By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: YES, WE ARE GIVING AWAY 3 $129 JAWBONE ERA HEADSETS ON MARCH 31st. Details below. Don’t forget about our other ongoing contests and prize giveaways like the BlueAnt Q2 Bluetooth Headset and Wacom Bamboo Fun prize!  Remember that our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up.  We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email.  No more, no less, zero spam!  That’s a promise!  We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be  on the list.

Jawbone Brings Us A New ERA

Hands Free

The Jawbone ERA In A Box

Ah… the joys of being hands free.  When speaking on your mobile handset that is.  We all know that as we’re zipping around from point A to point B in our favorite vehicle, we don’t want to be caught holding our beloved communication devices to our ears, lest we get slapped with a ticket by our protectors of the peace.  So, what to do if we want to have a conversation without holding our mobile phones?  Simple.  Don a stylish earset and chat to your heart’s content.  All while complying with the law and being safe drivers – or at least appearing so.  It seems that the simple act of talking on the phone while driving is enough to distract us and make us more prone to reckless driving.  So, you’ve been warned.

It’s A New Year

Last year, Jenna gave away a handful of her favorite 2010 Bluetooth accessory, the Jawbone ICON. But it’s a new year, and look what the folks at Jawbone just unveiled. We all know that despite the warnings, we want to be able to talk, when we want, where we want.  And how better to do that than with Jawbone’s latest Jawbone ERA Bluetooth earset.  Listing for $129.00, it may not be the cheapest headset on the market but it looks awesome and works quite well.  Jawbone is long known for it’s ever expanding line of Bluetooth headsets and the ERA is the latest in the series, following the popular ICON and Prime units.  Available in four styles, the ERA offers some stylish choices.  From the  Shadowbox (black metal), Smokescreen (brown copper), Midnight (black over a red background), and Silver Lining (silver over a white background).  We got to try to try the Silver Lining one… after all, every cloud has one and here at MRT, we celebrate optimism.

The Jawbone ERA Unboxed

So just how small is this bad boy.  Well, the ERA is small, albeit a bit taller than the ICON, measuring 2″ long, 0.6 inches wide and a tad under an inch thick. Similar to it’s ICON cousin, the ERA has a single multi-function button for answering, ending and switching between calls. By default, pressing and holding the button initiates voice dialing, but it can also trigger MyTalk apps.  To control the volume, simply press and hold the button during a call or other audio playback.  This will slowly cycle the volume up and down.  Release the button when the volume is right.  If you prefer, you can also adjust the volume directly from your phone. The only other hardware is an On/Off slider switch.  Overall, it’s a very stylish and smooth design.

A Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On

The ICON (predecessor) & ERA In The Palm Of Jenna's Hand

So what makes this different from the ICON? The ERA introduces an additional control mechanism thanks to a built-in accelerometer.  This enables using a gesture that Jawbone calls “TapTap”—a double-tap anywhere on the device’s exterior.  This mimics the basic functionality of the hardware button: you can answer, end and switch between calls with a quick tap-tap. You can also achieve the same results by shaking the headset, as long as the ERA isn’t in your ear. This is essentially a gesture Jawbone has christened “ShakeShake”, followed by a quick insertion of the Era into your ear.  This is equivalent to a TapTap or a button press.

What else can you do?  Use the accelerometer to enter Bluetooth-pairing mode by performing a quadruple shake (a double-ShakeShake).  Note  that the first time you turn on the ERA, it automatically enters pairing mode, so no shaking is necessary.

Both the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and the Verizon iPhone 4 easily paired with the ERA.  Other actions such as activating the spoken summary of your battery’s remaining talk time or redialing the most-recently called number can only be activated with a button press, instead of a shake or tap.

The Jawbone ERA... So Stylish In Jenna's Delicate Hands

While the accelerometer-based controls might seem gimmicky, they were actually easy to get used to.  Even so, the ICON’s button were easy to access or press but the flexibility was appreciated. In fact, the ERA’s tapping gesture offers several  unexpected benefits. First, if you happen to have longer hair, you’ll find that tapping is actually faster than moving your hair out of the way to find the ERA’s physical button. Second, by using a gentle tap instead of a button press, you don’t risk jostling the ERA out of your ear. Keep in mind that tapping too hard on a device that’s inserted in your ear can be loud.  The good news here is that gentle taps also work well.

Of course, with small footprints come some compromises.  For example, the ERA’s control system, such as the power switch, can be difficult to access when the device is already in your ear so you may be forced to remove the ERA in order to turn it on and off. Another item of note is that the iPhone seems to need an extra two seconds to enter Voice Control mode when triggered from the ERA.

Like the the other product lines, the ERA comes with an assortment of eartips and an earloop.  The variety allows for mixing and matching that eventually should lead to a snug, comfortable fit.  The plastic earloop is helpful for keeping the ERA extra secure in the ear.

How Much Time?

So, how long can you actually use the ERA without recharging?  Jawbone claims a battery life of 5.5 hours of talk time or up to 10 days of standby time.  This seems to be consistent with our findings as well.  Note that when you first open the box, you’ll need 30 minutes to charge the ERA 80% of the way, and another 30 minutes to top it off. The ERA charges via a micro-USB port; you can use the included AC charger or any powered USB port. There is also a very short USB-to-micro-USB cable included in the package.

Can You Hear The Quality?

Surprisingly enough, while the accelerometer is innovative and cool, the ERA’s single biggest improvement over its predecessors is its noticeably superior audio quality. The ERA actually features a true wideband speaker that’s 25 percent larger than the Icon’s without impacting the ergonomics of the earpiece.  The earnest also uses Jawbone’s NoiseAssassin® technology for both inbound and outbound audio.  This automatically adjusts volume and equalizer settings, catering them to your current audio environment.  Don’t believe it?  Welcome to NoiseAssassin… listen for yourself:

The result is that calls, music and YouTube audio all sound impressively clear with the ERA. It seems that the results are just as
good on the other end of phone calls, where people reported that they could hear well also. In fact, many callers indicated that I sounded better with the ERA than when switched to the phone’s built-in microphone.

