iPhone
‘toothing Never Felt So Good: Jabra BT620s
I was actually eyeing these before I bought any of my previously mentioned bluetooth headphones. If you’re up to date with bluetooth headsets, then Jabra’s no stranger to you. They make affordable products which are known to be reliable. But my buddy at the Nokia Daily News disliked these headphones so much, he was kind enough to donate these to my cause.
Connecting this device with my iProducts was just as painless as the Philips SHB6100. The range of the headset was ridiculously far, and ridiculously strong. You could be in another room with a wall between you and the source, and the connection would remain solid. This was extremely impressive.
Unlike the Philips, the Jabra uses a standard micro-USB connection for charging. If you lose your charger, grab the nearest USB cable and you’re set.
They’re a bit on the big side…the extremely big side. Some would agree that it produces a Princess Leia effect when worn. But if you’re using these in the privacy of your home, who gives a shit? Another thing that sucks is that the big buttons on both sides are so sensitive they can be accidentally pressed. So be careful when you’re combing your hands through your long lovely hair. Lastly, like many behind-the-neck headphones, your ears will feel like they’re being torn off after prolonged use.
I know I’ve complained about blue flashing lights. Fortunately for these headphones, there’s actually a feature to turn its lights off during use. My question: why aren’t more manufacturers implementing this feature?
These lovely buns can be your’s for about $40.
‘toothing Never Felt So Good: Philips SHB6100
One of my favorite things to do during my commute is to shut off contact with the rest of the world by listening to music on my iPod. About two weeks ago, my favorite Sony headphones (MDR-AS30G) finally crapped out on me. I decided to browse for new wired headphones with built-in controls, something like these new ones Griffin is putting together. But then I came to a realization, as if I hadn’t noticed it already, that I hate wires. I hate all kinds of wires, maybe except for monkeys on a wire.
So I remembered that I did a post on that Bluetooth donglemajig for the iPod. It was time to up the stakes and live on the edge via the power of bluetooth. Why am I not using those Insignia NS-BTHDP headphones I got? Well, the one thing I hate about most bluetooth headphones can be best described here. Most of all, you’re just asking to get laughed at, or your ass kicked, with the word “Insignia” blinking constantly at the person sitting next to you on the bus. Luckily I scoped out a Philips SHB6100.
There are two drawbacks to theses headphones, the first of which has to do with it’s wireless range. About twenty feet from my iPod, the signal will start breaking up. The actual the effective range stated in the manual is about thirty-three feet; shitty compared to the Insignia, which has a reach of about forty feet. Regardless if you’re leaving your player in one spot while cleaning your house or carrying it on you while outdoors, range is still a significant factor in picking out wireless devices.
The second drawback to these headphones is its use of a proprietary cable to charge the device. I haven’t figured out how much it’ll cost to replace the charging cable, but I wish it used the standard these days: micro-USB.
Connecting the Philips to two devices simultaneously was not a problem. I’ve tested it with my iPod and my iPhone and it works perfectly. However, it’s much easier to connect the headphones to the iPhone first. Music will pause when making calls (incoming or outgoing), and will continue when you hang up. One of the best features is the discreet green LED indicator, so there’s no annoying bright blue flash blinding your fellow commuters when the subway goes under a tunnel.
I’m in no way an audiophile. My standards for sound quality is pretty much like the average listener. If it sounds good enough, it’s good enough. After testing out the Philips, I realize that it performs significantly better than the Insignia. The earpieces are soft and thin, which makes these bad boys pretty damn comfortbale. The Philips may help if you wear (sun)glasses and always find it painful to wear headsets.
It’ll set you back about $44.
Up next: Jabra BT620s
Reading Never Got So Busy…and Mobile
If you’re like me, you have to have everything at the tip of your finger. Aside from slaving away everyday at work, I spend most of my time reading the latest news on global events, and the gadgets, gizmos, and thingamajigs that make life more entertaining for the rest of us. Many people pick up the morning paper, browse for gaming news from Kotaku, and constantly visit their favorite websites. The very process of shifting your sources around for this information can be time-consuming and very trying on your patience.
