Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.     Nat Geo Kids strikes again with a fun new book for kids.  This time…the focus is history and the middle ages.   Michael Burgan is the author of Weird But True Know it All Middle Ages…and some of the weird stories include animals being put on trial…

“And then the one that I really enjoy is there was a Danish king named Harold ..he unified the Danes…kind of unified the Danish nation.  He was known for having a tooth that was diseased and so it was kind of blueish ,black.  And he got the nickname of Harold Bluetooth.”

And centuries later the wireless technology aimed at unifying devices…was named after him.   Thus Bluetooth was born.   There’s much more to have fun with in Weird But True Know it All Middle Ages from National Geographic Kids.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.      When it comes to smart home gear, Lutron has been a pioneer with light switches and more.   If you are a bit of a do it yourselfer with light switches…we’ve been impressed with the latest Caseta Diva Smart Dimmer and Caseta Claro Smart Switch.   As the name implies, the Diva has dimming capabilities while the Claro is simply on and off.   Both work with the Lutron app and can use smart speaker voice controls as well.   Product Manager Adam Mack ..

“This system lets you connect from a variety of ways to control your lights both through apps and other controls but also using time clocks like schedules or your GPS on your phone so that your lights turn on every time you pull into the driveway.”

And Lutron…we have found…is reliable.   Find more info at www.casetawireless.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination… Your destination for gadgets and gear.  I’m Fred Fishkin.    It’s outdoor season once again andwhether you are on the road or in the yard BlendJet makes it easy to whip up anything from a smoothie to a great coffee.   I have been using it daily and typically charge it up every couple of weeks through the USB C port.    While the blenders ship with a 16 ounce jar, you can add a 20 ounce or 32 ounce jar for family sized concoctions.   There is a whole BlendJet community out there coming up with recipes….and the company also says an every growing variety of JetPacks.  What else sets BlendJet apart?  Founder Ryan Pamplin..

“I don’t think you get this level of talent within other organizations that are in our category.  I don’t think you have that level of passion and excitement.”

It shows.  And Pamplin says stay tuned…there are more innovations to come.   Find more at www.blendjet.com.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.  Virtuix is the name of a company that has developed an omni directional treadmill for VR gaming and more.  It is called the Omni One.  You are held in a harness…and rather than using a belt…you wear foot coverings that allow your feet to slide while running or walking in any direction.     We’re looking forward to testing this out…but for now you can get an idea how it works watching our full interview.   Founder Jan Goetgluk..

“It’s basically a platform that lets you walk and run around in 360 degrees inside video games.”

Sounds great for fitness.    The unit measures four feet in diameter and includes a standalone VR headset.   Find more…including a link to invest in the company…at www.virtuix.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.       Combining great design with solid features is always a winning combination.   Nomad is living up to its reputation again with the Base One MagSafe Charger.   It is a weighted metal and glass charger …available in silver or carbide… that can deliver up to 15 watts of fast charging.   You will have to keep in mind…the power supply is sold separately.   That will add to the roughly hundred dollar price tag.   But Nomad doesn’t skimp..and the company’s product stand out.   Marketing Director Chuck Melber..

“I mean at the end of the day, it’s our attention to detail and the materials we’re using.  We work long and hard to pick out every single little detail that goes into every single product.”

The Base One looks great on a desk or night stand…or wherever you decide to put it and the weighted design means it will stay put.  Very smart.  Find more at www.nomadgoods.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.     Ford calls it BlueOval City…a sprawling complex in West Tennessee…that will build the automaker’s next generation truck, code named T3…and also house battery manufacturing.  The company says it will provide six thousand jobs and job training as well.  Electric Vehicle Plant Manager Kel Kearns…

“Our workforce development team has been working in the local community for more than a year now, understanding where the pipeline is, where the people are coming from, which institutions and working with government.   So there’s a Tennessee College of Applied Technology being built on site.”

Ford’s CEO has teased, by the way, that the next gen truck to be built there will have capabilities never before seen.   Stay tuned.

You can find us at Techstination.com.  I’m Fred Fishkin.

Drive like your child is in the back seat. That's one of the surprisingly effective tips from GM distracted driving investigator Dan Glaser for Distracted Driving Month. There's more in his chat with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.