iPad gets a cushy pillow

There are loads of iPad apps to keep young children entertained, but do you really want those little hands gripping your precious hardware? The Cushpad will reduce some of that anxiety. The Cushpad ($35 at thecushpad.com) is a wedge-shaped pillow built to hold and protect an iPad in...

By: Ric Manning On 3/31/2012

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New Orbs boost desktop audio

Orb Audio's home theater system matches a subwoofer with an array of small spherical speakers that are done up in stylish finishes, like black gloss or antiqued copper. Now Orb has expanded its product line to include package designed for a wider range of devices including computers, gaming...

By: Ric Manning On 3/27/2012

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Book helps teens build games for mobiles

I still remember how proud and excited I was after I saw a simple program I had written run on my Apple ][ computer. I discovered that programming is not black magic and that it can be fun and rewarding. Author Clayton Crooks captures that spirit in his...

By: Ric Manning On 3/26/2012

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New devices help mind your health

The FIT monitor from BodyMedia At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, health and fitness gadgets shared space in the convention halls with new computers, phones and TVs. Companies like BodyMedia and Striiv are making devices that not only track your heart rate and other health...

By: Ric Manning On 3/16/2012

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Big sound from the little Foxl

Compared to most portable speakers, the Foxl V2 speaker from Soundmatters is a big step up in both sound and price.The Foxl's sound comes from a pair of small dome speakers mounted behind rigid steel grille. Soundmatters calls them "Twoofers" because they handle both the bass and treble...

By: Ric Manning On 3/08/2012

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X-Mini is a ball of sound

The affordable X-Mini speakers are about the size of a billiard ball. Give the top a twist and the two ends separate, connected by a bit of flexible tubing that becomes a sound chamber. Connect the attached audio cable to your music source and you are rewarded with...

By: Ric Manning On 3/03/2012

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