Apple has turned out the C-Suite to promote HomePod, including senior vice president of marketing Phil Schiller. In an interview with audio magazine Sound and Vision, Mr. Schiller talked up three aspects of Apple’s smart speaker: music, Siri, and HomeKit. There’s little I would call new in the interview, and when I went looking for a standout quote, it all felt like informative marketing speak. But, it’s interesting to see Mr. Schiller pushing HomeKit integration, which has largely been downplayed in Apple’s marketing message so far. One way or another, however, it’s a good read that gives a nice overview of what Apple wants us to think about HomePod.
Using Type to Siri as a Smart Command Line on iPad Pro
In an iPad Diaries entry, Federico Viticci describes how he uses Type to Siri on his iPad Pro as a sort of “smart command line.” Type to Siri is a feature introduced in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra. Although billed as an accessibility feature, it lets you type to Siri instead of talking. This can be helpful if you’re in public and you feel awkward talking to your iPhone. On iPad and Mac, it might even be more efficient to use Siri this way, since these devices have keyboards. Since you’re typing rather than talking, it could even be a bit better since there is little room for Siri to misunderstand you. To make it faster to use, Federico created specific text shortcuts for commonly used commands.
First Ant-Man and The Wasp Trailer Shows Big Fun Comes in Small Packages
Marvel’s first Ant-Man movie was an awesomely fun romp through the super hero world, and it looks like the sequel, Ant-Man and The Wasp, is going to be more of the same. A surprise trailer for the movie dropped on Tuesday morning showing Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Dr. Pym back in action saving the world while on the run. You’ll never look at Pez in the same way again.
Augmented Reality for Reals?, Analysts Suck, Why Software Sucks, Blade Runner 2049 - Pop.0 ep.29
In this TMO video podcast, Bryan Chaffin and John Kheit ask the question, “Is Augmented Reality for reals?” They also take the tact that analysts suck, and building on that theme, debate John’s theory on why software seems to suck today. For the pop part of the show, they look at Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. If you enjoy the show, make sure you subscribe to it! (WARNING NSFW: PROFANITY & RANTS)
NAMM - IK Multimedia Announces iRig Stomp I/O
NAMM – IK Multimedia announced iRig Stomp I/O Thursday. It’s a pedalboard stompbox designed to let you control your AmpliTube for iPad or iPhone effects pedals live or in the studio. iRig Stomp I/O has a lot of features, including four switches, an expression pedal, a built-in preamp, phantom power for microphones, a built-in USB audio interface, a combo input jack for line, instrument or mic input, and balanced stereo output. It’s also MFi-certified, and priced at $/€299.99. IK Multimedia said it will ship in March of 2018.
MyCharge's AdventureJumpStart Will Charge Your iPhone or Jump Start Your Car - Really
Check out the AdventureJumpStart from MyCharge. It’s a portable battery for charging your iPhone, iPad, or other mobile device, but it can also charge your other other mobile device. Your car. How cool is that? It even comes with detachable jumper cables designed to connect to the AdventureJumpStart and your car battery. With 6,600MhA of storage, you’d use it for your smart devices normally. But when jumping a car, AdventureJumpStart will put out a peak of 400A of current. MyCharge says you can leave it in your car year round, but recommends recharging it (via microUSB) every 90 days. It’s priced at US$99.99.
Burger King's Net Neutrality Explanation with Whoppers is Brilliant
If you know people who aren’t grasping what the repeal of Net Neutrality means, try hitting them in the stomach. Figuratively, of course. Fast food giant Burger King has an awesome video that makes it much easier to understand the ramifications of an internet without Net Neutrality using hamburgers as an example. It’s only a couple minutes long, but that’s more than enough time to get the point across. This is one of the clearest, and most entertaining, Net Neutrality explanations we’ve seen so far.
