Techish

Smart Fitness at CES

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With many gyms closed or limited during the pandemic, many of us turned to at-home workouts, either on our own or with the help of online classes from Alomoves, Peloton Fitness (with or without fancy equipment), The Daily Burn or through apps like Seven. In fact, at-home fitness has become such a trend while we are all on lockdown, fitness equipment sales — everything from resistance bands to kettlebells to bikes — increased by 500 percent and led to massive shortages. It’s no wonder that CES was full of fitness innovations. And if this year’s virtual CES is any indicator, getting fitness out of gyms and into our homes and daily lives is the wave of the future. Online Health Clubs With ... Read more

LEARN AND ACT: Apps to help everyone stand up to racism

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A major way we can honor Martin Luther King, Jr. is to learn — learn about his work, his legacy, the fight for civil rights, and how racism is still, sadly, very present in our world today. Educating ourselves makes us better allies and spurs us to act against discrimination in all its forms. And now, there's an app for that. Actually several. Apple's App Store is sharing a variety of apps that can help you stay informed and fight for racial justice. The HBO Max app has the documentary "King in the Wilderness," featuring footage and phone calls from MLK himself. HBO Max also includes "We Are the Dream," which shows the 40th annual Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest. In it, hundreds of ... Read more

Far-out, futuristic, and just plain fanstastical new tech from CES 2021:

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A robot that loads my dishwasher and brings me wine? Yes please! A $3,000 doggy door that makes Fido’s every wish its instant command? Buying it (just as soon as I win the lottery)! Flying cars? Can’t buckle in soon enough. Oh sure, there’s an amazing array of fringe, far-out, and just plain fantastical new tech we’re all talking about during this year's all-digital CES. But when it comes to the winner for most memorable — the jaw-dropping and OMG-inspiring — rise to the top every time. Here are the unforgettables from CES 2021. Mojo Vision’s Bionic Contacts While the rest of the tech world gets closer to getting smart glasses right (see Vuzix here), Mojo Vision sees a future where AR ... Read more

The CES tech you have to see to believe (trust me, it’s a must-look)!

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CES is full of serious solutions to real-world problems. Probably. I didn’t look for those. I haunted the virtual aisles of the Consumer Electronics Show looking for weird. And why not? It’s been a strange year. As a culture, our taste for strange has grown exponentially since the last CES. And you know what? I found it.  Amid the folding laptops, bending phone screens, driverless cars, flying cars, and drones that will -- sooner than anyone expected -- deliver our packages right to our doors, I found the products that made me say, “Seriously?” And then, “Okay, I want that.” From a bandaid that will make men first shave, down there, and then be better in bed to a pair of glasses that ... Read more

Early Hands-On With Top Tech @CES Gadgets 2021

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https://youtu.be/JFMuh59c9fc Every year we see our fair share of fringe, futuristic, and just plain fantastical gadgets. We'll post about the most amazing of the 2,000-some gadgets we've seen so far tomorrow. But first, here are a handful of the best gadgets we've actually gotten to go hands-on with ourselves during this big event. One of the best new gadgets we’ll actually buy this year is a just-unveiled Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. The 2-in-1 device has the world’s first QLED display on a Chromebook. QLED is the same advanced tech Samsung uses in its best TVs. The sound is sweeter, the battery life is longer, and the price is lower. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is expected out in the ... Read more

HOW TO: Help senior friends and family set up their new tech

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All that tech you wrapped and put under the tree seemed like such a terrific idea when you were shopping. A Roku! A new phone! A sweet new laptop! You killed the gift-giving. But now that the presents are opened and everyone is playing with their toys, you are starting to feel like the new guy on the tech support helpline. Answering the first question from Papa was fun. Helping Nana get her new tablet set up was rewarding. But the millionth question? You are seriously considering charging by the minute. Maybe the gift you forgot was an unlimited subscription to online tech support for everyone born before 1993? Because you know what? That’s a thing. Teaching people to use technology when ... Read more

Shipping Deadlines For Holidays 2020

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We’ve reached the final few days before the holidays, and in the interest of getting gifts delivered on time — and not paying handsomely for shipping — you should be wrapping up your shopping as soon as you can. Thankfully, several retailers are making those shopping duties cheap and easy by offering free and fast shipping. It wouldn’t be the holidays without a little stress, but you can avoid at least some of it by finishing up your shopping before the window for on-time delivery comes to a close. We’ve also listed the delivery windows for FedEx, UPS, and the USPS in case you are shipping packages yourself. AMAZON As is always the case, you’ll get your gifts faster if you have an ... Read more

Here are Apple’s top apps of 2020

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Apple is out with what it calls the best apps of the worst year 2020. Between working remotely, learning from home, and general lack of things to do during the pandemic, many of us were on our devices more than ever before. (I have strong words for whoever invented the shame-filled screen time report.) This year also brought some apps into the limelight. Zoom became not just a household name, but a verb. Many of Apple's top apps of the year have to do with connecting with others or keeping ourselves busy when so many activities aren't possible. The top iPhone app of the year was Wakeout!, an app that includes exercises for all ability levels. Zoom has to be one of the top apps — ... Read more

