Can Decent Sound Come From A Small Speaker System?

A review

GOgroove’s BlueSYNC DRM

The BlueSYNC DRM

                Finding a good value in the constantly changing tech world is not easy.  It seems Performance is frequently tied to higher price points.  However, surprises can emerge.

                This is particularly true of peripherals like portable speakers.  There are plentiful choices. There are also compromises.  Higher quality sound can come at higher price points, sometimes in the hundreds of dollars.  If price is not an obstacle size can be.  Speaker systems that are too small do not always deliver the goods. Systems that provided a rich sonic experience can come in enclosures that are too cumbersome to be truly portable.     

          

Offering a solution to the problems associated with size, cost and quality sound, GOgroove has produced the BlueSYNC DRM.  Measuring 7.75" x 2.5" x 2.0", and weighing 11.84 ounces, portability is not an issue.  For those that are looking for a device that can easily fit in a purse or backpack, this is the form factor that works.

Styling, the Achilles Heel of speaker systems, the BlueSYNC comes in an attractive enclosure. With curving lines and a choice of colors, turquoise or red, aesthetic concerns have not been neglected.   The pleasing contemporary styling provides a look that is decidedly higher end than its price points indicate.

On the subject of price, GOgroove has put affordability front and center.  Coming in at $29.99, accessibility to a wide audience for audio on a budget is addressed.

Too frequently value is connected with middling performance.  “You get what you pay for,” is the standard rule for tech.  However, there are exceptions.  The BlueSYNC DRM is one such exception.

Features can be sacrificed for affordability.  Not deficient in this department, there is some surprising functionality found here sometimes missing in higher priced speaker solutions.  

Offering speaker phone capability, the built in microphone is more sensitive than one might expect, conversations across an average room are entirely possible.  Voices sound clear going out and coming in without distortion.  

Battery life is impressive.  One charge can last up to ten hours according to GOgroove.  It is powered by a USB connection. The USB cable is provided.

On the subject of connectivity, the DRM is Bluetooth enabled.  Syncing the device was a simple procedure.  Turn it on, press the button on the top of the device and quickly your smartphone, or any Bluetooth enabled device, is paired.  No need to adjust settings after the first sync.  It remembers the connection after the first set up.

The back of the BlueSYNC DRM

Should you have a pc or mobile phone that lacks Bluetooth, there is an auxiliary input that permits a wired connection. This feature alone adds an important feature for supporting a wider number of devices.

All of the features and price points add up to value, but all of this means nothing without one essential feature, decent sound.  The deal breaker with any speaker is sonic quality.  Hitting highs and providing lows, any number of small scaled sound systems can only muster mediocre at best.  Go too far on the upper end and the sound can be tinny.  The bass can sound muted. The DRM avoids that pitfall.

It could be that the 2 x 35mm stereo drivers and passive woofer that share a single air chamber could be the reason the DRM performs better than one expect considering the price points.  Naturally no speaker in this category can compete with larger systems that have a huge subwoofer.  No mobile system can.  That doesn’t mean compelling sound cannot come from an enclosure this small.

Able to fill a medium sized room with sound, it can reach highs and deep lows without sounding strained.  It can also handle a wide spectrum of music.  It may not drown the house with super booming volume, but it will not sound small and whiney in your average room.  For the purposes it was created, the DRM serves its primary function, decent sound at a great price well.

Summation

There are a wide range of speakers in the market place.  Some perform at very high levels. They also come with high price tags and sometimes little portability.  If one is realistic about what to expect, the BlueSYNC DRM does not disappoint.  Proving some features not found in systems that cost more, such as a decent speaker phone or as a mobile speaker system, the DRM has hit a sweet spot between value and performance.  If you are looking for solid sound and a decent feature set, the DRM will serve you very well.

For purchasing

Link for video 

Technical Information

Speaker Output Power - (2W x 2) 8-watt Peak
Bluetooth profile: v4.0 / A2DP / AVRCP / HFP
Battery - 1250mAh
Runtime - 10 hours
Dimensions - 7.75" x 2.5" x 2.0"
Weight - 11.84 ounces  

GOgroove Web Site

Gogroove's BlueSYNC DRM

Here is a video of an unpacking of the GOgroove BlueSYNC DRM, a portable speaker system with "Bluetooth" connectivity.

For Purchasing check out this link.

