Sciblogs | Griffin's Gadgets Archives

10 years of the Science Media Centre: Peter Griffin

Peter Griffin • Jul 06, 2018

The Science Media Centre is ten years old. Wow. I never expected when we started in 2008, that it would still be around a decade later, such is the often fickle nature of government-funded projects. But the SMC is still going strong and my former colleagues are taking it into its second decade with a renewed sense of purpose … Read More

Harassment in academia – hit institutions where it hurts

Peter Griffin • Feb 28, 2018

As of writing this, Lawrence Krauss is still on the bill with Richard Dawkins for two shows in New Zealand in May as part of their Science in the Soul show. But the chances of Krauss, the theoretical physicist and gifted science communicator, making it to New Zealand are ebbing away by the day, as he faces multiple allegations of sexual … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Sonos Play 1

Peter Griffin • Dec 25, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 11 If you are looking for a compact audio system for small to medium-sized rooms in your home, the Sonos Play: 1 should be on your shortlist. Sonos has been around since 2002 delivering quality, compact speakers. Its real claim to fame … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Segway MiniLite

Peter Griffin • Dec 24, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 10 I once took a Segway tour around Angel Island, a beautiful hilly state park in San Francisco, just across the water from Belvedere. The Segway was super-responsive, powerful and once I’d learned to trust in it, … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: JBL Charge 3

Peter Griffin • Dec 22, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 9 When I went into JB Hi-Fi a few days ago to pick up a wireless speaker to ensure we had a suitable Christmas soundtrack for the staff party, I had to queue to access the wireless … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Samsung Galaxy 8

Peter Griffin • Dec 21, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 8 Competition is ratcheting up among Android phone makers, but nothing topped the Galaxy 8 this year as Samsung tweaked the design of its flagship Galaxy and increased screen quality and processing power to deliver a winning … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Upright Go

Guest Author • Dec 20, 2017

by Tessa Evans This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 7 As the resident bad-back in the office, Sciblogs editor Peter Griffin suggested I give the Upright Go a whirl, the latest health wearable that tries to improve your posture by vibrating … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Nintendo Switch

Peter Griffin • Dec 19, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 6 Nintendo redefined gaming with the Wii console and it may well do so again with the Switch, a console that plugs into your TV, but can be reconfigured for gaming on the move as well. Don’t … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Bose QC35 II headphones

Peter Griffin • Dec 18, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 5 I’ve had two decent pairs of headphones in the last decade. First, there were my Sennheiser HD 201-II over-ear headphones which were tough and sounded great and had a ridiculously long audio cable. I … Read More

12 Gadgets of Christmas: Samsung Frame

Peter Griffin • Dec 15, 2017

This is a Sciblogs series running through until Christmas Eve highlighting some of the gadgets we’ve been using this year… gadget No. 4 Last November, during the shaking in Wellington that resulted from the Kaikoura earthquake, my Samsung TV took a nose dive off the TV cabinet onto the floor. I already had “insurance claim” pounding … Read More