GADGETS :: May 20, 2020
by Gregg Ellman
(@greggellman)
Despite everything else, the summer kicks off this Memorial Day weekend and there’s some great gadgets to ensure your fun in the sun has perfect sound, is well-charged and even keeps your beverages chilled.
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is party ready with the most powerful sound I’ve seen from a portable wireless speaker. Yea, it’s big with a 14.33-by-7.5-by-7.5-inches size, but a carrying handling makes the 13-pound speaker portable.
With booming bass, the party-happy speaker has a wide dynamic range to bring music to all ends of your party. During my testing, trust me that my neighbors heard Jimmy Buffet playing loud and clear several houses away.
The USB rechargeable 24-hour battery charges in 2.6 hours and the Hyperboom has adaptive EQ so it reads the environment and automatically adjusts the sound to fill any space.
With the latest Bluetooth, it can store and remember up to 8 paired devices so playlists can come from many sources. A splash-proof IPX4 lets it sit poolside and the BOOM app lets you customize the sound and more.
A top sided one-touch control button changes the music controls the volume and accesses music services. Covered ports include a USB charge out, optical input, aux input and power.
www.ultimateears.com $399.99
Size wise, the Jabra Elite active 75t true wireless earbuds are small enough to fit in each ear but deliver powerful and simply fantastic sound with innovative features.
Jabra’s new HearThrough technology lets you use a slider to adjust how much of the outside world you want to hear. It’s pretty amazing how easy and well it worked in different environments.
The durable earbuds with 6 mm speakers and passive noise cancellation in each side are summer-ready IP57-rated, which actually makes them fully waterproof up to 1-meter so workout sweat and splashes are not a problem. With the included storage USB-C charging case, they will last for up to 28 hours of playback, which is also aided by a low-power Bluetooth 5.0 chipset and an intelligent power management system.
Jabra’s latest technology, Jabra MyControls will allow for full customization in each ear and Jabra MySound creates an innovative customizing experience for the sound for specific users.
Auto power on/off and auto pause music are some of my favorite features and four built-in microphones make them great for handsfree calls. Access to voice assistants are made with a touch of a button on an earbud. There’s also an option (additional $30) to add a wireless charging case.
www.jabra.com $199
Other great gadgets to round out the summer season include the Kanex GoBuddy+. It’s built with a bottle opener surrounded by a USB cable with a standard USB-A port on one end and an Apple certified Lightning ChargeSync cable on the other.
When the cables are not in need it tucks away in the perimeter of the opener. The tangle-free cable extends to 6-inches and a carabiner clip is included for attaching to a belt or backpack.
www.kanex.com $3.99
Pelican Products, yes the same company that manufactures the world’s elite high-performance protective cases, has launched a lineup of rugged-and-ready tumblers specially designed to withstand the rigors of everyday life.
The new Pelican Dayventure Tumblers are available in three sizes 10-, 16- and 22-ounces ($19.95, $24.95 and $29.95, respectively), with a choice of five colors (black, canyon red, pacific blue, seafoam and silver) with a sweat-proof powder finish. Each will fit 99 percent of all car cup holders and will take care of your beverage’s cold or hot retention.
Each are made with 18/8 pro grade stainless steel, vacuum-sealed and double-walled to withstand the regular bumps and drops of everyday life and to meet the standards Pelican is known for. A built-in loop makes for easy backpack attachment.
Portable power is a must for any season and there’s none more ready for sand, water and adventures than the myCharge Adventure H20 15000 mAh portable charging battery.
With an IP67 waterproof rating, it can withstand dirt and dust as strong as any and water to a depth of 3-feet for up to 30 minutes. The exterior is built with a shockproof rubber finish and a built-in carabiner keeps it within reach.
The battery has 15000 mAh making it ideal for up to 8 extra charges for the average smartphone battery according to myCharge. It can power wireless speakers, digital cameras, watches or anything else needing some power on-the-go. There’s 2 built-in USB ports and 2.4A of output for power hungry tablet.
Other features include smart-sense technology to ensure device compatibility and safe cell for safe charging.
www.mycharge.com $59.99
