Jabra Stealth review
Design
Jabra STEALTH Bluetooth Headset
While the design of the Jabra Stealth is by no means revolutionary, it still manages a refined appearance due to its slim profile, modern color scheme and tactfully placed buttons.
The Stealth is made of a matte black silicon material with a silver finish on the front. The logo and speaker grills are located on the front, with an LED indicator in between them that lets you know when the device is charging, on, or ready for paring. The answer/end call button is built seamlessly onto the front of the device while the only other button, the Google Now feature, is located on the bottom. Jabra did a fantastic job with button placement and I really appreciated how everything flowed when I was using the Stealth
Features and Functionality
One of my favorite things about the Stealth was how easy it was to use. Everything worked right away, after the initial Bluetooth pairing of course. To accomplish the aforementioned task, you hold the answer/end call button for three seconds and it starts looking for Bluetooth devices. Find it on your phone and you’re good to go. The other way is to turn on your NFC compatible device, move it to the bottom corner of the Stealth, then connect it on your device. Simple, right?
I was slightly disappointed to find out that the Google Now button on the Stealth only allowed me to make phone calls. I was hoping for full Google Now integration, such as searching the web, sending messages, or launching apps. Alas, that was not the case. Moving on from my slight disappointment, the Stealth did perform brilliantly when placing calls using the Google Now button. After pressing the button, you are instantly greeted by the familiar Google Now voice asking you to say the name of your contact that you wish to call or the number. The voice recognition worked great and I never had to repeat myself to get Google Now to understand what I was attempting to say. After you choose your contact, Google Now will ask you to confirm by saying “okay”, after which the call will be placed.
“..I really appreciated how everything flowed when I was using the Stealth“
The only other button on the Stealth is the answer/end call button, which is built seamlessly into the device. This button allows you to answer and reject calls, or end them when you are finished with your current conversation. Pressing the button twice in quick succession also allows you to redial your last call.
Battery Life
This is one of the areas where the Jabra Stealth really impresses. The battery life on the Stealth is one of the best that I have seen on a Bluetooth headset to date. This is all the more astonishing since the Stealth weighs in at only 0.28 oz. Jabra attributes the small profile and large battery life to its microPOWER battery technology. Jabra states that the batter life will last six hours and after my week with the Stealth, I can attest the statement to be true. I easily made it 6 hours and that was with me calling everyone I knew to test out the Stealth. I am sure a more conservative user will be able to squeeze at least an extra half hour or so out of the battery.
When your Stealth finally does run out of juice though, you will find the microUSB port conveniently hidden under a small flap on the bottom of the device. A nice feature that adds to the sleek look of the Stealth. One might even say, a stealthy feature..
Voice Clarity and Comfort
I took the Stealth through my daily routine around the office, running track and downtown. This gave me the perfect opportunity to provide a range of situations and the Stealth came out on top every time. From bellowing winds, chatty co-workers, to noisy city dwellers, not once did I have to repeat myself or ask that of the person on the other line. My sister actually commented on the clarity of my voice and inquired if I had bought a new phone.
On my side, all of my calls sounded crystal clear as well. I usually find myself asking the other person to repeat themselves from time to time, and I was surprised after my review period that I did not once have to make that request once. The Jabra Stealth really outdid itself where it really matters, and that is voice clarity.
The Stealth comes with a fear earpieces and hooks that are built for complete comfort. One of my main issues when using a Bluetooth headset is the fact that most of them are not very comfortable. The ones that are unfortunately end up sacrificing a snug fit for that comfort. The Jabra Stealth creates a perfect combination that can be best described as comfortably snug. The Stealth fit into my ear right out of the box and did not once threaten to leave my ear as I took it for a test drive on my morning run. As I finished my run, I was caught of guard when I received phone call, as I had forgotten that I was wearing the Stealth.
Final Thoughts
The Jabra Stealth is definitely one of my favorite Bluetooth headsets that I have been able to test due to its lightweight nature, the clarity of the sound and most of all, the comfort that I experienced while using it. You can purchase one yourself by heading over to Amazon using the links provided.
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OnePlus Two won’t launch for another 6 months, invitation system will remain intact
The OnePlus One was launched about a year ago so the second edition should be out shortly right? Wrong.
According to OnePlus CEO Carl Pei, it’s going to be another 6 months until it launches. The specs weren’t confirmed, but it’s widely believed that it will sport the Snapdraon 810, 3 GB of RAM, and at least a 16 MP rear camera. It’s also rumored to be made of metal.
And if you’re wondering if that “wonderful” invite system will be in play for the OnePlus Two, wonder no more, because they will use it again. The new phone should launch in Europe, North America and India initially.
