Review — Page 5

VERT transmits how high you can jump

April 13, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: accessories, Apple, Apps Alive, GadgetGreg, New Product, Product review, Review · Tagged With: iOS, sensors, sports

Connected AwoX colour SmartLIGHT a modern day disco ball

April 8, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

Connected 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

Filed Under: accessories, Android, Apple, Apps Alive, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, New Product, Product review, Review · Tagged With: energy, green, LED, lighting

Review: XSories Big U-Shot designer selfie-stick

March 18, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

It’s hard to go anywhere without seeing someone taking a selfie and were seeing more and more people using monopods to help them do the dirty deed. So if you’re going to join the crowd and carry one around, it might as well be one that has a long range but also somewhat fashionable just like the XSories Big U-shot Deluxe Leather Telescopic Pole.

Now I have seen many selfie-sticks, but never one that has both a genuine leather leash and a tailor-made matching hand-stitched leather handle, which I have to admit, has a fairly appealing stylish urban look.

The leather handle cover is quite soft, very comfortable to grip and is actually just the right size. The telescopic frame is made of aluminum with a hard anodized finish, which is 29cm long when closed and extends out in four sections to a maximum of 93cm. You extend it by pulling out and turning to the right and to lock it in place simply turn it to the left. When you’re done, simply reverse the process. READ FULL ARTICLE at G4TV.ca

Filed Under: accessories, GadgetGreg, Hands On, New Product, Product review, Review · Tagged With: accessories, New product, Review, Selfie

Review: Seidio Tetra bumper for iPhone 6

March 2, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

I’m simply amazed how many people carry around a thousand dollar smartphone like the Apple iPhone 6 Plus in their back pocket without any sort of protection. For some, it might be a case of just never getting around to it; others might prefer to show off their fine gadget’s natural beauty and some may simply hate any extra bulkiness an add-on accessory might bring.

But frankly, everyone needs some sort of protection. If that’s the case – pardon the pun, then the Seidio TETRA might just be the solution – a two-part system comprised of an inner gasket and an outer metal frame. It’s not an actual case, but rather a bumper that fits around the perimeter of your smartphone offering protection, for the most part, from many of those angled drops. READ FULL review at G4TV Canada

Filed Under: accessories, Apple, G4 TechTV Canada, GadgetGreg, New Product, Product review, Review · Tagged With: accessories, Apple, New product, product review

SMS Audio heart monitoring earbuds require no batteries

February 25, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

If I mention heart monitor sensors to you you’d probably be thinking finger clip, wristband or maybe even watch. One thing for sure, you most likely wouldn’t be thinking earbuds. SMS Audio, founded by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has teamed up with Intel to create the BioSport Biometric Earbuds, so if it’s important to you to monitor your heart rate, you can do it while out and about listing to your favourite tunes without having to worry or need to have an additional device or gadget attached you.

SMS Audio is not the first out of the gate to create the dual-purpose earbud/heart monitor. However, what is novel is that the biometric monitoring is designed to use so little power, it does not require a battery; it’s fully driven from the 3.5 mm gold-plated audio jack that plugs in to your smartphone. Read more…at CANOE Tech Blog

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Going Mobile, Hands On, New Product, Product review, Review · Tagged With: earbuds, fitness, Gadgets, health, product review

iStabilizer smartMount better 2nd time around

February 18, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

To satisfy the Selfie generation, last year iStabilizer released their smartMount smartphone tripod adapter. It was available either as a standalone item or as part of their monopod or flexible smartphone tripod products. While the design seemed quite clever at the time, in practice, depending on your phone it would often, quite frankly, miss the mark. Plus, it wasn’t wide enough to accommodate the iPhone 6. So iStabilizer went back to the drawing board, redesigned it and this time they hit the target.

The original adapter (below) looked pretty cool. It was spring-loaded to allow for any phone up to 2.75 inches in width and a separate model; the XL would accommodate the iPhone 6 and other phones up to 3.5 inches in width. The top portion had a metal wire frame with a rubber insert that could easily fall out and get lost. The bottom grip had a rest adorned with rubberized foam to keep the phone in place. Read more…at CanoeTech Blog

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, New Product, Product review, Review, smartphone · Tagged With: accessories, product review, travel, video

Linksys Dual Band Router and Gigabit Switch get your wireless home network up to speed

December 21, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

EDMONTON, AB, Dec 21, 2014/ Troy Media/ – Your household has made it through the year, but somehow the Internet connection is not as responsive as it could be; in fact, it’s brutal even doing a Google search. You’ve added new devices, with more likely to come by Christmas morning.

Your original router was great when you got it but now barely serves its purpose: it’s time to step things up a notch.

Just what the doctor ordered

The Linksys WRT1900AC Dual Band Gigabit Ethernet Router along with Linksys WRT 8-Port Gigabit Switch (SE4008) might just be what the gadget doctor ordered.

Instead of a single antenna, the Linksys WRT1900AC router has four. This allows you to position the router for maximum signal strength, of course, but also allows you to position each individual antenna to help minimize areas in your home void of a good signal.

And rather than just sending out a general signal, the router, through its own proprietary BeamForming technology, can single out a specific device and boost its signal. This can be handy particularly for that one device, maybe your laptop that always seems to get a poor connection in the living room. READ FULL ARTICLE at Troy Media.

Filed Under: accessories, GadgetGreg, Hands On, Product review, Review, Troy Media · Tagged With: Internet, networking, product review

NewerTech NuGreen desk lamp features 50 LEDs

December 12, 2014 by Greg Gazin · 1 Comment

nugreen_gall2 Desk lamps are not typically something in this Gadget Guy’s repertoire or even on my list of tech gifts for under the tree but I was happy to make an exception for the NewerTech NuGreen energy efficient flexible neck LED desk lamp.

The first thing you’ll notice is that it looks pretty cool. It has a flat aluminum base, a bendable 12-inch gooseneck, which allows you to position, it depending on where you need the light and an equally flat disc-shaped head that matches the lamp’s base quite nicely.

What’s even cooler is how it puts out the light. The lamp head features an impressive 50 5mm light emitting diodes (LEDs), producing a very bright (4500K) white light similar to what natural daylight would look like. This makes it ideal for almost any room in the house. It’s not designed to light the whole room, but more in a concentrated area like a desk. Still, you wouldn’t want to switch it on and looked directly at it, as it would be truly blinding. What’s even more amazing is how energy-efficient it is. With all that light it puts out, it only consumes a mere 3.6 W total power and the LEDs remain cool to the touch.

According to the company, the LEDs are designed to last for up to 45,000 hours of use, which they say is up to 22 times longer than a traditional bulb. And they’re eco-friendly too. They contain no mercury and therefore can also be recycled. READ FULL Review at G4TV Canada’s Tech News.

Filed Under: accessories, G4 TechTV Canada, GadgetGreg, Hands On, Product review, Review · Tagged With: accessories, LED, product review

Gadgets to look for during Black Friday Cyber Monday week and holiday buying season

November 28, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for that special gift for that special someone or perhaps yourself, why not take advantage of possible Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals many of which are going on for a week. Not only can you save a few bucks, you won’t be rushing like many of us on Christmas Eve trying to round up the last few items. While sale flyers and “apps for that”, can help you find the right price, here’s just a couple of ideas for gadgets I’d recommend you might want to check out and some of them are actually on sale right now.

Panasonic KX-PRW120 SmartPhone Connect Cordless Phone

People say with everyone going to mobile phones that cordless phones are a thing of the past. But the recently introduced Panasonic KX-PRW120W SmartPhone Connect Cordless Phone, which I had an opportunity to test-drive a few months back, not only gives you the best of both worlds it actually integrates them.

The phone is actually a Wi-Fi enabled device that works nicely with your wireless devices including tablets. So when a landline call comes in, for example, you can actually “transfer” your call to your mobile device that sitting on the network enabled with Panasonic’s Smartphone Connect app for iOS or Android. This will allow your son to seamlessly take a call on his iPad that you transfer to him. Even better, your landline is now freed up for other calls. Read more… AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: accessories, Apps Alive, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Product review, Review, Signs of the Times · Tagged With: Black Friday, Gadgets, gift ideas

FlipBelt does away with armbands and fanny packs

October 31, 2014 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

You’re out for a jog or run but you need to carry around your smart phone, keys and probably a few other things. You don’t have that many pockets and your tired of those very in attractive armbands and things bouncing up and down in your pockets. So the good folks at FlipBelt have come out with a cool little fitness accessory of the same name, so you can carry all of the above, including something as big as an iPhone 6 Plus and more, right around your waist.