Wireless Wednesday for 10/14/15: Back to the Future Tech

Rick has been in Jacksonville, FL the last 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...

With the Cubs still alive in the MLB Playoffs and maybe heading to the World Series

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.

 
Have a listen as Rick and Mitch talk "Back to the Future" in both parts.

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

 

App of the Week:

Google Play Music - which is more than likely preinstalled on your device. But what about new stuff?

In the past if you wanted to listen to new music and you didn't want to pay for it you would listen to the radio. Many Android phones and tablets have a built-in FM radio, and you simply plug in a pair of headphones to act as the aerial. There are also online radio services - one of our favourites is BBC iPlayer Radio.

Google Music service.
Listen to your fvorite songs, artists, or albums, or browse by genre, mood, activity, decade, and more. Bring your own music collection with you by uploading 50,000 of your own songs.

 

Wireless Wednesday for 10/7/15: Fire Prevention Week and Month

October is "Fire Prevention Month" and the coming week is "Fire Prevention Week"

The theme for 2015 is: Hear The Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!

Home fires facts:

- Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Only one in five home fires were reported during these hours.
- One quarter of home fire deaths were caused by fires that started in the bedroom. Another quarter resulted from fires in the living room, family room or den.
 - Three out of five home fire deaths happen from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
- 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage.

Rick and Mitch look at some Fire Prevention Week gadgets:

1. FIRST ALERT LCDI Safety Extension Cord, Protected with Fire Shield

Many fires start with cords and outlets

3-Outlet, 6-Feet,  Cord Fire Protection Senses damage caused by overload, overheating, pinching or aging and shuts off the power
Disconnects power in 25/1000 of a second if a dangerous condition is detected
UL listed and CSA Certified
Built-in Fire protection Specifically shielded Conductors
6' 16 Gauge 2 wire Avg 3 0utlet Cord.. all for $14.99

 
2. Childproof Lighters

Kids love fire. Having lighters around can be dangerous, especially with young children who haven’t had enough time to absorb your fire prevention talks. Invest in a few childproof lighters, which require extra coordination to light. Always keep fire-starters far out of children’s reach. A great buy for about $5.

 

3.  MAX 1 by MAX SmartHome
www.maxsmarthome.com

It is the only product of its kind that listens for existing smoke and fire alarms and supplements those alerts with the additional lower frequency sounds and lights.

Simply put, the MAX 1 is an all in one safety and security gadget that plugs into any outlet in your home and listens for your existing smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm.

If it hears your existing alarm go off, it sounds its own alarm - both the high frequency and low frequency alarm - to ensure that everyone wakes up. This could even mean a dog starts barking to wake the family up.

 


4.  Sooner Alarms

A company that is revolutionizing home fire safety with brand new products that detect fires at their source.
Traditional smoke detectors can't be placed where a fire is likely to start, because they will melt before they go off. We don't think you should have to settle for outdated detectors that alert you only after a fire has spread and the room is filled with smoke—because when it comes to fire safety, we all know that seconds matter.

And Sooner is safer. We work with fire safety experts to understand the problem and develop solutions that give people a new way to protect their homes and families. The result is our patented proximity sensor technology, a targeted approach that detects heat at the source of a fire, sending a wireless signal to a remote alarm that notifies you immediately—so you can limit property damage and get your family out of harm's way.
 

5. Fire Escape Ladder

Don't laugh. If you have second- or third-floor bedrooms in your home, fire escape ladders are a must. These lightweight, handy ladders fold up when not in use, but are easy to attach to any window for a safe, fall-free climb out a window if fire were to strike during sleeping hours. Be sure to purchase one for every bedroom.
The X-IT 2 Story (13') Emergency Fire Escape Ladder may be about $80, but it could be a lifesaver.

 
Other products to consider..
-
- fireproof safe
- and new fire extinguisers

**

App of the Week:

eBaum's Daily Digest

Free For iOS
If you are one of the millions of fans that love everything about eBaum's World, the popular humor website for pictures, videos and current events coverage, you are in for a treat, and it isn't even Halloween yet. For more than 10 years, eBaum's World had brought hilarity and a diversion from everyday life to people around the world with satire and a unique take on the daily news.

Now in app form, eBaum's Daily Digest is a new way for fans to follow the funny articles, pictures and videos right on their iPhone or iPad. eBaum is famous for their "before and after" pictures, disgusting videos and contests. In October, the Halloween costume pictures are always a hit. iPhone users can get all of this and more by downloading the app now in the iOS App Store. New content is added daily, so it's always fresh.

“We’ve designed eBaum’s Daily Digest with the ultimate user experience in mind. We wanted to offer an app different from the web version, but keep similar content that our user base has grown to love over the years”, states CEO of eBaum’s World, Ori Elraviv . “The simplicity of the interface and rapid discovery for new videos, images and viral content, is sure to be a hit with both the original fan base from eBaum’s World and the younger generation who is more app savvy.”
 

