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3D printing holds a lot of promise for many different aspects of human activity. However it’s been only in recent years that small-scale 3D printers have become widely available. While these smaller machines are impressive with what they can do, they’re often limited by their smaller-scale sizes. Creative 3D Technology is working to expand 3D printing to the industrial scale. Todd met with the company’s founder, Ethan, a 17-year old who began refurbishing 3D printers at the age of 12. Ethan noted that his price points for these industrial-sized printers are much lower than what similar sized printers typically go for. He also covered some of the warranty and service plans available to Creative 3D Technology’s customers. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Creative 3D Technologies Brings Industrial 3D Printing to CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

You parked your car and went on with your day. Later, you might have an unsettling moment as you worry about whether or not your car is ok. Checking on it usually requires a person to stop what they are doing and go back to the parking lot. Raven makes any car a smart car, and enables you to quickly check on your car from wherever you are. Todd stopped by the Raven booth to talk with Russell. Raven is an all-in-one connected car solution. It has built-in cellular LTE, cameras, sensors, displays and a high performance six core processor that gives you and your vehicle new capabilities. Features include a rear facing camera, a front facing camera, real time displays, LTE module that is always connected to the internet, and a security system. Raven transfers video of your trip onto your phone so you don’t have to transfer those files yourself. Raven will start shipping in March of 2018 and is priced at $299 US. There is streaming subscription fee of $8 a month. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Raven Makes Any Car a Smart Car at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Human behavior in public environments is usually difficult to track. Proprietors of retail spaces and trade shows are always trying to gain deeper insights into what their customers are doing. Todd stopped by the Aura Vision Labs booth to speak with Daniel. Aura Vision Labs has developed a system for tracking people in public that looks at whole bodies instead of just faces. That means Aura Vision’s product can gather demographic data on people even if they’re wearing hoodies or otherwise have their faces obscured. The system also works with any camera, so it can be easily integrated into any existing CCTV infrastructure. Daniel noted that the Aura Vision system can’t automatically identify individual people. But it could potentially do that if it were paired with a loyalty card scanner or other means of individual customer identification. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Aura Vision Labs Provides Sophisticated Human Tracking at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

A lot of news has been made in recent years about athletes getting concussions as a result of their athletic careers. The tricky thing about concussions is, they’re hard to detect. That means a player could start on the road to real concussion-related problems long before there’s an actual concussion diagnosis. Reflexion is working to change that with The Reflexion Edge. This innovative health product provides a 30-second on-site test that players can take if they’ve received a hard hit during a game. Reflexion Edge is foldable, so it can be used anywhere, and since the test it provides doesn’t take long, it can be done during a standard game break. If a coach or manager suspects a player might be injured, they can have that player immediately screened for a concussion to determine if the player should be removed from the game. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Reflexion Edge Tests Athletes for Concussions at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Self-assembly robots and smart toys are great for introducing and teaching children the basics of coding. It’s a hot area at the moment, especially with Nintendo Labo coming soon, but here we have British outfit BinaryBots and their animal-themed programmable robots. Todd and Chris play with the smart pets. The team at BinaryBots have a range of robotic toys starting with straightforward cardboard-based models through to more complex creations using the Totem construction kits. There are crabs, spiders and tortoises, each will unique actions. The robots can be connected up to a BBC micro:bit computer for coding and programming. Children can code their robot and to see how it responds to light and other stimuli. The cardboard-based robots are available now with the new Totem-based ones arriving in April. They’re priced at GB£40 / US$55 for the cardboard models and GB£60 / US$80 for the Totem, though you’ll need to buy your own micro:bit for the latter. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Code Your Crab and Train Your Tortoise with BinaryBots at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

It’s a sad statistic that around half of us in the Europe and US will experience a break-in or burglary during our lifetime and unfortunately, I’m one of those. Most burglaries are over in less than five minutes and by the time the police turn up, the criminals are long gone. Smart homes and security alarms only go so far and what you really want is to deter the burglars from breaking in at all. You need a housesitter and Mitipi have one called Kevin. Todd thought Kevin was a minion… Kevin is the first IoT device to simulate the presence of people in a room by emitting light, shadow effects, and sound, meaning burglars will think someone’s home, and won’t want to break in for fear of being confronted or even caught. Kevin is extremely easy to use. Place the device in a main room with a window, say, the living room. Once set up, Kevin can be controlled via the buttons on the box, or through the companion app. To pretend someone is home, Kevin uses a smart logic that considers multiple factors such as location, language, weather and home type to produce a realistic simulation with light, sound and shadows. Kevin is currently on Kickstarter and the best pledge is SFr249, which is around GB£190 or US$270. Delivery is expected in December 2018. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Need a Housesitter? Ask Kevin at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

From a consumer’s point of view, internet shopping is great: huge choice and prices to fit every pocket. Sure it takes a day or two to come but that only increases the rush while you wait for the delivery…..only that’s the snag. Many of us are in work when the delivery comes to our empty homes and either the delivery service takes it back to their depot or you parcel lies at risk of theft until you get home. BoxLock have an ingenious solution and Todd unlocks its potential with Brad. BoxLock is an internet-connected smart padlock with a built-in barcode scanner. To use BoxLock, you first get a secure container or bin which can be locked using a traditional padlock – it’s usually called a hasp – and put it out front. The BoxLock then goes on the bin instead of the padlock. When the delivery driver arrives, he (or she) simply grabs the BoxLock and presses the button on the top to scan the tracking number on the package. The BoxLock checks online via wifi and only packages addressed to you and that are actually out for delivery that day will unlock the BoxLock. The driver opens the container, places your package safely inside and then closes it all up. Your BoxLock smartphone app then notifies you which package was scanned and that your BoxLock is safely locked with your packages inside. Several of the big delivery companies are on board including FedEx, UPS, USPS and Amazon, so it’s perfect for keeping those porch pirates and packet thieves at bay. BoxLock is current InDemand on Indiegogo for pre-ordering at US$109 (the video says $129 retail) with deliveries expected in June 2018. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Keep Porch Pirates at Bay with BoxLock at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic disease in children and it can easily be prevented by regular and effective brushing. Getting children to brush is another matter entirely but French firm Kolibree are looking to gamification and augmented reality to get children excited about brushing. Todd finds out what is like to interview Arthur with a toothbrush in his mouth. Kolibree’s Magik toothbrush plays an augmented reality game where the children defeat evil cavity monsters by attacking them with their toothbrush. Using a smartphone or tablet, the child sees themselves in a “magic mirror” and fight boss monsters to win superpower masks. At the end of a brushing session, the app shows the child and parent how well they’ve brushed and any areas missed. The Magik brush is expected in Q3 2018 and Kolibree is looking to price it at under US$30. Sign up at Kolibree to hear when it’s ready to buy. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Kolibree’s Magik Toothbrush Brings AR to Brushing at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Just as in humans, obesity in cats and dogs brings health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Over half of the pets in American households are overweight and this reduces their life expectancy by several years. Petrics want to help owners spend less time managing their pets and more time loving them with a couple of new products aimed at reducing obesity. No treats for Todd from Edward. Winners of two CES Innovation awards, Petrics are coming at the problem from two fronts. First Petrics have a Health & Nutrition application which records the animal’s food and exercise, but also guides the owner towards appropriate meal choices for their pet. Second, Petrics are launching a smart pet bed which works with an activity tracker to measure pet exercise and weight. This will pass information to the Health & Nutrition app, giving the owner current and historical information about their animal’s condition to see if new regimes are having the right impact. The app and bed will be coming to the market early in 2018, priced at US$100-$300 depending on the size of the bed. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Petrics Helps Owners Shed Pet Pounds at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Kano‘s mission is to encourage people, particularly children, to see computers not as unchangeable appliances but as tools to be made, shaped, coded and shared. Their kits plug together bits, boards, buttons and cables to make individual and personalised computers. Joanna gets to the heart of the matter with Todd and the Pixel Kit. Kano’s approach is to challenge each young developer into programming simple apps that achieve technical goals. Using Kano’s development tools, Kano Code, it’s really easy to build programs as the tools come with code building blocks for things like displaying an emoji or responding to noise via a microphone. It’s very easy to quickly produce something that’s fun and keeps children interested. The Pixel Kit is available now for just under US$80 and GB£75 from both online shops and major retail stores. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Kano Codes for Kids at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Fingerprint readers are well established in all but the lowest cost smartphones – look at the Moto G-series for phones priced around US$200 – and it’s a trusted solution. So it’s not surprising that fingerprint readers are now appearing in other devices such as padlocks and bike locks. BIO-key are fingerprint specialists and have a range of locks and readers that do away with keys and passwords. Todd unlocks the potential of his finger with Scott. BIO-key’s locks can be opened by a range of technologies depending on the model. Most use fingerprints, but others also have Bluetooth capabilities and some use PIN codes. There are some real benefits in using a fingerprint for unlocking – no key to lose, no combination to remember. Prices start at US$39.99 for the TouchLock Designer, and a TSA approved lock is $54.95. BIO-key produce fingerprint readers for PCs too, so if you don’t want to type in your password, check out these USB devices. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post BIO-Key Uses The Power of Touch at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

True wireless earphones have been around for about eighteen months and products are beginning to innovate away from making the earphones technically better and physically smaller. As an example, Lizn‘s “hearpieces” are wireless earphones but also have some properties of a hearing aid. Todd listens to Michael to find out more. The clue to Lizn’s USP is in the name itself – it’s a play on “listen”. C’mon, keep up. As well as being discreet Bluetooth wireless earphones, the earphones have directional amplification to help the wearer hear conversation in difficult circumstances. The dual microphones use advanced sound processing to enhance the consonants in speech which helps understanding in noisy environments. The earphones come in three different colours, ruby red, caffe latte and anthracite grey. They’re on pre-order for US$149 with an expected retail price of $199, and should be available in April. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Lizn and Hear the Conversation at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Kano‘s mission is to encourage people, particularly children, to see computers not as unchangeable appliances but as tools to be made, shaped, coded and shared. Their kits plug together bits, boards, buttons and cables to make individual and personalised computers. Bruno gives Todd a hand to develop a selfie camera from their new Camera Kit. Kano’s approach is to challenge each young developer into programming simple apps that achieve technical goals. Using Kano’s development tools it’s really easy to build programs as the tools come with code building blocks for things like taking a picture or responding to noise via a microphone. Consequently, even Todd can code an app to take a picture when someone claps. The Camera Kit’s not expected until next year but you can sign up to hear the latest news. Expect the price to be around US$99. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Clap for Kano’s Camera Kit at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Playing games using bare hands for controllers goes back as far as the Eye Toy for the Sony PlayStation 2 but it was really Microsoft’s Kinect that brought gesture recognition mainstream. Fantastic as these cameras were, players only received visual feedback, e.g. the in-game character moved in the desired direction. But what if there is no TV screen to show feedback? How could the user know that they’ve pressed the right button? That’s where Ultrahaptics come in with their ultrasonic speakers. Todd gets a feeling for the tech with Heather. Simplistically, Ultrahaptics uses ultrasound to project sensations onto a hand. Small highly controllable speakers can focus sound waves to make a hand feel on object that’s not there. It’s pretty clever technology but what it means is that a hand action can receive feedback directly, without needing a screen. Heather splits the use cases into two, controls and experiences. Want to turn on a light switch? Feel the imaginary switch and flick it up. For experiences, a two-dimensional object could be given three-dimensional properties. Think of a film poster that responds to a hand approach it. The force awakens! Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post You Can Feel It with Ultrahaptics at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

