Greg Gazin

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

Greg Talks Steve Jobs & Netgear w/ Tony King on CKUA Muse

March 2, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

I had a very cool opportunity to be a guest columnist on CKUA’s MUSE a new radio program hosted by Tony King. Today I talk about how I got interested in Technology, meeting Steve Jobs and chat about a very cool gadget, the NetGear TREK. (09:12)

Filed Under: GadgetGreg, Media Appearance, Radio, Speaking · Tagged With: CKUA, Interview, radio

Will you binge watch House of Cards Season 3?

March 1, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

If you are a big fan of House of Cards on Netflix, I’m sure you’re excited that Season 3 is now hot off the press. I wonder, how many of you have already put aside all those important things that you were supposed to in favour binge-watching the entire season of 13 episodes?

I admit that so far, I’ve only watched Season 3 Episode 1 – or Chapter 27 is it’s referred to. I made myself a promise not to repeat what I did last for Season 2 after I binged on Season 1. It started off nice and slow; I controlled the urge and watched the first three episodes over a period of a little over two weeks. Then I couldn’t help myself. I cranked out the popcorn maker and watched the rest of the season over a weekend. Read more…and take our POLL at Canoe Tech Blog

Filed Under: Canoe Technology, Digital Alberta, GadgetGreg, In the news, Signs of the Times · Tagged With: Netflix, streaming video, TV

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

Toastcaster 51 – A Toast and an Educational

February 22, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

I was asked to give a Toast (Special Occasions Speech Manual Project #1) and decided I would combine the honouring of our Sergeant at Arms along with a mini educational for the benefit of new member and guests so not only can they see how a Toast works, they get to know a little about what a Sergeant at Arms does and what they could get from taking on that role. Cheers! (03:32)

Filed Under: podcast, Speaking, Toastmasters · Tagged With: podcast, public speaking, toastcaster, Toastmasters

Apple initiates MacBook Pro video repair program

February 21, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

If you purchased a MacBook Pro system between February 2011 and December 2013 and you experienced distorted, scrambled or loss of video or unexpected random restarts then your computer maybe eligible to be repaired free of charge regardless as to whether or not it’s under warranty, under Apple’s new MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for video issues. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog

Filed Under: Apple, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, In the news · Tagged With: Apple, MacBook Pro

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

goBAT rugged waterproof battery pack to hold charge for years

February 15, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

We’ve seen rugged waterproof cases, laptops and speakers but I can’t recall ever coming across a rugged and waterproof portable backup battery, until now. Scosche is unveiling the goBAT 6000 and the goBAT 12000, a pair of ultra durable and high capacity battery solutions designed to be taken out on the rough road.

The new models feature rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that are 6,000mAh and 12,000mAh respectively, enough to recharge a typical iPhone four or eights times. The smaller capacity battery has a single 2.4A USB charging port designed to quickly charge devices including energy hungry tablets like the iPad. The larger capacity battery has double the charge and a pair of charging ports that can quickly charge two devices at the same time. Read more…at CanoeTech Blog.

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg, Going Mobile, New Product · Tagged With: accessories, battery, travel

Red gadgets to sweeten up her Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

There’s more than chocolate to sweeten up your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. How about saying “I LOVE YOU” with funky cool red gadgets and accessories that will (hopefully) last longer than simply a dozen long stemmed red roses.

The Smile Jamaica in-ear headphones with mic by House of Marley (yes, the family of that Marley) is a Valentine inspired gadget with small and simple wood rear housing, recycled machined aluminum chassis, 52″ multicoloured fabric braided cable with plastic restrain and fire red eartips. They have noise-isolating properties and despite their size, give out a good vibrating bass.

Buying a Marley product you are also helping a cause as the Marley Family supports 1Love, their charitable organization dedicated in supporting youth, peace and the planet by using with earth friendly and recycled materials. I think she’d like that. Smile Jamaica headphones retail for $24.99 and are available directly from HouseOfMarley.ca, Future Shop, Visions & Shoppers Drug Mart. Read more… at Canoe Tech Blog

Filed Under: accessories, Canoe Technology, GadgetGreg · Tagged With: accessories, Gadgets, gift ideas

Cashing in on your loose change

February 10, 2015 by Greg Gazin · Leave a Comment

What to do with all that loose change rattling in around your couch

EDMONTON, AB, Feb 10, 2015/ Troy Media/ – With the new year just getting started, it’s probably time to do a little post-holiday cleanup. If you’re like me, you’ll probably find bits of change hanging around the house. Think sofas, chairs and bedside tables. Over time, it can start to add up (pun intended), especially here in Canada where we have $1 and $2 coins, or Loonies and Twoonies as we like to call them.

Many of us of a certain age can remember when we used the roll all the coins up in little pieces of brown paper with holes in them and take them to the bank. But now, with electronic banking, we hardly ever go to the bank: it’s not convenient and really, who wants to stand in line? Read Full Article at Troy Media’a Cutting Corners.

Filed Under: GadgetGreg, podcast, Troy Media · Tagged With: Cutting Corners, finance, Troy Media