Review: Speakal iKurv stereo dock for iPhone and iPod

by Bill Palmer

In an era where iPhone and iPod stereo docks often include features ranging from alarms to wireless streaming to app integration and beyond, the Speakal iKurv stands out in that it seeks to offer none of the above. In contrast, it’s merely a stereo with a built in iPhone-iPod dock whose singular goal is to allow you to play the music on the docked device. It also stands out thanks to its unusual styling, with the speakers wrapping around the dock in a half-oval shape and a blue light running along the inside of the curvature. It’s more than a foot wide, but offers a fairly small footprint thanks to the fact that it’s only perhaps five inches front to back.

The audio quality from the iKurv is about what I expected for its size. The treble is crisp, the bass sounds a bit thin but it’s there. Contrast that with some sub-$100 speaker docks, which can’t seem to muster any bass at all. Then again, I’ve heard better overall audio at this price point. So it gets three and a half stars for sound quality. But it gets four and a half for the design gusto, the small footprint, and the fact that it comes with a remote control with menu navigation. That averages out to make the Speakal iKurv a four star product – and a pretty one at that. The fact that you can currently buy it from Amazon for $60 instead of the $89 sticker price makes it a more attractive proposition.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 • Price: $89 • speakal.com

Review: iLuv ArtStation Pro iMM514 docking stereo for iPad and iPhone

by Bill Palmer

iPad stereo docks are still an evolving market, with questions still being posed as to whether the ten inch tablet should dock on the top of the unit, on the front of the unit, or as is the case with the iLuv ArtStation Pro, on an arm above the unit. The product, which also goes by its iMM514 model number, isn’t the first arm-style iPad stereo I’ve tested. It is, however, the most ambitious. The styling of the ArtStation is such that, as its name implies, it wouldn’t look out of place in an art deco district. The arm is a bold combination of silver and black in contrastingly curvaceous angles. The speaker unit itself is a rectangle with rounded corners and, while not as unusual looking as the arm, does stand out thanks to the large silver stripe across its bottom.

You can perch your iPad or iPhone in the docking mechanism on the front of the arm. While the package includes support inserts for both devices, this product just begs to used with an iPad. The arm swings up to ninety degrees counter-clockwise (but not clockwise) for the purpose of using your iPad or iPhone sideways, including for watching video. Buttons on the unit allow for volume and playback control, and the included remote control does the same. As a bonus, there’s a corresponding free App Store app called the iLuv App which brings a nice level of app integration into the mix, ranging from clock faces to internet radio. There’s also a dedicated alarm app available.

Any stereo system must be judged primarily on its audio quality. The ArtStation offers plenty of treble and bass, but the bass is a bit thuddy. The audio sounds best at soft and medium volumes, degrading at its highest volume settings. But the product seems designed for use on a desk or workstation anyway, offering audio only to a person or people who are nearby, and is unlikely to be cranked to house-party volume levels anyway. Bottom line: if the ArtStation Pro were a $99 or $129 product, I’d be delighted by it. At $169, it feels a little overpriced. Then again, every arm-style iPad stereo dock I’ve tested thus far has felt overpriced. This one is the best of the bunch.

iLuv says there’s also an “ArtStation Plus” iMM517 model which includes a keyboard for a higher price, but that model wasn’t tested.

Price: $169 • i-luv.com

Review: Dual Power Eyewear magnified sunglasses

by Bill Palmer

Dual Eyewear is, as the name suggests, a line of bifocal sunglasses. But rather than being aimed at the crowd who need magnified vision in order to read a book or a computer screen, these sunglasses are geared toward those with active lifestyles. The company specifically envisions cyclists (bicycles, motorcycles, you name it) as using this product in order to be able to better see the the gadgetry and readouts on the bike’s handlebars. It’s a fascinating concept.

The sunglasses themselves come in three different styles, all priced at $49 and maintaining a theme of black with red highlights. The S4 looks the most like a standard pair of sunglasses, while the V6 goes for a more angular look with the lenses. The SL2, pictured here, omits the plastic shell from the bottom of the lenses for added cool factor. They each sit comfortably on your nose with rubber padding.

If you’re not accustomed to bifocals, wearing the Dual Eyewear will take a bit of getting used to. Looking forward, or up, or even a little bit downward, it’s business as usual. But glance your eyes all the way downward, and it’s like looking through a magnifying glass. You essentially have to train yourself not to glance too far down except when you’re looking to read something. But once you’re in the habit, you’ll find that reading text at the right distance becomes easier because the words are twice as large. Actually, the come in a choice of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 times magnification, depending on your eyesight. There’s also a choice of brown of smoke colored lenses for each of the three models.

A product like Dual Eyewear is obviously aimed at a certain niche of users who have a use for magnified vision while shielding their eyes from the sun with a stylish look. The market here won’t be as large as that of a standard pair of sunglasses. But some of you, and you know who you are, will wish you’d come across product like this sooner.

Price: $49 • dualeyewear.com

Review: Booq Mamba Shift L laptop backpack for Mac and PC 13-17 inch

by Bill Palmer

Booq makes a number of impressive high-end backpack products, but the Mamba Shift L might be the most functional one yet. It takes everything Booq bags are known for, from inventive pocketry to lush padding all around, and combines it with a straightforward practical shape. The bag largely consists of a pair of zippered pockets, both being full height and width instead of wasting space by tapering them. Right off the bat you realize there’s something clever going on here. While most backpacks have a laptop sleeve within one of the pockets, the Mamba Shift dedicates the first pocket entirely to the laptop, meaning that there’s zero chance of any of your other belongings coming into physical contact with it.

