Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture
  3. Legacy Archives

Bose nails all the right improvements to make the Soundlink Mini II even better than before

Last year Bose unleashed the Soundlink Mini Bluetooth speaker, and while there was a lot to like about it, not everything was perfect. Now Bose has announced a sequel to that speaker that keeps everything good about the original in addition to stepping up and improving the weak spots.

Our two main issues with the original SoundLink Mini were the relatively short battery life, and the lack of speakerphone. Both of these problems are being addressed in the Bose SoundLink Mini II. Speakerphone has been added, and the battery life has been bumped from 7 to 10 hours, making it much more likely to last a full day.

Recommended Videos

The older model could be charged either with an included cradle or via an AC jack. The SoundLink Mini II keeps those options, though it also adds USB charging, which brings it up to speed with the majority of Bluetooth speakers out there.

What hasn’t changed are the dimensions. The SoundLink Mini II weighs just 1.5 lbs and measures 7.1-inches wide, 2.3-inches deep, and just 2-inches tall. This doesn’t mean that the speaker is identical to the original in appearance — the Mini II is a slightly refined design.

“The original SoundLink Mini did something remarkable,” product manager for Bose SoundLink speakers Jack Yu said. “There was nothing else like it, and it continues to amaze people with its sound. Our engineers kept all that performance — and added new ways to use it and love it.”

This includes revamped pairing. While this was always relatively simple, voice prompts now guide the user through the pairing process, a boon if you’re buying one of these for a less then tech-savvy relative. Two devices can now be connected at the same time as well, which is handy for splitting party DJ duties.

While the original SoundLink was only available in silver, the SoundLink Mini II is available in Carbon and Pearl varieties. To keep it safe, soft covers in Gray, Charcoal Black, Deep Red, Energy Green, and Navy Blue are sold separately for $25 each.

The Bose SoundLink Mini II will sell for the same price as the original at $200, and will be available on June 21. Pre-orders are available now via the Bose website.

This article originally appeared at The Manual’s Brother site, Digital Trends

Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it’s called when someone makes videos for the web. In his… Read Full Bio
The Manual Library: Improvement books every man should read
Furniture, Adult, Male

Men have been thought leaders since the beginning of time. Aristotle’s logic and ethics, Confucius’s social harmony and duty, Machiavelli’s statecraft and political power, Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance and civil rights, Newton’s physics and mathematics- men have been at the forefront of thought at every turn. So why don’t men read more? Sometimes it feels like we have abandoned our place in society’s thought processes. When I ask men around me how much they have read or what they have read recently, I am almost always met with a sheepish look, saying they don’t read, or they mostly read sports columns. Now, there is nothing wrong with reading a sports column. Hell, I love arguing with a baseball writer year-round. But, sometimes, when you read something, you should be staring thoughtfully upward or outward while reflecting inward, wondering how to apply it to your life. That is why I started thinking about what books I would recommend to my friends. Many of them have no idea what the best improvement books are for men. Where they should start. What is worth reading and what is a bunch of bullsh*t.

So I put together a list of books that will change your life, as long as you stare outwardly or upwardly while reflecting inwardly.

Read more
Cigar Lounge Spotlight: Cigar Club Miami
cigar lounge

There are no shortages of cigar lounges in Miami. There’s a particular cigar lounge I’ve frequented in Miami where I constantly run into NFL legend and Hall of Famer Ed Reed. But then I found Cigar Club Miami. It’s the place you want to be if you’re looking for an elevated experience. For my money, it’s also your best option in downtown Miami. Elad Smadja opened the joint in January 2023. The objective was simple: give the downtown area a modern cigar lounge offering a premium cigar selection and craft cocktails. He more than delivered.

From the onset, the moody exterior prepares you for what you’re about to walk into. You’re immediately greeted with warm lighting and modern luxury throughout, from the leather barstools and Carrara marble bar top to comfortable suede chairs. The lounge features a wall humidor stocked with some of the finest cigars. The bar is also fully stocked. If you find yourself there during happy hour, peruse the healthy selection of aged whiskeys.

Read more
We learned and forgot how to make the perfect movie in 5 years
Adult, Female, Person

I have said it forever: the 80s had the best music, the 90s had the best movies. I will die on this hill. The movie scene in the 90s was unbeatable. Action stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, Keanu Reeves, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis brought some of the best thrill rides that are still being chased today. Comedy greats like Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller rose to stardom, and the romantic comedy reached its apex. Horror films like The Sixth Sense and Scream changed how scary movies were made. And movies like Fight Club pushed the boundaries of what audiences were ready for.

But near the end of that era, we, as a society, discovered something: the perfect movie. What made them perfect? Two and a half things. Number one: They crossed more than two genres. This wasn’t just an action comedy, a romantic adventure, or something that brought two big umbrellas together. This was something that felt like it had it all. Action. Comedy. Romance. Adventure. Maybe even a little horror. Number two: These felt like any age could watch these movies and have a good time. From twelve to twenty or fifteen to fifty, these were a good time at the theater for everyone. The half thing: Great performances by the entire cast. These weren’t led by one person at the front who brought up the median performance.

Read more