Category Archives: Gadgets

Lenmar shows off the Chug Plug for your MacBook

Accessories, CES 2014, Gadgets, Mobile

lexmar

Jenny Simpson of Lenmar stopped by TPN in Las Vegas recently to talk about the company’s new battery pack for your MacBook computer.

The new Chug Plug can provide up to four hours of additional batter life and connects via the computers existing cable. It is Apple specific, so don’t expect to get one for your Windows PC. It has built-in smart technology that can detect how much power your Macbook needs and push extra if necessary. The Chug Plug will be available for $159 starting in March. You can check it out over at Lenmar.

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

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Whiteclouds displays its 3D printing

CES 2014, Entertainment, Gadgets, Toys & Gaming

whitecloudsFor those who can’t afford a 3D printer, which with current pricing, likely includes the vast majority of us, Whiteclouds will handle that part for you.

The company stopped by to visit with Todd and Jeffrey during CES 2014 in Las Vegas. The rep explained exactly what Whiteclouds can do for you, which includes using your rough sketches, or even getting a description right over the phone. In the video below you’ll get a look at exactly what is possible, as some items the company created with its 3D printers are shown off. Depending on what you want printed, the price can vary. For instance, an architect looking for a model of a home plan should expect to pay somewhere in the $600-$2,000 range, depending on size. Find out more by visiting WhiteClouds.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network and Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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CES 2014: Flir One Personal Thermal Imager with IdoNotes

CES 2014, Gadgets, Photography, Video, , , ,

Chris Miller (IdoNotes) took a look at the future of personal thermal imagery devices with the FLIR ONE™ at CES 2014. There are many practical and fun ways to use the Flir One that we explore in the video interview.  First, a quick description of what the Flir One does straight from their website:

FLIR ONE™ is a non-contact device that detects infrared energy (heat) and converts it into an electronic signal, which is then processed to produce a thermal image on your phone screen and perform temperature calculations.

The FLIR ONE™ is a case that comes in three colors for your iPhone with the thermal imaging portion easily detachable.  It utilizes it’s own internal battery supply. It weighs in at 3.2 ounces and currently fits the iPhone 5 and 5s only.  Android cases are expected later in 2014.

From using your phone for hide and seek in total darkness to checking your child’s temperature, this looks like an amazingly useful addition to your phone.

Video summary by Chris Miller (IdoNotes) of Spiked Studio.

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iRing the First Motion Control Device for iOs

Accessories, CES 2014, Computers, Gadgets

ir2iRing is the first motion control device that works with the iPhone and iPad. It will work with various music apps including The Groovemaker and VocalLive and more. The iRing FX/Control app runs in the background and talks to the other app, meanwhile the iOs camera picks up and follows the motion. The ring has controls on both sides. Instead of moving your fingers back and forth on the apps. You control the beat by moving the ring back and forth over the apps and the pitch by moving it closer and farther away from the app that you are using.

The iRing can be used by someone who knows very little about music but also by an experience musician. Although right now the ring just works with music apps that IK Multimedia has created, but according to IK Multimedia there is no reason it shouldn’t work with other types of apps. They are offering an SDK and licensing to app developers in hopes that more apps will be built that use the iRing. The iRing will be available starting the 1st quarter of 2014. It will cost $25.00 for two rings and the utility app.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

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Panovise displays its camera mounts at CES

Accessories, Auto, CES 2014, Gadgets, Mobile

panavisePanovise makes mounts for may devices, including smartphones. Todd stopped by the booth to take a look at the mounting systems for portable cameras, such as the GoPro.

The systems are very advanced. You begin with the stand, such as suction-cup mount, and then add the various attachments for whatever device you are going to be using with it. The kit is called the Action Grip, and you can expect to pay somewhere in the $40 range for the starter set. You can find out more by watching the video below, and you can also visit Panavise on the web.

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

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Monoprice shows off its latest line — monitors

CES 2014, Gadgets, TVs, Video

monopriceIf you are not familiar with Monoprice, then probably you should be. For those who frequently need computer and home theater cables, which is likely everyone who reads a tech news site like this, it the place to shop. But the company isn’t just about cables anymore. I bought outdoor speakers from it a while back, and it sells things like switches as well.