For more information about the Gogroove Blue  SYNC DRM, as well as other products in the Gogroove product line, check out the links below

The Accessory Power Web Site.

On Facebook at Facebook.com

And on Twitter

The HTC One Max (on the Sprint Network)

HTC’s latest Smartphone.

Could this be a multimedia powerhouse?

Video of the HTC One Max

By: Kurt von Behrmann

The sleek metallic HTC One Max

                The world of smartphones is literally filled to the brim with choices.  In this competitive arena distinguishing yourself from the crowd requires some key feature, or features, that the other companies simply do not have.  With the HTC One Max, the Taiwanese handset maker is gambling that it will be in the areas of larger screen real estate, superior sound and a vibrant screen will be enough.

                As an “also ran” in this  high stakes arena of smartphone choices, HTC has been largely eclipsed by Samsung and the enduring  iPhone. To separate themselves from the crowd, HTC is hoping that in addition to great sound, sharp metallic looks will  help shoppers give the One Max a chance.

                What is certain is that the larger 5.9 in screen sits right at the maximum for a handset without being so cumbersome it rips a shirt pocket in half.  The 1,920 by 1080 pixel LCD delivers the goods. Picture quality and video are vibrant.  Blacks are black and colors rich and saturated.  Not unlike its closest competition – and it is clear that this phone is intended to go toe to toe with the might Samsung Note 3—screen quality and clarity are not only selling points but can be what separates an average phone from a spectacular one.

                As with any new smartphone, it has to be compliant with new technologies in order to have added value.  This point is not lost on the HTC One Max. It supports Sprint’s new tri-band devices; it supports 3G CDMA, 4G LTE and Sprint Spark. With Spark, Sprint is promising down load speeds from 50-60 Mbps, where it is available.  In the Phoenix area you may get sporadic service on the Sprint Spark.  Hopefully Sprint will have full service soon.

               Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, it is a  quad core processor, performance is what you would expect, smooth.  On the AnTuTu Benchmark the One Max scored 26712, a decent score. Where it earned high marks were in multitasking, 2d graphics and supporting larger mobile games.  That should be no surprise. The phone was designed with gaming and video in mind.

                On the subject of specs, the One carries 2 GB of ram, 32 GB of on board total storage, (storage to the end user varies, so anticipate about 24 GB free to work with) and the there is room for a micro SD card sizes up to 64 GB storage.  The card must be purchases separately.

The back of the HTC One Max

                Like many high end phones, it is almost a standard feature with selfies on the rise, it comes with two cameras.  The front facing one is 2.1 mega pixel. The back camera is  4 mega pixels. Instead of counting on pixel counts, HTC has opted for larger ones rather than more of them. The resulting images are sharp, crisp and do well under low lighting situations. While it may not be the best of breed in photography, the camera is respectable.  It also ships with additional software that adds embellishment to images.  While some of those photographic extras may add value, some may argue the special effects are best left to desktops.  But this is more about preference than anything else. One strong point about the cameras is that they are fast.

                                One obvious stand out feature has to be the sound.  The Achilles Heel of many a smartphone has to the absolutely weak sound most produce.  Not so with the HTC one.  The sound can be so booming, you may actually have to lower it. It is just that loud. 

The HTC Boomsound really delivers the goods in the sound department. While it may not be able to compete with a speaker system, if you want to watch games, movies and the like the extra boost of sound is a welcome addition.  The carefully crafted front facing speakers are well placed, and may account in part for the excellent sound quality.

                Another area that the One Max shines in is aesthetics.  Composed mainly of metal rather than plastic, the overall effect is that it lends the phone a high end look.  HTC always has an eye for sleek contemporary design. The only place where there is a design weakness is in the small, very small, button that allows you to open the handset. For larger fingers, this control maybe just too small. I personal found it frustrating to open the back of the handset.

                At least, thankfully, you can open the camera for Simm cards and an extra micro SD card. The card must be purchased separately.  Unfortunately, the battery is not accessible to the end user. Access to it is one clear advantage the Galaxy Note 3 has over the One Max.

                Talk time is impressive.  As large as the phone is, and it pushes the limit at 6.48” x 3.25” for practicality as a mobile phone, 25 hours of talk time is very good.  In my informal tests with the phone it can last a  full day with regular use without issue.  Battery life is always problematic with high end phones.  It appears that HTC has overcome the hurdle of battery.

