Technology Archives - Page 13 of 42

CES 2019 – Day 4

Here we are already on day 4 of CES 2019. We were not that surprised to see fewer people heading to the show early this morning. The 24hr nature of Las Vegas has taken its toll.
The fact that most of us are walking between 15000-25000 steps per day, eating irregularly, and everyone is trying to perform at maximum capacity with minimal sleep is finally catching up with many people.

This gave us a little more room on the show floor to find those hidden treasures to share with all of you.

One such item that really stood out was the LED FlyLight by CLEANRTH based out of Buckeye, AZ. A simple but brilliant invention that attracts flies with a useful light bulb like device. The difference with this is that it includes a very quiet fan that runs while the light is lit, which vacuums flies into its center chamber. The flies can not escape and become desiccated. This is a very environmentally friendly way to control insects without using chemicals or messy adhesives. The fact that the device doubles as a lightbulb, also provides a practical function.

One theme we noticed running through so many of the electronic distributors of the show was retro-styled products. Brands like Victrola which have been absent for many years are suddenly reemerging in name and styling on a wide variety of audio products. We saw table radios, floor standing radios, jukeboxes, cd players, and vinyl record players. Even though they look like they are from a previous century, they have auxiliary, USB inputs and Bluetooth connections. ION also is producing a large number of items with retro-styling and coincidently, it was also RCA’s 100th anniversary in business!

Here’s a name you might remember. Polaroid. They had a huge booth dedicated to showcasing a wide variety of polaroid cameras – new and old. They even offer a new pocket sized camera, called the Polaroid Mint, that will take your photograph and instantly print right from the same device.

Tomorrow is the last full day of this incredible show and we can’t wait to see what other undiscovered treasures await us.

Diane & Ron

CES 2019 – Day 3

Hi Everyone!

Today was a day of flat out running for day number 3, at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019 here in Las Vegas. We are here with Alan Perry, host of C-FAX 1070’s “TechTalk” show, and Brian Pavlicic, the show’s very capable producer.

We are up at 5:30 a.m., then making our way to the Las Vegas Convention Center with about 180,000 other people trying to do the exact same thing. Today we went on C-Fax Radio and we spent a good half hour talking about some of the amazing things we saw at the show.

Hyundai unveiled the “Elevate” concept vehicle. Imagine something roughly resembling a van, but the wheels can extend out in any direction. This allows the vehicle to literally climb over objects, or be driven as a normal vehicle. When it’s to market, it will be invaluable in search and rescue operations, navigating through obstacles, and it can even climb over a 5 foot fence.

On a more personal note, we saw the “iKuddle” automatic cat litter box. This unit cleans the cat box without you having to touch anything! It scoops and bags by itself, you just toss out the bag. About $399 CAN. You can monitor and adjust it’s setting via your smartphone.

Do you have a hard time regulating sleeping temperature for your bed? Today we saw “Ooler” a system that allows you to either heat or cool your bed with a special mattress pad, and you can go from as low as 12 degrees, to as high as 40 degrees! No more arguing if your partner likes the bed cooler or warmer than you do.

Check us out here tomorrow for some really interesting finds from CES 2019 we will be sharing with you then!

Ron and Diane

Why Is My Kid Dancing Like That? A Handy Guide to Fortnite

If you have kids of a certain age and they are exhibiting strange behaviours like weird choreographed dances, they have likely been exposed to a video game called Fortnite.

In case you’re childless and/or live in a cave, here’s Fortnite in a nutshell: it’s a multi-player survival game that takes place in an alternate version of earth, where extreme weather wipes out 98 percent of the world’s population, and the remaining two percent are left to defend themselves against zombie-like creatures.

It’s currently the hottest thing in video games, with close to 125 million players around the world. Its popularity is mostly due to the fact that it’s available on almost every gaming device (Playstation, Xbox, PC, iPhone, and Android), and the “Battle Royale” mode is free to play. Another big draw is the social interactivity: players can team up with others and interact through voice chat.

But what really sets Fortnite apart is its style. It has a fresh and colourful aesthetic with lots of humour, and characters’ looks are customizable with unique clothing and gear. Players can also buy victory dances (or “emotes”) that their characters do to celebrate a kill.

