Tech and Gadgets by Peter Bite
iPad Mini Launch Event Coming Oct. 17 [REPORT]
by Emily Price , Mashable.com
Invitations to Apple’s next big event, announcing the highly-rumored iPad Mini, will be sent out on October 10. The event will follow a week later on October 17th, with the launch of the device coming shortly after on November 2nd.
All this according to a report in Fortune, which cites an Apple investor who has heard the dates from “multiple sources.”
Purported leaked photos of the pint-sized tablet show a 7.85-inch device with aluminum-back casing similar to the current iPad, a rear-facing camera, and Apple’s new lightning connector. The front of the tablet is thought to look much like the current iPad, with a black — or potentially white — bezel surrounding the screen and a home button at the bottom.
The iPad Mini is also expected to be less expensive than the current iPad, putting it against tablet’s such as theNexus 7 and Kindle Fire in the marketplace.
Soundfreaq Clock Dock Rocks Enormous Sound [REVIEW]
Take one look at the Soundfreaq Sound Rise and you’ll realise you’ve never seen a clock radio like this before. Sure, like those other docks, it connects to Bluetooth devices, charges iOS gadgetry, and charges Android phones, tablets and the iPhone 5 via its universal USB port in the back. But its most appealing feature is its kick-ass sound. Not only is its sound reproduction pleasantly accurate with its crystal-clear highs, realistic midrange and surprisingly powerful bass, but its construction exudes quality and its footprint is just the right size for a crowded nightstand.
I’m just wondering how Soundfreaq fits all that sound into such a small package. There are two side-firing drivers to take care of the high frequencies and mid-range, and then there’s bass emanating from the sides and bottom that sounds unlike any clock radio I’ve ever encountered. It seems like there’s a lot more than 13 Watts driving those three speakers.
On the downside, Soundfreaq released this lovely product at precisely the wrong time, because it sports the old Apple 30-pin dock connector, now rendered obsolete by the iPhone 5′s new Lightning connector. But that doesn’t mean it’s obsolete for most people, including those using any other iOS device besides the iPhone 5, and the majority of smartphone users with Android or other phones. Any modern smartphone, tablet or music player equipped with Bluetooth can wirelessly connect to the Sound Rise. If your player doesn’t have Bluetooth, you can always connect any equipment with a 3.5mm plug into the Sound Rise’s auxiliary jack..
There are other nice touches that were particularly satisfying for me. One was the way the backlit touch panel controls are only lit when you need them, and you can dim the clock down to barely visible levels. That’s perfect for those of us who prefer to sleep in complete darkness. Another great idea is the clock’s ability to sync alarms and time of day via a free iOS app. And then there is its smart alarm with a weekend setting and dual crescendo alarms, giving you time to silence the thing before it gets loud enough to wake the neighbours. And if you like to listen to FM radio, there’s one of those on board, too.
I think $99 is a lot to spend on a clock radio, but when it sounds as solid as this one, that’s a good value. If you’re an iPhone 5 user, you might want to wait for a version with the Lightning connector that will someday be ubiquitous, but for everyone else, you can’t go wrong with the Soundfreaq Sound Rise.
