Gadgets

In 1978, the first episode aired in the radio series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. Adams didn’t know it, but one of the fictional species in his radio series and books, the babel fish, would impact technology for years in the future.

The babel fish could instantly translate languages, which inspired Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and SYSTRAN to name their AltaVista Translation Service after it. This was the first online translator; It was soon taken over by Yahoo and eventually Microsoft who changed its name from Babel Fish to Bing Translator in 2013. This was the original Babel Fish – the oldest online language translator which supported 13 languages.

However, the Babel Fish has been brought back to life recently. First by Google and now by another startup company called Waverly Labs.

First Impression of Google’s Pixel Buds

On October 4th, Google announced the Google Pixel Buds which can translate 40 spoken languages in nearly real time, among other things. However, the reviews are out and most of them are not desirable. As far as translation goes, the technology is apparently hard to work with. Regardless of this, how do the Pixel Buds work?

When using the translation feature, you must press a button on your phone and hand it to the other person so they can speak into the microphone. The translation will then be sent to your ears through the Pixel Buds. Conversely, if you say something in your native language, it will be translated and sent to the phone to be spoken by Google Assistant or read by the other person.

The translations have been said to be pretty accurate as long as you’re not using slang or names Google Assistant wouldn’t know. Also, the translations happen quickly which is a plus. So, it’s a good start, but audio quality is said to be low – background noise is a problem as the headphones don’t block it out well. This has caused problems with normal earbud functions, such as listening to music, and also with translations.

What’s Next for Pixel Buds?

However, Google has been one of the first to test the technology, and therefore there is much opportunity for them to improve and perfect the Pixel Buds. The technology can be made more user-friendly for one thing. Another thing that needs improvement is how the headphones fit in one’s ear to block out sound from outside. This seems to be the major issue right now. With these kinks worked out along with any other problems found in the future, Google can focus on furthering the translation technology to allow for deeper conversations.

Right now, it’s good enough to allow you to talk to someone and perhaps ask where something is, but not much more. It’s safe to say that this is a great start for Google – a company only just starting to create its own gadgets – and there is a lot of promise for the future of the Pixel Buds and real time translation.

Pilot Earbuds Enter the Game

Waverly Labs has also recently come out with their Pilot earbuds, which are wireless and can translate conversations in 15 languages. This is the company’s first piece of hardware and it was launched at the end of 2017. How does it work? Similar to the Pixel Buds, you just sync your conversation through a matching QR code on the app, press a button and then you can speak in your native language. The recording is then sent through the translation software and received as both text and audio by your friend.

Capabilities of the Pilot Earbuds

The Pilot earbuds only work if you and the person you’re speaking to have the app, and if you have a data connection. However, you do not have to be in the same room as the person. You can even use the app without the earbuds. People who have tested the technology have had good things to say so far.

Kent German tried it with a coworker speaking Spanish and said, “there was a few second lag between her speaking and me getting the text and audio, but it was quick enough that it didn’t feel awkward” (CNET). He also praised the noise cancelling microphones for blocking out extraneous noises, which is something the Pixel Buds lack. The translations were pretty accurate besides the obvious issues of slang and names not translating well.

Pilot Earbuds Moving Forward

Like the Pixel Buds, the Pilot earbuds are still a work in progress. There are things to work out, more languages to add, and ways to make the app more efficient. The speed of translation of the Pilot earbuds is one thing that could definitely be improved, so that real time conversations can be made possible for people who don’t speak the same language.

Although the Pilot Earbuds cost more than the Pixel Buds, they may be a better choice in people’s eyes, because the app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. In the other hand, Pixel Buds only work with Google’s Pixel Phone; People who do not own a Pixel phone are less likely to buy one just to get Pixel Buds. On top of this, Waverly Labs has already said it is working on making the technology available offline as well.

Perfecting the Babel Fish

Right now, neither Google, or Waverly Labs have made something that really changes the game too much. Yes, the fact that you can speak with someone and get a translation in your ear is a good start. But it’s not far off from apps that already exist, where you can speak into them and get a translation. Google Translate already does almost the exact same thing (minus the earbuds).

The excitement of this new technology is all about where it’s headed. If these earbuds can one day allow us to have fluid, deep conversations with people all over the world without knowing other languages, the possibilities are endless. These companies and others are already taking the technology available now and perfecting it to make this happen. The Babel Fish is not here yet, but it is coming!