The designers of Fortnite didn’t come up with most of these moves; in fact, many of them are based on pop culture or little-known internet memes. But now these dances are being done by millions of kids around the world because of Fortnite. Here are some examples of moves you’ve likely seen performed in your kitchen, and an explanation of their origin:

The Floss

This move looks weird but it’s really fun to do. 16-year-old Russell Horning, also known as “Backpack Kid,” originated it on his Instagram page in 2016, and it quickly caught on with people copying his move all over the internet. He was even invited to perform it with Katy Perry on Saturday Night Live in 2017, and it finally made its way into Fortnite.

Best Mates

Good luck keeping a straight face for this one. The “Best Mates” dance was first seen in a hilarious and strange Facebook video called “The Band of the Bold” by a creator named Marlon Webb, then affectionately re-named “When You Go Out With Your Best Mates” by fans. Many other creators made their own tributes to “Best Mates,” doing the dance at school, at work, and with characters in other video games. Fortnite, of course, created its own tribute as well.

The Dab

Ask any kid in the know, and they’ll tell you that the Dab is dead, but like cockroaches and Keith Richards, it seems to stick around way longer than it should. Pop culture historians mostly agree that the Dab originated in the Atlanta hip-hop scene in the early 2010s, then gained popularity when professional athletes started using it as a victory dance on the field. The move reached the mainstream around 2016, but once grown-ups like Hillary Clinton and Prince Harry started catching on, kids inevitably moved on. But Fortnite didn’t!

Fresh

If you’re of parenting age, you likely remember the hit ’90s TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and the nerdy character of Carlton, played by Alfonso Ribeiro. Carlton loved to dance, even though he was pretty terrible at it, and did so at any given opportunity. In 2014, Ribeiro competed on Dancing with the Stars (and handily won!), and treated the audience to “The Carlton” in a few of his performances. The rest is Fortnite history.

Orange Justice

This dance had a long journey before it got to Fortnite. Earlier this year, Fortnite’s studio Epic Games held a competition called #BoogieDown in which fans submitted videos of their best moves to be considered for an emote in the newest version of the game. When the winning dance was announced, some fans protested loudly that their favourite video wasn’t chosen – a somewhat cringe-worthy but adorable dance by a kid in an orange shirt with the handle @Kid_fortnite12. Epic Games took notice and added his dance into the mix as well, hence the name “Orange Justice.”

@Kid_fornite12’s dance is an awkward interpretation of a move by another internet sensation, Roy Purdy, a 20-year-old YouTuber from Wisconsin who has been on the scene since 2016 with his brightly coloured wardrobe and videos of jubilant public dancing. That rubber-legged, arm flailing wiggle is one of Purdy’s signature moves, and is clearly the inspiration for @Kid_fortnite12’s #BoogieDown submission. (Some would say that Roy Purdy’s inspiration came from the Cybergoth Dance Party video that went mega-viral back in 2011, but that’s a whole other story.)

So, now that you’re caught up with some of the Fortnite dance moves, why not try a few yourself? Don’t forget to stretch first, and be prepared to completely freak out your kids.

BONUS CONTENT: If you’re not Fortnite-d out yet, enjoy this video of professional dancers trying the moves in real life. These dances are no joke!

Shop our complete Fortnite collection at londondrugs.com.

CES – Day 2

Here we are on the second day of CES 2019 in Las Vegas, and the overarching theme this year appears to be “Artificial Intelligence” and “5G”. In essence the technology is an imitation of it’s human creators in that 5G provides the “backbone” for the AI “brain” to exist upon. While some may consider the idea that a machine is able to learn from prior experience and apply this knowledge to new situations a bit far fetched, guess what?! This is now a reality.

Last night we heard from Nvidia about how they use AI and deep learning to increase efficiency and image quality in their latest RTX graphics cards. Today we heard this term many times to describe how AI is being used to help create platforms that have more natural speech dialogues, create predictive responses for autonomous vehicles or as we saw in LG’s announcement, the ability to determine for the user the best sound profiles to use based on the type of content and the lay out of the room.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

With long lines of eager reporters, we got to see a number of the new technologies that are going to depend on high speed connections and enormous quantities of data. Think about being able to download a full 4k video in seconds – nearly 20x faster than current 4G technology. In order to accommodate this LG has partnered with Qualcomm to bring 5G to North America in 2019.

Boy are we going to need it.

