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The best sous vide machine and gear
By Tim Barribeau and Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to sous vide machine and gear. After testing dozens of sous vide cookers over the past six years, we think the Anova Precision Cooker Nano is the best immersion circulator for home cooks. It's the smallest, most affordable model from a company that's consistently made some of the best-performing cookers we've tested. And its precise temperature control and quick heating are on a par with that of much more expensive machines. The Anova Nano's Bluetooth connection allows you to set and control the cooker from your phone, and use Anova's app to set the time and temperature from preset recipes onto the circulator. The cooker also has controls on it though, meaning you don't need to use your phone if you'd prefer not to. Like just about every sous vide circulator we've tested, the Anova cooker is accurate enough for even the most exacting of cooking techniques. This is crucial because even minor variations can foil your attempt at perfectly runny egg yolks with just-set whites. The ChefSteps Joule relies exclusively on a smartphone for all controls adjustments; it doesn't have onboard controls. If you're okay with that, this cooker is in many ways equal or superior to the Anova Precision Cooker Nano. It's physically smaller, it's just as accurate, it heats water faster, and it can cook with less water in a pot thanks to a magnetic base and a unique pump system. We love the app, which works over either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Monoprice's Strata Home Sous Vide Immersion Cooker 800W is louder than other cookers we tested, but it is inexpensive and reliable, making it a great entry-level option for someone just getting started with sous vide cooking. It's not as advanced as the circulators from Anova or ChefSteps, because it lacks any sort of wireless connection. But in our tests, it got to temperature quickly and held the setting properly. At around $70, its typical street price is less than half that of our other picks. Sous vide cooking is only the first step when it comes to meat. After you've cooked the protein through, searing creates a delicious, crispy brown exterior. Although you can finish your food in a pan, we found Bernzomatic's TS8000 to be the fastest tool for searing. It attaches to a standard camping propane tank and is easy to use.
Intel has less competition against Raspberry Pi
Say goodbye to Intel's Edison, Joule and Galileo compute modules. The company has unceremoniously canceled its developer kit lineup, which were meant to give it a foothold in the burgeoning Internet of Things arena, ZDNet reports. Additionally, Intel also canceled several of its Recon Jet smart glasses products, though that's less of a surprise. With Galileo, Intel wanted to compete directly against the ARM-powered Raspberry Pi, while Edison shrunk down a full development kit to the size of an SD card. Joule, which launched last year, was its most powerful compute module yet.
The 12 best tech gifts for the entertainer in your life
You know the type: Someone who loves throwing parties. In fact, you will probably partake of egg nog and sugar cookies in their home before the season is up. So why not get them something that helps them do what they do best: entertain. If your friend loves to cook, you might consider an easy-to-use WiFi sous vide, a smart kitchen scale or a smokeless infrared grill. For entertaining, a countertop draft beer system is convenient -- and then your friend can serve pour-over coffee as the party is winding down. Finally, we have some ideas on how the hostess in your life can keep guests amused -- try the Cards Against Humanity science pack expansion, USB turntable or Lomography instant camera. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Joule proves sous vide cooking doesn't have to be intimidating
Despite the recent rise of affordable sous vide machines, the cooking concept has always skewed a little nerdy. Preparing food in vacuum-sealed bags in a temperature-controlled water bath sounds like something only culinary geeks would do, even if it results in perfectly cooked meats. By and large, these devices look and feel like scientific equipment: They're bulky with large dials. They look like they belong in a lab, not a kitchen.
Intel's Joule is its most powerful dev kit yet
We've seen plenty of unique dev kits from Intel, including the SD card-sized Edison, but not one as powerful as this. Today Intel announced Joule, a tiny maker board that will allow developers to test RealSense-powered concepts and, hopefully, bring them to market faster than before. The company says the tiny, low-powered Joule would be ideal for testing concepts in robotics, augmented reality, VR, industrial Internet of Things, and a slew of other categories. And it also looks like it could be an interesting way for students to dabble in RealSense's depth-sensing technology in schools.
Review: Joule II iPad stand
The original Joule was nice and simple, featuring a channel for your iPad and an arm to prop up the tube in which that channel was cut. The Joule II doesn't reinvent the original, but improves upon its design in a couple of places. Like most Element Case products, the Joule isn't the cheapest stand by far (US$109.99), but it's one of the nicest. Design The Joule's base has always been a solid aluminum cylinder, machined to precision to hold your iPad (or other tablet) in portrait or landscape. In portrait, there is even a vent port for audio. On the original Joule, the arm had 3 positions, and was held in place by a magnet. With the Joule II, Element Case has eliminated the magnet in favor of a simple threaded armature and a hole that moves with some resistance, so you have a bit more control over the angle. There's a new vent port for audio, this time a series of holes cut through the beefy aluminum base cylinder. The channel is less specific to the iPad these days, but it's clearly designed with the iPad as one of the primary target customers. The channel for your tablet is generous without feeling like your iPad could flop out somehow. Also, the suede interior slightly grips, and avoids the scratching of aluminum on glass. Functionality It's an iPad stand and it does what it says. The Joule II comes with a handy zippered case, and the heft of the base makes it ideal in a number of situations where you need a stable base, but may need to grab the iPad easily. The rear armature's mechanism works very well, and in several days of use I didn't notice it getting looser. While I worry a bit about longevity (versus the previous design), it feels sturdy enough to last for years. Who is it for? Anyone with the cash available who needs a sturdy, attractive and useful stand. It's capable of being packed easily but looks great, so I could see some business and commercial applications as well.
Report: 'Kinect Play Fit' and 'Joule' are Kinect-ercise tools
Microsoft is prepping for Kinect Play Fit and releasing hardware codenamed "Joule" to accompany it, according to sources speaking to The Verge. Kinect Play Fit will track exercise across "most Kinect games," providing metrics that'll be stored in the cloud. Joule is expected to be a heart-rate monitor, allowing wireless monitoring to keep exercise "within a target goal for weight loss, strength, or cross-fitness workouts."Joule and Kinect Play Fit are compatible, but are two separate products. There is no expected launch window, but Verge sources also claim a future dashboard update will introduce the system. We're checking with Microsoft if it has any comment, but most of this (if true) will likely be revealed at E3 in a month.Update: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."
Element Case Joule Chroma iPad stand works with iPad 2
We've covered the Element Case Joule iPad stand several times here on TUAW, even giving away some specially-made TUAW-logoed stands to several of our readers. Now Element Case has partnered with us again to introduce the new Joule Chroma line of iPad stands, and yes, we will be giving one away. The Chroma line comes in six bright colors -- orange, red, blue, pink, grey and black -- and there's even a matching Ultrasuede liner to caress your iPad. The Joule stand is set up with rubber pads at the bottom to keep it from sliding across smooth surfaces as you tap on the iPad screen, and the tilt foot magnetically attaches to one of three ports to adjust the angle at which the iPad sits. Finally, there's a speaker port so that your tunes aren't muffled when the iPad is nestled in the stand in portrait mode. The Joule Chroma isn't for everyone; at US$149.99, it's definitely a luxury item. And you probably don't want to use it with the Smart Cover installed, as you'll want to use this when you're using the iPad 2. But if you're looking for a very classy and well-made machined aluminum product with which to prop up your iPad, the Joule Chroma is a heck of a choice.
