Review: Jamstik+ Smart Guitar

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Jamstik+ isn't an electric guitar but a synthesizer. It plays sampled chords or sounds depending on where you touch, hold or strum the instrument.

Jamstik+ is a unique new MIDI controller that's being marketed as a 'smart guitar,' this small and lightweight device recalls the look of Steinberger basses from the 80's, which are basically a neck, strings and pickups and not much else. It pairs to your iOS device via an app and can simulate various sounds ranging from steel strings to wah-wah distorted guitars and even sitars, saxophones and other synth sounds.

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Review: Acer Chromebook 11

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

As far as low-cost connected computers go, it’s hard to beat a Chromebook in terms of value for money as well as basic functionality. Acer’s Chromebook 11 takes a lot of the simplicity of Chrome OS but also gives us many of the features we expect from a dominant PC maker like Acer.

Chromebooks, which are cloud-connected devices that require constant Internet access, are notorious for low-end specs. This includes paltry processors and tiny storage space plus very little expansion capabilities.

The Acer Chromebook 11 makes things more interesting with an actual Intel Celeron processor (dual-core 2.16 GHz, with 2 GB of RAM as well as Intel HD graphics).

There’s also some surprising I/O. The Acer Chromebook 11 has Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and HDMI ports. The SD card reader enables a way to access and transfer files. All-in-all, a good set of features for a device that’s considered entry-level for CAD $249.00.

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The Apple Beat: The iPad grows up

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

To say Apple is eyeing the enterprise is a huge understatement. They’ve struck deals with the likes of IBM and Cisco to create some serious, secure, and enterprise grade iOS-first solutions that should satisfy CIOs of Fortune 500 companies as well as any SMB outfit looking for a standardized set of tools.

Apple’s iPad Pro is a daring creation. It is a powerful yet portable tablet that may seem oversized to many of us used to 7, 8 and 9-inch tablets but there’s merit to the new size as well as the new functionality.

IPad Pro isn’t the first pro-focused tablet. There’s three (possibly four, by October) generations of Microsoft Surface Pros that have a similar keyboard and stylus combination. The big difference is that the Surface runs PC applications as well as some mobile ones as well.

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The latest look at the Apple Campus 2

A new drone flyover video from Emory Peterson and aerial photography company Above Reno shows us how far the new “Apple Campus 2” is progressing. Shot in 4K over Labor Day weekend, it shows how much progress has been made so far in building Campus 2. It’s scheduled to be completed by late 2016.

Aside from having the circular structure at the heart of the campus, this new facility will house 300,000 square foot of R&D facilities, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a parking structure, and other building surrounding the main structure. Apple plans to move around 13,000 of its employees to the new campus. You can keep track of the construction’s progress in the timeline here.

Source: 9to5Mac