2012 - Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - Events

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 235 - CES 2012 Pre-Show

2012-01-08

Tonight, CES coverage kicks off with the Pre-show as the crew discusses the events during their trip to Vegas so far.

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 236 - CES 2012 Press Day

2012-01-09

Hosted by Scott Ertz, Nicholas DiMeo, Jon Wurm and Allante Sparks, F5 Live is a livecast online show covering the worlds of gadgets, gaming, Internet and media.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

ZipBuds: Tangle Resistant Earbuds with Style

2012-01-27

Easy Zip-To-Store Design

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Lil' Wiz: Amp Up your Sounds with a 'Solid' Speaker System

2012-01-27

360 Degree Sound

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iOnRoad: Android Co-Pilot App Monitors Traffic

2012-01-27

A Smart Phone Equals a Smarter Driver

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Shodogg: Fetch, Toss, Share Video

2012-01-27

Stream Your Favorite Videos from Smartphone to Computer

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Penclic: It's Time For A New Mouse

2012-01-27

It's Time to Leave the '80s Behind

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Other World Computing: Power2U AC/USB Wall Outlet

2012-01-27

The only UL-Listed in-wall solution for powering and recharging USB devices

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Contour: Action Video for Extreme Sports

2012-01-27

More Affordable Version of Contour Sports Camera

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Logitech: Logitech Cube Presenter Mouse

2012-01-27

Innovation Award Winner: CES2012

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CES 2012 Preshow Sony Wifi Bloggie Reveal

2012-01-28

CES 2012 Preshow where we reveal the new Sony WiFi Bloggie

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CES 2012 Preshow Hour 5

2012-01-28

CES 2012 Preshow Hour 5 coverage with highlights from CES Unveiled

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CES 2012 Preshow Hour 4

2012-01-28

CES 2012 Preshow Hour 4 coverage with highlights from CES Unveiled

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CES 2012 Preshow Hour 3

2012-01-28

CES 2012 Preshow Hour 3 coverage with our own Jon Wurm and Allante Sparks, featuring highlights from CES Unveiled

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CES 2012 Preshow Hour 2

2012-01-28

CES 2012 Preshow Hour 2 coverage with highlights from CES Unveiled

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CES 2012 Preshow Hour 1

2012-01-28

CES 2012 Preshow Hour 1 coverage with highlights from CES Unveiled

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Sococo: Virtual Workspace and Communications

2012-01-28

Social Communications and Workspace for Remote Teams

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Polkast: Personal Cloud at Lightening Speed

2012-01-28

Why upload and download to the cloud when you can create a personal cloud for data anywhere?

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Kingston HyperX SSD

2012-01-28

Kingston is known for their memory, but now they are branching out into the world of hard drives and, more specifically, solid state hard drives, or SSD's as they are commonly referred to. The HyperX is the top of the Kingston line when it comes to this technology. The SSD is a much-hyped technology that has remained a dream for most consumers because of their price-point, but they are starting to come down into the realm of the affordable, although still top-end, drives. The SSD provides much faster speed than the traditional HDD, plus they are much smaller in size, which is driving the new Ultrabook craze, which was also capturing the media at this year's CES.

The new HyperX comes with an external drive bay that you can plug into your computer and software to clone you current drive to get you started without any down time. The new Kingston drive may still be out of reach for the average user, but that's okay, because they know it's for the enthusiast, who knows how to get inside a PC and change out hardware, clone drives, and use all of the hardware and tools that come along with a project such as this.

Currently for the 120 GB version seen in the video below the price is coming in at a little over $200. To find out more be sure to check out the video and visit Kingston.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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eFun Brings the APen Stylus to the iPad

2012-01-28

The iPad was purposely designed to be used without a stylus, but that doesn't stop some users from wanting one. It's especially handy for things like editing a document, writing notes, or for drawing apps. Now eFun has introduced one especially made for the iPad. The new stylus comes with a lot of options as well. You can not only write, draw, and edit, but you can do so in multiple colors and line weights.

The stylus, which debuted last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is available now for $99 from APenUSA. To see this cool new iPad pen in action you can check out the video posted below of a live demo from the CES show floor.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Swingline Stack-and-Shred

2012-01-28

Do you have that box of papers next to you or maybe across the room, you know the one. It's the one full of papers you need to shred. You keep telling yourself you need to take care of it, but then somehow it never gets done. You tell yourself you are too busy or you have other things to do, but in reality you don't do it because you hate having to feed the paper in one at a time.

Swingline to the rescue. Swingline has been making products for offices for over 80 years including shredder, stapler, punches, trimmers and sharpeners. Their latest products in the shredder line are hands free shredders called Stack-and-Shred. There are multiple lines and models both for home and office. These new shredders allow you to place a stack of papers into the shredder and then close the lid and the machine takes over from there. No more having to feed in one paper at a time. The home models are made to take 8.5x11 inch paper and have a separate feed for envelopes. Other models for business take larger size paper. There is an auto unjamming feature, so the machine will try to clear itself, before asking for help.

These personal shredders are currently available at Office Max, Office Depot and Staples and run between $150.00 to $250 depending on size and models. So now you have no more excuses for not getting those papers shredded.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

my-Ditto Key

2012-01-28

Do you put data on a USB stick and then do you tend to lose that USB stick? Do your kids store their homework on a USB stick and then lose it? I sure for most people the answer is yes to all of the above. Let's face it we've all done it; we've put data on a USB stick that we want to bring with us, then we put it down somewhere or leave it behind. That use to mean that not only was the USB stick was gone but all the data on it. No longer now the information on the USB stick can also be in the cloud.

That is the idea behind my-Ditto Key. You register your my-Ditto Key with my-Ditto and then all the information on the key is copied to the cloud. Now if you lose your my-Ditto Key USB stick or leave it behind you still have access to your data anywhere in the world. You can store up to 100 GB of space in the cloud. It doesn't matter what type of data it is it can be music, videos, documents it's up to you. Simple and easy to use, but effective that is what my-Ditto key is all about.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Zagg Sparq Portable Power

2012-01-28

Zagg's protective films are popular "first purchases" for new smartphone owners and but Zagg offers other products in the mobile working space. Todd chats to Nate from Zagg about the Zagg Sparq, a portable rechargeable battery pack.

The Sparq is mains charged, with two front-facing USB ports to recharge any portable device with a USB-type connector. The internal battery has sufficient capacity to recharge four times the average smartphone. Perfect for when you're on the road.

Available now for $99.99 from Zagg online with free shipping.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Intouch Remote Health Monitoring

2012-01-28

InTouch Health along with Verizon had developed the RP Express and the RP 7 Mobile Robot and other similar devices to allow doctors to access their patients from remote locations. The RP Express is a mobile device for an individual to carry in the field. The RP 7 Mobile Robot is made for hospitals or other medical facilities. Both devices allow you to plug in medical instruments including EKGs, Ultrasound equipment, and other devices directly into the machine allowing doctors to take and read vital signs from anywhere in the world. The video and audio are in real-time and work over the Verizon 4G network or wifi. (I am not sure what happens if the 4G or wifi networks are not available, hopefully, there is a solution to that problem.) The doctor can control the RP 7 Mobile Robot and the RP Express from any computer that has the control station installed on it. The RP 7 robot allows for a 178-degree field of view.

These devices are FDA cleared for connection to diagnostic medical devices on wifi. They are still going through the approval process for the 4G version. They hope to have those versions available for hospitals later this year. It is nice to know that now people in remote areas have a way to get access to medical care, including the specialist that they need.

Interview by Jamie Davis of The Pod Medic for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Hovercam: Efficient Document Scanning

2012-01-28

Past ten or fifteen pages, scanning a lengthy document on a flatbed scanner is a pain. Scanning a book without destroying the binding is just one of the features of the Hovercam system. The included HoverCam Flex software makes managing scanned files and full-screen presentations easy.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Paysaber: Mobile Payment Processing

2012-01-28

Small business owner? Credit processing does not have to be a pain. Paysaber offers a complete point of sale solution with an encrypted credit card reader, barcode scanner and thermal printer: all in the palm of your hand. It is ready to work with any iOS device, and features encryption of every swipe and transmission to and from the credit processing gateway.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Hengedocks Macbook Docking Stations

2012-01-28

Steve came across a very interesting booth while combing the halls of CES 2012. If you struggle with a cluttered desks and have issues with cable management, Hengedocks is the product for you! Clean up your work space, save space, increase productivity, and more with this product.

Hengedocks has created a pretty slick docking station for your Mac Book Pros (13,15,17in) and Mac Book Airs (11, 13in). The docking station has spots for all your cables - USB, Firewire, Power, Video, and more. Simply place the Apple product into the docking station, touch the keyboard, and the unit it ready for use. You can use it on your work station or even set it up next to your HD TV or Smart TV. The docking stations are on the market now and range from $60-$75.

Hengedocks also manufactures a product called Clique. It's a quick and easy way to combine your Apple keyboard with your Trackpad. Clique is selling for only $25! Check out the entire video and get a live demonstration of how Hengedocks works.

Interview by Steve Lee of Waves of Tech for the TechPodcast Network.

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Connect Wireless Speaker By Sharper Image

2012-01-28

One thing Shaper Image has always been known for is its ability to design in-home products that meet the consumer's demands and needs. One of those demands is to enjoy music while relaxing in the kitchen, the bathroom, the porch, or the bedroom without giving up that valuable counter space.

Their latest Connect Wireless Speaker is no different. The Connect Wireless Speaker plugs directly into your AC outlet and provides quality audio production. The product allows you to listen to music via Bluetooth and also has a built-in microphone so that you don't miss those important incoming calls. The speaker also includes a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery with an estimated 3-4 hours life span.

Don of Sharper Image expects the product to hit shelves in May-June 2012 with a price tag of $49.99, available at major retailers and Sharper Image stores around the nation.

Interview by Steve Lee of Waves of Tech for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Maytag: Clean Oven in an Hour

2012-01-28

Maytag Induction technology transfers energy directly into any magnetic cookware, for faster, more energy-efficient cooking. It is a special treat for moms, culinary enthusiasts, chefs and just about anybody who loves to cook with fast results in a safe and convenient cooking environment.

The cleanliness of electric cooking with the speed and control of gas. Plus, an exceptionally fast cleaning cycle keeps busy Moms happy!

