How to Choose the Best Portable Mp3 Player and Speaker

Portable mp3 speakers are a flexible and highly functional accessory for listening to music on the go. While personal headphones are ideal for one person, what happens when you want to share your tunes to the world (or at the very least, everyone in the room)? One can use a portable mp3 speaker with a laptop, their iPhones and Androids, or even an iPad for the highest quality in excellent sounding music for all to enjoy.

As portable devices, these specialized mp3 speakers bring the best in convenience, mobility and reliability. They're an inexpensive and ideal way to listen to music in the car, or bringing it to a pool party or the beach to offer customized listening for everyone to groove to.

 Portable mp3 speakers are great for travel as well. Here's another idea - when you're taking a bath or even relaxing in your Jacuzzi, why not hook up your mp3 player to a portable mini speaker? Listen and sing along to relaxing melodies as you soak away your stress. 

Features to Consider When Buying a Portable Mp3 Player and Speaker

Just like any other electronic device, there are many different types of portable mp3 speakers for different situations. With a variety of features, benefits and costs, how do you determine which one is right for your specific needs?

Audio Playback Quality

How clear, crisp and accurate your music sounds via your portable mp3 speaker should be a top factor. A clean treble, turbo bass, even frequencies and reduction of static and distortion during high volumes should be investigated. The SimplyVibe SV-S350III Premium Rechargeable Mp3 Speaker use Turbo Bass technology & Digital Signal Processing for super low distortion. Blast your music at the highest volumes with zero worry!

Style and Design

Let's face it - style and looks are also important when deciding on an electronic purchase. A sleek look that matches the appearance of your current sound system of choice is a factor for everyone, regardless of age. The SimplyVibe SV-X7 (Black) Premium Rechargeable Portable Speaker is designed with a slick, sophisticated and modern shine that looks as high quality as the music it generates.

Energy Source

For the ultimate in reliability, a rechargeable portable mp3 player is a solid choice. These speakers use USB ports so you can charge them via your laptop or desktop computer. The SimplyVibe SV-X6 Portable Speaker use a single USB cable for both audio and power, supports USB 2.0, allows the use of an AUX cable for iPhone/iPad accessories, and plays MP3 songs from a USB Flash Drive or from a SD Card.

To ensure hours of continuous music, invest in a brand with a USB code and a removable battery for additional security. Most of these brands also include a 3.5 mm jack for extra compatibility with cell phones, almost all brands of mp3 players, and computers.

Controls

You may want a portable mp3 speaker that has rewind, fast forward, play, pause, mute, and volume controls right on the device as well. Newer models even include a screen with track information, clock, calendar, alarm, and a battery power display.

Size, weight

Look for a brand that offers ultra-lightweight, yet durable speakers. They should come in a size that's not too intrusive or cumbersome to carry in a backpack (or any travel bag you decide to use).

The average size for portable mp3 speakers are 6" x 2" x 3". An ideal weight would be about one pound or lighter. The SimplyVibe SV-S550S Premium Portable Speaker is an ultra-light brand that weighs in at an incredible 0.5 lbs.

Compatibility

This relies solely on the music source. If you plan to use Apple products, such as an iPhone, iPad or a Mac laptop, ensure your speakers are compatible with their software. Likewise, you'll want to keep an eye out for compatibility for Androids, laptops, or general mp3 players. 

Some brands allow you to use an SD card or USB Flash Drive for a music source. These brands are ideal for travelers, or for those who may not own an mp3 player.

Reviews

Read plenty of portable mp3 speaker reviews and keep an open mind. If a brand has many five star reviews, it may be a worthy investment. Likewise, a brand with many three or less star reviews should be reconsidered, even if it's a good price. You'll want to weigh all the pros and possible cons, and then decide from previous feedback if the brand is worth the purchase.

What are some of the best portable mp3 speakers available?

SimplyVibe's brand of reliable, sleek and high quality portable mp3 speakers offer the best in sound quality, dependable features, cross platform compatibility, and a price that can't be beat.

For about 5 years in my life, I had to do a lot of moving and even a bit of travel. The longest I've stayed in one residence was for 1.5 years. I lived in small houses, homeowner's attics, apartments, and cramped studio rooms. While traveling, I chose the smallest room possible, most of them with uncomfortable (or questionable) beds. While space may have been tight, one thing I never suffered from was a good night's rest.