                Shipping with Jelly Bean, there is an update that has been  recently released that updates to Kit Kat. I was very surprised the One Max did not ship with the latest Android OS.   HTC, naturally, incorporates their own HTC sense into the mix adding features not found in the vanilla variety of Android.

                Personally I am simply a fan of HTC sense. It feels intrusive and doesn’t really add any features of any real substance.  Some may like it, but I found it more of a negative than a plus.

                                                                    Conclusion

                The smartphone market is populated by what seems like a vast sea of phones.  To stand out from the pack, HTC is relying on strengths in sound, design, screen size, screen quality and camera agility to beat out the competition.   With the size of smartphones escalating, the space between a tablet and a smart phone is starting to blur a little.  Clearly phablets, those devices that mix tablet functionality with smart phone convenience, are now a mainstay of intelligent phone design.

                Seeing that as an opportunity, HTC is hoping that their latest iteration of the One line with the new Max will carve out a niche for them in the phablet arena.   Time will surely tell if the features of the phone art strong enough to encourage buyers to buy into HTC’s way of doing things.

                One cannot help but think of the HTC One Max as a direct answer to the popularity of Samsung’s offerings, mainly the Galaxy Note 3.  What makes the Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 special are its note taking abilities.   This adds extra value, practical real world value not tech for tech’s sake value, that places the phone in a different category. It also offers a feature that makes such a large screen make sense.

                HTC has decided to aim towards providing rich sound, strong visuals and a decent camera as their arsenal in the assault it is certainly going to face in the market place.   As an overall media powerhouse, The HTC One Max has a lot going for it.  But, it also has to square off with Samsung.  If you are like me, and you like all metal construction and build quality counts to you, The HTC One edges out the competition ever so slightly.  We will have to wait and see how the smart phone buying market responds to the top tier One Max.

The HTC One Max is available at Sprint

The price:  $ 249.99 with a contract

Contents of the Box

1.       HTC One Max

2.       Standard Lithium Ion Battery (embedded)

3.       AC Charger

4.       USB Cable

5.       Getting Started Guide

Full Specs

Weight	217g
Display	5.9 inch, Full HD 1080p
CPU Speed	Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor 1.7GHz quad-core CPUs
Battery	Capacity: 3300 mAh Embedded rechargeable Li-polymer battery Talk time: Up to 25 hours for 3G Standby time: Up to 585 hours for 3G

Specs

Size	164.5 x 82.5 x 10.29mm
Weight	217g
Display	5.9 inch, Full HD 1080p
CPU Speed	Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor 1.7GHz quad-core CPUs
Platform Android	Android™ with HTC Sense™ 5.5 HTC BlinkFeed™
SIM Card Type	micro SIM
Network1	2G/ 2.5G - GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G - UMTS/ HSPA: EMEA: 900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps Asia: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps Sprint: 1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps Verizon: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps 3G - CDMA 800/1900 MHz for Sprint and Verizon 4G - LTE: EMEA: 800/900/1800/2600 MHz Asia: 900/1800/2100/2600 Mhz Sprint: 1900 MHz Verizon: 700 MHz
Memory2	Total storage: 32GB, available capacity varies RAM: 2GB Expansion card slot supports microSD™ memory card for up to 64GB additional storage (card not included)
GPS	Internal GPS antenna + GLONASS Digital compass
Sensors	Gyro sensor Accelerometer Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor Fingerprint scanner
Connectivity	3.5 mm stereo audio jack NFC Bluetooth® 4.0 with aptX™ enabled Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n DLNA® for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer HTC Connect™ Support consumer infrared remote control micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection (Special cable required for HDMI connection.)

               

The Onyx from Harmon/Kardon

Big Sound from a Small Package

The stylish Onyx Speaker System

By Kurt von Behrmann

                If you are looking for maximum sound in a relatively small package, Harmon/Kardon has a solution to the problem of creating rich sound from a small space.  The Bluetooth enable Onyx is their answer to the dilemma of trying to obtain above average  sound from a mobile phone or computer.  The device incidentally has a usb port as well blue tooth.

                Measuring a scant 11 inches in diameter, this is not a huge device.  On the other hand it is not diminutive either.  If you are looking for a speaker system that will fit into a back pocket, you are out of luck here.  While it is portable, the makers clearly intend the device to be in a home setting rather than outdoors.  If you are looking for a speaker for the beach, or total portability anywhere, you may find this may not be the best solution.

