PLUGHITZ Live Presents (Audio)

Pirogovsky, CEO of Nutricco, joined us at CES 2020 to share his solution for simple tools to help people with decision making about healthy diets, taking the guesswork of the nutritional supplement game.

There are 40,000 food tracking apps available, says, Pirogovsky, and while people download them, they don't really follow the recommendations they provide. Nutricco seeks to overcome that challenge by providing a way for subscribers to get the nutrients they need through a personalized mix of supplements relevant to where they are when they need it, and the amount they need at that time.

Nutricco has a three-part system that includes an app that guides and tracks your diet, an algorithm that provides personalized recommendations for the user's diet, and a dispensary that provides a personalized mix of supplements for the program subscriber.

Currently, says Pirogovsky, the supplement market is driven by budget. About 50% of the U.S. population uses supplements, he says - about 160 million daily users - with 30% of consumers - 55 million people - using three or more supplements daily. Most people don't understand what they're using or why, but rather make decisions on supplement use based on advertising. The problem isn't the supplement, he says, but getting the right supplement at the right time, when you need it.

Nutricco's subscription, with runs $399 per dispensing device and then $50 per month, includes the app, the supplements and the service for their device, a smart dispenser and a supplement supplier that assures clients an auto-renewable supply of essential daily nutrients. Nutricco's Smart Dispensing Machine holds up to 10 different types of dietary supplements stored in original bottles, providing the world's first all-in-one compliant and adherent connected home nutrient dispenser The app takes into consideration lifestyle and dietary habits. It balances nutritional supplement intake with appropriate times for supplements so that they don't interfere with one another on intake.

For more information on Nutrocco, check out their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Dr. Stephen C. Phillips is the founder and CEO of SPYDERISK, a new company that launched at CES that specializes in providing automated risk assessment for enterprise IT systems. SPYDERISK combines a comprehensive system model with an innovative machine reasoning capabilities and a detailed knowledge base of threats and control strategies to create a comprehensive view of the risks to a system.

SPYDERISK is aimed at larger companies that already have cybersecurity expertise embedded or cybersecurity consultancies who can use the tool when they're employed by other companies, with the goal of making it faster and better for those with the expertise to identify vulnerabilities. The tool is deployed online so customers can do their own automated risk assessment. It identifies issues and provides information on how to control or mitigate problems, and outputs reports for compliance audits and other uses. The reports suggest areas of concern for your network, including software products with known vulnerabilities. It then gives recommendations on potential next steps to mitigate those risks.

While it doesn't provide penetration testing, SPYDERISK assesses an entire system and can advise if testing at that level is indicated. Users can then identify which actions they're able or interested in taking to bring down their risk levels. Risks are automatically recalculated following control implementation, allowing customers to focus on the biggest risks to their systems.

One of the greatest benefits of the SPYDERISK assessment tool is the wealth of documentation it provides for compliance audits. Automating and speeding up assessment saves time and potentially money. In Europe, a company can be fined 4% of their revenue for a data breach, which can be a huge hit. SPYDERISK can help prevent those kinds of losses by helping companies stay vigilant.

For more information about the company, visit their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Greg Appelhof joined us at CES 2020, to tell us about AirPix, an HD aerial camera. AirSelfie aerial cameras are essentially little drones that can be tossed in the air or launched with an app and remotely operated to take photos from their aerial vantage points. The devices use facial recognition to take a photo and then return to the person it took a photo of.

AirSelfie launched in June 2019 on crowdfunding platforms and generated over $2 million in sales globally, with about 18,000 units sold across 105 countries. Appelhof shared some new products since its earlier launch: AirPix Plus and AIrDuo.

AirPix Plus with a curvilinear design, with stronger thrust from brushless motors. The lens on the AirPix Plus can pivot for a wider range of photographic angles. The AirDuo is more advanced with higher picture quality. It features a front parallel path camera, as well as an electronic switching camera on the bottom, for the bird's eye view image. It also has a sensor at the top to help it avoid hitting the ceiling or anything else above it.

Each of the cameras comes with a power bank. The cameras each take 10 to 15 minutes of video and hundreds of photos. Autonomously, the camera takes only a single photo, but via the app, users can shoot as many photos as they'd like, and have more control over composition. Autonomously, however, the camera can recognize certain hand gestures to know whether to take a video or photo and when to return to the operator.

The cameras retail at $180 for the AirPix Plus and $220 for the Air Duo. You can see the full AirPix line at their website.

Post-event note: AirPix delivery on Kickstarter and Indiegogo has been slow and customers have been expressed frustration. Always do your own research before purchasing new products.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

Michael Liggett, Product Manager, North America, for EZCast shared some of the impressive features of the EZCast line at CES 2020. EZCast makes a wide range of products for the consumer and corporate market for digital casting from a variety of devices.

