The folks at Pocketables have an Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet with Android in house, and after the requisite unboxing they’ve put it up against the older, wiser Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet original. It’s not quite a fair fight, since the Android model shown here has 32GB of flash storage compared to the old IMT’s 250GB HDD (there’s also a HDD option for the new Android tablet, a whopping 500GB), but there are some other notable differences like materials and curves. Thankfully for Archos fans those differences don’t break compatibility with the optional Archos 5 mini dock, and overall the Android model seems to have just a slight bit of “premium” vibe to it.

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

New Archos 5 with Android unboxed, meets its chubby predecessor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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(Credit:
Logitech)

Years ago, we reviewed the Logitech Gaming Keyboard G11 and found that it was pretty great, except for being unfortunately large and lacking USB 2.0. The company’s newest update, the Gaming Keyboard G110, certainly looks to have addressed those issues with a much slimmer base and …

Tweaking the design is actually the less interesting design change we made today. The more interesting one is adding ways for you to get your tips and problems onto Gizmodo instantly.

All of Gawker’s sites opened up our comment systems four years ago, and since then, not only have you folks contributed to the content of each post—many people skim through the post just so they can get to the comments, like some sort of home-made dessert—you’ve actually contributed to making many of those posts better, with tips and things we hadn’t thought about.

And also, many of the Editors on all our sites were commenters before they started working here; something that will definitely happen again in the future.

So, the two new ways you can contribute

First, you can directly comment from the top of the main page, which is useful for sharing tips about stuff (#tips) or telling the world about how some gadget you own is defective and the manufacturer won’t address your issue properly (#broken). Just type in your problems and make sure to include the correct hashtag, and a hashtag page will be created just for your tag. In this case, http://gizmodo.com/tag/tips and http://gizmodo.com/tag/broken. These work for new tags as well, not just existing ones, so go ahead and create as many http://gizmodo.com/tag/jasonis[variationofhandsome] that you like

You can also create these new hashtag tag pages from inside regular posts as well, just by tagging them with the correct #hashtag inside your comment. Creating hashtag pages will essentially give you guys forums to talk about stuff, since every comment with that hashtag will display there.

Nevermind on that second one. You can’t do this yet, so make your tagpages using the first method for now.

So, the most important bit is that your tips can appear directly on the site without going through the filter that is us; and we’ll go through them regularly to feature them on the main site.

As with all new releases, there will be bugs. In the spirit of the new comment system, you can report bugs directly to our tech team here, without waiting for us to pass along your bug reports: http://getsatisfaction.com/gawker

Make sure to include an image of your problem and as much description as possible (OS, Browser).

And as for regular commenting, here’s a FAQ that should get you up to speed on the basics.

Sure, you can probably score a better price buying audio gear online, and it’s certainly easier, but is it a smart way to go? I don’t think so.

First, buying hi-fi without listening to it is a bad idea. Smart buyers compare one product to another, it’s simply the best way to learn what your choices are. Granted, it’s not the same as hearing speakers in your own room, but at least you’re hearing them in comparison to each other under the same conditions.

An Innovative Audio listening room in New York City.

(Credit:
Steve Guttenberg)

Online reviews, including the ones I write for CNET and print magazines offer my opinions about sound. But reviews by me or anyone else can’t predict about how, say a speaker, works with a receiver that’s similar to yours. I have no idea about your specific needs, your room size, acoustics, taste in music, etc.

Use my reviews as a starting point and then try and listen for yourself.

User reviews? Hey, I make my living writing audio reviews and my opinions are drawn from my experiences with literally thousands of audio products. I can point you in the right direction, but at the end of the day, its your ears and your money. Buy what you like; just make sure you’ve heard it.

A good salesperson can offer sound advice based on your specific needs. That’s a huge advantage online sales outlets can’t duplicate. Yes, finding the right store or salesperson can take time, but that’s true for doctors, lawyers, plumbers, and contractors, but once you’ve found a good one, their advice and council can be a huge asset. If you’re spending $500 or more for speakers or a receiver try to make the effort to hear the thing. A successful salesperson has lots of happy customers, there’s no other way to be successful. I sold audio for 16 years, I know from where I speak.

…

Originally posted at The Audiophiliac

Speakers might be among the worst hardware to assess online. What do 36 watts of power output and a 40Hz to 20kHz response range tell you about the actual audio quality? A kindly soul over at Macworld has tried to clear that up for us with a review of Altec Lansing’s prettified Expressionist Plus 2.1 setup. The tiltable satellites score design points for their looks, though that all-important sound output was deemed only middle of the road. Real bass response begins at somewhere around 70Hz and the midrange is, well, middling, though treble definition is considered rich and well detailed. The reviewer also notes that while the design is attractive, the positioning of the power button and extra audio input on the subwoofer makes for awkward day-to-day use. On the whole, with online prices in the vicinity of $75, this looks like a decent value, so hit up the full review if your interest has been piqued.

Filed under: Peripherals

Altec Lansing FX3021 Expressionist Plus reviewed, deemed good value originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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