Trevor Daugherty

The consumer drone market continues to expand, with more and more innovation happening each day. Popular drone manufacturer Parrot invested heavily in a company called senseFly a few years back and we are now beginning to see some pretty cool products come out of the Switzerland-based company. The upcoming eXom drone from senseFly has a number of nifty features, including one that flies the drone to a location just by tapping on your iPad…

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We haven’t seen much in the way of major innovation when it comes to surveillance cameras, with Dropcam and Foscam pretty well dominating the space in recent years. Today, we’re seeing something new from Panasonic with its Nubo monitoring camera, which features 4G connectivity and a waterproof design. They proudly proclaim that this is the “world’s first” camera design to lean on a cellular connection instead of WiFi.

It’s chock full of features, head below for full details, pricing and availability.

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Back in January, San Francisco-based bag and accessory maker WaterField Designs announced its Bolt Briefcase. Since then we’ve had the opportunity to put the Bolt through its paces. Designed to be a professional alternative to the leather briefcases of old, this bag is for travelers and techies in need of a solution for multiple occasions.

Head below for our hands-on impressions and to learn how you could win this Bolt Briefcase.

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Mad Catz is adding to its line of popular gaming controllers, but this time its put a focus on Android devices. The L.Y.N.X.3 Mobile Wireless Controller is a “highly-compact mobile game controller” that can collapse for travel and has a full-range of controls that you’d expect from a full-sized console. 

Head below for full details, pricing and availability.

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After a complete re-vamp of its line of over-ear headphones, Grado Labs has announced that its popular in-ears have received the same treatment. The GR8e and GR10e are follow-ups to its previous generation cans designed for on-the-go listening. For this Brooklyn-based headphones manufacturer, this is just another step in its legendary story.

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Technology has created a much more accessible world, with nearly everything right at our fingertips. The thing is, sometimes we still just want easier access to a button, switch or that USB port in the back of your computer. Satechi has set out to solve this problem with three Bluetooth-enabled buttons meant to interact with a myriad of devices.

The BT Button Series is a trilogy of stick-on thin circles that pair with a device via Bluetooth and enables the user to complete certain tasks. They come in a slim circle design with an aluminum metal outer edge and are compatible with iOS devices and Android OS 4.4.4 or later. From selfies to Siri, these products have an eye for making digital life just a touch more accessible – head below to find out how.

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High-end camera maker Leica has taken the cap off a new limited edition digital camera that has a striking design. With 1960’s military undertones, the M-P (Typ 240) “Safari edition” has luxury written all of over it. Not only do the colors stand out, the silver trim and full grain rawhide leather accents really pop creating a one-of-a-kind visual. It’s a unique blend of modern technology and mid-century design with a price tag to match. With only 1,500 being produced, these cameras will be a rare find.

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There are many ways to carry the smorgasbord of items we carry on a daily basis while traveling or going to work. Sometimes though, it’s the smaller things that don’t find a home in your bag or suitcase. With many larger offerings already on the market, made-by-hand San Francisco manufacturer Waterfield Designs has introduced a new Padded Gear Pouch specifically for carrying all the smaller items.

Whether it’s for an iPad mini, external hard drive, Apple TV or simple toiletries, this multipurpose bag can carry a number of different items. We’ve got the full details on this new product from Waterfield, a video from its designer and the full press release below.

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What do you want from your Bluetooth speaker? Quality sound? Dependability? At this point, many speakers on the market with a $100+ price point are going to offer respectable sound. We’ve looked at and reviewed a lot of options that bring different feature sets to the table, but going next level is where things get interesting. There are a few highly-rated options outside of the $300 range and now Bang & Olufsen brings a new competitor to the table.

The Beolit 15 is Bang & Olufsen’s newest Beoplay addition, it has a minimalistic design but carries a hefty price tag. Head below for full details on availability, specs and of course the gorgeous press photos.

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Target has dropped its free shipping threshold down to $25 making it one of the best places to order small items from. By meeting the minimum order limit, Target customers will receive free 3-5 business day shipping as well as free returns on all orders. They also have free in-store pick up which is another advantage over some online retailers you have a local store. In comparison, Best Buy and Amazon offer free shipping on orders of $35+, while Walmart takes off the fee at $50+.

Target has upped its online offerings in recent years, with programs such as Cartwheel handing out discounts and its REDcard bringing additional 5% savings plus free shipping on all purchases. Much like Amazon, Target has a subscription service for some goods which also allows you to schedule delivery and save 5% on eligible orders.

Head over to Target’s shipping hub for more details on this change.

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Update (2/28 12:30pm): @DavidFell is our winner, thank you for entering our giveaway!

For as much as we love our new technology, we tend to either carry them in the cheapest possible option or the most expensive one we can find. There are thousands of plastic and synthetic material items that are available to serve this exact purpose. But more often than not, they have a short life and end up in the trash. What if the focus shifted from the latest accessories to purchasing one item that could protect your tools, digital or not, for your entire life?

Etwas is answering that question while creating on-the-go solutions for your gear. In a technology driven world where it’s often about the latest, for this Brooklyn-based company it’s all about staying power. Utilizing techniques from centuries ago, these bags are made in an electricity-free work environment designed with heirloom quality in mind.

We’ve got the full story on Etwas as well as a giveaway worth $380, head below for more.

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Rovio, creators of the hit game Angry Birds, has announced its latest iOS and Android offering ‘Jolly Jam’. Playing off the popular connect-three matching style of gaming, Jolly Jam has visual cues that will remind gamers of Candy Crush.

This puzzle based game focuses on matching like colors from corner to corner using a drag and highlight style of play. The idea is for users to draw boxes around matching jellies to complete levels with combo attacks and special jellies releasing colorful explosions. With ‘endless’ levels of play, Jolly Jam is highlighted by bright colors and sounds through gameplay.

Jolly Jam is available now for free on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

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While it seems like every week our living room technology evolves, with new curved and 4K UHDTVs, the remote that controls these new devices seems to have hit a wall. Harmony has long dominated the upper-echelon universal remote world, but its solutions haven’t always been the most intuitive.

The good news is a fresh competitor is set to enter the marketplace, taking design cues from Cupertino while putting a highly-visual user experience first. The Ray Super Remote puts all of your devices, programming and functions into one 4.8-inch display that promises to simplify your home entertainment experience.
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Evidently over-the-top movie inspired car iPhone cases are all the rage right now. We already spotted a Batmobile look-alike and today we’ve come across a Delorean iPhone case that would make Doc Brown jealous. Much like Marty McFly’s Nikes, Crazy Case has spared no details with this replica, even including lights and wires that light up when a call comes in. The price isn’t too bad either but getting ahold of one may be the difficult part…

Head below for a video, pricing and how to get it here in the States.

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Source: <a href="http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/410049-toy-fair-check-out-legos-jurassic-world-sets#/slide/2">ComingSoon.net </a>

Following its Star Wars announcement last week, LEGO has another classic movie up its sleeve. This time it’s Jurassic World, the yet-to-be-released follow-up to everyone’s favorite 90’s dinosaur classic. Judging by early pictures from the 2015 Toy Fair in New York, this is going to be another LEGO set that collector’s aren’t going to want to miss.

Head below for more pictures, as well as full details on pricing and availability.

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Update: (2/21 12:05pm): @jayrodesign is our winner – thank you to everyone that entered our contest.

As advances in machinery and technology continue to progress in there modern world, there have been many “deaths” along the way in how our goods are manufactured. Many of the big brands that strive to create identical products over and over again, losing the unique aspect that comes with human interaction during the manufacturing process. Every single stitch must be perfect or the shirt gets tossed. Each cut is exactly the same for every pair of jeans on the rack.

While the precise nature of our evolving technology world is nice, many of the goods that we encounter lack that personal feel. Cord Shoes of Atlanta, Georgia does just the opposite of that. Proprietor Sarah Green, is creating beautiful handmade boots and accessories with skills that she has learned on her own. It’s a story that involves hard work, late hours and a lucky batch of Hurricane Katrina flooded machinery.

Today, we are going to tell you about Cord Shoes.

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It doesn’t get much better than LEGO and Star Wars, luckily the toy maker has announced a brand new line of force-wielding constructibles at the American International Toy Fair. Building on a 15 year history of bringing George Lucas’ hit saga to the world of LEGO, the latest collection touches on all of the original movies as well as Disney’s animated renditions. Each feature film including the to be released The Force Awakens will be represented in the 2015 LEGO Star Wars collection.

