My Appearance on WGST's "The Sully Show" 10/15/14 - Tech News of the Week

Rick and Sully doing the segment a couple days earlier this week. Sully is broadcasting from the Mellow Mushroom. Rick is at his home office.

Have a listen:

listen to ‘The Sully Show October 15, 2014’ on audioBoom

News topics:


1.  AT&T GigaPower coming to Sandy Springs and part of Atlanta

AT&T announced today it will extend its ultra-fast AT&T GigaPower network to the City of Atlanta and the City of Sandy Springs. This all-fiber network delivers internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, and is AT&T’s most advanced TV services to consumers and small businesses.

In addition to Atlanta and Sandy Springs, AT&T also announced today that it will deploy the AT&T GigaPower network in Decatur and Newnan to meet the growing demand for ultra-fast Internet.  The network enhancements will enable residential and small business customers to have access to the fastest Internet speeds available from AT&T.

“As a city that prides itself on creating a favorable environment for investment and innovation, I am happy to see AT&T bringing its ultra-high speed fiber network to the City of Atlanta,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “This is a great opportunity for our residents, businesses and visitors, who all stand to benefit from this new service. The City of Atlanta is one of the fastest growing tech hubs in the United States and a hotbed for entrepreneurial activity.  U-verse with AT&T GigaPower service will complement this engine of economic growth and help pave the way for future opportunities,” stated Reed.

The key here is really the 1 gigabit speed. If you don’t know how fast that is, here are some examples:
– Download 25 songs in one second

– Download your favorite TV show in less than 3 seconds

– Download an HD online movie in less than 36 seconds


2. Another iPad event is tomorrow 10/16

- New iPads could get announced
- Maybe a bigger iPad,  it's also the 30th Anniversary of Apple coming up

3.  Snapchat 'Selfies' leak

As was feared, Snapchat selfies have leaked. But the cloud service denies it's to blame, fingering an unauthorized 3rd-party service that would download the 'private,' 'self-destructing' naked selfies.

 

4.  114-year-old woman has to lie about her age to sign up for Facebook

Proves you are never too old to use Facebook

114-year-old Minnesota woman has to claim she's 99 to sign up for Facebook, now using FaceTime.  Facebook only allows you to imput agee of 99.


5. The First Black Friday ad of 2014 has been announced

The first Black Friday ad of the year has been leaked! Once again, the first leaked ad is from Harbor Freight! We predicted last week that it would leak today and we were right! Checkout the complete Harbor Freight ad scan and 41-item list of sale items.

Harbor Freight is starting their Black Friday sale at 7:00 AM on Friday, November 28, which is a bit late considering how early some other stores are opening. Still, fans of a traditional Black Friday will appreciate the store opening on Friday and not on Thanksgiving. The sale will last three days from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30.
 

My Appearance on WGST's "The Sully Show" 9/26/14 Talking the Tech Topics of the Week

Rick and Sully will look at some of the current tech news topics

*** 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Pluses sold

****Apple Inc. pulled an update for the iPhone operating system after the new software caused some people to lose cellular service.

After rolling out the latest version of its iOS 8 mobile software on Wednesday, the Cupertino, California-based company withdrew the update when scores of customers experienced dropped cellular service so they couldn’t make calls. The fingerprint reading Touch ID feature also wasn’t working.

Have a listen to this week's segment:

listen to ‘The Sully Show September 26, 2014’ on audioBoom

1.  1.2 Billion Smartphones Will be Shipped in 2014

Leading mobile analyst firm Juniper Research estimates that the number of smartphone shipments will approach 1.2bn this year, an increase of 19% from 985m in 2013. The market is expected to be driven by growth in emerging markets, due to a continued surge in sales and adoption of low-cost Economy ($75-$150) and Ultra-Economy (sub-$75) smartphones.
See: www.juniperresearch.com
 

2.  The word "Google" is trademarked, but only as a noun

Even though "googling" and "Google it" are now common phrases, a federal court ruled that the "Google" trademark is still a valid trademark instead of a generic term (unlike former trademarks such as escalator, aspirin or yo-yo). The court distinguished between consumers using Google as a verb (such as "google it"), which didn't automatically make the term generic, and consumers using Google to describe one player in the market, which 90%+ of consumers still do.

3.   Men are much more likely than women to lose their smartphone

New data reveals something many women have suspected all along: men can be much more irresponsible than women when it comes to losing their electronic devices.

