Gadget Review of NAD VISO 1 Wireless Digital Music System

Key Features: 80W output (1x 50W sub, 2x 15W speakers); Direct Digital onboard amplifier; Bluetooth aptX; Locking, rotationing Apple connector; Output audio input, Component video output

Manufacturer: NAD Electronics

NAD VISO 1 Wireless Digital Music System

Hi-Fis are out, docks are in. This may be a sweeping statement, but the addition of yet another high end audio specialist into the sector only adds further proof. For 40 years NAD has been a standout name amongst audiophiles and it has now joined the likes of Bowers & Wilkins, Arcam, Monitor Audio and more by entering the incredibly competitive sector of Apple docks. 

Like its peers NAD has stuck to what it knows best, pitching the 'Viso 1' at the premium end of the market. This approach becomes clear before you switch the dock on. Out of the box it delivers a sense of déjà vu, yet somehow has a look all its own. NAD describes the Viso 1 as a 'ring design', referring to the silver band around it which contains the Apple connector. This is clearly inspired by the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air, but when combined with its tubular shape creates a dock that is stylish in its own right and delightfully different. 

Build quality is similarly impressive, successfully blending the piano black finish of the rear with the matt speaker covering and brushed aluminium ring. NAD takes pleasure in showing how the Viso 1 was put together too with the exposed screw at the top of the ring almost daring us to reach for our screwdrivers. Meanwhile the Apple connector itself has an industrial feel, sliding open to accept the iPhone/iPod before closing back down to hold it securely. This needs to be done as the connector can rotate 90 degrees allowing devices to be used in landscape mode. The genius of the ring design is it allows comfortable use of the device while connected, the sizeable downside is it means an iPad won't fit. 

Connectivity continues this theme and smart hit and bizarre miss. A considerable hit is the addition of component video output which allows 480p and 576p iPhone/iPod videos to be sent to an HDTV while the Viso 1 plays the sound track. There is also an optical digital input which accepts up to 24/96k music from external devices like a TV, disc player or media streamer turning it into a sound bar. Meanwhile a microUSB port is used for updating the firmware. Given this goes beyond the usual array of dock connectivity it is all the more surprising NAD has neglected to include an auxiliary 3.5mm jack. This is by far the most common connector on any music device and will leave non-Apple product owners scratching their heads. 

NAD does have an alternative: aptX. This is a proprietary audio codec which can be licensed and integrated into Bluetooth to offer significantly improved audio quality. What NAD doesn't advertise is aptX requires support not just in the dock, but the source device as well. Happily over 100 products support aptX natively, including the HTC One X, One S, and One V smartphones, Creative Ziio 7 and Samsung Galaxy 7.0/Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Plus tablets, the Motorola RAZR XT910 and even Mac OS X Snow Leopard and above. There are also numerous dongles available. What doesn't support aptX right now is Apple iOS devices which is significant as NAD has somewhat surprisingly (for a high end dock) omitted AirPlay, though it could add support through a software update at any point.

Performance & Bluetooth

So what about the audio? Here NAD brings out the big guns. At the heart of the Viso 1 is the company's top of the line 'Direct Digital' amplifier, the same amp seen in its $6,000 Masters Series M2 DAC. This bypasses the circuitry of the iPhone/iPod and takes their digital signal directly allowing it to process the audio directly. As such the Viso 1 is a bi-amplified system with digital crossover and NAD quotes the frequency response as 33Hz – 28kHz (-6dB), notably wider than the GenevaSound Model M for example. 

As for the speakers themselves NAD has fitted the Viso 1 with a 1in aluminium dome tweeter mounted coaxially in the 2.75in (7cm) midrange drivers plus a 5.75in (15cm) subwoofer. Total output is quoted at 80 watts, 15 per channel to the stereo drivers and 50 watts to the sub. This less than the competition. The B&W's Zeppelin Air and Monitor Audio's i-deck 200 manage 150W and 140W respectively, while the highly portable Arcam rCube still cranks out 90W. That said wattage can mean as much to audio quality as megapixels to photography and the Viso 1 still packs a punch. 

Bass response is what impresses most. NAD's 33Hz response figure is significant as it is a lot lower than both the Zeppelin Air (51Hz) and the i-deck 200 (60Hz) and this is noticeable on particularly bass heavy tracks where detail is retained at low volumes while it holds together without any significant distortion even at maximum volume. Equally worth of praise is the Viso 1's high range which delivers great clarity and rewards listeners of jazz and classical music in particular. 

Flaws? If anything the bass will prove a little heavy for some and on big beat tracks this can overpower the midrange robbing it of depth. For all its bass prowess the Viso 1's 80W output does come into play and it won't fill a large room like the Zeppelin Air or i-deck 200. Meanwhile stereo separation is narrow, obviously so when compared to the 45 degree tilted speakers in the rCube. Another minor irritant is the remote control, while simple and with excellent range, it makes the Viso 1 give a confirmatory beep every time a track is skipped. 

What brings the Viso 1 strongly back into our affections, however, is its implementation of Bluetooth. Granted it may not be the lossless-capable AirPlay, but even without aptX the DAC did a remarkable job of cleaning up the signal making it almost indistinguishable from being docked. Trying it with a aptX-friendly Motorola RAZR the results were astonishing and we'd challenge any audiophile to distinguish it from a wired connection. Non-Apple devices need an answer to AirPlay and for our money this is it, though a great deal of credit must go to the Direct Digital amp. We suspect the future for docks is to include both AirPlay and aptX.