The stress of constantly moving, going to college, working, and the occasional travel can take a toll on someone's well-being. Thankfully, I don't look back at those days as being a horrible, stressful time, and I attribute most of that to having restful sleep every night, thanks to my handy air mattress.

My air mattress lasted me many years. I took it with me everywhere, and saved a ton of money by not having to rent trucks to move a huge traditional mattress, as well as being able to stay in smaller apartments due to not needing so much space.  Even if no one place was ever "home" for me, my air mattress helped bring that feeling of security and stability since that never changed, regardless of my surroundings.

Possessions, relationships and jobs came and went. However, my investment in a quality air mattress was easily the best decision I ever made. Even today, I keep an extra one on hand for those nights where we have overnight guests, or certain days where I need extra firmness my traditional bed can't cover.

The air mattress you choose today has to satisfy strict requirements. After all, this is your health and quality of sleep on the line! The ability to easily inflate and deflate to adjust to your desired firmness at any time is crucial. Without enough spine support, you can wake up with aches and pains, and it can negatively affect your sleep quality.

A convenient travel bag makes it simple to deflate, fold up and go in a matter of minutes. Time is of the essence for all of us, and shaving off minutes to pack up and go is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. A good travel bag is waterproof, sturdy, easy to carry and fits in any suitcase or duffel bag.

Depending on your usage and lifestyle, the initial investment in a quality air mattress will pay for itself in as little as a few weeks. It's great for singles, those living frugally, travelers constantly on the go, backpackers, and students. 

SimplySleeper air mattresses and air beds are the perfect companion for any of the above, and are great to have around the house for anyone else. Have lots of overnight guests? Move a few furniture and inflate a comfortable SimplySleeper  for a sound night's rest. Staying at a motel overnight for a business trip, but prefer not to sleep in a previously occupied bed? Use a lightweight SimplySleeper air mattress, adjusted just for your desired firmness and comfort.

SimplySleeper air mattresses are simply the best in the industry. With such benefits as the below, you'll wonder why you ever went without:

• Easily adjust firmness to your liking by inflating and deflating automatically
• Flexible, multipurpose use
• Economical - a quality air mattress pays for itself quickly, making the initial investment well worth it
• Very lightweight and easy to carry for travel and moving
• Easy to store and even easier to set-up - literally a plug and go device

Available in a wide variety of sizes and all constructed with heavy-duty polyester Durmothane technology for the ultimate in breathable fabric and comfort that adjusts to your body temperature.

You can turn any room into a  cozy chamber of slumber quickly and economically with a quality SimplySleeper air mattress. They will meet and exceed your expectations for the quality of sleep you deserve, even from a convenient air mattress.

It’s almost time to file your taxes! In the United States, tax return season runs from January 1 – April 16 in 2012. Be prepared and protect your identity during this crucial time by shredding sensitive documents while filing your tax returns. Even if you believe your past paperwork is too old, outdated or insignificant, any personal information that ties back to your identity can be used by thieves. W2 forms, specific tax related forms such as 1040 or 1040A, and any other receipts, statements, and invoices have your personal information and should be eliminated after filing.

Your name, address, social security number and income numbers are plainly displayed and should only be viewed by authorized personnel, such as the IRS. Identity thieves know that this is a prime time to collect your information and up their efforts to rummage trash for old forms, receipts and invoices. This is the best time to shred all of your financial or personal information and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

You were probably saving your pay stubs, receipts and statements all year in preparation for your taxes. While you’re collecting the previous year’s paperwork, why not use the time to shred older papers and documents you may have stored away? You will likely bring up your storage of old documents, statements, invoices and forms from past filing seasons.

There are many benefits to shredding your old documents while doing your taxes:

• •  Save time as you sift through outdated documents and keep your important files up-to-date
• •  Free up current space and save storage space
• •  Easier organization and even easier to find what you need
• •  Unclutter cabinets for a head start on your spring cleaning 

The IRS suggests keeping documents that support your tax returns for at least three years in the event of an unexpected audit. However, if you’re absolutely sure the threat of an audit has passed, or you’re confident that you’ve done your taxes accurately and reported all income, keep a copy of that year’s tax return and shred everything you used to reference the return.

