Are social media, web surfing, and email monopolizing too much of your time? If you’ve been thinking about making a change—whether for a digital detox or to simplify your life—then consider retiring your time-sucking smartphone. Trending now is a less distracting device—an inexpensive mobile phone that lacks those addictive apps and is designed primarily for basic voice communications.
Read the rest of this roundup here at Best Products.
This week’s SmartTechCheck podcast hosted by Mark Vena with Rob Pegoraro and John Quain where we discuss the recent Congressional vote on TikTok, Elon Musk’s video streaming initiative to challenge YouTube, and insights on Hollywood and AI observed at SXSW.
Watch this podcast here at YouTube.
The always entertaining SmartTechCheck podcast hosted by Mark Vena with Rob Pegoraro and John Quain featuring deep dives on Apple’s cancellation of its car project, SCOTUS on social media laws, Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7900, and other notable MWC24 announcements.
Watch this podcast here at YouTube.
Fears of a recession have faded if not totally disappeared, but several other economic pressures, along with post-pandemic replacement cycle lags, will dampen consumer tech spending by 1% YoY through the spring, according to Paul Gagnon, VP and consumer technology industry advisor for Circana, formerly IRI + The NPD Group.
Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.
There are dozens of smart devices—light bulbs, locks, displays, doorbells, security systems, indoor/outdoor cameras, thermostats, appliances, plugs, blinds and shades—that are all vying for a place in your 21st century home.
Read the rest of this roundup here at Popular Mechanics’ sister site Best Products.
Glassless 3D is not coming – it’s here.
Leia, a 2014 spinoff from HP, has brought – and will be bringing more – eyewear-free 3D to a number of Windows laptops and Android devices from Acer, Asus, Dell, ZTE, and likely others.
Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.
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 Two price includes product-life audiologist consultations. And, Orka’s three-year warranty is the longest in the business.
Read the rest of this review here at Techlicious.com.
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. Hearing aids are literally meant to be heard and not seen, but the Olive Union Max are as physically obvious as Post Malone’s face tattoos, as a sports fan’s team colors face makeup, as anything Billy Porter wears. Except the conspicuous Olive Union Max design isn’t exactly as stylish as these other unique fashion choices; to me, the Max give off more of a Princess Leia cinnamon buns vibe, which even Carrie Fisher wasn’t wholly thrilled with.
Read the rest of this review here at Techlicious.com.
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 recent Sport Illustrated AI-generated story kerfuffle, and increasing reports of AI authorship/plagiarism, all the way to dystopic “Terminator” forecasts of a machine-ruled world.
Read the rest of this story here at TWICE.com.
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.
