Posts Tagged electronics
Able Planet Clear Harmony NC1050 Noise-Canceling Headphones
Able Planet has long had a reputation for providing superior noise-reducing and canceling headphones for a more affordable price than competitors like Bose. Some of its critics say that the quality is not as good, but my experience with them has proven the opposite. I have found that when comparing them with my Bose headphones that they provide similar noise-reducing qualities. Even my more expensive Bose pair does not eliminate sound so I often wonder why people are willing to pay so much for them.
I was quite excited to try out the Able Planet’s newest high-end Clear Harmony NC1050 noise canceling headphones simply because I knew of the competitive nature between advocates of both brands. First off, the Clear Harmony pair provides exceptional “white noise” sound that eliminates the chatter around you. I found it to be superior to Able Planet’s cheaper pairs, which is understandable and expected. Even when the battery is not switched on, the sound reduction is respectable.
When used to plug into audio channels or for watching videos on an airplane or with my laptop, the sound quality is impeccable; in fact, it is much better than a Bose pair when listening to audio content or music. Able Planet touts its Linx Audio sound quality, which is certainly recognizable, and it recognizes when the perception of noises and sound should seem louder without increasing the volume on the headset. This means that you can enjoy the high notes, low notes, loud sounds, and base noises in music without adjusting the volume to uncomfortable levels.
Often times, headsets can move around on your head when reclining or when dozing off. This pair maintained the sound quality even when it shifted on my head over the period of a few hours on a long plane flight after I fell asleep for a few hours.
It is also extremely lightweight, which is very important to me when traveling internationally since airlines can be quite strict with carryon baggage weight. Like its other models (and those of competing brands), the cord can be removed from the headset so you do not trip on it or break it when exiting an airplane seat or when storing it in your bag. I admit to sometimes not carrying it in the boxy case because it adds weight to my bag! Able Planet also makes a “made for iPhone” cord that can be purchased separately for playback control features.
It comes with its own sturdy case, airplane adaptor, and battery. The pair of headphones features a simple black color, and I am often asked about the brand by people who think they are Bose or want to find a pair that is cheaper than Bose’s headphones. While Clear Harmony is not necessarily cheap, it is certainly on par with its competitors in the high-quality, noise-canceling headphone department and scores highly in my book. It can be purchased at Able Planet’s website for $350. While it is pricey, I consider it to be a sound (forgive the pun) investment in my travel experience.
Search prices on all Able Planet headphones at Amazon.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear on April 23rd, 2012
Speck and Otterbox iPad Covers for Family Travel
The summer road trip and air travel season will soon be upon us! Forget about gas prices, packing, and plane tickets…is your iPad ready for all the abuse? We don’t travel long-distance without ours, and while our boys (ages 12, 10, and 7) are old enough to pay the device proper respect, accidents still occur. We’ve tried half a dozen cases over the course of the last few years, dragging them along on countless road trips, weekend getaways, and flights. Below, you’ll find our top picks for traveling with kids.
Speck SmartShell:
Right out of the box, we encased our new iPad2 with the Apple SmartCover, only to realize that ‘hey wait a minute…this thing offers next to no protection!’. We liked the simplicity of the SmartCover, however, and the fact that it saved our battery life with its sleep/wake feature, so we paired it with Speck’s SmartShell. The SmartShell is a very simple case that fits around the back of the iPad to protect it where the SmartCover does not, and since it’s designed exclusively with the SmartCover in mind, the two work perfectly together. The SmartShell is made of semi-opaque plastic that takes scratches and dings in stride, and even has a magnetic strip at the back to which the SmartCover connects when the iPad is propped up. If you like the sleek, minimalist features of the SmartCover but need the back protected, the SmartShell is for you. The only downside: the kids complain that the thin design makes it hard for them to get a good grip on the iPad while gaming.
The SmartShell matches the colors of the SmartCover perfectly, so you can either coordinate or mix-and-match. Pick one up at the Speck site for $34.95, or Amazon.
