Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hands On Review: Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle (Video)]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/06/09/hands-on-review-brammo-enertia-electric-motorcycle-video/http://www.switched.com/2009/06/09/hands-on-review-brammo-enertia-electric-motorcycle-video/http://www.switched.com/2009/06/09/hands-on-review-brammo-enertia-electric-motorcycle-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We recently had a chance to take our cameras and check out the new Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle, only the second one to hit the market and sure to please most Earth-loving urban hipsters. Our man Tim Stevens took the high-tech wunderbike to the streets of lower Manhattan for a little envy-inducing, 13.7-horsepower jaunt to your local Starbucks. For $11,995, you can terrorize your burg at a latté-foaming 50mph and look infinitely more hardcore than those tricks on a Vespa. It's the perfect complement to your faux-leather, vegan Heck's Angels jacket.

The bike is can be pre-ordered at the Enertia site (and will be available in early July at West Coast Best Buy stores, too). Check out Engadget for Tim's full review.

SwitchedHands On Review: Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle (Video) originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electricbikeelectricbikesfeaturestopTue, 09 Jun 2009 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Which Rugged Camera Should You Get?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/which-rugged-camera-should-you-get/http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/which-rugged-camera-should-you-get/http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/which-rugged-camera-should-you-get/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

just tell me what to get panasonic ts1

Question: I'm planning a vacation with my wife and kids this summer, and I want one camera to cover it all. Something small enough to take around with us wherever we go, and most importantly, super durable and waterproof so we can take it to the beach without giving daddy a heart attack. Any suggestions?

Hey reader: "Tough" cameras have definitely been the rage lately, with several of the big manufacturers recently unleashing new models into the wild. Over the past few years, Olympus has definitely led the way in this category with its Stylus Tough series of nearly unbreakable cams.

But we aren't in love with the Olympus photo quality. So we were excited when Panasonic brought out the ultradurable DMC-TS1 earlier this year.

Continue reading Which Rugged Camera Should You Get?

SwitchedWhich Rugged Camera Should You Get? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digicamsfeaturesjusttellmewhattogetlumixpanasonicpanasonic dsc-tsipanasonic ts1PanasonicDsc-tsiPanasonicTs1pointandshootsroughntumbleruggedruggedcamerastoptoughcamsts1Fri, 15 May 2009 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Last-Minute Gadget Gifts for Dad]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/15/last-minute-gadget-gifts-for-dad/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/15/last-minute-gadget-gifts-for-dad/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/15/last-minute-gadget-gifts-for-dad/#commentsFiled under:

Summer's almost here, and with it comes Father's Day. We here at Switched think it's pretty safe to say that the vast majority of Dads are into gadgets of one sort or another, which is why we always have so much fun compiling our annual list of hot gadget gifts for Father's Day. This year, we've got a mix of high and low, state-of-the-art and newbie-friendly items that will appeal to dads both young and old. Take a look.


Sonicare FlexCare

Is your dad serious about his teeth? (Well, at his age, he should be!) Philips's newest electric toothbrush, the Sonicare FlexCare, is the latest and greatest in tooth-brushing tech. Both the handle and the brush head are smaller, which is more than just a nice aesthetic tough -- it actually helps brushers get deep down in there. And there's even an optional UV sanitizer for the brush heads, just in case dad's germaphobe. If he's a glutton for oral punishment, the new "massage" mode delivers a series of pulses to the teeth and gums (actually, it feels pretty good). Overall, this state-of-the-art electric toothbrush is a bit pricey, but remember: he may not have those teeth much longer. Might as well enjoy brushing them.

SwitchedLast-Minute Gadget Gifts for Dad originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsSun, 15 Jun 2008 09:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Gadget Gifts for Dad]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/14/best-gadget-gifts-for-dad/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/14/best-gadget-gifts-for-dad/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/14/best-gadget-gifts-for-dad/#commentsFiled under:

Summer's almost here, and with it comes Father's Day. We here at Switched think it's pretty safe to say that the vast majority of Dads are into gadgets of one sort or another, which is why we always have so much fun compiling our annual list of hot gadget gifts for Father's Day. This year, we've got a mix of high and low, state-of-the-art and newbie-friendly items that will appeal to dads both young and old. Take a look.


