Mike Riley

Author Details

Mike Riley's picture

Author Details

Mike Riley

Mike Riley is a frequent contributor to several technical publications and specializes in emerging technologies and new development trends. Mike was previously employed by RR Donnelley as the company’s Chief Scientist, responsible for determining innovative technical approaches to improve the company’s internal and external content services. Mike also co-hosted Computer Connection, a technology enthusiast show broadcast on Tribune Media's CLTV.

There is no denying that Apple's AirPods ushered in a revolution in wireless audio. Unfortunately, AirPods still cost the same price today that they did when first introduced nearly two years ago. This has given rise to a number of competitors able to offer alternatives at nearly half the AirPods' current price. One such alternative is Phiaton's BOLT earphones. Currently available on Kickstarter with starting pledge levels at $89, the BOLT is expected to ship to backers by the end of this year.

When I think of Scosche, the first product category that comes to mind is its audio headsets. However, the company has expanded into more diverse mix of Apple-friendly accessories. A new item type added to Scosche's catalog is its PowerVolt line of chargers. I tested the PowerVolt 3.0: USB-C / USB-A Fast Charger ($34.99). With a retail price half the price of separate 18-watt USB-C and 12-watt USB-A chargers, the PowerVolt might come in handy when traveling and reducing the number of chargers plugged into your wall sockets.

2018 may be the year that home automation adoption rates take off. The number of HomeKit-enabled devices is rapidly growing among both established players and newcomers alike. One such company, iDevices, has continued to expand its product line by recently adding two types of switches and a wall power outlet that can be controlled autonomously. Let's take a look at each of these devices in detail.

Elgato's Eve line of HomeKit-enabled home automation products has expanded to cover a variety of situations. In addition to the usual collection of light switches and power outlets, Eve has ventured into temperature monitoring and motion detection. The latest addition to the Eve product line is Eve Aqua ($99.95), an electronic water valve that connects to an outdoor water spigot and provides HomeKit-connected autonomous lawn and garden watering.

One of the most frequent places in my home that I use my iPad is in bed. Whether it's binge watching videos, surfing the web, or immersing myself in a captivating eBook, I enjoy the comfort of relaxing (and frequently dozing off) on a comfortable mattress surrounded by lots of pillows. Unfortunately, propping my iPad in between bunched up pillows or contorting my body to accommodate a good screen viewing angle while preventing the tablet from slipping is an exercise in frustration. Holding the tablet is fine for a few minutes, but doing so for ten minutes or longer is fatiguing. There is also the real concern of falling asleep and the unsecured iPad then sliding and crashing to the floor.

Seagate has been in the data storage business since the prehistoric PC days. But unlike the dinosaurs, the company has continued to evolve its capabilities to match the changing technology market. With mobile devices superseding the PC market, Seagate has developed a mobile-friendly product that combines its spinning disk drive storage platform with wireless connectivity. Seagate's Wireless Plus Mobile Storage ($179.99) device allows users to wirelessly connect to the portable hard drive to store over a terabyte of photos, videos, documents, and other files. The device can also connect to Macs and PCs via a wired USB 3.0 connection. The same wired connection is how the device's battery can be recharged for up to 10 hours of portable use.

Apple announced macOS 10.14, the next major update to its Mac operating system, today during the WWDC 2018 Keynote. In doing so, the company has left the mountains behind and headed for the desert. Specifically, the desert at night. macOS Mojave's most visually striking new feature, called Dark Mode, is the ability to alter the user interface to adopt a night theme. Doing so envelopes the interface with a dark theme ideal for creative professionals and developers who prefer dark backgrounds to edit images and write code. It also appeals to users who want the reverse of the bright, light backgrounds and interface elements that the original OSX has been known for since its inception. Other exciting new updates include new ways to organize the Desktop, use FaceTime, and more.

I have been riding bicycles longer than I have been using computers. I have been riding the same recumbent for over 30 years. Yet it wasn't until the announcement of the Lumos Bicycle Helmet ($179.99) that I have been this interested in a bicycling accessory in a long time. This helmet combines bicycle safety with smart illumination to inform those around you of your direction and speed intentions. Read on to find out if this high-tech helmet was worth the wait.

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