07
May
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Acase BlackDiamond3 Lightning Review: A Bluetooth Speaker That Makes A Visual Spectacle Of Your Tunes

Posted by in Other Reviews

We've covered quite a few Bluetooth speakers here at AP over the last year or so – but we've never seen one quite like the BlackDiamond3 from Acase ($100, Amazon). Simply put, the BlackDiamond3 (known from here forward as the BD3) adds a pleasing visual element to your tunes by way of embedded LED lighting and multiple "diamond edges" that refract the over 16,000 colors to create a beautiful and ambient light show. In other words, it's really freakin' pretty.

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As pretty as it is, though, it's not perfect. But that's OK, you may still want it anyway.

The Good
  • It's pretty.

21
Apr
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MOGA Pro Lightning Review: A Big Step Up From Its Little Brother

Posted by in Games, Other Reviews

When we reviewed the MOGA Pocket (then simply called "MOGA") back in October of last year, we loved the controller, but felt it lacked a lot of functionality users want out of a game controller (emulator support, anyone?). Enter the MOGA Pro ($50): a larger, more full-featured version of the MOGA Pocket. With this controller, it appears that PowerA has taken into consideration everything it did "wrong" with the Pocket, and used that to improve things with the Pro. More than just a bigger version of last year's controller, the Pro brings all new functionality to the table, along with a more familiar form factor and extra buttons.

17
Apr
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Quick Look: Official Book Cover For The Nexus 10 – It's Something

Posted by in Accessories, Google, Nexus 10, Other Reviews, Reviews

In the interest of time, I'll spare you, dear readers, my usual spiel and say simply this: I like official accessories. In theory, anyway. I like the idea of accessories specifically made for specific devices by the device's original manufacturer. I've been delighted by the Nexus 7 pogo dock, and love the Nexus 10 pogo charger (though it isn't actually official yet).

Then there's the official book cover for the Nexus 10. We first saw this cover when the Nexus 10 was announced, and then it vanished into thin air for nearly six months before making a sudden appearance in the Play Store.

15
Apr
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SuperTooth Disco Twin Dual Bluetooth Speakers Review: Because Two Is Better Than One (Especially In Stereo)

Posted by in Accessories, Other Reviews

Last November, I reviewed a product called the SuperTooth Disco 2. It's a really great little Bluetooth speaker, because it manages to pack a ton of sound into a small, attractive (I think so, at least) package. But it isn't the most refined  speaker ever built, and its decreased audio output when compared to its predecessor did leave a little to be desired.

It also was missing something - a feature that it originally promised to ship with: wireless stereo pairing with a second Disco 2 speaker. The company teased the functionality back at CES in 2012, but when the Disco 2 came to market, the feature vanished.

31
Mar
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Review: Jawbone UP + Android – A Baby Step Toward Truly Powerful Wearable Tech

Posted by in Applications, Other Reviews

When Jawbone's UP wristband was released in late 2011, I was excited. Then I was disappointed. The motion-tracking band seemed like a perfect step into wearable tech at the time, but its companion app wasn't available for Android. Whether and why Jawbone didn't see fit to invest resources in developing for Android was a mystery, but now – thankfully – it's immaterial. Just over a week ago, Jawbone released an official UP app to the Google Play Store, and I wanted to be first in line to try it out with Jawbone's updated 2012 wristband. Having used the band (which, by the way, is available from Jawbone for around $130) and app for about a week now, I've learned several things that will hopefully help those on the fence in making a decision about the device.

29
Mar
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[Lightning Review] VaVo From UDS: The Makers Of Capta Deliver Again

Posted by in Other Reviews

We first heard about Vavo through its Kickstarter campaign – which was successfully funded by roughly 200% – back in June of last year. The product has been available in the retail scene for a little while now, and I've actually had a pair of them (one white, one black) for the last few months. As such, I've had plenty of time to get a feel for VaVo's strengths, as well as its weaknesses.

With that, let's take a closer looksee.

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What is it?

As described by UDS, VaVo is "an ultra portable universal smart phone and smart device accessory. It has 2 simple functions, propping your device at a variety of angles and mounting your device on flat vertical surfaces for viewing purposes." And that pretty much sums it up: it's a removable, versatile kickstand-esque accessory.

29
Mar
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[Quick Look] Sound Platform 2 Bluetooth Speaker Dock: An Excellent Home / Office Audio Solution With A Twist

Posted by in Accessories, Other Reviews, Reviews


Soundfreaq isn't the best-known player in the Bluetooth audio market, but if you haven't checked them out, there's never been a better time to try. The company's new Sound Platform 2 is a heavy-hitting stationary speaker system with a set of pipes that really sing, and a genuinely useful dual-speaker pairing mode (read on for more about that).

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I reviewed Soundfreaq's Sound Kick last year, and came away genuinely impressed. It's still my go-to portable speaker around the house, and occasionally travel. I can't wait for the follow-up. The Sound Platform 2 represents Soundfreaq's more stationary aspirations, in that it's tethered to a wall outlet - this big guy can't go wires-free (yet - a battery pack will be sold later this summer).

26
Mar
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[Update: Winners!] Review/Giveaway: Seidio Surface, Active, And Convert Cases For The Nexus 4

Posted by in Contests / Giveaways, Nexus 4, Other Reviews
Last Updated: April 11th, 2013

As soon as we heard that the Nexus 4 was covered in glass on both the front and back, how am I going to keep that safe?! was a question on the minds of many. We've already taken a look at a way to keep it free of scratches with the Spigen Steinheil Dual screen/back protector, but that's just not enough for some people. Some users just want – or even need – a case.

Today we're taking a look at a trio of cases from Seidio for the N4: the Surface ($35), Active ($35), and Convert ($55 with Surface, $30 without) series.

25
Mar
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Chromebook Pixel Lightning Review: The Best $1300+ You Can Spend On A Web Browser

Posted by in Google, Other Reviews

Yeah, we know – it doesn't run Android, and really, it has nothing to do with Android. But it is a Google product, so by default it's at least tangentially related - call it Android's cousin. It's also Google's statement that ChromeOS is important, that it's not just some side project. It's saying that we should all pay attention. That ChromeOS is the real deal, and the Chromebook Pixel is the best experience that ChromeOS has to offer.

And what an experience it is. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill, $250 Chromebook. Far from it, in fact – the Pixel is jam-packed with some of the best hardware on the market (rivaling most Ultrabooks), and has the most beautiful display I’ve ever laid eyes on.

19
Mar
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JayBird BlueBuds X Deep Dive Review: Ultraportable Perfection Comes At A Price

Posted by in Accessories, Other Reviews, Reviews

I have a confession to make: I'm obsessed with wireless portable audio gear. Bluetooth earbuds, headphones, and portable speakers excite me more than they probably should. And I'm OK with that. My wife, however, gives me "the look" every time a new gadget arrives, rolling her eyes so far up her skull she could have easily become a soap opera star or an extra on The Walking Dead. She doesn't get it - she's not a geek who loves to get to the bottom of every feature, spot every miniscule detail, and figure out if we have something special on our hands.

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