WGST's "The Sully Show" for 3/25/16 - Rick at 2016 Adobe Summit

Rick has been in Las Vegas all week at the Adobe Summit.

This is a gathering of the "Digital Marketing World"

Most people are familiar with Adobe for it's Photoshop and document management programs like Acrobat, Reader, eSign.  But Adobe is the leader when it comes to digital marketing with products like: Analytics, Audience Manager, Campaign, Target, Primetime and more...

Adobe Summit mainly focuses on the Digital Marketing side of things and Rick was impressed and learned a lot.
 


Rick and Sully talk a little about the 2016 Adobe Summit that more than 10,000 attendees from the industry and media. Here are some of Rick's takeaways...
 


1.  Adobe puts on a great conference and knows the "Digital Experience"

"Experience" was a word those attending 2016 Adobe Summit heard a lot during the week.

Branding was another hot topic.

Singer, entertainer, Donny Osmond was on hand to discuss his brand strategy over the last 50 years...
Keeping A Brand Fresh While Reinventing It Over The Years
• “That’s a key word no matter who you are or what business you are in--reinvention. There are four Rs that I always think about: retool, rebuild, reinvent, reboot. You’ve got to do this. You can’t look back at your successes. You always have to be thinking forward.”

• “Respect the brand you’ve built. Don’t alienate it. Build upon it. Remember that the brand belongs to your audience. You’ve got to protect it and not ruin it. It is very fragile.”

• “Years ago, you used to do a five-year business plan. Now you do a five-minute plan because you have to look at what is going on to be on top of things.”

“When people come to one of my shows, I don’t give them a concert. I give them an experience. I want to make a connection. After a concert in New York City, a fan came up to me and said, ‘That was an experience. I feel like I know you.’”
- Good lessons for us all to learn.
 


2. What you see on the web is no accident

You log on to a website and it knows you are male, a sports fan and your birthday..
It's no accident. Those are data points that companies and marketers collect. The more they know about you, the more they can target ads and offers to you and be successful with it. Adobe has the digital marketing platforms that big players like the NFL, Mattel and Cirque du Soleil use...
 

3. Storytelling Is Marketers’ Most Powerful Tool

So said Adobe VP John Mellor, speaking at Summit’s Wednesday general session. He was followed on stage by Mattel president Richard Dickson, who talked about brand reinvention, and Cirque du Soleil VP Alma Derricks, who highlighted her digital content strategy. Attendees also heard stories from the likes of U.S. Soccer star, Abby Wambach and A-lister, George Clooney...
 

4. Adobe Primetime

The Adobe platform that deals with TV and broadcasting is called Adobe Primetime.
Adobe unveiled new capabilities in Adobe Primetime that extend the solution to OTT platforms, which make it easy for TV networks and pay-TV providers to deliver more personalized TV and ad experiences directly to consumers across OTT devices. Through the integration with digital marketing solutions in Adobe Marketing Cloud, content providers can acquire,engage and monetize audiences.

Adobe Primetime

It’s a multiscreen TV platform that helps broadcasters, cable networks and service providers create and monetize engaging and personalized TV and film experiences
 

5. What's coming in the future?

Announced at Adobe Summit in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the Adobe Smart Bag is a collaboration with Capgemini and tech startup Twyst. Once customers place items in the bag, it starts a running total of those products.
The bag’s technology allows for an automatic checkout via a store app. It is designed with a hard exterior (Adobe’s prototype is made of leather) and a reusable interior bag that the customer can remove at the end of their shopping trip, triggering the purchase of all of the items inside.

The Smart Bag makes use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to allow communication between the bag and product tags. It has a lightweight BLE device built into the bag’s base that can recognize when an item with a RFID tag is placed inside. (RFID tags are stickers that emit a signal that can be placed on a product tag and cost just a fraction of a cent.)

The bag is also lined with mylar that blocks out other signals so when a customer passes items in the store, they’re not added to the customer’s shopping cart.

Once the interior bag is removed, it sends a signal to the app triggering a mobile purchase, using payment information stored in the retailer’s app. The store can then follow-up with a digital receipt via email.
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 3/18/16 - World Water Day

Rick spent Thurdsay at the Georgia Technology Summit at the Cobb Galleria.

This annual event is bascially the "State of the Tech Community" in Georgia

Top tech sectors found in Georgia: Communications, Health IT and Finance...