Otterbox Defender:
I’ve long been an Otterbox fan because it protects like no other cover. (I’ve used the Commuter and Reflex cases for my iPhone for as long as I’ve owned my phones.) Like most Otterbox designs, the Defender for iPad2 is heavy and a bit cumbersome, but if you want absolute full protection, in my experience, this is it. Its design is three-fold: first you have the hard plastic shell (with foam interior), then the silicone membrane. Over all that, you have the plastic shield. We really are talking full armor here.
The upside: I love-love-love the Defender’s shield design, which works as a detachable stand for viewing and typing. Unlike other stand designs, which can be awkward or even useless, the Defender’s is sturdy and well-constructed. I can type easily on the iPad’s screen while using it, and that’s saying something. The downside: because of all the pieces to the cover, it can be difficult to take on and off, and dirt specks and debris easily get into the cracks between the case and the iPad screen. (Or at least this occurs in our house.) Pick up an Otterbox Defender case on their site for $89.95 or at Amazon for considerably less.
Speck Wanderfolio:
Despite my Otterbox loyalty, the Speck Wanderfolio may be my new favorite iPad cover. It’s not too big and bulky, but not too thin and flimsy. It is, if you’ll pardon the cliche, just right. Made of a plastic shell and either faux or real leather, depending on the version you opt for, the front cover folds over portfolio-style, and opens with a magnetic clasp which also activates the sleep/wake function. Inside the padded cover, you get a secret (or not so secret) panel that opens to sleek passport and document pockets. If you don’t use that section (as we usually don’t) just snap it closed, and you’ll barely know it’s there. The back of the iPad is fully covered by the Wanderfolio, and the case adjusts for pretty decent display/viewing options. (Not as awesome as the Otterbox stand feature, mind you, but still quite respectable.)
The Wanderfolio is slightly more bulky than the SmartShell, but not half as much so as the Otterbox, making it solidly protective without going overboard. Pick one up in one of four colors at Speck for $69.95, or on Amazon. And if you have a Kindle or Kindle Fire, Speck makes a Wanderfolio for those as well.
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, check out Ramsey’s review of the G-Form Extreme. They say that while covered in the G-Form, you can drop a bowling ball (or hefty toddler) on your iPad. I’m not sure I’ll try it, though!
Note: All the above were tested using our iPad2. If you’re sporting the new iPad, double-check that the cover will fit before buying. Speck has an entire page devoted to the new iPad.
Posted by Amy in Business Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on April 17th, 2012
Kidz Gear Wired Headphones for Kids
If you spend significant time in the car or plane with your kids, you probably bring along electronic devices to entertain them. And if your kids enjoy electronic devices while traveling, you’ve probably tried more than one style and brand of headphones. (A bit like ‘giving a mouse a cookie’…if you’re a parent, you know what I mean.) As a family who hits the road regularly, we’ve tried all sorts of headphones–from the cheap foam-cupped ones that break near-instantly to Apple earbuds that fall out, to everything in-between.
Kidz Gear Wired Headphones are–hands down–the best we’ve tried. First off, they’re comfortable, which means your kid won’t be ripping them off (hopefully). The cups are nicely padded, and the over-the-head arch is double-paneled, to keep them from slipping off. My seven and ten-year-olds have been putting the headphones through their paces, but because they’re so adjustable (there are nine distinct size adjustments on each side) they fit my 12-year-old too. The Kidz Gear website lists them for kids two years and older, and though I don’t have a two-year-old to try them on, I noted many positive reviews online for use with kids even younger.
Secondly, they produce high-quality, stereo sound. (This is why my 12-year-old reaches for them more often than not.) The cups completely cradle kids’ ears, and the sound delivered is noticeably better than with ear buds (especially while watching a movie or TV show). For those of you for whom sound technology stats will mean something, the sound pressure level is 80dB-90dB.