When I hear “hydroponics” I always think of scifi and long missions to deep space. Fortunately, hydroponics is much more rooted in reality than the genre suggests, and this brings us neatly to Opcom Farm and their indoor hydroponics systems. Todd digs with Ray from Opcom and discovers how to garden in your garage. Opcom offers everything needed to setup a home hydroponics garden except the space. Even then, the GrowPod can create space within another area, such as a garage, for the racks and shelving needed for a hydroponic garden. These days all the lights are LED, so energy costs are kept low, and there’s a range of units from the simple O2-Light to a full GrowWall. It all depends on the budget – a GrowPod starts at US$2000. There’s plenty of information on Opcom Farm‘s website and some products are available from Amazon.com. Others are on pre-order for delivery in 2018. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors   The post Grow Your Own with Opcom Indoor Hydroponics at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Mobile data charges abroad can be prohibitively expensive and tethering for wifi burns through the phone’s battery. The new Fonebud W wireless hotspot solves this problem for over 80 countries worldwide. Don chats with Dixon about the features of this new device. Using your home SIM while in a foreign land typically ends with a large bill when you get back, though seasoned travellers will have a pocketful of SIMs for local telcos. Mind you, it’s still a pain making sure that your smartphone is unlocked and forwarding your calls to your new number (unless you have a dual SIM phone). A much better solution would be the upcoming Fonebud W personal WiFi hotspot which works in over 80 countries, particularly in Asia and China. The 10,000 mAh battery will run the Fonebud W for well over a day and can be used to wirelessly charge a smartphone. Yes, it has a wireless charger built-in, though you can still charge with a cable. The small LED screen shows details of connectivity and battery life. The Fonebud W will be available in Q2 2018 and will cost US$129-$169 including 24 GB data which is valid for a year. Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and gives lectures at TheGadgetProfessor.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Wander the World with the Fonebud W at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

At CES 2017, PicoBrew showed off their personal beer brewing machine and this year, they’re back with a little something to take home alcohol production to the next level. Todd finds out more from George. For existing PicoBrewers, the PicoStill brings an opportunity to “up their game” and start distilling small batches of spirits safely and more precisely. 500 ml takes about 4 hours to produce, and up to 180 proof is possible with will multilevel distilling. Alternatively, the PicoStill can capture the essence of hops and other oils to give unique flavors and aromas to food and drinks. The PicoStill is on pre-order for US$249 ($349 SRP) but it’s an accessory for other brewing appliances (Pico S/Pro/C) so check compatibility before ordering. Also on show is the Pico C, a smaller and cheaper beer brewing machine for US$549. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Get in the Spirits with PicoBrew’s PicoStill at CES 2018 appeared first on Geek News Central.

In the first interview, I chatted with one of Fibion’s partners, Olli Tikkanen, about their approach to activity tracking and how the Fibion team can produce accurate data on movement and lifestyle from the Fibion tracker. This time, I’m speaking with Jonathan Bloomfield, MD of Support2Perform, Human Performance Specialists, here in Northern Ireland, who use Fibion trackers to carryout assessments on clients. The team at Support2Perfom use the Fibion tracker and the analysis tools to do a deep dive into the wearer’s daily behaviour. The tracker is typically worn for about a week before the data is uploaded and analysed. The results are displayed in different graphics to show the person’s activity in a meaningful way. How much of my day is sitting around? This data forms the baseline for change and having made lifestyle changes, the Fibion analysis can be redone to check that they’ve had the desired effect. The post Fibion Brings Science To Activity Tracking (Part 2) appeared first on Geek News Central.

Fitbits and other activity trackers are popular: I see them on the waists and wrists of colleagues everyday and I have one myself. Good as they are at encouraging activity, they tend to be a fairly broad brush with an emphasis on hitting targets, typically 10,000 steps. While some trackers attempt show the breadth of activity across the day, they’re not very good at the detail. When was I sitting? When was I standing? How often did I stand up? The team at Fibion can help answer these questions with their professional sitting and activity analysis, which aims to move away from the gamification of fitness to a scientific assessment for improving health. By combining the Fibion device with algorithms based on scientific research, the Fibion analysis gives accurate results for a week-long measurement, showing how much time is spent sitting versus standing and active. The device itself might be considered overly plain, but that’s by design. If you don’t see your steps, there’s no incentive to do more, and so the Fibion is more likely to record a representative lifestyle. It’s all about the science. In the first of two conversations, I interview Fibion partner Olli Tikkanen on their approach and the dimunitive tracker. In part 2, I’ll talk to a professional who uses Fibion to assess activity in the workplace. The post Fibion Brings Science to Activity Tracking (Part 1) appeared first on Geek News Central.

