Tech & Accessory News

a-Jays Five By JAYS Announced, In-Ears Designed Right

2013-05-16T07:17:35Z

Renowned Swedish audio brand, JAYS, is finally back with a sequel to our much beloved a-Jays Four that we've reviewed back in 2011. The a-Jays Five are a totally new pair of in-ear headphones that have a durable one-piece rubberized construction that prevents cable strain, and which is also ergonomically shaped to fit the geometry of your ear canals. What's more, JAYS has improved its already incredible flat tangle-free audio cable which launched with the a-Jays series years ago with even more durability. And of course, the a-Jays Five feature redesigned custom JAYS drivers similar to those found in the a-Jays Four but "with powerful and precise bass but with even more dynamics and improved details in the midrange and highs".

Using a high performance MEMS technology, the microphone consists of an acoustic sensor, a low noise input buffer, and an output amplifier. The built-in echo cancellation makes the audio perfect in nearly all situations. It reduces surrounding noise and, best of all, unlike many other microphones, this one won’t degrade during time as it recharges the mic-magnets each time you connect your earphones to your phone.

JAYS wanted to bring compatibility of its award-winning, fully featured 3-button remote and mic with MEMS technology module to all popular smartphones and not just the iPhone this time. The a-Jays Five will be available in three models, each with its own custom 3-button remote and mic module designed to work specifically with either iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8. JAYS also improved upon its a-Jays Four remote which we thought was one of the best control and mic combination ever put on a pair of headphones. The a-Jays Five's in-line remote module is now slimmer by 20%. JAYS has yet to announced an availability date, but one thing we now for sure is that the a-Jays Five will retail for $100/€90 in matte black and white.

You Can Now Design Your Own Jawbone Big Jambox

2013-05-15T20:45:12Z

Jawbone has introduced a way that you can color-customize your very own $300 Big Jambox wireless speaker in over 100 color combinations directly online. So if you've never took a liking to Jawbone's color picking skills, it's now your chance to prove yourself that you have better taste in design. Right?

Mophie Juice Pack Plus, An iPhone 5 Battery Case With More Power & Protection

2013-05-15T20:01:30Z

If you're a power user, chances are your iPhone 5 is in dire need of an energy supplement. The kind that actually works. Mophie is your dealer, and now it has a third battery case to fill its lineup and it's called the Juice Pack Plus. Unlike the company's previous released Juice Pack Helium and Juice Pack Air iPhone 5 battery cases, the Juice Pack Plus is a $120 case with a huge emphasis on drop protection thanks to its rubberized shock-absorbing band that acts as a protective bumper. Of course the Plus moniker is for added power, which means the Juice Pack Plus features a respectfully decent sized battery capacity of 2100mAh, that's an extra 400mAh compared to the $100 Juice Pack Air.

Mophie is claiming that the Juice Pack Plus will more than double the battery life of the iPhone 5 by up to 120% for all-day usage, but we'll reserve judgement until we get our hands on it to test that claim for ourselves though. The Juice Pack Plus for the iPhone 5 is the thickest of Mophie's battery cases coming in at 0.70" thick. The case features integrated buttons including a silent/mute switch for easy operation, and is available now in matte black, red and glossy white color options for $120.

A near-identical Juice Pack Plus battery case rival - the Atomic Plus by Maxboost, offers a massive 3000mAh internal battery capacity while sharing the same exact thickness at a more reasonable $70 price point. We're disappointed that Mophie isn't stepping it up in the performance to price ratio department, because clearly it can be done.

iOS 7: What It Might Look Like

2013-05-10T20:06:24Z

Do you smell that? It's the smell of a new iOS brewing. Now that Jony Ive is in charged of redesigning iPhone's OS interface, rumors spread that Apple's upcoming iOS 7 will feature Ive's brilliance in design and of a revamped 'very flat' user interface free of gloss and those iconic rounded corners. All we have now are concepts of what we expect out of this flat new design, and this particular iOS 7 concept made by Simply Zesty is breathtakingly beautiful. Slick app animation, a clean fresh look with an informative lock screen and Notification Center, Android-inspired widgets and a clean interface partly borrowed from Windows Phone 8. It's all there, and it feels right.

