Monthly Archives: October 2015

JBL Xtreme review

JBL Xtreme review

Audio & Video,

When you look at the JBL Xtreme, you see something of a brute. Its broad shoulders and barrel chest promise power, and it feels tough, too.

The passive bass radiators at either end of the drum are the only areas in which you’d feel tentative about poking around, the rest you feel could be subjected to a considerable amount of torture.

Build

That heavyweight material adds a little to its weight (2.1kg), but it remains a manageable size and there’s a strap in the box for easy carrying.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/jbl-xtreme-2

Fujifilm Debuts 35mm f/2 WR and 1.4x Teleconverter

Fujifilm Debuts 35mm f/2 WR and 1.4x Teleconverter

Cameras, , ,

Fujifilm has unveiled two new optics for its growing collection of X-mount cameras, a 35mm f/2 lens and 1.4x teleconverter.

Weather-resistant 35mm f/2

The Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR is a weather- and dust-resistant aspherical lens that offers a 35mm equivalent focal length of 53mm. It’s constructed of nine elements in six groups, including two Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) elements, and offers a nine-blade aperture diaphragm for smooth bokeh when shot wide open.
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https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2015/10/21/fujifilm-unveils-weather-resistant-35mm-f-2-lens-1.4x-teleconverter-for-its

Yamaha Sports Ride Coupe Concept

Yamaha Sports Ride Coupe Concept

Cars, , ,

It’s not often we get to write about Yamaha  products – that’s usually left to TopSpeed’s motorcycle page. Today is different, though, as the Japanese bike-builder release its newest four-wheeled creation at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

Though details are rather scarce, the photos and a touch of speculation provide a look into what Yamaha may deliver in the future. Meet the Sport Ride Coupe concept.

Yamaha says the design follows its iStream philosophy of a oneness between the driver and machine. The Sport Ride Coupe concept is built to mimic the feeling of riding a motorcycle, but with an enclosed cockpit and four tires on the ground.
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https://www.topspeed.com/cars/others/yamaha-sports-ride-coupe-concept-ar171612.html

Panasonic Toughpad 4K FZ-Y1 breaks rugged conventions

Panasonic Toughpad 4K FZ-Y1 breaks rugged conventions

Tablets, , , , , ,

Rugged devices are traditional tough on the outside but more often than not weak on the inside, with specs that are usually standard for the past year or two. Many of Panasonic’s own Toughpad devices, both tablets and phones, fall under that stereotype. The new FZ-Y1 Windows 10 tablet, or table-let practically, is a rare exception. It boasts of rather high end specs, including a 20-inch 4K screen, but at the same manages to be tough enough to survive the field and an occasional, accidental drop.
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https://www.slashgear.com/panasonic-toughpad-4k-fz-y1-breaks-rugged-conventions-29412224/

Sonos Play:5 review (2015): a generational leap forward

Sonos Play:5 review (2015): a generational leap forward

Audio & Video, , , , , , ,

The all-new Sonos Play:5 is the company’s first major hardware revision; a fresh flagship for its fleet of WiFi-enabled speakers. Sonos’ products have always been praised for their design and functionality, but not necessarily their sound quality or value. The new Play:5 definitely isn’t cheap: At $499, it’s actually $100 more than the original. But the old Play:5 was the company’s first attempt at building a speaker, and although it sounds okay, Sonos has come a long way in the six years since its release. This time around, Sonos finally created a product that looks and sounds as good as its price tag. But it’s still not for everyone.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/29/sonos-play-5-review-2015/

Microsoft Band 2 review: Still flawed, but a step in the right direction

Microsoft Band 2 review: Still flawed, but a step in the right direction

Wearables, , , , , ,

You really can’t accuse Microsoft of phoning it in when it built the original Band. Between jamming 10 different sensors into a glorified wristband and creating a new health platform to interpret your data, the company shot for the stars… and wound up with one cumbersome wearable. Thankfully, the $250 sequel fixes nearly every gripe we had with the original design, and adds a new sensor too. The Band 2 might not be the perfect fitness partner, but it comes much, much closer to realizing Microsoft’s goal than the original did.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/29/microsoft-band-2-review/

Pioneer SC-LX89 review

Pioneer SC-LX89 review

Audio & Video, , , ,

Lean muscle was one of the many fortes of the Pioneer SC-LX89’s predecessor – the SC-LX88 earned a five-star review back in December 2014, blowing away its competition at the time. A year on, and the theme remains; its nine Class D power amplifiers are capable of a total of 850W multi-channel simultaneous drive.