Head below for additional details and availability.

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This week, Nikon has announced a bevy of new DSLR and point-and-shoot cameras to its well established line of digital cameras. We are seeing everything from a high-end DSLR designed for stargazers to a rugged Coolpix model that claims to handle just about everything that you can throw at it. All-in-all they’ve released the details on two DSLRs and nine COOLPIX cameras. Head below for full details on the DSLRs and our standouts amongst the point-and-shoot models.

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Toy Fair 2015 has already had a big product announcement and it hasn’t even began yet. Anki, makers of smartphone connected toy racing cars, has announced its latest model with the OVERDRIVE. Built upon the success of the previous generation DRIVE, this newest model has fresh features and a large selection of expansion track options.

Head below for a video trailer, release date and pricing.

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Update (3/4 9:00am): Sling TV has announced that it has added AMC and IFC to its “Best of Live TV” core package. Beginning today, subscribers will be able to enjoy popular shows such as Mad Men, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead and Portlandia. Sling TV also has a new “Hollywood Extra” pack, this $5 add-on includes content from all EPIX movie channels as well as Sundance TV. Interested in Sling TV? Learn how to grab a free or discounted streaming device when you subscribe.

Sling TV, the hit of CES 2015, is available today to all customers nationwide, offering contract free, $20 a month television to a variety of devices. This service made a big splash in January with its promise of some of the most popular cable television services such as ESPN/2, TNT, TBS, however its only been available in beta since then. Today users can sign up at its website for a free 7-day trial before the $20 a month rate kicks in.

We’ve also got full details on additional channel packages and upcoming availability on other devices such as the Xbox One. Head below for more information and full PR.

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Throughout Small States you’ll hear stories of people that are making a conscious effort to bring manufacturing back to the United States. Companies that strive to create products in a way that has escaped our country and fled overseas. We are finding that these manufacturers have a great pride in what they do — this week we’re taking a look at Woodchuck USA, a company who’s pride is evident across all aspects of its business.

“Nature back to people. Jobs back to America. Quality back to products.”

With its locally grown hardwood accessories, Woodchuck has managed to create beautiful additions for your Apple devices. All the while doing it with a focus on integrity and creating jobs here in the United States.

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Olympus has announced a new smartphone lens that is a direct competitor to the Sony QX-series. The ‘Air’ has a 16MP sensor with Four Thirds capabilities as well as a shutter release button and microSD slot. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery and packs an autofocus system with 81-points of reference. It mounts directly to your smartphone adding greater zoom capabilities to your device. The Air communicates with your smartphone via WiFi and with its open-source API, it will be available in early March within Japan for ¥33,800 or roughly about $289, availability elsewhere is currently unknown.

As we head through February and into the Spring months, we will be seeing three new camera models from Olympus and Samsung. While they all offer different feature sets, these cameras continue to bring more pro-style attributes to the hobbyist photographer. Each one represents a different phase of photography ability dependent upon the needs of the shooter. While there have been many cameras announced by these companies we found the following to be of most interest.

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Update: (2/26 10:03am): The limited edition Blue Note PLAY:1 speaker will be available for order on March 5th at 1pm EST directly from SONOS. With only 4,000 units available we expect this product to sell out quickly.

SONOS has announced that it will be releasing a limited edition PLAY:1 speaker to commemorate 75 years of Blue Note Records. This modified version of the popular $199 PLAY:1 speaker will feature a unique blue color and will come with “custom-designed” drivers and dedicated amps for this release. The Blue Note limited edition PLAY:1 is set to launch “soon” with a $250 price tag and will include exclusive content curated for SONOS by Blue Note producers and artists.

Full press release follows:
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The big news of the morning comes way of the Raspberry Pi foundation, which has announced its latest generation microcomputer. Starting today, the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B will be available for purchase at the same $35 price point that we’ve come to expect. The big jump in performance will open a whole new world of computing for hobbyist, hackers and educators.

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Update (2/7 10:00am): Thank you to everyone that entered our giveaway, @magistermurray is our winner.

