Gallery: Things We Loved This Month: September's Smartest Stuff
01HTC One Mini MSC. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
One of the best parts of our jobs here at WIRED is that we get to test all the new things as soon as they come out. But we often only get a few days to play with something before having to to write about it. That's difficult -- getting a clear assessment about an object's worth when you have to crank out a written review in less than a week. There are some products that don't show their true colors until we've had several weeks, months, or years to experience them, live with them, play with them, and wear them. That's what we've rounded up here -- things we’ve been testing and love, or the stuff from our lives that we own and never want to let go. This is the gear we want to take everywhere. This is the stuff we want to cook breakfast for. These are the things we love. *__Above:__* HTC One Mini ------------ When we reviewed the [HTC One](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2013/04/htc-one/) earlier this year, we liked it quite a bit. It made [our Top 3 list](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/top-3/mobile-phones/). After our reviewer Nathan Olivarez-Giles was done with it, I carried it around for a month to get familiar with it. My clearest impression: It's just a touch too big. The One is not some comic monstrosity like [the Galaxy Note](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/02/samsung-galaxy-note/), and I did like reading Kindle books on it. But it's still too big for me to use comfortably all the time. There are phones I consider to be perfectly proportioned: the [Moto X](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2013/08/moto-x/), the iPhone 5s, and my trusty old iPhone 4. And here's another I can add to the list. The [HTC One mini](http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one-mini/), has a 4.3-inch screen that's much more comfortable to use than the 4.7-incher on the One. On paper, that doesn't seem like a big difference, but it's really noticeable when you actually use the phone, especially with only one hand. The One mini is just much more pleasant to carry around and to interact with. It also has all the same design notes that made the One a stunner, including the smooth metal enclosure, the "UltraPixel" camera, and the front-facing speakers. It's important to note that the specs have been dumbed down. The mini's screen is not only smaller, but it also runs at 720p with a density of 341ppi, compared to 1080p and 468ppi on the One. The battery is weaker: 1800 mAh instead of 2300 mAh. Also, the processor is a dual-core 1.4GHz chip backed up by 1GB of RAM, instead of the One's quad-core 1.7Ghz brain and 2GB of memory. So, this isn't a phone for people who want the absolute screamingest performance. But something to realize is that for the majority of smartphone buyers out there, size matters. And it matters *a lot* -- more so than gigahertz and pixels-per-inch. They just want a phone they can use without fuss that also happens to be beautiful to look at. The One mini is for them. The weaker battery life is one possible stumbling point, but in my tests so far, the lil One still makes it through the day without needing a charge. *-- Michael Calore*
02Bowers & Wilkins headsphones. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Bowers & Wilkins P7 ------------------- You don't have to look far to find great examples of headphone design. These days, even budget-oriented companies are producing [some nice-looking cans](http://www.koss.com/en/products/headphones/full_size_headphones/PRODJ100__PRODJ100_Full_Size_Headphones). Still, when it comes to marrying luxurious construction with quality sonic performance, no one beats esteemed British hi-fi house Bowers & Wilkins. The [new P7s](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/09/bowers-wilkins-p7/), an enbiggened (i.e., over-the-ear) version of the [much-loved P5s](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2010/03/pr_bw_headphones/), take everything the company did right with those on-ear headphones and super-sizes it. Like everything else B&W makes, the P7s come with a high price tag ($400). But in return, you'll get wonderfully rich sound (thanks to 40mm aluminum-copper drivers), and one of the most comfortable pairs of circumaural headphones likely to ever grace your head. Yeah, yeah, we can squabble about whether there are better sounding headphones out there (There absolutely are! And some of them even cost less). But when you take into account the P7's superior design, insane attention to detail, mobility, head-caressing comfort, and, yes, the great sound -- there's just nothing else that I want feeding me my music right now. *-- Bryan Gardiner*
03Leatherhead Sports Medicine Ball. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Leatherhead Medicine Ball ------------------------- I recently attended a San Francisco Giants game with my good friend and Instagram celebrity Brad Mangin. The game was dreadful, so we were gabbing like a couple of school girls. Once we were done gossiping about his sister’s new house, [Grover’s tequila app](http://tastetequila.com/), and his need for another gallery show, we finally got around to talking about [Leatherhead sports](http://leatherheadsports.bigcartel.com). Leatherhead is the brainchild of former Major League Baseball picture editor Paul Cunningham, and his stuff is amazing. As we were talking, I fired up my phone and started perusing the online catalog. I paged through the footballs, the baseballs, the baseball mitts and the basketballs. Somehow I convinced myself that what I really needed was a medicine ball. When I got home I had to explain to my wife I had just spent $300 on a leather medicine ball. She explained to me if we were going to spend that much money on something made of leather, it should be made by Marc Jacobs or Tory Burch. All the guessing and finger pointing went away when the 12+ pound ball of awesomeness arrived on our doorstep. Handmade right here in these United States from Chromexcel leather and hand stuffed with leather scraps from the shop, this behemoth smells, feels, and tosses as well as any Fendi bag I’ve ever held. *-- Jim Merithew*
04dasKeyboard Model S BG. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Das Keyboard Model S Professional (With Quiet Keys) --------------------------------------------------- Plenty of people would scoff at paying more than $40 for a keyboard. I was probably one of them a decade ago. But as someone whose job is to produce and edit words all day, the fact is my keyboard gets more use than any other gadget I own. Offer me something that's well-built and that boosts typing comfort and accuracy, and I will gladly shell out a little bit more. Or a lot. At $150, Das Keyboard's [Model S Professional](http://shop.daskeyboard.com/collections/products/products/das-keyboard-professional-model-s) is, without a doubt, the most expensive keyboard I've ever owned. It is also the best. I've been using the quieter (more office-friendly) version with Cherry MX Red key switches, and I absolutely love it. The keys on this mechanical keyboard are responsive and perfectly angled. They also require less force to actuate -- about 45g instead of 60g, like most keyboards. Not everyone may like that action, but I find typing to be fluid, accurate, and supremely comfortable on the Professional. Unlike the clamor produced by the Brown- and (especially the) Blue-switched versions, typing doesn't sound like I'm tap-dancing on my desk. *-- Bryan Gardiner*
05iPhone 5s. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
iPhone 5s --------- It’s rare that I come across a technology that makes me go, “Wow. This feels like magic.” But Apple has managed just that with the [iPhone 5s](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2013/09/iphone5s/) and Touch ID. A gentle touch of my fingertip, and I’m able to unlock my iPhone, or make a purchase on iTunes or the App Store. It usually only takes a second, maybe even less, before you see the lockscreen fade away and homescreen zoom forward into view. Of course, the 5s has way more going for it than just Touch ID. The camera is stellar, improved over last year’s model with a f/2.2 aperture and a 15 percent larger sensor, resulting in low light performance that’s significantly better than in previous iPhones or other leading smartphones. It also features a powerful two-tone flash that makes subjects look more natural (read: less ghostly) by matching the coolness or warmth of the scene with the flash’s hue. The camera also has nifty features like burst mode and slo-mo, the latter of which is incredibly entertaining whether you’re capturing footage of a fast-paced sport or of dog’s playing in a backyard. The 64-bit A7 processor keeps the software experience running smoothly, handles the image processing heavy-lifting for the camera, and keeps your fingerprint data separate and secure from the rest of the phone’s functions and services. Regardless of how you may feel about Apple and its relentless use of PR jargon, I can attest that the 5s really is the best iPhone yet. *-- Christina Bonnington*
06Castelli Gabba Jersey. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Castelli Gabba WS Jersey ------------------------ It's almost always warm where I live, so I haven’t actually worn this cold-weather bike jersey since late February. But I love the fact it’s in my closet -- especially since I get to start wearing it again soon. The [Castelli Gabba WS Jersey 9](http://castellicycling.com/en/products/detail/525/) is singlehandedly the reason I fear nothing the gods of weather can throw at me. This piece of stretchy, breathable, water repellant fabric is designed to be worn with similar arm warmers, so you are ready for the cold and rain and maybe even a little hail. Every other major manufacturer is launching a similar garment for 2014, which is great news for consumers. But for the moment, I love me some Gabba and especially love the tuckable ass flap for those times when my tuckus needs a little extra protection. *-- Jim Merithew*
07MPC 1000 Sampler/Sequencer. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Akai MPC 1000 ------------- A lot of bands love having computers onstage. If there's not a MacBook on a rack next to a mixer, you're probably not getting the full aural experience. Or so many would say. I, on the other hand, hate the idea of a computer on stage. Computers fail. Computers are not sexy. Computers are not rock and roll. [The Akai MPC 1000](http://www.akaipro.com/mpc1000), while not entirely rock and roll, is definitely more fun onstage than a laptop. You can smack the 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads to trigger samples. An onboard sequencer lets you build songs on the fly. And it connects to almost anything with USB, MIDI, and quarter-inch audio in and out ports. Plus, it's more customizable than your average audio sequencer. Not happy with the Akai OS, install JJOS, an operating system built to make the MPC 1000 easier to use. RAM can be expanded and you can also install a hard drive into the device to supplement the CF card slot. It's rugged, it's fun, and you can use it without looking like you're checking Twitter onstage. *-- Roberto Baldwin*
08Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Duo. Photo: josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Mophie Powerstation ------------------- Keeping all my random tech charged is a full time job. Thanks to the limitations of battery technology, smartphones require more tending to than a newborn kitten. Throw in Bluetooth speakers, tablets, e-readers, and cameras, and having portable power is a must if I want everything working at all times. The [Mophie Powerstation](http://www.mophie.com/shop/universal-batteries/powerstation-smart-phones-tablets?a92=45) keeps everything I drag around town charged. Compact and unassuming, the Powerstation spends most of its time under the seat of my Vespa. Before I head out, I plug my iPhone, camera, or other piece of electronics into the Powerstation and ride off into the sunset. If it can be charged via USB, it's probably almost dead and Mophie's little brick of power is helping me keep it alive. *-- Roberto Baldwin*
09Sennheiser Momentum On Ears MSC. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Headphones ------------------------------------- I get to test a lot of headphones -- great for me, as I'm an audio geek who is always listening to music at my desk. One of my favorite pairs from the past year are the [Momentums from Sennheiser](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/sennheiser-momentum/). The sound they put out is just spectacular, but the thing I really like about them is the design. They're over-the-ear headphones, and unlike most circumaural cans of their ilk, they have a remarkably compact profile. They're closer to on-ears in size, but the cups fully envelop your ears and rest against your skull. I really marvel at how small they are. The Momentums have been a big success for Sennheiser, so the company did the smart thing and skewed the same design a little smaller to make [a headphone that sits on the ears](http://en-us.sennheiser.com/momentum-on-ear) instead of around them. Now, I've never been a fan of on-the-ear headphones for comfort reasons. They're made to clamp onto your head with enough force to keep them from falling off, so your ears get pressed flat. Most on-ears are tough to wear for longer than an hour or two without your poor lobes growing sore. But leave it to those Germans. These Momentums are almost as comfortable as their over-the-ear siblings. I chalk it up to some extra-soft earpads (they're little Alcantara pillows) and a clamping force that's just right -- not so tight that they fatigue the ears, but tight enough to stay on for my cross-town commute. Of course, the sound is just fantastic -- largely the same as the original Momentums with just the right amount of bass boost, though not as starkly isolating. But they're smaller, a lot cheaper at $230 (compared to $350 for the over-ears), and they come in a wider array of colors. *-- Michael Calore*
10Wahoo Bluetooth HR monitor. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Wahoo Bluetooth HRM ------------------- Training with a heart rate monitor can drastically improve your performance in endurance sports like cycling and triathlons. But if you’re just getting into it, you may not quite be ready to fork over hundreds of dollars for a high end bike computer or GPS watch. In that case, grab a Bluetooth LE heart rate monitor like [Wahoo’s Blue HR Heart Rate Strap](http://www.wahoofitness.com/wahoo-blue-hr-heart-rate-strap.html). It pairs with iPhone apps like Runmeter, MapMyFitness, Strava, and Wahoo Fitness, most of which are free or offer useful premium features for a reasonable subscription fee. You can mount your iPhone to monitor your heart rate in near real time (there is a signal delay of 3-5 seconds between the strap and the phone), or keep your iPhone in a pocket and just review your heart rate data after the fact to track your fitness progress. The hardware part of the monitor easily unsnaps so you can wash the band when it starts getting salty and grody. *-- Christina Bonnington*
11Chrome Bravo Night pack. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Chrome Bravo Night ------------------ Chrome has done a great job of keeping the hip in hipster with their ever evolving line of shoes, bags, and clothing. The [Bravo Night](http://www.chromeindustries.com/us/en/bags/backpacks/bravo-night) is no exception. Expandable from a stealthy 20 liter bag to a load gobbling 40 liters, this go anywhere, do anything bag is prepared for whatever you can throw at it or in it. I used this bag as a daily commuter, a farmer’s market task master, and even did a holy-crap-I’m-lost 50-mile commute with this murdered out beauty strapped to my back. I felt just a nudge safer on the dark streets of Oakland knowing the back panel is 3M reflective materials. The chest strap is adjustable, the bag kept everything dry in a surprise commute rain storm, and external compression straps add versatility. About the only gripe I have with the bag is Chrome’s signature metal hardware. I think when push comes to shove I prefer something other than metal in my backpack hardware. *-- Jim Merithew*