The second pocket goes for the gee-whiz factor, and succeeds. There’s a sleeve which could hold anything from an iPad to a magazine to (if you really want to go there) a second laptop. There are also several smaller pockets along with a general open area. Inside you’ll find a handbag-sized zippered bag which you can use for storing small items you want to take with you when you’re leaving the overall backpack behind. There’s also a zipper down the front for a bit more storage, and pockets on both sides for beverages or other quick-grab items. The shoulder straps both have small compartments in them for holding an iPhone or iPod.

On the style side of things, the black bag (optionally comes in a white sand color) has an orange handle and an orange pinstripe down the front which give the Mamba Shift enough flair to stand out while still belonging in a grown-up environment. The padding up against your back is lush and comfortable, matched only by the internal padding aimed at keeping your laptop safe.

There’s very little not to like here. More color choices would be nice (some less expensive competitors offer a choice of highlight colors, for instance). And while the laptop enclosure is perfect, the secondary enclosure could be a little more tablet-specific (padding, being closed off) rather than simply being a pouch which happens to hold something the size of an iPad. But that’s not enough to detract from the overall lovability of this product, and so the Booq Mamba Shift L earns five stars.

Compatibility: the “L” model which I tested holds any size Mac laptop up to the seventeen inch MacBook Pro. Booq says that those of you with thicker PC laptops are safe up to sixteen inches. There’s also a Mamba Shift M (not tested), aimed at users of fifteen inch Mac and PC laptops.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 • Price: $149 • booq.com

LASIK eye surgery: my day by day experiences with the procedure

by Bill Palmer

This week I had LASIK eye surgery. Several of you have asked about how it went, with some of you mentioning that you’re considering having the procedure yourself. Here’s how it all played out, and a taste of what you might expect if you go in that direction yourself.

Everyone’s eyesight story is different. I first got eyeglasses when I was twelve. I knew I’d never get used to the physical feeling of having a frame sitting on my face and I didn’t feel comfortable without peripheral vision, so by age thirteen I was wearing contact lenses instead. By my twenties I was increasingly unable to wear contacts for long stretches due to the gradual onset of eye allergies, and by age thirty I was back to wearing glasses full time. I decided to give it a few years to see whether my allergies would disappear in the same manner they arrived. But that was four years ago, nothing’s changed, and now it was time to take action. I researched LASIK and found that it was less daunting than I had imagined. I found that the low-rent LASIK places were charging about $1000 per eye on average, while the more professional-looking outfits were charging twice that. But one of the more impressive places was temporarily offering a $1000 per eye rate, and so I set up a consultation. It consisted of an extended eye exam, during which they told me that my medium-ish prescription (-2.75) and the fact that my corneas are thick made me an ideal candidate. I went home and did some more research about possible side effects and long term repercussions, felt good about all of it, and booked the procedure for a few days later…

The surgery itself was almost stunningly quick. They have you take a valium shortly beforehand, presumably to calm you to the point that you’ll remain perfectly still while under the laser. They stuck a mask over my hair, laid me down in a machine, taped my eyelids back, and spent a few seconds lasering each eye. It felt weird, there was some physical pressure involved, but there was no pain. Less than five minutes later I was up off the table. After a few minutes of sitting with my eyes closed, I was on my way home (in a taxi, as driving wasn’t an option). Twenty-two years of impaired vision had just been corrected in what seemed like twenty-two seconds.

The post-op was a bit more cumbersome, but not daunting. I was required to wear safety goggles for the remainder of the day (and sleep in them for the one night, which was perhaps the least appealing aspect of the entire process). I was also told not to read or write anything, or look at a computer screen, or a phone screen. That meant I had the rest of day off from work, so I spent the day watching television. Perhaps it was the valium, or the fact that the safety googles were very dark, or that wearing them gave the physical illusion that I was still wearing my glasses, but it didn’t consciously occur to me that I was watching television without any visual assistance.

It wasn’t until the next morning, when I woke up and took the googles off for the first time, that it hit me. I could see. Then again, I’ve always had 20/20 vision with my glasses, so it wasn’t as if I was seeing anything different; I was merely able to do so with my own eyes. Out of curiosity I put my eyeglasses back on, the same pair I had worn for years, and now I couldn’t see anything with them. That’s when it finally hit me that I now had the vision of a normal person for the first time in my adult life. And to be honest, it was a bit of an emotional moment.

I drove myself back over to the LASIK center for the followup exam (the first time I had driven a car without glasses since about 2006), and they told me that my left eye was already at 20/20 vision and my right eye was even better at 20/15, considered to be better than normal vision. They also told me that my vision might get even better over the next couple days. Not bad, considering that when I woke up yesterday, if I’m reading the paperwork correctly, my vision was at 20/175.

This is far from over. I have two different heavy-duty eye drops I’ll have to use for four days, and some artificial teardrops I’ll have to use for a month. The LASIK procedure severs your cornea from your tear duct, and while it eventually heals itself, the fake teardrops are needed every two hours in the mean time. But if things continue to play out like they’re supposed to, this will be one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. If I hadn’t lost my ability to wear contacts, I’m not sure whether I would have done the LASIK or not. But under the circumstances I think I made the right call. I just wish I’d done it sooner. If I’m lucky I’ll have ten years before I’m old enough that I’ll need to start wearing reading glasses part-time. My eyes leveled off at least ten years ago. I should have done this back then.

I’m also aware that I’m very lucky to be in this situation. I’ve known people who have the kind of fundamental visual impairment which can’t be corrected by something as simple as glasses or surgery. I also know some people who would like to have LASIK but can’t have it because their corneas aren’t thick enough. And I know plenty of people who want LASIK but simply can’t afford it. It doesn’t seem fair that something so fundamental should be so expensive that most people who need it can’t afford it.

And all I really did was have things altered so that my vision without glasses is now as good as it had been with glasses. After all, I didn’t have to look any further than the rest of the Beatweek staff to find someone who underwent a far more meaningful medical event this week than I did. Nonetheless, I feel a sudden level of freedom. I’m no longer dependent on a glass and metal contraption in order to be able to drive a car, or to sit in front of my computer and do my job. I can now take a shower or go swimming without having to be almost legally blind during that time. There’s something be said for that kind of independence.

We’ll see how things play out with my eyes in a month, a year, a decade. I’ve encountered a few horror stories online where things turned out unfortunately for other LASIK patients, but that seems to be the rare exception, and from my post-op it appears I’m already headed in the right direction. For those pondering LASIK, don’t be afraid to at least look into it. Here’s hoping the price comes down so more people can leave their glasses behind if they want to.

For me, the results have had an unexpectedly profound effect. Once my tear ducts finish healing, you might even catch me shedding a tear of joy.

Review: iHome iW1 AirPlay wireless stereo system

by Bill Palmer

iHome first demoed its iW1 for us back in January in preproduction form, and it was the most impressive implementation of Apple’s AirPlay wireless content streaming technology we’d seen to date. It’s taken the iW1 a big chunk of the year to finally make it to market, but it’s here, and it’s still impressive. The product is a departure from iHome’s typical lineup. The company has long focused on dockable stereos for products like the iPod and iPhone, whereas the iW1 has no docking mechanism. In fact, when you take it out of the box, it doesn’t even appear to have on-board controls.

Fire it up, and you quickly find that the top surface is lined with backlit touch-sensitive controls for volume and playback along with wireless. The idea behind the iW1 and other AirPlay-based products is that rather than docking your Apple device, you simply take advantage of wifi in order to stream your music wirelessly to the stereo. These kinds of products have been around for some time, but prior to AirPlay they could be difficult to configure. Now, as demonstrated by how quickly I was able to set up the iW1 with my iPhone 4S, it’s a fairly trivial process even for non-technical users.

AirPlay and wifi offers an advantage of competing systems which stream over bluetooth in that wifi is a higher bandwidth technology, allowing the music to still sound great once it’s done being transmitted – that is, of course, if the receiving stereo offers great sound quality to begin with. Fortunately, the iW1 does. Although it’s less than a foot tall, barely a foot wide, and only about three and a half inches deep, the rounded-rectangular system packs a punch which can fill a large room of your house with pristine audio.

But that’s only half the fun. Part of what excited us about the iW1 back in January is that it’s a battery-based portable product. There’s an embedded hand-grip near the top of the rear surface which allows you to pick it up and take it with you from room to room, for as far as the wifi signal will take you. When you take the iW1 back to its regular resting spot, a small charging base sits flush underneath it which can be plugged into the wall for recharging. It also comes with a remote control, plus a USB port on the back for directly connecting your mobile device in case you’re in a situation where wifi isn’t an option; the port also charges your mobile device.

But if you’re connecting your device with a cable, you’re defeating the intended point of the iW1 and reducing it to merely an impressive-sounding speaker. For this product to really shine at its $299 price point, you’ll want to use the AirPlay and do things wirelessly so you can take advantage of the flexibility you’re paying for. That means you need to be an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch user running iOS 5 or iOS 4, and you have to spend an initial moment setting things up which, thanks to the solid foundation Apple provided and the smooth manner in which iHome has implemented it, is easy.

The iHome iW1 was one of our Best of Show winners back at CES in January, and after finally getting a chance to test it further in-house, that sentiment still stands.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 • Price: $299 • ihomeaudio.com

Review: a-JAYS Four earbuds with 3-button mic

by Bill Palmer

JAYS, the earbud maker out of Sweden, has long made products which are impressive but not exciting. Something has changed with the new a-JAYS Four, however, as this product has a sense of swagger – and that’s something you’re not supposed to find in a $69 earbud product. But the requisite pieces are all there. The new design features the trendy flat ribbon-style cables which are less likely to tangle than traditionally circular ones, and are also arguably more stylish. The audio quality is crisp and strong across all ranges, and sounds almost too good for its price point. And the three buttons and mic setup preferred by iPhone, iPod and iPad users but still too rarely found south of $100, is here in all its glory.

Still, I was expecting to find fault with the same issue I’ve found fault with on every previous JAYS product I’ve tested: they all had a cable length which was almost absurdly short, requiring the use of the included cable extender, which then made the overall length so long the cables would drag on the ground if your mobile device was in your pocket. But apparently JAYS got tired of me (and presumably others) complaining about it, because the a-JAYS has no trace of the bizarre extender system and has instead been replaced by a perfectly standard built-in cable length. As is the case with every other aspect of the a-JAYS, they nailed that too.

To be clear, you can spend north of $100 and get audio quality that’s far superior to this. But I’ve tested enough earbuds in the $69 range to be able to state with confidence that the a-JAYS Four blows the rest of them away. This is the first time we’ve ever given a perfect five star rating to a sub-$100 earbud product.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 • Price: $69 • jays.se

Review: iLuv iSP210 Portable Stereo Speaker Case for iPad 2 and iPad 1

by Bill Palmer

The iLuv iSP210 roughly fits the description of a lot of other iPad cases: it’s a zippered portfolio with an internal iPad pocket and it’s about an inch thick overall. The difference here: this one has a pair of external speakers built flush into its front face, and an internal cable which connects to the iPad’s audio port. Four AA batteries (not included) power the case’s speakers. I’ve seen this concept used with the iPhone and iPod in various incarnations over the years, so it was inevitable that it would find its way to the iPad eventually.

Overall, the iSP210 is a nice product. It’s a semi-hard shell which feels almost like vinyl to the touch, and it comes in a choice of black, blue, or pink. There’s room inside for an iPad 2 or an older iPad 1, or any other tablet which fits the same dimensions; a simple mesh net inside holds your device in place without requiring it to be form-fitting. The audio quality is less than what you’d get from a “real” three-piece speaker set, but that’s to be expected. The relevant part is that the audio is significantly better (and louder) than what would come out of your iPad’s own speaker, allowing you to use this product to provide the audio at a party, for instance.

On the one hand, iLuv could have been more ambitious with the iSP210. Rather than sealing off the iPad inside, the product could have included some kind of play-through membrane which would have allowed you to navigate your iPad’s music library without having to open the zipper first. There also could have been some kind of docking port connection which would have allowed for a play/pause button on the outside of the case. But I suspect that such features would have jacked up the price point significantly higher than its current $59 mark. What you do get is a headphone port connection which means you can control the audio via the twist-knob on the outside of the case (try turning up your iPad’s volume to nearly the maximum for best audio quality). There’s also an external on/off switch which is handy for silencing the music and saving the life of the AA batteries. But it doesn’t pause the music playing on your iPad, so you’ll have to remember to open the zipper in order to take care of that.

If this were a $99 product, I’ve have been looking for more pristine audio and some kind of more sophisticated iPad integration. But at $59, I like the iSP210 for what it is: an affordable way to boost your iPad’s audio to full-room levels in a product that isn’t that much bigger than a standard iPad case.

Price: $59 • i-luv.com

Review: iLuv iEP515 earbuds with 3-button mic

by Bill Palmer

The iEP515 earbuds from iLuv score points for ambition: unlike most $49 earbuds, they include full three-button controls built in for use with iPhone, iPad, and iPod instead of the usual one-button configuration found at this price point. And rather than settling for typically standard mid-priced styling, the design here includes earbuds which are see-through in places, allowing you to see some of the internal wiring and mechanisms.

The audio on the iEP515 is ambitious as well. Rather than curtailing the audio to specific range, it runs the full gamut here. That includes deeper bass than you’ll typically find in this price range. That turns out to be a plus or a minus, depending on how you look at it. Because it’s not super high quality bass, it can be a bit boomy rather than being the smooth bass you’d find on a product twice the price. The overall audio experience is solid, though. These aren’t the best sub-$50 earbuds I’ve tested, but they’re among the better.

As a side note, the iEP515 uses asymmetrical cabling, which means that instead forming a y-shape at the center of your chest, they merge into a single cable on the left side of your chest (or the right, if you opt to wear the buds in the wrong ears). That places the three control buttons to the side instead of in the direct center of your chest.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 • Price: $49 • i-luv.com

NBC’s ‘The Sing Off’ hits #1 on iTunes: Sara Bareilles, Ben Folds talk hit show

by Dana Feldman

NBC’s all vocal competition series ‘The Sing-Off’ has struck a chord with music lovers everywhere. With the many changes in today’s entertainment industry, and the new YouTube social media onslaught of talented artists getting instant fame, ‘The Sing-Off’ is another avenue for people to travel on their way to success and hopes of stardom. In its third season, the weekly show was expanded to a twelve episode run which began on Monday, September 19th with the new weekly format including two-hour episodes throughout the fall season. The show started off with sixteen featured a cappella groups all of whom perform weekly without any back up music or instruments, only their voices.

The show has also impacted the iTunes Soundtrack charts holding nineteen spots on the iTunes Soundtracks Top 100 Chart, which is more than any other television series. Included is Dartmouth Aires’ medley of classic tunes from the legendary Queen thus taking the number one spot as well as a recent weekly album from ‘The Sing-Off’ taking one of the top three spots on the Soundtrack Albums chart.

Proven as a regular presence on the iTunes Soundtrack charts, the show showcases some of the most talented vocalists on television week-after-week. Groups have performed popular superstar medleys from artists including Billy Joel, Janet Jackson and Elvis Presley. Many genres including Classical Rock and Country have been performed further proving the versatility of these artists.

