Science + music = The Happy Song, to make babies happy (especially over the holidays!!)

“YES!!!!” You say. “I need this! JUST GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!” Okay, okay! Here are the links to access the song: Amazon Music, iTunesGoogle Music, and Spotify.

For those of you who are curious about the background of the song, while I was reading my Curiosity app (which I LOVE, by the way), I stumbled upon an article on “The Happy Song” that used science and music to create a song to make babies happy. If you are a parent of a baby, you know how valuable that is. When he/she decides to have a meltdown it’s like the ripple effect. The cries emanate 360 degrees from the epicenter and jolt everyone within the audible radius. Some people are understanding while others, not so much. 

At the request of C&G Baby Club, scientists Casper Addyman (lecturer in Developmental Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London) and Lauren Stewart (music psychologist) were tasked to create a song based on science that babies would like (from theconversation.com).

They found that not much is known about babies’ music preferences, so they started with what they knew the song should incorporate: it should be written in a major key, have a simple repetitive melody, should be upbeat, and have a mother’s sing-song voice. Imogen Heap, the composer who also has an 18 month-old, started with four tunes and decided on a melody that when tested on 26 babies, 20 seemed to enjoy.

The scientists then asked 2500 C&G Baby Club parents to vote on the sounds that made their babies happy. According to theconversation.com,

The top ten sounds included “boo!” (66%), raspberries (57%), sneezing (51%), animal sounds (23%) and baby laughter (28%). We also know babies respond better to “plosive” vocal sounds like “pa” and “ba” compared to “sonorant” sounds like “la”. Heap very cleverly worked many of these elements into the song.

Since happiness is a shared social emotion, the scientists needed something the parents would enjoy too. After some tweaks to the tempo, lyrics, and sound effects, they had their masterpiece. I rather like it. Especially the babies’ laughter.

Perhaps this is just the song you need before embarking on your holiday travels. This one may even make it onto your favorite playlist! Again, it is available on Amazon Music, iTunesGoogle Music, and Spotify. Check out the Youtube link to the song (I love it!):

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Science + music = The Happy Song, to make babies happy (especially over the holidays!!) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 23, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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Gift Guide: Health and fitness gadgets and gear

Give your friends and loved ones a gift that gives back to them in the form of health and fitness improvements. From fitness watches, and other exercise gear, to personal grooming products, this gift guide will help you figure out the perfect gift for the person on your list that is already active or needs the motivation to become active.

Price range $200+

FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro Sit Stand workstation

Standing desks have been popular for the last few years, but the FlexiSpot goes one step further. It’s a standing desk AND a riding desk. That’s right, you can ride and work at the same time. It’s surprisingly easy to do. You actually forget you’re pedaling after a few minutes. This well made easy to use desk will help you burn calories while you surf and work on your computer, read magazines or binge watch Netflix.

Price: $499.99 (Use Coupon code: julie100off for a $100 off discount when purchasing directly from FlexiSpot. Code expires on Nov 27th, 2017).
Where you can buy one
: FlexiSpot and Amazon

TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music + Headphones GPS Fitness Watch

The Spark 3 fitness watch from TomTom comes with everything you need to track your daily activity, sleep, and workouts. It has built-in GPS to keep track of your running and walking routes, a heart monitor to record your heart rate readings without needing a chest strap, and the watch has 3GB of storage that can store over 500 songs so you can enjoy your favorite workout playlist. This watch even comes with a pair of wireless headphones and personalized workouts through the TomTom app that will guide you to reaching your fitness goals.

Price: $249.99
Where you can buy one: TomTom or Amazon

 

Clarisonic Mia Fit and Alpha Fit

Many people swear by Clarisonic devices for improving their skin while cleaning it.  There are many models of Clarisonics on the market, and the Fit is the newest and most compact version.  There are two version of the Fit – the Mia Fit in white, pink, or blue, and the Alpha Fit, which is marketed towards men but works for anyone who prefers the gray.  Many men may not think about using a special facial cleansing brush, but it reportedly helps prepare your beard for shaving while cleansing and improving your skin.

Price: $219
Where you can buy one: Clarisonic or at a discount through NewEgg.

ŌURA Ring

Fitness trackers are usually worn on your wrist or clipped to your belt. The ŌURA Ring is a ring that you wear like jewelry on your finger that can track your activity, heart rate, and sleep. If you want a fitness tracker that isn’t like everyone else’s tracker, this one is it.

