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Jawbone now lets you link Mini Jamboxes -- if you happen to have two
As far as portable Bluetooth speakers go, Jawbone's Mini Jambox falls short of being our favorite; it's more expensive than the competition, without being significantly better. Given that, then, you might want to take this post with a grain of salt: The company just announced a new feature called Multiplay that allows you to turn the tiny Jambox into a stereo speaker. The catch? You need not one, but two of these $150 units to make it work (N.B.: They're priced at $130 right now, but only as a limited-time offer). Assuming you can pony up, or have a friend with the same speaker, you can send music from one to the other by holding down three buttons on the device. Or, you can play the same song through both at once, with the option to designate a right and left speaker, allowing for a wider soundstage. (The Mini already has a "LiveAudio" feature that does basically the same thing, except the effect is subtler.) Given the prohibitive cost, this is a fairly improbable setup for most folks. That said, if you happen to own the Mini, and have access to a second unit, you can enjoy the feature now through a free firmware update.
Portable audio deals of the week: 5.2.14
Let's face it. We all like music. If you're like those of us parked at Engadget HQ, you listen to hours of the stuff on a daily basis. This week, we're looking to help boost those audio experiences with Bluetooth speakers and both over-ear and in-ear headphones. Discounted items are ready to suit those listening preferences, so jump down past the break to take a gander. If there are other audio gadgets you're after that we haven't included here -- join us and add them to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut in the future, you'll get an email alert!
Portable audio deals of the week: 4.9.14
Sometimes you just have to march to the beat of a different drum. Or from that of a drum in your streaming library of choice. Either way, we've got a handful of portable audio options that could make said strides a bit more enjoyable. If fact, three of the four will tune out your surroundings entirely -- what's not to like about that? If there are other audio gadgets you're after that we haven't included here -- join us and add them to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut in the future, you'll get an email alert!
This week on gdgt: Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Jawbone's Mini Jambox, and iMessage issues
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.
Mini Jambox pre-orders start tomorrow
Most smartphone users are familiar with the fine quality of Jawbone's Bluetooth headsets, but they expanded into the speaker market in 2010 with a wireless speaker and speakerphone. The US$179.99 Jambox hit the market running in time for the holiday season and later the $299.99 Big Jambox was introduced. Now Jawbone delivers a smaller and more easily portable product. The 9 oz. Mini Jambox is available to order today on Jawbone's site and will appear in retail stores later in September. This $179.99 stylish Bluetooth speaker features a "single piece of extruded aluminum that makes up both the framework and the face of the speaker." It is airtight and uses two neodymium drivers and a passive bass radiator. The Bluetooth Mini Jambox includes 3.5 stereo input and a micro-USB port and cables are included. You can connect two devices at the same time and the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery offers about 10 hours of play time. In addition to nine eye-catching colors, the aluminum front is customized with different grill patterns, depending on which color you order. Unlike other speaker / speakerphones in this class, Jawbone offers a free iOS that lets you curate your playlists and customize the Talk button, including activating Siri.
Jawbone intros Mini Jambox Bluetooth speaker and a music-streaming app (hands-on)
When Jawbone came out with the Jambox back in 2010, the sales pitch was simple: here was a really loud Bluetooth speaker that was small enough to stuff inside a backpack when you wanted to have a dance party at the beach. (Okay, we're paraphrasing a little bit.) Three years later, though, "small enough to stuff in a backpack" isn't quite small enough. What about small enough to fit inside a suit pocket? Or a purse? That's the promise of the Mini Jambox, a $180 speaker announced today that's -- you guessed it -- even tinier than the original. If the idea of another Jambox seems redundant (as it did to us at first), Travis Bogard, VP of Product Management and Strategy, says you should think of it like a camera: "It's kind of like 'the best camera is the one you have with you." The idea is that you'll carry the Mini Jambox at all times, in the event you're, say, hanging out with a friend and decide to watch a movie together on a tablet. But if you mainly want something for home use, the Big Jambox will be the better choice. That leaves the original Jambox in a strange place: Bogard expects you'll use that at home too, even if you do occasionally trot it out for picnics in the park. You just wouldn't keep it on your person at all times; it's a little too large for that.
