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Pretty Fly for a Bike Cam: Cycle Safer with Fly6
Lauren Dragan  |  May 01, 2015  |  0 comments
The weather is warmer, and you can’t wait to pull your trusty 2-wheeler out of the garage. Or maybe you’re a dedicated bike commuter, saving the planet and burning off your morning donut on the way to work. The thing is, unless you live the country life, it can be a real (urban) jungle out there. Dodging traffic, animals, and other cyclists can be a bit nerve wracking. And, sadly, hit and runs happen. More and more motorcyclists have started wearing rear-facing cameras on their bikes or helmets, so why shouldn’t the pedal pushers of the world have their own solution? Enter Fly6, a rear facing HD camera and bike light that not only sees, but helps you be seen. I took one for a spin, and came back convinced. Read on to find out why.
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Tech2
Star Wars Celebration: My Kind of Hive of Scum and Villainy
Lauren Dragan  |  Apr 24, 2015  |  0 comments
If you felt a disturbance in the force last week, it was likely due to fans everywhere emotionally geeking out at the newly released Star Wars trailer. In case you were trapped in a Sarlacc pit, last week Anaheim played host to the annual Star Wars Celebration, a gathering for fans of all things Star Wars. Attendees from around the world were treated to panels, demonstrations, and the very first look at the trailer for The Force Awakens. Couldn’t make it? Want to know what you missed? Read on, Padawan.
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Tech2
Death Cab for Cutie’s “Kintsugi” and Why I’m a Terrible Music Reviewer
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Apr 18, 2015  |  2 comments
I’m a big fan of Death Cab. I’ve got all their albums, yadda yadda, and several of them are among my favorites of all time (Plans is masterful). So you’d think I’d have been impatiently awaiting the March 31st release of their new album.

Except… I didn’t buy it until last week.

Why? I’m a terrible music reviewer, and not paying attention to new releases isn’t even top 5 why.

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Tech2
The Correct Way to Watch Star Wars
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Apr 11, 2015  |  2 comments
This week, Disney (and Fox, don’t forget) released all 3 Star Wars films for digital download.

Also, six hours of unnecessary prolog drivel.

Except, I say that, and even I have to admit (bile rising) the prequels are canon.

For a lot of people, this will be the first chance to re-watch the films, having bypassed the Blu-rays, or perhaps even lack a Blu-ray player. So what’s the best way to watch them? Or, perhaps you want to show someone the second (first?) best fantasy series of all time who hasn’t seen it before.

Turns out, there is a best way. It’s called The Machete Order.

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Tech2
Tidal Bellyflops Into a Flooded Music Market
Lauren Dragan  |  Apr 02, 2015  |  8 comments
Earlier this week, a bevy of music superstars all stood on a stage to announce the re-launch of yet another music streaming service. This one is called TIDAL. Who was there? Madonna, Jay Z, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, DeadMaus, Kanye, Chris Martin, Alicia Keys, Daft Punk, Arcade Fire, Jack White, and more. You know… millionaires. Millionaires who want to convince you to pay $10-$20 a month for music. Are you rolling your eyes? You’re not alone.
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Tech2
Not Reviewing Bob Dylan’s “Shadows in the Night”
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Mar 27, 2015  |  1 comments
I am a HUGE Bob Dylan fan. I have all his studio albums, most of his live albums, and all the “Bootleg” collections except for the most recent (it’s on the list).

So the arrival of a new Bob Dylan album is met, by this fan, by no small amount of excitement.

But Shadows in the Night, well, um… I don’t know what to make of it.

That not true. I know exactly what I think of it. I don’t like it. Does that make it bad?

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Tech2
Oppo PM-3 and HA-2: Practical, Affordable, High-End Portable Audio
Lauren Dragan  |  Mar 20, 2015  |  2 comments
To enjoy their gear, high end audio enthusiasts have generally been trapped at home. From speakers, to receivers and amplifiers, none of the means of reproducing quality sound were exactly portable. Even the enthusiast-level headphones that have arrived on the scene over the last few years are large, unwieldy, unfashionable, and require at minimum a decent headphone amp to function. (See: most Audeze, Oppo HA-1, HiFi Man, etc.)