Both LG and Samsung are bringing out 8K OLED TV’s this year, each with their own subset of content including airplay 2.0 and better integrated AI’s. Samsung 2019 TV’s will also include the ability to utilize Apple iTunes Movies & TV. Flexibility and positioning increases exponentially when you look at LG’s new Signature OLED TV R. The first roll up TV with integrated sound bar.

Like last year, manufacturers are giving their customers the choice of which platform to use with their products along with the flexibility to connect them with an every expanding category of connected home products.

Speaking of which, how does the idea of a capsule based home craft beer brewing system sound? Intrigued? We certainly were! With the ability to brew up to 5 different types of beer, this Keurig looking machine takes just 2 weeks to complete the entire fermentation to consumption process in the comfort of your own home.

Sounds like the perfect end to a long day of reporting with lots more coming in the next few days so stay tuned!

Diane Williamson & Ron Fraser

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2019

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend the biggest and best technology conference in the whole world? Then read on, as Diane Williamson and myself, Ron Fraser, attend CES 2019 (The Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas all next week! We are computer department managers for London Drugs in Victoria B.C., and technology is our passion! We will be posting here daily, and you can follow us on Twitter @Londondrugs. We will also have live reports from Jan 7th, to Jan 11th on CFAX 1070 radio, and you can listen live, on cfax1070.com. We want to find things to tell you about that are exciting, practical, amazing, inspiring, and just maybe life changing technology that you can use!

How big is this show? This info sheet will give you a good idea!

This show is the biggest event of its kind in the world, and it happens every January in Las Vegas. The reason it’s such a big deal, is that a lot of CEOs and people that can make buying decisions head to this particular show. A lot of the products that you see in the stores, and in fact in our stores are decided on from attendees to this show. Many vendors bring their biggest and their best inventions and products to show at this show. All the big automakers are there every year, and they unveil the newest and greatest that they have in new vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and electric or hydrogen powered vehicles as well.

In recent years, aging in place technology, as well as home appliances and home conveniences with smart home connected technology has been featured very strongly in many of the display venues here. We will try to focus on the things that people will find really interesting or useful during the course of the CES. And as always, the large electronics manufacturers and camera manufacturers will be there showing the biggest and best televisions, and imaging devices and cameras for consumers and professionals alike.

We hope you will read and follow along with us here, and on social media and CFAX radio, and enjoy what we have to present!

Now, on to Las Vegas and two days of truly exciting press conferences! Talk to you soon!

Bringing in the Christmas Cheer with Your Best Friend: 5 Tips for Great Christmas Dog Photos

It’s that special time of the year again, a chance to get together with our friends and families and celebrate the festive season. But for pet owners, family does not just include those with two legs. Your four-legged bundles of joy are just as much a part of the family, and deserve a spot next to you in Christmas photos. Here are some quick tips to help ensure that your best friend looks just as good as everyone else in your pictures this year!

1. Winners are grinners – Get them active to get their best smiles!

Olympus E-M1 Mark II w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.2 PRO

A dog’s smile is one of the happiest things in the world! Make sure you can get those smiles by taking your pup out for a quick run before you start taking pictures. Five to 10 minutes of play or a brisk walk should suffice, but don’t overdo it, otherwise as soon as you start taking photos, they will want to lie down and rest. (It still might look cute though!)

Olympus PEN-F w/ M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8

2. Get down to their level to get their best angle

Olympus E-M10 Mark III w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8

While it may be much simpler to take a photo of your puppy from eye height – this angle is not overly flattering for your pup. Getting down to their level will make them look less diminutive, and help to fill up your frame. The smaller the pup, the lower you are going to need to get. Mirrorless cameras from London Drugs such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III with tilting touchscreens, or cameras with articulating screens will help you get your camera lower while putting less strain on your back.

Olympus E-M10 Mark III w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8

3. Portrait lenses will make your pup look stunning

Olympus E-M10 Mark III w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8

By changing your lens, you can really make your pup pop in your images. Portrait lenses help to isolate your subject. This means that while your subject will be in focus, everything around them will be blurred and will not distract from the focus of the image – even if there are other things in the image such as people. Just remember to always try to focus on the eyes or the nose!

Olympus’ 45mm f1.8 portrait lens is a great value choice that combines razor sharp optics and pleasing blur to make your subject stand out in the image. For DSLRs, a portrait lens between 50mm to 85mm would also be ideal. London Drugs has a wide range of portrait lenses to ensure that all your family members look stunning this festive season!

