Gadgets Archives - Page 19 of 35

Jul 30

OnePlus leak points to a host of new gadgets in the works

OnePlus first made its name as a phone maker, but now it has plenty of other devices on sale as well – and according to a fresh leak, it would seem a lot of those other devices are going to be getting upgraded before the end of the years.

This is according to the usually reliable Mukul Sharma (opens in new tab)who says that two pairs of true wireless earbuds (one with the Nord branding), the OnePlus Watch 2, the OnePlus Band 2 and a couple of smartphones are due to launch in the third quarter of 2022 (so that’s July, August or September ).

Most of the accessories that OnePlus has made in the past, like the OnePlus Nord Buds, have been reasonably well received by consumers. If more hardware is on the way, OnePlus must be confident that there’s enough of a market out there for it.

The story so far

OnePlus currently sells three different types of wireless earbuds, with a variety of features and a choice of price points. You can also pick up these audio devices in bundles with OnePlus smartphones in some parts of the world.

As for the OnePlus Watch, it was unveiled in March 2021, so it’s already been a year since we saw it first appear. It runs its own bespoke operating system, so presumably the OnePlus Watch 2 will follow suit when it makes its debut.

The OnePlus Band fitness tracker, henceforth, is currently only available in India – it remains to be seen whether the OnePlus Band 2 follow-up device, if it is indeed on the way, is going to be available in more regions when it goes on sale.

Analysis: not just smartphones

The path that OnePlus is taking is one that most other smartphone manufacturers are also following, and it makes sense: having earbuds, smartwatches and fitness trackers that can be bundled with phones means more in the way of sales and profit.

Take a look at Apple for example. We know all about the iPhone, but then we’ve also got the AirPods, the Apple Watch and much more besides (though it’s perhaps unlikely that OnePlus will move into laptops and streaming boxes too).

Samsung and Google are two more companies that offer plenty of accessories around their flagship smartphones, and new products continue to be added all the time – with the Google Pixel Watch now finally official and going on sale soon.

With that sort of competition, OnePlus knows it needs to keep up. While the sales figures that OnePlus sees for these accessories may not match those of its rivals, it’s important to have these products available to go head to head against other companies.

Jul 30

3 Kitchen Gadgets NY Times Food Writer Melissa Clark Can’t Live Without

Looking to up your cooking game? The first step is always making sure your kitchen is stocked with all the essential tools. New York Times food writer Melissa Clark does a whole lot of cooking—so she’s sharing her top three kitchen essentials that make cooking and baking so much easier.

Mini Mandolin

Opting for a mini mandolin is a lot easier than using a full-size mandolin. “I use [it] almost every day,” says Melissa. “I don’t know about you, but whenever I try to slice something really thinly with a knife, I get uneven pieces. This mandolin makes the pieces super even and it goes really fast.”

Melissa also suggests getting a mandolin glove to keep your fingers protected, although you can also use a dish towel—or some mandolins come with a little plastic piece to help protect your fingers. Just be careful not to cut yourself.

Mini Whiskey

“Using a smaller whisk works so much better when you have a small amount of liquid. [These are perfect for] a salad dressing or a little pot of hot cocoa or if you’re making yourself some oatmeal,” says Melissa. “What’s so great about these is I can hold them in my hand and get a lot of control and I can whisk really quickly , which is nice.” Plus, they’re really inexpensive and super cute!

Digital Scale

Say goodbye to dry cakes due to mis-measured flour. “This [digital scale] will guarantee you a perfect result,” says Melissa. “It is so much easier for baking, because instead of using measuring cups and measuring spoons and making a big mess, I can mix everything in my baking bowl and it’s a lot more precise. ”

Jul 30

The Secret to Longevity? Here Are 7 Health Tech Gadgets That Can Help

In a world submerged by economic, social and ecological crises, health emerges as the number one priority for people. Everyday life has become so stressful that it takes its toll on our well-being.To stay alert and in sync with everything, we are glued to our phones, making plugging off a real mission. Physical activity is a real struggle.

Luckily for us, there’s also a whole branch of technology, helping us navigate this rugged terrain. The Recursive compiled a list of 7 health tech gadgets developed in Southeast Europe with a mission – to take better care of our bodies and minds. From wristbands, to headbands and glasses, these health tech gadgets aim to help us understand our hearts, brains and needs better, in order to lead a better life.

Health tech gadgets developed in Southeast Europe

Name: Zeit Medical

Year of founding: 2019

Headquarters: California, United States

Founders: Orestis Vardoulis and Urs Naber

What it does: The company developed a headband for people to wear while sleeping. The wearable monitors the impulses of their brain. The software analyzes those impulses and it can detect a few hours early if a stroke or seizure will happen. It is advised to be worn by patients prone to neurological injuries.

The band can be set to call for help as soon as possible if even the smallest danger is detected. The latest round of investmentin total of €1.8M was raised by American VCs SeedtoB and Digilife in 2021.

