Since it’s back to school time it got me thinking how different things were back in my day. This may date me but when I was in high school we didn’t have MP3 players or cell phones…just beepers and the discman/ walkman. If you wanted your friend to listen to your mix tape (yeah I said it) or CD at school you had this awkward moment of ear cooties with your friend…and forget about portable speakers because back then I wouldn’t say they were exactly that portable (at least the affordable ones). Who wants to put that in your backpack on top of all the books we had to carry (b/c we didn’t have kindle back in 98′)?

Leap forward to 2010…I was sitting in my condo and I got a package from chicBuds which is a company that specializes in fashion forward electronics. The first little thing that stood out was the chicboom Keychain Speaker and immediately thought teenagers + back to school = genius ( AND why didn’t we have this when I was in HS school?!). In a world consumed of portable devices this seems like it would be ideal for any girl and it’s a key chain…how convenient and cool is that?! 

The small cubed key chain speaker is just over an inch by inch  in size. The faux leopard fur is wrapped around the casing of the speaker and the heart shaped speaker grill is bordered with rhinestones. It comes in pink or blue casing and includes a 3.5mm jack cord. The chicboom has a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery and has a battery life of 4 hours before it needs to be recharged. Cutegeek consumers can either charge chicboom Keychain Speaker via your PC’s USB port or an AC adaptor. The chicboom Keychain Speaker also has a power button located in the back and battery life indicator.

Truthfully I was a bit skeptical at first (obviously by my picture). I have reviewed allot of audio devices and chicboom Keychain Speaker aesthetically looked like it would deliver poor sound quality due to size. It was time for me to test out this little guy and see what it’s made of! I plugged it into the USB adaptor and charged away. After it was fully charged I simply plugged in my shuffle and cranked it up.

WHOA!

If that old saying great things come in small packages was true; I am here to report ladies that size doesn’t matter for the chicboom Keychain Speaker. It’s 2 watt amplified speaker was not only loud but clear as day with no distortion at all.

As usual I went on a mad hunt around the condo looking for anything with a 3.5mm jack I can stick this device into. I went to my blackberry first and tried it out…AGAIN superb sound quality. I then had an ingenious idea…I could use this for…wait for it…WORK!  Man I am a geek. Seriously I take notes weekly at our staff meeting with my livescribe and then listen back over the recording over and over and over again. It is so much easier to use a speaker and recap the notes then using earbuds (b/c anything in my ears seems intrusive).

Even though I am not into leopard print or the heart shape speaker with rhinestones; I was extremely impressed with the sound quality. It’s rare that you have an innovative product that is fashionable, hi-tech and delivers the sound quality of a larger product. The few things I suggest are that they have accessories made for the casing and more color options (for my queens:-)).

Personally, I have fallen in love with the chicboom Keychain Speaker! It retails for 24.99 and you can purchase it at chicboom Keychain Speaker.

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In this economy more and more folks are starting up their own businesses however what is cool about Samantha Sobota of Freq Industries is that she started it at the young age of 21. Below is my interview with Samantha and a little more information about her company Freq Industries.

-Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

One thing my friends would tell you is that I’m a workaholic. I dislike not working or having things to complete- I’m always up for a challenge!

I went to school for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Music and minor in Women’s studies. I planned to become a symphonic Tubist.

During my time in school I’ve been through all types of jobs- retail, warehousing, private teaching.

I dropped out in my 4th year to start Freq Industries and bring my dream products to life.

-How did you get started in technology, or at your current position?

I have been working with technology all my life with strong influence from my dad who, being an electrical engineer, loved to tinker with anything he could get his hands on

As a kid, I was always building something new- homemade gliders, remote controlled cars from scratch, custom train sets, boats, you name it- I tried to build it!

-Describe a “normal” day in your life.

Depends on what continent I’m on…

Asia- Running around meeting potential investors and business people- with the odd foot massage here and there. Then I’m off to hang out with some local friends relaxing with food, drinks and of course dancing!

Canada- Since Freq Industries founders don’t receive salary yet- we all make our own way while we are in Canada. So usually, I’ll be working a full time job during the day, emailing on breaks, and then home to work on Freq until I pass out.

-What’s your favorite aspect of working in technology?

Endless possibilities!

The idea of creating something that’s never been thought of and bringing it to the world in new and exciting ways

-What have been some of your challenges you faced, and how did you tackle or overcome them?

Being an Arts Student in a Business/Engineering world- Simply just worked my butt off until people realized that artists can solve big problems too.

Getting into business was a tough challenge. Convincing investors, business partners and even your own team that you have the courage and fortitude to go through with the toughest decisions. It takes time and I know that this is a battle i’ll be fighting for a while. But I’m always ready for new challenges and learning experiences

-Have you ever felt like you needed to hide your femininity or that fact that you were a female?

Not particularly- I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by people with whom gender isn’t the issue at hand.

