Snag a copy of “The Microsoft Office Toy Box – 5 Programs, 50 Tips” (Free eBook)

The Microsoft Office Toy Box – 5 Programs, 50 Tips is a tips and tricks guide from a Microsoft Certified Trainer. This eBook offers a selection of useful tips for using the Microsoft Office suite of apps that includes Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and OneNote.

If you haven’t already signed up previously with TradePub, there are a few hoops to jump through before you can download this guide. The small effort helps The Gadgeteer to earn some affiliate fees that enables us to bring you more cool product reviews, giveaways, and more.

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Snag a copy of “The Microsoft Office Toy Box – 5 Programs, 50 Tips” (Free eBook) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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Google opens pop-up stores on the east and west coast

Google is opening pop-up stores in New York City and Los Angeles to sell their new products announced at the Pixel 2 launch event earlier this month.  They will have interactive pods that let you play with the Pixel 2, Google Home, and Daydream View, plus more. If you’re on either coast you can visit the stores from now until December 31 to get your holiday shopping on, or perhaps buy something for yourself!  You can find out more about events and products at the Google store website.

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Google opens pop-up stores on the east and west coast originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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Fall 2017 gadget giveaway

To celebrate fall, we are giving away two prize packs consisting of eight awesome products from Skylink, Circle, Adaptive Sound Technologies Inc, Spider Holster, and Blast Motion. To enter, just answer three questions in a comment section at the bottom of this post. And if you’re willing to jump through a few extra hoops, you can get up to three additional entries which greatly increases your chances of winning. Please click through to read the details on the prizes and to submit your entries for a chance to win our fall gadget giveaway prize pack!

1st Place Prize Pack – 1 of each of the following 7 products:

Skylink: SkylinkNet Alarm System Kit

Connected home security kit integrates directly with Alexa Voice Services and nearly all major smart home devices on IFTTT (If This Then That)

  • Utilizes Alexa Voice Service technology for maximum integration into the connected home
  • IFTTT function allows users to connect their kit to other industry leading connected home accessories including Amazon Echo, Nest® Cam™, WeMo®, and Phillips Hue
  • Homeowners can run recipes for functions unrelated to smart devices, such as receiving immediate email notifications for any occurrences in the home
  • Equipped with back up battery in case of power failure
  • App allows up to 6 users to monitor one or various locations at the same time
  • Works with up to 100 wireless sensors and controllers and 10 wireless cameras
  • No monthly fees or long-term contracts
  • Kit includes an Internet Hub, 2x motion sensor, 2x keychain remote, 2x door or window sensors, and 2x plug-in dimmers
  • Wireless Indoor Camera features 2-way talk with night vision and an audio output jack
  • Controlled by an Internet Hub that connects through a wireless router to coordinate sensor and receiver activity
  • iOS & Android smartphone app sends push notifications when sensors are triggered or if the alarm is armed or disarmed

Price: $212.99
Website: www.skylinkhome.com  

Skylink: Screw-In Dimmer

Connected screw-in dimmer integrates traditional light bulbs into the smart home, easily controlled by a smartphone app 

  • Utilizes Alexa Voice Service technology for maximum integration into the connected home
  • IFTTT function allows users to connect their kit to other industry leading connected home accessories including Amazon Echo, Nest® Cam™, WeMo®, and Phillips Hue
  • Allows users to adjust lights remotely, dimming, brightening, and switching on and off with an iOS or Android device
  • Features a quick and easy set-up, using the light bulbs already in the home for more efficiency
  • Controlled by an Internet Hub ($99) that connects through a wireless router to coordinate sensor and receiver activity
  • Compatible with incandescent, LED bulbs, and CFL
  • Compatible with SkylinkNet’s suite of connected home kits and accessories

Price: $22.08
Website: www.skylinkhome.com

Skylink: ATOMSTM Garage Door Opener

Connected garage door opener integrates directly with Alexa Voice Services

  • Utilizes Alexa Voice Service technology for maximum integration into the connected home
  • IFTTT function allows users to connect the garage door opener to other industry leading connected home accessories including Amazon Echo, Nest® Cam™, WeMo®, and Phillips Hue
  • Homeowners can run recipes for functions unrelated to smart devices, such as receiving immediate email notifications for any occurrences in the home
  • Features a built-in LED light for long lasting illumination without the need to replace the light bulb
  • Equipped with a back-up battery in case of a power outage
  • Includes a passcode protected, 3-button remote, enhancing security and peace of mind
  • LCD Wall Console eliminates the need for cumbersome wiring or standing on a ladder for an extended time
  • Numeric display guides users through programming steps, ensuring easy installation
  • Wireless design of the garage door opener and safety infrared sensors simplifies installation process
  • Offers quiet operation, ideal for homes with living space above the garage
  • Available in durable chain drive or steel-reinforced belt drive
  • SkylinkNet app is available for iOS and Android devices

Price: $199
Website: www.skylinkhome.com

Skylink: Plug-In Receiver 

Connected plug allows users to control small home appliances through a smartphone app

  • Utilizes Alexa Voice Service technology for maximum integration into the connected home
  • IFTTT function allows users to connect their kit to other industry leading connected home accessories including Amazon Echo, Nest® Cam™, WeMo®, and Phillips Hue
  • Turns electronic devices, such as fans and coffee makers, on and off through an iOS or Android
  • Elegant space saving, one-outlet design offers unrestrictive access to secondary power outlet for practicality
  • Controlled by an Internet Hub ($99) that connects through a wireless router to coordinate sensor and receiver activity
  • Compatible with SkylinkNet’s suite of connected home kits and accessories

Price: $22.99
Website: www.skylinkhome.com

Spider Holster: SpiderLight 

Innovative camera holster system designed for mirrorless and lightweight pro cameras

  • SpiderLight Camera Holster ($95)
  • Durable, lightweight and versatile holster designed for convenient shooting with mirrorless cameras and small DSLRs
  • Simply slip it on any belt and attach the Spider Plate to camera for easy, convenient shooting
  • Adjustable for multiple styles of camera bodies and grip configurations
  • Compatible with any tripod plate
  • Features all-metal construction and ergonomic design, ensuring durability in active shooting environments

Price: $95
Website: spiderholster.com

Adaptive Sound Technologies Inc.: ‘LectroFan Micro

2-in-one pocket-sized white noise/fan sound machine with powerful wireless Bluetooth® speaker

  • 10 unique digital sounds (5 fan sounds, 4 white noises and 1 ocean sound) to accommodate any environment
  • Louder than any competing machine of the same size and price for the ultimate sound barrier
  • Wireless Bluetooth® speaker system for connecting smartphones for audio playback
  • Small, sleek and stylish functional design
  • USB rechargeable battery lasts up to 16 hours in sleep-sound mode or up to six hours in Bluetooth® mode
  • Compact swivel design allows for multi-directional audio

Price: $34.95
Website: soundofsleep.com

Circle: Circle with Disney

World’s first custom monitoring system to protect your family on the Internet

  • Device pairs wirelessly with home network and instantly detects devices paired with local Wi-Fi network including: smart phones, gaming systems, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, etc.
  • The companion Circle with Disney app (currently available for iOS 8 or later and Android), gives parents full control over which content is viewed and the time spent on each device
  • Through the dashboard, parents can create unique profiles for each family member with specific parental control settings such as:
  • Time Limits – Allows for complete control of screen time usage between a variety of apps, platforms and web-based programs
  • Bedtime™ – Automatically disconnects and reconnects devices from Wi-Fi at scheduled times
  • Filter – Set individual age and interest filters for each family member
  • Pause – Ability to turn off and turn on network Wi-Fi at any time
  • Circle Go extends all of the features and functionality of Circle in the home to any network (wireless or cellular) to outside the home
  • Extends all of the features and functionality of Circle in the home to any network (wireless or cellular) to outside the home
  • Intuitive insights allow parents to track and compare online usage from week to week, month to month, per site, by interest or category
  • Security at its core, Circle uses end-to-end encryption and ARP spoofing to keep data secure
  • ARP spoofing automatically monitors all traffic on the home network, and based on the pre-set parental controls, will allow or deny access to the users’ device
  • Circle with Disney app also recognizes guest devices and can apply a family’s home setting to visitors’ device and block ads from any device on the network
  • Fully compliant with Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) standards
  • Simplistic design means Circle seamlessly blends into any home aesthetic
  • No software per device to install
  • Ethernet cord available for those with bandwidth concerns

