Every year, smartphone cameras get better. This means every year, more photos are taken that never get seen on anything but a screen. Fujifilm is attempting to help fix the issue with the Instax Link Wide ($150). It connects via Bluetooth, spitting out 3x5" photos in just seconds. A companion app provides access to added features like editable templates, stickers, and even QR codes that link to sounds, videos, messages, and locations.
Thought you would never see one of these again did you? Seems vintage-style players are making a come back and why not the CD Player? NINM Lab's portable player ($150) is one of the most convenient ways to play the latter. Inspired by classic jewel cases and '90s design trends, it has a squared-off transparent design that allows for viewing the disc as it spins. It has Bluetooth 5.0 and lets it wirelessly stream audio to headphones, earphones, and speakers; it also has a 3.5mm output and comes with a magnetic secondary lid with a built-in speaker that turns it into a miniature boombox. It runs on two AA batteries, has a Micro USB port that can juice up rechargeable batteries (not included) or power the unit, and has a built-in magnet for attaching directly to metal surfaces. So pull out your old CD collection and let the music play!
Having the HP Envy 31-inch All-in-One PC version already. I can see the newest all-in-one being a powerhouse. HP has released theEnvy 34-inch All-in-One Desktop PC. The computer offers an ultrawide 34-inch 5K display with enhanced color accuracy and a blue light mode. It's powered by the 11th Gen 8-core Intel Core i9 processor2 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU and features a total of nine ports, including Thunderbolt 4 ports. It also features a built-in 15W Qi wireless charger and a detachable 16-megapixel camera that can be magnetically placed anywhere around the monitor. So would you get this all-in-one PC?
Our phones are pretty filthy things. They need cleaned, often. They also need to be charged. The CleanTray Charge ($100) handles both. It uses UV light to kill 99.99% of germs & bacteria in as little as five minutes, while the built-in wireless charger provides the juice. It can also clean other small stuff like earphones, masks, keys, and wallets, and has a built-in aromatherapy diffuser to give your EDC essentials a pleasant scent.
Google has in the past used a multi-prong approach to smart TV, with the Chromecast serving as nothing more than a box accepting streams from other devices, and some sets launching with Android TV built-in. That ends with the Chromecast with Google TV ($50). While it resembles past Chromecast devices, it runs new software dubbed Google TV that aims to consolidate all the various streaming services into a single unified interface with over 30 supported apps. It supports 4K HDR streaming, Google Assistant voice commands and ships with a new nice-looking remote.
The British audio company Keith Monks has been making record cleaning machines since 1969. Their latest effort, the Prodigy ($995), is perfect for home use. It uses a point suction technique and special fluid to clean records, moving a vacuum nozzle across the surface of the record while it spins. As a result, it can clean and dry both sides of an LP in under five minutes, while operating in virtual silence so as to not disrupt anything that's currently spinning on the turntable. The main cabinet, hardware, washing accessories, and cover are made from sustainable bamboo, and interior multi-colored lighting gives it an added boost of visual interest. So would you use this or use the old cleaner with a dust cloth?
I'm all about a minimal design desk and no one wants an unsightly power strip sitting on their desk, but most of us have more than one device to charge at a time. Native Union's Smart Hub Bridge ($54) was designed to fix this problem. It has a nicely designed fabric finish that doesn't need to be hidden away, and a host of outlets (2 AC, 1 USB-C, 3 USB-A) for charging up to six devices at once from a single power socket. An eight-foot braided cord provides placement flexibility while an integrated leather belt keeps any excess wires nice and neat.
Total Max Output: 5.4A, 27W / 1 x USB-C Port: 15W Max (Up to 3A) / 3 x USB-A Port: 12W Max (Up to 2.4A per port)
VanMoof's premium line of stylish e-bikes just got sweeter with the new VanMoof S3 e-bike ($1998), featuring upgraded tech and a much lower price. A new four-speed automatic electronic gear shifter and works without the motor being engaged. The motor gets improved to a 350W peak unit, and new hydraulic front and rear brakes help stop the increased power. The app lets you change things like shift points, riding modes, and even the horn sound, while VanMoof estimates a range of up 90 miles using the economy setting. Details like brake lines and wiring all pass inside the frame and comes with an integrated anti-theft tech, keeping the look extremely clean while guarding your e-bike. With a long list of improvements and a reduction in price, this might be the best e-bike on the market.
The current situation dictates that the majority of us stay home. While that makes ideal conditions for you know - binge-watching, that also means you might not have anyone to binge with. Enter Netflix Party. This Chrome extension lets you create private "parties", complete with chat rooms, that allow you to invite friends to enjoy Netflix shows and movies together over the Internet in real-time. Not as fun as meeting up in real life, but certainly better than getting sick risking a trip to make that happen. It only works with Chrome browser and Extension installed.
If you're looking for other streaming sites/extensions like Netflix Party see below:
I'm not going to lie. I lose my keys a lot. I just lost them a month ago, however I did find them. So the Orbitkey's X Chipolo Key Tracker ($35) would be a great way to carry all my keys and other small essentials in an organized way. That organization also means it's more compact and thus easier to use. This tracker, built in collaboration with Chipolo, makes it equally as easy to find. Made to pair with the Key Kit, it has a loud ringer that can be activated from the companion app, and it functions as a remote camera shutter button for your smartphone. It also attaches to standard keychains and comes with a tassel that makes it useful for tracking bags, cameras, or anything else likely to be misplaced. Check out more products on Orbitkey.
For many of you out there, The Oregon Trail was one of the first computer games you played in school. This Oregon Trail handheld game ($23) puts the '80s classic in the palm of your hand. It has a color screen and speaker housed in a fittingly chunky beige box, finished with over sized gray buttons that cover the essentials: arrow keys, yes, no, mute, and Enter. I'm a fan of the look of this handheld and the retro of the design choices, it also runs on just 3 AA and not a lot of floppy disks.
Looking for a new smart lock that is smaller and Wifi enable? August who was one of the first companies to offer a smart lock. With this Wi-Fi Smart Lock by August ($TBA), they've finally perfected the formula. It has a Yves Behar design, yet it is 45% smaller and 20% slimmer than the prior Smart Lock Pro. Built-in Wifi lets it interface with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri without the need for the Connect bridge, while also letting you manage access from anywhere with just the Internet. DoorSense technology makes sure that the door is securely closed and locked, and it installs over most single-cylinder deadbolts in about 10 minutes.
This TV is sure to catch a lot of eyes and a lot of money. The screen-to-body ratio of nearly 99 percent, Samsung's flagship Q950TS QLED 8K TV ($TBA) effectively blurs the lines between the TV and its surroundings. It's not just the bezels that are thin, either, as the set is only 15mm thick across the entire display. Despite its svelte design, it still offers a next-gen Quantum Processor 8K with AI for improved up-scaling, smooth streaming, and Object-Tracking Sound which matches the movement of the audio with on-screen objects. It will be available in 65, 75, and 85-inch sizes; pricing and release info has yet to be announced.
The most iconic cell phone from the distant past has returned with some upgrades. The 2019 Motorola RAZR ($1,500) shares a lot with its pre-smartphone ancestors, including a flip-open design, pronounced "chin", outward-facing screen, this time touch-enabled for quickly responding to messages and controlling music, and even the same radii on the curves. But instead of a keypad and tiny screen, it opens to reveal a 6.2-inch plastic OLED panel running Android 9 Pie. Its specs aren't overly impressive — it has a Snapdragon 710 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a single 16mp front-facing camera, and a fingerprint reader. The specs are nice but the world can't bring the joy of flipping the thing closed to end a call. For the truly nostalgic, it also has a "Retro RAZR" mode that apes the original's interior design, from the interface and boot sequence to the iTap text entry. It will be available exclusively on Verizon in the US and will start shipping in January 2020.
Wireless charging has made those cheap white cords a thing of the past, except while on the go. That is, until now. The Native Union Jump+ ($100)offers built-in Qi-compatible wireless charging in addition to the traditional wired ports found on portable power banks. Its ample 12,000 mAh battery can be accessed via a USB-A port, a PD-enabled USB-C port providing up to 18W of juice for phones, tablets, and even laptops, or the built-in Qi-compatible wireless charger. It can charge three devices simultaneously, recharge an iPhone 11 2.5 times, and ships with a handsome 4-foot USB-A to USB-C cable for recharging both the power bank itself and other Type-C devices. Free shipping over $69 as well.
Capacity: 12,000 mAh / Ports: 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C with PD / Wireless Charging: Qi-compatible
Analogue is known for its beautiful renditions of classic gaming systems like the NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis. Now add the Game Boy to the ever growing list. The Analogue Pocket ($200) works natively with the more than 2,700 games released for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Cartridge adapters let it work with Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Atari Lynx, and other portable carts as well. Its 3.5" color LCD screen has 10x the resolution of the original Game Boy. Games look incredibly sharp, while stereo speakers, mappable buttons, and a USB-C rechargeable battery provides conveniences. Paired with an Analogue Dock, it can output games to a TV over HDMI, with Bluetooth for wireless controllers, and a second dedicated FPGA gives developers the chance to expand its capabilities. Should be arriving in 2020.
Wouldn't it be really cool to create your own vinyl playlist? The Phonocut ($1,100) aims to add vinyl to the mix. Roughly the size of a regular turntable, the 20-pound lathe uses a diamond stylus to etch sound waves into blank vinyl discs in real-time. Between 10-15 minutes of audio will fit on each side, and once cut, the record can immediately be picked up and played back on a traditional turntable. The project is being developed and backed by a slew of talent, including lathe experts, audio engineers, and even a co-founder of the Polaroid-rescuing Impossible Project. Check out the Kickstarter to get more information and they have a goal of shipping the first units out in December 2020.
Who doesn't like to air drum? Now it is an air drummer's dream come true, Pocketdrum ($69+) lets you play a complete set of drums on the go with nothing but a pair of sticks and their phone. The force-sensitive sticks connect via Bluetooth and use haptics to recreate the feeling of real drums. They run for up to 10 hours per charge and work in three modes: tutorial, free mode, or game mode, with the former and latter designed to increase the user's skill. Not even the LED beam of the standard version there's also a Lite model. So get your air drumming on in style now!
The Rhythmo BeatBox ($TBA) is a DIY project that was meant to be a cost-effective first step in making music. It uses a cardboard box as a platform and leaves it up to the future performer to assemble it (no soldering required). It can be built in under one hour and uses an array of arcade buttons, knobs, and a joystick for control. A companion app handles much of the sound processing, and it also can serve as a standard MIDI controller. Creations can be enjoyed via the built-in speakers, through headphones, or through external speakers attached to the headphone jack.