Price & Verdict

All of which brings us to the ugly issue of price. On its own the Viso 1 is a fine dock with superb bass response and a wonderful DAC which performs miracles with its implementation of Bluetooth. It is also beautifully designed and looks good in virtually any setting. 

The problem for NAD is the dock market is well established and full of beautifully designed, superb sounding docks that also do battle on price. At £500 the Viso 1 doesn't get involved in the last of these and, much like the remarkable Libratone Live, this is its biggest downfall. 

Libratone priced itself out of a TrustedReviews Award for pricing the Live at £599, but it did come with AirPlay, a 150W output and some truly unique, if slightly bonkers styling (cashmere wool is a £100 optional extra). The Viso 1 lands itself in the same situation because at £500 it costs as much as the more powerful, equally stylish, AirPlay equipped Zeppelin Air. It costs £150 more than the Arcam rCube which offers proprietary lossless streaming (an iPod dongle is bundled), is portable and has a built in battery. Meanwhile the Viso 1 costs twice as much as the £250 i-deck 200 which, while lacking any form of wireless connectivity, sounds every bit as good.

Consequently, while we welcome NAD to the dock sector with open arms, we are tempted to make the analogy of a great football player joining Barcelona... they become just another good player. 

Verdict

NAD's dock debut will turn heads with its eye catching design and superb bass reproduction. It will also make friends and influence people thanks to a fantastic onboard DAC which transforms its Bluetooth connectivity into a genuine alternative to wired. If you have an aptX enabled device this leaps another level turning it into an AirPlay rival. The problem is, for the price, the Viso 1 should have AirPlay as well. It should also be louder, fit an iPad and certainly find space for a 3.5mm auxiliary jack. Its rivals do and often for a lot less.

[source: trustedreviews]

VOX amPlug AC30 Guitar Headphone Amplifier

For years, practicing electric guitar or bass at home has been a quiet activity for me. Since I don’t want to annoy the neighbors, the wife, or the cat (especially the cat), plugging my Fender Stratocaster into an amplifier and cranking it up to 11 has just not been an option.

But I love to play, and since I’m in two bands, I need to practice and keep up those chops! But what to do?

Well, the typical solution has been to just go unplugged … and hear what I’m playing just a little. Solid-body guitars and basses have barely any acoustic properties—just the resonance in the wood—so when you strum or pluck them, you’ll hear a faint sound, a weak note that’s barely representative of the rawk n’ roll awesomeness that will come forth when you go up to 11.

There are solutions I’ve used that won’t bother anybody. I have couple of guitar and bass processors—all-in-one units that, in addition to providing a ton of effects, also can serve as a mini-amplifier that you can listen to on headphones via the output jack.

But that’s not ideal, since the output jacks are mono and usually just send sound to one ear. Plus, they’re not exactly portable—hard to walk around the house and practice your rock moves when your headphones are connected to a pedal on the floor plugged into an AC outlet.

Plus, if I’m trying to learn a new song from a recording, there’s no way to hear it if I have the headphones on.

The solution to all of these problems has arrived in one compact item, the VOX amPlug AC30. This little beauty gets its name from the VOX AC30, one of the company’s classic guitar amplifiers. It’s so named because its sound is intended to emulate the sound of the original amp.

It’s a simple little unit, but it delivers exactly what I—and, I’ll bet, many of my fellow musicians out there—need to practice without bothering anyone.

And you can learn new stuff, thanks to one fantastic feature—the auxiliary jack! With this, I was able to plug in my iPod and listen to it in-line along with my guitar. Awesome!

Getting started with the amPlug AC30 was a snap. I put in the two AAA batteries (included—thanks, VOX) and then inserted its ¼-inch plug directly into my Strat.

Then I plugged my headphones into the appropriate jack, and flipped the on switch. The light indicated we were powered, so I turned up the guitar volume, and did likewise on the amPlug, which has Gain, Tone and Volume controls. It was obvious what Volume and Tone did, but Gain actually cranked up a little distortion, giving the sound a little edge, which I presume is evocative of the original AC30 amp.

It was equally easy to add my iPod to the party. A simple stereo male-to-male audio cable plugged from the iPod right into the amPlug, and the song I wanted to practice with—the killer instrumental “YYZ” by Rush—came through beautifully. I could adjust the song’s volume on my iPod, and then control the entire mix through the amPlug’s knobs.

The sound is very good. Is it the equivalent of what you’d get from a full-size amp? Of course not, but I never expected it to be. The amPlug delivers exactly what it’s supposed to: good practice sound—clean with the option of a little “amp dirt” if you want it—in the privacy of your own head.

And that’s really it in a nutshell. The amPlug does exactly what it’s supposed to, delivering clean, accurate amplification—with the option of mixing in another audio source—in a quick, efficient way that won’t disturb the neighbors (or the cat), all for one low price (it lists for $56, but can be found online for around $40 from a number of sellers).

The amPlug comes in a series of models, including Acoustic, Classic Rock, Metal … even a Joe Satriani model, and a Bass version, providing different sounds for whatever style you want to play in (prices vary for the different models, but most range from $40 to $50 at retail). If you’d rather play without the headphones, VOX also has a mini amPlug Cabinet (lists for $50, sells for around $30) with a 3-inch speaker and .7 watts of output.