ATM receipts, credit card statements, business invoices, write-offs, paycheck stubs, bank statements, investment records, insurance policies and big purchase warranties can all be safely shredded after you no longer need the information for that year’s filing.

These days, you do not need paper versions of your receipts and forms. The IRS accepts electronic versions, so scan what you need and keep them safe in a USB flash drive or another secure virtual storage box. Banks offer online statements, and you can download applications directly from the IRS’ website if necessary.

In the event your house is destroyed, having digital backups become invaluable, and when kept off-site (such as with a trusted party out of state or in a safety deposit box) you have little fear of your information being intercepted or simply picked apart with a paper trail.

Documents that do require a paper version include birth, death and marriage certificates, documents related to home ownership, wills, powers of attorney, business agreements, and divorce or child care orders, to name a few. Do not make additional paper copies – however, if you do, make sure the copies are shredded as soon as you don’t need them. Tax season is a good time to look over what can be safely disposed.

Ensure your personal and financial information’s security and use a high quality micro-cut or cross-cut shredder right after filing your taxes. Micro-cut and cross-cut shredders cut paper into multiple pieces, rendering it impossible for a thief to re-assemble. Keep one at home and well-maintained for years of security and protection from identity theft. Unclutter your space, save time and gain peace of mind this tax season with a smart investment on a quality paper shredder.

Why buy a paper shredder?
 (Jan 2012)

According to the Federal Trade Association, an estimated 9 million Americans have their identities stolen every year. With the holidays around the corner, it's more important than ever to protect your personal and financial information. Identity thieves still rely on the most common and cheapest way to steal your information - digging through your trash and grabbing papers such as old credit card statements, expired credit cards, bills, check stubs, pay stubs, and even something as innocuous as a birthday card. Even with today's threat of fraud happening at an alarming rate, many people still throw away their old documents without thinking twice. 

Credit card offers increase dramatically around the holidays, as these institutions hope to gain more profit by tempting people with preapproved credit limits. Such applications are rampant at this time, and thieves know this. If your identity and information gets stolen, the thief can use it to make an exorbitant amount of orders online, and have them shipped to their address instead of theirs. 

Take the proper steps to protect yourself, your identity and your finances - not just around the holidays, but all year around. What is the easiest way to do so? Simply invest in a quality paper shredder. Not enough consumers do the proper research to find the best paper shredder for their needs. While it's common for businesses and corporations to use shredders, every home should have one. A small investment now will pay off in huge dividends when you realize you've cut the easiest rope thieves can climb to find out who you are. 

First, you'll need to determine what a thief would need to steal your identity. Here's a condensed list:

•    Your name
•    Mailing/billing address
•    Date of birth
•    Mother's maiden name
•    Social security number
•    Account numbers (bank, credit card, etc)
•    PIN numbers and passwords

As you may have guessed, your social security number is target number one - the skeleton key to your identity and who you are on paper. You'll want to make absolutely sure any document that reveals your social security number, even partly, is completely destroyed. 

How do you find the best shredder for the highest security possible?

Paper shredders come in three shred types - strip-cut, cross-cut and micro-cut. Strip-cut shredders do just that - they cut paper into strips, and are the most commonly found because of their economic value. However, leaving your documents in even sized strips are not enough. A patient thief will simply put the pieces together and use it to find your account numbers, or use the "junk mail" for yet another preapproved credit card offer to get one made and sent directly to their door. You'll want something much more intricate. Cross-cut shredders cut your documents into crisscross, diagonal pieces, and make it impossible to piece back together. Micro-cut shredders cut the pieces even smaller and are most often used for highly sensitive data in hospitals and government offices. A cross-cut or micro-cut shredder is the best choice for anyone to use at home. 

There are shredders that allow you to shred multiple papers at once, and even with blades that can safely cut credit cards and CDs. Investing in a shredder that does all three is ideal, since it'll effortlessly cover old statements, old, expired credit cards, or CDs that might have incriminating information. Very few, if any thieves will spend the time it'd take to put together several hundred pieces of a document when they could just move on to an easier target. Make life difficult for them, and ensure the padlock is on yours.