Techish

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Samsung Unpacked 2018

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Today’s the day - Samsung Unpacked 2018 is here and there is so much to take in. From the new Galaxy Note 9 to a smart speaker, Samsung pulled out all the stops. Read on to find out all the details. What is Samsung Unpacked? Just like Apple and many other big brands, Samsung holds this event each year to release their latest products. ICYMI, watch the entire video here. Which product did Samsung announce last week? The Galaxy Tab S4. This tablet has an impressive 10.5-inch AMOLED display and complete with Google Assistant. When is the next Samsung event? The next event is the Samsung Developer Conference on Nov 07-08, 2018 where the Galaxy Home speaker is hopefully going to get ... Read more

BACK TO SCHOOL: Helpful Tech-Life Hacks for Busy Families

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It’s been more than twenty years since I’ve gone to school, and yet every August without fail, I have classic back-to-school anxiety dreams: There’s a big test and I forgot to study. I can’t remember my locker combination. I’m in gym class — naked. Sound familiar? Turns out back to school season can be just as stressful for parents as it is for some students. A slew of recent surveys show parents are increasingly anxious about back to school shopping costs, getting kids ready and out the door on time, screen-time, busy schedules, homework, and bedtime, among many other nagging concerns. While new technology might be to blame for some of the stress — like kids playing Fortnite when ... Read more

Back to School Gadgets: As Seen on Good Day New York

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Here are some fun gadgets to tech kids out: 1.   Go-To Safety Gadget: Relay - For Ages 6-11: (starting at $99, plus $6.99 monthly data charge) This is a screen-less, water-resistant device that works like a walkie-talkie and puts you in direct contact with your child, but with the connection of a smartphone. You can connect to your child’s Relay whenever you want from either an app on your smartphone or from another Relay device, and they can contact you by pressing the large button in the middle of the gadget. The Relay uses 4G LTE connectivity so you can check on them, and talk with them, whenever you want – from anywhere you want. 2. Nokia “Candy Bar” 3310 3G Phone ($60) Iconic – and ... Read more

Dolby Atmos: Why you should have it, like, right now!

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Even if you're not particularly interested in new audio tech you've probably heard of Dolby Atmos, and you've probably been wondering what it is and why you should even care. It's the hottest buzzword in home theater and mobile devices, and there's a good reason why: It sounds absolutely awesome. Let's break down why it's one of the most talked-about terms in tech! What is Dolby Atmos? Put simply, Dolby Atmos is a new kind of surround sound technology that actually improves upon the concepts of a multi-speaker sound system and can be adapted to something as small as a pair of headphones. If an old-fashioned surround sound system makes you feel like you're right in front of the action, ... Read more

The ultimate Prime Day deals mega-list: TVs, Phones, Gadgets, and More!

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Prime Day is finally here! It's Amazon's biggest sales day of the year, rivaling even Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the sheer number of deals and discounts. There's a lot of stuff on sale right now, and it would take you all day to sift through every Amazon page in search of the best stuff, but lucky for you I've done a lot of digging and here's the best stuff at bargain prices: Toshiba 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV with HDR - Fire TV Edition - $289.99 (normally $399.99) TCL 32S305 32-Inch 720p Roku Smart LED TV - $129.99 (normally $199.99) Echo - $69.99 (normally $99.99) Echo Dot - $29.99 (normally $49.99) Echo Plus - $99.99 (normally $149.99) Echo Show - ... Read more

I just cheated on my MacBook Pro for two weeks and I liked it

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It took me a lot of years to be able to afford the most souped-up, best-in-show — with a cherry on top — MacBook Pro. The last one I bought cost about $3,000 all-in. That’s the most money I’ve spent on one thing at one time — ever — and it stung for sure. I justified it as the single most important work expense I have though, and hoped it would hold up at least five years. That was early 2017. Fast forward to the summer of 2018. The “S” is nearly worn off my keyboard, and it makes it just five or six hours on a single charge. I hardly ever use the “revolutionary” Touch Bar. Still, cheating on my trusty MacBook Pro was no easy feat. It’s traveled around the world with me, helped me file ... Read more

HOW TO: Amazon Prime Day 2018 Do’s and Don’ts

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Black Friday might be the biggest shopping day of the year, but Amazon’s exclusive annual sale, Prime Day, has just as many huge discounts and deals. Prime day started off in 2015 — and in a few short years has become a sort of national holiday — for bargain hunters at least. 2018’s Prime Day is expected to be nothing short of epic. When is it? It's official -- Prime Day starts at noon on July 16th. It runs for a day “and a half,” which means exactly 36 hours -- making it  the longest Prime Day ever, beating out 2017’s which was roughly 30 hours. Avoid Price Scams Just like with any big sale day — including Black Friday and Cyber Monday — there will be a ton of products ... Read more

Here are some of the best deals for Amazon Prime Day 2018 so far

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Don't you just LOVE when you get better deals than anyone else? Here's the latest scoop, and we'll keep updating this list as we're able to confirm these ahead of the big day - which starts July 16th! For more on the do's and don'ts of one of the biggest deal-scoring days of the year - read this next! Amazon Echo  Amazon's Alexa-enabled smart speakers and hubs are some of the company's most popular gadgets, and they're going to get big price cuts for Prime Day. Here are the low prices you can look forward to: Echo - $69.99 (normally $99.99) Echo Dot - $24.99 (normally $49.99) Echo Plus - $109.99 (normally $149.99) Echo Show - $129.99 (normally $229.99) These are some of ... Read more

A Wearable Mosquito Repellent That Doesn’t Suck?