Great event put on by the Technology Association of Georgia

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 is World Water Day.

Have a listen to Rick and Sully:

World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. It has been held annually since then. Each year, UN-Water — the entity that coordinates the UN’s work on water and sanitation — sets a theme for World Water Day corresponding to a current or future challenge. The engagement campaign is coordinated by one or several of the UN-Water Members with a related mandate.

Rick and Sully look at some "Water Gadgets" and Themes for World Water Day 2016

 

1. Raindrip - watering kit $60

U.S. homeowners use 30 percent of their water outdoors, much of it on lawns and gardens. To reduce that drain, opt for a drip irrigation system to deliver moisture straight to thirsty roots, minimizing evaporation. RAINDRIP's easily installed Flower, Shrub and Tree Kit includes support stakes, 50 feet of tubing, and a timer that attaches to your spigot for hassle-free watering.  A hanging basket collects the water and you are off...

 
2. Blossom and their smart watering controller

Scotts Miracle-Gro has partnered with Blossom to shape the future of gardening. Blossom has gained traction in the market with its 12-zone smart watering controller and this partnership allows Blossom to connect to the Scott’s Gro App, which will provide informational gardening tips.

It's also part of what they are calling the "Connected Yard"

The Connected Yard marks the first time the Internet of Things steps outside, tied to a unifying software platform called Gro, bringing the garden into the 21st century. The Smart Home now broadens its footprint, with the yard as the next natural step in harnessing technology on behalf of consumers.

The Connected Yard is an open platform, and Scotts Miracle-Gro is eager to align with companies and particularly start-ups in the smart water and gardening space who want to connect their imaginative hardware solutions to Gro.
Stay tuned for World Water Day on March 22nd when Blossom will launch a new smart yard product designed to go mainstream.
 

3. Rachio  -  the smart sprinkler sensor

Rachio is a smart sprinkler controller, that makes  running your sprinklers easy and convenient while saving you water and money. The user-friendly mobile app gives you access to your sprinkler system from anywhere. Rachio factors in soil type, recent weather, upcoming weather and lawn condition into your sprinkler system by tapping into your home Internet connection, so you’re only watering when your lawn needs it. It’s essentially Nest for your lawn, not to mention it’s actually compatible with Nest and Amazon Echo. When it rains, the sprinklers won’t turn on. If it is projected to rain in the next day, Rachio will shut off your scheduled watering cycle.

As much as half of the water used outdoors right now is being wasted, and Rachio is dedicate to cutting that waste by saving up 50% of that waste. To date, Rachio helped users save more than 500 million gallons of water. By saving people water, Rachio is saving them money. Whether someone’s main goal is to save water or save money, Rachio is empowering them to do both.
 

4.   Waterpebble shower timer

- You can waste a lot of water taking a shower...
Place near the drain in your shower, and the little gadget will nag you when it's time to reach for the towel. It uses a traffic-light system: Green means that you've just started; yellow, that you're three minutes in. When it flashes red, step onto the bath mat. $12
 

5. Colgate

Colgate’s #EveryDropCounts program is a great mention since World Water Day is on March 22nd!!
Water is one of life’s most basic needs, yet it’s an increasingly scarce resource in many regions of the world. Did you know that on average, Americans who leave the water running while brushing their teeth waste up to four gallons of water? In light of global water shortages, the Colgate “Save Water” campaign serves as a reminder that #EveryDropCounts.
This year on World Water Day join Colgate in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation. Since 2005, Colgate has saved enough water to fill over 7,300 Olympic-sized swimming pools! Americans can get involved in their efforts and make a difference by taking three simple steps:

    Turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth
    Make a personal pledge online to save water by using #EveryDropCounts to signify four gallons of water being saved
    Spread the word to family and friends about the importance of water conservation and encourage them to do their part and pledge to save water while brushing their teeth
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 3/11/16 - Rick Playing Tennis and Spring Cleaning for your Tech

Rick is back in town after spending the better part of the week in the California Desert, specifically the Palm Springs area, where he was at one of the largest tennis tournaments in the world, the BNP Paribas Open, and participating as one of the tennis-playing media members in the "Tennis With the Stars" event at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa.