As with much of the developed world, life expectancy in the Northern Ireland has increased considerably in the last few decades. With this growth, people are now living with long-term medical conditions. For those 60-69 years old, more than 50% of the population will have at least one medical condition. For 70-79 years old, 50% will have two or more medical problems. We might be living longer, but we’re sicker. Medication can help with many conditions, but medicine only works if it’s taken and multiple conditions can lead to a bewildering array of pills that need to be taken on a schedule. Trays with Monday-Sunday and am/pm can help but it’s all too easy to make a mistake. PillPacPlus provide a service that helps with this increasing problem. Instead of giving people many boxes with each box containing a single drug, pharmacies can now dispense medications in sachets, with each one containing all the drugs to be taken at a time. Each sachet on the roll is labelled with the time and date, and this makes it perfectly clear to the patient what has to be taken and when. For those with dementia, even pre-labelled sachets can be a struggle. To help further, the sachet rolls can be loaded into a dispensing machine (Evondos E300) that is programmed with the schedule. If the patient forgets to take the medication, the machine sounds an alarm to alert him or her. If this doesn’t work, the machine can alert pharmacists and carers about the problem. It’s all aimed at making sure that the right medication is taken at the right time to manage those long-term conditions. To find out more, I interviewed Lindsay and Sara from PillPacPlus at NICON17. Listen below. The post Personalised Packets for Pills appeared first on Geek News Central.

It’s a fast paced world out there and you need all your faculties to keep up. Take too long, and it’s “Next please!” while you’re still standing there. Imagine how much more difficult it is if you do have a learning disability or condition such as Asperger’s and you just need a little more time. To help people in this situation, the NOW Group has created an app that asks people for “Just A Minute”. The JAM Card app shows staff in retail outlets, transport and other areas of public life that the person needs “Just A Minute” of patience and time when interacting with them. The smartphone app is based on the original concept of a plastic card and was the idea of people with a disability who said they often felt under pressure when they were out and about in everyday life. They wanted a discreet way of letting people know that they needed a little extra time. The app is available for both Android and iOS (search for “JAM Card”). At present the app only caters for four specific conditions though they hope to extend it to more over time. The app also allows users to score retail stores and transportation for their helpfulness towards people with disabilities. For more information, listen to my interview with NOW Group’s Jayne at NICON 17. If you like what the NOW Group are doing here, you can vote for them over at Digital DNA and help them become a partner charity. The post JAM Card Gives People Time appeared first on Geek News Central.

Learning is best done when fun and what’s more fun than play? Sam’s Curious Cars fall right into this sweet spot and Todd gets an interactive demo from Joachim. Sam Labs have created a series of component-based toys (think chassis, wheels, motors) that can be built up to make a vehicle – in this instance a car. The components are compatible with Lego bricks, so builders can really express themselves. Once constructed, the car can be controlled by other components, like a switch for power and a slide for left and right. The car can also be controlled by an app and for advanced learners, the cars behaviour can be built up using control blocks in the app. It’s designed to introduce some of the key concepts of programming without actually having to code. There’s a series of six different sets, priced from US$99 and the Curious Cars are $199. Additional sensors and motors can be bought separately. Available now from the Sam Labs shop and other good retailers. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Real and Virtual Play Combine with Sam’s Curious Cars appeared first on Geek News Central.

The technology to measure physiology is becoming commonplace: any smart watch worthy of the name can record heart rate. The trick now is to incorporate these sensors into other useful gadgets. A good example here is the Owlet Smart Sock which brings reassurance to parents that their baby is sleeping normally. The Owlet Smart Sock monitors a baby’s heart rate and blood oxygen, alerting parents or carers if either measurement causes concern. The Owlet Smart Sock system has three components; the smart sock or bootie which is worn by the baby on its foot, a monitoring unit and the companion app. The bootie communicates with the monitoring unit via Bluetooth and if there is a problem, parents are notified by visual and audible alerts on the Owlet unit and smartphone(s). The app is available for both iOS and Android but check compatibility before buying. The Owlet Smart Sock is available now for $249 direct from Owlet. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Owlet Smart Sock for Sleeping Babies at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

A personal whistle may seem like a fairly old-fashioned thing to bring to an event like CES. But PapaGo’s new Geko smart whistle is anything but old-fashioned. Todd met with Paulina from PapaGo who listed out all of the features of this award-winning product. The Geko smart whistle connects to a user’s mobile device via Bluetooth. If the user triggers the whistle, either by blowing thru it like a standard whistle, or pressing a button built into the whistle, the whistle sends a signal to the user’s phone, which in turn contacts three different people by text, e-mail, and telephone (phone calls available on Android devices only). These messages are predefined to let the recipients know that the sender is in trouble, along with a map of the sender’s location. When the whistle is triggered a second time, it sends an “all clear” message to let recipients know that the user is now safe. The PapaGo Geko smart whistle is already available for purchase for $49.99. The whistle will send up to 30 messages for free, but users can purchase more messages if needed.   Support our coverage sponsors The post PapaGo’s Geko Smart Whistle is Keeping Things Safe at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

