Review: Jaybird’s Freedom Wireless Earbuds Are Tiny While Still Offering Great Sound
Logitech-owned Jaybird has been designing Bluetooth earbuds since 2007 and has established itself as a manufacturer known for creating quality headphones ideal for working out.
Jaybird’s latest product, Freedom, is the culmination of years of design refinements. The Freedom Wireless Buds are Jaybird’s smallest and most comfortable yet, with a sleek sweat-proof design, multipoint pairing, and up to eight hours of battery life. As with most products, there are some downsides, so make sure to read on to find out what to expect from Jaybird’s latest product.
Design and Fit
Jaybird’s Freedom Buds are tiny, a feat achieved by moving many of the audio components from the earbuds themselves to the remote control. Jaybird sells the Freedom in a range of colors from white and black to red and blue, with the earbuds themselves made from metal with plastic accents.
Visually, they’re smaller than any other earbuds on the market, but they look and feel like a quality product thanks to the metal design, a deviation from previous plastic earbud designs from Jaybird. These are wireless headphones, which means there’s no wire to plug into your phone because they connect via Bluetooth. I loved the look of the gold and white Freedom earbuds I tested — they’re small and sleek, the perfect companion to an iPhone.
There’s a cord that connects the two earpieces together, and on the right side of the cord, there’s a remote. Unlike the earbuds themselves, there’s nothing small about the remote. It houses all of the electronics normally located in the earbuds, and while it’s not heavy, it is bulky. It measures in at nearly two inches long and 1/4 inch thick.
When it comes to earbuds, comfort is my number one priority. I have small ears and with most headphones, Apple’s EarPods and UrBeats included, the insides of my ears start aching within a half an hour. The Freedom Buds are small enough that I barely feel them in my ears, even when using them for a couple of hours at a time.
With the wide range of tip options that come in the box, I suspect most users will be able to get a comfortable fit. There are silicone ear tips in small, medium, and large, plus Comply foam ear tips, also in small, medium, and large. I used the silicone tips while testing the Freedom Buds because the sound was better, but the foam tips were also comfortable.
The earbuds fit well in my ears, but getting them to stay in my ears was another issue. The bulk of the remote on the right earbud caused the earbuds to continually slip out of my ears and I was never really able to get a secure fit. Jaybird does include a set of ear fins with the earbuds, made of a soft, supple silicone, and that was the only way I could get them to stay put when moving around.
Jaybird says the Freedom Buds are sweat proof, and I didn’t have any issues. I didn’t run them under water or anything, but they definitely held up during regular activity.
Jaybird’s earbuds can be worn in two ways, depending on user preference. You can wear them like standard earbuds under the ears, or you can wear them over-ear with the cord wrapped behind your ears. Wrapping the cord around the ears alleviates some of the bulk of the remote, and two cord management clips can customize the cord length and further relieve the remote weight to make the earbuds more comfortable.
Shortening the cord of the Freedom Buds meant the remote hung down a bit less and was less in the way, but no matter what, it always pulled on the right earbud and was a consistent irritation. With heavy activity, the earbuds had a tendency to slip out of my ear a bit because of the remote’s weight, but clipping them to my shirt helped with the slippage, as did adding the fins.
Battery
The earbuds alone have a battery life of approximately four hours, but there’s an extra charging clip you can clip on to the remote to extend battery to eight hours. Theoretically, you can use this clip while the earbuds are in use, but it was just too bulky, heavy, and silly looking for me to use the charging clip this way.
Made of black plastic, the charging clip snaps right onto the back of the remote. It’s a battery in of itself, and it’s also what’s used to charge the Freedom Buds through a micro-USB port. The earbuds ship with a small micro-USB cable that can plug into any USB port or USB charger.
Frequent charging is one of the biggest downsides to wireless earbuds, and while I wasn’t a fan of using the clip while wearing the earbuds, it was a clever accessory for charging on the go. Snapping the clip onto the earbuds while they were in my purse was a quick and easy way to recharge them without needing to plug them in and it ensured I was never stuck with dead earbuds. 20 minutes of charging offers an hour of music playback.
