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Review: Antec’s SugarCube Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker

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Introducing The SugarCube From Antec Mobile Products

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A First Glance At The Powerful Mini Bluetooth Speaker

Antec is a big player in the PC Hardware space. Their mobile products branch, A.M.P., has made a name for itself throughout 2015 by introducing quality accessories for your mobile devices. One of this year’s additions to their catalog is the SugarCube, a portable Bluetooth mini speaker that can be taken with you anywhere. In addition to being powered with a 40mm driver, the SugarCube happens to look great with its compact design. But, does it deserve all the attention?

A Closer Look At The SugarCube

For the last week, I carried the mini speaker everywhere around Boston. I slipped it into my jacket and backpack and kept it nearby for any occasion. The portability of the SugarCube is definitely one of it’s best features. At 3.2 ounces, the added weight isn’t noticeable. And with a dimensional volume of 2 x 2 x 2-Inches, it can fit nearly anywhere. With that said, it does need a break to recharge after 6-8 hours of use, with a charging time of between 3-4 hours.

Upon unboxing, the SugarCube is immediately ready for use. All you have to do is 1) flip on the power switch located at the bottom of the mini speaker, and 2) connect your device to the mini speaker via Bluetooth sync or by using the included 3.5mm auxiliary cable. The case also comes with a micro USB cord for recharging the mini speaker when the juice runs out.

The SugarCube is compatible with all major operating systems: Windows 10, Apple iOS, and Android, as well as any laptop, tablet, phone, and mp3 player with Bluetooth capability. And if the music gets interrupted by a call, the mini speaker comes with a built-in microphone so that you don’t have to switch over to your phone to talk.

The smooth compact design is complemented by its rubberized outer layer and rounded edges. The mini speaker is small enough to fit on any desk or shelf. It comes in a variety of colors to fit gracefully into any environment.

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Image Credit: Antec Mobile Products

If you do put the SugarCube down for a bit, the Bluetooth has a range of 10 meters (about 30 feet). In my little apartment, this was perfect. I could leave it in one room, take my iPhone 5s with me to another, and never hear any bumps in the sound, even from across the apartment.

That brings me to the real issue.

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The Sound Quality

To test out the sound quality of the SugarCube, I used a playlist put together by Jam Audio. If you want to see the songs I used, check them out here.

The first thing I noticed with the SugarCube was how loud it could get. The output power is just 3 Watts. Unfortunately, the second thing I noticed was the distortion at high volumes. When it comes to bass, the speaker is great in regards to its size, but it’s important to remember that this is a small device, so it won’t be able to produce the kind of bass that will envelop you. After having turned the volume up, the mini speaker struggled with its range although sound had filled the room. With one of the songs on the playlist, Brass Monkey by the Beasty Boys, the SugarCube had difficulty with some of the deeper bass sounds. I noticed this with other songs that were punctuated with low-frequency bass as well. Even when I turned the volume down, it didn’t make a huge difference–the distortion still lingered.

In most situations, keeping the SugarCube just below the maximum volume solves the problem. It is a little disappointing that the mini speaker can’t fully perform at the highest volume.

In my review, the SugarCube was best used in an environment where you want music to be playing, but not having to fill the whole room. Studying, reading, cooking, relaxing, hanging out with friends any calm activities that beg for ambiance, but not filled with noise are ideal uses for this product. It’s better than built-in speakers in terms of sound quality, but it won’t surpass them in volume.

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[Tweet “Antec is offering 30% off on all their products until January 10th. Just use the Code: NEWYEAR30”]

The Verdict

Overall, I’m pleased with the SugarCube. The physical design looks great, the portability is fabulous, and the sound isn’t too bad. But, if you’re looking for something with a rich, powerful sound, this mini Bluetooth speaker may not be for you.

At a retail price of $45, it’s a good buy! And at that price, it’s on par with other quality portable Bluetooth mini speakers. With an Amazon.com price of around $25, it’s an even better buy.

If you act now, Antec is offering 30% off on all their products until January 10th. Just use the Code: NEWYEAR30. That’s a pretty sweet deal! You don’t have to follow them on social media to get that discount. If you want to keep up with the latest from Antec or AMP, feel free to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you think the portability of the AMP SugarCube mini speaker makes it a worthwhile buy? Do you already own one and if so, what do you think of it? Did I get it this mini Bluetooth speaker review right? Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments section. Or better yet, reach out on social media.

FTC Disclosure: Antec Inc. provided Beantown with one SugarCube mini speaker sample for review purposes. We’re not paid ambassadors. Our opinions are purely our own.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Antec Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

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SMS Audio BioSport Earbuds Review

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What More Could You Ask For In A Sports Headphone?

