Mini Boom Ultimate Ears

Credit: Amazon

Pro:
Impressive sound
Easy NFC pairing
Can connect 2 for wide stereo separation

Con:
Excessive packaging

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/11/22/ue-mini-boom-portable-bluetooth-speaker-review/#more-143858

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/reviews/ultimate-ears-mini-boom-hands-on-review-16121440

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wireless-speaker-reviews/ultimate-ears-mini-boom-review/#/5/ portable Bluetooth speaker review little speaker UE MINI BOOM and it’s made by Ultimate Ears Logitech in ear in-ear headphones manufacturer headphone maker speaker speakers images image hardware specs specifications spec specification maximum sound level SPL 86dBC frequency range 130 Hz – 20 kHz drivers two 1.5″ 4 Ohm drivers one 3″ x 1.5″ passive radiator dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6in 11.1 x 6.1 cm UE MINI BOOM review gripe product packaging unusually cool noteworthy packaging UE MINI BOOM isn’t cool over the top wasteful. thick plastic box promptly be trashed UE use packaging make it more universally recyclable plastic base accepted recycler recycling recycleable recycle center centre package contents UE MINI BOOM speaker nicro USB charging cable instruction sheet 5 colour colour color colors green version front back made of perforated metal top bottom sides covered black rubber like look and feel speaker feels solid well made appreciate lack overly noticeable branding UE carved into each side back power switch status LED micro USB charge port 3.5mm audio input jack top volume button buttons Bluetooth pair button doubles answer end button speakerphone feature has an NFC tag top UE MINI BOOM tap NFC enabled phone on the speaker automatically do the Bluetooth pairing for you near field communication NFC initial indifference the feature like convenience not having drill down into my phone’s settings manually pair speaker NFC capable device still pair manually speaker 10 hr battery life 50 ft range Bluetooth no loss of audio install the UE app iOS Android device connect 2 UE MINI BOOMS together wide stereo separation application app also shows battery level EQ setting ability turn off notification tones texts other alerts won’t interrupt your tunes unexpectedly huge sound little speaker crazy impressive volume sound quality too bass surprisingly thumpy highs mids lows high mid low balanced all types of music sounded good through the speaker fingerstyle ukulele instrumentals each plucked string crisp clear each strum warm soothing pop rock dubstep tunes listen listening through much larger speaker vocals drums piano horns sound sounded clear listening through streaming service Pandora Google portable Bluetooth speakers speaker price range sound quality UE MINI BOOM best smallest speaker tested my favorite portable Bluetooth speaker on a budget limited space UE MINI BOOM speaker keeper /

The quest to end influenza

Credit: Kevin Van Aelst/The Atlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/12/the-quest-to-end-the-flu/354677/ / isolate isolated virus viruses Doris Bucher lab laboratory colleagues New York Medical College life death lives might virus flu influenza 2009 H1N spread spreading across North America appear country countries around the world scientist scientists center centre centres Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed analyze vaccine production next flu season effective immune systems system stop virus global outbreak pandemic 2009 H1N1 expert experts capacity flu pandemics pandemic previous century Spanish Flu 1918–19, killed an estimated 50 million people H1N1 virus research researchers CDC make a new vaccine /

Smart watch: a long time coming

Credit: Engadget

Linked below is an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. For me, the brilliant ad is better than the watch — barely one day of battery life is a deal breaker.

Here's the video:

http://youtu.be/B3qeJKax2CU

Pebble is my smartwatch. It shows the text of incoming emails & SMS, reminds me of upcoming appointments (again with reminder text), alerts me to incoming calls, even when the phone is on silent in another room, tells me the temperature or remaining charge on my phone or a range of other measures (my choice) & warns me if I've left my phone behind. Battery life over a week, depending on use. Hundreds of free, downloadable watch faces with a range of capabilities.

Some decorative:


Credit, all watchfaces: My Pebble Watchfaces



Some novel:



Some functional:






Credit, all watchfaces: My Pebble Watchfaces

Downloadable here:

http://www.mypebblefaces.com/?pebble_sdk[]=1&

Or design your own at this Web site:

http://www.watchface-generator.de/

Design your own with the Canvas app on Android phone:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pennas.pebblecanvas&hl=en

Canvas blog:

http://pebblecanvas.blogspot.com.au/

Pebble smartwatch review:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/25/pebble-smartwatch-review/ / Fitbit Force Flex Pebble Samsung Galaxy Gear Sony smart watch Kickstarter crowd funding source sourced sourcing wrist firmware update SMS text email color TXT /

This $100 beard trimmer projects lasers onto your face

Credit: Phillips

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/11/laser-beard-trimmer/ / trim trimming trimmer trimmed mustache beard whiskers sideburns equal length lengths mirror finger fingers sideburns look mirror distance face shave complex geometric patterns beard chalk line chalk-line tool protractor modern science Philips Norelco Beardtrimmer Series 9000 beard trimmer laser guide built in laser guide project intricate multi line multi-line pattern patterns your face project projects one line essentially handy trimmer pop up pop-up laser guide wash Series 9000 in water how close you’re shaving fancy LED display reverse clipper head charge battery /

How to save money shopping on line

Credit: Amazon/Techlicious

http://techland.time.com/2013/11/19/4-price-trackers-that-can-save-you-a-fortune/

http://www.techlicious.com/tip/6-ways-to-save-money-shopping-on-amazon/ / best places find deal online Amazon bargain appears offline world research pays check out tips ensure you're getting great deal while navigating virtual aisles Amazon shop bargain bins what you want bargain bins find found search link named Today’s Deals top every Amazon page Today’s Deals landing page Best Deals section loaded with bargains every category Lightning Deals section time-sensitive sales time sensitive lasting four hours until sold out products specific category automotive electronics Deal of the Day discount up to 75 percent off single item changes daily on Friday Fridays one day one-day discounts more products click clicking Friday Sale link top of the Today’s Deal’s page adjacent two more links worth using Amazon’s Outlet Center Warehouse Deals pages page price checker browser plug-in plug in don’t assume price prices lowest available anywhere seller is a third-party third party store stores on Amazon sell products twice the retail price products that outdated even obsolete check other retailers’ retailer retailers price prices specialty websites Best Buy electronics Home Depot tools hard to find hard-to-find item must have it at any price educated choice browser plug in plug-in InvisibleHand for Firefox Chrome make this process easy browsing on Amazon plug-in display notification pop up price location of the better deal check suggested retail price design error inflated retail pricing your discount appears higher use price tracking browser plug-in plug in find item Amazon hoping price will fall later consider CamelCamelCamel plugin Firefox Safari Chrome install installed graph Amazon price history sign up receive email alerts price drops below level check out seller who sell selling ship shipping item shipped Amazon another seller returns exchange policy different Amazon Amazon’s sold shipped Amazon tagged Super Saver Shipping free shipping Amazon Prime pre paid pre-paid premium membership plan check out seller's feedback rating before buying very few reviews satisfaction rating less than 90% want to take your business elsewhere use Super Saver Shipping total value minimum can push cost shipping charges past price item elsewhere Filler Item Finder site sites suggest Amazon priced exactly the amount you need slightly higher sort your results by category including books music grocery Pinterest price tracking NIFTI bargain hunter save saving money past purchases purchase Slice Amazon camelcamelcamel online shopping /

These airless tyres keep rolling after taking a bullet

Credit: Polaris/Wired

Pneumatic tyres make motor vehicles, as we know them, possible. At the same time, they remain (almost literally) their Archilles heel. There have been many efforts to find an alternative, so far with no commercial success.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/11/polaris-airless-tires/

http://youtu.be/6NnFIqHeV54

http://youtu.be/XptlYoqbIvQ


Credit: NASA/Science Kids

To date, the most spectacular success of airless tyres was on the Lunar Rovers used on the Moon by astronauts during the Apollo 15, 16 & 17 Moon landings. Pneumatic tyres were not an option in that case, because at lunar temperatures, rubber becomes brittle.

http://www.google.com/search?q=lunar%20rover / airless tires tire tyre tyres set Ll terrain vehicle ATV open air open-air tank Polaris Sportsman WV850 H.O. HO vehicle non pneumatic non-pneumatic tire military spec specification military-spec MV850 pound towing capacity winch winching gallon fuel tank single speed single-speed transmission TerrainArmor tires .50-caliber rifle 50 /

Google Now update: The best thing about Android just got even better

Credit: Boy Genius Report

http://bgr.com/2013/11/14/google-now-update-enhancement/ / Android wide range functionality hundreds of thousands of apps applications versatility afforded by Google’s open source elements excellent functional create a fantastic mobile experience impressive most useful Google’s mobile operating system OS Google Now Google announced Google+ page service new card types news topics website updates what to watch fan blog Website update card latest post never miss a story News topic card fresh articles Web topics Google’s Android team What to watch card Movie TV recommendations recommend post continued great additions Google Now today today’s update traffic incidents your commute real-time data Waze set repeat reminders real time scores rugby teams team your packages are ready for in-store pickup in store Google Now intelligent personal assistant solution provides users with information shipping confirmation Gmail account tracking number Google Now show you card delivery information appointment in your calendar across town Google Now alert you need to leave route and traffic into account flight coming up details in an email in your inbox update updated on the status of the flight flights Google Now update updating updated automatically compatible devices installed manually download downloading Google Search app application Google Play store /