Wireless speakers battle – HMDX Jam Vs JBL Flip mini review

1 Reply Daniel Hester

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Years ago the thought of having a speaker system that you could carry around with you without any wires was alien. The days of big bulky Hi Fi systems that take up half of your room are long gone; there is a new kid on the block, the wireless speaker. This has revolutionised the industry and now allows anyone, no matter what their budget, to share and enjoy their music with friends and family.

The first loud speaker was invented by Johann Philipp Reis in 1861, when he installed it into his telephone. Alexander Graham Bell patented his first electric loud speaker as part of the telephone in 1876. This then changed the way we could listen to sound and thus a new industry was born in the form of speakers. Technology has come a long way in such a short space of time and now we have a wide range of wireless speakers to choose from. Below are two of the leading players in the market.

HMDX Jam Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

HMDX Jam Bluetooth Wireless SpeakerIf you are looking for an ultra-compact wireless speaker that packs a punch, at an affordable price tag, you can’t go far wrong with the Jam. This speaker can be used with a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, MP3 players and laptops.

With it having up to 30 feet range it makes it perfect for a host of situations whether in the house or down at the park. The HMDX Jam Bluetooth wireless speaker available from Superfi can run up to four hours when wirelessly connected to a Bluetooth device. It can also have a wired connection via its stereo mini jack connection with up to 12 hours playback. This is the perfect speaker if you want top quality sound without having to break the piggy bank.

JBL Flip Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

This speaker is slightly higher in price but you also get a lot more for your money. It has an impressive 5 hours of wireless playback due to its rechargeable Lithium Ion battery. The JBL Flip Bluetooth wireless speaker available at Superfi also comes with a built in microphone with a call answer button, mening it doubles up as a hands-free calling system. Don’t be fooled by the Flip’s diminutive dimensions, this little gem punches way above its weight. It has an integrated bass port and two twin 38mm drivers which provide a powerful crisp sound with outstanding clarity. The Flip is definitely at the higher end of the market, but if you have a little bit more money to spend you won’t be disappointed with this investment.JBL Flip Bluetooth Wireless SpeakerWireless speakers are a fantastic way of playing your entire music collection on the move without the discomfort of ear phones. They are the perfect addition for any social occasion and there compact design makes them easy to transport. To put one of these speakers above the other one is an impossible task. They are both at different ends of the market. The one thing that makes them the same, is they offer outstanding value for money, whichever one your budget can stretch to.

3D Printing and Health

7 Replies Jonny Hankins

3D printing technology undoubtedly presents opportunities for a completely new type of production that will revolutionize the workplace, as the many posts on this blog demonstrate. But as with all new forms of technology its development also raises many questions.

A cheap, commerical 3D printer

A cheap, commerical 3D printer

A recent report appears to find evidence that the use of 3D printers creates a bi product of nano particles that may be harmful to humans.

A research team measured ultra fine particle emissions (UFP) from the types of 3D printer typically in domestic or office use. Their findings are published in this rather technical report, and mathematics is certainly not my forte’, but it can be easily summarized: the results show that mean concentration of UFP’s is almost three times higher during 3D printer operation, meaning that these types of printers must be classed as UFP “high emitters”.

Now we need to see the results in context however, the levels reported are similar to those produced when we cook on a barbeque, but I personally use my barbeque in the garden, not in a small sealed room in the office.

The printers in question are often grouped together or found in air conditioned spaces with little ventilation, they are not sold with ventilation and there is no venting legislation, so the levels of UFP tends to increase over time in the spaces where they are used.

Particles of this type have been found to be damaging to mammals because they can easily pass into the respiratory system and cause inflammation. Some are so small that they can pass directly into the blood stream and into the organism itself.

The authors conclude that “caution should be used when operating some commercially available 3D printers in unvented or inadequately filtered indoor environments. Additionally, more controlled experiments should be conducted to more fundamentally evaluate aerosol emissions from a wider range of desktop 3D printers and feedstocks”.

A little common sense and some awareness raising and a health risk can be avoided. Industrial users have a culture of health and safety related to emissions, something that office culture might lack, but it could certainly be learned and implemented.

Anyway, the sun is out, where are those frozen veggie burgers?

Top 5 reasons for gadget buyer’s remorse

5 Replies Rebecca Moss

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Electronic gadgets

Typical gadget purchases.

Nothing compares to the excitement of getting a brand new gadget home. But, when you get it out of the box, have you ever regretted buying it?

New research from Debt Advisory Centre shows that the majority of people in the UK (82%) have experienced buyer’s remorse – and 20% of them have regretted buying gadgets (that’s just over 8 million people!).

Gadgets can be a big commitment – so if you regret buying them it can feel awful. That’s why Debt Advisory Centre has looked at the top 5 causes of ‘gadget buyer’s remorse’, and suggested a few ways they could be avoided.

1. I didn’t really need it (38%)

Many of us have been guilty of this at some point or another. It can be so easy to get caught up in the excitement when a new gadget comes out – and we feel like we just have to have one of our own. However, in the end, we realise that we didn’t actually need it at all.

One of the best ways to avoid this is to delay your purchase – by a week, a month or perhaps even longer. It might take some determination, but after the time has passed you might have a better idea of whether you actually wanted the gadget in the first place. Plus, if you wait a month or two, the cost might go down too.

2. I couldn’t really afford it (21%)

21% of people with gadget buyer’s remorse regretted their purchase because of the cost. That’s equivalent to 1.7 million people across the UK! And it’s true: gadgets can be very expensive, especially if they’re brand new.

Buying something that’s a bit too expensive is one thing – but getting into debt because of it is quite another. At Debt Advisory Centre, we’ve found that overspending is one of the main reasons people get in touch with us. We hear situations like this every day, along with the other causes of debt like job loss, divorce and other changes in financial situation. Whatever the reason, if you’re struggling with your debts it’s important to get help as soon as possible. A debt adviser could assess your circumstances and suggest an appropriate solution.

If you’re hankering after a gadget you can’t really afford (and you’re sure you actually need it), well: patience is a virtue. Wait it out, and you might find that the price drops significantly – or you might be able to find it much cheaper second-hand.

3. It was poor quality or broken (17%)

If you get your gadget out of the box and it doesn’t work properly, or it’s visibly broken, you should be entitled to return it and get a full refund. If it’s not quite as good as you were expecting (for example, if it’s a bit shoddy or flimsy) you should be able to return it, citing that it’s not suitable for your needs.

Surprisingly, only 7% of gadget-buyers who regretted their purchase actually returned it. Always check retailers’ returns policy before you buy anything from them.

4. I rarely or never use it (15%)

One day, your gadget can be your favourite possession, and never out of your hand. Then, a few months down the line, it can be in a cupboard – forgotten.

In this case, you may not be able to return it to the retailer (as you may have had the item for too long). So you could take an example from our respondents, who sold their item on (21%) or gave it away (6%). Have a look on eBay or similar sites to see how much other people are selling your item for. It’s worth at least getting some of the money you paid back.

5. I didn’t like it (10%)

It’s reassuring to see that ‘didn’t like it’ is the least popular reason for regretting gadget purchases. Gadget-buyers clearly do their research to see whether a gadget is right for them before they buy it.

However, if it does turn out that you don’t like it – don’t just keep it (like a whopping 66% of our respondents did). Act quickly and you can return it.