Consumer Electronics Wins

Satechi’s AirBass Active Bluetooth Speakers ($130) are a good example of how simple design, executed properly, can lead to an attractive product. Coming in either black or white, these desktop speakers would look really nice next to an iMac or a MacBook. They’re not the fanciest things around, but at […] Read the original post…

While iOS and the App Store generally do a pretty good of keeping your apps up to date, even going so far as to transparently update them in the background with iOS 7, we’ve noticed that in some cases an update may not install properly, resulting in unpredictable behavior. In […] Read the original post…

At 4” long, about 1.75” wide, and just less than 1” tall, Mojo Vogue is definitely portable, whether it’s going to be tossed in a bag or carried in a pocket. As we’ve come to expect from most standard battery packs, there’s a micro-USB port for bringing power in, and […] Read the original post…

On paper, Solemate Mini could have been released by pretty much any company given its specifications. Offered in black or three bright primary colors, it has a rubberized top and bottom with a metallic central grille, mimicking the look and height of Jawbone’s original Jambox, albeit here with a narrower, […] Read the original post…

Apple has released iOS 7.1 beta 2 to developers. The update is available through Apple’s developer portal, as well as an over-the-air update for iOS 7.1 beta 1 devices. Apple has also released an update to its Apple TV beta software, and a new Xcode beta as well. … […] Read the original post by…

It’s rare to find any iPad case for $20, and even less common to find one that includes both a shell and a lid. But that’s just what you get with Macally’s Clear Case with Reversible Cover for iPad Air ($20, aka CMATEPA5): the case is composed of of a […] Read the original post…

There aren’t many iPad Air cases with built-in stands at this point, so Macally’s Hardshell Case with Flexible Grip ($25, aka TOPOPA5) stands out somewhat. The heavy-duty rubber skin is augmented by a cross-shaped piece of hard plastic that snaps into the back as a spine. Housed inside the spine […] Read the original post…

Beyoncé has unexpectedly released her latest album — a “visual album” — exclusively on iTunes. The album is self-titled “Beyoncé.” Selling for $16, the album features 14 songs and 17 videos, which currently cannot be purchased separately. Guest collaborators include Jay-Z, Drake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell, Timbaland, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland, […] Read the original post…

U.S. wireless carriers will soon make it easier for customers to unlock mobile phones for use on various networks, as the carriers have reached an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said. According to sources, the agreement would guarantee that carriers notify customers about their unlocking […] Read the original post…

Despite the fact that you can separate the case into pieces, you don’t have to do so during installation or removal. It’s easy enough to snap the iPad mini in place without really fussing with it. Inside, some hidden features help increase protectiveness, including air cushions in the corners. Like […] Read the original post…

With over 1,100 votes from readers, our latest poll—Now that the dust has settled, which of the new iPad models do you prefer?—has now ended. With both the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display available, we wanted to know which device our readers thought was the better of […] Read the original post…

Several years after Thunderbolt was first introduced, most of the drives using Apple’s connector are still high-end, pro-level, and desktop-specific devices. Some time ago, Elgato introduced a more portable solution in the Thunderbolt SSD, and nearly two years later, it has returned with a sequel called Thunderbolt Drive+ ($500-$900). The […] Read the original post…

Designed for active use, ATH-CKX9iS is a hybrid in-ear/earbud design, wrapping one piece of alien-looking silicone rubber around the earbud’s large 13.5mm driver, when using another piece of rubber as a tube to transport music into your ear canal. Audio-Technica includes three sizes of the alien-looking stabilizers to fit different […] Read the original post…

Apple has responded to a China Labor Watch report, suggesting that working conditions at an Apple contract manufacturer did not cause the death of a 15-year-old worker. Reuters reports the company sent independent medical experts to Pegatron to investigate, and found that the pneumonia death of Shi Zhaokun was unrelated […] Read the original post…