"Gadget" Greg Gazin Demystifies Tech & Life in a useful, fun & practical way!
In a low-key release, Apple has refreshed the iMac family bringing a new Retina 4K display to its smaller 21.5-inch iMac and making the Retina 5K display standard on all 27-inch iMac models. As an added bonus, they’ve also introduced the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and the Magic Trackpad 2 to replace the current line of Apple wireless accessories. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog
Many people find cables dull, boring and a necessary evil when a wireless solution is not an option. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few USB Lightning charging cables that are not only practical, some also have a neat funky twist to them. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.
While there are a plethora of definitions, going to the Dark Side for computer users often means switching sides with respect to operating systems. But in a bold move, Hewlett Packard (HP) has taken a page from Hollywood and has truly gone to the “Dark Side”, unveiling its Star Wars Special Editionnotebook in anticipation of Star Wars: “The Force Awakens,” the next instalment of the blockbuster franchise.
Read more…at CANOE TECH BLOG
Whether it’s toys, clothes or electronics, let’s face it; kids are really hard on whatever they get their hands on. So Onanoff has come up with BuddyPhones, a pair of kid-friendly headphones that are not only flexible and bendable, they have volume-limiting circuitry that keeps the sound pressure down to avoid damaging their fine little ears.
BuddyPhones are designed to bend and should withstand the wrath of most children. They are fully adjustable and adorned with sturdy, yet comfortable cushion ear pads made of synthetic leather. Read Full Post at Canoe Tech Blog.
Finding a pair of budget headphones that has both a recognized brand name and wireless is not always the easiest thing. So when I discovered the Creative Sound Blaster JAM is Bluetooth enabled, supports NFC (near field communications) and retails for under $50 U.S., it certainly piqued my curiosity.
Sound Blaster Jam looks like a typical set of charcoal grey pre-millennium on-ear headphones fitted with a pair of traditional foam cushions except without wires. They have an operating range of up to 15 m, a little less than typical Bluetooth, but then again, the further you stray from your music source, the more breakup you’ll probably get. READ Full Review at G4TV Canada.
Winegard, the makers of HD OTA (Over The Air) antennas have unveiled their most compact version in the current FlatWave lineup. The FlatWave Micro is only 5.25” tall by 7” wide and weighs a mere 0.28 pounds. The cool thing is that it can easily be hidden in a window, set behind a picture or HDTV, or even laid flat on a table.
You can be up and running in less than five minutes by hooking it up to the television using the included 5-foot coaxial cable.
The company says that once the user places the antenna near the television, they simply need to run a channel scan to see what’s available, and start enjoying free, crystal clear programming.
It can pulls signals from broadcast towers up to 30 miles away.
It’s shipping now and available for $21.99 US from www.winegard.com.
via Winegard.
Whistle is a new location-based social discovery iOS app determined to bring both die-hard and aspiring fitness enthusiasts together within their community. It’s designed to help alleviate the challenge of finding partners to workout with or to find a time that would work best for all.
“I know first-hand how frustrating it can be to be pumped up to exercise, only to have your workout partner cancel on you at the last minute. When you’ve got plans to workout with friends and family, they are often more likely to skip out on breaking a sweat,” says Laura Davidson, founder of WHISTLE. ” Our app makes it easy to find people interested in similar forms of fitness, with a similar schedule. And we’ve found that our users are much less likely to cancel on a new partner than a friend or family member.” Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.
There is certainly no shortage of gadgets suitable for Back-to-School season, but here are four in the mini category that just might surprise you. How about your own personal mini 3D-printer, a nanoglass liquid screen protector for your mobile device, a bike taillight that’s also a video camera or a cool mini portable personal safe?
Tiertime UP Mini 3-D printer
If you are studying Arts or Engineering, a 3-D printer just might be the tool you need for your next school project. The good news is that they’ve become much more affordable. If you own one you won’t have to stand in line at the lab.
One that comes to mind is the Tiertime UP Mini 3-D printer. It’s as easy to use as a traditional inkjet printer and with its UP software, you can be up and running fairly quickly. It can “print” objects from ABS or PLA (Polylactic Acid) plastic in sizes up to 120mm cubed with detail as fine as 200 microns. Its housing design will protect any pets or little ones running around the home from any potentially hot parts. It also shuts off automatically when the printing is done. Good news is it won’t take up a lot of valuable desk space if you are in a small dorm as it measures only 12.6″ x 9.4″ x 18.3″ and weighs a mere 6 kg. It retails for $849.99 and is available at London Drugs Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.
These days more musicians are taking their portable recording studio on the road. And they’re not just using laptops and iPads they are also creating music on their iPhones. So IK created the iKlip Case for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus a case that would protect your phone but also double as a stand and allow for the flexibility of multi-angle viewing.
4 Viewing Options
iKlip Case has both practical and protective design elements. Built into the case are two ridged polycarbonate wing-style legs that can be adjusted in various positions to create a stand. It allows you to view your iPhone screen four different ways; two positions in portrait mode i.e. 45° and 60° angles and two in landscape mode, 60° or 80° angles. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.
Scosche Industries, the folks that brought you the boomBOTTLE, the rugged wireless water bottle-shaped speaker that we looked at here at CanoeTech Blog back in 2013, has upped the ante with the release of their new and enhanced boomBOTTLE+(plus). It’s still designed to be a good match for your bike’s water-bottle holder (or car’s cup holder), but it’s more rugged, more powerful and better sounding than the original.
The housing is made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) that’s durable and shock absorbing. And while it’s no black box, it’s certainly designed to withstand shocks and drops. It’s also IP67 rated so it’s both dustproof, yes, even the speaker grilles and water-resistant to three feet. In fact, it should actually float in the event it gets dropped into the water. Read more…at Canoe Tech Blog.
Also available via AMAZON
