In late February, Target quietly began selling a portable version of The Oregon Trail for $24.99. Now, I’ve spent $25 on much dumber things than this in my time. You probably have, too. So I went right out to my local store and bought the handheld game once it was in stock. (Initially it was only available in stores, but now you can order on the web.) Target is the exclusive retailer, and it also sells a card game, though can’t imagine that would scratch my nostalgia itch to the same satisfying degree as this miniature Apple II gadget. Target and Big Fun, the actual manufacturer of this handheld, definitely get points for presentation. The beige unit is chunky but light and comfortable to hold. And for something that costs $24.99, the color screen on here is about all you could ask for. The protruding floppy disk is the game’s power button, and there’s also a speaker to its right that barks out eight-bit audio just fine. The rest of the layout is pretty simple, … [Read more...] about The Oregon Trail handheld game is a really fun nostalgia gadget
Gadgets
Postmodern dining with the Japanese art of useless gadgets
The uselessness this time stems from the shortness of the guard: Any splash from your mouth might be captured, but dangly noodles remain a real threat to your wardrobe. Also, why does my forehead need the same protection? I've seen this chindogu before — but besides acknowledging who wore it best, it fits with the tenets: According to the Chindogu Society's official site, there're ten of them. "Chindogu are offerings to the rest of the world. They are not therefore ideas to be copyrighted, patented, collected and owned."Wasabi StickNow this is borderline innovative: Wasabi applied in the same way you'd use a glue stick. A quick dab on my plate of salmon nigiri sushi and I was ready to inhale them. It also offered a bit more control on how much I added, as chopsticks usually end up adding only a tiny amount. There is a question of reusability. Not sure that I want to be using this after it's been applied to untold pieces of raw fish. In that way, it satisfies tenet no. 3. It has, … [Read more...] about Postmodern dining with the Japanese art of useless gadgets
Gadget Lab Podcast: Is AR’s Future in Smart Glasses, or Just Your Phone?
With so many smart glasses showing up as prototypes and, sometimes, as finished consumer products, we have to ask ourselves: Where is this all going? Some say the future of augmented reality is a set of glasses you wear on your head, speaking and gesturing your commands. Others think it’s just your smartphone, which you hold up to see the world in a new light, Pokemon Go style. Whatever it is, we can see the first steps toward this future around us today. Some notes: Why it’s so hard to make smart glasses look good. The Intel Vaunt glasses get written up at The Verge. Mashable tries the Bose AR prototype. Recommendations this week: Allbirds Trees, and the NYT Magazine‘s profile of Leopoldo López. Send the hosts feedback on Twitter. Arielle Pardes is @pardesoteric, and Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. Our theme song is by Solar Keys. How to Listen You can always listen to this week’s podcast through the audio player on … [Read more...] about Gadget Lab Podcast: Is AR’s Future in Smart Glasses, or Just Your Phone?
Vergecast: explaining a Spotify trial, Siri, and a whole bunch of gadgets
This week on The Vergecast, Nilay, Dieter, and Paul are back in New York City after being at SXSW last weekend. To kick off the show, they welcome back senior writer Sarah Jeong to explain a $1.6 billion lawsuit between Spotify and Wixen Publishing. In the second half of the show, the trio discusses recent reports of the inner workings of Siri — including the history and how it stands today. There’s a lot more in between that — like the segment Paul does every week, “Untitled” — so listen to it all, and you’ll get it all. 02:27 - A $1.6 billion Spotify lawsuit is based on a law made for player pianos 31:45 - What went wrong with Siri 47:38 - Paul’s weekly segment “Untitled” 48:45 - Never forget a letter value with this Scrabble-themed keyboard 49:13 - These gargantuan ‘headphones’ massage your ears 49:43 - Google’s NSynth Super is an AI-backed touchscreen synth 50:28 - BreadBot is an insanely … [Read more...] about Vergecast: explaining a Spotify trial, Siri, and a whole bunch of gadgets
IoT hacks are rising — and older gadgets may be most at risk
There's a running joke for connected gadgets and the Internet of Things: "The 'S' in IoT stands for security." And yes, I'm aware of there is no "S" in IoT. Oleg Šelajev, a lead developer for Oracle Labs, coined the phrase in 2016, and it pops up almost every time researchers find security flaws with a connected device. And it happens a lot. Think security cameras. Or toys. Or smart locks. Yet homes, businesses and facilities are stocking up with more connected devices to make their lives easier. IoT devices are expected to grow to 20.4 billion devices by 2020, and businesses are expected to spend $134 billion annually by 2022 just on cybersecurity for IoT devices, according to Juniper Research. More connected devices means more potential vulnerabilities. And the security aspect of these devices haven't gotten much better. Researchers have been warning about this issue for years, but the number of threats are only getting worse.The real problem is no one's listening. "We … [Read more...] about IoT hacks are rising — and older gadgets may be most at risk
Less is more: How to pack your gadgets for travel, quickly and easily
