This morning’s gadget slot was probably the most fun we’ve had so far!! Today I featured the Anki Drive a physical car racing game which effortlessly merges the real world with arcade racing and adds buckets of artificial intelligence.

You can buy Ankidrive online direct from Amazon by clicking the image below….

Both Mark and myself can vouch how quickly it can be unrolled and set up as I managed while a song was playing. I haven’t even touched on what you can do with this ‘racing game’, but I can tell you I was seriously impressed!! Full written review coming soon, in the meantime listen to the attached audio stream and the short video filmed by the lovely Jaimielee.

Thanks to the wonderful Lauren Armour at Hotwire PR for getting this over to me at such short notice!!!

Post by BBC Radio Suffolk.

Gadget Man, Review, Technology

All bases are covered with the BT Video Baby Monitor 7500 Lightshow

December 11, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

As a father myself, I know how stressful is can be having a newborn baby in the house, especially when you are a new parent. Baby monitors have been the must have purchase for new parents and they have evolved amazingly over the years.

Continue reading All bases are covered with the BT Video Baby Monitor 7500 Lightshow →

Drones, Gadget Man, Podcast, Review, Technology

The Gadget Man – Episode 27 – Parrot Jumping Sumo Minidrone

Audio December 8, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

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This week we have lots of fun in the studio with the Parrot Jumping Sumo Mini Drone.

Packed FULL of sensors and technology including a spring which can be fired on demand to propel the Sumo into the air, this is a really cool Christmas gift for your over 14 year old.

You can control the Jumping Sumo using a smartphone app for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone. This allows for full control over the Jumping Sumo similar to a remote control vehicle.

You can also build a road map within the map so the bot can perform a pre-programmed display.

It’s all great fun and can be bought for just over £100.

Thanks to Steve Puddle for his help organising the loan of the Jumping Sumo

Parrot Jumping Sumo Minidrone — Front Mounted Camera

App of the Week, Gadget Man, Podcast, Review, Technology

The Gadget Man – Episode 26 – Smart Phones for Vision Impaired People

Audio December 1, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

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This week we discussed the availability of mobile phone devices for vision impaired people.

Matt specifically discussed the assistance provided by phone manufacturers in the form of ‘Easy Mode’ and ‘Accessibility’ options. We also discussed addons such as ‘Georgiephone’ and screen readers.

There was also some discussion on the development of active screens that actually change shape to provide haptic feedback.

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was specifically mentioned as it provides Easy Mode and Accessibility features such as Magnify Glass, Torch and easy to read buttons.

Listen to the stream to find out more and I have attached a photo of the Alpha in Easy Mode.

Gadget Man, Review, Technology

Star Wars Episode VII Teaser Trailers, Spoofs and Lens Flare

Video November 30, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Like many, we are really looking forward to the next trilogy of Star Wars movies coming our way, starting in December 2015 with Episode VII The Force Awakens.

The new trilogy is being directed by J.J. Abrams, who is famous for adding plentiful lens flare into his movies. There’s been much discussion on Twitter and Facebook about whether the new Star Wars movies will inherit this trait along with maintaining the visible style of the previous ‘Hexalogy’.

Right up to the release of the teaser last week YouTube became awash with fan made versions, some good and some bad, we’ve added a selection of the above, including the official version with added lens flare and George Lucas’ ‘Special Edition’.

If you have found some Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens teasers that you think should be added to the list, include them in a comment below!!

Enjoy

The Official ‘Teaser’

The ‘Lens Flare’ Edition

The George Lucas ‘Special Edition’

The ‘Lego’ Edition

Finally, a fake version….

Gadget Man, Podcast, Review

The Gadget Man – Episode 25 – Selfie Sticks

Audio November 24, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

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They’re all the rage at the moment and it looks like they could be the gadget gift choice for this Christmas….

Yes, I’m talking about the Selfie Stick, GoPole, Monopole or Monopod.

These are telescopic poles that allow for the fitting of a camera at the end. Some include inbuilt shutter buttons, others are sold separately.

Listen to the recording of the show to find out whether selfies can replace autographs.

