Beats by Dr. Dre Beatbox Portable From Monster

In the space of about a year, Bluetooth and AirPlay wireless speaker docks have begun to replace old-fashioned wired systems. Bluetooth's streaming quality has improved so much that this isn't a bad thing. Now Monster has joined the fray. At $449.95 (direct), the Beats by Dr. Dre Beatbox Portable from Monster is just as expensive as its non-wireless sibling, the Beatbox by Dr. Dre from Monster ($449.95, 4 stars). It's not as powerful as the Beatbox, but it's smaller and portable. Unfortunately, one stipulation of its portability is the need for six D-cell batteries (yes, the big ones), and the Beatbox Portable also suffers from audible hiss when its volume level is high. But it otherwise sounds quite good, with a heavy bass presence and sculpted highs.

Design
The Beatbox Portable is sort of wedge-shaped, like a triangle missing one of its points. It comes in two colors: Black and red, or white and gray (our sample's color scheme). Both models feature the indented Beats logo on the front panel's metallic speaker grille. The top panel houses an iPhone and iPod dock, though you can also stream via Bluetooth from just about any modern mobile device or computer. Overall, it's a stylish-looking system, and its portability is at least aided by sturdy handles built into either side for easy carrying.

The system ships with eight adapter trays for various models of iPods and iPhones, a simple remote control for docked devices, and a power adapter, which connects on the back panel, near the 3.5mm Aux input. The remote doesn't navigate menus and only controls playback, but since this is primarily a wireless system that turns your mobile device into its own remote, we can let it slide.

As mentioned earlier, the system requires a whopping six D-cell batteries to power it on-the-go. That's going to make it a bit heavier, and it's not exactly environmentally-sound, either. It's the second portable system in recent memory to rely on six D-cell batteries?the significantly less expensive House of Marley Bag of Rhythm ($349.99, 3 stars) does as well. The Beatbox's battery compartment is on the bottom panel, and can be unscrewed with a coin or even a fingernail.

Performance
While the Beatbox Portable is without a doubt a powerful speaker dock, it's far from flawless. Like most Beats products, the bass?as well as the treble?is seriously tweaked, so audiophiles seeking flat response systems should steer clear. If you're looking for a great party system, however, the Beatbox Portable is an appropriate choice. Even so, it suffers from a minor hint of distortion at maximum volume on deep bass tracks like The Knife's "Silent Shout," so little that many people won't notice. At maximum volume on deep bass tracks, the system vibrates slightly, not unlike the aforementioned Bag of Rhythm , but not nearly as dramatically. This vibration can be easily mistaken for speaker distortion, but it's really a case of the speakers rattling the enclosure a bit.

Other issues are more obvious. Speaker hiss is a problem that a wireless speaker in this price range shouldn't have. At maximum volume, it's audible even when music plays?regardless of what volume level your mobile Bluetooth device is set to. Compared with the JBL OnBeat Extreme ($499.95, 4.5 stars), our Editors' Choice for wireless docks?which has no audible hiss?the Beatbox is quite noisy. If you lower the system's volume, the hiss becomes less of a nuisance, but it's still there. It's especially noticeable on quieter tracks, such as with classical music. Your best bet is to max out the volume from your streaming device and keep the volume on the system itself lower.

All hiss aside, John Adams' "The Chairman Dances" can sound a tad harsh at top volumes?the higher register instruments get quite a bit of boost, so the brassy highs and mids can be intense. It sounds better at moderate volumes, where the low frequencies are present but not overwhelming and the sculpted highs seem less exaggerated.

The Knife's "Silent Shout" has a deep bass thud that sounds extremely powerful on the Beatbox Portable. At top volume, there is the tiniest hint of distortion?not nearly as prevalent as it is on another recent wireless speaker dock, the Logitech UE Air Speaker ($399.99, 3.5 stars). Here, the bass barely distorts, and adjusting the volume just a hair solves the minor issue. Can it blast deep bass music at top volume and still sound good? Yes, but if occasional distortion is going to bother you?and at this price, that's a fair issue to have?you might be better off with the JBL OnBeat Xtreme .

If portability is a must and the six battery requirement seems like a drag, Bose's SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker ($299.95, 4 stars) is rechargeable and also streams via Bluetooth. It's smaller and slightly less powerful, but suffers no distortion issues at all. The Beatbox Portable is no slouch, but at a much lower price, Bose manages avoid the hiss and provide strong audio performance without the six battery arsenal.

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??? Beats by Dr. Dre Beatbox Portable From Monster
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Oil up to near $103 amid strong corporate earnings

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14-Year-Olds Who Answered Correctly: A Job In Education ...

Today, April 20, is Earth Day. While not a legal holiday, its ?official? start year was 1970.

