Techstination

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. There’s a whole new category of personal computers arriving…branded Copilot Plus. Microsoft has its own Surface machines….but partners such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung have all joined in. So what’s so special here? Microsoft says they feature computing power of more than 40 trillion operations per second, all day battery life and access to the most advanced AI models. For instance…the PCs will be capable of finding and remembering what you have seen using what Microsoft calls Recall and be able to generate AI images in near real time using Cocreator…and be able to translate audio from more than 40 languages into English with Live Captions. Stay tuned.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day with Memory Station from Vivid-Pix. An all in one solution for preserving family photos, documents and memories...and perfect for Father's Day too. How does it work? CEO Rick Voight chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Pebblebee is taking advantage of the upgraded Google Find My Device app with a new line of Bluetooth trackers. The new trackers…which are available as a Tag, Card or Clip…all feature long battery life, from 8 to 18 months…depending on which you choose…and they are rechargeable. A really great feature. About set up…it couldn’t be easier. CEO Daniel Daoura..

“You double press on the device and when you do, and you have an Android phone nearby, it’ll pop up a bottom half sheet and it’ll tell you..would you like to set this up. You can edit the name and you can start tracking it.”

Using Google’s Find My Device. Pebblebee also makes trackers that work with Apple Find My…also affordable and rechargeable. Find more info at www.Pebblebee.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Nomad has a broad range of innovative cases, cables and a new Tracker that are hot sellers for Father's Day. What sets them apart? Chuck Melber chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Skyworth has been making a name for itself with a line of rugged TVs made to be mounted outdoors…with some models…even in direct sunlight. Now…something new…a portable 24 inch Companion HD screen that can go anywhere and runs for three hours on a charge. When it comes to content, Director of Sales Michael Gleason says..

“The coolest part about this is that it’s got Google streaming. So you can stream anything. You can stream YouTube, you can stream Netflix, Prime, Disney, Apple TV. You can get local channels through there or even watch the football package on Google TV. So this is great for tailgating. Obviously great for camping, anything outdoors, this is an awesome product.”

You’ll need to provide an Internet connection for the Companion’s WiFi. Find more at www.skyworthusa.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Unistellar, which has helped to pioneer a new generation of telescopes for consumers is turning its focus to binoculars as well. How and why? Astronomer and co-founder Franck Marchis chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. If you have a dog lover for a Dad….or are one yourself, a new book from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Holland is a title you won’t want to miss. The sub-title is Life Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence and Holland introduces us to some remarkable dogs and imparts lots of wisdom along the way. For instance our perception of what makes a dog smart…

“If they don’t respond to our commands it doesn’t necessarily mean they are dumb. We need to think outside of the human way of thinking and think what is a dog’s way of seeing the world is really through the nose, for example. And so why not sort of give them more credit for that olfactory intelligence that they use in so many remarkable ways.”

Lots to learn here…and all fun. The title again is Dog Smart – Life Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Fun and innovation are two of the things that Blendjet brings to the portable blender party. Sponge Bob and South Park are two of the latest partnerships. Co-founder and CEO Ryan Pamplin chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.    Some techie gift ideas for Dads and Grads.    THX has upped the game in HDMI cables with the Interconnect 2.1b line.   The cables are designed for ultra high speed…maximized for up to 10K video along with amazing sound fidelity.   Very impressive. A worthwhile investment for home theatres.   Another potential gift for Father’s Day…  the HP USB-C Travel Hub G3.   It features a power pass through and adds five ports…USB C and A and HDMI….and works with most devices right out of the box.   The price…about 70 dollars.   Also new is the HP 690 Rechargeable Wireless Mouse…featuring Qi wireless or USB C charging.   And it pairs with up to 3 devices.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Some AI help for planning that summer vacation. Whether you’re planning to travel to Europe or have a road trip in mind for the summer, the AI built into Google search can assist with ideas and planning. The company’s Craig Ewer says the tools are growing in popularity..

