Long-rumored, Microsoft's first post-Windows Mobile phone isn't really a phone at all. Sure, it makes calls, but that's just one feature of the Surface Duo ($TBA). This book-like device has a pair of thin 5.6-inch screens that unfold to form an 8.3-inch computing surface. It can be used as a tablet, like a mini-laptop, or as something altogether different when the 360-degree hinge is bent so both screens face outwards. It runs Android, instead of Windows 10X like its big sibling the Surface Neo, and will available for the 2020 holiday season.
It has been a while since a new Samsung Galaxy Active watch has been announced. Now we have a brand new Active 2 Samsung Galaxy Watch ($279). It has a handsome case in either aluminum or stainless steel, measuring 44 mm or 40 mm. The digital bezel rotates for navigation within the watch's One UI, displayed on the round Super AMOLED screen. It tracks more than 39 workouts, with seven automatically activated, has an updated Running Coach, tracks your stress levels in real-time, and, through integration with Calm, provides access to guided meditation programs and sleep analysis. You also get a free portable wireless charge and pre-orders start on 09/06/19.
Looking the a smart kind of lock then look no further than the KeyWe ($199). The KeyWe smart lock comes with an Ansi Grade 2 Deadbolt and the aluminium. It use 128 bit AES encryption for the connection between the KeyWe App and door lock. The KeyWe has the ability to store up to 20 passcodes per door lock, enabling each user to have their own unique code. Why not try the One-Time Passcode (OTP) options for the courier? It's only valid for 2 minutes and can't be reused. KeyWe works with NFC, Bluetooth and Z-Wave and WiFi Bridge App. Check out the video below and check out Kickstarter for more information.
Now here is something that gamer's can appreciate and here is why! It's not enough that you bought every console on the market. You don't need to invest hundreds more for all their different controllers. The All Universal Gaming Controller promises to be the last game-pad you'll ever need. Packed with 11 different USB and 7 Bluetooth drivers, it's compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and, soon, the Nintendo Wii, Wii U, and Switch. It also has a built-in screen for setting up macros, button mapping, and adjustments, and thanks to its rock-solid build quality, it will hold up to even the most fervent of gamer's. Available in wired and wireless versions. Check out the Kickstarter for more information.
As a kid I loved to play on the up and coming consoles, now they fit into the palm of my hand. Relive past gaming glories on your phone with Sega Forever. This FREE collection includes tons of classic games from every console they've ever released, including the Genesis, Dreamcast, and even the Master System. The games have complete support for Bluetooth controllers for a more authentic experience, and unlike some of the old cartridges, they also save your progress, so you won't lose your place due to an incoming text.
There are so many new features of the Galaxy S8. There is one you won't discover until you park it on your desk. The Samsung Dex Desktop Dock allows it and could be a standard of future Samsung phones to become an Android-based desktop, connecting to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse for a more versatile experience. Thanks to partnerships with Microsoft and Adobe, you get access to versions of apps like Microsoft Office and Lightroom that simply aren't possible with a touch interface, while keeping all the versatility and mobility that comes with having a computer in your pocket.
I'm sure that we all have photo's laying around in a box or a photo album sitting on a shelf somewhere. Instead of buying a scanner to digitize them, use the highly capable camera in your phone and the PhotoScan app from Google. It uses specialized algorithms to detect edges, correct perspective, rotate as needed, and stitch multiple exposures together to get rid of glare. It also integrates seamlessly with Google Photos, and as with nearly all software from Mountain View, it's completely free. So go get your scan on and try it today!
Designed to work with the Pixel and many other upcoming compatible phones, the Google Daydream View VR Headset is Google's first attempt on virtual reality. Unlike the other competing headsets made from hard plastic, the View is primarily made from a lightweight, breathable fabric that keeps you comfortable. It comes with a simple controller, and will be available in three colors: snow, slate, and crimson.
Being with a group of people can be a challenge to stay connected throughout your camping or event your attending. Staying connected is important to all of us. If you're part of a group exploring the great outdoors. Beartooth ensures you can reach everyone in your party whether your phone has a signal or not. This sleek, pocket-friendly receiver pairs with your existing device, and uses its own radios to let you talk, text, and find everyone in your group, all via a familiar interface. It's great for expeditions and campers, but can also come in handy for concerts, conferences, and crowded amusement parks. It's currently on pre-order for $99 for a pair. Check out more information on their site.
The Ford Motor Company has announced plans to implement Smart Mobility Plan. The corporation has unveiled the MoDe:Flex concept an eBikethat provides hands-free, turn-by-turn navigation while tracking your heart rate. It also bring all the real-time data to your smartwatch as well.
Connecting to users' smartphones by utilizing the MoDe:Link app, the MoDe:Flex provides up to the minute information pertaining to navigation, weather, time and traffic, among other features.
A user with a smartwatch can then activate a feature such as "no sweat" mode, which, based on the rider's heart rate, can increase electric pedal assist to ensure a rider does not break a sweat. So, for those bike riders who have the issue of showing up to drenched in sweat, there's an app for that.
There is even more to this eBike. Ford also announced that the wearable device comes with safety notifications. Like when your about to hit a pothole. The handlebars will trigger a vibration and the smartwatch will beep as a warning signal. So that your face doesn't get notified by the pavement.
Check out the video below for more information. It will get you pumped about this eBike!
USB wall outlets have been around for a while now, however they require messing with your wiring. Who want's to do that? The SnapPower Charger ($16) does not. Thanks to the smartly-placed prongs that draw power from the screws on the outside of the outlet, you can add a powerful 1-amp charger to any receptacle as easy as you can change the cover plate. All you need is a screwdriver and a few seconds. It charges any USB device (phones, phablets, tablets, hotspots, etc.) and eliminates the need for bulky wall warts.
Check out Kickstarterfor more information. Due to start shipping August 2015.
Being a person who loves dancing. You can already guess that I want a pair of these shoes. Orphe is a smart-shoes system that uses motion sensors and LED's to enable new forms of expression. They are like the shoes from when you were a kid, but a lot cooler.
Orphe is a smart-shoes system designed for performance that functions both as a customizable lighting system and a musical instrument/audio-visual controller. The sole of each shoe contains advanced motion sensors, around 100 full-color, serially-controlled LEDs, and a wireless module. This technology allows users to intuitively express themselves in new and interesting ways by freely mapping interactions between their movements and light and sound (patent pending). They also provide a system that makes it easy for users to share the assets they've created online. If you want more information. Check out the video below or check out the Kickstarter. Sorry to say though the Early Bird special is already sold out.
If this doesn't get your friends talking then well that can't be helped. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has no micro SD slot. No user-accessible battery. Guess they took that from Apple. It delivers a metal and glass phone that's made even more interesting by the signature dual-curve, 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display. Other specs include an octacore processor running Android 5.0, a 16 megapixel, f/1.9 rear camera with optical image stabilization, a 5 megapixel front-facing camera, 3GB of RAM, and support for both WPC and PMA wireless charging, meaning your wall charger is needed but can still be used.
So what do you think of this new Samsung phone? Check out the link for more info or check out the video below.
A new tech startup called Pixie is looking to give objects a digital presence with the help from little sensors called "Pixie Points." The senors, which communicate via bluetooth are packed into thin tiny tags the size of a guitar pick. They can be attached and tucked into whatever needs tracking. This means if you lose your wallet, you'll be able to power up the Pixie app (for iOS or Android) and see the precise location of where it was when it went out of range (about 150 feet from your mobile device).
Pixie Points can be tracked down to a few inches of their actual location. If an item is lost outside of the 150 foot range, the Pixie app offers a "last seen" feature, which alerts the user of the last logged location of their Pixie Point. In addition, the app creates an augmented reality map of all your stuff, so you can visually see where things are hanging out. Anything with a Pixie Point attached can "talk" to other items with a tag, essentially forming a network of all your things. There's also an augmented-reality map component of the app, making it possible to visually see where all your tracked items are at one time.
The tags will need replacing every 18 months, luckily they're relatively cheap: A pack of four will cost you $39.95. Shipping starts this summer.
If anyone out there is like me, you're driving the chilluns around, heading to work, and focusing on the everyday life... Suddenly, "uh oh...what's that sound? Why's my car making that sound?" You try to block it out by turning up the radio, but it's too late... panic has taken hold. You feel every weird shimmy the car makes and deep down, you start to think about the very limited car knowledge that you possess trying to figure out what the friggin problem is with this stupid car, how much it's going to be, and when was the last time you had it serviced (you're pretty sure it wasn't THAT long ago). Every single detail of your mutual love/hate relationship with your car stands out in stark contrast from the amazing day you had planned.
Luckily, I have found a solution that will ease all of your slowly growing stress ulcers... meet Drivebot. Drivebot is a dongle that connects to your OBD-II (On Board Diagnostic port) that monitors your cars health and alerts you on your smartphone via Bluetooth when there's a problem. Upon detection, it provides simple instructions of possible quick fixes. Plus, it monitors your driving behavior and how to save gas with driving suggestions on how to save. Who doesn't like that idea?! Oh! And before I forget, for those of you who go on business trips and/or have to log your every move with your vehicle, Drivebot can export the data and email it to you as a report. Knowing what's wrong in advance can give you that much needed leg up when you bring your car to that scheister mechanic (who you totally know is trying to take you for a ride), and can help in avoiding the possible douchebag all together. Yay to that! With the proper mental preparation and new knowledge that you now possess, all your bad little thoughts and worries can ease away.
Keeping your eyes on the road can be a hard task. You want to keep checking your phone for directions or see who posted the lastest thing on your Facebook. WithNavdy (pre-order $300.00), it will help make this a thing of the past. This 5.1-inch transparent heads-up display connects to your phone via Bluetooth and presents your navigation info and incoming notifications in a distraction-free way — above your dash, and between your eyes and the road. An IR camera lets you control things via touch-less gestures, and thanks to an OBD-II power and data connection, it can give you pertinent info about your car's performance and vitals, too, all without making any modifications to your existing ride.
Check out the video below for more info or check out Navdy site.
Stylish and technologically brilliant! The Samsung Smart Bike project is still being developed but from what I can see this will be a thing of beauty. If a single speed with disc brakes and a phone mount gets you excited, wait until you see some of the other features. Wifi, bluetooth, cameras, and yes, even "lasers" are integrated into the frame. Android users, you have one upped me this time... I know you're interested, have a look and tell us what you think and check out more about the project here.
Since May is "Bike Month" let me introduce the Skylock ($159), its a smart lock that has a theft alert system that sends a message to your phone when someone touches your lock for an extended period of time. Messages are sent via bluetooth or via Wi-Fi. "Using Bluetooth Low-Energy, Wi-Fi, and an accelerometer.
Skylock pairs itself with a smartphone to be contextually aware. Through this connectivity Skylock can keep cyclists safer by comparing accelerometer data from a smartphone to its own and determine when a rider has been in an accident. In the event of a severe impact Skylock will send a push notification to see if the rider is ok. If they fail to acknowledge the notification within a set number of seconds, Skylock will automatically determine that the rider is seriously hurt and alert emergency responders so they can come to the rider's aid as quickly as possible."
Roku's Streaming Stick ($49) was just unveiled and might just be the answer to Google Chromecast. The Roku Steaming Stick is a tiny device that plugs into your television's HDMI port and allows you to stream HD video from the web, controlled by a phone or tablet. This sounds familiar.
Roku's new device will offer access to 1,000 channels and 31,000 movies and it allows users to cast from Netflix and YouTube to their televisions. The device works with free Android and iOS apps. Unlike Chromecast, it does comes with a Wi-Fi remote control.
You can currently pre-order via Amazon, BestBuy, WalMart and Staples and its scheduled to be on the shelves in April. Are you going to get one?
For those of us that use multiple machines and devices this application is a godsend. PushBullet, the app for Android allows you to quickly transfer links, pictures, and notes between your smart devices, tablets and desktop Chrome Browsers. It is one of those insanely useful tools that is what FREE!
The PushBullet team introduced full notification mirroring, a feature that syncs all of your phone and tablet notifications to Chrome on PC. Viewable in Chrome’s notification tray (the bell-shaped icon in the system tray on Windows and the menu bar on Mac), they aren't actionable – you can’t respond to a text from desktop, for example – but they can be dismissed. Check out the video below to see how it works.
