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Sharp is bringing the first 8K TV to Europe

Sharp 70 inch 8K TV

At the IFA ’18 Global Press conference today in Rome, Sharp announced that they will be bringing the first 8K TV in Europe. The Sharp Aquos LC-70X500E is a 70-inch TV, but Sharp says that larger Sharp 8K TVs aren’t far off in the future. And by large, they mean wallpaper sized up to 150 inches! Perhaps that is a hint of their plans at IFA come September?

Today, TVs that are 70 inches and over account for just 0.4% of the European TV market, while TVs that are 55 to 59 inches in size are currently the dominating biggest segment in the European market. But Sharp says that 8K is destined to change all of that.

Sharp made a good point during their presentation, and that is that even if you have a larger 75-inch display hanging in your living room, you still have a lot of empty wall space surrounding it. It’s not just that 8K offers more 3D-like, realistic picture quality, but that it enables larger screens at home, and that is what consumers want. Do I want a 150 inch TV? Hell, yes – sign me up.

So you might be thinking, yes – that 8K sounds great, but where can you get content for it? For starters, Sharp’s Aquos LC-70X500E upscales content to 8K. It turns out that YouTube already supports 8k. Netflix is starting to embrace 8K too, as they recently shot Lost in Space in 8K. There is currently a Japanese broadcaster that has started shooting in 8K, and European broadcasters have plans to soon start shooting sports events in 8K too. So it isn’t too soon at all to jump on the 8K bandwagon – as long as you can afford it.

The Sharp Aquos LC-70X500E will retail for $11,990 Euro (yikes!) and it goes on sale end of April.

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Sharp is bringing the first 8K TV to Europe originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 11:17 am.

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Amazon’s new Alexa Skill Blueprints lets you create your very own Alexa skills

The first review I ever wrote for the Gadgeteer was for the Amazon Echo Dot. With Amazon’s AI Alexa, you could use skills to do things such as turn on lights or order a pizza. Since that time Alexa has evolved. Now there are literally thousands of new skills. Some useful, others not so much. In a press release on Thursday Amazon revealed possibly its best feature yet, Alexa Skill Blueprints. Alexa Skill Blueprints allows users of Alexa to build their own personalized skills and responses using a set of easy-to-use templates.

“Alexa Skill Blueprints is an entirely new way for you to teach Alexa personalized skills just for you and your family,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “You don’t need experience building skills or coding to get started—my family created our own jokes skill in a matter of minutes, and it’s been a blast to interact with Alexa in a totally new and personal way.”

Create personal Alexa skills in minutes

Creating your own Alexa skill and response is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

  1. Select your blueprint template by visiting the Alexa Skill Blueprints website.
  2. Unleash your creativity. Fill in the blanks, Mad Libs style.
  3. Use your Skill. Publish it with just a click, making the skill or response instantly available on all devices connected to your Amazon account.

At launch, there are 21 different blueprint templates available across four main categories. Fun & Games, Learning & Knowledge, At Home, and Storyteller.

I tried blueprint myself using Sci-Fi Storyteller. It was both easy and fun to use. In just a few short minutes I was able to listen to a short Sci-Fi story. Complete with far-out sound effects. And once you’ve created skills you can manage and edit them at any time on the Alexa Skill Blueprints website.

To browse the list of available blueprints and to get started creating your own skills head over to the Skill Blueprints website.

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Amazon’s new Alexa Skill Blueprints lets you create your very own Alexa skills originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Picture Keeper Connect photo backup software/adapter review

Using a portable device is immensely freeing, as most of the world has discovered over the past decade. What happens, though, when you run out of space on your phone/tablet and don’t have a wireless service to back it up to? While having a Mac or PC around is nice, that defeats the mobility aspect, if you’re on a long-term trip or project where carrying a laptop is not practical. There are a number of small devices that have come on the scene to bridge this gap, and we were recently offered a new one that offers a few new wrinkles to this solution. It’s called the PictureKeeper Connect and is from Simplified I.T. Products, LLC.

What is it?

The Picture Keeper is a data backup/transfer device and service combination that gives you access to your mobile’s photos, videos, and contacts without having to have an internet service. With the standard USB type A port, you can upload this data to a computer, or download it for uploading to a new device for setup.

Hardware specs

  • Mobile Requirements: iPhone 5 and newer (iOS 8+) and Android OTG (Android 4.1+).
  • Computer Requirements: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP (SP3), Mac OS 10.7 (and newer) computers.
  • Newer devices with a USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) port will require an adapter, like our Keeper Converter.