“People search for AI itinerary planner has spiked about five thousand percent. Same goes for road trip planner. So it looks like those topics are top of mind for people. And with Google we make it really easy to get started with planning your trip. So you can use Gemini, our AI assistant. You can ask Gemini to plan an itinerary, it will map out the whole thing for you. Makes it really simple.”

Or get help finding deals on airfare….or road trip routes with EV charging. Find more info at blog.google.com. And don’t forget to check out our full interviews…video too.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. The Entertainment Software Association is once again out with a survey and report that outlines the popularity of video games. And from Wordle players to hard core gamers and everyone in between …the numbers continue to grow. ESA CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis..

“What we found this year is that everyone is playing and that it remains one of America’s favorite pastimes. More than 190 million people play videogames today, that’s more than 61 percent of our population. And we literally cover every demographic and it correlates really well to U.S. demographics. A lot of people have an image in their head of what they think a video game player is. We found that 46 percent of people who play games are women.”

And the number of older adults playing is surprising too. Find more at www.TheESA.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. More tech help in fixing what needs fixing around the house. Online videos can sometimes be a big help in tackling tasks you may not be familiar with….but Frontdoor takes it a step further by connecting consumers through live chats with experts…like plumbers or electricians. On-Demand Services Director Sarah Riley…

“We’ve got appliance, plumbing, HVAC, handymen. All experts, on call just waiting to help you walk through that experience live. It’s free to download. It’s free to become a member. That first video chat’s even free. I know once you use it once you’re going to be hooked. So we have got our unlimited plan for just 25 dollars a year.”

And last we looked at www.frontdoor.com there was an offer for a second membership for just a dollar more.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. When it comes to considering electric vehicles, GM is continuing to push consumers in that direction. Director of EV Ecosystems Derek Sequeira says the automaker’s Ultium battery technology provides great range…and EVs can save owners money. But what about people who may not own a home…or have a garage?

“For those who are in multi-family dwellings, condos, townhomes, we want to make sure that they know that there are options. First of all, you can work with your condo board or HOA to see how you can get level two charging installed in those facilities.”

And beyond that GM is helping to grow the public charging network. And GM plans to incorporate the NACS or Tesla charging standard into vehicles next year.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Some throwback fun for a holiday. Flying discs are still popular after all these years. And TOSY is out with rings and discs that feature built-in LED lights that make for lots of night time fun. The rings are 35 dollars for a three pack on Amazon. And if the name Big Wheel stirs up some memories, Schylling has brought them to market again. In fact they’ll be part of a fun exhibit at the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York on June 8th and 9th. Schylling’s Bryan Katzel…says it will be a ride on experience..

“Ride around. We’ll have an activity course there that includes like a pretend car wash or gas station.”

The company is even planning to bring an adult version to market. Stay tuned. Find more at www.schylling.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

From the best selling author of Unlikely Friendships comes a new title with insights into canine intelligence. There are some surprises here. Such as? Dog Smart author Jennifer Holland chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Getting stronger with some help from tech. Tonal is a company that has brought lots of tech into fitness and strength training. The wall mounted smart gym machine can digitally adjust resistance tailored to your abilities…on the fly. Troy Taylor is senior performance director…

“We create electro-magnetic resistance to create the resistance profile and so that allows a couple of things. Number one it makes it much smaller. There’s two arms that rotate out, there’s an integrated TV screen, touch screen. And so you can have coach guided workouts and programs.”

Tonal is a pretty big investment …and requires a subscription as well that covers everyone in the family. They have some pretty big names helping the brand along…including basketball great LeBron James. Head to Tonal.com for more.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Lucyd is bringing Eddie Bauer fashion to its line of smart glasses. The company's approach to smart eyewear? CEO Harrison Gross chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

The latest Bluetooth trackers from Pebblebee are Google Find My enabled. The join those designed for Apple. Why pick Pebblebee? CEO Daniel Daoura chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

The Skyworth Companion is a 24 inch portable streaming TV that can operate for three hours on a charge. The purpose behind the design? Director of Sales Michael Gleason chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Amazon is celebrating small business month with a new education hub…and a continuation of its grant program that awards successful applicants up to 25 thousand dollars. Todd Heimes, VP of Amazon Business Worldwide…says the deadline is coming up at the end of this week…so act fast. What are they looking for?