Limited edition Joule and Vapor cases from ElementCase
We've drooled over the Joule, a classy metal iPad stand before, and the Vapor iPhone 4 case is one of my favorite iPhone cases. That said, they are not what you would call inexpensive. Nevertheless, the latest models to roll off their custom shop floor are even more exclusive, as limited-edition colors are now available under the "extreme metals" line. These are extremely limited-edition collectible stands and cases. As you can see in the gallery, the Joule stands have a nice variety in colors (quite excellent for those of us enjoying the Fall colors), and the Vapor cases now include some shiny nickel and a "blood" red that is quite bright. The price range on the Vapor extreme metal line is $99 to $109, while the Joule extreme metal line is $159. As I said, these are not budget cases. The Vapor cases are released in very limited quantities via pre-order list, expected to ship "within a few weeks," whereas the Joule is available now. If you're looking for high-end accessories for the holidays, these are a good bet. %Gallery-106121%
Need a stand for your iPad? Enter the Joule giveaway
Last week I took you on a quick tour of the Joule by ElementCase. Yes, it's a premium stand. So, if you aren't in the "premium" market and are getting along with your alternative-to-real-iPad-stands stand and you're happy with other options, just pass this post by. Personally, I thought the Joule was a nice stand and, while a bit pricey, will last nearly forever. TUAW and ElementCase are giving you a chance to win one of four Joules. We've got two models reserved: two silver and two black. The black models will allow engraving, which takes a little extra time to send out. Please let us know which you'd like in the comments as you enter. Entering is easy! Just leave a comment on this post. This weekend we'll pick four winners (two for black Joules, two for silver) and send you further details. Of course, you'll have to be over 18, in the US or Canada (sorry!), and so forth. Full rules are here. Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, leave a comment telling us which model Joule you'd like (black or silver). The comment must be left before Sunday, April 25, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: Joule iPad stand (Value: US$129) Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Review: Joule iPad stand by ElementCase
The iPhone cases from ElementCase have always impressed me. Made to last from sturdy materials, they are beautifully designed and a joy to use. I've used a lot of iPhone cases and after so many wound up treating my phone badly, I felt the case we covered a while ago did possibly the best job of protecting the iPhone and providing a functional purpose as well (bigger handles for your phone when gaming). They also sell a car and boat mount for the iPhone cases... But then Apple introduced the iPad. ElementCase got right to work, building a gorgeous stand for the thing. As we reported last week, the stand is called the Joule. Hit the link below to read about the stand itself and find a discount code for your own purchase, and be sure to stay tuned -- we'll be giving some of these away on Monday of next week. %Gallery-90934%
TUAW Exclusive: Element Case launches the Joule, a luxury iPad stand
We covered the iPhone cases from Element Case a couple of years ago, and I was impressed with their build quality and design. Now they've released a beautiful aluminum stand called the Joule for the iPad. As you can see from the gallery, the Joule is simplicity itself: a machined and polished cylinder of aluminum with a leg in the back for stabilization. There are three holes to customize the angle of tilt on the iPad and the device itself rests in a velvet-lined groove. We've got a review unit on the way and we'll be giving some away soon, so stay tuned for that. You can also have the Joule in polished aluminum (seen above) or anodized black, plus they'll zap your logo or almost whatever on the thing with a laser -- for a fee. Meanwhile, you can buy a Joule here for $129. The first 100 TUAW readers to order with a promo code can purchase the Joule for $99. The promo code is: TUAWJ1 Check back for a full review and the giveaway early next week. Until then, enjoy the gallery. %Gallery-89915%
Optimal's Joule electric vehicle seats six, on track for launch next year
Optimal Energy's handsomely-named Joule electric vehicle hasn't grabbed all that many headlines since it's debut at the Paris Motor Show last year, but it looks like the company now has a bit more to brag about, with it announcing an influx of funding and an actual launch date (or launch year, at least). Apparently, the first few Joules will roll out in South Africa sometime next year, after which they will head into mass production (or about 50,000 units a year) in 2012, with the majority of those vehicles intended for export outside of South Africa. The car itself will apparently be available in both front-wheel and four-wheel drive models, with each able to sit six with some degree of comfort, and provide a range of somewhere around 250 miles on a single charge. No official word on a price just yet, but the company has previously tossed around €25,000 (or roughly $33,500) as a target. [Via AutoblogGreen]
