ZOOKA: A HIGH-QUALITY PORTABLE SPEAKER THAT FITS MANY DEVICES

The Zooka by Carbon Audio is a portable Bluetooth speaker unique for its flexibility: snap it onto your laptop or iPad, or place it near your phone, and the sound gets louder.

When it comes to portability, most of us would agree that less is more, but optimal size is a function of both ergonomics and performance quality. With a slide-on design, Zooka seems to merge with the device, providing subtle augmentation where comparable devices easily become excess clutter.

The body of the Zooka is made from medical-grade silicone, giving it flexibility as a grip or rigidity as a stand. Zooka can become a side grip for your hand for a video chat with family, or a stand that props up your iPad for a conference call from the road, a movie at home, or an expo display at the office.

Since its release in March 2012, Zooka has found users among a younger tech-savvy crowd (especially music lovers), as well as an older generation who might otherwise have trouble hearing clearly on increasingly smaller audio devices (whose capacity for great sound quality shrinks right along with them).

Zooka’s dual 30-mm speakers provide an omni-directional sound to fill any room. Though compatible with any Bluetooth device, and flexible enough to slide on to most of them, Zooka was designed specifically for the Apple iPad. Zooka transmits from devices within a 30-foot range, and runs on a lithium-ion battery charged through a micro-USB port.

The founding team of Zooka’s creator, Carbon Audio, has a mix of talent and experience as designers, former audio company executives, and lawyers. CEO Mark Schneider served as vice president and general manager of Logitech’s Audio Business Group, when it was the worldwide leader in consumer speakers and personal audio equipment. Carbon Audio plans to debut its second audio product sometime this summer.

Guest author Kaitlynn Hendricks is a systems builder and a solution-focused, broad-scale economist. She works as a business developer in Washington, DC, where she spends her days pursuing, supporting, and telling stories about ventures in development and stewardship of globally conscious, locally focused networks of human, physical, and liquid capital. She enjoys timeless and occasionally avant-garde fashion, reading things that are just a little bit too complicated to really understand, relentlessly challenging the status quo, and exploring the city on her vespa.

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SuperTooth Crystal review

You're in the car. You need to use your phone, but you want to do it safely and without breaking the law and accruing a fine. You need a hands-free kit. And as luck would have it, that's exactly what we're reviewing here.

The SuperTooth Crystal is a hands-free kit that's a little bit different to what's gone before - it acts as a speakerphone on your sun visor, and also pairs with your phone's GPS to give you voice directions (similar to theTomTom Hands Free Car Kit), and plays music from your phone. It's svelte, portable and a breeze to install and use.

Is it the perfect companion for the connected driver though? Perfect may be a bit strong, but it's certainly worth considering.

You can pair the SuperTooth Crystal with up to eight phones, although it can only monitor two phones at once - which is more than enough for practical uses.The SuperTooth Crystal itself is remarkably easy to pair with your phone over Bluetooth - simply hold the power button down while the device is off and it'll enter pairing mode. Enter the default code of 0000 if prompted, and you're good to go.

The only thing that's easier that pairing the device is installing it in your car. Inside the pack you'll find a small metal clip that hooks over the edge of your sun visor. Once in place the SuperTooth Crystal attaches firmly using the magnet on the back of the speaker unit, and you're done.

If you need your sun visor down, then you can simply slip the speaker around to the other side.

The benefit of this location, beyond its obvious ease of installation, is the fact that the unit is near your head. That's great for when you're actually using it as a hands-free kit, since it picks up your voice clearly and the person you're talking to comes out clear as well.

Answering calls is straightforward, via a single button push, and doesn't require you to take your eyes off the road. And it's the same for volume controls.

On the plus side, the SuperTooth Crystal does hold its charge well (offering standby for 1,000 hours of use and talk time of 20 hours). Plus you're more likely to have the charger connected to your phone, so overall we won't knock it for that.We do have a couple of issues with the design, though. The first is pointed at the power cable, which is a standard USB jack that won't reach in the vast majority of cars.

We're a little less forgiving when it comes to the quality of the speaker, though. For voice calls and GPS directions it's fine, but you can't say the same when it comes to playing back music.

It's distorted, muddy and, well, pretty rubbish to listen to. Which detracts from this being a single device that covers all your in-car hands-free needs.

Verdict

Having said that, if all you need from your hands-free kit is the ability to talk to people while driving, then there's a lot to recommend the SuperTooth Crystal. There are cheaper options available than this, which is priced at £49.99//AU$79/US$69, but this does at least feel like a quality piece of kit.

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Who's giving Android's KitKat the finger?

Give us a break, Android

Give us a break, Androi

The carefully laid SEO plans of thousands of tech sites were shredded by Google and Nestle this week, as the Android creator and the chocolate company formed an unlikely alliance to change the name of the next version of Android from 'Key Lime Pie' to 'KitKat'.

When it was announced, amazement turned into... more amazement. Feelings then stayed as amazement. Everyone is still amazed. It's amazing. It's also completely ludicrous, as Google has now turned its world-beating mobile OS and covert advert delivery mechanism into one huge, very obvious ad for an admittedly quite nice chocolate bar.

Apparently no money changed hands, although both will be expecting some serious returns thanks to the vast amount of marketing cash that'll be blown on promoting the name change, the competitions, the future phone updates and more.

But did the internet give the shock Android name change one big chunky thumbs up, or did the commenters of the world hold up some slightly smaller fingers in response?

Class action

Opinion has not been mixed on the matter. Virtually everyone is aghast. Google may as well have announced that the 'S' iteration of Android will be known as Sarin. Even on AdWeek, a site devoted to the marketing world, commenters were baffled. Michael Barnathan echoed the thoughts of many, saying: "I kept refreshing the page expecting the date to change to April 1."

But it remains September. We've just, for the tenth time, refreshed it to make sure. And if you're planning on criticising the plan, make sure you keep the confectionery experts out there happy as well as the phone nerds, as Al Shaw on AdWeek complains that the site's report was an: "Awful bit of US centric reporting given that Kit-Kat is owned by Nestle and only produced under license in the US by Hershey. Do your research!" And you do yours as well, Al, as you have incorrectly hyphenated KitKat there.

Wave the finger

Over on Wired, which rather led its readers down a certain path by having "WTF?" in its own headline, reader The Gnome wasn't happy with the new corporate dream team either, saying: "Good to see Google innovating on things like... er... more stupid Android names and even more fragmentation. I guess the fat chocolate eating nerds that buy their phones will eat this up though."

A comment which was rightfully pulled up as being a bit dumb by ElyasM, who responded with: "As opposed to the gullible, elitist hipsters that buy iPhones? I'm not sure which stereotype is worse..."

Eh? to Z

It also didn't take more than 30 seconds after the announcement for the history of Nestle to be called into question, a company which, alongside its joyous range of sugary snacks and convenience foods, has battled complaints about darker ethical dilemmas faced by some of its practises.

But for fear of lawyers, they won't be repeated here. But there was on of the more baffling comment made by TechCrunch reader ElleryFamili who complained thusly: "I hate Google's decision to formally name their Android OS versions. How am I supposed to remember if eclair came before cupcake when dealing with QA issues."

You'd think a QA person would be a bit more on the ball than that, as user KunalBhat politely and gently pointed out that: "It's alphabetical... 'e' comes after 'c'."

Totally broken

Some people found it funny, though. In the minefield of YouTube comments, where no opinion is left unhad no matter how wrong or embarrassing, user Michael Atia revealed he enjoyed it and totally got the references in KitKat's satirical video, saying: "LOL... this is like the Apple keynote when the English guy (John Ive) is talking, similar music too!" to which Eric Santos responded with the classic "Thank you, Captain Obvious."

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new features for the next generation smartphones

Qualcomm has offered us a look behind the curtain at some of the new features which could be arriving in the next batch of smartphones.

Speaking at Qualcomm's annual Uplinq conference in San Diego Raj Talluri, SVP Product Management, revealed what the firm was working towards as it readies it processors for the next generation of smartphones and tablets.

Here are seven features Qualcomm is tipping, so keep an eye out for all these in the iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S5and iPad 5.

4K displays

Questions are still being raised over the need for 4Kdisplays on smartphones and whether the human eye will actually be able to discern much of a difference between that and the full HD offerings we currently have.

Qualcomm reckons we're not actually that far off the UltraHD displays though and Talluri said: "there will be 4K displays in phones pretty soon. I think it's going to happen."

Find out more: Ultra HD and 4K: Everything you need to know

4K video recording

Actually 4K video recording has already found its way into the Acer Liquid S2, but the high-def shooting capability is set to feature in a lot more high-end handsets over the next few months.

Qualcomm already has a 4K video encoder built into its new Snapdragon 800 processor, allowing manufacturers to build the technology into their handsets if they fancy it.

Of course until you have a 4K display on your smartphone, you're stuck hooking it up to your incredibly expensive 4K TV to show off your handy work.

360 video recording

A cool feature Qualcomm showed off during its future phone tech presentation was something it's calling SnapDragon EyeSee 360, which basically lets you take a 360 degree video recording.

It uses an external device, which works in a similar way to the 360 panorama camera lenses you can get, to capture the video in Ultra HD of your entire surrounds - front and back, left and right - all at the same time.

During playback you obviously only see one angle on screen, but you can tilt the device you're playing it on, or use your finger to scroll round the video - as you would a 360 photo - to view the scene all around.

The new processor technology means that it's constantly rendering the various different angles and there was no lag during the demo.

This means instead of having to move your device around to point at everyone separately, all the people in the video are being recorded continuously and you can then visit any one of the at any time when you're watching it back.

New camera tricks

Qualcomm is doing a lot of work around camera technology for the next-gen smartphones and one of its projects, UbiFocus, brings depth of field control to phone users.

UbiFocus allows you to select your focus after you've taken a picture, giving you the choice of focussing on an object in the foreground, something in the background, or somewhere inbetween.

The ability of smartphones to have depth perception could also lead to other advancements and Talluri hinted that the technology may prove very useful when it comes to gesture control in the future.

Multiple microphones

While 4K video recording is all well and good, it would be spoilt by the sound quality you currently get when recording on today's crop of smartphones.

Now HTC has already made some progress in this field with the One, which features dual microphones for improved audio capture, but Qualcomm reckons the next generation of mobile phone will have more.

Future smartphones could well arrive with four microphones embedded in them allowing for an immersive audio experience which will playback in 5.1 surround sound.

The demo clips we were played did indeed sound fantastic, so we're really hoping this arrives soon.

Immersive gameplay

It's not just recorded audio which will be getting a boost in future phones, with gameplay set to benefit too with surround sound capabilities being made available to app developers.

This allows develops to attach audio to various options, giving the sounds a position in the game and as the objects move the audio does too.

We were shown a demo of Qualcomm's Dragon Storm to show off the technology, and as dragons approached us, flew past and continued behind the audio followed.

Of course phone manufacturers will have to help us out here as well by equipping our devices with better internal speakers, but it will also work via headphones and external speakers.

More performance, less power consumption

This one is no surprise, smartphones are going to continue to get faster and more powerful while chip makers and handset manufacturers tackle the battery life issues.

Qualcomm expects power consumption to greatly improve, as all the tasks on our smartphones are tuned to use the optimum number of cores and the correct amount of power from each core at the right time.

Talluri described this as the "next big challenge" in mobile, and we hope it comes to fruition.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Gear Is Not the Future of Wearable Tech

After one hour of watching Samsung execs parade around on a Berlin stage on Wednesday, I still don’t understand what’s so futuristic about the Galaxy Gear, or smartwatches in general. As a whole, smartwatches rely implicitly on the phone in your pocket; without one, it’s just a (comparatively) ugly timepiece that doesn’t fulfill its purpose—it otherwise adds no value to the experience, not that there is much value to begin with.

Worse, Samsung’s Gear lacks a clear forward looking vision, and instead resembles every other wearable device we’ve seen. Aside from the hype around Pebble—and all it was was hype—no smartwatch has managed to spark any significant consumer interest, so what makes the Galaxy Gear, a device that only works with a handful of Samsung devices, any different?

During the company’s IFA event, Samsung’s Pranav Minstry looked everyone in the eye and with a straight face said the Gear possesses technology from the next ten years. That’s ridiculous, and not true. Instead of introducing something new and exciting—you know, futuristic, as promised—the company Samsung’d us all by unveiling something we can already buy, and for cheaper, too. There’s nothing inside the device that suggests gadget utopia; everything about it is old. Samsung just managed to wrap it into a tidy little package. It’s no more advanced than a dumb phone from years and years ago—just on your wrist.

As the evening drew on, I couldn’t help but think Samsung lacks the imagination to make a Galaxy Gear capable of changing the wearable landscape. There will be people who will buy this, sure—at least the ultra-nerds. But right now, the device is merely among a small ignored group of sameness; a type of wearable technology that sounds neat, until you realize it’s actually not. It can tell you when alerts stream in and… take pictures? Amazing. What we ultimately saw was a device stuffed with features and specs—surprise, surprise—with little regard for actual usability, and no reason to believe Samsung’s future of smartwatches are the next big thing. Really, I just don’t see any reason for the Gear to exist other than the fact that Samsung wanted to beat Apple and Google to market.

The argument that smartwatches add convenience by screening what notifications you want to respond to is flimsy at best. Sure, it’ll shelter you from a few spam emails, but chances are you’ll take your phone out to respond anyway—and with that, whatever small shred of convenience it saved you goes out the window. Beyond the novelty of Gear being a tiny piece of technology strapped to your wrist, the fact is that it’s merely an accessory for a bigger piece of technology that you’ll be using much more often—there’s zero compelling reason to shell out an estimated $300 for a companion device you’ll probably wind up leaving home most of the time anyway.

Manufacturers for the last few years have been attempting to design smartwatches to mimic our smartphones, and for what? So you know when someone Tweets at you? Your smartphone can tell you that. If you’re too lazy to pull your smartphone out of your pocket, then I don’t know what to say. There’s a clear allure and novelty that surrounds smartwatches, I’ll admit that—they’re shiny and new and maybe sound kind of cool. You’re probably telling yourself you want one. But you remember that pocket computer you carry around with you everywhere you go? The 5-inch quad-core full HD 13-megapixel piece of technology you waited all year for? That can do everything the Galaxy Gear can do—you know this—and more. And it doesn’t rely on any other gadget in your arsenal to function either.

