Techish

CES2018: Iris scanners in our cars? The coolest car tech from CES that might already be in your driveway

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https://youtu.be/c1KEazIjziU Note: This report originally ran in USA Today's print version (1/11/18) and online: (1/10/18): Automakers showed the car tech that will make driving easier, safer and more personalized at CES 2018 in Las Vegas. Some of it may already be sitting in your driveway. (Photo: Jennifer Jolly, special for USA TODAY) LAS VEGAS — There’s no shortage of far-out, futuristic, fantastical car tech here at CES this year. Everyone’s working on self-driving cars, or cars that read your emotions and  scan your brainwaves. Heck, we’ve even see a flying car. Sure, some of it’s far-fetched —  and autonomous cars are still a few years out from getting any ... Read more

CES DAY ONE: 6 coolest gadgets from CES you’ll likely see in your house this year

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https://youtu.be/tIUCpgEqlOM This story originally appeared in USA Today - in the print edition on Wednesday, 1/102018 And online in USAToday.com on 1/9/2018 A New Year means one thing in the world of gadgets — a trip to Las Vegas for CES. It’s the enormous consumer electronics show packed with nearly 50-football fields worth of shiny new tech toys. Somewhere inside the cavernous convention center crowded with TV’s we can’t afford, concept cars we’ll never drive, and stupid “smart” things we’ll never use (Alexa-enabled toilet…really?), there’s always a handful of gadgets that really can hit the jackpot of product-perfection. That’s what I set out to find early-on here in Las Vegas. ... Read more

CES 2018 – Riding the wave of the wild, wacky, and wonderful-est tech and gadgets to come

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Comfy shoes? Check. Vitamins and hand sanitizer? Check. Battery chargers? Check. Every last shred of patience? Check. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be for another round of CES, the world's largest consumer electronics show. I think this is my tenth year but it might be my eleventh. I'm not sure. They kind of all blur together after awhile. Still, I'm excited to see what's in store for the world of tech and gadgets. I'm excited about all the robots at CES this year, and to see what new crazy gadgets Alexa and other AI assistants will be in. There's always a handful of insane, odd, and insanely awesome gadgets to see - and I'll be on the hunt for those well. (Like - the Belty - that ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: Send fantastic gifts right this second with these apps!

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Nothing like waiting till the last second, amiright?! Maybe you're busy with work, or still haven't found the perfect present. Or maybe you're just a prolific procrastinator. Whatever the issue, here are a handful of apps that can help you send a super thoughtful gift right this second! You're welcome. Giftagram (iOS, Android) The Giftagram app lets you send actual presents, without needing the recipient’s physical address. That’s a big help for so many of us these days who want to send something nice, but don’t have home addresses and want to keep it a surprise. Gifting categories range from birthday presents for “him,” wedding and graduation gift ideas to gift ideas for all the major ... Read more

AMAZON ALEXA: 12 awesome new skills to try right this second

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https://youtu.be/XnGl6Y7AwiY Did you just unwrap a shiny, new Amazon Echo device? Or maybe you already have one (or a Dot or Show or any number of Amazon’s connected devices) and you’re getting a little tired just streaming endless hours of Holiday music and asking silly questions)? You might already know that Alexa can convert teaspoons to tablespoons, time the food you put in the oven, and tell jokes you can repeat at work. But she is capable of so much more. She now has more than 25,000 skills at the ready — everything from ordering a pizza to booking a vacation and all kinds of other surprises in between. Here are ten of my favorite Alexa tips and tricks. FEED THE DOG Okay, ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: The wild, wacky, unexpected gifts that will make Santa wish he was as cool as you:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzMpBTbCq-Y It’s that time of year again—time to pay homage to the wackiest, most wonderful, insanely useful, and just plain insane tech gadgets around. As you might know by now, I’m a huge fan of “unique” gifts. Lucky for all of us who appreciate the stranger things (and the Stranger Things) this year, the cray-cray cup runneth over. So, off we go. KURI-OUS? If you’ve been jonesing for a robot since the early Jetson days, Kuri ($799) delivers big time on cute and quirky, minus the ability to wash the windows and clean up after Astro. Kuri’s a robotic home companion that wanders around the house shooting short videos to send to you while you’re away, ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: Best Gadget Gift Guide For Men 2017

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Hate trying to find the perfect present for the deserving dude in your life? No worries, I've got you covered. These are the gifts I'm getting my main men. From the perfect gadget for man-caves to the very tech your special guy craves, this is the best gadget gift list for men of all kinds - curated - in one place. Have fun, and be sure to reach out with any questions! JOLLY HOLIDAYS. Samsung Frame TV 2. Apple TV 2 3. Sonos One 4. R2D2 Coffee Press 5. Moment Lens 6. Xbox One X 7. Yeti Cooler 8. URB-E Foldable Bike 9. GrooveLife Silicon Ring 10. Sonos Playbar 11. GoPro Hero 6 12. Sony Headphones 13. Fluance Fi70 Three-Way Wireless High Fidelity ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: Jenn’s Favorite Tech of 2017-With a Twist.

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When it comes to new gadgets and gizmos, 2017’s been a pretty epic year. We’ve seen a surge of new voice-activated assistants, rise of remastered retro tech, and all kinds of quirky smart devices in between. Rather than rehash what’s appearing on my colleagues top lists—most of which would make my top picks too—here’s my list with a twist: The new tech from the past year I’m not sure how I lived without. It’s the little stuff that’s come along by way of a specific problem to solve, quirky Today Show segment to fill, or just out of sheer curiosity. I present to you the Tubshroom. It is an absolutely brilliant way to keep hair and other gunk from clogging your drain. It is so simple and ... Read more

HOW TO: Score awesome gifts on your own social media feeds!

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The holiday season is officially in full gear and it's the most mobile shopping season yet. But is it really possible to swipe, scroll, and tap your way through a stress-free holiday? Yep, it sure is -- especially if you know how to train your social media feeds to do most of the work for you. You know those ads that pop up when you’re scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram? I used to just ignore them, but then my mom got the whole family those Bombas socks that kept popping up in her news feed. She liked them because you buy a pair and they donate a pair to a homeless person. And it was the perfect “something for everyone” gift. It also got me thinking about my own holiday ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: Best Gadgets Gifts For Women 2017

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This is a very good year to get a gadget for a gal. There is so much! I have been trying things I want, my friends want, or my daughter wants all year long. Don't take a man's word for what a woman wants. Listen to me. I have tried it all. And I am telling you that this -- right here -- is what the women want. Note: Prices fluctuate during holiday sales but what's here is what things cost as I am writing this. Cheers! 1. Aura Frame, $299, Buy This is an amazing digital frame. It's so much smarter than any of the others I’ve tried. Upload photos straight from your smartphone. It also has light, motion, and gesture sensors. So if you don’t like one photo just swipe -- by waving your ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: Best Tech Toys of 2017!

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Here are the gadget-y toys in all price ranges that I've had a blast playing with this past year. Now I hope that your kids (and you) will have a great time with them too! (FYI: Many of these prices are fluctuating during the holidays - many of the prices listed below could change.) 1. Star Wars: Jedi Challenges: Lenovo and Disney partnered on this timely Star Wars tech that lets kids (and their moms!) fight realistic light-saber duels without consoles or computers. I can’t get enough of this game. It takes less than five minutes to set up and before you know it, you’re perfecting your Jedi skills against the most menacing villains the dark side has to offer — right in your own living ... Read more

Stitch Fix? Rent the Runway? I tried 5 clothing services. Here’s what I found.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnheikIi0uQ These days you can order up just about anything on-demand. Doctors, drivers, hairdressers, heck even a new mattress is just a few finger taps and credit card number away — all hours of the day and night. But fashion? Well, that can be a bit of a tougher nut to crack. Style, size, fit, cost, occasion — all of the considerations that go into getting dressed every day — are anything but one size fits all. Still, it’s a booming industry right now. Online clothing box service Stitch Fix filed for IPO in late October, and a new one-to-one personal stylist option called Allume just launched on the heels of a three million dollar round of seed ... Read more

SEEN ON KTVU 11/11: Tech the halls, smart gadget gifts guide kickoff!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJHUo4G_c60 Americans will spend around 97-billion dollars on new gadgets and gear this holiday season. That’s an all-time record – as industry analysts predict seven out of every 10 adults in American will buy a tech gift this year. What’s hot? VR, Cyber Security, and gadgets that make your life more fun. Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, $199.99 Awaken your inner Jedi with the Disney/Lenovo’s smartphone‑powered augmented reality Star Wars experience. It comes with a headset and haptic-enabled lightsaber, and works with nearly any smartphone on the market today. It takes less than five minutes to set up and before you know it, you’re perfecting your ... Read more

HACK THE HOLIDAYS: How to find, use, and pay for the Holiday Season’s most coveted gear

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The Holidays are coming at you fast. Did you save? Make a list? Check it twice? Of course not. We live on the eve of Amazon drone delivery. Everyone is expected to take care of life in time we once wasted staring into space at stop lights. In the face of unreasonable modern expectations, we offer these hacks to help you do it, use it, and even pay for it. Don’t give up and buy everyone a bottle of gin. You’ve got this. Get the Ungettable Gear You know it’s coming, the first question at every holiday party. “Did you get an iPhone X?” Apple co-founder Woz may not be buying but everyone else is. Preorders sold out in 10 minutes and the line keeps getting longer. With Apple (maybe) ... Read more

JOLLY HOLIDAYS! GIFT GUIDES 2017

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I've tested more than 1,000 gadgets, tech toys and tool this year. I've now made my list and checked it twice - of what stuff I;ll spend my very own hard earned money on, so that I can help you find the best gifts for everyone on your list too. No BS. No financial incentives. Just straight-up good advice from someone with a bajillion years of experience and an eye for a bargain. Keep this site bookmarked for the best gift guides and hot holiday giveaways of the year! Also - be sure to sign up for our newsletter to hear about it all first! JOLLY HOLIDAYS! ... Read more

THE BEST: Fun (and frightening) apps to celebrate Halloween!

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The scariest part of Halloween these days might just be how much we’re all spending on it. American’s are shelling out more than nine billion dollars for all the costumes, candy, decorations and parties this year, according to the National Retail Federation. If the high cost of it all gives you the creeps, these apps deliver big fun for free. SPOOKY SELFIES My new favorite app for not too gross and slightly sexy Halloween selfies is the free Photo Lab app (iOS and Android). I've been playing around with it all morning and wow, it's packed with photo fun generating - awesomeness. It has more than 800 awesome effects for your photos, and it's super simple to use. There's No need for ... Read more