Gear - Geek News Central

ContourRoam Bullet Cam for Action Sports

Posted by Andrew at 1:07 AM on February 6, 2012

Snowboarders, skiers, mountainbikers, sky divers, hunters – if you want to show off your latest adventures to your friends and enemies, then Contour’s new bullet cam is the way to do it. Andy gets the deets from Marie at Contour.

The Contour+ was launched back in spring 2011 and quickly gained a following among the extreme sports crowd for the great video quality but at $499, it’s a little pricey, even if it does come with GPS, Bluetooth and an excellent lens.

The new ContourRoam arrived in the autumn and is a more affordable $199. It doesn’t have all the features of its more expensive sibling but it does have the 170 degree wide angle lens and it’s very easy to use with a simple on-off slider switch suitable for gloves or cold hands. Battery life is around 3 hours.

In the video, Marie claims that the camera doesn’t support microSD cards, but all the literature on Contour’s website suggests otherwise. There’s some great video footage on the site, too.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDR News and RV News Net.

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Tags: bullet cam, camera, ces, Contour, contourroom, extreme sports, microSD, outdoors, USB

Posted in ces, Gadgets, Gear, Interview, SD Card, snow board, Special Media, travel accessories

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Ivee Digit Alarm Clock

Posted by Andrew at 10:45 PM on February 4, 2012

The Ivee Digit alarm clock looks like an ordinary bedside LCD or LED alarm clock…but would it be at CES if it was just that? Andy and Courtney finds out what makes Ivee tick.

The Ivee Digit understands natural language and can respond to 35 voice commands and speaks the date, time and temperature. The big sister, Flex, includes a radio as well. You can tell Digit to set the alarm, tell you the time or snooze for another five minutes as you roll over for more ZZzzs.

Here’s a typical conversation with Ivee.

You: Hello Ivee
Ivee: Say a command
You: Set alarm 1
Ivee: Please tell me the alarm time
You: Seven o’clock am
Ivee: Alarm 1 is set to 7:00 am

Aside from the novelty value, it’s great for people who are short-sighted.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDR News and RV News Net.

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Tags: alarm clock, ces, clock, Digit, Flex, Ivee, voice recognition

Posted in ces, Gear, radio, Speakers, Special Media, Toys

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Burg Watch Phone

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 9:18 AM on February 1, 2012

Burg Watches One time there was a very popular comic strip in the 1930 of a detective known as Dick Tracy, one of the coolest gadgets that Dick Tracy had was a watch that was also a phone. Now over eighty years later the Dick Tracy watch has become a reality in the Burg line of watches.

The Burg Watches come in a sports and a children models. The basic Burg Watch will just make phone calls and do SMS messages. With the high end models you can make phone calls, send SMS messages, play music, take pictures and organize your data. It has 3.2 mb of memory and a USB connection. You can also record calls, and view images. The background can be changed to any photo you have on file on the watch. They do not connect to social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook at this time, but the company hopes the new models coming out in April will. You change from a regular watch to a phone by turning the dial. To access the menu on the higher end watches you simply push a button on the side of the watch. To get access to a specific section of a menu you simply tap on that section. These are stand alone phones and can be used with a Bluetooth headset.

I didn’t see any price I the Web site but there was one model available on Amazon for a little over $60.00. These would be great for a someone like a child who needs to have a phone with them, but is constantly losing theirs. The watches also have GPS in them so you can keep track of them easily.

Interviewed by Allante Sparks Host of F5 Live

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Tags: Burg, phones, watches

Posted in ces, Gadgets, Gear, Information, Special Media

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I’m Watch SmartPhone

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 8:42 AM on January 31, 2012

I'm Watch I’m Watch is the worlds first smart phone on your wrist. It tethers to your smart phone by Bluetooth. Now almost everything you do on your smartphone you can do on your wrist. No need to mess around in your purse or briefcase looking for your phone when you get a call. Simply tap on your watch and start to talk. The I’m Watch is based on Android 1.6, it has 128 mb of ram and 4 GBs of memory.

