OK, we'll admit up front that this Cool Yule Tools category used to be "Miscellaneous", for those items that didn't quite fit into other groupings. But the more we thought about what we're putting in here, the more we realized that these are homey gadgets as well as things that make you more stylish - things you wear.
Shaw reviews MyCharge's Summit 3000 rechargeable power bank, PowerCup 200 Watt Inverter.
Shaw reviews HP's Passport 1912nm Internet Monitor and AOC's Portable USB Monitor.
Greetings from the DEMO Fall 2012 event in Santa Clara, Calif., where more than 70 companies are launching new sites, apps, services and, in some rare cases, actual physical products. For more than 20 years, the DEMO events have showcased companies that have gone on to greatness (to be fair, several companies have also vanished after appearing here), so it's always a good barometer of what might be coming down the road next.
As I write this, I'm currently on the Amtrak Acela Express train from Providence, R.I., to New York City. Joining me on this journey is the Verizon Jetpack, a 4G LTE MiFi (made by Novatel Wireless, model 4620L) unit that acts as a bridge between my Wi-Fi client (a MacBook Pro) and the 4G LTE wireless service offered by Verizon Wireless.
Shaw reviews Bluetree Electronics' Kube 2 and Rockpool Designs' CableStrip.
Shaw reviews iHome's Bluetooth audio system and wireless keyboard, Acer's C120 projector.
If you're using your computer away from your home network -- whether in a coffee shop, at the airport or in a hotel room -- chances are pretty good that your wireless network (even your wired network in a hotel room) is unsecure. Tools like Firesheep and Reaver can easily be used by hackers to find out personal information from Wi-Fi users on the same Wi-Fi network -- you may think that the guy three tables over is just checking his email, but he could be stealing your credit-card information or passwords.
Shaw reviews Cisco's Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router EA4500.
When fully connected, users can stream live TV content from the box to any client device, including iPhones and iPads, or just regular old PCs or Mac notebooks.
Shaw reviews G-Connect wireless storage for iPad, by G-Technology by Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.
If Akitio can bundle this with a hard drive and make those performance improvements, consumers might be impressed with a device that can provide them with centralized storage for their media content.
The scoop: MiniStation Thunderbolt (HD-PATU3), by Buffalo Technology, about $240 (500GB version; 1TB also available, price TBD)
Mobile apps that integrate with Cisco’s Smart Wi-Fi routers
Cisco's Linksys brand of home wireless networking routers today joined other vendors in coming out with 802.11ac equipment, as well as enabling a cloud-based platform for configuration and control of its "Smart Wi-Fi Routers."