What’s in the box?

In the box, there is the PictureKeeper itself (which has a USB type A plug on one end and a Lightning connector on the other), a cable to attach the USB-A plug to a micro USB device, and an instruction sheet.

Design and features

The Picture Keeper looks for all the world like a larger-than-normal thumb drive with an extra connector. One end is a standard USB type-A connector, and the other end has an Apple Lightning connector, which will fit any iPhone or iPad made in the last few years. The included female USB-A to male micro USB plug allows you to plug it into any but the most recent Android devices. If you have a newer device that requires USB type-C, the company will send you an adapter.

When you plug the PictureKeeper into either a portable device or a computer, you are given the opportunity to create an account, and can then backup photos, contacts, and videos. Once you’ve backed them up, you can then, through the app or your device, remove them from your device or from your iCloud backup.

Built into the software on this unit is also an installer for MacOS and another for Windows that will install a program to manage the picture archives copied from your portable device. This allows the same access to your data.

Once your photos, videos, and/or contacts are loaded, you can access them from any other device the PictureKeeper is inserted into. Data is stored on the unit itself but can also be linked to your online repository.

Creating an account isn’t required to use the device, nor is uploading your content to the service. (There is a separate app where you can upload photos for magnets, mugs and the like.) Initially, I could not figure out how to use it without sharing it with the service, which was a bit unnerving. With privacy concerns abounding due to data breaches, I’m less than excited about loading up one more online service from an unknown company with my most personal of data. But once I found the data is not tied to my iCloud account (unless I specifically link it), I was a little less panicky.

Performance

I was kind of shocked that the device would hold as much as it does. I’m not sure if there is some sort of compression going on beyond what is normal, but I have quite a few photos at very high resolution, and they did not fill this 16 GB of storage. I think I may have stopped it early since there’s not really a way to tell it “only back up the past year of photos.” The interface is a bit spartan, only offering a view of 6 at a time on my iPhone 8 Plus. There’s no way to do anything other than “Select All” or “Unselect All” from the menu, and no filtering at all. For a product offering to help manage large photo collections, there are few data management tools.
Also, there is zero security. When you plug it in, you have to create an account, but putting in any combination of characters that fit the format will create an account on the device that will then be able to read every file stored on it from any account. I’d rather they not have the account thing at all, rather than give the illusion of security without the reality. (I was worried I would forget my password or which email address I used until I tested it with the default data in the fields.)

What I Like

  • Small, easy to use “one trick pony” that does what it says.
  • The softwaree is functional and supports all major platforms and devices
  • Allows sharing data without giving access to iCloud accounts

What needs to be improved

  • No deep filtering of data
  • No indication on the device when data is being written or read
  • No real security – any account can read everything on the drive

Final thoughts

I like the idea of this device, but I think it’s about 6 years too late to market. Between Google Photos and iCloud, not to mention the dozens of others not tied to an operating system, there are any number of ways to backup and share photos and videos that don’t require keeping up with another device.

Only two scenarios where this device would be needed come to mind in 2018: You’re traveling to a truly remote area that has no cell signal or wifi, and are planning to document a lot of activity. The jungles of Costa Rica, Peru, or Africa, for instance. I have been to the far north of Wales, the West of Ireland, and central Italy in the last 5 years, (not to mention rural areas in the US) and have never been more than a few hours away from an internet connection if I wanted it. (When you’re in a Gaelic-first community and the publican understands the phrase “Wifi Password” in my Southern US English, the internet is truly everywhere!)

The second scenario is if you’re someone who is just violently opposed to putting your photos online, then this would be a good thing. I feel the security risk of losing this device, however, is larger than having your iCloud or Google account hijacked – unless you are reusing passwords or just cluelessly careless. Those are not traits that are going to go well with an unsecured device like this.

As a point of price comparison, the price of online storage on iCloud is cheap. For a dollar a month, you can get 50 GB of online storage that is way more secure than this, and share it with your “family” account – up to 4 other people, on all their devices. At the Picture Keeper’s $120 price for 32 GB, that’s almost twice the storage for a full ten years! I’m sure I’ll lose this device or it’ll get broken in less than 10 years. And what do I do when I run out of room on this device? I’ll have to buy another, but with iCloud, I can get four times the 50 GB storage for only 3 times the price ($3 a month for 200 GB), and it’s instantly available as an increase in space, not another account. For $10 a month, I can get 2 TB. And if there are several family members in various places, how do you share a physical drive? My advice? Bite the bullet and pay the buck a month to iCloud.

