Author Archives: Stewart Wolpin

About Stewart Wolpin

I have been writing about consumer electronics for four decades, including news, reviews, analysis and history for a wide variety of consumer, niche and trade outlets. For the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), I annually update the industry's history and write the official biographies of the CTA Hall of Fame inductees. Aside from writing about consumer technology for a variety of consumer, tech and trade publications, I write a blog and do market research for Digital Technology Consulting. In the non-tech world, I have written "Bums No More: The Championship Season of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers" and "The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle." Check out my work at www.stewartwolpin.com.

SmartTechCheck Podcast: AirBNB, iPhone legacy, consumer electronics slump, AI detection woes

I join Super SmartTechCheck podcast host Mark Vena, John Quain and Rob Pegoraro to discuss AirBnB efforts to recruit more hosts, AI photo detection woes, the legacy of the original iPhone, and the consumer electronics slump. Tune into the podcast … Continue reading

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, home office, Internet/Social Media, smart home, SmartTechCheck Podcast, Tech History, VR/AR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our 9 Favorite 15-Inch Laptops

How small is too small for a laptop computer? How big is too big? A laptop with a 15- to 16-inch display, measured diagonally, is the just-right size for many—the most convenient convergence of productivity versus portability. Read the rest of this … Continue reading

Posted in Apple, home office, Popular Mechanics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CGT/RIS League of Leaders

I covered four sessions at the CGT/RIS News League of Leaders meeting last week at the Amazon Ads Building in New York for Consumer Goods Technology. How Savencia Is Growing and Evolving Its DTC Strategy Sustainable Doesn’t Always Mean Expensive: … Continue reading

Posted in Consumer Goods Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SmartTechCheck Podcast: Apple WWDC 23 Recap

A “feisty” SmartTechCheck podcast hosted by Mark Vena with myself and fellow tech journalists Rob Pegoraro, John Quain, and AppleDsgn’s Niels Van Straaten on the major themes coming out of Apple WWDC 23. Watch this podcast here on YouTube.

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, ear/headphones, SmartTechCheck Podcast, VR/AR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Best OTC Hearing Aids to Match Your Hearing Needs and Lifestyle

You’ve grudgingly admitted to yourself that you don’t hear as well as you once did. You find yourself turning up the TV volume to the annoyance of your roommate, spouse, or kids, and/or resorting to closed captioning. You find yourself … Continue reading

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, Techlicious | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What You Need to Know Before Buying OTC Hearing Aids

There have been only around a dozen self-fitting over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC HA) introduced into the market since the new FDA OTC hearing aid regulationswent into effect last fall. These new self-fitting OTC HAs are designed to help compensate for the … Continue reading

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, Techlicious | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Apple Finally Intros a 15-Inch MacBook Air

Young people overwhelmingly own Apple iPhones. According to Statistica, 58% of 18- to 34-year-olds own iPhones, and, according to Piper Sandler, a whopping 87% of GenZers own iPhones. But if anyone in these age groups wanted to buy a reasonably … Continue reading

Posted in Apple, Techlicious | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Is Apple’s Vision Pro Mixed-Reality Headset Too Far Ahead of Its Time?

Apple finally unveiled its innovative and potentially revolutionary mixed reality goggles, the Vision Pro. But Vision Pro is more than just another augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) headset, and more than how Apple describes it, as “a new kind … Continue reading

Posted in Apple, Techlicious, VR/AR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SmartTechCheck Podcast Prognostications on Apple WWDC 2023

I join host Mark Vena with Rob Pegararo, John Quain, and Hartley Charlton, senior editor at MacRumors.com, for this week’s podcast focused entirely on what we might hear at Apple WWDC 2023. Watch the full podcast here on YouTube.

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, SmartTechCheck Podcast, VR/AR | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eargo 7: the Best (and Priciest) All-Day Invisible OTC Hearing Aids

The Eargo 7 are the most natural-sounding, worry-free, comfortable for all-day wear, and invisible self-fitting OTC hearing aids currently available. However, I recommend them with one big caveat – they are significantly more expensive than other products in the over-the-counter (OTC) category. … Continue reading

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, Techlicious | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment