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X-mini is best known for its capsule speakers, but the Singaporean company took a new approach last year with new wireless and wired earphones.

I’ve previously tried out the Evolve speaker headphones and liked them, but I wasn’t too sure how the company would fare outside of its comfort zone. Tuning a pair of tiny earphones is a lot different from engineering small speakers for loud sound, after all. But it appears the company’s bet for its Xtlas Plus line paid off.

Weighing just 0.6 ounces (17 grams), the Xtlas Plus uses a triple-driver setup with two balanced armature drivers alongside a dynamic one. Pairing a dynamic driver with the armature driver gives it more oomph in the bass department — in theory, at least. And the Xtlas Plus sort of succeeds on that front.

Braided cables help you avoid tangles.


Aloysius Low/CNET

X-mini’s sound tends to focus on the clarity of the trebles, and its earphones pretty much stick to the same formula. The company’s speakers usually try not to overdo the bass, and the Xtlas Plus is the same. There are times where you just want a strong bass, especially for electronic tracks, and the Xtlas Plus feels a tad too tame there.

That said, put on tracks with strong vocals and the earphones really shine. The sound is clear and crisp, and you can hear plenty of detail. If you like listening to classical tracks, you’ll love how much clarity the Xtlas Plus delivers for each individual instrument. It’s also Hi-Res Audio certified.

At S$130 in Singapore (about $95, £75 or AU$135 converted), the X-mini Xtlas Plus earphones are pretty good value for what they offer. There’s also a carrying pouch bundled and three pairs of ear tips for the right fit.

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Singapore-based X-mini has long since moved on from its capsule speaker days, and its new designs at CES 2019 will definitely turn some heads.

New this time is the Supa 2, which like the original Supa is inspired by vintage speakers. This time around though, the Bluetooth speaker comes with a handle for carrying and is also capable of serving as a stand. The Supa 2 is also the first X-mini speaker to pack a six-driver system, with four actives and two passive radiators for more bass.

Other features include a Smart Magnetic Maestro remote, which attaches to the Supa 2, and turns it on when you remove it. It can be used to control the playback, volume and EQ, as well as for answering phone calls.

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The new X-mini Twisx fits into a bicycle’s bottle cage.


X-mini

Next is the Twisx, which looks like a water bottle when it’s standing up. Weighing 383 grams (0.84 pounds), the Twisx is IPX5 water-resistant. Instead of using buttons to skip tracks, you twist the cap, which X-mini calls the Twisx Control. You can also pause or play music by pressing down on the cap. 

The Twisx boasts a 12-watt triple driver system and has a X.Bass EQ setting for even more pounding beats. The best part about the Twisx design though, is that it fits into a bicycle’s bottle cage, so you can pedal along to music if you like.

Lastly, although the company’s mostly done with its capsule speakers, there’s still the Click 3. The tiny speaker fits in your palm but is still capable of pumping out the music with its 40mm driver. It also works with your phone as a camera shutter release button — you double click on it to take pictures with your phone — and now comes with a LED light to simulate a flash burst.

The new X-mini speakers are expected to go on sale later this year. The Supa 2 will retail for around $155 (£120 and AU$220 converted), while the Twisx will go for around $60. The Click 3 is the cheapest at $30.

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Are you ready, Red Leader? French maker of things Olivier C is back with another one of his RC quadcopter drones with casings customized to make them look like starships and vehicles from a galaxy far, far away.

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This time, he’s working on a build that will transform his trusty quadcopter into an X-wing starfighter that would be a welcome addition to the Rebel Alliance’s fleet. Thus far, the build is just a prototype, lacking the lights and finishing touches we’ve come to expect from his other builds, but it looks like it’s off to a pretty good start. The video shows off a test flight of the prototype in action, and it seems to fly pretty well even after a gust of wind tries to send the ship to the ground in a faraway field.

Check out the test flight video for yourself above. We can’t wait to see what the final build will look like when the X-wing is fully armed with laser cannons, lights and a final paint job. Once it’s finished, the Rebels on Earth will be well protected should any Death Star try to invade or destroy our planet.

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Grab your notebook and don your best critic’s turtleneck — streaming service Lovefilm is offering a fresh selection of TV pilots for you to judge.

The shows are produced by Amazon Studios, which last year had the wizard wheeze of offering a selection of pilots through Lovefilm (which Amazon owns), and letting the online masses choose which would become fully-fledged series’.

Among the new clutch of pilots is a two-hour drama pilot called The After, born of the intellectual loins of X-Files creator Chris Carter. Lovefilm says the show “follows eight strangers who are thrown together by mysterious forces and must help each other survive in a violent world that defies explanation”. Sounds like life at the CNET UK offices, then.

Meanwhile, Bosch is based on the Harry Bosch literary series. The programme will follow a “relentless LAPD homicide detective” and stars Titus Welliver, perhaps best known as The Man in Black from Lost. As a bonus, the title of the show puts me in mind of this moment from I’m Alan Partridge.

Arrested Development‘s Jeffrey Tambor stars in the ‘darkly comedic’ Transparent, while kids will have their pick of Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and Hardboiled Eggheads, among others. Lovefilm says “customers are encouraged to watch and provide feedback on the pilots to help determine which shows should be made into series.”

Shows that prove popular with viewers will be made available exclusively on Lovefilm. Previous shows to make it past the viewer-voted pilot stage include the John Goodman-starring series Alpha House, which aired its pilot in April last year, then became a full series in November.

Which are your favourite shows, and do you prefer Lovefilm, Netflix, or good ol’ fashioned broadcast TV? Let me know in the comments below.

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