WGST's "The Sully Show" for 2/19/16 - Austin and Travel Apps

Rick is back from a long Valentine's Weekend in Austin, TX where he was working on some travel and sports pieces with Hyatt and the city of Austin.

Have a listen:

Rick and his wife Lindsay stayed at:

Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa
The Driskill

He played golf at:

Wolfdancer Golf Club and tried out the new Harvey Penick Golf Academy
Receive a great lesson experience through the teaching philosophy of one of the greatest  instructors of all time, Harvey Penick.  http://www.wolfdancergolfclub.com/

**Travelers, both business and leisure are always looking for new apps to make the travel process easier. Travel means headaches, waiting in line and other pet peeves always seem to crop up....

Rick and Sully take a look at some new or refreshed travel apps to help weary travelers.

1.   Hyatt Hotels App

Connect to your destination with the new Hyatt Hotels app. Our app allows you to book and personalize your travel with ease:

• Explore and book over 550 Hyatt hotels globally
• Find hotels using your current location, or search by city, address or airport
• View and cancel reservations at any time
• Make reservations using Hyatt Gold Passport® points
• Save your Reservations and your Hyatt Gold Passport® details to Passbook
• Check-in before you arrive, check-out on the go
• Access photos, weather, local time, maps, and turn-by-turn directions to your Hyatt destination
• Join Hyatt Gold Passport® and easily access your account details and track your points
• Add favorite Hyatt hotels for quick and easy access
Using the Hyatt app, you can take advantage of Hyatt’s Best Rate Guarantee. With no booking fees, you can book any Hyatt brand including Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara, and get the best published rate available anywhere online.

See more about the Hyatt app here:  http://hyatt.com/mobile
  

2.  RoadTrippers

RoadTrippers makes itself useful as soon as you pull on to the highway.
Travelers plug in their itineraries and the app will recommend restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations and stretching spots en route. The app also gives estimates of how much drivers can expect to pay for gas.

Note:  RoadTrippers is no substitute for GPS. Once you've found the stops you want to make, you’ll have to export your itinerary to Google Maps or Waze to get directions.


3. DUFL  -  we talked about Shipsticks before and how they will ship your golf clubs, but DUFL takes the same idea to more sports

DUFL, will be able to ship sports equipment like golf clubs, skiis, snowboards, surf boards etc. to a traveler's final destination - allowing active travelers & sports enthusiasts to travel hassle-free.

The DUFL app gives frequent business travelers the freedom to roam untethered. Our secure, sophisticated platform delivers your bag where and when you need it. With each use your clothing is cleaned the way you like it, stored in your virtual closet and prepared for your next trip
 

4.  Rio 2016

-If you are traveling to Rio this summer for the Olympic Games.... not sure how much mention about the Zyka virus... but it's a worthwhile app

Rio 2016 launches new app with competition offering chance to win tickets to opening ceremony
Available for iOS and Android, new platform provides information about the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the chance to win prizes. Up to April 2016, there will be four one-month challenges offering prizes. The first is a photograph contest, already live, where participants are invited to share images that symbolise the Olympic and Paralympic spirit. Entrants who are over 18 can win pairs of tickets for the opening ceremony.

There is a special award for youngsters under 18: the best images will be evaluated by artist and photographer Vik Muniz – a well-known Brazilian name in the international art world and one of the creative directors for the Paralympic ceremonies – alongside writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva and designer Fred Gelli. The winning photographs will adorn the bedrooms of the athletes’ village.

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 2/12/16 - Home Health Gadgets

If your New Year's resolution was to improve your health, hopefully you haven't broken your resolution. If you are holding true to your resolution for 2016, there are a number of new gadgets that can help you monitor your health or keep healthy right in the comfort of your own home.

Rick and Sully discuss this week with some new gadgets with the theme of "home health"

1.  QardioArm -  Blood pressure sleeve that works with an app

Did you know?

High blood pressure is an epidemic. Nearly 70 million American adults have high blood pressure and only 52% of those with high blood pressure have it under control. Those stats are from the CDC and they also say that high blood pressure costs the nation $46 million per annum.

With the QardioArm, there are no buttons, displays or wires to worry about. It just works after you downloan an app, pair it with your smartphone or tablet and press the "start" button. What many call "home health" products were all over CES in January, but I think very few will catch on with consumers- QardioArm is sure to catch on and you can use it as much as you want, right in your own home.

www.getqardio.com for $99
 

2.   ReliefBand

ReliefBand has an answer for those feeling the effects of virtual motion sickness from roller coasters, cars and even VR heatsets. It’s an FDA cleared wearable device for the drug-free treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with morning and motion sickness and can provide a welcome relief for those loving the immersive VR content but not loving the sickness it may cause.

It works by sending pulses with highly specific waveform, frequency, and intensity that stimulate the median nerve on the underside of the wrist. This precise activity (technically referred to as “neuromodulation”) uses the body’s natural neural pathways to block the waves of nausea produced by the stomach.

“With 70% of women experiencing morning sickness during pregnancy and more than 60 million people suffering from motion sickness, ReliefBand is fulfilling a very large unmet need,” said Nick Spring, CEO, ReliefBand Technologies. “With wearable technology becoming widely accepted, the time is now right to bring this clinically proven technology that has been developed over decades to a device that people can buy without a prescription.”

For sale soon - over the counter for $89.99
 


3.  MocaHeart -  analyze your blood velocity

MOCAheart is a device that makes the tracking of cardiovascular health super simple by removing the need for bulky cuffs and complicated monitors.

By scanning thumbs, MOCAheart measures blood velocity to determine a number of important indicators of heart health including heartrate, blood oxygen levels as wells as a measurement on a simple 1-5 scale called the MOCA INDEX, which is correlated to blood pressure.  Generally, the faster blood travels through blood vessels, the more pressure the heart is under. Because systolic and diastolic blood pressure figures can be hard for everyday users to understand and remember, the MOCA INDEX is an easy way to understand the current state of your cardiovascular health.

Priced at $149.99, MOCAheart is available online at www.mocacare.com.
 


4.  KallDoc  -  an app that will bring a doctor right to your door.

Silicon Valley’s revolutionary new HealthTech startup, KallDoc, announces plans to launch a new on-demand service for health care practitioners, leveraging the on call economy to bring house calls back to medicine. The app has launched and will soon roll out to 25 more cities across the United States.
KallDoc, which runs across iOS, Android and the web and provides doctors to the home or office on demand, saves patients from hours in a germ-filled waiting room, minimizes time off work, and reduces lost employee hours as a result of seeking medical attention.

“Patients want the best quality doctors in the quickest time for the best results – that’s what we provide at KallDoc,” says Mark Baker, President of KallDoc. “We started KallDoc to ensure patients receive the best quality service in the quickest time frame using the latest cutting-edge technology.”

KallDoc aims to differentiate itself from other doctor services by providing three times more doctors per city and is also putting user experience and the consumers at the forefront.
KallDoc’s platform offers patients the ability to provide service feedback, a scoring system and overview of their doctors so patients know they are getting the most experienced physicians at their door.

The KallDoc pre-call system means that doctors will come equipped for the case in hand and deliver the prescription wherever possible.
www.kalldoc.com


5.   Dario

Within this portable glucose monitoring system, there’s a glucometer (glucose meter) that connects to the audio port of your smartphone. To use a Dario, just remove one of the 25 blood test strips and insert it into the meter. Dario also has a lancing device to draw blood for the test strip.

The smartphone app will then tell you your blood sugar level and also tell you how much insulin is required based on the food information that you entered into the app.
www.mydario.com
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 2/5/16 - The Super Bowl Experience

Super Bowl 50, airs on Sunday, February 7. More than 110 million people will watch on TV, and millions more sports fans will listen to it on the radio, stream it live, or watch online sports commentators and highlight videos.

Millions of people will also be attending Super Bowl parties. If you're having a Super Bowl party, or going to one, here are some tech ideas that you might want to check out.

Don't forget:

Live streaming of the Super Bowl is offered on numerous platforms

This Super Bowl Sunday, you can watch Super Bowl 50 on your local CBS channel. However, you can also stream it live on a range of gadgets using the CBS Sports platform.
If you're going to watch the game on your computer, go to CBSSports.com. You can also watch CBS Sports on streaming devices, including the game console Xbox One and streaming media players Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.

Have a listen to Rick and Sully:

Tech and gadgets for Super Bowl viewing

1.  HDTVs

One quarter of all TVs sold during the year are sold in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl

Amazon has been running deals on HDTVs leading up to the big game...  look for HDTV special as you search TVS

Example:

Sceptre E505BV-FMQK 50-Inch 1080p LED HDTV
by Sceptre
$369.99
 


2.   Football Sqaures app-   iOS app for running your Super Bowl Squares game
Cost is $2.99 on iTunes

Love playing "Squares" for sports games and other office/party pools? Now you can do all the Squares sheets you want on your iPad! Pick from pre-defined templates or create a custom sheet for everything from football, baseball, hockey, to baby birthday pools and more!

