Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Fidget spinner
A fidget spinner is a type of stress-relieving toy. A basic fidget spinner consists of a bearing in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic. The toy has been advertised as helping people who have trouble with focusing or fidgeting (such as those with ADHD, autism, or anxiety) by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or psychological stress. Experts were divided on this claim, with some supporting it while others disputed its scientific basis and argued the toy may actually be more distracting.
Although they were invented in the 1990s, fidget spinners became a popular toy in 2017. Often marketed with health benefits, the toy began being used by school children, resulting in some schools banning the spinners, arguing that the toy became a distraction in classrooms. Other schools are allowing the toy to be used discreetly by children in order to help them concentrate.
Origin
Catherine Hettinger, a chemical engineer by training, was initially credited by some news stories to have been the inventor of the fidget spinner, including by media outlets such as The Guardian,The New York Times,and the New York Post.[Hettinger filed a patent application for a "spinning toy" in 1993.Hettinger told the New York Postthat the idea for the toy came as she saw young boys throwing rocks at police officers in Israel. In response to seeing that, she wanted to develop a soothing toy that could help children release pent-up energy and "promote peace."However, she told The Guardian that the origins of the fidget spinner came when she was suffering from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness. Unable to play with her daughter, she started "throwing things together with newspaper and tape" in an effort to entertain her. It soon gained moderate popularity as she began small-scale manufacturing from her home and sold her invention around art fairs in Florida.
Hettinger applied for a patent on May 28, 1993 for a one-piece round device made of "soft plastic" with a "dome" (center indentation for finger placement) and a "skirt" (circular outward extension), then pitched her spinner device to toy manufacturers. However, Hasbro declined to pursue a deal after market-testing it.Hettinger let her spinning toy patent lapse in 2005; if it had been maintained, it would have expired in 2014.
A Bloomberg News article, however, disputes the claim that Hettinger is the original inventor of the fidget spinner, citing two patent lawyers who saw little resemblance between the fidget spinners which rose to popularity in 2017 and Hettinger's spinning toy, as described in the patent. Hettinger acknowledges there is no direct connection between her own spinning toy and fidget spinners in their current form and does not make any claims on being the inventor of the product, telling Bloomberg News: "Let's just say I'm claimed to be the inventor. You know, 'Wikipedia claims', or something like that."
Although the patent status of the various fidget spinners currently on the market is unclear,in an interview appearing on May 4, 2017 on NPR, Scott McCoskery describes how he invented a metal spinning device in 2014 to cope with his own fidgeting in IT meetings and conference calls. In response to requests from an online community, he began selling the device he called the Torqbar online. Shortly thereafter, others began making and selling their own versions, and in 2016 he partnered with a friend to file for a provisional patent.
Rise in popularity
On December 23, 2016, James Plafke of Forbes published an article describing fidget spinners as the "must-have office toy for 2017. In late March, users on social media websites such as YouTube and Reddit began uploading videos reviewing and performing tricks with fidget spinners.The Boston Globe reported that fidget toys in general "entered the mainstream" with the related Fidget Cube toy also rising in popularity.Several sellers on Etsy were reported to be creating and selling customized spinner designs.
The fidget spinner's popularity began to increase greatly in April 2017, with Google searches for "fidget spinner" spiking that month, according to Money magazine.By May 4, variations of the spinner occupied every spot on Amazon's top 20 best seller list for toys.Many publications referred to the fidget spinner as a fad, with some journalists comparing it to the rise in popularity of water bottle flipping in 2016. On April 27, 2017, the New York Post detailed, "so-called fidget spinners, low-tech, low-price stress relieving toys, are a huge fad sweeping the country, and stores can't keep them in stock."
Responses from schools
With the rapid increase in the spinner's popularity in 2017 — combined with the spinner's often advertised benefits for individuals with ADHD and autism, among other conditions — many children and teenagers began using it in school. Some schools also reported that kids were trading and selling the spinner toys.The Boston Globe cited a sixth-grade teacher from New Hampshire, who stated, "when we got back from Christmas break, a couple of kids had them, then a couple more kids had them, and then they were definitely en vogue."In some cases, the fidget spinners were reported to assist some children with focusing in school.In regards to a broader context of fidget tools in general, the Chicago Tribune reported, "today, it's common to see kids using some kind of fidget or other tool to help them settle and focus."
As a result of their frequent usage by school children, many school districts have banned the toy. Cited reasons for their banning were often teachers arguing that the spinners distracted students from completing their school work.Taylor-Klaus stated, "there are definitely times that kids don't know how to use a fidget and it becomes the primary focus instead of the background focus", adding that, "spinners are visually distracting, and they can make some noise, so it's not an ideal fidget for the classroom. But still, not allowing them in schools is probably throwing the baby out with the bath water." Illinois' Plainfield District 202 discussed possibly banning the spinner, with the district's assistant superintendent for student services, Mina Griffith, stating, "We have students who use them as an accommodation. They've been taught how to use them. But they're becoming a distraction for some kids. For students who don't have a disability, it's a toy, and that's never been allowed."
