James Garriss

James is a systems engineer, has been married for 30 years, and has a pair of energetic toy poodles. His favorite gadgets are those that solve problems around the house and yard.

How effective is Apple Intelligence at identifying house plants?

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ARTICLE – AI is all the rage these days, and Apple is one among many companies touting how their newest gadgets are using it.  In a recent iPhone User Guide, Apple says, “On all iPhone 16 models, you can use visual intelligence with Camera Control to quickly learn more about the places and objects around

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VTOMAN FlashSpeed 300 Power Station review

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REVIEW – Power stations are convenient gadgets for providing extra power any time I’m off the grid for a while, whether camping, picnicking, or whatever.  Smaller ones, like the FlashSpeed 300, can easily recharge phones and computers or provide power for lights and fans.  Rated at 300 watts, this power station is limited in what

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Is a physical keyboard the accessory that your iPhone needs?

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NEWS – Back in the day, the Blackberry was the master of the mobile phone world and was perhaps best known for their physical keyboards. These days, neither are part of our smartphone experience, but what if the keyboards should be? Digital keyboards consume a third of our screens, often obscuring the very forms into

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Flexbar brings touch bar functionality to Windows and Mac

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KICKSTARTER NEWS – I use a MacBook Pro for my work computer.  Back in the day, it came with a Touch Bar, a touch-sensitive strip above the keyboard that allowed me to interact with my applications in different ways.  I wasn’t really a fan and didn’t use it much, but maybe there’s a better way

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Speras EST Plus tactical flashlight review

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REVIEW – Tactical flashlights are known for being brighter and more durable than regular flashlights.  Though often used by law enforcement and military personnel, they are also great choices for the rest of us.  Whether I am looking for a lost dog, dealing with a power outage, or investigating unexpected noises in the back yard,

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Matter is now at version 1.4

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NEWS – Matter, the connectivity standard for smart devices for the home, has recently been upgraded to version 1.4.  Every six months or so the Connectivity Standards Alliance releases a new version with support for more IoT devices.  Version 1.3 brought support for a variety of home appliances, things like dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, and

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Cospro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder review

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REVIEW – Salt and pepper are the final touches for many dishes, and when they are ground during plating there’s an extra touch of freshness.  Salt and pepper grinders are a good addition to any kitchen, so I am testing a new set of grinders from Cospro. What is it? This is a set of

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