Fitness trackers, webcams, tiny batteries, protective cases for your smartphone and cheaper ways to keep your house clean
This year, celebrations, gift-giving and the whole shopping experience may be a whole lot different. Many of us will be separated from our loved ones this holiday season. So here are a few gadget gift ideas you can easily order online and have sent directly to them: Family-friendly webcam For the first time, you may…
A professional can test for radon levels and other air pollutants in your home, or you can do it yourself with a detection system
You may think you’re doing your duty to help flatten the COVID-19 infection curve but staying home may expose your family to different types of health risks. No, the culprit isn’t bacteria or a virus. It’s the quality of the air we breathe in our homes and the contaminants lurking within. It may be an…
Given the low cost, the 10L offers impressive performance and features you may not find on phones at almost double the price
Hong Kong-based TCL recently entered the smart TV market in Canada and now they’ve unveiled a pair of premium-featured and affordable Android-based five-camera mobile phones, including the entry-level TCL 10L. TCL 10L test-drive The TCL 10L has a stylish and sleek body. Its 6.53-inch full high-definition screen displays 1,080 by 2,340 pixels at 395 pixels…
Regardless of your age, abilities or lifestyle, you can benefit from a low-cardio seated elliptical workout
It’s always smart to inject a little more physical activity into our lives, regardless of where we are on our fitness journey. But sometimes we lack the time or energy for that much-needed workout. The good news is the solution, Cubii Jr., can sit right under your feet. Cubii Jr. is a compact elliptical trainer…
It has a compact design and works super-fast, plus it has adapters for use in 200 countries so is great for travel
A one-size-fits-all travel-sized multi-port charger for the majority of our gadgets may seem impossible. But Zendure seems to think its new Passport II Pro will do the trick. So do their followers. In fact, the company’s recent Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign was fully funded in just two hours. Sixty-one watts of power The new-generation Zendure Passport…Control your connected home, make your old home alarm smart again and ensure fast, smooth home Internet
The best gifts for Dad are often those the entire family can enjoy and give Dad some peace of mind. And that’s very important during these unprecedented times. Here are three selections for Father’s Day that fit the bill: Control your connected home If Dad feels better when he can keep an eye on things,…
Think about your audio, consider your video, watch your body language and be sure to record a trial run
The right stage presence can make or break a performance, regardless of the words coming out of your mouth. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us online, new off-stage video conference rules apply. Off-stage includes online meetings, webinars, interviews and recording podcasts. We’re trained to live and work face to face, not in the…
This robust, elegant gadget charges various devices while keeping them organized
As your device arsenal or gadget collection grows, so do your charging needs. But there are elegant solutions, like the BaseLynx Modular Charging System from Scosche. I found the real beauty of BaseLynx is in its minimalist design around four charging modules, three of which can operate independently or be powered individually. Hinged together, they…
Netflix Parental controls provide timely solutions for families at home on lockdown: PIN protocol, maturity ratings, activity logs and more
There’s plenty of Netflix binging going on with many people at home on lockdown. Folks perhaps have a guilt-free opportunity to finally binge on Ozark or that most-talked-about, love-it-or-hate-it new series Tiger King. But for parents, the lockdown creates issues around managing TV time. While Mom and Dad are working from home, the kids could…
Are you on red alert for pranks and fake news today? It's just an extension of a centuries-old tradition to entertain and trick – or is it?
On April Fool’s Day, especially this year during the pandemic, we’re on red alert for pranks, hoaxes and fake news. But that's been going on for centuries, from an era when court jesters were common. With no TV, movies or Internet, jesters, jokers or fools were the entertainers of Medieval and Renaissance times. They often started…
Walking has helped me become more fit, productive and happy, and I’ve met some great people along the way
For a dedicated athlete, or even an active 20-something, taking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day for more than two and a half years might seem like a a walk in the park. For someone like me, three decades older, with ancient injuries and a lot more wear and tear on the body, walking…
If you’re looking for the best that phones, tablets and desktop computers offer, check out the latest 13-inch laptop from Apple
Some people prefer a tablet or a smartphone as their go-to device. Others stick with a traditional screen and keyboard computer for daily needs. But if you’re looking for the best of both worlds, check out the latest 13-inch Apple MacBook Air, released last year. It has stunning high-resolution display. Even small images are razor-sharp.…
You need a last-minute gift? Here are a few ideas you can pick up or order for quick delivery during the holiday week – suitable for all ages. Table fun Jenga by Hasbro requires a little more brainpower than brawn. It’s a classic low-tech game, fun to play with family and friends of all ages. You…
Here are some case, carry and accessory ideas that make your phone just a little bit smarter – and better protected
Holiday shopping and retailer incentives are driving sales of smartphones right now. And plenty of people want to dress up, protect or enhance their new phones. So here are a few ideas from Case-Mate, Smartish, Catalyst and Apple. From camo to colourful If you don’t want boring but still want to keep your case slim…
Deep-muscle treatment, foldable phones, audio repair software and an easy-learn mini digital wind instrument
With Christmas just around the corner, you may need to make some last-minute purchases or gather ideas about what to do with all those gift cards come Boxing Day. So here are a few very practical selections from Theragun, Accusonus, Roland and Samsung. Gift of pain relief If you’re looking for a gift to help…
Review: The iRobot Roomba s9+ vacuum and the Braava jet m6 mop work in tandem so you can relax
Like most people, we're not crazy about household chores. So last year around this time we were ecstatic to discover the robot vacuum we were looking for. And now iRobot has stepped up two notches by delivering a more powerful and smarter dynamic duo: the iRobot Roomba s9+ vacuum and the Braava jet m6 mop.…
Plex is making thousands of ad-supported movies and TV shows available free for streaming
Plex is a streaming media service known for making it easy to stream your personal media – movies, music, photos from your computer or attached hard drive to all your devices. The company has recently announced they’ll be making thousands of movies and TV shows available free for streaming. And while the service is ad-supported,…
The latest offering from Fitbit is big on features, small on size and price
If you’re in the market for a low-cost, full-featured fitness tracker but don’t want the bulk of many models or the complexities of a smartwatch, the Fitbit Inspire HR might be for you. It’s hard to miss the family resemblance of the most recent addition to the Fitbit family. It’s slimmer but modelled after the…
If you’re looking for the basics, this tablet can be perfect for those who are connected to the Amazon eco-system
If your computing needs are casual and you would best be served by a tablet rather than a laptop or computer, you may want the all-new Amazon Fire HD 10. It has a high-definition 10.1-inch widescreen display with 16:10 aspect ratio, making it ideal for your entertainment needs. It displays a respectable 1,920 by 1,200…
What makes a great leader? Great leaders are passionate, encouraging, motivating, inspiring, innovative and committed to what they do. And, when faced with a challenge, they persevere, overcoming adversity and accomplishing incredible feats. And when we think of great leaders, we often think of them sitting behind oak desks in an office tower or speaking…
At a mere 28.8 x 17.1 x 3.0 inches, the TCL 32” Roku Smart LED TV (32S327-CA) fits and goes almost anywhere. It’s so slim and light (under 10 pounds) it can literally be carried under your arm or popped it into the trunk of your car. The TCL 32” Roku Smart LED TV is…
Square Reader is changing the way small businesses process transactions, putting budding entrepreneurs on a more even playing field with big business
The Square Reader is well used at cafes, markets and events like art walks. And now it’s expanding its reach with new payment solutions. Perhaps you want to start a little enterprise or maybe just get rid of some unused household items. But few people use cheques or carry cash. Square lets you give these…
If you can’t get enough of Jerry Seinfeld and you love classic cars, you’ll be happy to hear that his comedic on-the-road talk show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is freshly brewed for 2019. The series returns for season 11 on Netflix on July 19. Comedian and actor Seinfeld drives around and has coffee, typically…
You might think point-and-shoot cameras are going the way of the fax machine and dodo bird, but don’t write them off just yet. Smartphones have become the default for shooting photos and videos. Phones give even some of the latest digital SLR cameras a run for their money in terms of photo quality. And they’re…
Newest-customer centric update developed in-house with major contributions by Ford’s Canadian software teams
A secure, functional, seamless and enjoyable customer experience with in-car infotainment is an absolute necessity given technological advancements and the need to keep people safe on the road. That’s why Ford has delivered its latest version of SYNC 3, which will first be featured in the soon-to-be-released 2020 Ford Explorer. “People expect systems to be…
From bike lights to greater TV access to docking devices to smart security
Here are a few tech-inspired ideas for Father's Day. Bicycle light If Dad is a cycling enthusiast, you want him to be safe, especially at night. So light the way for him with a Beryl Laserlight. This LED technology combines white light with a mini laser diode. It beams a laser image in the shape…
Manages in-display high-energy visible blue light while maintaining colour performance
Some of us are glued to our phones, tablets or computers every waking moment. And we've all heard people say how too much display time is bad for you. There are healthy levels and ranges of blue light. Studies show that blue light helps alertness during the day and is essential for cognitive functions. However,…
Ford and Agility Robotics have teamed up to reimagine the package delivery business
If the thought of getting your latest online purchase – particularly large, heavy ones – delivered by a drone makes you feel uneasy, how about having a robot deliver it after arriving in a self-driven car? Autonomous delivery testing isn’t new. In 2017, Ford Motor Co. partnered with Domino's in the U.S. to test self-driving…
Loblaws introduces retro online game that allows you to accumulate PC Optimum points
You won’t find this game in any app store. But there is a payoff for playing. You earn 500 PC Optimum free points every day for simply practising your hauling skills while playing No Frills’ Hauler: Aisles of Glory. It’s the latest clever marketing campaign from grocery giant Loblaws, which owns the No Frills stores…
It ranks so high on the usefulness scale and is so simplistic, it’s a wonder it wasn’t invented sooner
Silk’s Cable Wrangler is a nifty gadget designed to magnetically keep cables in place on your desk or night table. It ranks so high on the usefulness scale and is so simplistic, it’s a wonder it wasn’t invented sooner. It looks somewhat like a pincushion with a solid rubberized base covered with a funky fabric.…