Did I mention that the amPlug is cool-looking? Modeled after the look of a VOX amp, it’s a little plug-in with style.

This isn’t the first product of its type. The Rockman line of headphone amps have been around for a long time, but they don’t have a direct guitar plug-in (you have to connect your guitar with an external cable) and they cost about twice as much. Other companies also have their own comparable products. But I haven’t encountered a line that offers such an irresistible combination of features, compact size and ease of use at such an affordable price point. This is a winner.

[via: technologytell]

10 Things You Need To Know About Google's New Chromecast

Google's push for the living room got a fuel injection yesterday when the company revealed its Chromecast streaming stick. The compact dongle can push Web video, music and pics from the cloud to your television, but the really big deal is that you can control it all from a range of devices for a dirt-cheap price—a $35 price tag that could tip the scales for fence-sitters.

Here's what you most need to know about the little streaming stick that looks poised to make big waves:

1.  Chromecast really is tiny: 

The stick is just two inches long, with a micro USB port on one end and a HDMI plug on the other. So it won't take up precious space in an entertainment center. 

2. It has a power cord: 

That micro USB port is for power; you'll need to run a USB cable from the Chromecast to the included power adapter or a USB port on your TV. So the unit isn't a fully self-contained gadget that will hide neatly and completely behind a TV. It's worth noting for anyone who plans to carry it around to friends' houses, meetings or other places where connected TVs aren't available. 

3. There's no learning curve: 

Google repeatedly emphasized that there's nothing new to learn and no configuration to fuss with in Chromecast. It's fully controllable from iPhones, Android phones and laptops—in other words, a variety of gadgets that lots of people already own. Those can manage playback, pause, skip and even volume without any real setup or need to learn new sets of controls.

4. Chromecast is largely platform agnostic: 

You can control Chromecast from Android phones or tablets (version 2.3 or above), iOS devices (6.0 or higher), and computers with Chrome for Mac (Mac OS 10.7+) or Chrome for Windows (Windows 7+), as well as the Chromebook Pixel. Support for other Chromebooks is in the works. 

That agnosticism extends beyond simple control of the Chromecast. You can also resume watching, say, a Netflix movie on your mobile—whatever it is—from the precise moment where you left off on the TV, and vice versa. 

5. It's cloud-only: 

Unlike Apple's AirPlay, Chromecast does not involve flinging saved files from a phone, tablet or laptop to the television. Just tap a button inside a compatible site or mobile app, like YouTube, and the device grabs the same clips, songs and pics from the cloud. The upside is that this won't kill your mobile's battery, and you can keep using your device without causing the stream to stutter or crash.

The downside is that if you have a big media library saved on, say, your PC, you'd first have to upload it YouTube or another compatible site before you can play it through your TV—at least for now. Google's new Googlecast Software Developer Kit could change all that, though. Now that developers can make existing and future apps work with Chromecast, it's not hard to imagine some crafty app maker figuring out how to pull in local files too. (Yeah, I'm looking at you, Plex.) 

6. Compatible streaming sources are limited now, but sure to grow: 

The list of current and future offerings cover only a few major sites, including YouTube, Netflix, Google Music, Pandora and Google Plus photos. In time, though, there are sure to be others, thanks to the Googlecast SDK. 

7. If your media plays in a Chrome browser, it will play via Chromecast (for the most part): 

You don't have to wait for specific apps to support it. The Chrome browser powers the device, and it's capable of tossing practically anything from your laptop to Chromecast on your TV (though Silverlight and Quicktime videos need not apply, notes Wired). Hulu, Rdio, and HBO Go reportedly work this way; so do Flickr photos and browser-based online presentations. 

8. If you're hoping Chromecast will play nice with DRM-protected iTunes files, well, stop: 

This is not likely. At all. iTunes DRM (digital rights management) is fierce, and it has foiled countless other developers who'd like nothing better than to let their users enjoy iTunes videos.

Things get even more complicated when you consider Chromecast's cloud-only modus operandi, since shows you buy or rent from iTunes usually come via download. Although Apple does allow some streaming, it's mostly aimed at other iOS or OS X devices. It's not like you can stream all of your iTunes media to any device with a browser. These details are daunting enough, but with the bad blood between Google and Apple, Chromecast has next to no chance of overcoming any of these issues. 

(9) Consumers are already swarming in: 

The Google Play store has sold out of Chromecasts, with the earliest ship date showing August 7 (as of this writing). Amazon briefly had it, but then also sold out. At this time, Best Buy online is the only Internet retailer I found that has inventory, and here too, it's very likely to sell out quickly. [UPDATE July 25, 2013: BestBuy.com has sold out. UPDATE 2: BestBuy.com showed more stock, but seems to be out again. Clearly inventory levels are fluctuating, so if you're interested, you may want to check the page periodically.] 

At $35, it's likely that many customers aren't just buying one—they're probably picking up piles of them, as Google recommended, for use on every TV in their house. The takeaway: If you want Chromecast and you spot it online, grab it. Grab it now. 

(10) The free Netflix promotion applies to everyone [see update below]: 

Every product purchase comes with three months of Netflix for free. This is not some restricted offer for new customers only, but a valid promotion for both new and existing subscribers. (I confirmed this directly with Netflix.) If you factor that in, the already meager price of the Chromecast drops even lower still—to the tune of $11. 