Vacations are fun, but packing for them isn’t. There’s nothing worse than stressing over what to take before you hop on a plane, train, automobile, or ship. And, if you’re a geek like us, we like to bring our gadgets along. Or, should we? As much as we want to bring our cameras, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, portable batteries, and what not, you should restrict the amount of things in your bag to match the type of vacation you’re having and your mode of transportation. Unless you plan to work, do you really need to bring a laptop? If you plan on participating in extreme activities, does it make sense to bring the DSLR? Take some time to plan, and your vacation or work trip could be stress-free before you arrive at the destination. Our guide will help you decide what you should pack to avoid unessential gear. Determine your mode of transportation Every mode of public transportation has instructions for what you can — and cannot — bring onboard. … [Read more...] about Less is more: How to pack your gadgets for travel, quickly and easily
AirPods Pro! And the cool HealthKit gadgets you haven’t heard of, on The CultCast
A reliable source says Apple is working on audiophile-grade headphones with built-in AirPods magic. AirPods Pro? SIGN US UP. Catch the discussion on The CultCast. And stay tuned for: How Apple plans to revolutionize healthcare; the cool, weird and wacky HealthKit gadgets you’ve never heard of; and we wrap up with pro-level whistling, rock accordion, and the best actors of all time in an all-new Get to Know Ur Cultist. Squarespace.com website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off any hosting plan. Episode CultCast #325 – AirPods Pro! Subscribe on iTunes Our Twitters, if you please This week’s stories Apple audiophile headphones tipped with AirPods magic Apple is aiming to pivot its AirPods success into a set of Apple-branded over-the-ear headphones, reports suggest, effectively competing with its own Beats range. Apple wellness clinics will offer ‘world’s best healthcare’ Apple plans to launch new … [Read more...] about AirPods Pro! And the cool HealthKit gadgets you haven’t heard of, on The CultCast
Gadget Lab Podcast: Google’s AI-Powered Camera Exposes Photography’s Future
Google’s new Clips camera takes short looping videos of your kids and your pets, and it does it all using AI. Sure, that sounds like some weird technophobic nightmare—Google, one of the most data-thirsty companies on the planet, pointing a camera at your kids? But the way the company designed the Clips keeps all of your visual memories private until you decide to share them, if you decide to share them at all. Mike and Arielle talk about how Google’s innovative approach to computer vision in consumer products could lead to other types of digital cameras that are as private as a Polaroid. Some notes: Mike’s review of the Google Clips camera. Recommendations this week: Instant: The Story of Polaroid by Christopher Bonanos, and the music of Shel Silverstein. Send the hosts feedback on their personal Twitter feeds. Arielle Pardes is @pardesoteric, and Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. Our theme song is by Solar Keys. How to Listen … [Read more...] about Gadget Lab Podcast: Google’s AI-Powered Camera Exposes Photography’s Future
Google launches Clips camera, its latest effort to bring AI into home gadgets
(Reuters) — Babies, dogs, and artificial intelligence. Alphabet’s Google is betting this combination proves irresistible with the Tuesday launch of Google Clips, a pocket-sized digital camera that decides on its own whether an image is interesting enough to shoot. The $249 device, which is designed to clip onto furniture or other fixed objects, automatically captures subjects that wander into its viewfinder. But unlike some trail or security cameras that are triggered by motion or programmed on timers, Clips is more discerning. Google has trained its electronic brain to recognize smiles, human faces, dogs, cats and rapid sequences of movement. The company sees big potential with parents and pet owners looking to grab candid shots of kids and animals. The Clip shoots seven-second videos, without audio, that can be edited into GIFs or high-definition photos. These images can then be downloaded and shared via smartphone. But Google’s bigger ambition is the mastery … [Read more...] about Google launches Clips camera, its latest effort to bring AI into home gadgets
Gadget Lab Podcast: A Deep Dive on Apple’s HomePod
The way you control Apple’s smart speaker, the HomePod, is pretty cool. You just talk to it. But Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, can’t make the speaker do much beyond the basics and can only summon music from Apple-owned cloud services. That sets it behind the other products in the voice-activated speaker race—most notably those from Amazon or Google—which are capable, flexible, and largely platform-neutral when it comes to streaming. It’s too bad Siri can’t play internet radio or the deep cuts from your local MP3 library, because the speaker itself sounds absolutely amazing. Mike and Arielle discuss the good and bad points about the HomePod, and tell you whether or not it’s worth your Satoshis. Some notes: Mike’s HomePod review. Our original HomePod story from the 2017 launch. Mike also reviewed the Google Home Max and the Sonos One smart speakers. Recommendations this week: WeCroak and KCRW’s Good Food. Send the hosts … [Read more...] about Gadget Lab Podcast: A Deep Dive on Apple’s HomePod