Updated post. With all the new wearable technology being released, the list for which ones to pay attention to is getting longer and longer. Well, you best make room on that list for the Biosport, the new biometric earbud with heart rate monitor from SMS Audio. The product, a collaboration between Intel and SMS Audio, is on the cusp of innovation and cutting edge technology. With these two brands coming together to change the way that you work out and exercise, something good is bound to happen. Welcome to the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds review (updated.)

SMS Audio BioSport earbuds review

Are These BioSport Earbuds The Total Package?

At a price of $150, I had some pretty high expectations for the BioSport. With features like these, can the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds meer them?

  • IPX4 rated durability against water or sweat
  • A powerful heartbeat monitor that doesn’t require batteries
  • Works in tandem with popular fitness apps like Run
  • Fantastic SMS Audio sound via 12.4mm driver
  • Comfortable, new design and look

The packaging and branding are sleek. It perpetuates that fancy and put-together look of the whole product. In addition to the earbuds, you’ll receive a 30-day trial membership for the runkeeper elite app. You can find the runkeeper app for Apple and Android here.

So I took them out, put them to action, and saw just how well they lived up to my expectations.

Design Review of the SMS Audio BioSport Earbuds

The first notable aspect of these earbuds is the ergonomic design. With all the new earbuds that are supposed to “fit perfectly” in your ears and “never fall out,” I was a little apprehensive when I saw this take on a comfortable fit. The design looks modern and innovative, definitely something that no one else is doing. If you’ve found that other styles don’t fit your ears, these BioSport earbuds might be worth a try.

The BioSport earbuds come in 3 different sizes that slip on and off with little difficulty. Looking at the 3 sizes, the differences themselves aren’t too obvious, and they’re easy to mix up. On the inside, the sizes and designated sides are etched lightly to show the discrepancies.

SMS Audio BioSport earbuds reviewThe wire is flat to prevent tangling. There was one day while I was testing these out when I forgot them back home on a trip to the gym. I pulled out my tangled ball of Apple headphones and had to spend a minute or two figuring out the knot. The worst I got with these was some twisting up from turning my phone over too many times as I worked out.

Along the wire is a hub of the heart rate monitor. It’s much like any other mic segment you’d find on another earbud–a button to pause, skip, and skip backward. What’s notable about this is how large it is. I’m sure as the technology improves, there will be a decrease in size. But in this model, it’s relatively bulky.

Overall, the design is attractive. I love the in-ear section––it’s comfortable and value its originality. On the outside of the ear is a pod where the wires are attached. I’m pretty averse to the flashy, ostentatious look at the gym, so I try to avoid earbuds that attract a lot of visual noise. Although the amount is minimal, it’s still there, and it should be stated that it’s there. The best way to avoid the flashiness of the Biosport would be to buy them in some other color like grey. Other than grey, they come in blue and yellow (the latter being more like a lime-green if you ask me.)

For the design, I give the SMS Audio Biosport earbud the grade of an A-.

Read:   Review: Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT1iS Headphones

Introducing The Heartbeat Monitor

Intel is known for being on the forefront of new technologies and their contribution to the Biosport earbud may make or break this purchase for many people.

The best way for me to express the idea is to reminisce about high school sports. I’m sure if you’re considering buying these headphones, you’ve had a coach at some point and know the feeling of someone always yelling for you to run harder, lift harder, or push harder.

But now you’re grown up, and the gym is quite different than the practice field. There are no other players to compare to other than yourself. You decide how hard you push, checking it against how hard you feel you’re pushing.

The heartbeat monitor gives you a measure for your challenges.

Here’s how it works. The monitor is controlled by a little switch on the mic and it will start tracking your heartbeat through a sensor in the right headphone. When it’s functioning, you can’t use the mic to make phone calls. The mic becomes exclusively for the pause-skip-rewind button.

That seems simple enough. Unfortunately, that’s not all. The monitor must be connected to an app through your phone. SMS Audio and Intel suggest Runkeeper, and I would too despite the complications I faced. The headphones have to be connected through the settings of the app. After that’s finished there’s a little heart that shows up on the screen, whether or not the heartbeat monitor is actually switched on.

If everything is correct, just choose which activity you want to do, how you want it tracked through the app (GPS or Stopwatch), and then get to work.

[envira-gallery id=”4411″]At it’s best, the heartbeat monitor is a fantastic addition to a routine. Every 5 minutes or so, a voice through the app speaks to let you know how long you’ve been going and update you on your average heartbeat, your current heartbeat, and where that sits on the scale of how hard you can go (50%-60%, 70%-80%, etc.) It’s especially satisfying when the voice activates and shouts excitedly that you’re working at 90-100%.

