Geekazine

I’ve been playing through the iRig Micro Guitar Amp for a few weeks now, and it’s really grown on me. Similar to a Pig Nose Amp, but with added features like iOS and PC/Mac modeling, Aux input, and headphone jack, it’s the next level of guitar amp.

Features of the iRig Micro Amp

This 15 Watt amplifier with 4 inch speaker has 3 modes built-in for the type of guitarist you are. Clean, drive, and lead tones. A volume, gain, and 3 dial EQ allow you to level your sound the way you want.

The amp can also plug into another amp, mixer, or audio device if you need a little more sound out of it. If you need less, there’s a headphone option to play in privacy.

The amp accepts 9-15 V chargers, or just put in 6-AA batteries (not sure why not a simple 9 Volt). Playing time on batteries depends on what you have plugged in, and how hard you are running the amp.

A screw mount is on bottom to attach to a stand.

Using the IK Multimedia Software

Once you connect Amplitube into the amp from your iOS, PC, or Mac computer, the pass-though option allows you to really cultivate the tone. Add a bluetooth switch, and you can have the guitar system on a music stand or attached to a microphone stand.

With Amplitube, you can create loops, fine tune your sounds, add drums, record tracks, and much more.

Cons of iRig Micro Amp

The biggest need for this small box is simply a handle. I find myself moving the amp around a lot, and when you have a guitar in one hand, a handle would be nice to grab it with.

It would have also been nice if there was ability to use both the speaker, and pass through to a mixer. That way, you could use this as a personal monitor on-stage, and then have the cord go to a bigger sound source. But that is a small desire and would expect the amp to need 20-30 Watts for that.

The amp is around $118-$150 at the time of recording. Get the iRig Micro Amp on Amazon – Get at Guitar Center – or check out IK Multimedia Website.

In the Video I play with all settings, along with connect a microphone into the iRig to hear what sounds vocals can produce out of the Micro Amp.

I still remember the awesome gear I brought to my first CES. It was an off-brand flip camera with adjustable screen. It could do 108p 30fps, and I modded it to accept a external microphone.

It wasn’t the prettiest mod I’ve ever done, but it worked.

From there, I was a big fan of the Kodak handhelds, but all of our main content was on big cameras. For some reason, you weren’t taken too seriously if you were recording from a smaller device. Yet, 3 of my handheld camera interviews got more views than from the big 3 CCD camera – and it was heavy to haul around that show floor.

Earlier this year, I found gear that was not only smaller, it was also better than those cameras of the past. And with the right software, I can do more with these smaller cameras than with the handheld, or even iPhone.

Don’t get me wrong – The Sony Handicam will be with me in some capacity. But it will be out sparingly as I am opting for the smaller cameras. But let’s start with that one…

Disclaimer - All links inside are affiliate links. Please help me out and support my CES coverage. Thank you.

Sony FDR-AX700 4K HDR Camcorder

This is a great camera to have. It does 4K 30fps, and can adjust to any situation. The biggest advantage over any other camera in my arsenal is it’s optical zoom, and fully manual focus (iris, shutterspeed).

Last year, I was out on the auto track, and it did a great job getting some of the car details that my other cameras just wouldn’t be able to get.

It does have a bigger price tag, but it’s a durable device. It even got knocked over, and the steel cage protected it from smashing into pieces.

For $1,699, it’s a bit expensive, but I’ve made my money on this camera time and time again. Get the Sony FDR-AX700 (Amazon) – AX700 at Best Buy – Sony AX700 at B&H.

DJI Osmo Pocket

I saw this camera last year at CES, and had to have it. It was problematic at first, so I only used it for select B-Roll, and timelapse video.

With firmware updates, it became a lot better. The most recent one helps with face tracking and focus, making this a lot more useable for interviews.

I can attach the 3.5 mm adapter onto the bottom, and connect my wireless microphones, or a boom mic to get more focused sound.

But the coup de grace is the Osmo Pocket Extension Rod holder. This allows me to walk around while recording. It holds the microphone, or a light to make the shot even better. It also has the controls at my thumb so I can move the camera around easily.

Only downfall is that it doesn’t have a replaceable battery. I have to make sure this device is charging when I’m not recording.

The Osmo Pocket is $272 on Amazon – or

Sharing your moments instantly is not only possible in this day and age, it can also be real simple as well. SanDisk has brought out the ibi (ee-bee) Smart Photo Manager, a device that will collect photos and video, then distribute to other mobile devices without a lot of configuration.

About the ibi

This is a device no larger than your home personal assistant. Inside is a 1 TB HDD that connects wirelessly to your network. Pair up your phone, mobile device, USB drives, or desktop to transfer the media to ibi.

