Journalism | Nicole DiGiose

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

Siri vs Google Now

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

The battle of the digital personal assistants

Touchscreens are now the standard for phones and voice recognition is the next big thing. Since advances are being made in wearable technology such as the smartwatch and Google Glass, we’re most likely going to need to talk to our mobile devices much more often. Though voice recognition isn’t perfect yet, this opens the debate as to which digital personal assistant is better: Apple’s beloved Siri or Google’s sophisticated Google Now?

Image via showmetech.band.uol.com.br

First let’s take a look at Siri, who’s been getting smarter with each version of the iPhone that Apple churns out. One great thing about Siri is that it’s always a button press away, even if you have another app open. Always ready to assist, the intelligent voice was created to do things for you, including setting up calendar events, creating personal reminders, placing phone calls, launching apps, playing music and answering questions honestly, no matter what they may be. Siri can even update your Facebook status and send out your tweets on Twitter. Overall, this trusting confidant has been found pretty useful. Read More

Speedy cockroach robot can save lives

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

VelociRoACH mimics one of the world’s most hated pests in order to save lives

Being one of the toughest and fastest insects in the world, the American cockroach is often considered a pest, and many people pay big bucks just to keep them out of their homes. But don’t stomp on the icky little creatures just yet, because one day they may be responsible for saving your life.

VeliciRoACH is one of the world’s fastest robots.
Image via inhabitat.

Modeled after the disgusting roach itself, the creepy crawly cockroach robot can scurry across the floor at 2.7 meters per second, meaning that in one second, it can skitter 26 times the length of its body, making it one of the fastest robots in the world.

Chilled Magazine: The History of the Hot Toddy

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine.

Pretty much the adult version of chicken soup, the Hot Toddy is known to be the go-to drink when you’re feeling under the weather, or the perfect potion to wind down with on a chilly, rainy night. Typically a mixed drink made of liquor, water, sugar and spices and served hot, this comforting classic is traditionally sipped on before going to bed.

Image via jackdaniels.com.

Believed to relieve the symptoms of the cold and flu with its nutritious vitamin C, soothing honey and numbing alcohol, steaming mugs of Hot Toddies are saviors once the air becomes chilly and the days grow dark. While the Hot Toddy is most commonly associated with whiskey as the base ingredient, since at least the 17^th century it’s been made with a multitude of different spirits, and years ago, that usually depended on where you were from.

Traditional Scottish preparation of the Hot Toddy involves the mixture of whiskey, boiling water and sugar or honey, along with additional ingredients such as cloves, a lemon slice or cinnamon (in stick or ground form). In the Midwestern United States, a common version uses ginger ale, lemon, honey and bourbon whiskey. In some parts of Canada, heated ginger ale, honey and either whiskey or brandy was originally used to make a Hot Toddy. Today popular variations of this flexible drink include the Hot Gin Toddy, the Hot Apple Toddy, and the Grand Rum Toddy. Read More

Four technologies you might not realize you’re using every day

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Nicole DiGiose

An article I wrote for Electronic Products.

Technology plays a bigger role in your life than you think

Technology affects your life in everything that you do—it saves time, passes time, opens gates to new experiences, and makes getting where you need to go quicker than ever. Without thinking twice about it, you use your phone to look up directions, speed up the process of sitting in the waiting room by playing Words With Friends, and talk with relatives halfway across the country as if they’re sitting right in front of you. But how about the technologies you’re using daily that you’re probably unaware of? Read on below to find out just how big of a difference these quiet technologies make in your life.

Accelerometers

If you’re from the 21st century, it’s safe to say you sent a text today. It was simple and quick and most likely you thought nothing about the technology involved. Beneath those words on your touchscreen lies an accelerometer, the silent little technology responsible for turning your screen to a horizontal position as you flip your phone so your fingers have more space on the virtual keyboard.

An accelerometer measures the speed and motion of an object, giving it the capability to distinguish which angle it’s being held at. The sensors in the accelerometer tell the tiny computer in your phone to make the visual output appear wide instead of long, all so you can text and view comfortably on your high-tech smartphone.

A mobile phone’s accelerometer knows if the phone is upwards or sideways. Image via engadget.com.

Read More