NFC Helps Automate Your Cooking Routine

February 21, 2015CES 2015, Home, MobilePLUGHITZ Live

When you think of NFC technology, you might not immediately think of usages for an oven. That is why NXP Semiconductors employs some smart people to think about new usages for their technology. In an oven, it turns out there are some great usages, both for consumers and repair.

As a consumer, the idea of being able to use a recipe app on your phone, like MSN Food & Drink, you could not only plan your meal, but program your oven. In fact, you could program various levels, and automate temperature variances all with the tap of a phone.

As for maintaining your appliance, think of the possibilities of an oven that could tell you what was wrong. With NFC, the chip receives power from the receiver, not from the device that programs it. That means, even if the oven’s power supply has failed, the NFC chip could still pass along its final readings. That could prevent a lot of guess work for technicians, and end up costing you a lot less.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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A Near Field for Your Car Lock

February 21, 2015Auto, CES 2015, MobilePLUGHITZ Live

NXP Semiconductors might not be a brand you’re familiar with, but in a day of connectivity, they are a company you’ve likely interacted with. Formerly part of Philips, the company makes a lot of the connectivity technology that makes your gadgets work.

In a demo, the company showed us a Near Field Communication prototype that allows you to open your car with your phone. The phone communicates with the car via NFC, and can have various activities at various distances. In the demo, we saw the dome lights turn on as the phone approached the car, and the doors unlock closer.

The technology is not limited to vehicles, either. It could be used on a home door, or as part of a unified system, like Nexia Home Intelligence. You could even use it within the home to turn on lights as you enter a room. The technology is in the world today, and could make it into vehicles in the near future.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gibson Brands + Blue Microphones = Some Neat Products

February 21, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

People the world over know the brand Blue Microphones. From recording studios to radio, podcasters and even videogame streamers use their line of cost effective products every day. When their founder, Skipper Wise, left the company to retire, Gibson approached him to create a new for them.

Enter Neat Microphones, designed by Skipper Wise and his microphone dream team, they aim to create a line of microphones to make recordings sound better. Currently offering the King Bee and Worker Bee, the line will be 6 strong by year’s end.

All of the products in the line, as well as their accessories, are named after and colored to resemble bees. The distinctive yellow and black markings, as well as the accompanying bee figurines, make this line visually distinctive. Even the knobs fit into the branding, designed after a bee’s stringer, and known as “stinger knobs.”

The line, in addition to the microphones and headphone amp, has a small collection of accessories. Included in the accessories is a pop shield, shock mount and XLR cables. All are priced to be more than competitive, and could feel right at home in any studio.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gibson Enhances the Studio with Les Paul Monitors

February 21, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

For his 100th birthday, Gibson is celebrating with new products in the Les Paul product line. Adding to the existing guitars and new headphones comes a set of studio monitor speakers. Like the headphones, using the same wood as the guitars, these speakers are styled to match both the guitars and headphones perfectly.

At the base of the speaker is a lighted Gibson logo. That logo, a seemingly simple detail, serves as the power indicator. When on, the logo is lighted; when off, it pulses. These are the types of details that make Gibson a great, professional design brand.

The monitors come in 3 sizes: 4″, 6″ and 8″. This sizing describes the cones of the woofers, which are custom designed to create a perfect audio reference for a studio. You can get the speakers in cherry, cherry burst and tobacco burst. You can pick up your own set for %599, $799 or $999 righyt now.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gibson Adds Headphones to Their Iconic Line

February 21, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

Gibson may be best known for their guitars, but that is not all the company has up their sleeves. This year, the brand is introducing a line of headphones, filling all of the same levels their guitars do.

At the top of the line is the Les Paul headphones. Styled to match the look of the classic Les Paul guitars, these headphones are made with the same wood as the rest of the Les Paul line. To ensure that the headphones are properly protected, they come in a specially designed hard-body case.

As you would expect from a Gibson product, the sound quality is amazing. The cones are tuned to produce sound exactly as it is being played. This, along with its other features, makes the headphones a perfect on-stage or in-studio companion for any serious musician.

Along with the Les Pauls, there are other models being released, both smaller and less expensive. The headphones come with a variety of features, including standard 1/8″, Bluetooth and Thunderbolt. You can get a version with a microphone, to be used with your phone, and some models can even be fully customized, like Gibson Guitars.