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I hate mosquitoes so much that I would happily bathe in DEET if it truly makes them leave me alone. Hopefully, a new wearable called Bandito can keep those little suckers at bay, without slathering yourself in toxic chemicals. Chicago-based company Guarden launched the $29 wrist-worn device on Indiegogo, where's it's raised more than 200-million dollars so far, which is some 836% of its original goal. According to the company, you just slap the Bandito on your wrist, and it uses a cocktail of  Citronella, Peppermint, and Lemongrass scents that mosquitoes hate AND emits a sonic sound that is like nails on a chalkboard to teeny-tiny-mosquito ears. (Do ... Read more

How to keep in touch with kids too young to own a smartphone

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https://vimeo.com/277168596 Let’s face it, parents, most of us lose our kids at least once or twice while they’re growing up. Sometimes they just get a little too good at hide-and-seek, as my then-four-year-old daughter did for a few heart-stopping moments inside a department store several years ago. Or maybe they just aren’t where we expect them to be — even for a minute or two — and it’s absolutely terrifying. Apps on smartphones like Life360 and even Find My Friends work great to help track down teens and older kids mature enough to manage the responsibility of owning a smartphone. But what about for younger ones? What’s the best way to keep a watchful eye — that isn’t a ... Read more

Apple announces customizable Memoji at WWDC 2018, and I want is so bad…

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There's not a lot Bitmoji can't do: They perfectly convey your every emotion, have incredible taste in clothes, and, thanks to a recent Snapchat update, they can even walk, dance, and eat. The one thing they can't do is talk — until now, that is. Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday that the next iPhone software update, iOS 12, will include something called "Memoji," which are basically a cross between Bitmoji and Apple's own augmented reality Animoji. According to a press release, Memoji are brand-new AR emojis that can be sent as texts or used as stickers in iMessage or FaceTime. Like Animoji, the new feature allows you to control an animated head with your ... Read more

JENN’S LIST: These are the Best Gadget Gifts to Upgrade Dad Right Now!

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Father's Day is fast approaching, and the benefit of doing your shopping for the Old Man now rather than the day before is that you can afford to browse a bit. Take your time and meander. I've done all the research for you - here's a little something to upgrade every kind of dad - in every price range: Father's Day is Sunday, June 17! Lenovo Mirage Solo Camera ($300) and VR Headset with Daydream($400): This new point-and-shoot camera captures everything you see — in the way you see it — photos and video! You can then watch it on TV, see it on your smartphone (it makes family photos look like those “live” photos from the Harry Potter movies), or go all-in with the totally standalone ... Read more

7 of the best gadgets to keep you looking and feeling cool this summer

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In case the longer days and sweltering heat didn't already tip you off: Summer is almost here. We're less than a month away from the official start of summer, which means beach trips, cookouts, and camping out just because you can. But before you go stocking up on burgers and popsicles, consider upgrading your gadget loadout to make the most of the next few months. Scorkl (starting at $229.00) Scuba diving is a blast, but it's also pretty hard to get into. I mean you need so much equipment to get started, right? Wrong! The Scorkl is an endlessly refillable mini underwater breathing tank that will give you 10 minutes of air so you can spend a little longer below the waves. No huge ... Read more

AS SEEN ON KTVU: Mother’s Day Gadgets and Last Minute Ideas!

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In case you missed our segment with our family at KTVU last weekend morning -- here's everything I talked about: Mother’s Day is right around the corner and thanks to the latest tech tools and insider “hacks,” you still have time to give her something she actually wants and needs this year.  1. SWEET TREATS AND GORGEOUS BLOOMS: FTD.COM and Berries.Com:  This is one of my annual go-to’s – and the latest tech makes it super easy:  I ordered this “Irreplaceable Luxury Bouquet’” and this “Pink at Heart Orchid Bouquet” on Friday from FTD.com. Less than a day later –  a florist from Park Florist on Park Boulevard in Oakland delivered it herself to my doorstep. The carefully crafted bouquets are ... Read more

Mother’s Day 2018 Gift Ideas and Smart Tech Hacks to Win Child of the Year!

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According to a handful of Mother’s Day surveys and polls, most moms want one gift over all others this year: More sleep. That’s right, give us one night of completely, totally, blissfully uninterrupted sleep, and you’ll win child (or husband, or BFF) of the year. Even those of us Moms with older kids (mine is 17) aren’t getting nearly enough, according to a study presented at 2017’s American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in Boston. THESE APPS = GREAT GIFT HACKS Best tech hack to help Mom get the peace and quiet she craves? Download the HotelTonight app (free, iOS and Android). It gives you access to fantastic deals, super low rates, and awesome experiences in more than ... Read more

MAY THE FOURTH: Star Wars: Jedi Challenges Gets Dual Play!

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I'm 47 going on 12. My favorite AR experience of the year just got soooo much better. Everyone wants to be a Jedi, but dreaming of wielding a lightsaber in an epic battle used to require a really good imagination. Not anymore, thanks to Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, the awesome augmented reality bundle for Lenovo's AR headset. The package launched late last year and has been getting awesome updates along the way. Now, to celebrate "Star Wars Day" — May the 4th be with you! — the app is getting a huge addition: one-vs-one lightsaber duels. Check out the official below this clip of me trying it out: (I'm awful, but man oh man, it's a freaking blast!!! And a serious workout ... Read more