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Pioneer AVIC-8100NEX multimedia receiver
The Pioneer features Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink and Pioneer’s AppMode smartphones, covering all of the integration bases.
Onboard navigation won’t leave the driver stranded should they forget their phone.
The flagship AVIC-8100NEX isn’t just the top of Pioneer’s line, it’s one of the best, most fully featured receivers on the market.
Just make sure you’re not buying more functionality than you really need.
The Galaxy Active’s slightly larger battery and resistance to water, dust and scuffs make it more appealing than the regular Galaxy S6.
Built of plastic with thick edging, it isn’t a particularly attractive device, certainly not as glamorous as metal or glass phones.
No expandable storage option means you’re locked to 32GB.
The bottom line: AT&T customers looking for a sturdier handset will find the Galaxy S6 Active a worthy upgrade to an already top-caliber phone.
UE Roll waterproof Bluetooth speaker
The UE Roll is a compact, waterproof Bluetooth speaker with a unique design, very good sound for its size, and decent battery life.
The home theater receiver provides solid sound quality, with features such as 4K and 3-D pass-through, 100 watts per channel, Bluetooth, four HDMI inputs, and auto speaker setup and calibration, all for an affordable price.
Rather than use sturdy speaker wire binding posts, the it has less-secure spring clip connectors for three of the five channels.
Unless you have a huge home theater or tough-to-drive speakers, the Yamaha RX-V379’s combination of useful features and solid performance may be all you need.
For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.