{ Posts Tagged ‘Technology’ }

the best of ids12: random curiosities

I’ve been sharing the highlights from IDS12 in a series of four posts, organized by category, over the last couple of weeks. If you missed the other three posts in this series, rounding up the best woodwork, textiles and furniture, you can check them out right here.

For today, let’s wrap things up with some random curiosities!

 

1. Metropolis Living 

Metropolis Living the best of ids12: random curiosities

With so many quirky items to catch your eye, it was impossible not to stop and pay attention to Metropolis Living’s booth. I’m a sucker for their vintage industrial vibe. If you are too, then pop on over their website and marvel at the creativity behind their pieces.

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the new kobo touch + you could win one!

kobo touch the new kobo touch + you could win one!
If you haven’t made the switch to an e-reader, I urge you to consider it. A book fiend myself, I’ve always treasured my novels and have always surrounded myself with bookcases overflowing with favourite reads and reads yet to come. But when I was introduced to Kobo, things started to change. It was love at first sight and I haven’t looked back. It happened quickly and unexpectedly. I hadn’t planned to end my love affair with actual books – and of course – there are classics and favourites that will always fill my bookcases. But I’m so in love that I’ve had the following exchange with my boyfriend. More than once.

him: If you had to choose between me and your Kobo, what would you choose?
me:
{long pause}
him: {long, awkward silence}

The Kobo has revolutionalized reading for me and the new Kobo Touch (indigo.ca, $139) has taken things one step further. Here’s what I love best:

- The infrared touch screen makes using this device so simple to use. It’s intuitive and with just the tap of a finger, you can flip the pages, enlarge the font and zoom in on PDF files.

- It’s smaller, more compact than previous incarnations of the Kobo. The paperback size makes it easily portable. Throw it in your purse and you’ll always have something to read when you’re left waiting at the dentist.

- Kobo uses E-Ink technology to simulate the printed word on a page. It’s easy to read and because the screen isn’t backlit, it doesn’t feel like you’re reading on a computer or other handheld device. The glare-free screen is easy on the eyes and feels like a real book.

- The Kobo Touch holds up to 1,000 books! Not enough? Add a memory card and it can hold up to 32,000 books. So when you finish one book, you don’t need to wait til you get to the bookstore to pick up a new one. You’ll always have a full library right at your fingertips.

I love the feeling of Kobo’s signature quilted back and it’s got WiFi capability too, which means you can order books on the go. I’ve been reading more books more quickly ever since I converted to Kobo. And as a frequent traveler, it’s ideal. No more lugging heavy books around with me. It’s super light and I always have options, depending on what I feel like reading.

must-have accessories
The new Kobo Touch comes in white, black, silver and lilac and there are an array of accessories. Here are my faves:

kobo accessories the new kobo touch + you could win one!
1 The Verso Clip Light (indigo.ca, $16.99) is perfect when you’re reading in the dark at night. Just clip it onto the top of your Kobo and you needn’t turn your sidetable lamp on. The flexible neck means you can adjust the light as needed to brighten your pages.

2 The Book Style Cover (indigo.ca, $29.95) will not only protect your Kobo Touch but gives it that ‘real book’ feeling that book lovers will appreciate. Elastic bands on the inside will hold your Kobo securely in place and there are also inside pockets. Available in purple, black, navy and natural.

3 Don’t have the Kobo Touch? There are new accessories available for the WiFi Kobo and I love that you can now get the Book Style Cover (indigo.ca, $29.95) for this version. The older Kobo is slightly larger than the new Kobo Touch so be sure to get the right size cover. How fun is the pink?

Want to win one? {Of course you do!} We’ve got four to give away. Enter here. Good luck!

samsung digital cameras

When I was invited to check out Samsung’s latest digital camera lineup, I admit I wasn’t expecting to be blown away. Samsung is known for TVs, not cameras, right? Well, they wasted no time in showcasing innovative new products that proved that Samsung is a legitimate player in the lucrative digital camera business. Here are some of the features you’ll find on new Samsung cameras, that make them some of the most innovative on the market:

samsung PL121 samsung digital camerasSamsung PL121
Cool feature: This compact digital camera features ‘Two View’ – dual LCD screens, one on the back and one on the front so you can see yourself when you’re taking that self-portrait to upload to Facebook. Love it!

samsung landscape samsung digital camerasSamsung WB210
Cool feature: This camera can take a seriously wide angle shot. You don’t need to lug around a heavy SLR to get a great panoramic photo. It’s got a 21mm ultra-wide, 12x Super-Zoom Schneider-KREUZNACH lens – and if that sounds like Greek to you, it just means that you’ll get a wider, deeper perspective with crystal clear sharpness.

samsung wifi samsung digital cameras
Samsung SH100
Cool feature: This camera’s Wi-Fi capability makes it seriously cool but the best part isn’t even that you can share your photos with friends, family and other Wi-Fi enabled devices. The best part is that it has an Auto-Backup feature – meaning you can wirelessly download photos to your computer with the touch of a button. No hunting for wires and cables to free your photos from the camera. Now THAT’S cool!

the new dyson air multiplier

dyson bladeless fan the new dyson air multiplier
We know that when it comes to innovation, Dyson is at the front of the pack. When they eliminated the vaccuum bag, we thought that was pretty cool. But now they’re back with another great new product that’s just hit the Canadian market: The Dyson Air Multiplier.

