That larger JBL speaker dock looks familiar, doesn’t it? Near the end of September, Harman gave us a peak at it’s latest consumer audio products. Curiously, however, a slew of new iOS-focused speaker docks were shown off, each lacking a Lightning connector. Today that’s changed, as JBL has announced a duo of systems that are equipped with Lightning docks — the first that we’re of. To start, the larger system is dubbed as the OnBeat Venue LTE ($ 200). This unit is essentially a Lightning-enhanced version of the 30-pin loaded Venue we recently spent time with, featuring the same 30 watts of power and Bluetooth connectivity with Apt-X support. Like it’s sibling, the dock can be set flush with the front, and better yet, you’ll even be able to dock your iPad Mini into it. Sizing things down a bit is the OnBeat Micro, a $ 100 bedside system that’ll play nice with the iPhone 5 and the new iPod Nano. While it doesn’t benefit from Harman’s Bluetooth know-how (a pricing consideration, as we’re told), it’s loaded with a rechargeable battery for quick bouts away from wall power.
Based on a quick listening session, we can report that the Venue LT sounded very full and clear. Even with the optional bass- or vocal-boosts enabled, it didn’t seem like the speakers were having trouble pushing out a high level of volume. The Micro on the other hand sounded decidedly tinny, which we’re frankly not surprised about given the size. Both systems are compatible with JBL’s MusicFlow app as well, giving you some extended options for tweaking the EQ. Both rigs felt fairly sturdy, but we were immediately able to notice some niggles with the Lighting connector. Our iPhone 5 and Harman’s iPad Mini and iPod Nano clicked into place easily with the connector, but the hinge it’s built on is very loose without any tension. A slight knock could potentially send an iOS device leaning forward, which would have us concerned in a party situation (the problem is more apparent on the Venue). Secondly, the docks won’t play nice with common cases like Speck’s CandyShell, so you’ll need to have your devices naked before docking. JBL noted the quirks, stating that they have little control over the behavior of connector itself, as it’s is supplied by Apple.
JBL expects that the OnBeat Venue LT and Micro will be the only Lightning-packing speaker docks for at least the holidays, so check out the press release after the break for more details if you’re interested. As for us? We’d say the Venue LT is definitely worth a look, but we’d just as easily pass on the Micro given the myriad options out there for smaller Bluetooth-equipped speakers.
Continue reading JBL intros first Lightning-equipped speaker docks, we go ears-on
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video
JBL intros first Lightning-equipped speaker docks, we go ears-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Square is most often pitched as heaven for small businesses, but that 2.75 percent cut per transaction is sometimes a problem for stores that are too successful. Enter a new flat rate option. Shops that don’t take more than $ 250,000 a year in Square payments, or charge more than $ 400 in a given sale, can instead pay a flat $ 275 per month regardless of how many swipes they take. The deal makes the most sense for businesses handling more than $ 120,000 a year through the reader, establishing a definite limit to its usefulness; this isn’t exactly for a budding jeweler (or Starbucks). Even so, the simplicity of the rate might be very alluring for companies that aren’t keen on surprise costs or working out the math, and it’s a contrast to the half-steps towards flat rates taken by VeriFone and other, more traditional outlets going mobile.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Tablet PCs, Internet
Square intros flat-rate payment option at $ 275 per month, hits small business sweet spot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony’s PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset made a splash when it landed last year, but there were two inescapable quirks: a lack of bass and a lack of any wired fallback for your other devices. The brand-new Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition should solve both. Its earcups now carry a new trick, BassImpact, that reportedly delivers the headset’s eponymous pulses and just that bit more punch at low frequencies. We also can’t help but appreciate having a 3.5mm headphone jack (and cable) to plug in an Xperia S or, if you’re daring, a device that goes without Sony’s logo. The noise-cancelling microphones and the overall headset are considerably subtler as part of the remake, to boot. Gamers will have to go without the Pulse-upgraded headset until the fall — not to mention pay a higher price, at $ 150 — but they can get a video overview after the break to bide their time.
Continue reading Sony intros Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition, lets your non-PlayStation gear feel the bass (video)
Sony intros Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset Elite Edition, lets your non-PlayStation gear feel the bass (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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From time to time, we see movie studio Warner Bros. bring forth ways to give its oldies-but-goodies a longer life span. On this occasion, Warner’s launching a novel eBook series titled “Inside the Script.” The new release will give movie buffs a deeper look into a handful of the studio’s films, which will include tidbits such as complete shooting scripts, deets about the flick’s development and other “rare” goods. At launch, Warner will offer classics like Casablanca, Ben-Hur, An American in Paris and North by Northwest — all available now on iBooks, Kindle and B&N’s NOOK for $ 10 each. Those eager to flip through the antique pages can head to the source below, where you’ll be able to grab the version best suited for your device.
Continue reading Warner Bros. intros ‘Inside the Script’ eBook series, gives film buffs a deeper look
Warner Bros. intros ‘Inside the Script’ eBook series, gives film buffs a deeper look originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 23:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Making good on its word, Freescale’s line of Vybrid controllers is now ready for prime time multiprocessing. That asymmetrical setup, announced last October, takes the high / low approach we’ve seen gradually crop up in computing, pairing an ARM Cortex A5 and Cortex M4 in uneven, albeit harmonious CPU matrimony. The company’s not targeting this new platform at consumers, though, as that market’s already being served by the likes of NVIDIA’s Tegra 3. No, this controller arrangement’s headed directly for the industrial sector, where medical, point-of-sale and smart energy equipment can benefit from the cores’ decreased power demands and ability for real-time control. Eager to dig deeper into this silicon platform? Then feel free to parse through the rest of the company’s jargon-y release after the break.