Price: $299 – $499
Read our review
ŌURA Ring review
Where you can buy oneŌURA

Nokia Cardio Body Scale

When The Gadgeteer reviewed this scale, it was branded Withings, but Withings is now Nokia.  The only changes in this scale from the one reviewed is the name, though.  The Cardio Body Scale still shows you your weight, BMI, percentage water and body fat, muscle and bone mass, heart rate, and the exclusive pulse wave velocity measurement which indicates cardiovascular health.

Price: $179.95
Read our review
: Withings Body Cardio scale review
Where you can buy one: Nokia, Amazon

Activ5 isometric workout device

The Activ5 handheld system, by Activbody, is a portable isometric workout program that can be used for 5 minute (or longer if you choose) workouts at home, at the office, or while traveling.

Price: $119-$160
Read our review
: Activ5 isometric workout device review
Where you can buy one: Activ5, Amazon

Price range $50 -$100

Muehle Shave Sets

Shaving hasn’t changed much over the centuries, until recently.  No longer do you use a single blade to cut hairs; now everybody tries to see who can fit the most blades into the smallest plastic cartridge.  Those cartridges are very expensive, leading to people trying to economize by using the same blade far longer than they should.  A lot of people have re-discovered the old razors used by their fathers or grandfathers, and they have switched to the old single, replaceable blade razors.  Some people use vintage razors that have been cleaned and sanitized, others prefer newly manufactured “double edge” razors.  Shoebox Shave Shop offers a nice set for the man or woman who wants to give double-edge shaving a try.  These Muehle sets come with a double-edge razor and a pure badger brush – because you can’t experience a great shave without a nice lather.  The sets are on sale now for $99, and they include a stand to dry your razor and brush on after use.  Shoebox Shave Shop also sells the razor blades you’ll need; they only cost a few cents per blade, so you won’t have to use them for weeks to get your money’s worth.

Price: $99.00
Where you can buy one: Shoebox Shave Shop

Price range $10 – $50

Bayite Fitbit Charge 2 Stainless Steel Milanese Loop Bracelet

If you like the Milanese Loop band for Apple Watches, perhaps you’d like to try one with your Fitbit Charge 2.  Bayite has a stainless steel mesh band for the Charge 2 for under $15, so it’s probable that the quality of this band won’t exactly match the quality of the Apple band.  It would be a contender for a sweat-proof band if you don’t like the plastic band that comes standard on the Charge 2.

Price: $11.90-14.90
Where you can buy one: Amazon

Stand Corrected Perfect Posture Stretching Device

From Bob’s review: The StandCorrected was designed Dr. Tom Carpenter, a certified trainer, chiropractor, and corrective exercise specialist. By elongating shortened and tight muscles in the upper body, the claim is that the device will correct posture issues and pain associated with hunching over our electronic devices all day. They even claim that the StandCorrected can reverse damage from years of poor posture is used regularly over time.

Price: $20-$25
Read our review
: Stand Corrected Perfect Posture Stretching Device review
Where you can buy one: Stand Corrected, Amazon

Kettle Gryps

A Kettle Gryp is an adapter made of light weight ABS plastic that snaps around an ordinary dumbbell o provide a handle that allows the dumbbell to mimic a kettle bell.

Price: $34.95
Read our news post
: Turn your free weights into kettle bells with Kettle Gryps
Where you can buy one: Kettle Gryp, Amazon

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Gift Guide: Health and fitness gadgets and gear originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2017 at 1:24 pm.

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Kia Stinger test drive: This car will make your heart race

The Kia Stinger is a car that is practically 6 years in the making. It all started out as a Grand Turismo concept vehicle which evolved into a full-on passion project at Kia. The Stinger is actually Kia’s first high-performance focused vehicle, but you’d hardly believe it because they’ve managed to knock it out of the park the first time around. 

The exterior of the Kia Stinger is so high-end looking that it almost had us mistaken for a Maserati the first time we saw it. Its design integrates Gran Turismo proportions with a fastback profile, long wheelbase, broad shoulders and a short front. The interior is equally impressive with hand-stitched components, an aircraft inspired cockpit, metal ringed gauges, and seats that can be customized with a choice of Napa leather (even in red) to compliment that high-end race car look and feel.

The interior is also very roomy – there is room to fit five comfortably. The driver seat is a 16 way driver seat, and the passenger a 12 way, so both driver and passenger alike will be able to attain that perfect driving position. And indeed that is the case, between all the position options and the longer wheelbase, the seats are superbly comfortable. There’s also plenty of room for cargo. The Stinger is actually a 5 door car with a wide sport-back hatch. You’ll be able to fit in 23.3 cubic feet with the seats up and 40.9 cubic feet with the seats down.