However, at it’s worst, it can be pretty aggravating. It takes some time to activate. If you don’t have the monitor turned on, it can throw off your stats. Once such case is if you’re running and waiting for the heartbeat monitor to kick in, and then nothing happens.

Compared to the struggles that accompany a separate heart monitor – wires, straps, batteries. These headphones make things pretty convenient. They don’t need batteries, and they plug right into your phone. The technology for receiving the information just isn’t quite there yet as it occasionally stumbles.For the design, I give the SMS Audio Biosport earbud the grade of an A-.For that, I give this feature a B+.

For the heart monitor, I give the feature the grade of a B+.

Read:   The SuperSlim Monster iSport Wireless Headphones Review

The Superb Sound

Now we come to the SMS Audio side of the earbuds.

These headphones aren’t noise cancelling. It doesn’t matter though as the sound is so powerful. Even at a low setting, these feel loud. Turn it up and the sound gets richer, more surrounding, thicker, and deeper. It’s very nice.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing along to your music, or jogging right along to the beat, submerged in the rhythm and sounds.

For their sound, I give the feature the grade of an A.

Read:   Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

Final Thoughts

Although a smaller brand in the headphone arena, SMS Audio is known for their innovation and the BioSport earbuds do not fall short of that promise. From the I’ve never seen before design, to the integration of an @Intel biometric heart monitor, the @SMSAudio BioSports are a great pair of earbuds!

SMS Audio BioSport earbuds reviewAll together I give it an A-.

They’re durable, enjoyable, comfortable, and for the most part, they’re functional. If it weren’t for minor inconveniences and stumbles with the heart monitor, I would have given them an even higher rating.

There is a wide variety of wearable tech available right now. At a list price of $150, this model may not be your first choice. I suggest you check around a little more before making your final decision.  In my opinion, the BioSport should be placed pretty high up on your list.

So what’s your opinion? Do you agree or disagree with anything in this review? Have you tried the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds? What did you like and/or dislike about them? Let us know in the comments below or over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages.

And don’t hesitate to head over to the SMS Audio website. Feel free to check out their latest products as well as their press releases.

[Tweet “to the integration of an @Intel biometric heart monitor, the @SMSAudio BioSports are a great pair of earbuds!”]

Updated April 2016: One great thing has happened since this review was posted last year and this is a drop in price. So, if you held back purchasing the BioSport due to it’s $150 price tag, you need not worry any longer. One check on Amazon and you’ll see all three colors of these earbuds selling for $39.99. You heard correct, a penny below $40.

FTC Disclosure: SMS Audio, LLC provided Beantown LLC with one (1) sample pair of BioSport earbuds for review purposes. This writer’s opinions are 100% his own.

Editor’s Note: Of all the brands and models of headphones Tom has reviewed, it was the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds he asked to keep. I believe this says something quite favorable about this reviewed product.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of SMS Audio, LLC and/or Beantown LLC.

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Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

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Pure Monster Sound® and Adidas® Sport Come Together

Monster is known for its high-performance audio cables and it’s Pure Monster Sound®. It is this very sound that is integrated into their headphones and speakers. Adidas® is a world-renown brand for all things sports. This past year, these two major brands teamed up to create sports headphones equipped with Pure Monster Sound. What they created was the Adidas Sport Supernova™ in-ear headphones by Monster.

Initial Thoughts – Adidas Monster Headphones Review

The Adidas Sport Supernova comes to us with plenty of promises: superb sound quality, tight grip in the ear, waterproof design, perfect for extended workouts, total noise isolation, lightweight, and durability. All these promises come at a price of under $100. Based on the things I’ve heard, I was excited to get the chance to try them out for myself.

Adidas Monster Headphones ReviewThe packaging is sleek, yet simple. What you don’t use and/or wear (i.e. cardboard, plastic) can make its way straight to the recycle bin. Not counting the black-and-white patterned headphones, the packaging consists of the following:

  • A rugged and breathable mesh carry pouch
  • 3 sets of ear tips
  • 3 different sets of the SportsClip™
  • A multi-language user manual

The first time using the Adidas Sport Supernova was while walking along the busy, noisy streets of Downtown Boston during the afternoon rush. Upon placing the headphones into my ears, and turning the music on, the surrounding noise immediately disappeared. Everything around me went silent. The music I was listening to sounded fresh and clean. These in-ear headphones were truly noise isolating. The Pure Monster Sound definitely fulfilled my expectations.