Wireless Wednesday for 9/30/15: The New iPhones and Hot Holiday Gifts

The new iPhones came out last Friday and report say there have been 13 million iPhone 6s and 6s Plus units sold.

What's different about the "6s" models?

Like every other "S" year, the new 6S and 6S Plus look the same as 2014's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models -- until you start touching them. But the changes underneath are plentiful: new front and rear cameras, upgraded processors and RAM, always-on Siri, and -- most importantly -- a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" screen similar to the Force Touch screen on Apple Watch, giving you contextual options depending how hard you press the display.

Things to consider:

1. There is a new color now, called rose gold (it basically looks like a blush pink, same as the new Apple Watch cole

2. 3D Touch, and a faster processor all combine to keep the next-generation phone looking competitive enough to counter other top-tier handsets as we approach the year-end holiday rush.

3.  Made stronger. They call it Series 7,000, and it's the same aluminum alloy Apple puts into its Apple Watch Sport.

4. Improved camera and thumbprint reader

---  Expected Hot Gadgets for the holiday season

Have a listen:

1.  Flat Screen HDTVs for $75?

Yes, doorbusters this year could have 32" HDTVs for as low as $75

2.  Apple Watch  - Many have put off buying the Apple Watch until the holiday season
 No other device is going to gather a crowd of people around when worn in public—and it’s not just due to the hype. The design of the Apple Watch is fantastic and immediately iconic, not unlike what Apple has done time and time again with its new product launches. The Apple Watch has a long way to go in terms of realizing the dream of a smartwatch that actually earns its spot on your wrist.

 
3. Virtual Reality Headsets

Occulus and Samsung are openly hoping it becomes one of the year’s hot gift items. Samsung opens the platform up to anyone who owns one of Samsung’s four new flagship phones: the Galaxy Note 5, the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, and the Galaxy 6S Edge+. And at $99, it’s selling at half the price of the Innovator Edition.
 


App of the Week:

Jackpot app

Playing the lottery in New York just got even easier than “a dollar and a dream” for millions of iPhone users — and the timing couldn’t be better.

With the Powerball jackpot at $301 million and climbing, a new app for Apple’s iOS devices is eliminating the need to stop by the corner store to buy a ticket.

The Jackpocket app, whose release will be announced Monday, allows users to simply tap and swipe their smartphone screens to play Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto and three other games.

The Soho-based company behind the software expects its app to “significantly increase” this week’s sales of Powerball tickets and boost the pot even higher ahead of Wednesday’s drawing.

Jackpocket founder Pete Sullivan said his target market was people in their 20s and 30s, especially women “who are intimidated to walk into a bodega.”

A credit card is kept on file and winnings up to $600 get credited to your account
 

Wireless Wednesday for 9/23/15: Blue Week and Tech for the Home

Lead:  It's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and high school football in Georgia is going "Blue" for the week.
Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition (GPCC) is involved in “Blue Week” because it builds Prostate Cancer Awareness. This is what all 421 high school football teams will be doing the week of September 21st thru September 25th. All presented by Northside Hospital.
 

All football players will have blue ribbon decals on their helmets

All coaches will have blue wristbands

All referees will have blue penalty flags

Blue ribbons will be stenciled on the fields

Public Service  Announcements will be mentioned during half time

Rick and Mitch take a look at some new technology for the home that Rick has been trying out

Have a listen to both parts:

1.   Pelican 3310 ELS emergency light  -  proving it's better to be safe than sorry

The Pelican 3310ELS - Emergency Lighting Station   - $48.95

When the power goes out, the PelicanTM 3310 ELS appears: a self-contained glowing beacon and flashlight that's easy to locate in the dark. Housed in a clear tamper-proof case, the PelicanTM 3310 ELS mounts to the wall in the home, office or factory, making it available during any power outage. The new PelicanTM 3310 ELS: You'll never lose it.

    Great for emergency preparedness
    234 lumens of light output, perfect for egress needs
    Signaling mode for search and rescue scenarios
    Up to 190 hours of runtime, invaluable during extended power outages
    IPX7 = Waterproof (submerged to 1 meter for 30 min.)
    Wall mountable case for ease of access (hardware included)

 


2. Aerelight A1 Desk Lamp

https://aerelight.com


An eye-catching design that uses an OLED panel to illuminate your room, which both makes it wafer-thin and produces a natural-looking, energy-efficient glow that should last as long as the lamp itself. You shouldn't have to touch anything but the controls for the next 20 years, according to Aerelight.

No bulb! We know desk lamps as spotlights that you need to be right under for light. This is an area light source that provides soft, uniform and glare-free light over a larger area and will last 18 years of normal use (at that point the brightness is reduced to 70% of its original brightness). Lasts even longer if you use it at lower brightness.