Rick took to the court with Canadian tennis superstar Genie Bouchard and was the last doubles team standing in the media competition that also featured Richard Gasquet, Kei Nishikori and women's World No. 3, Garbine Mugaruza.

 
 
We also are getting ready to "Spring Ahead' this weekend as we turn our clocks ahead one hour, so Rick and Sully look at some "Spring Cleaning" ideas when it comes to your gadgets and technology...
 
Have a listen:

1. Physically Cleaning Your Devices

- Wipedown your headphones
- Clean your monitor or TV screen
- Carefully clean not only your phone, but also the case  - Touch screen devices are known to be a safe harbor for all sorts of germs and bacteria.  Make sure you power off your device before you start wiping it down, and never spray a cleaning solution directly onto your device; just to be safe.
- Cleaning your keyboard -     Shut down your computer. If you're using a wired desktop keyboard, unplug it.Tilt the keyboard upside down and shake it to remove any loose debris. If you have a can of compressed air, you can spray it in between the keys as well.
 

2. Recycling Your Old Gadgets

This is not only good for the environment, but can put some extra cash in your pocket.

You can use approved recycling programs, donate to non-profits, sell outright or trade to someone that can put the item to use. Repurpose for a DIY project.
 

3.  Getting Optimized

Keep your apps and device software up-to-date: Always run optimally!
It may prevent you from getting a virus.
 

4.  Digitizing your life

Simple things like:
- Going digital with your wallet
- Digitize your CD collection
- Take pictures or scan of all those receipts you are saving
- Go digital with print subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, etc

 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 3/4/16 - A Laptop for Every Budget

Besides a home and a car, a laptop is one of the most important purchases you will make. And many people make this purchase each year, for whatever reason.

While it's a personal decision, it's also a tech decision and finding the right laptop to meet your needs and budget can be tough.

Rick and Sully discuss:

 

1.   HP Stream  - Under $200

The revolutionary HP Stream is a stylish, affordable Windows-based PC that lets you store your content in the cloud for easy access in more places.
- Comes in 11" or 13" displays
- Free Cloud Storage for Data
- Free Office 365 Personal Included
- Dual Core Processor
- Thin and Light

 

2. Microsoft Surface Line-   Starts at $400

The Microsoft Surface line always gets a lot of exposure, especially when it comes to being in a partnership with the NFL. Surface models start at around $400 and give a full Microsoft experience in laptop or tablet mode.

There’s no limit to what you can achieve with the versatility and power of Surface. Do great things.

 


3. Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 Special Edition -  $699 at the most

Great for business use.
The Del Inspiron 11 measures 0.76 by 11.8 by 7.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.98 pounds, a compact and attractive system.

11-inch 2-in-1 with the performance of a laptop and the convenience of a tablet in one small device that makes it easy to take with you anywhere.
The $600 “Special Edition” review unit represents the top tier of the system, and came with a sixth generation

Intel i3 core processor, 4GB of DDR3L memory, and 128GB hard drive.
The Inspiron 3000 doesn’t look like a two-in-one, and that's a good thing.

A powerful laptop/tablet device.
 


4.  Razer Blade Stealth  -  $1199  and won a "Best of CES" award

www.razerzone.com
Many people don't know about Razer, the maker of quality laptops
The Stealth (QHD) is a thin, attractive system with an all-aluminum body measuring 0.52 by 12.6 by 6.1 inches (HWD).

    0.52” Thin and 2.75lbs
    12.5” 4K and QHD Touchscreens
    6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
    Chroma Keyboard - 16.8 Million Colors per Key
    8GB dual-channel onboard memory (LPDDR3-1866MHz)
Windows® 10 (64-Bit)

The Razer Blade Stealth’s highly durable chassis is CNC-milled out of aircraft grade aluminum. The ultra-sleek finish and thin form factor adapts perfectly to any situation. Together with up to 8 hours of battery life, you’ll be able to play casual games on the train and power through your daily work.
 