The sweat-proof, water-resistant design held true to Monster’s promise. This means that you can wash them off after each use, but don’t toss them in with the laundry.

While the grip wasn’t as comfortable as I had initially expected, with some adjustment, it became much more so. You can thank the nine different customizable fits of the SportClip for this.

Another feature of the Adidas Sport Supernova is ControlTalk™. On the headphone wire, there’s a controller with three buttons and a microphone. These buttons are to answer and end calls, turn the volume up or down, pause music and video, skip, and rewind. It’s easy to access if you’re on a run and can’t pull out your phone to pick up a call. It’s useful in everyday settings like walking or just sitting as well. Note: the functions of the buttons vary on the manufacturer of the mobile device. Below is a table that covers eight manufacturers of mobile phones.

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

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One Week Later

When I started using the Adidas Sport Supernova, I was enamored with them. I couldn’t go without having them in my ears. The sound was so good. But, it didn’t take long for any negatives in its design to manifest.

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Photo Credit: Monster

Due to its noise-isolating design, the Sport Supernova in-ear headphones are for indoor use, primarily with cardio equipment. They are not intended for anything longer than 1-2 hours of use. Even with their ergonomic design, I found it difficult to use them beyond this 2-hour time period. As they are designed to isolate noise, they did need to be removed from my ears for a while to let them rest from the pressure. This was a bit disappointing as I would have liked to use them longer.

(If you’re looking for a comparable pair of headphones designed for outdoor use, then check out the Adidas Sport Response™.)

The headphone’s audio is impressive! There’s no doubt about this. Yet, it is stifled by one complication, its cord. I noticed that problems arose from it while exercising.

The 4′ long black-and-white cord is wide and flat to make it tangle-resistant. Unfortunately, this made it encumbering when it needed to be fluid. Many times during my workouts, the wire would tug on anything it touched and managed to pull out the headphones, despite the grips. This flat design is not ideal for running. If there’s ever a Sport Supernova 2, I hope Adidas and Monster choose a round cable design.

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The Sound

I was impressed by the Pure Monster Sound when I first popped the Sport Supernova into my ears. The bass sounds were deep and strong. Everything sounded nice. Smooth, quiet melodies flow in the isolated noise and the high notes felt just right.

However as I listened more, I began to notice a little distortion. The sound began to crack slightly on the high notes. From then on, these high notes felt a little thin, but the overall sound was still solid.

The playlist that I used to test these in-ear headphones was originally put together by JamAudio. You can see all the songs listed here.

One of my playlist favorites for testing speakers and headphones is Brass Monkey by the Beastie Boys. One play of this song’s intro reminds me why these headphones sound is so impressive. Even after the recommended break-in period of 20 hours, and despite the light distortion on some highs, the sound produced by the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones is undeniably amazing!

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The Verdict and Final Thoughts

The Adidas Sport Supernova is fantastic in terms of sound quality. It isolates noise well, it has a suitable fit, it is sweat resistant, tangle resistant, and has ControlTalk.

Yet on some of its promises, it falls a little short. It fell out of my ears while working out, even with the correct SportClip. And it wasn’t as long-term comfortable as I would have liked. Because of this, the functionality doesn’t come together as well as I had hoped.[Tweet “the sound produced by the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones is undeniably amazing!”]

Adidas Monster Headphones ReviewAs a practical audio accessory, it is very good quality for $79.99. If you can look past the issues with the flat cord and a little distortion in the highs, you will have truly found a great pair of headphones.

Have you tried the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones by Monster? Were you surprised by the quality of the product? What do you love about them? And what do you think of the SportsClip? Let us know over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Monster Products website. Feel free to check out their 2016 product lineup as seen at the recent CES. They’re doing some great over there!

FTC Disclosure: Monster Inc. provided Beantown LLC with an Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones sample for review purposes. We’re not paid ambassadors. Our opinions are 100% our own.

All photographs and graphics are the copyrighted property of Monster Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

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The SuperSlim Monster iSport Wireless Headphones Review

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What more could you ask for in a sports headphone?

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

I’ve had a couple pairs of Monster® headphones before. When I saw their current line of Bluetooth headphones, I looked forward to getting my hands on a pair of iSport SuperSlim headphones to review. At a list price of$150, these new Monster iSport wireless headphones have a lot to live up to.

With the market booming with this new kind of wearable, you want to make an educated decision about which pair is the best one for you. So I tried a pair and here’s what I thought.

Read:   Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

 The Monster SuperSlim Design

Often times the biggest problem that I have with headphones derive from the design. And it’s for this reason that when I got my hands on the Monster iSport wireless headphones, I was super excited. I’m a big fan of the Monster sound and had thought the Sports Clip design had been comfortable when I used them before.