My one qualm with the clip is its size. It’s small and easy to lose, and as far as I can tell, Jaybird isn’t selling replacements yet. It’s also worth noting that when you attach the clip to the remote while music is playing, it’ll cut off and need to be restarted.
Jaybird put a lot of thought into making charging as easy as possible, even down to the user interface. When the earbuds are turned on, the battery level is announced, and it’s also visible in the MySound app and in the Notification Center when connected to an iOS device.
An orange light is displayed when the earbuds are charging, and it changes to green once charging has completed. In my experience, it took just a couple of hours to charge the earbuds from dead to full.
Sound
I’m not an expert on sound, but as an average earbud user, the Jaybird Freedom sounds great — better than other wireless earbuds I’ve tried and better than many of the wired earbuds I own.
Noise insulation and blocking isn’t great, but because the earbuds are so small, it’s possible to get a good seal in the ear for the best possible sound. With a tight seal, all of the music I played was crisp and balanced, especially after I adjusted the equalizer to my tastes with the MySound app. The only negative I noticed was somewhat muddy bass on bass heavy songs.
Volume wise, the earbuds got loud enough to block out almost any ambient noise while still sounding clear and non-distorted.
Using the app, it’s possible to make minute adjustments and download sound profiles like “Bring the Bass,” “R&B” Jams, and “Warmth.” There are even sound profiles created by pro athletes like Sonya Looney and James Lawrence.
While sound is good, I wasn’t impressed with the range of the Freedom Buds. Jaybird says optimal range is about two feet, and that was about accurate to me. Direct line of sight also seemed to be required for clear sound – stepping into another room could cause it to cut out, and holding my phone in certain positions outdoors also sound to cut out once or twice. Jaybird recommends an armband that keeps the iPhone above the elbow when using the earbuds outdoors.
I had no trouble connecting the earbuds to any Bluetooth device, from my Mac to my iPhone to my Apple Watch. It was all seamless and simple.
Other Features
In addition to offering volume up, volume down, and power buttons, the remote also incorporates double presses for additional functionality. Holding down on the volume up button goes to the next song, while holding down on the volume down button goes back to the previous song. A short press on the middle button initiates a redial, a longer press ends a call or activates Siri, and an even longer press turns the earbuds off.
There’s a built-in microphone so the earbuds can be used for making phone calls, and the calls I made with it sounded loud and clear with no interference. When on a call, the buttons on the remote can be used to switch a call over to the Freedom, mute and un-mute, or place a call on hold and answer a second call.
A built-in “Multipoint” feature lets the earbuds pair with and connect to two different Bluetooth devices at once, allowing for quick switching. You can use the earbuds to listen to music on one device, like a Mac, and then switch over to answer a call, and there’s also a sharing feature for listening to the same music on two sets of Freedom earbuds from one device.
Bottom Line
$200 is a lot to spend on earbuds. It’s more than i normally spend because I’m prone to losing them, and I have mixed feelings on whether or not the Jaybird earbuds are worth the purchase price.
On one hand, I love the size, comfort, and long battery life, but that bulky remote was nearly a deal breaker for me, constantly getting in the way and pulling the earbuds out of my ears. It’s entirely possible that due to my small ear size and ear shape, I wasn’t able to get a good enough fit with the Freedoms to keep them in my ears, so others might have a different experience.
If you can get a good, secure fit with Jaybird’s latest earbuds, I think you’ll be happy with them. The sound is great for the average user and they’re undeniably comfortable, but you’ll definitely be paying a premium for these features. At $200, the Freedom earbuds are pricier than quality options from competitors.
We all have different ear shapes so not every set of earbuds is going to fit every ear. I’d recommend giving the Freedom a try if you’re looking for a set of premium wireless earbuds, but buy from Amazon so you have an easy way to return them if they don’t work out.
Pros:
- Tiny
- Comfortable fit, even in small ears
- Fins keep earbuds secure
- Fins are comfortable to wear for hours at a time
- On the go charging with battery dongle
- Can customize sound with accompanying app
Cons:
- Remote is bulky, weighs earbuds down
- Remote pulls earbuds out of ear
- Battery life is limited
- Extra battery dongle is heavy/bulky
- Battery dongle is easy to lose
How to Buy
Jaybird’s Freedom Wireless Buds can be purchased from the Jaybird website or Amazon.com for $199.95.
Note: Jaybird provided the Freedom Wireless Buds to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
Tag: Jaybird
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Apple Has Sold 1 Billion iPhones
Apple today announced that it recently sold its one-billionth iPhone, marking a major milestone for the company. CEO Tim Cook shared the news with employees at a staff meeting this morning, as noted in a news story published by Apple.
In a statement, Cook called the iPhone one of the most successful, world-changing products in history, echoing similar sentiments from yesterday’s earnings call where he said believes the iPhone is becoming a device that people can’t live without.
Tim Cook holds the billionth iPhone sold
“iPhone has become one of the most important, world-changing and successful products in history. It’s become more than a constant companion. iPhone is truly an essential part of our daily life and enables much of what we do throughout the day,” said Cook. “Last week we passed another major milestone when we sold the billionth iPhone. We never set out to make the most, but we’ve always set out to make the best products that make a difference. Thank you to everyone at Apple for helping change the world every day.”
Apple first introduced the iPhone in 2007, and since then, the company has gone on to release nine models, each with major improvements, revisions, and new features. While iPhone sales have been down for the last two quarters, the 1 billion milestone highlights what a successful product it is.
The iPhone has long been Apple’s most important device, responsible for a majority of the revenue that the company brings in.
Next year, Apple will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone and the company has something big planned. Rumors suggest the 2017 iPhone will introduce some of the most significant design changes we’ve seen, with an all glass body and an edge-to-edge display with an integrated camera and Touch ID sensor. Other prospective features include wireless charging, biometric additions like iris or facial scanning, and a faster A11 chip.
Tag: Tim Cook
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HERE Maps rebrands to HERE WeGo, adds new features
HERE Maps, the mobile mapping app that was sold by Nokia to a group of car companies in late 2015, has released a major update for Android in the Google Play Store. It also includes a name change to HERE WeGo.
Why the name change? In a blog post, HERE says:
On the name change. ‘HERE Maps’ was a bit too generic, we think. Too similar to a bunch of other, lesser apps. And the truth is that very few regular users open our app to look at a map – they want to get somewhere and find the fastest way to do that. Putting its main use – getting to places – front and centre, and into the name, is intended to help people understand what the app is for, what to expect from it and how to use it.
Among today’s updates, the HERE WeGo app offers users a revamped experience when they open it up:
When you open HERE WeGo, the ‘Where to?’ instruction in the search box invites you to enter a destination. Input this, and you’re taken straight to choosing between different modes of transport to get to where you want to go – without that extra click on the ‘find a route’ icon that used to be at the bottom of the screen. Bam!
The app also adds options to get to your destination from car-sharing firm Car2Go. Many cities in the app also include taxi info like an approximate price and wait time For people who like to ride their bike to their destination, the app has also added elevation information to make it more accurate.
You can download the new HERE WeGo app from the Google Play Store.
Nextbit begins selling ’ember’ red Robin, announces upcoming August update
One of the most unique phones gets another great color choice.
After some not-so-subtle teasing, Nextbit has put a new color of the Robin, a bright red hue — matched with a black main body — called “ember,” up for sale on its website immediately. The new color carries the same $299 price available previously, but this color is available in a very limited quantity on a first-come, first-served basis. One of the defining features of the Nextbit Robin is its design and standout color options, and the ember color just adds to it.