You can install ibi on your iOS, Android, PC, or Mac for media download. The desktop version will install in the Task Manager for easy access. This is where you can create albums, share photos, or add users to sync their media.

You can also stream to your TV, Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, and more.

ibi and Privacy

Keep in mind, this is a device that connects to the Internet, and can be monitored by the service (you can get email notification if your ibi is offline, for example). According to ibi’s terms of service, your information is private, and communication is only between you, the ones you share your ibi with, and the company.

It is a good idea to keep in mind what you transfer to this device, and who you share the media with.

Pros and Cons of ibi

There is really one thing I don’t like about this device – it contains a 1TB HDD (spinning media) that does not spin down, as opposed to a SSD drive. The purchase price difference could be 2-3x more (HDD is $50, SSD is $110) , but the power savings for 2 years can make up for that.

The drive can take up to 4x longer to transfer files, and with the power consumption, heat of the physical drive, and up to 10 times less reliability, the cost difference would have been worth it.

Hopefully, a SSD version will be available, soon.

You can get ibi at Amazon, at Best Buy, or Target. The website is at Meetibi.com

During the MIK VIP Asia Awards, I met with the creators of Robot Battle Land, and saw the big M01 Exo suit. This is a theme park that is opening in Yeosu, South Korea.

The company, SF-EUM, has built several suits, and received a group of different patents for their technologies in robotics. Their main mech suit stands about 10 feet tall, but there are smaller suits to check out.

The Battle Land will allow you to experience 1 of 3 different types of battles you can be part of. There will be areas for all ages to experience.

The area in Yeosu is already being built, and will open on March 27, 2020. The company started a crowdfund to raise 5 million Korean Won (about $50,000) to help forward construction.

Korea Bio Lab shows off a series of products they will be launching later this year. This includes a hair grow system, and a face mask to help smooth lines.

During the event, I try out the mask, and find out all the benefits from it.

This is an event held by Made in Korea & Made By Korea. I was brought by Aving News to judge startups, and give awards.

For more information, check out Korea Bio Lab

Mikibo is a Bluetooth keyboard that connects to 3 different devices – from PC (Win 8), to Mac (OS9+), iOS (13), and Android (4.3+). The keyboard is unique because it houses a trackpad across the keys. With a press of a button, you can control the mouse cursor of any machine.

With the introduction of iOS 13, you can now use Mikado’s trackpad to mouse, and scroll on the tablet. This is perfect if you have the device connected, and at a distance for presentations. It also allows you to do some basic work, giving your tablet a laptop feel.

The keyboard contains a 590 mAh battery. It will run for hours on a 2 hour full charge.

For more information, check out Innopresso.com

About MIK VIP Asia Awards

This is an event held by Made in Korea & Made By Korea. I was brought by Aving News to judge startups, and give awards.

While I was in Seoul, South Korea, I got to attend COEX Food Week – an event that brings together many different cuisines. I was asked to judge a few of the startup companies and their products. I also got a chance to taste from the wide array of goodies that Korea has to offer.

We were invited by our friends at Aving News, and COEX Food Week. Other judges/bloggers included Le Cafe Du Geek (France), Xiao Da Channel (China), MyFatPocket (Singapore), IT Dong-A, Byline Network, Beta News, and various Korean YouTubers.

Interview Pitch of Companies

I talked with 6 different companies specifically on their products. Dr. Kitchen, Dafina, Ban Table, Connectwid, Mugunghwa, and Allfin.

Dr kitchen at COEX FOOD WEEK #geekoutPosted by Geekazine on Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Connectwid at COEX FOOD WEEKPosted by Geekazine on Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Dafina at COEX FOOD WEEKPosted by Geekazine on Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Mugunghwa at COEX FOOD WEEKPosted by Geekazine on Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Ban table at COEX FOOD WEEKPosted by Geekazine on Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Allfin at COEX FOOD WEEKPosted by Geekazine on Wednesday, 20 November 2019

44,000 people came to COEX Center, in Gangnam, South Korea for this event. COEX Center is a shopping mall and event center, featuring many different attractions, such as the K-Pop Museum, and Starfield Library (one of the largest in the world).

I got to see different foods, learn Korean traditions in food prep, and even see some of Korean industrial food companies.

I awarded Dafina for their pure and natural ingredients in their jams.

Seoul International Bakery Fair (SIBA)

One of the highlights was to see the bakery fair, and the competing creations. This includes the amazing cakes, sugar craft, and even bread creations. I showed off a few of them on my Geekazine Tiktok channel.