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

The packaging for this product is impressive. It opens out nicely to show off a fit guide and the headphones. I eagerly pulled them out and got to playing around. The pair I sampled came in lime green. If you prefer something more subtle, they have black as an option. As a personal preference, I suggest the headphones in black. When it comes to these headphones, the more subtle you can get, the better.

The first time I took these out and wore them was one street down from my apartment to meet some friends. I wore them with pride. Then my friends spotted them. I hadn’t paid much attention to the size of the headphones themselves until that moment. From this second perspective, I noticed that they’re quite big.

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

Additionally, the Sports Clips themselves can be bulky. This adds to the effect since there’s nothing wrapping around your ears to hold them in place. So you pop them in and they just sort of dangle out of your ear, blinking.

Yes, blinking.

When powered on, they flash blue on a circle on the outside of the headphones. This was another comment I heard people make about them while I wore them. “They’re just so big, and they’re blinking.”

I felt a little puffed up as I walked around the gym wearing huge sports headphones that flashed as if needing to be noticed.

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

This doesn’t even cover the not-so-slim rubber wire that connects the two headphones. With most wireless headphones, I could wrap them comfortably around my neck, but that didn’t work with this pair. The rubber tugs and catches on skin and clothing. The Sports Clips weren’t strong enough to hold them in place. I constantly found myself adjusting and fixing them.

Even without the constant tugging, I had some trouble getting the right fit on these iSport SuperSlim headphones. They come loaded with 3 different ear bud sizes as well as 3 different sweat-resistant, washable Sports Clip sizes. Yet, I still couldn’t get just the right snug fit in my ears.

From a design perspective, I would say these Monster iSport wireless headphones might not be worth the financial investment. That is unless you get the opportunity to try them on and see how they fit in your ears.

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The Monster Sound

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

The Pure Monster Sound® will always hold a soft spot for me. No matter how comfortable the fit, the first time I use any of their products, I just sigh with relief when the music starts playing.

There’s nothing like walking down a busy street and just listening. The sound is smooth, soft, and powerful.

The bass play through the headphones is rich. Feeling surrounded by the noise isolation is easy when the sound is this good. The details in the music are really brought out by the Pure Monster Sound®. Songs have a new angle, new edges.

Coupled with the right playlist, these headphones can get you pumped up for anything.

It’s definitely something you need to experience.

[Tweet “The details in the music are really brought out by the Pure Monster Sound®.”]
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Functionality and Final Thoughts

The sound is incredible, but this feels somewhat disappointing as these Monster iSport wireless headphones don’t come together as a whole.

The Bluetooth itself is great. Five hours of playback is great. Not having to keep your phone plugged in the whole time when you’re at the gym is freeing, and yes, great. I expected some system that felt more effortless than some of the less expensive Bluetooth headphones on the market.

Monster iSport Wireless HeadphonesThe monotone voice: “power on” can be found in any system, and is not that impressive. The pairing is simple enough if you keep your eye on the manual. Overall, for the price you’re paying, the product could be better.

I constantly felt like the headphones were in contradiction. Pure sound, but lackluster in most everything else. I struggled to feel good about using them in public while at the same time wishing for the Pure Monster Sound®.

I’m a huge fan of Monster®, but these were a bit of a disappointment. When it comes to Bluetooth headphones, I’ve seen other brands do better with design and functionality. While the Bluetooth itself is a great experience, I wouldn’t recommend spending your $150 for these Monster iSport wireless headphones. The list price is a little steep for the product. Fortunately, there’s Amazon.com, where this product goes for less than $90. Now that’s more to my (and probably your) liking.

I rate these headphones 3 out of 5 stars.

So what’s your opinion? Do you agree or disagree with anything in this review? Have you tried the Monster iSport SuperSlim wireless headphones? What did you like and/or dislike about them? Let us know in the comments below or over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages.

And don’t hesitate to head over to the Monster Products website. Feel free to check out their 2016 product lineup as seen at the recent CES. They’ve introduced some great products in 2016.

FTC Disclosure: Monster Inc. provided Beantown LLC with one (1) sample pair of SuperSlim Monster iSport wireless headphones for review purposes. This writer’s opinions are 100% his own.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Monster Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

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The Scorch Trials Blu-ray Release from FOX Home Entertainment

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The Scorch Trials Comes Home to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD.

Per November’s press release from FOX Home Entertainment, “The Maze was just the beginning. After the harrowing adventure of escaping the maze, the Gladers find themselves right in the center of an epic mystery in MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS, available on Blu-ray™ and DVD December 15. Mysteries deepen and stakes are raised as the Gladers must survive “The Scorch” in this bigger, even more suspenseful and action-packed chapter of the Maze Runner phenomenon.” Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is available now on Digital HD at FOX Redeem.

