In what looks like just a fairly decent watch, you get a Bluetooth connection to your cellphone with vibrating alert for incoming calls and caller ID with the name/number displayed. I have no idea if it works well or not, but I like the idea. They also have a brief mention in the product title about SMS. This particular caller id watch will set you back about $80.
We have seen a few of the smart door locks from the likes of Schlage and Lockitron. The latest company to hit the smart lock scene is August.com. The August Smart Lock is an anodized aluminum puck that installs over the inside portion of your existing deadbolt lock. The August Smart Lock uses chimes and LEDs to let you know whether it is open or closed. Once you install the smartphone app you can operate the lock via Bluetooth and their encrypted locking technology. Yours for $200 here. Funny product video after the break.
So you are at your favorite watering hole and order up a cold Budweiser. If you live in Brazil, the Budweiser might show up in The Buddy Cup. The Budweiser Buddy Cup allows you to link to others, via Facebook, by simply clinking the cups together.
First you have to allow your cell phone to share your Facebook profile with the chip that is embedded in the Buddy Cup. After that, a simple “cheers” moment links you that person. Cool and scary at the same time. Watch the Budweiser promo video for the Buddy Cup after the break.
The folks at Amped Wireless are at it again with another great product release. The Amped Wireless REC10 WiFi Range Extender for just $79.99. Simply plug the REC10 into a standard power outlet and you will boost your wireless network by an additional 6,500 square feet. The Amped Wireless WiFi Range Extender is easy to configure and can be done with a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The REC10 has dual high power amplifiers and a 2dBi high gain antenna making dead spots a thing of the past. It is also universally compatible with all 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n wireless routers and gateways. There is also a wired Ethernet port for network bridging to servers, printers, A/V devices, TV’s, etc…
The short and sexy name for this product is – PLA2 Powerline Nano AV500 1-Port Network Adapter Kit. Long story short this gadget allows you to forgo a long Ethernet cable and instead run your networking data over a standard power-line. Nothing new there. The cool part about this new Power-Line offering is the fact that it moves data at speeds of up to 500 Mbps. Another nice feature is the pass-through power outlet on each adapter. Yours for about $109 here. More details after the break.
The Korean car manufacturers (think Hyundai and Kia) are making a serious go at it. There cars are improving massively, looking better, and stealing market share from the older goats. In this case, Kia is going to improve their UVO eServices telematics in a big way by teaming up with Google. The Google/Kia system will debut in the Kia Sorento CUV and will allow users to send directions and locations (from a smartphone or web) to the cars UVO system.
Read the full Kia press release after the break.
Not everyone is comfortable uploading their important data to some cloud service. I get it. Not to mention… there is some comfort in knowing you can grab the data… throw it in your bag… and take it with you. Similar to the Western Digital My Book Live Duo (which I am having issues with) the LaCie CloudBox is a new cloud solution that you actually own. Think of it as being self insured.
The LaCie CloudBox (available from 1TB to 3TB) connects to your existing router via an Ethernet cable and then can be used anywhere on your network. Once it is up and running you can stream your pictures, music, movies, etc… across just about any device from an iPad to your PC. The cloud can also extend outside of your house by using LaCie’s MyNAS feature.
Another worthy competitor in the action cam market is getting serious about product/features. The latest camera from Drift, the Drift HD Ghost Action Cam ($399) is packed with some cool features. The two way LED remote control (never wonder if the camera is on/off or recording), a continuous loop recording feature, Wi-Fi connectivity for iOS and Android smartphones, a 2-inch LCD display covered in Gorilla Glass. Get your pre-order in now here.
Looks like the next few years are going to continue to bring improvements in the Smartphone controlled LED bulb category. The latest smart LED bulb, the Philips Hue, will be available exclusively at the Apple Store starting October 30th. They will be offered individually at $59 or as a three-bulb starter pack with a wireless bridge for $199. The Hue Bulb allows you to pick (and block) just about any color and can even use a photo to create a color palette.
The cat is out of the bag… most of the rumor mills were correct… the iPad Mini has arrived. For those that want a tablet that will fit in their cargo pockets, the iPad Mini might be the one. Only 0.68 pounds, 7.2mm thick thin, with a 7.9-inch screen, an A5 processor, a front (FaceTime) HD camera, a rear 5MP iSight camera, and the latest tiny Lightning connector. Yours from $330 to $660 depending on capacity and wireless configurations, shipping November 2nd.
