Hands-on lightning review of Apple's new EarPods

Let's face it -- in-box earbuds have never been anything to write home about. Frankly, they usually suck. Even for as iconic as Apple's white earbuds have become since the release of the first iPod -- they still sucked. They were uncomfortable. They didn't sound good. Even the slightly better Apple In-Ear Headphones, with their rubberized tips, weren't a whole lot better.

That all changes today.

We could rave all day over the improvements Apple's made to your too-often overlooked ear holes. But, really, selling you on these $29 wonders won't take nearly that long.

The fit

Whereas the original Apple Earphones felt (for me, anyway) like some sort of crude torture device, the EarPods are wonderfully benign. The anterior gracefully curves into the stem, which leads to the cables, while the posterior is flat. They earpods definitely have a futuristic look to them. The oval grilles add to that effect. 

The EarPods are hard plastic, so you won't be getting any real noise-cancellation here. That's not surprising, but it's still worth noting. But that doesn't mean they're uncomfortable. Far from it, actually. They've got a much more natural fit. No longer do you feel like you're trying to wedge a plastic disc into your ear with the least amount of discomfort. Not to over-use the terms "comfortable" and "natural," but that's what they are.

The sound

How much do these things cost again? Because they sound good. Really good, actually. For as crappy as the old earbuds were, the EarPods sound that much better.

When was the last time you heard bass come out of a pair of apple buds? If you can't remember, it's time to spring for the EarPods. The bass comes through loud and clear. Highs are surprisingly crisp. Mids are in the middle, where they should be. 

Audiophiles probably won't be happy. (Are they ever?) But on the other hand, these are sub-$50 earbuds. Hell, they're sub-$30 earbuds. If you want better sound, spend more money.

The function

EarPods are more than just mere speakers for your ear holes, of course. There's a dongle on the right-ear cable that controls volume, play/pause and call answering, with 11 functions in all. Apple says the EarPods will work with any generaetoin iPad, the iPhone 3GS and up, iPod classic (120GB and 160GB versions, iPod nano 4th generation and up, and the third-gen iPod shuffle and up.

Sirir's not forgotten, either. Press and hold the center button to activate her. 

The bottom line

This is a no-brainer, folks. For $29 (sans tax or shipping) direct from Apple, anyone unhappy with the previous generation Apple EarPhones should upgrade. Anyone looking for a inexpensive and surprisingly comfortable set should get the EarPods.

Our only complaint -- and this is a small one -- is that we'd prefer just a little more length in the cable. But that's us. It'll probably be long enough for the vast majority of folks out there.

The bottom line is this: The three years Apple spent on the EarPods has paid off, and should guarantee that the little white cables remain an iconic part of personal tech for years to come.

Also: How Apple's EarPods work on Android

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/4BA2-i5pILM/story01.htm

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Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx HD vs. the iPhone 5

Android Central

So we've already thrown down the gauntlet comparing all aspects of the Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3) and the iPhone 5, and again between the HTC One X and iPhone 5. Just last week, Motorola took the wraps off of its latest offerings, with the Droid RAZR Maxx HD being the cream of the crop. Surely its a worthy follow up to the extremely popular RAZR line, but how does it fare when put up against the latest from Cupertino? Read along and find out.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/Qpu9pVpt6T4/story01.htm

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Tripit adds push notifications for travel alerts

Tripit

Tripit -- which continues to rank as one of our top must-have Android apps for anyone who travels -- received an update of note this morning. For Android phones, it'll now push notifications when you have travel alerts (if you have Tripit Pro). That's a big deal. Also, it's now easier to add or edit trips directly on your phone. And for tablets, there are new share/add/edit buttons on the Action Bar, along with some bug fixes.

And if you're still fumbling through e-mails at the airport, looking for your itinerary, stop. Download this now.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/uWpSR4m7qU8/story01.htm

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Would You Use This as a Table or a Lamp? [Beautiful]

I want this finely crafted object, that much I know. But would I use Goodbye Edison's Woody W01 as a proper lamp, or would I use it as a table that provides some ambient ground lighting? The agony of having to choose is making my brain hemorrhage. [MocoLoco] More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Ja0oiX1qJ6Y/would-you-use-this-as-a-table-or-a-lamp

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Did a New Yorker Cartoonist Predict Today's Apps in 2009? [Apps]

There is an app for just about anything and everything these days. Even back in 2009, a cartoonist for the New Yorker knew what was up. Roz Chast drew "myPhone"—the cartoon marked the iPhone's first appearance in the magazine—for an issue that ran July 27, 2009. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vf6ygfkk-bA/did-a-new-yorker-cartoonist-predict-todays-apps-in-2009

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Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system

libra
I'm getting fat; that's what you see on the screenshot to the right -- my gradual move from chubby to portly. But never mind the numbers, look at the pretty graph!

If you've ever read The Hacker's Diet, this graph should be instantly recognizable. Each point shows the weight for a given day, while the trend line lets you see if you're gaining or losing weight.

When I use my "main" PC, I have a homebrew solution for creating and maintaining this graph. But I've had to find a temporary solution for Android, and Libra is it.

It's a beautifully simple app, very true to the spirit of The Hacker's Diet. You can create a shortcut on your homescreen that brings you right into the data entry screen, so you just tap the shortcut every morning, feed in your weight for the day and hit OK, and then you get to see your progress (or lack thereof) on the graph.

The app remembers the previous day's weigh-in, which makes it easy to enter today's weight (as they're usually not too different). The graph is zoomable and scrollable, and most importantly, you can export the data to CSV so you're not locked into the app.

If you ever need to track your weight using an Android device for any period of time, Libra is one excellent solution.

Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/libra-for-android-helps-you-track-your-weight-using-the-hackers/

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A Real Life Photo of the iPhone 5 Compared to the iPhone 4S [Iphone 5]

The iPhone 5 is tall and beautiful in all those Apple product shots, but how does it look compared to the iPhone 4S in real life? NYT's Jenna Worthman took this image, raw and unretouched, during the post-event hands-on session. That 4S looks so short now. [Twitter] More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/80eoCsvVVXs/a-real-life-photo-of-the-iphone-5-compared-to-the-iphone-4s

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Tesla CEO teases crossover and sports car EVs for 2016

Tesla Model X introduction with CEO Elon Musk

Tesla founder Elon Musk would like to remind you that the Model X isn't the terminus of his company's electric car ambitions. Far from it: Musk tells Wired that Tesla's 2016 plans include both a crossover SUV akin to the BMW X3 as well as a pure sports car that goes beyond just a Roadster redux. The racier vehicle will have speed, but "not supercar pricing," the CEO says. He also elaborated on already-known plans for an 'entry' sedan in 2015, which should resemble a 20 to 25 percent smaller Model S and cost about $30,000 if all goes well. There's a wide gap between promises and reality in all those statements, but Musk has a reputation for largely delivering on target -- which gives us hope that there will finally be Tesla EVs within range of everyday budgets.

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Tesla CEO teases crossover and sports car EVs for 2016 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/4V9q9gsJBJk/

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iOS 6 Will Arrive on September 19 With Better Siri, New Maps, Revamped iMessage and Passbook [IOS 6]