With normal use it will last about 8 hours. You can fit three applications on the main screen and you get to choose which ones. To get to the other applications you simply swipe to go into the library. Right now the applications available for the watch include; phone, address book, notifications, weather forecast, i’music, i’mage, appointments, multitasking, i’moticons, i’m Tweet and news just to name a few. There is a headphone and microphone jack on the side and also built-in speakers. The SDK has been released to developers so anyone can create an application for the I’m Watch. If you are a developer and are interested you can go to their developer Web site. It has a 1.54 inch display with 240×240 pixel resolution.

The watch comes in ~~[three models starting at $49.00]~~ six models starting at $329.00. They are currently taking preorders and the watches should ship in about a month. They hope to have them in retail stores within the year. I’m Watch was an Innovation Winner at CES this year. It looks like a stylish watch and a cool concept, can’t wait to see how they work in the real world.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Tags: I'm Watch, smart watch

Posted in ces, Gadgets, Gear, Information, Special Media

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Sennheiser Unveils High End Headphones

Posted by Andrew at 8:39 AM on January 31, 2012

Sennheiser is one of the big names in headphones, so it’s not unsurprising that a few of the latest models were released at CES. Nick hears the latest for sound buffs from Eric.

First up are the HD 700s, an open headset approaching reference standard. With a wide soundstage, angled transducers give it a sound experience similar to listening to a speaker array; other features are designed keep the sound as pure as possible. These headphones are aimed at audiophiles who want to hear every nuance of the recording. Pricey at around $1000.

Next are the HD 800s, a futuristic-looking headset that takes audio purity and quality to an amazing level. Every detail has a purpose in the design, giving unparalleled acoustic reproduction for the total audio purist. Even more pricey at around $1500.

And finally, the Sennheiser Amperior brings the world-famous HD 25s to portable devices by optimising the impedance to give superior sound from a smaller unit. Suitable for all MP3 players, Apple iPods and iPhones, the Amperior comes with an inline remote and mic. Available from March for around $350.

Interview by Nick DiMeo of F5 Live.

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Tags: Apple, audio, audiophile, ces, earphones, headphones, Headset, hifi, ipod, MP3, mp3 player, Sennheiser

Posted in Apple, audio, ces, digital audio, Gear, Home Theater, iPhone, ipod, MP3, Music, Special Media

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Q2 Radio by Armour Home Electronics

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 8:31 AM on January 31, 2012

There are a lot of Wi-Fi Internet radios around, many offer tons of options and stations to pick from. However most consumers have around four favorite stations they keep returning to again and again. Armour Home Electronics took this idea and produced the Q2 Radio.

The Q2 Radio is cube shaped and on each side is a preset radio station. You preset your choices by downloading the software from the Web and entering your access code. Once you have been identified you can then drag and drop your favorite stations. You can preset up to four stations one for each side of the cube. To change which preset station you are listening to you simply twist the cube until the station you want is at the top. To decrease or increase the volume start to tip the cube up or down. If you want to mute it turn it on its face. The Q2 Radio produces mono sound, but if you connect headphones you can listen in stereo. The Q2 Radio can run off of any Wi-Fi or mobile hot spot. It comes in multiple choice of colors. Q2 Radio is currently being launched in the United States. You can find more information on price and availability at the Q2 Radio Website.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin, of SDR News

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Tags: Q2 Radio, wi-Fi Radio

Posted in ces, Gadgets, Gear, radio, Special Media

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Never Forget Your Charger Again with Perch

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 12:36 PM on January 29, 2012

Have you ever forgotten a charger at a hotel or coffee shop, my bet is you have at least once in your life. Buying new chargers can get expensive if you do it enough. There is not only the expense to you as an individual but also to the businesses who have to dispose of the chargers and to the environment. Most chargers will continue to draw power even if nothing is plugged into them, this is known as vampire power, which is an additional cost.