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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DeLorme In-Reach Satellite Communicator

2012-01-28

GPS Plus Emergency Satellite Communicator

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InCarBite: Tablet Mounting System

2012-01-28

InCarBite solves two problems: How to keep your iPad securely mounted in a vehicle, yet keeping it easily removable for use inside the house. InCarBite allows you to safely mount your iPad or Android tablet to the headrest support in the family mini-van. While it delivers a personal viewing experience to the backseat passenger on the road, the same unit un-snaps from the vehicle mount, and travels easily to the home for under-cabinet kitchen mounting.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Aftershokz Headphones

2012-01-28

Aftershokz Bone Conduction Headsets use the same technology that military Special Ops teams depend upon. Now consumers can be street legal - nothing in, on, or covering your ears. Direct vibrations are carried by the bones to the inner ear. In military and police applications, their ears are open in order to hear the movements of both their targets and other members of their unit.

Aftershokz Headphones enable joggers, bike riders, skateboarders, hikers, and other athletes to safely listen to their portable music player while participating in their favorite activity.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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G-Form Extreme Gadget Protection - 100k Drop test

2012-01-28

G-Form is best known for its protective gear for high adrenaline sports but using this know-how, it's protecting something much more precious - your expensive tablet with its Extreme range of cases. If you think this is a gimmick, these guys dropped an iPad in an Extreme Portfolio from a weather balloon at 100,000+ feet... and it survived.

Todd talks to Rick Garrard to find out more about the high altitude drop and gets a demonstration of what happens when an 8 lb bowling ball lands on a packet of chocolate M&Ms covered with G-Form's Extreme protection. Mmm, chocolate.

The Extreme cases and sleeves are on-sale nowc from $34.95 upwards for the iPad and Kindle Fire (or 10" and 7" tablets).

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 237 - CES 2012 Day 1 Coverage

2012-01-10

Hosted by Scott Ertz, Nicholas DiMeo, Jon Wurm and Allante Sparks, F5 Live is a livecast online show covering the worlds of gadgets, gaming, Internet and media.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

CES 2012 - TPN Slideshow

2012-01-28

When we are not doing interviews we are taking pictures. Here is a compilation of pictures from CES 2012.

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CES Unveiled Show Floor [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

This backchannel video is a closer look into the show floor of CES unveiled. See interviews of Nast, Escort, LaCie, Marley and more.

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Entrance to CES Unveiled [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

In this backchannel video, we look at the line coming into CES Unveiled. Jeffrey then enters into the hall and walks around CES Unveiled right before the masses enter.

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CES Unveiled [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

In this backchannel video, we look at the line to CES Unveiled. One of the longest CES Unveiled lines ever.

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Sony Bloggie Live Wifi Unboxing - CES 2012

2012-01-28

Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central unboxes the Sony Bloggie Live with WiFi connectivity at the Sony Event on January 9th. The Bloggie Live is available today starting at $249.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Zagg HZO - Waterproofing for Electronics

2012-01-28

Zagg's protective films are popular "first purchases" for new smartphone owners and at CES 2012, Zagg shows off their latest protection mechanism. Todd chats to Bill from Zagg to find out what it protects against.

The adage is that water and electricity don't mix, and by extension, water and mobile devices don't mix well either. Zagg hopes to change that with a new nanotech-based coating, HZO, that repels water so effectively that a dunk in the drink will have no effect on the device.

The HZO coating is applied during the manufacturing process so that every component is properly treated and waterproofed. There's no physical skin or cover as the water-repellency is at the molecular level. Almost any device can be waterproofed - smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, headphones, but it has to be done during manufacture, not by the end-user.

Zagg is currently in negotiation with major OEMs so expect water-repellent devices to hit the market in 12-18 months and if you want to see an iPhone working underwater, then watch the video.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Basis Wearable Health Monitoring

2012-01-28

Todd talked to Jeff from Basis at the digital experience event at CES 2012 about their new product for health monitoring.

Basis is coming this spring with a wrist wearable health monitoring system to help you keep track of your overall activity level. Different from the heart monitors you would wear for working out, this new system will track your heart rate, temperature, perspiration, sleep, and activity level as you go about your daily life. It will take that information and upload it to Basis's cloud service and give you all the data along with some recommendations of things you need to do to get into better overall health.

The device and service will be available in early 2012 for $199. This includes a lifetime membership to the cloud service.

For more information, go to www.mybasis.com

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Toshiba introduces a USB 3.0 Thumb Drive!

2012-01-28

Todd talked to Scott at the Toshiba booth about the new "SuperSpeed" USB 3.0 Thumb drives that will be available this spring. The drives are up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 at 220MB/sec reading and 94MB/sec writing.

They will be available in 32GB and 64GB sizes and will be $100 and $200 respectively.

Scott also showed off Toshiba's new SD Cards with WiFi. The product will be called "FlashAir" and will be a 2-way WiFi-enabled SD Card. Other WiFi cards have only been one way where you can pull photos from the card wirelessly. This new card will allow you to put files on the card from other devices as well as download from the card wirelessly.

For more information check out toshiba.com

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

HP Envy 14 Spectre

2012-01-28

Last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas computer maker HP unveiled the Envy 14 Spectre, a new 14 inch laptop with some fairly impressive specs behind it. It comes with either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, an option for a 128 GB or 256 GB SSD, 4 or 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, Mini DisplayPort, HD webcam, Gorilla Glass inside and out, and USB 3.0. Users also get a choice of Windows 7 Home Premium, Ultimate or Professional, but you will have to go with the 64-bit version, as this new notebook doesn't come in a 32-bit version. HP claims a nine hour battery life, but perhaps the nicest touch is the keyboard, which has individual LED's behind each key to make them easily visible in low, or even no, light conditions.

Although I haven't seen the HP Envy 14 Spectre referred to as an "Ultrabook" that's the first word that comes to mind when I see it. The sleek, thin design and the lack of an optical drive all point to that category, which was the hot meme at CES 2012. There is more to this notebook than just the specs I listed above, but you will need to watch the video below to get all of the details. The Envy 14 Spectre will start at an MSRP of $1399. You can also visit HP for more info.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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GoPano Turns iPhone Camera into 360° Periscope - CES Unveiled

2012-01-28

By now, we've seen a lot of lenses that you can attach to your iPhone to make them take better pictures. But this lens from GoPano does something different: It makes some great 360° pictures and video without hassle.

Simply attach the iPhone case, then attach the GoPano mount. Start your camera (or video) and you are recording in panoramic view. When you are done, upload it to the GoPano website and you can pan the video to see what's happening around you. Attach a microphone to your iPhone and people can get a new experience from your videos.

GoPano starts at $79.95 and is for the iPhone 4 and 4s. They also have a lens attachment for other cameras if you want to get higher quality photos or video. You can then use the Video Warp software to process and publish video.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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Cadillac User Experience (CUE) - Showstoppers at CES 2012

2012-01-28

While at CES Showstoppers, we stopped by Cadillac for the customer user experience (CUE). This is Cadillac's in-car NAV and computer system. The Cadillac CUE is a full infotainment and interface. It will start in the XTS and ATS, along with the SRX in 2013.

This is Cadillac's "centerpiece" of future interiors. Along with the side dash, they remodeled the driver's dash. Capacity multi-touch display, haptic feedback (tactile feel to pushing a button), and other great advancements through the touch system.

Another interesting change is where the glovebox is - under the button panel. All in a stylish interface.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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Belly-Bean Functional Workplace

2012-01-28

One of the biggest problems with laptops is that they get too hot to use on a lap. Many answers to this problem aren't very stylish and look rather dorky. Belly Bean is a stylish solution to this problem. It looks like a cross between a skateboard and a surfboard. Belly Bean is made of hard-rock maple and on the back is EVA (Ethylene vinyl acetate) foam, which prevents heat transfer. EVA foam is also used in diving and dry suits.

Belly Bean is a functional workspace large enough for a 17-inch laptop with room left over. It is $49.00 and is available through the Belly Bean Web site. So now you can look great and be cool while you continue to work with a laptop on your lap.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Lethal Protection Gadget Positioning Device

2012-01-28

Lethal Protection is the name of the company but it's not a clue as to the product. It's not a bullet-proof vest, it's not ferocious guard dog but what is it? Todd finds out what it is from Melissa of Lethal Protection.

Winner of a CES Innovation Award, it's called the Life-Phorm Pro and it's a one-size-fits-all gadget positioning device. Only it's weird... very weird... but in a cool way. Think GorillaPod but scary and it's not just for cameras - tablets and smartphones fit on just as well.

The flexible six legs allow myriad standing, gripping and hanging positions, all the while keeping your gear off the floor. The Pro version is made from aluminum and carbon fiber, weighing in at only 8oz.

Lethal Protection is setting up manufacturing and production of the Life-Phorm Pro and it's expected to ship in April of this year. The Pro version will run $149 and the basic version will be $69.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

MyLink Radio by Chevy

2012-01-28

Most people today especially teenagers and young adults want to be connected with their music and phones at all times, including when they are in their cars. Often though the cars that have infotainment systems are above the budget they can afford. If you are a fan of the Chevy brand then you may be in luck.

In 2012 Chevy is introducing the MyLink Radio for two of their entry-level vehicles the Chevy Spark and the Chevy Sonic. The MyLink Radio comes with AM/FM and SirusXM installed. You can connect a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, a USB device, or an iPod. Then the music plays directly through your car speakers and you can see what is playing by looking at the MyLink system instead of having to pick up your device. MyLink Radio will also come with the ability to launch Pandora and the Stitcher Radio apps.

The apps themselves will run and be updated through the phone. You can also make calls through the system either by using the touchpad on the screen or buttons on the steering wheel. It also pulls the information from your phone directly onto the device. There is also an option to view slideshows or watch movies through MyLink Radio. Because of safety issues, this will only work when the car is in park.

The MyLink Radio is an optional feature and should be available in June for the Spark and in September for the Sonic. They are considering opening up the API for other developers. This will be a great option for those who want to be connected but can't afford those vehicles with the full infotainment systems.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Sony's New Google TV

2012-01-28

When Google TV first came out I thought it was an interesting concept. However, the one thing that I didn't like was the size of the remote. The idea of having a remote the size of a regular keyboard was not very appealing. Sony introduced a new generation of the Google TV at CES 2012. There are three versions, the one that is embedded within a TV, a Blu-Ray player with an integrated Google TV, and a stand-alone Google TV. Both the Blu-Ray player and the stand-alone player have a smaller form factor than before. They all run Android 3.2 with Android Market well-integrated and is full HD capable.

