All posts by Jeffrey Powers

DataWind Ubislate $37.99 Android Tablets

CES 2014, Mobile, , , , ,
Datawind
Datawind

Suneet Singh Tuli joined the TPN CES Live stream with Datawind — the lowest cost Android tablets. They have been building low-cost tablets in 3rd world countries and now bringing these tablets into the US.

The Ubislate is a 7 inch touchscreen with Cortex A7 dual core processor at 1GHz. Ubislate runs Android Jellybean software and comes with WiFi, Micro SD and Mini USB ports and has a battery life of up to 3 hours (with the UbiSlate 7Cz).

Ubislate also has a phablet version which you can connect with SIM card. The internal memory is 4GB, extendable to 32 GB.

To find out more, check out Ubislate.us

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Chris Montera of Health Tech Weekly

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Cerwin-Vega XD 3, 4 and 5 Studio Monitors

CES 2014, Home, , , ,
Cerwin Vega XD3
Cerwin Vega XD3

Carlito Cobos of Cerwin-Vega joined the TPN CES live stream to talk about their new lines of speakers, including the XD3, XD4 and XD5 speakers. Legendary loud bass speakers are their signature.

This year, Cerwin-Vega has a new SL series as well with active and passive speakers. You can tell by the red soft-domed tweeter. The new passive line in 8 different styles of speakers. Connect to your home theater or studio.

The new XD3, XD4, and XD5 speakers has balanced inputs in the back, and auxiliary in. With a Cerwin-Vega bass on option, you can get your music, games and more through these speakers. With the XD8 sub, let your favorite movie sound great!

More at CerwinVega.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Chris Montera of Health Tech Weekly

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Blue Microphones Mo-Fi Headphones

Accessories, CES 2014, , , , ,
Blue Microphones Mo-Fi
Blue Microphones Mo-Fi

John Mayer joins us on the TPN CES Live show to talk about the newest initiative of Blue Microphones – Adding headphones to the line. John states they are the last company in the genre that didn’t have the right strategy or approach to headphones.

Blue Microphones doesn’t have a product at this point, but they are currently unrolling the idea in the next few months.

“Essentially we are saying expensive high-end headphones that sound great,” says Mayer, “only kinda work (from the old days) when we weren’t listing through mobile devices. When you plug into mobile devices, there is not enough power — you cannot power the $600 pair of headphones.  So today’s options take the low output and crank it up without a lot of sound quality. Its about getting the sound high. We are doing interesting things around that and bringing high-end headphones and solving that problem.”

Blue Microphones feels they have a new, interesting concept where they can start getting into the headphone market. They have over a million users of Blue Microphones out there. They are talking about Mo-Fi, or mobile hi-fidelity.

Check out unleashmofi.com for more information. Also check out bluemic.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Anne Montera of Health Tech Weekly

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AVG Family Safety: Protecting Your Facebook, LindIn, Google+ Networks

CES 2014, Mobile, , , , , , ,
AVG
AVG

AVG disrupted the anti-virus market years ago. But now we’re moving from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. AVG has been changing their models to make the desktop last longer. But AVG is also getting into your social networks with the Family version.

AVG wants your family to be secure online. This app will allow you to suggest settings to your children and if they implemented. You can even control settings if needed.

The dashboard will have a green-amber-red light that will change when you need to be aware of something. If you have already reviewed the setting and decide not to take it, the light will turn green.

AVG also has a “Wifi – Do not Track” option, where you can block some of the data that companies collect when you don’t know it (where you walk in a store, where you stop and spend time, etc).

This software covers Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn. AVG will also give you an idea of what you are worth to these social networks.

Best part – Its all FREE — Visit  for more information.

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Daniel J. Lewis of The Audacity to Podcast

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Blake Leeper – American Blade Runner

CES 2014, Live Show, , , , ,
Blake Leeper
Blake Leeper

A very inspirational story from Blake Leeper, who wants to be the first handicapped Olympic runner. He was born without legs and was told he could not walk — let alone run. Blake has overcome many adversities in his life and became an award winning American Blade Runner to boot.

Blake has won the Bronze in 200 and silver in the 400. But Leeper wants more. He came back and won 3 silvers and the gold in Relay.

Blake wants to be the first amputee to compete in the Olympic games. He spends 6-8 hours a day, giving 120%.

Blake Leeper is a friend of 50 Cent, who brought him to CES for SMS Audio.

We take a look at the carbon fiber prosthetic Blake uses to “maintain the energy”, whereas others have ankles and leg muscles, these devices will help Leeper push barriers.

“I’m out here trying to push the barriers and let the world know what’s next,” Says Leeper. “I’m running on these things and breaking world records, but we’re ready for the next generation and we’re ready for the next thing.”

To follow Blake Leeper’s journey, check out americanbladerunner.com and his trip to RIO. He supports the Challenged Athletes Foundation, who gave him his first pair of legs.

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Chris Montera of Health Tech Weekly

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Airdrop Gaming HipShotDot Helps Accuracy

Accessories, CES 2014, , , , , , , , ,
Airdrop Hipshot
Airdrop Hipshot Dot

If you play Call of Duty, Halo, Tom Clancy or another first shooter game, the Hipshotdot is an item that will help your gaming. Its not a controller, in fact it was in replacement of the tape you might put on your TV. Hipshotdot is a LED light attached on a suction cup which will replace the tape trick.

I pulled up Call of Duty First Strike on my iPad to get an idea of what this product does. The Hipshotdot works better on larger televisions. Now you will have a guide to where you are going to shoot.

Newer TVs will stick right on, older monitors are a little more porous. An adapter on the TV will keep the adjoining cable straight. On larger televisions, the wire will disappear when gaming.

HipShotDot is machine agnostic, so it will work on XBox, Playstation, NES or PC gaming. If you need to improve your first person shooting ability, you can get HipShotDot right now for $29.95. Product will be in many box stores and online at  airdropgaming.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Daniel J. Lewis of The Audacity to Podcast

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Pebble, Google Glass Apps with Mercedes Benz

Auto, CES 2014, , , , ,
Mercedes Benz app on Pebble watch
Mercedes Benz app on Pebble watch

Mercedes Benz is working with the wearable technology in helping you drive better, safer. People who have a Pebble watch, for example, gives you customized functions via your wrist. You can stop music, change temperature and more — all dependent on what functions you program into the watch.

The Pebble app also contains an alert system. Low fuel, low tire pressure, and emergency issues Pebble will alert you with that. When the iPhone disconnects from the car, the Pebble changes to “Walking mode” so you can view more information. The watch will locate your car for you, tell you if the doors are locked, and a lot more.

Mercedes Benz also has an app for Google Glass, although that app has different functions. The Walking mode is present, but other alerts are suppressed to avoid text and driving issues.

Find out more about Mercedes Benz at mbusa.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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Ford C-Max Solar Energi Project

Auto, CES 2014, ,
C-Max Solar Energi car
C-Max Solar Energi car

I talked with Ford about this very interesting concept project they showed off at CES 2014. The Energi C-Max is a Hybrid car that could be partially charged by the panels on the roof. I talked with David McCreadie about this concept and if its going to become a production vehicle.

Standing in front of the C-Max project, the idea is to recharge the vehicle without plugging in. The panels are high efficiancy Monocrystalline cells. These panels also help charge the C-Max during overcast days. Add a Fresnel lens that can concentrate the sun on the panels and you can recharge the C-Max while you are hard at work.

It would be interesting to see this development in the coming years and the possibility of not needing a charging port or plug to keep your hybrid properly charged.

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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Chevy Turns Car into Hotspot, Brings Appstore into Car

Auto, CES 2014, , , , , , ,
Chevy App Shop
Chevy App Shop

I stopped by the Chevy booth at CES to find out what was going on for 2014. Chevy made two announcements — the hotspot car and the Chevy app store called App Shop. Both of these help you stay connected while driving across the country while having great programs at your fingertips when needed.

The hotspot car uses Chevy’s OnStar system  to communicate back and forth. With the OnStar subscription, you not only have the car as a hotspot, but your Chevy vehicle will even have its own phone number. You can definitely connect your own phone via bluetooth, but that is not needed.

Chevy also debuted their app store at CES. You won’t be able to play Angry Birds or Candy Crush, but you will be able to load apps to help you navigate and enjoy the ride. Twelve apps are available at start (Chevy will have an open API for developers) including Pandora, Glympse, Event seeker, and even Priceline (William Shatner rides with you in a Chevy…)

These features will be available in all 2015 Chevy vehicles.

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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2015 Ford Mustang Invades CES 2014

Auto, CES 2014, , , ,
Ford
Ford

50 years of Mustang and Ford has decided to go back to the original drawing board for this upcoming model. Putting the items you expect into the Mustang which upgrading the technology for easy, safe and fun driving.

I talked with Rakesh Patel of Ford Motor Company about the changes to the 2015 Ford Mustang. He walks us through the changes — switches that feel like airplane controls, new look of the dashboard streamlined, everything from the front to the taillights that make you realize a Ford Mustang is coming down the road. Even the “Mating call of the Mustang”. Is included.

New engines of Mustang are available with 2015. The 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine brings 305 horsepower and 300 lb foot torque to your driving style. New rear and front suspension is also a new addition to the Mustang.

Ford wants you to know there is a Mustang without it saying Mustang. Your senses will know — from sight to sound.

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More at Ford – www.ford.com

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