iRig Mic Lav is a Lavalier Microphone for iPhones and Androids

While new iPhones and Android devices can now capture ultra-sharp HD video and in some instances 4K video, their built-in microphones leave much to be desired because they're designed for phone use. iRig Mic Lav is a new broadcast audio quality microphone that is compact, chainable with built-in monitoring ability of the iPhone, iPad touch and Android.

As the shift from traditional standalone video and still cameras to smartphones continues, a product like the iRig Mic Lav is a powerful accessory that can elevate the quality of a video. Hit jump for more detai on this new microphone which ships in November.

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Misfit announces Shine 2 now with advanced hardware and firmware

Today Misfit announced Shine 2, the next generation of the award-winning Shine Fitness and Sleep Monitor. Fully redesigned and enhanced, Shine 2 leverages the best of Shine’s elegant aesthetic and introduces powerful new functionality.

Shine 2 tracks activity and sleep more accurately with a 3-axis accelerometer and newly added 3-axis magnetometer. Users can now easily see progress and tell time in a halo of rainbow-colored lights, or get motivated with Misfit Move, a feature that encourages you to be active with a vibrational nudge. Text and call notifications and a silent vibe alarm are also new with Shine 2.

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Dyson buys battery firm Sakti3

With the latest acquisition by tech company Dyson, we can expect a boost in the battery life of its vacuum cleaners. Dyson just bought battery technology firm Sakti3 for US$90 million dollars. The manufacturing and technology firm previously invested $15 million into Sakti3. According to the company’s founder James Dyson, they plan to deliver new products using Sakti3 technology and build a battery production plant. The advanced solid-state battery technology is expected to be integrated within Dyson’s systems in a year or two.

Dyson and Sakti3 founder Ann Marie Sastry won’t say though if they plan to bring Sakti3’s technology into electric cars. Sakti3 previously claimed their batteries were twice as efficient as Tesla’s car batteries. Dyson isn’t ruling out licensing the technology to other companies. He said the batteries by Sakti3 don’t overheat like other liquid batteries and can charge “in a matter of minutes as opposed to a few hours.”

Source: USA Today

First Book Canada Partners With Author Neil Pasricha And Kobo To Launch "The Awesome Project"

 

By Sonya Davidson

You may have heard of the The Book of Awesome by Toronto-based writer Neil Pasricha. This book along with his "awesome" series has sold millions around the world landing him on the New York Times Bestselling list several times. Recently, Pasricha launched Awesome is Everywhere for kids a stunning interactive book (not what you think) but uses layers of hyper-photorealistic imagery and courages tapping and zooming. 

This week First Book Canada, in partnership with Rakuten Kobo and Penguin Random House Canada, announced "The Awesome Project", a literary initiative that will provide elementary school-aged children with their very own first book as well as educational resources to help foster the love of reading. 

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