On the tech side, the Kia Stinger packs offers just about ever safety feature and tech amenity you can think off, including the likes of autonomous emergency breaking, dynamic bending headlights, a smart power trunk, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, blind spot detection, rain sensor wipers, forward collision avoidance, lane departure warning, driver attention warning and high beam assist, and a head-up display that provides speed and turn by turn directions. The vehicle also comes with a large 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display (7-inch on the base model) with the latest versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay running on it. The built-in 720-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system packs in 15 speakers and it supports hi-res audio files. The audio system inside the Stinger is actually the best sounding speaker system we’ve ever listened to from all of Kia’s vehicles.

We took the Kia Stinger for a test drive around LA and it ended up being the most fun we’ve had on a test drive in a long time. That is because the Kia Stinger is simply a blast to drive and ride in. It truly drives like a sports car, especially in sports mode. The car is able to go from zero to sixty in 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 167 mph. It offers the rush and “vroom” feeling you get from a typical race car, but with the welcome addition of lots of comfort and tech amenities.

The car handles curves so well, that it practically feels like you’re gliding along them. The steering control is excellent too. Personally, being prone to motion sickness, I often can’t handle riding in sports cars, but with the Kia Stinger I never once felt sick – not while driving on the highway, or even through the windy and very narrow Hollywood Hills. I also appreciated how quiet the interior is.

When you take a look at the Stinger’s competition, which includes the Audi A7 and the BMW 440i, the Stinger is actually faster. But what is really surprising is just how much more affordably priced the Stinger is in comparison to the competition. The base price for the lowest cost stinger model is $31,900. The Stinger comes standard as a rear wheel drive system, but it can be upgraded to an all wheel drive for an additional $2,200. The GT2 that we tested costs $49,200 and included pretty much all of the available upgrades. That is a pretty amazing deal when you consider that pricing for the competition starts at around $49k for their base models and typically rounds out to about $80k for what you can get from a $49k Kia Stinger.

Who is the Kia Stinger for? The Kia Stinger is as well-suited for the parent who always wanted a sports car, but needs room to fit the whole family, as it is for someone simply looking for a fun car to drive that won’t totally break the bank. One thing is for sure, the Kia Stinger might be the first high performance vehicle from Kia, yet they’ve managed to hit a home-run. To that effect, not only is the Kia an attractive and incredibly fun car to drive, it manages to undercut the competition with its pricing. Overall, the Kia Stinger has managed to be the newcomer that has impressed us the most in 2017, and we’re sure that it will impress you to.

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Kia Stinger test drive: This car will make your heart race originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 21, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Any essential oil users out there?

Four or five years ago my wife was introduced to essential oils by a friend who was selling them as a side business.  She quickly became hooked and honestly, I kind of rolled my eyes at the idea of the incredible power of oils to “cure what ails ya”.  Now, I don’t want to say that I have been fully converted to the point of thinking that the only medicine I need is the oil of an orange peel or a peppermint leaf but I have really come around to some of the homeopathic qualities of some of these oils. 

Have I lost some of you already?  Do you think that I’m a Colorado hippy trying to cure serious disease with crystals and positive thoughts?  I’m not.

My background is biochemistry and chemical engineering so I have taken a lot of classes concerning neurological and musculoskeletal chemical pathways and how the triggering of certain neurotransmitters or other natural chemicals in your body and although I don’t know exactly how each of these oils work on things like mood, stomach aches, sore muscles, etc. I have seen the results.  I will pause again for the rest of you who think I’m crazy to think of another topic you would like to find to read about on our site.

……ho hum……just waiting…….

If you have read this far you might be in the same camp as I am or maybe even some serious oil users.  Or maybe you are just amazed that I think some of this stuff works.  Either way, you are still with me so let’s press on. I have a pretty decent collection of oils that are in my office that either I have wanted to have or my loving wife has sent with me to help me with any of a number of things I battle regularly like bad moods, stress, tense muscles, allergies and acid reflux.

At home, we have a much much larger collection of them that I have no idea what they are for and cant pronounce about 20% of them.  I have a diffuser that has sat on my desk for the last couple of years and I use it daily.  I also apply oils directly to my skin.  People always come into my office and ask “why does it smell so good in here?” or “what is that smell?  I love it!”.  I am not trying to fill the halls of my office building with the magical healing power of lavender oil but I enjoy it and I think it helps me, if for nothing more than having a pleasant scent that occupies one sense while I am hard at work.

We also have diffusers throughout our home that my wife puts different oils in to add a nice scent to the house but also to serve a purpose.  Mixing lemon, lavender and peppermint are great for seasonal allergies so we often have that going in the living room in the spring when the kids are running in and out of the house and the doors are open and you can see the pollen from the pine trees falling like snow.