Just like the ICON, the ERA can connect with Jawbone’s MyTalk service, which lets you add Audio Apps and DialApps. (AudioApps customize the spoken voice that announces battery-status updates and the like; DialApps replace the “hold down the main button” voice-dialing functionality with 411 services, transcribed texts and status updates, and more). New for the ERA is a Caller ID app that speaks the full names of your callers, instead of just their phone numbers. The app uses high-quality recordings of your contacts’ names whenever possible for better audio.

The ERA also successfully paired with a MacBook Pro and iPad, essentially working like a one-ear Bluetooth headphone.  You can listen to iTunes, Skype and other audio without difficulty.

The Specs

List Price: $129.99

Reality Grade: A

More information on the Jawbone ERA

We’re Giving Away 3 Jawbone ERAs!

Finally… At MyRealityTech, we like to share the goods and you like to get the goods.  So, in the spirit of generosity, we are giving away 3 Jawbone ERAs to 3 lucky subscribers!

The Rules:

We’ll keep it simple.  Tell us why the the Jawbone ERA would enjoy a spot in your ear.  You have 3 options to enter:

1) Post a comment below.

2) Comment and Like us on Facebook.

3) Follow us and Tweet about this on Twitter.

As you can see, we are giving you many chances to win.  The winners will be chosen randomly at the end of March… that’s March 31st, 2011.  Enjoy the contest and giveaway!  As always, be sure to follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more exclusive opportunities to win great prizes!

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways like the BlueAnt Q2 Bluetooth Headset, the CES SWAG giveaway and exciting passes to exclusive events!  Remember that our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up.  We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email.  No more, no less, zero spam!  That’s a promise!  We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be  on the list.

Samsung's Bigger Galaxy 10.1

As you know, MyRealityTech’s very own Jonathan Long is currently taking in all the latest news in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress thanks to Samsung’s generosity and our very own Jenna’s kindness.  While we eagerly await Jonathan’s vendor interviews and goodies, we felt compelled to share at least one juicy tidbit that came out of the first day.  It seems Spain may be a bit too much fun.

It’s A Bigger Galaxy

Samsung started off the day by announcing it’s successor to their first great Android Tablet, known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1.  So what’s the big deal?  Well, unlike the former 7 inch older sibling, the 10.1 will now run an unadulterated version of Android Honeycomb.  That’s right… that means no customization or TouchWiz UI.  Furthermore, what Samsung device would be worthy of the distinction without featuring the goods?  In this case, that means a 10.1-inch TFT display with a 1280 x 800 resolution and a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor.  Want more?  How about either 16GB or 32GB capacity along with a 2MP front facing camera and a 8MP rear facing camera?

Galaxy Tab 10.1 Front View: So Much Resolution!

Lest we forget, what would a tablet be these days without connectivity?  Here, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with b /g /n Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.  The new Galaxy Tab will also support 1080p video playback at 30 frames per second and record 1080p video at 24 frames per second. For audio, it will have a dual-speaker surround sound system.  Of course, the 10.1 Tab will also include a gyroscope, accelerometer, digital compass and proximity sensor.  Measuring in at 0.4-inches thick and weighing just under 1.25 pounds, the new tablet may be a bit bigger but should be portable just the same.

So, the big question is when can you get your hands on one of these babies?  Although, launching on the Vodafone network sometime in March in Europe, Samsung has not said when it will ship in the United States or which operator will support it.  Samsung is also remaining silent on price, only saying that it will be competitive.  Rumors indicate that at $800, it should be priced similarly to the Motorola Xoom when it comes out.

Is It A Xoom, A Galaxy Or Something Else?

Admittedly, the 10.1 Tab Samsung Galaxy is very similar to Motorola Xoom, LG G-Slate and Next-Gen Toshiba Tablet.  In fact, it should be difficult to differentiate one model from another since they all run Honeycomb, have a 10.1-inch screen and sport Tegra 2 processors.  So, not unlike their mobile phone counterparts, it’s the subtle differences between models that will potentially attract buyers based on their preferences.  For example, the Toshiba Tablet Honeycomb has removable batteries (others do not) and the LG G-Slate will sport 3D recording and playback functionality.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 Rear View: Say Cheese!

Not Standing Still

As we all know, the original Galaxy Tab launched in America in November.  Not standing still, at November’s CES, Samsung already announced the upcoming 4G Galaxy and Wi-Fi Galaxy Tabs, both of which are expected to ship in Q2.  Ensuring that all bases are covered, Samsung also announced it’s Windows 7-powered Sliding PC 7 Series at CES which is also expected to ship in March.  My only question is… why all the choices?  In the end, somebody is going to be left holding the proverbial bag.  After all, there are only so many gadgets a consumer will bear.

Hungry For More?

Rest assured, this information is only the tip of the iceberg.  Expect to hear much more about Samsung and all the other vendors gracing the halls at Mobile World Conference.  There is a lot to report and we, like you, are hungry to hear much more from Jonathan… if he can only take a break from all the fun events to absorb and document what’s going on.

For more information please visit Samsung

So, do you think there are too many tablets rearing their heads in the market?  Do you have any preferences?  Sound off and share your thoughts!  We always love to hear from you here at MRT and welcome all your comments and insights.  As always, be sure to follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more exclusive opportunities to win great prizes!

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways such as Jenna’s Holiday Extravaganza, upcoming Apple MacBook Air and exciting passes to exclusive events! Our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up. We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email. No more, no less, zero spam! That’s a promise! We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be on the list.

Meet the world's most expensive headphones

The Conundrum

Such a conundrum. What makes the ultimate birthday present for the technology diva who practically has everything… many times more than one? Well, the MyRealityTech Team loves their fearless leader and we would like nothing more than to deliver a gift that Jenna can enjoy day after day. So what are we to do? Well, we went ahead and asked around. Her answer may surprise you. Of all the expensive things she’s used to, a cool set of Pioneer HDJ-2000 Reference Professional DJ Headphones makes her eyes light up with delight and anticipation. After all, anyone who knows Jenna also understands how passionate she is about music and song. For those times when others may not want to be sharing in her passion, a good set of headphones are a necessity to keep everyone happy.

