That means there’s no extra setup for outdoor parties — the speakers are always ready to go with a full 15 hours of battery life. They connect to a music source via Bluetooth with up a 100-foot range.

Setup only takes a few seconds. Each speaker comes with a magnetic stand that can be staked into grass, dirt, and other landscaping materials. The box can be easily pulled off the stand and transferred to another stand in a different part of the yard, brought inside, or taken on the road for mobile parties. If there’s ever a need for wired charging, the speaker also includes a USB-C port that can be used to power up other USB devices, too.

The sound quality is powerful, thanks to a four-inch passive subwoofer for bass, a ¾-inch tuned dome tweeter for high notes, a four-inch calibrated driver for clear and consistent audio, and a 50-Watt amplifier for volume. Two or more speakers can also be connected to create an even fuller, more immersive sound.

Because outdoor speakers have to be able to stand up to intense weather conditions, the Lodge solar speakers were designed to handle everything from “the hot summers of the Arizona desert to the icy winters in Vermont.” To protect against damage from water, dust, and debris, the speakers are equipped with both UV-safe plastics for the housing and chip-proof industrial strength solar panels. Each one comes with a waterproof IP66 rating.

The speakers have been extensively tested and reviewed to ensure their quality is top notch. “We’ve been working on Lodge since late 2020 and have gone through hundreds of rounds of testing, user feedback, and iteration,” the company says on their Kickstarter page. “We’ve worked with audiophiles and designers from all over of the world to validate our design decisions and component selection, and we’ve completed countless hours of testing both in and outside of the lab. With the community’s help, we brought Lodge to where it is today and built a sound system the Lodge community is proud to support.”

The company also tried to keep sustainability in mind when designing the speakers, allowing them to be disassembled and recycled so that parts could be repurposed in the future.

The Kickstarter campaign generated plenty more interest than expected. The company started with a $10,000 goal and raised over $250,000 by the time it ended. There was so much demand, in fact, that Lodge created a second crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo that raised another $270,000 in a month. The company hopes to start shipping their product to the first Kickstarter customers sometime this summer.

The post These Outdoor Speakers are Waterproof, Wireless, and Solar-Powered first appeared on Dornob.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Noveto N-I Smart Speaker

Headphones can be uncomfortable, and some people can’t or won’t wear them. If you’ve ever shared space with a hard-of-hearing elderly relative who loves to watch TV, you might understand the dilemma.

This so-called “invisible headphones speaker,” the N1 Smart Speaker by Noveto, is one of the most intriguing things to come out of CES this year. It beams focused immersive audio right to a listener’s ears without disturbing others nearby. Arrays of tiny transducers hidden behind the speaker’s fabric covers target sound using ultrasound technology and can even follow the listener around. Noveto says that from three feet away, people nearby will hear little more than a whisper. Peace at last.

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra Vacuum

If you’re one of the people who looked at robot vacuums and said “call me when these things can clean themselves and dump out the dirty mop water,” this new Roborock has your number. The S7 MaxV Ultra requires very little maintenance thanks to a new Empty Wash Fill dock that scrubs the mop, cleans the dock, and holds up to seven weeks worth of vacuumed-up debris. Full 3D mapping support helps it get around obstacles, and even better, the mop retracts up into the chassis whenever it senses a rug. If you want it to double as a roving intercom, it can do that too, equipped with remote viewing and communication capabilities.

Samsung Odyssey Ark Monitor

Curved monitors can totally transform your gaming experience and make it a lot more immersive. Samsung’s newest Odyssey is the biggest one yet at 55 inches, and the coolest part is you can turn it vertically on its stand so the screen curves over your head. Supposedly dropping later this year with price TBD, the Odyssey Ark has a 4K display, a wireless dial controller to manage lighting, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Other versions of the Odyssey are already available, like the $999 49-inch G9.

BMW with Color Changing E-Ink

The same E-Ink technology that’s used in e-readers like the Amazon Kindle is making it possible to change the color of a car on demand. Demonstrated on a concept version of the BMW iX, the surface coating contains millions of microcapsules with a diameter equivalent to a human hair. Each one contains negatively charged white pigments and positively charged black pigments that react to an electrical field at the push of a button. And it’s not just an aesthetic consideration. BMW says it could be used to cool or warm up your car with the power of the sun, too, since dark colors absorb more warmth and light colors reflect it.

Labrador Retriever Robot Shelf

You might have the greatest dog in the history of dogs, but chances are it still can’t get you a beer out of the fridge. The Labrador Retriever can… kind of. Despite its name, it’s a robot, not a dog, and while it’s a lot less complex than the robot assistants we usually see paraded around at CES every year, it’s beautiful in its single-minded simplicity. It’s really just a roving shelf about the size of a side table that moves between designated locations on command to deliver objects to people around the house. The top surface can raise and lower itself to meet the edge of a table and can even grab trays. It was designed for people with mobility problems, but can be useful to just about anyone.

Chevrolet 2024 Silverado EV

The buzziest of the electric vehicles unveiled at CES, Chevy’s 2024 Silverado EV boasts a battery pack that can provide up to 400 miles of range per fast charge. Plus, the battery juices up to 100 miles of range in a mere 10 minutes. All-wheel drive, up to 664 horsepower, and a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds make this four-door, short-bed pickup a real competitor for the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Tesla Cybertruck.

L’Oreal Colorsonic Electronic Hair Coloring Device

Coloring your hair is either expensive if you have it done at a salon or annoying if you do it at home. During the pandemic lockdowns, DIY was the only option a lot of us had. If you’ve ever wished you could just wave a magic wand and have it done with, L’Oreal has made it real. The Colorsonic is a gadget you load up with pre-filled color cartridges and brush through your hair for perfectly even results. No more weird missed spots and patchy areas. While the company hasn’t revealed a price tag yet, they say it’ll be released under its L’Oreal Paris brand and be available at major retailers like Target.

Schlage Encode Plus Wi-Fi Door Lock

When Apple debuted its iPhone XS in 2018, it opened the show with a dramatic action-movie-style sequence in which someone attempting to deliver a top-secret case to CEO Tim Cook was stymied by a locked door. To open it, Apple VP of technology Kevin Lynch casually sauntered over and held his Apple Watch up to the lock to grant access. As the first deadbolt lock supporting Apple’s Home Key door access feature, the new Schlage Encode Plus Wi-Fi Door Lock finally makes opening a door with a smartwatch a real possibility.

Timberline Solar Shingles

Solar roof shingles are a great idea in theory, but what happens when a handful of them fail? That’s a very expensive roof replacement. GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar shingles can be installed just like any other roofing – with nails – so they’re also easy to maintain and replace. That makes them a lot easier and cheaper to install, and they still qualify as a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof covering for residential roofs.

The post The Smartest, Coolest Gadgets at CES 2022 first appeared on Dornob.

Released on an Indiegogo campaign earlier this year, the “Dusk” shades are different from the decades-old Transitions lenses that change tint based on the surrounding light conditions. The new product from Ampere uses electrochromic technology (the same tech available in luxury cars to control windshield tint) to electrically manipulate the lens darkness specifically to the user’s preferences. And it works fast, with the lenses taking just 0.1 seconds to adapt to the preferred hue.

The tint level can be customized between 3 and 35 percent, and preferred settings can be saved on the company app. When users are far from their phones, the glasses have manual touch controls on the left-hand side that can adjust between three tint levels. Another option includes setting the controls to have the lenses alter automatically with changes in ambient light readings.

Being smart glasses, Dusk also includes an open-ear audio system that lets users receive phone calls or listen to music on the go. The speakers are discreetly hidden in the frame earpieces and allow for a crystal-clear audio experience even while keeping the noise inaudible to those around you.

Compatible with iPhones running iOS 14 and Android 12 models, the embedded microphone and button on the right side of the Dusk frame makes it possible to quiz Siri or Google Assistant with voice commands and gives users the hands-free ability to answer calls or skip songs on their playlist.

Even better, these glasses have the bonus of actually looking good. Designed after the classic Ray-Ban wayfarer style, the matte black frames are sleek and unisex. Dusk is also lightweight (measuring just under one ounce), making each pair comfortable enough for all-day use.

