One of the cool devices that GNC found at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was the Joystick from Noitavonne. This device is kind of a one-stop-shop for many cool features.
It acts as a remote control for your devices, like an Android phone or tablet or a Windows 8 device. When paired with your TV, it turns your big screen into an Android device and if your phone rings you can answer it through Joystick’s built-in speaker. It even has a full QWERTY keyboard to add to the functionality. The keyboard is hidden beneath a small flip-up 1080p screen.
The product is expected to be released in the spring of this year with a price point of “between $249 and $349”.
If you hate tangled headphones then the CordCruncher is for you! The headphones come in a special tube that is designed to retract the cord in. The crimped headphone cord returns into the tube when you stretch the tube out.
Best part is when you retract the cord you can wrap it around and put the 3.5 inch jack into the other end of the tube. Wear it as a bracelet or just put it in your pocket or bag.
CordCruncher comes in 4 colors and is available for $24.99 (www.cordcruncher.com)
If you have a mobile device (iPad, Android tablet) with Bluetooth and wanted to have a different type of keyboard for it, then check this out. The Celluon Epic is the next stage in Bluetooth laser projection keyboards.
About half the size of the Magic Cube, the Epic can project a full keyboard on a surface within bluetooth range to the device. This will be perfect if Apple TV turns on their bluetooth options. You can then sit on the couch and type on the coffee table looking for your favorite shows.
Celluon Epic will be available around March for $169. The Magic Cube (another projection laser keyboard which is roughly twice the size) is available now for $149. Celluon also has solutions for the iPhone and for medical professionals. (www.celluon.com)
I love the idea of Bluetooth audio there are no tangled wires, however I have never found a Bluetooth headset that I liked. To me they’re uncomfortable and hard to use. I prefer regular ear buds, but I hate untangling the wires every time I want to use them. So when I saw the newest Felt Audio product I was intrigued. Felt Audio has created a Blue tooth modular system that connects to any Bluetooth device. What makes this device unique is that the cables retract into the modular system. So when you’re finished with your phone call or listening to your music the cables simply retract back into the device. You can have this device in one pocket and then have your smart phone or tablet in a completely different pocket that is more secure. You can control your phone calls and music directly from the device. The system will sync to any bluetooth device within 3 second. If you prefer to have everything together Felt Audio also makes a case that you can use to attach the device directly to your smart phone. When it is attached to your phone’s you can use it to recharge your phone.
Felt Audio also introduced what they call the world’s smallest speaker system at CES 2013. It also works through Bluetooth. It has omnidirectional microphone so you can use it in a meeting or any group. You can use the speaker either attached to the smart phone or separate like the modular system. It will connect with any Bluetooth device within three-seconds. You can clip the speaker to your belt or you can use the included stand and place it on a table.
Both the Bluetooth modular system and the speaker will be available in April for $99. The first 5000 customers who purchase the modular system from the Felt Audio website will receive a free case. You can preorder either the modular system or the speakers through the website now. It appears to be well made and I like the way to looks. As soon as I have some money available I’m going to preorder the modular system. Once I have it I will give you my review on how it works in the real world, but for now just the idea intrigues me.
Modern smartphones are expensive, relatively fragile and battery-hungry. Consequently, they’re pretty much useless in any tough emergency situation. Todd talks to Christian Scheder of SpareOne about their solution to the problem.
The SpareOne emergency phone is a mobile phone that runs off a standard AA battery rather than a rechargeable one more usually found in a mobile phone. While this gives 10 hours of use from a single battery, the benefit in an emergency is that the battery can simply be swapped for another. Further, Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries have a storage life of 15 years so this phone can be stored with batteries for up to 15 years, ready to go. The SpareOne is supplied in a waterproof bag that further protects the phone during storage and any wet emergencies.
The phone takes standard GSM SIMs for ordinary calls but the SpareOne can also call the emergency services even without a SIM card. If you are interested, the SpareOne is available now for $99 from the website.
Talking with Chrysler at CES this year inside of a 2013 Dodge Ram took us on a very cool journey. Chrysler Group introduced the Via Mobile package, which allows full Internet radio into your vehicle from your phone. AM/FM, HD Radio and SiriusXM are all included, as expected, except Chrysler will be the first to offer the fully merged and integrated SiriusXM lineup into their vehicles with exclusivity for a limited time. There is also a media hub available in the center console. A USB port, SD port, aux port, USB charge-only port and Bluetooth streaming all compliment the 8.5″ resistive touch screen that resides in the dashboard.
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Enhancing the experience is a brand new navigation system that takes up the entire screen, complete with 3D models, pan-and-zoom, traffic (through SiriusXM). One cool, subtle feature that brings the entire nav together is called One-Step Destination Entry, where you can use your voice and give a command in one breath, such as “Navigate to (address).” You can also give the system points of interest, which commands such as “Find Nearest (name of place).”