Considering all the different high quality headphones in the market provided by such manufacturers as Sony, Panasonic, Sennheiser, Bose, Grado and Koss, it can be easy to forget that Pioneer has long been known for being among the best DJ headphone creators. So why not settle for the very best?

These days we can find wired as well as wireless variations (radio, Bluetooth, infrared) but any true audiophile knows that to get the best quality sound, wired is still the way to go. So what about the HDJ-2000 Headphones? Well, if you ask Pioneer, this baby has the high sound quality demanded by the consummate professional DJ. Featuring a driver unit made with a diaphragm of the best material and optimal thickness, a voice coil for good balance from bass to treble and a large, 2″ diameter high flux magnet, the HDJ-2000 Pro headphones catch dance music beats needed for DJ performances. That would certainly include catching bass drum lows and treble highs. Regarding comfort, Pioneer has that covered as well. These headphones sport superior sound insulation provided by carefully selected materials and ear pads that deliver a tight seal. So, if you want to enjoy clear reproduction of mid to high sound ranges with subtle nuances, you’ll be able to – whether you’re a demanding audiophile or a professional doing studio work.

But that’s not all. Besides a snug fit, the headphones are comfortable even for long periods of wear:

• Made with a soft touch. The HDJ-2000’s flexible protein leather has a soft, natural feel is used for ear pad/head pad surfaces that touch the skin.
• Snug fit. Low-rebound urethane foam is used inside the ear pads and head pad. Designed to fit over the shape of the head, maintaining comfort even in long sessions.
• Minimized stress on the head, ensuring comfortable DJ play with magnesium alloy components are used for the main body for both light weight and durability.

How about durability you ask? These are built to last a long time. With an improved design of the DJ headphone plug and and connecting parts joining the main body and the cable, the construction is robust enough to withstand professional use. The removable Mini XLR connector also makes it easy to replace the cable if it breaks. These headphones also sport a new I-type hinge structure for functionality and design which accomplishes a natural, comfortable fit in the hands. How about looks? As we all know, Jenna loves her technology to be both superior and beautiful. Well, the headphone’s ear pads have a spun finish aluminum ring that matches the design of Pioneer CDJ player play/cue buttons, for a simple and stylish design.

Additional Features:

• Folding headphone: It folds into a compact configuration for easy carrying.
• Carry pouch: It comes with a pouch for carrying.
• Swivel mechanism: The housing turns 90 degrees for more convenient single-ear, on-shoulder and various other monitoring styles. It automatically goes back to the original position after it is swiveled.
• Click mechanism: It clicks into place to prevent inadvertent rotation or folding of the headphones during use.
• MONO/STEREO switch: Ensures monitoring even with single-ear monitoring.

MSRP: $349.00

Swarovski Edition: $2,400

For more information: Pioneer

Now for the runners-up:

Dr Dre Beats by CrystalRoc

Audio Technica Crystal PRO700 By CrystalRoc

So, what do you think? Obviously we’d love to get the diva her bling, but we’re not as fortunate to have deep pockets like she does. So do these headphones make the perfect birthday gift for our gorgeous Editor-In-Chief? Could this mean that Jenna may have aspirations to add “Professional DJ” to her illustrious list of ventures? Should we go with Jenna’s recommendation or is there a better option? What would you recommend? Sound off with your input. We always love hearing from you. Why… who knows? You may end up convincing us of a diferent way to go! But don’t wait too long… January 3 is right around the corner and Jenna wants to hear her music!

And don’t forget, we will be announcing details on the MacBook Air giveaway very soon. In order to avoid any conflict with our current giveaways such as the Dyson Ball and the Jenna’s Holiday Extravaganza (10 great gadgets in 1 giveaway!), we are planning to award the MacBook Airs toward the end of the Holiday Season. Details will soon be announced. For now, you may want to get a head start and follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook if you have not already done so. As with all our other contests, a substantial number of prizes will be awarded via these two avenues, so it always pays to follow us!

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways such as Jenna’s Holiday Extravaganza, upcoming Apple MacBook Air and exciting passes to exclusive events! Our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up.  We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email. No more, no less, zero spam! That’s a promise! We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be  on the list.

MyRealityTech & NEC Representing At CES

At MyRealityTech, we are looking forward to CES and having our very own Foster Scott & Brittney Wilson represent us and press some flesh while they learn about all the latest and greatest in consumer technology.

There is so much to see at CES that 3 days probably won’t do it justice.  One of the vendors we will be making sure to check out this year will be NEC.  Evidently, they are entering the Android tablet market with a dual screen tablet computer which they will be featuring at the January International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Word has it that the new tablet will be based on the LifeTouch model that NEC recently showed off in Tokyo last month. While that device had a single 7-inch touch screen with its focus as an access device for cloud-based services, the new tablet will feature 2 7 inch screens.  This will enable users to view different information on each screen and will also have the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G cellular.

Here’s a video of the single screen model to give you an idea of it’s functionality:

Oh, The Possibilities

NEC will plan to offer the new tablet to consumers by way of service providers that will bundle their online service with the device.  As for where you can expect to see the device… think healthcare, logistics, e-books… the possibilities are really very vast.  Just think about how a single screen device like the iPad has been widely adopted.  Well, imagine being able to view a full screen movie or TV show while you’re surfing the web.  Ahhh… the joys of multi-tasking!

But lest you think that’s all NEC is up to, how about an Android netbook with a physical keyboard? NEC will also be launching that at the show.  Sounds like good stuff.  We’re sure that Foster and Brittney will bring back lots of pictures and cool videos so stay tuned!

The International Consumer Electronics Show will take place from January 6 to 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Learn more about NEC

Tell us what you think about NEC’s new Android-based dual screen tablet device.  Do you think it has a chance in this competitive tablet market?  You know that we always love to hear from you.

