Hasta La Gadget!

Is there nothing that Apple cannot do without placing the letter “i” in front of the noun? I guess the answer would be no, and here we are with Apple’s latest attempt which would be known as the iBeacon. The iBeacon is meant to guide shoppers who want to pick up an Apple product, where Cupertino hopes to be able to guide you around an Apple Store whenever you have stepped foot inside. It does not matter whether you are meant to pick up an order, or if you would like to perform an upgrade to a brand new iPhone, or perhaps are in the market for the latest pair of headphones, the iBeacon is here to assist you.

Of course, one could say that the ripple of the iBeacon would end up beyond Apple Stores. Who knows? Perhaps one day down the road, commuters could end up receiving information on subway delays whenever they stand on a platform, while museum visitors will be able to pick up details on the painting that they happen to be looking at. As for other retailers, they might be able to deliver deals or keep track of just which aisles do shoppers linger around the longest. There is also the possibility of in-store location technology that others might harp on privacy concerns, but chances are just a small segment of shoppers would feel that way, since many more are willing to be tracked assuming there is something in it for them.

Apple kicked off the use of such technology at its 254 U.S. stores on Friday, where iBeacon will be able to send you messages concerning products, events and other information, depending on which part of the Apple Store that you are in. Of course, you would first need to install the Apple Store app, before allowing it to send notices based on your location. Apart from that, there is also th eneed to turn on Bluetooth connectivity while ensuring that your device runs on iOS 7. With the iBeacon feature, you will be notified if the computer you ordered is ready for pickup, among others.

Press Release
[ Apple Guides Shoppers Using iBeacon copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

It looks nearly the same as it did in 2007, but Spot’s outdoor beacon has evolved quite nicely on the inside. Now in its third incarnation, the Spot Gen3 is designed to help wandering argonauts keep their loved ones informed of their location for an even longer period of time. Engineered to be worn by those intentionally heading off of the conventional grid, the Spot Gen3 adds unlimited tracking (enabling wearers to pre-set the device to send tracks every 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes), motion activated tracking and longer battery life. According to the company, this guy will last nearly twice as long as prior versions, and you can also power it via battery or USB. The downside, of course, is that you’ll need to pay $149.95 for the unit itself, along with a required annual subscription plan that starts at $149.99 per year. No one ever said adventuring was a poor man’s sport, eh?

Filed under: GPS

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Source: Spot

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

We called Beacon Audio’s Phoenix “our new favorite portable speaker” just over a year ago. Today, the company’s taking to Kickstarter to fund the production of its followup: the Blazar. The speaker features a grown-up design wrapped in aluminum (the Phoenix was plastic), with a softball-sized, cube-esque design. The slightly bulky shape allows for 12 hours of battery life, aside from promising big and clean multi-directional sound thanks to two 50mm drivers and a 65mm bass radiator. Beacon’s also loaded the speaker with a microphone, NFC and a dual pairing mode for completely wire-free stereo sound between two units — like Nokia’s Play 360.

On top you’ll find rubber playback controls, while one side of the unit houses a microUSB input, 3.5mm input and output jacks, power switch and a pairing / mode button. Early-bird pledges of $99 dollars will be available for the first 198 units (split between silver and graphite), followed by an additional 600 priced at $124. Beacon’s counting on its artist collaboration editions, however, offering three more colors (500 pieces each) at $134 with Neon Trees, AWOLNATION and Halestorm. If you’re up for the risk, Beacon plans to ship all orders by December 1st. Join us past the break for some impressions with pre-release units.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

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Source: Beacon Audio, Kickstarter

It pays unspoken dividends to make sure that your vehicle is well serviced according to the manufacturer’s specifications and timetable, as a breakdown could prove to be a rather expensive affair, even more so after you have paid the hefty towing charges. Well, just in case you have done your part and your ride still breaks down for some reason or another, such as a busted tyre, it is time to pull over, roll back those sleeves and get down to work. Of course, doing so would also mean you have to be careful so that other motorists will be able to see you from a distance away, and having those hazard lights turned on along with a safety reflective triangle are definitely good ideas.

Here is one more good idea – the $99.95 4′ High Roadside Emergency Beacon, where this beacon will remain affixed to the roof of a car, offering superior visibility in an emergency. It will be different from roadside flares, window-mounted triangles or a car’s flashers, as those tend to be low on the ground, but this extra tall beacon remains elevated for it to be seen from a distance. Not only does it make life easier for first responders to locate a disabled vehicle, it also offers oncoming traffic additional reaction time to slow down. The beacon itself holds 16 ultra-bright red and white LEDs which will flash a 360-degree warning signal, and has enough juice to last for up to 10 hours. Best to make sure you have a trio of AAA batteries as spares when you travel long distance, just in case!

[ 4′ High Roadside Emergency Beacon copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

We’ll admit it: we’re jaded. There is so much bad, middling and just okay stuff floating around in the portable speaker universe that we’re tired of even thinking about it. We’ve had our distinct favorite — the Tivoli iPal — for almost 10 years now, and it takes a lot to knock it off its unglamorous, but distinctive, pedestal. And we predict that it will continue to stay there. But newcomer Beacon has a hot little number in a soft-touch red dress that we’re willing to put right next to it on a slightly more diminutive pedestal. The $99, baseball-sized, Bluetooth-packing Phoenix has gotten under our collective skins, and we’d like to tell you why.

Continue reading Beacon Audio Phoenix review: our new favorite portable speaker

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household, Wireless

Beacon Audio Phoenix review: our new favorite portable speaker originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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