Recently I did a few segments on tech gifts for the holidays.
Of course, since the holidays are so very busy, I forgot to post them here.
So, if you’re still looking for any cool tech products before we see everything new coming out of CES, here they are.
WABC-TV segment on Top holiday gifts here:
CNBC segment on Top Kids Tech toys here:
What fun tech toys did you get for the holidays?
Is it too soon for a show that pokes fun at the dysfunction taking place in Washington, DC? Amazon thinks not.
Starting today (Friday) the first three episodes of its first-ever original series Alpha House will be available online for free.
I had the opportunity to view the first three episodes on the big screen at an event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in New York earlier in the week and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed them.
Alpha House is a political satire that revolves around four senators who share a house together in Washington. How wrong could that go?
John Goodman stars as a conservative Republican from North Carolina, with cameos from Cynthia Nixon, Wanda Sykes and one so fabulous in the beginning I don’t want to spoil it for you.
What makes this so wonderful is the fact it was created by Garry Trudeau, the guy who gave us Doonesbury, the Pulitzer-prize winning comic strip. It’s funny, witty satire and it made me laugh. At the event Trudeau said the “nation’s misfortunes are our future scripts” and much of this is taken right from the sometimes ridiculous happenings going in the capital.
In one scene Goodman’s character, Senator Gil-John Biggs finds out he is about to be opposed in an upcoming election and declares in his southern drawl that he is about to evolve. Mark Consuelos plays a Marco Rubio who brings his girlfriend along on a trip to Afghanistan. Yes, it’s a satire, and it takes jabs at today’s politics, but I found it entertaining.
Of course they go nowhere without their trusty Blackberrys, though I think Goodman’s character does have an iPhone he hurls against a wall. He also refers to “The YouTube” which is not too far removed from his knowledge of how Amazon video even works. He recently told Jon Stewart, when asked how to watch the videos, “I don’t know…I’m selling their product…I’m just a cog in their machine of world domination.”
The first three episodes are available for free to all Amazon customers via Amazon Instant Video on Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, Roku, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and just about any other connected device. After the first three, which Amazon hopes will get you hooked, the next 8 will be available on Prime Instant Video.
Can the series (and upcoming series Betas launching later this month) do as well as Netflix’s House of Cards? That remains to be seen, especially since Amazon is launching the new episodes weekly, not all at once for binge-watching like Netflix has done.
Between free shipping, the possibility of Sunday shipping and now these new original series, Amazon Prime for $79 a year is shaping up to be a deal worth doing.
A touch-enabled laptop, a smartpen, a device that displays textbooks and movies. What more could today’s students ask for?
I showed off a few tech gadgets for back to school on WABC-TV this week. You can see it here or watch the video below.
What’s on your shopping list?
Last week I taped a segment for the Anderson Cooper show, talking about money-saving apps. I showed a demo of Shop Savvy and aside from slow wi-fi in the beginning, it went well! I was also able to use Airplay on an iPhone 5 to send the phone output to the big screen. No wires!
Lots of fun, and it certainly didn’t hurt that Ben Affleck and the cast of Argo were there as well.
For more apps make sure to check out the Lifestyle channel on Mashable.
ABC’s Tech Contributor Andrea Smith (@abcandrea) has a round-up of today’s latest gadgets for those ready to take on the world post-graduation.
APPLE TV $99
Your grad is already living in an HD world and technology is doing its best to keep up. Apple has released the third generation of its Apple TV, bringing full 1080p HD and a new user interface to the tiny box that lets you stream video content from various sources.
For those apartment-hopping or possibly moving to a new city for a new job, there’s really no reason to sign up for cable, or make a huge commitment when you can stream movies and TV shows from iTunes, Netflix, MLB.TV and other subscription services. YouTube is available, of course as well as the ability to stream your own HD videos from your mobile devices using AirPlay over your Wi-Fi network. In fact, the Apple TV makes a great companion for your iPad as it will send movies, music, photos and video games to the TV screen using Apple’s AirPlay technology.
You’ll need to buy an HDMI cable separately.
Logitech UE Air Speaker $399
Gone are the days of moving stereos and receivers and speakers, all your grad needs today is an AirPlay-enabled speaker and an iOS device and the music will flow. There are a few on the market but Logitech’s UE Air Speaker with dual tweeters and woofers is so stylish and elegant, it will fit nicely on any bookshelf or table.
AirPlay speakers let you take advantage of Apple’s ability to send uncompressed music from iTunes or an iPad/iPhone. You just need them both connected to your Wi-Fi network to get great-sounding audio that can fill a room. A built-in docking station lets you charge your device and play music at the same time.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 8GB $249
If you’re looking for a budget-priced tablet, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for $249 is a great option. It has a 7-inch-screen, of course, front (VGA) and rear-facing (3MP) cameras and it’s running Android’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Unique to the new line of tablets is a built-in IR blaster that turns the tablet into a smart remote for your TV. The remote is powered by the Peel app, which, after learning which home entertainment products you use and who your provider is, provides a guide to help you find your favorite shows. For those who like to play along with a second screen, the Smart Remote also lets you share what you’re watching with friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.
The Galaxy Tab 2 is W-Fi only, which keeps costs down, so you’ll have to provide your own connection now that you’re off the wired campus. Though the tablet provides only 8 GB of storage, it does feature a slot for a MicroSD card to expand up to 32 GB.
MARCHON EX 3D GLASSES $22-$75
If your grad is a movie buff, don’t let them get caught with geeky movie theater 3D glasses. Stylish glasses make a great gift that can be used over and over.
Whether you choose the wear-over model, the kind that fits right over your prescription glasses, or clip-ons that do just that, you’ll look great taking in a Real 3D movie or staying home to watch a passive 3DTV.