Update (2/4 10:00am): The Kickstarter campaign for Janus Motorcycles is now live with the option to purchase t-shirts, stickers, and all of the leather goods featured in this article.

There are many different products that often cross our desk, the ones that we remember the most standout for more than just their function. The best often have a way of standing out visually, providing an experience that goes beyond its purpose. Transportation has continued to evolve over the last 120 years, we’ve come a long way from the model T to the Tesla D. But sometimes it’s the throwback style, a vintage offering that proves to standout amongst the competition.

Janus Motorcycles of Goshen, Indiana has managed to do just that. Creating a beautiful motorcycle that not only functions well, but it manages to do so with exceptional style.

Over the last four years, Janus has developed into one of the burgeoning bike companies in the United States. What truly is a labor of love in a small shop in Northern Indiana, is now ready to be known across the world.

It’s time to meet Janus Motorcycles.

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London-based Imagination Technologies has announced that it is now shipping its Creator CI20 microcomputer. This direct competitor to little-computer king, Raspberry Pi, is noted specifically for its low-power requirements while still pumping out high-performance graphics. Particularly, the C120 is capable of running the Quake 3 game engine at 1080p while using just 2.5 watts of power at a very competitive price point.

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Flat screen HDTVs have come a long way in their development in the last few years, one of the down falls in their ever slimming design is speaker placement. Many HDTVs now ship with rear-facing speakers in an effort to slim down its profile. Simply put, your beautiful 4K television sounds terrible because the speakers are aimed towards the wall instead of the viewer.

There are a few ways to solve this problem, but the simplest option with the best results is a soundbar. For years, 5.1 surround sound systems have been the cream of the home theater crop but consumers are finding the wiring and installation process to be not worth the struggle. Soundbars are much simpler to install and offer a wide variety of extras such as wireless subwoofers, HDMI inputs and wireless Bluetooth audio at very competitive prices.

Below we’ve rounded up some of our top soundbar picks for each size budget, plus a number of other options as well.

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If you are interested in a better sleep experience, but find the Sleep Cycle app or an expensive mattress aren’t the answer, you may want to check out the Luna smart mattress cover. What was born out of an Indiegogo campaign is set to become a reality later this year. Instead of re-making an entire mattress, that would ultimately prove to be very costly, Luna is a mattress cover that fits many beds. It is covered in sensors, which helps track your movement, sleeping habits and interacts with your data to monitor your overall health.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlS5SMVeKn0&w=704&h=396]
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Update (1/31 9:00am): @ASourAppleTree is our winner, thanks for entering our Small States giveaway.

Small States offers us an opportunity to showcase unique companies that we’ve discovered here in the United States. Telling the story of those who’ve made the conscious decision to create something here rather than there. Today, we bring to you Schoolhouse Electric of Portland, Oregon. A company that has been around for over a decade creating beautiful home goods that remind us of every style over the last 120 years.

From hand-blown lights to meticulously designed clocks, well designed home goods abound from this gem in the Northwest. What was born out of a desire for quality products has become a true American story that Small States is all about.

This is Schoolhouse Electric.

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Your personal music collection is one of the most, well personal, things that many of us have in our lives. Everyone has different tastes and likes to listen in their own way. What many consumers do not realize is that they are typically not hearing the music as it was intended. We’ve covered the importance of digital-to-analog converters (DAC) before, but today we are seeing a new option that packs everything a DAC offers into a smaller, portable package.

Apogee, makers of recording industry leading microphones, audio interfaces and more, has announced the newest addition to its line of products with the portable USB Groove DAC and headphone amp for Mac and Windows PC. It comes packed with intriguing features and will launch with a special edition model you’ll certainly want to see.

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Life as a student can be a struggle, from trying to keep up with your classes to working at a part-time job. Don’t forget about your girlfriend or those student loans weighing over your head as well. The good news: we’re here to help put a couple bucks back in your pocket so you don’t have to settle for cheap beer this weekend…

9to5Toys has scoured the internet looking for some of the best discounts available to students and rounded them up. Below we’ve got details on potential savings at Apple, Amazon, Eddie Bauer, J. Crew and more. You probably had no idea that you’ve been missing out on those discounted burritos.

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