Perch has developed a product that will help solve this problem. It is called the Perch Alarm. The Perch alarm is simple to use, you simply plug the charger into the Perch Alarm and then both into the outlet. Connect your device and you are charging as normal. When you are ready to leave if you try to disconnect the device and leave the charger behind, you will hear a chirping sound reminding you to take the charger with you. There is a home mode so you can turn the alarm off. Perch was a semifinalist of the Last Gadget Standing Award at CES 2012. They hope to release the product within 60 days and will be $9.95 one-third the cost of a replacement charger which cost around $29.95.

I really like the concept behind this product, but I do see a couple of problems with it. One of the problems with this devices is it another thing for people to carry and people complain enough already about the stuff they have to carry with them. Another problem is its size, it is actually fairly large, hopefully they can get it down to a smaller size, so it doesn’t take as much room up. Despite these complaints, I think the Perch Alarm is a great idea.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Tags: charger alarm, Perch

Posted in ces, Gadgets, Gear, Information, Special Media

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Hovercam a Better way to Scan

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 12:33 PM on January 29, 2012

You are on the road and you need to scan a document, your options are limited you could go to the local Staples or office store and get them to scan the document, or borrow the scanner of the business you are visiting. Neither are very convenient and the first option can get expensive. Hovercam to the rescue.

Hovercam has produced a line of cameras with CMOS technology built-in. The Hovercam cameras are shaped like telescopes and fold down to the point they can fit into a briefcase or in the case of the HoverCam T3 Document a large pocket. The HoverCam T3 Document Camera, is the smallest version and is made to scan 8×10 documents. It has a 3 megapixel camera with a 200 dpi scanner. It folds down to the size of a large pen. For larger 11×14 documents the Hovercam T5 Scanner and Document Camera is available. It has a 5 megapixel camera and folds down to only 12 inches tall. They even have a model made for the visually impaired the Hovercam T5-V. The included software has automatic gesture recognition, so when you turn a page it will automatically take a new picture. This is great for scanning books or magazine. If you do a lot of scanning and want something better, take a look at Hovercam.

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

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Tags: Hovercam, office products, scanner

Posted in ces, Gear, Information, Special Media

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DeLorme inReach Two-Way Satellite Communicator

Posted by Andrew at 12:23 PM on January 29, 2012

Andy talks to Jim from DeLorme about the new inReach two-way satellite communicator, perfect for those really out of the way places.

The DeLorme inReach is a tracking and communication device that uses a satellite radio link to transmit text and GPS location data, rather than the mobile phone network. Owners can communicate via text message from anywhere on the planet, not just those areas with mobile phone coverage, and it’s ideal for hikers and extreme sports enthusiasts who might have an emergency far from a phone signal (or simply want to reassure family that they’re ok.)

The inReach has two modes of operation, one where you use the control unit directly, the other where an Android smartphone app talks to the control unit via Bluetooth. The app is needed for two-way text messaging, mainly as the control unit doesn’t have a keyboard, but there is a dedicated SOS button on the control unit for emergencies. Other smartphones may be supported later.

The inReach costs $250 and a monthly subscription is required for service priced at $9.95 per month. The units are available now.

The inReach is impact-resistant, waterproof, floats and weighs 8oz. Battery life is 60 hours on a pair of lithium AAs. Overall, it’s an ideal emergency backup device but please note, gadgets like this are not a substitute for proper planning, preparation and equipment. Always tell someone your plan and expected return time.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDR News.

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Tags: Android, bluetooth, ces, DeLorme, GPS, hiking, satellite, smartphone, space

Posted in Android, Bluetooth, ces, Gear, google, GPS, space, Special Media, travel accessories

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Adventure Cameras by Contour

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 6:41 PM on January 28, 2012

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

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

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine The Gadget Professor of Geek News Central

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