The Bottom Line

Users looking for TV streaming devices don't lack choices. But so far, no single company has been able to deliver quite this combination of promised ease-of-use and cross-platform compatibility at a rock-bottom price. 

Roku comes close, but it doesn't integrate with mobile platforms very well—apart from having a remote control app—and its least expensive unit, the Roku LT, is more expensive ($50) and can't handle HD. The Roku 2 XD can, but it costs $80. Interestingly, the company launched its own streaming stick last year, which also plays 1080p HD, but at a high cost of $100. And it's not easy to view a simple YouTube video on a Roku.

That's not to say that Chromecast can satisfy every one of your streaming needs. As mentioned, Chromecast can't play locally stored media files, and it will likely never play iTunes movies. But at this price, it's tough to criticize it.

This isn't the first time Google has dabbled with connecting TVs. Remember Google TV and the Nexus Q? Maybe third time's the charm, because by the looks of it, the Chromecast seems like the company's best chance for a hit. 

To see the device in action, check out Google's promotional video below.

[via: readwrite]

NFC Ring To Unlock Cell Phone and Door Lock

The tech world may be hoping for Apple to unbox some wearable technology in the near future but who cares about the iWatch when an NFC ring is a thing? NFC fans — you know, these sort of folk — hankering for the convenience of having the wireless transfer tech always on their person should point their eyes at this U.K.-based Kickstarter project.

The NFC ring is designed to be used in conjunction with NFC-enabled gadgets — such as smartphones and tablets, NFC door locks and so on — so the wearer can perform tasks such as unlocking their phone, unlocking their front door or sending their contact info, personal website or Bitcoin address to another smartphone user by either fist-bumping or using an open-palm gesture.

Provided you’re happy to wear a bit of bling, the relatively slimline ring gets around some of the awkwardness associated with bumping and grinding NFC phones together to do data transfers (aka ‘phone sex‘). Being passive NFC, it also doesn't need any battery power to work. And all the programming is done via apps, including third party apps if you want to use it to unlock your phone.  The NFC ring creators have also made their own open source software for writing actions to the ring.

The ring actually has two NFC inlays, with a larger ‘public’ area designed to worn at the top for sending things like contact data via a fist bump gesture, and a smaller ‘private’ area designed to be worn so it can be concealed in the palm and only activated via an open palm gesture. This area is intended to store more sensitive data such as front door and phone unlocking info, says creator John McLear.

The dual NFC design is intended to help keep a ring owner’s most sensitive data from being slurped by nearby NFC readers. But it’s worth pointing out that jewellery rarely stays put so NFC ring bearers are likely to end up spending a lot of time checking their precious is correctly aligned. Or drunkenly failing to send contact info to the person they are trying to chat up in the bar, and trying to unlock a non-existent front door instead. That’s a whole new level of geek faux pas.

The NFC ring is basically a more convenient (i.e. wearable) version of the NFC tags that are sometimes shipped with NFC smartphones. But since awkwardness is a barrier to more widespread NFC use, anything that helps reduces friction is a welcome development for the contact-less fraternity.

The NFC ring is fast approaching its Kickstarter funding goal of £30,000 — with close to 1,100 backers pledging almost £29,500 so far with 27 days left on the campaign. The creators say rings are due to ship in late October, if all goes to plan. Cost per ring is around £25/$38 but the creators have also released a CAD design so the basic ring form can be hacked, customised and 3D printed. They are then offering cheaper pledges to just ship the NFC inlay for fixing inside these 3D printed rings.

It’s worth flagging that the “normal size ring” (which is ~7mm wide) doesn’t work with all NFC phones — notably the Samsung Galaxy S4 and BlackBerry Z10 won’t play nice. For those devices the creators warn “you will need an alpha size ring”, which they add is “really only for chaps with big fingers”.

[via: techcrunch]

Chromecast Streaming Device To Bring Chrome To The Living Room

Meet the Chromecast. As the name suggests, it’s powered by Chrome and is designed to bring Google’s browser/OS to the biggest screen in the house.

The Chromecast is designed first to be a streaming device. It’s supposed to be the easiest way to get YouTube and Google Play and Netflix and Pandora and photos on HDTVs. Think Apple TV, but rather Google TV with another name (because, well, Google TV is already a thing).

The Chromecast is the first expansion of the Chrome operating system out of traditional forms of computing. Up until now, Chrome OS was a desktop operating system, designed for use on a laptop or monitor. Google retooled it for the living room and tapped mobile operating systems to provide the content.

The Chromecast uses an AirPlay-type system to provide content to the device. From Android or iOS, users simply hit a button on YouTube to load the video on the other screen. Quick and easy.

The Chromecast is essentially Google’s answer to AirPlay. But it’s available on more than just one platform. It also features group playlists, continues playing the media back while the phone is doing other things and even streams while the device is asleep. The big downside is that, as of right now, this feature requires the Chromecast device — it’s not available on countless devices like AirPlay. At least not yet.

Best yet, any device can be the controller. Start a video on one device, turn it off, and another device can still control the video started. It appears to be seamless.

Desktops connected to the same network can also act as a controller. Click the cast button, the video will play and the computer will continue to play the media as it does other tasks.

The device itself is a small HDMI stick similar to the Roku Steaming Stick. It’s powered by USB and Google TV VP Mario Queiroz bragged that it features quick and easy setup.

The Chromecast is now available in just $35 in the U.S.

[source: techcrunch]

Handyscope Scanner that Checks For Skin Cancer

I just love it when technology is being used for good. Often technology is used in medicine, and technology has been making leaps and bounds in the past few years in the field of medicine. But it’s not as often that we see medical technology that can be used by anyone. Well that’s just what’s happening with the new Handyscope skin scanner.

The device is being developed by researchers in Queensland, and it aims to eliminate the need for all the waiting involved with checking your skin for skin cancer. Normally, the process would involve making an appointment with a dermatologist, and then waiting for the results to come back. 

Now, using the Handyscope scanner, you can simply take a photo of the suspect area on your skin, and send it off to your doctor, who can look it over to see if the area could be a threat. The scanner also aims to improve early detection rates of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is extremely common. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans develop a form of skin cancer over their lifetime, and skin cancer is responsible for thousands of deaths every year. That’s what the Handyscope aims to change. If the cancer is detected at an earlier stage, then it’s much more likely to be able to be treated, which in turn could potentially save that persons life.

The Handyscope is currently only used for the iPhone 5 – it’s a slide on attachment that includes a special camera that can take extremely clear and close up images of your skin. The device is also great for recovering skin cancer patients who would have to see their doctor regularly, and could eliminate the need to schedule an appointment as often.

The Handyscope is a step in the right direction, and could be an extremely convenient and effective tool against skin cancer.

Black Hole Cell Phone - A Future Gadget

Technology is developing at an enormous speed and you never know what's next to come, say, for example, in 2020. But there are people who can visualize what the future would look like and what devices we might get soon.

One of those who like to contemplate about the future of technology is French designer Josselin Zaigouche who decided to design this incredible gadget, dubbed Apple Black Hole (and it's not because it will such Apple down if it hits the market). The name was probably inspired by the numerous applications one can find in Apple's device (such as iPhone and iPad).

The futuristic device uses holographic technology to help the user navigate through a myriad of programs. The device comes with a charging base, Prism and the Black Hole. 

Here's a short tutorial on the gadget: after opening your hand, the ball in the middle of the device starts levitating, allowing you to control different applications in mid-air. If you attach the gadget to the recharging base it automatically turns into a desktop device, which is really cool. Let's hope such technology will be available in the near future and hopefully it will be eco-friendly as well.

MindWave Mobile: The Headset that Reads Your Brainwaves

Neuroscience meets technology in the MindWave Mobile, an EEG device for Android and iOS platforms that reads the user’s brainwaves in order to interact with a number of mobile applications. The MindWave connects to the mobile handset via Bluetooth, and is available in two different packages: the Mind Play bundle and the Brainwave Starter Kit.



This headset is similar to the MindWave which is a standard EEG, but uses BCI to communicate with a computer or mobile phone.

What Exactly is the MindWave?

The MindWave is a device that utilizes a BCI (Brain Computer Interface), which translates electrophysiological activity (brain waves) in signals that can be used by mechanical devices. While the technology itself is fairly new, humans have dreams of the possibility for decades. In fact, BCI devices were the staple of many older science fiction television series, like the Six Million Dollar Man, which features a man that had been fitted with a neural prosthesis after being injured.

What Does the MindWave Do?

In essence, the MindWave allows the wearer to interact with a simulated environment by using nothing more than their thoughts. Granted, the device does not actually read the thoughts, but rather the electrical impulses being produced by the brain, usually catching them as they run along the scalp. Think of it as a new type of game controller that interprets brainwave patterns to control a game or application rather than requiring the user to press buttons on a hand-held controller. Regular use of the MindWave device may, according to the manufacturer, allow the wearer to reach higher mental states, much the same way that those who frequently read books get better at reading.

What the MindWave Doesn't Do

Neuro Sky, the company that makes the MindWave Mobile, is quick to point out that the device does not control the thoughts of the wearer. The device is unidirectional, meaning that the information only flows from the brain to the device, not the other way around. Unfortunately for the evil masterminds of the world, this process makes it impossible to interfere with, or control, the thoughts of others.

Brainwave Starter Kit vs. MyndPlay Bundle

The MindWave comes in two basic packages, each with varying features. The Brainwave Starter Kit, for instance, consists of only the headset, and is considered to be a basic introduction to brainwave technology and neuroscience. The Mynd Play bundle, on the other hand, is touted as the world’s first mind-controlled video application, and is similar to the “choose your own adventure” books. The Mynd Play lets users adjust outcomes and scenes within movies by simply relaxing and focusing as needed.

Availability of Apps

Neuro Sky operates an app store specifically for the MindWave device. This store consists of more than 100 games, puzzles and other applications that work with the device. Prices for Neuro Sky’s apps vary greatly, similar to most other app stores. Applications range from simple games like fishing, golf and sports, to apps that help the user exercise their mental capacity, such as a math trainer, visualization applications and meditation journals. Neuro Sky apps are available for Windows and Mac as well as both iOS and Android devices, and are created by a number of well-known developers such as Alchemy, Cu Soft and Itallis.

[via: crunchwear]

The Projector Bracelet A Future Gadget

Snowcorn is a bracelet like concept device with sixth sense which includes a built-in projector, a camera and Wi-Fi connectivity. Moreover, this device can be placed anywhere on around your neck or chest. The transparent part of this device is a screen that can show basic functions or time and more complicated controls are done by the projected UL. 

You will be able to customize it with your desired color and style. This device will allow you to scan a business card to include the person’s particulars to your address book via Wi-Fi. Another key benefit of Snowcorn is you can translate a word or phrase that is unfamiliar with you in a book.

