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.

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.

People with a lack of patience or itchy twitch fingers will likely declare The Pillars of the Earth Game Book one: From the Ashes ($4.99) to be a drab and painfully boring game. But for those seeking an engaging, stress-free gaming experience, Pillars is an enthralling graphic adventure that will soothe and inspire. If you are the latter, read on to find out if this gaming experience is worthy of the purchase price.

Just as the Mac became the predominant music-crafting tool in the 1980s, the iPad is quickly assuming this role in this decade. The tactile display coupled with powerful hardware make it an ideal surface to construct digital musical landscapes. While eager budding musicians can begin their explorations with Apple's Garage Band, experienced music architects will need a program that allows the full realization of sampling, sequencing, and looping possibilities. This is the space that iOS developer Retronyms hopes to fill with its embodiment of Akai Professional's MPC dedicated music hardware within a software equivalent called iMPC Pro 2 ($24.990. Is the app worth its relatively expensive (in comparison to other tap-centric music construction apps in the App Store) price? Read on to find out.

With the incredible video-processing technology embedded in Apple's latest iPhones, the optics and 4K video capture make them highly capable video cameras. Unfortunately, the most significant limitation of the iPhone's portability is the reliance on its embedded iPhone microphone to capture audio. AmpRidge has addressed this constraint head-on with two external microphones for iPhones. Let's take a closer look at what each iPhone mic has to offer iOS videographers.

Having reviewed the initial Arlo Pro smart home security system release several months ago, it is notable how soon the new and improved Arlo Pro 2 smart home system has been released. What does the Arlo Pro 2 ($479.99 for a 2 Camera Kit) offer beyond the original iteration and is it worth the additional cost to consider the Arlo Pro 2 wireless security system compared to the original Arlo Pro? Read on to find out.

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