“Well we’re very interested in helping small businesses of all shapes and all sizes be successful. If you go to amazon.com/smallbusinessgrants, you can see the videos and some stories about past winners which can give you a good idea.”

Again the deadline is the 24th. The site also has info about Amazon’s free Small Business Success Studio…with an array of educational tools.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Inspired by the Cyber Truck.... Living Vehicle has unveiled the Cyber Trailer. Designed for off grid travel, it features lots of innovation. Such as? Co-founder Matthew Hofmann chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Who is playing video games? The Entertainment Software Association says most of us are with 56 percent of people over 18 playing weekly. ESA CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Planning summer travel? Google travel trends expert Craig Ewer chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin about what's hot...and how AI can help.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Google is revolutionizing search and email with AI. The technology giant at its annual I/O conference kept AI front and center. What will it mean for everyday search? Google’s Charity Mhende…

“So when you search for questions like how to renew my passport, you’ll get a snapshot at the very top of your search results powered by generative AI to help you get to the bottom of that question without doing all the leg work of multiple tabs, etcetera, etcetera.”

More voice and image tools using AI are coming too both for phones and PCs. Google is also showing off something called Project Astra…an AI assistant that will respond to voice and video. One demo showed how it can be used to help you find your glasses. Stay tuned.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.        The o stands for omni…in GPT-4o from OpenAI.    It is designed to be able to understand text, audio and images…even in combination and respond quickly and more accurately than before in more human-like fashion.    And OpenAI is saying the GPT-4o features are being made available for free to all users.    The arrival of the features will be taking place over the coming weeks.  Text and image input are available now….with voice and video to come.  GPT-4o will have support for fifty languages.     This is turning out to be another big month for AI announcements.    The news from OpenAI came a day before Google held its annual I/O event.   We’ll have more on that tomorrow.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. The impressive new Denali 605 Pro stainless steel grill from Monument. Lighted controls for the six burners that indicate the temperature settings, a slide out shelf for the propane tank, dual ceramic searing burners…including one on the side.. are among the marquee features. But a digital display indicating the internal temperature and dual temperature probes, a glass panel front and Bluetooth monitoring to make cooking easier are great too. And there are some smart inserts available too ..a pizza stone, a cast iron cooking plate and more. For those pizzas, it can reach 700 degrees in ten minutes. For real. The price for the flagship Denali 605 Pro from Monument Grills is about 900 dollars. Check out our full interview online…and MonumentGrills.com for more.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Amazon is again offering grants to boost small businesses and new education resources too. What you should know from VP of Amazon Business Worldwide Todd Heimes in this Techsstination interview.

Ready to stir up childhood memories? Big Wheel is back. And there's an upcoming event at the Strong Museum in Rochester to celebrate. And VP Bryan Katzel says there is more Big Wheel news to come. He chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Expert video chat on demand for home maintenance and repairs? Frontdoor is offering unlimited help for 25 dollars a year. How does it work? On-Demand Services Director Sarah Riley chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. May is mental health month and while there are many resources online to help, a new campaign titled Talk Away the Dark is among those you may find worthwhile. It was created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention where VP Vic Armstrong says initiating needed conversations isn’t always easy..

“So what we try to do at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is offer resources that make it easier to normalize their conversation, to give people confidence in asking if someone is struggling, confidence in engaging in those conversations and confidence in knowing that if I can get someone to engage in this conversation, I also feel like I can connect them to help.”

