March 22, 2014

Jabra Rox Wireless Is A Rugged, Low-Profile Bluetooth In-Ear Headset

March 22, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Introduced late last year, Jabra's new Rox Wireless is one of the smallest and most lightweight wireless in-ear headphones that we have seen. And they're now available to purchase at Apple retail stores and online. The $130 wireless in-ear stereo headset was designed to withstand the abuse of your daily gym and active lifestyle grind whilst enabling you to listen to music and answer an incoming call without a cable running down your body, and having to touch your smartphone or iPod. The Rox Wireless features in-line remote for music playback control, a microphone designed to cancel background noise while you talk, and a rugged, water and sweat-resistant solid steel construction with built-in magnets that allow you to clip the two earbuds together around you neck while they automatically activate a power saving mode.

Jabra has partnered with Dolby to enhance the Rox Wireless' audio using the Jabra Sound app to provide "a rich and immersive, full-spectrum sound experience that brings your device to life and adds extra depth and dimension to your music." But even without using the app, the Rox Wireless should deliver clear sound with a bass punch.

February 24, 2014

Samsung Unveils The Galaxy S5 With Fingerprint Sensor, Other Awesomeness

February 24, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Say goodbye to slippery shiny plastic, and hello to the new Galaxy S5. Samsung has officially introduced its latest flagship handset today at the Mobile World Congress event with a larger 5.1-inch FHD Super AMOLED display with full 1080p HD resolution. Samsung's new Galaxy S5 features a number of hardware and exterior design improvements starting with its rear shell, which is now a dimpled textured polycarbonate with a matte soft-touch finish for added grip that Samsung is calling a "glam look". The front of the S5 is otherwise indisputable from its predecessor except for that vibrant new wallpaper art, keeping that familiar Galaxy styling. But there's more, the Galaxy S5 is IP67 rated which means that it is water and dust-resistant and can be submerged underwater up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

Underneath what we'd assume is a remorseless plastic construction, the Galaxy S5 is powered by Android KitKat 4.2.2, a 2.5Ghz quad core processor with 2GB of memory, fast 802.11 a/c Wi-Fi with 2×2 MiMo antennas, Cat 4 LTE, and offers 20% better battery life compared to the Galaxy S4 using a user removable 2,800mAh battery. Other improvements include what Samsung is calling the world's fastest auto-focusing smartphone camera: a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera that can focus in just 0.3 seconds with real-time HDR, 4K video recording like the Note 3, and background blurring action thanks to a new Selective Focus feature.

The Galaxy S5 combines an advanced camera, the fast network connectivity, dedicated fitness tools and enhanced device protection features as consumers stay fit and connected in style.

Other notable new features include a fingerprint scanning home button that works by swiping down on it to unlock the device. Users will also be able to use the Galaxy S5's fingerprint sensor to authenticates purchases including PayPal transactions without having to physically input their password. There's also an improved LED flash with a heart rate monitoring sensor built-in right next to it. The two will work in tandem to measure your finger pulse. As for the GS5's speaker, well it was left behind. More after the break including a video demonstration of how the Galaxy S5's new fingerprint scanning home button works in practice.

February 12, 2014

This Could Be What The iPhone 6 Looks Like

February 12, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Here it is, the iPhone 6. Or at least we're 95% sure that this is in fact Apple's highly anticipated, larger iPhone 6. The leaked low-resolution photos are of what appears to be the redesigned rear aluminum shell as well as the larger screen size of the soon to be released iPhone 6, which were anonymously posted on Twitter today. The parts do look mighty convincing and are also said to be in the hands of Sonny Dickson, which was the first person that has leaked legitimate photos of the iPhone 5c and Retina iPad mini months before the official Apple unveiling. It is rumored that Apple plans to use sapphire glass for the iPhone 6's display for its superior hardness and scratch-resistance compared to Gorilla Glass.

Other than having virtually no side screen bezel and a asymmetrical top and bottom portions, it looks like the iPhone 6 will be considerably slimmer than the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s while also adapting a near-identical design to the current iPod touch which features a flat aluminum back with pronounced beveled edges with a polished chamfer - also found on the iPad mini and iPad Air. It is believed that Apple will release two different screen sizes of the iPhone 6: one with a 4.7-inch screen and one with a much larger 5.7-inch screen. It's difficult to tell from these leaked photos what screen size this device has, but if we were to guess by comparing the Touch id home button to the width of the iPhone 5s, it looks more like a 4.7-inch screen.

The only reason why anyone would pass these off as fakes or possibly prototypes that will never see the light of day is because the rear aluminum shell of these leaked iPhone 6 parts does not have a plastic or glass surface for the wireless antennas to breathe through signal reception like the rear shells of the iPod touch and previous iPhones. From what we already know, it would be impossible for these antenna to pass signal through such a solid metal design. Although it could be that Apple has found a way to engineer a clean and flawless aluminum unibody iPhone design (or possibly one that is made from a different type of material) without having to ruin the fluid use of a single piece of metal. More photos after the break!

January 08, 2014

JBL Unveils Authentics Series Of High-End Wireless Speaker Systems

January 08, 2014/ Nir Schneider

In an unexpected surprise, JBL has unveiled two high profile wireless speakers at CES 2014, which are part of the company's new Authentics series. The JBL Authentics L16 (above) and JBL Authentics L8 wireless speaker systems both feature wireless Qi charging surfaces that will keep your smartphone charged as well as AirPlay, DLNA and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling audio to be streamed from any wireless device, as well as a seamless precision cut foam grill inspired by the legendary JBL Century L100 loudspeaker.