Hosted by multi-platinum recording artist Nick Lachey, the show welcomes new judge Sara Bareilles (“Love Song” and “King of Anything”) as well as returning talent, judges Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men). Unique in that this is a show with a singing competition of live a cappella music, Lachey describes its intrigue as, “I have performed this type of music since I was a teenager with 98 Degrees.” Saying how they were signed to Motown from this genre, he goes on to further explain that, “There is nowhere to hide with this type of music. We are educating people about a cappella and that it can be anything.”

Stockman adds, “The significance of the show is that it symbolizes harmony. This is a feel-good show.” He acknowledges the seriousness and what is at stake as the competition is for a Sony Music recording contract, as well as a $200,000 cash prize. A lot is on the line for these singers. Adding, “There is a circle of respect and this show truly promotes camaraderie.”

Per Folds of his reasons for joining as a judge, “I was compelled to do this as I want to champion this type of music, it has a special vibe.” Saying how different this show is than any other TV music competitions currently on the air, he says of it, “The show is different due to the fact that these are people who are singing together — a cappella is a genuine community.”

The addition of Bareilles brought in many viewers, as well, and for her it was a no-brainer to do this show. “First and foremost, I am a fan of this genre of music as it showcases one of the hardest things to do — to arrange a familiar song this way is very unique and difficult.” She feels that her job as a judge is to not only be articulate, but to judge the range of dynamics and back-stories of the talent. “My job is to help them to perfect their technique and give my opinion. It is not my job to tell people to give up music. I give technical advice and constructive criticism. I am not here to be a dream killer. I want to show them where there might be room for growth.”

“The Sing Off” airs Mondays from 8 to 10PM ET. Tune in for the live finale on Monday, November 28th where the winner will be announced and on Monday, December 5th for the holiday special.

Review: iLuv Edge Flex Trim iPhone 4S soft bumper-style case

by Christine Chan

Sometimes, you just don’t want to hide the beauty of your new iPhone 4S. You will want to show off those two beautiful glass panels on the front and back of the device. So what do you do? Just cover up the steel band with some plastic! That’s what you get with the Edge Flex Trim case from iLuv.

The Edge is basically just a soft plastic bumper for your iPhone 4S. It may remind you of Apple’s own bumper, except it’s not as sophisticated as Apple’s own.

To install iLuv’s version of a bumper, just insert your iPhone 4S into the bottom and push it in to the rest of the plastic. Once it’s on, the front and back are protected by a thick layer of the plastic around the edges of the panels. This ensures that both pieces of glass do not touch the surface of whatever you may put your phone on.

The volume and power buttons are covered up by a layer of plastic, but they do not become hard to press like other cases. The dock connector gets plenty of space on the bottom to make it compatible with older cables. The mute switch gets a cutout that looks like it may not fit the older GSM iPhone 4 because of the space (it looks like a tight fit).

I did have a problem with the Edge case. I put it on my device several times, but the bottom of the bumper did not seem to “stick” to the bottom of the phone. It felt loose and did not fit. It bothered me, and I’m not sure if it is supposed to be like that. The glossy surface of the plastic makes it easy for fingerprints and other skin oils to show up, which may bother some.

The Edge Flex Trim case offers very minimal protection, and you’ll still have to be careful with the front and glass panels (scratches and other dangers). Fortunately, it does come with two screen protectors if you want to use them.

If you want the minimal amount of protection, then you may want to try the iLuv Edge Flex Trim case. It should be enough to protect your device from some light wear-and-tear, but maybe not much more than that.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5 • Price: $19 • i-luv.com

Vanessa Carlton does Christmas EP, Happy Xmas, redoes A Thousand Miles

by Bill Palmer

Vanessa Carlton is back with a vengeance. This summer she released Rabbits On The Run, her first full length album in years and her best ever, and now she’s following up with a Christmas EP due out November 21st. It’s not quite the traditional collection of holiday standards, however.

Things start off straightforwardly enough, as Vanessa takes her instantly recognizable vocals to “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Hear The Bells.” But by track three she gets more ambitious, tackling John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and delivering a rendition that’s nothing less than haunting. Her confident singing style has always stood in unique contrast with the inherent vulnerability in the tone of her voice, something her fans have long eaten up, and Happy Xmas turns out to be one of the best examples to date of her strengths as a vocalist.

By the fourth and final track the EP steps away from the Christmas theme and comes home to Vanessa Carlton’s past with a gentle and slowed down live-acoustic recording of her original big hit, A Thousand Miles. As her label points out, it’s the first time she’s re-recorded the song since it was first released nearly a decade ago.

As with all holiday records from famous artists, you’ve got to be both a fan of the artist and of holiday music in general for Vanessa’s Hear The Bells EP to make sense to you. But if you’re both of those things, then this one is a treat.

Check out Beatweek’s full Vanessa Carlton interview.

Review: iFrogz Frequency headphones

by Bill Palmer

iFrogz products are known for their fun and flamboyantly designed products, often matching up several colors and design motifs on the same unit. It’s ideal for those who want to stand out in a crowd, but maybe not so much for those who are going for the refined look. The company’s Frequency, then, represents the middle ground: the small-ish circular cupped headphones offer two-tone styling with a generous dose of secondary color highlights and an artistic logo on the outside of each cup that’s faint but still visible.