Marchon’s glasses are made with patented curved-lens technology, which allows for a wider field of peripheral viewing, giving you optimal 3D viewing. They’re Real 3D certified and compatible with most passive 3D technologies, such as TV’s and gaming systems.
HD PENCAM – MINI 720P VIDEO CAMERA & RECORDER $99
Here’s a high tech take on a tradition graduation gift. It’s a pen, but it’s also an HD video and audio recorder. So you can play James Bond, or take it with you to grad school to record notes and lectures. The Swann HD PenCam Mini 720p looks like an elegant ballpoint pen, with ribbed casing and gold trip, but it’s also got a teeny lens that lets you shoot video or stills at the push of a button. For students wanting to devour every minute of a lecture, you can add a 16GB MicroSD card which Swann says will hold up to eight hours. Data is uploaded via USB to your computer, which is also how you recharge the pen. Ink refills come the old-fashioned way.
What to get Mom for Mother’s day? Here are some gadgety gift ideas I showed on ABC’s World News Now this week. Full product details below the video.
SAMSUNG DV300F WiFi DUAL LCD SMART CAMERA $199
Moms love taking pictures, lots and lots of them, but two things still get in the way of snapping and sharing that perfect shot. Your kid’s attention and the time to upload your pictures to your computer or a photo-sharing site like Shutterfly or Picasa.
Samsung is looking to solve those issues with the DV300F. It has built-in Wi-Fi so if you take a great picture of the kids and want to share it with Grandma or post it to Facebook right away, you can. As long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi, whether its at a Starbucks, a hotel room, or your own home, you can share.
If you’re the type of parent who makes silly faces and causes no end of embarrassment trying to capture your child’s attention, you’ll enjoy the animation feature that pops up on the front screen of this dual-screen camera. Set it off and your child is guaranteed to look right at the camera when you want…no more staring off in the wrong direction.
This is a 16-megapixel camera with an 18x zoom, comes in black, red and silver.
The self-portrait mode opens the screen on the front for a perfectly-framed shot of you and that celeb that passed by, or a family shot with you in it.
http://www.samsung.com/us/photography/digital-cameras/EC-DV300FBPBUS
Sharing Photos
iPhoto $5
iPhoto is a great app and Mom will always appreciate a photo book make out of memories. The iPhoto app for is now available for mobile devices like the iPad and iPhone for $5.
Editing photos is easy because it uses finger gestures, which is just what the tablet was designed for. It’s also a great way for Mom to get organized and work on pictures and albums a little at a time, like in between soccer games or waiting on the carpool line.
Photo books and Calendars start at $19.99
CARDS APPS FREE
If you want to personalize your greeting cards, there are many options. Apple’s CARDS app, a free download, gives you 21 designs to choose from. Insert your own photos and text, and they’ll print it on premium paper and mail it for you. Couldn’t be simpler. Cards are $2.99 if sent within the US, including postage.
http://www.apple.com/apps/cards
TREAT FREE/SUBSCRIPTION
You can buy Mom an annual subscription to Treat.com where she can make and send cards for all occasions at a discounted rate. It works much the same way as Apple’s Cards; upload pictures, choose text, and they’ll send the card for you, though Treat has a much bigger selection to choose from. The typical cost of a card is $2.99. A yearly subscription costs $11.99 which makes most of the cards available for $1.99 each. A $5.99 plan makes the cards avail for $2.49.
Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight $139
Here’s something for Mom that’s great in bed!
Sure to solve the nighttime tussle of ‘honey, can you turn out the light?’ the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight is Barnes and Noble’s lightweight E Ink e-reader with a built-in light. Not an external one that attaches to the outside, this one is made up of patent-pending technology that lights up the page just enough for you to see in the dark. In fact, it’s adjustable so you can turn it up or down, depending on how much light you need. It’s incredibly easy on the eyes, and, since the infrared touchscreen has built-in anti-glare technology, this is one e-reader that can perform out by the pool as well as in the bedroom.
With over 2.5 million titles to choose from and the ability to lend a book to a fellow Nook user, plus a battery that will last a month, this is a gift Mom can set and forget.
Belkin Chef Stand and Stylus $39.99
If Mom likes to use her iPad in the kitchen to follow recipes, you know sometimes it can become a gooey, chocloate-coated mess. The Belkin ChefStand and Stylus keeps Mom’s sticky fingers off the screen. Yes, Mom’s can have sticky fingers too. The stand holds the iPad off the counter and angled so she can see it, and the stylus has a magnetic tip that wakes up the tablet and helps to navigate through the recipes. Keep the mess for the mixing bowl!
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=557467
FITBIT ARIA Wi-Fi SMART SCALE $130
Attention: This may not be the best gift idea for your Mom, so choose wisely. If the Mom in your life is someone who actively enjoys fitness and health, and might want a little motivation or jump-start in tracking goals, this Wi-Fi connected scale could be just the thing. The FitBit Aria scale not only looks great, sleek glass and thin frame, but it adds a high tech twist to getting weighed. Every time you step on it, not only is it sending your weight to your FitBit account, it’s also measuring your Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as lean/fat percentage. No worries, none of this is made public, unless you want to share it.
FitBit says the default settings on your weight are marked private, though you can share your weight and other fitness info with other friends on the FitBit network.
What’s nice about seeing your weight plotted out online this way is you can track your progress with a graph, not just a number every day that either goes up or down. A graph lets you step back and take a look at the bigger picture and try, along with diet and exercise, to meet your over fitness goals.
You can make fitness a family affair; the Aria scale can accommodate up to 8 accounts in all.
This full article and video can be found on abcnews.com
Andrea Smith 