Name: COME ON

Year of founding: 2015

Headquarters: Sofia, Bulgaria

Founders: Aleksandar Dimitrov, Branislav Nikolic

What it does: The company developed glasses which project blue light for 20-30 minutes, imitating natural sunlight, improving the human internal body clock. The specific light sends signals to the brain, through the retina, and then makes changes in the creation of the sleeping hormone – melatonin. Users experience better sleep, boosted energy levels and reduced jet lag effects in a natural way. The goAYO app provides personalized therapy, with science-based guidance, to help customers reach their goals for a healthier lifestyle. When downloading the app, they complete a simple test which helps the software get an idea of the body’s usual rhythm, the unique wake/sleep cycle, and from then on it makes recommendations for changes in their routine.Their latest round of investment is €190K in total, and was raised by Eleven Ventures.

Name: SparkVision

Year of founding: 2021

Headquarters: Sofia, Bulgaria

Founders: Ilko Simeonov and Ivan Tsvetkov

What it does: Glasses with bluetooth connection and installed camera to help visually impaired people orientate better when outside, but also read text and call a friend, if needed. The little speakers on the glasses enable people to hear the text they had scanned before with the glasses’ camera. It uses a specific software, available both in English and Bulgarian.

Name: ECG for Everybody

Year of founding: 2016

Headquarters: Novi Sad, Serbia

Founders

Jul 29

Grid Studio’s beautiful gadget art is taxidermy for geeks

If there’s one good thing about growing older, it’s that all the goofy stuff you liked when you were a kid is now prime nostalgia material. A framed poster for the original Power Rangers movie isn’t a sad obsession with a kid’s TV show, it’s retro chic! But there’s a difference between simply nailing up a bunch of old junk and decorating with intent. And the difference is, apparently, about two hundred bucks.

That’s cynical, especially for a man who actually does have Star Trek paintings in his house. But I have to admit, Grid Studio’s loving presentation of old tech as art is incredibly appealing to me, and I assume, people like me. When offered a chance to review one of their framed, dissected gadgets, I leaped on the opportunity for the original Game Boy Advance, which I think has yet to be topped for both ergonomics and visual appeal.

Not quite museum-grade memories

The package came in a stunning presentation, wrapped in high-quality paper with a ribbon sealed in actual wax. If I didn’t know what was inside I’d think I was being sent a box of chocolates that cost more than my monthly car payment. Upon opening it I found a rather more down-market shadowbox, flat black processed wood, and plexiglass with a plastic shipping protector.

Michael Crider/IDG

The unit they sent me looks identical to the presentation on the Grid Studio website, down to the Indigo color of the GBA itself and the printing of the Pokemon Ruby start screen. The various bits of the console are lovingly cleaned and meticulously placed, and are clearly a real Game Boy Advance that at one point bounced around a real kid’s backpack. The plastic screen cover might be replaced, but the rest has some faint wear and tear to show it’s the genuine article. That said, this GBA wasn’t abused — none of its imperfections detract from the piece as a whole.

The removed and stuck-on parts are aesthetically pleasing, especially the white PCB. Labels are hardly necessary, but they’re very cleanly presented in an appealing pixelated font to make you remember all those hours you spent blowing through AAs.

Michael Crider/IDG

Though that’s a strange omission here: While I appreciate that sticking actual zinc batteries onto something meant for long-term display isn’t a great idea, there’s no mention of them anywhere in the labeling or fakes used in some of the phone designs. The LCD screen from the Game Boy Advance is also missing. That glimpse through the plastic cover is the only indication it was ever there, despite the fact that we’re looking at the front of the PCB. Other Grid Studio game presentations also commit the screen panel, and I’m not sure why.

Any color you want, as long as you want purple

These nitpicks aside, it is a very nice presentation, and the presentation is what you’re paying for. That being the case, I would have liked the option to choose my color

Jul 29

Camping Gadgets to Buy: Cool Products to Take on Your Outdoor Adventure

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We live in a world that is constantly in flux—evolving, adjusting, devolving, readingjusting. So it only makes sense that in this modern world, you’d naturally need camping gadgets in order to disconnect from your day-to-day fill with, well, gadgets. We love to go camping to get away from the rigamarole of our daily lives, to connect with nature and crack hard seltzers at 11am. Some of us like to turn off our phones and yearn to discover our more primal selves. And that’s wonderful… for some. But if your version of inner peace isn’t achieved by leaving your phone behind, then you should naturally bring something that can charge your phone in the woods—and any other tech that makes sense for you.

We think the best way to camp is the way that makes you feel the most happy and at peace. Modern camping gear has made leaps and bounds when it comes to the devices we can employ to make us feel more comfortable, safe, and relaxed in the wilderness. And even those who aren’t looking to charge their phones could benefit from a high-tech camp stove or a cleverly designed headlamp. To wit, we found eight amazing tech products for camping that will only enhance your experience off the grid, so you can spend more time telling stories with friends around the fire and less time looking for new batteries for that burnt out headlamp.