One of the projects leads of the Apple iPod has come up with a novel design for a household thermostat. Tony Fadell’s Nest thermostat has the brains of a smartphone and the looks of a product made by Apple. Instead of complex programming steps, the device learns from every day use. It can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad and through a computer. It will be interesting to see if this product really catches on. Optimal adjustments to the temperature in a home can potentially save a lot of energy. There also seems to be ample R&D and funds behind the product. Just purchasing the domain nest.com was probably quite an investment. The Nest thermostat should be available for sale late this year for $249.
Could Steve Jobs legacy really be preserved?
Some years ago a lot of the people in the world learned almost instantly of Steve Jobs passing via devices that he helped create. Steve will truly be missed by many and specially by Apple itself. His passing is also a testament that all the money in the world cannot buy health in this age. Steve was able to survive several more years than other people with a similar condition and this was probably due to the fact that he had access to numerous treatments. Many have heard the rumors that Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen to preserve the body until a time when there was a cure for his sickness. Disney died of complications of lung cancer in 1967. Like Disney, Jobs could potentially also be frozen to preserve his great mind and intellect. Assuming that he is thawed within this century, it will be interesting to see if his innovations can still be applied to the more advanced technology available at that future time. R.I.P. Steve.
A next generation alarm clock
By now many people are using their smart phones to wake up every morning instead of a traditional alarm clock. In the case of the iPhone, there are numerous applications that enhance this with images, weather updates, and other features. The Lark alarm goes much further by including a wrist band that can softly wake you by slightly vibrating. This is particularly useful because it will typically only wake up the wearer of the wrist band and not the sleeping partner. It also includes a sensor and Continue reading “A next generation alarm clock”
A real docking solution for MacBooks
Some of us remember the Apple PowerBook Duo with a native docking station. Since then, there has not been a nicely designed dock solution. Henge Docks now offers a great option for MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The dock accepts a system vertically and it attaches to connectors on the bottom of the enclosure. The dock can be configured to offer only the desired connectors while hiding others. It can be used in combination with an external display or a media system setup. The system also reuses a user supplied MagSafe power adapter Continue reading “A real docking solution for MacBooks”
Social product development
Developing a new product is a costly and time consuming enterprise. It requires countless hours of research, prototype creation, and plenty of funds for materials and legal fees if attempting to patent the idea. Quirky has come up with a different approach. They have a network of over 30,000 volunteers that can help influence to improve and eventually launch a product. The process starts by someone submitting an idea. The concept is then presented to the community for feedback. The best ideas are selected to move on to actual product development, design, and branding. Continue reading “Social product development”
Opt out of your phone book
Almost as long as there has been phones, there have been phone books. In today’s technology age, the thick yellow and white books were replaced by Google searches. It is just more efficient and convenient to search online or visit a website for information about a place or business than searching an old fashioned paper phone book. According to statistics, the demand for phone book has declined by almost 30% in during the last five years. Continue reading “Opt out of your phone book”
The start of a new way of learning?
The current mainstream method of learning in a classroom is centuries old. In the last few decades technology has been changing these long standing methods. Salman Khan seems to have sped up the change with his Khan Academy. Salman started producing videos for his cousin in 2004. Some years later in 2009 he quit his job in the finance industry to dedicate himself fully to the Khan Academy. He has authored over 2,000 videos that have been watched over 35 million times. The lessons topics cover math, finance, biology, Continue reading “The start of a new way of learning?”
A virtual keyboard and remote control
Computers are more and more forming part of a home entertainment system. An Apple Mac mini for example now comes with an HDMI connector and supports native HDTV resolutions. It is often cumbersome to have to deal with a traditional keyboard and mouse in the family room. A great alternative is the Mobile Mouse Pro application. It allows for wireless remote control of a Windows or Mac computer using an iPhone. The application works in tandem with a program that runs on the computer being controlled. It is a great buy for $1.99 at the iTunes store. Continue reading “A virtual keyboard and remote control”
A novel tool to remember things
It seems that more and more we have to deal with an ever growing amount of digital information. It is increasingly difficult to manage things like pictures, bookmarks, notes, and other digital tidbits. Evernote provides a clever way to organize it all. The system is composed of a main application that runs on a computer and supporting plugins and apps that run on mobile devices. For example, lets say that you come to a website on your computer that you want to remember. Yes, it can be bookmarked, but often it is difficult to search through the default bookmark systems in most browsers. Continue reading “A novel tool to remember things”
A multifaceted iPad case
There have been a hundreds of options for iPad cases in the market. Most do a good job protecting the iPad, but fail in increasing usability. Brenthaven 5-in1 case does a great job. The case has three pieces: a top, bottom, and overall cover. The pieces are then customized to achieve five functions: (1) full, hardshell protection of the iPad when not in use, (2) a horizontal viewing stand, (3) a strap system to hang the iPad for viewing videos, (4) a stand to make typing on a flat surface easier, and Continue reading “A multifaceted iPad case”