Gadgets and gear to help you take a SAFE road trip during a pandemic:

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***This story originally ran/aired in USA Today.*** Seven months into this global pandemic, my husband traded his big, white professional-videographer production van for a bigger, taller, and more adventuresome shade of “pebble gray” Sprinter van. Since so much of his on-location production is shuttered right now, and we both work from home anyway, why not just hit the road? We can explore off-beaten paths and reconnect with one another – while remaining safe in our self-contained, extremely COVID-cautious little bubble. Vandemonium We’re not the only ones thinking this way. RV and van sales and rentals alike have surged since early summer, with no signs of slowing down. Van rental ... Read more

These Subscription Services Make Awesome Gifts!

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Arming up with a tote, comfy shoes, and going shopping was once a fun way to discover a new brand of soap, fall in love with a fashion trend, and stop somewhere for tea while connecting with friends. Those were more innocent times. As we head into the year 2021, that sort of activity is, in all likelihood, a historical artifact. The year of the pandemic has changed, according to a recent study, our habits around many aspects of life. And we are unlikely to return to our old ways. We shop online, discover online, and do our self-care online. The joy of discovery we once found at the mall has moved to subscription boxes, an industry that’s currently estimated to be worth $15 billion as ... Read more

Still need to get that gadget gift? Look at these great deals!

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Don't worry, you're not too late to score great gifts for everyone in your family, including yourself! Here are some more ideas:   Samsung's cordless Jet Stick Vacuum comes in three different models, and each one has a high-performance filtration system that captures dust and allergens that normally get kicked back into the air.  You can use it on all the different types of floors; hardwood, tile, rugs, or carpet. It has its own charging dock and is super easy to empty. Plus, it's lightweight and easy to navigate, to use on stairs, under furniture, clean high cabinets or window blinds. And you can vacuum for up to an hour straight before it needs a battery charge. ... Read more

HOW TO: Use Your Phone to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

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At a recent doctor’s appointment, the check-in nurse asked me if I had been exposed to anyone who had tested positive for Covid-19. I said no. But it felt like a lie. How could I know the answer to that with any certainty? What if the person who sat too close to me at the vet last week was sick? What if I inadvertently stood next to someone in the grocery store who had been exposed? And what about all those people who run past me when I take my morning walk? Many of them are breathing hard and not wearing masks. I don’t know that they aren’t spewing virus droplets all over me. It turns out I could know. It’s easy to know. All I have to do is download an app or turn on the ... Read more

BEWARE: COVID-19 vaccine scams on the way

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The good news: COVID-19 vaccines are on the way. The bad news: So are the scammers. The Food and Drug Administration is already reviewing vaccines from two manufacturers, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Moderna. That review could wrap up by Christmas. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the first doses should go to health care workers and people living in long-term care facilities. The rest of us will have to wait. The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers are already hard at work while Americans scramble to get vaccinated. Here's what you need to know so you don't fall for a scam: 1. DO NOT PAY: You (probably) won't have to pay anything out of ... Read more

JENN ON TV: More awesome last-minute holiday deals!

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Did you see Jennifer on TV or hear her on the radio recently? Here are more of the smoking hot holiday deals she's been talking about! The last-minute rush on holiday shopping is happening already because of major shipping delays and stricter pandemic orders going into effect. Here are some great go-to's:  1. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds Everyone wants their own set of tune-out-the-world headphones this year, and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds should be a top consideration. They come in these new vibrant colors — Mystic Red or Blue — so everyone knows they’re yours! What’s even better though is how comfortable they are, they sort of nestle down in ... Read more

SCAM ALERT: FTC warning of fake calls from Apple and Amazon

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You've heard them before, probably dozens of times. "We are calling the vehicle owner about your car's extended warranty..." Click. We don't even waste time to hear the rest of the spiel. We know that's a scam right from the start. But there's a new round of scams that is slightly sneakier. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning about a trend of scammers calling people and claiming to be from either Apple or Amazon. There are two versions of this scam. In one, there is a recorded message that says something is wrong with your Amazon account — this could be a suspicious purchase, lost package, etc. The other version of the scam leaves a recorded message saying your ... Read more

Techish word of the week: “Fleet”

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What the “fleet”?! Just when you really figure out how to use a particular social media site - it changes. Did you see the new feature Twitter rolled out that looks just like “stories” on Instagram? They’re called fleets, and Twitter says they’re supposed to “help start conversations” and “help people feel more comfortable sharing.” Uhhhhh... doesn’t seem like people had too much trouble starting convos or sharing on their before... so... why this, why now? Likely to keep up with the FB fam favorites. (The fleets show up at the top of your timeline too.) What’s that saying, “imitation is the highest form of flattery...” or something like that? What do you think about fleets - or ... Read more