What is the Lenovo ThinkPad STACK?

Before Digital Focus I didn’t know what the Lenovo ThinkPad STACK was, but now I do. It combines four ThinkPad accessories (they can be used with pretty much any laptop) in one stacked system. An interlocking design passes power and data throughout, eliminating the need for multiple cables while creating a customized grab-and-go accessory solution. Users can interchange the configuration based on their immediate needs. The STACK contains a 2x2 watt Bluetooth speaker with noise-canceling microphone, a dual port 10,000 mAh power bank that can simultaneously charge two USB-equipped devices, mobile storage via a 1TB USB 3.0 HDD and an access point that Lenovo says provides stable and fast WiFi anywhere. Lenovo said is the first go round the the ThinkPad STACK and over time new accessories could easily be added. (How about a mini projector?) The entire STACK weighs 1.9 pounds, but you may not need to carry all 4 devices at any one time. MSRP for Lenovo ThinkPad STACK is $349 and it’s expected to be available  May, 2015. 

http://www.lenovo.com/  

Giz Wiz Video:  https://youtu.be/A1xgLRZtUXg  

Ride around town on just one wheel!

At Toy Fair 2015 I found the IO Hawk, a device that lets you ride on two wheels, standing up. At Digital Focus I found the Onewheel, that lets you ride on, well, one wheel! The company calls it a new motor board sport where riders can accelerate up to 12MPH only by leaning toward their front foot. Leaning back slows down, or even reverses direction. Regenerative braking recharges the battery during deceleration. They add that unlike a skateboard, you don’t feel every little crack and pebble in the street. Instead you roll over them on the 11" air filled racing go-kart tire. The motor, which is inside the Onewheel, powers the device without a transmission—no gears or belts, just one moving part, the wheel itself. Powerful lithium iron phosphate batteries provide high peak power for acceleration and self-balancing, and it recharges in under 30 minutes using the fast charger option. Passenger weight limit is 275 pounds and the range is 4 to 6 miles depending on terrain and other factors. Cost of a Onewheel is $1499.00 and it’s available only on the company website for now. (April, 2015) 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/CdE-X95VAmE 

The company says don’t use it off road, but the video on their website sure shows folks using it everyplace!

Company video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=65&v=XNqOU4jx62I  

Company website: http://www.rideonewheel.com/

From the NY International Auto Show: It's not a car, but it's an awesome way to travel the roads.

Take your home on the road. 

This American Coach American Eaglemotor home seem really well engineered and they certainly make fantastic use of all available space. No, I've never owned a motor home, but I have owned 3 houseboats, so I know a bit about functional use of small spaces. Although this 43’ motor homes with extending sidewalls has some really large spacesl! Here’s how American Coach talks about their newest motor home: 2016 American Eagle sets a new standard in luxury motor coaches that is nothing short of magnificent. Modern design meets impeccable quality, power and technology to inspire every adventure. And now back to me! Actually, it's easier to watch the videos, (both here) to see what American Coach and I are talking about. 

Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/c5pqGfw61mE

Video from the company:http://www.americancoach.com/passion/innovation.asp 

Company website: http://www.americancoach.com/ 

Two Gadgets from the Luxury Technology Show in NYC

One of things I was most looking forward to seeing at the Luxury Technology Show was the Clio Invisible Speaker. But I worried, if it’s invisible, how will I know it when I see it? Well it turns out its sort of invisible. I'd guess it's 80% clear plastic sheet of curved acrylic glass and 20% base. (You’ll see it in the video.) Here’s what the company, ClearView says about it: “Meet Clio, the First Invisible Speaker. For the first time, you can get all the benefits of wireless audio speakers without actually having to see them. The ClearView Audio Clio, is a thin, clear and beautiful Bluetooth speaker that harnesses the power of Edge Motion Technology to produce rich, room-filling panoramic sound from a gracefully curved acrylic glass membrane. Clio virtually disappears into the aesthetic of any room or style, delivering a 360-degree sound experience without the clutter of unsightly speaker wires.” Although we were in a large exhibit hall, the Clio did sound good. But I’d have to hear it in a better environment to really comment more. Although it’s not mentioned in the copy above, that base unit also has another speaker to reinforce the bass notes. Although the styling is very different, I’m not sure the company will sell a lot of them at the $349.00 price point. There are a lot of really good sound speakers in that price range. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=62&v=_ZNMKh-e0c0

Company website: http://clearviewaudio.com/

Outdoor TV's designed to stay outdoors 365 days a year!

Here’s a TV company I had not heard of, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some of their products in upscale hotels. One line Seura manufactures are “hidden TVs”. They are installed behind mirrors. Turn the TV on via a remote control and the mirror becomes a TV. Shut it off, and it’s a mirror again, or even a picture. They come in sizes from 10” to 27” for a bathroom mirror, all the way to 65” high def, or even 4K models for other rooms. They range in price from about $4500 to $13,000. But what really caught my eye at the Luxury Tech Show was their outdoor TV’s. They make two lines and they’re both designed to stay outdoors, 365 days a year. One, the Storm, ideal for shade and indirect sunlight applications like covered patios, shaded decks and cabanas. They have a temperature rating of -24 F to 122 F. They're waterproof and Séura says their Triple Lock Seal provides protection against dust, moisture, ice, and even insects that can wreak havoc on internal electronics. The company also says they manufacture the thinnest in outdoor TVs, the first of it’s kind to offer a sleek, tapered profile at a mere 2.7” thin. Comes with a complete set of weather-protected inputs and even a waterproof remote control. Séura TV's are available in 42, 55, and 65 inch models. Prices range from about $3900 to $8400. Then there's the Séura Storm Ultra Bright Weatherproof Outdoor TVs for decks, patios, even hot tubs. The super bright LuminOptics are viewerable in sunlight. Temperature range is -30F to 140F. They come in 42, 47 and 52" sizes and retail for about $5,000 to $7500. 

Company website: http://www.seura.com/ 

Weather Test Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcfZprQg1tc