Thirdly, Kidz Gear headphones now come with built-in volume limiting technology. This means that sound is limited to approximately 80 percent of the normal level, ensuring it’s safe for kids’ ears. I worried this would make audio books and quieter music too hard to hear, but we never had this problem.
Next, these headphones are programmed with an inline Apple remote and mic for use with Apple devices (including iPods, iPhones, and iPads). This doesn’t mean they only work with Apple devices: we’ve used them with our portable DVD player and a Leapster as well. But if you do use Apple products often, you’ll like the convenience of a control feature right on the cord to raise or lower the device’s volume and track up and down. There’s also a built-in mic, though my kids don’t take a lot of calls from the back seat of the minivan, so I can’t say we needed this.
Lastly, at a retail price of $29.99, the value is astonishing. Honestly, I would have paid double for such a well-made, multi-functional travel product. Each headphone comes in its own padded bag, and if you buy two, they toss in a volume limit splitter cable. Due to the independent volume control on each headphone, even with two kids listening to one device, each can set the volume to his or her liking.
Our absolute only complaint is that the wire is quite long. I can see how this would be helpful if your kids are watching a back-of-seat mounted screen, but for use with iPods or other hand-held devices, there’s too much cord in the way. That said, I wouldn’t let that stop you from trying these out.
Pick up a pair at Amazon or the Apple Store for $29.99.
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Posted by Amy in Kids and Family on March 6th, 2012
Innergie PocketCell Travel Gadget Charger
Need to recharge your gadgets on the go without carrying a lot of extra bulk? This Innergie Pocket Cell charger is a handy little device that’s not much bigger than a Bic lighter.
Smart phones and gaming gadgets are great fun when you’re traveling except for one thing: lousy battery life. On an Android phone you may be able to make it from dawn to dusk without recharging. With an Apple iPhone you may make it to the afternoon. With a slim iPod Touch, it’ll die before you’ve finished a flight from the east coast to west.
So many travelers who can’t stand the thought of using something without batteries to amuse themselves on a plane, bus, or train can choose from all kinds of chargers and battery packs that have sprung up to meet demand. Of course for business travelers it can matter for more than entertainment: closing the sale can be tough if your phone dies when you’re nowhere near an outlet.
We’ve reviewed a few different charging packs before on here but I especially like this Innergie one for two reasons: it’s quite small and it has a cord that works for multiple devices. They like this cord so much they call it their “Magic Cable Trio.” It’s got a male USB plug on one end, then the other end has both mini USB and micro USB male plugs, plus an Apple connector on the end. The design of this is pretty magic because it eliminates the need to carry easily lost attachments and adapters around with you. The three are lined up in a connected row, with the micro and mini USB plugs going into the next guy in line. (No circle jerk jokes please.) If you don’t need the Apple one, it folds down out of the way.
This is a pretty nifty development and now that the phone and gadget makers have finally settled on these connections as the industry standards, the options here should cover your needs if you’re packing recent purchases. In other words, with this along you should be able to charge up a Samsung phone, a Motorola phone, an iPhone, an iPad, a Shuffle, a Kindle, and a Nintendo DS—or one of the zillion other things using USB.
You won’t be able to charge all those on one shot of course. With this smaller size you get a smaller battery than some other brick-sized ones out there. Though the rating of 3000mAh puts it ahead of the lot of available solar chargers available on paper, in my tests I was rarely able to charge up both a fully drained smart phone and an iPod touch on one Innergie charge. One device is about all you should realistically expect. Still, a doubling of capacity for your main gadget is certainly enough to make this worth carrying.
For me all the indicators were intuitive and while it took me a bit to figure out that I had to hold the button down for charging something (keeps it from draining while getting knocked around in a knapsack), the rest was easy. There are four LED lights in a row. When all four are lit up, it’s fully charged. To test it later, you hold down the button and check those same lights. If only one is illuminated, you’ve got about 1/3 or less of the power remaining.