What the Galaxy Gear is is basically wearable tech that has existed for awhile, not some innovative thing from the future. Maybe we’re expecting too much out of wearable technology. Is wearable tech even something consumers are clamoring for in the first place? Unlikely. It’s also disappointing that you can’t replace the watch bands, and the battery life will surely become an issue. The price, too, is probably going to be an issue (though it hasn’t been announced yet), especially when consumers are already asked to part with $200+ for a new smartphone that will go out of style in the next few months.

If this is Samsung’s vision of wearable tech, I’m not so sure the Galaxy Gear will even have much of a future, even if the company’s executives are claiming this should cover us for the next ten years.

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Heads on with Sony's new AR headset

Sony HMZ-T3W review

Sony has been toying with its personal 3D viewer concept for some time but things are about to get serious.

The Sony HMZ-T3W is an updated version of what we'd already seen at previous IFAs and the home entertainment headset is finally hitting the market in November, arriving in the UK for £1,300 (about $2030, AU$2230 although no US release has been set).

As big fans of the Oculus Rift, we were intrigued to see what Sony's market-ready version of its headset had in store this time around.

In terms of what's new, the HMD now has all-important wirelessHD support, improved display and better adjustment straps, the third of which is actually pretty important, as we we'll explain.

Wireless happens thanks to a control box that connects your source, such as HDMI, and transmits it over to the goggles. Sony has designed the HMZ-T3W to connect to your PC, mobile phone, tablet or game console, all fed through a wireless adapter that communicates with the headset.

Smartphone support is new - do this and you'll find yourself viewing a very inflated version of your phone screen in real time. It's interesting that Sony is pushing this for gaming too as recent rumours suggest that a dedicatedPS4 version is on the horizon.

So how best to describe the experience? It's pretty much the equivalent of sitting in your own private cinema. The viewer replicates a 750-inch TV screen from 20m away - a 1280x720 OLED display for each eye - that can play in either 2D or 3D.

However unlike the Oculus, the display is fixed. Move your head around and the big screen will follow your eyeline meaning you can watch with your head at any angle.

On the underside of the goggles are two sliders for optical adjustment, a four-way menu button and two volume buttons. The headset also comes packed with a pair of MDR-XB90 headphones that create 7.1 surround sound.

It's all very cool in theory and it's difficult not to be a little impressed when you put the HMD on for the first time. But then the harsh realities begin to set in.

The first main issue with the HMZ is that there's still a 'sweet spot' demand. Have the headset too high or low on your face and you'll get some annoying blur in your vision.

This is why the adjustable straps are so important as you'll need to fiddle to find that perfect point and keep it in place. We found the headset had a habit of slowly slipping down, especially when moving the head around, which meant we had to keep readjusting it.

The next problem is the open space below the eyeline that proves to be surprisingly distracting. While we can understand that the gap is there so you can see your phone, mouse or keyboard (depending on what you're using the headset for) it annoyingly takes some of the immersion away.

The final problem is the price - £1,300 puts this very much in the luxury sector and we honestly can't see many people shelling out for one. As a showcase product for what Sony might be about to unveil for the PS4, it's promising. It just doesn't feel ready yet.

Early Verdict

When you've nailed that sweet spot, the HMZ-T3W is a neat bit of kit. But even after the adjustments Sony has made it still feels like this is just a luxury product, especially considering the price.

But if Sony really has been working on a dedicated PS4 version then this is a promising sign of what could be about to come. As it stands, the T3W by itself probably won't start any revolution in the way we watch.

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XANDEM TECHNOLOGY AND THEIR TMD: THEY CAN SEE THROUGH WALLS

Watch out Superman, you’re not the only one who can see through walls anymore. Dr. Joey Wilson and Dr. Neal Patwari, of Xandem Technology, have developed the unthinkable: a motion detector that can track movement through physical barriers.

After finishing his PhD, Wilson spent a full year designing the prototype Tomographic Motion Detection unit (TMD) with Patwari. Unlike Superman’s X-ray vision though, the TMD utilizes a mesh network of radio waves.

The TMD features blanketed coverage of any grid, can be embedded behind surfaces, boasts immunities to dirt, dust, and false alarms, and cannot be jammed with counteracting radio waves. “It cannot be beaten,” says Wilson. “Fundamentally, this is a whole new level of security technology.”

The practical applications are glaringly obvious to anybody who can recognize the value behind this technology. Wilson and Patwari are aiming at three major markets that could benefit from their product.

Those who wish to protect high-value assets, like the rare coin trader who operates across the street from Xandem’s headquarters, can now take their security deeper. “Traditionally, people who want to protect something valuable are looking for more than a simple sticker to scare thieves off,” explains Wilson. The TMD cannot be blinded and will not miss a beat while operational.

Places like machine and tool shops are usually dirty and cluttered environments. Securing a location like this is difficult because there has to be a clear line of sight for infrared sensors to detect motion. A poorly parked fork lift, or even a fine layer of dirt or dust on the sensor, will render it null. The TMD, even if caked with grime, will not go blind. If an object is placed in front of it, it simply sees through said object.

An aesthetically sensitive area, like a museum, might not want bulky, noticeable sensors placed next to rare works of art. The TMD satisfies because it will take security to the next level, but also because it can be embedded into walls, dividers, ceilings, floors, and pretty much anything else.

Wilson and Patwari take their work very seriously and strive to give their customers a top-notch product. “This is not something that gets developed quickly like an app,” says Wilson. “This is a sensing technology we are delivering from the ground up. We are trying to grow a really big tree here, not seasonal flowers.”

If you think this sounds like technology from science fiction, don’t worry – you are in good company. Wilson reports that some of his current customers feel like they have James Bond tech with their new security systems.

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MEET PIP: A HANDHELD DEVICE TO REDUCE STRESS

For $79, you can now preorder a device on Kickstarter that could accelerate all your efforts at reducing stress.

The PIP, or “personal input pod,” is a small sensor that you hold between your fingertips. It measures your galvanic skin response, the sweat on your fingertips caused by the fight-or-flight response. If you hold the PIP and try your go-to stress reducer – like deep breathing, walking, orGame of Thrones - you can see exactly what works and what doesn’t.

In our hyper-stressed society, relaxation techniques abound. From meditation to yoga to orange juice, gurus claim to have found the secret to stress reduction. National Geographic did a documentary called Stress: Portrait of a Killer.

The problem here is the lack of feedback. We may feel better in the short term, but how do we know that any particular technique is really working? Do we always notice our blood pressure spikes during tense meetings or crucial phone calls?

Galvanic, makers of the PIP, wants to provide that feedback. But not just with numbers and charts – with flowering trees and flying dragons and cute pets.

To go along with the PIP device, Galvanic created an iOS and Android app with games. To play, you simply hold the PIP – and the lower your stress, the better you do. In Relax and Race, your speed increases as your stress decreases. In The Loom, a winter scene gradually turns into a spring one as your relaxation deepens. In Zen Buddies (coming soon), you feed little tamagotchi-like creatures with your units of relaxation. And Galvanic is releasing software called an SDK so developers can make their own creative apps for the PIP.

For entrepreneurs in particular, CTO Daragh McDonnell suggests a 10-minute daily session with the PIP. For example, you might unwind at the end of the day with The Loom, which is a more meditative experience. Or, before a meeting with a VC, calm your nerves with Relax and Race. He himself uses the PIP when he first gets to work, after braving traffic and a stressful commute.

I think the PIP would be even better if it were a wearable device, something you put on all day that notifies you when your stress is spiking. That way, you could identify not just relaxation techniques that work, but the specific triggers of your tension.

I can only hope that’s part of Galvanic’s big vision, which is to raise awareness about stress, reduce it, and “relax the whole world.”

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BLUMOO: USE YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AS A BLUETOOTH STEREO REMOTE

You have a high-quality stereo system that powers outdoor speakers on your deck? Awesome, but can you manage playlists and change songs without walking inside? Is everything readily available at the touch of a button on your Bluetooth, smartphone remote control? Of course not; that would be impossible. Or is it?

This dilemma was all too familiar for Jason Carman and Mark Vogt, cofounders of Flyover Innovations, but their engineering educations and background work at Garmin gave them the tools they needed to craft a solution.

Under the banner of Flyover Innovations, Carman and Vogt developed Blumoo to give users full control of their existing stereo equipment, powered speakers, outdoor stereo, or whole-home audio systems at the touch of a button from their mobile device.

Blumoo is a peripheral “pod” device that connects your Android or iOS device, via Bluetooth, to your sound systems. Blumoo itself connects to your stereo equipment via standard 3.5mm jack or RCA connections.

It enables both universal remote control functionality and hi-fi audio streaming. The user interface for the remote is extremely simple, with the standard forward, backwards, stop, play, and pause functions.

Blumoo can work with different hardware, so there are virtually no compatibility issues. It was designed as an inexpensive way to take your existing equipment further in its capability.

Consumers find they have to switch out their high-quality, sometimes embedded, speakers for Bluetooth speakers to obtain the portability that Blumoo offers. The issue that Carman and Vogt recognized here is that Bluetooth speakers are expensive and often provide lower levels of sound quality.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of Blumoo is that it will be released on an open API platform. This ensures that the app will continue to thrive and grow with the help of innovative developers. The hope is that users might one day be able to go beyond simple stereo capability and utilize their Blumoo and smartphone to control home theater or video functions.

Flyover Innovations wants their flagship product to be held down by nothing as they move forward. They are giving it every opportunity for success, and have launched and Indiegogo campaign to get it as much exposure as possible.

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WD My Passport Slim review:

An excellent portable storage device

The good: The compact WD My Passport Slim drive offers fast performance, comes in a metal casing, and is comparatively affordable.

