Archive for the ‘Audio’ Category

SiriusXM 2.0 Is Here – Pause, Rewind & Start Shows from the Beginning

Earlier this year SiriusXM hinted at some new innovations dubbed SiriusXM 2.0. A lot of that new innovation is now available via a 2.0 update to the SiriusXM Internet Radio app for iOS. Magically, like an early holiday present, the update came down the AppStore pipe teasing incredible new features such as:

Start Now – Start shows from their begining even if you just tuned to the channel.
TuneStart- automatically starts the current song from the beginning whenever you tune to a music channel.
Pause – to pause live radio and continue when you are ready
Rewind – to go back into previously aired programming
Show Finder- lets you find and set alerts for your favourite shows

We went hands on with the app and it truly is amazing. Mid-way through a show on NHL Home Ice, we were able to rewind to hear parts we missed – even without hitting a record button. The app obviously pulls data from an online source that is constantly recording, because the app isn’t the one doing it. We’ll have a complete review as we get more time with it.

Review: The Samsung Galaxy Player 5

Standalone media players are in an interesting position at the moment. Much like the PDA market of the last decade, more and more people are turning to converged devices to accomplish all of their ‘on the go’ needs, while tablets are beginning to fulfill more sedentary media consumption roles.

While tablets and smartphones are blossoming growth areas, not everyone is keen on fronting the additional costs of a smartphone plan, and tablets are only just beginning to find their audience.

I spent the Thanksgiving holiday playing with a new Samsung Galaxy Player 5”. Since I’ve recently become a tablet convert (and I’ve been rocking a smart phone for a while now), read on to see how I handled going back to a standalone media player! +Continue Reading

Breffo Spiderpodium: Our Review

One of the most common and frustrating aspects of working here at YourTechReport.com is the all too frequent thought; “Oh man, I wish I’d thought of that.” While we’ve all had those moments from time to time, when you’re constantly exposed to beautifully designed and executed examples of truly innovative ideas that solve the same problems you’ve faced all too often  (without success), it’s impossible to not start feeling just bit, well, frustrated.

Recently, I had another of those ‘frustrating moments’ while taking a look at the latest disarmingly simple but incredibly innovative “cool tool” from the people at Breffo… their new “Spiderpodium” – an elegantly designed and imaginative device accessory that actually makes many of your other gadgets (everything from mp3 players to GPS devices to smart-phones) more usable, useful and valuable to you.  Join us, as we take a quick look at the Breffo Spiderpodium – an amazingly simple invention that we think you’ll soon find almost impossible to do without. +Continue Reading

Review: The V-MODA Vibrato Headphones

Listening to music should be an experience.

There’s a time for “soundtracking,” where noise can help you tune out and get some work down, or help you ignore your surroundings; but there should also be a time for enjoying what you listen to.

Some people will obsess over their listening devices, but I often find that I enjoy mid-range gear. For headphones, “around $100” provides a higher level of quality and finish, better sound quality, and usually a nicer fit–but they’re not so expensive that I’m afraid to use them on a daily basis. Often a pair of “around $100” ‘phones will outlast several pairs of “around $25” headphones.

So when V-MODA sent us a pair of their Vibrato, I jumped at the chance to give them a spin. One can’t have too many headphones right? +Continue Reading

Review: The Nokia MD-11 Mini Speaker

So, no matter how good the speakers in our phones get, they just wont ever be able to compare to a dedicated, powered speaker. There’s just not enough room in our progressively skinnier and skinnier handsets to put in any kind of acoustic muscle.

One solution is, of course, a good pair of headphones–but sometimes you want to share. Recently, at a rooftop party, the only music we could play was off of someone’s iPhone, and it didn’t sound very good at full volume.