The thing that caught my eye the most was the remote control. It now looks like a real remote control instead of a large keyboard. The front of the remote is set up like a traditional remote with a touchpad on it. On the back is a keyboard when you need it. The keyboard works only when it is facing up. So there is no chance of typing while you are trying to hit play or record. This is a great improvement on the first generation of Google TV. I can't wait to get a hold of one later this year.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Fisher Price Kid-Tough DVR

2012-01-28

Leave it to Fisher Price maker of great toys for kids and the kids in all of us to make a DVR that is kid-friendly. That is what they were showing at CES 2012 the Kid-Tough DVR.

The Kid-Tough DVR is made for 3 to 5-year-olds. It is rugged and easy to use. There is a touch screen kids can use to scan through the available videos. When they are ready to play a video just tap on the screen and it will start playing. They can also fast forward or rewind through a video. To record a video you just place the DVR into its dock which sits between your cable box and the TV, set the record time, and hit record.

The Kid-Tough DVR will be available around June-July. It will be approximately $150 and include the DVR, headphones, docking station, a car charger, and a case. If you have a small child and take a lot of car trips this is worth a look

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

BitTorrent intros New Services @ CES 2012

2012-01-28

BitTorrent was original created to allow people to share large files over the Internet efficiently. In the last couple of years, more and more people are sharing their digital media over the Internet with friends and family. Unfortunately because of the way things are currently set up they often have to compromise on quality. BitTorrent is attempting to solve this problem. They have a new software application called Share which they introduced at CES 2012. This program will allow people to share large media files with family and friends. There is no limit on file size, the number of files, or recipients. Each person will have to be authenticated either by email or connected on Facebook. They will also have to run Share in the background. Share is less the 1 mg in size and takes up very little resources. The media file will be uploaded to each recipient who along with the cloud application will act as seeders. Once you reach a critical mass the cloud application will drop off. Share is currently still in Alpha and being tested.

BitTorrent is also working on a live video streaming protocol that will allow people to share live streaming videos without a hosting service. This is also currently in Alpha, you can participate in the test every Friday night at BitTorrent Live. BitTorrent also announced 4 partnerships with various companies in Europe and Asia, that would embed the Bittorent protocol directly in their devices.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Marvell Demos a new OLPC Tablet @ CES 2012

2012-01-28

At CES 2012 Marvell showed off the OLPC XO 3.0 Tablet. The tablet has an eight-inch screen and is made for kids in the developing world. It has the ARM based ARMADA PXA618 SOC processor, and is built on the Linux platform. It has a mini Wikipedia and other existing educational applications built right into the device. This is important since these devices are used in areas where wi-fi is often not available. The tablet can be charged by solar power, hand crank, and any device that can produce 10-25 watts of DC power. The solar panel produces 4 watts of power by placing it in the sun for an hour. You then snap to the tablet and it will charge the tablet for up to two hours of usage. Like all OLPC products the OLPC tablet is easy to take apart and repair.

Marvell builds the design. They work with Quantive manufacturing, which builds the tablets based on orders from agencies like a Ministry of Education or an educational organization. Their goal is to have the unit price well below the $180, which is the cost of the OLPC computer.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Invoxia VoIP Desktop iPhone Dock

2012-01-28

Todd talks with Eric from Invoxia about their latest office product, a stylish dock that converts iPhones and iPads into a VoIP desktop phone. Winner of a CES 2012 Showcase Engineering Award, it's really quite stunning.

The NVX 610 can use Skype or a SIP telephony provider and control of the desktop phone is via an app on the iPhone which uses Bluetooth to communicate with the dock. The unit has built-in speakers, creating a hands-free phone and a music dock all in one.

Available online now for $599. Cool but pricey.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

J5Create Mac - PC Wormhole

2012-01-28

J5Create may be familiar to Apple Macintosh users as they're designers of aesthetic Mac accessories, but their latest gadget will be of interest to those of us with a foot in the PC camp. Here Todd talks to John about their new Wormhole Station.

The Wormhole Station combined with the Wormhole cable creates a keyboard and mouse switch which not only controls both a PC and a Mac from one mouse and keyboard but also moves files seamlessly from one computer to the other. Even cooler, you can set the configuration up so that moving the mouse cursor off one side of the Mac screen transfers the cursor to the PC screen. It's a bit like having a dual monitor setup, only with two OSes!

If you like the sound of this, it's available in both laptop and desktop configurations. Available now, the Wormhole Station will set you back $109.99 and the cable is $39.99. The CES folk like it so much, they gave the Wormhole Station an Innovation Honoree Award.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

LiftMaster's MyQ - The Connected Smart Garage Door Opener

2012-01-28

LiftMaster is known for its range of garage door openers and this year, they're introducing their new MyQ technology that will let home owners monitor and control their garage door from a smartphone or tablet anywhere in the world, including iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android devices.

Intended to be professionally installed, the cost is $350-$400 for a new door opener that incorporates MyQ technology and it's available now.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Nest Thermostat Overview

2012-01-28

The nest thermostat has received more than its fair share of press coverage recently, but that's because it's both smart, cool, and well-designed. Todd chats with Kate from Nest about this great new product.

The Nest thermostat is a smart thermostat that learns from your habits and behaviors and adjusts itself to match them, turning the heat up when you want it and down when you are out of the home. It's exceptionally easy to use - you turn it up, you turn it down, that's it. The nest has several learning modes, including schedule learning and activity detection, which help it keep you comfortable but the energy costs down.

The Nest thermostat costs $249 but it's on back order because it's been so popular. The thermostat comes with everything you need to install the devices yourself, including a screwdriver!

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Energizer iSurge Travel Protection @ CES 2012

2012-01-28

Energizer introduced their newest iSurge Travel Charger at CES 2012. The newest charger is specially made for micro USB-powered device. It has a cable that allows you to plug in a micro USB-powered device. It has two USB ports that have shared 2.1 amps. If you plug in one device it will use all 2.1 amps. If you plug both it will share the 2.1 amps.

There are three surge-protected outlets on the side. The plug rotates 180° which allows it to work no matter how the outlet is set up. This new charger should be available later in 2012 and will run $59.99.

Energizer has already released a charger that is specially made for the iPhone. It has a 30 pin connector at the top, that the iPhone plugs directly into. It also has two USB ports and three surge-protected outlets on the side. It is also $59.99 and is available now.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Roku Hardware & Channel Update CES 2012

2012-01-28

I am a big fan of Roku. I currently have version one of the Roku 2 XS which I love and version 2 is even smaller. However, both have the problem of being separate boxes which means more wires to run to the TV and another power cord to plug in. Roku has an answer to this problem the Roku Streaming Stick. Ed from Roku showed off the product at CES 2012

The stick is a little larger than a regular USB stick and plugs directly into an HDMI port. It is Roku's answer to a smart TV. It has the same chip and ram as the Roku 2 XS with the same great performance. It is based on the MHL standard. The one problem I see is that for this to work the TV has to be MHL capable, which I suspect many TVs especially with the lower priced models are not.

This may confuse consumers, Roku needs to make it clear which TVs this will work with or what to look for It will come with a motion control remote that has WiFi built-in. The remote control will have power and control out. The Roku Streaming Stick can also be controlled by the TV remote.

The Roku currently has 400 plus channels. The channels are organized in the store by categories, including favorites, religion, sports, movies, and more. Among the channels available in the Roku store are TPN.TV and the Blubrry Network. Roku is continuing to update the channel store, to improve its interface and usability. The Roku is currently in over 2 1/2 million households and is still growing. The Roku Streaming Stick should be available in the fall of 2012 and run between $50 and $100 depending on the model.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

PowerBag: the New Way to Charge Devices on the Go

2012-01-28

Dan from Powerbag shows off the latest in geek fashion, a messenger bag that has a built-in battery and charging system. Up to four different devices can be charged in the bag at the same time. Included are a selection of charging tips, including the Apple connector and USB variants. The battery capacity should charge a smartphone several times, or a tablet once.

Available now for $139 to $249 for a rolling bag with a bigger battery.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

GreenWave Reality Smart Home Services

2012-01-28

Todd interviews Greg Memo from GreenWave Reality, a global innovator in the emerging smart home services market including home monitoring and elderly care. On show is their home energy management solution that uses wireless (ZigBee) plug-in devices to monitor and control power consumption.

The system is not just limited to power management as other remote monitoring and control technologies such as lighting and video can be included. The complementary iPad app allows the homeowner to select individual rooms within the property and make adjustments if necessary - for example, a thermostat could be turned down or the timings changed to alter when the heat comes on.

The overall solution won a CES 2012 Innovations Award, so congratulations to GreenWave. Available now, starting from $200.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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CastIV iPhone, iPad, Tuner Mounts for Musicians - CastIV Sidekick - CES 2012

2012-01-28

There are many smartphone-tablet holders out there. CastIV is one of them, but they look to add a little more than just a stand.

Geared toward the musician, the CastIV sidekick allows you to put your iPhone or iPod within eye-shot so you can practice your tunes. Even a Korg guitar tuner fits well in the sidekick. Just place the belt on the strings, push together and clip with the mount.

If you would rather have the iPod, Android device, or iPhone on your microphone stand, well, they make an interchangeable clip so you can cuff it on the stand, put the device in place, and start playing.

For those iPad or other tablet owners out there, you can also get the Tab station - a mount for your iPad that connects to a tripod or microphone stand.

The Guitar Sidekick and smart station are $24.99, with the Tab station for $34.99.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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LaCie Thunderbolt at CES Unveiled

2012-01-28

Mike Mihalik from LaCie shows off their new Thunderbolt-connected hard drives for the Apple Macs, including the previously announced Little Big Disk and the new 2big, which has two internal 3.5" drives. Also announced was the eSata Dock, a docking station that connects legacy SATA devices via Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt offers seriously quick data transfer speeds with write speeds of 252 Mb/s and read speeds of 459 Mb/s shown in the video.

The Little Big Disk is available now, but the 2big and eSata Dock units won't be available until later in the quarter, with pricing to be announced.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Alcatel-Lucent Emergency Response Vehicle Geeks Out

2012-01-28

In this episode, Wayne from Alcatel-Lucent walks Jeffrey Powers through their geeked-out SUV loaded with every item found in the public safety realm, along with E-node B. They downsized it and connected it to the emergency band in order to access the internet.

We walk through this SUV and geek out with all the cool items Alcatel-Lucent added. We also look at a special app that can be used for communication and information.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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Jeff Gets Head Shaved at CES 2012 - Schick Hydro 5

2012-01-28

During the fun at CES 2012, Jeffrey Powers stopped by the Schick booth, where barbers were on hand to take care of that stubble - on his head. The barbers were using the Schick Hydro 5 razor, with 3 vibration settings, for a smoother shave.

