Nicole DiGiose

The History of the French 75 Cocktail

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine.

Just because the French 75 is a champagne cocktail doesn’t mean it’s just meant for sipping at a New Year’s Eve party or at a wedding reception. This drink dates back to World War I, when it was supposedly created by a WWI fighter pilot of French and American origin who thought champagne was lacking in the potency department. The drink was found to have such a powerful kick that he said it felt like being on the receiving end of a French 75mm howitzer artillery piece, hence the name of the cocktail. Coming from a World War I pilot, you can be confident in your masculinity while knocking back one of these.

Image via amctv.com.

Made from gin or cognac, Champagne, lemon juice and sugar, the French 75 is certainly not for rookies. Read More

Top smartwatches on the market today

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

Wearables are in and the smartwatch space is growing – which one should you wrap around your wrist?

What’s the deal with smartwatches springing up all over the place? Sure, they look hip and modern, but are they really worth it when you can have everything on your smartphone? The answer is absolutely yes. Not only do these smart gadgets wrapped around your wrist make you look like you’re with the times, they can do just about everything your phone can do and more. They can last for days on a full charge, are easier to access and harder to lose, and in the rare instance you somehow manage to drop your smartwatch, chances are it won’t break or shatter, and most of them are waterproof. Check out the three biggest smartwatches on the market today, and be sure to add one to your list this holiday season.

Pebble

Pebble comes in several different colors. Image via pcmag.

With a clean, simple look, the Pebble smartwatch is just that. It offers an easy-to-read e-paper screen with a backlight you can activate by waving your wrist. Making calls, receiving phone notifications and controlling music is as simple as doing it on a smartphone. This trendy watch also allows you to download apps that fit your lifestyle, such as those that track your runs, notify you of sports scores, update information on your morning commute, and open voice navigation without swiping at a phone. Read More

Top laptop picks of the season

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

It’s that time again. Thanksgiving’s around the corner and the holiday shopping madness is about to begin. If you’re planning out your Black Friday or are gearing up for Cyber Monday but aren’t quite sure which laptop to place your money on, don’t worry—we’ve got the work cut out for you, no matter if you’re searching for an entry-level laptop or a system for a complete computer geek. Browse our list of the top picks of the season below.

MacBook Air (13-inch)

Suited for those of us on the go, the 13-inch MacBook Air is Apple’s most portable laptop. With an Intel Haswell processor as well as OS X Mavericks, this laptop can last about 13 hours on a full charge. For weighing only 3-Ibs and being very thin, this aluminum notebook comes with some of the best speakers for its size. It also includes incredibly fast flash memory and either 128 GB or 256 GB internal storage.

MacBook Air

Price: $1,099

Buy now.

Acer Chromebook C720

This basic computer is great for people who use the Internet just to check their email, browse the web and post on Tumblr. With an Intel Celeron processor, this 11-inch system can last up to eight hours of battery life and can easily slide into a bag or a purse. It’s great for everyday use, no matter if you’re watching Youtube videos at home or traveling the world. Read More

Helium-filled airplane could help aid disaster areas

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

Hybrid ESTOLAS combines aspects of a plane, helicopter, blimp and hovercraft

An airplane-helicopter-blimp-hovercraft hybrid filled with helium may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but this aircraft may be the best solution to quickly get emergency supplies to disaster zones where roads and runways may be non-existent or completely demolished.

The hybrid ESTOLAS aircraft. Image via NewScientist.

The odd looking pot-bellied plane is currently undergoing feasibility tests in the European Commission’s Extremely Short Take Off and Landing On any Surface (ESTOLAS) project. Read More

Earbuds vs over-ear headphones: Which is best?

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

Comparing two popular ways to enjoy portable music

No doubt about it, good headphones are a pleasure to listen to. Tuning out the world of noise around you so it’s just you and the music, audio book, or podcast you’re listening to is something we all need to indulge in every once in a while. When choosing headphones, one of the comparisons you’ll be making is whether you want earbuds or over-ear headphones. As with just about anything, both come with pros and cons, but consider these important points when selecting a quality pair of headphones to enjoy.

Over-ear headphones

Pros: Over-ear headphones rest on your outer ears while fully enclosing them, much like the ear coverings worn by those working on airstrips. The biggest advantage of these headphones is that they deliver superior sound quality, especially for capturing bass tones while blocking out background noise you’d rather not hear, such as traffic on the street or that loud movie playing in the other room. Compared to earbuds, many people find the soft pads covering the ears to be more comfortable, as they don’t irritate the inner ear.