Sheet styles include 10 X 10 and 5 X 5 options and are easily set up with the template picker. You also have templates for 4 quarters, 2 halves, inning groups, and periods. With a custom sheet, you can setup "scoring rounds' to be whatever you like with whatever text you want in each scoring box.

Your friends and family can choose the squares they want by tapping on a square and entering their name/initials (this info is retained in case they want more than 1 square.) You can randomize the score boxes for each row and column, or enter them yourself in the desired order. Participants can quickly highlight all of their squares with the provided filter mechanism. Progress is saved automatically, allowing you to return to the app at any time to continue filling up the sheet.

You can also use the now-included "Picture Squares" Add-On to give each square a picture of the owner! Pictures can come from your photo library, contacts, or the built-in camera if using a camera-equipped iPad.

Need more participants? Create an email invitation from the app, which includes a link to the "Squares Buyer for Football Squares Plus" app, which lets users enter their info and email it back to you for importing into your sheet (these squares are randomly assigned). Users can even take and submit a picture if you are using Picture Squares!

The "Winners" screen lets you select which Score Boxes are winners. The app will highlight all winning squares and also present a "Winners Table" for a list of all winners.

You can lock sheets in 2 modes -- Allowing new entries only, or the entire sheet so no changes can be made. This is great for preventing accidental taps!
 

3.  Perfect Drink   -  app and smart scale

$49-$99 and app is free

www.MakeItPerfectly.com

Have you ever enjoyed a great cocktail in a bar and wondered why you can't make it at home? With Perfect Drink, you can make the perfect cocktail in your own home, every time, regardless of your experience.

The interactive recipe app connects via Bluetooth to the smart scale to guide you step-by-step through each recipe. Measuring ingredients by weight is the most precise way to consistently make a great cocktail so the app will tell you what to pour, and when to stop. Just watch the virtual shaker fill up in real time on your smartphone or tablet.
 
 


4.  Logitech Harmony Elite universal remote control

The ultimate remote for watching sports on TV
 Now, you can impress your friends this Sunday with complete control from the couch. With one-touch activities, gesture controls and integration with connected devices like Philips Hue lights, the only thing you can’t control on game day is the score!
Features:

- Change channels, adjust volume, fast-forward, or rewind using gestures on the bright 2.4” touchscreen.
- Easily find the right button, even in the dark, with motion-activated, backlit controls.
- Keep your eyes on your entertainment, not your remote, with vibration feedback.
- Customize the dedicated media playback, cable/satellite, and DVR controls to your preferences.
- Control and adjust smart home devices with dedicated controls.
- Keep Harmony Elite charged and ready with the convenient charging station..
- The replaceable battery has 20% greater capacity
 



5. Daytoda Finger Caps - for those messy eaters at your Super Bowl party  -especially when it comes to wings.

Daytoda Finger Caps can be a pretentious but useful way to do the job. These are finger-shaped plastic covers that will let you grab food without the possibility of spreading germs and bacteria, while also keeping your fingers clean. They’re made of a soft food-grade plastic, and are safe for hot food, meaning they won’t shrink-wrap onto your fingertips.

While a box of 50 is only going to cost you $7.95, your friends are going to tear through these in no time flat. If we’re going to be honest, only certain people are going to use these unless you specifically ask all of your guests to use them, and it’s usually the people that don’t need them in the first place.

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 1/29/16 - PGA Merchandise Show

Rick is down in Orlando at the 63rd PGA Merchandise Show, held Jan. 26-29. This is where the golf season kicks into high gear, with all the new product announcements and the debut of everything golf for 2016.

Tuesday is always Outdoor Demo Day, but the show at the Orange County Convention Center is going on thru today. Rick is seeing all the new products and hot trends.

Here is some of what Rick has taken in at the PGA Show:

1.  It's the 100th Anniversary of the PGA of America.

- Not the PGA Tour, but the PGA of America
Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is the largest working sports organization in the world, comprised of more than 28000 dedicated men and women who are ambassadors of the sport of golf. Certified golf instructors and promoters of the game of golf to everyone, everywhere.
 