For eye safety, the sunglasses are polarized and block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, with all the included smart tech, Ampere took care to make their product waterproof (IP65 waterproof rating) to be wearable around the pool or on the lake.

Dusk glasses also feature some helpful accessories. For an extra $50, users can purchase a protective case that also acts a charger when out and about. When fully charged, the shades will provide seven days of paired tint adjustment time and four hours of active listening time. The carrying case also incorporates a space for an Apple Air Tag to track the glasses via Bluetooth if and when they get misplaced.

The sunglasses went on presale at a discounted price of $189 and are currently scheduled to ship in October 2021. The company’s smart changing lenses concept was very popular on Indiegogo, raising over $430,000 from almost 1,600 backers. The campaign was so successful, in fact, that two other options were unlocked: a pair with mirrored lenses, and an indoor Dusk frame to block that pesky blue light from phones and other screens.

Delaware-based Ampere specializes in making “fun, one-of-a-kind award-winning gadgets” to improve life for their customers. Their other offerings include a foldable charging cube, a hydropower shower speaker, and a UV sanitizing wireless cell phone charger.

The post Dusk: Smart Sunglasses Let You Adjust the Tint with Your Phone first appeared on Dornob.

Belkin Boost Up Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W

For a dad who’s ready to ditch all the cords, this wireless phone charging stand is a great solution. Compatible with both Apple iPhones and Android Qi-enabled smartphones, it provides some of the fastest charging speeds out there. The phone can be placed on the stand in either portrait or landscape mode, too, allowing for continued use while soaking up more battery life.

Apple Airtag or Tile Pro

If your dad is notorious for losing his keys, he might appreciate an Apple Airtag or a Tile Pro (if he’s an Android user). These tracking devices can be attached to a key ring or any other frequently-lost item and pinged from a phone. Accompanying smartphone apps will allow dad to navigate his way to his hidden car keys or even the remote control.

Arlo Video Doorbell

Your dad can get great home protection with this video doorbell. It’s wire-free, battery-powered, and easy to install. This model is especially impressive with its high-resolution HDR video and its ability to pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-control options.

Logitech G502 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse

For all those gamer dads out there, this mouse gets extra high ratings when it comes to low click latency and a wide CPI range (he’ll know what those terms mean). Fully compatible with both Windows and MacOS, the Logitech G502 Lightspeed has an outstanding, consistent sensor and lots of programmable buttons.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

If you want dad to stop complaining about his electric bill, you might want to get him a smart thermostat to maximize his home’s energy usage. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat uses AI to automatically adjust to the user’s preferred temperature and schedule. Dad can change the heating and cooling settings from anywhere using his phone, and he can check the accompanying app to monitor how much energy is being used and why.

Apple Watch – Series 6

While it is one of the priciest smart watches on the market, the series 6 Apple Watch beats out the competition with a fast new processor, great third-party app selection, and fitness tracking capabilities. It can measure dad’s blood oxygen saturation on demand, track real-time elevation on long runs or hikes, and even keep tabs on his sleep. With a large selection of new colors and band options, there’s sure to be an Apple Watch prefect for your papa.

JBL Flip 5 Portable Speaker

For a dad who likes to spend his time outside, this powerful portable speaker lets him enjoy his tunes anywhere. Packing a strong audio punch, the JBL Flip 5 also has an IPX7 waterproof rating, making it perfect for music by the pool or while floating down the river.

Moment Tele 58mm Lens

If your dad is a photography junkie, he can up his smartphone picture game with the Moment Tele 58 mm lens. It can attach to the latest iPhones, Galaxies, and Pixel devices and provide 2x optical magnification with a single lens phone and up to 4x magnification with the iPhone telephoto lens. That will allow dad to get up close and personal to his subjects without having to digitally zoom and decrease the image quality.

Make your dad’s life easier with one of these smart gadgets and give him the gift of a very happy Father’s Day this year.

The post 8 Cool Tech Gifts to Get Your Dad This Father’s Day first appeared on Dornob.

So is it worth it to get Apple’s new HomePod Mini? The short answer is yes, especially if you already own a host of Apple products, because the Mini introduces some features the others just don’t have.

Unveiled last month alongside the new iPhone 12 lineup, the HomePod Mini ($99) is a smaller, more affordable, and more versatile take on the original HomePod ($299). It’s a lot more than just a speaker, though it does its primary job with surprising power for such a compact object. Diminutive enough to hold in the palm of your hand, the 3.3-inch acoustic mesh-wrapped (and appropriately apple-shaped) HomePod Mini is virtually unnoticeable on a table or shelf, and it’s available in white or space gray.

First of all, it’s brilliantly simple to pair two HomePods. They automatically recognize each other and separate into left and right channels for true stereo sound. Plus, they’re easily loud enough to fill a room, offering clear and distinct bass, treble, and mid sounds without distortion. Naturally, the HomePod Mini works with Apple Music, but also podcasts, radio stations, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn, with support for Amazon Music and Pandora coming shortly.

A three-microphone array listens for Siri commands while a fourth microphone isolates sound coming from the speaker so it can still hear you while music is playing. It’s even capable of providing a personalized experience, identifying the voices of up to six people in your household to tailor music and podcasts to their preferences and automatically connect to their phones through a U1 Ultra Wideband chip. Visual, audio, and haptic responses make it clear when the speaker has switched from one user to another.

It even functions as an intercom, allowing you to tell everyone in the house it’s time for dinner through a voice message and push notifications on iOS devices (activated by saying “Siri, tell everyone…”). Like the original HomePod, the Mini can also serve as a hub to control all HomeKit-compatible smart home accessories from within and outside your home. One drawback to Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem is the fact that it still offers fewer compatible smart home devices compared to Amazon and Google, though if you’re tech-handy you can use plugins from Homebridge to connect non-HomeKit devices.

Part of the reason the HomePod never took off like the Echo or Google Home was its considerably higher price tag, along with the fact that earlier versions of Siri weren’t quite as nimble as the competition. The Mini solves those issues, and it’s a great introduction to the HomeKit system. If you find you need more powerful speakers after all, the original HomePod features a high-excursion woofer and seven tweeters, a six-microphone array, and the ability to create a home theater effect with Apple’s 4K TV, so it, too, can still be a useful purchase.

The post Is Apple’s New HomePod Mini Worth the Hype? first appeared on Dornob.

But those are just a couple surprising functions of this new invention. It’s also a powerful speaker you’ll never want to hide away in a drawer or case. Made from natural sand, the bowl-shaped Teno is equipped with a 54-mm full-range driver delivering “deep bass and crystal-clear treble.” Measuring about five inches in diameter, it’s designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand.

“The world doesn’t need any more sleek plastic surfaces,” says Lumio, the maker of this curious gadget. “Far from being another distracting piece of technology, Teno is for connecting with yourself and with your environment. Hold it in your hands and its vibrations impart a meditative feel — we like to think of it as modern interpretation of a sound bowl. Its radiant light creates the kind of calming atmosphere we could all use a little more of.”

The company adds that “Teno responds to different finger movements across its surface. No instructions needed. Simply break open the shell to turn on the light and separate it fully to activate the speaker. Piece the shell back together to turn it off. We’ve thoughtfully designed each sound indicator to evoke a sense of calm and tranquility. Crack the shell fully open to turn on the speaker and stream your favorite music directly from your phone. Tap the center to activate the dimmer. There are four levels of brightness to choose from.”

If you’re familiar with the Japanese art of kintsugi, which pieces together broken parts and highlights the cracks with gold, the inspiration for the look of the Teno is readily apparent. The creators call it “a celebration of the perfection in the imperfect.” The unique way in which the speaker’s functionality is revealed is meant to evoke a bit of mystery and magic. It definitely looks like the sort of mystical object you’d seek in a video game quest, with a surreal sense of timelessness about it.

These qualities are exactly what Lumio is after. Founded by Max Gunawan in San Francisco, the company is best known for the Lumio+, a multifunctional lamp and USB charger disguised as a tiny hardcover book. The company delights in the element of surprise and wants to produce electronics that “defy obsolescence.” With aesthetics wholly their own, Lumio’s creations certainly won’t come to be associated with any particular passing micro-era of technology.

The Teno is just completing a round of crowdfunding on Kickstarter, offering the speakers as backer rewards for as little as $240, a savings of $60 from the retail price of $300. If you missed out on the pre-orders, keep an eye on Lumio’s website for updates, and check out their other offerings while you’re at it.

The post Bowl-Shaped “Teno” Speaker Cracks Open to Reveal Glowing Light first appeared on Dornob.

First thing’s first: check out that silhouette. The UJET’s faceted alloy and carbon fiber bodywork give it a futuristic edge, and its cool spokeless orbital wheels are equipped with single-wall carbon nanotube tires. The scooter weighs just 95 pounds and folds up so it’s easy to take on public transit or throw into your trunk, taking up very little space when stored.

“Our wheel design has been drawing significant attention,” says Hugues Desires, CEO of UJET International. “The spokeless orbital wheel includes a suspension system and larger-diameter lightweight brakes, which offer a smooth ride, and the in-wheel electric motor combines optimized size with [the] powerful performance of 5.44 horsepower and 90 N.m (Newton meter) torque, ensuring great acceleration in any conditions. The first nano-augmented wheel to ever hit the market, UJET’s approach to tire design will make navigating a city landscape easier and safer than ever before.”

But looks are just the beginning. One of the most interesting aspects of the UJET scooter is its connectivity, which gives riders an unprecedented level of control over its operation and maintenance. A smartphone app allows users to lock, unlock, and locate the scooter, as well as activate an alarm and disable it remotely if it’s stolen. If the scooter is moved without permission, you’ll get a notification and step-by-step directions on how to find it.

An array of 20 digital sensors monitors the scooter’s diagnostics, including battery level, mileage, and the amount of carbon emissions saved versus driving a car the same distance. The UJET’s voice-controlled app also enables the rider to stream music, place calls, navigate, and even record video using a front-facing HD camera.

The scooter features two swappable battery packs in different sizes, with an estimated range between 43 and 93 miles per charge, respectively. Both batteries are about the size of a rolling suitcase, so you can easily tote one or both along whenever you need extra juice. All that’s required to charge the UJET is a standard power outlet; the charging cable stores conveniently inside the seat.

The scooter’s official website reads: “Technology lies at the heart of our vision to pioneer the future of urban mobility. Smart connectivity, precise engineering, leading electronics, and advanced composite materials come together to make our dream of futuristic mobility a reality. Technology can be beautiful. Form and function meet to create an amazing machine. We believe that beauty lies in union of practicality and design. We believe in freedom of movement and expression. We innovate to enable city lovers to move anywhere and anytime, always in style.”

“The UJET is our answer to the need for a high-tech and stylish urban mobility solution. With today’s and tomorrow’s issues in mind, we created a futuristic solution that works seamlessly within the existing infrastructure and fits any lifestyle.”

The UJET is expected to hit the US market by the end of 2018, with a price tag starting at $8,900.

The post UJET: Silent Electric Scooter Boasts a Removable Bluetooth Speaker first appeared on Dornob.

LumiCharge not only lights up our lives brilliantly and without fail, it also understands our desire to reduce the size of our ecological footprint. The company’s newest line was introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and we were lucky enough to get a closer look at all the new features.

This newest batch of LumiCharge products takes all the charging capabilities we could ever need and packs them into compact fixtures and gadgets that solve multiple solutions while occupying minimal space. These are just a few of our favorites:

LumiCharge LD

If you’ve ever gazed at a big display of LumiCharge’s multi-use desk fixtures and wished they could be combined to meet all your needs in a smaller space, you’re in luck: that vision has finally come to fruition. The LumiCharge LD has an amazing LED lamp as its base of operations and offers a host of enchanting colors and brightness levels. As you enjoy the light show, you’ll also discover the fixture’s built-in charging station, which includes everything you need to keep all your personal electronics ready to perform at optimum levels 24/7: a USB-C, Micro USB, and Lightning charging dock, as well as a 10 W wireless charger. A clock display with a backlight that adjusts to your needs and a Bluetooth speaker pack the lamp with even more of a punch, with voice control capabilities through Google Assistant of Alexa sealing the deal. And all for under $100!

LumiCharge T2W

Before you venture out into this brave new decade, you have to be sure you know all the details. The LumiCharge T2W not only guides the way with a quality LED desk lamp, it also gives you all the details of your day including the date, time, and temperature settings. Even better, it adjusts for daylight savings time all on its own. The lamp gives you a choice of how you see your surroundings, too, with options for Soft White, Bright White, and Soft Yellow (each of which can be adjusted to your preferred level of brightness). There’s also a built-in Bluetooth speaker to surround you with sound to fit your mood, and you can use Alexa or Google voice features to find your favorite tunes instantaneously. Usually $89.99, the T2W is currently on sale for $79.99 through CES.

Lumi/UniDock

Nothing is more frustrating than a dead phone. Even though you know it needs to be charged, the task is often overlooked as the daily challenges of life pop up one after another — but the updated version of the Lumi/UniDock makes it easier than ever before. First of all, you don’t ever have to remove the case for charging. A simple dial lets you choose the type of cable you need to charge, be it iPhone, Samsung, Google, Type C, or Micro USB. For that reason, smaller tablets can also be charged with the Lumi/UniDock. There’s even an extra USB port here so you can charge more than one device at a time, including your smartwatch, MP3 player, iPad, and more. The Lumi/UniDock is also wonderfully compact and complements any decor scheme, so you can use it at work or at home with confidence and ease. And all this peace of mind you’ll enjoy by always being charged is only $49.99.

The post LumiCharge LED Lamps Light Up CES 2020 first appeared on Dornob.

Oprah fans will never forget the halcyon days when the talk show host sprung her annual “Oprah’s Favorite Things” segment on her studio audience, giving them items from that year’s list for free. While the segment traditionally aired during Thanksgiving week, it was always filmed in advance, and producers never announced when the special episode would be taped. Lucky audience members won everything from luxury leather handbags and fancy cooking gadgets from Williams-Sonoma to brand new Volkswagen Beetles.

While The Oprah Winfrey Show stopped filming in 2011, Oprah still creates an annual gift inspiration list, either on her television network O.W.N., through Oprah Magazine, or on her website. Released in early November, Oprah’s Favorite Things 2019 features items split into the following categories: “beauty gifts,” “cozy gifts,” “foodie finds,” “online exclusives,” “stylish gifts,” “tech gadgets,” “for the kitchen,” “for the family” and “for the pets.”

Of course, it’s the tech here that’s really drawing attention, especially since Oprah has historically shied away from having too many gadgets on her list in any given year. Oprah’s picks for 2019 include a few interesting standouts:

The Apple Watch Series 5

As Oprah points out, a primary reason to invest in the latest $799 Apple Watch is to take advantage of its health-tracking features.

Beats Powerbeats Pro

These $250 high-performance wireless earbuds are sweatproof, waterproof, fit more securely than Apple’s Airpods, and get nine hours of play time per charge.

Echo Dot Kids Edition

The kid-friendly version of Amazon’s Echo Dot aims to get the next generation hooked on its Alexa virtual assistant early. It comes in a new limited edition rainbow pattern and costs $80.

Sony XB12 Extra Bass Portable Bluetooth Speaker

These lightweight $60 waterproof speakers offer “deep, punchy sound” and a battery life of up to 16 hours.

Flywheel Home Bike with Built-In Tablet

Why go to spin classes when you can get the same workout at home with this $1,999 tech-integrated stationary bike, which allows you to stream classes right to a built-in tablet?

De’Longhi Dynamica Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

While this one’s technically in the “kitchen” section of Oprah’s list, it still qualifies. The $899.99 machine lets you brew hot or iced coffee in seconds that’s said to be comparable to what you get at your favorite coffee shop.

“You know it’s Favorite Things time when the O team starts taste-testing — among many other treats —chocolate babka, tomato pie, gravlax, peanut butter cups, salami, caramels, and truffle mustard,” Oprah writes on the Oprah Magazine website. “Did I mention that was all in one sitting? I’m pleased to report we survived to touch, try on, sniff, fall in love with, and narrow down a vast array of goodies until we were left with what I believe are the perfect presents of 2019. Ahead, you’ll find 79 gifts, plus an online exclusive, I think are just great — from a makeup kit by Lady Gaga to the perfect pancake maker to the softest hoodie you’ll ever wear.”

Winfrey adds: “The holidays, of course, aren’t all about what’s wrapped in a bow, but also, the gift of time. Personally, I delight in Christmas Day, when we do a brunch buffet of everything from fresh blueberry muffins to shakshuka, which is sort of like huevos rancheros with a Tunisian passport. Our gathering is mellow and fun and exactly how I want to wind down the year. This holiday season, I wish you excellent health, genuine happiness, and joyful days.”

The post Standout Tech Gadgets on Oprah’s “Favorite Things 2019” List first appeared on Dornob.

Like last year, tech savings are once again slated to top the bargain lists. Check out these deals on unique items from four of the top contenders to snag yourself a couple shiny new toys:

Amazon

Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub: $30, Save $100

Control your garage door from anywhere with a simple app, and get alerts when anyone tries anything funny when you’re away from home. MyQ works with most garage doors through support from Google Assistant, HomeKit, and IFTTT. Best of all, this gadget provides convenience and home security at the lowest price just when you need it: during inclement weather and the busy holiday season.

Polk Command Bar: $199, Save $100

A built-in Alexa control in the Polk Command Bar hears your commands on the first try, which means no more repeating requests. A wireless subwoofer guarantees optimum sound quality, and the device’s plethora of connectivity options includes dual HDMI and the ability to easily add a Fire TV Stick.

Best Buy

UE Boom 2: $70, Save $110

Use the new UE Boom to rock out to your favorite tunes and share them with the world with optimal clarity and volume. This compact wireless warrior is 100-percent waterproof as well as shock and stain resistant, so it can party with you anywhere for up to 15 hours. For stereo sound, just hook it up to a second UE speaker.

Apple Watch Series 4 GPS + Cellular (40mm): $349, Save $100

This Black Friday, you’ll be able to get the Apple Watch Series 4 at the lowest price since it was introduced in September. Not only does the latest model include a bigger, simpler display, faster reaction time. and increased volume, it also boasts high and low heart-rate detection, an FDA-approved ECG app with more comprehensive heart readings, and fall recognition with an accompanying SOS trigger

Costco

Sonos Beam Shadow Edition: $300, Save $100

Use the Sonos Beam to fill any room with crystal-clear sound (including human voices at the best clarity) calibrated by Oscar-winning sound engineers at the lowest price ever. Choose between Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice controls. iPhone users will also appreciate the Beam’s Apple AirPlay 2 support.

Dell Inspiron 15 3000: $350, Save $120

When you just need the basics, this Dell’s Core i3 machine is both ideal and affordable. It includes 8GB of RAM, an extraordinarily large (512GB) solid-state drive, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen with exceptionally good resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). Talk about everyday computing you can count on!

Walmart

Eufy RoboVac robot vacuum: $179, Save $220

Whether you have hardwood, laminate, or marble floors, you’ll find this amazing robot vacuum cleaner to be exactly what you need. It also connects via Wi-Fi to Alexa or Google Assistant, so you can command it to start cleaning when you walk out the door and come back to find everything spotless.

10.5-inch iPad Pro (512GB): $599, Save $400

Using a model released in 2017, Walmart upgraded this popular tablet with 512GB of storage and Apple’s A10X processor. The display is larger and flawless, storage options abound, and the cameras are better than ever. Proof that the best gifts really do come in small packages.

The post Best Tech Gifts to Snag on Black Friday 2019 first appeared on Dornob.

Perhaps it’s time for home speakers to shrug off the confines of their ugly black plastic boxes and pick up a bit of style. A new design called the Gomi takes steps toward that aim with a colorful exterior — not to mention a pretty cool method of sourcing its materials.

Roughly the size and shape of a brick, the Gomi is a portable Bluetooth speaker made of 100-percent non-recyclable plastic waste, or plastic that would normally end up in landfills, toxic piles of electronic waste, and even the ocean. The mix of different plastics that go into each Gomi produce a one-of-a-kind swirl of colors, which means the aesthetic is never boring. It’s offered in three marbled colorways: “city,” a beige-gray, “jungle,” a bright mix of greens, yellows, and oranges, and a deep blue-hued “ocean” blend.