Elliot from Elliot & Co was the barber who tended to Jeffrey's hair. During the event, he talked with Jeff about the Schick Hydro 5 razor.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 238 - CES 2012 Day 2 Coverage

2012-01-11

Hosted by Scott Ertz, Nicholas DiMeo, Jon Wurm and Allante Sparks, F5 Live is a livecast online show covering the worlds of gadgets, gaming, Internet and media.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Fired Up - Ready to Go [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

Andy 'Head Hard Hat' Smith seems ready to head to his first CES and first trip to Las Vegas.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Geocaching CES Wishlist [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

What's Most Attractive about CES for the Active Geocacher?

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Why CES? It's Warmer! [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

Courtney Wallin shares one reason to join the TPN Team at CES 2012.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

CES 2012 or Bust [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

It is time to load up and head to Las Vegas for CES 2012. There is so much left to do, but watch and you'll see why and what's to come.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

It's CES Time! [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin are roaming the studio, powering down gear, and turning off the lights. Along with Andy "HeadHardHat" Smith of the RVNN.TV show "Geocaching World", we are all headed to Las Vegas for TPN coverage of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. Here's the backchannel of some of the prep! Andy takes off Friday, and Courtney and Andy (the other one) fly in on Saturday. Stay tuned, and follow us on Twitter!

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

CES 2012 - TPN Studio Packout [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

Studio Gear is headed to FedEx in the morning so that we can set up the Broadcast Studio at CES. Quick Update on our CES coverage and an overview of the gear pack-out.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

WiFi Compatible Sony Bloggie Live with Live Streaming from Qik

2012-01-28

Monday, 9 am, Todd Cochrane and Jeffrey Powers head to Ceasar's Palace and the Sony Lifestyle store to talk about the newest version of the Sony Bloggie - The Bloggie Live.

The Bloggie Live itself is an update of last year's Bloggie Touch. With a big touchpanel and 1080p video (at 30fps), you can do video and stills on the camera with the 12 MP still image capture and 1080p /30 and 720p/60i. You can also do video and stills at the same time (but not while streaming).

Play Memories Mobile Lets You Tether Your Bloggie

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

CES The Beginning [Back Channel]

2012-01-28

Steve and I cruised into Las Vegas early this afternoon at a snail's pace of 55MPH, RV trailer in tow. After getting the RV hooked up, we quickly hooked up with Todd, Jack, Andy, Courtney, and Andy over at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The plan was to get the show started: place the tables, hang the lights, run the cables, and so much more. Much of it was completed and Day 2 brings the joys of testing the audio, the video, and the entire setup. In two days, the Convention Center will be transformed into the epicenter of tech. CES 2012 will dominate the airwaves, the Internet, and people's conscience. Keep up with all the CES action at tpn.tv as we bring you everything from glamorous Las Vegas.

-Steve (@netcaststudio) and Dave (@daveandfirefly)

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Altair Semiconductor: Design for LTE Devices

2012-01-29

Many of the devices that were featured at CES2012 involved chipsets designed and manufactured by Altair Semiconductor. Altair Semiconductor specializes in ultra-low power, small footprint, and high-performance LTE semiconductors.

By incorporating Software Defined Radio (SDR) technologies, Altair Semiconductor chipsets can be tailored to a specific application requirement, enabling personalization of the device and service for the customer.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Allure Energy: Proximity Energy Management

2012-01-29

Allure Energy's patented

Proximity Energy Management

Allure Energy's system does the resets automatically, based on the reported position of the smartphone from GPS information to the system

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Speakers in Your Clothes by VeriSonix

2012-01-29

Speakers in your clothes, at first I thought why would anybody want to have speakers in their clothes, but the more I thought about the more I liked the idea. Okay, maybe we should step back for a minute, what are we talking about. We are talking about Electret-electrostatic Flexible Loudspeakers (EFL) from VeriSonix. These are super thin speakers, about the same thinness as a very thin piece of cardboard only flexible. Unlike regular speakers that have large cones, these speakers create sound by the use of positively charged membranes. They use only 10 percent of the power of normal speakers. The sound isn't great, it is like the sound you get from a pair of modestly priced headphones, but it's okay.

VeriSonix sells the speakers to end customers. The end customer comes to VeriSonix and tells them how they want to use the speakers. VeraSonik then integrates the Electret speakers into the end customer's design. I could see these speakers being placed in many things, including pillows, backpacks, stuffed animals, backs of chairs just to name a few. VeriSonix is based in Taipei, Taiwan, and has been around since 2010. Electret-electrostatic Flexible Speakers were developed by Taiwan electrets electronics corporation (TEEC). Have you ever heard these speakers, what did you think of the sound.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Biscotti TV Phone with Google Video Chat

2012-01-29

Biscotti's TV phone is a small camera unit that sits on top of your big screen TV, connecting to the TV via HDMI and to the network via WiFi. Once connected up, owners can make high-definition video calls to other Biscotti owners and Google Video Chat users. And you will not believe how small the camera unit is. Todd chats to Matthew Shoemake to learn more.

The TV Phone uses an HDMI pass-through technology, meaning that there's no need to change channels when receiving a call as the Biscotti notifies users via a pop-up message on the screen. By using Google Video Chat, the Biscotti TV Phone can connect to any device that has a Chat client, whether it's Android, iPhone or a PC. Connectivity with other video clients will be forthcoming, but no details just yet.

The Biscotti TV Phone is available for $199 and no monthly fees. Watch the video to get free shipping. (disclaimer - not sure how long this promotion will run after CES finishes)

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

The Kit by Livio Radio

2012-01-29

I have a 1998 Nissan Sentra it has an Am-FM radio and a cassette deck, which is how I connect my iPhone to listen to music. It works for that purpose, however, I can't legally make or take calls while I am driving. The car runs great so I am not in the market for a new car, however, I would love to be able to make hands-free calls in my car. The Kit by Livio Radio was made for someone like me. It was shown at CES 2012. The Kit will work with any car that has an FM radio and a 12-volt adapter. The device plugs into the 12 volt adapter and then works with your iPhone or iPod Touch through Bluetooth. With the Kit by Livio Radio you to make hands-free calls with the integrated microphone. You can voice dial anyone in your iPhone address book. It also allows you to stream music from your favorite music application including iTunes through the award-winning car Internet application. The Kit is around $119.99 and is available through the Livio website.

If you have an older model car and are looking to get connected, the Kit by Livio Radio may be your answer if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch. It runs around $119.99 and is available through the Livio Raido website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Recon Instruments Head Up display for Skiers

2012-01-29

Recon Instruments shows Todd their heads-up display for skiers, snowboarders, and alpine sport enthusiasts. The display will give you a "dashboard" type display inside of your goggles that tells you speed, altitude, distance traveled, the height of your jump, and a whole lot more. It even gives you GPS data and the Android-powered version will allow other apps. It will even give you a caller ID for an incoming call so you can decide if it's worth stopping and answering the phone. It will, however, not let you text, make calls or answer calls while skiing. (And you thought driving while texting was a problem). The unit is installed in the goggles and is controlled by a Bluetooth remote that can be worn just about anywhere on your body and is very tough.

The android version is $399 and the Non-Android version is $299.

For more information go to reconinstruments.com.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Mercedes Benz Helping You Connect to Your World

2012-01-29

Right now if you own a SL class from Mercedes-Benz you can access data, make calls and play music on your phone directly through the mbrace system. However, if you have a C class or a GLK series car that option is not available to you.

Mercedes-Benz is currently developing a concept that will allow customers with C class or GLK series owners to be able to integrate their smartphones or iPod Touches directly into their car. Once the device is plugged in the car will take over the info and become the infotainment system. You can then control the smartphone directly from the car, allowing for hands-free calling and access to supported applications on the smartphone through the car interface. All updates will be done through the smartphone so you will always be up to date.

The system they are now developing for the C class and GLK series will allow those customers to get connected at a more reasonable price. They hope to have the system available for C class and GLK series cars by the 3rd quarter of 2013.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Mercedes Benz Introduces mbrace2

2012-01-29

We talked to Robert at the Mercedes-Benz booth at CES 2012 about Mercedes-Benz's new mbrace2 technology. Mbrace2 is Mercedes-Benz's newest generation of connected car technology. It is fully loaded with Mercedes-Benz apps which are customized versions of popular apps including Google Local Search, Yelp, Morningstar Finance, news, and others.

The safety of both the driver and those around them is very important to Mercedes-Benz, so each app is customized for the driving environment. For example on Yelp and Google Local Search data entry is disabled while driving. The driver can only access predetermined search terms such as banks, restaurants, and hotels while driving. Moving up and down through choices is done through a knob that sits on the center console of the car. You can call or navigate to a location directly from mbrace. If you are using the news application while driving it will only show you the headlines and maybe a picture. However, there is a one-button push to send the full article to an email address.

Everything is controlled through the center panel. All updates will be done through the cloud. As time goes on Mercedes-Benz hopes to integrate more of the GPS technology available in the car with off-board tools that are on phones. Mercedes-Benz hopes to have mbrace available on all models starting in 2013. There will be a monthly subscription fee but the price has not been determined.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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LifeStation Web managed Pill box

2012-01-29

From the CES 2012 floor, Jamie Davis from Promed Network talks with David from LifeStation about their new web-enabled pill box for people on daily medications. The pillbox had compartments for up to 4 doses a day and once full holds a week's worth of pills. The pillbox doors flash when it's time for that dose and if after a time, the door isn't opened it starts beeping. If the person still doesn't take their meds, it sends an email, text, and automated phone call to the patient and their caregiver. In tests, the pillbox got medication compliance of up to 92% (which is very good).

For more information go to medicationstation.com or lifestation.com.

Interview by Jamie Davis of The Pod Medic for the TechPodcast Network.

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Careverge Takes A Social Approach To Health

2012-01-29

The fast pace of modern Western life doesn't lend itself to a healthy lifestyle and many of us struggle to keep on top of the weight and exercise regularly, including myself. Careverge can help as a one-stop health and well-being site that brings together fitness, health and support in one place. Careverge's Henry de Phillips talks to Jamie Davies of the MedicCast and the Nursing Show about what the site can offer.

