By Gregg Ellman
McClatchy-Tribune
Scosche recently launched the lobeDOPE, a fun and colorful line of on-ear headphones.
The lightweight headphones are built with a polymer construction and ear cushions, which are so comfortable you forget they are on your head.
As for the sound, they have Scosche’s signature sonic sound profile and 40mm drivers in each ear for crystal clear sound and just enough bass that you won’t feel your head banging.
The hip-looking headphones are available in what the company refers to as fun Southern California-inspired colors of brush fire, bubble gum and sundown. To the non-Californians like me, this translates into bright versions of green, yellow, blue, gray pink and red.
They are available with or without an in-line mic for handsfree calls; it will also give you music controls for volume, changing tracks and play or pausing music.
Details: $34.99 with the mic/remote or $29.99 without; www.scosche.com
Headphones for kids, adults
Maxell’s Cut the Rope DJ-style headphones, designed with kids in mind, have an orange and green design with frog characters (named Om Nom) on the outside of both padded ear cups. They produce dynamic sound for a low price ($24.99).
Toys R Us lists the recommended ages for these as 5-10, but they don’t have any age limitations or restricting volume levels.
Each speaker has 40mm drivers and a 106dB sensitivity level for anyone wondering. They connect to any media device with a standard headphone jack.
Maxell’s black DJ Style bass headphones (also available in red) also have 40mm drivers in each padded ear cup with a 110dB sensitivity rating.
The price-friendly adult headphones won’t break the bank ($29.50) and produce decent sound but look great.
Leather style ear cups are super comfortable and fold up for easy portability.
Details: www.maxell-usa.com
Power solutions
Power Power Power.
It’s an issue we all deal with trying to keep our never ending supply of portable electronic gadgets going 24/7.
Quirky is a company, which I say over and over makes the most useful and innovation gadgets in the land.
A lot of companies make AC USB adapters but the Quirky Contort Power ($24.99) stands out as a complete device with a standard AC plug along with a pair of USB charging ports.
The device is built with an angled plug so when you plug it in your wall it doesn’t block the other existing AC plug. A built-in cord management system lets you attach your own cable for easy storage.
They also have the flexible Prop Power extension cord ($19.99), which has incredible flexibility to wrap around ladders, fence posts, desks or headboards to get power in places you typically don’t have any.
Its flexible body has a pair of AC power outlets at both ends and measures out to 6 feet long with one end being 18 inches of flexing power connections.
Details: www.quirky.com
Extra hands stands
Go with one SmallHands or TwoHands with the felix smartphone and tablet stands.
The SmallHands ($14.99) is a portable stand, which clips on the back of your smartphone to hold it up hands-free in horizontal or portrait positions.
It’s a cool looking and durable device, which is made of a combination of aluminum, plastic and silicone. The design lets it work with Apple and most Android smartphones.
For the bigger tablets, the TwoHands ($24.99) will also hold them hands-free in both positions.
Details: Each available in six different colors; www.felixbrand.com
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