Apple Music Trailer for UK Rapper Stefflon Don Documentary
Apple Music has a trailer out for a mini series of documentaries on UK rapper Stefflon Don. It’s part of Apple Music’s “Up Next” showcase of up and coming artists. Stefflon Don was born in Birmingham, England, of Jamaican parents, grew up in Holland, and came back to England, where she launched her musical career. Apple Music describes her sound as a mix of UK rap and Jamaican dancehall, and there are two episodes of her documentary on Apple Music now. The trailer below offers a sneak peak.
FaceRig is the Animoji You Wish Apple Made
Animoji on the iPhone X is pretty cool, but with just a handful of emoji faces to choose from it feels a little limited—plus it works only in the Messages app. FaceRig is an app that fixes those problems by giving you loads of characters to choose from, and you can unlock more through credits you earn by using the app. It uses the iPhone X’s facial tracking feature to do its magic, plus you can record videos to share with friends. You can choose from characters that animate in sync with your movement, or masks that overlay your face. FaceRig is free, and it’s already eating up too much of my time.
New Apple Spot Promotes iPhone X and Portrait Lighting
Apple has a new commercial out called A New Light. It’s part of the company’s iPhone X series of commercials, and it promotes Portrait Lighting and Portrait Mode photography. It’s a 38 second spot that does a good job of demonstrating the kinds of thing you can do with Portrait Lighting on the iPhone X.
CES - Polk Intros Command Bar Sound Bar with Alexa, 4K TV Support
LAS VEGAS – Polk is giving Amazon’s Alexa a face lift—er, voice lift—with its Command Bar. The sound bar packs in an array of speakers for sound that nicely filled the large presentation space where we got our fist look, plus it includes a wireless subwoofer and, of course, integrated Alexa support. It also includes Polk Voice Adjust technology that makes it easier to hear dialog. The Command Bar packs in dual 4K HDMI 2.0b HDMI inputs, optical input for TV audio, HDMI (ARC) output, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a USB port for Fire TV, and a far field microphone array for Alexa voice control. You can pre-order one for US$299.95 starting April 1, 2018, in the United States and Canada, and in other countries later in the year.
CES - DJI Osmo Mobile 2, a Handheld Video Stabilizers for Smartphones
CES – DJI, best known for drones, announced Osmo Mobile 2 this week at CES. It’s a handheld smartphone gimbal designed to stabilize your videos by keeping it level despite your movements. Or, as DJI put it, Osmo Mobile 2’s, “three-axis gimbal technology cancels out movement in three directions so your video stays steady even if your hands shake or wobble.” It has a built-in rechargeable 2600mAh battery for up to 15 hours of operation, with a charging time of 2 hours. The device is priced at US$129, and will be available exclusively for pre-order at Apple.com on January 23rd, 2018. It will be available more widely starting in early February.
CES - DynaFocals Smart Glasses Give Your Progressive Lenses Auto-focus
LAS VEGAS – The idea of moving your head to see through the different focus areas in progressive lens glasses seems pretty crappy to PH Techical Labs, so they invented Dynafocals: glasses frames that adjust the lenses for you. Dynafocals have a proximity sensor to gauge how far away whatever you’re looking at is, and can subtly move the lenses so you’re looking through the right part. They’ll be available this year for US$149 and the company includes instructions for your optometrist on making the lenses.
CES - Healbe GoBe 2, a Wearable That Tracks Caloric Intake, Calories Burned, Hydration Levels
CES – Healbe demonstrated GoBe 2, the company’s wearable it claims can track caloric intake, calories burned, and hydration levels, all non-invasively. It uses five activity and stress sensors, with all data sent securely to the GoBe 2 app for iOS or Android. The company is also developing a portal that will allow users to send data to “trusted nutritionists/wellness coaches,” though Healbe didn’t elaborate. GoBe 2 is water resistant in fresh water, but not salt water, and it works up to 48 hours on a charge. GoBe 2 is priced at US$199, with additional strap color options available at $19 each. It’s available now.
