Category Archives: Gadgets

Gracenote Moves Beyond Music

CES 2011, Gadgets, , ,

Todd sounds out Stephen White from Gracenote, which provides technology services to the music and video industries. You might not have heard of Gracenote, but if you’ve used iTunes, you’ve used a Gracenote service called MusicID which autocompletes the track listings when you rip a CD.

Starting out from the original CDDB (Compact Disc DataBase), Gracenote now has relationships many key players in the field including Apple iTunes and Nero. In the automotive industry, it works with Mitsubishi, Ford and Mercedes-Benz.

Stephen discusses how Gracenote has worked with hardware manufacturers such as Sony to bring their services to the smart TVs and media players, and the challenges they’ve faced in implementing within a consumer device.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Scosche Industries’ Great Gadgets

CES 2011, Gadgets

Todd chats to Ted Lopez, Interface Product Manager for Scosche Industries on their long-term association with the motor (auto) industry and their latest award-winning products.

Scosche have been in business for over 30 years starting out on dash-mounted entertainment systems, which 30 years ago was probably just a radio and a cassette player. These days Scosche still has a strong business with in-car entertainment but more recently has expanded into Bluetooth systems and accessories for the iPhone and iPod. Ted gives Todd a drive-by of their latest products, all of which have won innovation awards at CES or other major shows.

The FreedomMIC is a lapel-mounted Bluetooth microphone suitable for video interview work. Available in Spring – price not known.

The FlipSYNC II keychain are small charge’n’sync cables that clip up into a keyfob. Two models, one for Apple devices, the other micro- and mini-USB. Never leave home without them. Available now for $19.99.

The MotorMOUTH II (shown above) is a Bluetooth hands-free kit and A2DP audio streaming device that plugs straight into the 3.5 mm jack on the car dash. I need one of these – I currently use a Jabra BT3030 for streaming audio to my car stereo but if I have to take a phone call, the microphone is poor. Available now for $79.99.

Finally, the MyTREK is an armband fitness trainer with a complementary iPhone app. No surprise there. Available Spring – price not known.

All innovation award winners so check them out.
Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central

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Sifteo’s Blocks Are Real 3D Video Game Competition

CES 2011, Gadgets

From the Media Lab at MIT (by way of one of the most popular TED Talks) we had a chance to look closely at the Sifteo game blocks, an innovative active video gaming product. For thousands of years, gaming has meant head to head players, intense concentration, and the physical movement of small objects in complex and meaningful patterns. Update that to the 21st century, and you have a cool game platform that combines mental and physical challenge.

Three blocks with embedded sensors, color displays and communications allow reconfiguration for colors, word games, arithmetic drills, geography and other apps to keep the concept fresh. Price class $150, including charger. Requires computer nearby during play.

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BlueTooth Watch Interfaces With Smart Phones

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Casio BlueTooth Watch

At the Casio booth was a technology demonstration of low power BlueTooth embedded in a Casio watch that allows it to interface to Smart Phone devices.

Normally BlueTooth products need a rechargeable battery but Casio’s Low Energy BlueTooth can last up to 2 years before the battery needs replacing.

The Smart Phone demonstration shows how the watch can communicate over BlueTooth with the Smart Phone for providing feedback about phone calls, email, text messages received and other features that can be profiled in the watch.

Interview by Tom Newman: Fogview Podcast

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Fannywang Headphones Offer Memorable Style, Technology and Fashion

CES 2011, Gadgets

Modern young consumers are very in to personalizing their experience, and a new company FannyWang Headphone Company,  offers distinctive premium products that are flashy, designed to attract a young female audience. Super comfortable so that ear-rings can be worn underneath, with switchable colors, the user can choose to match or contrast with the outfit of the day. An in-line splitter allows friends to share the music.

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Gazelle: Recycle your Gadgets for Cash

Gadgets,

Andy  McCaskey interviews the Anthony Scarsella, Chief Gadget Officer of gazelle.com, a user friendly website offering reverse online shopping to resell or recycle your used electronics.
You probably have a drawer full of gadgets that could have some real cash value. You can find out quickly and easily, with Gazelle – without the risks of on-line auctions or in person cash exchanges for your old electronics.

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GE Watt Stations Charge Faster, Smarter

CES 2011, Gadgets, , , ,
GE
GE

David Wang and Josh Caillavet fro GE joined Jeff on the TPN Live CES coverage to talk about the GE Watt station car charger. Operating on 220 Volts, you can charge from 3-8 hours on Level II charging. It complies with J1772 smart charging standards, giving universal charging. This is a global solution.

They also released the Nucleus, which watches all your power consumption. You can then learn how to conserve energy.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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USB Dino-Lite Microscope from BigC Magnify 240x

CES 2011, Gadgets, , , ,
BigC
BigC

Joesph Kane from BigC joined the TPN Live CES coverage to showed off these great USB microscopes. The Dino-light digital camera is a portable digital microscope camera with magnification range of infinity to 2-3 microns 215x magnification.

During the interview, we looked at the gears of a pocket watch. He then focused on the crystal and the ruby in the watch. We then looked at Joesph’s skin to see the penetration.

The Dino-Light is $499, but you can get microscopes starting at $200. They also have fixed strobe at 60Hz.

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Algebra or Mortgage ? A Graphing Calculator Makes Things Clear

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It may be  for home work or working up the finance package for a home. And now it’s in full color !

Either way, the Casio Graphing calculator line that has been upgraded and introduced at CES 2011 is a sure winner. Mike Reiners notes that Casio was the innovator of the graphing calculator over 25 years ago. Mike is a full time teacher in Minnesota, and comes up with some novel ideas to challenge his students, using the capabilities of the graphing calculator. The secret to the long battery power of the unit gives you over 140 hours of capacity on 4 AAA batteries.

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Siloink Ink Cartridge Refill System

CES 2011, Gadgets, ,

I often discount do it yourself cartridge refill systems, one they are messy and two the ink quality is generally not the great. I was introduced to the Siloink refill system at CES 2011 and was very impressed by the ink quality / print quality and low cost to refill cartridges.

With Cartridge refills at about $5.00 a cartridge it is definitively cheaper than even refilling at your local office supply store. This is a great way to save the number of ink cartridges going into the landfill as well. Please pay attention and make sure when you order on their website that you purchase the refillable cartridges as that makes the most sense for consumers. The only thing that is weird is their implementation for high volume printing as their installation requirements will not work for a home owner.

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