Cons: The downside to these bulky headphones is just that – they’re big and aren’t too portable, and if you wear them long enough, they tend to get sweaty and sticky, especially if you’re exercising. They also have a habit of ruining hair and getting in the way of glasses and jewelry. Read More

Headless cat robot could be future of search-and-rescue missions

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

The cheetah-cub robot is fast, agile, and on its way to becoming a life-saving machine in times of disaster

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland have created a swift, cat-like robot that could be the prototype for fleet-footed search-and-rescue robots. With its flexible, lightweight structure, the small robot, called the cheetah-cub robot, mimics feline morphology.

The cheetah-cub robot. Image via popsci.com.

Modeled off of the feline leg, each of the robot’s four limbs has three segments in the same proportions as that of a housecat. Even though the robot is headless, that’s not the only thing separating it from the cute and cuddly. Read More

Super Typhoon Haiyan has Filipinos logging online for aid

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

How Google and Twitter are providing relief after Haiyan tore its way through the Philippines

Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms to ever be recorded on the planet, slammed into the Philippines this morning. As the powerful 200-MPH winds roared across the cluster of islands, 100,000 people took shelter in evacuation centers and hundreds of flights were canceled. TV broadcasts have been filled with warnings and advice, but the Internet is where many people are seeking help.

Google’s crowdsourced crisis response map. Image via Mashable.

As it often does in times of disaster, web giant Google prepared a crowdsourced crisis response map for Filipinos looking to track Haiyan and the destruction it’s caused. The map also shows the landslide and flood-prone areas in the country and includes information on hospitals, evacuation centers and command posts close to the affected areas.

Spinlet, the iTunes of Africa

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

Spinlet is a mobile music service that brings media distribution to emerging markets in Africa

This past week Electronic Products spoke with the CEO of Spinlet, Neil Schwartzman. Known as the “iTunes of Africa,” Spinlet brings you the world of African music, including tracks from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and more. With Spinlet you can discover the latest in African music, create playlists, and share your favorite tracks. Wondering what’s so different about Spinlet compared to other music distribution companies? Read on to find out.

Neil Schwartzman, CEO of Spinlet.

Electronic Products: Where did the idea for Spinlet come from?

Neil Schwartzman: Digital is the future of entertainment. Music fans all over the world are choosing to listen to their music when and where they want. The inspiration for Spinlet came from identifying this, but also the need for local musicians (wherever they reside) to have an easily accessible, affordable showcase for their talent that can reach more people and from which they can instantly start generating revenue.

Targeting emerging markets such as Africa where online services are developing and growing exponentially also made it easier to roll Spinlet out, especially as the African diaspora around the globe enjoy accessing the sound of “home.”

EP: What makes Spinlet different from other music distribution companies? Read More

Dolphins inspire rescue radar system

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

A new radar system sends out two radio pulses instead of one to rescue trapped survivors

British engineers have taken inspiration from one of the world’s smartest mammals, the dolphin, to create a new type of radar device that could easily track miners trapped underground or skiers buried in an avalanche.

Similar to a dolphin’s use of echolocation, the radar device sends out two pulses in quick succession to allow for a targeted search for semiconductor devices while canceling any background noise. According to Timothy Leighton of the University of Southampton’s engineering faculty, since the device has more accuracy and speed than conventional radar, it’s been able to detect roadside bombs, bugging devices and mobile phones, even in areas with lots of metal clutter.

Dolphins use echolocation to locate fish, which inspired British engineers to create a new rescue radar device. Image via2hawaii.edu.

Leighton told Discovery that the research was triggered by the curiosity of how dolphins can “see” beyond the clouds of bubbles they blow to herd their prey into smaller groups for feeding. Read More

iPhone 5s outselling the iPhone 5c

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

Apple’s iPhone 5s is overselling the iPhone 5c by a ratio of two to one

Back in September Apple launched two new iPhones: the anticipated, high-end 5s and the colorful, lower-priced 5c. According to a new analysis by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the 5s has been blowing away the lower-priced 5c in the United States – with more than double the sales.

The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Image via theinquirer.net.

The survey conducted by CIRP shows that the 5s accounted for 64% of iPhone sales following its launch at the end of September. As for the 5c, it only accounted for 27%, and the now legacy iPhone 4s took up the remaining 9%.

According to Apple, the iPhone 5c was intended as a mainstream phone and the iPhone 5s as an enthusiast one, or “the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world,” meant for forward-thinking people. But what’s most surprising is the iPhone 5c’s sales performance. Despite the phone being new, bright and bold, it’s not selling much better than the 4s did when it was demoted to a legacy iPhone by the show-stealing iPhone 5. The new 5c seems to be taking on a similar role to that of the 4s from last year in becoming the new $99 iPhone. Read More