The new Outlook for iOS and Android connects e-mail accounts, calendars and files all in one place. So what’s the verdict from users? It gets mixed reviews, for an average of 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Play. On the plus side, it’s got a lean, easy-to-use UI. It sorts incoming e-mail by “Focus” and “Other” with an easy-to-use swipe gesture to move between the two. The scheduler uses color-coding and grays out info you don’t need. On the minus side, some users report syncing and sign-in errors and incompatibility with certain systems. Still, once the bugs are worked out, it’s certainly worth a test drive.
- Computer World, 10.29.15
Star Wars BB-8 Droid Tie-In: The Story and the Tech Behind the Hit Toy
Talk about your dream contract! It was just the second day of Disney’s inaugural tech-development Accelerator. Sphero CEO Paul Berberian and the company’s two founders were invited to chat with Disney CEO Bob Iger in his office. When it’s their time to meet, Iger pulls out his iPhone and shows them dailies from the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, then in production – stuff nobody but folks directly involved in making the movie had seen. Iger pointed to the rolling droid, BB-8, and asked Berberian if he and his team could build it. The rest, as they say, is history.
- Wired, 09.03.15
Pain Relief Gets a New Look
A new wearable electronic device named Quell is designed to relieve pain without popping pills. Yet it doesn’t look like a medical device. Resembling an athletic band, it’s worn on the leg, just below the knee. It connects to your smartphone so you can track therapy sessions, control features, monitor quality of sleep and store data to the Quell HealthCloud. 67% of Quell users report a reduction in their use of pain medication. Some users experience relief in as little as 15 minutes. Tapping into your body’s natural pain-control system, it can block pain signals, providing widespread pain relief. Just bear in mind, it doesn’t work for everyone – your results may vary.
- MedGadget 08.17.15
World’s Smallest Camera Drone
Curious about camera drones, but not sure where to begin? For under $30 you can get a tiny “quadcopter” that fits in the palm of your hand. The Cheerson CX-10C claims to be the world’s smallest drone with a camera. You’ll get a flight time of no more than about three minutes, less if you use the camera. Which, of course, is the point, isn’t it? Still, it’s a good way to get the hang of playing with one of these things without a whole lot of cash out-of-pocket. Use it for aerial shots of you and your family skiing, on the beach – or just buzzing around the house for practice.
- Drone Arena, 11.06.15