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Jabra Rox wireless earphones review

The Rox wireless earbuds are the latest from Jabra. These are touted as offering an ultra-secure fit and massive wireless sound. We've spent quite a bit of time with some of the other Jabra products, and quite honestly, we have really been digging the lineup. Having said that, when Jabra reached out with an offer to check out a set of the Rox wireless earbuds we were pretty anxious. What follows are some thoughts after a week of use.



We suppose everyone has a special reason as to why they like, or prefer wireless headphones. For us that reason is to go running. And to a lesser degree, to wear while doing yard work. Given our past experience with Jabra products we weren't all that worried about the sound quality. Our main concern here was comfort, the overall fit and feel.


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We can begin with this, the Jabra Rox wireless earbuds didn't disappoint in terms of sound quality. Similar to other products in the Jabra lineup, these offer Dolby Digital Plus sound and can be paired with the special Jabra sound app. We listened to a mix of music (Play Music), podcasts (DoggCatcher) and audiobooks (Audible) and were happy with the quality across the board.


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Jabra includes a variety of "EarGels" and "EarWings" to help achieve the perfect fit. Despite having a set of EarGels that felt like they offered a tight fit, we ended up needing to attach a set of EarWings to keep the earbuds from loosening up and slipping out. Overall not a big deal, an ultimately this setup proved comfortable even for extended time periods (roughly 2 hours at a stretch).


The overall setup feels sturdy and solid. That thought applies to the earbuds and the cable that runs around the back of your neck. In regards to the cable, Jabra has that loaded with a set of inline controls which can be used to play/pause and also raise and lower the volume. Additionally, those same controls allow you to answer any incoming calls.


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Jabra suggests these have a battery life of up to 5.5 hours. We were able to get really close, say, about 5 hours. Our longest test was a 2 hour run, which was followed by a bit of down time with the headphones in standby. After that we had them back in for about another 2 hours doing some work around the house, then again back in standby mode overnight. The following morning we knocked out another hour as we settled in to work. All said and done, no reason to complain about battery life.


These earbuds can easily be put in to sleep mode by attaching them (they stick together with "built-in power-saving magnets"). They charge over microUSB, which can be found tucked under the cover on the left earbud. Charging takes a little more than 2 hours to go from empty to full. There is also an LED indicator light on that same left earbud.


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A few other highlights here include the easy initial pairing. These are Bluetooth and can be paired like any other set of Bluetooth headphones by heading into the settings on your phone (or tablet). Jabra also has NFC pairing available on the Rox wireless earbuds. To pair using NFC you'll need to slide your phone over the inline control.


Being a runner and living in Florida (which means being outside in hot and humid conditions, with frequent rain storms) -- the IP52 rating was a plus. Essentially, you shouldn't have to worry about being drenched in sweat or getting caught out in a downpour. And in our experience, both of those happened, and the earbuds kept on working.


Bottom line here, these have kept our high opinion of Jabra products and we wouldn't hesitate to offer a recommendation. The Jabra Rox wireless earbuds are currently available (in black or white) and priced at $129.95.





Lyft expands to 24 new cities across the US

Need a lift? If you do, Lyft might be a good option. The ride sharing service is expanding, adding 24 new markets to their ever expanding list. The total list of cities Lyft is now available in has reached 60, spanning a lot of areas you might not expect.




If the whole “getting into a car with strangers” sounds sketchy, that’s because it is. Lyft does their part to vet potential ride givers, having them pass a background check and provide DMV records. If that weren’t enough, riders can review and rank drivers — and only the top ranked drivers get the ability to offer rides.


The list of cities Lyft is expanding to spans the country, and doesn’t keep to the most major metro areas. While some are the metro area of choice for their geography, others are smaller areas that we were surprised to see on the list:



  • Albuquerque

  • Ann Arbor

  • Buffalo

  • Colorado Springs

  • Corpus Christi

  • Fresno

  • Jacksonville

  • Kansas City

  • Lexington

  • Lincoln

  • Louisville

  • Memphis

  • Modesto

  • New Haven

  • Newark

  • Oklahoma City

  • Omaha

  • Raleigh Durham

  • Rochester

  • San Bernardino

  • Spokane

  • Toledo

  • Tulsa

  • Virginia Beach


In addition to the new territories, Lyft is lowering all rates by 10% in celebration. It’s also the largest single day expansion in Lyft’s history, and they’ve got no plans on slowing down. The app is currently available in the Play Store, so check it out if you see your city on their list!