Don’t forget, OnePlus will launch something next month, but it obviously won’t be the OnePlus Two.
source: GizChina
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Verizon Nexus 6 lands online March 12, in stores March 19
Verizon will finally get its Nexus 6 tomorrow, March 12. Online, that is. You’ll have to wait a week to get it in stores.
The long wait for the latest Nexus on Verizon is finally over. Almost. Verizon is launching the Google/Motorola phone online starting March 12 (that’s tomorrow), and it’ll be in stores March 19. It’ll run $249.99 with a two-year deal or $27.08 a month on Verizon EDGE.
Apple Watch Knock-Offs Already On Sale in China [iOS Blog]
Following Apple’s Apple Watch-dominated media event on Monday, a few manufacturers in China have today already begun selling imitators of the device in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei commercial area, and online, according to the South China Morning Post.
Perhaps the most identical to the Apple Watch is the Zeaplus Watch, an aluminum-bodied smartwatch available in silver, gray, and gold. According to the company’s website, it detects heart rate and includes a pedometer to count steps and calories. Interestingly, the Android and iOS-compatible Zeaplus Watch has a slot for a SIM card and allows users to make and receive calls from their wrist without needing to be tethered to a smartphone.
According to the South China Morning Post, the Zeaplus Watch has a detachable 2-megapixel camera at the bottom of the watch which can be taken off to take a picture. This ability “markets the watch as a covert spying device”, though no mention of it is made on the company’s website.
The device is aimed to launch at the end of March, and as of now, no information is known of it besides the short snapshot of bullet-points rotating on the Zeaplus homepage. A similar smartwatch device sold by the company sells for $69 currently, so the Zeaplus Watch could retail around that price point.
The Huaqiangbei shopping district is known for being the centralization of electronic, digital, and hi-tech knock-offs in the area, so it’s unsurprising the Apple Watch is the newest piece of tech being imitated by the manufacturers and merchants of the area.
The fact that such devices are on the market so early – some companies launched their Apple Watch imitator months ago – underscores the speed at which Chinese shanzhai (knock-off) manufacturers are able to bring copies to the market.
Since the early 2000s, companies in Shenzhen have been the centre of the mainland’s shanzhai industry, which churns out electronic goods that imitate well-known brands very quickly – concept to delivery is often achieved within weeks – and very cheaply, often at less than half the price of the genuine product.
A few other Apple Watch knockoffs have popped up, including Zhimeide’s D Watch, which aims for an Apple Watch Sport look and claims to have a 7.5 day battery life. Prices on the D Watch range from about $30 to just $50. A few other fake Apple Watches spotted in the wild go as low as $15. With over a month until the official launch of the Apple Watch, there’s no doubt that the off-brand imitations will just continue to grow.
ASUS: you’re out of your mind if you buy a gold Apple Watch Edition
As we have come to expect from Apple, its first smartwatch is priced right at the top of the market. It seems that ASUS is willing to call out the Apple Watch Edition as more than a little overpriced, and has posted a rather amusing image on Twitter to express its sentiments (above).
In case you missed the announcement, the Apple Watch Edition options begin with a retail price of $549. However, the 18K-karat or rose gold options start with a much steeper $10,000 price tag! For comparison, you can purchase the ASUS Zenwatch for a far more modest $199.99.
We rather liked the ASUS Zenwatch in our review, but it appears that the company has not managed to grab as much of the smartwatch market as its Android competitors, such as LG, Sony or Samsung, according to recent sales estiamtes. With that in mind, perhaps a more aggressive marketing campaign might be just what ASUS needs.
Best Calendar apps for Android [March 2015]
Calendar applications are extensively used on the Android platform. And to make lives easier for the consumers, developers have come up with a myriad of alternatives to the stock calendar apps that are supplied with Android devices. We check out a few of these today in our list of the best calendar apps you can download for your Android smartphone or tablet. You can also check out our list from December 2013.
Google Calendar: This is obviously the best calendar application for Android right now. And while it might lack the bells and whistles of some other productivity oriented calendar apps, this is pretty much what most users need from a calendar app. Since it’s a Google product, all your events such as flight tickets, hotel reservations, reminders etc immediately pop up in Google Now, keeping you up to date on what’s coming up.
Cal: This is yet another free calendar application available on the Google Play Store, which stands apart from the rest with its ability to keep users productive. It has made its way to quite a few ‘best of’ lists over the past couple of years (including ours), so it’s no surprise that the app still remains in the list. The app also has its own Android homescreen widget, which should help users keep a track on all the events coming up. Cal can also spot some free time in your schedule, so that your productivity doesn’t take a hit during your breaks.
aCalendar: It’s hard to find alternatives to Google Calendar in the Play Store, but apps like aCalendar makes lives a lot easier for users. This is a free app and is available with no ads, so your experience isn’t hindered one bit. The app has seen numerous makeovers over the past couple of years to keep it in contention for the best free calendar apps crown. And although the launch of Google Calendar might have made most of these apps relatively obsolete, this is still a worthy app to have in your productivity apps list.