                Even with those limitations, the advantage you gain is a speaker system that provides rich, deep sound.  Throw any style of music its way and you will find exceptional sound.  Accuracy is a high point. Delivering the subtle nuances of sound comes easily for the Onyx.  The details the speaker captures is really remarkable when you consider all of this emanates from one source.

The back view

                Naturally, the Onyx cannot compete with a dedicated 5.1 system with a big booming box to handle the bass. But the Onyx does well.  You can reach highs solid enough to rock the house.  It is capable handling louder music with ease.  Over all the device is able to do what you expect it to do. 

                Not leaving out aesthetics, Harmon/Kardon has put several speakers together in one circular enclosure that is not disturbed by buttons. The uninterrupted surface features glowing icons for volume and on and off as well as a blue tooth indicator.

                Syncing is a breeze with the Onyx.  It manages to do so quickly and easily.   Even a modest mobile phone can be transformed into a dynamic sound machine with the Onyx.

Side view

  

                Overall there is little to find flaw with the Onyx. It delivers powerful sound in a compact body.

                It can be plugged into a standard outlet or powered by the enclosed chargeable battery. Battery life is about five hours.

                The only downside to all of this great sound is the price tag. Available at Sprint.com for a cool $ 399.99 this is not a bargain basement system.   Then on the flip side, premium sound always comes a premium sound.   If you are in the market for exceptional sound in relatively small package, you cannot do better than the Onyx.

The speaker is available on line at Sprint

For the Video of the Onyx.

The Harmon/Kardon Onyx Speaker System

The Harmon/Kardon Onyx Speaker System



My latest contribution to my space on Examiner.com where I cover the latest and greatest in tech.

You can find the device at Sprint for price and availability.  Contact your local Sprint Store to see if they carry the Onyx.  You can learn more about the device at Harmon/Kardon.

A NEW ACT, Swiftpage's ACT! Version 16 (C.R.M. software)

Swiftpage ACT! Version 16

A New Act

By: Kurt von Behrmann

ACT! version 16 from Swiftpage

                I was first introduced to ACT! back in version 7.  At the time I was working on business project remotely and the thrust of the work was following up with contacts and making new ones.  To keep track of business, ACT! 7 was the application in use.   Although geared towards businesses, small and medium sized ones, I found a surprising number of features useful to me as an individual.   I also found the program was relatively easy to use, particularly in light of the competition.

                Unlike some programs I had run into in the competitive arena of C.R.M. (Customer Relationship Manager) software, some of which looked like “Frankstein’s Monster, hobbled together with bits and pieces of interface here and there, ACT! presented a unified front.  Being contact driven, the interface was centered around one contact at a time with the essential information on the central screen and tabbed screens for more detailed information.   Simply put, the layout made sense.

                While limited to working with one contact at a time, the limitation was less a limitation and more an ease of function. It was simple enough to go from one contact to the next, to link contacts and the like.  After all, you can only really work effectively with one contact at once, at least in my way of working.   Over all, the program took some rather complex functions and made them easy to use.

                While most end users tend towards, or rather have directed towards them,  programs that have email functions and contact lists built into them, the problem is that if your needs go beyond simply maintaining a list of contacts, the limitations of such software become very clear the moment you try to do more with them than just list names.   Certainly you can attach files to contacts, but when you need more information to connect to an individual than files, and you want to keep track of phone calls made, information sent and random notes, the limitations of email slash contact software designed for the average end user has some considerable limits.  Hence the need for software that can track what you do and have done with a contact.

                Flash forward, and ACT! version 16 is out under new management and new features.   While it has been changed, the essential layout of the program has remained somewhat the same.  For users or more recent versions, namely the Sage versions like ACT 1012 and 2013, superficially little has changed.  But, when you delve deeper, new features have been added.

                One of the more obvious, as well as noteworthy changes to the application has to be the new History Lists.  Similar in function to the Task List, one can see and filter all histories in one data base.  The possibilities offered by this function means you have a full list of actions as well as the ability to delete certain histories. The implementation of the feature has been executed well.

                Direct from Swiftpage are is a break down of what is new in ACT! version 16.