The audio for the Frequency is strong for this price point. It’s superb in the bass and middle ranges, while the treble feels just a little too thin in comparison. Still, it’s a potent audio mix overall in comparison to competing headphones with this size cups and in this price range. The underpadding on the headband is particularly comfortable.

One thing to potentially give pause is that unlike some similar competing products (including some of iFrogz’s own less expensive headphones), this one doesn’t offer a mic or button for making calls on your iPhone or controlling your iPod or iPad’s audio playback. But if that’s not an issue for you, the Frequency is a real winner for $79. The black model with dark grey trim leans toward the subtle sophisticated side, while the black model with neon green highlights confidently leans toward getting noticed.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 • Price: $79 • ifrogz.com

Review: Urbanears Plattan Plus headphones with microphone

by Bill Palmer

Headphones with small-ish circular cups are understated to begin with, eschewing the trendy oversized cups increasingly seen on popular brands. Urbanears takes the understatement factor even further by offering the Plattan Plus in a single cool configuration. You get your choice of colors, from indigo to pink, but from there the entire unit is of a consistent shade, save for a thin silver ring around the edges of the cups.

And yet the Plattan Plus stands out, specifically because it’s so intentionally understated. The headband has an underpadding made of simple cloth. The minimalist theme goes even further in the form of exposed thin metal connectors running from the cups to the headband, and while they’re certainly more sturdy than that, they’re no thicker than the metal beams of a large paper clip.

The sound of the product is understated as well. Solid on both bass and treble, the audio quality doesn’t jump out at you but offers a pleasant listening experience on variety of musical genres. In that sense, the Plattan Plus is a classic four-stars-out-of-five product: it does what you want, and although it doesn’t really do anything beyond that to make you outright fall in love with it, you’ll be happy and have no complaints.

The one way in which the Plattan Plus does stand out is that it has a built in microphone and button for use with the iPhone, iPod, and iPad along with other smartphones. It’s often seen on headphones with triple digit price points, but rarely at the $70 mark. For those who don’t need the extra controls, the standard Plattan is available for ten dollars less.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 • Price: $70 • urbanears.com

Navigon 2.0 Update for iPhone + iOS – Gone are the large map downloads

by Jason Tucker

Navigon recently released Navigon 2.0 which brings a new feature named “MyMaps”. This feature allows you to save precious space on your iOS device by letting you select only the maps that you need vs all of the maps for your specfic region. I live in North America and purchased the “Navigon North America” version which includes all of the US and Canada and back when this app first came out it was a hefty 2GB+ download. Now with MyMaps the select-able map files on average are less than 30MB excluding California at 100.1MB and Texas at 96MB.  The Virgin Islands comes in at 639KB and Puerto Rico at 7.7MB and Hawaii at 8.0MB just to name a few smaller ones.

Navigon also announced “Fresh Maps XL” their new service for supplying quarterly map updates at a cost. Customers of “Navigon North America” have been given their first set of downloads for free…

UI Improvements:

Gone are the clunky and obscure list of options in the main user interface menu in favor of a drawer like interface with previous list split up by function. From the main map interface you can select from the menu button on the left or the options button on the right. The Menu button shows Address, POI, My Destinations and Take Me Home.  The Address field still requires you to input the address somewhat backwards fashion asking for State, City, Street and Number. One thing to note is that State will only allow you to select states that you’ve downloaded a map for. This may make things tricky when going cross country, so plan ahead. Overall the UI update is quite welcomed and easy to use when navigating while driving.  I like the fact that Navigon has listened to its customers and has studied its competitors and has come up with an interface that more modern and understandable.

My Experience:

When I loaded the new version on my iPhone 4S I was presented with a list of maps to download for free, at completion I went into the “extras” (in app purchase) area and saw that I’d need to pay $14.99 in order to get the 3 years of map updates delivered quarterly. I was able to restore my previous purchases with no problems. Below are the prices as of 11/18/2011.

What’s New in Version 2.0

• Fully refined and even easier to use UI
• Fresh Maps XL: Guaranteed quarterly map data update (via In App Purchase)
• MyMaps: Install only the maps you need*
• Free map update for all

* PLEASE NOTE: After installing the app the maps need to be downloaded separately. This requires an internet connection.

Navigon Prices:

• NAVIGON for iPhone North America: $39.99 changed from $59.99
• NAVIGON for iPhone USA: $29.99 changed from $49.99
• NAVIGON for iPhone Canada: $29.99 changed from$49.99
• NAVIGON for iPhone West, Central or East: $19.99 changed from $29.99

Promo Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7kmwXDHSjQ

Augustana survives: Daniel Layus returns to stage after band turnover

by Bill Palmer

It could have ended up being a strange night for Daniel Layus, considering the twists and turns his band has seen this year. But five minutes into the evening, he was at the piano performing his hit song Boston, and all seemed right. When he then introduced himself as being “formerly or currently of the band Augustana,” the audience let go of a nervous laugh, and the rest was easy.

Six months ago the band released its self-titled third album; three months ago the buzz was that they had supposedly broken up. That turned out to be half true. Most of the band’s personnel have departed, and “Augustana” now consists, for the moment at least, solely of Daniel and old pal David Lamoureux. Rather than hiding from public view during the transition, he’s planning to hit the road for a new Augustana tour, performing songs from the back catalog along with a hint of new material.

