andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

After buying a new digital gadget, a protective case is the next sensible item most people purchase. Bodyguardz offers a product to protect your iPhone, iPod and Laptops in the form of a clear colourless protective film that covers the entire body of the device to protect from scratches and the outside elements. Therefore BodyGuardz will protect your device against scratches without changing the look of your device.

Putting the custom cut film on your gadget involves the use of a spray solution followed by careful application of the clear film, which is custom cut to cover every surface of the particular device. The new ‘skin’ will need to set for 24 hours.

BodyGuardz includes two complete sets of ‘body protectors’ and offer lifetime replacements if needed. One of the cool things about Bodyguardz protectors is how the product is custom fits on the device, allowing the beauty of the actual product to be appreciated. A conventional leather/silcone would naturally ad bulk to your portable device but the BodyGuardz protects the screen and other delicate parts without adding bulk. No additional bulk is one great BodyGuardz benefit, if you want to slip the device into your pocket or hand bag easily. However, if you ever accidently drop the gadget, a bulkier leather case might offer a little more protection to the delicate inside parts upon hitting a concrete floor for example. READ MORE »

Noise Isolating Earphone Monitors - ‘Don’t leave home without ‘em’

The Triple Fi 10vi noise isolating earphone monitors, with voice capability, from Ultimate Ears (UE) are no ordinary pair of earbuds.  These are marvelous headphones that provide a totally satisfying listening experience, without the gimmicks and colored sound. The audio experience from the Triple Fi 10vi  is a smooth all around sound, absent of harsh overtones devoid of mushy bass. The Triple Fi 10vi, penetrating well into the ear canal, actually feel good and are comfortable to wear. The silicone material used for the fittings allows these headphones to feel as close to a ‘custom fit’ as possible, contributing greatly to what I discovered to be a quite satisfying listening experience. The fine sound quality, beyond initial expectations, was no doubt, due in part to having been accustomed to listening to music with the standard iPod earbuds. Be that as it may, this fact cannot steal the thunder from the UE Triple Fi 10vi’s excellence, as I immediately appreciated the rich audio quality as well as the custom fit of these pro level, isolating earphone monitors. READ MORE »

For as long as I can remember, any new computer I bought, I stuck with the built-in speaker system. Last month I had a chance to try Focal’s new consumer 2.1 speaker system and boy was I impressed – and not just by the sound quality.

The speakers are beautifully designed. The weighted base and angled brushed metal stand that hold up the black, glossy speaker, easily compliment any one of Apple’s computers or monitors. Very few speaker systems will look as if Apple developed them, but this is one of them. FOCAL’s attention to design has already caught the attention of Apple as these speakers are routinely setup in Apple stores with their computer display models.

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QuickerTek has announced an external battery/charger that will give MacBook Pros an additional 18 hours of battery life.

The product expands the included battery’s capacity for 11.5 to 18 hours. While in use it also charges the internal battery. Users can benefit from the extended battery life during airline flights.

“This new battery and charger not only gives you all-day performance, but it also enables a longer wireless experience, by providing all the extended power needed when mobile. It looks good and it’s easy to carry with you when you travel,” said Rick Estes, QuickerTek president.

“This battery technology is now 25% more dense – so we can pack more into a smaller size.”

The product is three pounds and is available for $499.95 USD.

Anytime a person like me packs for a trip, you need to pack all your gadgets. And with your gadgets, comes all the individual chargers to keep it running. Anytime I have brought my cell phone, iPod, PDA, satellite radio, digital camera, and PSP anywhere, I’ve had to stuff my bag with tonnes of cords. Companies are now starting to work on solutions to cut down the number of chargers you need, preferably to 1.
 
One such company is Callpod, with their Chargepod. The Chargepod is a cool device that lets you plug in up to 6 mobile devices at once. Looking at their website, they have tips for just about every portable device I own, except the digital camera which no one seems to have anyway.
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Mouse technology is an ongoing game of leap frog. Every so often a new mouse product arrives which introduces some kind of new technology – how much better can the ‘mouse’ be improved? Apple’s ‘Mighty Mouse‘  for the Macintosh, was oddly innovative by re-positioning the old ‘mouse ball’ on the TOP of the mouse to allow for additional navigation options. However, after a couple of months of use, the good old little mouse ball on the TOP will stop functioning in the UPward direction and it is next to impossible to clean it to get it working properly again. Until Apple figures out a way to resolve this sticky ball problem with the Mighty Mouse, I am  trapped into hunting for a better mouse.

Microsoft markets no less than 30 mouse products (meese? mices?), only several of which are labeled as compatible with Macintosh. The new Microsoft Wireless Explorer Mouse with BlueTrack Technology* is available in two sizes – a big one just called the Microsoft Wireless Explorer Mouse (to which I may refer to in this review as the ‘desktop’ model) and a smaller lighter ‘cousin’ for traveling laptop users labelled as the Microsoft Wireless Explorer MINI Mouse. With its virtual tours, photos and specs, the Microsoft Mouse webpage provides a thorough description of all products, but nothing replaces a ‘hands on’test drive. READ MORE »

Years ago, I was flipping through the pages of a catalogue on an airplane and saw what at the time was the greatest invention I had ever seen: A pair of sunglasses with a built-in TV. It advertised that you could sit on the beach and watch your kids while simultaneously watching television. I had dreamt of getting them, and even started saving in hopes of buying that $800 contraption I had only seen a picture of in a catalogue.

