The Acer Switch. It has magnetic appeal.

At the Acer preview event I attended on April 29, 2014, Acer unveiled the  2-in-1 Acer Aspire Switch 10. It's a clever notebook and tablet combined in one flexible device. There are other companies doing combo products, but what sets the Switch apart is the magnetic detachable Acer Snap Hinge design. It makes for easy transition between tablet and latch-free keyboard docking, plus optional storage capabilities. I got a chance to play with the sturdy Acer Snap Hinge. It features two magnetic hooks to firmly connect the tablet to the keyboard, plus a 2-way connector that holds the tablet for convenient two-sided viewing. The tablet can easily be plugged or released (by lifting it) from the dock. It's not a flimsy connection; Acer says the magnetic force is capable of holding 2.8 kg (6.2 lb.) in weight. Although the interior keyboard is plastic, the rear cover of the tablet features an cross-brush nano imprint on aluminum. Acer says the Aspire Switch 10 is one of the thinnest 2-in-1 devices on the market, measuring less than 8.9 mm thin (0.35 inches) in tablet mode and 20.2 mm (0.44 inches) with the keyboard dock. Weighing just 0.59 kg (1.29 lb.) for the tablet only and 1.17 kg (2.58 lb.) for the tablet and keyboard, the light and ultra-thin design is ideal for bringing on the road. The 10.1-inch display (1366 x 768 pixels) with IPS technology provides wide viewing angle of up to 178-degrees. The Aspire Switch 10 is powered by an Intel Atom processor and features Microsoft InstantGo. (I believe the processor is the “Bay Trail-T” quad-core). Since we were indoors I didn't get a chance to try the Acer LumiFlex which optimizes screen visibility during outdoor activities, even under sunlight. The Switch ships with Windows 8.1 and will be available toward the end of May or early June for a MSRP of $379.00. 

Acer Produced Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xojSBN63b00

Acer Web Page: http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/home 

Cobra JumPack Charger - It can revive your phone, your tablet and YOUR CAR!

The folks at Cobra have been making car travel gadgets for a long time. But I’m particularly impressed with their new JumPack device. Cobra says you can use this small, lightweight device not only to charge your mobile devices, but also to start your car when the battery under the hood won't! It packs 200 Amp Starting Current, 400 Amp Peak Current, which they say is enough to jumpstart most cars, even those with V-8 engines. And you can jumpstart your car multiple times on one charge. It also has a 2.1 Amp USB port to rapid charge your portable devices including cell phone, smartphone, tablets and other mobile devices. But wait, there’s more! There’s a built-in superbright LED flashlight, plus strobe and S.O.S emergency blinker. 7500mAh Lithium-Cobalt Battery. And unlike an acid-lead battery jumper device, which loses power quickly, the JumPack will hold a charge for about a year. The device is about the size of a small paperback book (5.04” H x 2.87” W x 0.98” D) and weighs only 11 ounces. It comes with a 12-volt cigarette lighter plug charger, 110-volt charger and jumper cables, which plug directly into the JumPack. Charging takes just a few hours. Model CPP 7500. Under $130 as of 6/7/2014. 

JumPack is on the company website: www.cobra.com

The Giz Wiz has a fit. The new Galaxy Gear Fit.

I’ve been using the Galaxy Gear Fit for about five days now, and I like it. I’m basically using it for its time feature and just a few of the fitness features. I use the heart monitor a few times a day and I have the pedometer display on all the time. In ‘settings’ one of the many display options is the time of day, plus the number of steps you’ve taken. You can choose vertical or horizontal display. A couple of nights I used the sleep monitor, but the first night it woke me a few times by turning on brightly. I thought I had set it so the display would not come on during sleep, but I guess I didn’t do it correctly. The second night it worked fine after I reset it. The sleep mode tells you how long you slept and within that time, how much of your sleep was “motionless”. I’m assuming “motionless” sleep translates into restful sleep. I like the 1.84in curved Super AMOLED (432x128) screen and display is bright enough to be easily read outdoors. And the Gear Fit is easy to put on, not like my FitBit that was a real chore. The Bluetooth works well and even acts as a bit of an alarm about your phone. If you walk more than 30’ from your paired Samsung phone, you’ll get a vibration signal and message that you’re out of range. Texts and other notifications come via the paired Samsung product. There’s a list of them at the Samsung website. The Gear Fit has an accelerometer, gyroscope, in addition to the heart rate monitor. In the five days I had it, I had to charge it on the fourth day. I wish you could charge it directly via USB, but you have to clip a mini dongle onto the watch and then charge the Gear Fit through that. I was glad to see the Gear Fit is dust and water resistant, meeting IP67 standards. I didn’t try the Personalized Fitness Motivator. I did get a couple of texts on the Gear Fit and I liked that you can tell who’s calling your cell just by looking at the Gear Fit screen. At $199.99, it’s not inexpensive since you can buy the new Galaxy S5 for the same price, but there’s no contract or further fees with the Galaxy Gear Fit. 