This vision for what iOS 7 could be like we think is stunning enough to land its designer a dream job at Apple HQ. We've seen it happen in the past. Let's say no more to leather and wood trim, here's to a truly up-to-date iOS! Head past the break to see this iOS 7 concept in action.

XiStera Puts Several Successful Kickstarter Accessories Into One iPhone 5 Adapter

2013-05-10T19:09:48Z

Needless to say, the iPhone is a fantastic little device we take everywhere with us. It lacks a huge screen yes, but you can make up for that little nuisance in a big way thanks to a magnitude of useful accessories made exclusively for the iPhone, leaving the well endowed with their removable batteries and widgets. What if someone took some of Kickstarter's big iPhone accessory hits such as the Glif tripod mount, the Opena bottle opener case and the olloclip lens attachment to conceive one accessory that does it all? XiStera is an all-in-one accessory adapter for the iPhone 5 which combines some of the best Kickstarter accessories into one affordable gizmo.

Shamelessly designed after the Glif tripod mount, the XiStera is rigid one-piece rubber adapter with metal interior hardware that attaches to the side corner of the iPhone 5. It features 8 functions including a bottle opener, a stylus tip, a tripod mount with portrait and landscape threading points, an angled landscape and portrait stand, keychain attachment, EarPods/earphone organizer, and best of all an interchangeable magnetic 3-lens adapter (macro, fisheye, wide angle) you can fit into your pocket.

You can pre-order the XiStera starting at $30 for a limited time ($35 soon after), or if you're really into using your iPhone 5 as your dedicated camera - you can opt for the $50 pro package which includes two extra telephoto lenses and a rechargeable 32 LED video light that you can attach to one of XiStera's two tripod threads. By the look of it, these guys thought about everything, took some great Kickstarter ideas and improved upon them with the XiStera iPhone 5 adapter.

Mophie Juice Pack Battery Case For HTC One Released

2013-04-30T19:01:44Z

Lo and behold, Mophie was quick to release a Juice Pack battery case for the HTC One. It took the company months to release its iPhone 5 battery cases, but as Android gains more and more popularity with devices like the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4 standing on solid ground as the Android handsets, accessories for these are becoming more prevalent. Mophie's Juice Pack for HTC's One is a svelte $100 battery case packing a 2500mAh rechargeable battery enough to replenish your One with nearly a full extra charge. The Juice Pack is designed to follow the original contoured design of the One as much as possible while featuring an integrated volume button rocker and support for the universal IR remote button. You can of course charge and sync your One thru USB while its protected inside the Juice Pack.

Mophie's Juice Pack for the HTC One is available starting today in a smooth rubbery coated black finish, as well as a silver equivalent which will only be available in mid-May. Mophie has yet to announce plans to release a version for the Galaxy S4.

Satechi Dual Sonic Speakers Enhance Your Mac's Audio Without Costing Much

2013-04-26T22:16:06Z

Satechi recently introduced the Dual Sonic Speakers, an inexpensive USB-powered 3 watt compact desktop speaker setup for people on a tight budget and limited space. With a sleek blue LED accent lightning and a brushed metal finish, the Dual Sonic Speakers feature an Acoustic Air Spring technology claiming to produce crystal clear sound with increased dynamic bass, mids and highs. Satechi's Dual Sonic Speakers are available now in silver or black for $25.

Marshall Monitor Headphones Taunt Studio-Quality Sound For $200

2013-04-26T20:39:44Z

In rock n' roll spirit that is Marshall, the company announced its second pair of speaker-inspired cans today since the first debut of the Major on-ear headphones back in 2010. Marshall's new Monitor are an over-ear designed headphones that deliver superior noise isolation with supple black vinyl leather cushions. Equipped with low-distortion 40mm drivers, the Monitor also feature a dual-sided detachable coiled audio cable with a one-button remote and mic, as well as a compact collapsible construction so you can take them on the road with you.