There are plenty of drones that can be used to take videos from the air or to take aerial photos. That’s great for photographers, but doesn’t do much for gamers. Drone n’ Base has created The Gaming Drone. Use these little drones to play augmented reality video games. Todd spoke with Matus, who explained what The Gaming Drone can do. There are two styles of video game that you can play with The Gaming Drone. One is an augmented reality game where you play against a computer. You control your physical drone and battle the computer’s drone that is inside the game. The other video game is a multiplayer race and battle. Each player places a game board on the floor, and flies his or her drone over it. This enables the player to race and battle with other players in the video game. The Gaming Drone by Drone n’ Base is priced at $199. Each package comes with one drone, one base, and two batteries. Support our coverage sponsors The post Drone n’ Base is The Gaming Drone at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

For most computer users, a mouse is a pretty boring input device that has probably two buttons and maybe a click wheel installed. But there’s a whole world of high-end computer mice out there, many of them aimed at the gaming market. Todd spoke with Grant from SwiftPoint about his company’s latest gaming mouse known simply as Z. SwiftPoint’s Z Mouse has more buttons than a typical mouse, allowing for up to 50 different click-based actions. Z Mouse has a built-in gyroscope that makes it easy to control things like pitch and yaw used in flight-sim games, replacing the need for a joystick or other type of controller. Z Mouse is being brought to market thru a successful Kickstarter campaign. Once the campaign is fulfilled, the mouse is expected to make it to the retail market in March of this year, where it’ll retail for $229. Support our coverage sponsors The post SwiftPoint Z is an Award-Winning Gaming Mouse at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Avido has created something that many people have been wanting. The Avido WiBa is a contactless power charger that you can take with you when you travel. Todd spoke with Kevin about this amazing new charger.The Avido WiBa is a CES 2017 Innovation Award Honoree. It is the first of its kind. The Avido WiBa wireless charging power bank does not require cables. It is very simple to use. First, put the Avido WiBa portable power bank onto the charging dock. In just a few seconds, the power bank begins to charge wirelessly. Put your phone on top of it, and it instantly begins to charge. The portable power bank and the phone charge at the same time. The Avido WiBa is priced at $79.95. It comes with everything you need to get started, including the power plate and the Avivo WiBa itself. Support our coverage sponsors The post Avido WiBa is a Contactless Power Charger at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Aerial drones and quadcopters have been mainstream items for a few years now. It seems like every day, amazing new videos are posted online of landscapes, cities, or large events. While everything happening on the ground is being recorded from the air, there’s another part of the planet that’s being completely ignored: Under water. Todd had a chat with Merlin at the PowerVision booth. Merlin talked about his company’s impressive new underwater drone. This drone uses a 100-foot tether that can go up to 30 meters deep. The drone comes with integrated lights and a 4K video camera that can take 13 megapixel photos. The drone also has a built-in sonar to help find fish. There’s even an attached fishing hook that can carry bait to help lure hungry fish to the drone’s location. PowerVision’s new underwater drone will go on sale at the end of next month, and begin shipping in the spring quarter. Pricing has not yet been announced. Support our coverage sponsors The post PowerVision’s Underwater Drone is Exploring the Deep at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

With the arrival of the Internet of Things, installing antivirus software on a PC isn’t going address malware lurking on a smart home control unit. A different approach is needed and Bitdefender’s BOX might be the solution. Dan talks to Todd about what Box offers over traditional security products. The Bitdefender Box is a small hardware device which is connected into a free port on the main router – it’s similar in size to the control units for SmartThings or Hue. Once configured via Bitdefender’s Central Account or the companion smartphone app, it monitors the network traffic for suspicious activity. Box provides several layers of security over and above standard antivirus with everything from URL filtering to anomaly detection. Bitdefender Box is available now for US$129 in the first year, with an annual subscription of $99. The next gen Box is expected in the summer, priced at $199. Box is currently only available in the USA. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Bitdefender BOX Protects the Smart Home at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

We tend to think of new technology as something that everyone can use. Not so! Sometimes, the hottest new technology is inaccessible to users who are low-vision or blind. Todd spoke with Sean at Cyber Timez who has a product called Cyber Eyez which is designed for people who are low-vision or blind. Cyber Eyez is an application that runs on Smart Glasses. It is completely hands free and very easy to use. It has 3 buttons or voice commands to control it. Cyber Eyez can magnify up to 15 times resolution. When it comes to text, they also have an OCR engine that’s on the device – so no internet needed. It reads text in over 100 different languages. Cyber Eyes can be very useful for people who are visually impaired or blind. Support our coverage sponsors The post Cyber Timez Cyber Eyez Supports Low-Vision and Blind Users appeared first on Geek News Central.