Continue reading Freescale intros Vybrid controller line, weds ARM A5 and M4 cores for an asymmetrical bang
Freescale intros Vybrid controller line, weds ARM A5 and M4 cores for an asymmetrical bang originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sure, CES and MWC brought along a plethora of Ice Cream Sandwich slates this year. So what sort of harm can adding one more to the pile do — especially if it claims to be the most powerful sub-£200 Android slab on the globe. Enter Storage Option’s Scroll Extreme, which sports a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 display, 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage with an option to expand via microSD. Also included in the £189.99 ($ 303) deal are front 0.3 and 2-megapixel rear shooters, as well as allowing you to output regular and 3D content (because it knows you’ll only watch Hugo on the big screen). It’s also worth mentioning that your app needs have to be fulfilled by the SlideMe store (we don’t blame you if you’re unfamiliar), since this beast lacks the right credentials to access the Android Market. If you’re brave enough to put its claims to the test, you’ll have to wait until April and live in the UK to do so. In the meantime, you can flip through the glammy press shots below to catch all of its revealing angles.
Gallery: Scroll Extreme press shots
Continue reading Storage Options intros Scroll Extreme, says it’s ‘world’s most powerful tablet under £200′
Storage Options intros Scroll Extreme, says it’s ‘world’s most powerful tablet under £200′ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We hope you’re enjoying that new Gmail and Reader interface, because Google isn’t done repainting every nook and cranny just yet. The next bit to get a facelift is the Google Bar. The thin dark gray strip of text is going away, and in its place is a new persistent UI element that combines search and Google+ tools, including a share button and notifications. There’s still quick access to other services available in the Google menu — just hover over the logo and you’ll be presented with a bunch more links. Love it? Hate it? Doesn’t really matter… it’s coming, so you might as well embrace it. Get a preview after the break.
Continue reading Google continues its massive facelift, intros new persistent nav bar (video)
Google continues its massive facelift, intros new persistent nav bar (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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With the new Call of Duty game hitting shelves soon, Gunnar Optiks has released a limited edition pair of Modern Warfare 3 gaming glasses that promise to please the eyes of even the most obsessed gamers.
Well, that’s the claim, anyway. You see, Gunnar Optiks peddles special glasses meant for people who find themselves in front of screens all day. They’re said to reduce eye strain by filtering out artificial light, and their gaming-specific models are designed to keep players in the game for even longer than usual. Sounds perfect for those all-night frag sessions, right?
Skeptics may balk (I know I did), but TechCrunch has looked into Gunnar Optiks in the past and came away rather impressed.
For their MW3 edition specs, Gunnar Optiks went with what they call a “fighter”-inspired design, complete with a Call of Duty logo embossed in the frames. The glasses also come with a Call of Duty-branded pouch and carrying case, just to prove how hardcore you are.
The entire package will set you back $ 99, but the bigger is question is whether or not the game-related swag is worth a $ 20 premium over the more traditional models. I’ll leave that up to you to decide, but I’m fairly certain some players are already chomping at the bit for these things.
NVIDIA’s 3D Vision is impressive and all, but one trade-off you’ll have to accept when you put on those active shutter glasses is a markedly dimmer field of view than what you’d get if you settled for plain-Jane 2D gaming. Well, the outfit just unveiled the second generation of the technology — appropriately named 3D Vision 2 — and this go ’round it promises not to strain your vision quite so much. These shutter glasses have a lens that’s 20 percent larger, with NVIDIA’s new LightBoost technology promising — wait for it — a brighter view. As an added perk, the frames have been rejiggered to be lighter and more flexible so that you can comfortably wear headphones without pinching your lobes. As for the newest 3D Vision monitors and laptops, those panels promise reduced ghosting, as well as 120GHz 2D gaming. In tandem with today’s announcement, NVIDIA announced that a trio of products — the Toshiba Qosmio X770 / 775, Toshiba Satellite P770 / P775 and ASUS’s 27-inch VG278H 1080p monitor — will support now 3D Vision 2. If a new rig’s not in the cards, the company also assures us that these glasses will be backward compatible with older 3D Vision panels. Look for them this month in the form of either standalone frames ($ 99) or as part of a $ 149 kit. All those details and more in the PR tucked after the break.
Continue reading NVIDIA intros 3D Vision 2 glasses with brighter field of view, comfier design
NVIDIA intros 3D Vision 2 glasses with brighter field of view, comfier design originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Along with providing hands-free convenience for mobile users on-the-go, Bluetooth headsets serve a fine purpose for crazies, giving them something to point to when they’re rambling incoherently to themselves. Now, the latest offering from Plantronics brings greater comfort and style to both types of users. The Marque M155 heralds the company’s smallest and lightest headset to date, which weighs in at just 7 grams — approximately the weight of a ballpoint pen. Designed specifically for Android and iOS phones (though widely compatible with more), the M155 offers voice-guided pairing assistance, customized apps and the ability to answer or ignore calls with verbal commands. What’s more, all purchasers will receive a one-year subscription to the company’s Vocalyst service, which offers the ability to send email, update Twitter, check the weather, listen to news feeds and more — all hands free. Available in jet black or arctic white, the Marque M155 will retail for approximately $ 60 and is available for pre-order beginning today.
Continue reading Plantronics intros Marque M155, its lightest Bluetooth headset for smartphone users
Plantronics intros Marque M155, its lightest Bluetooth headset for smartphone users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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