Features

As with its nearest ancestor, the SC-LX89 is Dolby Atmos-enabled, equipped with HDMI for 4K and boasts the AIR Studios stamp of approval. You’ll notice little has changed in terms of aesthetic or setup either.
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https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/sc-lx89/review

10 Great Vehicles For Families

10 Great Vehicles For Families

Cars, ,

1. HONDA ODYSSEY

The Honda Odyssey is one of the best minivans on the market today. The interior has plenty of room for up to eight passengers to sit comfortably while still having a lot of cargo space. The engine is a 248 horsepower V-6 that’s coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel economy is important in a family vehicle and the Odyssey was designed with that in mind. A cylinder deactivation feature reduces the engine to 3 cylinders to conserve fuel when on the highway. The Odyssey gets an EPA estimated 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Knowing that minivans usually carry children, the Odyssey is equipped with a built in vacuum stored in the cargo area, making it much easier to clean up the eventual crumb piles that will spring up in the back seats.
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http://www.carophile.com/

HTC One A9 Review

HTC One A9 Review

Phones, , , , , , , ,
SUMMARY

After the One M9 failed to find its footing, HTC cooked up a sequel with a new but derivative look. It’s a well-built device and is one of the first to ship with Google’s latest version of Android, but some of the One series’ hallmark features are nowhere to be found. The end result is a phone that, while perfectly good, doesn’t stand apart from the competition.

“Pick your battles” is good advice, especially when you’re a minnow among sharks, but theHTC One A9 seems determined to fight on all fronts. You’d think the company’s newest hero phone would have enough going on just trying to convince us that a flagship needn’t max out the spec sheet, but HTC compounds its challenge by launching a device that can’t not be compared to the wildly popular iPhone.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Surface Pro 4 iFixit teardown earns a terrible score of 2

Surface Pro 4 iFixit teardown earns a terrible score of 2

Tablets, , , , , , , ,

It’s hard to deny that the latest Surface Pro 4 is Microsoft’s most beautiful device yet, but you do know what they say about beauty sometimes being only skin deep. Teardown experts iFixit took Microsoft’s latest “tablet to replace your laptop” to discover hidden treasures inside as well as to measure how easy, or hard, it would be to repair. Suffice it to say, this is one tablet you will definitely want to handle with extra care, not just because of its price, but also because of its repairability.
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https://www.slashgear.com/surface-pro-4-ifixit-teardown-earns-a-terrible-score-of-2-28411920/

honda-clarity-fuel-cell-fcv-plug-in-hybrid

Driving Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell hydrogen car due March 2016

Cars, , , , , , , , ,

Honda’s new hydrogen-powered car, the Clarity Fuel Cell, will go on sale in Japan in March 2016, the company confirmed today. Taking on the Toyota Mirai, the car – previously known as the Honda FCV – will be targeted at those in the outer suburbs with an appetite for green motoring, and co-exist with Honda’s existing and upcoming all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars.

 

It’s certainly a striking design, with the not-inconsiderable length exaggerated by the sizable overhangs front and rear. Honda actually reduced the size of its fuel cell powertrain versus the previous Clarity prototype, predominantly by slimming the control unit significantly.
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https://www.slashgear.com/driving-the-honda-clarity-fuel-cell-hydrogen-car-due-march-2016-27411725/

DROID Turbo 2 belongs in Top 3, says DxOMark

DROID Turbo 2 belongs in Top 3, says DxOMark

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It seems that DxOMark and Motorola are forming a budding friendship. When the Moto X Style was announced, DxOMark was ready with a review of the smartphone’s camera features. Now that Verizon has similarly unveiled the DROID Turbo 2, also made by Motorola, of course, DxOMark is once again first on the scene. And it’s probably for a good reason too! Based on the scores from one of the most sought after digital photography authorities on the Internet, the new DROID Turbo 2 is right up there in the Top 3 of the list.
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https://www.slashgear.com/droid-turbo-2-belongs-in-top-3-says-dxomark-28411911/

Lexus LF-FC Concept is Japan’s sleek answer to the S-Class

Lexus LF-FC Concept is Japan’s sleek answer to the S-Class

Cars, , , ,

Long, sleek, with a massive mesh grille up front and substantial muscle in the rear, no one can accuse Lexus of a boring looking concept here. For all of the futuristic concepts, wacky robots, and sort-of cars we’ve seen today in Tokyo, the Lexus LF-FC may be the most significant, and the most likely to actually be on the road in some form, in the near future.

