features dual passive bass radiators and dual dynamic drivers that Bose claims produce clear, full-range balanced audio. As always, we're going to put it to the test to see how the SoundLink Color compares to its more expensive metallic brother as well as a few other noteworthy portable Bluetooth speakers. Our full and in-depth review can be found waiting for you just below this bit of text.

November 17, 2014

Nocs NS500 Aluminum In-Ear Headphones Review

November 17, 2014/ Nir Schneider

In the market for a new pair of in-ear headphones under $100? Nocs has got you covered with its most recent offering – the NS500 Aluminum. Let's face it, if you're an iPhone user you probably still haven't taken your EarPods out of the packaging and that's perfectly understandable. The EarPods have an outstanding microphone and audio clarity, but they also lack isolation, and therefore bass. Almost any third party alternative is going to offer you better overall sound quality and a more secure in-ear fit. Over the years Nocs has consistently amazed us with its in-ear headphones, most notably the dual dynamic driver-equipped NS600 Crush model that we reviewed a couple of years ago. Unlike the NS600 Crush, the newer NS500 Aluminum feature a solid build made entirely out of CNC-machined lightweight aluminum that has been given an Apple-esque quality finish complete with a jewelry-like chamfer-cut highlight that literally begs to be paired up with an iPhone or iPad.

The NS500's titanium-coated diaphragm 8mm dynamic drivers claim to deliver the listener with an "amazing sonic experience that offers impeccable balance, rich detail and a deep bass". A flat tangle-free Kevlar reinforced cable features Nocs' slim and lightweight, Apple iDevice-compatible 3-button remote with MEMS microphone for headset use and music playback control. Don't fret though, there's also an Android-supported version of the NS500 available as well. Be sure to catch the full and in-depth review to find out if Nocs' impressively made NS500 Aluminum sound as phenomenal as they are stunningly beautiful.

November 01, 2014

Elevation Lab Anchor Under-Desk Headphone Mount Review

November 01, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Ever thought about treating yourself to a headphone stand? You know, one of those platforms with a tall hanger attached to a space-wasting base that you place on your desk to proudly show off and hang your headphones on when you're not using them. But if you care more about saving valuable desk space and less about displaying your on-ear or over-ear cans, there's an even better way of doing just that. The Anchor by Elevation Lab, the same company that brought you the hugely popular aluminum-made Elevation Dock for iPhone and recently the Elevation Stand for iMac, is a new under-desk headphone hanger that essentially mounts your headphones underneath your desk or any table for that matter. Unlike traditional headphone stands, the Anchor is purposely designed to put an end to headphone clutter in that it will hide your headphones away from plain sight, yet within a convenient arms reach all while freeing up more valuable workspace. Needless to say it's every headphone user's ideal desk accessory. Be sure to catch our full review on the Anchor down under!

October 27, 2014

The Best Ultra-Thin iPhone 6 / 6 Plus Cases Guide

October 27, 2014/ The Gadgetmac Team

For this edition of the Gadgetmac Guide we've rounded up a very particular set of minimalist cases for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Cases that that are so thin and slim you won't even noticed you're using protection. We're talking about the elusive ultra-thin class of impossibly slim cases that aren't made to offer drop protection, but are designed to make it feel like you're holding onto the bare naked body of your seamlessly rounded iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. At only under 0.4mm, all these cases have got left to offer is light protection against scratches, nicks and small dents that can be caused from normal everyday use. The goal in using such a thin case is to add a nearly indiscernible layer of lightweight protection that will not interfere with the original design of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Because no one really wants to make a big iPhone, especially the iPhone 6 Plus, even bigger. While there are plenty of slim cases on offer, we are only going to be featuring the slimmest there are at 0.4mm, all the way down to just 0.35mm thick. How slim is that exactly? To put things into prospective – as thin as an eggshell. These cases are so slim that even the back-facing camera on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will still protrude above the flat surface of the case.

The tradeoff of course is that these ultra-thin and slim cases aren't going to provide any screen protection like an ordinary case with a lip surrounding the glass, which fortunately means that you'll be able to slide your finger off that perfectly rounded glass edge. And what iPhone 6 and 6 Plus user is going to argue with that. It's also worth mentioning that every single one of these cases is compatible with tempered glass screen protectors in case you'd like to protect the front side of your device and not only the back, sides and edges. So if you're someone that's looking for a case to keep all of that super slim all-aluminum unibody construction in mint, out-of-the-box condition without adding a single ounce of bulk, this guide is for you. These are some of the best thinnest, skin-tight cases for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and the full list is right down below!

October 21, 2014

JBL Charge 2 Portable Wireless Speaker Review

October 21, 2014/ Nir Schneider

JBL recently updated one of its most sought-after portable speakers with the second generation Charge 2 portable wireless Bluetooth speaker. If you thought the original award-winning Charge speaker sounded good, wait until you hear the Charge 2 in action. It has been outfitted with larger, better dual 45mm drivers and a pair of passive side-firing radiators for that much needed special delivery of bassy low-end goodness to liven up your music experience. With the addition of improved internal hardware, the Charge 2 has been redesigned to look sleeker than its predecessor with a more contemporary design along with a more polished build quality. JBL's Charge 2 still features the same useful added features like the ability to charge external portable devices while you're on the move, and make hands-free speakerphone calls thanks to a built-in microphone with noise and echo-cancelling technology. The Charge 2 sounds like a worthy successor, but is that enough to compete with today's leading portable Bluetooth speakers? Let's find out!

October 09, 2014

Mod-3 Radius iPhone 6 & 6 Plus Aluminum Case Review

October 09, 2014/ Nir Schneider

It's that time of the year where we get the opportunity to review and show you guys one of the most unique cases for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus...in the world. The Radius by Mod-3 has been around since the introduction of the iPhone 5, and it is now again without a doubt the strangest, most interestingly designed iPhone 6 case you can get your hands on right now. That's because it's not really a case per say, but rather an exoskeleton frame that when installed, protects all four corners of the iPhone, including protecting its front glass and the back from damage much like an ordinary case. Talk about a unique concept for an aluminum iPhone 6 and 6 Plus case. If you're looking for something different than what everyone is currently using to protect your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, you should take a look at our full and in-depth review after the break!

October 01, 2014

Spigen Tough Armor & Slim Armor iPhone 6 & 6 Plus Cases Review

October 01, 2014/ Nir Schneider

We've recently looked at what Apple had to offer with its minimalist Silicone Case, and now it's time for us to step things into third party gear with some Spigen case goodness for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. In particular, Spigen's toughest series of cases – the hugely popular Tough Armor and Slim Armor series of sensibly priced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases. If you're looking for a drop protective case, this insightful review will hopefully make your buying decision easier than ever. So what are you waiting for, the full review is waiting for your after the break!