http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/gear/gearfit_features.html

2 Clever Gadgets From Satechi.

Satechi makes a lot of very clever devices that are competitively priced. One of the newest is the Satechi F1 Smart Monitor Stand. It’s the perfect companion for your monitor, laptop, or all-in-one computer. It can raise your monitor to a more convenient height via a choice of two preset heights. Raising the screen gives you room underneath to store your keyboard, mouse, etc. At the same time your monitor can be at a better height to reduce eye and neck strain. But wait, there’s more! Built right into the F1 Smart Monitor Stand is four USB 2.0 Ports and Headphone/Microphone Ports. (Yes, USB 3.0 would have been better, but USB 2.0 is still everywhere.) The four USB ports out front make it a breeze to hook up USB flash drives, charge devices, etc. Next to the USB ports are headphone and microphone ports, which is very convenient too. The Smart Monitor Stand's aluminum alloy legs can support devices up to 22lbs according to Satechi. Also included in the box are 2 audio cables - 1 for microphone, 1 for headphones, and a USB cable, provided to connect your computer to the F1 Stand. The 2 aluminum legs are packed out of sight in the packaging, so look for them before you throw out the box. There are also rubber pads to prevent sliding and protect desktop. MSRP is $39.99, but on the company website it's listed as $34.99 (as of 4/11/14) - but it's not available yet. You can sign up to be notified when it is, though.

Giz Wiz YouTubeVideo I shot with this product: http://youtu.be/iDVd_9ZO8io  

Company website: http://www.satechi.net/index.php/office-1/desk-organizers/smart-monitor-stand 

The Satechi 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub adds nine additional USB 3.0 ports and one iPad-charging port to your PC or Mac. This allows you to connect and use USB devices such as digital cameras, external hard drives, flash drives, and printers, all from a single hub. Three switches control each group of three USB 3.0 ports and each group is lit with an attractive blue LED when powered on. Don't forget it has to be powered by a USB 3.0 port on your computer to provide data rates of up to 5.0Gbps. Shipped with an AC power supply, the Satechi 10-Port USB 3.0 Hubfeatures electric current stability of the connected USB devices. It does not require any software, or drivers, just plug and play. Slim, strip-shape design the Hub saves  desktop space. The 10th port, located on the end of the hub, is capable of charging your iPad and features an On/Off switch. iPads are typically unable to charge from a computer's USB ports, so theSatechi 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub provides unique functionality compared to similar hubs. Portable enough to move between systems or take on the road. MSRP $69.99. As of 4/11/2014, it was on Amazon for $59.99 with free shipping. (Not Amazon Prime.) 

Satechi 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub (9 Port USB 3.0 + 1 iPad Charging Port) 5 Volt, 5 Amp 

Here's something I bet you never knew a 3D Printer could print.

At the last 3D Printer Show a few months ago, I thought I had seen the most unusual 3D printer ever. It made small objects using reams of plain paper for the build. But I saw something even more unusual at the 3D Inside Printer Expo (April 3-4-14). The 3D Systems ChefJet series of 3D printers can print candy and other edibles! They were printing candy at the show, and I ate a couple of pieces. Tasted just like, well candy! Although they're dubbed "kitchen-ready 3D printers" they are really big; about the size of two huge microwave ovens sitting one on top of the other. I think the ChefJet 3D printers are more for the specialty coffee shop, the professional baker, cake masters, and high-end event planners and restaurant owners. Equipped with The Digital Cookbook, it has easy to use software for the non-CAD consumer. The ChefJet 3D printer is a monochrome, countertop sized printer with a generous build volume of 8x8x6”, ideal for single color confections and cake toppers. It will be priced in the sub-$5,000 range. The ChefJet Pro 3D printer is a full-color, large format printer with a build volume of 10x14x8”. ChefJet printable materials for both models come in a variety of recipes, including chocolate, vanilla, mint, sour apple, cherry and watermelon, all of which can be printed in full-color. It will be priced in the sub-$10,000 range. Both ChefJet models are expected to be available in the second half of 2014. 

www.3dsystems.com/chefjet