Since it’s launch in 2006, COEX Food Week has become Korea’s leading trade show for global food and beverage. Alongside is the Korea Food Tech Conference – a day of seminars from leading International names in the global food and beverage industry, who talk about the future of food.

22 startups competed at the Value Up 2019 in November at the Summit Prugio in Seoul South Korea. I was asked to meet with some of the companies, and judge their products to see what new breakout stars are coming from South Korea.

I was joined by Aving News, Xiao Da (China), Café Du Geek (France) , VietnamPlus (Vietnam), MyFatPocket (Singapore), Teman Seoul (Indonesia), A Sing Di Dai Han ( Vietnamese YouTuber ), IT DongA, Byline Network, Beta News, and more, as we looked over the products.

Some of the companies I talked with included a stop smoking program that schedules your cigarettes, a mint that helps with curbing your smoking, a company that is making power transformers smarter, and a phone case that rips apart to reveal a smoke mask – to get you out of a house, subway, or other hazardous situation.

Leverpresso

My winner for the event was Leverpresso – a portable Espresso device. You can make your favorite flavors while on the road, or at home.

The device looks like a giant pill, but separates to the cup, a place to put the coffee, a tamper, and the lever, which water goes in to filter through.

You can make a single, or double shot while camping, in the office, or wherever you need the caffeine rush.

During the Break

We also got to hear from the rapping reporter, and watch a VR artist paint on the virtual canvas.

This was a great, small event that allowed me to see some of the awesome companies coming from South Korea.

It’s no secret that I have gotten some opportunities to travel to South Korea. I would like to thank my friends at Aving.net for the opportunity. I have spent a good amount of time in Seoul, and surrounding provinces. We even took a boat down the Han river, learned to cook with Jiny, and visited the Coex mall’s Starfield Library – amongst many other things.

South Korea is home to Samsung, and LG – two of the biggest electronic manufacturers. South Korea welcomes business travelers to do business through their country. So not only can you go visit some of their iconic temples, you can get your electronic fix as well.

I put together a list of 5 things to do tech-wise. Granted, the list was different when I started. The K-Pop experience was closed, and the Robot museum will not be open until 2022 – but will be built by robots starting in 2020. So I had to make changes to the list.

Missing is the LG Electronics park, which I didn’t have a chance to get to. But I did find many other things you can do to stay occupied.

Also, we are sticking close to Seoul in this list. If you want to hop a train, you can visit the DJI arena, Robot land in Changwon, and more.

5. Gangnam Style – Samsung, VR, Apple Store

Gangnam is a great place to start, not only because they have a stage where you can re-create the Youtube sensation “Gangnam Style’ by Psy, but also because this is a young part of Seoul. Lots of shopping is here, including the Coex center I mentioned earlier.

Samsung D’Light is a great place to start. It’s one of Samsung’s corporate offices, but the bottom two levels contain shopping, food (including just opened Johnny Rocket’s), and the Samsung D’Light store – 3 levels of products, concepts, and things to explore. I highlighted it back in September when I was there learning about the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

There are many PC cafes, and VR zones in Seoul. It is a great place to escape, and the prices are very competitive.

Finally, Gangnam is home to the first Apple store in Korea. I found it by following all the knitted tree cozies.

4. T.UM at SKT

South Korean Telecom (SKT) is one of Korea’s companies that supplies phone and Internet services. They host T.UM, which is a concept room that shows us how we might be living life in 30 years. From self-driving cars, robots, hyper-loops, and more.

To visit this attraction, you must register. English tours are available, but not as much as Korean tours. So you might want to schedule this trip first, as days are limited.

3. Need Camera gear? Go to Seoul Plaza

Just down from Seoul Plaza, you have two attractions – Deoksugung, and the Sungnyemun gate (of the Fortress Wall). Across from the gate is a camera lover’s dream. This area is home to multiple camera vendors with gear old and new.

If you need a new lens for your DSLR,

G-Fair Korea is a  fun event that is held at the Kintex center in Goyang-si, South Korea. This event highlights many different companies, from Home goods, to beauty products, health needs, and technology. 

I once again was a guest of Aving News and MIK, along with Leo (Café Du Geek), Cyndi (MyFatPocket), Eva (Aving Russia),  Vietnam+,and more. 

We meet with 15 startup companies each, trying to find the breakout stars of the event. Some companies I’ve seen before, including a window washing robot I saw at CES 2017.

Walking around the hall, I got to see companies with some unique ideas. Lots of beauty items, massage chairs, and home personal saunas. I got to play with the inflatables, and several electronics.

Moon boat is a two-person pontoon shaped like a cresent moon. It’s $25,000, so I’ll have to find someone that wants to get me that perfect gift…