If you are a Gibson fan, and want a high-end sound, these headphones are for you.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gibson Talks About Their 2015 Guitars and Features

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Entertainment, GadgetsPLUGHITZ Live

Whether you play guitar or not, you almost certainly know Gibson. The company is best known for carrying on the tradition of Les Paul, who was the creator of one of the first, and certainly best-known, solid-body electric guitars. The Les Paul line of guitars carries on in the visual tradition, making them incredibly distinctive.

This year, which would have been his 100th birthday, the company is celebrating by enhancing his legacy through enhanced and additional products. For example, his signature, as well as the number “100” in his handwriting, has been added to each guitar. There is also a hologram of what is believed to be the final photo of Les Paul on the back.

In the technology of the guitar, the company has made their robot guitar smaller, and will include it with every Gibson USA guitar this year. For those who do not know, this feature allows you to choose a tuning, and the guitar tunes itself. It requires no wood be removed form the guitar; instead, it sits at the top behind the tuning knobs.

As Daniele is a big fan of Gibson, and is really into their guitars, she was curious which Gibson guitar a beginner should own. Check out all of the cool new features of the Gibson guitars.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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BLU Products Talks About Their Windows Phones Devices

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Mobile, WirelessPLUGHITZ Live

Yezz wasn’t the only company showing off Windows Phones; Miami, Florida-based BLU Products also had a pair of Windows Phone handsets on display. These devices have been available through the Microsoft Store for a little while now, but we wanted to get a better idea of why BLU decided to join the Microsoft family, how they have been doing and what the future holds.

The two current handsets are the BLU Win Jr ($89) and the BLU Win HD ($179). In BLU tradition, the handsets are all done in wonderfully crazy colors, and available unlocked for better than reasonable prices. More importantly, the specs manage to keep pace with the better-known brands.

Apparently, this combination is enough to keep the phones on the move. The company says that the Microsoft Store has big demand for the handsets. In fact, while discussing the current handsets, we had the opportunity to discuss the company’s future in the Microsoft ecosystem. Luckily, we will see new handsets added to the lineup, likely to coincide with the release of Windows 10 for Phones.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Yezz Announces a New Windows Phone and Firefox Device

February 20, 2015CES 2015PLUGHITZ Live

While CES might see a lot of talk about Android, Yezz took the opportunity to speak about 2 other platforms: Windows Phone and Firefox OS.

The company currently offers a pair of Windows Phone devices: the Billy 4 and Billy 4.7. This year, they announced a new member of the family: the Billy 5S. This is their first LTE device in the Billy line, as well as the first to sport a 13MP rear camera, and a 5″ IPS screen. It also sports dual SIM capability and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor.

In addition to the Billy 5S, Yezz also announced a new line of handsets: the Foxy, a line of Firefox OS handsets. As with most Firefox OS handsets, the specs are not traditionally spectacular, but are enough for the target demographic. A 1GHz single-core processor, 4GB of internal memory and 2MP rear facing camera are the common capabilities of the 2 new handsets. The Foxy 3.5 offers a 3.5″ HVGA LCD screen, while the Foxy 4 offers a 4″ HVGA TFT LCD screen.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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TazTag Creates a Physically Secure Android Device and Service

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Mobile, WirelessPLUGHITZ Live

Security was a big topic at this year’s CES. From watches to USB keys, there were all sorts of products trying to solve the problem of security, in physical and virtual world.

TazTag has a new smartphone designed to ensure secure communications between devices. The devices have a combination of hardware and software security, helping to guarantee the person you are trying to communicate with is the person on the other end.

Using biometric sensors, the phone requires a physical unlock before any of the secured applications can be accessed. Currently, the system supports secure chat, email, SMS and others. Also available is an encrypted voice service, available between compatible devices. The company also provides a secure, private application marketplace.

The hardware of the phone is also secured, preventing a thief from simply flashing the firmware and getting around its security. Without the right configuration, the hardware will be come useless.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Sketchers Adds a Matching Game to Kids Shoes

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Entertainment, MobilePLUGHITZ Live

One of the fun things about CES is getting to see companies who seem like they don’t fit, and seeing what idea they bring to the table. This year, one of the companies that surprised us by showing off a truly interesting product was Sketchers, the shoe company.

This year, the company is releasing a line of shoes with a lighted matching game built directly into the side. Playing similar to the game Simon, kids get 8 rounds of increasing pattern to match. If they match all 8 rounds, they are treated to a light show from their feet.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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