Mother?s Day was made an official national holiday, under President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914. Father?s Day was not made an official national holiday until 1972, under President Richard Nixon.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, was first celebrated in 1986, though?

Brilliant texting between dog and master ? including such hilarious exchanges as?

?Earnestly referred to a young co-worker as ?a real go-getter.? Just going to go set on the porch a spell, if you need me.? (Chapin Clark)?

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?The Notebook? Star Rachel McAdams To Receive Proposal?

“The Notebook” Star Rachel McAdams To Receive Proposal?

Michael Sheen is getting ready to propose to his actress girlfriend, Rachel McAdams. The actor, who has been dating the “Notebook” actress for two years, [...]

“The Notebook” Star Rachel McAdams To Receive Proposal? Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News


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Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE listed as 'coming soon' on Bell Canada's site

Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE listed as 'coming soon' on Bell Canada's site

Just a couple of days ago, Canadian carrier WIND quietly outed its soon-to-be Nokia Lumia 710, and now it's Bell's turn to follow suit by teasing an upcoming device of its own. Unlike WIND, however, Bell isn't flaunting a Mango-flavored handset, but instead a Gingerbread-loaded Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE. As you may have guessed by the "LTE" stuffed in its relatively long dub, this Sammy slab will be able to surf through the Mobility network's Long Term Evolution waves. Sadly, the product page isn't showing us just how much cash you'll have to unleash, or how "soon" we can expect it to hit shelves around the True North. No worries, though, since Bell does have a signup page waiting for you to kindly place your name on it.

Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE listed as 'coming soon' on Bell Canada's site originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alienware's M11x is no more, bigger is apparently better

Alienware's M11x is no more, bigger is apparently better

While Alienware's revealed a trio of updated machines for its gaming laptop range, one device, the M11x, was conspicuously absent. Yes, the 11-inch gaming midget won't be getting the same attention and will be "phased out", according to Alienware at a recent press event. While the device was critically well-received when it launched, gamers were now apparently looking for greater keyboard space and a larger screen in their mobile gaming purchases -- and this went for battery-life too. Those looking for a small form-factor in their mobile gaming rig will have to step up to the hulking 14-inch M14x. Hey, don't get too upset -- at least there's now an optical drive option.

Alienware's M11x is no more, bigger is apparently better originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friends of Taylor Armstrong Push for Rehab


Taylor Armstrong has a drinking problem that her friends believe should lead this reality star into rehab, and we know what you're thinking:

Taylor Armstrong has friends?!?

Taylor Armstrong, Daughter

Kennedy Armstrong is as cute as her mom is awful.

Apparently, or else Radar Online is simply making up sources, which seems unimaginable.

According to that site, producers plan to address Taylor's reliance on alcohol on the show's new season, which started shooting last week.

"The fellow Housewives feel that Taylor needs to go to rehab to learn how to cope with the pressures of life without alcohol or any other substances," says an insider. "Taylor is in denial that she has a problem with booze."

A contributing factor to Armstrong's hesitation to seek help? She does not want jeopardize a $100,000 endorsement deal with Ciroc Vodka.

Aside from exploiting her alleged addiction, Bravo doesn't have grand plans for Taylor on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She will be likely be phased out, this mole claims, due to a lack of an "interesting hook."

"Everyone's concerned that without the marriage drama she's just going to come across as dull. It's unlikely that she's going to be able to start publicly dating again so soon after Russell's death and with her money troubles she's unlikely to be leading any kind of aspirational lifestyle."

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Hong Kong to slam door on pregnant mainland Chinese

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong may bar mainland Chinese mothers from giving birth in public hospitals next year to ease over-crowding in local maternity wards, the city's health chief said on Tuesday.

Since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong has benefited from its deepening integration with China. Yet the unfettered access of mainland Chinese to public services in the densely populated city has also caused social strains.

"Right now, we expect that in 2013, all public hospital obstetric services may be reserved for local pregnant mothers," Hong Kong's Health chief York Chow told reporters.

The comments came after the financial hub's leader-elect, Leung Chun-ying, said private hospitals should bar mainland Chinese mothers and that their newborns will no longer be able to claim permanent residence in the city.

"If they apply now and prepare to come to Hong Kong next year to deliver their babies, in all likelihood, their babies will not have permanent residency status in Hong Kong because once I assume office, I will surely work on this," Leung told Hong Kong's Cable Television in an interview on Tuesday.

Leung, a property surveyor and Beijing loyalist was chosen in March to succeed the bowtie-wearing Donald Tsang by a 1200-member, largely pro-Beijing election committee, in a scandal-tainted contest that protesters denounced as a "small circle" affair puppeteered by Beijing's leaders behind the scenes.

Leung's tough stance on the mainland mothers signals a move toward a more populist agenda once he takes office on July 1, that has included pledges to provide more land for public flats and to make housing more affordable.