Sonicare FlexCare

Is your dad serious about his teeth? (Well, at his age, he should be!) Philips's newest electric toothbrush, the Sonicare FlexCare, is the latest and greatest in tooth-brushing tech. Both the handle and the brush head are smaller, which is more than just a nice aesthetic tough -- it actually helps brushers get deep down in there. And there's even an optional UV sanitizer for the brush heads, just in case dad's germaphobe. If he's a glutton for oral punishment, the new "massage" mode delivers a series of pulses to the teeth and gums (actually, it feels pretty good). Overall, this state-of-the-art electric toothbrush is a bit pricey, but remember: he may not have those teeth much longer. Might as well enjoy brushing them.

SwitchedBest Gadget Gifts for Dad originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresSat, 14 Jun 2008 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 10]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-10/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-10/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-10/#commentsFiled under:



LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (Nintendo DS)

You may or may not have loved the blockbuster movie, but this summer's Indy DS game is pretty irresistible. Like the LEGO Star Wars games before it, the game turns the Man in the Hat into ... the Man in the Hat made of blocks. It has much more of an emphasis on puzzle-solving than its Star Wars cousins, but it's all still pretty action-packed, pick-up-and-play good times: whips, rats, and pretty much everything Indy is rendered in full LEGO style.

While it doesn't support Wi-Fi play (and requires two copies of the game, sadly), there is two-player multiplayer: if you're stuck in the backseat of a long car ride with your friends, you'll definitely have more fun adventuring alongside them with a DS link cable.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 10 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 9]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-9/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-9/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-9/#commentsFiled under:



Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo DS)

At its core, Professor Layton And The Curious Village is a collection of classic puzzles and brainteasers: You're asked to rearrange matchsticks, solve an assortment of sliding-block puzzles, and the like. The puzzles are often brilliant, sometimes frustrating -- but what sets the game apart is the way they're all tied together.

Professor Layton carefully wraps its puzzles into a larger story of mystery in intrigue, lumps several similarly-styled puzzles together, and peppers the solutions with history and trivia. If you need hints, the game gives you just enough help without making things obvious; with each completed puzzle comes another feeling of accomplishment. If you dig games like 'Brain Age' and its sequel, you're going to brain-out on Professor Layton.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 9 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 8]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-8/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-8/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-8/#commentsFiled under:



The World Ends With You (Nintendo DS)

It's nice to see the publisher of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts - all multi-million selling megafranchises -- go the extra mile and release original games like The World Ends With You. The game is set in modern-day Tokyo: most specifically the shopping hub Shibuya, with several real-world landmarks being re-created within the game.

The game's protagonist is the angsty Neku Sakabara, who is forced to play The Reapers' Game, a dark competition in which the evil Reapers assign its players a task every day for seven days. (Fail to complete the task within the set time limit and the player is erased from existence.) And oddly enough, none of the other inhabitants of Shibuya can see Neku or the other players. It's all weird, heady science fiction, and the result is one of developer Square-Enix's finest moments.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 8 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 7]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-7/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-7/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-7/#commentsFiled under:



Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (Nintendo DS)

While playing a superfast action game like Ninja Gaiden on the Nintendo DS might sound like an awkward fit, Dragon Sword cleverly uses the DS touch pad for nearly all its input -- and the results are surprisingly smooth. Just point at where you want to go, double-tap to jump, and slash with your stylus to turn your enemies into digital chop suey.

Combos are scored by timing different stylus strokes, and simple touch of your selected orb initiates a magic spell, after which you use the stylus to make it rain with various elemental attacks. It's one of the best-looking titles on the system, and it's a nice change of pace if you're looking for something more kid unfriendly than your average DS title.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 7 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 6]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-6/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-6/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-6/#commentsFiled under:



Guitar Hero: On Tour (Nintendo DS)

You asked for it, and now it's here: Guitar Hero to go. Like its living room-centric predecessors, On Tour comes with its own special hardware, this time in the form of the "Guitar Grip" -- a plastic four-fret controller that fits into the Game Boy Advance slot on the bottom of your DS. The game continues to build on the franchise's easy-to-play/difficult-to-master gameplay, and has the virtual guitarist using a Guitar Hero pick-stylus on the touch screen to strum away at their tunes.