Link to more information on ACT! v 16 new features

Below are some highlights from Swiftpage

·         Act! Premium Mobile^[1] enhancements — As part of the mobile feature-set of Act! Premium, which is offered at no additional charge, improvements give users access to an expanded range of functions via their smartphone and tablet for improved productivity in the field.

·         Streamlined company management and global actions — Allows for the automatic consolidation of contact details and global activity scheduling to drive informed, efficient action and increased sales effectiveness.

• New calculated fields — Performs calculations automatically using data from other standard or custom fields, helping users intelligently prioritize and automate tasks, drive sales and enhance relationships.

• New history view — Provides an insightful look back, enabling users to easily locate, analyze, and act on data within a dynamic view of all completed actions.

Usability and system improvements — Including global activity rescheduling, proactive system alerts, and streamlined field and layout configuration^[2], designed to save time and give users high confidence that their data and systems are healthy and secure

               

·                 Act! Premium Mobile^[3] enhancements — As part of the mobile feature-set of Act! Premium, which is offered at no additional charge, improvements give users access to an expanded range of functions via their smartphone and tablet for improved productivity in the field.

·         Streamlined company management and global actions — Allows for the automatic consolidation of contact details and global activity scheduling to drive informed, efficient action and increased sales effectiveness.

• New calculated fields — Performs calculations automatically using data from other standard or custom fields, helping users intelligently prioritize and automate tasks, drive sales and enhance relationships.

• New history view — Provides an insightful look back, enabling users to easily locate, analyze, and act on data within a dynamic view of all completed actions.

Usability and system improvements — Including global activity rescheduling, proactive system alerts, and streamlined field and layout configuration^[4], designed to save time and give users high confidence that their data and systems are healthy and secure

Summation

                Swiftpage has added some considerable new features to the venerable ACT!.   Version 16 does not disappoint on that front.  The best of the past has been retained, and the program is similar enough to past iterations to be a comfortable fit for long time users.   For all that Switpage has done, a few problems still exist.

                Integration with the powerhouse of email Outlook has been retained.  The big but is that if you use the 64 bit version of this office component, you are out of luck.   Only the 32 bit version is supported.  Hopefully this is an omission that will be rectified in a future release.

                While ACT! offers a built in email client, when I attempted to set it up, I ran into frustrations.  Nothing worked.   Again, hopefully in future versions ACT! will feature an easier to use Email program.

                Last on my list of problem areas was the help menu.  When I pulled it up, the result came out with a blank browser.  I did discover a work around.  What worked for me was locating the help files and opening them individually.  While this is not a true solution, it was at least something.

                Factoring in my gripes with ACT! version 16, it still remains a favorite C.R.M. program of mine. It simply handles contacts and information so fluidly it is worth contending with some slightly irritating short comings.  When the dust clears, ACT! version 16 could be a tough act to follow.

Link to Examiner.com Article on ACT! Version 16

---

[1] Act! Premium Mobile requires setup and configuration of Act! Premium (access via Web).  Data access available via active Internet connection from supported device browsers.  Review Act! system requirements at www.act.com/systreq. You are responsible for all data-related charges.

[2] Act! Premium (access via web) users only.

[3] Act! Premium Mobile requires setup and configuration of Act! Premium (access via Web).  Data access available via active Internet connection from supported device browsers.  Review Act! system requirements at www.act.com/systreq. You are responsible for all data-related charges.

[4] Act! Premium (access via web) users only.

Review of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear Smart watch

The Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear

A note talking smart phone and a smart watch

From Sprint

By Kurt von Behrmann

The Galaxy Gear and the Galaxy Note 3

                One of the pleasures of reviewing computer software and hardware is coming into contact with emerging technology.   There is a certain “joy” that comes with being on the “bleeding edge.”    As a pair, The Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Gear Smartphone represent an extension of the smart phone into new arenas, namely note taking and transforming the venerable watch into an extension of the smart phone.

                With new smart phones, Android phones appear to growing larger and larger.  The mammoth Galaxy Note 3 is no exception.  Measuring a whopping 5.9 inches x 3.1 inches x 0.3 inches and sporting a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED® touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920x1080, there is nothing small about this device.  For all of its size, the handset still fits conveniently into a shirt pocket without fuss. 