Now Monoprice in branching out further, this time encompassing monitors. The company shows off both a 30-inch monitor, as well as a 29-inch ultra-wide. The big one is available now, and retailing for $682. The monitors also come with some impressive guarantees from the company, that allow for easy replacement if there is any problem whatsoever.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor

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TrackingPoint Weapon System

Accessories, CES 2014, Gadgets, Home

tracking PointTrackingPoint introduced a precision guided firearm at CES 2013. The kit consists of a digital rifle scope and a guided trigger. This kit works with a traditional bolt-action rifle.

The way the system works is that you point the weapon toward the target and the system tags the target. The tag, which is a red dot will remain with the target even if the target moves. The system then calculates all necessary measurements including distance and wind velocity. When you pull the trigger the shot is held until you can align the target. A cross hair will appear and then the shot is fired.

The TrackingPoint system includes five processors within it. There is an image processor that processes up to 54 frames per second. There is also a DSP processor, an Arm core processor and a FPGA with RISC processor inside.

The TrackingPoint kit includes a rifle, a scope, the trigger package, 200 rounds of ammo, a pelican case, a wind bag and an iPad mini. There is also an app for the iPhone or iPad which allows you to stream and record video of your shot. The total kit will be around $20,000. More information is available at the Tracking-Point website.

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

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Siemens Minitech App Makes the Hearing Aid Cool!

CES 2014, Gadgets, , , ,
Siemens
Siemens

We talked with Tom Powers of Siemens at the TPN CES live broadcast. Siemens has come out with the Minitech app that will work with tablet or smartphone so they can focus what they are listening to.

What looks like regular hearing aids, these devices are bluetooth connected so you can use your phone (as a hands free device), a lavaliere microphone with attenuation to adjust sound, or sound from their TV or another device.

If you need to talk with someone while your music is playing, simply press a button on the aid and talk with those who approach.

For more information, check with your local audiologist, or the website at usa.siemens.com/hearing

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

 

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Gibson Takes TPN Award at CES

CES 2014, Gadgets, , , ,

Gibson LogoCelebrating 120 years of Gibson, Aljon Go shows Jeffrey and Todd the superb Anniversary Edition of the Les Paul Standard.  It’s stunning both in the Ocean Water Perimeter finish, the level of detail and the technology built-in. The sound of the guitar can be changed to mimic the tone of your rock’n’roll hero and Min-ETune will tune the guitar automatically. Amazing – watch the video to see the guitar adjust the keys by itself.

There’s no doubt that this is a premium product – the price for the guitar on show is $2999 – but it’s hand-crafted in the US, taking 30 days produce. Every one is a collector’s item. Sweet.

(Is it not a little bit worrying that Jeffrey’s Google Glasses match the Les Paul finish?)

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Netatmo June: Wearable Technology Jewelry Monitors Sun Exposure

CES 2014, Gadgets, , , , , , , , , , ,
Netatmo June
Netatmo June

You may see a bracelet, but its really a piece of technology. Amanda Garnier of Netatmo joined us on the TPN CES live broadcast. She was showing off their newest product called June – a sun exposure monitor.

June will give you personalized sun protection advice based on your skin type. Camille Toupet – a Harry Winston and Louis Vuitton collaborator – has taken on this project to make wearable technology look like something you want to wear. The bracelet has a metal alloy crystal-like face, and on the bottom houses the USB port to connect to a smartphone. You wear this bracelet and it will record how much UV light you are getting.

“We really wanted to make a beautiful object that women would want to wear on their day-to-day lives,” says Amanda Garnier.”This isn’t for just the beach or on vacation — this is for everyday. So what makes us unique is we really take the wearables to that design place. A lot of women coming by saying they would wear even if it didn’t do anything.”

The bracelet centerpiece is high-quality UV sensors. The wearable can be taken off the strap and worn on the body — as long as the sensor is exposed to the sun. Using Bluetooth LE, it sends information to the app. You fill information in the app beforehand – hair color, eye color – to get your skin type and what the exposure would do. 100% is a sunburn.

Most interesting, it makes you aware of how your skin gets exposed throughout the day. At any time you could get burned, even if you don’t think you’ve been out in the sun that long.

June will be coming our right before summer for $99. To get a Weather station, check out Amazon.  For more information check out netatmo.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Don Baine of The Gadget Professor

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