The competition between electricity companies, such as Texas Electricity Examiner, is so fierce that they continue offering very competitive electric rates. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to find gadgets to help you save money on your electricity bills throughout the year though. Fortunately, smart home technology can help you here.

• Smart Plugs for Items you Forget to Turn Off

  It’s easy to forget to turn off lights and televisions when you leave a room. When you do this before leaving the house it sucks up a lot of electricity while you’re gone. This is why smart plugs like the iDevices Switch was created. With this smart plug technology you can turn off these devices, regardless of where you are. You can also schedule them to turn off automatically.

• Ceiling Fans With Greater Cooling Power

  Summers in Texas don’t have to be hot and expensive. Instead, you can install a ceiling fan like the Haiku Home L Series fan. You can control it from your phone or via Amazon’s Alexa. Since you’re in control you’ll use less energy, which means you’ll spend less money on your electricity bill. The fact that it also exceeds Energy Star efficiency by 450% helps you save even more money.

• Thermostats That Save you Money

  Nest Learning Thermostats optimize your home’s heating and cooling process by learning about your habits and your needs. Once it learns about these things this smart home technology creates a schedule that keeps your home at the right temperature without wasting energy. This will save you 10 – 12% on your gas bill and an extra 15% on your electric bill.

• Air Conditioners That Work Around Your Budget

  Today there are air conditioners that work around your schedule and your budget. Now you don’t have to worry about overspending money to stay cool throughout the summer months. Smart home technology such as that, which is offered by the Frigidaire Cool Connect smart window air conditioner. Simply tell it how much money you can afford to spend and it works around these parameters to keep your home comfortable. Since it even knows your schedule, it can work even better.

• Blinds That React to hot Windows

  Most people’s homes receive at least some direct sunlight. Unfortunately, this quickly makes your home hot, which makes your air conditioning work even harder. However, there’s now a smart home technology that gives your air conditioner a break. With the MySmartBlinds Automation Kit you can actually save electricity by blocking out the sun. Simply use an app on your smart phone to automatically close your blinds when the windows start getting hot.

• Smart Vents: Choose What Rooms to Heat and Cool

  You’ve always heard how you can save money by only heating or cooling those rooms in your home that you actually use. Unfortunately, this usually means you have to remember to change your vents around. This is no longer true thanks to the Keen Home Smart Vent. With this smart home technology you can regulate a room’s temperature, which is especially helpful if you only spend time in a few areas of your home.

• AC Controllers That Learn Your Habits

  Now your normal air conditioner can become a smart gadget that’s truly energy-efficient. With the The Tado Smart Air Conditioner and Heater Controller you can save 30% on your electricity bill. This smart home technology creates a schedule for the different times of day that turns the system off when you’re not home.

• Smart, Long-Lasting LED Light Bulbs

  The U.S. Department of Energy says that LED light bulbs use 75% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs. You can save even more money if you can dim the light bulbs, especially if you can do so remotely through devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

• Energy Monitoring From Your Phone

  If you want to save even more money on your electric bill, consider using your smart phone to watch your electricity usage. CURB is a gadget that you can simply attach to your home’s breaker panel. From there this smart home technology sends your phone detailed, real-time information about how much electricity your appliances are consuming.

Last week, the HTC Vive Business Edition (BE) VR headset was launched in India. Ever since the release of mainstream virtual reality headsets least year, businesses began seeing the endless possibilities the technology could provide in a business setting.

According to research from Tractica, “uptake of VR in business…is forecast to outpace leisure use of the technology in coming years, with spending reaching 9.2bn by 2021…” (Forbes). So what can the HTC Vive provide for businesses? And what will virtual reality headsets provide for businesses down the line?

HTC Vive BE Features

The Vive BE offers the same hardware as the consumer version, but customers will be able to buy in bulk. When HTC realized that businesses were using the technology for things, such as architecture and 3D design, it jumped on the opportunity. Although it comes at a price (slightly more expensive than the consumer version of the product), buying in bulk is very helpful for businesses, especially since the Vive has recently been on backorder. The technology will also be accompanied by a dedicated support line.

Again, this is a huge improvement to the consumer version as people have already had trouble finding solutions and getting a hold of customer support for problems with the Vive. Although small, this first step towards bringing virtual reality to businesses is a step in the right direction. Only some of the positives of using VR for business are known, and there are many more to discover.

