#TechLove Listening Gear
X-mini KAI Bluetooth® Capsule Speaker:
Standing only two inches high when collapsed, three when expanded, the Bluetooth functionality of the X-mini KAI speaker makes it an asset in a variety of situations. It can be strapped to the handlebars of a bike for mobile music; linked to other X-mini speakers for some surround sound; or hooked up to a larger system to act as a dongle, allowing you to keep your MP3 device with you as you beam the tunes to the speakers. There’s even a built-in microphone so you don’t have to disconnect to answer calls. Good things come in small packages, so they say, and this small-yet-functional portable speaker is a testament to that.
Buy: Office Depot ($59.99)
808 Canz speaker:
Hey, is that a coffee mug, pal? A pencil holder? Neither! It’s the latest Bluetooth wonder to satiate your music fanaticism. The 808 Canz is a cute, adorable buddy of a speaker that lasts two-and-a-half to three hours at maximum volume and five to six hours at normal volume on a full charge. In other words, solid for a mid-sized party and essential for study sessions on-the-go. (And hey, as long as you have a USB outlet somewhere, you’re good to go until the world goes offline.) The little bugger also has a wireless range of 30′ and sports a headphone jack for personal listening. Need a chord? Rest assured, it comes supplied with a 3.5mm audio inline input for a direct connection. Squeeze it, adore it, but respect it.
Buy: Office Depot ($29.99)
Braven BRV-1 Water-Resistant Wireless Speaker:
There’s no need to lug around that bulky boombox anymore. With the Braven BRV-1 Water Resistant Speaker, you can quite literally hold all the music you love in the palm of your hand. Built for the rugged outdoors, this palm-sized, ultra-lightweight (32 oz.) wireless speaker is IPX5-certified water-resistant and shock-absorbent, making it a reliable companion for any outdoor excursion. You can hook it up to your favorite MP3 player to soundtrack your day out or stay connected by utilizing the speaker’s Bluetooth functionality. It’s an enviable gift for your active and outdoorsy loved ones, and given this speaker’s 12-hour battery life, it’s guaranteed not to tire out before they do.
Buy: Office Depot ($179.99)
AfterShokz AS330 Bluez Bluetooth Open-Ear Stereo Headset:
Fact is, those over-ear, noise-canceling headphones are great for audiophiling out at home, but when jogging down the street, it’s probably a good thing to hear that car speeding up behind you. That’s where the AfterShokz Bluetooth sports headphones have the advantage by not going in, on, or over your ears. Instead, unique bone conduction technology sends vibrations through your cheekbones, around your eardrums, and directly into your inner ear. Yeah, bone conduction technology. It’s a thing. A thing that allows you to keep your ears open to the environment around you while still pumping in the jams to help you work off those holiday feasts.
Buy: Office Depot ($99.99)
808 Studio Headphones:
It’s finally time to upgrade from those earbuds, and now it can be done with both style and practicality. These 808 Studio Headphones rock out in a sleek black gloss, with an over-the-ear design that offers comfort for extended listening sessions. You’ll feel like you’re behind the mixing board with 36-mm drivers that produce studio-quality sound, and the noise-isolating design of these headphones means all you’ll be hearing is the music. So, toss out your loved one’s earbuds and give them the listening upgrade they deserve. It’ll be like going from standing outside the venue in the cold to being front-row center stage.
Buy: Office Depot ($79.99)
Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones:
Buds be damned: The Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones are here to save the day. Lightweight, comfortable, and highly durable, the wireless pair will suck out the world’s noise and place your favorite musicians center stage — taking you to the live show of your choice. In other words, no more crummy beep-beeps from passing taxis, or nagging parents insisting you pay your student loans, or trains whizzing by and rattling the tunnel, depending on where you hang out. Got friends? The dual audio input jacks let you link your two headphones together to share the tunes in what’s sure to be a trending way to say, “Let’s go steady.” Just don’t surprise them with Gary Glitter.
Buy: Office Depot ($199.99)
Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 3 Tablet With 7″ Screen:
All the power in the palm of your hand, the Samsung Galaxy tablet works like an artifact from The Jetsons. Use your (hopefully clean) fingers to navigate the 7″ diagonal touch screen display, toggle it as a smart remote control and share content from your TV, or use it as a GPS navigator. Need to call your long-distance loved one? Use the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats — just keep it PG-13, folks. What’s more, those with small pockets should find relief in the tablet’s 8GB of internal storage. Lugging around your life never felt better.
Buy: Office Depot ($159.99)
HP Pavilion Chromebook:
“No, it’s cool, I’m staying in with my laptop.” You said it, and we don’t blame you, especially if you’re floating online with a new Chromebook. Sixteen gigs, a 14″ diagonal LED-backlit display, built-in HD webcam and microphone, HDMI port capabilities, and a slim, lightweight design are all features worth ditching friends over. It’s cool, we didn’t need to share wings at the bar, anyhow. I know how important those Google apps are to you. See you in 2014, dude.
Buy: Office Depot ($279.99)