Anonymous asked: Hey L - looking to get my Dad a speaker (or set of) that are compact and can be brought outdoors to play in the backyard. He just got an iPhone so I was thinking some speakers he could plug that into or that he could somehow connect to his stereo system inside. Any thoughts on what good options are out there for a good deal? He has a crappy iPod speaker but it super cheap and the sound quality is awful.
Help a Brotha out!
-Dan

Need portable speakers for iPhone 4 that are easy on the wallet? No problem! Here are my best picks ranging from the largest to smallest solution.

FiiO S9 Portable Speaker System

I have no personal experience with this system, but it is an excellent underrated performer according to this review of it.

Pros:

• Up to 15-hour playback on 4-AA batteries
• Can be powered from USB
• “Crisp and clear” sound
• Compact and portable design
• Probably the loudest out of the three listed

Cons:

• Some owners report sound to be tinny with almost no bass
• A little big to be running only on USB power or batteries

$30 @ Amazon

Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker

This round guy comes in fairly well-reviewed at 600+ Amazon reviews averaging 4.5 stars, and it’s currently the number one seller in speakers for mp3 players.

Pros:

• Long battery life with removable (AAA) batteries
• Can be connected to another Altec Lansing Orbit for stereo sound (cable not included)
• Comes with a case

Cons:

• Not chargeable through USB
• Short audio cable

$22 @ Amazon

XMI X-Mini II Capsule Speaker

This is the only speaker I’ve heard in person, and it’s quite impressive for something that fits in the palm of your hand. The middle expands to increase the bass response and depth of sound and it has a built-in battery that charges through USB. The audio cable is short which is a bit annoying, so his iPhone will have to stay near the speaker. This speaker performs best with vocals.

See it in action

Pros:

• Best looking ultraportable speaker in my opinion
• Up to 12 hours of battery life
• Smallest footprint (fits in your palm)
• Loud and decent bass for its size
• Can be daisy chained for more power!

Cons:

• Only chargeable through USB
• Probably need more than one
• Some reviewers say the unit is prone to breaking (the chord mostly)
• Probably need more than one if you’re outdoors
• Not as loud as the Altec Lansing Orbit
• Short audio cable

$22 @ Amazon

Alternative choice: iHOME iHM79BC Rechargeable Mini Speakers (Black, pair) -$44

The iHome iH79BC already come as a 2-speaker package that magnetically connect to each other at the base and are supplied with the cable to connect them together.

As for the solution for playing his music on his stereo while he’s outside, the Airport Express from Apple will do the job but I’ve never seen it in action. It’s also quite an expensive option if he’s only going to use a single function. It requires some configuration of his router, a headphone to RCA cable, and a the iTunes remote app (free). Lifehacker has a fairly long tutorial on how to turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into a multi-room wireless music remote.

$99 @ Amazon

Hope that helps!

- Louis

kn31s1 asked: I love your blog! :D Very original. Weren't you sad that Dibi left? I would keep her forever. haha

Thank you!

I’m not sad because Dibi was never meant to be a pet. Plus she was very needy for such a small bird. What would have been sad would be to see her perish under my care. It’s a bit of a relief but at the same time she was quite the character have around.

Anonymous asked: I want an eReader. Which kind of eReader should a person who wants an eReader get?

Hello Anonymous!

If you don’t have an iPod touch/iPhone, I’d suggest the Kindle 3 from Amazon ($139). It’s budget-friendly, feature-rich, and very portable. I did this write up just for you if you wanted to explore your options further: http://obsessionist.net/post/1459514337/e-reader-showdown-whats-the-best-e-book-reader-for

:)

e-Reader Showdown! What’s the best e-Book reader for me?

Having trouble deciding on what e-Reader would be best for you? There are over 50 e-Reader models out there and a lot of options to consider. The three major bookstores (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Borders) produce their own device and have their own book libraries that you can buy books from. I read over the specs of a bunch of models, looked at some reviews and came up with a list of e-Readers that best caught my eye and listed them in 3 price ranges. First up..

Budget Reader: Amazon Kindle 3 ($139 - $189)

This one really caught my eye as a feature-rich device at a great price point. I don’t like the looks so much but it probably looks better in person. Not only is it thin but it’s also one of the lightest models out there. Excellent in portability and has some cool accessories you can buy.

