By Gregg Ellman
Tribune News Service
Flicks Mobile Cordless Boombox Projector is incredibly simple to work, sounds great, projects a great image and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
The all-in-one (5.31-by11.77-by-6.52-inches) projector and Bluetooth speaker projects a crystal-clear widescreen video in 720p HD with Texas Instruments DLP technology.
I used it with an Apple laptop and connected it with the included-HDMI cable to display a movie, which is projected from the lens on the backside.
The lens is constructed from a combination of plastic aspheric and glass spheric to deliver the image in perfect saturation and color quality.
On the product’s website they talk about showing a 100-inch image with the Flicks at just over eight feet from the wall, so I did just that and it was as crystal clear as advertised.
Projectors typically give off a lot of heat and this one is designed with a cooling system to pull in air and keep it cool on all sides.
On the front is the speaker for the movie audio or to stream music wirelessly from any Bluetooth device.
A pair of custom-designed neodymium speakers and a subwoofer are inside to deliver the sound, which makes this a complete system at high or low volumes.
All the control buttons for power, volume, pairing, etc., are on the top. On the back are the lens, power, HDMI, headphone and AUX connections. A master on/off switch is on the bottom.
There’s also a USB port, which can be used for charging (smartphones, tablets, etc.) or direct connection for a streaming music device.
Flicks are available with a 140-watt lithium-ion battery ($599), which is good for 4 hours of movies or 28 hours of music. If you want to double that, just get the 280-watt model ($699).
Both include an AC power adapter to keep it running endlessly along with a wireless remote.
Details: www.dashbon.com
Forte provides stand for Apple Watch
The Twelve South Forte for Apple Watch did the impossible; it makes the luxury wristwatch look even better.
Your Apple Watch sits on the high-quality stand (3.35-inches high by 3.26-inches wide, 3.77-inches deep) and has a cable management system to use your own charging cable.
It’s cleverly designed to allow your cable to be installed or removed in seconds from the top-grain genuine black nappa leather base up to the polycarbonate chromed ring. The removable ring secures the charging disk in place.
The base is weighted so your watch sits on the arm for charging and can be used hands-free in portrait or landscape modes at a 40-degree angle. This is the perfect angle when using the watch in nightstand mode.
The Forte is compatible with all styles of the Apple Watch.
Details: www.twelvesouth.com, $59.99
Cordless charging for iPhones
The AirCharge case for iPhones introduced me to something new — wireless charging for my iPhone 6.
Combine this made-for-iPhone certified case with the smartphone, and place it on any Qi wireless charger (sold separately) for charging.
While the Qi charging isn’t imbedded into the iPhone system, the AirCharge case brings the two together.
When the iPhone is inside the case, there’s a lightning connector that goes into the phone to transfer the charge from the Qi charging base.
The wireless charging is a magnetic field in the charging base, which transfers power to a receiver (in this system’s charging case) when placed on top of the charger. All cable free.
The case is black and white and protects your device while giving you full access to the functions and touchscreen.
Details: $43.99
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