UPDATE: After 6 weeks of use, I now find the product UNACCEPTABLE. When it works it is fine, but too often it disconnects from the WiFi network. Several times a week when I try accessing its camera from my iPhone it will not work The fix is to unplug and replug it in again. Guardzilla is […]
Author Archives: Phil Baker
27
Oct
Oct
Technology is letting us down. After all, isn’t it supposed to serve us ads on our phones, tablets, and computers that makes us want to buy more? Isn’t it supposed to show us ads that are selected for us based on our activities on the internet and the information it learns about us? But, most […]
26
Oct
Oct
In conjunction with researching Uber for a story several weeks ago, I went through the sign up process as a driver, but never completed the process when it came to providing personal information for a background check. As a result, Uber has been me emailing several times a week since early September requesting that I […]
20
Oct
Oct
Leatherman is the company that invented the successor to the Swiss Army knife, the multi-function pocketknife that contains an array of robust tools, including pliers, knives, wire cutters, screwdrivers and much more. Today they make dozens of models of all sizes, even one that is TSA compliant that omits the knife blade. Over the years […]
18
Oct
Oct
With more complaints about Uber drivers, one victim called this to my attention, Uber’s waiver of responsibility: “You understand, therefore, that by using the application and the service, you may be exposed to transportation that is potentially dangerous, offensive, harmful to minors, unsafe or otherwise objectionable, and that you use the application and the service […]
15
Oct
Oct
Remember long ago when the invention of high-quality printers, Adobe Postcript, and design software brought publishing to the desktop? No longer did you need to rely on experts to design your newsletters, presentations, and brochures. Individuals were empowered to do more on their own in their offices. That thought came to mind when I read […]
06
Oct
Oct
New technologies are making it possible to keep tabs on your home when travelling. There are cameras that detect motion in your home and trigger an alert such as Canary, a product I previously reviewed. (https://bakerontech.com/two-clever-gadgets-advance-the-internet-of-things/) Using an app on your phone, the cylindrical-shaped device alerts you when it detects motion in your home when […]
02
Oct
Oct
Why can’t the US build consumer electronic products? THE DAILY TECHPINION PHIL BAKER / October 2nd, 2015 I recently returned from a short trip to Shenzhen, the large Chinese city less than an hour’s drive north of Hong Kong. When anyone wonders why we don’t build consumer electronic products in the United States, the one word […]
02
Oct
Oct
The Pono Player continues to be one of the most exciting products I’ve been involved with. When I began working for Neil Young more than 3 years ago, the player had been a dream of Neil’s for more than a decade. Thanks to the small design team we put together and our manufacturer PCH, the […]
01
Oct
Oct
The IONA dock from LandingZone is a premium charging dock for the iPhone and iPad. IONA was designed by the renowned industrial designer, Mike Nuttall, and it shows. It’s a sleek attractive dock, one of the best I’ve ever tried. It’s constructed of aluminum and glossy white plastic with a heavily weighted swivel base. It works with […]
01
Oct
Oct
Ditto is hot! This tiny little device alerts you to incoming calls, texts and messages, and it’s selling like hotcakes according to several insiders. It clips to your shirt or underwear and emits a discreet vibration. It connects to your phone by Bluetooth and relies on a free app (iOS and Android) to set it up. You […]
28
Sep
Sep
Sep 28th 2015 TRIANGULATION 218 PHIL BAKER: THE PRODUCT GUY Hosted by Leo Laporte Phil Baker is an expert in new product development. Records live every Monday at 2:00pm Eastern / 11:00am Pacific / 18:00 UTC.
28
Sep
Sep
When I tried the Apple Watch several months ago when it first came out, I found it to be a technology gadget that had no compelling value over the short time I used it. But the Watch is one of those products not lending itself to a quick review. It’s not like an iPhone whose […]
28
Sep
Sep
The idea of wirelessly charging our phones has been a promise for more than a decade. In concept, you just place your phone on a flat surface or pad and the phone automatically charges. No cables to plug in. While it sounds great, it has failed to catch on and has cost companies millions of […]
28
Sep
Sep
Living in San Diego, it’s not often I have a chance to get a close look at a the hotel scene here. So I was excited to attend an introduction to the the 211 room Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar. I’ve stayed at hotels all over the world, particularly in Asia, and the Palomar made a really positive […]
28
Sep
Sep
Homeland Security personnel ran a test a few weeks ago to determine how effective the screening is at U.S. airports. The results were dismal. The Transportation Security Administration failed to detect fake guns, bomb parts, and explosives in 67 out of the 70 attempts, failing 95 percent of the time. Something is terribly wrong when […]
14
Sep
Sep
The cellular companies are losing some of their hold on our cellular services and that’s a good thing. Much of this began when the FCC disapproved the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. As predicted by the FCC and the consumer groups opposing the merger, this has resulted in more competition. Left on its own, T-Mobile, […]
08
Sep
Sep
Several months back I reviewed Uber and described how much I liked using it. In fact, I compared it to having a driver at your disposal, being able to call for a ride whenever needed. But there’s another side to Uber that surfaced last week. I first learned of it when a good friend of […]
24
Aug
Aug
Chevy Volt Here’s my final update on the 2013 Chevy Volt I bought nearly two years ago. I’ve driven 12,800 miles and just took it in for its scheduled free maintenance — still no cost for any service. The car continues to perform well with no real mechanical or electrical issues. There are no rattles […]