Notable features: 

• Kindle apps are available for your iPad/iPhone, Mac, Anrdoid phone, PC, and Blackberry so you can read your Kindle books on any device
• 6” screen (600x800 resolution)
• Lightweight (8.5 - 8.7 ounces)
• 3500 book capacity (4GB, no expandable storage)
• Free 3G Wi-Fi provided by AT&T with $189 model (for downloading books where Wi-Fi is not available)
• Battery life: 1 month with wireless off, 3 weeks with wireless on for non-3G model. Three weeks with wireless of and 10 days with wireless on for 3G model.
• Newer e-ink display technology with adjustable contrast (blacker blacks and quicker e-ink refresh times)
• Side-turning page buttons (now softer sounding) 
• Ability to change font size/typeface/spacing of words/words per line/screen rotation
• Ability to highlight/take notes like a real book
• Books auto-backed up online
• Readable formats: Kindle (AZW), PDF, TXT, MOBI, PRC, HTML, DOC 
  Does not support EPUB
• Recharge time 4.5 hours
• Comes in white or graphite

Runner up (for budget e-Reader): Barnes & Noble Nook ($149 - $199)

Cheaper option (for budget e-Reader): Borders Kobo ($120)

Mid-Range: Barnes & Noble Nook Color with Wi-Fi ($249) 

Think of this one as a budget color e-Reader that’s feature rich and will be running apps (like Pandora) from Barnes & Noble’s own app store. Though you can’t get apps from the Android market, they seem to run on the Nook just fine. Barnes & Noble wants this device to be perceived as one that extends the reading experience through applications and less of a multipurpose device.

Notable features: 

• Nook reader app available for iPad/iPhone, Android Phone, PC (not Mac), Blackberry
• 7” touchscreen (1024x600 resolution, 169 pixels per inch)
• Reduced glare coating for optimum brightness
• Backlit so you can read at night
• .5 inches thick
• 8GB internal memory + microSD slot
• Wi-Fi only (3G model not yet available)
• Claimed 8 hour battery life with wireless off
• 15.6oz (almost 1lb)
• Runs on Android (Behaves like a computer tablet but can’t run Android Store apps)
• Access to the 2+ million nookbooks in Barnes & Noble
• Access to over 100 color newspapers and magazines (including Conde Nast/Hearst)
• Interactive kids books
• Built-in accelerometer
• Adjustable text/fonts
• Ability to lend books to fellow Nook users with LendMe™
• Readable formats: EPUB, PDB, PDF 
  Does not support DOC, LIT, TXT, AMZ [Amazon], LRZ/LRX [Sony]
• Launches November 19
   

Baller Range: Apple iPad ($499 - $699)

If you really want an e-Reader that can read pretty much anything from PDFs to EPUB to Kindle’s AZW format, the iPad is where its at. It’s a full-featured tablet that is not only very easy to read on, but quite cool. However, it does feel less like an e-Reader since it doesn’t use e-ink for real book-like reading but it sure is more capable. And it should be for the price. I didn’t even list the 3G version of this because not only is it more expensive, but the service will set you back $15 to $25 a month from AT&T.

Notable features: 

• 16/32/64GB capacities
• 9.7 inch touchscreen (1024x768 resolution, 132 pixels per inch)
• Battery life: up to 10 hours
• Access to Apple’s iBook store, Amazon’s Kindle store, or Barnes & Noble’s Nook store. 
• Support for a very wide range of book formats if you download the right (free) apps (except Sony’s LRZ/LRX format)
• 1.5 lbs (heaviest option)
• Interactive kids books
• It’s an iPad! You know what it does

Notable Baller Range: Amazon Kindle DX ($379)

I had to give this a decent mention as well as it is the largest e-ink reader you can buy. It’d also be useful for reading textbooks if textbook publishers ever decide to produce more digital versions of their books (which they should). It also makes a great newspaper/magazine reader.

Notable features: 

• 9.7” display (824x1200 resolution)
• Free 3G wireless provided by AT&T
• Battery life: 2-3 weeks with wireless off, 1 week with wireless on
• 3500 book capacity (4GB, non-expandable)
• 18.9oz (About 1.1lbs)
• Readable formats: Kindle (AZW), PDF, TXT, MOBI, PRC
• Recharge time: 4 hours
• Zoom feature
• Ability to highlight, save sections/notes like a real book

So there you have it! E-book readers are THE way to read books. Note that all of them have the ability to play MP3s and display pictures if that’s a feature you’d like.  

Some people still enjoy having shelves full of books, but I personally like the convenience of carrying thousands of books around in a slim and portable device. Plus, there are millions of free books out there for you to enjoy if you really don’t want to pay to read some books.

I’ve opted to read books on my iPhone and I’ve had no eye strain issues (that I was aware of) from reading hours on end in the dark. I actually read the entire Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins in 5 days on the iPhone and it was quite enjoyable. With e-ink, you can’t read in the dark without additional lighting, but I do like how it looks. However, with older e-ink readers, turning pages took a second to materialize (the nature of e-ink) which I didn’t like so much. The Kindle 3 does a nice job at speeding it up and making reading even more enjoyable.