                Where size becomes important is in function.  Gaming, web browsing, nearly all of the nice “extras” that apps can provide become all the more enjoyable when you have adequate room to do them.   Size matters in smartphones and Samsung has appeared to have found a nice “sweet spot” that makes this the near ideal size for a phablet.  As a mixture of smart phone and tablet, Samsung is making the Note 3 something of a mobile Swiss army knife of convenience.  This is no doubt the move for note taking into the mix.

                As the name clearly implies, one of the big distinguishing features of this phone is that it can take notes.  While this may not seem to be a particularly useful function, it is surprisingly valuable when you find yourself jotting down bits of information.  I found this out myself during a meeting.

                During a meeting a member was citing a particular book.  Minus paper and pen, I immediately went to the Galaxy Note 3 without thinking and started jotting down the title in my own distinctive writing style.  Having the same feel as writing on paper, the Note 3 captured my text with accuracy and ease.  I was able later to recall not only the book title, but other bits of information that may have been lost had I to rely on memory.  If you happen to be a note taker, or even a casual note jotter, having such functionality built into a smart phone makes sense.   It is one of those features you may not think of when you think of mobile computing functionality, but certainly is much appreciate when it is there.

                The implantation of the feature is well done. The included software is easy to use and will spring into note taking mode once the stylish stylus is removed from the body of the handset.

The Galaxy Note 3's faux leather back.

                Speaking of stylish, the Galaxy Note 3 is conservative in design.  Aside from its scale, there is little to distinguish it from the pack.  But, when you turn it over the back has a leather like feel complete with stitching on the sides.  While this is all an illusion, the phone is totally plastic, the texturized back provides a certain “upscale look.” It also makes the phone firmer in hand than a smooth backed plastic phone that can easily slide around.

                As to be expected, the Note 3 is a fully powered.  Complete with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor (Qualcomm® MSM8974 Pro chipset) dual cameras, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with camcorder and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera with camcorder, what you would expect of a high end phone is here.

                If you are one to store data on your phone, The Note 3 does not disappoint on that front.  It ships with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory.   There is also room for a Micro SD card, which totals out at a 64 GB memory card. The card does not come with the device. It is optional.  In short, there is plenty of memory and plenty of storage available.

                Bucking the trend toward non removable batteries, Samsung has wisely made the battery removable by the end user.  Should things go south, it is always preferable whenever possible to have access to the battery. 

                Sprint and Samsung have also included their own signature software, as to be expected.  Thankfully the bloat ware is kept to a discrete minimum.  Android phones usually come with their own apps, and the Note 3 carries a full complement of google applications. 

The Galaxy Gear, a smart watch that could be the shape of things to come.

                As an adjunct to the Note, Galaxy Gear provides the functions of a watch with some of the functionality of a smart phone.    Virtually useless without an accompanying handset, the device links to provide access to contacts, galleries and some applications. While limited by size and power, it can take pictures with its 1.9 megapixel camera.  

                While this is more of a “want to have” than a “must have,” there is a certain cachet in having a watch that does more than tell the time.   There has always been in an inherent attraction by those that like leading edge technology.  For those for whom buying another mobile apparatus is not an issue, the Gear could be well worth having.    One thing is without question, the phone is a definite conversation starter.  Start taking pictures with the phone and you will draw a crowd.

Summation

                Samsung has put in another strong entry in the high stakes world of Android phones.  With competition for mobile computing dollars at an all-time high, The Galaxy Note stands out for its size and its ability to allow users to take actual digital notes with it.  That feature is compelling, and it sets the phone apart from the crowd.   If you look past the all plastic construction, which is something of an irritant to some users, the phone has enough power to make that Achilles heel less annoying.   While it may not win design awards, Samsung has made a pleasant to look at phone that delivers where it ultimately counts, power, speed and an impressive battery life.

                Depending on the user, and how much you like being on the forefront of computing, the Galaxy Gear is stylish enough and packed with enough “wow” factor to make it compelling on its own terms.  Again, it may not be a must have item.  However  it certainly could  persuade those interested to like it if for nothing more than  the novelty of having a watch that is reminiscent of Dick Tracey’s.   When the dust settles, phone watches maybe the next wave.  As difficult as it is in tech to tell where things are headed, the integration of smaller devices into wearable ones could be a trend well worth watching.

                Samsung has put forth a noteworthy handset in the Note 3.  It has also begun the first steps toward a wearable mobile smart watch that could very well be a hint of things to come.