Alongside the new color offering, all Nextbit Robin owners will soon have access to a new August software update, which will extend its “smart storage” function to include videos. The latest software update will also include Google’s July security patches, which is just as important. The update will roll out today to those who have joined the Robin beta program, and once tested will hit all Robin owners shortly thereafter.
If you want to snag an ember-colored Nextbit Robin, you can do so now!
See at Nextbit
Google begins rolling out Family Library, a new way to share your Google Play purchases with family
Google has announced that its Family Library feature will now begin its rollout. The feature will allow families to share their apps, media and more between accounts without having to pay multiple times. Up to six family members will be able to share purchases from Google Play, like movies, TV shows, books, apps, games and more, and there is no fee to use the service.
From Google’s announcement:
- Share across your family’s devices: Today’s families have a lot of devices, and it should be easy to share content no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Everyone in my family loves the Star Wars movies and we all want to be able to watch them, on our phones, tablets, laptops, or TV.
- Easily manage sharing and family purchases: As with most family matters, flexibility and choice is important. With Family Library, you can choose which items you want to share and which to keep to yourself—for example, I’ll probably keep my collection of comic books in my personal library. Flexibility is also built into your purchasing options. When you sign up, you’ll select a credit card to share as your family payment method, but your family members will always have the option of buying stuff with their personal credit cards or gift cards.
- Share a Music subscription with your family: Finally, if your family loves music, you can also subscribe to the Google Play Music family plan. On this plan, up to six family members can stream millions of songs on demand for $14.99 a month. We launched the family plan late last year, and today we’re expanding it to Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Family Library will be rolling out over the next few days, and will initially be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. You can get started by signing up now. Keep in mind the service isn’t available for everyone just yet, so the sign up process may not work for you right now.
Square Enix’s Mobius Final Fantasy is coming to the U.S. and we got a sneak preview!
Get your RPG fix on the go with Mobius Final Fantasy!
It’s an exciting time for North American fans of the Final Fantasy franchise. While we eagerly awaiting the release of Final Fantasy XV on PS4 and Xbox One (due in late September), publisher Square Enix is providing the world with something to whet their appetite in the meanwhile with the International release of Mobius Final Fantasy on August 3. Released exclusively in Japan last summer, the free-to-play game was praised as one of the best Japanese mobile releases of 2015.
We were provided access to an early build of the North American version; here’s our first impressions from playing through Chapter One: Blank Slate.
Story and visual style
The story places you in the boots of Wol (or whatever you decide to name your character), a young man who wakes up with amnesia in Palamecia, a world currently under siege from the armies of “Chaos”. Our protagonist is but one of countless “Blankers” who have arrived in this mysterious world with no recollection of their past lives. The story begins as you learn of a mysterious prophecy which foretells that one Blanker is destined to become the “Warrior of Light” and rise up to save Palamecia from darkness.
Square Enix decided on breaking the game’s story into chapters, which were released on a semi-monthly basis in Japan over the course of a complete calendar year. We’d expect to see a similar schedule of story updates for the North American release.
Since development began in 2013, Square Enix’s stated goal for Mobius Final Fantasy was to bring Triple-A console graphics to a mobile RPG experience — and it’s a claim they stand by to this day. In a recent press release, they boast that Mobius Final Fantasy features “console-quality HD visuals that push the boundaries of the mobile platform.”
Having played an admittedly early build of the game, the graphics aren’t quite as groundbreaking as Square Enix would like to have us believe — or perhaps would have been if it were still 2013 — but they’re absolutely impressive for a mobile game nonetheless. Changing the resolution settings to High certainly makes things sharper, but it’s still a far cry from the quality we’ve seen from current-gen console releases — including the aforementioned Final Fantasy XV. Ultimately, it’s a matter of hardware limitations more than anything else.
If you’re hoping for the lengthy cinematic cutscenes synonymous with other Final Fantasy console titles, you’re in for a bit of disappointment. The plot unfolds through quick conversations with characters, rendered using the in-game engine. This might turn off some hardcore fans who really enjoy the cinematic storytelling, but it also makes Mobius Final Fantasy more accessible for casual gamers looking for a decent pick-up-and-play mobile RPG experience.
