It’s one thing for an autonomous car to strut its stuff on smooth, warm California tarmac, and quite another to do so on the frozen winter mix of northern Finland. Martti, a self-driving vehicle system homegrown in Finland, demonstrated just this in a record-setting drive along a treacherous (to normal drivers) Laplandish road. Martti is… Continue reading Finnish autonomous car goes for a leisurely cruise in the driving snow
Category: Gadgets
A week on the wrist with the Alpina Startimer
It’s refreshing to wear a mechanical watch. The soft sweep of the seconds hand reminds us of the fleeting nature of time while the endless ticking in a dark room is a comfort and a spur to action. Add in a little limited edition provenance with big face and crown and you’ve got a stew… Continue reading A week on the wrist with the Alpina Startimer
Apple’s iMac Pro is a love letter to developers
T he iMac Pro exists because it turns out that there is a lot of air underneath the aging Mac Pro and above the incredibly popular MacBook Pro. A single-digit percentage of Mac customers buy the Mac Pro and, in recent years, Apple had been seeing a major rise in “pro” customers of all shades… Continue reading Apple’s iMac Pro is a love letter to developers
Google Assistant is coming to older Android phones and tablets
The Google Assistant, Google’s take on Siri, Cortana and Alexa without the approachable name, has long been available on most modern phones and tablets. But given the fragmentation of the Android ecosystem, many older devices will never get the newer versions of Android that actually feature built-in support for the Assistant. Now, however, Google is… Continue reading Google Assistant is coming to older Android phones and tablets
Mario Bear has come to save 2017
It’s been a long year – it feels like it actually spanned about 50, in fact. But now, at the end, some relief: Mario Bear. Yes, it’s just a bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop. And a ‘brand collaboration,’ that horrific thing that usually just means some executives get a larger Christmas bonus and more people are… Continue reading Mario Bear has come to save 2017
Apple invests $390 million in TrueDepth component maker Finisar
Apple announced a substantial investment in Finisar. Apple is giving Finisar $390 million to build a new 700,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Sherman, Texas. Finisar is going to hire 500 people to work on the laser sensor in the TrueDepth camera in the iPhone X. Today’s investment is part of Apple’s commitment to invest $1 billion… Continue reading Apple invests $390 million in TrueDepth component maker Finisar
Review: Shinola Canfield headphones are an overpriced mess
T he Shinola Canfield headphones cost $600 and do not ship with a 1/2-inch stereo adapter. That should tell you everything you need to know. But if not, keep reading and let me explain why these fashion headphones are not worth the price. I tested these headphones in a way that I thought they would… Continue reading Review: Shinola Canfield headphones are an overpriced mess
Clap on! Clap off! It’s Clapboss!
Sure Alexa can sing you a song but can you clap back at her? A new product by the makers of the Freewrite lets you do just that. Called Clapboss, this smiling dongle lets you clap up to four times to activate various things around your house. Clap twice to turn off your lights! Three… Continue reading Clap on! Clap off! It’s Clapboss!
Devialet built a car audio system for Renault’s Symbioz concept car
High-end speaker maker Devialet is branching out of home speakers. The company announced a partnership with Renault for its first ever car audio system. You can’t buy a Renault car with Devialet speakers just yet, but there’s a Renault concept car with those speakers. Devialet has always said that it wasn’t just a speaker manufacturer.… Continue reading Devialet built a car audio system for Renault’s Symbioz concept car
MakeX announces the first 3D-printing backpack
In the year 2020, when the Earth is overrun by aliens, it will be mandated by the Galactic Council of Extraterrestrial Life that all children must walk around with 3D-printing backpacks. Why not get a head start with the MakeX Migo backpack that lets you care your ultra small 3D printer anywhere you need to… Continue reading MakeX announces the first 3D-printing backpack