I never bought them. In fact, I put the catalogue back in the seat pocket, and left it just as a dream. But with the advent of portable media players such as the iPod and the Zune, it was only a matter of time that a contraption like that would make the leap from niche gadget to mainstream product. So when the Myvu Crystal came my way, I jumped at the chance to play with it.

The glasses themselves are a very sleek design. As I put them on, I noticed they didn’t obstruct my entire view beyond the glasses. I wasn’t sure if this was good or bad, since I could easily be distracted by what was around me, though it also meant I would see something important around me, like if I were on a plane, I’d see a food tray coming and know to move my legs in. The headphones are in-ear style, which would normally be great except this was a loaner from the company that had already been used at least once. At least they put 3 different pairs of covers in the package, though the ones that would have fit me best were the used ones. READ MORE »

You’ve just set up your digital recording studio and you’re with a couple of other musicans, all ready to record. Suddenly you realize there are not enough headphone jacks for everyone. This is a situation that is initially, easily overlooked.

The primary purpose of the Presonus HP-4 is to provide multiple headphone jacks where originally there is insufficient supply. In the recording studio, multiple headphones are a must and a headphone amplifier such as the HP-4 will allow up to 4 people to listen simultaneously. One of the neat things about he HP-4 is the ability to daisy chain multiple units together if more than 4 headphone sets are required. The HP-4 is quiet, has a crisp clear sound and plenty of volume if needed, for headroom purposes. READ MORE »

Seemingly inspired by a PVC tube corner-connector, LaCie’s latest diversion from the world of hard-drive comes in speaker form. Design by Neil Poulton out of France, the LaCie USB Speakers are a modern, lightweight and welcomed addition to the realm of desktop speakers.

The $59.99 (USD) speakers are completely plug and play for both PC and Mac, requiring no drivers. They work over USB which means no need for a power adaptor (they’re bus-powered).

The last time I was impressed by the design of a set of desktop speakers was the harman/kardon Soundsticks (they went great with my iMac G4). Since I stopped using those a few years ago, I haven’t actually used a pair of desktop speakers. READ MORE »

Lexie Barnes’ website intrigued me from the start, and if nothing else, made me excited to receive the product I was told I was going to review. The simple, elegant but still ‘hip’ design makes Lexi Barnes’ bio on the website seems that much more authentic: ‘Born and raised in Chicago’s spunky Old Town, Lexie spent her childhood tagging along with her dad to gigs in recording studios. There she’d spend hours play-acting, making mischief, and honing her drumming skills.”

Despite her spunky past, Barnes ended up living in New England with her four kids and now has a career in designing and distributing bags. The Lexie Barnes line includes everything from luggage tags to messenger bags, and comes in three distinct patterns: Utopia, Pacifica, and Diablo. The style-conscious laptop owner would be most interested in her laptop bag – a welcome respite from the massive monochromatic monstrosities that are the standard.

The two strongest aspects of the Lexie Barnes laptop bags are the two things that most laptop bags aren’t: stylish and sleek. Any student who eagerly awaited the purchase of their first laptop before they headed off to university or college will probably recall the huge, probably black case that you used with your new techno-toy. I know mine was heavy, massive, and I quickly decided that I did not want to lug the laptop-and-bag combo to class every day. The Lexie Barnes bag, however, is hardly bigger than my laptop, a trade-off resulting in a lack of extra padding protection that one may want.

A laptop bag like this is perfect for people who are commuting to and from work or school, as the bag takes up minimal space and allows for easy access if you want to pull out your computer and do some work while you travel. The bright, colourful patterns also ensure if your bag is stolen or lost, it will be easy to find and indentify. The adjustable strap ensures that users can make the bag as comfortable as possible to carry.

The biggest downside to the sleek design is fact that the dreaded bulkiness does return as soon as you try to store anything of a significant size in it. I was struggling with the zipper a little when I put my power cord in the bag – and unless you have a Mac Book air, this will probably be an issue with most laptops. Appearance-wise, there are only three patterns to choose from, all of which are very bright, and, well, very ‘loud’. If you’re a person who is more into neutral colours, these bags probably won’t appeal to you.

Another downside to the laptop bags is the price – from $90 to $100, depending on the size you need to accommodate your laptop. Considering that you can get a hardcover, leather laptop bag for around $80 makes me think that the nylon-and-cloth Lexie Barnes bag is a bit overpriced. I totally understand why people would shell out the money for a stylish bag, but I feel like with the Lexie Barnes bags, you are paying more for the colorful patterns than for the actual product.