In fact, nearly half of employed men (46%) admit to being likely to lose the electronic device they use for work and all the important company files on it, compared to only 27% of employed women. Young employed men are the most likely to lose their electronic device, with a whopping 60% of men ages 18-34-years-old owning up to, compared to 30% of women in the same age group, according to a new study released by TeamViewer, which examined the behavior and attitudes of American office workers and how they affect on-the-job data loss.

Nearly half of employed men (46%) admit to being likely to lose the electronic device they use for work and all the important company files on it, compared to only 27% of employed women. Young employed men are the most likely to lose their electronic device, with a whopping 60% of men ages 18-34-years-old owning up to, compared to 30% of women in the same age group.

Executives in many organizations may frown upon the news that more than one-third (37%) of employed Americans in all say they are likely to lose the electronic device (smartphone, tablet or laptop) they use for work. The most common places to lose devices include:

⦁    A car (15%)
⦁    A restaurant (13%)
⦁    A hotel (13%)
⦁    On a train or bus (11%)
⦁    A plane (10%)

 4. Microsoft Paid NFL $400 Million To Use Surface, But Announcers Call Them iPads

Those tablets NFL teams are using on the sidelines are the Microsoft Surface.  
Microsoft and the league ran into a problem during weeks one and two of the season when at least two television announcers mistakenly referred to the tablets as iPads, giving a huge rival some unexpected exposure. The announcers were John Lynch and Trent Dilfer.

5.  The eBay iOS app gets a refresh

Free app

For anyone that used to try and use the ebay app for iPhone years ago, they know that it was clunky.
That is not the case anymore.
• Find the perfect item faster with larger photos, product reviews and improved search results
• Stay on top of your eBay buying and selling with in-app notifications
• Take advantage of bonus offers from eBay sellers
• Donate a percentage of your sales to your favorite charity
• Check a buyer's location when reviewing a Best Offer
• Ability to send a payment reminder
 

My Appearance on WGST's "The Sully Show" 8/29/14 Talking Items From the Emmy Awards Gifting Suites

Rick and Sully talk about the recent Emmy Awards Gifting Lounges which Rick was invited to

Rick was also invited to three different Emmy Awards Gifting Lounges in Beverly Hills last week  (The WOW Lounge, the Secret Room Lounge and the GBK Lounge) to see the latest gadgets and products. These suites are put on so celebs and media can come out and sample and get these latest gadgets.

Rick sent Danielle Lao, his co-author on "The Invaluable Experience" to go since she lives in LA and Rick was in the U.P. of Michigan.

listen to ‘The Sully Show August 29, 2014’ on Audioboo

**Topics**   - Products from the Emmy Awards Gifting Lounges

1. Beantown Bedding

Biodegradable bedding that you can dispose of in 2 weeks. Great for travel use, college students, or maybe even visitors.

 
2. Maxim Mattress

www.maximmattress.com

For the past 30 years the company has continually been on the cutting edge of new mattress technology and materials, providing customers with the latest comfort mattresses.  Handcrafted in the USA, Maxim Mattresses are technically engineered to provide support and comfort for restful sleeping.
Some of the technology

Soft Tech Motion-Activated Support System is the latest revolutionary enhanced coil technology.  The system supports your body by instantly adjusting to your sleep movements and the natural contour of your body with minimum motion transfer. These fabric encased coils are proven to dramatically reduce partner disturbance caused by tossing and turning. In addition the mattress stays airy, fresh, and never needs turning.

Individually wrapped Pocket Coils are an advanced innerspring support system supporting your body where you need it the most. Each individually wrapped pocket coil works independently to also absorb motion, preventing partner motion disturbance.

LFK Springs are cylindrical open-ended springs that are bound at both ends by spiral wire. The LFK Spring Structure enhances body support, where each coil is resilient and works together to create an overall and effective response to what ever load. This structure is partially flexible and very durable.

Premium Foams are durable and sustainable foams that provide cushion and comfort in the mattress. Each foam combination is used to create a variety of comfort levels from ultra soft plush to ultra firm.  

Foam Encased mattresses provide superior edge support around the mattress, allowing for more stretch space and edge-to-edge sleeping area. The advanced foam encasement strengthens the mattress while providing corner to corner support and comfort.  Our units provide 360 degrees of innerspring encasement with 3.5" of side foam casing.

Luxurious Quilts are designer multi-needle quilts made from luxurious fabrics. These high-end fabrics are soft on the body, made with fibers that create cushion on the surface level of the mattress.  
Latex Foam is elastic, long lasting foam that is extremely breathable and resilient.  The hypo-allergenic properties breathe better keeping you cooler in the summer, while keeping you warm in the winter.  Bacteria, mildew, and mold cannot live in latex foam.    