No power button! Tri-state dimming control anywhere on the metal frame to cycle through different brightness levels. This was custom engineered.

Engineered, designed and assembled all in Toronto done by engineering graduates from the University of Toronto. We’ve shipped out to all our pre-order backers and are excited to be shipping generally now!
No wires! Concealed in the walnut hardwood base is a Qi and PMA 1.5+ cross-compatible wireless charging coil.

Price is $299.99

3.  A pair of D-Link Products (listed below)

a. D-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi USB adapter (DWA-192).

Designed to bring faster speeds and extended range to laptops and desktop PCs, the DWA-192 boasts 3×3 internal antennas, dual-band technology (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and speeds of up to 1900Mbps1. The AC1900 Wi-Fi Adapter enables users to upgrade a desktop PC to the latest generation wireless AC technology – up to three times faster than previous-generation wireless N – for streaming HD movies, transferring large files, and lag-free gaming throughout the home.

“Today’s computers are demanding faster Wi-Fi to keep up with applications such as streaming HD, gaming and more,” said Daniel Kelley, vice president of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc. “Our new AC1900 USB Wi-Fi Adapter will significantly upgrade the network speeds of a device, providing the ability to do more online and stray farther from the home router.”

The DWA-192 is ideal for use in larger homes and for users who need a faster Wi-Fi connection. The AC1900 Adapter is backward compatible with 802.11n/g/a technology and works with all brands of Wi-Fi routers and range extenders making it a simple way to upgrade a laptop or desktop PC to 11AC speeds. For ultimate performance, this adapter can be used with a D-Link® ULTRA Series Wi-Fi Router to maximize home network speeds.
 

b. D-Link Wi-Fi Water Sensor (DCH-S160)

Plugs into an open power outlet and lets you know when leaks are detected around the house. Users will get push or text notifications with the mydlink Home app on their smartphones so they always know what is going on at home from anywhere.

 

4. Keurig Chicken Soup

* Your Keurig machine can now make you a cup of chicken soup

For those looking for a quick cup of hot chicken soup in a matter of seconds with no mess and great taste, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. is proving once again that a Keurig machine is more than just coffee and tea. Campbell's chicken soups for the Keurig is as easy as locating the included noodle packet and broth K-Cup pod.

To make your soup, empty the soup packet into your mug and insert the K-Cup into your Keurig and brew.

Combine the two and let sit for a minute to get to the desired temperature. In recent years, Keurig has made it a point to be more than just coffee and tea and this is another step in that direction.

$12.99 for 8 chicken soup K-Cups
 


App of the Week:

Rabble

Free for iOS and Android

Rabble is a new free social network service that allows people to listen to and stream audio tied to a live sports or entertainment event through a well designed app. It's called Rabble and their new 2.0 version is a winner. The folks at Rabble liken this to Mystery Science Theater 3000, where comments are made about the events happening in front of us. Rabble is for television fans that want more than the boring network broadcast feed of their favorite sports.
One of the great things about Rabble is you don't have to be an expert or genius to broadcast your own commentary of a big time sporting event. Maybe you want to hear what your friends or relatives are saying about the big Sunday Night Football Game on NBC. A refreshed iOS app and a new Android app will bring Rabble to just about all sports fans. You are also welcome to just go on Rabble and discover new programming and shows that might be both educational and entertaining.

Users seem to love having the ability to riff, jest, and originate alternative audio for their favorite shows and events. The app is pretty snappy, it easily lets users pick their favorite event and they start broadcasting. For those of you that like to talk, have strong opinions or need to get your message out, Rabble is the app for you. You can visit Rabble on the web here and see if it's something you and your buddies want to try you hand or voice at. If you missed an event or Rabble broadcast you wanted to see, don't fret, Rabble allows you to view and enjoy past broadcasts. Rabble is quite possibly where sports broadcasting is heading in the near future. We can watch the games and events the way we want to, but now with Rabble we can also hear them the way we desire to and at a time that fits our schedule.

 

Wireless Wednesday for 9/16/15: Omni Homestead, Golf and Tailgating Tech

Rick is at the Onmi Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA this week. This is where Sam Snead grew up and got his start in golf. It's also the oldest continuous first tee in the US, dating back to 1892.

Rick and Mitch 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

- 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.

 


App of the Week:

Pac-Man 256

Free
* For those Pac-Man fans from the 1980s- a great game to keep on your smartphone

PAC-MAN 256 is the maze that never ends.
-------------------------------

FEATURES:
• PAC-MAN perfectly reinvented for your mobile phone or tablet
• Outsmart ghosts with over 15 ridiculous power ups: Laser, Tornado, Giant and much more
• Stay ahead of the super-villain lurking in PAC-MAN since the beginning: The Glitch
• Take on a new gang of revived retro-ghosts including Sue, Funky, and Spunky
• Waka waka on PAC-DOTS and string a 256 combo for a super special surprise
• Controller support