The apparent use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Assad is not the first such occurrence in the region. In 256 C.E. the Roman fort known as Dura-Europas fell to a Sasanian Persian siege. Traces of yellow sulfur crystals and pitch near the bodies of 19 Roman soldiers now suggest they were deliberate gassed. A sad history is now being replayed.
GearTag, now funding on Kickstarter, is a neat way to keep track of your gear. These small wireless tags can be clipped to a purse, tucked into a wallet, or attached to your keyring. From your smartphone or computer, you can ‘page’ your tag or view it’s last known location. Reserve yours for a $30 pledge. GearTags use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to communicate with your smartphone. This uses little battery life while also giving you a range of 100 yards. Each GearTag has it’s own unique QR code printed on one side, like a fingerprint. If the tag…
Are you having a hard time finding the right pillow? Technogel thinks they have the right answer with their high-tech pillows, designed to keep you cool and support your body for a more restful sleep. The catch? They’re $169…each. Ouch, but if they work, it’s worth it, right? What sets Technogel apart is their technology. The pillows stay cooler than memory foam, and their density means they spread support better than foam as well. The idea is that the ergonomics and design make for a better night’s sleep than on ordinary pillows and memory foam, and a better night’s sleep is…
When was the last time you were together with a group of adults (or teens) and not a single moment was interrupted by checking a smartphone, taking a picture, uploading to Vine or something else? As you think about that, check out this video and watch it from the perspective of Charlene deGuzman, the creator of the film. What do you think – has this become a problem? Source: NPR
Neccessity truly is the mother of invention. I threw out my back. Still, I have tons of writing I need to do. I do have an Ergotron Standing Desk but I wanted to be in my kitchen with the doors and windows open. Enter my “mobile standing desk”… an Ikea Poang ottoman set atop our island. Works like a charm.
Read anywhere, anytime with Amazon’s new kindle paperwhite. The new paperwhite is faster brighter and more responsive than ever. It features smart lookup, better searching/scroll features and it is more sensitive to your touch. Plus its great display just got even better. And it is just $119 with Special Offers. The 3G version starts at just $179. Preorder here.
Looking to shave your head and avoid nicks and cuts? Check out the Skull Shaver. This redesigned electric razor lets you shave without shaving cream, get to the back of the head with ease and do it all without turning your scalp into a bloody mess. They are currently seeking funding on Indiegogo. Check it out here.
Tired of boxy wireless speakers that all look the same? Check out the new JBL Spark . These Bluetooth speakers have a unique megaphone shape, a translucent body and a “cool mesh grill”. Just 7″ in diameter and 6.5″ high, each speaker has a 40mm JBL driver. Yes, these $129 speakers aren’t just a pretty face. Check them out.
Harman Kardon just unveiled their new SOHO stereo headphones. The $199 headphones feature 30 mm drivers, a choice of straight cable or iOS/Android-compatible inline remote cables, ship with an ultra-slim carrying case, and fold to less than 1.25″ thickness for storage and transport. We’re consistently impressed with Harman Kardon’s headphones and are looking forward to checking these out. Learn more.
AKG’s new K323 XS in-ear headphones are “a breakthrough in studio-quality sound in a compact package”. The K323 XS come in six different colors and promise big sound in a small package thanks to 5.6mm drivers, an enclosed back design and an innovative ear-tip design. The headphones and carrying pouch start at $39.00. Check them out.
In addition to the new Solemate mini Jabra just announced an updated Jabra Solemate. The $149.99 speaker features an enriched sound experience, NFC pairing and comes in red, blue, yellow and grey. A new Jabra Sound App will also be available. We’ll have a closer look soon. Check out all of Jabra’s offerings here.
In 2010 nearly 40,000 people died from overdoses, which is more than either car accidents or gun deaths. Of those, more than 75% were accidental and about 60% of them were related to prescription drugs. An additional 26,000 people died of alcohol-induced causes. But one drug you won’t find on the list of overdose deaths? Marijuana. In fact, you can look at some of the bizarre things people overdosed on – such as Monster energy drink, No-Doz caffeine pills, aspirin, Tylenol and Advil, and even near-death overdoses of soy sauce and brussel sprouts! Most overdoses come from prescription painkillers, but…
Jabra Solemate is an impressive Bluetooth speaker. Now Jabra has introduced a smaller version- the Jabra Solemate Mini. The speaker, which comes in red, yellow, blue or black, is durable, gets 8 hours of battery life and has NFC for easy pairing. Available Q4, the Solemate mini will be just $99.00. Our review is coming soon. Check it out.
If you want a thin way to hold your keys the KeyCase is for you. If you want a thin way to hold your cards the CardClip is for you. And if you want a thin way to hold it all the combined KeyClip is for you. Check out all out here on the Kickstarter page. I’m a backer.
I can’t imagine I’m the only guy who’s video game library outnumbers his actual book library 2-to-1. I also can’t imagine I’m the only guy who’s wife would prefer he keep his video game library downstairs, out of sight. For $6, you get 3 custom video game covers from Etsy. Now my video games can look like a librarian’s paradise! In exchange for your $6 JamesBit will provide you with a PDF of your customized video game covers for you to print out at home. If you have a ton of disks that need new, classier covers, he will drop…
Sony’s new “lens-style” QX series cameras are an interesting beast that look like a pancake-style lens but are much much more. Utilizing Wi-Fi connectivity they transform connected smartphones into powerful cameras. The cameras can be mechanically attached to a connected phone or used as a standalone unit. Priced starting at $250, they will ship later this month.
Sony’s Action Cam HDR-AS30V weighs just three ounces and is ruggedized and waterproof. 35% lighter and 25% smaller than its predecessor, it has GPS, captures 11.9MP images and records full HD. Wi-Fi connects to mobile devices with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile App and it works with Sony’s new Live-View Remote. It will be available this month for $299.99.
The new Sony FDR-AX1 4K Handycam is the first 4K consumer camcorder on the market. The FDR-AX1 camcorder records 4K and HD movies in the XAVC S format. Featuring a 1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS sensor, it captures 3840×2160 images with four times the detail of Full HD. It will be available in October for $4,499.99.
Sony’s new HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder is designed and engineered specifically for musicians. The camcorder records CD-quality audio in uncompressed Linear PCM or internet-ready AAC thanks to a 120-degree X-Y stereo microphone. It also captures full 1920×1080/30p HD video and a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor records in lowlight settings. It will be available in December for $299.99.
HDMI Forum, Inc. announced a new upgrade to the HDMI connection standard, today. HDMI 2.0 will have a bandwidth capacity of up to 18Gbps, enough room to transmit 4K video up to 60 fps, which is 2160p. This is 4x the clarity of the current 1080p video resolution. It will also carry support for up to 32 audio channels. This is big news considering the expected boom in Ultra HDTVs in the near future. Additional features of HDMI 2.0 include “dynamic auto lipsync” and additional CEC extensions. The new HDMI 2.0 connectors will remain unchanged from the original HDMI specification,…
Google has given Android versions names of desserts for a long time now. Android 4.4 was supposed to be Key Lime pie but in a fit of marketing genius or avarice, Google has announced that Android 4.4 is now code named KitKat. This includes a contest by Hershey (in the US) as well where winners can win a new Nexus 7. Plus you can see how the smartphone and the KitKat have precision builds by heading to KitKat.com…truly a sweet case of corporate synergy!