Careverge's approach is to create a social networking environment to encourage good health behaviours rather than to simply sell a product or a plan. The site brings networking, gaming and recommendations together so that within only a few moments of starting to use the site, the individual is given personalised suggestions on reading and possible activities. The focus of Careverge is to encourage people to health through fun while providing quality health information and support to reach their goals.

Careverge is free to use for consumers.

Interview by Jamie Davis of The Pod Medic for the TechPodcast Network.

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Take Control of Your Car with Mavia

2012-01-29

Todd chats to Madison of Mavizon about their new Mavia automotive product which keeps tabs on your vehicle in more ways than one.

Mavia is a small box (see picture left) that plugs into your vehicle's ODB-II port - that's the connector used by technician's to check on the car when there's a problem. The Mavia combines readouts from this port with its own internal GPS receiver to provide location and technical information that is sent back to an online hub at www.mymavia.com. Android and iPhone client apps can be downloaded too.

The MyMavia hub will show data on the vehicle such as gas mileage and distance to next service, plus any diagnostic error codes. MyMavia can interpret some of the diagnostic codes and it enables the owner to consult other resources, online or otherwise, to find out more on what's wrong with the car. MyMavia incorporates location services too, showing where the vehicle is on Google Maps and there are connections to social sites like Foursquare.

The Mavia is in a beta testing phase so pricing is not confirmed but is expected to be around $200. The device will be available from retail outlets later in the year and requires no special fitting; it's a self-install.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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The Mighty Dwarf BlueII Bluetooth Speaker

2012-01-29

Today most of us travel with portable music devices, and in a lot cases that's now our smartphone or tablet. Those device don't always have very good external speakers, but most them do have Bluetooth capability. That same Bluetooth technology is now built into external speakers, which really helps to bring these new portable devices to life.

The new BlueII Bluetooth speaker from Mighty Dwarf brings surface induction to the external speaker world. By using the surface the speaker is sitting on to amplify the sound Mighty Dwarf has added a whole new dimension to this external speaker. For those with a device that doesn't feature Bluetooth technology there is a model for you as well.

The new BlueII will be available in March of this year and carries an MSRP of $120 for the Bluetooth model, and $100 for the standard version. There are also other versions already available in the $75 range. You can visit Mighty Dwarf to find out more, and also check out the video demo posted below.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Trikke A Fun (Electric) Ride

2012-01-29

If you live in the city or suburbs and are looking for a vehicle that you could ride to work and have fun doing it, then you may want to take a look at the Trikke. As the word indicates the Trikke is a three-wheeled electric vehicle. Because it has three wheels it is very stable and easy to ride. You simply turn the throttle and go. You can lean into the curves and the wheels never leave the ground. It folds up so you can easily fit it in the back of a car or carry it into the office. A Trikke weights between 35 and 48 pounds (with battery) depending on the model, so you are probably not going to want to carry it far. You can plug it into any outlet to recharge it. A battery takes about three hours to fully recharge. On a fully charged battery a Trikke will go from 10 to 24 miles depending on model and weight of the rider. You can reach speeds up to 17 miles per hour.

Trikkes are available in different colors and models and the prices range from $1300 to $2200 depending on the model. If you are a skier a Trikke would be a great way to keep in shape for the skiing season. You use the same muscle and movements on a Trikke that you do for skiing and it is low impact. Easier to ride than a bike and a lot better on the bottom.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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LG Pentouch For a PC and TV

2012-01-29

The new LG Pentouch technology connects to your TV and a computer to bring touch-screen technology to your flat screen TV. The Pentouch consists of the box for connecting a Windows PC to the Plasma TV, which comes along in the package. It all works on WiFi so there won't be any messy cables either. It's geared more towards a business than home user as it essentially turns the TV into a whiteboard, but there are a lot more features than just that. You can also edit Office documents and there are two pens included so that two people can work on the screen at the same time.

There is no exact release date yet, although LG hopes to make it available in the early Spring. There is also no price point as of yet, although with a plasma TV included you probably shouldn't expect it to be too cheap. You can find out more by visiting LG and by watching the video below.
Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Ford Focus Electric at 100 MPGe

2012-01-29

Eric from Ford talked with Jeffrey about the Ford Focus Electric at CES. Items discussed included the internal battery system, the interactive charging system inside, strength of the vehicle, recycled material, and how these vehicles can be 100% made in the USA.

Over 50% of the body is high-strength steel. The battery is around this steel, which will protect you and the battery in case of a crash. With the new Ford assembly line (a video Jeffrey recorded in December), a power train vehicle build can be switched at a moments notice.

The best part is the Focus Electric will get you over 100 miles per charge. That, along with recycled bottles and rubber making the seats, floormats and gaskets around your car, this is a truely green vehicle for you.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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LG Styler Overview

2012-01-29

If you are a businessman or women you know how important it is to have your cloths wrinkle free and smelling fresh. You also know how expensive dry cleaning can get. LG may have an answer for you, the LG Styler. The LG Styler is about the size of a storage wardrobe. The clothes hang from a rack and steam is used to gently remove wrinkles and odors. There are no harsh chemicals involved. It takes about thirty-nine minutes to steam and dry a shirt.

Right now the LG Styler is only available in S. Korea and Japan, but they hope to have it available in the U.S for around $2,000 by the end of the year. At this point LG is looking at selling the Styler not only to individuals, but also to high end hotels and other companies that cater to the business travelers. Wouldn't it be nice to get to a hotel room, unpack and place your shirts in the LG Styler and then in less then 40 minutes you are ready to go. Your cloths smell fresh and are wrinkle free. The LG Styler isn't supposed to replace dry cleaning, but it might keep your cloths ready to wear between dry cleanings.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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IOGear Introduces HDMI Switch with 2D to 3D Conversion

2012-01-31

According to IOGear about 70% of the people currently looking to buy new TVs are leaning towards 3D, but are scared off by the lack of available programming. That's why they have decided to produce what is the worlds first conversion box for making 2D content available as 3D, that also has up-converting features and an HDMI switch built-in.

This new HDMI switch has 4 ports and it does a lot more than simple conversion. This as-yet-unnamed IOGear box allows the user to make adjustments to get the 3D picture looking right for their individual tastes. Since it has four HDMI inputs you can also up-convert your 2D DVD's as well. It also up-converts resolution types by turning 480 into 720 and 720 into 1080, which then converts to 3D, making all of your existing content available in 3D. The box is expected to be available in March for an MSRP of $199. That's about double a basic 4 port HDMI switch, but it contains functionality which can't be had all in one box until now, and it's all in one very small box. You can check it out in the video below. Now all it needs is a name.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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New Sony Google TV Products

2012-01-31

Sony was the first to market with Google TV and, while the platform had a rocky start, Google is sticking with it and working hard to improve it. Sony is also sticking with it and at CES they showed off their latest Google TV products. The two big releases are a new version the Sony Google TV-enabled Blu-Ray player and a brand new Networked Media Player with built-in Google TV. There is also a new dual-sided remote control with a simplified user experience - one side has the basic buttons along with a touch pad for mouse-like control , while the reverse side features a QWERTY keyboard which is only active when it is facing up, eliminating those accidental clicks.

The Blu-Ray player and networked media player are expected to be released sometime in the late spring or early summer. No pricing information is available as of this writing. You can check out the boxes and the really cool new remote control in the video below.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.
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iLuv Wins With New Travel Gadgets

2012-01-31

iLuv will be familiar to many with their extensive range of matching accessories for tablets, smartphones and MP3 players. At CES this year, iLuv won no less than 5 CES Innovations Honoree awards to add to their collection of accolades. Todd gets a review of their latest products from Peter of iLuv.

The DreamTraveler is combined iPhone dock, USB charger and mains power strip squared aimed at those unfortunate souls who have to spend time in poorly equipped hotel rooms. It has two USB charging ports, three power outlets and an Apple connector for charging iPhones, iPods and iPads.

For the international traveller, iLuv has the RockWall, a dual USB charger that comes with the right mains plugs for different countries round the world.

Finally, the Mo'Beats is a portable tablet or smartphone cradle with Bluetooth wireless speakers that has a built-in lithium-ion battery which will run for about 4 hours.

All the products will be available in April or May. The Mo'Beats SRP is expected to be $89.99 but the website is currently showing $99.99. I think Peter gets his prices mixed up in the video as the RockWall is priced at $49.99 on the website and the DreamTraveler is $129.99.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.
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Polkast: Making Your Computer the Cloud [Live]

2012-01-31

Cloud-based solutions for accessing the data on your computer off site are great, but they have their limitations. First, they are slow because everything has to upload to the cloud before you can access it off-site. Second, most cloud solutions have a limit on how much you can store on their sites. Third, they can get expensive if you have to store a lot. Finally, you have to depend on them to be up.

What if you made your computer the cloud? That is the solution that Polkast came up with. You install the Polkast server on the computer you want to access the files from and then the Polkast app on your mobile devices, including your smartphone, tablets or laptop. You can then access the files on that computer from anywhere in the world as long as the server is running. To access files using Polkast, you have to sign in with a username and password. Everything is encrypted while going from PC to PC or mobile device. Unlike a cloud-based solution, there is no storage limitation and it is as fast as your local ISP. You can also share specific files with other people by email or through their Polkast account. The service is free for one computer and for multiple devices it is $49.95 per year. If you are looking for a way to access your home files on the road, but are wary of a cloud solution, this might be a solution for you.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.
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Parrot Introduces Cool Products like AR Drone Mark 2 [Live]

2012-01-31

There are some products that are shown at CES that are just cool and everyone who is a kid at heart just wants, the AR. Drone by Parrot is one of those gadgets. This year at CES 2012 they introduced AR. Drone Mark 2. The Mark 2 (aka AR. Drone 2.0) is controlled by a smart phone or tablet. It has a one button launch. Once it is launched it will sit and hove till the next command. The AR. Drone Mark 2 can fly up to 150 feet in the air, or as far as WiFi will allow. AR. Drone Mark 2 has stabilization and pressure sensor technology built into it. On the front is an HD camera and a standard def camera on the bottom. You can stream and record the video back to the phone via WiFi. The video can then be uploaded to your favorite social site, including YouTube and Facebook.

It comes with two hulls: one for in-home use and one for outdoor use. It is built to take some crashes, but if something breaks you can get replacement parts online. The AR. Drone Mark 2 should be available in the second quarter of 2012 for about $299.00, according to Peter George of Parrot.

