As some of you might already know I am an audiophile.  Over the years I’ve heard my share of both really bad stereo speakers and really high-end studio quality speakers.  I use varying setups throughout the house based upon which type of speaker works best for the job it’s meant to do.  For example, the surround sound system connected to my hidef tv consists of Polk Audio center channel, with a combination of Mirage front and back speakers, and a Nakamichi sub. That combination works best for the type of surround sound amp I’m using and the room in which I watch movies.

Even though those components are all high quality, I have a completely different set up for my music.  Why?  Because music is recorded differently than a movie track.  It requires the ability to hear separate instruments without blending all of the sound together, and in my case, I love to hear each individual instrument clearly and as close to the original recording as possible.  I choose the components in my stereo system not only because it reproduced sound well, but because the combination of components I choose doesn’t require a minimum wattage level to hear all the details in the music at low levels (my music system is in the living room, and I cant blast it too loud there).  It lets me ‘feel’ the sound even at low volumes.

I’m an audiophile.

Last week, Audioengine sent us their Audioengine A5 bookshelf speakers.  What did I think?

My biggest complaint about the iPhone 3G is its battery life. Sure, the lack of being able to run 3rd part apps in the background stinks and the crippled Bluetooth unneccesarily limits the device, but the battery life is a CONSTANT struggle since I use my iPhone so much during the day. Thankfully there are a host of options available for juicing up the device on the go. This week I’ve been using one of the newest- the Mili Power Pack from PhoneSuit – and I’m more than a bit impressed.

The company claims…

The MiLi will give you the freedom to use your iPhone without the daily worries of running out of battery life! Enjoy your iPhone for voice, music, video, games and business applications with extended, stable power. You can now experience a full day, two days or more of uninterrupted iPhone power, depending on your usage. We know you only want products that compliment your iPhone’s appearance. So we developed a design that would appeal to all senses. The MiLi is made of the best quality materials and integrates the best in technology.

Let’s see if it lives up to the hype…

Are you one of those iPhone users that finds yourself running for a charger right around mid-day? Do you conveniently have chargers placed sporadically around your home, work, and car? Or maybe you have mastered the dance between using wifi and bluetooth the perfect amount to keep your battery up all day. But what about those days when the unexpected happens? That day when you get a phone call from that cute girl you really want to talk to, but can’t afford the battery life because you still have six hours before you can make it to a charger? Which do you choose?

Well worry no more iPhone users, Incase has come to the rescue with it’s Incase Power Slider. One of Incases’s latest and probably best cases released for the iPhone 3G (sorry first generation owners). The Power Slider features a variety of both good and bad options. From battery life to thickness, syncing to protection, Incase did an incredible job on this case.

First, I must admit something to you about myself.  I am a natural materials fanatic.  Which means that I love when items are made from natural materials (wood, stone, leather, etc.) instead of plastics.  And if those natural materials are of a high quality, all the better.  After reading through Vaja’s site, I noticed that they claim to use the top 10% of Argentina’s full grain leather hides, which ensures a higher quality, strength, character, and grain.  So imagine my excitement when I opened the white box containing the sample Vaja case sent to us, and I immediately saw the unmarred, perfectly colored leather case.  I’m almost embarrassed to tell you, I even smelled the leather and knew this was the high quality which Vaja claimed on its site.

This review will cover three things about the Vaja case.  My initial impressions, the aesthetics of the case, and the protective qualities of the case.