Uses of Virtual Reality in a Business Setting

Although HTC is just breaking into VR headsets for the business sector, businesses have actually made use of VR for a long time. Any process businesses would carry out in the physical world can be simulated using virtual reality. This ranges from customer service to production, and creates so many possibilities. One of these possibilities is using virtual reality for training.

Since any situation one might encounter on the job can be simulated, trainees can use VR to gain experience from situations, and learn from mistakes. A major example of this is public speaking systems which have already been implemented by VR technology. Another possibility is using virtual reality to allow people to carry out tasks without being present, thus saving time and resources.

VR and Training

VR technology is already being used for training. In healthcare, surgeons are taking advantage of the “reset switch” available if things go wrong, in order to train for big and complex surgeries. Simulations of surgeries can be carried out in a real-life setting where doctors can experiment with different life or death choices and tools to see what works and what doesn’t.

Pilots have also been using virtual reality to better themselves in the field. Although pilots have relied on simulators for a long time now, virtual reality allows for a more cost-efficient and portable experience to be accessible. This allows for more simulated hours and more experienced pilots. Teachers and police officers are among others using VR for training as well. The next to join is the business world who will use VR to train employees on customer service, public speaking, and more. The possibilities are endless.

VR and Customer Service

Eventually, businesses hope virtual reality will be used for information on customer behavior. As customers begin to use virtual reality more and more to visit show rooms and test out products without actually going to the store, more information can be gathered. That is because the business and the customer will be interacting digitally, and therefore, data can be gathered on how the customer acts, reacts and interacts. Not only will this be convenient for the customer, but it will provide the business with information to improve sales.

Future of Virtual Reality

Bringing virtual reality to businesses and making it more accessible to companies is only the first, small step for VR in businesses. As we have seen in other fields, there are so many possibilities for using VR in training. With that comes better customer service, which can also be aided by using virtual reality to gather data on customers. There is so much potential for virtual reality in the business world that it is hard to guess where the technology will go next. No matter what, the consumer experience is bound to be improved.

One of the biggest problems that come with many streaming and set-top box devices is that they are designed to use with more modern television sets in mind. These include TV sets that can handle HDMI ports.

Needless to say, an older standard definition television set that might have been upgraded to receive digital signals would not be able to handle many of these devices. But Roku has resolved this issue by offering a special receiver that can work on those older TV sets. This unit is called the Roku Express+.

The Roku Express+ is a special gadget compatible with both HDMI ports and composite A/V ports. This is ideal for those who are new to such streaming devices and need something special to work with. It is also great for people who are familiar with how Roku works, but need something for a secondary television set in the house.

How The Roku Express+ is Designed

The Roku Express+ is laid out with a small rectangular body similar to what the regular Roku unit has. At about 1.3 ounces in weight, it is easy to add to your television set.

There are three small ports on the side of the unit. An A/V out port is included alongside an HDMI port. The third port is used to power up the unit.

An HDMI cable and a separate composite cable are both included with the Roku Express+, thus ensuring you have everything you need to the unit up and running. The red/white/yellow composite cable will go into the appropriate audio and video ports to ensure the unit is ready to use.

Quality Signals

The signals produced by the Roku Express Plus are detailed and ensure great picture & sound quality. This works with 480i, 720p and 1080p outputs to give you a good view, or at least whatever the best possible view on your older set might be.

The audio quality is exceptionally strong. The unit produces digital stereo sounds over the HDMI link and DTS Digital Surround support when the HDMI setup is used. For older television sets, the unit will produce the basic sounds that the television unit can handle. But it can still do well to produce clear sound that your older set can still manage.

How About a Wireless Link?

All you need to get the Roku ready to work is an appropriate Wi-Fi signal. It supports 802.11b/g/n signals and has WPA and WPA2 support. The unit works well for getting signals, but like with any other similar device this needs to work with a clear link to a Wi-Fi generator. Fortunately, it can identify the nearest Wi-Fi signal in the area and prioritize that as the one you wish to use when setting it up. You should still check and see that the signals you are getting are strong enough and can actually work with your device.

Getting Online

To use Roku Express+, you will have to get an appropriate Roku account set up. Fortunately, it is free to do when you get your contact information and login data added through the unit with an online setup. This process also allows you to quickly set up any accounts you have with streaming services. The layout of the setup makes it easier for you to get ready to work online with anything you want to stream.