Having played an early build of the game, the graphics aren’t quite as groundbreaking as Square Enix would like to have us believe, but they’re absolutely impressive for a mobile game.
Speaking of the hardcore fans, it’s worth noting Mobius Final Fantasy was developed by producer Yoshinori Kitase and writer Kazushige Nojima — industry pros best known for their work on the iconic Final Fantasy VII and many other iconic Square Enix titles. As such, this ain’t some quick cash grab mobile game for Square Enix; Mobius Final Fantasy is a full-fledged release for the storied franchise, and you will notice and appreciate the attention to detail and care that obviously went into the game.
Gameplay
Mobius features the character development and depth we’ve come to expect from a Final Fantasy release, including a job system, multiple ways to upgrade and customize your character, and upgradable ability cards which you earn in battles. Each special ability is connected to one of six elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light and Shadow. Each job class is tied to three of those elements, requiring you to swap them out depending on the types of enemies you expect to face.
Battling is truly the heart of Mobius Final Fantasy, and was developed to be played with one hand in portrait mode.
Elements are most effective against their opposing element, so for example a Water ability will be most effective against a Fire opponent and vice versa. You’ll need to create and manage multiple decks, consisting of job, weapon and ability cards if you hope to fulfill the prophecy and save Palamecia.
Battling is truly the heart of Mobius Final Fantasy. Developed to be conveniently played with one hand with the phone held in portrait orientation, the battling system combines the turn-based combat system typically found in JRPGs with the familiar tap-and-slash combat mechanics found in many popular action games for mobile. Tap to launch a physical attack on an enemy, which in turn releases Element orbs used to charge up your special abilities.
Once you’ve collected enough orbs, you’re able to use your special abilities to unleash more effective attacks on tougher enemies. There’s a ton of strategy involved in properly managing your elements, as the proper Elemental ability is often required to break through the tougher defenses of bigger enemies. Alternatively, orbs can also be absorbed to heal, or raise your character’s resistance to a specific element for a set number turns.
There’s also a social element to the game, wherein you rent ability cards from other players. This aspect of the game is somewhat limited in the pre-release build of the game, but it will be curious to see how that aspect of the game pans out after August 3.
Pre-register for in-game rewards
Pre-registration is currently underway, and will continue up until the official launch of the game. Pre-registered players shall receive a number of in-game rewards to help them on their journey, as well as a push notification as soon as the game is available to download in their region. Currently, over 150,000 players have pre-registered to unlock bonus content such as a special card featuring fan favorite Yuna from FFX. There are more rewards available via pre-registration stretch goals.
Mobius Final Fantasy will be released in North America and International app stores on August 3, 2016.
Howl at the moon with these wolfish wallpapers
Don’t let your home screen fall into a rut — switch out your wallpaper!
You don’t have to pull out a complex new theme like Spider-Man to bring a breath of fresh air to your home screen. A new wallpaper can do wonders, and launchers like Action Launcher can re-theme your entire home screen around a good wallpaper. In our effort to help brighten your device — and maybe your day — we’re compiling some wallpapers for you to try out.
If you’ve got a wallpaper you use everywhere, share it in the comments below! We’re always looking for something new. Now get your wallpaper picker ready and see what’s in store this week.
Autumnal Wolf by Justin Maller
We’ve seen quite a few Facets wallpapers over the last few years, with many of the best coming from Justin Maller, and his Autumnal Wolf wallpaper is no exception. This wallpaper was recommended by one of our forums moderators, Aquila, and we hope more of you suggest wallpapers in the future!
Autumnal Wolf by Justin Maller
Wolves by wazzy88
This feels like it should be airbrushed on a van somewhere.. or on your home screen, where it can be seen even more often! These wolves look positively electrifying, and there’s no shortage of other awesome wolfish artwork on wazzy88’s deviantart gallery, including an awesome composition of Okami.
