Category Archives: Accessories

Flic Coverage Continues at CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Video, , ,

Flic logoIf you’ve followed our CES 2015 coverage at all, you’ve probably seen a post or two about Flic, the Bluetooth-enabled programmable button. One Flic button can be configured to perform multiple tasks with a few clicks.

Brian was the latest correspondent to swing by the Shortcut Labs booth and speak with a representative of Flic. Using the Flic app, users can program a simple button to do things like move thru music playlists, send GPS coordinates and more. Flic is available thru an ongoing Indiegogo campaign. Pricing varies, depending on how many buttons you’d like to buy.

Interview by Nick of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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Add a Full-Sized Keyboard to your Mobile with TREWGrip at CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Gadgets, , ,

TREWGrip logoPeople tend to use their smartphones differently than they do their desktop or laptop computers. It’s easy to take notes or photos on a mobile device. However, if your project requires a lot of typing, you’ll probably want to utilize a larger keyboard. TREWGrip provides an efficient solution that combines the best aspects of mobile devices with the easier to use keyboards that come with computers.

Scott met up with Mark Parker from TREWGrip. The TREWGrip is a handheld keyboard, air mouse, and game controller. It can be used with smart TVs and desktop computers. They took a regular keyboard, split it, and rotated the keys so that people could hold the keyboard in their hands and type at the same time. It is still a QWERTY keyboard, so your muscle memory from typing will remain the same.

The back of the TREWGrip contains a built-in mobile dock. Put a docking plate onto your smartphone (or inside the back of its case) and the smartphone can now adhere to the TREWGrip and be paired via Bluetooth. In addition to a smartphone, you can dock a mini tablet that is up to 5 and a half inches wide.

Now, you can use the TREWGrip to type and take notes directly into the mobile device. There is a map of the keys on the back of the device for those who are not “touch typists.” Press a key, and that key lights up for you on the map. The TREWGrip also lets you move the mouse on your device by tilting the keyboard. TREWGrip will be shipping in March of 2015 for a target price of $249.00.

Interview by Scott of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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Zolt Brings the Power to CES

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Zolt logoHave you ever unpacked your bags only to find that you brought the wrong laptop charger? Are you someone who gets confused about which charger goes with the different devices used by you and your family? Zolt offers a very simple solution to these frustrating problems.

Nick had a chat with Steve Gibson from Zolt about their versatile charger. It has been described as the world’s smallest, lightest, smartest laptop charger and was a CES 2015 Innovation Award Honoree. The Zolt laptop charger can charge up to three devices at the same time.

The charger ships with a proprietary 6 foot cable that matches the color of the charger. It has interchangeable PC tips that match about 90% of the PC’s on the market. In addition to PC laptops, the charger can work with Apple devices, Samsung devices, and all popular Android products. It can also be used to charge a GoPro or Boss portable speaker.

Best of all, the charger has the intelligence to figure out the appropriate amount of watts and volts to go into whatever device it is charging. The charger is small enough to fit in your pocket, weighs 3 ounces, and has retractible prongs.

You can preorder the Zolt laptop charger now for $79.99 (which is a preorder special price). It will ship in early spring of 2015 for a price of $99.99.

Interview by Nick of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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Ventev Brings Battery Packs and Accessories to CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Mobile, Video, , , ,

Ventev LogoAlthough there have been great improvements in battery technology, the bigger screens, thinner devices and faster processors mean that it’s always necessary to monitor a smartphone’s battery level. USB power packs can help in alleviating battery anxiety and Marlo chats to Scott Franklin of Ventev to see what they have to offer.

Ventev brings a selection of mobile accessories including battery packs and cables with some specifically aimed at Apple products with Lightning connector. With prices from $39.99 up to $99.99, there’s a pack for every situation and price.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch. Note that the early part of the interview is missing.

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IC Real Tech Allie Camera at CES

Accessories, Cameras, CES 2015, Video, Wireless

IC Real Tech logoWeb and IP cams are ten a penny these days, but the IC Real Tech Allie takes expectations to a whole new level with a near 720 degree field of view and the ability to stop time. Todd gets a demo from Matt on how the Allie Pro can see everything.

The Allie Pro is an IP cam with two lenses, one on the front and one on the back, that have overlapping fields of view. As result, when viewed in real-time on a tablet or smartphone, the image can be panned round in nearly 720 degrees; left-to-right, up-and-down with no blindspots. The complementary apps on both iOS and Android can either use touch or the motion sensors to move round the image. Live video is fed through but if something catches the eye, the video can be paused and the frozen image explored in more detail.

There are three models in the range, Allie Play, Home and Pro, with increasing levels of video resolution and prices to match at $399, $599 and approx $1100 for the Pro. All available in late Q1.

These cameras are awesome and I can see tremendous potential for pseudo-telepresence, perhaps combined with a simple VR setup like Google Cardboard. Turn your head, turn the view. And think of a head-mounted action cam version! Watch the video – you’ll be impressed.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Kelvin Wireless Wine Thermometer at CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Gadgets, Home

Kelvin LogoWatching the video for the Kelvin Duo wireless wine thermometer put me in mind for a glass, so as I write this, I’ve a tasty little Sicilian red to hand. But how do I know that I’m getting the best from the wine? Let the wine breathe – check. Wide glass – check. Temperature….hmm, not so sure about that…and that’s where the Kelvin thermometer comes to the rescue.

The Kelvin Duo consists of a thermometer band that goes round the bottle, transmitting the temperature to a receiver which in turn shows the temp on a small screen. The screen’s backlight is colour-coded to red, green and blue for too warm, just right and too cold.  The Kelvin is straightforward to use: first choose your wine, second select the category of wine from a choice of ten (four for white, three for red, two for sparkling and one for rosé), next put the band on the bottle and the bottle in the fridge. Finally, wait for the receiver screen to get into the green (or just flick into the blue) then pour and enjoy!

The Kelvin Duo is already on sale in the UK for £39.99 and will be coming to the US in the coming months with a price somewhere around $70-$80.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Liquid Image Ego LS at CES Unveiled

Accessories, Cameras, CES 2015, Gadgets, Video, Wireless

Liquid Image LogoLiquid Image weren’t a company with which I was familiar but having looked at their website, they have an impressive range of action cameras, with some interesting models where the camera is integrated into a scuba mask or ski goggles. At CES Unveiled, Todd interviews Melanie about Liquid Image’s new streaming wireless camera.

The Ego LS is hand-sized wearable and mountable camera not unlike others on the market but its key feature is that it can stream video over the Verizon 4G LTE network including XLTE allowing for fast live streaming. In addition to 4G LTE, the wireless features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Low Frequency RF, which keeps the camera in standby mode for over a day without draining the battery. This makes the camera very flexible with a range of wireless coverage options and the Ego can simply record to memory if there’s no wireless at all. Neat.

The Ego LS model 800 is expected to retail at $399 and will be available in Q1 2015 for the US, with availability in other territories including Europe, Russia, Japan and Canada in Q2 and Q3.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Peri Duo Speaker Case for iPhone

Accessories, CES 2015, Entertainment, Gadgets, Mobile

Peri Logo

When it comes to smartphones and tablets, there are few mobile devices that produce anything like a decent volume and as for stereo separation, forget it. Fortunately Peri can come to the aid of iPhone owners with the Peri Duo, a high-power wireless speaker and phone charger case. Todd and Jamie find out more from Cedric Sumimoto, co-founder of Peri.

The Peri Duo is a standalone wi-fi and bluetooth-enabled speaker and iPhone charger case all in one. As expected, music can be streamed via AirPlay but the iPhone doesn’t have to be in the case when playing the music, so the Duo speaker can be on the opposite side of the room while the iPhone is safely in a pocket. Even better, more than one Duo can be connected to a phone so one Duo can be assigned as the left speaker and one as the right. Alternatively, one phone can multicast to dozens of Peri Duos, which really gets the party going.

The battery is 2500 mAh which will fully recharge an iPhone once with a bit over, or else the Duo will play music for around 4 hours.

The Peri Duo will be available for the iPhone 5, 5s, 6 and iPod Touch. The MSRP will be $139 though it’s currently on pre-order at $99 via Indigogo. Deliveries are expected from April onwards.

Interview by Jamie Davis of Health Tech Weekly and Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Audio-Technica Gets SonicSporty At CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Entertainment, Gadgets, Mobile

Audio-Technica LogoJapanese audio specialists Audio-Technica have a long pedigree in sound going back to the 60s with an impressive client list include a number of successive Summer and Winter Olympics. Todd and Crystal Griffith take a look at the latest headphones from Audio-Technica.

First up are new additions to the SonicSport line of in-ear headphones, each of which has a different mechanism for retaining the earbud in the ear. Some hang over the ear, others lock into the inner part of the pinna. The idea is that Audio-Technica has headphones that suit you and your activities. The USP of these in-ear phones is that in addition to the standard ear-tips, ridged ear-tips are provided which allow a small amount of external sound through. This makes the SonicSport headphone range a good choice for those who need to be a little more aware of their surroundings. Prices start at $35.

Next are a new pair of high-end audiophile over-ear headphones. Aimed at the lossless music market, these headphones are technically designed to get the best from the music source while providing comfortable extended listening. US availability is March at an RRP of $249.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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ShotTracker Measures Your Basketball Performance at CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Health, , , ,

ShotTracker Logo

Sports such as running and cycling have been well supplied for several years with monitoring and tracking devices to record and improve performance. At CES 2015, several other sports have become connected, including tennis with the Babolat Play racket as well as basketball with the ShotTracker. Jamie and Todd chat to Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder of ShotTracker.

ShotTracker consists of 3 components: a wrist sensor, a net sensor and the ShotTracker App. The wrist sensor and net sensor work together to track shots: when a player shoots, the wrist sensor sends a signal that a shot was attempted and the net sensor sends a signal indicating if the ball made it into the basket. Both signals are sent to the mobile device via Bluetooth where the ShotTracker app keeps track of the player’s activity.

The app shows statistics (shots, makes and misses), gives workouts and helps identify on-court weaknesses. Data from multiple ShotTrackers can be aggregated into a coaching version of the app, providing an overall team view. ShotTracker is available for both iOS and Android.

The ShotTracker starter kit is on sale now for $149 from the store.

Interview by Jamie Davies of Health Tech Weekly and Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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