Business Calendar 2: The app is a worthy successor to the widely successful Business Calendar app, which has been available in the Play Store for quite some time now. The second iteration has vastly improved over the predecessor and comes with an improved user interface and better organizational features. In addition to viewing incoming events and anniversaries, the app can also give you a brief look at the weather, which is a neat feature. The app has a basic and pro version and the developers mention that subscribers who paid for the pro subscription on the original Business Calendar app can avail access to the pro features on the 2nd gen version too.
Calengoo: This comes highly recommended from users across the globe and carries a multitude of features to make it one of the best paid calendar apps in the market. The most recent update to the app brings the ability to reschedule events from the daily view with a simple drag and drop gesture, thus saving you the trouble to manually copy and paste content from one day to the other. The developer is very responsive to user queries, which in itself is enough reason to give this a go. The app is a little steep at $4.99 and can be downloaded below. Make sure you try it out before paying the full amount though.
And these are my favorite calendar apps right now. Did I miss your favorite? Hit me up in the comments and let me know.
Come comment on this article: Best Calendar apps for Android [March 2015]
Samsung announces the rugged Galaxy Xcover 3 with MIL-STD 810G rating
When the going gets rough, you need a tough phone that will handle the being dropped on to the floor or being submerged in water. To help you out, Samsung has just announced the latest addition to its range of rugged smartphones called the Galaxy Xcover 3, and as you can see from the image above, it certainly looks the part. Join us after the break for more details.
The Galaxy Xcover 3 is built to MIL-STD 810G specification, and this means that it can survive a 1.2 meter drop and is dustproof. Being IP67 certified, the Galaxy Xcover 3 can also survive up to 30minutes in a meter of water. As you can see from the pictures, the rugged handset has physical Home, Multitasking and Back buttons that make it easier to use the phone when in cold or wet conditions. You can also tap the Xcover button once to turn on the flashlight, or tap it twice to access the camera. Samsung is expected to show the Galaxy Xcover 3 at CeBIT 2015 in Hannover, Germany later this month.
Specifications
- Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop upgrade confirmed)
- 4.5-inch WVGA display (800 x 480 resolution)
- 1.2GHz Quad-Core processor
- 1.5GB RAM
- 8GB Internal storage
- MicroSD card support
- 5MP Rear camera with underwater shooting mode
- 2MP Front camera
- GPS/NFC/Altimeter/Compass
- LTE bands 1/3/5/7/8/20
- 2,200mAh Battery
- Dimensions: 9.95mm thick
- Weight: 154 grams
Source: SammyHub
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WSJ: The next iPhone will get a force-sensitive touchscreen
Apple’s recently announced MacBook and Watch both understand the difference between a gentle press and a hard shove. It should surprise nobody that the company is likely to add this technology, dubbed Force Touch, to the next generation of iPhones. The Wall Street Journal has called around its circle of people familiar with the matter, who all say that it’ll be the headline feature for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. In addition, those in the know believe we’ll soon get a fourth color option to choose from: pink.
Broadly speaking, Force Touch enables a new level of control by responding to the heaviness of your touch. At the launch, Apple’s Phil Schiller showed how you could speed up a fast forward action just by pressing harder on the MacBook’s touch pad. On an iPhone, hard presses could replace toggles (stab the screen for a capital letter, for instance) as well as making media controls and apps more responsive. It’s just a rumor for now, but one that ticks all of the boxes marked “plausible.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Apple
Source: Wall Street Journal
BlackBerry leather flip cases for Passport are 49% off today only!
This case opens like a book, leaving access to all the essential functions of your BlackBerry Passport even while closed. Even with having both front and back protection against scratches and impacts, this leather flip case keeps your Passport pretty slim overall. Available in black or brown today for $22.95
Apple Pay Now Supported at JetBlue, Office Max and 12 Other Retailers
Apple Pay support has been extended to 14 additional retailers in the United States, including Bashas’, Coca-Cola Vending, Dan’s Fresh Market, Dick’s Fresh Market, Fuddruckers, Jamba Juice, Jersey Mike’s Subs, JetBlue, Lin’s Fresh Market, Maceys, Office Max, Pep Boys, Regal Cinemas and Walt Disney World, as spotted by AppleInsider.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on Monday during the company’s “Spring Forward” media event that Apple Pay support will be rolling out at some 40,000 Coca-Cola vending machines across the United States, with the mobile payments service now accepted at over 700,000 locations nationwide. Apple Pay remains limited to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the United States, although Apple has expressed plans to launch the service in other countries.
GameStop and Marriott International also announced Apple Pay support this week.
AIVAnet 