Once you are finished playing with the AR. Drone Mark 2, you may want to relax with a little music and some quiet time; well, Parrot has you covered there too. They are introducing a pair of stereo cordless headsets that are noise canceling called the Parrot Zik. They work over either Bluetooth or the included cord. They run on a rechargeable battery and give about 5 hours of listening pleasure. Once the battery runs down you can continue listening by connecting the cord. What makes the Parrot Zik headphones stand out besides the great style by French designer Philippe Starck are the controls on the headphones. There is a touchpad on the headphone which allows you to skip back and forth through tracks by swiping right or left and control volume by swiping up and down. The headphones fold down flat to fit into a small carrying case. There is no price or launch date at this time, but they should be available sometime in 2012 at various retailers. All together Parrot introduced seven new products at CES 2012, including three additional products in the car environment and the asteroid marketplace. You can take a look at all of them at their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.
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Kidz Gear Volume Limiting Headphones [Live]

2012-01-31

CES regular Jack Peterson talks with Todd and Don on the latest headphones for children from Kidz Gear.

Kidz Gear produces headphones with smaller headbands and ear cups to fit the smaller heads of children. This year they've brought to the market new wired headphones that have a built-in volume limiter that prevents children's hearing becoming damaged through excessive sound levels. The headphones reduce the maximum sound level by about 20% into the 80-95 decibel range.

The new headphones are compatible with the iPad, iPhone and iPod ranges and include an inline remote and mic control. They're available from the Apple Store or direct from the Kidz Gear store for $29.99.

An additional new product in the same vein is a volume limit cable which can be added to already-purchased headphones to make them safer for children. Priced at only $9.99, there's currently a special price of $5.99 showing on-line.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.
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F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 239 - CES 2012 Day 3 Coverage

2012-01-12

Hosted by Scott Ertz, Nicholas DiMeo, Jon Wurm and Allante Sparks, F5 Live is a livecast online show covering the worlds of gadgets, gaming, Internet and media.

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CES 2012 - iOnRoad - Safety While You Drive

2012-01-11

I had the opportunity to speak with the guys from iOnRoad about their Android app and boy was I impressed. They have harnessed the power of a phone's camera, gyroscope and accelerometer to create a product that helps you drive better. All you have to do is put the phone in your windshield, like many people do already for their navigation apps, and it will begin watching the road to make sure you are staying in your lane, not speeding and giving yourself enough distance between you and the car in front of you.

The first concern I had was quickly alleviated: iOnRoad can run in the background while you listen to music, have text messages read to you or even continue to use your navigator. When you inevitably get too close to another car, it will alert you and tell you the car in front of you is getting too close or that you no longer have enough stopping time if they were to stop suddenly. It also lets you know if the lane lines have shifted in its viewport, meaning you may be riding the line. This product is perfect for us being in Las Vegas where people don't quite drive the way you would expect, nor are there any rules about driving in a single lane at a time.

While it was refreshing to see an application like this one start on a platform other than iOS, there is no way a company can ignore the size of the iSheeple flock, so the company is currently beta testing an iOS version of the application as well. The application, both on Android and iOS, works really well and truly is an innovative idea, so it is no wonder they won a CES 2012 Innovation Award.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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CES 2012 - Eco Alkalines - Batteries That Help the World

2012-01-27

Amidst a sea of eco-friendly booths, a familiar sight grabbed our attention and made us start asking some questions about the packs of AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V sized batteries Eco Alkalines had on display and as it turns out, there is something special about them.

Jessica Bell was nice enough to answer all my probing questions about their products but before we jump into the batteries I want to mention that their eco-friendliness actually starts with the brochures and packaging. I was surprised to learn that all the printing is done by using a soy-based ink and it's good to know they aren't afraid to think outside the packaging.

As for their manufacturing process, they have achieved 88% efficiency which has helped them gain a "carbon neutral" certification. This is not a status that is easily achieved. They are also landfill safe so you don't have to feel guilty about being part of the 98% that does not recycle batteries properly.

One of their most frequently asked questions is about the expected usage time and how it compares to other big name brands. As it turns out, life expectancy tests put Eco Alkalines's batteries ahead of Duracell and about 15 minutes behind Energizer. Not bad at all. As far as availability is concerned, you can buy their products online from Amazon.com, Best Buy and Walmart so long as you live in the U.S., Canada, Australia or Mexico. No need to worry about it costing you an arm to be environmentally friendly anymore. At an MSRP of $4.99, their batteries are competitively priced.

Interview by Jon Wurm of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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CES 2012 - HomeGrid Forum - Any Wire, Anywhere

2012-01-27

My interview with John Egan, who was representing the HomeGrid Forum shed some light on what's up and coming for G.hn technology. Just in case you're wondering what that is, G.hn is a home networking technology that uses existing (legacy) wiring in the house to transmit data with bandwidth of up to 1 gigabit per second, hence the tag line, "Any wire, anywhere." Some of the heavy hitters that participate in the HomeGrid Forum such as AT&T, British Telecom, Best Buy and Marvell Semiconductor understand there is good reason for adherence to this standard as it benefits both consumers and service providers. The consumer is afforded a choice in service provider and the service provider themselves have assurance that all their existing and potential customers have the opportunity to take advantage of the service provider's technology. Simply put, the standard uses rules and guidelines that helps prevent fragmentation of the market. When these products hit the market be sure to look for the HomeGrid Forum logo which reassures interoperability in your house.

A definite plus with G.hn technology is that so long as the house has electrical outlets it can be taken advantage of. If you're reading this and you live in a mansion the question of range could come in to play but through the use of nodes, that act as repeaters, the data can travel long distances without any signal loss. Based on some estimates from service companies, not having to run any new wiring saves 4 man hours of installation time plus materials. This help make the use of G.hn technology easy, efficient and cost effective. More good news is that consumers can also expect prices for new technology to be comparable to the old technology that is currently in use.

Interview by Jon Wurm of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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We can expect to see full fledged products come to market around July and in the meantime, Mr. Egan gave us a hands on demonstration of some prototype technology that is in the works.

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Samsung Series 9 Notebooks

2012-01-31

If you are in the market for a new notebook computer then you may want to check out the latest offerings from Samsung with their Series 9, which was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas just recently. Samsung calls it the world's thinnest laptop, which is saying something given the MacBook Air and all of the new UltraBooks that were unveiled at CES.

The new Samsung Series 9 will come in both 13 inch and 15 inch versions. The new laptops are extremely thin and light and sport all-aluminum bodies. In addition, the Series 9 has a back-lit keyboard, a 128 GB or 256 GB SSD, an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor but a low-resolution 1600 x 900 screen. The Samsung Series 9 notebooks should be available sometime this spring for an as-yet-undisclosed price. You can get a look at the 15" version in the video posted below.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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iBike Powerhouse for your iPhone

2012-01-31

For a long time now cyclists, at least serious ones, have mounted mini computers on their handlebars. The devices provide information on time, distance, average speed and even elevation and temperature. Now iBike is bringing us the ability to do all of this with our iPhone and eliminate that second device.

The iBike Powerhouse provides a weather-proof case for your iPhone that can be easily mounted on your bike's handlebars and the accompanying app provides all of the data you are used to getting from a traditional cycling computer plus a whole lot of additional information such as a heart rate, training plans and more.

The product and app are the creation of real cyclists and coaches, so the information provided by the app is what even professional riders want and need to know. Check out the interview below with the iBike representative, who has a side job coaching Olympic and professional riders, to get more information on the iBike Powerhouse, along with pricing and availability. You can also visit iBikeSports to check everything out.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.
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Keep Your Tablet Clear with the Lenspen SideKick [Live]

2012-01-31

Lenspen have a long history of products in the photography market and they've brought their expertise of lens cleaning to the mobile gadget space. Their client list reads like a who's who of the photography market with Nikon, Canon and Sony all producing OEM-branded version of Lenspen's lens cleaning tools. Todd and Don chat with Peter from Lenspen to get an update on the latest products.

Last year, Lenspen introduced the first SideKick and since then the product line has been expanded with new colors and new packaging. The SideKick is a matchbox-sized spring-loaded carbon pad that is wiped over the screen and completely removes fingerprints from tablet and smartphone screens. Using a carbon-based technology, the SideKick absorbs oils without any abrasion, leaving a perfectly cleaning screen. It then closes up to keep all the carbon inside. One cartridge will do 300-400 cleanings before needing to be replaced. The SideKick is available online and in retail stores from $14.99 for a single SideKick. Other package combinations are available.

Lenspen also has specific cleaning products for LCD monitors and screens, such as the Laptop-Pro, that removes both dust and fingerprints.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.
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iTwin: An Infinite Capacity Thumb Drive?

2012-01-31

There is nothing more handy than having a USB stick - the ubiquitous "thumb drive" or "jump drive" with your critical documents. The problem is - the document hanging around for years on your desktop system is NOT on the thumb drive. You need it Right Now! ASAP! That's the problem that iTwin solves.

You plug in one-half of iTwin into your online office computer, then drag-and-drop files into the iTwin window to share them. Take the other half of iTwin with you and you will have instant access to all of the shared files, from any other online computer. No configuration, no VPN token card, no login.

Available for both Mac and PC, price class $100.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.
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PrivacyStar: Call and SMS Blocking for Android and Blackberry

2012-01-31

If you want to ensure that you are on the Election Year "Do Not Call" list, this is the app for you.

Privacy Star allows you to block numbers from annoying pollsters and solicitors, and if they get really obnoxious, report them to the Federal Trade Commission. Similar calls from bill collectors including date, time and frequency are logged for action.

There's also an optional Do Not Disturb mode, which forwards all non blocked incoming calls to voicemail with the option to send a custom text message acknowledging the call.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.
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Tylt: Adding Style and Design to the Everyday Wireless World

2012-01-31

No matter what technology is involved, consumers are still anxious about their battery levels - and mobile connectivity is "critical path" to almost everyone's business and personal lives.

That results in a bag full of cables, backup battery packs- usually one for each system. Add in wall adapters and tangles and the opportunity for a more elegant solution is right in front of your eyes.

Bringing Design to the world of power cables, Y adapters, power blocks and battery chargers captures the innovative approach that comes when products are Built to Tylt.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Vertix: Wireless Helmet Communicator for Motorcycles, Skiers and Drivers

2012-01-31

Communications with your co-rider or with other bikes on the road is always a challenge.

Vertix Ltd introduced a sophisticated system they project will reach the North American market for about half the retail price of conventional motorcycle communications gear at CES2012.