Price: $99; Circle Go: $9.95/month (not required to use the product)
Website: www.meetcircle.com

2nd Place Prize is the winner’s choice of one of the following Blast Motion products:

Blast Motion: Blast Golf 360

The world’s most accurate and consistent real-time motion capture technology for Driving and Putting

  • Removable motion sensor analyzes and records putts and full swings for 8 hours, allowing users to quantify progress and share highlights via social networks
  • Adaptive slow mo gives greater insights into your swing without any video editing (:15 video example)
  • Paired iOS app performs Smart Video Capture automatically detecting, capturing and personalizing your video highlights with overlaid metrics, creating ready-made sharable videos
  • First solution to integrate both putting and driving data into a quarter-sized devices
  • Intelligently detects golf metrics like swing speed (drivers), loft and lie (putters) and it helps golfers identify trends through stats and graphs
  • Sensor has ability to store strokes when it is out of range from the app
  • Proprietary sensing technology maintains accuracy within less than one mile per hour
  • Bluetooth® Smart (Bluetooth® low energy technology) connects the sensor mounted on the driver or putter shaft to your iOS device
  • Charges in 1.5 hours with included wireless charging base
  • Blast Golf app is designed for iPhone 6/6+, iPhone 5, iPad 3 / iPad Mini 2 and iPod Touch 5th generation or newer as well as Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6, LG G3, Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen.)

Price:  $149.95
Website: www.blastmotion.com

Blast Motion: Blast Baseball 360

The world’s most accurate and consistent motion-capture technology for batting 

  • Removable motion sensor analyzes and records swing data for 8 hours, allowing users to quantify progress and share highlights via social networks
  • Adaptive slow mo gives greater insights into your swing without any video editing (:15 video example)
  • Paired app performs Smart Video Capture automatically detecting, capturing and personalizing your video highlights with overlaid metrics, creating ready-made sharable videos
  • Intelligently detects metrics like swing speed, power, timing and direction and helps players identify trends through stats and graphs
  • Sensor has ability to store swings when it is out of range from the app
  • Proprietary sensing technology maintains accuracy within less than one mile per hour
  • Bluetooth® Smart (Bluetooth® low energy technology) connects the sensor mounted on the bat to your iOS or Android device
  • Charges in 1.5 hours with included wireless charging base
  • App is designed for iPhone 6/6+, iPhone 5, iPad 3 / iPad Mini 2 and iPod Touch 5th generation or newer as well as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6, LG G3 and Motorola Moto X

Price:  $149.95
Website: www.blastmotion.com

Blast Motion: Blast Softball

Sensor to advance player development by capturing batting metrics

  • Removable motion sensor analyzes and records swing data for 8 hours, allowing users to quantify progress and share highlights via social networks
  • Intelligently detects metrics like swing speed, power, timing and direction and helps players identify trends through stats and graphs
  • Paired app performs Smart Video Capture automatically detecting, capturing and personalizing your video highlights with overlaid metrics, creating ready-made sharable videos
  •  Sensor has the ability to store swings when it is out of range from the app
  • Proprietary sensing technology maintains accuracy within less than one mile per hour
  • Bluetooth® Smart connects the sensor mounted on the bat to your iOS or Android device
  • Charges in 1.5 hours with included wireless charging base
  • App is designed for iPhone 6/6+, iPhone 5, iPad 3 / iPad Mini 2 and iPod Touch 5th generation or newer as well as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6, LG G3 and Motorola Moto X

Price:  $149.95
Website: www.blastmotion.com

 

How to enter (please read carefully – any missed steps and your entry will be disqualified):

Between now and 10/23/2017 midnight EST leave a comment on this page answering the questions below.

