I like to listen to the radio in the morning, but it’s hard to pick up an over-the-air signal in our house, so I typically tune in to an internet stream on my phone while making breakfast. But the speakers on most smartphones aren’t all that great, so a few years ago I picked up […]
bluetooth speaker
$75 CS668 is an Android box, a Bluetooth speaker, and a power bank
There’s no shortage of Android-powered TV boxes coming out of China these days. I’ve kind of stopped paying attention, since there are plenty of better ways to stream videos or run apps and games on a TV. But the CS668 is one of the more unusual TV boxes I’ve seen… because in addition to letting […]
Amazon’s new Echo Dot is a $50 Alexa-enabled speaker, now comes in black or white
When Amazon launched the Echo Dot earlier this year, the $90 speaker was one of the cheapest ways to interact with Amazon’s Alexa voice service. Now it’s even cheaper. Amazon is now selling a new version of the Echo Dot for $50. Or you can save money by purchasing a pack: 6 Dots for the […]
UE Boom speakers now have “voice integration” for Siri, Google voice search
The Ultimate Ears UE Boom 2 and Megaboom are popular, well-reviewed cylindrical Bluetooth speakers that allow you to stream music from your phone, tablet, computer, or other gadgets without wires. Their shape also makes them look a bit like Amazon’s Echo or Amazon Tap devices… and now you can UE’s speakers a lot like an […]
UE Roll 2 Bluetooth speaker is louder, offers better range
There are so many Bluetooth speaker options that it can be hard to figure out which provides the best value. When I was in the market for one a few years ago, I took the advice of The Wirecutter and picked up a UE Mini Boom, and I’ve been very happy with that decision. So […]
Xiaomi Mi 4c is a premium smartphone with a $205 price tag (in China)
Chinese startup Xiaomi has made a name for itself by delivering high quality smartphones at mid-to-low range prices, and the company’s latest keeps up the trend: the Xiaomi Mi 4c is a $200 smartphone with specs that rival competing phones that sell for twice as much. The phone features a 5 inch, 1920 x 1080 […]
Star Trek Communicator replica lets you take calls 23rd-century style
If you have always wanted to be able to talk to your buddy using Star Trek style communicators, you are in luck. You don’t have to buy one of those silly kid’s walkie-talkie sets either. You can truly show your loyalty to Starfleet with a Bluetooth-enabled original series Communicator, complete with a microphone so you […]
UE Roll waterproof Bluetooth speaker launches for $100
There’s no shortage of Bluetooth speakers on the market, but based on a recommendation from The Wirecutter, when I was looking for a portable speaker last year I picked up a UE Mobile Boombox (which is an older version of the popular UE Mini Boom from Ultimate Ears, a subsidiary of Logitech). It’s a compact speaker that […]
Make your own Bluetooth speaker out of PVC pipe
I am a fan of portable Bluetooth speakers. I have about a half-dozen of them. Different types for different situations. I’ve got a water-proof one for poolside entertainment, a rugged one for camping trips, and a high-quality one for parties. Whether they are cheaply made or audiophile quality, external speakers are almost always better than […]
Moto Stream turns any speaker into a Bluetooth speaker for $50
Motorola has introduced a device that could do for stereo systems what the Chromecast is doing for TVs. Moto Stream is a small device that you can plug into just about any speaker or stereo system with a line input to turn it into a Bluetooth speaker. Then just fire up your phone, tablet, or […]