Thunderbolt-based docks are turning into big business thanks to recent developments in computing hardware (mostly on behalf of Apple). Docks have been used for years to make it easier to use laptops in desktop situations. But what if your desktop already has a computer on it? Todd met with David from IOGear to gett the answer to that question. David showed off the new Thunderbolt 2 KVM/Docking Station from IOGear. This dock is more than just a standard port extender for a laptop computer. Here are some details: Built-in KVM switch allows you to connect two computers to the dock at the same time Two Thunderbolt 2 inputs Thunderbolt expansion port allows for connecting up to 5 additional Thunderbolt devices 4K 30hz video output Analog and optical audio I/O eSATA connection, USB 3, and USB 2 connections for storage Gigabit Ethernet port This new dock/KVM device is available for purchase now at a price of $399.95. Support our coverage sponsors The post IOGear Brings Thunderbolt 2 Dock/KVM Switch to CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

One thing every attendee of CES 2017 must have noticed is how large the show is. Todd spoke with Allison from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) about how the show has grown and changed over time. Allison pointed out that CES 2017 had 2.6 million net square feet of exhibit space which, she helpfully explained, equals about 45 football fields of innovation. This explains why some people came out of CES 2017 feeling as though they had done a whole lot of walking around! Support our coverage sponsors The post Consumer Technology Association has Statistics on CES 2017 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Synology is a real innovator when it comes to computer networking. The company is well known for its NAS devices but Synology also makes routers. Last year, Synology showed off its RT2600ac router at CES. And they’re back this year with an updated version of that same router. Todd spoke with Chandra at the Synology booth. Chandra shared some of the new RT2600ac’s features: QOS layer Control bandwidth of connected devices down to the application, not just the device Router can function as VPN VPN+ software package allows for VPN cloaking Two built-in USB 3 ports for connecting storage devices Built-in SD card slot Synology CloudStation software runs right on the router 1 WAN port and 4 LAN ports The new version of this router will be released later this year. Retail pricing has not yet been determined. Support our coverage sponsors The post Synology’s New 2600 Router is Packed with Features at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

One of the best things about motor shows are the preposterous concept cars that will never see the light of day and serve only to showcase the manufacturer’s technology. Razer are verging into this territory with a bonkers triple 4K screen laptop, codenamed Project Valerie, where the three screens combine to give a whopping resolution of 11520 x 2160. And get this….the screens will automatically expand and collapse – so cool. Aimed at the (very) serious gamer or esports player, it’s totally awesome and no doubt will have a price tag to match when (if?) it goes on sale. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Razer’s Project Valerie Triple Screen Laptop at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Witti are reasonably well-known for their Beddi collection of stylish bedside clocks and lights which both help the sleeper doze off and wake them gently in the morning. Expanding their product portfolio, Witti is introducing Sleepi and Todd finds out from Alfred what it can offer snoozers. Sleepi is a sleep monitoring system, comprising of a bedside light and clock, a sleep tracker that goes under the mattress and the obligatory smartphone app. The app tracks sleep and wakefulness, providing a report in the morning. What makes Sleepi different is that it works with smart homes to figure out what interrupted the sleep, e.g. the room was too hot, and then adjust the temperature automatically. That’s smart. A Kickstarter launch is planned for Sleepi, with shipping towards the end of 2017. Expected retail price around US$149. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Get the Zzzzs in with Witti at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Flir created a minor sensation few years ago with the Flir One thermal imaging attachment for smartphones costing only a few hundred bucks. Building on this, Flir have launched the Duo, a dual sensor compact camera designed to be carried by drones. John gives Todd a quick demo of the new Duo and see if you can spot the GNC cameraman. The Flir Duo combines both visible light and thermal sensors into a single camera which can be carried by any drone that attaches GoPro cameras. The visible resolution is full HD at 1920 x 1080, whereas the thermal camera is only 160 x 120. This might seem poor but the resolution of thermal imaging tends to be much lower. Flir has a nice trick called MSX blending where the visible and thermal images are combined to give more detailed pictures. There’s a demo here. There a two versions, the Duo and Duo R, with the latter providing calibrated radiometric temperature measurements, i.e. it can tell accurately how hot an object is. The Duo is priced at US$999 and the Duo R is $1,299. Available now. Flir have partnered with drone makers Autel Robotics and paired their Duo with the X-Star Premium drone for an all-in-one package including customised flight software. Oddly the package appears to be available only to US military and no word on price. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Flir Duo Flies with Autel at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Vivint has been a leader in smart home technology for years. It was only a matter of time before the company partnered with AirBnB to provide tools to hosts who rent out rooms thru the service. Todd had a chat with Trevor inside of Vivint’s booth (which is really more of a home than a typical CES booth) at CES. Trevor explained how Vivint has developed a range of tools that will be useful to AirBnB hosts: Hosts can use a Vivint smart door lock to issue unique pass codes to renters so there’s no worries about keys, and hosts won’t have to be on site when renters arrive Vivint’s products can monitor and manage security and energy of the property during the rental period Using a connected doorbell camera, hosts can confirm the identities of renters and see how many people are actually in their parties Pricing for Vivint products varies. For more information, visit their website. Support our coverage sponsors The post Vivint Partners with AirBnB at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Technology can do a lot to help keep us safe on the road. And that’s exactly what Cosmo Connected is doing with its rear-mountable helmet light for motorcyclists. Todd spoke to Roman at the Cosmo Connected booth during CES. Roman showed how his company’s smart light easily attaches to the back of a standard helmet (using magnets) to help provide visibility while on the road. Here are some highlights: Connected brake light with built-in accelerometer, light is engaged when driver reduces speed Built-in gyroscope can detect if the driver has fallen or been in an accident In the case of a fall or accident, the light sends a confirmation to the driver’s phone to see if they’re OK, if no confirmation is received, the light will prompt an incoming call from an operator to check on the driver, if there’s no answer after two attempts, the operator will contact emergency services and the driver’s emergency contact Cosmo Connected light charges via USB connection The light can be set to flash mode so it can be used by bicyclists or other non-motorcycle drivers Cosmo Connected is expected to retail for $99 for the light. The remote operator service may run between $2 and $3 per month. Support our coverage sponsors The post Cosmo Connected is Ensuring the Safety of Motorcyclists at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Underwear isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when you ponder CES. But if you think about it, clothing is probably one of the first (and oldest) forms of technology. Sure, we mostly take it for granted in the 21st century. But, there was definitely a time where you were on the leading edge if you left the cave with anything at all covering your body. With that spirit in mind, Todd stopped by the Spartan booth. There, he spoke with Anthony, who believes in his product so much, Anthony wore it through the entirety of the convention. Spartan makes underwear that’s specifically designed to help its wearers protect what is probably their most important asset: the “family jewels.” Spartan’s boxer-briefs are made from a unique fabric blend that blocks up to 99% of cellphone and WiFi radiation. Each pair can be washed up to 300 times before they start losing their potency. Spartan underwear are priced at $35-$45 per pair, depending on the amount purchased at one time. Support our coverage sponsors The post Spartan Underwear is Protecting the Family Jewels at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Fancy a beer? Me too, but I’ve never brewed my own, though his might change with the iGulu automated home brewing system. Todd looks for some refreshment in the hot halls of tech. Winning a CES Innovation Honoree award, the iGulu machine brews a beer from ingredients to fresh beverage in anything from seven days to a couple of weeks, depending the receipe. Everything is done in the iGulu, from initial mixing and mashing to the fermentation and pour, with sensors ensuring that the final product is perfect. There are receipes for everything from lagers to stouts and the process can be tweaked via the iGulu app to suit personal taste. There’s a small screen to control and check on progress of the brew. I’m feeling thirsty…. The iGulu is available for pre-order via Indiegogo starting from US$550, with an expected final retail price of US$800. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Craft Beer at Home with iGulu at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