I’m thankfully part of a really great group of people who are committed to creating new and interesting technology first, and who leave judgement for others. After a couple years studying Feminist Theory, I was afraid that I’d have to tone things down around men, but after some time in the field, I’m not afraid to be myself. Though I’ve learned to wear flats instead of heels for those long factory tours.

-What advice do you have for females interested in getting into your field?

Don’t be intimidated- most people out there want to help you. Don’t be afraid to try things you don’t know. The best way to learn is by throwing
yourself at a problem and doing your best to solve it. Help those around you- even if it slows you down. In the long run, you’ll be happier that you did.

-What’s one gadget you can’t live without?

I’d have to say my iPhone- though at the moment it’s out of commission. There isn’t something you CAN’T find an app for. As a musician and entrepreneur, it’s like a little sidekick I can call on at any time. It also helps to have a little Monopoly time out to take a break.

-Do you have a personal ‘mantra’ or certain words you live by?

Go big or go home. If you don’t give all opportunities a shot, you’ll never know what could have been.

-What drives you?

The people around me. I couldn’t do anything without the constant love and support I receive from my family, friends, and my fantastic partner, Amy.

I then asked her some questions that were not part of our template out of curiosity…

-How did you come up with the product/ design?

The base design of our flagship product was actually created by Eleven Engineering, to sell the concept of the technology- We took that and “pimped” it with some really awesome graphics and functions. The cool graphic designs on the headphones and speakers were created by Val Cox.

-How did you create company name and team members?

We had a few weeks of trying to find a name that had a ring to it and wasn’t already taken. A friend of the company calls me up and with one word we had the name- Freq. Our other founder happens to be an old friend of mine who came to mind when I started the company- I wanted to put together some young, talented and driven people and that’s what I got.

-When does your product launch?

We are targeting an August Product Launch. The product is wireless 2.4 ghz technology with multiple receivers. With an iPOD/ iPhone transmitter it can be received by 10 meters with room full of people or 30 meters with the USB transmitter.

-Who created the website?

I actually created the company website with an iWeb Apple application.

-What is the “Bands” tab on your website; Bands that use your products or just bands you’re a fan of?

We made an agreement to promote the Bands by playing their music on the Freq Industries speaker system and headphones at their product demos plus they are new and upcoming Canadian artists.

This concludes my interview with Samantha Sobota! You have to admire her passion and work ethic! Down the road I hope to review the below products that she will be launching in late summer.

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Ever had a moment when you want your friends to hear a song you have on your shuffle and oh snap you don’t have speakers with you?! Fear not my fellow music lovers! I recently got the Tune Bug Vibe and instantly fell in love with it’s sleek design! I love any technology or kitchen appliances with brushed metal and the Tunebug Vibe has a nice small brushed metal housing case.

When I unboxed the Tunebug Vibe I was pleasantly surprised; it came with a USB charging cord! NICE! I love when you can charge your devices with USB and not have to deal with AAA or AA batteries!

After I charged and plugged it into my shuffle I tried it on different surfaces around my condo (like a huge geek). I noticed that with the larger wooden surfaces the sound was much louder than my kitchen’s marble surface. I believe just like the larger speakers with the wooden casing it just sounds better acoustically on wood surfaces.  Even though the Tunebug Vibe is tiny the sound boast the quality of a larger speaker. Per my picture below you can see the speaker is definitely small (yet powerful!).

I tried it with my shuffle, my HP Glisten Smart Phone, and 3 different Notebooks one of course being a Macbook. At first I had trouble with my Macbook (I am not going to lie) however after going into the sound menu on my Macbook it worked perfectly fine. If you looking for a small yet stylish speaker for your portable devices the Tunebug Vibe is made for you!

Below are the specs and more information about the Tunebug Vibe…

Specifications:

Size And Weight
Dimensions: 2.3”x1” (58.5mm x 25.4mm)
Weight: 5.3oz. (150g)
Connectivity: 3.5mm audio jack
Power And Battery
Battery type: LiPoly (450mAH)
Playtime (5 hours)
Charging cable (USB to 3.5mm)

Includes:

Tunebug Vibe
USB charging cable
Sound Base/case
3.5mm audio cable

Price: $69.99
Website: www.tunebug.com

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I was itching for new products to review.  I know it’s been a while since I have posted a review on cutegeek.com and it was about time to get back in the game (especially with the holidays and CES fast approaching).

The first product I got in the mail was some JBL Duet II speakers.  If someone told me 10 years ago I would be excited about getting a speakers shipment I would not believe them…Yet I was excited when I got the JBL Duet II multimedia two piece speaker system package (also bummed I would HAVE to return them). 

The package was rather small and very light weight for speakers.  At first I thought…damn I got my neighbors package instead of a new toy to test out. I am not going to lie, I questioned if I open it (I honestly would never have but sometimes the thought of being a rebel is thrilling).  Then in a rather ingenious (not really) moment I looked down on the label and realized…oh wait IT IS addressed to me. NICE!

I set up my Sony HD Webbie and got ready to un-box and record my new little speakers (that again I have to return in a week…you know it does sting a little every time). I also set up my coffee table with my shuffle, Mac, and PC so I could test them immediately after the un-boxing.  See full un-boxing youtube here.