It’s a fan that has no blades. It’s super-stylish, yes, but is it really necessary? You may not think so but according to inventor and engineer James Dyson, he created this new fan to combat spinning blades, which he says chop up the air flow, causing annoying buffeting. He says the blades are hard to clean and are, of course, a temptation for childrens’ curious little fingers.

The Dyson Air Multiplier is a stylish reincarnation of a household product many of us use. Not wanting to run my air conditioning all night long in the summer, I often rely on a fan. But this one would look so much better than the clunky fan I’m currently using. Simple. Stylish. I love it!

Available at: dyson.com, The Bay, Home Outfitters, Sears and other retailers across Canada.
Price: $379.99 to $549.99

What do you think of the look of the new Dyson Air Multiplier?

kobo ereader: love it, win it!

kobo ereader kobo ereader: love it, win it!
To say that I`m an avid reader is an understatement. I have been devouring books since I was a young child and I simply can`t imagine a life without books. Each night, I look forward to slipping into bed and crawling into the pages of my latest book, escaping into a different world, understanding someone else`s story, exploring a foreign adventure.

Combine my love of books with the fact that I`m a bona fide gadget girl and you can imagine my delight when eReaders started hitting the market. The newest is Kobo, brought to us by Indigo. Poised to launch on May 1, Kobo is ready to give other eReaders a run for their money. This proudly Canadian product boasts many great features at the most competitive price I`ve seen. Priced at just $149, Kobo is going to be a big hit.

So, what makes it so great, anyway?

This beautiful device is so lightweight (just 221 grams), it makes reading in bed nice and easy. The screen is glare free, making it easy to read while you`re outdoors, commuting or laying on a beach! Using an eInk technology, the Kobo reader beautifully imitates printed ink on paper and fonts are customizable; choose from a serif and sans serif font. It comes preloaded with 100 free ebooks and can hold up to 1,000 books.

It`s amazing really. Your entire library on this slim and beautiful device. I love the portability of it. Next time I travel, I won`t have to cart around a heavy hardcover. The Kobo offers me ease, convenience and best of all, choices. If I don`t feel like reading the book I`ve started, I can choose something else. It`s brilliant.

Now that you`re all excited about it, here comes the best part! You could win one! That`s right — we`re giving away a Kobo to one lucky reader. Enter the contest now: Kobo eReader Giveaway

Good luck!

P.S. What`s the first ebook you would download for Kobo? Visit indigo.ca/ebooks to browse available titles. Leave a comment below and tell me!

3 best iPhone 3G/3GS cases

A review of three iPhone cases by guest blogger Jen Melo. Follow Jen on her journey to adopt healthier eating habits in her ‘I will eat better` diary at homemakers.com.

When I became the proud owner of an iPhone 3GS, I was instantly smitten — and instantly protective of my new baby. So I immediately went to work to find the very best case to keep my phone looking like new. I learned that finding the perfect iPhone case is largely a matter of personal preference, but there`s nothing like testing a few options and naturally finding what works best for you. The following three cases are my favourites. What`s yours?

corsa 3 best iPhone 3G/3GS cases1 Most loved iPhone case
How do I love my Sena Corsa case for iPhone 3G/3GS? Let me count the ways! I love it most of all because it protects my precious phone from keys, coins and other perils that live in my purse. I love its pretty silk ribbon that`s functional and stylish as it serves as a “pull” cord to eject the phone from its protective enclosure. I love its soft velvet lining that wraps my phone in a snug, luxurious hug. I love its handcrafted Italian leather finish that`s durable and easy to clean. I love its turquoise exterior that makes it easy to find among my purse`s black lining, too. I love it, I love it, I really, really do!
Available at: senacases.com, $39.99

ultra slim 3 best iPhone 3G/3GS cases2 A shimmering beauty
There`s no denying that I admire Sena`s UltraSlim case in a rather becoming pewter colour. Just like the Corsa case I mentioned above, it`s made of alluring handcrafted Italian leather but, unlike the Corsa, it lacks a pull strap so you have to give your phone a little pinch at the base to push it out of its case. Its super slim profile keeps your sexy iPhone 3G looking sleek and its metallic hue preserves a modern esthetic, all while doing what it does best: protecting your phone from scratches and nicks.
Available at: senacases.com, $29.99

