WGST's "The Sully Show" for 11/6/15 - What's New With Lexus

Rick is currently at the Lexus RX Regional Media Preview in Charleston, South Carolina. He's getting a preview and test driving the new 2016 Lexus RX 450h.

Have a listen to Rick and Sully:

 

1.  Lexus is top brand in Consumer Reports' reliability survey

The best and most reliable transmissions and the best reputation in the auto industry for performance and cutting edge technology
http://www.lexus-int.com/models/RX/

2.  History of the RX line
Since the launch in 1998, the Lexus RX has proved immensely popular with those needing the flexibility of a sport-utility vehicle combined with the driving comfort of a luxury sedan, all wrapped in an attractive, elegant package. The all-new RX’s mix of sharp creases and curves represents a bold evolution in the model’s styling, sharing the same design DNA with other recently-launched models in the Lexus lineup.

This perennial best-selling luxury crossover adds advanced new redesigned hybrid and gasoline powertrains, sophisticated safety technologies, driver aids and welcome new convenience and technology features to make this the best Lexus sport-utility vehicle offering to date.


3. Exterior - Safe and Sporty

The front features a completely new fascia that’s highlighted by an emboldened spindle grille with a chrome-plated border and triple L-shaped LED headlamps. Together with the redesigned fog lamps, this gives the RX an elegant yet futuristic aura. Muscular front fender flares add to the vehicle’s sporty attitude.  The RX has a dynamic profile that minimizes drag and decreases front and rear lift. All this makes the vehicle more stable at high speed with a sharp reduction in wind noise. A truly innovative styling element is the blacked-out C-pillars, which provide the illusion of a floating roofline never before seen on a Lexus.


4. The redesigned instrument cluster offers the driver instantaneous information with a quick glance at its large and easy-to-read gauge faces.

 

5.  Performance and Stability

When it comes to delivering precise, controlled handling, the new RX offers impressive dynamic capability. The entire chassis has been fortified to provide better stability and control through turns. The vehicle’s body structure has been strengthened with added stiffness, helping to drastically improve its handling response while reducing engine and road noise in the cabin. The vehicle also features innovative technology, such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), each system designed to recognize potentially dangerous situations and make automatic and often transparent adjustments to ensure the car remains in control when entering and exiting corners. Also, All-Wheel Drive improves the RX’s handling performance and stability on both dry and slick surfaces alike.

6.  Cool New Technology (For those in the back seat)

A Rear Seat Entertainment system is available that includes large 11.6-in. flat-panel LCD displays that offer exceptional high quality viewing from a range of angles, screen tilt adjustment from 0 to 50 degrees and a convenient HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) input port located on the center console rear end panel.
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 10/30/15 - Macon and Halloween Apps

Rick is in Macon, GA all this week once again. He is the media coordinator for the Tennis Classic of Macon, a women's professional tennis tournament- think of it as the Triple-A of the tennis circuit. It's a stone's throw away from the big tennis tours. You find young players, former college All-Americans and come veteran pros working their way up the rankings. Rick is there for all 9 days of the play and the action is taking place at the tennis center at Mercer University.

 
But also with Halloween here this weekend, there are a number of apps that can keep you and your family safe while trick-or-treating.

Remember that Halloween is all about having fun, but in the world we live in, one must take safety precautions. Here are some "app" ideas that AT&T is kind enough to provide.

Have a listen:

1.  iHandy Flashlight app

Download any free Flashlight app, like iHandy Flashlight app so you and your child’s device can be used as a bright light or beacon for easy navigation. The app allows some customization of the light, so users have some options.
 

2.   RedPanic Button App

You may also want to try the RedPanic Button app. Put to your child’s device not only for added peace-of-mind, but for the very fact that they can send out a text message with their exact coordinates that comes through on Google Maps to family members. The distress signal can also be posted on Facebook or Twitter. RedPanic offers quite a bit for a free app.
 

3.  AT&T's Family Map

Also, be able to track your little trick-or-treater with a location-based service, like FamilyMap from AT&T. This powerful app lets you see and track the location of your child’s device on an interactive and real-time map from your smartphone, PC or tablet.
 

4.   Life360

Life360 is a free app that allows users to create private groups, and communicate via group chat. It also sends notifications when members check into places and users can even set boundary limits.
 

5. Amazon is celebrating Halloween with $70 worth of apps and games for free (Thru Oct 31)

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If your Android phone or tablet seems boring with the same old apps, then today is a good day to give it a boost with some new apps and games. Amazon is hosting a “Scary Good Deals” sale to celebrate Halloween. There are 33 apps and games valued at over $70.

Some of the notable apps include Runtastic Pro (reg $5), Splashtop Remote Desktop (reg $5), and AVG AntiVirus Pro (reg $12). Gamers will also love the selection which includes Lego Star Wars Microfighters (reg $1), Airport Mania 2 (reg $5), and Huebrix (reg $1).

Since these apps and games are from the Amazon Appstore (not Google Play), you will need the Amazon Appstore app on your device. It’s already pre-installed on the Fire Phone as well as Fire tablets. All other Android users will need to download the Amazon App store app, which you can find here.

6.  Facebook
If you maybe have a teenager making the rounds to various friend's houses on Halloween, Facebook can be an asset if you have then "check in" at the locations they hit.
 

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 10/23/15 - High Tech JAX

Rick was in Jacksonville, FL for 4 days a couple weeks ago and thousands and thousands of people will be descending in Jacksonville this coming week for Georgia vs. Florida football.

Jacksonville offers more than The Landing... . it's a cultural, business and entertainment center of North Florida and of course all the sports...  

*More than 130,000 people head to Jacksonville each year for the Georgia/Florida game and it's at least a $33 million shot in the arm for the local community.
Jacksonville also has some interesting tech to talk about.

Here's Rick and Sully talking about Jacksonville:

Have a listen:

1.  World's Largest Scoreboards at Everbank Field

The Jacksonville Jaguars may have struggled to field a competitive roster over the years, but they're sprucing up their stadium with two brand-new massive scoreboards.

After a $63 million renovation of EverBank Field, the Jaguars now have the two largest scoreboards in the world, with both measuring 60 feet by 362 feet.

Each display is long enough to reach just more than the distance from the goal post in one end zone to the goal post in the other end zone, and each display boasts more than 21,700 square feet of active display area – almost enough to cover the entire field of play when combined.

 

2.   Jacksonville's 'Stat' Programs and Data Analytics

Using technology to improve the performance of city government is not new, but two concepts are spreading with meaningful results.

These so-called “stat” programs are proliferating. Started by the New York Police Department in the 1980s, CompStat was a management technique that merged data with staff feedback to drive better performance by police officers and precinct captains. Its success led to many imitations over the years and, as the digital survey shows, stat programs continue to grow in importance. For example, Louisville has used its “LouieStat” program to cut the city’s bill for unscheduled employee overtime by $23 million as well as to spot weaknesses in performance.

Second, cities are increasing their use of data analytics to measure and improve performance. Denver, Jacksonville, Fla., and Phoenix have launched programs that sift through data sets to find patterns that can lead to better governance decisions.

This could invole utilites, public safety and it enables "real-time" decision making, or about as "real-time" as you can get for city government.
 



3.  OneSpark - Jacksonville

www.onespark.com

April 7-9, 2016

*World's Largest Crowdfunding Festival
One Spark is a non-profit committed to fostering environments of creativity and innovation through crowdfunding, and is based in Downtown Jacksonville. One Spark provides an opportunity for people with great ideas to connect with the resources they need to make them happen. Creators to present innovative ideas and projects in an energetic, festival atmosphere to over 200,000 people over three days. One Spark attendees find and help fund the projects they love the most through live, in-person crowdfunding.