The project is inspired by the massive amounts of plastic trash that currently make up at least 85 percent of the pollution on beaches around the world. Created by a sustainable design studio of the same name based in Brighton, England, the Gomi is currently only available as a limited edition of 500. Each speaker is hand-marbled using three modular plastic components and made using a combination of digital fabrication and traditional crafting techniques.

“We were inspired by the cradle-to-cradle design process, thinking about our product’s full lifecycle right from the beginning,” says Gomi co-founder Tom Meades. “With our Bluetooth speakers, we want to intercept a waste stream that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated. Flexible plastics / LDPE [are] widely regarded as non-recyclable by UK councils, and so we thought this would be the perfect material to harness and show that through innovative design this can be valuable and does not have to end up as waste polluting our environment. Instead, we can craft this material into desirable objects.”

Meades and his team began by collecting these “flexible plastics,” most of which took the form of plastic bags, bubble wrap, and pallet wrap. When all was said and done, over one pound of plastic (or about 100 plastic bags) went into each speaker, which themselves measure 5.4” x 10.2” x 3.1” once pressed into shape. And since the team only heated the plastics up enough to melt them and make them malleable, the manufacturing process itself was also pollution-free.

By this point, you’ve probably still got one big question on your mind. How’s the sound? Gomi says its “exceptional sound quality” was developed with the help of two award-winning sound engineers, with each speaker boasting both a dome tweeter and a base midranger. It plays for 18 hours on a single charge, features just one button, and connects via Bluetooth 4.0. You can also purchase a matching high-speed charger for your Gomi, equipped with a range of ports so as to make it compatible with more devices.

Even better is the fact that the company takes some responsibility for the speaker after it’s served its use — a crucial aspect of a truly sustainable product. More specifically, Gomi repairs used speakers free within two years of purchase, taking them back at the end of their lives so they can be re-melted into new units.

Be sure to follow Gomi on Instagram for all the latest updates on availability.

The post Gomi: The Portable Speaker Made from Recycled Plastic first appeared on Dornob.

Austrian design firm KMKG decided to bring a natural element to an otherwise sterile product line with the iTree: a one-of-a-kind docking station built directly into a tree trunk. The studio uses specialized tools to hollow out each tree and help the system achieve the optimal vibrations and sound quality. Once carved, the log is fitted with the necessary electrical components.

The idea for the iTree began as a submission to a 2009 art show in Graz, Austria. There, the sculptural docking station drew the attention of both business partners and potential customers. After a year of research and prototyping, the product became a reality on the consumer market.

Each piece is custom-made and every bit as unique as the tree it’s sourced from. Customers get to select exactly the wood they want, taking a ride through the forest to pick out a specific tree if they so choose. The iTree is typically made from spruce or white spruce, but the company welcomes the opportunity to work with other woods like cherry, poplar, stone pine, and nut. Once selected, the trees take a short trip to the carpenter’s studio, where the customer can decide how long they want theirs to be and which components they want it to contain. Lengths vary from 250 centimeters up to approximately 400 centimeters (98-147 inches).

The studio uses speaker systems developed by Trenner & Friedl, each one of which includes a docking port for iPhones and (for all you “old-school” audiophiles out there) iPods. They also rely on a few other partners for the project, including artisan Tischlerei Lenz, who shapes each trunk from its raw form into an iTree by hand. The process begins by scraping the bark from the surface. Several steps are then taken to properly hollow out the trunk, with careful consideration given to where each component will sit.

When it comes to selecting the electrical components themselves, customers have the option to equip their iTree with either a built-in or external amplifier. The former intensifies the sound for private rooms, while the latter provides a solid commercial option for businesses, restaurants, lounges, and lobbies so hundreds of people can enjoy the experience.

To suit all needs, the iTree can be installed a number of different ways. It’s most commonly placed on a self-containing stand, where it can either remain in one location or be moved to different areas. It can also be mounted to a wall or placed on a flat surface, such as a TV stand or long dresser. However the customer decides to mount their iTree, they should always remember to consider its weight, which registers at a whopping 175 pounds for even the smallest models.

Ready to swap out your run-of-the-mill docking station yet?

The post iTree: The High-End Docking Station Made from Logs first appeared on Dornob.