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The Weekly DT: THE OM/ONE SPEAKER LITERALLY LEVITATES

Floating bluetooth speaker
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Weekly DT is a weekly tech story from our brother site, DigitalTrends.com.

The world does not need another Bluetooth speaker. In fact the inflating Bluetooth speaker bubble we’ve been watching expand over the past few years is about to burst, and, just like the US housing market crash in 2008, there will be many tears and broken dreams. But, if you’re a startup that really, really wants a piece of a market that’s about to go “kaboom,” you better come to the table with an irresistible product — one that is so surprising and gaze-inducing that it simply can’t fail. OM Audio thinks it has just such a thing. Check out the OM/One, a Bluetooth speaker that floats and spins in the air while cranking out your jams.

Om Audio OmOneThe effect, seen in the video below, evokes memories of a Star Wars scene in which Luke Skywalker has to defend himself from a revolving “remote” that shoots lasers at him while he wields his lightsaber; except the OM/One doesn’t shoot lasers at you, it spits out sound in 360 degrees using a single 75mm speaker packed into a 3.6-inch diameter sphere.

The OM/One orb floats thanks to the magic of magnets and a lightweight enclosure that weighs only three quarters of a pound. The base, which is used to charge the speaker or any other USB-powered device, features a glowing OM Audio logo, adding to the mystical effect that OM’s Hindu-influenced name infers.

In addition to playing music, the speaker acts as a speakerphone, too. The battery is rated to provide up to 15 hours of continuous play. And since the speaker uses the latest Bluetooth 4.0 chip, it can be stereo paired with another OM/One to offer left and right channel separation.

That’s all well and good, but how does the speaker sound? If our prior experience with OM audio and its Mantra speaker is anything to go by, the OM/One’s floating gimmick  is going to be a lot more impressive than its sound quality. Then again, when your $180 speaker floats in mid air, does it need to sound like a million dollars?

OM Audio’s crowdfunding campaign has 50 days to go and, at the time this article was published, had managed to pull in 42 percent of its $100,000 goal.

The 12 best Connecticut cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
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Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

I'm about to take you on a magical, doughy, and delicious trek through the broad range of Connecticut cigars. In short, here are the best Connecticut cigars tried and tested by a genuine enthusiast of the craft: yours truly.
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While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

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Prime Video didn't waste any time before renewing Reacher for a third season last year. And while new episodes are still several months away, we're sharing everything we know about Reacher season 3.
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