| 2013 Fiat 500e  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The 2013 Fiat 500e's silent electric engine offers good low and midrange acceleration and feels capable at highway speeds. Cabin tech is simple, but checks the right boxes for audio sources and hands-free calling. Mobile app lets the driver monitor the vehicle and its battery remotely. Bad: The TomTom navigation system was disappointing. At 75 miles, the cruising range is among the lowest in the category. Bottom Line: We like the pure-electric 2013 Fiat 500e for its understated design and city-car practicality, but there are better buys to be had in the small EV market. [Read more] | Read More »  Onkyo TX-NR626  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Onkyo TX-NR626 is an excellent value, packing both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at a midrange price. There are six HDMI inputs, plus a dedicated turntable input -- a rarity these days. Onboard streaming-audio support is extensive, including Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, Slacker, and Internet radio. And sound quality is solid after a manual setup. Bad: There's no AirPlay, which competitors offer for less money. The TX-NR626's built-in Audyssey speaker calibration also delivered inconsistent results. Bottom Line: Onkyo's TX-NR626 is a value-packed AV receiver with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and even a turntable input, but it's just short of being our our top pick. [Read more] | Read More » HMDX Jam Plus (blue)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The affordable HMDX Jam Plus sounds better than the original Jam, it has an attractive, fun design, and if you buy a second speaker you can create a completely wireless pair of true stereo speakers. Bad: No speakerphone capabilities; while the bass is a bit improved, the speaker still sounds thin. Bottom Line: With an appealing design, affordable price, and the ability to combine a second Jam Plus to create a left/right stereo pair, the Jam Plus is a worthy budget Bluetooth speaker. [Read more] | Read More » Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Bright clear full-HD 6.3-inch TFT display; good battery life; LTE connectivity; solid build. Bad: TouchWiz UI; average camera, random reboots; slightly sluggish dual-core processor. Bottom Line: With a recommended retail price of S$798, the Galaxy Mega seems a tad expensive for a midrange handset, but its solid build and brilliant screen makes this a phablet you can consider getting. [Read more] | Read More » Sprint Vital  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Sprint Vital has a big, bright 5-inch screen, a decent 13-megapixel camera, and a competitively low price tag. Bad: The Vital comes with a lot of bloatware, the home button can be unresponsive, and call quality is mediocre. Bottom Line: While the Sprint Vital is ZTE's best handset to date, the HTC One outshines it by miles for the same price. [Read more] | Read More » Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 (Mac)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Adobe's latest version of Photoshop Lightroom handles offline images a lot more gracefully than previous iterations and adds some tools that streamline local retouching. Bad: Still lacks features that some users might miss, including face detection (and related efficiencies), HDR and panorama tools and beyond-basic video support. Bottom Line: A nice, but not necessarily must-have update, Adobe Lightroom 5 remains a strong program for working with raw images. [Read more] | Read More » Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 (PC)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Adobe's latest version of Photoshop Lightroom handles offline images a lot more gracefully than previous iterations and adds some tools that streamline local retouching. Bad: Still lacks features that some users might miss, including face detection (and related efficiencies), HDR and panorama tools and beyond-basic video support. Bottom Line: A nice, but not necessarily must-have update, Adobe Lightroom 5 remains a strong program for working with raw images. [Read more] | Read More » Marshall Major 50 FX  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Marshall Major 50 headphones feature a sturdy build and authentic Marshall details; they fold up neatly and store in a cloth bag; has integrated mic and three button remote; sound is exciting and suits rock music but are also capable of playing other genres. Bad: At $170 the headphones may be too rich for some people's blood -- especially given the $50 premium over the standard model; they're not the last word in hi-fi, as they're lacking some finesse; not as comfortable as the Bowers and Wilkins P3. Bottom Line: The Marshall Major 50 FX headphones may look a little gaudy, but the company's rock tradition is safe with a premium build and exciting sound. [Read more] | Read More » Sony Cyber-shot HX50V (Black)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V is the smallest, lightest camera with a 30x zoom. It has a large assortment of shooting options, direct control over exposure compensation, and excellent photo and video quality for its class. A Multi Interface Shoe lets you attach a flash, mic, or electronic viewfinder. Bad: Despite the additional manual controls and Multi Interface Shoe, the HX50 lacks a