by Julie - on May 30th, 2013
I used to be pretty organized, then I got married, had a child and started collecting stuff. Now it takes me an extra 40 minutes just to get out the door and countless hours trying to keep track of things. Forget taking a vacation, it’s almost too much work, who’s got the camera, the keys, the suitcases? Do you have your phone? Something is always lost or forgotten, is there a way to avoid it?
Well, check out iFi Systems Smart Tags, working like a two way pager between you and your precious stuff. Utilizing a Bluetooth connection and able to be attached to a handbag, camera case, or just about anything else you’d like to protect, these Smart Tags act as a handy reminder that you’ve forgotten something, or worse, your valuables are walking off with an opportunistic thief!
You can attach multiple tags to multiple items and check the status of each one directly from the home screen. You can customize the names, and the alert sounds for each item individually, and you can even monitor battery life via your smartphone. Can’t find the phone you say? Simply use your tag to track it, the communication system works both ways.
iFi Systems Smart Tags come in both iOS and Android models and the associated app can monitor up to 6 different items at a time. You phone will alert you if you and your things are separated by more than 30 feet and will then send you a Google map of where it was at the time of separation. You can also set up safe zones, like when you’re at your office, so you do not have to endure alerts every time you walk to the water cooler.
So if you want to keep your belongings safe, primarily from yourself, get some iFi Smart Tags. Around 30 to 35 bucks, depending on your operating system, from iFisystems.com
When it comes to storage space on your computer, a couple of names would definitely stand out â€" for the larger capacity hard drives, you would most probably have one form of Western Digital products lying around, while those who deal with flash based storage might have a slew of SanDisk memory cards lying around somewhere. Well, we are pleased to announce that both Western Digital as well as SanDisk have come together to deliver what they deem to be the world’s thinnest 2.5†Solid State hybrid drive that features best-in-class flash memory technology from SanDisk in addition to best-in-class hard drive technology from Western Digital.
Ah, here we are with yet another two wireless speaker systems from the folks over at Cambridge Audio, where they have just announced the Minx Air 100 and Minx Air 200 wireless speaker systems for the masses. The adage of not judging a book by its cover would apply beautifully with these Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 and 200 wireless speaker systems, where their diminutive size belies the fact that they can deliver powerful audio without missing a beat. In fact, this would mark the first time a Hi-Fi wireless speaker would carry integrated AirPlay, Bluetooth, and built-in Internet Radio connectivity, now how about that?
When it comes to wireless speakers, there are dime a dozen models that are available in the market at this point in time. The thing is, as the consumer, just which particular model would you settle for? Of course, going to gadget review sites would definitely help in the long run, and there are other moments when brand loyalty plays a part, too. Well, with the bÄ"m wireless mobile speaker, it will target those who love going back to school â€" or rather, college in this case, as we are talking about a college edition that allows you to proudly show off your alma mater at the next social function that you attend, or perhaps at a barbecue where you can select from one of two dozen available university colors.
Escort Inc. might sound like a company that actually does something more adult oriented, but in reality, they are the designer of the world’s best radar detector â€" or at the very least, this is what they have claimed. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we look forward with bated breath as to whether the StickyCup that hails from the folks over at Escort will be able to function as touted. Just what the heck is the StickyCup? Well, it is actually a full-featured bracket mount which includes a semi-sticky gel ring that is located on the cup surface itself which will improve cohesion and detector support on your vehicle’s windshield.
As I type this, I am sitting in an Airbus A320, cattle class, typing on a Dell XPS 12 and realizing that my arms have hell to pay when I touch down in an hour’s time simply because there is just not enough space to type properly, but work still needs to get done. To make matters more uncomfortable as they already are at the moment, there are a couple of ladies in the opposite row who have not stopped yakking â€" and yakking loudly, too, for the past hour. Who would have thought that they have so much to talk about, in addition to letting the rest of the world know of their family issues and problems? This is where the Shure SE846 sound isolating earphone would certainly come to my aid. 
I do not know about you, but for me, a gaming notebook is a poor (an extremely poor one at that) substitute for a full fledged gaming desktop. After all, you do not have the luxury of a really large display for your eyes to enjoy superb visuals, not to mention the kind of audio that is pumped out from your notebook speakers tend to be lame â€" very. Of course, if you are a gaming addict, then at any time that you need to get that gaming fix of yours going, a gaming notebook would be the ideal solution. After all, something is better than nothing at all, right? MSI certainly knows that they have a couple of models in the market that will appeal to the masses, and they are the new MSI GX70 and the GX60.