The bad: The drive could stand to be a little slimmer, especially the 2TB version.

The bottom line: The speedy My Passport Slim is an excellent mobile backup and storage expansion option. Its rugged, metal-casing design is a great extra, considering its affordable cost.

The My Passport Slim is the next step up from WD's previous My Passport Ultra portable drive, which came out in March. The new external storage device is slightly thinner, and comes in a metal enclosure.

It also offers all the goodies found in the previous model, inlcuding WD SmartWare Pro data protection software, up to 2TB of storage space, and very good performance. Most importantly, the Slim is more affordable, with a suggested retail price of just $100 for 1TB, the same as that of the 500GB Ultra at launch. The 2TB version of the Slim will cost just $150 when it's available later this year. You can expect the street pricing of the drive to be even lower.

If you already have a USB 3.0 portable drive, there's no need to upgrade, but if you're looking for one, the My Passport Slim will make a great storage device for travelers looking to carry lots of data in a limited space, or perform backups on the go. In all, I recommend it. For more great portable storage device options, check out these alternatives.

Drive type	2.5-inch external USB hard drive
Connector options	USB 3.0, USB 2.0
Available capacities	1GB, 2TB
Capacity of test unit	1TB
Dimensions (LWH)	4.33 inches by 3.14 inches by 0.48 inch (1TB) or 0.7 inch (2TB)
Weight	5.6 ounces (1TB)
OSes supported	Windows 2000 or later, Mac OS 10.4 or later
Software included	WD SmartWare Pro, WD Utility, WD Security

Design and features
Measuring 4.33 inches by 3.14 inches by 0.48 inches, the new 1TB My Passport Slim isn't exactly slim. In fact, it's just .02 inch thinner than the previous model of the same capacity and is about exactly the same size as the Toshiba Connect. And at 0.7 inch thick the 2TB version of the new drive is not slim at all.

However, the new drive has an aluminum casing, instead of plastic, and feels very sturdy in the hand. The design is two-tone, with shiny white on top and the rest of the body painted in dark blue. It's one of the best-looking in WD's My Passport family of portable storage devices.

Like most USB 3.0 portable drives, the My Passport Slim has a Micro-USB 3.0 port on one side and comes with a short standard USB 3.0 cable. This is the only cable you need; it handles both power and data functions. Designed to work best with USB 3.0, the drive also works with USB 2.0 and in my tests it had no problem drawing power from any USB ports. The drive also comes with a small user-guide booklet and a nice traveling pouch.

Out of the box, the Slim is preformatted for Windows (NTFS) and works immediately when you plug it into a computer. On a Mac you read data from it but can't write to it until you reformat the drive into HFS+ or exFAT. You can do this using the Disk Utility built in to Mac OS X or use the WD Drive Utilities software preloaded on the drive itself.

In addition to WD Drive Utilities (Windows and Mac), the Slim comes with the WD SmartWare backup program (Windows-only), as well as WD Security (Windows and Mac)

Though it doesn't have to be installed for the drive to work, the bundled software package is useful. WD Drive Utilities contains utilities that enable you to check on the drive's status, test its functionality, or reformat it. WD Security lets you secure the drive's content with a password using the drive's 256-bit hardware encryption. This is very strong encryption, so make sure you remember the password, or your data won't be accessible at all.

Backing up data is a very easy and intuitive job with WD SmartWare. You can choose to back up folders and files, or set it to automatically back up important data, which is very useful for those who aren't as computer-savvy. With the Ultra, WD SmartWare now supports backing up to Dropbox's online service (you do need to have a Dropbox account of your own). In all, the backup software works very well. One thing it doesn't do, however, is back up the entire system as an image for system recovery in case the hard drive fails, or when you want to upgrade your computer to a new internal drive.

Performance
I tested the 1TB version of the My Passport Slim and while it wasn't the fastest USB portable drive, it was more than fast enough for most uses. And for now it's the champion when used with USB 2.0.

With USB 3.0, which is recommended, the drive scored a sustained copy speed of 108MBps for both writing and reading, faster than most USB 3.0 drives, and among the top five on the charts. When used with USB 2.0, the drive did much better with 31MBps for writing and 40MBps for reading, topping the charts on both counts.

The drive worked very quietly and remained cool even during heavy loads.

Conclusion
Though not as thin as the name suggests, the My Passport Slim is indeed one of the most compact portable drives on the market. That and its great performance, valuable bundled software, and friendly pricing make it an excellent buy for anybody need a quick way to carry a lot of data or perform backups on the go.

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10 GADGETS YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE ON A BUSINESS TRIP

In my experience, you can generally bulk all people who travel into two broad, but distinct, categories. Let me preface this blunt categorization by saying that apart from shrimp cocktails and the way that airport bars add tax to alcoholic beverages, wide generalizations are probably my least favorite thing. Still, these two groups are so different, and the differences so apparent, that it’s nearly impossible not to think of them as completely separate from one another.