For this night in particular, the setlist included acoustic renditions of songs like Steal Your Heart and Sweet And Low among others. The latter didn’t sound that far off from the way in which the full band had been performing it live in recent years anyway, with a more spare arrangement already having supplanted the original glossy album version. One brand new song, whose name wasn’t floated, managed to fit in nicely with the existing material.

The official statement regarding the band’s future is “although some members have parted ways, Augustana will continue to tour and perform.” And thank goodness for that. Daniel is probably going to have to surround himself with more backing musicians at some point in order to make a fourth record or to perform at full-size venues as opposed to last night’s intimate club setting, which suited the spare acoustic theme. But if the intent last night was to prove that he can continue on as Augustana even without his former bandmates, then that goal was achieved rather enjoyably.

The upcoming tour dates kick off in Anaheim and Los Angeles on the 17th and 18th of January and traverse the country before finishing up, fittingly, in Boston. Full list of tour dates here.

Los Angeles Premiere of Fox Searchlight’s “The Descendants”

by Dana Feldman

Exceptionally intelligent, witty and sharp, Fox Searchlight’s bittersweet “The Descendants” reels audiences in immediately with this gem of a beautiful film based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. How can you go wrong with Alexander Payne directing and George Clooney starring? Together as a team they bring to the big screen the story of a family’s journey to find the truth and to find peace.

After his wife suffers a horrific water-skiing accident, a land baron in Hawaii, Matt King (Clooney), tries desperately to reconnect with his two daughters. Newcomers Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller’s performances are spot on and the dynamic between the three is natural and genuine from moment one.

Clooney perfectly portrays the struggles of a man dealing with the potent sting of betrayal as he learns that his wife was having an affair at the time of her accident, while simultaneously deciding with his cousins as to whether or not to sell the pristine coastal paradise left to them by their ancestors to a developer.

As often goes in life, comedy and tragedy tend to go hand in hand. Payne possesses the unique ability to portray life in its most painful of moments with a humor that leaves you crying and laughing in the same moment and audiences cannot help but ride along on the journey with these people feeling connected as well as grateful to be privy to their inner workings. Rounding out the cast are Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer and Nick Krause.

“The Descendants” has already elicited strong word-of-mouth as well as Oscar buzz. The film opens in New York and Los Angeles tonight, Wednesday November 16th, in eight cities this Friday, November 18th and nationwide on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 24th. With such solid reviews thus far, this superbly written, acted and directed love letter to film is sure to elicit a solid following as well as many well- deserved nods come Oscar season.

After a long seven year wait since “Sideways,” Payne has yet again delivered a genre transcendent mix of comedy and drama backed up by superb performances filled with wit and emotional integrity. Such a seamless blend is difficult to achieve and yet it is made to look effortless. There was a time many moons ago where this teaming almost came to be. Clooney had lobbied, unsuccessfully, for the role which eventually ended up going to Thomas Haden Church in “Sideways.” Payne rejected Clooney for the role of an arrogant actor, but Clooney was determined to someday work with Payne.

With many films opening around the holiday season, this is one which is certainly worth both your time and your money. Speaking for countless fans of both Clooney and Payne, please do not make us wait yet another seven years for the next collaboration.

This film is Rated R and has a runtime of 115 minutes.

Review: Happy Owl Studio The Clutch for iPad 2

By: Daynah

Do you have a geeky gadget gal in your life? Surprise her this holiday season with Happy Owl Studio’s The Clutch! It’s a sexy purse/case to carry her iPad 2 and along with her other gadgets. Her devices and items will fit in this nice slim purse-like bag, complete with shoulder strap and plenty of compartments. The best part is that no one will know she’s carrying an iPad in there.

The Clutch is made of 100% genuine leather and contains two main compartments — one for the iPad 2, and one for everything else. The side for the iPad 2 has a holder with the screen part cut out. The edge of one side is held together by a strong Velcro. Access to the iPad is easy when this compartment is open. The iPad doesn’t need to be taken out of the case/purse for most tasks. There’s also a cutout for the back camera if you want to sneak a photo or two. Cutouts for all buttons and ports for the iPad are also available. When the purse is closed, the iPad will be sleep mode. And when it’s open, it’ll wake up. On the side of the purse that covers the glass screen is a beautiful soft microfiber fabric that protects the iPad when closed and not in use.

Next to the iPad compartment is a zipper compartment that has room for all of her other gadgets and necessities. Within this compartment are smaller pockets perfect for a cellphone, pen, pencil, stylus, credit cards, business cards, cash, and more. There’s also two smaller zipper pockets inside as well that can store lipstick, eyeliner, mirror, keys, usb drives, sunglasses, camera, or anything a geeky gal needs.

Holding the purse together is a button latch with the Happy Owl Studio logo on it. And to carry the Clutch, it also comes with a removable D-ring strap. The strap is adjustable, so you can wear it just over the shoulder or as a cross-body purse. And the front of the purse has a beautiful pleated pattern that’s both classy and stylish.

The Clutch is made especially for the chic geekette. It’s available in two colors — black and red. The black clutch has a deep purple interior and purple stitchings on the outer layer of the purse. The red clutch has a red interior and gray/dark gray stitchings. It’s the perfect little purse for a night on the town, or even the geekiest of conventions.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars · Happy Owl Studio.com · $79.99 · Amazon ($79.99)

Review: iLuv Gelato case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4

by Christine Chan

When it comes to iPhone cases, I prefer them to be simple, yet effective. I also tend to lean towards the soft shell cases too, just because they are usually easier to apply and remove (when you need to clean the device). Thankfully, these are qualities I found with the Gelato case from iLuv.

