Gadgets I found at the Time To Play Magazine Holiday Show.

Anki, the robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) company, now introduces Cozmo, the little robot with a big brain and even bigger personality. Anki says Cozmo is born to play. He is charming, a bit mischievous, and unpredictable. He recognizes and remembers you. He interacts with you, plays games, and gets to know you over time. Powered by advanced robotics, AI, and computer vision, Cozmo has a brain that processes more data per second than all the Mars Rovers combined. Robots with comparable capabilities are found in labs for thousands of dollars and stand several feet tall. More than three hundred parts make up this robot that fits in the palm of your hand. Cozmo is constantly scanning his environment and recognizes people while reacting to emotions. His eyes light up when he sees a familiar face. If you haven’t played with him in a while, he’ll nudge you to play one of a handful of games. If you beat him, he might sulk. (What a minute! I spent $179.99 and I get a toy that might sulk??) Cozmo may be a supercomputer on treads, but playing with him isn’t super complicated. All you need is a compatible iOS or Android device. There are no parts to put together so you can get going right out of the box! You get Cozmo, his charging station and three smart blocks. And built-in LED's too! 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/Puf79ulgpP8

Cozmo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldi1NCpe2Aw

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fZGxjk

Hasbro says the SPEAK OUT game offers hilarious results.

Better than a trip to the dentist? That will be for you and your friends to decide. SPEAK OUT is the only game I ever remember seeing that comes with a device you put in your mouth to play. It's called SPEAK OUT, the game asks you to speak the phrase printed on the card will wearing one of the dental mouthpieces included with the game. Hasbro says the results are hilarious. Here's how it's played. Players are divided into two teams and the first person up must put a mouthpiece in, draw a card and try to speak the phrase without getting completely tongue-tied. Once the team guesses the phrase correctly, draw another card and keep going until the timer runs out to earn as many cards as possible. If a player passes on a card, the other team will automatically earn their passed card. After each player has taken two turns, count up each team’s cards and whoever has earned the most cards wins! The SPEAK OUT Game includes five mouthpieces, 200 double sided Content Cards, and a one-minute sand-timer. Available at major retailers. Ages 16 years & up/ Players: 4-5/ Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/ Available now. Do a web search for discounts. K-Mart was selling it for less lwhen I checked on 11/8/16.

With all my dental work you won't see me playing this game, but forunately the fun folks at Time To Play Magazine made a video to show us how it works. Show us Laurie!

TTPM Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vz0hSQnt2I

Amazon has it at many prices and even as another game title which perhaps Hasbro bought:

http://amzn.to/2fSKhnD 

A Look At Three+ New Gadgets From The PhotoPlus Expo 2016.

At the PhotoExpo Plus Expo, Ricoh was showing their new THETA SC, a lighter, less expensive version of their now year-old THETA S 360 degree camera. It's RICOH THETA's newest model in their line of compact cameras that capture 360-degree scenes. I was told most of the specs are the same between the new SC model and the Flagship S model. Both capture high-resolution 360 degree images of about 14 megapixels and both can record 360 degree (spherical) video in full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels at 30fps). But there is a difference in recording time of the video. The Flagship S model can record up to 25 minutes using the 8GB of built in memory, while the new model SC records only 5 minutes of video. Actually, what's interesting about that is people probably only shoot a few minutes of 360 degree video. It's something exciting to show friends at the office or over lunch, but you don't want to bore them with an endless video. Also Ricoh removed the Micro-HDMI port on the SC, which means you can't live stream video with the new camera. That's something else that probably wasn't done all that often with the higher end model. Also the Theta S app (iOS and Android) is said to be more user friendly. Removing a couple of features from the high end model gets this camera to just under $300 in price. ($299.99) which is about $50 less than the THETA S. The spokesperson at the show said the lower price should bring more people into 360 degree photography. I shot some video (link below) with the Theta S when it was introduced a year ago. Since the optics are the basically the same, you can check it out. Be sure to use your mouse and move it all around and up and down to see all of Times Square. I've seen a lot of 360 degree cameras, but this is one of the slimmest and most compact models. The SC case is resin and it comes in multiple colors, white, beige, blue and pink. (There's an entry level model for even less, but it shoots at 15 fps and doesn't have nearly as good reviews.)

Company website: https://theta360.com/en/about/theta 

Giz Wiz Theta S video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKIFeirXfBc&feature=youtu.be

The Theta SC just went on sale and it's at Big Box camera stores and on Amazon here:

http://amzn.to/2eeSRaa

Joby introduces the GripTight POV Kit.

For years Joby has come up with useful and inventive ways for people to hold cameras, small camcorders and smartphones. At PhotoPlus Expo at the Javits in New York City, they were demonstrating one of their latest gadgets, the JOBY GripTight POV Kit. This small, lightweight device has many useful functions. It provides a handheld, stable locking smartphone grip. With the handle folded behind the smart phone it's a great camera grip. With the handle folded under the smart phone, it's a steady video grip. Folded slightly open, the handle makes the POV into a handy viewing stand. But wait there's more! The integrated Impulse Bluetooth remote attaches to the GripTight POV Kit providing a point-and-shoot shutter feature while also enabling users to capture photos and videos from afar. (This may not turn video on and off on some phones, but it should work has a universal shutter button on almost all smart phones via Bluetooth. Constructed with durable ABS plastic, TPE grip pads, and stainless steel plates, the lightweight GripTight POV Kit weighs 2.1 ounces. The removable handle exposes a pin joint GoPro accessory connection. It's compatible with Android and iOS and no app is needed. Fits smart devices 2.2 to 3.6" wide in the horizontal position. And finally there's a cold shoe adapter at the bottom to accommodate accessories such as a light. It retails for $49.99, and is on pre-order at many big box stores.  

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/Ha6zvp1gJ9c 

Company website: http://joby.com/mobile/griptight-pov-kit 

Take 360 degree photos with --- well, 36 cameras!

Three years ago I learned about the throwable ball camera which was about to close in on their $900,000 funding campaign on Indiegogo. You don't aim this camera - actually 36 cameras - in all – you throw it in the air! At its highest point, all 36 3MP cameras fire simultaneously to capture a richly detailed panorama of everything, in every direction, including the photographer. Three years it was available to pre-order at a discounted price of $499 on Indiegogo. Well the Panono has had a long and winding life. Three years later I see that it's on display at PhotoExpo Plus. And it's finally ready for sale. But I almost fall over when I see on the press release that the price is now $1,000 more! Yes, $1499.00. Now, I'm not putting down the folks at Panono who are young, enthusiastic and super friendly. I'm just pointing out that producing and getting a product into the marketplace is not easy task. When I was talking to them, I said is it the true the new selling price is $1499.00? The answer wasn't what I expected. No, not $1499, the new selling price is $1999.00. It turns out that the units are very difficult to produce and it sounded like they were almost hand making them”. And when you throw it in the air, be sure you catch it, because they break if they hit the ground hard! I think that's why they now sell there own special selfie stick, so you can just hold it over your head. I think that added about another $50 the cost. I also read that they working on the second version of the Panono, due out in 2021. This time they gave themselves plenty of time to get it ready. I really do wish them luck. 

Ray Wong at Mashable has a great video where he actually uses (and luckily doesn't drop) the Panono.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UItj0KYXxV0

Company website: https://www.panono.com/home