The first group are the early packers. These are generally the sort that have their bags packed at least a night before. Each day’s worth is accounted for in their suitcase along with one “emergency” outfit.

The second is the last-minute packer. This person can usually be found throwing clothes into a canvas bag, or duffel bag, or pillowcase, five minutes before the car arrives to take them to the airport.

Of course there are combinations and sub-combinations of these two main groups – for example, the early packer who is so indecisive they begin packing the night before, and continue to do so right up until, and usually after, the car bound for the airport has arrived and been waiting for 15 minutes.

Differences aside, there is something that every person who has packed for a business trip has had to deal with, at least for the last few years.

What devices should I bring?

That seems like a simple question, doesn’t it? And it is. At least in theory.

But when it comes time to pack and you look at all the options – all the gadgets and accessories you’ve compiled over the last few years – well, you may have to pack a completely separate bag just to bring everything that you think you need.

But you don’t really ned all that stuff, do you?

Here’s a list of 10 gizmos, gadgets, and blinking things that I think you’d be completely fine leaving out of your suitcase when you pack for your next business trip. It may not be easy, but your life will be a lot easier.

TABLET

I have one, an iPad to be specific, and I love it. Nine times out of ten I bring it with me everywhere I go. I’m not a big fan of reading things on my phone, and my iPad is light enough to carry around with me, which means all my books and magazines are with me as well.

Well, one place a tablet shouldn’t go is on your business trip. Let me explain why. iPads are handy, fun to use, absolutely. They just don’t make much sense when you have the option of bringing a fully functional laptop along with you instead. Sure, there are business-oriented apps you can use, but many of these apps were made for laptops and desktops. And, sure, you can use them on your tablet, but not in any way that could be considered efficient, not when compared to a laptop. If you’re looking for something without too much weight, check out Apple’s Macbook Air or the Windows Ultrabooks.

BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD

As you’ll find with most of the stuff on this list, if you follow a little bit of advice (bring a laptop not a tablet), then you won’t really need much of anything else. For example, the Bluetooth keyboard. Cool? Yes. Handy? Sure, kind of. Convenient? No. It’s much easier to type on a Bluetooth keyboard than on your tablet’s virtual one, of course. But bringing your tablet and a Bluetooth keyboard everywhere means you are virtually carrying the same amount of weight that you would be if you had a Macbook Air, and you’re tying yourself to a handful of double A batteries.

BLUETOOTH MOUSE

See above. The same applies. Even if you bring your Bluetooth mouse, it’s usually easier not to use it because of space constrictions. Unless, of course, you think you can get away with asking the person sitting next to you on the plane if you can use their pull-out tray.

USB HUB

Again, not necessary if you have a laptop with you. When you’re traveling, you should be trying to bring the least amount of things possible, not your entire home office. Bringing along a USB hub is opening yourself up to bringing every USB-powered gadget you have. Leave it at home.

PORTABLE DVD PLAYER

Honestly, I was amazed that these even still exist. Anything that you want to watch is likely to be available on iTunes, or Amazon Instant play, so why bother with the small screen and bulky DVD case? Both services allow you to rent movies and TV shows for $2 or $3 a pop, and you have up to 30 days to watch them.

HEADPHONES

Don’t get worried, of course you can bring headphones. But I would stay clear of the giant cans that fit over your hears and spring for some in-ear noise-canceling headphones. The bigger headphones often have unwieldy cords that get tangled when stuffed into pockets. The more manageable your gear is, the more likely you are to use it.

DSLR

Everyone likes taking pictures, even during a business trip. That being said, just because you own a fantastic, full-frame, $4,000 digital camera doesn’t mean you need to bring it with you everywhere. You could effectively be doubling your device load by bringing a huge camera when, in all likelihood, the camera on your phone will do just fine.

PORTABLE SCANNER

Is this even a possibility? I know there are small portable scanners out there in the world, and I can even see why you would think you need one. But, just like the camera above, there’s no reason that snapping a photo with your smartphone won’t do just as good as a portable scanner. Anyways, if you’re on a business trip, there’s a good chance that the office you’re visiting will have a scanner you can use.

HUGE POWER STRIP

Should you bring a power supply? Yes. All too often, hotels only supply guests with one wall outlet (two if you count the one in the bathroom), and even if you’re smart enough to have brought your laptop, you’re still going to have to plug in your phone. But bring a small power supply. Remember, space is everything when you’re packing for a trip, so the lighter you pack, the better. If you’re in the market, Belkin has a great Mini Surge protector that works wonders.

KINDLE

Here’s the one allowance I’ll make. Remember when I said I hate reading on my phone? The only thing worse than that is reading on your laptop. So bring that Kindle along with you, and, if you don’t have one, well, get one. They’re only 70 bucks.

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MAGIC FINGERS WITH THE NFC RING

The calculator watch.