Apps, with Buttons
What’s cool about the Apps Button is that all of your embedded apps, plus all of the apps from your phone, are displayed together through the dashboard screen, fully integrated using the Via Mobile package. Apps like iHeartRadio and more all connect to the dashboard, forcing the phone to turn off when the vehicle is in motion, which reduces distracted driving. Chrysler has partnered with Sprint as well and has embedded a 3G radio into their 2013 vehicles. With that, pressing the 911 button will take you immediately to a 911 dispatcher and not to a call center and queue. Better yet, it’s using Sprint’s integrated signal to make the call without tying up your cell phone line. Using the Assist app will display three different call centers: roadside assistance, uConnect to answer questions about your online account and smartphone app and the vehicle-specific call center to answer questions about problems you may have with your vehicle.
No announcements on timing, vehicle availability or pricing has been announced yet, but Chrysler said to stay tuned for news on that very soon.
You’re bleeding all over your nurse’s iPad but it’s not a problem because she’s got a LifeProof case on that mobile device. Join Health Tech Weekly host Jamie Davis, the Podmedic as he chats with LifeProof CEO, Gary Rayner, in their booth at CES 2013 last week.
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Protect Your Devices From Life
LifeProof is all about the things that happen in your life and making sure you don’t have to worry about your expensive mobile devices during those life events. The LifeProof cases make your device waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof and shock proof to military specifications so that when you’re on the job, you don’t have to worry about dropping your iPad or iPhone to the floor or in a dirty medical environment.
Any spills or cross contamination on your device can be wiped or washed off and disinfected just as you would any other piece of equipment and the functionality and features of the tablet or phone are completely undiminished. The LifeProof cases also have available accessories like hand straps and shoulder straps as well as stands and mounts for use in the hospital or ambulance environments.
Features Similar Cases Lack
Many similar cases that advertise being waterproof are very bulky but the slim design of the LifeProof case and the way it seals directly to the glass face of the device makes it similar in weight and profile to most standard cases. It’s more of a conversion for your mobile device than a case. The rubber bumpers and gaskets are completely bonded to the case body leaving no gaps in which pathogens can hide.
The LifeProof cases are currently available for iPhone 5, iPhone 4/4s, 3rd or 4th generation iPad, and the 4th generation iPod Touch. There will be a Samsung Galaxy S III case coming soon.
Find LifeProof cases at Amazon.com or other popular retailers. Prices begin at $79.95.
You may want to keep business calls separate from personal calls. You may want to keep your cellphone number private, or have responsibilities for a volunteer organization or agency that needs a public face. Line 2 is a great choice for professionals.
And as an added bonus, you can take an old iPhone, add this $10 a month application and have a fully functional phone within a wifi cloud that will forward to a regular phone or voicemail when you are outside of the wifi zone.
There’s a 7 day free trial period.
Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews and Don Baine, the Gadget Professor, for the TechPodcast Network.
Road Warriors are famous for multi-tasking on the run. One of the consequences is that they often run out of their hotel rooms or airline business clubs with a variety of chargers left behind – either behind drapes, under desks or in the out-of-the-way places that outlets live.
Perch has developed a device that sounds the alarm whenever you depart. It very simply reminds you to take your charger for mobile phone, GPS, radar detector, laptop or other device with you, instead of leaving it behind and coming up short on juice a few hours later.
Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.
Qualcomm which is known for its silicon and wi-fi technology for handsets and tablets is spreading into software and service. One of the consumer products they are currently developing is called Skifta. It is a media shifting platform which works through DLNA-certified and UPnP -compatible devices. DLNA protocol has been around for about eight years. Most TVs today which are over 36 inches and Internet enable are DLNA capable. The Web site of your TV’s manufacture should let you know if your TV is DLNA capable. DLNA is a nonprofit trade organization which enables the sharing of digital media between various consumer devices by defining interoperability guidelines. Because DLNA is a nonprofit organization they don’t have the money to spend on advertising and promotion, so its adoption has been slow but steady. The growth of the Smart or Connected TV market has help to increase its popularity over the last 12-18 months. Its biggest rival is Apple’s Air Play.
Qualcomm was showing off its software platform Skifta at CES 2012, which works with the DLNA platform. Think of Skifta as Airplay for Android. Once Skifta is installed on your Android device, it will go out and find any DLNA enabled device including TV’s, computers and the Playstation. You can then sending any media that is available on your network to that device. Skifta also gives you access to various Internet providers including Revision3, Ted Talks, Facebook and others.
Qualcomm is also developing a Skifta audio adapter which you attach to a receiver that is not DLNA enable and enable it. They are also making a DLNA platform that can be installed easily by the manufacture into a receiver. I installed the Skifta application on my Android phone and it almost immediately connected and found the media on my network. Once I set up an account it also let me pick up media from Revision3 and Ted Talks among others. Unfortunately I don’t have a connected TV, so for me its use is limited, but I love its possibilities.
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or other popular retailers. Prices begin at $79.95.