iskin 3 best iPhone 3G/3GS cases3 A decorative skin
Looking for a fun way to personalize and protect your iPhone 3G or 3GS? Try a skin with a decorative element, such as the Solo FX Special Edition for iPhone 3G/3GS — ya gotta love the pink polka dots! Its rubbery covering minimizes impact from bumps and it comes with a protective film to keep your phone`s screen free from dust and safe from scratches. This film actually doubles as a mirror. Personally, I believe the greatest virtue of the iPhone is the tactile nature of its lovely touch screen, so I like to keep that screen bare when I`m using the phone. So I like to use this skin solely as a decorative accessory when I`m at home with my phone. When I`m on the go, I switch to my Corsa case that offers more protection from those menacing metal keys.
Available at: iskin.com: $34.99

demy digital recipe reader

demy digital recipe reader demy digital recipe reader
It’s like someone was reading my mind! The last time I baked ooey-gooey chewy chocolate chip cookies (here’s the recipe from CanadianLiving.com), I emailed the recipe to my Blackberry and checking the ingredients and directions with my flour-covered fingers was not ideal. This digital recipe reader can hold your entire recipe collection in one easy place and the touch screen is easy to clean with a damp cloth. The font can be enlarged for easier reading and the built-in timers mean your cookies won’t burn when you turn your back. It quickly converts measurements and even offers up ingredient substitutions in a hurry. Does this thing wash the dishes, too? I love its sleek look and impressive number of features. Why didn’t I put this on my Christmas list? Check out more fabulous kitchen gadgets and find more great tech products in Lauren McPhillips’ blog Tech Style.

Visit: mydemy.com for more information.

philips wake-up light

wake up light2 philips wake up lightGood morning, sunshine! Chase away the winter blues with Philips` innovative new Wake-up Light, which simulates dawn, has FM radio and nature sounds. Thirty minutes before the alarm goes off, the light grows brighter, preparing your body to wake up. Not a fan of bright light in your eyes? Adjust the light setting to a level that suits you. Wake-up Light, $190, philips.ca.

nook from barnes and noble

nook4 nook from barnes and nobleI have a crush. Currently, I’m daydreaming about the Nook ($259 USD), the electronic book from Barnes & Noble. I haven’t seen it in person and it’s not available in Canada but I’m wondering if it’s worth the trip south of the border. From what I’ve seen and read online, this e-book is sleek and stylish and I love the array of accessories that are available, too! Much like Lauren McPhillips, our Tech Style blogger, I’m a gadget girl and I am continually amazed at how technology is evolving, the products that are hitting the market and how they’re revolutionizing our world.

The Nook features an e-Ink display, which makes the text look more like ink on a printed page than text on a computer screen and since it’s not backlit, it’s apparently easy to read … just like a regular book. The text size is adjustable and of course, going paper-free means being a better friend to the environment. You’ll have access to over a million titles simply by downloading new books you want to read and the 3.5 inch colour touchscreen LCD looks oh-so-cool!

For now, I’ll have to keep drooling over the pictures. Check out some of the stylish accessories available for the Nook:

nook3 nook from barnes and noble
Jane Street Cover in Chocolate

kate spade new york
$125.00

nook2 nook from barnes and noble
Signature Rear Cover Tangerine

by Barnes & Noble

$18.95

opportunity rings

opportunityrings opportunity ringssheryl opportunity ringsAs much as I love discovering new gadgets and jumping on technological trends, I also love to read and feel the pages of a book flip through my fingers (I don’t think I will every jump on the digital reader trend… sorry, Kindle). Technology makes the jump from the computer screen to the printing press with Style at Home writer/new author Sheryl Steinberg’s new book, Opportunity Rings.

The book is funny, sweet and smart, combining girly-wit with techy-twit — the main character, Erica Swift, works in the marketing department of a wireless company but would be thinking hors d’oeuvres rather than iPhone if you started talking about the hottest new app. Lucky for her, she’s got a tech-savvy assistant and husband to help her out. But what happens when everything goes awry?

Without giving too much away, Erica finds herself with no husband and back living with her mum. She then has to force herself into getting acquainted with the tech world while fighting off some very eligible ideal suitors and her friend’s hopes for her to become a trophy wife. If you liked the Shopaholic books, then this is a perfect read for you — I enjoyed flipping through the hilarious situations Erica got herself into as she strove to become a modern woman living in a tech-crazy world.

I give this book two text messaging thumbs up.

Price: $16

Available at: Chapters.indigo.ca


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