4.  Omni Jacksonville Hotel

The Omni Jacksonville Hotel is the closest hotel in Downtown Jacksonville to all the action. This upscale downtown hotel near the St. John's River is across the street from the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and a one block walk to the Jacksonville Landing shopping and entertainment center. Flat screen HDTVs, a modern deks and 24/7 room service will get you through the long Georgia/Florida weekend. Visit www.omnihotels.com to make your reservations for the Georgia/Florida weekend or any weekend/event in 2015-16.

*Omni Hotels have a "Stocking Stuffer" package and rate this fall.

15% off rates, Omni gift card and a chance to give back

Save this holiday season with up to 15% off a two-night stay, a $10 Omni gift card, turndown with festive treat on night of arrival and more! For every room night booked, guests will be given a token to donate to one of three charities.

Book by December 30 for stays November 23 – December 30.

Great views from the JAX Omni as well
 

5.  Jacksonville Zoo

http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/

* The Jacksonville Zoo has a Facebook, Twitter and Youtube account where fans can stay informed about what is going on at the Zoo.

Open daily, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. Visitors will see the earth’s wildlife through interactive and educational experiences. A true family adventure, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is growing and changing daily and is dedicated to consistently improving. The zoo occupies approximately 117 acres and has over 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants in its collection. The Zoo hosted more than 900,000 paying visitors in the last year.
 

6. Jacksonville a "Connected City"

Jacksonville is becoming a main connection point along the network of subsea and terrestrial cables that move data due to its new Network Access Point (NAP) - the telecom industry’s version of a major hub airport or a Tier1-level routing site.

The architecture has been laid in Jacksonville that allows cable landing points, wireless towers and data centers to physically connect. Two new international subsea cable stations have been installed that directly connect Jacksonville to South and Central America and the Caribbean. The AMX-1 line is operational and the PCCS line will be live soon. Both will increase data traffic capacity between the end points by at least 60 times.

Each cable line carries 328 fiber optic strands within its 1-inch diameter circumference, demonstrating the vast connectivity that runs through the Jax NAP – carrying Internet traffic from here as far north as New York and far south as Latin America, all linked by subsea and subterranean cables.

The Jax NAP:

    22 … the number of cables that will go live by end of 2015
    550,000 … the number of miles the total global cable network covers
    17,800 kilometers .. the length of the AMX-1 cable route
    6,000 kilometers … the  length of the PCCS cable route

The Jax NAP will benefit the telecom and data center industry by providing greater connectivity, conductivity, reliability and a lack of latency in trafficking large amounts of data through it.

Jacksonville’s Tier 1-level transfer station puts the city on par with Miami, home to the NAP of the Americas. Jacksonville also has been cited as the major interchange point between the continents – before Miami – largely due to the lack of hurricanes and the city’s seaboard location. Higher speed connectivity and lack of latency of Jacksonville’s cable hub might encourage some carriers to go through Jacksonville instead of Miami.

“More companies in the IT sector are interested in Jacksonville as a direct result of the NAP. The cables coming directly into Jacksonville now provide high-speed access and reliable connectivity for moving data,” said Jerry Mallot, JAXUSA President.

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 10/16/15 - "Back to the Future" Tech

As we talked about last week... Rick was in Jacksonville, FL for  4 days getting the low down on the upcoming Georgia/Florida weekend and then come January, the TaxSlayer Bowl... Jacksonville offers more than The Landing... . it's a cultural, business and entertainment center of North Florida and of course all the sports...  

*More than 130,000 people head to Jacksonville each year for the Georgia/Florida game and it's at least a $33 million shot in the arm for the local community..  more on Jacksonville next week...

With the Cubs still alive in the MLB Playoffs and maybe heading to the World Series... it's Back to the Future.

 Have a listen:

October 21, 2015. That’s the date Doc Brown punches into his time-travelling DeLorean in Back to The Future II, the 1989 sequel that promised viewers a near-future of flying cars, hoverboards and self-lacing shoes. And with the famous date fast approaching, a surprising amount of director Robert Zemeckis’s vision is becoming a reality.

Heck even the Cubs are in the playoffs....   Here s what has come true from the "Back to the Future" movies...
Universal intends to re-release the entire trilogy in selected cinemas on 21 October. Amazon Prime is streaming the films.
 
1.  PepsiCo announced that it would launch a limited edition line of “Pepsi Perfect” bottles

On 21 October, just like the one Marty McFly buys on the same day at the diner in Back to the Future II. The firm intends to make just 6,500 of the collectible bottles, to be sold online while stocks last. “Perfect” label aside, the 16.9oz of sugary drink inside the bottle will be plain old regular Pepsi, and the price will be a less-than-perfect $20.15.
 

2.  Multi-Screen TV's

First we had "Picture in a Picture" TV's now we have big screen HDTVs that can be broken down to watch smaller screens and multi channels.  This was a pipe dream back in 1985.

3.  Hoverboards

We've talked hoverboards before
Tech startup Arx Pax intends to ship the first of its real-life hoverboards later this month. Development of the Hendo Hoverboard was funded on Kickstarter last year, to the tune of $510,590, and the first 11 people to receive their boards will be those who pledged $10,000 or more to the campaign. The device reportedly works using magnetic-levitation, with four disc-like “hover engines” on its underside.
 


4.  Phone Glasses  -  Similar to our Google Glass

 
5. Auto Drying Clothes

New Dri-Fit technology from companies like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour produce apparel that not only keeps athletes cool in the hot weather but almost absorbs sweat instantaneous and stays dry even in rain and when it gets wel.  We don't even have to talk to it and tell it to dry like McFly did.

 
6. Thumb Recognition Technology

We use it everyday on our iPhones

WGST's "The Sully Show" for 10/9/15 - Gadgets Going Pink For October

October is "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" and everyone and everything is going "pink" to call attention to Breast Cancer Awarenes and survivors.... that includes some gadgets, clothes and sports equipment...  Also, a lot of companies are donating some proceeds to the cause.

Have a listen to Rick and Sully:

1.  WWE and Susan G. Komen

Join the fight alongside the WWE and Susan G. Komen when you shop their collaborative line of T-shirts and hoodies for both men and women. As part of their “Rise Above Cancer” campaign, the WWE will donate 20 percent of the retail sales of all co-branded merchandise sold on their website and at WWE live events. You’ll also have the option to donate to Susan G. Komen upon checkout.

2.  Kitchen Aid products in Pink

#cookforacure

Show you care while you’re in the kitchen with Kitchen Aid’s expanded pink Cook for the Cure collection of gadgets available only through October 31. In 2015, KitchenAid will donate $450,000 or more to Susan G. Komen through the Cook for the Cure program.

 


3.  Sartori Cheese - Artisan cheese maker from Plymouth, WI

www.sartoricheese.com

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sartori Cheese is releasing its Limited Edition Peppermint. Hand-rubbed with crush peppermint candy, the cheese dons a vibrant pink packaging. It will be available for purchase at specialty retailers across the country as well as online.

4.  Apollo Pink Tools

Pink tool kits starting as low as $17.95 at www.apollotools.com

Every guy loves his tools. Purchase any one of Apollo’s pink tools or tool kits and a portion of the sales will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which the company supports all-year round.

 
 
5. Tecnifibre's T-Rebound Racquets go Pink

The Tecnifibre T-Rebound Pro Lite 275 2015 is Tecnifibre’s first competition tennis racquet designed just for ladies. This frame offers 18% additional shock absorption for more comfort. You’ll love the soft, feminine colors paired with this powerful racquet.

The Tecnifibre T-Rebound Feel 265 2015 is Tecnifibre’s first competition tennis racquet designed just for ladies. This frame is the most comfortable and tolerant in the T-Rebound line. You’ll love the soft, feminine colors paired with this powerful racquet.