There are videos to help guide conversations and more. The Web site for more info is www.afsp.org/talkawaythedark.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Going all electric with your home or business? What incentives are out there? Rewiring America, a non-profit, aims to help. How? Policy analyst Amanda Sachs chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Thinking of an EV? What to take under consideration? GM's director for EV ecosystems Derek Sequeira chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Watchworthy is an app designed to help you find personalized recommendations for shows to watch. When you initially set it up, you take some time to tell the service the shows and movies that fit your taste. Watchworthy can even suggest to you which streaming services will give you the best choices. Senior product manager Sean Hunt-Li …

“When the user begins their process downloading Watchworthy, that’s only the beginning of their journey. They’re going to give us some data points on things that they like and dislike. But once they go into the app and they’re able to interact with more and more shows…they watch more and more shows ..come back to Watchworthy and give us more ratings, that’s really when the eingine’s going to kick into high gear and it is going to consistently learn over time.”

You can use Watchworthy with groups…friends and family too.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Google is using AI to transform search, email and more. What was unveiled at Google I/O 2024? Google's Charity Mhende chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

What if Fungi Win is the title of a new book by epidemiologist and professor Dr. Arturo Casadevall. If you've seen The Last of Us, you may wonder...could it happen? Dr. Casadevall chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin about the good and the bad. And he is a fun guy!

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Time to start planning for spring and summer camping. And AI can help with that. Adventure Genie is an app that uses AI to personalize recommendations about routes to take and where to stay. CEO Scott Lengl says it is initially designed with RVers in mind..

“And imagine if you are somewhere on the east coast and you want to take a six week trip to the national parks of the Southwest. And you wanted to take maybe a northerly route out there and a southerly route home. And you want to stop at great campground that are a good match for you and find awesome things to do along the way and at each stop.”

Adventure Genie can do all of that and more. The basic plan is free…with the Pro plan priced at just 35 dollars a year… at last look. Well done.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin

It is much more than a neck worn fan. The COOLiFY Cyber from Torras can keep you cool...or warm you up. How? Marketing Manager Jacinta Zou chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. It has been more than fourteen years since Apple first introduced the iPad…disrupting the tablet market in pretty much the same fashion that the iPhone shook up the smart phone business. This week…two new iPad Airs arrive…along with two iPad Pros. Both are available in either 11 or 13 inch sizes. What is new…What Apple calls Ultra Retina XDR OLED displays on the new iPad Pro models…which are even thinner than before and feature the M4 chip. The 11 inch iPad Pro starts at 999 dollars…with the 13 inch…priced at 400 dollars more. On the iPad Air side…pricing starts at 599 dollars…and there are a couple of new colors…blue and purple…to choose from.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Spring time…and time to get outside. With a great magnesium diecast folding frame…strong and relatively light…Blaupunkt continues to win fans for its line of e-bikes. And there are growing numbers of University logo models in various colors too. From Clemson to Alabama, Georgia Tech, Texas, USC, Penn State and more…students and alumni can show some pride while on a ride. There are other non-logo designs as well. The 36 volt 350 watt motor is powerful and the battery is removable and lockable. The folding mechanism is easy and smart too. It lets you ride without motor power too. The hardest part…is spelling the name of the company. Head to b l a u p u n k t.com for more.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.        Are you ready for roadways where cars avoid most crashes.   The deaths and injuries…financial losses and more that will be avoided are mind boggling.   That is behind the new rules for automatic emergency braking that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced must be implemented by carmakers by September of 2029.  On the Smart Driving Cars podcast, NHTSA’s Markus Price says Toyota’s 2023 Corolla already meets the standard…so it can be done…

“Some vehicles were able to operate at much higher speeds and to brake much more consistently and avoid crashes..where others…they’re at 25 miles per hour and they’re still hitting things.  They applied the brakes.  And the difference in safety between that is dramatic.”

There’s more info…at NHTSA.gov. You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Talk Away the Dark is the name of a new campaign from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Opening doors to discussion is the key. VP of Health Equity Vic Armstrong chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Working from anywhere doesn’t have to mean leaving behind a great desktop setup. Logitech’s CASA Pop-Up Desk let’s you easily take along a laptop stand that conveniently houses a rechargeable keyboard and trackpad. Compact and attractive. Logitech’s Global Senior Marketing Manager Andrea Silva ..

