Big Sound from a small package: The Jawbone Jambox

From moment that I started to open the box, I knew that I was going to like the Jawbone Jambox.  The packaging is brilliant and has some personality to it.  For those not in the know, the Jawbone Jambox is a small, portable wireless stereo speaker that can be used with a tablet, cell phone or any other device that can stream over bluetooth or through a 3.5mm stereo jack.

This little device has actually been on my wishlist for sometime, so while normally I am an early adopter for these types of things, I'm somewhat late to the party with the Jambox.  As I write this post, I'm sitting in a hotel room in San Francisco, listening to my Jambox connected to my laptop through bluetooth with Pandora running.  That might sound like a complicated setup, but one of the outstanding features of the Jambox is that they have really focused on simplicity and ease of use.  Both in using it and connecting to it.  The idea is that you connect your Jambox to your mobile phone, your iPad (or any bluetooth tablet), or your laptop.  You can connect to these devices through bluetooth or via a audio cable.

Let's face it, the sound coming from the speakers of your phone, your laptop or your iPad do not provide a great listening experience.  You really have to use headphones if you want decent sound.  The Jambox solves this by providing quite compelling sound from such a small package.  The other really great feature is that it runs on a internal lithium battery that can keep a rather impressive charge.  So this thing can roll with you where-ever you want to go.  

The other great feature is that it also acts as a bluetooth speaker phone.  Great for a quick conference with multiple people or if you just don't want to be tied to the phone.  

I've used wired portable speakers before, but the Jawbone is a clear winner for several reasons.  The first is great sound (especially, considering the size of the speaker).  The second is the ease of use and ease of configuration.  This device will definitely be a part of my travel bag.

Lightbox is THE Instagram Alternative for Android

As someone who has moved from the iPhone platform over to Android, I have never had 'app envy'.  Sure, the iPhone boasts a few more apps, but nearly all of the apps that I use on a regular basis have also been available on Android as well.  Then came a photo sharing app called Instagram (http://instagr.am).  This app went completely viral on the iPhone and it seemed that everyone was using Instagram to post photos to Facebook from their iPhone.  One of Instagram's appeals was that it applied a retro-like filter to photos which created some nice effects.  Suddenly, Instagram was everywhere.  

While there have always been photo sharing apps on the Android platform, they never seemed to get the traction or have the appeal that Instagram had.  Recently, a app called Lightbox has come on to the scene and is starting to make waves as a decent alternative and in some ways even trumps Instagram.  Lightbox offers several effects filters and has connections into the major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, & Flickr.  

Beyond filters and photo sharing, Lightbox is going a step futher and creating a photo journal, almost like a photo blog, giving users a unique URL and provides the ability to share lightbox 'profiles' across social networks as well.

In my use of Lightbox, I find that it is both elegant and an overall highly polished experience for taking and sharing mobile pics.

Galaxy Nexus Review (on Verizon Wireless)

My journey to Google's Android mobile operating system started with the introduction of Google Voice a little over two years ago. I moved over from the iPhone and I have not looked back. I'm still a big time Apple fan and use Macs for nearly all of my personal and professional computer desktop/laptop use. I made the switch to Android with the introduction of the Nexus One and I have been loyal to the Nexus line of phones since their debut.

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Which Android Phone?

When asked about what cell phone to buy, I will either recommend an iPhone (now the 4S), or a specific device running Android. Depending upon what web services you use (if any) and your technical aptitude, generally points me to make a specific recommendation. I wrote a rather lengthy comparison just under a year ago that compares the iPhone to the Android platform and even though some things have changed, the general tone of the article remains the same.

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Did Jeff Bezos Just Take the Baton from Steve Jobs?

Admittedly, I'm a sucker for gadgets. In defense of my gadget addiction, I cling to the notion that pragmatism is closely aligned with my purchasing behavior. In other words, I do not buy a gadget simply to have something new to play with. So, when the Amazon Kindle was released four years ago, I ordered one because I thought that an e-ink device paired with the Amazon library was going to be a winning combination. While I had some criticism of the first version of the Kindle, I was an immediate fan. My biggest criticism was not around the product as much the Amazon distribution model, only being available on Amazon.com. Of course, since the first version was released, you can now buy a Kindle at Best Buy, Target and other retailers (great move). All of the sudden, I see Kindles everywhere.

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