Backyard summer travel tech six pack – CKUA MUSE w/ Tony King

I had another cool opportunity to be a guest on CKUA Radio MUSE a new radio program hosted by Tony King. On this episode, I spoke with Tony about three cool gadgets and three apps (plus one bonus app), that can help you take a travel right from your backyard pool.  Original air date: May 24, 2015. (06:37)

 

lynk: your digital vault on the go

hand-lynk-on-clip-good-IMG_0059-vrDigital attacks are becoming an ongoing daily occurrence – thinking about major breaches at Sony, Target and J.P.Morgan. But after several friends and family members were victimized by identity theft, businessman and inventor Vincent Ramoutar realized that not only are our computers vulnerable, but also our mobile devices that we not only use to make calls and send text messages but now also use for on-line shopping and everyday banking.

Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog

Zepp announces Softball app and partnership

Natasha Watley (left), Heather Tarr (middle), and Tim Walton (right)

Natasha Watley (left), Heather Tarr (middle), and Tim Walton (right)

Softball, sometimes looked at as the poor cousin to Baseball, gets a well-deserved little shot in the arm, with an announcement today by Zepp, a provider of wearable sports technology. The company has teamed up with some of the most-revered softball players and coaches in the country to develop tailored training content for the often-overlooked Softball community.

The Zepp Baseball-Softball app has been updated to include Softball-specific features, created in partnership with two-time Olympian, Natasha Watley, US Olympic legend, Jennie Finch, and collegiate coaches Tim Walton (University of Florida), Heather Tarr (University of Washington), and Sue Enquist (former UCLA head coach).

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New IK Multimedia UltraTuner for Apple Watch is all in the wrist

UltraTuner
When we think of all the uses for a smart watch a musicians tool is not likely at the top of mind but with the new UltraTuner for Apple Watch by IK Multimedia, musicians will be able to tune their instruments with high precision, and conveniently right from their wrists.

IK calls the app the first and most precise and feature-packed instrument tuner available for Apple Watch that features a 1/100th of a cent accuracy.

When installed on an iPhone, the latest UltraTuner app pairs with an Apple Watch, allowing musicians to view the tuning information in two operational modes: UltraTuner’s classic graduated LED “STAGE” mode and a simple “NOTE” mode, specifically designed for the Apple Watch display.Read more…at CanoeTech Blog

VERT transmits how high you can jump

Back in the mid-eighties, when Van Halen’s David Lee Roth sang “might as well ‘jump’,” he probably never thought that he could wear a device on his waistband that could tell him how fast, how high and in which direction let alone share that information with his adoring fans both in the audience and half way around the globe. That’s obvious since smartphones and the Internet, as we know it today didn’t exist, but more specifically, the VERT, Jump Rate Monitor, by Mayfonk Athletic Inc. hadn’t yet been invented, until now.

The wearable jumping device is referred to as a mini IMU, Inertial Measurement Unit that’s small and non evasive. It’s best worn near one’s waist using the VERT training clip or Active Waistband. It has an on-board display but is most useful when data is transmitted, which it does in real-time, so it can be viewed simultaneously on your smartphone or tablet with one of the two apps- the free personal VERT app for iPhone which also allows you to sync your data for historical tracking on myvert.com or the more advanced VERT Coach App for iPad ($119.99). Read full Review at Canoe Tech Blog.

Connected AwoX colour SmartLIGHT a modern day disco ball

 

smartlight_color_600x300Connected smart lights are becoming a lot more commonplace and many models are more than just another pretty white light. Thus is the case of the new smartphone controllable A SmartLIGHT Colour light bulb by AwoX based in Montpellier France, fairly new to the Canadian market. It looks like a regular light bulb, compatible with most common lamps, but since it’s LED, it consumes much less power and not only offers up to 16 million colours including multitude of shades of white, it can also sync to the beat your dance music giving you your own modern day disco ball.

The AwoX SmartLIGHT offers a simple smart solution powered from the AC socket of your lamp, but controlled by your iOS or Android device, pairing easily via SmartBluetooth 4.0. The free SmartCONTROL app you can get from the App Store or Google Play will allow you to control the colours, tones, intensity and more. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog

 

Refreshed crowd-funded SmartGuitar never needs tuning

Jamstik+

After the launch of the original jamstik, the Smart Guitar in 2014, Zivix, the creators went back to the drawing board to improve upon their original offering. And just a few days ago, they initiated a Kickstarter campaign for jamstik+, that reached its original funding goal of $50K U.S. in just four hours. They currently have over 900 backers with over $224K U.S. in pledges – four and a half times the original ask.

Jamstik works with your iPad, iPhone or Mac and unlike the guitar you get with RockBand, it uses real guitar strings, real frets and a magnetic pickup. But the real beauty is that it never needs tuning.  It’s quiet, lightweight and portable, measuring only 16” tall and weighing 36 oz.  It has a five-octave range and also handles string bend and vibrato. It runs off its built-in battery rated at over 8 hours of playtime. Read more…at CanoeTech Blog

Coin sized TrackR keeps tabs on your stuff

TrackR Coin

Can’t remember where you left your keys or maybe your phone? If you answered yes to either of these questions then TrackR bravo is the gadget for you. It’s a Bluetooth enabled device paired with a mobile app that using a distance locator, could locate missing items within 30m and possibly beyond. And it’s not just limited to your phone and your keys; it can track anything from pets and bikes to purses and wallets, anything that you attach it to.

It’s tiny. It has a 31mm diameter only 3.5 mm thick and it’s pretty clever. You start by downloading the app for Android or iOS. You then pair TrackR bravo with your compatible smartphone and it will keep tabs on where it is and show it on the map located within the app. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog

Young Toronto entrepreneur takes on Candy Crush turning playtime into paytime

A young Toronto entrepreneur is giving away a minimum of $1,000 per week with the hopes of attracting enough players to play his games and build his user base and then in turn earn ad dollars to take on the likes of Candy Crush. And unlike other revenue models where you need to pay-to-play, this model is Free-2-Win; there are no in-app purchases. And the more you play, the more chances you have to win.

“Our mandate with Big Time is to change the way mobile users play games,” says Jeremy Zuckerman, Founder of WINR Games. “The games are fun on their own, but the opportunity to win cash only adds to the appeal of the app. We’re the first and only free mobile gaming app to offer a cash prize. Our aim is to pave the way for the future of mobile gaming.”

And they’ve already given away lots of green, almost $20K to date. READ Full article at: CanoeTech Blog

WWE Immortals free-to-play mobile game released for iOS & Android

Immortals

After its pre-Christmas announcement, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WWE have finally released WWE Immortals for iOS and Android devices, available everywhere from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Developed by NetherRealm Studios, the creators of the best-selling Mortal Kombat franchise andInjustice: Gods Among Us, in conjunction with Phosphor Game Studios, it’s a free-to-play title that features Superstar battles in a fantastically re-imagined WWE world.

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