beats

Bose has built quite the reputation for its entire audio line, so it's no surprise that the company's portable headphones, the On-Ear, have a tidy little following. These cushy, earpad-style cans distinguish themselves from their brethren by removing Bose's signature noise-canceling functionality in favor of offering a slightly deflated price tag. But don't fret: the On-Ear headphones still present a sleek design that's understated and compact without feeling flimsy. It's no wonder the Bose name springs easily to the lips whenever headphones are mentioned, and why plenty of competitors want a piece of that … Read more

Rock Band Free is a one-song, no-cost preview of Rock Band, the iPhone and iPod Touch adaptation of the hit rhythm-based game available on consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360.

The game's interface shows incredible fidelity to the console version, right down to menus, sound effects, and a look and feel that closely mimics the original. Without plastic instruments, though, gameplay is of course fairly different, as you're pressing touch-screen buttons in time with approaching notes on bass, guitar, drums, and vocals--but the game still does a good job of keeping a Rock Band feel, with … Read more

Riddim Ribbon attempts to move the iPhone music game genre forward using a tilt-based control mechanism instead of Tapulous' usual button-pressing system for playing along with the music in App Store mainstay Tap Tap Revenge. After playing a few rounds of Riddim Ribbon, it becomes clear that your enjoyment level largely depends on how much you like the music playing in the background. The concept is a lot like another music game, Audio-surf, in which you race along to the rhythm of the music. In Riddim Ribbon, your job is to keep a ball in a groove (like a needle … Read more

Wilson is supposedly out sick this morning and can't be on the show, but it's obvious to Jeff and me that he wanted a head start on Wednesday's Apple Event. Either way, we're happy to have CNET's Smartphone Senior Editor Bonnie Cha here to replace him. We casually discuss our weekends in the first half of the show, which include some serious headphone shopping and a viewing of the documentary "Anvil." Bonnie also tells us about her weekend run-in with the new cast members of MTV's Jersey Shore.

With the January 27 Apple Event just around the corner, speculation about the Apple tablet is reaching critical mass, but an interesting Call From the Public raises new questions about the possibility of an Apple gaming console.

Judging from the amount of gaming press in attendance, there's a solid chance that the hardware will be gaming-friendly, but the chance of Apple unveiling a gaming-only console is slim. If anything, we're predicting a strong push toward gaming development on the new platform.

Thanks to everyone who sent in photos of their strategically placed 404 stickers and tattoos! Keep them coming, or be sure to listen to the promo in the break for how you can get your own merch.

Drum Kit Lite is the free version of Drum Kit, a touch-screen simulator of a six-piece drum kit using real 16-bit sound samples.

The app's interface is a miniature, photo-realistic drum kit, complete with cymbals and pedals, that you just tap to use. The sound has pretty impressive fidelity (best with headphones), and settings let you adjust your kit volume and system volume separately--which helps, for example, if you want to play along with songs from your iPod. Experienced drummers will appreciate nice touches like blending for repeated cymbal taps, while nondrummers can have fun experimenting and trying to … Read more

While the majority of Monster's announcements this year focused on portable headphones, the company didn't want aspiring and professional DJs to be left out in the cold. Enter the Beats by Dr. Dre Spin headphones, a cushy full-size set with all the style we've come to expect from the product line and a few unique twists.

For those who aren't familiar with DJing (or spinning, in case you're wondering where the naming came from), one important detail to know is that a DJ needs to hear both what is coming through the headphones and what … Read more

Sean "Diddy" Combs may be a bit over-the-top, but I have to give credit where credit is due: the cat's got style. And that's definitely part of the draw with the new earbuds he's putting out with Monster and Dr. Dre, the Diddy Beats.

These in-ear 'phones are clearly designed by a fashionable eye, from the tapered, conical earpieces to the chrome accents and lowercase "db" initials stamped on the outer edge. Add to that Monster's signature flat ribbon cable, and you have a head-turning style that's sure to attract listeners … Read more

Never accuse headphone and cable manufacturer Monster of being subtle, because you'd be proven wrong in a hasty fashion. True to form, the company trotted out both Lady Gaga and Dr. Dre on the show floor at CES this year. The shock popper and rap mogul were there to introduce the latest addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre line, a special edition pair of the Beats Solo HD.

Monster and the musicians have teamed up with RED, a business model designed to help the Global Fund, which is best known for its efforts to fight AIDS in Africa. … Read more

Lady Gaga, the singing sensation and heir to Madonna's club-queen throne, is proving to be quite the technology fan.

Beats by Dr. Dre--the brand of headphones and electronic gear from rapper Dr. Dre--along with Monster and Universal Music Group producer Jimmy Iovine announced Tuesday that Lady Gaga would appear at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Thursday.

This follows the Lady's appearance at last month's launch party in New York for music-video start-up Vevo and a performance last year at DLD Starnight, a gathering of European techies. In addition, Gaga also has her own headphone … Read more