couple things enthusiasts value: a large sensor and raw capture. The flash, mic, and viewfinder accessories are expensive. Slow lens limits its usefulness indoors. Bottom Line: Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V is an excellent compact megazoom suitable for snapshooters to enthusiasts, though the latter might be turned off by some aspects of the camera. [Read more] | Read More » Showyou (Android)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Showyou for Android aggregates videos from a number of different sources and makes them easy to sort through and watch. Curated channels are great for discovering new content. Bad: No video history or video queue. Bottom Line: Video junkies, casual viewers, and everyone in between will love Showyou for its ability to aggregate interesting and popular content from around the Web. [Read more] | Read More » D-Link DIR-868L Wireless AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit Cloud Router  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The easy-to-use D-Link DIR-868L offers fast data speeds, solid Wi-Fi coverage, and cloud-enabled features with mobile apps. Bad: The router can't work as a media bridge or a standalone access point, and its mobile apps are limited both in features and functionality. Bottom Line: The D-Link DIR-868L delivers as an advanced 802.11ac-enabled home router despite its underwhelming mobile apps and usage inflexibility. [Read more] | Read More » Mextures (iOS)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Mextures lets you combine textures from actual 35mm film scans. The layer system is extremely intuitive, letting you switch to any layer to edit textures. Bad: Mextures forces you into making square photos for sharing purposes. Bottom Line: With tons of film textures, a layer manager, and a well-designed interface, anyone who wants to try something different with their photos should download this app. [Read more] | Read More » PSB M4U 1  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The PSB M4U 1 offers excellent, clean, and accurate sound. The headphones fit comfortably and come with both a "plain" cable and one that has an integrated one-button remote and microphone for making cell-phone calls. A nice carrying case and an extra set of user-replaceable ear pads are also included. Bad: Like most hinged headphones, the M4U 1's hinges might pose long-term reliability concerns. The headphones high performance can make poorly recorded and compressed music (MP3s) sound worse. Bottom Line: The PSB M4U 1 delivers first-class audiophile sound at home or on-the-go with your mobile device. [Read more] | Read More » Vizio CA27T-B1 27-inch Touch All-in-One (Core i7)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Vizio CA27T-B1 has a quad-core Core i7 processor, dual HDMI inputs, and an included remote and wireless clickpad; comparable specs to competitors in this price range. Bad: Cheaper-feeling plastic accessories and a bulky subwoofer power brick clunk up the otherwise clean design; only a 1080p display; screen is solidly mounted but wobbles when touched. Bottom Line: Vizio's top-of-the-line 27-inch touch all-in-one gets a modest update but stays traditional compared with detachable, convertible alternatives. [Read more] | Read More » Panasonic TC-L55DT60  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Panasonic DT60 offers a very attractive design and some useful interface tweaks; solid color and 3D performance; decent sound quality. Bad: Pricey; poor black levels, shadow detail, and picture uniformity. Bottom Line: The Panasonic DT60 is an attractive looking, well-featured LED LCD TV, but mediocre picture quality and worse value make it a tough sell. [Read more] | Read More » Panasonic TC-L60DT60  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Panasonic DT60 offers a very attractive design and some useful interface tweaks; solid color and 3D performance; decent sound quality. Bad: Pricey; poor black levels, shadow detail, and picture uniformity. Bottom Line: The Panasonic DT60 is an attractive looking, well-featured LED LCD TV, but mediocre picture quality and worse value make it a tough sell. [Read more] | Read More » Gaems Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The most practical solution for home console gaming on the go, the GAEMS PGE cleverly packs a 19-inch LED screen into a suitcase design. It's easy to set up and works with any Xbox 360 or either of the slim PlayStation 3s. It's FAA-approved for carry-on and comes with everything you need to play (save for a console and games). Bad: Portable home console gaming has its drawbacks. The entire contraption is heavy and not fun to carry around. It's a niche product for dead-serious gamers and probably not for casual players. If you're playing a darker game, there's a fair amount of light leakage around the perimeter of the screen and the blue hues that glow on either side can be distracting. Bottom Line: If you can't be without your home console of choice on long trips or any kind of extended leave, the GAEMS PGE is the most practical solution for all-in-one home console gaming on the go. [Read more] | Read More » Cambridge Audio Minx Air 200  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Cambridge Audio Minx Air 200 is an attractive wireless speaker, with an understated design that blends well into most