While Lexus says the LF-FC gives a peek into the design and technology we might see from the brand’s flagship, the luxe Japanese automaker’s president, Tokuo Fukuichi says its not very far out.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lexus-lf-fc-concept-is-japans-sleek-answer-to-the-s-class-28411968/

samsung-bendable-foldable

Samsung’s folding smartphone might not launch in the US

Wearables, , ,

Although mostly drowned out by the curved edges and unimetal bodies,Samsung doesn’t seem to have forgotten the boast it made a couple of years ago. Courtesy of its display-making prowess, it would make the world’s first smartphone with a foldable display. Every year, the Korean OEM is rumored to be preparing its launch and this year is no different. Rumor says 2016 will be the year. But rumor also says that while it may be true, Samsung’s exotic smartphone might not actually reach US shores.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Three quirky new microphones from Gibson promise improved audio broadcasts

Three quirky new microphones from Gibson promise improved audio broadcasts

Audio & Video, , ,

Neat Microphones, a sub-brand of guitar-maker Gibson, has just unveiled three new desktop mics the feature a style straight out of Back to the Future II‘s idea of the year 2015 from the 1980’s. Dubbed Widgets, the three new mics feature colorful designs meant to look nice on any desk, as well as have their own specialty function. And priced at $99 each, they won’t break the bank when it comes to making a step up from a laptop’s built-in microphone.
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https://www.slashgear.com/three-quirky-new-microphones-from-gibson-promise-improved-audio-broadcasts-28412098/

Porsche Macan GTS powered by 3.0L twin-turbo 360hp V6

Porsche Macan GTS powered by 3.0L twin-turbo 360hp V6

Cars, , , , ,

Porsche has rolled out a new version of its smaller SUV called the Macan. The new version adds another sexy Porsche that slots into the GTS line with the Macan GTS getting official. Like the Boxster and Cayman GTS models, the Macan GTS gets more power and improved suspension for better handling. The heart of the SUV is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine.

That V6 makes 360hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The power goes to the ground via an AWD system mated with the Porsche 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The Macan GTS also gets the Porsche Traction Management system that variably engages the front axle depending on traction.
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https://www.slashgear.com/porsche-macan-gts-powered-by-3-0l-twin-turbo-360hp-v6-28412080/

Nexus 6P delayed, Google refunds $25 to make amends

Nexus 6P delayed, Google refunds $25 to make amends

Phones, , , ,

Excited for the Nexus 6P? We can hardly blame you as it is one of the most interesting smartphones to come out of Google in a long, long time.

But it might be time to curb in that enthusiasm and let patience, and reality, sink in. Google has been reported to have sent out several apologetic emails to some eager Nexus 6P would-be owners. To make it short but not less painful, Google has delayed some of the shipments to next month. The good news? You get $25 of your money back in exchange.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nexus-6p-delayed-google-refunds-25-to-make-amends-28412015/

Blue announces Lola headphones, a follow-up to Mo-Fi

Blue announces Lola headphones, a follow-up to Mo-Fi

Audio & Video, Wearables,

High-end microphone manufacturer Blue has just debuted its second pair of headphones, following after last year’s impressive Mo-Fi. The new Lola headphones feature a similar design, but cut down on weight and offer a more comfortable fit. Blue says that the Lola headphones will still offer the premium sound of the Mo-Fi, due to using the same custom 50mm drivers as last year. But while the Mo-Fi also had a built-in amp, the Lola ditches it in favor of a light weight for longer periods of wear.
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https://www.slashgear.com/blue-announces-lola-headphones-a-follow-up-to-mo-fi-27411788/