The VERTIX Raptor-i provides convenient and uninterrupted mobile communication while on the move and features models for both full-face and open-face helmets. The EZ-Mount system also allows easy "attack angle" adjustments of your control unit for improved aerodynamics when you change bikes with different riding styles. The unit combines intercom, MP3 player, FM radio and features on the move charging that keeps the unit ready to go at all times.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.
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4iConcepts: Better Smartphone Typing Accuracy

2012-01-31

All thumbs? Almost anyone can feel that way on the iPhone keypad.

That's where iConcepts and their unique 4iThumbs2 invisible keypad saves the day. It is a transparent plastic overlay for your glass screen that has built in ridges between the letters. You have the tactile feedback that you need to increase accuracy and speed while texting or emailing from your iPhone.

It's easily removed and re-installed when needed - if your game of Angry Birds needs to resume.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Armour Group PLC : Q2 Internet Radio

2012-01-31

A novel unit out of the UK simplifies Internet Radio.

The Q2 Internet Radio has one of the most interesting interface systems for selecting station presets and adjusting volume that we saw at CES2012: Simply flip the cube. The listener can pre-select stations or podcasts in the control interface online , and choose from five color schemes. Price class $110.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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I'm Watch : Fashion, Tech, Jewelry, and Marketplace

2012-01-31

The world's first real smartwatch: With a Smart UI
Multi-tasking, easy to use and love: touch, drag, swipe or pinch. Get your intuitive interface in a complex world.

Slick, thin and ergonomic, i'm Watch claims that the product is made to be part of you: phone, web, music, radio, organizer, photo, video, and whatever App you may come up with. While other personal items may have some of these applications covered, the I'm Watch is the only unit that combines them into a user interface that is consistent across all applications.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Ivee: The Talking Alarm Clock That Listens

2012-01-31

Ivee is a personal digital assistant - equipped with speech recognition circuitry that offers Natural Language Processing. By analyzing digitized portions of the voice signal as they are spoken, ivee determines the most probable word given the phonemes you spoke.

That's the tech story. What that means is that all you have to do is ask the time, date, weather or temperature. Ivee can generate three different sleep sounds, and understand 35 commands. Price class $50

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.
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Netgear: How Many Devices Are on Your Router? [Live]

2012-01-31

Double the Count in One Year
Connected devices - tablets, streaming video, smartphones,thermostats - are growing rapidly, with the average home deploying over seven devices on a home router - almost doubling over the past year. Netgear announced eight new products, optimized to serve all of these devices. Products such as the Netgear N-900 Router give better range, and the ability to give priority to certain types of traffic, such as gaming or VoIP.

In the interview, we also discuss PowerLine Carrier as an alternative in the home. Netgear just announced a 500Mb/sec version, with a 1Gb system on the roadmap.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.
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Toon Boom Animation: Doodle Animation on the iPad [Live]

2012-02-03

Animation App from the Pros
For the past 18 years, Toon Boom has been the automation software behind much of the animation by Disney and famous animated series - including Sponge Bob and the Simpsons. Vector based graphics delivers a very high level of quality that is now available to consumers on mobile devices. With an entry price of $29 on the iPad, it's an introduction to animation tools that's affordable and fun.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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UPnP Forum:Technology Standards for Universal Plug and Play [Live]

2012-02-03

How to get them all to play together?
Home automation, entertainment, mobile devices, routers, cable modems, security, and a whole range of devices are a part of the connected modern home. That's the mission of the Universal Plug and Play Forum. It assumes IP networking, and then gets them all working together. A lot of it is behind the scenes, without the user being aware of any specific app, insuring that devices inter-operate. Over a thousand companies are part of the consortium. A number of other organizations (Such as DNLA) or devices or apps such as Skype, Xbox or Playstation transparently opening correct ports and authorizing activities within your home network.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Canon VIXIA: Six New Models With WiFi, iPhone Tethering

2012-02-03

Video content creators, listen up. Canon has upgraded their VIXIA series to include some great new features. These cameras run high end - up to 24MB on AVCHD. They can also be switched to MP4 mode, so you don't have to convert a video before uploading to YouTube.

Jeffrey Powers talks to Ben Thomas about the VIXIA R-32 and VIXIA HFM-52. These are two-of-six models upgraded to get you better images, and WiFi capability.

The WiFi can also be tethered to an iPhone (via app), so you can push content up on various hosting platforms.

The R-32 is the low end consumer model. They upgraded the stabilization to a four-mode system. You can turn on or off, and when you place on a tripod, it turns off automatically.

The higher end HFM-32 has a LUX rating of 1.2 and a shutter speed of 1/30th of a second. This is great for low-light situations.

Canon also makes a waterproof case for divers to go 100 meters below water.

The R series starts at $349. The HFM-52 costs between $549-$749

Interview by Jeffery Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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Wi-Ex zBoost Signal Boosters for Cell Phones [Live]

2012-02-03

zBoost by Wi-Ex is a range of signal extenders that will improve cell and mobile phone coverage in weak areas. Todd and Don discuss zBoost's latest products from Sharon Cuppett, VP of Wi-Ex (and they get a mention on Wi-Ex's blog).

Wi-Ex launched two new products at CES, the first being the zBoost 4G-V, a signal booster for 4G frequencies on Verizon, the largest mobile carrier with over 100 million subscribers. A whole 4G product line is under development, including dual- and tri-band boosters. Available in Q2 2012 for around $220.

The second is an in-car booster, the zBoost zForce, which comprises a cradle for the phone and a magnetized antenna for the outside of the vehicle. Powered from the cigarette adapter, the zForce can boost coverage by about 10x, eliminating dead spots and increasing range in rural areas. Retailing at only $99, it will be available shortly.

(You'll have to watch the Blue Microphone interview to realize this, but in this video Sharon borrows Don's phone to demonstrate the zForce and then walks off with the phone at the end of the interview!)

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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Sony's new Cameras with the OLED Viewfinder

2012-02-03

Todd talks with Al Dean from Sony about the SLT A77V and A65 Cameras and their incredible OLED Viewfinder.

When Todd walked up to it an looked into the viewfinder he said a few words that were not fit for video. But, he regained his composure and did the interview.

The A65 and A77 cameras use a translucent mirror which means that the mirror does not have to move out of the way to make a shot. The A65 will shoot 10 frames per second (double what normal mirror viewfinder cameras can do) and the A77 can shoot 12 frames per second. Also, when shooting video, the mirror stays in place so the viewfinder works unlike most other DSLR type cameras.

The A65 goes for $1000 with lens kit and the A77 goes for $1300 for the body only and $1999 with the lens kit. They are available in limited quantities now with general availability later this year.

For more information go to Sony.com

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Blue Microphones' Tiki, Mikey and Spark [Live]

2012-02-03

If you've listened to the Geek News Central podcast for a few years, you might have heard Todd talking about Blue Microphones as his mic supplier of choice. Here Todd and Don talk shop with Jon Maier.

Blue Microphones returns to CES this year with three new mics, all in the portable space. The new Mikey Digital is designed for the Apple's newer digital connector rather than the older analogue one, meaning that more digital processing can be done on the microphone itself. In particular, auto-level sensing can adjust the input gain depending on the loudness of the source.

The Tiki is a brand new small USB device that's been in development for over a year. It plugs directly into the USB port on the side of a laptop and has intelligent signal processing so that extraneous noise, such as typing, is ignored. It's aimed at Skype and Google Talk users but it's still a high quality recording device, so if needed, the DSP can be turned off to record live music as naturally as possible.

The studio-grade Spark Digital is a USB and iPad version of their pro mike, the Spark, both of which have glorious retro looks. Sitting in a shock mount, it looks great. Utility-wise, the Spark Digital converts the iPad into a mobile studio.

All the mics are expected to be available in the spring. Prices are $59 for Tiki, $99 for the Mikey Digital and $199 for the Spark Digital.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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Cobra iRadar detector and smart phone app

2012-02-04

Todd talks with Chris from Cobra about their new iRadar App and Radar Detector. The iRadar detector connects to your smartphone (iPhone or Android) via Bluetooth so that you get the alerts on your phone. The newest thing is they added the iRadar community to the app which allows you to see alerts from other users of the iRadar app so that you can be aware of those radar traps along your way. (Of course, nobody speeds... right?)

The detectors are available now for around $130 at most retailers or at cobra.com and cobrairadar.com

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Toshiba Glass FREE 3D TVs

2012-02-04

Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Steve Lee of Waves Of Tech talk about seeing the 3D TV's at the Toshiba booth at CES 2012. The one that impressed them the most was Toshiba's 55inch 4k TV which will ship sometime in "early 2012" and cost somewhat less then $10,000. I personally don't know how much I would use the 3D on the set, but I would LOVE the 4K. Now to get more 4K content. Anyone have a Red camera I could borrow?

For more information, go check out the Toshiba Website us.toshiba.com

For the TechPodcast Network.

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Nero Kwik Media Media Manager [Live]

2012-02-04

Todd and Don talk to Martin Stein Senior Vice President of Global Products at Nero about Nero Kwik Media at the TPN booth at CES. Nero Kwik Media is a program that will sync all your media (pictures, videos, audio and music) across all the devices in your home.

Kwik Media Features (from the website):

• Move all the files your heart desires to and from your PC and mobile devices
• Play back Blu-ray movies
• View HD video projects on DVD and watch Hollywood Blu-ray movies on your laptop
• Burn Audio CD's from MP3s
• With just a few clicks, you can create a CD mix from your favorite playlists
• Play back your favorite jams from your laptop and rip Audio CD's to add to your computer
• Find and organize friends by faces
• Easily organize photos of friends and family by faces
• Browse and organize photos, music and videos in one place
• Conveniently create projects to burn and share straight from your library
• Make quick and easy edits of photos before sharing or adding to slideshows
• Share videos on Youtube or myNero
• Upload your photos, music and videos to social media websites with just a few clicks
• Edit slideshows with effects
• Add exciting, animated background themes to slideshows
• Sync your music playlists as well as photo and video album contents from your PC to any mobile device with USB mass storage
• For more information or to get your copy of Nero Kwik Media, go the website kwikmedia.nero.com

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Yurbuds, Ear Buds for the Athlete

2012-02-04

Most people like to listen to music while exercising. The first thing you learn when you start exercising is that your ears sweat and most headphones don't stay in sweaty ears. There is nothing more frustrating than having your ear buds constantly falling out, while exercising.