“The critically acclaimed young-adult saga based on author James Dashner’s best-selling book series has taken the world by storm on the way to nearly $600M* at the global box office for the franchise, thanks to its remarkable young cast led by director Wes Ball, including Dylan O’Brien (“Teen Wolf”), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (“Game of Thrones”), Ki Hong Lee (“The Unbreakable Kimmie Shmidt”) and Kaya Scodelario (“Skins”). Based on the second book in a trilogy by James Dashner, the series sold more than nine million copies in all formats.”

“There’s more action, more excitement and more spectacular effects in this thrilling new chapter of the epic Maze Runner saga that’s taken the world by storm! They may have escaped from the Maze, but Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers now face a greater challenge: searching for clues about the secret organization known as WCKD. Their journey leads them to the Scorch, a desolate wasteland filled with unimaginable dangers. The mystery deepens at every turn as the Gladers work together to discover their purpose and battle to survive in this must-see, electrifying adventure!”

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Official Twitter Viewing Party of The Scorch Trials

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-Ray Release

If The Scorch Trials Blu-ray release wasn’t enough, then tonight at 8 PM Eastern, be part of the official Twitter viewing party with Author James Dashner. Follow along with the hashtags  #SurviveThe Scorch #ScorchScreening and/or #GreenieScreening and enjoy the Digital HD show.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-Ray Release and #ScorchScreening Twitter PartyMaze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-Ray Release and #GreenieScreening Twitter Party

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Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials DVD Special Features:

  • Deleted and Extended Scenes with Audio Commentary from Wes Ball, T.S. Nowlin, Joe Hartwick Jr. and Dan Zimmerman
    • Food Fight
    • Storage Depot Walk – Meet JansonMaze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-Ray Release
    • Bunker Escape – Minho Knows the Way
    • Mall Walk – Escalators
    • Mall Attack – Goodbye Jack
    • Scorch Travel – Teresa on Bridge
    • Scorch Travel – Helping Winston
    • Newt & Thomas at Campfire
    • Extended Jorge Lair Walk
    • Cranks Attack WCKD Soldiers
    • Extended Zipline
    • Jorge Lair – Brenda Fires Back
    • Extended Tunnel Walk
    • Extended Crankland WCKD Arrives
  • Gag Reel
  • Galleries
    • Concept Art
    • Storyboards
  • Theatrical Trailers

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-ray™ Release – Special Features:

“Real Gladers are in line for the greatest of presents this winter, as the MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS Ultimate Fan Edition on Blu-ray will hit shelves just in time for holiday shopping. The limited edition set includes an exclusive, 24-page printed comic-book with two new prequel stories from BOOM! Comics – one on the character of Teresa and the other a Crank backstory. In addition, two hours of thrilling bonus content, including deleted and extended scenes will take fans further behind-the-scenes of the suspense and action-packed journey through the Scorch. Teens will be delighted to find a gag reel that reveals fun, silly moments on set with their favorite cast members including Dylan O’Brien. They’ll also need to make sure to check out Janson’s Report, a perfect bridge from the film that’s full of debriefing videos with Janson, Thomas, Newt, Minho, Frypan and Aris after they arrive at the compound. This version is the must have for fans of the franchise and any members of the Dashner Army. Both the Blu-ray™ and DVD will include an offer for the Maze Runner mobile game with a free “Brenda” runner plus in-game currency.”

  • All of the DVD Special Features
  • Janson’s ReportMaze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-Ray Release
  • Secrets of the Scorch
    • The Second Chapter Begins…
    • Creating a Scorched Earth
    • New Friends and Enemies
    • Surviving the Scorch
    • Creating the Cranks
    • On the Edge: Constructing the Skyscraper Sequence
  • Visual Effects
    • Visual Effects Breakdowns
      • Optional Commentary by Wes Ball
      • Bunker Entrance
      • Hiding from WCKD
      • Building Collapse
    • Visual Effects Reel
      • Bunker Entrance
      • Bunker Escape
      • Mall
      • Scorch Travel
      • Lightning Storm
      • Jorge’s Lair
      • Tunnels / Leaning Building / Crankland
      • Right Arm Camp
Read:   X-Men Days of Future Past The Rogue Cut from Fox Home Entertainment

The Martian Blu-Ray Release From FOX Home Entertainment

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The Martian Comes Home to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD.

