All posts by PLUGHITZ Live

Juiceboxx is Here to Save Your Expensive Macbook Power Supply

February 5, 2015CES 2015, ComputersPLUGHITZ Live

Apple fans and haters alike can agree on one thing: the MacBook power block is a disaster. Almost everyone who owns a MacBook, or knows someone with out, has witnessed the untimely death of one of these powerblocks because of fraying or breaking. Luckily, Juiceboxx is here to rescue you!

The product is a cover of sorts for your MacBook power supply, which uses a trumpet design to keep the power cable from bending over sideways in your bag; the most common cause of the problem. In addition, the case gives you the ability to customize your block to match your computer bag, your outfit or your personality.

Estimated to ship in early February, you can preorder your Juiceboxx right now for only $19.99 in one of 6 colors, available for 3 different models. If you have a MacBook, this is a must have for you.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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iSet – The Connected Counter for Tennis

February 5, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

Keeping score and tracking stats is one of the least fun parts of playing a sport. If you’re not careful, arguments can break out (we’ve all been there, right?). Luckily, if you play tennis, iSet is the watch to solve that problem.

The watch can pair with another watch, allowing each competitor to track their score and sync up with the other player’s watch. If only one player has the watch, no problem, you can still control the counter yourself for both sides.

In addition to pairing with one another, you can also pair with a phone, allowing you to share your score live with the accompanying app. If you are not at the field, you can follow along remotely with the app on your own phone. Players can use the data to keep track of their stats, comparing scores against the same competitor, on certain dates, etc. Coming later this year, this is the watch for serious tennis enthusiasts.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gaming Gets Bigger With the Immersis Projector

February 5, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

One of the problems with gaming is how easy it is to lose your sense of immersion. When your television is across the room, no matter the size, it is easy to get distracted by other things in the room. That is the problem Catopsys is trying to solve with Immersis.

This 180 degree projector can scan your room and turn half of it into a fully immersive video experience. Any game can be easily adapted to passively support the wrap-around projection, but that is just the beginning. If the product catches on, developers can begin to take advantage of the extended real estate for extending the gameplay, not just the environment.

The product is not yet available, though they are running a Kickstarter campaign where you can get quite a discount on the MSRP. If you are a game developer or a really hardcore gamer, this might be the next gaming accessory you need.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Connected Cycle Keep Track of Your Bike, Whether You Are on It or Not

February 5, 2015CES 2015, HealthPLUGHITZ Live

Connected Cycle is a bike pedal that connects to an existing bicycle that helps you keep track of the location of your bike. If you are riding it, it will keep track of your path and let you know things like distance traveled and calories burned. If you are not with the bike, it will alert you that the bike is in motion and allow you to keep track of where it has gone.

With a built-in internet connection, you never have to worry that it will be too far out of range to alert you of position. You can even bike without your phone and still log your route. It is especially important for keeping track of theft.

One of the really great things about the pedal is that it never needs to be externally charged. Using the motion produced by biking, the pedal is able to charge itself whenever it is in motion. The product is not yet available, but they will be launching a crowd funding campaign in the coming months.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Child-Angel – A GPS Tracking Bracelet Your Kid Will Want to Wear

February 5, 2015CES 2015, MobilePLUGHITZ Live

Many products come from a personal problem, and Child-Angel is no exception. When the creator’s child was lost for a short while in a shopping center, it got his mind going. He gathered a tech team and a design team to put together his idea to protect other families from the same panic he experienced.

Running on traditional GPS, Wi-Fi location and GSM, Child-Angel keeps track of your kid at all times. You can also setup geofences to alert you when they have gone somewhere they aren’t supposed to go. More importantly, the kid can trigger an alert if they are uncomfortable, simply by opening up the back part of the band.

The problem with many trackers is that they are not something that kids want to wear. Child-Angel solves this problem by making it more like a bracelet, with customizable covers that can be snapped on at will without exposing the electronics. Now, when they wake up, they can choose to wear a princess, racecar driver, or anything in between.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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aiFi Stackable Bluetooth Induction-Based Speakers

February 5, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers on the market, which is why it was refreshing to see the unique things aiFi is doing with theirs. Not only can you use a single one like a traditional speaker, but you can combine them to add functionality.

Whether you are looking for portability, music or television, there is a configuration for you. Odd numbers of speakers act like a soundbar, adding virtualized surround, while even numbers add depth through enhanced bass. Stack them speakers into both configurations to get both capabilities. The added range is endless.

Using induction and an internal computer system, the speakers can determine their position and configuration, and even pass the sound from the main speaker to its partners; no need to any wires or special connectors.

The speakers are not available retail yet, but you can pick them up on Indiegogo right now, or wait for them to hit store shelves this may.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Tom Banks – Liberty Speedway and RC Cars – IBM Innovate 2014, Orlando, FL

June 7, 2014Computers, Gadgets, Special Eventsbluemix, cloud, connected car, development, gadgets, ibm, innovate2014, internet, internet of things, orlando, security, software, techPLUGHITZ Live

In this interview, Nick talks to Tom Banks, the Technical Evangelist for WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile. Tom might have the coolest job, as he tries to find new and innovative ways to show off IBM technologies to the masses and has done so with a car that can be driven via your smartphone.

The car has sensors to prevent it from crashing, speed limiters and more, and it is all run off of Raspberry Pi. The application is so compact that it only takes up a small percentage of the resources of the mini-computer.

Video by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live and PLuGHiTz Live.

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Watson – PitStop Meetup – IBM Innovate 2014, Orlando, FL

June 7, 2014Computers, Gadgets, Special Eventsbluemix, cloud, connected car, development, gadgets, ibm, innovate2014, internet, internet of things, orlando, security, software, techPLUGHITZ Live

In this second part of a two-part PitStop Meetup, we move to Watson, IBM’s deep learning and cognitive reasoning technology. The experts discuss several different fields where Watson could improve life. This is the tech that not only has solved problems in the healthcare and finance industries, but has given us amazing food concoctions out of the by using cognitive cooking.

Internet of Things – PitStop Meetup – IBM Innovate 2014, Orlando, FL

June 7, 2014Computers, Gadgets, Special Eventsbluemix, cloud, connected car, development, gadgets, ibm, innovate2014, internet, internet of things, orlando, security, software, techPLUGHITZ Live

In this first part of a two-part PitStop Meetup, the Internet of things was the point of conversation. From the estimated 20 billion possible connected devices to how to actually use the data these devices are giving you, it was definitely an interesting discussion. Where are we now? What is the future of our data and devices? All of that is talked about in this segment.

Video by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live and PLuGHiTz Live.

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Attendee Reactions – IBM Innovate 2014, Orlando, FL

June 7, 2014Computers, Gadgets, Special Eventsbluemix, cloud, connected car, development, gadgets, ibm, innovate2014, internet, internet of things, orlando, security, software, techPLUGHITZ Live

In this short video from IBM Innovate 2014, we wanted to ask a few attendees what they thought about the convention and what they learned or hoped to take away from it. For Nick, while there was no 3D printer to take away, there is butternut squash BBQ sauce on the horizon!

Video by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live and PLuGHiTz Live.

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