Category Archives: Home

iSmartAlarm at CES

CES 2014, Home, Wireless

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Don Bain and Todd Cochrane inteviewed Zac Sutton of iSmartAlarm about their home security system, called CubeOne, at the broadcast booth for CES 2014.

The iSmartAlarm system plugs into your router and all of the remote sensors communicate with the CubeOne box which syncs with the cloud and an iOS (or Android) app to give you a security system that is infinitely customizable. Sensors and controls that can be hooked to the system include Remote Switches, Streaming Cameras, Door and Window Sensors, and motion sensors. The system can be controlled by a web interface, App or a remote control.

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The iSmartAlarm system is available now for $349 for the Premium Package and $199 for the Prefered Package. For more information or to buy, see iSmartAlarm.com

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

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QisDesign Designer Lighting from BenQ

Accessories, CES 2014, Home

QisDesignBenQ aren’t really known for their designer lighting but this is what Bob Wudeck brought along to Don and Todd at CES. BenQ has a range of about forty different lights and lamps sold under the QisDesign brand, and on show is a beautiful flexible table LED lamp. Inspired by the human spine, the Hatha LED table lamp won a series of design awards, including a Red Dot Design Award in 2012. It’s definitely designer lighting with a ticket of price of $450 and this is one of the cheaper ones!

BenQMore ordinarily for CES, Bob also brought along a BenQ GP20 projector. This 700 lumen HD projector is designed for cord-cutters and watching video rather than execs and Powerpoint slides. The HDMI input is ideal for connecting up a Roku for Netflix viewing and it’s quite portable at only 22 x 62 x 18 cm. Bob says in the video that it’s only 720p, but the specs at BenQ say 1080p; worth clarifying before shelling out around $700. It’s a nice little unit.

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

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Brookstone wants to help make your mixed drinks

Accessories, CES 2014, Home

brookstoneTodd stopped by the Brookstone booth to show off Perfect Drink App-Controlled Smart Bartending, a product he actually uses himself. With that disclaimer out of the way, here’s what it is.

Essentially, this is a food scale with a 1/8-inch jack that plugs into an iPad. It then utilises an app that allows the user to begin mixing ingredients from the many recipes available to make a mixed drink exactly right. You can even enter in the contents of your cabinet and the app will offer suggestions of drinks that you’re able to make based on that data. It’s available now and retails for $69. Find out more at Brookstone.

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

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Singing Machine Bluetooth Speaker and Karaoke Machine

CES 2014, Entertainment, Home

Singing Machine

Todd interviewed Kristen from The Singing Machine Company about their new Bluetooth Speaker and Karaoke Machine at Digital Experience during CES 2014.

The Singing Machine turns your Laptop, iOS device and TV into a Karaoke system that has Access to over 8000 HD Karaoke videos that can be streamed to your TV on demand. It also acts as a standard bluetooth speaker for times you just want to listen to music. The wireless remote also acts as the microphone.

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The singing machine is available now at Costco.com, Walmart.com and for $299. For more information see: https://home.singingmachine.com/

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

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Okidokeys Can Open A Door using Any Phone

CES 2014, Home, , , ,

okidokeys-2Todd Herion of Okidokeys joins us for the TPN CES live broadcast. Okidokeys is a smart lock and door solution. They want to take the flat key and connect with the other wifi devices.

Okidokeys lock uses a smartphone app to not only open locks for yourself, but also give access to friends and others. The web portal allows to share keys. Perfect for a vaction rental, time share or home rental.

This is a proximity range opener — no Wifi router needed. The lock has a motor which opens the door without needing the key. For an extra charge, you can set up a wifi solution so you can unlock a door while you are away.

The audio key will even work with non-smartphones. They call the number, set a pin code and a pitch will sound to unlock the door.

Prices start at $179. For more information, check out Okidokeys.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Daniel J. Lewis of The Audacity to Podcast

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SANUS VTM1 iPad Mount

CES 2014, Home, , ,
Sanus
Sanus

Sanus Lauren Theobald joined Don and I for the TPN CES Live Broadcast. Sanus is an AV manufacturer with cutom AV furniture and on-wall solutions. Easy to install, paint-able, customization and blends in with the room.

Lauren brought the Sanus VTM1 iPad mount. This is a stand or can be attached to a wall or under the cupboard to magnetically hold an iPad using the Magfit case. It is made with aluminum, so it is strong and durable.

The VTM1 is $119 and available now.

To check out all of Sanus mounts, goto Sanus.com

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Don Baine of The Gadget Professor

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iDevices: Four New iGrill, Kitchen Thermometer

CES 2014, Home, , , , ,
iDevices
iDevices

We are joined by Peter Gabriele of iDevices to the CES TPN Live broadcast. They have four new cooking thermometers at CES, including the new iGrill and indoor kitchen thermometer. Bluetooth connected to your iOS device, you can monitor the temperature of the center of food. The iGrill is perfect for grilling larger meats. The kitchen thermometer is smaller and can set right on top of the stove or the magnetic bottom can sit on a side of a fridge.

iDevices also makes a host of other products including the iShower, and iSwimband, which makes sure children don’t go underwater too long. The band works on their wrists or on a headband. If your child is swimming and the band indicates they are underwater too long, your smartphone will go off.

The Kitchen Thermometer starts at $39.99 (pre-order) and $79.99 now. The iGrill also has 3 models from $39.99-$99.99

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Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Don Baine of The Gadget Professor

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D-Link NVR and Low-Light Webcam

Accessories, CES 2014, Gadgets, Home, Video

D-Link LogoAt CES’ Digital Experience, Ken from D-Link tells Todd about their new (NVR) and low-light webcam.

The NVR can record up to 9 IP cameras at once, storing the images on the SATA drive. The feeds can be viewed either via an attached HDMI monitor or else viewed remotely via D-Link’s mydlink solution which securely connects from the Internet back to devices in the home, using a web browser or a smartphone app.

The low-light web camera works down to 0.01 lux light levels and can still pick out colours. In complete darkness, a white LED provides illumination for up to 50 feet. As you’d expect, it’s 802.11ac wireless.

Both the NVR and the webcam will have an MSRP of US$379 when they go on sale in April ’14.

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

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Omnimount PJT40 Projector Mount

Accessories, CES 2014, Home, TVs, Video

Omnimount LogoIf you want to hang or support some piece of technology from a wall or ceiling, then Omnimount ought to be on your review list as they have a portfolio of mounts and brackets that will do the job for flat screen TVs, speakers and projectors. Todd and Don chat with Kevin Paulson, who has the latest ceiling mount, the PJT40, for digital projectors. They also discuss the merits of desks that go up and down to facilitate standing at work. Really.

The new PJT40 is a universal projector mount that offers easy one person installation and tool-less microadjustment in the pitch and roll axes, making it simple to get a perfect image in your home cinema. The PJT40 will be on sale in February priced at US$179, which Don thinks is a bargain. Omnimount products are available AV dealers throughout the US and there’s more information at www.omnimount.com.

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

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BeeWi Combat Toys

CES 2014, Gadgets, Home, Toys & Gaming

BeeWi LogoTodd and Don have some fun with Tobias Schoeler from French wireless specialists, BeeWi, and on show at CES are Bluetooth battle robots. Controlled from a smartphone app, the robots can fight against themselves or other BeeWi remote controlled toys including helicopters. Very cool and lots of fun.

The robots will be available in the first half of 2014 priced at US$35 and will be supported on Android, iOS and Windows Phone devices. More information and more toys at www.bee-wi.com.

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

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