2.  Ship Sticks
www.shipsticks.com

Golfers can travel with their clubs all they want, and it never really gets easier. I’ve schlepped my golf clubs around airports all over the world, and it’s still a pain rolling the bag from the economy parking lot, or loading and unloading them on rental-car shuttles, squeezing them onto an escalator. At most airports, you have to drop off and pick up the bag at a separate location from your regular baggage.

At the most basic level, checking a golf bag is often a little cheaper than shipping them. (Ship Sticks offers a base rate of $39 for bags under 42 pounds.) Southwest Airlines still costs nothing as long as it’s one of your first two checked bags. On other airlines, it’s $20-$100 to check bags.

But looking beyond the black-and-white math of the airlines’ $0-$100 vs. Ship Sticks’ $39 and up, there are still a lot examples where shipping your luggage makes more sense. PGA members as well as PGA Tour pros have made a habit out of using the service.
Great idea for getting your golf clubs to where you are playing and you don't have to lug them or do the work.
    Easy-to-use web site
    Ship golf bags anywhere
    Ship using a travel bag, hard case or a box
    Personal customer service and claims assistance

See the real cost of checking your bag >
Guaranteed + Insured

    On-time Guarantee
    $200 consequential insurance for delayed shipments
    $1,000 of baseline insurance included
    Insure up to $3,500
    Partnered with UPS & FedEx
 

3. Boa and FootJoy Partnership

Boa Technology and the Boa Closure System powers product across a wide range of categories including snow sports, cycling, running, outdoor/trail, motor sports, water sports, even equestrian.  And that’s just the sport categories!  You can also find Boa on utility and prosthetics.

They have now partnered with FootJoy, a brand that has been making great golf shoes for a long time.
 FootJoy, the #1 shoe in golf, has a long history of developing comfortable, performance golf shoes featuring the latest materials and technology. The Boa Closure System enables FootJoy to deliver an even higher level of comfort and stability through a truly custom fitting golf shoe no matter your size or fit preference.
http://www.footjoy.com/fjlegacy/boa/
 


4. GOLFZON Simulators come to the U.S.

GOLFZON, with headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, made its debut at the 2015 PGA Show soon after finalizing a position as an Official Marketing Partner and the Official Golf Simulator of the LPGA and the installation of a simulator in the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla. GOLFZON is also the golf training system for the Korean National Team and has simulators situated globally, presenting golf in a way never seen before.

"We are excited to publicize the excellent technology and quality of GOLFZON at the world's largest golf exposition and look forward to the response from attendees and media at this important event," said Tommy Lim, the Vice President of the EU and American Business division at GOLFZON. "Participation in the show will serve as momentum in further aggressively targeting the North American and global golf markets."

Since its establishment in May 2000, GOLFZON has been trying to overcome the entry barrier to golf and expand the number of golfers under the corporate philosophy, "making golf enjoyable for everyone," believing that golf should be no longer exclusive for the upper class only.

Some numbers to consider about GOLFZON's impact:

• 43: Number of countries where GOLFZON has a presence.
• 2000: The year GOLFZON was founded in Seoul, South Korea.
• 5,500: Sites around the world for GOLFZON.
• 25,000: Number of simulators in operation around the world.
• 130,000: South Koreans playing on GOLFZON simulators daily.
• 200,000: People around the world playing on GOLFZON simulators daily.
• 1.7 million: Online GOLFZON members.

 
5.  BioMech Putting App and Sensor

- An app that can improve our putting stroke, it's worth a try.

BioMech Sports is using technology to improve your putting. First there was the AccuLock ACE putter, as it was a putter designed with biomechanics, physiology and physics in mind. The thought here is a  legal putter that allows better vision and takes the unpredictable muscles in the arms, wrists and hands out of play is something golfers of all levels can benefit from and trust.
BioMech continues its wave of innovation with the introduction of the BioMech Golf App and real-time Putting Analysis Sensor, the first such products to not only identify mistakes in the putting stroke but to actually help fix them.
Among the putting elements that the BioMech Golf App & Sensor identify throughout the stroke are:
    Position of the putter throughout the putting stroke
    Path direction back and through
    Putter face orientation and loft at address and impact
    Detailed analysis of timing, acceleration and force changes at any point throughout the stroke
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 1/22/16 - NASCAR Media Days and Audio Products

Rick was at NASCAR Media Day in Charlotte this week checking out any new technologies that NASCAR is debuting for 2016. NASCAR has always been on the cutting edge of technology in sports especially when it comes to safety. That is safety for drivers, crew, fans, officials, etc.