Source: Lyft


Via: TechCrunch


Verizon DROID DNA Kit Kat update detailed

HTC product manager Mo Versi confirmed the DROID DNA Kit Kat update earlier in the week. At the time we were told there was technical approval and that the update was expected to begin on April 24th. Of course, there was also confirmation about the update bringing Android 4.4.2 and Sense 5.5.



Well, it looks like the rollout has begun as expected. Today is April 24th and we have begun seeing reports of the update arriving on handsets. Equally as nice -- it seems Big Red has posted the changelog, which details a two update process. The first update is on the small size and sits at 18.3MB.


The first update is just a prep for the actual update. And for those curious -- the second update measures in at 618MB. Anyway, the changelog details what can be expected in terms of BlinkFeed, Location Settings, Gallery, Do Not Disturb, Lock Screen and the Music application.



BlinkFeed



  • New menu delivers quicker access to search and content sources; Access by swiping from left side of the screen

  • Easily turn BlinkFeed on or off; Perform a pinch-in gesture on the home screen > Then access the Edit screen > Simply tap BlinkFeed ON and BlinkFeed OFF



Location Settings



  • Redesigned for ease of use and battery conservation

  • Shows estimated battery use of each app

  • Offers a master switch that turns all location settings on or off

  • Lists which apps are using location services

  • New setting enables you to choose between these location profiles: High accuracy (most battery use), Battery saving (least battery use), Device sensors (GPS only)


Gallery app



  • Redesigned for easier viewing of different content configurations; Panels for each configuration (folders, highlights) have replaced the drop-down menu, Swipe left or right to switch between panels

  • Quickly access photos from the cloud and social networks

  • Manage and edit Video Highlights easily; From Events panel, tap desired event, then switch to Video Highlights, Select desired pictures, themes and music


Do Not Disturb



  • Cut down on phone distractions during important events

  • Block incoming calls: turn off sound, vibration and LED notifications

  • Can be set to resume ¿normal mode¿ at a certain time; To access this feature, go to Settings > Sound > Do not disturb

  • Tap on an Event to view all the pictures and videos from a particular occasion


Lock Screen



  • The process to lock screen widgets has been simplified; Swipe left from the lock screen, Tap the + icon to choose a widget to add to the Lock Screen


Music app



  • Redesigned for easier viewing of different content configurations; Panels for each configuration (artist, albums) have replaced the drop-down menu, Swipe left or right to switch between panels



Verizon DROID DNA users now have two options. The first is to sit back, wait for the notification to arrive and then follow the prompts. The second is the one we suspect more users will follow -- navigating to Settings -> Software update -> Status or check new, to get the process started.





Vic Gundotra leaving Google, has his “and then” moment

Vic Gundotra, who has championed Google+ since inception, is leaving Google. He confirmed the departure via his Google+ page, and CEO Larry Page further discussed the matter with Re/Code. Gundotra’s farewell touched on his passion, and finding what’s next. His departure is effective immediately.




It seems the genesis for Gundotra’s considering his departure was a tragic family accident, wherein his wife’s uncle was killed in an accident. A speech at the funeral touched on moving forward, and pushing on — words spoken from the heart. Gundotra hasn’t mentioned what led him to actually leave Google, but he was full of praise for everyone he’s worked with - and for.


Larry Page, speaking to Re/Code, said "Vic cut his teeth on our mobile apps and developer relations, turning Google’s disparate efforts into something great … And, walking onto the stage at I/O last year, it was amazing to see developers so excited about Google. These were vintage Vic projects. Then Vic built Google+ from nothing. There are few people with the courage and ability to start something like that and I am very grateful for all his hard work and passion.”