So what’s the skinny on the speakers Nina?  For starters they are 10 inches in height and 4 inches in diameter.  The frequency response is 80Hz- 20Hz, input impedance is 3k Ohms, and signal-to-noise ratio is 60dB.  They are compatible with Macs, PCs, MP3 devices and any devices with a 3.5mm audio jack.  The power and volume control are located on the top of one of the speakers (don’t forget to turn them on!)

They have a black and silver exterior and the set up was pretty simple.  Basically plug one JBL speaker into the other; plug the main component into your device and plug in the power adaptor.  DONE!  Frankly that is the way speakers should be; easy to use and simple to install. 

I tried it first on my PC and BAMMO I was jammin’ out (and possibly dancing around my condo); they were pretty loud considering their size.  I didn’t know what to expect when I did the un-boxing but I was pleasantly surprised! These bad boys were pretty loud and in fact I almost had to turn them down…I said ALMOST!

Next I tested them out on the Mac; again just by simply plugging them into the 3.5mm audio jack.  Success!  They sounded just as great as they did on the PC!  Now was the test; I busted out my lil’ pink shuffle and plugged it in.  I realize that it’s simply a shuffle and does not have the same amount of power as a PC but there was a huge difference in sound.  It sounded great do not get me wrong but not nearly as powerful as when it was plugged into the Mac or PC.

For their price point of around $99.00 USD I believe the JBL Duet II Speaker System is a great deal; just don’t expect them to sound the same with smaller and less power devices.  They are small in size and light weight; perfect for a portable system.

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When I was going away to college in 2003, I purchased a pair of $20 speakers from Radio Shack. I knew I needed to buy something because I like to do everything with music on – clean, homework, shower, etc. I didn’t test it out in the store but the representative guaranteed they would be good.

They were. They were great actually – the bad part was that they were freaking ugly and had long wires that made them impossible to hide, or blend in with anything in my Winnie the Pooh decorated college dorm.

Times have changed and so has my opinion on sound quality.

I am a fan of good sound and appreciate when it’s around me. My first car had a Bose speaker system (Boy do I miss it!), I always travel with my Links Audio Noise Cancellation headphones and I work out using a pair of wireless Jaybirds (that are ultra comfy and functional). I can recognize good sound which is why I was blown away by Logitech’s Pure-Fi Express Plus speaker dock.

Logitech is a common name in homes with computers, webcams, etc, but up until recently I never listened to music through their speakers I received their Pure-Fi Express Plus speaker dock and can say, being the experienced listener that I am, that the brains behind this system went the extra mile.

I’ll start with how it looks. It’s very sexy. All black. Digital display. Round, silver, shiny volume, right in the middle and it comes with a tiny remote that can easily be stored in the back. The place where the remote is placed in the back can also be used as a handle to convert the dock into a portable one. It came with only one black wire and is very light.

It’s an iPod dock and an alarm clock. Most iPods and iPhones are compatible with the device, if not through the dock through an input. I was upset that it didn’t have the option to listen to the radio because I love doing that, especially 87.7 (Pulse in NYC), but I quickly got over it.

I got over it because I was able to set up the time and start listening to my iPod in minutes. I got on my elliptical and started using the remote to test its limits. The sound quality was amazing and the best part was that no matter what way you have the speakers facing, the sound does not change. It is designed to give you a ‘surround sound’ feel, at least that’s the first thing that came to mind – its mini surround sound-ish. Instead of having the front with that that net-like thingie (i’m not sure what the right terminology is – sowwies), the whole thing is surrounded. Despite it being surrounded, it doesn’t feel fragile, or as if you’ll poke a hole in it (Remember growing up with those huge speakers with the covers…I definitely poked a couple of holes into my moms…oh well).

The speaker is very light and because I currently don’t own a shower radio I had it join me in the bathroom a couple of times. It was the best thing ever. I was literally in a club as I washed my hair. For those of you that sing in the bathroom and know that the tiles are what actually make you sound better – they made the speakers sound like a top of the line NYC meatpacking district club.

I used the alarm and despite being a narcoleptic that can sleep through war, I quickly woke up to it. I made sure to place it at least 10 feet away from me, because I have the tendency of smacking or disconnecting anything that attempts to wake me (yes, both electronic and human). I am an extremely heavy sleeper and most noises make me sleep better…this woke me up though. I didn’t feel like banging it on a wall though so it wasn’t as annoying as you may be thinking now – the sound it uses works. It’s my Monday morning alarm – the most important one I can’t afford to miss because then I miss my flight to work!

For only $99.99 – this speaker is a steal. Although I am a Bose fan, I would recommend buying this instead of their iPod dock. Try it out and you’ll see for yourself, the brains behind this definitely worked some overtime. (I tried creating a little demo of it, but it does not exemplify the sound quality of the speakers. They’re on display in most Apple Stores I’ve visited so check them out there if you want to see for yourself. Enjoy the Blair Witch-ish demo.)

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