In addition, most planar magnetic headphones are open-backed, which means listening in less-than-quiet or public situations can be a challenge. Well, my fellow audio recluses, the PM-3 by Oppo aims to change all that.

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Tech2
The NVIDIA Shield TV Is Kinda Ridiculous
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Mar 15, 2015  |  3 comments
It is rare that a successful company, and a publicly traded one at that, can miss the mark so epically, so blindly, like NVIDIA just did with the Shield Console (also called the Shield TV).

Ridiculous isn’t even an adequate word for something so mind-bogglingly useless.

Behold, the awfulness.

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Headphone ReviewsTech2
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Headphone Review
Lauren Dragan  |  Mar 06, 2015  |  0 comments
There’s a new member of the Sennheiser Momentum family. The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are Sennheiser’s answer to the Parrot Zik and Samsung Level Over; they’re Bluetooth, have active noise cancelling, and are looking to appeal to fans of higher-end audio. They also come with a higher-end price tag: nearly $500. So what, exactly, does your money get you?
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Tech2
Homeworld Remastered
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Feb 28, 2015  |  0 comments
After the implosion of THQ and the rights to the game bouncing from publisher to publisher, Gearbox studios picked it up and ran with it.

We’ll, sort of. Instead of making a new game, Gearbox took the original Homeworld, and updated the graphics.

This is 100% fine by me. Here’s the deal…

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Tech2
Audio Technica ATH MSR7 Headphones Review: "Hi-Res" Moderate Price
Lauren Dragan  |  Feb 20, 2015  |  0 comments
Brand new to the US market, the Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 are closed-backed, over ear monitors that are designed to be high-resolution headphones for listening on the go. With 45mm True Motion drivers and a claimed frequency response of 5-40,000 Hz, the MSR7 want to pack all the detail and depth of professional headphones into wearable cans that even offer a removable cable with a single-button remote and mic. They sounded pretty good (from what I could tell, anyway) on the CES show floor, but how did they hold up under scrutiny in a decidedly better listening environment?
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Headphone ReviewsTech2
RBH EP-SB Wireless Earbuds Review
Lauren Dragan  |  Feb 16, 2015  |  First Published: Feb 15, 2015  |  0 comments
Editor’s Note: This review was first published on 1/31/15, based on what proved to be a defective sample, and revised on 2/15/15.

Speaker company RBH has expanded their headphone lineup with new Bluetooth in-ears, the EP-SB. Lightweight and sweat resistant, RBH want the EP-SB to be your go-to headphones for on-the-go and at the gym. I got my hands on one of the first pairs available (literally!), and put them through their paces. How did they hold up? Lace up your sneaks and meet me after the jump.

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Tech2
Enough with the Pono Already
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Feb 13, 2015  |  20 comments
So much anger. So much bullying. Over something that’s basically an iPod.

Look, if you don't want to buy it, don't buy it. If you do, do.

But why has this thing lit off such fervor on both sides of the debate?

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Tech2
Personal Safety Tech: Everyday Wearables in Case of Emergency
Lauren Dragan  |  Feb 06, 2015  |  1 comments
When I left for college, my parents gave me a little personal safety alarm: a small black box about the size of a deck of cards with a pull cord that unleashed a squelching 140 dB siren. I tested it out at home. The din was horrifying. But to be honest, walking around by myself at night, I can’t say that knowing a potential attack could be made noisier really made me feel any safer. Plus, it was kinda bulky to have in my hands at the ready at all times. It’s no wonder then, that tech companies have since flooded the market with all sorts of personal, alarms, alerts, and trackers that are tinier and more wearable than ever.
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Tech2
News from NAMM: Custom Headphones Minus the Goo
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 24, 2015  |  0 comments
In-ear headphone fans rejoice: the custom monitor is now available without the goo. This week at the NAMM show in Anaheim, Ultimate Ears showed off its partnership with United Sciences, which has come up with a way to use a laser 3D scanner to take a virtual “impression” of your ear canal. It’s all very sci-fi, and could change the entire face of headphones as we know it. How does it work?

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