Per today’s press release from FOX Home Entertainment “Now everyone can “Bring Him Home” with the highly anticipated release of the stellar movie event of the year. Buckle up and brace for the thrilling journey that is Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s THE MARTIAN, arriving on Digital HD December 22 and 3D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray & DVD Jan.12, 2016.”

Still playing in theaters domestically and globally, The Martian Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD release marks a departure from the norm for such an early release.

To date, The Martian has grossed $221M in 68 days  in North America alone. Globally, the tally is much higher around $750M. These figures make Ridley Scott’s The Martian his greatest commercial success.The Martian Blu-Ray Release

“From legendary director Ridley Scott (Alien, Prometheus) comes a gripping tale of human strength and the will to survive. During a mission to Mars, American astronaut Mark Watney (played by Academy Award winner Matt Damon) is presumed dead and left behind. But Watney is still alive. Against all odds, he must find a way to contact Earth in the hope that scientists can devise a rescue plan to bring him home. Based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, THE MARTIAN provides a realistic glimpse into life in outer-space that will have you on the edge of your seat!”

“In addition to wowing audiences around the world, the film is one of best reviewed of the year and has been named one of the best movies of the year by such groups as National Board of Review, which also awarded top honors to Ridley Scott for Best Director, Matt Damon for Best Actor and Drew Goddard for Best Adapted Screenplay.”

“The 3D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD release will have more than 90 minutes of special features including an exclusive newly produced in-world retrospective starring Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sean Bean covering the “true” story behind the daring rescue seven years after the events of the film occurred.”

The Martian Blu-ray™ Release:The Martian Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD

  • Street Date: January 12, 2016
  • Prebook Date: December 22, 2015
  • Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (2.40:1)
  • Audio: English DTS-HD 7.1
  • English AD Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Spanish 5.1 D
  • French 5.1 DDThe Martian Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD
  • Subtitles: English/Spanish/French
  • Total Film Run Time: Approximately 134 minutes
  • U.S. Rating PG-13
  • Closed Captioned: Yes
  • Closed Captioned: Yes
Read:   Hitman Agent 47 Blu-ray & Digital HD from FOX Home Entertainment

 

Special Features on The Martian Blu-ray™ and 3D Blu-ray™:

  • Signal Acquired: Writing and Direction
  • Learn how the producers brought an acclaimed novel, a master director and a stellar cast together for THE MARTIAN.
  • Occupy Mars: Casting and Costumes
  • Matt Damon and his ensemble of incredibly talented actors discuss their roles in THE MARTIAN.
  • 5 Theatrical In-World Pieces
  • Ares III: Farewell
  • The Right Stuff
  • Ares: Our Greatest Adventure
  • Leave Your Mark
  • Bring Him Home
  • Ares III: Refocused
  • Seven years after the events of Ares 3, take a deeper look at the true story behind Mark Watney’s daring rescue
  • Gag Reel
  • Production Gallery

The Martian DVD Release:

  • Street Date: January 12, 2016The Martian Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD
  • Prebook Date: December 22, 2015
  • Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (2.40:1)
  • Audio: English 5.1 DD
  • Spanish 2.0 Surround DD
  • French 2.0 Surround DD
  • Subtitles: English / Spanish/ French
  • Closed Captioned: Yes
Read:   X-Men Days of Future Past The Rogue Cut from Fox Home Entertainment

The Martian Blu-Ray Release

All photos and video are the courtesy and property of FOX Home Entertainment and/or 20th Century FOX.

How The FixMeStick Cleaned My Desktop Computer, A Review

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What The Heck Is A FixMeStick?

I’m going to repeat myself for literary sake. What the heck is a FixMeStick? This was the exact question I asked when I first learned of the product, long before I began this FixMeStick review.

Now whenever I mention it, people ask the exact same question. Based on their responses, I’ve compiled a list of what the FixMeStick can’t do.

  • It doesn’t repair your car.FixMeStick
  • It can’t fix your love life.
  • It doesn’t pay your bills or college debt.
  • It has nothing to do with a selfie-stick.
  • It can’t actually fix you. Sorry folks.
  • And it definitely can’t keep your family from arguing during holiday gatherings. (How I wish.)

What the FixMeStick can do is suck out viruses from your computers. It did so on mine.

How Does The FixMeStick Actually Work?

Set it and forget it, as Ron Popeil of Ronco Rotisserie Oven fame used to say.

The FixMeStick works very much in the same way. (See the 6-step process below.) Once you’ve gotten through the initial steps, which take between 5-10 minutes, you can let the product do the rest. Some hours later, which varies for every user, you’ll see the results.

FixMeStick in action.As you can see from the image to your right, and the video below, the FixMeStick functions very much like a vacuum. It sifts through all your files, finds the infected ones, and cleans them.