All the Programs You Love

The Roku Express+ has a good interface that links you up to all the programs that you want to enjoy. Get access to all the channels, movies, shows and other things of interest to you through the program. You can view live streaming and on-demand channels from around the country, as well as channels in your local area through this unit.

The programming offered by Roku includes stuff from all sorts of services like Pandora, YouTube, Crackle and many others. You can also get access to various streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, CBS All Access, Amazon Prime Video and DirecTV Now. It does cost extra to get a subscription to one of these services.

Roku Express+ can also work with any cable or satellite packages you have. You can connect your account up with various streaming networks like Watch ESPN, CNN Go, FX Now and Nickelodeon On Demand, among others. The simplicity of linking your service provider account to Roku Express+ is easy to follow and enjoy.

What About the Controller?

You will need to use the standard Roku controller to get Roku Express+ to work for you. Fortunately, the setup is easy to use. It offers a basic layout with large buttons with all the basic controls you need to use. It even has small buttons for Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Sling. You only need two AAA batteries to use it.

Final Verdict

The attractive design of the Roku Express Plus makes it an outstanding device to have in your home. It works well with various television sets, but it is best for use on any older TV sets you have. Take a look at how well the Roku Express+ can be used for your entertainment demands.

Running out of battery power is one of the worst things that could ever happen to you when you’re in the middle of something. The issue of not having power is a real problem as it keeps you from being able to stay productive or capable of staying in touch with people that you care.

Fortunately, today it’s easy to keep your devices running perfectly thanks to various portable battery chargers. There are many quality options worth looking into if you’re in the market for a good portable battery charger. Below are 7 of the more popular choices for you to check out if you need help with getting a useful charger for your devices.

Anker PowerCore II

The first option is the Anker PowerCore II, a unit with a 20,000mAh capacity. This portable battery charger uses two separate ports to power up the battery and to allow the battery to power up your devices. A series of white LEDs are used to let you know how much power is left on the battery at any moment. The textured surface on this Anker PowerCore II portable battery charger also keeps it from slipping around while it’s busy charging devices. However, the unit does not have an USB-C port.

Tronsmart Presto

Tronsmart makes its Presto battery charger with an USB-A to MicroUSB cable inside its box. It can work with the Quick Charge 3.0 system Qualcomm has developed for making it easier for devices to be powered up fast and effectively. It can also start up with a button on the side, thus ensuring you can use this when you need it, without having to worry about it staying operational even when the battery is charged up. The 10,000mAh capacity ensures you have enough space to work with more power.

Aukey Power Bank

The Aukey Power Bank is another high-capacity model that handles 20,000mAh of power. It uses two separate ports, so you can charge two different items with the same battery at the same time. You will not have to worry about the battery’s power running out too quickly when it is used properly. The green button on the top also ensures you can activate and easily turn the battery off.

iMuto 30,000mAh Bank

Those who need a power bank with a significant amount of space can benefit from the iMuto model. It uses a 30,000mAh capacity for powering up everything you have, plus three USB ports to help you with keeping enough energy to power all your devices. You will need to check and see if your computer or other device can handle this battery pack though, as there is a potential for your device to not work with it.

Poweradd Pilot 2GS

Although the Poweradd Pilot 2GS only has a capacity of 10,000mAh, it is about 1.3cm thick, thus making it ideal for when you need a smaller unit that is not too hard to use. In fact, the small unit can recharge your devices quickly and effortlessly. But be advised the Pilot 2GS does not come with its own separate cable for charging needs. You will have to get your own cable to make it ready for your general use.

RAVPower Portable Charger

This next option is also good for people who need smaller units. The RAVPower portable battery charger can fit in your pocket and work with USB-A and MicroUSB ports, while also showing you how much power is left with a few small lights on the side. The charger offers 6,700mAh of storage power to keep items energized while on the go. You could fit this portable battery charger in your pocket if desired. This gadget is also available in multiple colors.

Qi-infinity Upgraded Powerbank

The final option to consider is this Qi-infinity model that features four separate ports. It works with many USB-powered devices, including the Apple MacBook. With 35,000mAh of storage capacity, you can get all of those items that you link up to the unit powered up quickly and effortlessly.

A Final Word on These Portable Battery Chargers

Each of these portable battery chargers are made with their own unique features and capacities. Look around the market to see which portable battery charger is right for your needs, and choose a model that fits in well with your devices.