Wolves by wazzy88
White Wolves by GaudiBuendia
While this wallpaper has more of an autumn look to it, it’s a work that also makes me curious. What are these beauties guarding? What secrets are behind that door? Is it a massive library with ancient mystical scrolls? A council meeting where war plans are being decided? IS IT FULL OF TASTY TREATS? I need to know!
White Wolves by GaudiBuendia
7 Days to the Wolves by Calmari
This monochromatic poster lets your apps and shortcuts pop against it, or it can add an elegance to a beautiful natural composition. The layering of the wolves also adds a depth and a mysticism to the wallpaper. And tell me those eyes aren’t just boring into your soul and laying it bare. Go on, say it. Can’t do it, can you?
7 Days to the Wolves by Calmari
Quiet Arctic Wolf by Nashoba67
Some wolves want to go howl at the moon and chase some deer down or fight for dominance… and then there are wolves that look at all of the that and say ‘Nope. I got a rock, I’m good’. Look at those crossed paws, so dainty! But the expression is what really sells this. It’s just a look that can cut a man in half (to say nothing of those teeth): What in Okami’s name do you think you’re doing? It’s a nice day, why you gotta ruin that with your barking?
Quiet Arctic Wolf by Nashoba67
Best minimalist cases for Samsung Galaxy Note 5
What’s the best thin, minimalist case for Galaxy Note 5?
Don’t hide the light of your beautiful Samsung Galaxy Note 5 behind a thick case. Let it shine with a minimalist cover that shows it off and protects it at the same time. Here are our favorites.
- Samsung Glossy Cover
- Ringke Fusion Crystal Clear case
- Spigen Liquid Crystal case
- Poetic Affinity case
- RhinoShield CrashGuard case
- Incipio Octane Pure Carrying case
Samsung Glossy Cover
When you want to protect your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 from scratches, but you don’t want to conceal the beautiful lines of your phone, you can’t go wrong with the Glossy Cover from Samsung. Since it’s made by Samsung, you know it will fit your phone to a tee.
You’ll love how the Glossy Cover feels in your hands and the way it helps you grip the large and slippery Samsung Galaxy Note 5 — you’ll also like the fact that this case protects it, while remaining unobtrusive; in fact, you might even swear you don’t have a case on your phone at all.
The case itself is made of polycarbonate with a coating to prevent fingerprints and scratches. The plastic around the corners protects the most vulnerable parts of the phone and a see-through back lets you show off that attractive metallic finish. It’s also compatible with Qi wireless charging.
See at Amazon
Ringke Fusion Crystal Clear case
The Ringke fusion Crystal Clear case is a very thin yet protective case that shows off the Samsung Galaxy Note 5’s shiny metallic finish.
It’s a clear case that’s got a TPU bumper that wraps around the vulnerable edges of the phone. To protect the ports from dust, this case features tabbed dust covers that are easily lifted off for full access.
A unique aspect of the Ringke Fusion Crystal Clear case is that it comes with a template from which you can create your own back cover. It’s basically a cardboard cutout that allows you to cut photos to fit perfectly. Since the plastic cover is see-through, any design you create and insert will be visible — or you can just rock your attractive Samsung Galaxy Note 5 naked.
If you’re looking for a minimalist case that shows off your device or lets you create your own back cover, then the Ringke Fusion Crystal Clear case is for you.
See at Amazon
Spigen Liquid Crystal case
The Spigen Liquid Crystal case is a flexible case that adds no bulk to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 while still protecting it against bumps and scratches.
Made from flexible TPU, the Spigen Liquid Crystal case has a small raised lip surrounding the edges of the phone in the front and the camera lens in the back to protect these vulnerable areas from scratches.
Since the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is notoriously slippery to hold, you’ll enjoy the fact that the Spigen Liquid Crystal case feels grippy, allowing you to feel confident that you won’t drop that expensive tech on the floor while you’re walking around..
There is one thing to be aware of about this and any other case made from clear TPU, and that is that it has the tendency to yellow over time.