Olympus E-M1 Mark III w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8

4. Shoot at the right time of the day for photographing people and pets

Olympus PEN-F w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.2 PRO

Like everything in life, some moments are better than others for maximizing your photo opportunities. Same thing goes for taking photos of your pets! If the weather is fine, there are two times of the day ideal for taking great pet photos: two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. At these times of the day, the light is more pleasant and there are less harsh shadows. The bonus is that the closer you are to sunrise and sunset, the more golden the light, which can give a feeling of warmth and happiness!

Olympus PEN-F w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.2 PRO

5. Keep their attention – Treats are the key!

Olympus PEN-F w/ M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8

We all love good food at this time of year; so does your pup, and they will be extra keen to let you know, so use that to your advantage! Hold a treat in your hand just above the lens when you are about to take a photo. This way, your dog is paying attention to the food and ensures that they are looking near the camera. Just don’t forget to pick up some treats in the pet food section next time you’re at London Drugs before Christmas.

Olympus E-M1 Mark iI w/ M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8

Whether you are thinking about buying a new camera, or a new lens, your London Drugs photo specialist will be able to show you exactly what you need for the best Christmas pictures of your pup. Also, don’t forget that you can print those photos and gift them! To get started on your own personalized gifts, just visit our London Drugs Photolab online, in-store or simply download our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android.

Merry Christmas!

5 Tips to Optimize the Performance of Your Android Phone

If you watch TV or listen to the radio you know there is always a new Android phone being touted as the latest, greatest device that you absolutely must have. However tempting it may be to trade in your old model for a new one, it’s not always realistic, especially if your phone isn’t all that old or you just aren’t ready for a new phone quite yet.

But if your current model isn’t performing like it used to, before you head into your local phone dealer, first consider these five tips to improve the performance of your Android phone.

1. Clear Your Cached Data

There may be some apps you use a lot, such as e-mail, Instagram, and Twitter, but others you use less frequently, like the ones you use to book travel or search job postings. To speed up your Android, you can remove cached data from apps you use less often. Clearing the old data not only improves the speed of your phone but it can also help prevent crashing and freezing of the apps as well. Go to the Device Storage page in your Settings. Look for a Cached Data entry and tap it. You’ll see an option to clear out your cached data.

2. Update Your Android Phone

Provided you aren’t using an old model, try updating your Android OS to the latest version. Not only will you improve the phone’s performance, but you’ll also access new features and security fixes. The process for updating will vary depending on your carrier and device.

3. Remove Unused Apps and Media

Photo by Stephen Frank on Unsplash

Like most anything in life, too much of a good thing isn’t always…well, good! If your Android is overloaded with apps and data, it will eventually slow down. First, go through your media files and remove old photos and music, and then check your apps to see which ones aren’t being used. To remove seldom-used apps on a standard Android, follow the following steps:

Click the Menu button
Tap on Settings, then Applications and then Manage applications
Click the app you want to delete and then click Uninstall
If there is no Uninstall button, it’s a system app and it can’t be deleted

4. Keep Your Phone Battery Charged

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Your phone will automatically slow down as the battery ages. To avoid this, keep your battery charged with the following tips:

Carry a portable charger for when you can’t plug your phone into an electrical outlet.
Turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when they’re not in use – your phone won’t be constantly searching for a connection in the background.
Completely shut down all apps you aren’t using.

5. When All Else Fails, Restart Your Phone

Occasionally you may need to reboot your Android to restore optimal performance. After you’ve deleted unused media and apps and updated to the latest version, if you’re still finding your phone sluggish it may be time to reboot it. You can do a soft restart or a hard restart. A soft restart means powering down your phone and re-starting it. A hard restart will delete certain data from your phone as this function is essentially a factory reset. This is a more complex reboot and shouldn’t be attempted without weighing the pros and cons of losing some of your data. Here’s a step-by-step guide to Android reboots and restarts with more instructions.

Hopefully these tips will fix your performance issues, but if none of these steps work for you, then it may be time to admit that you need a new phone after all. For all things Android, visit London Drugs and speak to our mobile phone experts about all your cellphone needs.

CES 2019 – Day 4

CES 2019 – Day 3