When it comes to quality audio systems, regardless of whether it is at home or somewhere else, you know for sure that the name Bang & Olufsen is synonymous with quality and clarity, and there are no two ways about it. Well, it seems that the folks over at Bang & Olufsen have done it again, this time around with the delicious sounding BeoLab 14 surround sound speaker system, which also ushers in an entirely new category of speakers to the Bang & Olufsen family of devices. 
Archos has been in the Android-powered device game for quite some time already, and they have introduced the latest version of the Elements range of tablets, calling it the Archos 80 Xenon. The Archos 80 Xenon is a specially designed 8†tablet that comes with built-in 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity for a truly portable data consuming experience regardless of where you are. The Archos 80 Xenon is a Google certified tablet which features a powerful quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as the operating system of choice, delivering an improved smooth interface in addition to a sharp and clear IPS multi-touch screen display which delivers amazing vivid colors as well as impressive wide viewing angles.
For those of you who tend to do a whole lot of typing in your line of work, surely you would know that there is nothing quite like a responsive keyboard with fantastic tactile feedback. Having said that, those projected keyboards are novelty devices that are unable to beat the real deal when it comes to churning out those reports as requested by the upper management. Single folks can just give this particular story the once over, or skip it altogether as they do not have to deal with typing in bed or in the bedroom while your partner is doing his or her darndest best to fall asleep. What you need is definitely something that works great as a keyboard, but is whisper quiet. The candidate to fill this pair of shoes would be the new Das Keyboard Quiet Mechanical Keyboard.
Ionut Budisteanu of Romania certainly does seem to have a pretty bright future ahead of him, especially after he picked up the top prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which so happens to be the largest high school science research competition in the world. This would mean that Ionut Budisteanu managed to earn the Gordon E. Moore Award, in addition to a $75,000 prize that was named in honor of the Intel co-founder and fellow scientist. According to the organizers of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, “Their research demonstrates the value of hard work and creative thinking. All the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalists here this week show great promise in harnessing the power of science and innovation to solve problems and create opportunity for our global community.†Just what made Ionut’s work so valuable? Well, he manages to address a major global issue by potentially reducing the cost of a self-driving car dramatically, so much so that it could make such technology affordable to the mainstream folks.
When it comes to Ultrabooks, there are dime a dozen models to choose from out there. Of course, the more expensive models would feature just pure SSD memory for the storage space, in addition to a high powered Core i7 processor from Intel with a fantastic looking chassis to boot, made out of nothing but premium material. Well, some of the more established names when it comes to the Ultrabook market would be Samsung, Lenovo, HP, Dell, and Acer, but with Gigabyte who is not so established, it is nice to see them make the jump into the Ultrabook market with the Gigabyte U2142. Thing is, the Gigabyte U2142 will not be any ordinary Ultrabook, as it is a convertible model with more than decent specifications located right underneath the hood.
French company Archos has had their fair share of Android-powered devices in the past, and this time around, it is no different with the introduction of the new ChefPad. The name of the tablet itself would have given the game away, as this particular tablet was specially designed to survive in the kitchen â€" since it would target cooking enthusiasts who do not mind having a digital cooking assistant that also packs enough firepower underneath the hood in order to deliver a decent personal entertainment experience. 
When it comes to networking tools and hardware, you know that you will not be able to go wrong with the name D-Link, as this is a trusted brand name which treads the thin line between quality, performance, and of course, price. Well, we are pleased to say that D-Link has recently announced that they will be shipping their new line of AC Routers â€" which so happens to comprise of the Wireless AC1750 Router (DIR-868L), Wireless AC1200 Router (DIR-860L), Wireless AC1000 Router (DIR-820L) and Wireless AC750 Router (DIR-810L). 
I think that the world is divided into two different groups â€" one that purchases watches as a practical device to tell the current time, while the other group would be one that picks up watches as a form of investment. You know for sure that one loves to invest in watches if you come across someone who truly believes in Patek Philippe’s marketing slant that one does not merely own a Patek Philippe, but rather, looks after it for the next generation. Well, if you do not have the kind of fat bank account to purchase luxury watches for keepsake and hopefully sell them off at a far higher price sometime down the road, then you would do well to check out the new range of watches from Tom Dixon under the Eclectic Collection, and the name of the collection itself is epitomized by the kind of timepieces which were rolled out.