  1. What is your default device to read The Gadgeteer? Phone, Tablet, Desktop?
  2. Do you like our mobile theme? If not, why? (FYI: I recently changed the theme)
  3. What is the biggest thing missing from The Gadgeteer?

Get a 2nd bonus entry by subscribing to our newsletter:
You’ll receive 3 emails a week with latest post info. Subscribe here.
If you’re already a newsletter subscriber, let me know and you’ll get a 2nd bonus entry.

Get a 3rd bonus entry by tweeting:
The Gadgeteer is giving away gadgets again! Enter their fall contest now. It’s easy! https://the-gadgeteer.com/2017/10/19/fall-giveaway/

Get a 4th bonus entry by linking to The Gadgeteer home page on Facebook.

Make sure you come back to this page and leave a separate 2nd comment stating that you subscribed to the newsletter, a 3rd comment with a link to your tweet and a 4th comment with a link to your Facebook post. To get the links for Twitter and Facebook, just click the time stamp of your post and it will give you the page with that post so you can grab the link.

At some point on 10/24/2017, I’ll pick two random winners using random.org. The winners will be contacted by email and will have 48 hrs to claim their prizes. If I do not receive an answer to my emails in that time period, I’ll do other random.org drawings till the prize packs are claimed.

Rules:

1. Only one entry per person (warning: I check IP addresses).

2. Gadgeteer writers and their immediate family members may not enter this contest.

3. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for any lost packages due to incorrect shipping addresses.

4. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for the winner not accepting their prize offer within 48hrs. The winner will be posted on this contest page, in the contest page comment section and will be emailed using the email provided in the comment section. Check your spam folder.

5. Winner must have a US shipping address.

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Fall 2017 gadget giveaway originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 19, 2017 at 1:46 pm.

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Case Boss Heavy Duty Protective iPhone Case might be better for touchscreen touchiness

I’ve tried a few über-protective cases for my iPhones, with mixed results. Most have protected well, but their downfall is often a thick, plastic, built-in screen protector that severely reduces the touch-sensitivity of the screen.  Perhaps Case Boss has solved that with their Heavy Duty Protective iPhone Case. In addition to being armored against bumps, drops and dings with its aluminum-reinforced frame and rubberized anti-shock silicone interior (the layers even screw together), plus covers overall buttons and ports to aid in water splash and dust resistance, it also features a built-in 9H Gorilla Glass screen protector, which in theory would allow more touchscreen responsiveness than the standard plastic style of screen protector. Available in multiple colors and for multiple iPhone models, each for $79.99. Visit Case Boss for more info or to order. You can also find similar cases on Amazon.

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Case Boss Heavy Duty Protective iPhone Case might be better for touchscreen touchiness originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 19, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Hate squishing bugs? Suck them up!

Let’s face it. Even if you aren’t actually afraid of bugs and spiders, you may still have a problem smearing them all over your walls. I personally don’t like to kill the poor little buggers, but they don’t belong in my house or smooshed all over the place. Having the Redo Rechargeable Bug Vacuum at your fingertips may be a fun way for kids (or squeamish adults) to stop running and screaming for help at the sight of a little intruder, and run for the bug vacuum! It is fully charged in 2 hours via USB cable so it should always be ready to go, and the LED flashlight equipped device will allow you to suck them up day or night.  You can pick one up on Amazon for $23.99 and banish the bugs with no mess, and no chemicals!

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Hate squishing bugs? Suck them up! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 19, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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