Siri answers music chart questions, but only for Apple Music subscribers

Siri answers music chart questions, but only for Apple Music subscribers

Wearables, , , , , , ,

With Apple’s release of iOS 9 earlier this year, Siri was given the ability to answer and take action on more requests from users, such showing photos from a specific time and place, or search through email content. However, iOS users this week have discovered one thing that the virtual assistant won’t answer unless a condition is met: questions about top songs from past or present music charts.
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https://www.slashgear.com/siri-answers-music-chart-questions-but-only-for-apple-music-subscribers-27411780/

iphone-water

Geek crams all iPhone generations into water

Wearables, ,

We all know that the average electronic device and water don’t mix. There are a few exceptions to this rule with devices like ruggedized computers, cameras, and a few rugged phones that can survive a splash in water or even being submerged for a bit of time. Most of us spend considerable effort to prevent our phones from coming in contact with water, but have you ever wondered what would happen to all the iPhone generations if water were introduced?
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https://www.slashgear.com/geek-crams-all-iphone-generations-into-water-27411766/

Chevrolet-Camaro-SS-Red-Black-Accent-Package-concepts

2016 Camaro SS Red and Black Accent Packages to Preview at SEMA

Cars, , , ,

Chevrolet plans to preview a couple production packages for the Camaro SS at SEMA 2015 when the show kicks off next month. The Camaro SS Red Accent and Black Accent packages show off components that will be available on the new Camaro SS. Among the parts and accessories being shown off are three new aluminum wheel designs.

The wheels will be available in multiple finishes. Chevy will be showing off grille kits with six body-color inserts for LT and SS models. The Grille kits will also be offered in chrome or primed for custom painting. A blade style rear spoiler and ground effects kit will be unveiled availed in ten different body colors. Graphics packages with rally stripes and fender hash marks will be offered.
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https://www.slashgear.com/2016-camaro-ss-red-and-black-accent-packages-to-preview-at-sema-26411506/

Polaroid Snap now available for purchase

Polaroid Snap now available for purchase

Cameras, , , , , , ,

Despite the prevalence of smartphones with rather impressive camera sensors,Polaroid, whose name has become synonymous with instant print photography, has managed to still remain relevant and en vogue. At IFA 2015 last month, the company unveiled its latest attempt to bridge the divide between digital photography and its traditional instant print technology. With Polaroid Snap, not only are owners immediately gratified by a tangible printout of their captured memory, they are also able to store those images on a memory card for posterity’s sake.
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https://www.slashgear.com/polaroid-snap-now-available-for-purchase-27411720/

HTC just torpedoed the One A9’s great US pricing

HTC just torpedoed the One A9’s great US pricing

Phones, , ,

Perhaps it was too early to break out the champagne in honor of HTC. While the new HTC One A9 is naturally a contentious one because of its design, it’s hard to deny that it is a quality phone that could indeed stand tall among HTC’s flagship, give or take a few disappointing details. It seems, however, that HTC wasn’t exactly being candid with what the smartphone will really cost, only now revealing that the mouth-watering price it announced last week is really only a time-limited promo and that the One A9 will really cost $499.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-just-torpedoed-the-one-a9s-great-us-pricing-26411671/

2016 Audi A8 L 4.0T Sport packs 450hp twin turbo V8

2016 Audi A8 L 4.0T Sport packs 450hp twin turbo V8

Cars, , , , ,

Audi has rolled out a new model that will sit right between the normal A8 and the high-end S8 and the new car is called the 2016 A8 L 4.0T Sport. The car has a 4.0L twin turbo V8 under the hood that makes 450hp, a bump of 15 hp compared to the previous 4.0T model. Audi is mum on torque output for the car.

 

The new sport model is lowered for a performance look and the sides have prominent rocker panels for a wider stance. The rear bumper has been lowered and reshaped for a more dynamic look. Standard wheels are 20-inch 5-double spoke with two optional 20-inch wheels available.
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https://www.slashgear.com/2016-audi-a8-l-4-0t-sport-packs-450hp-twin-turbo-v8-26411523/