I must note that I didn’t list any Sony e-Readers because they didn’t seem to stack up as well to the Kindle 3 in features for their price. But, if you’re looking for a smaller e-Reader with expandable memory options, the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300 ($180) is an alternative that can be had for cheaper.

Question: My dog sheds like crazy! How do I control it?

What you need is the FURminator!

Listed at over $30 and nearly the MSRP of $60 at some pet stores, this highly reviewed pet grooming tool with over 2,800 5-star reviews on Amazon removes loose hair without damaging your dog’s topcoat. It reduces shedding up to 90% for about four to six weeks.

The video is quite impressive: http://amzn.to/8XF1qI

Luckily, it’s nowhere near that price on Amazon. Comes in three sizes. Do not get this if your dog does not have an undercoat because it won’t do much.

$23.99 @ Amazon.com

Anonymous asked: Preface: I missed my cousin's baby shower three months ago. The baby came out yesterday and I've yet to shower said cousin with a gift.

Question(s): If you were a newborn, what would you want as a gift? In the same line of questioning, if you were a first-time mother, what would you want as a gift?

Dear Anonymous,

If there’s one thing first-time mothers like doing more than anything it’s showing off their new baby, right next to being able to relax and get some sleep. But if I was a newborn, all I would want to do is sleep and eat.. in STYLE! Chances are that your cousin has already received all baby care essentials, but stocking up on some of them is more than welcome.

Consider starting with a gift like a baby cocoon from Etsy. Not only will they keep a newborn warm and cozy, but you can’t deny how attractive they look in something hand-made. Seeing as they are on the less-expensive side, you might want to follow up with a diaper bag ($64.99 - $79.95) from Amazon and even some diapers. New parents will certainly not want to come unprepared when it comes to diapers. I wouldn’t want to wallow around in my own mess for too long.

One thing I see parents and babies enjoying is this front-facing active baby carrier from Baby Bjorn ($129.99 - $149.99). If your cousin is even remotely active, this is a great way to take her baby around. There are different colors for that particular model, but there are also different styles that Baby Bjorn makes that you may want to check out. This is just the one style that caught my eye and will certainly catch the attention of others as well. Check them out at http://www.babybjorn.com.

For something around the house, this baby rocker by Fisher-Price ($72.99) is certainly essential to keeping a baby at peace when their mother wants a social nap time. There 8 songs and nature sounds programmed into the device in the front to sooth the baby. 

For something a little fancier, look to Target for the Peg Perego musical bouncer ($209.99). There are little bouncy animals that sit at the baby’s feet and you can plug in your mp3 player to play your own music over the built-in speakers. Best of all, it folds up super-flat for easy storage and transportation, and it transforms into a baby carrier. 

Finally, the gift I’d most definitely want as a baby would be a Sandy Snail chair rocker from Rockabye ($119.99). I don’t even have a child of my own, but I just want one for some reason. That newborn child might be too young for making use of this now but soon enough your cousin’s baby will be able to scurry around and play with more awesome toys, and these rocking chairs are surely awesome toys. Check out their website to see more of their designs like Ollie Octopus, Homer Baseball, Betty Butterfly, Bi-Plane and more.

I hope this helps you pick out the perfect gift for your cousin!

Sincerely,

Obsessionist

Wanted: Super-Cool Headphones with Decent Sound Quality.

dairam:

Preferably somewhere within the $50-$200 price range.

P.S. That, and I want to buy an external hard drive… Need to do my research…

In need of new headphones for a price that won’t break the bank? Check out the Denon AH-D1001K. Denon is a Japanese brand that produces a lot of high-end audio equipment and their headphones are often overlooked. Here are some features of the AH-D1001K:

• Impressive sound quality in lows, mids, and highs for all music types
• Strong bass (not overwhelming) with crisp detail
• Closed circumaural (over-the-ear design that does not leak out noise)
• Decent to good noise isolation
• Doesn’t need a headphone amp to shine
• Lightweight, compact design with soft ear pads
• Pleasing aesthetics
• 3.5ft cable length

Finding headphones that are worth their hype can be tough, but Denon makes it fairly easy. If you haven’t bought headphones yet, check it out and let me know what you think!

(Note: You’ll need to “burn in” the headphones for 25-100 hours by playing music at loud volumes to bring out the true sound characteristics in the headphones.)

$114.99 @ buy.com (lowest price from most reliable website. Don’t pay too much more than this as they are found below $100 at times!)