It’s only natural that musical performance and technology would collide in some interesting ways at this year’s CES. Musicians, music teachers, and students are always looking for new ways to hone their skills. And eager hardware/software developers are stepping up to provide some innovative tools to help. One such company is called Jameasy. Todd met with Dawon from Jameasy. Dawon is a violinist (and a capable one at that). She showed off the Jameasy system which uses a Bluetooth-enabled sensor on her violin that measures all kinds of information from the instrument and transmits it to the Jameasy app on her iPad. The app then tracks her performance and shows her where her playing might be off from the original composition. Correct notes show as green, wrong notes as red, and notes that were just a bit off show up as yellow. The Jameasy system is expected to retail for between $59 and $99. Jameasy is planning on expanding its product to all stringed instruments, but the product will be available for violin first. Support our coverage sponsors The post Jameasy Helps You Practice the Violin at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

It’s no surprise that connected/smart devices could be found all over the place at this year’s CES. Proving that, at some point, every facet of the modern home will have a chip in it, Todd met up with Min from Amadas. Min demonstrated her company’s new smart door lever lock. The lock has some impressive features: Unlock door using either Amadas mobile app or PIN Built-in emergency solar panel lets you recharge the door lock’s battery using just the light from your smartphone’s camera, in case the battery dies while you’re out Control the smart door lock from anywhere, at any time, using the Amadas mobile app See a login history of who has accessed a specific door lock Amadas door lock hardware comes in a variety of designs with customized options available Uses Z-Wave technology to ensure security The Amadas smart door lever lock is expected to retail for between $300 and $400 Support our coverage sponsors The post Amadas is Opening (and Closing) Doors with Smart Levers at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

The Internet of Things is bringing new products and concepts into our lives every day. We’ve got smart devices and apps all around us that measure and quantity everything from our vital statistics to the air we breathe. It seems only natural that this technology would enter into more specific areas of measurement. That’s exactly what iOB (“Internet of Beauty”) Labs is doing. Todd spoke with Vincent from iOB Labs. Todd was willing to be Vincent’s guinea pig for a demonstration of iOB Labs’ Skinscopy skin analysis system. The system uses your phone’s camera to analyze the state of your skin. From there, it can suggest products you can buy from company partners that can help to improve the quality of your skin. The app also allows users to track the condition of their skin over time, making it easier to track progress and changes. Support our coverage sponsors The post iOB Labs is Analyzing Your Skin at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Who’d ever have imagined that the truly most powerful and (potentially) versatile devices we’d own would turn out to be our cell phones. But in the era of the modern smartphone, that’s exactly what’s come to pass. People are using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets to do way more than just take calls. And while these devices have an impressive array of features built-in, their usefulness can be infinitely extended thru the use of accessories. Todd met with Kristen at the OtterBox booth during CES. Kristen educated Todd about the new OtterBox line of phone and tablet cases called uniVERSE. The uniVERSE case system creates a full ecosystem of possibilities for adding all kinds of accessories to phones and tablets, while leaving the uniVERSE base case on the device. uniVerse cases and accessories start at $59.95 and should be on the market by the end of first quarter 2017. Support our coverage sponsors The post OtterBox Brings uniVERSE Phone and Tablet Cases to CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Step counters and activity trackers are ten-a-penny, but what if the tracker could show you how you run, not just how far you run? It’s now a reality with smart insoles from FeetMe. Todd finds out more from CTO Andrey Mostovov and sprinter Taylor Pegram. FeetMe’s athletic smart insoles, FeetMe Sport, constantly takes measurements from over thirty pressure sensors, before processing the information in their FeetMe coaching app to show exactly how your feet hit the ground. Imagine being a top athlete and being able to see your stride and steps. The app gives suggestions for improvement and weaknesses are highlighted for attention in the next training session. Unsurprisingly, the FeetMe Sport uses Bluetooth to pass the information on to a nearby smartphone or tablet, giving feedback in the field. There’s a professional version for healthcare aimed at people who have gait or foot problems, or need post-operative assessment, allowing clinicians to review the data from the insoles. The FeetMe Sport insoles are on pre-order for US$150. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Smart Running with FeetMe Sport at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Parents around the world will recognise the perennial problem of taking their child to the doctor for relatively minor ailments simply to get prescription or medication. The kid just wants to be wrapped up in bed watching TV but they’ve to be dragged down to the doctor for 2 minute exam to confirm it’s nothing to worry about. TytoCare have a brilliant solution in the shape of the TytoHome telehealth and remote examination kit. Todd finds out more from Dedi Gilad. The TytoCare system is a hand-sized unit with a small screen which has icons for the body area to be checked – nose, ears, heart, lungs, temperature. The device uses a selection of interchangeable sensors which are shaped appropriately and are plugged into the rear of the unit. The device combines a number of medical instruments, including a high resolution video and still camera an infrared forehead thermometer an otoscope for the ear stethoscope for the heart and lungs tongue depressor for the mouth and throat The TytoHome connects via Bluetooth to any smartphone and the complementary app demonstrates and guides the owner in the use of the device. The collected data is either recorded for later review or on online consultation can be started with a healthcare provider, sending data back to the clinician during the discussion. The TytoHome is expected to retail at US$299 when it comes to market. There are enhanced versions for professional use (TytoPro and TytoClinic). Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post TytoCare Telehealth at CES Keeps Sick Kids at Home appeared first on Geek News Central.

