This week on gdgt: Kindle Fire HDX, Momentum On-Ear, and Android gaming consoles
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch
Amazon really upped its tablet game this year, making the new HDX its best effort yet. Amazon completely redesigned the Fire, giving it a more angular aesthetic while also making it thinner. The new tablet features an eye-popping 1,920 x 1,200 full HD display that surprisingly doesn't take a big toll on battery life. The HDX runs the latest version of Amazon's Android skin, dubbed Fire OS 3.0 Mojito, which offers several new features and services, including Mayday: 24/7 video chat customer support. If you're already invested in Amazon's ecosystem, this is a great buy.
Buy from $229
Read reviews and more
Android home gaming consoles are pretty cheap, but are you buying them?
Despite the generally negative reception to home gaming consoles based on Google's Android platform, companies are continuing to pump them out. This week, Mad Catz announced its M.O.J.O., the next Android console in line to follow the OUYA and GameStick. Though these consoles are generally less pricey than their top-tier, next-gen siblings, would you buy one?
Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear
With the Momentum On-Ears, Sennheiser took the elements that made their over-ear set a success and put them into a smaller, cheaper package that still delivers great sound. Though the design is mostly the same, the On-Ears trade leather earcup coverings for soft fabric and an overall smaller profile that rests on the ears instead of over them. Though they won't block out outside noise as much as the regular Momentum headphones, they're just as comfortable and deliver the same great listening experience you expect from Sennheiser.
Buy from $229
Read reviews and more
Specifications for Valve's Steam Machine prototypes released
Last week, Valve announced the range of specs for its upcoming Steam Machines prototypes (which will be sent to 300 lucky participants). That range goes from mainstream to absurdly powerful, with the devices featuring Intel processors and NVIDIA GPUs. Valve will not only release the exact part numbers for its sourced components, but it will also release the electronic design files for the case so that consumers can, if they want, build an exact replica themselves. Given the specs, and the recent announcement of pricing for Xi3's designed-for-Steam Piston, is this something you're looking forward to buying (or building)?
Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker
The SoundLink Mini is designed to compete with Jawbone's Jambox. It's just as small (making it easy to throw in a bag) but significantly heavier, giving it a premium feel. Despite its size, the SoundLink Mini offers the excellent sound quality you've come to expect from Bose. At $199, it's more expensive than its competitors, but you certainly get what you pay for.