 

3. Koreball

$59.99  www.koreball.com

Training tool that you can fill with water (there is a sand version too if you want to create heavier weight). Serves as a kettle bell and a medicine ball. Creator claims it to be a great traveling training tool. There are suppose to be new exercises they post online on their website.
 

4. LG Tone Pro, Infinim

Pro
Around-The-Neck Wearing Style with Body-Contoured Fit
Quick Access Controls
Vibration On/Off
Stream Music While On The Go
$70 range

Infinim
Harman Kardon® Signature Sound
Retractable Earbuds with Wire Management
Stylish & Sleek Design
Jog Button
$150

 
5. The Original Pet Pal

Pet bed that simulates a mother's heartbeat. Supposedly great for when puppies have separation anxiety.
www.theoriginalpetpal.com
 

 

My Appearance on WGST's "The Sully Show" 8/23/14 Talking Island Resort & Casino andTech Topics

Rick and Sully talk the tech topics of the week

Rick is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan this week playing golf at reviewing the Island Resort & Casino and Sweetgrass Golf Course in Harris, Michigan-  and he's heading back to Green Bay for the Packers preseason game vs. the Raider tonight.

Rick describes the U.P. of Michigan...

Rick and Sully look at some of the tech topics of the week.
www.islandresortandcasino.com

Have a listen:

listen to ‘The Sully Show August 22, 2014’ on Audioboo

**Topics**  
Tech news for this week

1.  Windows 9 trial coming in September

Microsoft is reportedly planning to offer up a public download ahead of the final release of Windows 9 — and it could happen as soon as next month.

If you’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of Metro apps on the desktop and the resurrection and retooling of the Start Menu, you may only have to wait until the end of September to see how they look in Windows 9. Sources who spoke with ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley also say that it’s possible the Windows 9 preview download may be offered up early in October. It’s been pegged for an October release before, though last time leakers thought it would be the final build.

2. Google Receives Takedown Request Every 8 Milliseconds

Google is now being asked to remove one million links per day (or an average of one takedown notice every 8ms). In 2008, they received one takedown request approximately every six days. From the article: The massive surge in removal requests is not without controversy. It’s been reported that some notices reference pages that contain no copyrighted material, due to mistakes or abuse, but are deleted nonetheless. Google has a pretty good track record of catching these errors, but since manual review of all links is unachievable, some URLs are removed in error. ... The issue has also piqued the interest of U.S. lawmakers. Earlier this year the House Judiciary Subcommittee had a hearing on the DMCA takedown issue, and both copyright holders, Internet service providers, and other parties are examining what they can do to optimize the process. In the meantime, the number of removal requests is expected to rise and rise, with 10 million links per week being the next milestone.


3.  Engineers leaving NASA in droves

Rather than work in NASA, the best young engineers today are increasingly heading to get jobs at private companies like SpaceX and XCOR.

One example:

"As a NASA engineering co-op student at Johnson Space Center, Amy Hoffman trained in various divisions of the federal space agency to sign on eventually as a civil servant. She graduated from college this year after receiving a generous offer from NASA, doubly prestigious considering the substantial reductions in force hitting Johnson Space Center in recent months. She did have every intention of joining that force — had actually accepted the offer, until she received an invitation to visit a friend at his new job with rising commercial launch company SpaceX.

Driving up to the SpaceX headquarters, she was struck by how unassuming it was, how small compared to NASA, how plain on the outside and rather like a warehouse. As she walked through the complex, she was also surprised to find open work areas where NASA would have had endless hallways, offices and desks. Hoffman described SpaceX as resembling a giant workshop, a hive of activity in which employees stood working on nitty-gritty mechanical and electrical engineering. Everything in the shop was bound for space or was related to space. ... Seeing SpaceX in production forced Hoffman to acknowledge NASA might not be the best fit for her.

4.  The end of the 747?

http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/15/747-grounded/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Later this month, Cathay Pacific's 747 will fly from San Francisco to Hong Kong for the very last time. It's a story we're hearing from nearly every airline still flying the most recognizable passenger jet in aviation history -- rising fuel costs are prompting carriers to ground their fleets, opting to shuttle passengers in more modern (and efficient) airliners instead. Hundreds of 747s still take to the skies every day, but their numbers are dwindling, with Boeing's 777-300ER and 787 Dreamliner, as well as the enormous Airbus A380, picking up the slack. The flagships of yesteryear now litter the desert, with several sites in California serving as a permanent resting place for the plane that was once known as the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747-400.