CES – LG Booth OLED TV Video Tour
LAS VEGAS – Every year at CES I make it a point to pass through the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall at least once just to see the spectacle of new TVs on display. Each year, all the big manufacturers try to out-do one another (including renting booth space under dummy company names and expanding last-minute) just to create the most impressive display. This year, for me, LG’s OLED TV tunnel was a perfect entrance to the mayhem. Thankfully, I got there before the power went out, but that’s another story for another time. For now, just enjoy my tour through the LG tunnel.
Apple's Chinese iCloud Occupation, HomeKit Miss, Apple Parenting, Oak Island - Pop.0 ep.28
In this TMO video podcast, Bryan Chaffin and John Kheit look at Apple’s Chinese iCloud occupation and what it says about Apple. They also think Apple is just plain missing the smarthome boat, judging by what we’re seeing at CES. John goes off on a tangent rant about parenting and Apple, and for the pop portion of the show, they talk about recent developments in The Curse of Oak Island. (WARNING NSFW: PROFANITY & RANTS)
CES - Kano is the Most Fun You'll Have building and Coding Your Own Computer
LAS VEGAS – Kano makes computers and coding accessable to all ages with their built-it-yourself computer kits and easy to learn coding platform. They show Jeff Gamet their product lineup at CES 2018.
CES - Turn Your Regular Clothes into a Fitness Tracker with Spire Health Tag
LAS VEGAS – The Spire Health Tag attaches to your regular clothes, turning them into your personal health and fitness tracker. Jeff Gamet checks them out at CES 2018.
CES – PopSockets Launches Car Vent Mount
LAS VEGAS – Popular iPhone grip and stand maker, PopSockets, has launched their next accessory: the PopSockets Car Vent Mount. Built to fit into the air vent of your car, this makes it super-simple for any one with a PopSocket on your phone to mount it on your car’s dashboard in one, easy motion. Pricing is US$9.99 and it will be available this week or early next from PopSockets.com or Amazon.
CES - Apple Couldn't Fix its iPhone USB Cable, so Nite Ize Cordcollar Does
LAS VEGAS – Apple’s Lightning to USB cables for the iPhone and iPad are notorious for fraying where the connectors and wires come together. Nite Ize has a fix for that with their Cordcollar, and they show Jeff Gamet how it works in this video interview.
CES - Snuggle up with the Somnox Sleep Aid Robot and Fall Asleep Faster
LAS VEGAS – Somnox showed their sleep aid robot to Jeff Gamet at CES 2018. It helps you relax and fall asleep, and you can check it out in this video interview.
CES - Catalyst Apple Watch Series 3 Waterproof Case
LAS VEGAS – Catalyst has a shock proof and waterproof case for Apple Watch Series 3 that’ll keep your smartwatch dry up to 330 feet underwater. Jeff Gamet gets to check it out at CES 2018 in this video interview.
CES - Rocketbook Reusable Notebooks Give You an Infinite Number of Pages
LAS VEGAS – Rocketbook’s reusable notebooks let you write and draw, use your iPhone to upload and organize your work online, then wipe the pages clean and start again. Jeff Gamet checks them out in this video interview.
CES – MyCharge Battery Pack With Passthrough Qi Charging
LAS VEGAS – myCharge, long-time makers of quality battery packs and charging bricks, this week announced at CES the upcoming availability of a new portable battery with two Qi surfaces built-in. The US$79.99 Portable Power Bank Unplugged 10K Dual is about the shape of a smartphone, and features a Qi pad on top so that your phone will charge when the battery pack is simply up against it. Cleverly, myCharge has included a Qi coil on the bottom of the pack, as well, allowing it to charge from a Qi pad (like then $29 myCharge Powerdisc shown in the picture). In a true “passthrough” sense, a phone stacked on top of a charging battery pack will see the phone charge first, then the pack afterwards, making for a very convenient setup to have on your desk or bedside table. Stack ’em at night to charge, grab ’em in the morning and go! The myCharge Portable Power Bank Unplugged 10 Dual will be available in March and has a list price of $79.99.