The nearly 30 licensed songs include Nirvana's 'Breed,' Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take it,' and Kiss' 'Rock and Roll All Night.' Oh, and some newer stuff from the likes of Blink-182 -- you know, for the kids.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 6 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 5]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-5/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-5/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-5/#commentsFiled under:



Patapon (PSP)

For those looking for something a little bit different, Patapon is a gorgeous, experimental experience in music-based gameplay, with super-cute, minimalist visuals that recall last year's beautiful LocoRoco. The concept borrows elements of rhythm-action and real-time strategy games, and turns them both on their head: Essentially, you're in charge of leading your small army of Patapon warriors against beasts, bosses, and the super-evil Zigatons.

It takes a few stages to get used to a rhythm game requiring this much multi-tasking, but once you get the hang of it, you're in for a treat - and a demonstration of the creative potential of videogames. Oh, and at $20, it's a steal.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 5 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 4]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-4/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-4/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-4/#commentsFiled under:



FlatOut: Head On (PSP)

For those keeping score at home, FlatOut: Head On is basically a remake of FlatOut 2 for the Xbox. The concept is simple: Buy a bunch of cars, race them to earn cash, upgrade your cars ... and, like Burnout, destroy everything in sight. The racing itself is superb: The tracks all feel inspired and full of stunt opportunities, and the AI (artificial intelligence) of your opponents is brutally intense. The advanced driver can pull off some crazy power slides, and the physics are waaay over the top (in a good way).

Racing games have always been an excellent fit for the PSP, and FlatOut: Head On is another great example. The intense racing combined with the insane number of destructible objects throughout the world make this one a perfect fit to liven up those long, boring summer drives.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 4 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 3]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-3/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-3/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-3/#commentsFiled under:



MLB 08: The Show (PSP)

For many of us, summer means baseball. And for many of us, this summer will mean many, many hours of MLB 08: The Show. It's easily the best handheld baseball game in the history of handheld baseball games. MLB 08 builds upon the last version's superb innovations (great batting and fielding controls, to name a couple), while ironing out nearly all of its kinks (some jerky animations and framerate drops during the action).

The pitcher-batter standoff is a trip: You can feel the intensity and momentum of every swing, and the thrill of making contact. The Road to the Show is a full-on career mode with plenty to do (play through spring training, drive in a run, make contact, etc), and the entire performance gets graded, adding even more depth to the experience. Just be careful not to wear out that thumb -- you're gonna need it to control the television set and air conditioner.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 3 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 2]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-2/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-2/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/13/top-10-portable-games-for-long-trips-2/#commentsFiled under:



Final Fantasy: Crisis Core (PSP)

If you're enough of a gamer to own a PSP, you know by now whether or not Final Fantasy is "your thing." The feminized male lead, the cute sidekicks, the absurd storylines -- they're not for everyone. But if you've ever fallen in love with a FF game in the past, Crisis Core should be right up your alley: It superbly balances nostalgia with a more understated narrative and absolutely gorgeous graphics.

Essentially, the game is the expanded rendition of a crucial flashback sequence from Final Fantasy VII; and while those unfamiliar with the original might have some trouble getting up to speed, Crisis Core is, at its heart, a coming-of-age tale of a (suitably feminized) hero named Zack Fair.

The game's structure is perfectly suited for portable gameplay: Cut-scenes and combat sequences are short and sweet, and the game makes you feel like you're constantly progressing. The side missions may be undertaken at any of the ubiquitous save points, and the Materia Fusion system (which allows you to custom-build your skills and stats) is deep and allows for a great deal of strategy -- and making this arguably the best RPG (role-playing-game) on the PSP console.

SwitchedTop 10 Portable Games for Long Trips 2 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Gear for Road Trips (Video)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/12/road-trip-gear-guide-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/12/road-trip-gear-guide-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/12/road-trip-gear-guide-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Considering the sky-high prices of gas these days, it's even more important that you get to your summer road trip destinations on time and without getting lost, which is why you should take the excellent GPS navi system we recommend in the above video (a follow-up to our previous round-up of car trip doodads). We also recommend some other gizmos that'll get you where your going in one piece, or at least keep your passengers busy and prevent them from asking if you're 'there yet.' All that said, we were so seduced by the hot Maserati we borrowed to test out all these gadgets that we pretty much forgot about high gas prices -- and our passengers.