NO SPECIFICS

Leung did not say if the city would pass laws or use other methods to stop the children of mainland parents from gaining the right of abode, or permanent residency, in Hong Kong.

The pledges by authorities to tackle the hot-button issue come after street protests by local mothers, heated online debates and provocative advertisements in local newspapers denouncing mainland Chinese visitors as "locusts", including mothers crowding out Hong Kong's maternity wards for months.

In 2010, of the 88,584 newborns in Hong Kong, around a third, or 32,653 were born to mainland women, up from 620 babies in 2001.

The influx has spawned an industry of agents shuttling Chinese mothers across the border, hiding them in illegal 'inns' before birth, partly to circumvent China's one-child policy and also to gain the right the live in one of the world's most developed, wealthiest cities.

A broad provision in Hong Kong's mini-constitution grants Hong Kong citizenship to any Chinese born there.

"Everyone should know Hong Kong society already has a clear consensus about this matter. One, delivering babies of couples with no residency right is not the way we want to develop our healthcare industry. Two, such offspring are not the solution to the problem of our ageing population," Leung said.

Chow, the city's health secretary, said that he was in touch with Leung and respected his view of suspending the quota system, but a final decision had yet to be made.

Private hospitals that increasingly rely on maternity services said a sudden policy change would have a major impact.

"Can we change our mode of operation? Yes we can, but not suddenly. If we are given say three years, we can make a long- term plan," said Alan Lau, chairman of the Hong Kong Private Hospital's Association.

But Henry Yeung, president of the Hong Kong Doctors' Union, said blocking automatic permanent residency would ease the crowding at maternity wards.

"This move will return maternity beds to local mothers. Before this trend, private hospitals managed to survive."

(Additional reporting by James Pomfret; Editing by Ed Lane and Daniel Magnowski)

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Syria regime's finances cut in half by sanctions

PARIS (AP) ? France's foreign minister says an array of international sanctions targeting Syria's repressive regime have depleted its financial reserves by half ? and Damascus is actively trying to evade them.

Alain Juppe called Tuesday for a solid international response to such "maneuvers" as he opened a Paris meeting of 57 countries to tighten sanctions against President Bashar Assad.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MOSCOW (AP) ? Syrian opposition members say they have sensed a shift in Russia's stance on the conflict in their homeland and voiced hope Tuesday that Moscow will crank up pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

On a visit to Moscow, Haytham Manna, spokesman for the Arab Commission for Human Rights, said Russia has voiced support for democratic changes in Syria and believes the Syrians themselves should determine the country's future.

"The representatives of the Russian government aren't inclined to support the idea of preservation of the dictatorial regime," Manna told a news conference. "They are talking about the need for continuing democratic changes, and it's very important for us."

Abdul-Aziz al-Kheir, a spokesman for the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, said Russia's position has been changing over the past two months and "particularly fast over the past two weeks."

Members of the Syrian opposition said they hoped Russia will apply its power to persuade Assad to observe U.N. and Arab league envoy Kofi Annan's cease-fire plan to end 13 months of violence in Syria.

"Russia has all the necessary levers to apply pressure on Assad's government and help Annan's mission," Manna said.

Hassan Abdul-Azim, the head of the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change who is leading the delegation, said Moscow's support is essential for the success of Annan's mission.

"That is the last chance to end the fratricidal massacre and create preconditions for the transfer to a democratic form of government," he said.

Manna said that while the opposition was encouraged by the talks in Moscow, differences remain. Russia continues to be strongly critical of Assad opponents using force, Manna said, while the opposition views it as a legitimate response to the violence on the part of the regime.

He said that the opposition delegation also sought to assuage Russia's concerns about the rise of Islamism in Syria and prospects of continuing violence in the country in case of regime change.

The opposition delegation is expected to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later Tuesday.

Lavrov has recently criticized Assad for dragging his feet on reforms and using excessive force. He and other Russian officials have strongly urged their old ally to observe Annan's plan.

Russia, along with China, has twice shielded Assad's regime from U.N. sanctions over its deadly crackdown on a popular uprising. But Moscow has strongly supported Annan's cease-fire plan to end 13 months of violence and begin talks on Syria's political future.

In Paris, diplomats and finance ministry officials from the Arab world, the West and elsewhere were meeting to coordinate sanction measures against Assad's repressive regime.

The Arab League and the European Union are among more than 50 participants who want to keep up pressure on Assad.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe was set to kick off Tuesday's closed-door talks in Paris under the "Friends of Syria" banner. But two Arab League nations ? Syrian neighbors Iraq and Lebanon ? were not attending.

Diplomats say a string of EU, U.S. and other sanctions are affecting Assad by curbing Syria's ability to export oil.

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