mobileappsall: 5 Gadgets We’re Playing With This Week

5 Gadgets We’re Playing With This Week: "

Mashable recently kicked off its Gadget of the Day Series, supported by the Energizer Inductive Charger. Each week, we review five gadgets that catch our interest. In case you missed them, here are the gadgets from our fourth week — read on for our reviews of the Sound Freaq SFQ-01 Sound Platform, MSi GT683 Gaming Notebook, Soundmatters foxL v2.2 Bluetooth Speaker, The Lark and Samsung Chromebook Series 5 3G Notebook.

Looking for even more gadget reviews? This roundup will appear every weekend during the series, and you can check out all of our gadget coverage on the Tech & Gadgets channel.

1. Sound Freaq SFQ-01 Sound Platform

If you haven’t experienced Bluetooth music listening yet, this “Sound Platform” will serve as a worthy introduction. It instantly turns your mobile device into a sophisticated remote control, playing music that sounds surprisingly good.

Handsome, Slightly Retro

It's a style that grows on you. This one is black, but there's also a red one that is even more attractive.

It's Also a Dock

When your iPhone's battery is depleted from all that Bluetooth use, dock it front-and-center for replenishment.

Closeup, Right Controls

These are touch controls, pleasantly sensitive.

Closeup, Left Controls

The left button is for UQ3 Spatial Sound Enhancement, which resulted in some of the best simulated stereo sound I've heard. Unlike many others I've encountered, I actually used it most of the time.

What's That?

On the right, there's a plastic door, and behind it you'll find...

Remote Control

...this remote control, stored in a compartment. Nice. The remote controls basic transport functions of your iPhone when it's docked.

Rear

There's that acoustically-tuned dual-port chamber, a concept I can say first-hand is quite successful. The bass is not thundering, but it's loud enough for me. Overall, this box can play so loud that others in your household will complain.

Plug It In

On the left is where the electricity goes in (it doesn't work with batteries), on the right, plug in any audio device with a standard headphone jack, and an FM antenna -- yes, there's an FM radio on board too, and it's controllable from the remote.

Sound Freq App

Install Sound Freaq's free app on an iPhone or iPod Touch, and it duplicates the unit's remote control. It also lets you create playlists. While it's nice to have, I rarely used it because I preferred using Apple's iPod playback software, or better yet, Pandora Radio from my iPhone or iPad 2.

2. MSi GT683 Gaming Notebook

The first laptop with Nvidia’s brand-new GTX 560M graphics card, for the next few days this will probably be the world’s fastest gaming laptop. Its good looks and processing power could also serve you well if you edit video, create 3D graphics or have an unusual need for speed.

MSi Gaming Notebook

Notice the two lights on the bottom corners -- there are many more.

Attractive Design

There are even lights on the sides of the screen/lid.

Side View

The 7.7 pound notebook is not the lightest in the world, but it's not as heavy as many desktop replacement units, either.

Backlit Logo

Its piano-black finish is a fingerprint magnet. You'll need a microfiber cloth nearby to keep it looking this shiny.

Side View

Two USB 3.0 ports (with the 'SS' logo) are on the left, then there's an SD card slot and a USB 2.0 port.

Back

Here's where you plug in power, ethernet, VGA, an eSATA drive and HDMI.

Other Side View

Here's where you'll find the audio ports (including surround sound) and another USB port.

Keyboard

The delete key is in an odd place, and the number pad makes the keyboard seemed crowded. The Page Up and Page Down keys are in odd places, too.

Track Pad

The ritzy looking trackpad looks like it was surrounded in gold, with helpful backlit indicator lights at the bottom.

Touch-Sensitive Controls

At the top of the keyboard are those touch-sensitive controls mentioned in the review, which come in handy, but they also are in a spot where they could be easily touched accidentally.

3. Soundmatters foxL v2.2 Bluetooth Speaker

Hold this hotshot in your hand and feel its incredible power. Such sound has never shoehorned itself into such tiny speakers and been worthy of such praise. Even though you get a lot of original technology for your money, it’s pretty expensive at $199.

Palm-Sized

The white button just above the Soundmatters logo is the one you push to answer the phone.

Back

Behind that grille is the battery that doubles as a mini subwoofer, and it does a great job of enhancing the bass in this tiny unit. On the right are the two volume controls.

Left Side

The 3.5mm mini jack on the top is for an external subwoofer. Below that is a LED charge indicator, and at the bottom, a mini USB port.

Kickstand In Use

The speaker stands up perfectly well on its own without using the kickstand, but it's welcome nonetheless.

Right Side

The top port is an auxiliary port where you can connect any audio device with a 3.5mm plug. The bottom port is for power from the AC adapter.

Bulging Drivers

The two 25mm dome speakers are pushed out toward the front, to give the inside of the speaker more room for bass to resonate.

foxL Diagram

Here are the details of the foxL Bluetooth Speaker. This graphic is courtesy of Soundmatters.

4. The Lark

Anyone who works too hard, sleeps too little and sees diminishing returns will find The Lark useful for getting vital information about how well he or she sleeps. As a plus, the device wakes the user up without annoying his or her partner.

Meet Lark

The sleep aid product is lovingly presented, even if the cover model does look a little too much like Tom Cruise.

In The Dock

The transmitter plugs into its own charger. The poor old iPhone only gets a furrow to lie in. If you want to charge it, you have to plug the iPhone cable into the back of the dock.

The Charger

A close up of the dock you'll have to keep on your nightstand.

The Transmitter

Here's what it looks like wrapped around your wrist with a velcro strap. If you're a guy, watch out for trapped hairs.

On the Screen

Here's the kind of information you get in the morning: how long you slept for, how many times you woke up (the graph shows how long for), and a sleep score out of 10.

Nudge, Nudge

Someone at Lark is a fan of Monty Python.

5. Samsung Chromebook Series 5 3G Notebook

Samsung’s Chrome OS-running laptop with its 12.1-inch screen and adequate performance is refined from the get-go, quick to set up, hassle-free and easy to use. This slim and simple appliance could change the world of computing.

It's Thin

Its .79' thickness is scarcely thicker than a MacBook Air, and it weighs 3.3 lb.

'SuperBright' Display

Even turned down a couple of notches, this 1200 x 800 12.1-inch screen was still bright enough. As you can see, it's quite sharp and contrasty.

Chicklet Keyboard

Except for that missing Delete key, I was immediately comfortable with this keyboard.

Side Ports

Here's where you plug in power, and behind that little door there's an external VGA monitor port, another USB port and a jack for earphones or speakers.