Luckily for the rest of us, we’ve discovered Google’s Reader. It’s been out for quite a while, but I caught on only a few months ago. If you’re familiar with RSS Feeds you won’t have a problem figuring this out. However, most of Google’s products are so user-friendly even a chimpanzee can figure it out…or at least escape from its human captors via Segway. Here’s what it would look like…and I’m not talking about that chimp:
Sackboy!
You can also track your stats in the “trends” section of Reader. Only there will you be able to witness the numbers climb as you continue to read, star, and share articles of interest with friends. My top read sites are the BBC and Gizmodo, with 1,644 and 1,460 articles respectively.
Reader can be accessed on mobile devices (i.e. Apple iPhone, HTC G1, etc). So if you’re really on the go you’ll be able to enjoy reading all your favorite articles on your phone…even when you’re dumping a doodoo in the shitter. On my iPhone I’m able to read a small batch of articles at a time; this is good. If I’m skipping through a group of uninteresting articles, I can mark those as read and move on to the next batch.
Somehow I haven’t figured out how to do that on a regular browser, in which I’m forced to view all articles and mark all as read. To view Reader on a phone all you have to do is point your browser to reader.google.com. Since my iPhone is linked to my Google account, it automatically logs in for me. Here’s a preview of it in action:
I know it says "koruptor", Steve. It's myPhone now.
If you’re using an iPhone and you want to set up a button for Reader on your home screen (aka Springboard), do the following:
- Open Safari
- Point your browser to reader.google.com
- Press the “+” button near the bottom of the screen to create a bookmark
- Select “Add to Home Screen”
To view my shares, see the Google Reader widget on the right panel…or go here.
Update: Find yourself logging in everytime you access Reader on your iPhone? Read this article at Ben.geek.nz…
The Financial District Pt. 2
Morning faces tell it all. Come the end of the day, you pretty much expect to see the grotesque, but the beginning of the work day should fill us with promise, not self-remorse…unless you just woke up to something or someone uncommonly “sloppy.” This is how I know that we’re doing everything all wrong.
It is my opinion that THIS is perhaps the largest similarity between the haves and the have-nots:
We all hate what we’re doing…at least a little bit.
Those who actually enjoy what they do… I haven’t met one of those in a long time. And, now come to think of it, those who hold that romantic view of professionalism must surely be oblivious as to how unfair life really is. It’s too short to enjoy all this world has to give us, but entitely too long for one profession to keep you interested through the years. Life gets to that point where it stops giving you things and starts taking then back long before you stop working. How and when are we to enjoy life?
San Francisco, my home, my city, is a Mecca for the modern professional ignoramus. We wake up in a shit mood, haul our asses to work, are in misery there, go home unsatisfied, “wash, rinse, and repeat.” My yuppie-filled abode, we have so much…but it’s all come at a great cost. Just look at our morning faces.
The Financial District, Pt. 1
Every morning’s BART ride to the Montgomery St. Station tells the story of a successful and miserable America. San Francisco’s Financial District, second only to its unique beauty sets The City apart from the rest of the nation. The amount of high profile business that goes on in this concrete jungle is part of the reason that the average San Franciscan makes over $100,000 annual. Scary shit. If that doesn’t blow your mind, then you’re either a wealthy ignoramus or a tard of sorts.
But are those I sit next to happy with all their moola? Turns out that most of us don’t live for our work, enjoy what we do. Instead we work in order to “make it” in this capitalist POS-driven world? I look at their faces and see the anguish. I look at my reflection and see my own.
I recognize the hypocracy of it all… I am writing this commentary on an object that characterizes everything that is wrong society…a symbol of the blackhole called materialism that modernity has embraced. And while I enjoy the comforts that come with possession, I hate the fact that I am not strong enough to swim against the current.
This is day 1 of my observation.
I can haz song?
Scattered Thoughts
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2V's Tweetz
- Just got home from work. Life is getting better already.
- @norcalbarney Awesome pups.
- @norcalbarney Yea! Welcome back.
- @boerenroem Not too happy with my iPhone (waiting to go Android), but Matt over a Nokia Daily News knows what's going on. www.nseriesus.com
- @DesiredFX That's the craziest shit ever...and I'm not talking about the cake decorations.