Although it’s only a couple of days until Christmas, I had to squeeze in some more tech gadgets that would make fun gifts.
This week, I picked two items: a speaker and a mouse. While they don’t sound unique, trust me, these are a bit unusual.
The first is the Lyrix Jive Bluetooth Speaker. No, wait, I forgot a word. Make that the Lyrix Jive Water-Resistant Bluetooth Speaker.
Yes, this little gizmo is made to bring musical accompaniment to personal shower concerts. With this little speaker, a user’s bathtime rendition of “White Christmas” could be a duet instead of a solo (although I’m not sure how Bing Crosby would feel about that).
The Jive speaker is about the size of a plum and is covered in a soft, protective silicone. The bottom is shaped into a suction cup so the speaker can stick to a shower wall or side of a tub.
The speaker uses a Bluetooth wireless signal to connect to a capable phone, tablet or computer. It includes a cable that allows users to charge the device through any USB port or power adapter. A power switch next to the micro-USB charging port lets you save the charge when it’s not in use.
Because the speaker is inexpensive, the sound quality isn’t up to Bose standards. It’s a little muffled, especially with the higher tones. But it has more bass than I expected. It’s a decent sound for its purpose. Besides, how clear will it be with running water in the background?
The only issue with the Jive is the suction cup.
Put a little water around the edge, and you can plant it firmly on the shower wall,where it will stay through a shower - probably. Eventually, though, it will fall off. The suction cup just isn’t strong enough to hold the speaker’s weight for more than 20 minutes. At least, the one I tried out couldn’t. It might be best to suction it to the top of the tub’s side. In that case, put it behind the shower curtain. It’s water resistant, but letting water spray directly into the speaker probably isn’t a good idea.
For those who just want some tunes in the bath or shower, the Jive works fine, and the price is nice. It’s also small enough to fit into someone’s stocking.
The next item sounds like a typical computer device - a mouse. This, however, is not your standard mouse.
The Penclic B2 Bluetooth Mouse looks like a very small mouse with a pen sticking out the top. That’s actually the whole idea behind it - to hold it like a pen and use it like a mouse.
The Penclic has five buttons and a scroll wheel.
The wheel is on the base of the device, the “mouse” part. The base of the pen has two indentations where the index finger and thumb should rest. Two of the buttons are behind the index finger, and the other two are behind the thumb. The fifth button is beneath the resting index finger and its indention. The base of the pen is a ball joint that fits into the mouse, so it’s very easy to move it around. The scroll wheel sits in the top right of the mouse, within perfect reach of the middle finger.
The Penclic works via Bluetooth, so it’s wireless. It includes a rechargeable battery and a USB cord to charge it.
The Penclic definitely takes some practice to use, but it’s more than capable of working like a regular mouse.
It has its pros and cons. I found it useful for programs such as Photoshop, where I could draw far easier with it than with a standard mouse. It’s also more precise if you have to digitally sign forms.
The biggest con is the hand positioning. While it’s a bit easier on the wrist than a standard mouse, it forces users to hold their hand in a tight position like for a regular pen. And, just as with a regular pen, a user’s hand can get very tired and a bit sore with heavy use.
The Penclic would be great for those who need a more precise drawing instrument than a mouse but who can’t afford those expensive digital pen-and-tablet pairs. It’s OK for light to moderate everyday use, but anything beyond that, and you’re likely looking at a hand cramp or two by the end of the day.
These two items definitely would make conversation pieces, or great stocking stuffers, to the right recipient.
That’s a wrap for the Christmas gadgets. Next week, we’ll find some fun and useful apps to start the new year.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas!
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via email at mljones72@me.com.
Where it’s @
The Lyrix Jive Water-Resistant Bluetooth Speaker retails for $29.99 and requires a USB port for charging and a Bluetooth-capable music device. More information is available at digitaltreasures.com. The Penclic B2 Bluetooth Mouse requires a USB connection for charging and a Bluetooth connection. It retails for $99.99. More information is available at penclic.se/en.
Business, Pages 21 on 12/23/2013