[source: it-tech]

Future Camera D Can

Meet the D-Can, a concept camera that resembles a military-grade spotting scope equipped with long-zoom capabilities. Straying from traditional camera designs (though it’s somewhat similar to the Lytro camera), designer Jean-michel Bonnemoy believes the form factor of today’s cameras should be updated to a cylindrical design for better ergonomics. 

This concept snapper features an ISO range of 100 to 6,400 and comes with a long-zoom lens coupled with image stabilization capabilities. Its lens cap doubles as an electronic flash–capable of firing an AF-assist beam at the same time. 

When the camera’s in use, shutterbugs can either utilize a hooded magnifier to frame compositions or choose the camera’s Live View function via a high-definition LCD display. Auto focus can be further fine-tuned using the snapper’s on-board trackball. It also comes with external ports that allow users to equip the device with an audio headset, a stereo microphone, and an external power supply. 

Should the D-Can become a reality, we wonder if one would be able to store it in a pocket comfortably due to its elongated shape.

[via: t-future]

The Memoto Lifelogging Camera - World’s Smallest Wearable Camera

Never miss another of life’s special moments with the Memoto Lifelogging Camera that you wear as it creates a continuous life log that you can go back to and relive the memories. Said to be the world’s smallest wearable camera, the Memoto Camera does everything a regular camera does, such as taking pictures and registering GPS position, yet it has no controls. 

Instead, it automatically takes photos as  you go, then the Memoto app seamlessly and effortlessly organizes them for you. As long as you wear it, it’ll constantly take pictures. The camera takes two, geotagged photos a minute with recorded orientation so that the app can show them upright no matter how you are wearing the camera. 

And don’t worry about it getting damaged in weather since it’s weather protected. The app itself provides you pictures of every single moment of your life while wearing it and provides info on when you took it and where you were.

Batteries can last up to two day of  use and to recharge them, you connect the camera to your computer; at the same time the photos are automatically uploaded to Memoto’s servers. It comes in three different colors: Arctic White, Graphite Grey and Memoto Orange and retails for $279.

GooGo Camera Is Essentially A Spy Camera For Your iPhone

We have all got things we’d like to keep an eye on when we’re not around. Puppies, children, sandwiches in the break room that you know you didn't eat and that somebody keeps stealing…hey, we've all got something we’re concerned about. And now, with the GooGo Camera, you can keep an eye on it remotely for relatively cheap.

The GooGo Camera is far from the first remote camera you can access with your smartphone, but it’s one of the few that’s effectively cross-platform: Both iPhone and Android users can get in on the fun, although Android users report the app can be a bit variable. The  GooGo Camera has both WiFi and app access, so in theory, even across the country you can check out what’s happening at the work fridge. Just boot it up, enter your password, and you’re seeing what the camera sees. In a nice touch, you can access it directly with WiFi, no router necessary.

The camera itself is fairly standard, and in fact is a little bit low end; at three megapixels, and a maximum video resolution of 640 by 480, you aren’t going to be capturing the rich glory of human experience. Also, the GooGo Camera has a fairly obvious weakness; it’s got a fairly standard lithium battery that has to be recharged via USB, so you’re not going to be able to plant it somewhere and leave it for a few days. 

One assumes that the more functions you use, the faster the battery drains, so if you’re planning on getting a lot of video of Herman from accounting eating your Twinkies, you might want two of them.

On the other hand, it’s probably a good thing that a small, portable, non-obvious camera that costs $70 or even less from various Internet outlets needs to be recharged constantly. Otherwise, we suspect we’d be seeing these things turn up in locker rooms and Victoria’s Secrets across the nation.

[source: gadgetreview]

The Virtual Keyboard

The Virtual Keyboard

This is the Bluetooth device that projects a laser-generated keyboard onto any flat, opaque surface, providing an instant keyboard for any iPad, iPhone, or Android phone. 

The Class II laser device generates a 9 3/4"-wide x 4"-deep keyboard with 3/4" keys and recognizes keystrokes in three dimensions by an optical sensor that detects finger placement at different areas on the keyboard, distinguishing between a finger hovering above the space bar or a number key. 

An invisible infrared horizontal plane projected millimeters above the surface detects actual contact with "keys"-when the plane is interrupted by a finger, the projector assigns a keyboard character, passing it along to a paired device. 

Keeps pace with typing speeds up to 400 characters-per-minute. Its rechargeable battery provides up to 2 1/2 hours of operation from a 1 1/2-hour charge from AC using the included USB/AC adapter (or three hours via direct connection to a computer). 3" H x 1 1/2" W x 1 1/4" D. (2 1/2 oz.)

[via: hammacher]

The iPhone Photo Printer

This is the compact, portable printer that produces photo quality pictures directly from a docked iPhone 4 or iPod touch. Also connecting to iPhone 5, Android phones, and iPads (using your existing Lightning, Micro-USB, or iPad cable), the printer requires no computer or software, and is controlled from your device via a free downloadable app.

In less than 59 seconds and without ink cartridges, it prints crystal-clear 300 dpi resolution pictures with vibrant colors, thanks to patented paper embedded with yellow, magenta, and cyan dye crystals. The printer can produce one, four, or 10 smudge- and tear-proof, fade- and water-resistant images on each 4" x 6" border-less sheet. 

