Roku brings small yet powerful Roku Express to Canada

It’s small yet packs a big punch. The new Roku Express promises five times more power than its predecessor but it still keeps things simple for streaming. Retailing for just $39.99, you get the bare necessities in terms of accessories, including a simple-to-use remote and HDMI cable. But don’t discount the Roku Express. Just like its other brothers, it is powered by Roku OS and gives you access to 4,000+ streaming channels, including 150,000 movies and TV episodes. A free Roku app is available for iOS and Android and can also serve as a remote for the box as well as let you stream media from a mobile device. On top of that, you can use it as a keyboard and it has voice search and private listening capabilities. You can find the new Roku Express next month at Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Staples, The Source, London Drugs, and other retailers.

This bike light harnesses AI for safer rides

There are many different bike lights available out on the market. But we can’t say there are that many powered by artificial intelligence. Enter this new Kickstarter project from See.Sense. Called the Ace, this new bicycle light that makes use of AI to make sure you’re visible at any time of the day. It gets even brighter when you approach things like junctions, roundabouts, and oncoming cars. With a 150 lumen bulb in front and a 125 lumen bulb at the back, this is meant to be seen from more than a mile away. And with a 200-degree lens, it’s also meant to be seen from the side. You don’t have to worry about biking in the rain as the Ace is IP67-rated for water-resistance. The light can run around 10 hours between charges and has its own smart battery management system. It can detect when you’re done riding or left your bike and turn the lights off.

If you use the accompanying See.Sense app, you can get things like crash and theft alerts as well as custom flash patterns. The project has already met its goal and if you’re interested in getting your hands on one, you just need to pay £44 (around CA$73) for a set of front and back lights. The product is expected to ship starting June 2018.

Source: Cult of Mac

Google WiFi updated with site blocking and family controls

Google WiFi is already one of the most powerful and innovative MESH router systems and it just got better specially for families of young children. A recent update enables blocking websites with violent or suggestive content. The update also adds the ability to add Scheduled Pauses for bedtime and distraction-free moments (meals, homework time). 

Google Wifi’s site blocking feature can automatically block millions of sexually explicit websites from your kids’ devices with Google’s SafeSearch technology.

Microsoft launches Surface Book 2 with 13 and 15-inch variants and USB Type-C

Just in time for the release of the Windows 10 Creator's Update Fall Edition, Microsoft has updated its Surface Book line of detacheable 2-in-1 flagships. Featuring the latest Intel processors, a range of video cards and now a choice between 13 and 15-inch models. The new Surface Book 2 models also adopt USB Type-C connectors which are quickly becoming the industry standard. Canadian pricing and availability remains a mystery as of the time of this post.