*Steve Makris is a technology expert who does a weekly Tech Talk segment during Edmonton’s Sunday Morning News. You can watch his segment above.
Good morning folks. Today on Global Edmonton’s Sunday Morning News we continue our Tech Talk gift guide giveaways with Samsung’s best tablet and Globalstar’s lifesaver Spot Gen3 GPS Messenger. We also take a look at the newest and coolest eReaders and a few stocking stuffers.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S 8.4 inch Super AMOLED 2560×1600 ultra-sharp screen has multiple user features and dual screen options for simultaneously sharing two apps onscreen. Currently, it’s the best photo viewer and movie media player for its screen size with 94 per cent colour accuracy reproduction. It runs on Android with hundreds of thousands of Play Store apps and Samsung’s one apps as well. It has WiFi for keeping in touch and viewing the sharpest and clearest media, is 6.6 mm thin and features a fingerprint scanner and battery-saving Ultra Power Saving Mode. It also has a kid’s mode.
Globalstar Spot Gen 3 Satellite GPS Messenger knows where it is when off the cell grid and can send messages to friends or co-workers, saying that you are OK from wherever you are. It even shares your walking path, and in a real life-threatening emergency, sends out a global S.O.S call with your location. In non life-threatening situations it also sends a message to your designated contact, like a co-worker or friend who might be able to help you in other ways. The Spot is small, weatherproof, highly visible and runs forever on four included AAA batteries. A recent Globalstar Nielsen survey revealed that an overwhelming majority of Canadians (92 per cent) and 91 per cent of Albertans want reliable, 24/7 access to emergency services for winter road trips and outdoor activities.
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Digital book readers
eReaders still have a place in our digital lives. They run longer, are easy to carry and store thousands of eBooks. They cost less and are easy on the eyes. Here are three “All-New” affordably priced versions from Kindle – not to be confused with last year’s posted pricier models.
The New Kindle eReader, $79, is winner in many ways. It’s small, light, with weeks of battery life. It’s 20 per cent faster at processing and has twice the storage capability as the previous model. The new touch interface is simple and the new Word Wise feature makes it easier for readers learning English to understand new words.
Sporting tablet features and LCD screen, the Kindle Fire HD 7″, $164 (also HD 6″, $134), has a vivid HD display, a peppy, fast quad-core processor and front and rear-facing cameras. Dolby Digital audio provides better than average sound and the new Fire OS 4 “Sangria” has new features and enhancements with access to millions of books, Android apps and games. It’s still a compromise as the HD screen can’t match E Ink but you can transfer your Kindle books to it and enjoy full tablet features.
The new Fire HDX 8.9″, $399, also an LCD tablet, is similar to last year’s model, but it’s powered by the latest generation quad-core 2.5 GHz processor and features much faster graphics. It’s competitively priced with similarly sized Android tablets. With its 339 dpi HDX display, you simply see no pixels so reading fine book print is effortless with E Ink sharpness, but in full colour. Dynamic Light Control automatically adjusts the display colour to make the pages of a book resemble a piece of paper. It has great sound with Dolby Atmos, twice as loud as the iPad Air. It also comes with Fire OS 4 “Sangria,” and Amazon-exclusive features like free unlimited cloud storage for photos. It has a front selfie and rear 8 megapixel camera.
If you like to carry your digital book collection, all 3,000 books, in inclement weather or near pools, the Kobo WiFi Aura H20, $169.99, is waterproof in one metre of water for much longer than you can hold your breath. Competing the Kindle, Kobo is in 190 countries and its strength is in children’s books.
Its sharp, 265 dpi 6.8″ anti-glare touchscreen has upgraded Carta E Ink technology featuring ComfortLight backlight technology for reading in brighter places. With a battery good for up to two months, the IP67 certified eReader takes water sealable Micro SD, keeping 30,000 more eBooks dry.
Stocking stuffers
Smart accessory gadgets make for great stocking stuffers. They can be found in any tech accessory section of most stores for under $20. A recent stroll at London Drugs paid off with a selection of cool budget-minded small gift ideas.
Multi-connect USB cable for charging new and old iPhones and Micro-USB phones in different combinations from brands like Verbatim and Scosche.
Brite Idea is a very cool USB powered life-size LED light bulb from Logiix.
The Kingston DT microDuo, USB 3.0, 32 GB thumb drive, $30, features a regular USB and Micro USB for transferring data from tablets, smart phones and laptops.
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