With the USB plug you can go into your computer or any adapter you may have, but Innergie also just started selling a dual USB adapter that goes into a wall socket and lets you charge two devices at once. Handy for hotel rooms and airports. Now that I have it, I use it all the time.
The new Innergie Pocket Cell (one word in the instructions, two words online) comes with a one-year warranty. It lists for $80 and is available at Amazon, at J&R, or direct from Innergie. You should start seeing it in electronics and airport stores later in the year.
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Posted by Tim L. in Business Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on February 9th, 2012
5 things I always pack: Amy Whitley
Amy Whitley is the newest reviewer here at Practical Travel Gear. She’s a freelance travel writer and founding editor of Pit Stops for Kids, a site for traveling families (and parents who have heard ‘Are we there yet?!’ one too many times). A partner of Best Family Travel Experts, Amy’s articles have appeared in print newspapers, online travel sites, and Redbook. She makes her home in rural Oregon, and travels extensively with her husband and three children. So Amy, what do you always pack?
1. iPad or iPod Touch
As extensive road-trippers, we’re believers in technology on the road. But even more so, we’re believers in streamlining the amount of gadgets, chargers, and books and movies we need to pack. Our iPad 2 tablet is the ultimate multi-tasker: we use it for in-car entertainment, mapping, storing our itinerary, communicating with people at home, and maybe, if I get a spare moment, working. Downloading movies and TV programs onto our iPad allows us to skip the big tote bag of DVDs we used to lug along on every trip, and eReader and audio apps allows us to bring books without the bulk (for car-sick apt kids, I recommend a Tales2Go audio subscription). An unexpected perk: my kids have taken to creating their own movies while in the backseat of our van, creating video travel journals and interviewing one another on the attractions we see. My son’s pocket-sized iPod Touch is not only a source of entertainment while en route, but serves as a camera and video camera while touring sights.
2. Tuffo Family Car Organizer
There are a lot of car storage solutions out there, but I’ve found that most take up more space than the things they’re intended to store! What I love about the Tuffo car organizer is its sturdy, square shape (it won’t get stuffed under a seat and forgotten), its many pockets and dividers (so toys and games don’t get buried), and the way it can be secured with a seat belt. It’s snap-on and off lid doubles as a tray or writing surface, and there are side pockets for water bottles. If you have two kids sharing a back row, the Tuffo provides the perfect barrier to promote personal space while keeping everyone’s stuff on-hand.
3. Airborne Immune Defense
Does it work? Does it not? It depends upon who you ask, but we’ve found that bringing immune defense supplements such as Airborne on the road can stop some minor sniffles and coughs before they take hold (and ruin a vacation). And who couldn’t use a little extra Vitamin C while traveling?
4. Mesh laundry bags
Even if you only use these mesh and nylon bags bags for their intended purpose (storing dirty laundry), they’re a godsend on the road. But we take a whole handful with us when we go (they wad up to almost nothing while empty) as a means to store extra shoes, coats, or rain and snow gear, allowing us easy access to our outerwear when we make a fun pit stop at a beach or snow-park. (No one wants to dig through their suitcase for their boots after pulling up to an impromptu sledding stop! Packing all the shoes and coats in laundry bags also saves precious space in individual bags and duffles.
5. Collapsible water bottles
These bladder-style water bottles are made for travel! (Our favorite is made by Platypus and Tim just reviewed one from Vapur.) Not only do the collapse flat for easy storage (we empty them before going through airport security, slide them into carry-on pockets, then refill them on the other side), but they’re light enough (even while full) for kids to easily carry their own while hiking, city touring, and the like. Most include carabiners to clip onto backpacks or belt loops, and most importantly, they’re just plain fun. Oh, and did you know Platypus makes a wine storage version as well? Good to note!
Read more reviews by Amy Whitley here at Practical Travel Gear each week, and follow her on Twitter @pitstopsforkids or on the Pit Stops for Kids Facebook Page.
Posted by Amy in General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on January 3rd, 2012