The correct solution is a portable speaker, so lets take a look at Nokia’s tiny monster of portable audio! +Continue Reading

Beautiful Looks, Beautiful Sound: Razer’s Chimaera 5.1 Wireless Gaming Headset

“For gamers. By gamers.” This is Razer’s slogan; and anyone even remotely familiar with the company knows that they take this pledge quite seriously–and it shows in everything they make. Whether you’re a PC gamer looking to up your score with a high-end mouse and keyboard, or a console gamer that expects a bit more from your controller, Razer has you covered…and then some. So when we went looking for a great pair of wireless headphones for the Xbox 360 to recommend to our audience, our first (and only) call was an easy one; and just a few days later, a shiny pair of Chimaera 5.1 headphones showed up on our doorstep. How did they fare? Read on, and discover how Razer has not only freed your sound from wires, but also managed to add a little “sexy” to the world of console gaming in the process…

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Altec Lansing’s Orbit Stereo USB Speakers: Our Review

To say that the capabilities of laptops, notebooks and tablets have come a long way over the last several years is an understatement on the order of noting that the Grand Canyon “sure is big.”  But while the advances made in sheer power, storage capacity, screen size/resolution and portability have completely changed our expectations, there is one element of the mobile computing experience that has not enjoyed a similar degree of improvement… and that is sound.

And though there are a number of very good reasons for that seeming deficiency, including; consumer demand (most people require even more mobility of their music devices) privacy and consideration (sad though it may be, not everyone wants to hear your favorite Beastie Boys track or episode of the Simpsons), and the very physics of sound, it is safe to say that most users would welcome a solution that provided improved sound quality in the conference room, home or on the go. +Continue Reading

Cyber Snipa’s Sonar Portable Mini Speaker: Our Review

Everyone knows that whenever Apple or any portable media company releases an upgrade to a product (most recently, the jump from the iPad to the iPad 2), one of the things that HAS to be included in the updated model is increased sound quality. Whether it’s improved by a little or by a lot, better sound or speakers is just a necessity when it comes to adding to the specs of a new device. But what if you don’t want to spend 500+ dollars just because your Netflix dialog is muffled or your music doesn’t have quite as much bass as you would like? You could buy a docking station for your media device that you would have to lug around everywhere–but that doesn’t seem like something you’d want to show off to your friends, especially when you also have to carry around a wall plug for it that makes it virtually unmovable. No. You want something small, portable and rechargeable. Which means the Sonar Portable Mini Speaker is just what you’re looking for. +Continue Reading

The Nokia BH-905i Bluetooth Headphones – A Nice Refresh to an Already Great Pair of Headphones

I FINALLY got my hands on a pair of Nokia BH-905i headphones!

One year ago, I reviewed the original BH-905s. I really liked them, and had very few caveats for those looking for a versatile pair of wireless headphones.

Well Nokia has refreshed the line, so lets take a quick look at what’s changed! +Continue Reading

Logitech Tablet Speaker Sounds Great – Looks Odd

Speakers come in all shapes and sizes; and proving that point is Logitech’s latest–the Logitech Tablet Speaker. As the name implies, this battery powered accessory attaches to the top or side of your Tablet, replacing the often muted speaker with blazingly clear stereo sound. Up for pre-order for $49.95, the Tablet Speaker jacks into your headphone cable–which really means anything you can plug headphones into can take advantage of the speaker.

C5 In-Ear Headphones: Bowers & Wilkins Sound Made Portable and Affordable

For those of you familiar with the site, you’re probably aware of the fact that we’re pretty big fans of Bowers & Wilkins; in fact, the P5 headphones we tested last year remain our favorite portable, on-ear headphones. But the truth is, as much as we love the P5s, they’re not for everyone. Though the $299 price tag is a bargain considering what you get, that price may still be too high for some; and though “gadget bag” portable, they’re not “pocket portable.” So what was Bowers & Wilkins’ answer to those looking for something a little easier on both the pocket and pocketbook? The C5 In-Ear Headphones; and for those that have been holding off buying a pair of B&W headphones, be warned: You officially have no more excuses.

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The Marshall Minor Headphones

Marshall has been stepping up their game recently in the arena of consumer audio, delivering on some fantastic mid-range gear packaged up in retro-stylish fashion.

Surprisingly for the Marshall Minor headphones, Big M has partnered up with Zound Industries to deliver a very interesting set of headphones.

UrbanEars is a VERY modern Scandinavian design company, so does the marriage of retro + modern work?

Read on my friend… +Continue Reading