Here's what Marshall has to say about the Monitor's studio-quality sound performance:

Resonating with the power of live performance, Monitor produces deep bass with extended highs and natural, well-balanced mids. Its custom-made low distortion 40mm drivers cover the entire frequency range. Even at high playback levels, the sound is punchy and dynamic. With the Monitor’s F.T.F. system, you can choose your own sound experience ¬– a warmer, laid back sound, or a brighter and clearer sound.

The magnetic detachable ear cushions let you easily adjust the unique F.T.S filter insert to create a more customized sound output by controlling the amount of treble to better fit your liking or a specific genre of music. Marshall's Monitor headphones will sell for $200 when they hit store shelves in early May.

Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio For iPad

2013-04-23T20:20:24Z

Logitech introduced its second trendy folio-type keyboard for the iPad called the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio, which is an extremely slim package featuring a near-flat keyboard that is seamlessly fused into the folio cover a la Microsoft's Touch Cover for the Surface. A magnetic clasp closure keeps the folio cover closed, and various other magnets allow the FabricSkin to form into a stand as well as serving as an auto wake/sleep function for the iPad.

The keyboard itself connects to your iPad wirelessly over Bluetooth and features a full-sized key layout for a comfortable typing experience. Not to be confused with the touch-sensitive Touch Cover for the Microsoft Surface, the FabricSkin keyboard is covered with a special fabric that lets you type with tactile feedback which Logitech claims nears a laptop typing experience. Both the interior and exterior of the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is protected using a liquid-repealing coating for extra durability.

-Protects both the touch screen and back panel of you iPad
-Thin, Lightweight and crafted from premium fabrics and materials - weighs only 565 grams
-Two viewing angles with precision-hold magnets for stability
-A magnetic clasp keeps the folio closed when you move around
-Seamlessly integrated Full-size keys - provide a comfortable laptop typing experience
-Liquid repellant coating to interior and exterior Folio materials
-Offers up to 3 months battery life on a full charge – based on 2 hours typing per day
-Compatible with iPad 2, iPad (3rd and 4th Generations)

-Carbon Black : Matt leather
-Mars Red Orange : Strong, durable fabric
-Electric Blue : Fine weave high quality cotton
-Urban Grey : Two tone woven fabric
-Sunflower Yellow : Fine weave high quality cotton
-Mystic Blue : Matt leather

The skin tight material covering the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio varies with the style and color that it's available in, a mix between matte leather, cotton fabric and durable rubberized materials. Logitech's FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is compatible with the iPad 2, 3 and 4, has a built-in rechargeable battery with up to 3 months of battery life and will be available in the USA and in Europe in May. It'll retail for $150, and you can pre-order yours starting today.

What If HTC's One Was Actually Apple's iPhone 6

2013-04-22T18:47:08Z

HTC's One is undisputedly the best looking Android handset of the year, arguably borrowing a lot from Apple's unique design language and iconic build quality etiquette. Any iPhone user wouldn't be ashamed in admitting he or she would love to own one if only it were running iOS instead of Android. And that got us thinking, what would it be like if the HTC One was actually Apple's next generation iPhone? It would have been a marvelous 4.7-inch device running a totally revamped iOS 7, a truly reimagined iPhone built from the ground up with refreshing new features, and less of an iPhone circa 2007 influence to restrict innovation from moving forward.

In other words, we iOS users hope that Apple would take note of HTC's brilliant design and that includes simple things like a front-facing speaker, because there's an awful lot of tempting competition quickly rising which will turn many bored consumers over to the Green Side, or at least for a little while.

Now that HTC stepped up its game, we bet Apple is feeling the pressure from its customers and rivals like Samsung and HTC. The expectations for the iPhone 6 are extremely high. But until then, there is no doubt that we will see an iPhone 5S before any sort of breakthrough iPhone steps into fruition.