Category Archives: Gadgets

TPN Crew Picks at 2016 CES

March 8, 2016ces, Gadgets, geek, geeks, smartphonebluetooth, Dog and Bone, gymwatch, IK Multimedia, iKlip A/V, LockSmart, padlock, ThinOPTICStomwiles

Jamie Davis is joined by Daniel J. Lewis and Michael Day. They discuss their personal picks from 2016 CES.

Michael talks about a spoon that is designed to automatically compensate for involuntary movements, allowing people with Parkinson’s Disease or Cerebral Palsy to feed themselves.

Daniel talks about the IK Multimedia iKlip A/V, a sophisticated mounting device that allows a smartphone to be used as a light-weight, single hand-held video recorder with a wireless lav microphone and real-time audio monitoring. It should be available in the second quarter of 2016 and should be priced around $100 or under.

Nick Demayo’s pick was the GymWatch Sensor, a Bluetooth-enabled device that you can clip on your arm that is able to detect range of motion, speed, etc. to ensure you are exercising properly and can report data back to an app on your mobile device. The app can graphically display your range of motion on your mobile device and also tell you verbally if you need to speed up, slow down, etc. to ensure maximum exercise impact. The GymWatch Sensor sells for $149 and $289 depending on model.

Jack and Michael like Dog and Bone Bluetooth LockSmart, a Bluetooth-enabled padlock that sells for $89.95.

Jamie found a ThinOPTICS flat smartphone-shaped pod that sticks to the back of your phone case that stores flat built-in reading glasses. Through the use of FlexGrip technology, the ThinOPTICS teading glasses securely stick to the bridge of your nose without arms and stores flat in the back of the phone case when not in use. The ThinOPTICS pod sells for $24.95. Or choose a phone case version to fit your phone for $38.95.

Jamie Davis is the host of Health Tech Weekly at HTWeekly.com. He is a nurse, paramedic and health journalist.

Daniel J. Lewis is the host of the award-winning podcast about podcasting, The Audacity to Podcast. Daniel helps others launch and improve their own podcasts for sharing their passions and finding success.

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Eton Solar Powers for Good and Bad Days

February 28, 2016Bluetooth, ces, Gadgets, Interview, Speakers, Special Media, videobluetooth, ces, CES2016, emergency, Interview, power, speaker, USB, videoPalmer

Eton‘s motto is “Empowered by nature” and in this case, it’s powered by nature too, with a full range of solar powered gear. Scott gets charged up with Sharon Cook, Eton’s VP of Marketing.

First up is the Rukus Xtreme, a solar powered Bluetooth speaker with USB charging ports. Five hours of charging gets around eight hours of playing time and with an IPX-4 rating, the Xtreme won’t mind a few splashes either. Available for US$179 (MSRP $199).

Next is the the Xtreme’s baby brother, the Rugged Rukus, which is perfect for camping or hiking weighing just a pound. Retails for US$79 (MSRP $99), it charges and plays for similar times to the bigger Xtreme and has the same IPX-4 rating.

On standby for emergencies, Eton have the Scorpion II, a “rugged, portable multi-purpose digital radio, that charges smartphones with crank power back-up and weather alert”. Think of this as being the information equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife or Gerber Multitool. You need one of these in your emergency packs and at US$50 you’d be a fool not to get one.

Finally, FRX5 is the big brother of the Scorpion II, with all the emergency features you can think of from torches to emergency beacons, am/fm radio to NOAA weather alerts and SAME regional alerts. Powered by solar, crank, rechargeable batteries or three AAAs, you can charge via USB if you need to. Perfect for the home or car at US$100 (MSRP $129).

Note Eton is known as Soulra in some countries.

Scott Ertz is a software developer and video producer at F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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TikTeck Sells Direct to Consumer

February 2, 2016camera, ces, Gadgets, Home Automation, Interview, Special Media, Toys, videocamera, ces, CES2016, gadget, home automation, Interview, toy, video, wearablePalmer

TikTeck are coming to market with the sole purpose of bringing affordable products direct to the consumer and cutting out the middleman. With only a few gadgets available, Daniel chats with Rex Chen, VP Product Development of TikTeck to find out what’s in store.

In the first wave of products, there’s a Bluetooth-controlled smart LED bulb displaying 16 million colours for only US$9.99. You don’t need me to tell you what a bargain that price is. The companion smartphone app runs on both iOS and Android, providing group controls and timers, much like some of the market leading apps. Available for pre-order now with delivery expected end of February.

Combining both security and fun, the next product is a wireless camera rover. It’s a digital video camera on a remote controlled buggy which can be steered and monitored by wifi from a smartphone. US$69.99 when it goes on sale. I want one – the black version in the interview looks positively menacing.

Finally, TikTeck have a smart finger ring that measures heart rate and tracks activity and sends the data back to the smartphone by Bluetooth. It looks far more like a man’s ring than it does a fitness tracker. Price not finalised but likely to be in the $50-$100 range.

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Project Nursery Announces New Line of Gadgets for Mom and Baby

January 6, 2016ces, GadgetsCES 2016, Project NurseryJenThorpe

Project Nursery Baby Monitor Project Nursery has unveiled new products and technologies for families at CES 2016. Partnered with VOXX Corporation, Project Nursery applies their years of experience in kid-friendly designs toward launching a new consumer electronics line that is simple, stylish, and with minimal set-up time, so parents can focus on the things that matter most. The new products will be available Spring 2016.

The flagship piece of the line is the Project Nursery Baby Monitor, which includes both a 5” High-Definition parent unit, ultra portable Mini Monitor with a 1.5” LCD screen and camera unit (MSRP $299.99).

Luxurious, high-end design finishes that blend seamlessly into any nursery, high definition video and secure wireless technology make this baby monitor the choice for parents focused on simplicity, style, and safety. As a wireless and Wi-Fi free monitor, it can easily be handed off to a caregiver without a complicated set up explanation, all while maintaining a reliable connection.

The Project Nursery Baby Monitor has an easy-to-use icon menu and intuitive centric navigation wheel. Parents can quickly jump to the most commonly needed features of the device without wasting time clicking through excess menus or navigating difficult camera controls. The system also serves as a digital clock, timer and room thermometer. Extra benefits allow parents to send lullabies, voice communicate with their baby and capture digital images of special moments.

Project Nursery Mini Monitor The included 1.5” Mini Monitor is the world’s smallest, providing hands-free portable monitoring allowing moms and dads to be on-the-go around the house without having to haul around a larger monitor unit. The Mini Monitor allows parents to have both hands free, to do things like playing with other kids, exercise, projects around the house, or preparing meals in the kitchen, all while able to quickly view baby at a glance on a wearable attachment. The Mini Monitor comes equipped with a wristband, lanyard and clip to make it easy for mom and dad to have ready at any time.

Project Nursery Sight and Soung projector The Project Nursery Sight & Sound Projector ($49.99) uses Bluetooth streaming from your smartphone, projected images onto a wall and built-in LED mood lighting and night light to create a soothing environment for baby. Sensors activate pre-set or recorded sounds when crying is detected to make baby feel more comfortable while mom or dad makes their way to the nursery. Six calming pre-loaded sounds include white noise, rainforest, and more.

Visit Project Nursery at CES 2016 in the Central Hall, Project Nursery (VOXX) booth # 10406.

Kingston HyperX Cloud II Headset

June 14, 2015audio, Gadgets, Gaming, headphones, hifiaudio, Gaming, headphones, Headset, Kingston, reviewPalmer

Kingston Tech followed up their popular HyperX Cloud gaming headset earlier this year with the Cloud II, which brought a newly designed USB sound card audio control box with 7.1 virtual surround sound to the already impressive feature set of the original HyperX Cloud headset. GNC favourably reviewed the first HyperX Cloud back in December.

The new control box has independent audio and microphone volume control plus a central toggle for the surround sound 7.1. The Cloud II headset generates virtual 7.1 surround sound with distance and depth to enhance the gaming, movie or music experience. Shoot them before they shoot you!

At launch, the Cloud II headset offered choice of two colour finishes, red and gun metal (grey). There’s now a third option, pink, which is presumably intended to appeal to female gamers.

Whatever your opinion of “pinking”, it’s good to see that Kingston is looking outside of the stereotypical gaming audience.

In other good news, the Cloud II has taken up the price point of the original and is priced at a little under GB£80. The original Cloud still available too but it’s now priced below £50, making the latter a real bargain.

Popcord Keyring Charging Cable

April 16, 2015Apple, audio, Gadget Show, Gadgets, Interview, smartphone, USBApple, audio, British Inventors Project, gadget, Gadget Show, Interview, smartphone, USBPalmer

One of the few “tech” products at the British Inventors Project, the Popcord is a short USB charging cable which loops back on itself to hang on a keyring. As it’s on your keyring, you never leave it behind so any time your phone needs a charge, the Popcord is on hand.

Elegantly made from metal to complement the latest mobile devices, it’s available in six colours and two variants, one USB to micro-USB and the other USB to Lightning for Apple owners.

It’s on pre-order at GB£29 or a little under US$42.50 and is expected to ship shortly.

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Child Angel Keeps an Eye on Children

April 15, 2015application, audio, Gadget Show, Gadgets, GPS, Interview, Security, wearableaudio, British Inventors Project, children, Gadget Show, GPS, Interview, safety, Tracking, wearablePalmer

Continuing GNC’s coverage of the Gadget Show Live and the British Inventors’ Project, Child Angel is one of the smallest and most advanced child tracking device on the market. Made to be attractive to the child and easy to use in an emergency, the Child Angel wrist-mounted tracker provides accurate location monitoring by combining GPS, GSM and Wi-Fi hotspot triangulation.

Child Angel keeps children safe in three ways. First the parent can view the child’s location on a map using the Child Angel app on their smartphone or tablet (both iOS and Android). Second, the child can send a “Help Me!” alert by taking off the bracelet and third, an alert is raised if the child leaves a geo-fenced SafeZone.

The battery life is about 48 hours and the Child Angel can easily be recharged through the micro-USB. The Child Angel bracelet is available in different colours and can be customised with personalised covers, too.

The Child Angel should be available soon with a retail cost around £100.

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