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The Gadget Man – Coming up after 11.40 this morning, we talk about the “Selfie Stick”

November 24, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Later this morning I will be chatting to Mark Murphy at BBC Radio Suffolk about the Selfie Stick.

Is this going to be the gadget gift for Christmas 2014?

The Selfie Stick is a reasonably low cost gift to for anyone that loves taking photos of themselves. Always problematic when trying to cram everyone into the photo, the selfie stick extends your arm up to a metre allowing you to frame the photo more easily.

For under a tenner, shoppers can buy a selfie stick with integrated bluetooth remote shutter that works with both iPhones and Android devices. You can also remove the phone clamp from the top and attach your camera via standard screw mount. This is great for owners of GoPro cameras.

Tune in on air or online to hear all about my featured Christmas Gadget gift of the week. To listen online click here

Matt Porter taking a photo with a Selfie Stick

Matt Porter in a traditional selfie — The traditional selfie remains just as popular, as demonstrated by Matt Porter

Gadget Man, Podcast

The Gadget Man – Are these really breached webcam and baby monitor’s or simply webcams that need a password?

Audio November 20, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

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There’s been lots in the news this morning about the the Russian website providing a directory of ‘open’ cameras on the web.

<< LISTEN HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

To be clear, this website is showing camera’s that DO NOT have any security applied to them. Lists of such camera’s have been widely available on the internet for a couple of years now. If you connect such a web based camera to the internet with no password, you are simply producing a public web page that display video to the world.

I have looked myself and found that most of the cameras are set up to either monitor pets, property, businesses or in some cases children’s bedrooms. I suggest the monitoring of your childrens bedrooms should be taken very seriously indeed. If you are currently using a camera to monitor your child, you should ALWAYS ensure that there are very strong passwords applied to the camera (Strong passwords can be found here).

If you are in any doubt at all that your camera is not secure, switch it off and contact the supplier for information on how to do this.

As the site says, if you want to be removed from the site, just set your password!

I discuss this with Mark Murphy on BBC Radio Suffolk on 20th November 2014.

Gadget Man, Podcast, Review

The Gadget Man – Episode 24 – Samsung Galaxy Note 4 from Three and Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Audio November 18, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

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Samsung Galaxy Alpha Black | 2GB Data, 600 Minutes — Samsung Galaxy Alpha

This week Mark and I chat about the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 from Three and also the Galaxy Alpha. There is so much to talk about with these devices, so full online reviews will be uploaded soon!!

Thanks to Jocelyn Medhurst at Cow PR for providing me with the Galaxy Note 4 and the Three sim to test it with!!

Thanks also to Laura Gale at Kazoo who provided the Galaxy Alpha as well as lots of other tech in the past!!

I took a selfie of myself and Mark, which is attached below, I think I can safely say that isn’t my best side!!

Gadget Man, Podcast

Coming up this morning on BBC Radio Suffolk

November 18, 2014 Matt Porter Leave a comment

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Black | AYCE Data, AYCE Minutes — Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Black

Matt’s live on air at 11.40 on Mark Murphy’s Show on BBC Radio Suffolk, where he will be chatting about the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and it’s little brother the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

Listen Live here!!

The Note 4 was supplied by Three and included a 4g sim card, so we were able to test out their service too!

Tune in live or listen again on iPlayer or check back here later on today!!

Matt Porter, The Gadget Man – AI, Technology News and Reviews

The Gadget Man – Episode 28 – Anki-Drive, the Best of Both Worlds – Updated with purchase links

All bases are covered with the BT Video Baby Monitor 7500 Lightshow

The Gadget Man – Episode 27 – Parrot Jumping Sumo Minidrone

The Gadget Man – Episode 26 – Smart Phones for Vision Impaired People

Star Wars Episode VII Teaser Trailers, Spoofs and Lens Flare

The Gadget Man – Episode 25 – Selfie Sticks

The Gadget Man – Coming up after 11.40 this morning, we talk about the “Selfie Stick”

The Gadget Man – Are these really breached webcam and baby monitor’s or simply webcams that need a password?

The Gadget Man – Episode 24 – Samsung Galaxy Note 4 from Three and Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Coming up this morning on BBC Radio Suffolk

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