Hasta La Gadget!

With there now being five (oh yes, five!) Archos Android Internet Tablets on the market, it’s understandably hard to keep ’em all straight, but in our minds the 32 is easy to separate from the rest – it, along with the 28, is more of an Android PMP than anything else. With 3.2 inches of resistive touchscreen, the 32 packs the specs of a typical media player: 8GB of storage, media player software with support for loads of audio and video formats, and a VGA camera. But unlike most, it runs Android 2.1 (2.2 will be a firmware update, we’re told), which adds quite a bit more functionality in terms of applications and web browsing. And it’s also got an accelerometer for playing games. At $150, it seems like a pretty good deal, especially when you consider that it’s cheaper than an iPod Touch or even a Zune HD (depending on where you’re shopping), but there are a few issues that may hold you back from forking over the cash. You’ll want to check out our full review after the break to find out just what those are.

Continue reading Archos 32 Internet Tablet review

Archos 32 Internet Tablet review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before the iPhone, the iPod, and iTunes, there was Napster. The original gangster of digital music distribution has undergone many changes since its heyday as a pirate’s Shangri-La, though this latest one seems to be the most fitting. A new app for the aforementioned iOS devices as well as the iPad has been launched, giving you the full Napster experience in a more portable form factor. That means that for $10 a month you can stream and cache music from a library of 10 million songs — yes, offline listening is available too — essentially turning your iDevice into the Apple equivalent of a Zune Pass-equipped music station. Good times ahead, eh sailor?

[Thanks, Louis Choi]

Napster app arrives on iOS, completes the circle of life originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 03:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A company called iMainGo has combined two commonly requested tasks into a nifty little case called iMainGo 2. It is a protective case and an ultra-portable speaker in one.

Considering how much smartphones and music players cost, having a case to keep them safe is plain practical. And sometimes, we like having speakers to listen to the music without headphones. It’s about time someone thought to combine them into a single box.

Smaller than a mass trade paperback, the iMainGo 2 has a pair of 2.5W speakers on one side. It has a tuned bass port and it will connect to any 3.5mm headphone jack.

The speakers are powered by four AAA batteries.

A clear sleeve on the other side lets you see and control your device. The touchscreen functions work fine through the sleeve.

The case is made from neoprene that is waterproof.

The iMainGo 2 is currently available for $40.

Apple’s sixth generation of the iPod nano is essentially the first complete rethinking the product has had since its debut in 2005. The previous form factor — slim and light with a decently sized display and clickwheel — has been all but abandoned. The new design is a complete departure; a full touchscreen device that brings to mind something more like a large, living postage stamp than a portable music player. Along with the radical hardware redesign, Apple has infused the media player with a brand new operating system as well — an interface that looks and plays more like iOS than iPod. We’ve spent the past week or so knocking the nano around to see if it’s worth your hard-earned dollars, and we’ve got the answers inside — so read on for our full review.

Continue reading iPod nano review (2010)

iPod nano review (2010) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Japanese are champions at making cute little things you didn’t know you had to have to complete your life. A plain travel pillow is boring when placed next to the musical Neckphone from Takara Tomy.

Your MP3 player is plugged into the Neckphone to transform the pillow into a miniature stereo on your neck. These inflatable pillows are fitted with a pair of water-resistant speakers and a waterproof pouch for the music player.

Ideal for listening to the playlist of your choice while soaking in the tub, the Neckphone can also be used at the beach or pool, or just as a travel pillow.

Available in three designs, blackdot (a ladybug pattern), stripe (zebra stripes), and drop-crush (paint splatters), Neckphones are available in Japan. For those of us not lucky enough to live in Japan, specialty shops like Geek Stuff 4 U have them in stock for 3500 yen, or about $40, (double the local price) with shipping costs running about $12 to $18.