It prints panoramic shots from a connected iPhone 5 and prints from Pict Bridge-capabale digital cameras. It also charges an iPhone 4, iPad, or iPod touch via the built-in 30-pin connector. Includes one thermal paper cartridge that makes 12 prints. Plugs into AC. 4" H x 7" W x 6" D. (3 lbs.)

Power Dock 5 - A Family Charging Station

When you have a lot of USB-chargeable portable devices to charge then you either have USB chargers scattered all round the house or a single location with a potential tangled nest of cables. 

The Power Dock 5 from Griffin can tame the charging cables into one neat, sleek charging station with room to corral and charge five devices at once. This station takes up about the same area as a tablet, but it has five charging bays with USB ports. Each port provides 5V at 2.1A, so each can handle even a power-hungry tablet. 

The bays are large enough to accommodate devices in their cases. Because you provide your own cables, you know the Power Dock 5 is compatible with any USB-chargeable device you own now or in the future. The Power Dock 5 is available now at Griffin for $99.99.

Aqua Farm Gadget for the lazy green-thumb pet owner

What if the “chores” of maintaining a fish tank and herb garden suddenly took care of themselves, allowing you more time to, well, do just about anything else? 

The Aqua Farm from Back to the Roots is a closed loop eco-system that does just that! Your fish does his little fish thing on the bottom and the filter recycles the fish waste, water, and tank scum up to fertilize the fresh herbs and plants growing above. It’s aquaponics in action! That just leaves you to admire and feed your fish, while eating your new supply of organic herbs.

source: the-gadgeteer

Keep Herbs Fresh for Longer with the Herb Savor

If you wish to use herbs in your cooking but you’re tired of how quickly those expensive packets from the grocery store wilt, you need the Herb Savor from Prepara. The Herb Savor has been proven to keep herbs fresh for up to three weeks. 

You just place the herbs in the basket with stems pointing down, rinse them, stand the basket in the base that’s been filled with fresh water, and place everything in the refrigerator. The Herb Savor also works to keep asparagus fresh. 

[via: the-gadgeteer ]

Firefox OS Based First Smartphones Announced by Mozilla

Mozilla announced the first two smartphones based on its operating system, Firefox OS on Monday: the ZTE Open and Alcatel One Touch Fire.

The two devices will soon be available through Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom. Telefonica announced that the ZTE Open will be offered in Spain starting on July 2 for 69 euros ($90).

Individual partners will release the dates of availability for each market. Mozilla said that the first Firefox OS will launch in Central and Eastern Europe under the wing of Norway-based Telenor "this year."

Mozilla's Firefox OS, which was one of the main topics during this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, is a HTML-based, open source mobile OS that should provide a user-friendly alternative to Android, especially on entry-level handsets. 

Mozilla hopes to conquer much of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America with Firefox operating system — most of which are currently dominated by cheap Android devices.

ZTE Open is a 3.5-inch smartphone with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 256MB of RAM, a 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, A-GPS and Wi-Fi.

Alcatel One Touch Fire boasts nearly identical specs, but is powered by a Qualcomm processor.

Google Glass Workplace Policy Details

Most of us know about Google Glass. It’s a wearable computer with a head-mounted display that kind of looks like a pair of eyeglasses. You can take pictures, record video, get directions, send messages, share what you’re looking at and much more. It comes in multiple colors, and let’s face it — it’s neater than Jell-O. We all want to test drive a pair.

But from a business perspective, we have to view Google Glass (and similar kinds of wearable tech) a little differently. Despite the fact that Google Glass is not yet available to the public, several types of businesses — including restaurants, bars, night clubs, casinos and theaters — have already banned it from their premises.

Eric B. Meyer, a partner in the labor and employment group at the law firm of Dilworth Paxson LLP and author of the blog The Employer Handbook, sees other industries that might be impacted by Glass. “In industries and businesses where confidentiality or privacy is paramount, such as healthcare, financial services, legal, government — I can envision workplace rules specifically banning Google Glass.”

Part of the reason businesses will view Google Glass differently is the recording feature, says Heather Bussing, an employment attorney and contributor at the HR Examiner. “When everything someone sees can be recorded without other people knowing, it makes people uncomfortable. At worst, it is illegal since many states require consent before you record someone. At best, it’s bad manners.”

Google Glass Might Benefit Your Business

Before deciding to completely ban Google Glass, companies might want to evaluate if their business can benefit from using it. Meyer suggests some companies might embrace Google Glass for marketing purposes. “Real-time sharing could entice others to use the same products or service. An amusement park or ski resort, for example, may want to broadcast the customer experience.”

It’s also possible that Google Glass could benefit employees. For example, Google Glass could enhance department meetings because there would be a live recording of the discussion and decision-making process. It might create new opportunities for employee training and professional development. “It’s another way to communicate that we haven’t even begun to figure out,” Bussing says.

Wearable Tech Policy

Regardless of whether it benefits or challenges your company, Google Glass, like all new technologies, will test us. Companies will have to define what Google Glass means for their business and their employees. They will have to establish some decorum when it comes to wearable tech. Bussing reminds us, “Most companies don’t have a ‘do not record people in the bathroom’ policy. So it will be a good idea to establish some etiquette — at the very least, on what spaces are private and what are public.”

Meyer also mentions one area that companies will definitely want to address — employee safety. For example, West Virginia proposed an amendment to ban drivers from wearing Google Glass on the road. If companies have employees who drive as part of their regular duties, it will be important to specifically address driving, distractions and safety.