Finnish phone manufacturer has yet another device released, but this time around, it will not be on the high end side of things considering how it will not run on the Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system. In fact, this will be a feature phone, but does that mean the new Nokia Asha 501 does not deserve any kind of news coverage? That would be anathema to me â€" at least, as Nokia intends to position the Nokia Asha 501 to break down plenty of barriers and smash people’s expectations of just how much ‘smartphone’ that their hard earned money is able to buy.
Another day, another smartphone hits the scene, and here we are faced with the China-based Huawei having announced Huawei W1. Right after the sponsorship announcement of the highly-anticipated Jonas Brothers Tour, Huawei has also thrown a new announcement of their maiden attempt to roll out the first Windows Phone 8 smartphone from their stables, which would be the Huawei W1, and this will happen sometime later this month online at Walmart.com in addition to select Walmart stores in the US.
When it comes to quality audio devices, then you know for sure the name Bang & Olufsen will be able to evoke a sense of awe and wonder. B&O PLAY by Bang & Olufsen has proudly announced a couple of new headphones that will arrive later this July, although we will only concentrate on one â€" that would be the BeoPlay H6, where this is a super soft, flexible over-ear headphone that offers a sound performance which will elevate audio to another level.
iWALK, a company that many of you should be familiar with if you are into smartphone and Apple accessories, has just showcased their range of the latest lineup of consumer solutions during CTIA 2013, where among them would also include the industry’s largest selection backup batteries that boasts of Apple’s lightning connector. Specially designed to meet the growing consumer demand for portable power, iWALK’s entire range of portable backup batteries will come with an ultra-portable design and have been equipped with an LED power indicator, where there is also an overcharge protection for better safety. You can also check out the other solutions that are on display at CTIA, where we will talk about them right after the jump. 
So, you have just gotten yourself a spanking new iPhone, and would want to do all that you can to ensure that it looks as pristine as possible? If that is the case, then you might want to check out the AL13 iPhone bumper, where it offers protection without adding on to the bulk. Of course, there is also the issue of cost, where higher quality bumpers are concerned, but is it not nice to see someone think of the average person who does not have that much disposable income, and yet want to obtain quality at a minimal price? This is where the AL13 iPhone bumper, where it has been specially designed to offer protection for the iPhone without having to change its look. It was first launched launched as a successful Kickstarter campaign, and today the AL13 is available for purchase online.
If you have not heard of a company that goes by the moniker Kinivo, fret not, you are not the only one. Doing a little bit of digging has revealed a whole lot more information about Kinivo, where they are producers of superior quality accessories for mobile devices, and their latest foray into the wireless Bluetooth speaker market would come in the form of the Kinivo BTX350. The Kinivo BTX350 will be able to stream music from just about any Bluetooth-capable device, delivering exceptionally clear sound without compromising on its portable form factor. After all, it certainly is rather difficult to argue with a device that measures a mere 8†x 3†in height, no?
You can never tell just when an accident is about to happen, which is why such events are knowns as accidents in the first place. When you are behind the wheel, riding a bicycle or a motorcycle, it is imperative that you keep your eyes peeled on the road ahead at all times, as accidents happen in the blink of an eye if you are not careful. Paying full attention would give you the advantage of having the fastest response time possible, and this might eventually end up to be the difference between life and death. Having said that, whenever you are driving, it pays to just leave your smartphone alone, never mind that there is voice dictation capability in recent times. Just to make sure your ride has an additional witness, the Sceptre CarCam Recorder CCR2000 would record whatever is going on in front of you as proof just in case someone in front of you cuts into your lane suddenly without any signal, and claim otherwise.
Microsoft Research Cambridge’s Steve Hodges and his group of colleagues over at the Sensors and Devices group have been spending their time working on novel sensing technologies in addition to new devices which would make life easier for ordinary folk to interact with computer systems and digital content. Hmmm, this does seem to sound suspiciously like a new foray into the world of touchscreens, or has someone reinvented the reliable keyboard and mouse combination? Apparently not, as they are currently working on something that they have dubbed, “An Interactive Belt-worn Badge with a Retractable String-based Input Mechanismâ€, which was presented at the Association for Computing Machinery’s 2013 SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.
When it comes to digital cameras, not many of us would think of Samsung being right up there with the best, although you can say that the South Korean giant has certainly made its fair share of strides in recent memory. Well, Samsung has just decided to expand their award-winning NX family by announcing the launch of the Samsung NX2000, where this stylish and slim compact system camera (CSC) will merge outstanding, professional results with revolutionary Samsung SMART Camera technology. It does not matter if you want to shoot photos or videos, the Samsung NX2000 will be able to do both with ease. 