For aviation buffs, the 747's retirement is a devastating milestone, but it also represents significant progress. Better fuel efficiency means reduced emissions, and the 777-300ER, 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A380 and the upcoming A350XWB offer unprecedented comfort, for passengers and crew members alike. Fortunately, there's still time to hop aboard a 747-400, and while you might find a better experience elsewhere, I highly recommend taking this brilliant craft for a final spin.

 

5.  Survey: 51% of Computer Users Share Passwords...  Do you?

Consumers are inadvertently leaving back doors open to attackers as they share login details and sign up for automatic log on to mobile apps and services, according to new research by Intercede. While 52% of respondents stated that security was a top priority when choosing a mobile device, 51% are putting their personal data at risk by sharing usernames and passwords with friends, family and colleagues. The research revealed that consumers are not only sharing passwords but also potentially putting their personal and sensitive information at risk by leaving themselves logged in to applications on their mobile devices, with over half of those using social media applications and email admitting that they leave themselves logged in on their mobile device.

My Appearance on WGST's "The Sully Show" 8/8/14 Talking the Tech Topics of the Week

Rick and Sully talk the tech topics of the week.

listen to ‘The Sully Show August 8, 2014’ on Audioboo

Sprint Gets New CEO and Deal with T-Mobile won't happen

Sprint Corporation on Wednesday confirmed that its CEO, Dan Hesse, is leaving and will be replaced by Marcelo Claure, founder/CEO of mobile hardware distributor Brightstar. Sprint Corporation’s stock opened 17% down today amidst rumors that is withdrawing its bid to acquire T-Mobile US Inc on account of regulatory opposition. Investors fear that Sprint Corporation will continue to lose market share to bigger rivals like Verizon Communications Inc.

Claure, 43, is already a member of Sprint's board. He'll be resigning from Brightstar, and SoftBank will acquire his remaining interest in the company. Bloomberg states Hesse may receive a $40M+ severance package.

What does this mean for customers?

Hotel Chain Plans Phone-Based Check-in and Room Access

Forbes reports that Hilton Worldwide, international hotel operator, is rolling out smartphone-based guest tools allowing self-service check-in, access to a virtual floorplan to select a room, and (in 2015) actual door access once checked in. The author states the drive for this technology is the growing influence of the swelling ranks of Millennials, who "[...] have a very strong inclination toward automated and self-service customer service." But are there security risks?
 

FBI Studied How Much Drones Impact Your Privacy -- Then Marked It Secret

When federal agencies adopt new technology, they're required by law to do Privacy Impact Assessments, which is exactly what the FBI did regarding its secretive drone program. The PIAs are created to help the public and federal government assess what they're risking through the adoption of new technology. That part is a little trickier, since the FBI is refusing to release any of the PIA on its drone project, stating it needs to be kept, er, private to protect national security.

Rick has the new Amazon Fire smartphone... what does he think?

1. It's an AT&T only phone and Android.
2.  Affordability - At $199 with a contract, or $650 at full price, the Fire Phone goes toe-to-toe with the best phones on the market in price. The price clearly reflects a lot of R&D that Amazon hopes to recoup
3. Design - Ok design, battery life isn't great.  The center hardware button is handy as it helps you quickly get back to the home screen and switch views. But it's also easy to turn the thing on when it is in your pocket, etc.
4.  Great for shopping - Capture bar codes and pictures of devices and you get options to buy them on Amazon.
5. Amazon also includes one year of Amazon Prime, a $99 value. If you are a current Amazon Prime member, then you will get your next year renewed for free. Free, unlimited photo storage on Amazon Cloud Storage is also provided. 1,000 Amazon Coins, a $10 value, will appear in your account so you can try out a few paid apps, books, or movies.

 

And one for Sully......

BlackBerry Launches Redesigned BBM for Windows Phone

BBM for Windows Phone was designed to be consistent with Microsoft's mobile design, reflecting a change in thinking at the updated BlackBerry.
A first release of BBM for Windows Phone is now available for download, BlackBerry announced July 31. The version, which follows a limited Beta release, is compatible with devices running Windows Phone 8 and 8.1.

A longtime favorite of BlackBerry users, the messaging app includes all the expected features—the ability to chat with up to 50 contacts at once, and to share photo albums, voice notes, location information, contacts and more within a chat. Plus, BlackBerry has promised to quickly add new features, such as "stickers, BBM Voice, BBM Channels" and Glympse location sharing, in the months ahead, Jeff Gadway, BlackBerry's head of brand marketing, said in a blog post.

But the app's most notable feature may be its appearance, which is very in line with the Windows Phone aesthetic.