Judie and I had a chance to visit with Gear4 in their suite at the Wynn. We’ve seen some of the company’s products in the past, but I don’t think that either of us realized how extensive their portfolio is. And it is going to get even larger in 2012. Needless to say, we came away impressed. Here’s a rundown on the company and their current lineup …

Gear4 wants to “make things that are simple, enhance your life and are a pleasure to use.” While all of that is highly subjective from what we saw they are doing everything possible to be true to their mission. Their docks look good, appear easy to use and, best of all, they sound excellent.… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The JawBone JamBox was released in November of 2010. Yes, that’s almost a year and half ago… ancient by today’s tech standards. So you might be wondering why we’re covering it NOW. The reason is simple: although it was released almost a year and a half ago the JamBox is still the best portable Bluetooth speaker on the market and, thanks to updates and additional apps for it the speaker just keeps getting better and better. Thomas was quick to buy one when it was first released but I held back and only got one a few months ago. I wish I hadn’t waited because it really is an incredible little device. I like it so much in fact that I purchased one for Elana to use when she is training clients.

Oh, and there is another reason we shot the video now… it was the first time since I got JamBox-ified that Thomas and I were together. So here’s a quick video of Thomas and me talking about the device and why it’s become one of our favorite gadgets. Yes November of 2010 was quite a while ago but this is one piece of gear that isn’t even close to becoming long in the tooth.… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I stopped by the ifrogz booth during the first day of CES to see what new offerings they had. In recent years the company has been increasing its selection of ear and headphones and, this year, they are taking things a step further. I got to see their Boost speaker which, when it comes to market this spring will retail for under $40. The size of two or three iPhones stacked on top of one another, the Boost is an unusual item. The company uses the term “near field”: to describe the technology employed but. as Francis was quick to point out, it is a rather loose use of the term. You see, if does’t use NFC communications but rather contains a microphone that grabs the sound of anything placed upon it and amplified it significantly. It does’t provide high-end sound but it is surprisingly good and surprisingly loud.

All of us have been pretty impressed with it and appreciate their giving us one of the very first units for review since it will not make its way into retail until spring. Here’s a first look we shot this morning.

 … Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Android people have long been without a great speaker dock solution. Usually you ended up just plugging your phone into desktop speakers and pressing play on the phone. Remote control? No way. Gear Diary’s own Bryan lamented about this lack of accessories just a few weeks ago! Well at CES 2012, Digital Innovations has brought out their Universal Speaker dock for Android! Android users rejoice as you can pause and alter the volume of the music from across the room with a remote just like iPhone users have been able to do for quite some time now.

What is even better is this dock will be available in just a few days from ThinkGeek! They estimate… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I practically live on my MacBook Pro. All of my Gear Diary posts are done using it, most all of my internet browsing and I even use it full time at work instead of my supplied Windows machine. Some would say I love this computer since it is with me everywhere I go. There is one problem with the MacBook Pro. The speaker is terrible! It is too small and provides thin, weak audio quality. The machine is so beautiful, it is a shame that the audio quality is so poor. I have tried several options to improve the audio, all of which are not exactly mobile. As luck would have it, the folks… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The JawBone JamBox is one impressive device. It is a Bluetooth speaker, a speakerphone and one of the best gadgets of 2011! At $199 it isn’t inexpensive but it is a quality device that is well worth the money.

Spar’s Zephyr line of speakers looks to step into the fray with the JamBox and one up it by including a backup battery that can charge your device on the go.

They even got Wired to run a piece entitled “Like a JamBox, Only More Generous” despite the author never having heard one.

So… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I love the JawBone Jambox that I purchased a few weeks ago. It came on vacation with me and was quite handy to have around. I like it even more now that I discovered Jawbone’s MyTalk portal. It let me set up the button on the device to activate Siri, and it also let me change the voice used for notifications on the device. Here’s a look at some of the options …

In terms of audio systems for small spaces, home users are not too demanding: they simply want something that sounds fantastic, looks great, is incredibly small, and is affordable. That might sound like a simple enough goal, but the subset of companies able to meet all of those requirements is incredibly small. Orb Audio recently launched the Mini-T Amplifier as well as compact systems that provide complete solutions for desktop or home speaker systems. Do they make the grade? Read on and find out!