Who replaces Gundotra? Re/Code cites sources as saying it will be Dave Besbris, who is an exec currently working on Google+. Those who follow him online will know he’s an avid photographer who shares a lot of nature shots (easily the highlight of my Google+ stream). Besbris came to Google is 2008 after 10 years at AOL.


Vic Gundotra, in his Google+ announcement of departure, noted his now passed uncle would always start conversations with “and then?”. That’s how Vic leaves us, with a question of what’s next. Speaking personally, I’ve come to know Vic casually through various friends and colleagues. Always gracious, always kind, always a champion for what was next — the “and then” of Google, so to speak.


Source: Google+, Re/Code





Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ available today and priced at $369

Lenovo first announced the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ back in February, during Mobile World Congress. Specs were announced at the time, and we even managed to spend a bit of hands-on time with the tablet. A release date and price weren't immediately available, however there is some good news for those who may have been waiting.



The Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ has arrived for purchase. The availability is direct from Lenovo and the price is $369. The one catch is the lead time for shipping. Details coming from Lenovo show that as being roughy 3 weeks. The 10 HD+ model was introduced as a follow-up to to the original Yoga Tablet 10.


This newly available model sports a 10.1-inch display at 1920 x 1200 and is powered by a Snapdragon APQ8028 processor that clocks in at 1.6GHz. Other highlights here include 32GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, a 1.6MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera. There is also a 9000 mAh battery which is touted as being able to provide up to 18 hours of run time.


We haven't spent enough time with the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ to verify the battery claims, however this particular model seems to be a solid follow-up to the original. By that we mean Lenovo seems to have kept the highlights and improved upon the few items that needed some help.


While some of this will change, the overall design with built-in stand remains the same from the original model, which we reviewed last November. The video of our Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ hands-on from MWC also sits below.




VIA: Android Central


SOURCE: Lenovo





IFTTT launches for Android

There had been a recent IFTTT sighting for Android, though at the time that was limited to a private beta group. But there is a bit of good news this morning; IFTTT has officially launched for Android. The app is available for free and can be found in the Google Play Store.



For those not as familiar, IFTTT stands for If This, Then That. It allows you to make something happen automatically. You create Recipes that work on the If This, Then That principle. Basically, you choose the "this" and the recipe will automatically trigger the "then that" aspect. You can think of IFTTT as a sort of trigger system.


We've always said IFTTT is somewhat limited by your imagination. Of course, you do have to keep your imagination set within the Channels offered by IFTTT. In the case of the Android app you'll have Channels based on location, notifications, and device settings as well as images, phone calls and text messages.


Some basic examples here include automatically saving images, or adjusting a setting when you enter a certain location. Taking that last bit a step further and you could use IFTTT to automatically turn WiFi off when you leave your home. Or alternatively, have it turn on when you enter your office or favorite coffee shop. A few other potential uses include automatically changing your device wallpaper, or automatically sending an email or text message.


SOURCE: IFTTT


*The app is on the process of rolling out, so this Google Play Store link may not be active just yet.





Samsung “Crystal Collection” Galaxy S5 revealed

We may still be following rumors for the Galaxy S5 Prime, however it looks like Samsung does have some special models in the works. The Galaxy S5 "Crystal Collection" handset was recently revealed by way of a short YouTube teaser. The video is just 12 seconds in length and shows a Galaxy S5 that is covered with crystals.



In this case those would be Swarovski crystals. Samsung has said the handset will be arriving in May, but so far we have yet to see anything in terms of market availability or pricing. But having said that, we aren't expecting this one to come cheap.


One hint does come with the YouTube channel this was posted on; Samsung Mobile Korea. This isn't the first time we've seen a crystal covered Galaxy device, and if we follow previous patterns -- we expect the availability to be limited. Samsung also didn't specify if, or how the specs would differ from the regular model Galaxy S5.


The overall design looks rather sparkly, but we have to look back towards the Galaxy S5 Prime as that is the one we are more interested in seeing. Recent rumors for the GS5 Prime suggest the handset will debut with a QHD display at 2560 x 1440. There was also talk of that handset being powered by the Exynos 5430 processor, which is ARM big.LITTLE and 64-bit.




VIA: SamMobile





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