Hasta La Gadget!

The kids who grew up in the 1980s and spent their teens in that era, spilling over into the 1990s along the way, would certainly have heard of the boombox culture, or at least, participated in such a culture. It was a time when there were no distractions such as mobile phones, and neither do you need to worry about posting up photos of yourself in compromising positions and poses on a social network with no way of pulling those photos down afterwards. What about today? Street dancing has become a popular past time for many, and obviously, good music will need to be complemented by fantastic audio playback capability, which is what the Edifier Extreme Connect intends to do. The Edifier Extreme Connect is a powerful portable speaker system that delivers unparalleled audio clarity regardless of the environment it is in, including large indoor and outdoor spaces.

I guess in a nutshell, the Edifier Extreme Connect is best described to be an all-in-one portable solution for audio applications as well as hands-free phone conferencing, if the need arises. This particular system will be able to hook up (sans wires, of course) to any Bluetooth enabled device – be they smartphones, tablets and computers, where it is capable of streaming music, movies, games and phone calls. I strongly suspect that the primary use of the Edifier Extreme Connect would be for movies and music, and not so much to see it work as a conference call device.

It does not matter where your adventure takes you, as the Edifier Extreme Connect will come in a fully portable form factor, where its built-in rechargeable battery is said to boast of a non-stop audio playback time of up to 12 hours – I suppose that might even be longer than what your smartphone is able to handle. Other than that, it will also arrive with a microSD memory card slot to carry up to 32GB of media, supports USB streaming and has a 3.5 auxiliary port. You can pick it up in black, blue, red, yellow and gray shades for $99.99 a pop.

Press Release
[ Edifier Extreme Connect portable speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

What a difference some firmware makes. Jawbone has released BIG JAMBOX 2.0, its new software for the portable Bluetooth speaker, and it squeezes an extra two hours of battery life when used with iOS 6.1 devices, along with better audio performance. The free update – released through Jawbone’s MyTALK system – also adds a number of new features along with PS Vita compatibility.

So, if you’ve been looking for better audio performance when you’re gaming on your Vita, but you don’t want to plug in a set of headphones, the BIG JAMBOX can step in. It’s also intended to play more readily with Apple’s iPhone, with new AAC support for iOS 6.1 along with a claimed reduction in audio dropouts at longer distances.

Elsewhere, there’s synchronized volume control, which means adjusting the volume on either the BIG JAMBOX or the gadget that’s streaming is matched. You’ll need something that supports AVRCP 1.4 for that to work, however.

A new Silent Mode cuts out any of the tones and voice prompts which would usually guide you through using the BIG JAMBOX, though it still lets through calls. Holding down the Talk and Minus buttons simultaneously switches it on; holding down Talk and Plus while powering on turns it off.

We were mighty impressed with version one of the BIG JAMBOX when we reviewed it last year, and anything that coaxes out better performance can only be a good thing. You can pick up the portable speaker online from around $240.

BIG JAMBOX gains battery life and audio quality with 2.0 update is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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There are speakers, and then there are other speakers which are head and shoulders above the rest in terms of performance. Normally, most portable speakers are not exactly the toughest piece of consumer electronics in terms of build quality. Braven has something different for the masses later this spring, in the form of the Braven BRV-1 rugged speaker which will be able to live out all of your outdoor adventures without batting an eyelid. Of course, it will boast of IPX5 certified water resistance and is also shock absorbent, making this ultra-lightweight and compact portable speaker which fits into your palm comfortably without missing a beat being able to handle situations like drizzles and even a day by the beach. Needless to say, being water resistant does not mean it will be able to accompany you on your scuba diving trip.

The Braven BRV-1 rugged speaker sports a modern design that would not look out of place in this day and age, and is ideal for your next road or bike trip. It carries a 1,400mAh battery that boasts to deliver up to a dozen hours of playtime, where it pumps out audio at 6W of power. Music will be streamed wirelessly using Bluetooth connectivity, but there is also hope for older legacy devices, where they can be connected using a 3.5mm jack.

Not only that, the Braven BRV-1 rugged speaker will also boast of a noise-cancelling microphone that enables you to use it as a hands-free device, where you can make and receive calls from just about anywhere. Not only that, the Braven BRV-1 also doubles up as a portable powerbank, since it can also use its power reserves to juice up other devices such as a smartphone over USB. If you are interested in the Braven BRV-1, it can be yours for $169.99.

Company Page
[ Braven BRV-1 is one rugged speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Portable Bluetooth speakers, ah, we sure as heck have seen our fair share of them in our time. Well, just like how there is a myriad of other smartphones out there, so too, do we embrace the diversity of Bluetooth speakers, and the latest release from Divoom is certainly worth checking out. Known as the Bluetune-solo, this portable Bluetooth speaker from Divoom will boast of an X-Bass Sound System as well as built-in microphone, allowing you to use it as a hands-free kit when you require to carry out a conversation on your smartphone while both your hands are occupied, or as the law dictates (such as when you’re driving, that is).

The main selling point of the Bluetune-solo portable Bluetooth speaker in our books would be its ability to daisy chain multiple units together. In a nutshell, users are able to add on and remove speakers according to their current audio needs. The compact Bluetune-solo is easily thrown into a bag, and can be taken with you wherever you need your music to be.

As mentioned earlier, the Bluetune-solo sports an X-Bass Sound System that delivers patented PO-Bass Technology. In other words, your ears will be able to enjoy deep bass and more vibrant sound compared to other portable and compact speakers in the same market range. The Bluetune-solo will also feature a built-in rechargeable battery that is said to carry enough charge which offers up to 8 hours of play time.

When you throw in its daisy-chain capability that enables one to string multiple speakers together, you will end up with a customized audio experience for small and large listening environments. Sporting an all-in-one button that is conveniently located on the top of the speaker, the Bluetune-solo wirelessly will hook up to all Bluetooth devices including smartphones, tablets, and laptops among others.

You will be able to select from a range of bright and trendy colors including red, blue, white, orange and slate, and in case you still have that do not support Bluetooth, there is an auxiliary-in port. The Bluetune-solo can be yours for $49.90.

Company Page
[ Divoom Bluetune-solo portable Bluetooth speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Most of us carry at least a single device that has a built-in capability to play back audio files, which is why those of us who tend to commute a whole lot to and from work daily tend to tune in to our favorite songs, being oblivious to whatever’s going on around the world, at least, until we see where the train has stopped in order to get off. Well, that is just fine and dandy, but some of us do hope that we are able to share the next best musical act (in our books, at least) with the rest of the crowd, and one of the ways to do so is to have a decent portable speaker – preferably wireless. This is where the Switch wireless portable speaker would come into play.

Basically, Switch allows you to enjoy your music, movies and games with powerful sound and active bass. Apart from keeping folks entertained, it also doubles up as a professional conference call solution that will play nice with the rest of all Bluetooth enabled devices. Oh, the pros of the Switch do not just end there, as it can also function as a power bank and juice up whatever tired USB mobile devices that are in your possession on the go. Just like the Sony PS2, it does not matter if you want to place the Switch wireless portable speaker in a vertical or horizontal manner, the decision ultimately lies with you without causing any degradation in sound quality.

The Switch wireless portable speaker was launched at CES earlier this year, and it will retail for $149.99 a pop. Your ears will definitely be able to appreciate all the technology parked underneath the hood, as it is powered by a trio of high performance drivers, aided by an active sub-woofer which ensures your tunes will sound amazing regardless of the musical genres of your choice.

Product Page
[ Switch wireless portable speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]