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.

Polk Command Bar review: An Alexa boost upgrades what you’re watching and hearing

Posted on 24 August 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Why buy two boxes when one will do? That’s the perfectly clever and logical solution the Polk Command Bar ($299.99) presents – it’s a soundbar plus wireless subwoofer with an Amazon Echo Dot built right inside. Read the rest of … Continue reading →

Posted in Gear Brain, music players/speakers, smart home, TV/4K/UHD/8K | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Precarious Cyber Security Regulatory Balancing Act

Posted on 20 August 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

What to do about hacking and the misuse of major social media platforms by foreign actors in U.S. elections? Much of the sturm und drang over potential cyber security solutions boils down to one compound question: should the government step … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Tech Consulting, Internet/Social Media, Tech History | Leave a comment

The Next Wireless Revolution Is Coming (No, Not 5G)

Posted on 29 July 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Replacing wired connections with wireless ones is not a new idea. It dates back to the discovery of radio waves by Heinrich Hertz in 1888, and was first made practical by Guglielmo Marconi when he enabled telegraph signals to be … Continue reading →

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TiVo Bolt: How to make your dumb TV smart

Posted on 27 July 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Modern TV viewing at home requires three components: access to broadcast programming such as that found on NBC, PBS and the like, plus cable content such as ESPN and HBO, streaming content such as Netflix — and then a DVR … Continue reading →

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The Best Sites for Buying Affordable Glasses

Posted on 19 July 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Open your closet door and take a quick inventory. How many dozens of shirts/blouses, slacks, skirts, dresses, business suits, sports jackets, sweaters, etc., do you own? Look down. How many pairs of heels, flats, loafers, sneakers, sandals, hiking boots, snow … Continue reading →

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The Best Smart Locks

Posted on 14 July 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Of all the functions and devices technology promises to improve or replace, there are few more critical to you and yours than the lock on the front door to your home. Like most technology, however, so-called “smart” locks represent two … Continue reading →

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Is Home VR Doomed?

Posted on 25 June 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Few mass market tech failures have been as remarkable as at-home 3DTV. While 3D still has a life in theaters, no TV maker bothers to hawk (or, in many cases, include) the feature anymore. Why? Dependence on glasses for home … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, Digital Tech Consulting, VR/AR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

D-Link 8000LH Mini HD Camera Review

Posted on 25 May 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Saving some cents makes sense in most shopping cases. But protecting life and property isn’t a place to budget. Which brings us to D-Link’s DCS-8000LH Mini HD WiFi Camera, available as a single unit for just $59.99 or as a … Continue reading →

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AV1: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Posted on 21 May 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

Like Chewbacca cosplayers drooling in anticipation over any Star Wars Episode IX detail droplet, attendees at the recent Streaming Video East confab were all atwitter over the potential of the recently minted AV1 video codec proffered by the Alliance for … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, Digital Tech Consulting, TV/4K/UHD/8K | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

6 Best Google Assistant Speakers

Posted on 16 May 2018 by Stewart Wolpin

A review roundup of the 6 best Google Assistant speakers. Read the rest of this roundup on Techlicious here.

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