And don’t forget, we will be announcing details on the MacBook Air giveaway very soon. In order to avoid any conflict with our current giveaways such as the Dyson Ball and the Jenna’s Holiday Extravaganza (10 great gadgets in 1 giveaway!), we are planning to award the MacBook Airs toward the end of the Holiday Season. Details will soon be announced. For now, you may want to get a head start and follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook if you have not already done so. As with all our other contests, a substantial number of prizes will be awarded via these two avenues, so it always pays to follow us!

By: Jenna Gonzalez (Editor In Chief)

Staff Note: Dec 31, 2010 This contest is now officially closed. We would like to offer a massive congratulations to our winners below! You all have been chosen randomly based on the rules. You have 30 days to respond to the confirmation emails we sent your way. Failure to confirm & sign off on all points will result in immediate disqualification, and as such, a new winner(s) will be chosen based on the rules. We would like to thank the following wonderful peeps involved in this extravaganza. Alan, Kortney & Lauren (Sony rocks!), Todd, Joseph, James (who doesn’t like storage? haha), Rebecca, Michael E (You’re the shiniest Apple!), Michael S, and everyone else we forgot to mention. We couldn’t have done this without you so THANK YOU! To everyone who participated in good fun, we thank you as well. Don’t worry, we have lots and lots of fun giveaways each month!

Lucky Winners:

Philip K. of Baltimore, MD

David S. of Westchester, NY

Joyce W. of Atlanta, GA

Dan F. of Joliet, IL

“Sleighbells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight. Walking in a winter wonderland”. Ahh yes, the wonderful holidays are upon us again! For some, it’s just another season, but for most of you like myself, it’s a time of magic, peace and love. Three reasons why the holidays, to me, are the most beautiful time of the year. This holiday season in particular, is a very special one for me. Not only because it’s a time to reflect on all the blessings in my life, such as my loving family & faithful friends…but also because MRT completes a full circle from the little-blog-that-could a little over a year ago, to the tour de force that it is today. Here at MRT, we’ve quickly become known for spreading a little love and cheer every now and then through our fun contests and amazing giveaways. However, this holiday season, and in celebration of our unofficial one year anniversary, I wanted to do something extra special for you, our fans. Today, it is my honor and privilege to announce the first MRT Holiday Gift Extravaganza!

People say my life is one big Christmas spectacular. Although that statement is far from the truth, if you count all the great gadgets I get to play with, the happy fans I’ve had the joy of giving prizes to, the geeky events I got to go to and the good folks I’ve met and have become friends with…then yes, I suppose you could call every day a holiday! To further celebrate our amazing year, I’ve decided to round up some of my personal favorite things from this year. Things big and small that have changed, awed, mystified, endeared, tickled and blown me away. Things that mean something to me and truly make my nerdy life a joy to live. You have all been so kind and welcoming towards MRT and myself this past year, that I’ve decided to share with you my favorite things of 2010 while taking you on a bit of a journey through my year. By sharing… I mean REALLY sharing! In the spirit of the MRT Giveaways, four very lucky fans will not only get one, two, a few or several of my favorites. No, four fans will receive EVERYTHING on my list! So without further adieu, I present to you Jenna’s Favorite Things!

64 GB Apple iPad ($699)

I'm not giving away the Crystal Roc version, but it sure is nice to look at isn't it?

Nothing, absolutely nothing in the tech world produced more buzz than the Apple iPad since the start of the year. So it only makes sense that I would choose this as my first favorite thing. As one of the few people who got this baby first, I can tell you that it has become my primary device for just about every task. In fact, I loved it so much that we gave away 14 of these earlier this year right here! Sure, a lot of competitors have popped up. Some good, some that need more work. But right now, no one can touch the ingenuity, style and awesome life-changing potential of this favorite thing of mine.

Flip Mino HD 8 GB ($299)

You can go nuts with your own personal designs

At the Mercedes Benz Spring Fashion Week in NYC, I had to be on my very best A-game. With all my designer friends in attendance and models flying down the sparkling runways, I needed a documenting gadget that was both powerful, compact and stylish. That’s where the Flip Mino HD came into play. Not only did I get to take lots of video in cool HD, but I also got to decorate it on their website with my own designs. I loved it so much, I even took it with me on my Spring trips to Japan and Brazil where it went through a lot of play!

64 GB Zune HD ($349.99)

I'm a sucker for good hardware

Also in the Spring, I went on a cross country trip to San Diego, LA, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Houston on a whirlwind media trip. Not only did I have a grand time, but I got to meet so many cool people in the tech, fashion & broadcasting industries. But all that traveling meant lots of hours spent in transit. That’s where my Zune HD came in very handy. Although the updated iPod Touch came out a few months later (which I do love), what I really like about the Zune HD for me is the Zune Pass which gives me unlimited access to literally millions of songs that I can stream to all my Microsoft devices. What I love the most about it though… like the Flip Mino, the appearance is totally customizable. Now that’s entertainment and style rolled in one!

1 TB Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive Superspeed USB 3.0 ($159.99)

Strong, handsome and dependable. What's not to like?

When my Vivienne Tam Butterfly Netbook was stolen at a theater in North Carolina in July, I was devastated. I had a lot of documents, photos, videos, powerpoint presentations & spreadsheets that were lost forever. Having so many gadgets all at once requires a lot of file transfers from place to place. If you’re like me, you know the importance of a good external hard drive. With the Iomega Portable Hard Drive with Superspeed USB 3.0, I have a super combination of style (I have the ruby red), storage (1 Terabyte) and protection (Iomega Drop guard Xtreme & Protection Suite Software + Power Grip Band). Nowadays, you can never be too careful with your data. Even if you don’t have as many computers, I still recommend having a portable hard drive to protect your most precious documents and memories. A word of caution though…make sure it’s also pretty

HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One D410a Printer ($249.99)

This is one slick sexy, tool I don't mind stroking. Talk about an All-in-One!

Anyone who’s ever worked in an office environment can tell you some harrowing stories of horror involving the dreaded company printer. Well, when you’re constantly running around at work like I do, you’ll probably appreciate the value of a solid, reliable printer that works like a breeze… no fuss, no muss. So most printers today are multitaskers. They print, scan, copy, etc. But what I love about my HP Envy D410a isn’t all that. Nope. The sleek, low profile, compact style is great. I just love the e-print function that allows me to print anything wirelessly from any phone, even from across town! Plus did I mention it’s the worlds first pvc-free printer? You know I’m all about the eco-friendly. You should too.

ZAGGfoam ($19.99)

Only squeaky clean toys get playtime with me

Being a germ-freak isn’t a bad thing. So when you’re faced with the fact that the average cellphone contains more germs than a toilet, you really have no choice but to do the right thing. That’s why you’ll never find me anywhere without a can of my favorite gadget cleaner. The thing that sets the ZAGGfoam apart from those pesky wipes is the sheer coolness factor of the quick-drying foam covering your device. At first I was worried that it would soak my phones, but it didn’t! Just spray, wipe and watch 99.9% of bacteria & skin oils go away. Oh and since one can lasts up to 80 days, being a germ-freak doesn’t have to cost that much after all. They say cleanliness is next to godliness. In that case, this might actually be my favorite thing on the list!

Sony Cybershot TX5 ($329.99)

This bad boy works beautifully when wet

This summer, I got to enjoy my first real family vacation in four years (yes, I really work that much). Spending a whole week exploring the islands of Hawaii was truly a magical experience for all of us. We went scuba diving in Kauai, shopped at the Ala Moana in Honolulu, went pineapple picking in Wahiawa and enjoyed breathtaking views in Oahu. With such rare and precious moments with my family, I had to bring along a camera that not only captured fantastic photos, but one that fit into my backpocket as well. Although it’s not the newest Cybershot model on Sony’s list (that would currently be the TX9) The TX5 offers most of the same qualities with a little twist of genius. Yes, it’s officially waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and freezeproof! It’s sleek, stylish, powerful and resilient. That’s exactly why the TX5 is another favorite thing of mine. I did have one tiny issue with it though…why not bulletproof? lol.

Sony VAIO Gold Arabesque EA laptop ($969)

Fulfill your Arabian Nights fantasy with this stunner

The Fall Fashion season was as hectic as ever for me this year. From NY to London, Milan to Paris, the autumn fashions dazzled with metallic hues everywhere I went. In London, I had the good fortune of snagging this fabulous favorite. From their exclusive Signature Collection, Sony’s Gold Arabesque EA is a glorious display of luxurious style. With its 2.4 GHz processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive and Blu-Ray… combined with lovely golden textures all around, the Arabesque EA is easily the most beautiful laptop I’ve seen in a long time. If your goal is to keep a low profile in public, this attention-getter is not for you. Everywhere I go, it’s hard for people not to notice and go crazy over the stunning look on this gorgeous laptop. It truly is a fashionista must-have that looks like a million bucks! Now you can have it too!

Aliph Jawbone ICON ($99)

Ear candy never looked this sexy

October found me in San Francisco with my fellow MRT editor & friend Foster Scott for the three day CTIA event at the Moscone Center. While I was able to enjoy the exhibits with Foster, I also had the unfortunate task of being on numerous conference calls with my day job. Being someone who talks on the phone a lot, comfort, convenience, safety and style are very important to me. Which is precisely why I am absolutely in love with my Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset. With industry leading Noise Assassin, A2DP streaming technology and stunning jewelry designs (I have the Rogue & Bombshell) the Icon is a fashion workhorse truly deserving of its name.

Xbox 360 250GB Console Kinect Bundle ($400)

With Kinect, you can play any way you like

This brings me to my latest favorite thing! Although I have always confessed to being a PS3 babe, I could not deny the awesome allure of the revolutionary Kinect. When the guys at Microsoft delivered this baby to my office this month, I was literally jumping out of my Loubotins and into sneakers faster than you could say Kinect! Why? Two Words…DANCE CENTRAL. Without a controller in sight, I have since managed to dance my socks off almost every day so far. I don’t have to go into details as to what makes the Kinect so bad-ass. And while I’m not one to endorse a product just like that (especially not over my beloved PS3), I have to concede that Microsoft has literally blown ahead of the crowd with this genius little addition that has convinced, even myself, to actually buy an Xbox.

“When it snows, ain’t it thrilling? Though your nose gets a chilling. We’ll frolick and play, the Eskimo way. Walking in a winter wonderland!” So there you have it. My top 10 favorite things of 2010.

How do you win MRT’s most awesome package yet? Easy as three french hens. #1. If you’re not already one of the 170,000 super smart people who get notified via email of our insane giveaways, simply subscribe to our ZERO SPAM weekly e-newsletter via email (upper right-hand side of this page). With the coolest tech news and at least 2 giveaways going on each month, this is one email alert you’d be a fool not to have! #2. Be a fan on Facebook. #3. Comment below on what makes the holiday season special in your heart. You can comment as many times as you like. These three simple rules are all there is, and all you need to know. If you can’t follow these simple rules, then you’re disqualified. The holiday giveaway is only open to entrants 18 yrs of age and older, residing in the United States, Puerto Rico & Canada. MRT staff & those immediately related to them are not qualified to enter. We enforce a zero tolerance for cheaters, and we reserve the absolute right to disqualify any entrants we deem as such. Winners ARE responsible for choosing, arranging and paying for their own shipping fees. Winners will be announced & contacted via Twitter & Facebook oo New Years Eve (Dec 30, 2010). Special heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful people involved in this giveaway. You people rock the jingle bells out of me! Best of luck and happy Holidays from MRT!

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: If you missed our very own Jenna Gonzalez on the Mobile Sense Show as she talked about Nokia mobile tech, you still have a chance to hear her and the boys on the Ustream Replay!  Plus don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways such as the 12 Nokia N8s, weekly iPhone 4, Apple Magic Mouse, upcoming Apple MacBook Air and exciting passes to exclusive events! Our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up.  We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email. No more, no less, zero spam! That’s a promise! We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be  on the list.

Not Just Monitors…

Not to date myself, but whenever I see the name ViewSonic, the image of a high quality, affordable computer monitor comes to mind.  ViewSonic has come a long way since then, now offering a diverse product line that encompasses LCD TVs, Projectors, Digital Signage, Digital Photo Frames, Digital Media Devices and Computing.  Although hardly the first out of the gate, ViewSonic is throwing its hat into the highly contested and in vogue tablet market with a dual-boot Windows 7 / Android ViewPad 10 and it’s more compact Google Mobile enabled ViewPad 7.

One Is Good, Two Is Better

Are you a Windows user who also can’t seem to get over their infatuation with the smoking hot Android platform?  The ViewSonic ViewPad 10 has you covered.  The 10.1” dual-boot Wi-Fi device provides you with a choice between Windows® 7 Home Premium and Google Android 1.6 within the same device.  Packing a high performance, high speed Intel® Atom™ 1.66GHz processor with 1GB RAM, 16GB SSD hard drive and expandable micro SD slot, the ViewPad 10 allows the user to view Flash-based content and run Windows Office programs.  Want Android with that?  You got it.  The 1024×600 LED backlit panel comes with a G-sensor and capacitive multi-touch which enables intuitive navigation across multiple applications. Also included is a 1.3-megapixel webcam with built-in microphone, so if you want to video conference, you can do that too.  Before you get too excited, note that this is a dual-boot product – which would imply that you will need to choose whether you want to run in Windows or Android mode.  If it could provide the ability to run both operating systems side by side… well, that would be really sweet.  Then again, let’s not forget that we are talking Windows here, not known for it’s ability to always run it’s own operating system with stability, so no let’s not push it. The ViewPad 10 with dual-boot OS will be available in Q1 2011 for about $629.

Size Does Matter

Want something a bit more compact?  Take a look at the smaller ViewPad 7 which comes with the Android 2.2 OS in a lightweight, pocket-sized, 7-inch format.  According to ViewSonic, this device is one of the only 7-inch tablet devices to sport Android Google Mobile Services (GMS) with the ability to handle 3.5G of data. Equipped with an 800 x 480 WVGA LCD capacitive screen that allows viewing more than 100,000 apps and games while also providing access to Gmail, YouTube and your favorite social networking apps.

Want instant messaging, VoIP, web browsing and USB?  The ViewPad 7 has both wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth connectivity. It also comes with two cameras: a 3-megapixel autofocus camera in the rear and a 0.3-megapixel camera in front. Hmmm… I believe Apple iPad users are still waiting for that front facing camera. The ViewPad 7 provides 32GB of internal storage as well as up to 32GB of additional storage via a micro SD card slot. It has a battery life of up to 10 hours. The ViewPad 7 will be available by the end of the year with a suggested retail price of $479.

See more here:

ViewSonic ViewPad 10

ViewSonic ViewPad 7

So, what do you think?  Are you excited about these upcoming devices?  Are you already an iPad fan?  Do you have another preference?  Do you think this would make a sweet giveaway?  Sound off and let us know.  You know that at MyRealityTech we always love to hear what’s on your mind and our very own Jenna Gonzalez is always eager to give away more cool stuff!

And don’t forget, we will be announcing details for the MacBook Air giveaway very soon. In order to avoid any conflict with our current giveaways such as the Sony Xperia X10 and the Nokia N8, we are planning to award the MacBook Airs right around Black Friday toward the Holiday Season. Details will soon be announced. For now, you may want to get a head start and follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook if you have not already done so. As with all our other contests, a substantial number of prizes will be awarded via these two avenues, so it pays to follow us!

By: Foster Scott (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Be sure to join our very own Jenna Gonzalez as she talks about tech, LIVE this Sunday, November 7 at 10 PM ET/ 7 PM PT on Ustream to win a fantastic giveaway!  Plus don’t forget about our ongoing contests and prize giveaways such as the 12 Nokia N8s, weekly iPhone 4, Apple Magic Mouse, upcoming Apple MacBook Air and exciting passes to exclusive events! Our contests are ONLY eligible to our fans & subscribers so don’t forget to sign up.  We send you a copy of each new post and giveaway announcement via email. No more, no less, zero spam! That’s a promise! We’re always doing contest giveaways every month so it pays to be on the list.

Listen Up!  Better yet, with the ability to pump out  85 decibels (more than a motorcycle) for about 10 hours straight, you can now enjoy what you are listening to anywhere you happen to be and all completely wireless.  Jawbone, a company who makes some of the best bluetooth headsets available is offering you the “Jambox“, a bluetooth speaker to play your music that is just under the size of a brick (about 6″ X 4″ X 1 1/2″).  Funny that with red being on of the colors offered and along with its’ size the only thing missing is to play the old Rick James’ song! (Cue rim shot for “She’s a Brick, House).  With the Jambox you can play music from your iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch for example and fill a room, picnic area or backyard with sounds you don’t have to stay within arms length to hear and enjoy.  Jawbone explains it best when they say, “Unlike other portable speakers, JAMBOX is powered by a pair of proprietary, highly sophisticated acoustic drivers, unmatched in their ability to produce extreme high (tweeter) and low (woofer) frequencies from a single, ultra-small dome speaker. They work in concert with an innovative moving-wall passive bass radiator and airtight enclosure to deliver shimmering highs and thumping lows that you can literally feel – the richest sound all in the palm of your hand”.

Not only will the Jambox pump out your tunes, movies and games loud and clear, the Jambox has another trick hidden under it’s sleeve.  Now you have a portable conference call or personal speakerphone you can place for example on the kitchen table so you can walk around and talk while you cook with no wires and at least a 33ft range away from your phone, all since this bad boy also has a powerfull built-in microphone.  Now I am sounding like a late night infomercial host when I say “wait, that’s not all”.  Jawbone claims “JAMBOX is the only speaker in the world that gets smarter every time you plug it in. Just sync it with Jawbone’s industry-first MyTALK online platform and JAMBOX downloads apps, software upgrades, and the latest features. Its integrated intelligence allows you to personalize JAMBOX to your specific preferences. No other speaker on the planet is intelligent and updateable – but then again, nothing else is quite like JAMBOX.”

For a $199 price tag I can say if the sound lives up to half of the hype, I will be looking to purchase myself one in the near future.  I spent $169 a few years ago for a portable speaker system for my iPod Video to get away from the tin sounding treble and non-existing bass that other speakers were offering at the time.  It was neither wireless (you had to plug the iPod into the speaker frame) and had no speakerphone.  With some of the games for the touch, the need to hold the iPod and have great sound with no wires, just sounds great to me.  Plus many of the apps I have sound great with headphones so to watch movies, listen to music or enhance my gaming experience (not to mention connecting it to your netbook/laptop/tablet for better sounding audio) is a welcome addition to my tech collection.  Comment below and let MRT know what you think of a Jawbone speaker device.  We always value your comments.

As always if you enjoy MRT you can follow us on Twitter, friend us on FaceBook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest Tech reviews and Awesome giveaways!

By: Edward Jackson (Senior Editor)

With all our giveaways, it’s tough to decide which ones are worth doing. So, we need your help! Rate the stars on this article and comment below on whether we should do a giveaway for this device. If we get to 200 comments and ratings, we’ll do a review & giveaway! Also, one of the commenters/raters will win one!

Orders for the Dell Streak Tablet open up for U.S. priority pre-sale registrants at www.dell.com/mobile this Thursday, August 12. General availability follows a day later at www.dell.com/mobile.

The Dell Streak is available for $299.99 with new two-year AT&T contract^†, and $549.99 without. Customers who purchase the Streak, and signed up during the pre-sale program, will receive a free second-day shipping upgrade. Customers who redeem their pre-sale coupon can purchase a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece for 99 cents while supplies last.

HITTING A SWEET SPOT

The Dell Streak, a carbon black Android-based tablet with a 5-inch display, is designed to provide an excellent “on-the-go” entertainment, social connection, and navigation experience. The spacious 5-inch screen is ideal for experiencing thousands of Android Market widgets, games and applications, all without squinting or compromising portability. Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capability and available 3G connectivity brings easy access for downloading and listening to music, updating social networking status in real-time, and staying connected to friends and family through e-mail, text, IM, and voice calls.

On-the-go students, mobile professionals, and active families will find Streak’s web-browsing capabilities as natural as a laptop. The 5-inch screen is large enough to present Web pages in their natural form, create a comfortable viewing experience, and make turn-by-turn navigation simple. The Dell Streak is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon solution with integrated 1GHz processor to combine basic functionality and benefits of a laptop in a pocket friendly size.

The Dell Streak was designed with the future in mind to support future software, application and platform upgrades.

QUOTE:

“The Dell Streak has found a way to fit your whole world in a 5-inch screen. Its unique size will help people discover new ways to enjoy the web, connect with friends, and navigate their lives.” – Ron Garriques, president, Dell Communication Solutions.

DELL STREAK FEATURES:

• Integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, street and satellite views
• A full screen browsing experience with a 5-inch capacitive multi-touch WVGA display
• Easily integrated social media apps: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
• High resolution 5 MP camera, VGA front facing camera, removable battery, built-in Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth connectivity options
• 2GB* of internal storage provides plenty of space to access and download Google Android Market’s many options
• Packaged with cushions made from 100 percent sustainable, compostable bamboo

DELL STREAK SPECIFICATIONS:

• Android platform complete with Android Market and Dell user interface enhancements
• Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon solution with integrated 1GHz processor
• 3G + Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
• UMTS / GPRS / EDGE class 12 GSM radio with link speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps
• 5 MP Autofocus camera with dual LED flash. Easily point, shoot, and upload to YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and more
• User accessible Micro SD expandable memory available up to 32GB*. Store up to 42 movies* or 32,000 photos*, or 16,000 songs* with a 32GB* Micro SD upgrade

By: Bill Armstrong (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Sep 18, 2010. This contest is now officially closed. Big congratulations to Alice P. of Toronto, Canada; Michael L. of Nashville, TN & Patrick M. of Naperville, IL for winning the super cool Blueant T1. We would like to thank our friends at Blueant and the wonderful Kari Hernandez of INK for their support! Make sure to stay signed up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook & Twitter to win more incredible prizes.

Staff Note: August 12, 2010. It’s official! the Blueant T1 is now a giveaway! That’s right, only on MRT can you get such awesome prizes. On Tuesday August 31 , in celebration of Bill’s upcoming wedding…We will be giving away 3 Blueant T1 Bluetooth headsets! This one’s a super easy contest for you guys. In less than 3 sentences, simply post a comment below on your honest opinion/view about Bluetooth. Also, don’t forget to rate Bill’s review using the stars on the right-hand side. Best of luck! 

It has happened to most of us at one time or another. You are out shopping or strolling down the street when a total stranger starts talking to you. You start speaking back and the person starts looking at you like a freak. That’s when you realize that they were not speaking to you, but to another person through their tiny little headset! You quickly swallow your embarrassment as you turn and walk away, hoping you never have to see that person again.

I have never been a Bluetooth headset kind of guy. Maybe it was because of how most headsets look. Or maybe it was because my job tends to put me in noisy situations where a headset doesn’t give me the performance I need. So when Jenna told me I was going to be reviewing BlueAnt’s newest headset, the T1 Rugged, I had mixed feelings. But, since playing with brand new gadgets ranks pretty high on my list of favorite things, I was more than happy to try it out.

Let me introduce you to my little friend!

