Archives for September 2014

5 Gadgets for your listening pleasure

Bike 1

With the school year now in full swing, you can’t be studying 24/7; you need some down time to tune out the world and tune in to your favourite tunes, podcasts or perhaps maybe a lecture. So here are a couple of gadgets suitable for whatever your listening pleasure.

Divoom Bike Mount Speaker

Wireless Bluetooth speakers are becoming quite common, but it’s amazing how the smallest little innovation can add incredible functionality to one. This is particularly true, if you like to bike everywhere. Such is the case with the wireless Divoom Voombox Ongo. It can easily connect to any compatible smartphone or tablet. But it’s also rubberized and rugged and water resistant, ideal for outdoors, but what’s really neat, it’s also configured with a detachable bicycle mount.  The mount clips onto your handlebars and screws onto the bottom of your speaker using a standard tripod thread mount, making it compatible not only with your bike, but any tripod, really. This makes it nice and snug and secure while riding but quick and easy to detach when you arrive at your destination.

 Read more…At Canoe Tech Blog

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus differ beyond size

iPhone 6

While the much-anticipated iPhone 6 models officially announced today, it seems that this time around the rumour mills more or less got it right. At today’s Apple Event, Apple unveiled the new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and a larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. So besides size, what are the differences between the two models?

Unlike last year’s release, where we saw the unveiling of the iPhone 5C in the iPhone 5S, it was blatantly obvious that the unapologetically plastic 5C was the poor cousin to the iPhone 5S. This time, it’s a little bit different. The two new models are more closely related than you might think, but there are a few key differences.

Read more… at Canoe Tech Blog

Time to dump your old iPhone?

EDMONTON, AB, Sep 9, 2014/ Troy Media/ – The closer we move to the introduction of the iPhone 6, and its many expected variations, you are probably asking yourself if it is time to dump your current iPhone.

In fact, there are a growing number of iPhones on offer on the resale market. According to eBay Canada there was a significant jump in the number of listings offering the iPhone 5 leading up to last year’s announcement of the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S models, compared to the same period a month prior.  Read full article at TROY MEDIA

Dyson 360 Eye intelligent robot vacuum cleaner launched

dyson 360_eye_vacuum_gadgetgreg

After 16 years of development and teasing the world recently with an obscure video about Dyson project N223, Dyson revealed this morning, in Tokyo, the Dyson 360 Eye, the company’s first and much anticipated intelligent robot vacuum cleaner.

While this is not the first robot vacuum to the market, the company feels that theirs is superior, having integrated their patented technologies and overcoming the obstacles and inefficiencies of those already out there.

  Read more…at CanoeTechBlog

iRig Mic Field Lightning-compatible audio-video stereo mic

7_iRigMicField_video_bandNow anyone can make high-quality stereo recordings while on the move: Introducing iRig Mic Field by IK Multimedia, the pocket-sized digital stereo microphone for Apple’s range of Lightning-compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.

Designed to be used for both video and audio recordings, it features a patent-pending rotatable enclosure that you can easily position for the best stereo image in both landscape and portrait orientations. Now you can capture pristine sound no matter whether you’re recording a rehearsal or a concert, capturing audio for videography, acquiring audio for a music project, recording instruments while on the move, saving a lecture or speech or creating your next viral video hit — iRig Mic Field lets you create accurate and faithful field recordings in any imaginable context.

Features:

  • Digital stereo field-recording mic that connects to iOS devices via the Lightning port
  • Lightweight and pocketable design
  • Rotates 90° for optimal audio/video positioning and locks in place with comfortable to use controls
  • Great for music recording, video shoots or any field recording application
  • Integrated headphone output for immediate real-time audio monitoring
  • Gain control and multicolor LED indicator for easy and accurate level adjustion
  • 2 high-quality cardioid electret condenser capsules
  • 24-bit, 44.1 – 48 kHz A/D conversion
  • Elegant design with black finish

The iRig Mic Field retails for $99.99 US. It’s available on pre-order and is expected to be shipping in October.

via IK Multimedia

Champ Bodyguard AR for Her & ZipStick 3-in-1 Power Banks

Every once in a while you come across two cool products that are functionally identical but marketed under different brands. Such is the case with the Champ Bodyguard Battery Rechargeable Power Bank and theAR for Her PowerBank with LED flashlight and Panic Alarm, a.k.a the ZipStick. And while these product names seem to be quite a mouthful, they both accomplish the same job appeal to two unique demographics.

They are slim-line battery packs designed to power and charge up 5V USB devices. They have a built-in LED flashlight and a panic alarm that emits a very loud and annoying sound designed to either attract attention or to scare off something or someone.  READ FULL REVIEW at G4TV Canada.

iPhone 5 battery replacement program

iphone5Screen

If you were an early adopter of the iPhone 5 and are experiencing some issues with battery life, then there’s some good news for you. You may be eligible to get your battery swapped out for free under Apple’s iPhone 5 battery replacement program.

According to Apple support, Apple has determined, “That a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently.”

Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog

Apple provides update on celebrity photo theft investigation

Apple ID: Apple Id Password

Today, Apple provided a Media Advisory update with respect to their celebrity photo theft investigation. According to the company, after more than 40 hours of investigation, they discovered that “certain” celebrity accounts were in fact compromised.

This comes after various reports that intimate images of celebrities like Hunger Games’ Jennifer Laurence and Kate Upton and more than 100 others were stolen over the weekend as a result of an alleged iCloud hack and posted on the Internet. Some reports say that certain individuals claim the pics were fakes, while others confirmed they were authentic.

According to Apple’s investigation, none of the cases came as a result of any breach in their own systems including iCloud or Find My iPhone.  They said it was a very large targeted attack by a practise that now seems to be a common everyday occurrence –  attacking user names, passwords and security questions.

This comes after outlets like the UK Daily Mail Online reported yesterday has that actor Kirsten Dunst of Spiderman fame is angered and, “Has become the first celebrity to publicly criticize Apple after it emerged that a flaw in the ‘Find My iPhone’ function of its iCloud service may have helped a hacker to steal nude photos of her and ‘100 other celebrities.”

Apple maintain they are working with the authorities in an attempt to identify the culprits.

In the meantime, Apple is stressing to people that to help keep themselves from getting hit this way is to always use a strong password and enable two-step verification. Information on how to do both of these can be found at the Apple ID: Security and your Apple ID support page.