Gadgetwise: Braven Speakers Let You Party for Hours

If you, as the band Kiss might put it, want to rock ‘n’ roll all night and party every day, Braven has designed the wireless accessory speaker for it.

The Braven 850 claims its battery can play music continuously for up to 20 hours, although in a test, playing the speaker at a modest volume, it sailed past the 24-hour mark. At that point, the speaker’s battery indicator still showed two-fifths power remaining.

Larger than some of the previous Braven products — at about 10 inches long, 4 inches tall and 3 inches deep — the 850 has a nice, balanced sound, with ample bass and clear highs. It also has a DTS bass-boosting sound enhancement, which is controlled by holding volume up and down together for two seconds.

The silver cabinet is of aluminum with clearly marked controls on top, including one that turns the speaker into a speaker phone (when paired with a phone by Bluetooth, of course).

A single 850 is loud enough to support a living room dance party, perhaps because of the built-in 20-watt amplifier. But it can also be paired with a second 850 to, as the band Marrs might put it, pump up the volume. The pairing also allows for true stereo sound, as one speaker plays only the right channel, the other one, the left.

These weigh more than three pounds, so you might not want to tote a pair of them on a hike to the beach. And if you are considering it for some reason other than portability, you might also consider the price. At $300 each, you’re looking at $600 for a pair. For that same money you could buy a respectable stereo receiver and bookshelf speakers. Or, as the band the Brains might put it, money changes everything.

Ex-Hot Boy Turk Spent First 72 Hours After Prison W/ Memphis Hitmaker [Video]

Sunday, Oct 21, 2012 11:51AM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

Fresh out of prison, former Hot Boys member Turk is keeping himself busy by linking up with Memphis rapper Don Trip for some new tunes.

According to reports, Turk hooked up with the "Letter to My Son" hitmaker within three days of getting freed.

Video footage of recently released rapper Tab "Turk" Virgil is online showing the rapper in Memphis, TN during his first 72 hrs out of jail, and hitting the studio with Memphis rapper Don Trip. Turk was released from federal prison on October 12, 2012, and as a rep for Turk said to MemphisRap.com , the rapper was looking forward to hitting the studio soon. After serving nearly 9 years in prison, Turk says in the video that he "feels good" to come home, and after 8 yrs 8 months and 16 days, he's not sad and doesn't regret anything. Turk added that he's "free" and realizes that he could be 'locked up in his mind' still, by holding on to things like that, so he focusing on 'change' by 'changing his mind' and 'keeping it simple.' (Memphis Rap)

Earlier in the week, Don Trip hinted at some webisodes of their adventures together coming out soon.

"Another repost from @kid_trav #WelcomeHomeTurk Follow @kid_trav on Instagram...webisodes coming soon http://instagr.am/p/QyoYnQMc9A/," he tweeted October 15th. (Don Trip's Twitter)

Recently, Turk revealed his experience behind bars and possibly rejoining Cash Money.

"I'm always open to that. That's an option," Turk said referring to possibly signing back to Cash Money. "I've talked to Baby on several occasions, while I was incarcerated. I've talked to Lil Wayne. Wayne sent me money. I talked to B.G., but unfortunately he was locked up when I came out. I spoke to Juve, Mannie Fresh, everybody. It's all love. We're gonna sit down, chop it up as men and see what the future got for us. But right now, it's about that YNT Empire--Young N Thuggin. I'm pushing on my own right now because a man gotta stand on his own, but I'm looking forward to working with the whole industry. It's all love." (XXL Mag)

Shortly after getting released, Turk gave his first post-prison radio interview.

"I'm outta here, man," Turk said in an interview. "They took [the shackles] off, after eight years, eight months, sixteen days. It's a blessing, it's a miracle. First things first, man, getting my family straight. That goes without being said. I've been working on an autobiography, I finished it, I'm about to get a deal for that -- you've got to be productive [while locked up] or you're going to go crazy. I just stayed in contact with the industry, staying abreast with what was going on, trying to educate myself as much as I can so when I did get out, I wasn't too far behind. They in trouble once they hear this music." (Q 93)

Check out Don Trip & Turk's interview below:

Apple: iPhone 5 Preorders Top 2 Million in 24 Hours

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Orders for the iPhone 5 topped 2 million in their first 24 hours, more than double the amount of its predecessor over the same period.

Since Apple started taking iPhone 5 orders on its website at 3 a.m. EDT on Friday, buyers who have a two-year service agreement with AT&T, Sprint or Verizon Wireless have been able to order the phone for $199 (16 gigabyte model), $299 (32 GB) or $399 (64 GB model).

Apple said Monday that while most orders will be delivered on Friday, demand for the iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply. As a result, some of the devices are scheduled for delivery in October.

The Cupertino, Calif. company's stock added 1.2 percent, or $8.50, to close at $699.78 on Monday.

The iPhone 5 represents the first major revision of the iPhone's screen size since the first model was introduced in 2007. The new iPhone has an elongated screen —4 inches (10.16 centimeters) measured diagonally— that allows room for another row of icons and lets widescreen movies fit better. The calendar will now show five days at a time instead of just three. Previous iPhone models had 3.5-inch (8.89-centimeter) screens. The new phone is also thinner and weighs less than previous models. It can operate on LTE cellular networks and sports a new processor and updated software.

T. Michael Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity, said he believes the iPhone 5's "differentiated form factor versus the iPhone 4S" and other improvements should drive strong iPhone 5 sales. The record advanced orders on Friday and through the weekend caused Walkley to revise his previous prediction that Apple would sell 6 million of the new iPhones by September 29. He now believes "Apple could ship 9 million to 10 million" in that time, he told investors in a note on Monday.

Janney Capital Markets analyst Bill Choi said Apple's announcement Monday "suggests iPhone 5 is running well ahead of iPhone 4S." In a note to investors, Choi reaffirmed his earlier expectation that Apple will sell 7 million to 10 million iPhone 5s by the end of September.

It won't be easy for Apple to top the breakneck sales pace set by previous iPhones. Apple said last year that it sold over 4 million iPhone 4Ss just three days after its launch on October 14. That launch occurred less than two weeks after the death of Apple's iconic founder Steve Jobs and as the iPhone 4S went on sale, scores of Apple devotees were still mourning him with candlelight vigils and impromptu memorial ceremonies outside of Apple stores across the globe.

The iPhone 5 will be available at Apple's 356 U.S. stores starting Friday. Each customer who makes a purchase at an Apple store will be offered free personal setup service, which will help them customize their device.

The phone will be available in more than 22 countries on Sept. 28.

Aside from Apple stores, the iPhone 5 will be available at Apple's website as well as through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, some Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and certain Apple authorized resellers.

Earlier Monday AT&T Inc. said it set a sales record for the iPhone 5, with customers ordering more of them than any previous iPhone model on the first day of orders and over the weekend.