When I first looked at the T1 sitting on its little pedestal inside the package my thought was, “That looks cool!” And it does. The T1 Rugged is exactly the kind of headset you can picture a Navy Seal or some elite super spy wearing on a mission. It has a sleek matte finish and clean lines and offers a look that won’t stand out and draw attention to the fact that you are wearing a headset. This unobtrusive device measure less than 2 inches in length by half an inch wide, and weights around 1/3 of an ounce, allowing me to wear it for long periods of time without much discomfort. And when not in use, it fit easily in my pocket.

For being such a tiny device, the T1 offers a huge list of features, starting with BlueAnt’s newest feature: Wind Armor Technology. Designed for the outdoors, the T1 Rugged was built to deliver clear audio in wind speeds of up to 22mph. This is achieved by combining BlueAnt’s own noise and echo cancelling systems with a brand new patent pending design. The included silicone covers protect the T1 Rugged from dust and damage and help the device to truly live up to its name.

While there are already a few headsets that offer caller ID, the T1 takes it a step farther by introducing Caller Name Announce. Let’s face it, not everyone knows everyone’s number. That’s why we have a contacts list and speed dial. Now, when you receive a call from someone on your contacts list, it will read you the caller’s name. The T1 will store up to 2000 of your contacts. Should the incoming caller not be in your list of contacts, the inbound phone number is announced. Next, knowing that having to actually move your hand to answer a call is for suckers, the T1 lets you answer or ignore the call using voice commands. This is done by announcing “Answer” or “Ignore”. Need to make a call? A quick tap of the T1’s call button will give you access to your phones built in voice commands. This is done by saying, you guessed it, “Voice Commands”. Expecting an important text message? Android users are able to download a free app from BlueAnt that will read you your incoming text messages. The built in A2DP technology will let you stream your music and even turn by turn GPS directions right through the headset. All of these tools combine to make the T1 the most truly “Hands Free” systems available today.

Think Inside The Box

Opening the package you will find your new headset, the usual assortment of paperwork including the warranty information and Quick Start guide. You also get an assortment of ear gels in different sizes, letting you pick the right size for you. A USB 2.0 cable used for both charging and data (you can get firmware updates from blueant.com), an AC adapter, 2 silicon sleeves and a pair of ear hooks. Everything you need to get up and running.

Test Drive

In my evaluation of the BlueAnt T1 I used the headset every day for 7 days. I had no problem in making sure I put this little gadget to the test. In my job as an IT Manager for a fast moving tech company, my days are spent using my hands and talking on the phone. I couldn’t think of a better environment for trying this puppy out!

I will preface this by saying that I went through each of the included ear gels before finding the one I could live with. Maybe it is because I was not a previous headset user, it took about two days to figure out which one was for me. Once charged and ready, I had very little trouble pairing the T1 to my Nexus One. This process was made even easier with the built in voice instructions guiding me through each step. The caller ID was a great feature, as well as the voice commands to answer or ignore. I was able to answer calls while still using both hands while changing out computer parts and performing various other tasks. I also got to test out the Ignore, but then took advantage of the voice commands to call those people back and explain why I ignored their call! The noise cancelling was impressive. While I did not have the opportunity to be out in 20mph winds, I did make and receive calls while in a noisy server room and in my office with music playing and had no problems hearing or being heard. It also worked well while driving. I drive a stick shift, so it was nice being able to keep my hands where they needed to be while on the road. I did find that the T1 works best when pointing at a certain angle towards the jaw, and did find myself having to adjust the position regularly. The T1 boast 6 hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby. While I don’t keep track of the hours I spend talking, I can say that in my 7 day trial I only had to charge the device once, on day 3.

Cheers

The T1 Rugged offers superior noise cancellation. You can stay hands free with voice commands, text to speech, and A2DP streaming.

Jeers

The choice of ear pieces didn’t seem to be the most comfortable. I found one that worked the best, but it seemed like it could have been designed more comfortably.

Reality Grade

The BlueAnt T1 Rugged sells for 79.99. While it is not the cheapest headset around, it is the best value for its quality. Its intelligent design and rugged good looks make it a sound choice for work or play. I think one of the best compliments I could give the T1 is that it made me a believer in Bluetooth headsets, and I even now that the trial period has ended, the T1 Rugged has earned a place as one of my daily tools.

BlueAnt Android Application on YouTube

 By: Bill Armstrong (Contributing Editor)

There is little doubt that tablet, or slate style computers are the hot ticket item at the moment. The overwhelming success of the Apple iPad has left other computer manufacturers looking for ways to get in on the action. With many computer companies getting ready to release their own version of the tablet pc, Tobshiba has taken the opportunity to show us something that stands apart from the competition. Cashing in on peoples desire for a large screen and easy portability, the Toshiba libretto W100 is offering twice the fun of other tablets.

The libretto is looking early on to change the way you think about tablet computers. It has a pair of 7” multi touch screens, and when folded in half, resembles a portable gaming device. It weighs a bit under two pounds, so you will have no problems throwing it your pocket or purse and taking it anywhere you want to go.

It may look small, but the libretto W100 is packed with features that many competitors have yet to deliver. For starters, where most other tablet pc’s are running on a variation of a cell phone operating system, Toshiba offers Windows 7 Home Premium. This, combined with its powerful Intel Pentium processor, means you have more options available to your for work or play. Users will be able to navigate the already familiar operating system using a variety of keyboard options, and the “soft” track pad will let you seamlessly move between typing and navigating the cursor. The libretto makes transfering files easy with a usb port and built in memory card slot. Wireless N capability and Bluetooth will keep you from being tied down with wires,and a built in webcam is there for video confrencing (a feature everyone though would surely be on the iPad).

Bridging the gap between a portable media player and tablet pc, the Toshiba libretto W100 is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Whether using it as an E reader, movie player, or ultra portable office, it seems clear that Toshiba will stand as a power house in the tablet pc wars. Toshiba’s website slates the libretto to release sometime in August, and at this time, no price has been announced. There have not been many devices that make me want to put down my iPad, but I am looking forward to trying this one out. I will be sure to give you all an in depth review, once I get my hands on one.