SwitchedBest Gear for Road Trips (Video) originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfeaturesgpsmobile hotspotMobileHotspotroadtriptravelThu, 12 Jun 2008 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Father's Day Gift Guide: Boston Acoustics MM26 Computer Speakers]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/11/fathers-day-gift-guide-boston-acoustics-mm26-computer-speakers/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/11/fathers-day-gift-guide-boston-acoustics-mm26-computer-speakers/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/11/fathers-day-gift-guide-boston-acoustics-mm26-computer-speakers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Okay, so last year you got Dad an iPod. Since then, he's digitized his entire Jazz, Bebop, and/or Classic Rock (hey, we don't know when your Dad was born) collection and put it into iTunes. Unfortunately, he's still getting inferior sound quality from his standard-issue laptop or desktop speakers. But there is a solution - namely, a pair of stereo computer speakers with a subwoofer. We like the new Boston Acoustics MM226 speaker system ($140-$180) because its super-slim satellites won't take up too much space on a desk, and because the whole package is powerful enough to fill up a whole office, much less a desktop (the subwoofer makes sure to give that extra bass oomph of bonafide audio systems). Removable speaker grilles come in a variety of silly-sounding colors (Rosebud? Chocolat?) that translate - in essence - to brown, silver, red, and the like.

Click Here For Even More Great Father's Day Gifts

SwitchedFather's Day Gift Guide: Boston Acoustics MM26 Computer Speakers originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[World's Craziest Alarm Clocks]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/11/worlds-craziest-alarm-clocks/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/11/worlds-craziest-alarm-clocks/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/11/worlds-craziest-alarm-clocks/#commentsFiled under:



Getting up in the morning is the worst. The other worst is a roomate/BF/GF/whatever. who compulsively hits the snooze button. Gadgets are here to fix both problems, and Trendhunter has compiled a list of 24 eccentric alarms to suit your style.

Choices range from fun and charming, like the '80s Rubix Cube Alarm, to gross and skeevy (see Pole Dancer Alarm) and everything in between.

For those that have trouble getting out of bed, there are now alarm clocks that can motivate you to wake up with crackling strips of bacon or a warm bowl of Quaker Oats. We're still waiting for an alarm clock that makes coffee, but the Wake n' bacon clock looks like a pig and is pretty rad, if in an excessive way.

For the loser-snoozers, there is Clocky, a cute lil' clock that looks kind of like an Anime marshmallow on wheels. It gives you one chance to wake up, then rolls away and hides, beeping loudly, until you get out of bed to find it. The Shocking Alarm Clock, a somewhat draconian alarm, zaps sleepers when they try to hit the snooze button. This sounds really traumatic, but could be useful for teaching some people a lesson. Though we suppose you could just turn the alarm off, defeating the purpose altogether...

Our favorite is the the Commuter Alarm Clock, which has special dials to tell you the position of all the major trains in Tokyo (kinda useless in the United States, but cool-looking nonetheless). The scariest-sounding one, among many scary alarm clocks, is not a clock at all, but a weird wake-up pill from some vitamin dealer. Alarming? It's actually just vitamin B, ginseng, etc. The stripper alarm is the actual scariest. [Source: Trendhunter Magazine]

SwitchedWorld's Craziest Alarm Clocks originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlarmClocksbreaking newsBreakingNewshouseholdWed, 11 Jun 2008 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Gifts for Gadget-Loving Dads]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/08/best-gifts-for-gadget-loving-dads/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/08/best-gifts-for-gadget-loving-dads/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/08/best-gifts-for-gadget-loving-dads/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Summer's almost here, and with it comes Father's Day. We here at Switched think it's pretty safe to say that the vast majority of Dads are into gadgets of one sort or another, which is why we always have so much fun compiling our annual list of hot gadget gifts for Father's Day. This year, we've got a mix of high and low, state-of-the-art and newbie-friendly items that will appeal to dads both young and old. Take a look.

http://blogsmith.aol.com/js/FCKeditor/editor/fckblank.htmlAmazon Kindle

If your Dad is the reading type and isn't too hooked on tradition, then consider a Kindle e-reader from Amazon, which eschews paper in favor of easy to reach e-ink (a fancy name for a glare-free screen) . The book-sized device is lighter than the real thing and automatically downloads everything from daily newspapers (New York Times, Wall St Journal, Le Monde, etc) and blogs to any of more than 80,000 books from Amazon (which average around $10 a pop -- much cheaper than the book versions). This thing will keep his hands clean (no dirty newspaper ink) and his bad back relieved (no more books, papers, or magazines in the briefcase).