My favorite oil is by far frankincense.  I put a little on my neck a couple times a day and just the smell of it makes me feel good.  After months of using it and going through a couple bottles, I finally asked my wife “what is frankincense supposed to be used for?  I just love the smell and it makes me happy.”.  She replied, “its main use is for depression, mood and stress”.  Okay, that was a pretty good blind study for the scientist in me.

I also use lavender to help me turn off my brain and get to sleep, peppermint to ease sore muscles (just like Icy Hot) and upset stomach, and different blends for stress and allergies.  Don’t get me wrong, I still take my medications for my migraines, and eat an antacid if I had too much red wine and pasta sauce, but I have seen a real benefit to these oils.  Anyone out there had the same experience?  Is anyone still reading at this point?

Anyways, I wanted to take a break from the tech product reviews for a second to tell you about my experience but I really want to hear from you all and your experiences and/or thoughts good, bad or indifferent. Tell us about your experiences in the comment section of this article.  Thank you for indulging me.

All of the oils and diffuser were purchased with my own funds.

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Any essential oil users out there? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 21, 2017 at 8:08 am.

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Gift Guide: Gadgets for your home

What do you give the devoted homebody?  You give them a cool new tool or gadget to clean, automate, or decorate their nest, of course! We’ve collected this list of useful gadgets, and beautiful decor items –  even a TV that serves as an art piece.  You can certainly find a gift for your gadget-loving nester here!

Price range $500+ (aka big spenders!)

Samsung’s The Frame smartTV

You’ll never need to worry about your TV looking like an ugly black hole in your carefully designed room with Samsung’s The Frame smartTV.  When you’re not watching anything, The Frame uses a picture-display mode to turn that ugly black hole into an attractive piece of art.  And of course it functions well as a TV, with 4K Ultra HD resolution, 4K HDR, and over 1 billion colors, and the smartTV function allows you to access Netflix, YouTube, Amazon video, and other streaming services without requiring extra set-top boxes.

Price: $1300 – $2800, depending on size
Read our review
: Samsung’s The Frame smartTV is an art installation for your home
Where you can buy one: Amazon

German Hermle Black Forest Chiming Keywound Mantel Clock Tellurium JHE1446

At $6000, this clock is for the gifter with deep pockets and a very special giftee who is an astronomy buff or clock collector. The German-made clock has an 8-day spring-wound movement with 4/4 Westminster chime on 4 polished bells. It not only shows the time, it also describes the Moon’s movement around the Earth and the Earth’s movement around the Sun. The small Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours; the Moon rotates on its axis and completes a full revolution around the Earth in 29.5 days. The brass disk on the top is engraved with the month, date, and zodiac signs, so you can see the Earth pass through each sign as it completes its yearly travel around the small Sun. The German Hermle Black Forest Chiming Keywound Mantel Clock Tellurium JHE1446 is available from Clockway for $5999. (We wrote about a Tellarium Clock many years ago, but that $3000 clock is no longer offered at Edmund Scientific.)

Price: $5999.00
Read our review
: Tellarium Clock – a solar system for your desk
Where you can buy one: Clockway

Price range $100+

PureClean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner

One of the best ways to clean and sanitize your home without using harsh chemicals is to use steam.  The PureClean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner has the accessories that will let you clean sealed hard floors, showers, tubs, countertops, and many other things inside and outside your home.  The 1.5-liter boiler produces enough steam for about 45 minutes of cleaning, and the 16-ft power cord gives you lots of room to move around to clean.  The PureClean XL has 104 reviews, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Price: $139.99
Where you can buy one: Amazon

Nest thermostat

We had a Nest Thermostat installed when we had our heating/cooling unit replaced this summer. We have a strange situation in this building. The heated and the cooled air is provided to each condo unit, and we only have a blower and a thermostat in our unit. The Nest makes it easy to see the interior and exterior temperatures in the Nest app and so we can guess when the incoming air will switch between cooled and heated. We can control the temperature from our mobile devices, and we can even lock it so we never come home and find our cold-blooded daughter has adjusted the temperature to 85 degrees.

Price: $177 – $235
Read our review
: Nest thermostat review
Where you can buy one: Amazon (original Nest) Amazon (new Nest E)

Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo devices come in a variety of sizes, with or without nice Bluetooth speakers, with or without display screens.  They all listen to questions or requests and perform a variety of functions: answer questions, tell jokes, play music from various music streaming services, set timers, and alarms, and even play videos (if they have a screen).  In addition, they become a hub to control a variety of home automation devices – from smart lighting to thermostats to door locks to who knows what else.

Price: $50-$230, depending on model
Read our review
: Amazon Echo Dot 2nd generation review
Where you can buy one: Amazon

Phillips Hue wireless lighting system

Phillips Hue wireless lighting can be as simple as a single bulb with a pre-paired dimming switch to a full house of internet-connected bulbs and lighting fixtures.  Bulbs are available with standard, GU10, and chandelier bases; color changing or dimmable white; LED strips; ceiling fixtures; and accent lighting lamps.  You can add programmable switches to control lighting recipes, or you can find a variety of apps, including an official Phillips app, that allows you to control your lights from anywhere in the world (with a WiFi hub in your system).  You can even use IFTTT commands to automatically turn your lights on and off on a schedule, and you can set geo-fencing limits to turn lights off or on as you leave or come home.  Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple’s Siri can control Hue lights, too, so you can just tell your home automation assistant to turn off your lights without having to leave your snug covers.

Price: prices vary
Where you can buy one: Best Buy, Amazon

Blink XT wireless home security camera system

If you’re looking for a home security camera system that doesn’t require you to route cables all over the place or pay for a monthly service for cloud storage, the Blink XT wireless home security camera system is a great choice. These little cameras are completely wireless and are powered by lithium batteries that can last up to 2yrs before needing to be replaced. The Blink XT cameras can even be used outdoors because they are weatherproof.

Price: $129.99
Read our review
: Blink wireless home security camera system
Where you can buy one: Amazon

nugeni VACPAC+

This handheld vacuume offers a customizable deep clean for any space. The accessory system includes an extension wand so that you can reach any space in pyour home – high or low. And the powerful, 3D turbine motor offers uses less power (and less noise) while the AllergyAware filtration helps trap dust and other irritants for cleaner, healthier air.

Price: $189.99
Where you can buy one: nugeni

Price range $50 – $100

Oregon Scientific Multi Zone Wireless Monitoring Weather Station Color Display

Always know what the forecast is and the temperature outdoors, and indoors with this weather station from Oregon Scientific which comes with 3 remote sensors that you can place up to 100ft away indoors and outdoors. This weather station also has a mold alert to keep home conditions safe and healthy.

Price: $79.99
Where you can buy one: Amazon

Price range $10 – $50

Radiant Light Mill (radiometer)

According to Wikipedia, a radiometer is “a device for measuring the radiant flux (power) of electromagnetic radiation. Generally, a radiometer is an infrared radiation detector or ultraviolet detector.  A microwave radiometer operates in the microwave wavelengths.  While the term Radiometer can refer to any device that measures electromagnetic radiation (e.g. light), the term is often used to refer specifically to a Crookes radiometer (“light-mill”), a device invented in 1873 in which a rotor (having vanes which are dark on one side, and light on the other) in a partial vacuum spins when exposed to light.”  But who cares about all that mumbo-jumbo, when the light mill is such a cool, decorative toy!  ThinkGeek has a nice radiometer that hangs from a metal stand, so you can add it to your desk or tabletop, even if there isn’t a nearby window, as sunlight, artificial light, and even infrared radiation can cause the blades to spin.It’s made of glass and measures 6.5″ tall with a 3″ diameter; the metal stand measures 9.5″ tall x 6.5″ wide x 5″ deep (assembled). (Learn more about radiometers at Wikipedia.)

Price: $24.99
Where you can buy one: ThinkGeek

Bedside Tech Saddle

Nightstands only have so much surface area, so it may be difficult to find a place to put your glasses, phone, tablet, book, and laptop, and still have space to set a glass of water.  The Bedside Tech Saddle hangs beside your bed from a flap that fits under the mattress and provides storage for much of your tech gear.  It measures 11″ high x 10″ wide x 9″ deep; the under-the-mattress flap is 6″.  It has a sturdy inner frame to keep its shape even when fully loaded, and the neoprene body will protect your gear.  It has 3 phone-sized pockets, a reader or tablet pocket, and a laptop pocket that can hold up to a 1.25″-thick laptop.  Two hook-and-loop tabs on the back hold a power strip for easy charging of your items.

Price: $23.99
Where you can buy one: Great Useful Stuff

enevu CUBE

This little 2 inch cube is a portable 100 lumen color changing light that can be used as a night light, a small lamp during a power outage, or for any reason when you want a little extra light. It runs on regular AAA batteries for up to 100 hours.

Price: $29.90
Where you can buy one: enevu

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Gift Guide: Gadgets for your home originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 19, 2017 at 4:15 pm.

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