If you want a bendable and minimalist case that doesn’t add bulk, leaves your phone completely visible, and helps you maintain your grip on it, then give the Spigen Liquid Crystal case a try.
See at Amazon
Poetic Affinity case
The Poetic Affinity case is designed to protect and enhance the appearance of your Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
Made from clear polycarbonate and soft TPU, the Poetic Affinity has patterned sides that make the phone easier to hold and keep it from slipping out of your hands.
The back is clear with a raised pattern that prevents scratches. The insides of the case have raised TPU ridges that help to minimize shocks, should you drop your phone on the ground and around the front edge of the phone is a raised bezel to prevent damage to the screen when you lay your phone face-down.
If you want a case with an attractive pattern that’s also protective, then the Poetic Affinity case is a good choice.
See at Amazon
RhinoShield CrashGuard case
You can’t get much more minimal than the RhinoShield CrashGuard case.
It’s a bumper that wraps around the edges of your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 with a raised lip around the front edge to protect the screen. It weighs less than an ounce and is just 0.09mm thick, so yeah, it’s really, really minimal.
However, don’t let its barely there quality fool you. Believe it or not, the RhinoShield CrashGuard will protect your phone from drops of up to 11 feet. That’s pretty crazy, especially for a minimalist case.
If you want a real minimalist case that is still protective, then the RhinoShield CrashGuard is definitely for you.
See at Amazon
Incipio Octane Pure Carrying case
The Incipio Octane Pure Carrying case is great for showing off the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in all its shiny glory while still protecting it from getting banged up.
It’s composed of a clear polycarbonate shell and a soft thermo-plastic urethane (TPU) bumper that protects the device from scratches and bumps without adding bulk. The TPU bumper comes in a colorful hot pink so that you can always find your phone, even in a dark room. It also looks nice and enhances the phone’s metallic sheen.
If you want a case that’s colorful and protective, the Incipio Octane Pure Carrying case is the one you want.
See at Amazon
What are your favorites?
We’ve told you about the minimalist cases that we love, but how about you? Let us know in the comments below.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- Read our full review
- Get the latest news
- Note 5 vs. Note 4: What’s the difference?
- Galaxy Note 5 specs
- Join the discussion
- Check out Note 5 cases
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Tumblr is bringing ads to user blogs
Tumblr is planning to quietly introduce a new advertising program that means users will start seeing ads across their blogs.
The company didn’t exactly elaborate on how these new ads will work, but it seems as though it might be an extension of the current “Creatrs” program, where brands work directly with Tumblr users rather than using third-party liaisons.
The ad opportunities will stretch to all Tumblr members, however. So it won’t matter if you’re running a blog for dank memes or to show your love for all things Supernatural, as “any eligible Tumblr” will be able to join the program and can even earn money by registering. The process will launch later this year.
It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to the actual ads, though. If you’re an avid Tumblr user and want to back out of having ads on your blog, you can actually turn off the on-blog advertising option via Settings. Otherwise, ads will be turned on by default. They’ll show up on the main Tumblr page, slide-out section and via mobile apps.
The ads are set to launch this Thursday.
Via: TechCrunch
SoundCloud reportedly wants to find a buyer
SoundCloud’s paid Go music service is a hot mess between its clunky interface and poor selection, and that may be leading the company to consider some more drastic ways of making money. Bloomberg tipsters claim that SoundCloud’s owners are “exploring strategic options,” including a possible sale at a valuation of $1 billion. The discussions are reportedly still young and might not lead anywhere, but the very possibility that it’s on the table is notable — the company may not be confident that it can profit from its legions of listeners.
The company hasn’t commented so far. Having said this, SoundCloud may face an uphill battle even if it does decide that a sale is the best solution. It’s reportedly having trouble finding buyers that believe it’s worth $1 billion, and even Twitter’s $70 million investment only valued SoundCloud at $700 million. It may have to either be patient or accept that its current offerings don’t command a premium.
Source: Bloomberg
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