Health effects
When fidget spinners rose in popularity in 2017, many publications discussed their claimed benefits for individuals with ADHD, autism, or anxiety.As Money detailed, fidget spinners were "created and marketed as a calming tool used to stay focused." Some fidget spinners sold on Amazon were advertised as "stress relievers."Hettinger accounted her knowledge of "a special needs teacher who used it with autistic kids, and it really helped to calm them down."James Plafke of Forbes explained, "ultimately, though, there isn't enough research regarding whether or not these spinners can actually help people from a mental health standpoint."Experts themselves were polarized on this claim, as some supported the notion of its benefit for those with ADHD and autism, while others argued the spinners could actually be more distracting than helpful with focusing.
When reporting on their effects for individuals with ADHD, CNN cited Elaine Taylor-Klaus, the co-founder of ImpactADHD, a coaching service for children with attention disorders and their parents.Taylor-Klaus stated "For some people [with ADHD], there's a need for constant stimulation. What a fidget allows some people — not all people — with ADHD to do is to focus their attention on what they want to focus on, because there's sort of a background motion that's occupying that need."] U.S. News & World Report referenced two occupation therapists interviewed by WTOP, Katherine Ross-Keller and Stephen Poss.Ross-Keller stated, "Fidgets are great tools for kids who need them, as long as there are ground rules set up with the child and educator in advance, and as long as the child can follow the rules." Poss offered a more critical view of the spinners, "the spinner toys, in my opinion, and that of teachers I've spoken to, are just that — toys," adding, "fidget objects are meant to be felt, so that visual attention can be focused on the teacher. Spinner toys are visually distracting, and I think that's their major drawback.
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The 15-inch Is a Versatile 2-in-1 Laptop With a Killer 4K Display
HP's 15-inch Spectre x360, just like the 13-inch variant we tested and loved several months ago, is a more refined version of an already popular high-end notebook. The notebook offers an appealing mixture of style, specs, and performance, yet it weighs well below 5 pounds.
Superb Design and Craftsmanship
The 15-inch HP Spectre x360 shares the same excellent design language and craftsmanship as the 13-inch model, highlighted by thin side display bezels and surprisingly compact footprint. That said, the notebook is handily among the best looking full-size laptops out there.
A great design bit about the notebook is its ash silver color scheme with copper accents. It suits the big laptop well by adding just the right amount of flair to its otherwise subtle looks. The rounded 360-degree display hinges and machined speaker grilles.
Lovely 4K Display
The 15.6-inch 4K display of the HP Spectre x360 is excellent. Its IPS panel is incredibly sharp, as well as capable of delivering top-notch contrast and viewing angles.
The notebook's 360-degree display hinge complements the screen perfectly — it allows you to instantly switch from work to play and back. An optional stylus pen and Windows Ink support, on the other hand, allow users to unleash their creative side on all the pixels the screen has to offer.
Cutting-Edge Specs
Unsurprisingly, the full-size HP Spectre x360 packs high-end hardware, including a seventh-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics card with 2GB RAM. You can choose an OS between Windows 10 and Windows 10 Pro.
Buyers are left with the opportunity to choose the amount of RAM in their notebook — 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB. We strongly recommend that you consider nothing by the last option, especially considering the fairly modest increase that it adds to the device's price tag.
Every Spectre x360 comes equipped with ultra fast PCIe SSD storage. The available options range between 256GB and 1TB.
The full-size keyboard of the notebook is excellent, offering well-spaced backlit keys with well-sorted travel and feedback. Its trackpad also impresses with its generous size and smooth performance.
HP has equipped the notebook with an excellent set of wired connectivity options. They include two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt support), one USB-A port, an HDMI connector, and a standard audio jack.
Excellent Performance and Battery Life
Given its high-end specs, it's no surprise that the 15-inch HP Spectre x360 is an excellent performer regardless of the task on hand. The NVIDIA graphics card, coupled with the 4K display and the stylus pen, also makes the notebook a great option for editing photos and video.
The Bang & Olufsen-tuned quartet of speakers of the device deliver excellent sound on every occasion. There's also the option to tune their sound signature to your liking via a pre-installed software suite.
HP claims that the full-size Spectre x360 can deliver well over 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. In real-life, we managed to squeeze between eight and nine hours of battery life from the notebook — still a rather impressive feat for a laptop of its size and specs.
The Best in Its Class?
The latest 15-inch HP Spectre x360 is a solid contender for being the best full-size convertible laptop available today. It stands out among its peers with beautiful design, an attractive set of hardware features, and a rather attractive sub-$1,300 starting price tag.
In case a 15.6-inch display is a tad too big for you, consider the 13-inch model instead. HP recently added 4K display as a hardware option to the lightweight laptop, as well as the gorgeous ash silver paint job with copper elements.