Another topic of focus will be confidentiality and trade secrets. Bussing believes, “Google Glass will get us focused on privacy and considering others across all technologies because there’s something about recording others so easily without their knowledge that crosses a line. Companies want to consider defamation, posting video of others without their permission, and protecting trade secrets and confidential information.”

Check Current Policies

Bussing says the good news is many of the workplace laws we currently have in place may already address the matter. “Laws like HIPAA, FMLA and ADA protect against ‘disclosures’ and require confidentiality of health information. It doesn’t matter how the information is collected, stored, or disclosed — it’s covered by the laws already.”

As more individuals start trying out the cool new Google Glass, businesses must become aware of the ways in which Google Glass could be used intentionally, or perceived by others, to violate employment laws. Then Meyer recommends “educating and training employees as well as managers in these areas.”

source: mashable

Hacked Microwave Scans Food Barcodes for Cooking Instructions

Tired of keying in commands for his microwave to follow, Nathan Broadbent decided to program his so it could accept voice commands — as well as scan product barcodes to determine how long they should cook.

Broadbent is a Ruby On Rails developer in his professional life, as well as his personal life. These skills combined with the hacker's favorite micro-computer (Raspberry Pi), was what allowed him to turn a regular microwave into something special.

A couple of the Raspberry Pi Microwave's features include voice commands, a clock that updates itself using the Internet and even custom sound effects for those who don't find the factory-set beep all that palatable.

The most impressive of these, however, is the barcode scanner that can pull cooking instructions from an online database, meaning you don't even have to set the microwave half the time. What's more impressive is the fact that there was no such database in existence, so Broadbent decided to build one of his own.

While it would have been enough to include all these custom features, Broadbent also made it possible to control the microwave using your phone.

One possible use is pre-loading a meal that you can start cooking when hunger strikes from another room. The microwave will even send you a Tweet when your food is ready, just in case you don't hear the beep.

There's no denying this is a complicated project to pull off, but the convenience could be reason enough to give it a try. There's even a video on Broadbent's of explaining some of the finer details and cooking — wait for it — a raspberry pie.

via: mashable

Talk Dock Cell Phone Receiver

Let's chat! But with our mouths. The Talk Dock will help. Remember when "chatting" involved a receiver comfortably nestled between your chin and shoulder while you paced the kitchen, tethered by a springy coil that was fun to wrap around your finger?

If not, congratulations on not having eye wrinkles yet. If so, welcome back. Now you can chat just like that, but while charging up your fancy phone.

The Talk Dock is a combination phone dock, charging station, and receiver, not to mention a fantastic conversation starter.

Its charger is compatible with the iPhone 4, 4S, or 5, but any phone with a headset port can use it if you've got a 3.5mm audio jack. The receiver also detaches, like the Pop Phone Headset, so you can take it with you, avoid that pesky radiation, and reclaim your ability to chat with no hands. No batteries required.

Here is an other post for iPhone Accessories

Click here

MaKey MaKey Turns Anything Into A Computer Key

Maybe you've never thought about playing piano on a bunch of bananas or turning Grandma into a space bar, but once I saw this cool new gadget that lets you turn (almost) anything into a computer key.

Think of it as one Father's Day gift that will bring your family a whole lot more fun than a tie. Unless you also turn that tie into controls to play Pacman.

Working on the principle that ordinary objects can still conduct electricity, the MaKey MaKey Invention Kit allows you to connect things like play dough, food, or even a pet to the little MaKey MaKey board.

With that board plugged into your computer, you basically "trick" your computer into thinking the objects are your keys or mouse.

It is so cool, I watched the demo video with my mouth hanging open. One warning: Unless you don't mind hearing your kids beg, don't watch it with them in the room.

Created by two graduate students at MIT Media Lab, MaKey MaKey is one of those computer gadgets that someone with very little by way of super technical computer smarts (i.e. me) can figure out. And if you've got a real techie in the house, they'll love exploring all the many capabilities, like the area for using the expanded keyboard ports and Arudino mode compatibility.

[source: coolmomtech]

Brilliant Device Turns Waste Paper Into Pencils

If you often find yourself searching for a pencil, then this clever little device called the P&P Office Waste Processor will keep well stocked by quickly producing them from simple office waste paper. The device gobbles up your paper waste basket contents and spits fully formed pencils out at the press of a button. Learn more after the jump!



The designers make the clever connection between an office’s waste stream and supply needs with a satisfying design that produces something truly useful — if not perfunctorily named. The literature says you simply feed a sheet of paper into the top and the device will wrap it tightly around a graphite stick, adding a bit of glue to keep the paper together. Once ready, the freshly minted pencil pops out the side.

There are plenty of paper-based pencils on the market, so it seems the product is viable, but since the user needs to supply glue and graphite sticks there is some fiddling. A transparent cover allows you to see the operation which can be set for automated or manual (although they do not explain what that exactly means). The P&P will even pre-sharpen the pencil before spitting it out. The same hole is also an automatic pencil sharpener.

The award winning device by Chinese designers Chengzhu Ruan, Yuanyuan Liu, Xinwei Yuan and Chao Chen looks promising, but as of yet, it’s not in production. If this high tech device really does what it claims, it could be quite popular in schools or some offices where folks still use the low tech pencil. Only time will tell if the design makes it to the local office supply store, but we are crossing our fingers.