When it comes to tech, the talk included an update on the "Safer Barriers" that have been installed at tracks all over the country and the "Digital Dash" that all cars will now have in 2016.

*** Next, as the year begins there is always a ton of new audio devices that debut. Many of them are seen for the first time at CES in Las Vegas.

Rick takes a look at some new products for those that demand great audio.

Have a listen to Rick and Sully:

1.    United Sciences (Based in Atlanta) and their 3D Scanner which allows an easy turn around to make custom-fit ear pieces.

United Sciences sums it up pretty good on its website, when it comes to what they do. They say, "imaging ear cavity in real-time (is) replacing traditional silicone ear-mold impressions to create custom-fit earn-worn devices in the ear capable of providing activity tracking and biometric sensing data." What they don't say, is they do it at an unbelievable price point that just about everyone can afford.

Using their handheld eFit 3-D scanner, United Sciences was taking in-ear measurements and scans for the media at CES to show how easy and painless this process now is, compared to the past. Professional in-ear headphones are no longer for professional broadcasters and rock stars, thanks to United Sciences technologies. This is a game changing technology that will hopefully soon be coming to a retail location in your neighborhood. It's really that simple and it was amazing lookers on at CES.
www.UnitedSciences.com
 

 

2.  Maroo Audio

Maroo is a globally-inspired new line of products born to address the desires of the burgeoning mobile culture. With a sharp understanding of product features, and customer needs and wants, Maroo sheds all preconceived ideas of manufacturing and design.
What is new is Maroo Audio and Maroo Pro Audio...

ACS Custom Earphone Performance

Now you can own this same level of audio perfection whether you’re on stage, in a recording booth, or at home.

Experience the difference with the new ACS Universal In Ear Monitors by Maroo Pro Audio.
Coming Q2 of 2016
 
 
And more for the typical audiophile...
 

3. Edwin the Bluetooth Ducky  

He’s a learning toy with personality designed to be a child’s best friend. Utilizing a companion app, children control Edwin on the screen with a tap of the rubber duck toy.

Edwin interacts with accompanying mobile apps, streams music and squawks with 180 different sounds. The duck, intended for newborns to 9-year-olds, is meant to go everywhere kids go and recharges with an included Nest and USB wall plug. It serves as a nice Bluetooth speaker that floats.

The duck responds to taps, twists and turns. It's designed to inspire learning through read-along books and interactive games, provide comfort at bedtime as a nightlight and entertain with sing-along adventures.
New is Edwin’s Sleepy Time app, which allows users to enjoy exclusive lullabies and white noise, along with an adjustable night light. Additionally, the team will be showcasing a preview of the temperature gauge, which measures skin surface and water temperature.

$99 for www.edwintheduck.com
 

4. VAVA Voom

VAVA Voom, an affordable mobile 4.0 Bluetooth speaker with a live concert quality sound system.
incredible sound and a go-everywhere mobility. VAVA Voom's benefits and features include:

    Powerful audio bliss. With two 5W drivers, two passive radiators, and a 10W subwoofer, VAVA Voom produces concert quality music. If a device supports aptX, one can even stream high resolution audio files.
    Portability. The latest Bluetooth 4.0 technology eliminates the need for a cable connection and lets users roam free with their music. For NFC compatible devices, an instant connection is made by touching the NFC area. CD, DVD and MP3 players can be connected via the 3.5mm audio port.
    Charging capabilities. VAVA Voom charges one's music playing devices such as smartphones and tablets as well. VAVA Voom can wirelessly connect to two devices simultaneously. Play music from one and have a second device ready to instantly switch over. A 15V standard charging input lets users fully charge VAVA Voom in around four hours. VAVA Voom can also be charged using a 5V micro-USB cable.
    Hands-free calling. A phone call with VAVA Voom enables one to enjoy a real conversation. The built-in microphone and CVC 6.0 (Clear Voice Capture) technology makes the user's voice loud and clear, and easily heard on the other side.
    Continuous play. With up to 10 hours of continuous play from its rechargeable battery, VAVA Voom can blast an entire playlist with ease.

"VAVA Voom is more than just a speaker. With its multi-purpose capabilities, it delivers on all fronts from a superior music-listening to charging to calling, and is unmatched on the speaker market for what it offers at its price point," said Allen Fung, Co-founder of VAVA. "With VAVA Voom, we are confident that we have taken the Bluetooth speaker experience to the next level."

The VAVA Voom Bluetooth speaker starts at $129 and is now available on Amazon.