Remember that staple accessory of the 1980s? Two inches square, hard-to-touch buttons, and worn by the fashion forward like Marty McFly, Sting, and more recently Breaking Bad‘s Walter White.

That was the beginning of wearable tech. And – though there wasn’t much of a market for computers that you can wear post-calculator watch, likely because the idea became relegated to the status of “nerd gear” – wearable tech will most certainly be a part of the future.

Most wearable tech lives strictly in the health and fitness category, such as bracelets that monitor your heart rate or shoes that clock running speed and distance. OMsignal, a company out of Montreal, recently announced a shirt meant to be worn under your clothes or at the gym that’s loaded with compression sensors that monitor your heart rate, stress, and exertion levels. The shirt has a small computer that communicates with a smartphone app to give you instant access to your insides.

There are obvious benefits when you combine wearable tech with fitness, but there are advantages of wearable tech beyond the gym.

The NFC Ring, currently being funded via Kickstarter, is a piece of tech that (surprise) fits around your finger and can do anything from unlock your smartphone or your house, to share your contact info or WiFi password.

The ring uses near-field communication (NFC), a kind of short-range radio communication. Bring your NFC Ring in contact or an inch or two away from an NFC enabled device and, click, things happen.

The NFC Ring is loaded with two NFC sensors, one on the top side of the hand and a smaller one on the palm side. The top side of the ring is the public side. You can load your ring with any kind of information you like, contact info, Twitter handle, Facebook page, etc. The palm-side sensor is for the information you want to keep private, unlocking NFC-enabled doors and smartphones. The information is written onto the sensors though NFC writing apps, so what you program into the sensors can be as simple or as complex as you like.

Designer John McLear seems to be open to sharing his tech. The ring uses open source software, so third parties can use the ring for nearly anything, and among the Kickstarter pledge benefits is an option that lets you 3D print your own ring (with McLear sending you the ring inlay). The rings don’t cost much, $28 to $55, and as of this writing McLear has raised over $250,000. The project will be funded on Monday, August 19, and the rings should ship about a month after.

NFC technology has been around for awhile. Its beginnings were in RFID (radio frequency identification), which was invented in the early 80s, which incidentally was the height of popularity of another circular piece of tech – the calculator watch. Then as now, wearable tech is built to make the wearers life, your life, easier. And if the NFC Ring turns out to be as good as it seems, life will be easier because there will be less to carry. Specifically, keys.

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THIS 1.5 INCH STICKER WILL MAKE YOU UNDETECTABLE TO MOSQUITOES

In 2011, halfway into a five-month backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail, I was forced to pay an emergency visit to the hospital due to blurred vision, migraines, and severe fatigue. After running a series of tests, the doctors hypothesized that I was dehydrated, filled me with an intravenous saline solution, and sent me on my way. Ten days later, I would return to the hospital, this time the symptoms were even more severe. Additional testing would eventually reveal that I had contracted West Nile Virus.

For more than a year after completing my hike, I continued to battle WNV symptoms, which ranged anywhere from annoying to debilitating.  Although I went into the trek knowing that mosquitos were an all-too-common problem, prevention options were either dangerous (i.e. DEET) or ineffective (all other repellants).

That’s why a new, non-toxic sticker that claims to make you “invisible to mosquitos” caught my attention.

The Kite Patch, a 1.5″ x 1.5″ sticker that attaches to your clothing, claims to release compounds that make humans undetectable to mosquitoes for up to 48 hours by disrupting a mosquito’s carbon dioxide neurons.

The Kite Patch hopes to combat a host of mosquito borne illnesses, most notably malaria, Dengue Fever, and West Nile virus.   Although more than 90% of the 5-million deaths caused by malaria occur in sub-Saharan Africa, mosquito borne disease is beginning to have an increasingly larger impact in the United states.  In 2012, the US saw more than 5,000 reported cases of West Nile virus (an increase of 697% from 2011), with over 5% of those resulting in death.

Though it may seem overly ambitious for something currently residing on Indiegogo, initial funding for the project comes from a series of reputable backers including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, U.S. National Institutes of Health, University of California Riverside, ieCrowd, USDA, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.  And their Indiegogo fundraiser?  The Kite Patch surpassed their original $75,000 goal in only four days, while recently surpassing the next $500,000 benchmark, with more than a week remaining.

The technology, developed byOlfactor Laboratories, Inc.- subsidiary of ieCrowd- is the result of more than four years of research and three years of development work on a class of non-­toxic compounds, all of which are approved for human consumption by the USFDA.  ieCrowd has recently filed forthree additional potentially game-changing patents to aid in the fight of mosquito borne illnesses including a larvacide used to control the growth of insect colonies, a power-free mosquito trapping system, and baits intended to deliver a toxic blow to local mosquito populations.

The anti-mosquito sticker is currently waiting to clear EPA registration and hopes to ship to US backers within a year.  International purchases will require more time as the company must receive approval from respective governments prior to distribution.

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