BlackBerry Priv simulator reveals Productivity Edge feature

BlackBerry Priv simulator reveals Productivity Edge feature

Phones, , , , , ,

It looks like the BlackBerry Priv’s dual curved edge won’t just be for show. We’re still not sure if Samsung has had any hand in this, but it seems that those edges will have some hidden features much like, actually even more than, theGalaxy S6 edge. Canadian carrier Telus “accidentally” put up a BlackBerry Priv simulator that acted as an interactive manual for the smartphone’s features. Although the simulator has since then been pulled down, quick eyes and hands have ensured that we have plenty to look at.
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https://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-priv-simulator-reveals-productivity-edge-feature-27411665/

Loyalty rewards coming to Android Pay as push to raise awareness kicks in

Loyalty rewards coming to Android Pay as push to raise awareness kicks in

Wearables, , , , ,

Loyalty reward programs are just about everywhere you go today from the grocery store to the gas station. Google wants to get in on the loyalty program action to help woo more folks to try out Android Pay. So far, Android Pay is doing pretty well with Google having stated that millions of people have linked credit card data to Android Pay since it went live back in September.

 

Android Pay is grabbing users who never tried Google Wallet; about 60% of Android Pay subscribers never used Google Wallet. The first loyalty program participant will be Coke. With this program when users buy a Coke product from a vending machine that uses NFC tech, they will get points to buy more drinks down the line.
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https://www.slashgear.com/loyalty-rewards-coming-to-android-pay-as-push-to-raise-awareness-kicks-in-27411772/

2017 Acura NSX First Drive Preview

2017 Acura NSX First Drive Preview

Cars, , , , , , , , ,

We’ve been waiting for the new 2017 Acura NSX so long, I was starting to worry I’d find it passé even before I drove it. It’s been three years since Acura first showed off the NSX Concept, and only a little less than that since their abrupt about-face on the powertrain that turned what was shaping up to be a relatively mainstream sports car – albeit with an iconized nameplate – into a complex hybrid.

 

Full production and sales of the NSX aren’t due to start until early in the new year, but when Honda offered me a sneak preview of the car in the run up to the Tokyo Motor Show 2015 this week, it seemed churlish to say no.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/2017-acura-nsx-first-drive-preview-26411617/

iPhone 6s vs. Galaxy S6 vs. Xperia Z5

iPhone 6s vs. Galaxy S6 vs. Xperia Z5

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1. Introduction

Some phones just can’t be reviewed in a vacuum, the competition between them is so fierce – and their price tags so high – that they have to be compared against each other under a microscope to determine the best one for you. The Apple iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy S6 are joined by the Sony Xperia Z5 for this three-way fight.

The iPhone 6s and Galaxy S6 have the biggest mindshare amongst consumers and will report back the biggest sales. The Xperia Z5 doesn’t enjoy the marketing budget of those two, but is well-known by people interested in smartphones.
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https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6s_galaxy_s6_xperia_z5-review-1330p2.php

Samsung Galaxy View leak sets the price for a giant slab

Samsung Galaxy View leak sets the price for a giant slab

Tablets, , , , , , , , , ,

It seems that the rumors about two years ago were true, that device makers likeSamsung and Apple would be carving out a new market for larger than usual tablets. After Samsung’s Galaxy Note and Tab PROs, Apple revealed its hand with the large iPad Pro. Naturally, Samsung doesn’t want to be outdone. The 18.4-inch Galaxy View that is making rounds over the Internet is truly one of the larger ones and now another “accidental” online listing is giving some insight on what the tablet really is for.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-view-leak-sets-the-price-for-a-giant-slab-27411700/

Hyundai Tjin Edition Genesis Coupe struts into SEMA with 500hp

Hyundai Tjin Edition Genesis Coupe struts into SEMA with 500hp

Cars, , , ,

Hyundai has been teasing us with a long string of awesome customized cars and SUVs that will be shown off at SEMA 2015 next month. The latest car to be teased is the Tjin Edition Genesis Coupe. The car is built up as a racer and packs 500hp under the hood along with a host of other modifications. The 3.8L V6 engine makes 500hp thanks to a Vortech V3 supercharger.

That blower is backed with a Bisimoto Engineering tune and exhaust system. A Vortech front mount intercooler and blow-off valve are fitted to help with boost. The wheels are Rotiform 19-inch 3-piece HUR units and the car stops thanks to custom Baer x CBA Extreme Plus brakes.
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https://www.slashgear.com/hyundai-tjin-edition-genesis-coupe-struts-into-sema-with-500hp-27411770/