While 3D printers struggle to find a place in homes and offices, they’ve revolutionised the world of prototyping and the development of “one offs” within design and manufacturing. SE3D hope to push 3D printing into education and science, and Todd discusses the possibilities with Dr Mayasar Lim from SE£D. SE3D’s printer differs from other devices through the substrate used for the models. Instead of plastic or metal, it uses organic materials to build the structure. By using plant or animal calls, the model can then be used within demonstrations, experiments and trials to show the response to, say, enzymes or therapeutic treatments. Aimed at both education and laboratory markets, the basic printer unit is around US$4,000 and SE3D can provide a package for schools that includes curricular materials along with reagents and other materials. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post SE3D Offers 3D Printing for Living Cells at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

In our previous post, we touched briefly on the latest version of Ford SYNC, and how the platform will integrate with Amazon’s Echo (Alexa) service. In this video, Todd spoke with Jack from Ford who gave some more detailed information on how SYNC will be able to integrate with Echo: Voice recognition allows drivers to give hands-free voice commands using Alexa Drivers will be able to access third-party services and functions thru Amazon Echo that allow them to do things like turn on garage lights in connected homes Drivers will be able to use home or office-based Echo units to ask about the status of their SYNC-enabled cars to get information like battery charge rate, etc. Alexa integration will allow drivers to ask their cars where nearby stores, restaurants, and other locations are and seamlessly get directions to those locations that are then sent to the car’s built-in navigation system Ford is planning on adding Alexa/Echo integration to Ford SYNC 3 in the summer of 2017. Support our coverage sponsors   The post Ford SYNC Integrates with Amazon Echo at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

It might seem surprising to find a car manufacturer like Ford at CES, as the convention is primarily focused on gadgets and consumer technology. But Ford has been present at CES for several years now, focusing on its Ford SYNC in-dash system. Todd met up with Stefan from Ford where Stefan showed off some of the latest developments in SYNC. Including: Integration with Amazon Echo (Alexa voice commands) Driver Score app calculates a score based on your driving behavior that could be used to negotiate coverage rates with insurance companies (SYNC only provides scores to vehicle drivers, it doesn’t report directly to outside parties) Speed Pass+ integration allows drivers to find nearby Speed Pass-enabled fueling stations where they can see which pumps are available and select and set up a pump before pulling into the station SYNC has a built-in mobile navigation app that integrates with third-party apps so drivers can select the navigation app(s) they prefer to use Ford SYNC is currently available in many vehicles and will be added to more vehicles as the company continues to roll out and improve the platform. Support our coverage sponsors The post Ford SYNC Brings Multiple Apps to the Dashboard at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Getting enough sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle but for some people the problem isn’t just about getting into bed early enough, it’s about falling asleep. Israeli firm 2breathe has developed a smart sensor and complementary app to help those who have difficulty nodding off. Todd relaxes with Erez. 2breathe is a guided breathing system that uses a body-worn sensor to read the breaths in and out. The app records the breathing rate and then using softly-spoken instructions and gentle music, gradually reduces the breathing speed of the wearer. As the breathing rate slows, the soon-to-be-sleeper will get drowsy and fall asleep. In the morning, the app produces a session report, showing the time to snooze and breathing patterns. The CES Innovation committee though this was a good idea too, awarding 2breathe a CES Honoree Innovation Award. 2breathe is available now for US$179, either direct from 2breathe or other major online retailers. It’s currently only available for Apple iOS devices. Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com. Become a GNC Insider today! Support our coverage sponsors The post Fall Asleep Effortlessly with 2breathe at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.