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.

Orka Two OTC Hearing Aids Reviewed: Excellent Sound, Poor Battery Life

Posted on 31 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

Man, I so wanted to love the Orka Two RIC (receiver in canal) style hearing aids. Their hearing correction yields natural, clear, and loud results. You get better-than-expected Bluetooth for music streaming and hands-free conversation. Like the in-ear Eargo models and the Zepp Clarity Pixie, the Orka … Continue reading →

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

Olive Union Max Review: A Mixed Bag in OTC Hearing Aids

Posted on 30 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

You’re forgiven if, after seeing the photo of the Olive Union Max ($398, currently discounted to $199) accompanying this review, you rhetorically ask: “That’s a hearing aid?” When I first received my Olive Max review sample, that was pretty much my reaction. … Continue reading →

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

Is 2024 The Year Of AI?

Posted on 17 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

It’s impossible to avoid dire warnings about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), from the explosion of manipulated images, video, and audio leading to an exponential rise in misinformation, to job losses in writing fields such as the Hollywood writers’ strike, the … Continue reading →

Posted in TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2024 State Of The Industry: Guarded Optimism

Posted on 11 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

Market roadblocks and negative economic conditions from 2023 linger, but retailers, vendors, and analysts all are hopeful for more positive results in the new year. Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.

Posted in TV/4K/UHD/8K, TWICE | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CES 2024: AI Pioneers Insist That It Is ‘Here To Stay’

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

People’s opinions of AI vary widely from the possibility of creating a utopian machine-assisted world or precipitate a dystopic machine-dominated future á la SkyNet from the Terminator movie series, with millions of possibilities and potential in between. But two AI pioneers made … Continue reading →

Posted in CES, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuance Audio Combines Glasses and Hearing Aids for Dual Assist

Posted on 7 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

Does combining glasses with hearing aids make sense? EssilorLuxottica, the world’s leading maker of eyeglasses, thinks so. Sometime later this year, the company will introduce Nuance Audio-branded prescription eyeglasses that incorporate over-the-counter hearing aids in the glasses’ temples. Read the … Continue reading →

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

Soundwave Sontro OTC Hearing Aids: Average Performance, Decent Price

Posted on 3 January 2024 by Stewart Wolpin

After testing a large bulk of the available OTC hearing aids over the last year plus, I believe models powered by single-use batteries are, well, stupid, especially with the wealth of rechargeable alternatives now available. Tiny hearing aid batteries are … Continue reading →

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

SmartTechCheck Podcast: The Top Tech Stories of 2023

Posted on 23 December 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

I join host Mark Vena and fellow tech journalists John Quain and Rob Pegoraro to opine on the top tech stories of 2023: the meteoric rise of AI, Elon Musk and Twitter, the announcement of Apple’s Vision Pro and 5G … Continue reading →

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

The 7 Best Flip Phones of 2024

Posted on 19 December 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

Cold turkey may be the best and only way to wean yourself or your kids from a smartphone addiction. There is actually a way to exist these days without a smartphone. Imagine—you can continue to keep in touch in this … Continue reading →

Posted in Android, Best Products, cell/smartphones | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Access To Technology, Generative AI Main Themes For CES 2024

Posted on 13 December 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

CES 2024 is shaping up as a big step forward in the show’s post-pandemic recovery. According to Kinsey Fabrizio, CTA’s SVP for CES & Membership, speaking at CTA’s annual CES press preview, this year’s Las Vegas confab (January 9-12) has already … Continue reading →

Posted in CES, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment