WGST's "The Sully Show" for 9/11/15 - Tailgating Tech

-There was an Apple event in San Francisco this week on Wednesday.  What was discussed...  new and upgraded iPhones, iPad Pro and new Apple TV that really benefits games...

Also Rick and Sully take a look at some new "Tailgating Technology" as the football season kicks off

Have a listen:

1.   Backyard 2- Burner Grill from Walmart

- Small and compact, but powerful and durable grill for tailgating and only $89

The Backyard Grill 2-Burner Gas Grill has a 15-burger capacity. It features a chrome-coated warming rack, a durable porcelain-coated steel lid and a built-in temperature gauge. This backyard grill gas grill with cart also comes with two main burners for ample space to cook up tasty meals.
Backyard Grill 2-Burner Cart Gas Grill:
    312 sq in porcelain-coated cooking grid
    457 sq in total cooking area
    15-burger capacity
    24,000 BTUs
    2 main burners
    145 sq in chrome-coated warming rack
    Durable porcelain-coated steel lid
 

 

2.  BBQ Dragon  $55

- For those that like to still use Charcoal grills

The BBQ Dragon is a fire-starting tool so simple and yet revolutionary that it is literally changing the entire barbecue industry. It reduces the start time of charcoal grills to less than ten minutes and supercharges the starting of all kinds of other fires. It works by blowing large amounts of low-velocity, cool air at the fire. The BBQ Dragon's sophisticated, high-tech design is the perfect compliment to any grill or outdoor kitchen. It's battery-powered, hands-free, micro-USB rechargeable, and looks fantastic. It works on anything: charcoal grills, fire pits, fireplaces, wood stoves, smokers, even campfires. Never before has there been a product that so substantially improves America's most popular past time: barbecue. The variable speed motor allows you to infinitely control the amount of air, and thus oxygen, delivered to a fire.
Available at Walmart and Amazon.

 


3.   Digital Cornhole Scoreboard

For sale on various cornhole supply websites or some people are even making their own.

 
 
4.   DISH Network "Tailgater"

About $350 for the "Tailgater" and pay for only the months you will be using it
Watch yoour DISH Network programming right at your next tailgate

    Portable and lightweight
    Automatically finds DISH satellites
    Supports HD and SD programming
    Connects to a single HD TV

Specifications

    Dimensions: 17.5" H x 16" W x 16" D
    Weight: 10 lbs.
    Color: White
    Automatically points to satellites 110°, 119° and 129°
    Powered by DISH receiver, which requires 110VAC
 
 


5. Realtree 450W Tailgate Inverter

* Power up at your tailgate

The Realtree converts your vehicle's 12V DC power to household AC current for use by devices such as smartphones, iPods, iPads, laptops, TVs and more. The system plugs into a 12 volt outlet or connects directly to the battery with included cables and clamps.

The inverter features 3 AC outlets and 2 USB ports. It delivers 450 watts of continuous power, with a peak of 900 watts. This and related options are available at Bass Pro Outlets and online. The Realtree inverter goes for about $70.

 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 8/28/15 - Mobile Pay

This week, Rick and Sully talk about using your smartphone as a credit card. Apple Pay had already launched and Android Pay is in the process of launching.

What is this technology, who is using it and is it safe?

Have a listen:

1.   Interest but a slow build...

*Customers still watching and waiting

There is significant consumer interest in mobile wallets and Apple Pay gave a shot-in-the arm to a previously lackluster mPOS market. After the first four months of marketing, 13% of credit cardholders who owned a smartphone had adopted Apple Pay. The 15% adoption rate measured over the past four months tells us that Apple Pay's rise will be more incremental than meteoric.

2. Younger demographic taking to it

Younger smartphone owners were most likely to intuitively accept the idea that a mobile payment app had advantages over using a plastic card. Not so for the next tier of would-be wallet users. Expect to see that with Android Pay. Nearly 90% of mobile wallet users are Millennials or Generation X’ers. Conversely, most (73%) credit card smartphone owners have not used a mobile wallet and only 24% of the non-user group say they are likely to use one for either in-store or in-app purchases.

3.  The merchant's opinion...

Apple Pay users experience considerable friction at the point-of-sale and many potential transactions are 'left on the table'.
·        59% have been in a store and asked if the merchant accepts Apple Pay

·        44% have expected a merchant to accept Apple Pay and discovered that it was not accepted

·        71% reported some kind of check-out friction, including terminals that did not work or worked too slowly and cashiers that were not able to help.
* Merchants were skeptical as to whether they should invest in the necessary technology

4.  Now "mobile pay" comes to Android devices in the form of Android Pay

50% of smartphone owners use an Android phone exclusively or primarily

·        There already exists a base of Google Wallet users who will no doubt appreciate the features of Android Pay over Google Wallet – a product that has had a sketchy background

5. Fundumentals of "mobile pay"

Apple Pay doesn’t require you to set up a special account or preload it with money. There’s no app you must open to pay, no special password to remember. Even checkout is more secure than with plastic.
Apple Pay changes the way we look at our phones, not to mention wallets full of credit cards and bits of paper. It is the first such service that many trust to be secure and consistently easy—fundamentals to taking a digital wallet mainstream.
You don’t have to tap or swipe—the connection happens over a wireless system called near-field communication, or NFC.

6. Is it Safe?

Is it safe? A number of security experts I’ve spoken with call it more secure than carrying a plastic credit card.

I know that’s hard to believe considering that iPhones couldn’t keep sensitive celebrity photos away from hackers. But with a regular credit card, your account details are relatively easy to steal. Apple Pay doesn’t even store your credit-card number, just a unique code that’s a stand-in for your card, hidden on a part of the phone that doesn’t get backed up online.
If you lose your iPhone, you don’t have to reissue all your credit cards. Instead, you can suspend payments via Apple’s Find My iPhone website. A thief shouldn’t be able to make purchases with your phone unless they have your thumbprint or, egads, your thumb.

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 8/21/15 - Michigan and Space Saving Technology

*  Rick was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan this week. He was testing his golf game on three great courses in golf-rich Michigan. He's also stayed at the Island Resort & Casino - a fantastic Indian-owned Casino in Harris, MI and the Landmark Inn, a historic hotel in Marquette, MI that dates back to the early 1900s. Temps were in the 60s and 70s for highs and it felt great.

* Interesting that the UP Michigan is more like Wisconsin than the rest of the state of Michigan. There are Packers fans everywhere and that makes for great people...

Check out: www.puremichigan.com

-This week, Rick and Sully look at some "Space Saving" tech  - it's always great to save some space

Have a listen:

1. The New Powerbeats2 Wireless earphones in fun colors that match the Apple watch and take up minimal real estate in precious backpack space.

Pair and play with your Bluetooth® device with 30 foot range
6 hour rechargeable battery
Premium sound in a lightweight design with flexible earhooks
Sweat and water resistant
Take hands-free calls and adjust music with no-slip-grip RemoteTalk™ controls*
Compatible with iOS devices and more..   Designed for the athlete and the person on the move

 
2. Tenda AC15 Performance Router   (New to the U.S.)

Doesn't take up much space and it's a powerhouse router

 Product Highlights:
    1900Mbps Concurrent Speed Dual-band Gigabit WiFi Router
    1300Mbps 802.11ac at 5GHz and 600Mbps 802.11n at 2.4 GHz
    Broadcom dual-core processor with DDR3 memory
    Beamforming+ technology to boost range
    High powered amplifiers & three external antennas
    Smart management of WiFi schedule
    MSRP: $129.99
Available at TigerDirect and http://www.tendacn.com/en/product/AC15.html

 

3.  Dyson DC35 Vacuum

Doesn't take up much space when stored and can get in those small nooks and crannies..

 

4.  Roku 3

Perfect for the Dorm Room or any room

A good start at "cutting the Cord" and this takes up no real estate in your living room or man cave.
Discover new content and rediscover old favorites with this Roku 3 streaming player, which offers more than 2,000 channels and includes access to Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO GO and more. A motion-control remote lets you enjoy fun-filled games with ease.

Connects to most HDTVs
For easy streaming. HDMI output simplifies connection (HDMI cable not included).
 

5. World's smallest refrigerator   .14 cubic feet.

The Koolatron Coca-Cola Personal Cooler is the stylish and fun way to keep your drinks cold or warm. The Coca-Cola Personal Cooler looks like a small refrigerator and is perfect for the car, boat or home. State-of-the-art thermoelectric cooling technology allows the cooler to operate silently. The Koolatron Coca-Cola Personal Cooler holds up to six 12 oz. cans of your favorite beverage.
    4 l capacity holds 6 (12 oz.) cans or 4 – 500 ml bottles
    Operates on DC 12-volt/AC 110-volt
    Cools up to 32 degree F below ambient temperature
    1-sliding removable shelf
    Self-locking door handle

 
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 8/14/15 - Tech News of the Week

*  Rick and Sully look at some of the top tech stories and issues of the week..

Have a listen:

1.   Hillary Clinton's emails sit on three "thumb drives" (yes common old thumb drives)
- talk about "mobile data" and breaking laws...

Hillary Clinton's lawyer has surrendered three thumb drives with copies of emails from her server to the Justice Department, which is also where the controversial Clinton personal email server is destined as well. The FBI determined that Clinton's lawyer could no longer retain the thumb drives after two emails from a small sample were found to contain information classified as "Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information," which would also taint the server. There is no evidence that encryption was used to protect the emails. From the limited reviews to date, Secretary Clinton and her aides exchanged emails containing classified information with at least six people with private email addresses. So far four of Clinton's top aides have turned over emails to the State Department, and there are demands that six more do so. The State Department's inspector general has stated that his office is reviewing "the use of personal communications hardware and software by five secretaries of state and their immediate staff."
 

2.   Samsung proposes a 4,600 micro-satellite space network for terrestrial backhaul

- Solution as we get closer to running out of storage and cell bandwidth
Samsung Electronics has proposed a ‘space internet’ network consisting of 4600 micro-satellites that could act as backhaul for terrestrial cellular networks and bring low-cost internet to “everyone in the world”.


3.  Hackers Remotely Cut a Corvette's Brakes

This story should scare you

Security researchers presented work at the USENIX conference today showing an easy way to hack into a car's electronics using a small gadget that plugs into modern dashboards. The port they're taking advantage of is commonly used to monitor the location and speeds of these vehicles. Once the researchers' dongle is attached, they can use SMS messages to transmit commands to the car's internal network. They demonstrated this by remotely cutting a Corvette's brakes. "Though the researchers say their Corvette brake tricks only worked at low speeds due to limitations in the automated computer functions of the vehicle, they say they could have easily adapted their attack for practically any other modern vehicle and hijacked other critical components like locks, steering or transmission, too."
 

4.  Twitter lifts the 140 character limit on Direct Messages
(about time)

Twitter's push to make DMs a full on messaging service continues. Beginning Wednesday, the 140 character limit for Direct Messages has been lifted in the iOS, Android, Mac apps, Tweetdeck and on Twitter.com
 


5.  Dr Pepper Snapple Group Invests in Sports Drinks

-Called BODYARMOUR

 Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., (DPS) is investing in emerging sports drink BODYARMOR. The company's $20 million investment gives DPS an 11.7 percent ownership position in BA Sports Nutrition, LLC, owner of BODYARMOR SuperDrink, a line of premium sports drinks.
DPS has carried BODYARMOR as an allied brand in much of its direct store delivery network since 2013 and plans to expand the product line further in its system over the next year.
 

***  Looks like Apple to hold an event on Sept 9 to announce new devices

Apple has plans to announce new devices and applications on Sept 9 and some may revolve around sports...
Like Apple fall events past, this one too will focus on the company’s next-generation iPhones, which are expected to arrive at market with a pressure-sensitive Force Touch display, an improved camera system, and a significantly faster and power-efficient wireless chip. Sources say Apple executives are likely to show off the company’s latest iPads as well, though that 12.9-inch “iPad Pro” seems to be a wildcard, still.
Does this date mean there will be something cool right before the start of football season?

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 8/7/15 - Back to School Tech

*  Rick was even a guest columnist on PeachPundit.com this week
with his piece on the BB&T Atlanta Open tennis and what it means to Atlanta

http://www.peachpundit.com/2015/08/05/what-the-bbt-atlanta-open-does-right/#more-77046

Kids all over the Metro Area area either are back in school or will soon be heading "Back to School".   Also, don't forget about the teachers that will also be showing up in the classrooms.

(91 percent) of parents who plan to shop online for back to school, but it can be stressful.
What is some of the latest tech that is debuting..... Rick and Sully look at some tech items for "Back to School"

Have a listen to Rick and Sully:

1.   Impecca Powerit

Keep all your devices and I mean all your devices charged with the Impecca Powerit

PowerIt 12,000mAh 400 Peak Amp Car Jump Starter Kit  - powers all your devices and I mean all of them.
$99-149 at http://www.impeccausa.com/powerit

 

2. Zagg Pocket Keyboard

$69.99  at www.zagg.com

Zagg also sells other great accessories
A keyboard the perfect size for your smartphone.

An award-winning culmination of 10 years of creating the slimmest, most spacious mobile keyboards.

Reimagine email on your smartphone, and discover how easy typing on your phone can be.

The Zagg Pocket Keyboard folds into an ultra-slim profile that’s made to travel. Its wireless Bluetooth® capability effortlessly syncs up with your Apple or Android device at a moment’s notice when words can’t wait. A magnetic closure preserves the battery by turning the Pocket Keyboard off when closed.

 

3.  DIY Wireless Speaker from KidzSafe Audio  -  Just $39.99

http://www.kidzsafeaudio.com/products/kidzsafe-diy-wireless-speaker

Water resistant and durable, it includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery for five hours of uninterrupted power from a single charge. Perfect library companion for when kids are hitting the books!
* Key feature:  speaker is volume limited to ≤ 85dB to keep little ears safe. The speaker pairs easily to any device using Bluetooth technology with a range of up to 32ft

 
4. Godors

You know that smell.

It resides inside of your locker, your shoes and even in your golf bag.
You can get rid of that smell and even prevent it with Godors. In spray form, Godors eliminates odors and also kills 99.9% bacteria in less than five minutes.  What makes this spray unique, however, is that most deodorizers just mask a smell, but Godors gets to the root of the problem: it kills 46% of the fungi within five minutes of use.  

Godors is perfect for the eco-conscious golfer; it’s all natural and non-toxic, containing 99% isopropyl alcohol, tea tree oil, olive leaf extract and cinnamon. All natural in ingredients get all natural results. A purse-size Godors tube starts at $3.95.

See more at www.godors.com

Prices for Godors start at $3.95.

5.  Griffin PowerDock5

Charge all your devices in one centralized spot

$99.99 at https://store.griffintechnology.com/powerdock-5-device-charger

A space-saving charging station for countertop or desktop, providing safe charging and storage for up to 5 devices.

It doesn't take up much room, about the same as a single iPad. But it gives you a place to store and charge 5 iOS devices at one time, from a single power source. We think it's the perfect charging solution for small offices or work groups, or a family full of iPhone users.

PowerDock 5 gives each tablet its own charging port and its own frosted backrest, and each charging bay is roomy enough to accommodate your iPhone, iPod or iPad in their cases.

PowerDock 5 is optimized for iOS devices (iPad, iPad mini, iPhone, iPod touch, iPod nano), although our testing indicates that PowerDock's 5V (2.1 amp) charging circuitry will also charge most Kindle and Android devices. Many smartphones and tablets have unique charging requirements, so PowerDock may not charge your device as fast as you're used to. Make sure you check your device's manual for any special requirements.
Features

    Store and charge 5 iPads, iPhones or iPod touches simultaneously
    Space-saving design for your countertop
    Cables not included
    Input: 100-240 V AC
    Output: 10 watts (5 volts DC @ 2.1 amps) for each charging bay
    Accommodates iPad tablets in their cases