Kano Computer Kit Touch review

REVIEW – Have you ever wanted to learn to program/code? Or maybe you have a young child who wants to write their own programs. The Computer Touch Kit from Kano will not only help you learn the fundamentals of programming, but it will let you do that learning on a touchscreen computer that you build yourself. How much fun is that? Let’s find out?

What is it?

The Kano Computer Touch Kit is a Raspberry Pi based computer kit that helps teach kids and adults how to program using Python and Javascript programming languages.

What’s in the box?

USB Board for connecting other devices
DIY Speaker
HDMI Cable connects the screen to computer
Blocks x3 keeps parts connected
Screen Case protects the screen
Power Cables
Battery
Touchscreen Cable
Custom Raspberry Pi – 1.2GHz quad Cortex A53 – 64bit with 1GB of RAM
Power Board
SD Card
Microphone
Screen
USB Keyboard
Stickers
Storybook / User manual

Build your own touchscreen computer

Kano includes everything you need to build a touchscreen computer along with easy to read step by step instructions with clear illustrations. I felt like a little kid spreading all the colorful components on the floor around me as I sat crosslegged flipping the pages in the storybook which lead me through the steps to build the computer.




No tools are necessary for the build as everything snaps into place on the back of the touchscreen just like your favorite building blocks. Kano even includes wire routing blocks for the cables to keep everything neat and tidy.



As you place each component on the board, the book explains in basic terms the function for each part without being too technical or boring.

The computer even comes with a plastic case to protect the parts and to give it a finished look that allows you to see your handy work.


The whole setup is pretty impressive and the build process was fun without taking too long. I didn’t time it, but I don’t think it took me more than 30 minutes to put everything together.

I built a computer, now what can I do?

After everything is assembled, it’s time to turn it on and start learning to program. This is the point where I ran into two issues. First of all, the USB power adapter that was included in the package that I was sent, had a European plug style. But you can use any USB adapter that you already have. That’s what I did and it worked fine.

The next problem that really threw me for a loop for a few minutes can be seen in the image above. When the Kano computer powered up, the screen was upside down. I immediately thought that I had assembled the computer incorrectly and started feeling bummed that I would have to take everything apart and go through the building steps again. But then I looked closer at the storybook/manual and saw a small note that said you could go into the settings to flip the screen. Whew! Crisis avoided. But, I think the screen flip option should come up immediately upon bootup instead of having to find the setting once everything is running. Or maybe even have a physical switch on the side that will flip the display.

The bootup process starts out at a command line and guides you through typing in a few commands. I liked this part because I’m a Unix nerd and this kind of stuff is right up my alley.  Yeah, don’t pay attention to the fact that I left a space out of the command shown in the screenshot above 😉

After the OS boots, you’ll be greeted with a more modern interface with menus and apps that you can launch with your finger or select with the included wireless keyboard which has a built-in touchpad.

You can learn to program by using the story mode option that lets you wander around a forest to talk to people and go on quests. It reminds me of an old-school Zelda style 8bit video game. The programming sections lead you through learning sessions that help you learn how to use drag and drop modules to build and customize a program.



You will learn the fundamentals of building a program including using loops and variables. You can then make the program which will let you compile and run it. Your completed programs can be saved to memory so you can revisit and change them later.

After you go through all the lessons and built-in games, you can add more by visiting the online Kano community for more creations.

The Kano computer isn’t a one trick pony, it’s an actual computer and even comes with other apps like a YouTube viewer and web browser pre-installed.

Be aware that this isn’t going to be a computer that your child or an adult will want to use as a full-time computer because it isn’t very speedy. Certain functions feel sluggish and sometimes I wondered if the computer had crashed because there wasn’t any type of live status message on the screen that indicated that it was still working.

What I like

  • Step by step instructions make it fun and easy to build
  • Teaches basic programming fundamentals
  • The computer can be used for other things

What needs to be improved

  • Make the internet browser and YouTube apps optional for a parent to install

Final thoughts

When I was a kid, I would have absolutely LOVED the Kano Computer Kit Touch. Heck, I’m an adult now and I thoroughly enjoyed building the computer and going through the learning quests. The colorful components and step by step instructions made the process fun while injecting STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math) knowledge and skills.

Price: $279.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Kano.

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Kano Computer Kit Touch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 3:49 pm.

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Get noticed this Halloween with a sound-reactive LED mask

NEWS – Make sure your costume stands out this Halloween by wearing a cool LED mask that turns music or rhythms into amazing electro-luminescent animations. The masks feature a layer of phosphorescent ink and a state-of-the-art rechargeable sound-responsive lithium modulator that converts sound waves into pulsing patterns of pure organic light on your face.

This lightweight and malleable mask can roll up to fit into a pocket or bag and has an adjustable strap that is designed to fit any head size. A hidden power cable links to a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack to keep the mask powered.

Check out this video that shows you what the masks look like in action.

You can buy a mask from Outline Montreal for $30 on their INDEMAND Indiegogo page, or from various other companies for around $10 and up on Amazon.

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Get noticed this Halloween with a sound-reactive LED mask originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Jamie Clawson leather iPhone Xs Max skin review

REVIEW – As some of you may have read, Julie and I purchased and reviewed Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone, the iPhone Xs Max. And where Julie returned hers, I continue to love using mine with zero buyers regret. Even though I got AppleCare Plus, I hesitate using the Max without protection (aka naked). The iPhone X(s) is slippery and very droppable, the Max’s larger form factor makes it even more so. From the beginning, I’ve debated case vs skin vs nothing but a screen protector. For this review, I am trying out a handmade leather skin from Jamie Clawson’s workshop in black cowhide.

What is it?

The leather skin is made from a single piece of leather that adheres to the back of your iPhone adding protection and grippability to the very slick piece of metal and glass.

Design and features

The leather skin is handmade, laser cut, and fits the back of iPhone Xs perfectly. The skin protects the Max’s very expensive to replace glass back.

The adhesive Jamie uses is made by 3M “specifically for our products”. Installing the skin is quick (less than a minute) and easy. And as I said, the leather is perfectly sized/shaped for the iPhone.

The skin is surprisingly thick, approximately 1/4 the thickness of the iPhone Xs itself. My fear is that the high edge of the leather will catch on something or the constant taking the phone in and out of my pocket will cause the edges of the skin will stop sticking/fail. Unlike Slickwraps and Brandb skins much longer warranties, Jamie only provides a 7-day guarantee against defects vs any sort of failure to adhere. 

There is no way you could put your iPhone into a case with this skin on…or at least not a very form-fitted one. Supposedly you can remove and reapply it as long as you keep the sticky side clean and schmutz-free. I will be testing this out in the next few weeks, I have several cases inbound where I will have to remove this skin when I start my reviews.

The leather skin feels great on my iPhone Xs Max and adds solid grippability to the sleek and slim device. I was a bit worried the height of the leather being an issue or irritating but surprisingly its not. Based on how I hold my iPhone, other than feeling the leather, the edge doesn’t really affect the form factor of the smartphone when in use.

What I like

  • Precision fitted for the iPhone
  • Made from high quality leathers
  • Adds excellent feel and grippability to the slippery device.
  • Protects the iPhone’s glass back

What needs to be improved

  • Surprisingly thick
  • No warranty

Here you can see just how handmade and personal Jamir Clawson’s products are…right down to the handwritten note thanking me for my order (to the best of my knowledge, he had no idea I was planning on reviewing it 😉 ).

Jamie Clawson makes his skins out of a multitude of leathers including genuine premium cowhide, calf, crocodile, ostrich, pony hair, python, stingray, etc.

Final thoughts

I have been using Jamie’s leather skin for a few weeks now and it continues to get the job done. The edges remain firmly stuck to the glass back of my iPhone Xs Max. And while the skin provides minimal overall protection, it does add grippability and provides decent protection for the back of the smartphone. With it, a tempered glass screen protector, a sure set of hands, and AppleCare Plus…I believe my fancy new $1500 tech-toy, not only feels as Jony Ives intended but is protected enough to face my hectic go, go, go lifestyle.

Price: $25
Where to buy: jamieclawson.com
Source: Purchased with my own funds from jamieclawson.com.

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Jamie Clawson leather iPhone Xs Max skin review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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This LED table lamp also serves as an emergency lantern

NEWS – Most emergency lighting is designed more for function than for beauty.  That’s why you often have to go searching for flashlights and emergency lanterns in the dark when there’s a power outage, because you’ve hidden them away in drawers or utility rooms.  This Carrier Portable LED Lamp will always sitting out and adding to the design of your room, because it is described as being designed around the Danish sense of “hygge”, which is a cosy, comfortable feeling.  The Danish have a love of candles to light their long, cold, dark winters, and this lamp is said to honor that.

In any event, you can use this lamp on a tabletop, powered by its USB cable.  The internal battery also allows you to unplug and carry the lamp with you, whether you’re going outdoors or if you are dealing with a blackout.  If desired, you can even remove the loop handle for a different look.  The Carrier Portable LED Lamp is $210 from Blackthumb.

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This LED table lamp also serves as an emergency lantern originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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New York Comic Con 2018: Get your geek on!

ARTICLE – I recently attended the 2018 New York Comic Con, literally my most favorite place in the world. NYCC showcases everything I love; Comic books, Fantasy art, Superheroes, Pop culture, Science fiction shows, and so much more.

Held since 2006 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the New York Comic Con packs in fans of all types for four days of pop culture fun. Attendance for the last few years has been well over 150,000, but this year approximately 250,000 tickets were sold, which puts the NYCC firmly ahead of the mother-of-all comic conventions, the San Diego Comic-con. One way the NYCC was able to increase ticket sales was to host Comic-Con events at venues all around the city.

In this article, I’ll cover some of the greatest highlights of NYCC 2018 and at the end, I’ve included my video updates and interviews from the floor as well as a photo gallery of outstanding cosplayers.

Toys, action figures, and collectibles are a huge part of NYCC and many companies showcase their upcoming lines at the convention. This year there were a lot of alternate imaginings of characters, like a Shogun-era Bane from the Batman universe. But, as usual, the classic fan favorites like Superman and Marvel’s Deadpool are still big sellers.

Collectibles from popular fantasy and science fiction movies are also popular if you can afford their sometimes exorbitant prices and have the room to display them properly.

These statuettes of David Bowie and Jeff Goldblum from Chronicle Collectibles challenged each other for sexiest reclining pose from a movie.

The level of detail on some of these statuettes is astounding and many of them, like this Iron Man Hulkbuster, have working lights that add to their realism.

Some vendors even sell gear that let you become your favorite video game character. This Mega Man helmet matches perfectly to the one worn by the action figurine.

One of the many joys of Comic Con is getting to see fictional characters you love represented in real life. Often booths have life-sized or larger-than-life recreations of characters from movies, comics, and toy lines.

Sure, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters should be as tall as a building, but it was still a treat to see this guy hanging out at the Playmobil booth.

Funko’s Pop line of bobbleheads always draw crowds and this year they were welcomed by an oversized Gladiator Hulk figure from Thor: Ragnorak.

Netflix used this massive statue of She-Ra to create some buzz for the She-Ra and the Princesses of Power original series.

Even more impressive than She-Ra was this full-scale replica of the power armor from Fallout 4. The super realistic rifle was particularly cool.

I finally got the chance to tell a life-sized Han Solo how I really felt about him while he was frozen in carbonite. He said he knew.

DC always uses this area of NYCC to showcase the costumes from upcoming movies. This year, the armor and costumes from Aquaman were on display.

No NYCC would be complete without some proper Dragon Ball Z representation.

If you get inspired by all of the cool figures and toys and decide during Comic Con that you want to join in the fun, there are plenty of vendors selling costumes that range from silly to practically movie-quality replicas.

Or you can just grab a T-shirt from one of the many clothing vendors, officially sanctioned and otherwise.

If you’ve checked out any of my NYCC video updates, which are included towards the end of this article, you know that there are plenty of gadgets and cool devices that are debuted or demoed at NYCC. I was lucky enough to get hands-on with a few.

Red’s Hydrogen One holographic phone has been making news for a few years now and as the release day of November 2 draws closer, Red is making the phone more available for public demos.

The Hydrogen One is unique in many ways, the biggest feature though is its ability to show 3D like images and video without the use of 3D glasses. The feature is impossible to show or explain unless you experience it for yourself.

The Red representative was pretty hesitant to let me photograph the phone during the demo, but as you can see, I was too quick for him. The holographic screen is indeed very impressive; it successfully recreates the depth of 3D video and the effect is pretty mind-blowing.

The phone itself is incredibly sturdy, quite heavy actually, and has some serious textured grips. Since Red is known for making high-end cameras, it’s no surprise that the Hydrogen One has the heft and feel of an expensive digital camera. There are contacts on the back of the phone for future modules that will enable the Hydrogen One to shoot unparalleled photos and video.

The Red Hydrogen One will be available on November 2 for $1295 through AT&T and Verizon. The add-on modules will be available in 2019.

The varying, random type of items for sale at NYCC always surprises me. There are vendors that will help you proudly represent your love for a movie, comic, or even a favorite 80s cartoon. I didn’t know I needed Star Wars inspired sneakers and an Alec Guinness pint glass until I came across this booth.

And where else could I find expensive, fine Transformers and Dungeons & Dragons themed jewelry?

Citizen watches was on hand to showcase their very expensive and classy line of Marvel branded custom watches.

Fans of Rick and Morty are legion, so at Comic Con you can find just about any item you like branded with Rick and Morty characters. This Rick and Morty Pickle Rick board game was one of the odder finds.

Want to take your Star Wars obsession into the kitchen or on a picnic? Luckily, with these Imperial cheeseboards and picnic coolers, you’re in luck! The Dark Side never tasted so good.

While big brands like Disney, Marvel, and DC have a major presence at NYCC, there is still space for smaller vendors with more unique wares. For instance, you can pick up a handmade custom dragon puppet from Khaleesi herself.

Or if you need that perfect accessory to complete your cosplay costume you can browse through all kinds of franchise specific mock weaponry.

One particularly creative vendor had a booth that sold pop culture, music, and political figures immortalized as saints in posters and candles.

Anime toys and art are big sellers at NYCC and you can spend a whole day picking through some of the booths specializing in the genre.

A number of video game producers debut the newest games at NYCC and if you have the time to wait in line you can get a chance to play the most popular games before they’re released.

If there’s a celebrity or artist even remotely connected to Science Fiction, Horror, or Fantasy entertainment, chances are you’ll be able meet them at NYCC. There’s a whole section of NYCC devoted to getting autographs and photos with popular stars if you have the money for it.

Some stars charge hundreds of dollars for the chances to take a photo with them and that’s after you line up with tons of other fans for the opportunity.

Lines, in general, are a big part of NYCC and since there are panels for just about every show and comic, if want to attend one you’ll have to wait on some pretty serious lines. In general, the more popular the stars or property, the longer the lines, but, a true fan will persevere.

I usually reserve half a day for checking out Artist Alley. This is the section of NYCC reserved for comic artists and illustrator to sell their art, take commissions, and meet their fans. All of the biggest names in comics are here and sometimes the lines are just as long as the ones for the major panels.

Commissions are your chance to have the artists create a one-of-a-kind piece of art just for you. My favorite this year was Cloverkin who specializes in making custom art of your pet in fantasy armor. She’ll even help you determine what type of role-playing character your pet’s personality reflects.

I spent a lot of time at NYCC this year making some great videos, seeing from very cool products and meeting some fun people, but it’s never enough; I always leave NYCC feeling like there was something I missed. I take comfort in the fact that I know I’ll be back for 2019!

Be sure to check out my video updates from NYCC as well as a gallery of some of the best cosplayers of NYCC below.

Video Snippets

Enjoy video coverage of my three days at NYCC 2018 as I interview cool vendors, find excellent cosplayers, and explore some favorite mainstays of New York Comic Con.

Cosplay Gallery

Check out some of the more interesting Cosplayers I came across at NYCC 2018. Be sure to hit your browser ‘Back’ button to return to the gallery.


























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New York Comic Con 2018: Get your geek on! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 15, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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