Price: $119.00 USB-C adapter adds $4.99
Where to buy: Picturekeeper.com and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Simplified I.T. Products, LLC.

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Picture Keeper Connect photo backup software/adapter review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Manfrotto XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head Kit is ready for every opportunity


Filmmakers, videographers and photographers alike always hope to have the right equipment on hand, when an opportunity for a once in a lifetime shot comes along. There are times when we either go to the most difficult terrain, or the tightest places to get our shot. On many occasions, I have found that a monopod can be the ideal gear that is versatile enough to be used in tight and difficult spaces, as well as for normal everyday use. I have decided to write a few news stories that highlight some of the critical gear that we use.

The XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head is a lightweight, sturdy camera monopod and tilting head combination. This combination is designed to work with DSLR cameras, mirrorless cameras and compact video cameras. The monopod is made up of 4 sections and is all aluminum which keeps the weight down. The sections utilize “Manfrotto’s patented Power-Lock flip locks which snap open and closed to ensure fast operation”. The combination of the monopod and the tilting head weighs in at 2.2 pounds, folds to 24.8 inches, and extends to 73.2 inches. It can support up to 4.4 pounds.

If you would like to purchase the XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head, you can pick one up at B&H Photo Video for $114.95.

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Manfrotto XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head Kit is ready for every opportunity originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Grill Masters Club Experience Subscription Service review

It’s time to step up our grilling game, people. This week we’re checking out the Grill Masters Club, a subscription service that delivers a new collection of grilling products to your doorstep each month. Let’s fire up the grill and see what we get!

What is it?

It’s a subscription service that delivers a new grilling products to your doorstep every month. You also get access to their newsletter and members-only Facebook group for recipes, tips, videos, product discounts, and monthly giveaways.

What’s in the box?

4-5 new & different products come in the box each month. These products can include barbecue sauces, hot sauces, rubs, seasonings, wood chips, or grilling accessories. You also get a reference card with tips on using your new treasures and a brand new recipe each month. Here’s a picture of the first two sample boxes I received for reference:

Design and features

The Grill Masters Club team curates every month’s package for your grilling adventures. Everything is sourced, tested, packed, and shipped from their home base in Jacksonville, Florida. Each box is built on a theme like “The Twisted Texan” or “Exotic Fruit and Spice.” All of the products come from small batch manufacturers, giving you a chance to play with new items that may not normally be available in your area. 

I’ve received two sample deliveries so far, and I’m impressed with what I’m seeing. Each item is a full-sized product good for multiple uses. The variety of sauces, seasonings, and rubs gives you all kinds of options to experiment with on your meats, vegetables, and side dishes. Here are some sample pics from my first box:

A reference card for all the products is also included that provides some background information on the manufacturers and tips on how to use the item in your cooking. You also get a recipe card that goes along with the theme of the month.

The Grill Masters Club also supports your membership with an e-mail newsletter and a members-only Facebook group that provides ongoing articles and videos to develop your skills. The content covers the whole spectrum of grilling topics from recipes to tips and techniques. You also get access to members-only exclusive giveaways and product discounts. The content is excellent and updated several times a week, so they are clearly investing the time to make sure that this service adds value to your experience.

It’s a grilling article, so I have to show off some home cookin’! I paired off the mustard-based barbecue sauce in my first batch with some hand-cut boneless pork chops, and used the jalepeno garlic seasoning to spice up a batch of roasted broccoli. Both met with high praise from my grateful family:

I’ll continue to post updates on my experiences with the Grill Masters Club throughout the summer. I’m not gonna lie: I really like what I am seeing so far!

What I like

  • Quality products with bold, interesting flavors
  • Product variety gives you lots of options and new flavors to play with each month
  • Opportunity to experience new products from small batch makers you may not have access to in your area
  • Excellent online community with robust content

What needs to be improved

  • None to report at this time!

Final thoughts

Whether you’re a grilling newbie or a seasoned pitmaster, the Grill Masters Club is a great option for trying out new flavors, refining your skills, and adding some variety to your menus. In my opinion, the product quality and their dedication to online content make this a worthwhile investment. Your friends and family may thank you.

Price: $32.95/month for a one-time sample, $29.95/month for a 3 or 6-month subscription, or $27.95 a month for a full year subscription to the service.
Where to buy: Visit the Grill Masters Club site for more information.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Grill Masters Club.

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Grill Masters Club Experience Subscription Service review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 19, 2018 at 2:00 pm.

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