“Even though I prefer having a fixed station, sometimes when I don’t have one, it is also very practical if I’m travelling or if I have a very small space and I can’t take all my devices with me.”

The keyboard and trackpad store within the stand…which slides easily into the case you use for the computer. It’s another winner in a line up that has made Logitech a legendary name. More info? Head to www.logitech.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. For Mother’s Day or perhaps other occasions…or maybe for yourself…adding a Bird Buddy to your yard can add lots of fun. It is one of the most entertaining gadgets we’ve had around in a long while. And the company continues to innovate. The durable Smart Bird Feeder with a high quality camera built in sells for 239 dollars….but we’d recommend spending sixty dollars more for a solar roof….that can keep the camera powered easily. The feeder snaps photos and videos that you can download through the Bird Buddy app. It is fun and easy and you’ll be amazed at how great the images and videos are. The company is taking pre-orders, meanwhilie, for its new Smart Hummingbird Feeder due to start shipping in August. It has an optional solar roof as well. Find more at www.mybirdbuddy.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. So the big search trends for the last month probably won’t surprise you…..Beyonce’ and Taylor Swift….of course were way up there. But also trending were things like phony divorce papers to use for April Fools. Realy? Then…Google trends expert Abigail Jaffe says…there is prom season and all of the related searches..some a bit surprising..

“We did see a lot of searches for orange prom dress. I think it was about an eight hundred percent increase in searches for that. So, that was kind of interesting. We’re also seeing people search for things like different variations and colors for dresses. We’re seeing more interest in searches for dresses than in tuxes for men.”

Of course. You can follow what’s hot….at www.google.com/trends.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Anker had lots of success with its award winning Soundcore Sleep A10 earbuds. They are designed to be comfortable while sleeping…even on your side. And now Soundcore is out with the Sleep A20….making what was very good even better. They block even more noise…are just as comfortable…and feature longer battery life…up to 14 hours in sleep mode. Well done. Soundcore’s Adam Weissman says..the company listened to customer suggestions..

“We wanted to make better noise reduction, say for example for a snoring partner that’s laying next to you or the garbage truck that’s driving down the street outside your.”

There’s a handy, compact charging case…that can give you up to eighty hours of usage in all…cand can be found…if misplaced…through the Soundcore app.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. For most of us in the United States, it may be hard to fathom…but nearly 60 percent of the world’s population…about five billion people…wash their clothes by hand. The Washing Machine Project is trying to change that…with backing from the Whirlpool Foundation. They are building and providing hand operated Divya Washing Machines to those people and communities. Founder Navjot Sawhney.an aerospace engineer by training…tell us..

“You put 20 to 25 pieces of clothes…so large capacities for larger families and three buckets of water and within about twenty minutes, your clothes are washed.”

Whirlpool employees, as volunteers, are helping to build the machines. Learn more about the effort at www.thewashingmachineproject.org.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Stronger for Spring? Tonal brings technology to fitness and strength training. How? Head of Performance Troy Taylor chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Innovation in grills? Monument's new Denali 605 Pro has Bluetooth, smart lit knobs, dual temperature sensors, two ceramic searing burners and more in a stainless steel design. The experience? Monument's Hayes Finklea, Romiya Welch and influencer chef John O'larnic chat with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. The latest and greatest Webcam from Logitech is the MX Brio. It features AI enhanced image quality…auto focus, exposure and white balance….can tilt down for showing objects or documents while you are conferencing or streaming. And it does it all in up to 4K. There’s also an outer ring around the lens that you can give a quick twist to for privacy. And the microphones are very good as well. Andrea Silva is global senior marketing manager…

“It’s two beam forming microphones. Which means that the sound is captured from both sides and it also identifies where additional noise is.”

And the Logi Options + software now includes an AI prompt builder that works initially with ChatGPT.

Find more at www.logitech.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.