Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Best Tech for Back to School - For Under $500



AiAiAi TMA1 Professional DJ Monitoring Headphones

Jul 11
With an even helping of tight bass, level mids, and sharp high tones, the TMA-1s compliment all music genres, so we won’t limit our recommendation to DJs alone. Their tough construction and efficient sound isolation means students, mixing engineers, commuters, and office jockeys will all enjoy stand-out performance.
CNET editors’ rating: 4stars Excellent
Average User Rating
out of 1 user reviews See all user reviews
The bottom line: The sleek TMA-1 headphones by Aiaiai are ideal for traveling DJs who need tough headphones with an up-front, bass-slamming sound profile.
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Samsung Nexus S 4G

Android comes in many flavors, but there’s something to be said for the straight Android experience that doesn’t come with any carrier bloatware or features that you don’t need. The Nexus S 4G is such a handset for Sprint and we like the bright display, agreeable performance, and loaded feature set that includes support for the carrier’s 4G network.
CNET editors’ rating: 4stars Excellent
Average User Rating
out of 45 user reviews See all user reviews
The bottom line: The Samsung Nexus S 4G offers a great combination of design, features, and performance. The 4G connection could be more reliable, but the Gingerbread OS, stock Android UI, and admirable call quality make for a satisfying smartphone.

Contour+

Jun 11
If you know a student who thrills at the idea of strapping a camcorder to her head while partaking in a dangerous or just speedy extracurricular activity, the Contour+ makes a great gift that won’t get left in the dorm.
CNET editors’ rating: 4stars Excellent
Average User Rating
out of 4 user reviews See all user reviews
The bottom line: The Contour+ sports camera is simple to use, with pro-level flexibility and quality; however, Contour’s lower-priced options may be more appropriate for casual users.
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Jabra Freeway

Not only is the Jabra Freeway a great way to increase driver safety by enabling calls to be made hands free, its sound quality is good enough for the unit to double as a speaker for impromptu dorm room jam sessions.
CNET editors’ rating: 3hstars Very good
Average User Rating
out of 1 user reviews See all user reviews
The bottom line: If you find yourself straining to hear calls on your current hands-free setup or just want the best sound possible for calls or podcasts, the Jabra Freeway is the Bluetooth speakerphone for you.
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