A well-equipped HP Spectre x360 with 15.6-inch 4K display, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a stylus pen will set you back a highly reasonable $1,530. That's well over $1,000 less than a similarly equipped, slightly more powerful, but not as versatile MacBook Pro, so it's worth thinking: How much do you really prefer macOS over Windows 10?
Why Won't Anyone Fix What Is Actually Wrong With Phones?
There is a new telephone. Designed by Andy Rubin, the creator of Android who left Google in 2014, the "Essential Phone" arrived with a splash and bills itself as the antidote to the modern phone. It has a clean design, with no logos or branding, and promises a stripped down software design—no undeletable "bloatware" apps you don't want.
It is beautiful, for sure, but for all its revolutionary talk, it doesn't begin to solve the problem that needs solving: that we have to keep buying these things over and over and over.
Briefly, here are the things that make the Essential Phone unique:
- A titanium case, which may or may not keep your phone from getting busted. After all, it's the screen that breaks.
- Metal "pogo pins" on its back, which allow you to snap on attachments like a special 360-degree camera (the only such attachment announced right now), or snap it into a dock.
- Its screen goes all the way to the top of the phone, wrapping around the front-facing camera, which looks swell!
- There is no brand or logo anywhere on it, which is frankly pretty fantastic.
- It will work in tandem with the "Essential Home," a smart speaker, voice assistant, smart-home hub device in the style of the Amazon Echo, Google Home, et al.
- It's made by the guy who made Android! Smart dude!
What is maybe more noteworthy is the ways it is like other phones out there: It's a $700 rectangular screen with a camera that (probably) runs vanilla Android. In fact, it's quite an awful lot like Google's Pixel, though prettier and without the headphone jack. The things that make it "special" are unproven at best, meaningless at worst.
PHONES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE GADGETS THAT ARE ALMOST WORTHLESS IN JUST TWO YEARS.
But it's not like phones have reached perfection and there is no room left to improve. There are actually two huge, intertwined problems that plague virtual every device. Their batteries only last a single day at best, and they are very expensive gadgets that are almost worthless in just two years, three max.
Replaceable batteries help solve the issue of battery life, but that feature fell out of style ostensibly because it hampers a razor-thin design. There's a more insidious explanation though, one that cuts to the core of what's really wrong with phones today: if you can easily replace the battery, why buy a whole new phone when the battery goes bad?
In the early days of smartphones, the processing power that phones could provide and that apps demanded increased in leaps and bounds, making the choice to upgrade for better performance a no-brainer if you could afford it. But now as processing power (and the need for it) has mostly plateaued, there's a different apple hanging from the end of the upgrade stick: often a new battery, but also an unshattered screen, or unbroken hardware buttons—a phone that isn't so much "better as it is just "not busted."
These are problems that a truly revolutionary phone could endeavor to fix in any number of ways. Google's truly modular phone failed, but perhaps there's a more reasonable middle ground. How about a phone with replacement parts you can order from the maker and install with basic skills and tools? Or a phone that actually comes with its own repair kit? Or a phone with a free battery replacement after two years? In short, a phone that's not just new, but a phone that stays new for years and years. Yes, it flies in the face of market pressure to Sell More Phones but I'd pay a premium to not have to worry about buying a damn phone again.
Some phones like this do exist. Warrantee offerings and free-repair promotions hint at a possible future. But no phone has followed through on this aim full-throatedly, or with beauty and flourish the way a big name like Andy Rubin (and the commensurate investment that name commands) could follow through. It's too bad the Essential Phone is essentially just more of the same.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
USB Mail Notifier
This is an awesome little gadget that you can link to your email and messaging clients so that you'll know when you have a new email or message without having to bring them up. This type of gadget would be perfect for those of you with single-monitor configurations who need to frequently monitor your email.
Floppy disk USB drive
So, the floppy disk sticky notes are pretty cool, but this USB drive really takes the cake for floppy disk awesomeness, I think. A great modern take on a classic.
Boom Box Speaker
There’s nothing attractive about a bundle of cables hanging from your speaker – especially when it’s a speaker with poor sound quality. However, there is a definitely something attractive about a completely wireless speaker with huge sexy sounds!
The Boom Box Touch Speaker is just that. Hidden inside the retro boom box design is a clever bit of technology that allows you to play your phones music, through the speaker of the boom box without any wires or pairing of devices. Simply place your device on top of the Boom Box Touch Speaker and the speakers will automatically interact with each other making the sounds instantly amplified. So your music can get finally get the sound quality that it deserves. Since there is no wiring or cables needed, the speaker is completely portable and boasts a massive 10 hour playback time – perfect for outdoor entertainment!
The Boom Box Touch Speaker is compatible with any device as long as it has an external speaker. The Boom Box also has a 3.5mm jack for any music players that dont have their own speaker.
Please note: to get the loudest output from the Boom Box Speaker you made need to have your phone/mp3 player slightly rotated when placed upon it. This is due to the positioning of the external speaker in your music player.