SwitchedBest Gifts for Gadget-Loving Dads originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsgift guidesGiftGuidesSun, 08 Jun 2008 11:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Noise-Canceling Headphones]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/top-noise-canceling-headphones/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/top-noise-canceling-headphones/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/top-noise-canceling-headphones/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As anyone who has used noise-canceling headphones on a plane can doubtlessly confirm, they make the experience of flying a whole lot less unpleasant. While these sound-blockers can't do much to combat the shrieking baby in the seat next to you (or its shrieking parents, for that matter), they all but remove the low roar of the engines, the hum of the fans, and various (and usually) incessant noises coming from the other electronic devices in use around you as you fly the noisy skies. It sounds like magic, but it's actually pretty simple audio science: Basically, microphones in the headphones monitor the sound around you, and create sound waves which essentially cancel out the noise they pick up. On some flights, in business and first class, they now actually hand them out.

Most of us are economy-class-types, though, so we did our research accordingly and came up with a few options for airborne peace of mind. To boot, all of our picks cost less than the two or more months salary required to fly business class.



BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 2

You see these headphones everywhere - open up any in-flight magazine and you're guaranteed an ad. But Bose does its sound quality thing well. These cans do a great job canceling ambient noises, and music sounds extremely warm and full of bass. Movie dialogue was consistently crisp and clear, and overall sound is very consistent. Unfortunately, there's one major flaw: Unlike the other models featured here, the QuietComfort 2s don't let you listen to music without the noise-canceling tech turned on. When your batteries die, well, so do your headphones. Which is kind of a bummer...especially on planes, where they don't sell replacements. Price: $299.99

SwitchedTop Noise-Canceling Headphones originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfeaturesheadphonesnoise-cancelingsummerfeaturessummerreviewstravelWed, 04 Jun 2008 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Noise-Canceling Headphones 2]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/top-noise-canceling-headphones-2/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/top-noise-canceling-headphones-2/http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/top-noise-canceling-headphones-2/#commentsFiled under:


CREATIVE AURVANA X-FI

These aren't cheap - at $300, they cost the same as the high-end Bose cans -- but they're about as good as it gets in the category. They eliminate as much ambient noise as the Quiet Comfort 2's, and are the best ones we've heard for listening to music, thanks to Creative's X-Fi technology, which restores portions of the sound that were lost during compression - essentially, making your music sound a whole lot fuller and richer. They're also nice and big, so they go over your ears instead of on them, making them more comfortable than other pairs we tested (not to mention keeping out more sound because of the better coverage). If you've got the dough, these are definitely a great option -- we'd say even better than the Bose.

Price: $299.99

SwitchedTop Noise-Canceling Headphones 2 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ABLE PLANET "LOST CAUZE" GAMING HEADPHONES

These guys are a scaled down version of the company's own Clear Harmony headphones - and, thankfully, the price is cut in half from $300 to $150. The noise-canceling tech isn't quite as isolating as the higher-end models listed here (on the airplane, we could hear more of the baby crying behind me than we would have liked), but it's pretty damn close. The Lost Cauze 'phones are a bit shiny (gamers really like shiny, apparently), and might be a tad gaudy for some people's tastes. But there's a handy volume control on the audio cord, and they get LOUD (gamers like loud). A great deal, even if you're strictly for using them to watch movies you don't really want to watch on airplanes and haven't played a single computer game in your life. One small caveat: When the left and right cans rub together (i.e. when they're in the storage case), they'll sometimes accidentally switch on the power button...draining your AAA batteries in the process. Not cool.

Price: $149.99

SwitchedTop Noise-Canceling Headphones 4 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST