Category: Gadgets
How Tesla Is Rolling Out Self-Driving Cars
It involves a lot of hardware and a steady stream of software updates.
The little computer that could
Liz: Today we’ve got a guest post from the terrifyingly hirsute Pete Stevens. Pete’s from Mythic Beasts, our web hosts; and he’s the reason this website stands up to the absurd amounts of traffic you throw at it. (Yesterday we saw about a quarter of a million sessions – that goes up WAY above a million …
Wink opens up about surviving the fall of Quirky
Nathan Smith knew that Wink would have to go. It was early in 2015, and the smart home company he'd started less than a year earlier was being held back by the very thing that brought it into…
Why This Smart Luggage Startup Thinks It Can Roll to the Top
Unlike its best-known competitors, it went the VC route.
Will Amazon Let Developers Monetize the Echo?
Maybe one day.
Forgotten audio formats: The Highway Hi-Fi
If only we could still play our vinyl records while speeding down country lanes.
Fire TV Stick: A Review
It’s been a bit since I got a Fire Stick during their $20 for Prime Members sale.
I’ve used the Chromecast and Roku stick/box, and the Fire Stick has a lot going for it and a lot…not. Unlike the Chromecast, it does have a remote control, so it is most similar to the Roku stick in functionality.
Now, the difference comes in specifications. The Fire Stick has the best specifications of any of the three. That means smoother execution.
However, the issue with the Fire Stick, as with the entire Fire line, is the limitation of the Amazon App Store. The apps that are in the store mirror those developed on other Android platforms…Amazon’s OS being a fork of Android. However, many developers don’t develop a version of their application for the platform, leaving many gaps.
So, if you want the standard video providers…this is an excellent option. It’s small, expensive, supports many hours of video watching.
But if you expect to get a lot of independent development beyond that, you are going to be disappointed.
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A Bluetooth Toothbrush is on Sale…What?
I subscribe to the Amazon Deals of the Day, and often there is something worth considering on them. Today, the Deal of the Day is an Oral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries Bluetooth Electric Rechargeable Power Toothbrush.
And there is the what…I get the motorized toothbrush idea…it is like having professional dental tools in your home. However…bluetooth?
“Bluetooth communication between brush and smartphone provides real-time feedback on brushing habits, helping you achieve amazing results. It acts like a dental professional in your bathroom, guiding your brushing experience and providing feedback in real-time to help you brush thoroughly and gently for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes. ”
So, my smartphone can tell me I need to brush my teeth, and I should do it better? According to the reviews, I can also monitor my brushing, shop for brush heads, get achievement badges.
I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the Quantified Self philosophy that is becoming so popular…there are some things that aren’t interesting to record.
Right now, anyone want to buy a bluetooth toothbrush…I’m predicting next I’ll be able to compete with other brushers for points…gamification is popular too.
Who Needs a Smartwatch? Why not Just a Pod?
When I tried out the Pebble Smart Watch, the main thing that interested me about it was the ability to know there was something that might need my attention. The vibrator in the Pebble is powerful enough to vibrate itself off my nightstand when not being worn.
The simplicity of the Pebble, compared to the increased complexity of Android Wear watches, makes it an appealing option.
But a new company, Simple Matters, led by designer Bob Olodort, is going even simpler. Olodort created one of my favorite classic devices, the stowaway keyboard…something I wish they’d remake.
The first product being released by Olodort is called the Ditto. It’s a tiny pod with an optional clip which acts as a remote vibrating notification device for your phone. You can set vibration patterns from their app.
It’s simple…it does one thing, and uses a battery that only needs replacing every 4-6 months.
The Ditto is currently in a Kickstarter, but partially, it is said, for publicity purposes. For $29, you can get a Ditto…assuming it is made and meets its $100,000 goal. The device will ultimately have a $49 MSRP.