environments. It supports both Bluetooth and AirPlay, plus it can directly stream Internet radio without the need for a separate mobile device. Bad: The Minx Air 200 doesn't sound as good as other speakers in its price class. Despite the handle on the back, it's not truly a portable speaker, as it lacks a built-in battery. AirPlay setup can be slightly difficult for networking neophytes. And while its jumbo size allows it to sound better than the smaller Minx Air 100, it takes up a lot of shelf space. Bottom Line: The Cambridge Audio Minx Air 200 is a big, well-designed wireless speaker that supports Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Internet radio, but its sound quality doesn't live up to its lofty high price. [Read more] | Read More » 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG boasts startlingly good acceleration for a sedan of its size, thanks to its powerful engine and our equipped performance package upgrades. It also manages to be quite comfortable thanks to an adaptive suspension, multiple drive modes, and a high level of cabin comfort amenities. The stop-start fuel saver is one of the smoothest that we've tested. Bad: The Comand interface is showing its age with confusing organization and features that feel tacked on rather than integrated. The Mercedes-Benz Apps interface is poorly organized and too slow to be of any use behind the wheel. Bottom Line: The powerful, comfortable 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG feels like a car that's worth its high asking price, but we'd wait for the next generation of its Comand interface before taking the plunge. [Read more] | Read More » 2013 Nissan Sentra  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The 2013 Nissan Sentra's inexpensive navigation system integrates Google local search, and the stereo includes Pandora. The continuously variable transmission delivers efficiency and improves the car's driving character. Bad: The four-cylinder engine leaves the Sentra feeling underpowered. A small touch screen and poor turn graphics reduce the navigation system's usability. Bottom Line: The 2013 Nissan Sentra serves as cheap transportation for urban areas, and offers connected navigation for greater convenience, but a weak engine and bland styling highlight its mundane nature. [Read more] | Read More » Alcatel One Touch Idol  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Alcatel's unlocked One Touch Idol has a large display, a slim profile, an 8-megapixel camera with HD video capture, and strong call quality. Bad: The Idol won't deliver faster than 3G service. The entry-level device lacks NFC and has little internal storage. Bottom Line: With low-end specs and no 4G speeds, Alcatel's One Touch Idol can't compete with the LG Nexus 4. [Read more] | Read More » Sony Vaio Pro 11  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Sony Vaio Pro 11 weighs less than 2 pounds and uses a fourth-gen Intel Core i5 to deliver long battery life and very good everyday performance. It has an excellent 11.6-inch 1080p touch screen and is competitively priced for its features. Bad: The Pro 11, like its competition, has a nonremovable battery (though you can add an external battery), few ports and connections, and integrated graphics only. System memory is maxed out at 4GB. Bottom Line: The superthin, superlight Sony Vaio Pro 11 is everything we expect from an excellent ultrabook. [Read more] | Read More » ZTE Cricket Engage LT (Cricket Wireless)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: ZTE's Cricket Engage LT runs a nearly vanilla Android 4.0 user interface, has a chic design, and includes the carrier's Muve Music subscription service. Bad: The Engage LT is sluggish, takes poor photos, and has a heavy build. Bottom Line: Pass up the ZTE Engage LT's poor performance and relatively high price for other entry-level Cricket phones, like the HTC One SV. [Read more] | Read More » 2014 Kia Sorento  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: Direct injection makes the 2014 Kia Sorento's engine more efficient than some of the competition, and the steering has three settings. UVO links the car with a smartphone for some services, and the speedometer is virtual. Bad: The navigation system pops up a confirmation screen every time it recalculates the route. Access to the third row is difficult. Bottom Line: The 2014 Kia Sorento works best as a five-passenger crossover, and includes a few high-tech features, such as an efficient engine and smartphone-linked telematics, that give it an edge over competitors. [Read more] | Read More » Sony Xperia Tablet Z (16GB)  | Editor's Rating: User Rating: Good: The Sony Xperia Tablet Z offers a refreshingly thin and light design, with great gaming performance, and a sharp screen. The MHL connection, impressive waterproofing, and expandable storage are notably appreciated extras. Bad: $500 for 16GB of storage is a heavy price hike compared with Sony's previous tablet entry, and the tablet's poor network performance and slow app loading cuts into its value. The low-light camera feature isn't as effective as a traditional flash. Bottom Line: Though awash in features, the Xperia Tablet Z's $500 price is a decidedly bitter pill to swallow when a better, cheaper alternative exists for $100 less. [Read more] | Read More » | |
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