EZCast Pro lets consumers cast 4K, 60 Hz, from the EZCast app, AirPlay, Chromecast and others. It interconnects with systems like Google Home, with a straightforward plug and play puck. EZCast is device agnostic, allowing Android users and Apple users to be friends, says Liggett. Additionally, you can stream to a non-smart device, or a previously unavailable device, like a hotel room TV.

The EZCast Beam J2 is a portable mini projector that uses the latest DLP technology and combines HDMI, USB and Wi-Fi interfaces to support screen mirroring from iOS, Android, Windows and Mac smart devices. It also doubles as a power bank. It has similar capabilities to the other wireless capabilities of the Pro, so you can piggyback onto the larger network. The projector can also be turned sideways, putting it into portrait mode. It comes with a remote, tripod mount and easy, accessible controls.

The Pro AV line also includes 4K technology and is good for app-based projects, operating as a collaborative server that allows users to annotate over streamed or projected content, including a shared whiteboard. The ProCast app allows a one-to-many cast function. The devices also provide for AirPlay. The Pro line utilizes dual-band RF technology and ethernet.

EZ Cast's Quatro Pod System provides even more functionality with wireless HDMI. It includes a mini display port and POE Ethernet port, allowing for collaborative presentations from a podium or conference space.

MSRP ranges from $70 for the EZCast Pro up to $1099 for the QuatroPod package, with a range of costs in between for individual units.

Visit EZCast or EZCast Pro for more information.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

For a lot of people, clean water can be incredibly difficult or expensive. Having water delivered to your home, special devices in the kitchen or on the roof, or even purchasing bottled water, can be out of the question. The idea of cleaning existing water is as old as humanity itself and is constantly improving. But, for the most part, the idea has not been portable - until recently. CrazyCap has taken the idea of treating water and put it in the palm of your hand - or, more accurately, on the top of your bottle.

The CrazyCap is an accessory that screws onto the top of many popular water bottles and allows you to kill the bacteria that might be in it. It does this in just 60 seconds, thanks to the integrated deep UV LED light. That light can more than just kill, but instead destroy, microorganisms in the water.

The product has up to a 7-day battery charge, depending on how much it is used. Charging the cap is easy, by attaching a wireless charger to the top. The decision was made to go wireless instead of a standard USB-C plug because they wanted to ensure that the entire product is waterproof. Waterproofing the product makes it more usable for people who are outdoor enthusiasts, like hikers and kayakers.

While the product is designed for water cleaning, it can clean other items as well. If you power it on and hold it a few inches above the surface, you can clean phones and tablets, desks and counters, and a whole lot more. During the COVID-19 coronavirus panic, this could be a huge bonus for people.

The CrazyCap 2 is available now for $59 on its own, or with a reusable bottle for $69. To learn more about CrazyCap, check out their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

The home is getting smarter as we add sensors and controllers to nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Some of these devices are simply connected, requiring you to make decisions, while others make decisions on their own. Both types of products require a particular level of trust in the company, as you are sharing data about the inside of your home with them. Not all of the companies involved can be trusted, but one brand that has always been associated with family activities and trust is Kodak, which is now offering the KODAK Smart Home line of products.

One of the first products from the KODAK Smart Home is a baby monitor. This plays into the history and knowledgebase of Kodak, in that it combines the company's decades of family relationships with the long-standing focus on cameras. The cameras and receivers are wireless, so there is no need to run cables. They come paired out of the box, so there is no real setup required. And, because the company knows that wireless reception can be a real pain because of things like walls, they also have pre-paired range extenders. Both sides have rechargeable batteries so that you can take the whole setup with you.

The KODAK Smart Home also offers security cameras, again leaning into their camera legacy. These cameras are also wireless, two-way audio, and can be monitored remotely. All of the current models are full HD (1080p), meaning that the video quality will far more useful than most security products. They can also record locally to SD cards rather than streaming to the outside world. They also offer the ability to be used with 9 other security cameras, so you can build a full-home system.

To learn more about the KODAK Smart Home product line, check out their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

Kids have an ever-growing collection of electronic devices. From portable gaming devices to phones and tablets, many of these electronics offer the ability for kids to use headphones. However, kids tend to not understand the lasting effects of misusing headphones, especially the effects of loud music and sounds. Fortunately, BuddyPhones has taken the task of protecting these kids' hearing into consideration when building their headphones.

The company offers a wide range of products designed specifically for the sensitive and developing ears of children. The headphones have attenuation built into them, meaning that no matter how loud the wearer turns up the volume on their device, the headphones will max out at a certain volume. This will protect the child's hearing, keeping them from having hearing problems later in life.