The Hype:
The Mini-T is based on legendary T-Class amplifier technology, known for its audiophile sound quality and low harmonic distortion (just .04%). Like Orb’s speakers, the… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: Here are a few more great gift ideas.

Keep your iPad safe with the Kensington SecureBack™ Security Case with 2-Way Stand & ClickSafe Lock

Anyone who owns an iPad will appreciate extra peace of mind for his or her beloved tablet’s security. Surprise the iPad aficionado on your holiday shopping list with the easy to use SecureBack™ Security Case with 2-way stand & ClickSafe Lock to protect their tablet all year round. The thin, yet strong three-piece construction combines into a durable plastic case for iPad, while a 2-way extendable stand accommodates flexible iPad orientation for landscape or portrait viewing. An adjustable slider bar allows quick access

One of the best purchases I’ve made in recent months is the JawBone JamBox. Thomas got one over a year ago and almost convinced me to join him at the time. I didn’t and now know that I should have trusted him. The device is small, well-made, sounds great and has the added benefit of a built-in microphone so you can use it as a speakerphone too. I love it!

So how could a competitor try to one up the device? We got word today on one such attempts and, truth be told, it looks great. The device, devices actually, come from SPAR (www.SPAR.com) and is called the ZEPHYR. The ZEPHYR comes… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: Is there someone in your life who loves music? If so, here are five gifts with which you can’t go wrong.

First off, Sonos. Dan hasn’t stopped raving about the Sonos wireless music system he installed a few months ago. Sonos is the best way to get lots of music in lots of room at a fairly affordable price. Better still, the system can grow with you as you add more and more components. You can read our reviews here, here and here.

The Play:3 is just $299 in our Amazon Affiliate Store. The Play:5 is $100 more at $399

The folks at Twelve South always have a way of surprising us. They make awesome leather cases like the BookBook for iPad or iPhone but they also make an amazing iPad stand called the Compass. (I use mine all the time.) Now they have something even more outside the box- the BassJump 2 speaker.

The new BassJump 2 is a portable, USB-powered subwoofer that “turns MacBook Pro or MacBook Air into a travel-friendly sound system”. Powered by a single USB connection, the BassJump 2 uses proprietary software that “blends the sound output of the BassJump subwoofer with the output of… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

I cannot tell a lie. I love speaker solutions. With music being totally mobile and always available in my pocket, I love having many ways to listen to my audio content. Some options are quite expensive and include bluetooth connections and high-end audio, but sometimes I just need something inexpensive, easy to carry and convenient. iFrogz has introduced a speaker system that fits this category and they call it, “the Bomb”. I have been able to spend a little time with the Bomb so let’s take a look and see how it sounds.

The Bomb is a reasonably… Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Here’s something Francis and I saw at CES last January and have been anticipating the release since. Altec Lansing has just rolled out their new Orbit Stereo Speakers. They are USB-powered, small enough to bring with you but still pack Altec Lansing’s signature sound quality. In other words, they are small in size but not sound. Here’s what the company has to say about them:

Engineered for the multimedia user who needs an on-the-go audio solution with plug and play simplicity. The Orbit USB Stereo significantly amplifies and enhances the sound of any laptop, netbook or computer without compromising portability thanks to its unique, compact design that interlocks the two speakers like a camera lens and

Yamaha YSP-3050 Digital Sound Projector

Here is a great deal on some big sound. The Yamaha YSP-3050 is a single bar with 21 drivers and 2 woofers that pumps out over 80 watts of power.

The YSP-3050 Digital Sound Projector from Yamaha provides true multi-channel surround sound from a single component. The YSP-3050 delivers sensational multi-channel sound from DVDs, digital broadcasting, satellite broadcasting and other digital sources. With 82W sound dispersed via 21 Drivers and 2 Woofers allows remarkable multi-channel enjoyment.

The YSP-3050’s IntelliBeam feature ensures optimum multi-channel sound reproduction with accurate image location. This compact Digital Sound Projector also provides 1080p-compatible HDMI with analog video to HDMI digital video upconversion. Other