Greg Gazin

Virtual ticket to Toastmasters International convention marketing genius

August 12, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

The next best thing to being there

EDMONTON, AB Aug 12, 2015/ Troy Media/ – Toastmasters International’s mission is a simple one: to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. But while this 90 year-old worldwide organization values and encourages face-to-face interaction, it isn’t always possible for its members to attend one of its annual conventions.

To overcome that obstacle, Toastmasters has created a virtual ticket for their 84th annual premiere event, The Toastmasters International Convention, being held from Aug. 12 to 15 at Caesar’s Palace and Casino in Las Vegas. READ FULL ARTICLE at Troy Media and listen to the Podcast at: Toastcaster.

Filed Under: Business, GadgetGreg, In the news, podcast, Toastmasters, Troy Media · Tagged With: Convention, On-Deman, toastcaster, Toastmasters, Troy Media

Epson EcoTank: Inkjet printers not dead yet

August 8, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

EcoTank printers can print for up to two years

Epson has unveiled a new line of printers under the EcoTank brand with such large reservoirs that right out of the box they can yield a comparable number of pages to their cousin the laser printer. And based on average monthly print volumes of selected models, the company claims that users should have enough ink to last for up to two years.

The new models include five new all-in-one printers under what Epson calls the “Supertank category” and when compared to a traditional inkjet printer, the ink in the new reservoirs would print roughly the same number of pages as 20 sets of ink cartridges. The actual yield, of course, would depend on the printer model, settings, environmental conditions like temperature and humidity and of course what you are printing. Read more…at CANOE TECH BLOG

Filed Under: Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, In the news, New Product, Signs of the Times · Tagged With: green, New product, Printers

Review: The Pop, Universal Pop Filter by Blue Microphones

August 5, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

If you’re a podcaster or record lots of audio, you just might need The Pop. No, it’s not the ultimate soda beverage or someone’s Dad; it’s a universal windscreen that helps eliminate those extremely annoying popping “P” sounds that can really ruin what could have been an awesome voice recording.

While The Pop is commonly used with the Blue Yeti or Yeti Pro desktop USB microphones by Blue Microphones, it can be used with virtually any microphone as long as you can find a way to attach it.

The Pop is an interesting looking gadget. It consists of a curved brass frame with embedded wire mesh attached to a pliable gooseneck that is then attached by thumbscrew to a steel bracket. At the end of the bracket is another thumbscrew, which is then used to attach to either the frame of the microphone, mic stand or desk. The general idea is that you attach the bracket to some sturdy anchor point then bend the gooseneck so that the steel mesh frame sits nicely in front of a microphone and in essence filtering out the popping “P” sounds as you speak, or maybe sing. Read the Full Review at G4TV Canada.

Filed Under: accessories, G4 TechTV Canada, GadgetGreg, Hands On, Product review, sound · Tagged With: accessories, Audio, microphone, podcasting, product review

Electrohome Retro Clock Radio set with motion sensor technology

August 4, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

Clock radios as we know them aren’t dead they’ve just become a little bit more practical and high tech. This appears to be the case with the Retro Clock Radio by Electrohome. At quick glance it resembles a vintage alarm clock with a round face and stand, but that’s pretty much where the retro ends.

The Retro Clock Radio, model CR35, features a digital face with function buttons both on the front and on the side. And what looks like alarm bells, are two LED light bulbs which you can illuminate instantly by simply waving your hand in front of them, thanks to the unit’s built-in motion sensors. READ Full Post at Canoe Tech Blog.

Filed Under: Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, New Product · Tagged With: home, New product, Retro

Paul Brandt country superstar takes Square on tour

July 31, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

For the average consumer the headline may sound a wee bit strange, but for entrepreneurs, small business owners and some of us geeks, we recognize Square not as an “old-fashion” way to refer to a “conservative” person, but as one of the easiest and low-cost ways to accept credit card as payment for goods and services. And now, Canadian Country Music sensation Paul Brandt has jumped on that bandwagon and is partnering with Square once again for his upcoming Road Trip Tour he’s co-headlining with Dean Brody.

The Square system consists of a small square reader, a dongle that plugs into the headphone jack of your smartphone or tablet that when used with the Square Register app will allow almost anyone to accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or the Discover Card. It’s also available as Square Stand that allows you to incorporate your iPad and features an integrated reader and additional features and point-of-sale functionality. Read Full Post with a little surprise at Canoe Tech Blog.

Filed Under: Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Signs of the Times, Taking care of business · Tagged With: Canada, music, Square

Boombotix Boombot mini speaker clips on to go

July 29, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

It’s starting to sound cliché that I’ve seen speakers in all different shapes and sizes but I have to admit I haven’t come across one like the Boombotix Boombot mini that’s shaped like a triangle and features a reinforced clip to boot. Seeing it attached to a backpack strap or hip belt seems like something you’d see while walking the promenade on Deep Space 9 – well, almost.

Designed to be used for someone on the go, it’s made of lightweight yet shockproof high-impact ABS plastic designed to withstand impacts of up to 3m. Also, it’s IPX 4 weatherproof so while it may not survive being totally immersed in water it should be okay while out running or biking in the rain or snow. Read full post at Canoe Tech Blog.

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, New Product, Product review · Tagged With: accessory, bluetooth, New product, wireless

Bracketron PowerFlex hybrid battery and stand

July 24, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

Review: Battery packs and stands come in all different shapes and sizes but it’s not often that you find the two together. Such is the case with the Bracketron PowerFlex Stand tablet/smart phone stand with integrated battery and charger. It has a unique look and combines the ideal travel accessory with a rechargeable high-capacity power pack that you can easily take on the road, on the plane or have as a permanent fixture on your desk.

The rectangular base of the stand gives it the weight to stay in place and it’s also where the battery is housed. On the top surface is the power button and four bright green status LED lights. On the front is a microUSB 5v power-in port that’s used to recharge the battery. On the right face are two standard USB ports that you can use to recharge your smartphone or tablet. In fact, the ports are labelled Smartphone and Tablet that output 5V/1A and 5V/2.1A respectively. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Going Mobile, New Product, Product review · Tagged With: accessory, battery charger, gadget, New product

Toastcaster 57 – Russ Dantu – Road to World Championship – Las Vegas

July 22, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

[11:24] Greg speaks with Russ Dantu of Calgary, Alberta Canada and winner of the District 42 International Speech Contest, as he shares his experience in preparation for the road to Las Vegas for the 2015 World Championship of Public Speaking semi-final a possibly the finals at the Toastmasters International Convention. (Photo credit: Rhys Davies). You can also find all Toastcaster Episodes Toastcaster.com or iTunes.

Filed Under: GadgetGreg, podcast, Toastmasters · Tagged With: podcast, toastcaster, Toastmasters

Clever Klip by Tudia reduces Apple cable strain

July 21, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

Carting around your cables, shoving them in and out of your backpack and ongoing daily use exposes them to eventual failure, which typically occurs at the most inopportune time. So a clever inventor created a gadget called the Tudia Klip. It’s designed to preserve your precious cables by providing stability and support and thus reducing the strain and possible deterioration of the cables by up to 80%. Read more…at CaneTech Blog.

Filed Under: accessories, Apple, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, New Product · Tagged With: accessory, cables, New product

10 FAQs about Microsoft Windows 10

July 17, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

In less than two weeks, on July 29th, to be exact, Microsoft will release the much-anticipated Windows 10. And for many users in 190 countries, including Canada, this upgrade will be available for free and in 111 languages. And while there are certainly many questions that need to be answered, here’s a selection of 10 of them.

1. So what is Windows 10?

Windows 10 is Microsoft’s newest forthcoming operating system, available as a free upgrade. The company calls their new operating system (OS), “the first step toward a whole new generation of Windows; moving from a stand-alone operating system, to the last operating system you’ll ever need. Windows 10 will continuously update to keep your software current and provide you with the best and safest experience possible.” Read full post at Canoe Tech Blog.