For years, BuddyPhones have been available as standard headphones in a variety of styles and designs. The company has characters, like robots and unicorns, on their headphones to make kids more interested in wearing the product. In addition to the volume limiting, they also focus on the headphones being rugged because kids can be hard on their devices. This year, the company is showing off a few new products, including gaming headphones that include a microphone, which can be removed and used as regular headphones.

The headphones range in price, starting at $15 for standard headphones and running through $89 for Bluetooth headphones. In addition, the range offers waterproof, active noise canceling (ANC), and more. All of the products offer the smart volume limiter feature. The products are available at retailers worldwide, including Amazon. To learn more about the company's products, technology, and goals, and to see the entire line of products, listed by age range, head over to the company's website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

If you have ever tried to do any form of artwork on a traditional tablet, you know that it can be physically exhausting. That's because of the general design of a consumer tablet. A small bezel around the screen is nice and convenient when you're reading, browsing Facebook, or playing a videogame, but it isn't great when drawing. Even when sketching our studio design before CES, the design of our tablet was uncomfortable. But, for those who work on tablets regularly, the Sketchboard Pro will make it a better experience.

The Sketchboard Pro looks fairly simple at first glance. It's a flat board with a handle and a gap for an iPad. But, in reality, it is a significantly more advanced product than that. The size and shape are designed to make drawing on the tablet more like drawing on a drafting board. The wide border around the screen gives you somewhere to lean on while you draw or write, meaning you don't have to hover your arm in the air. It also offers feet on all four corners, allowing you to raise it for landscape or portrait mode.

The actual iPad gap is incredibly well thought out as well. There is a small hole at the bottom which is designed to allow you to plug the iPad in while you are using it. You can run the power from the bottom through the hole and into the tablet. The Sketchboard Pro also has magnets in the gap to hold the iPad in place. That way you can pick up the Sketchboard and walk around with it, without worrying about your expensive tablet ejecting itself.

The Sketchboard Pro is available for pre-order on Indiegogo InDemand. To pre-order the product or learn more about its uses and features, check out the company's website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

As a kid, almost everyone imagined themselves as the protagonist in their favorite stories. Heck, most adults do it when they read. However, those picture books never actually feature your face, right? Wonder Painter has created a technology that can directly bring any drawing or photo to life. The technology can allow publishers to use the reader's drawing or photo as an integral part of their storytelling experience.

Imagine a story about two kids going on an adventure - it's a fairly standard kids book concept. However, using Wonder Painter's technology, that story can feature you and your best friend as the kids going on said adventure. During the story, the two of you need a horse to get across a large field. Simply draw your own horse and the drawing comes to life as your transportation. This is nearly every kid's dream scenario and it is now a possibility.

The company has published a few demo apps to the Apple App Store to show off the basics of what their technology can do. While these demos are a ton of fun, the really important part is the technology. It is available in a platform-agnostic way, making it possible to build for the web, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, and more. The company licenses this technology to content creators to allow them to make their own products and services more interactive. They are currently working with LG, Baidu, Alibaba, and more to make interactive applications a reality.

If you want to see the technology in action, check out the Wonder Painter apps in the App Store or interactive demo on the company's website. You can also learn about the SDK, Cloud service, and ask for a private demo of the development tech if you're working on a project that can use it.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.

For years, the expression "set it and forget it" was a bad thing when it came to home sprinkler controls. Owners would often turn them on at the beginning of the season and off at the end and leave them alone. This behavior led to overwatering by about 50%. That's because basic timers aren't able to take environmental conditions, weather patterns , or other factors into consideration. All they could do was start and stop at a pre-determined time. But the b-hyve by Orbit has brought a whole new level of control to your yard.

The b-hyve line of products offers Wi-Fi-connected sprinkler controls that add smarts to your yard. These controllers are able to do things like watch the weather to make sure that you aren't watering right before, during, or after a rainstorm. This is obviously a huge waste of water, plus it can be bad for your plants to give them too much water. There are also areas that are often under watering restrictions, and it might be illegal to water within a certain range of a storm. The newest model adds new, longer-range network connectivity, allowing it to control equipment wirelessly, rather than needing to have everything run manually through the controller.

Because the b-hyve is connected to the internet, it gives you the ability to monitor the activities even when you're away. When you're traveling, you can still see how much water is being used, when schedules are being skipped because of weather, and even see future schedules based on expected weather. If you need, you can change the manual schedule remotely, and get real-time updates. The app is available for iOS and Android, plus has support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

The b-hyve products are available from Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowe's. To learn more about the product line, check out the company's website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.

Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.