The Gelato case is an opaque matte plastic one-piece shell that you simply push your iPhone 4 or 4S into. Once the shell is on, the front screen is protected by the plastic lip on the edges.

Unlike some of the other cases I’ve reviewed, there isn’t as much space for the buttons. The volume buttons are covered by the soft plastic material (with the accommodating + and – symbols), as well as the power button. Despite the buttons being covered in the plastic, they still felt very comfortable to push, and didn’t require any extra effort. It just felt natural, as if there was no case at all.

The volume switcher area gets a pretty spacious cutout, and from the looks of it, the opening should accommodate both the original AT&T iPhone 4, Verizon iPhone 4, and the iPhone 4S. Also left open is the headphone jack as well as the dock connector, with enough space for older cables to work.

On the back, the oval-shaped cutout is big enough for the camera lens and flash so that your images aren’t blocked.

I found the material of the Gelato case to be the best thing about it. The matte finish doesn’t really get fingerprints or oil on it, and it’s smooth, so it will slide easily into your pocket. While it’s smooth, it also adds a great texture to the device, so that it is easier to hold and use.

Of course, branding is important, so iLuv has a small logo on the back side in the bottom right corner. There is also a “Designed by iLuv in New York” on the left edge of the case. However, these are pretty minor, and definitely shouldn’t affect the appearance of the case. It’s also fairly subtle branding, not obnoxious, so it’s fine.

This has definitely become one of my favorite cases so far for my iPhone 4S. They make this soft shell case in a variety of colors, so it is easy to find one that will match your style.

Rating 5 stars out of 5 • Price: $24 • i-luv.com

Perri Ink. Cartel Opens One-of-a-Kind Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle Store on Melrose Avenue

by Dana Feldman

In true rock ‘n’ roll style, Perri Ink. Cartel celebrated their Grand Opening with an exclusive launch party on Friday, November 11th. With their doors finally opened on the historic Melrose Avenue in the heart of Los Angeles, this one-of-a-kind spot sells premium, American-made and handcrafted motorcycle parts, as well as custom apparel. Described as a lifestyle destination, ‘The Cartel’ as it has been nicknamed, merges rich Americana style with refined rock ‘n’ roll culture. The first of its kind, this hybrid retail destination includes a guitar shop, tattoo and piercing parlor, barber shop, clothing boutique and photo studio, successfully bringing together the next generation of world class artists as well as bringing to its clientele an authentic, full-service experience for all.

The 1,300-square-foot store, created and founded by husband and wife, Nick and Misi Perri, is a haven of all that is rock ‘n’ roll. It’s no surprise as Nick Perri spent over a decade as a lead guitarist and songwriter for Silvertide, Perry Farrell, Shinedown, Matt Sorum and SINAI. The rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle runs in the family as his sister is “Jar of Hearts” singer Christina Perri.

Perri describes the idea behind his store as follows, “I basically just wanted to combine all of my favorite things and put them under one roof because I know I’m not alone in my love of all artistic expression.” He goes on to further explain his store as the first-ever one-stop shop for anyone who values artistic expression the way he does and refers to ‘The Cartel’ as a lifestyle experience. “We know a person’s artistic expression is rarely limited to one aspect of life. We are a family of modern day misfits and old school realists who believe in the freedom to follow this expression. We live life on our own terms and encourage others to do the same. It has been a dream for our customers to experience it all under one roof.”

Misi Perri manages the store and uses her vast experience as a graphic artist and clothing designer to design the store’s custom apparel. Though they opened in early October, they’ve broken new ground as the only store of its kind – and we thought LA had everything, right?

Decorated to represent edgy American style, the inside walls are embellished with custom Perri Ink guitars which are all handmade by Perri himself, deconstructed garage doors, American flags, and sculptures of vintage motorcycle engines. In the barbershop section there is a statue of Jack Daniels against a back wall that is designed to replicate a shop entrance from the early 1900’s. Michael Marisi Ornstein, visual artist and actor on FX’s top-rated TV series, ‘Sons of Anarchy’, will also have his artwork on display throughout the store and available for purchase. Taber Nash sells his custom leather saddle bags as well as other motorcycle accessories and builds custom motorcycles from the ground up which start at $30,000.

The Cartel includes several expert artists who are each notable in their own right. One of the most fascinating characters at the shop is Richie the Barber, whose handlebar mustache and expertise in performing the old-school “Gentleman’s Cut” have made him popular amongst his Hollywood clientele. The photo studio is run by LA-based photographers Tiffany Rose and Austin Bauman, whose works collectively have been featured in Rolling Stone, US Weekly, LA Times and USA Today. The photo studio is set up for band photos, headshots, fashion and PR. Also included in the mix is Tattooist, Adam Daniel, who has been a staple artist on Melrose for the last three years. The next plan is to expand into a garage within the next six months. If all of this wasn’t enough, Perri Ink. is also a record label. One-stop-shop is an understatement, but the best idea is to see it for yourself.

To learn more, come meet the Cartel at 7303 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. For further information including store hours, call (323)424-3778 or visit www.perriink.com.

Next Page »