They feature authentic materials, system optimized low-frequency and high-frequency JBL transducers, and the meticulous acoustic design that is expected from JBL. With JBL Authentics speakers' 24-bit / 96 kHz digital signal path, you'll hear studio-quality sound. Audio CDs reproduce sound at a 44.1 kHz sample rate, at 16 bits per sample. But recording studios work at a 96 kHz sample rate, with 24 bits per sample. The JBL Authentics L16 and L8 wireless speaker systems support this higher, studio-quality sample rate and bit depth, all the way through. The result is jaw-dropping audio quality and a wide stereo image from a single enclosure, ideal for any audiophile.

The JBL Authentics L16 Sound System features a walnut-veneered enclosure and supercharged three-way sound, with six 50W amplifiers driving six speakers to fill any room with exceptional volume and unbeatable audio at studio-quality 96 kHz/24 bit. The JBL Authentics L16 also boasts all-around connectivity via AirPlay, DNLA and Bluetooth, as well as analog, optical, and on board moving coil and moving magnet phono preamps. The free JBL Music™ app gives control over the speaker through both iOS and Android mobile devices. JBL's L16 can be pre-ordered today for $1,000, and is expected to ship next month.

The JBL Authentics L8 Sound System is housed in a wooden enclosure with a gloss black piano-quality finish. JBL Authentics L8 Sound System supports studio-quality audio, at 96 kHz/24 bit. Its exceptional audio quality comes with the latest wireless technology for connectivity with a wide range of devices via AirPlay, DNLA and Bluetooth as well as optical. The free JBL Music™ app turns any iOS or Android mobile device into a remote control. Enjoy studio-quality stereo JBL sound and wireless versatility from a single, stylish enclosure. JBL's L8 can be pre-ordered today for $600, and is expected to ship next month.

January 08, 2014

Harman Kardon's Aura Wireless Speaker System Combines AirPlay With Transparent Beauty

January 08, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Harman Kardon's beautifully designed new Aura wireless AirPlay speaker is a self-contained home audio system combining the ultra-modern performance and precision of a hi-fi luxury sound system, whilst also boasting a unique, iconic transparent dome design inspired greatly by Harman Kardon's SoundSticks subwoofer. The Aura has a sound as rich and rewarding as its appearance with six 1.5" high and mid-range transducers plus a built-in 4.5" subwoofer delivering superior, Omni-directional, 360 degree sound. While elite features like built-in wireless Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay lossless audio streaming and DLNA introduce you to the convenience and multi-function advantages of complete connectivity. Harman Kardon's Aura is available now for $400.

January 08, 2014

JBL Intros Flip 2 Portable Wireless Speaker

January 08, 2014/ Nir Schneider

JBL has introduced a new successor to its highly popular Flip portable Bluetooth speaker that brings with it feature and sound enhancements in an otherwise unchanged, familiar cylindrical shape; albeit with a subtle updated metal grille design. The award-winning Flip 2 portable wireless speaker by JBL brings rich sound into your portable lifestyle. The Flip 2 uses dual 40mm drivers and a built-in bass port in a speaker that fits in your hand. Plus it has a built in microphones and SoundClear echo and noise cancellation technologies so you can use Flip 2 as a hands free speakerphone and never miss a word.

The key notable differences over its predecessor is that now the Flip 2 uses a more traditional and convenientcharging method using a micro-USB port which will let users charge their Flip 2 speaker from any USB power. There's also a new white LED battery status gauge at the back, NFC support for quick tap-to-pair functionality, as well as a redesigned on-board button control cluster similar to JBL's Pulse speaker. The Flip 2 has the same 5-hour battery life as the original Flip speaker, yet it's slightly more powerful. JBL's Flip 2 is now out and available for $130 in black, white, red, yellow and blue colors.

January 07, 2014

Dell Introduces Affordable 28-inch 4K LED Monitor

January 07, 2014/ Nir Schneider

Dell finally unveiled its new 4K display today at the CES 2014 showroom floor, and it's surprisingly affordable coming in at $700, which makes it the least expensive 28-inch 4K monitor currently on the market. Dell's P2815Q Ultra HD display features a premium IPS TN LED panel with a wide screen real estate of 28-inches, and a screen resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. The P2815Q features multiple input ports, and offers multiple adjustability features such as pivot, tilt, height, and portrait orientation adjustment control. It'll launch globally on January 23. The real question is, will it have a glossy or matte display? The answer to that question will remain unanswered for now, but we have a feeling it'll be matte.

Update: We now have more details about Dell's P2815Q:

3840x2160 resolution at 30Hz, or 60Hz at 1920x1080 resolution
Anti-glare TN panel
Connections: DisplayPort (v 1.21)/Mini-DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4 (MHL 2.0), DispayPort out (MST), 1 USB upstream, 4 x USB 3.02 downstream (including 1 USB charging port with BC1.2 compliance devices on back)
Color Depth: 1.073 billion colors
Viewing angle: 170 degrees
Response time: 5ms
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Power Consumption: 75W