The stick uses 3 of the most common anti-virus engines available:

  • Kaspersky
  • Sophos
  • Vipre

Now, the stick isn’t designed to work as a stand-alone item on your computer. It complements the internet security, anti-virus, and anti-malware programs you already use (or should already be using.)

Let’s say this is your first time using the stick and you’re using Windows OS. (It’s available for Apple OS too.) Run the RunFixMeStick.exe file. A dialog box will appear stating “The FixMeStick is good to go!” Now click the Reboot and Launch FixMeStick button. This leads to another dialog box with the FixMeStick License Agreement. Click the Accept and Run button.

Once running, you’ll see a Scan dialog box on your monitor. The scan goes through a 6-step process. Now register your product and proceed.

  1. Checking Internet Connection
  2. Checking For Product Updates
  3. Updating Malware Definitions
  4. Initializing Malware Scanners
  5. Scanning Computer
  6. Results

Once the scan is complete, you can choose to Clean Computer or See Results. Give both a try. Once cleaned, exit the program and remove the stick while the computer is powered down. Upon restart, go back to using your computer as you normally would.

Here’s a quick one-minute video on the stick.

 

How-To Set Up a Remote Connection.

From the Run FixMeStick dialog box, click the Settings tab. Then hit your keyboard’s Control Key 3X.  Click the Initiate Remote Support button. A new window will appear with a 9-digit ID and a 4-digit password. You should see a green light below the password stating “Ready to connect (secure connection)”. Provide these numbers to the FixMeStick agent and the remote connection will be established to your computer. Easy as pie. [Tweet “What the @FixMeStick can do is suck out viruses from your computers. It did so on mine.”]

Running Into Complications.

While unlikely, it’s possible that one of the three following scenarios occur.

  • The FixMeStick fails to update itself.
  • Scans are quitting unexpectedly.
  • Scans are freezing.

To remedy this, conduct a factory upgrade of the stick and you should be good-to-go. If you’re still running into problems, the visit the FixMeStick Support page and/or call 1-800-530-6125.

The FixMeStick Review Results.

My desktop and laptop computers consist of the following protection software:

  • A major internet security/anti-virus program. (Oddly enough, 1 of the 3 engines listed above.)
  • An anti-malware program.
  • And multiple cleaning programs.

After an overnight scan time of 7 hours, 23 minutes, it produced the following results for my desktop computer:

  • It caught the Trojan.W32.Generic!BT virus.
  • It quarantined two files: AutoPico.exe and KMSELDI.exe.

While the quarantined files are questionable in nature, the Trojan is not. The latter is a problem and good-sized one at that.

Read:   Patriot Announces Ignite Series M2 SATA Solid State Drive

Where to find the FixMeStick.

It’s more like where can’t you find this product. There are so many options available.

The FixMeStick comes at three price points. You can choose $9.99 for the one month trial or $59.99 for one full year. Both of these choices allow for the product to be used on up to three computers. The third and final choice, an all-you-can-eat option, allows for the use of the product on an unlimited number of computers for $299/year.

You can purchase yourself one here on the FixMeStick website at the prices stated above. If you would rather use one of your favorite retailers, feel free to check out the Find a Store link and choose. Retailers in North America are pretty well represented on their heat map.

Note: I have seen significant discounts during holiday sales, so you may want to subscribe to those Fry’s and Newegg newsletters.

Here’s a partial list of major online retailers:

The warranty is a pretty good one. It comes with a 45-day return policy with a money back guarantee. And did I forget to mention the unlimited free support?

Conclusion.

Initially, I had doubts about this product and its claims. Heck, I was already using 3+ software programs to keep my computers safe.

While it took longer than expected to scan my desktop computer, (more than twice the time according to the FixMeStick literature,) it did so while I slept through the night. So, it never interfered with my daytime work. The FixMeStick did catch the Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT virus. None of my current software programs were able to do this.

The scan on my laptop produced no viruses, which is a good thing.

So…can I recommend this product to you readers? Oh Heck Yeah! Who wants an infected computer that allows for unauthorized remote access? Certainly not I.

While many of you (myself included) may feel that the $59.99 price is too steep, might I suggest looking at the 30-day purchase. After all, the product does come with a 45-day return policy and money back guarantee. It’s tough to beat a guarantee like that.

In the end, the decision is yours. Regardless of how you proceed, always and I do mean ALWAYS, protect your computers.

All photos and/or videos are the property of and copyrighted to FixMeStick Technologies.

FTC Disclosure: Beantown LLC received one FixMeStick for review purposes. We are not a paid sponsor or ambassador of the product.