The company Yurbuds understands this frustration, they are athletes who make products for athletes. Their newest product is the Yurbuds Iron-man Series. The Iron-man Series Yurbuds are ear buds specifically designed for the athlete who carries an iPhone or iPod Touch. There is a three button control on the center Y which allows you move forward and backward through tracks, control the volume, and answer calls. On the other side of the Y is the microphone. What really makes the Yurbuds special are their proprietary twist and lock technology. Place the ear buds in your ear twist and lock them in place. Now no matter how much you sweat or it rains they will not come out. They are made of a medical grade silicon, so once they are locked into the ear they are very comfortable. They have a great sound quality, the speakers in the ear buds are tuned with the drivers and sound tunnel. The speakers in the ear buds are protected by their ergonomic design. You can remove the silicon cover and clean them with a little soap and water.

There is a life time guarantee on the product for damage done by sweat or rain. The Iron-man Inspired earbuds cost $59.99 and are available through the Web site and various retailers including Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Apple and Target. Whether you are a world-class triathlete or a weekend runner, Yurbuds were made for you.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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Acoustic Research AirPlay Wireless Audio System

2012-02-04

Jeremy from Vox International, representing Acoustic Research, dropped by the TPN studio at the Consumer Electronics Show to talk a little bit about the new AirPlay Wireless Audio System that they introduced at the show. As the name implies, the system is based on iTunes and it allows you to free your iTunes library from your computer or mobile device and stream the audio anywhere in your house.

While there are a number of AirPlay devices on the market, Acoustic Research hopes to separate themselves from the group by, not only their famous name, but also with quality and pricing. Users will be able to tether multiple players together so that they can have them in separate rooms, creating a whole-house audio system.

The box has 10w x 2 for audio power and will be available this April for $129.99. You can learn more from Acoustic Research.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Adventure Cameras by Contour

2012-02-04

Contour came by the TPN.TV booth at CES this year and showed some great action sports cameras; the Contour Roam, the Contour GPS and the Contour Plus. Theses cameras are great for filming while hiking, snow boarding, biking, skiing and other action sports. They all use a micro SD card up to 32 GB. You can get up to eight hours of video at 1080p and up to twelve hours at 780p. They all take removable lithium batteries which run for about three hours of video taping. They also adjust the white balance and the exposure to create crisp clear videos. These cameras are waterproof up to 1 meter. With the water proof case you can go down to 60 meters, great for scuba diving or snorkeling. All three cameras can connect by USB cable. Both the Contour Roam and the Contour GPS have an internal microphone only.

The Contour Plus includes the internal microphone but it also has a mic cable out jack, this along with the ability to connect a HDMI cable adds live streaming capability. Now you can live stream your adventures directly to Ustream using the Cerevo Live Shell. Now instead of telling other people about your adventures, they can watch them as they are happening. You can control the camera on the Contour GPS and Contour Plus through the Contour Mobile App on the iPhone or an Android phone. The Contour GPS and the Contour Plus both have GPS included so now you can map your adventures. The Contour Roam at $199 is the newest phone and should be available soon. The Contour GPS and the Contour Plus are available now and are $299 and $499 respectively. Not only does Contour offer great action cameras but they also have some great mounts, including ones that allow you to mount camera directly to your helmet, pole, roll bar, surfboard and many other objects. So if you are into adventure sports and filming, Contour has everything you need and want.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, The Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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Roamz: Unexpected Pleasant Surprises

2012-02-04

Personal Tour Guide
The joy of discovering interesting things around you is the secret appeal of this free iOS app. It's all a benefit of geographic awareness built into smartphones - and leverages the power of other social media channels that are active in the immediate area. You don't have to be following people or try to filter the madness of 200 million tweets per day. Roamz offers suggestions about what everyone nearby is buzzing about, as it monitors Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for traffic nearby.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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My Ford Touch Improves Menus, Updates Available on All Cars

2012-02-04

While at the Ford Booth, we got to see the new updated My Ford Touch system. Back in November, they updated the software so consumers could move around the screen without having to look at the display.

The four corner system gives you a proximity so you know where to press. One corner you will have navigation, another will see temperature settings.

The in-car navigation system also has been improved. With additional 3D view, you can get an idea which direction you are heading

Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine goes through the systems with Bridget on MyFordTouch. Best part is this update is available now. You can download and install, or you can head to your Ford dealer and they will install for free.

For the TechPodcast Network.

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Ford Apps NPR News, Roximity, Stitcher, iHeartRadio in Ford Sync

2012-02-04

Ford Sync was also updated this year. Five new apps were introduced at CES. They include:

iHeartRadio - the ClearChannel station app, so you can get your local radio stations wherever you are
NPR News - Several NPR shows right at your fingertips
Roximity - Personalized, time-sensitive offers when in proximity to a place
Stitcher - Internet radio for mobile
Tune-In - Listen to your favorite radio stations
There is also an app called Sync Destinations, which the location-based service gives you better turn-by-turn directions.

Sync is available on 2012 models of Mustang, Fusion, F150, and others. They are also working on an aftermarket solution to put Ford Sync in your older vehicle.

Interview by Jeffery Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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Nvidia Tegra3 Tablets Run Windows 8, Quad Core Processors

2012-02-04

We check out the new Tegra3 tablets by Nvidia at CES. Amazing little devices, these tablets run Quad-core processing using ARM processors. HD video at 1080p, multi-tasking ability and a lot more.

With the new Windows 8 OS, these tablets look good. You can connect them up to a HDTV and do more from a tablet. Watch video on the TV, while you check out your Twitter on the tablet screen.

The Tegra3 tablet will be out later this year. I might even be mixing down video come CES 2013 using this tablet.

Interview by Jeffery Powers of Geekazine for the TechPodcast Network.

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Savvy: Cure for the Shopping Hangover

2012-02-04

Simple. Effective.
You take a picture of your receipt, if that item goes on sale you get an alert - so you can claim the better price with the retailer.
In 2010, over $20 Billion in price adjustments were left unclaimed - and retailers everywhere thank you for your inattention. Savvy (an app for iPhone or Android) gives you a way to recover money on your purchases, by letting you know that a price change has occurred and allowing you to claim that better price. Over 200 retailers are in the program.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Pioneer Car Electronics: It's ALL About Connectivity [Live]

2012-02-04

App Radio Now iOS and Android
With over 20 years of CES experience, Pioneer's Harry Krol's enthusiasm for the show and Pioneer products has been undiminished. For 2012, Pioneer Car Electronics is emphasizing connectivity through technologies like Bluetooth, HD Radio, in dash navigation systems, and connectivity to iPhone or iPod. Selected applications are available on a new in-dash unit on "App Radio" - a much bigger multitouch-capable monitor that replicates an interface that is almost identical to how you interact on your phone. It includes "Find a Parking Spot" apps, and access to your entire media library that is already on your smartphone. App Radio 2, introduced at CES 2012, adds full Android support.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Ion Guitar Apprentice - CES [Back Channel]

2012-02-04

Part of the Back Channel, we saw the Ion Guitar apprentice - the world's first teaching device. It works with any guitar app, but they will have a guitar app for the device. We also saw the Piano Apprentice - Plug your iPad into the keyboard. With the app, you can learn how to play piano Price: $99

Also out, is the Drum Master, and Drum Apprentice. $99 for the apprentice, $149 for the Master.

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Ion iCade Jr - CES [Back Channel]

2012-02-04

Another product we saw on the Back Channel was the Ion iCade Jr. The little brother to the iCade, you slip in your iPhone and play games using the Bluetooth joystick. There are additional buttons on the back, so you can hold the iCade Jr.
The iCade jr will be out soon.

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Digital Mobile TV

2012-02-04

Siano's Digital Mobile TV Device
Siano is a digital mobile television company that makes a product that allows a user to broadcast television programs on their phones or other mobile devices. Siano's device is small enough to fit in your pocket and plugs directly into an iPad or into a mobile device. Some of the channels on the Siano menu are free and some require a user to pay for them. The product is popular world-wide and is gathering steam in the United States.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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CES 2012 - Cambridge Audio - Analog for a Digital World

2012-02-04

If you're not into professional audio, you may not be familiar with Cambridge Audio, but for those of us who are familiar with Cambridge Audio, this year's announcements were very exciting. From a compact digital to analog converter (DAC) that would have made our lives at CES much easier this year to a full home theater receiver with network streaming, Internet radio and, of course, a built-in DAC, Cambridge certainly came full-force to the convention.

We got to see the upgrade to their DacMagic product, the DacMagic Plus, a simple way to convert almost any source, digital or analog, to full 24-bit/384kHz audio through up-sampling. In addition, it has ground-fault noise reduction, meaning no more humming because of the things that are plugged in around it. We've all experienced plugging our computer into a stereo system or mixer and there is a constant hum on the speakers - not with this bad boy. All of this is housed in a box about the size of an average digital camcorder. This is a must-have for anyone running a recording studio or even a podcast/online radio/TV show.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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CES 2012 - Nexia Home Intelligence - Automating Your Home

2012-02-05

If you're a regular to F5 Live, or you have gone snooping around your local RadioShack in the past year or so, you have probably encountered the Schlage Link line of home automation products. With things like door locks and cameras, all accessible from the Internet, it was a useful set of products. No more leaving a key under the mat, just unlock the door from your phone when the repair guy gets to the house.

Well, Schlage has decided to up the ante and expand the product line, renaming it Nexia Home Intelligence and bringing on companies like Pella and Trane to bring new features to the set, like window shades that can automatically open/close on a timer or from the web, or an air conditioner that can be remotely controlled, all through the Nexia website.

We have a hands-on demo of the website, showing off the Pella window shades, remote-controlled cameras and more.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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CES 2012 - Turtle Beach - The Sound of Winning

2012-02-05

Turtle Beach has long been synonymous with gaming audio, and this year they have decided to make high-quality gaming headsets available to everyone, everywhere. They have added new headsets to their high-end wireless line, allowing people on any budget to afford a high-quality Turtle Beach wireless gaming headset.

They have even branched out and created a new line of mobile gaming headsets for your iPad, iPhone, Android-based phone or tablet, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP or any other mobile device you are currently gaming on. Now, no matter where you are or how you're gaming, you can always experience the sound the way it was made to be heard.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 240 - CES 2012 Wrap-Up

2012-01-15

Hosted by Scott Ertz, Nicholas DiMeo, Jon Wurm and Allante Sparks, F5 Live is a livecast online show covering the worlds of gadgets, gaming, Internet and media.

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 241

2012-01-22

This week, we're officially rounding out CES 2012, we have an extended Point and Jon's rocking that bronze medal again.

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

Episode 253

2012-04-22

This week, Qi's karma gets an upgrade, Verizon brightens up Florida and once again Germany thinks Google has crossed the line.