V-Moda Remix Remote headphone

The product: 

As the audio industry continues its mission to convince everyone that it's worth spending money on a decent pair of headphones, the V-Moda Remix Remotes are a great example of how companies
should earn that trust. They're featherweight at just 17 grams, though their all-metal earbud construction means more for long-term durability than the simple glued-together plastic aesthetic used by the

Asus Memo Pad ME172V

The product: 
The Memo Pad does include a microSD slot, something the Nexus 7doesn’t have; however, even at $60 more, the Nexus 7 is clearly the better product. It’s faster, includes the very latest version of Android, and its sharp screen can be viewed from nearly any angle -- not something the Memo Pad can claim.

The ME172V is aimed at people looking to save a few bucks on their tablet purchase, but the budget-conscious would be better served by

Denon AVR-E400

The product: 
Like nearly every other mainstream AV receiver, the Denon AVR-E400 is a huge metal box. It looks a little more pedestrian than some older Denon models, which had subtly curved front panels, but its relatively uncluttered front panel is more tasteful than most. While I'd say the aesthetics of the AVR-E400 are better

Panasonic TC-PST60 series

The product: 

The ST60 gets the nonilluminated remote that shipped with step-down models like the UT50. Tweaks for 2013 include are mostly improvements (dedicated "Netflix key, better labeling, and a few extra keys) but there are exceptions. "Apps" and "Home," both part of the Smart TV suite, get too-prominent keys while "Menu" is tiny. More than a few times I accidentally hit "Home" instead of the Up cursor.

The TV has two separate menu systems -- one

Stay Alight! for iOS

The product: 
Stay Alight! (iPhone|iPad) is a destruction game that is somewhat similar to Angry Birds, but in this game, you play as Mr. Bulb and it's your job to take out the monster microbes.

Instead of flinging objects like you would in Angry Birds, with this game you're shooting an energy projectile that bounces off walls. So to get the best trajectory and power, you'll need to both think about where your targets are and how the projectile will bounce through the level to hit as many monster microbes as possible. Like many games in this genre, you can get as high as a 3-star rating for each level, but it's unclear in my testing what determines the rating.

HTC First

The product: 
Look beyond Facebook Home, though, and you'll find an exceedingly basic stock Android handset with

none of HTC's characteristic attention to detail or well-crafted flair. Facebook and HTC -- and AT&T, for that matter -- have travel this road before, also with questionable results. While the First is by no means as quirky or as limited as the HTC Status -- in fact, it offers quite competent midtier features like an HD screen, dual-core processor, and passable 5-megapixel camera. Yet, the physical design also stops short of delivering a compelling experience as unique as Facebook's mobile aspirations.

At least the First is pretty comfortable to hold,