It’s still sometimes a major hassle to print something from a mobile device regardless of whether a smartphone or tablet uses Android, iOS, Windows or another operating system.
PrintBoxie provides one solution to that issue, transforming USB printers into cloud-connected printers. Users just have to connect PrintBoxie to a wireless printer, email a document to the small black device’s email address, and connect PrintBoxie to a Wi-Fi network. Printing will be done automatically.
The sacred morning cup of joe is a time-honored tradition that will pretty much never go away. But sometimes, there isn’t any left at home, and all the time, that Starbucks is wildly long and equally as infuriating.
Made from durable silicon material, the Joule bracelet provides users with a steady stream of the oh-so-lovable miracle chemical that is caffeine. But instead of that foreign coffee most get from their local cafe (and by local, I mean pretentiously expensive), Joule has a slot for a caffeine and vitamin patch that administered transdermally over the course of four hours.
Telepresence robots allow people who are away from home to check in on their pets and make sure burglars haven’t broken in. Regular viewers of the TV show The Good Wife know that telepresence robots can also be used to take part in office meetings when users are home sick or on a business trip. Such devices can also conceivably be used so that sick kids don’t miss important lessons at school. One major problem so far has been that these devices are too costly.
EMotion is designed to be a more affordable option for consumers who want a telepresence robot. The moving robotic device works in conjunction with iPads or Android tablets. Additional functions that can be done with it include video chatting with friends and family via services such as FaceTime or Skype. EMotion ships in June at $599, although early bird Kickstarter backers can get one for a pledge starting at about $178. Its makers hope to raise $48,146 by March 3.
Stress is a problem that’s been linked by doctors to serious health issues including heart disease and obesity. One obstacle people face in fighting stress is that they don’t always realize when they are under stress and how it’s impacting the decisions that they make.
Hidn Tempo is a stress-measuring watchband with a working watch that teaches the person wearing it to control stress through three steps: awareness, knowledge and action. The watchband monitors the wearer’s stress level, sleep quality and activities all day. That information is sent to the accompanying Android and iOS app that analyzes the data and gives the user instant advice about what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
Virtual reality’s promise of immersive experiences continues to be realized, with 2016 shaping up to be a big year for the technology. Until now Google Cardboard, along with a slew of other low-cost options, have all whetted the appetite for VR but weren’t exactly what someone would use for a more involved experience.
The Goblin VR not only facilitates current virtual reality experiences but does so in a sleek, foldable package that can fit 4″ to 6″ smartphones. Its innards are outfitted with two large 35mm lenses and neoprene to ensure a comfortable fit, because no one like cardboard cuts on their face. In addition, an optional head strap lets users Netflix it up while kicking back for the ultimate media consumption experience.
Kids’ food allergies are a significant cause of concern for many parents –- especially when their children are away from home, be it at school, at a party, or elsewhere. AllerGuarder offers parents a solution to that dilemma.
AllerGuarder is a smart wristband that broadcasts kids’ allergies via a low-frequency Bluetooth transmitter that is built into the wearable device. The wristband constantly broadcasts a 50-foot radius alert and anybody within that zone who has downloaded the free Android or iOS app is automatically cautioned about a child’s allergies on their smartphones or tablets.
Earplugs are handy devices to have when trying to catch some shut-eye while traveling — especially on a noisy airplane — or even while at home if somebody is making a racket in another room or snoring in the same bed. But not all earplugs are created equal. For starters, some are more comfortable than others and some block more noise than others.
QuietOn earplugs use the same kind of active noise cancellation technology found in many higher-end headphones, but does away with the wires. There’s also no buttons. The earplugs switch on automatically when removed from its small charging and carrying case. They work for up to 50 hours on one charge, so QuietOn can work for an entire flight regardless of the destination or most delays.
Most computer users want an effective way to protect their data, especially while online. Cloud-based applications and services, however, tend to be open to the public and leave data stored there at least somewhat vulnerable to invaders.
REDS.box is an easy-to-use home server designed for Internet users who work in the cloud a lot and want to protect their data in a simple way that doesn’t require advanced knowledge or frequent updating. The REDS.box stores data safely while users are at home and can be used in conjunction with various applications, including file sharing and note-taking. REDS-compatible applications stay in the public cloud, but data is processed and stored on the user’s side instead of in the cloud. Users decide who can access their data.
It’s easy to understand the lure of eating out for lunch: it’s easy to do so and there is unparalleled variety to enjoy in dense, metropolitan areas. On the flip side, it can be unhealthy when all the ingredients aren’t exactly known, expensive to eat out every day, and generally pretty wasteful. Batch cooking is a great way to combat this but most containers simply aren’t up to snuff, made from suspect materials that leak and smell over the long term.
Prepd is reimagining the lunchbox to address this problem. Its Prepd Pack is an aesthetically pleasing, minimalist lunch box that uses modular containers for a better batch cooking experience.
Forward Head Posture, Text Neck — most people don’t know about these very real conditions. The advent of the smartphone revolution brought these harbingers of chronic neck and back pain along for the ride, which is why maintaining proper posture even with all these devices floating around is more important than ever.
NAMU’s ALEX is a Bluetooth-connected personal posture coach designed to hang from the ears and sit behind the neck for optimal analysis.
A three-axis accelerometer and pivot sensor ensure accurate measurements are sent back to the companion smartphone app with which users can manage the frequency and intensity of alerts and track progress. Avatar Mode also allows for real-time posture management with an on-screen representation to make sure everything works smoothly.