5. Acer Predator 15    $2000-3000

- The ultimate gaming notebook

Acer Predator 15 G9-591-70VM Gaming Notebook comes with these high level specs: 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ Processor 2.6GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.5GHz, Windows 10, 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M with 3 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM, 16GB DDR4 Memory, 128GB SSD, 1TB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM), 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive (M-DISC enabled), Acer True Harmony Premium High-Performance Sound System, Two Built-in Stereo Speakers and Subwoofer, Built-in Digital Microphone, Secure Digital (SD) card reader, Killer Wireless-AC 1535 802.11ac Wi-Fi featuring 2x2 MU-MIMO technology (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, Gigabit Ethernet, Built-In HD Webcam, 1 - Thunderbolt 3 (Full USB 3.1 Type C) Port, 4 - USB 3.0 Ports, 1 - HDMI Port, 1 - Display Port, 8-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh), Up to 6-hours Battery Life, 7.5 lbs.

*  Acer also make specific monitors for gaming...
The new Predator XB1 Series includes two 27-inch models, the Predator XB271HU and the Predator XB271HK. These new monitors feature a sleek and aggressive black design with sharp angles and bold red accents. Designed to provide a no-compromise visual experience, the new models feature NVIDIA® G-SYNC™ technology that eliminates screen tearing and minimizes display stutter and input lag to sharpen gamer’s views with incredibly clear and smooth images.

 

 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 2/26/16 - Baseball Spring Training Tech

Spring Training has sprung at places in Florida and Arizona as the MLB season prepares to throw it's first pitch.

All the teams have reported and are getting ready for Exhibition Games where some new technology will be tested and introduced.

Rick and Sully feel it's never too early to talk about baseball, so here's some of the hot tech to look for at Spring Training 2016.
 


1.   Protective Headwear for Pitchers

Seeing a pitcher, at any level of baseball, struck by a powerful hit is one of the more gruesome aspects of baseball. This type of contact is extremely dangerous, and could even result in death by internal bleeding in the brain.

The protective cap, designed by Boombang, essentially looks like a helmet with the top cut off to look more like a hat. Each helmet is specifically made to protect the most vulnerable areas of contact for both left-handed and right-handed pitchers. The headwear is 0.7 inches thick, made with a carbon fiber shell—it has been tested to protect pitchers at around 85 mph.

The list of pitchers that are set to receive this new cap varies from ones that have been struck by hits in the past, like Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb, to pitchers that recently expressed interest.
 



2. Coolbase Technology in the Jerseys

Cool Base jerseys are made of 100 percent Polyester Performance Mesh and feature Cool Base technology, which helps wick away moisture quickly to keep you dry and comfortable.

You too can order your own Coolbase jersey at Fanatics.com

 

3.  Three-wheeled Pitching Machines

Allow balls to come at batters not only at Major Leage speeds, but with Major League movement on the ball.
They throw Major League cutters and sliders on and off the edge of the plate. Also helps catchers with their technique and are great for simulated games.

 
4.  Minnesota Twins To Use Kinduct Technologies To Try And Prevent Injuries

The Minnesota Twins and Kinduct Technologies have announced a merge to try and prevent injuries.

Kinduct Technologies is dedicated to making people better by providing products to address information challenges of organizations who work with athletes, students, patients, employees and clients. Their software solutions help organize, collect, share and analyze data in one centralized platform that leads to better and more informed results.

The Twins will be able to use the technology to modernize their performance and operational capabilities. The tools provided by Kinduct will be utilized across the Twins’ organization, even in their minor league clubs.
Kinduct gives the Twins a centralized platform to collect, share, monitor and measure health, wellness and player performance data. Kinduct Technologies include performance, health, clinic and fitness solutions. The performance aspect of Kinduct allows coaches to collect any type of data, whether it is fitness testing or wearables, in order to get a full picture of the athletes’ ability. Kinduct Health helps collect and organize patient information on one platform

5. Use Of Extended Protective Netting Starts In Spring Training

The new experience of looking through extended protective netting in more of the best field-level seats of the ballpark will first occur for Cubs fans at spring training games in Mesa, Ariz. Sloan Park will have netting from dugout to dugout, going 70 feet from home plate. This new feature will be in place on March 4 when the Cubs play the first of their 15 home games in the Cactus League.

The decision to enhance fan safety here by the Cubs is consistent with the MLB’s recommendation in December to further protect fans by extending the netting down the foul lines. Clubs aren’t being forced to put up the protective netting in spring training, MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney said, but the Cubs chose to do so anyway.

The view of the playing field will be different with more netting in place and could be a big adjustment for the fans paying the top prices for premium seats.

 
----  Don't forget about the big NASCAR weekend at AMS, this coming weekend!