Wireless Wednesday for 6/3/15 - French Open and New Smartphones

Rick and Mitch take a look at the hot new smartphones that have hit the market and they all would make a great Father's Day gift as Father's Day is June 21.

Have a listen to the segment..

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 6/3/15 - French Open and New Smartphones’ on audioBoom

 

And now have a little fun and listen to Mitch doing some impressions from the end of the segment..

listen to ‘Continuation of Wireless Wednesday’ on audioBoom

 

But first... the French Open

Who is still left?

1.  LG G Flex 2  - Rick's been using this one

The LG G Flex2 is designed for those who recognize and appreciate artistry. The unique and elegant curved design is sure to draw attention while opening up a new sensory experience in what a smartphone can do.

Key features include:
• Fast charging
• Touch and shoot pro-style photography features
• Dual window to use 2 apps simultaneously
• 5.5" curved HD OLED display
 

2. HTC One M9

An award-winning tradition continues: 20 MP camera with sapphire camera cover lens to deliver crisp, clear photos. Front-facing stereo speakers with built-in amp and Dolby Audio™ surround for the ultimate audio experience. Also a great Android interface.
The HTC One M9 features more customizable options than ever. With the built-in HTC Themes app, you can change the look and feel of your phone using your favorite photo or online image. The HTC Themes app is able to pick colors from the photo and applies the theme you create to your wallpaper, icons, and more.
 

3. Microsoft Lumia 640
Cricket $129.99

The power of OneDrive
Get up to 30 GB of free OneDrive storage to back up and access your photos and documents on-the-go. Data charges may apply.
Sharp screen for smart business

Get more done with built-in Microsoft Office on the beautiful 5" HD Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 display.
Loaded with all the power you need, the Microsoft Lumia 640 works as fast and efficiently as you do. It lets you concentrate more on what you're doing at any moment, with its quad-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 processor and Microsoft Office built-in. You’ll have plenty of juice to help you achieve more with the whopping 2500 mAh battery.

Also has Cortana:

Meet Cortana, the most talked about assistant with a personal touch. From giving you the latest traffic conditions to reminding you to pick up a gift for mom's birthday, she's always available and ready to help. And of course, you have complete control over just how much Cortana knows about you.
 

4. Asus Zenfone 2  -  the "Selfie Phone"

The Selfie phone features cameras on both the front and back of the phone with a “beautification mode” designed to make people look better in their photos.
This powerful phone has a staggering 4GB of RAM and a 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor. For storage 32GB is fitted, and you can get more through microSD. There's 4G LTE support (dual-SIM, dual active), a 5.5in full-HD IPS screen, and 13Mp rear- and 5Mp front cameras. The stylish brushed-metal case is just 3.9mm thick at the edges. Running the fully customisable ZenUI software, the Zenfone 2 also has Trend Micro security preinstalled.

 

5.  SPOT Global Phone

If you might be going "off the grid"

It's the most affordable satellite phone available in retail, allowing users to make calls virtually ANYWHERE beyond the boundaries of cellular. $499.99 http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=123
 

** App of the Week**

Make My Day (Free)

Make My Day is the latest app from travel brand Lonely Planet, focusing (for now) on six cities: London, Barcelona, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo. It promises to help you “plan your perfect day” with things to do in the morning, afternoon and evening – chosen by experts to go beyond the obvious tourist hotspots.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/27/15: St. Regis Monarch Beach and Shaving Clubs

* Rick has been in Southern California last week,  Orange County and Dana Point to be exact at the St. Regis in Monarch Beach, where they have butlers and Rick played the Monarch Beach Golf Links...

Great weather, perfect golf, except for Rick's game and lot od outdoors activities in SoCal...

First... a *News Item*

Robots to Battle for $3.5M in DARPA Challenge, in Pomona, CA this June.
In June, as the NBA and NHL championships are decided, robotic competitors will face off in the finals of the DARPA Robotics Challenge.

At stake: $3.5 million in total prize money, with $1 million going to the first-prize winner. The robots will have one hour to complete eight tasks, which will include driving 100 meters to a simulated disaster site, cutting a hole in a wall, climbing a ladder, and a special mystery task that won't be revealed to teams beforehand.

There will be 25 teams competing, half of them from the United States. Japan, Korea and Germany will also be represented with a total of 10 teams between them.

You can't turn on your HDTV with out seeing those ubiquitous ads for the "Dollar Shave Club" They aren't the only option.  All of a sudden, there are multiple companies willing to send you razors and shaving cream by U.S. Mail.

Why and when did all this happen?  What happened to going to the store to buy Bic razors?

Let's take a look at the online shave clubs and services.

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/27/15 - St. Regis Monarch Beach and Shaving’ on audioBoom

1. Dollar Shave Club  -  Rick has been trying the Dollar Shave Club
www.dollarshaveclub.com

How it Works

Dollar Shave Club couldn't be simpler. Select one of our great blades, pay only for the cost of your blades, and we send ’em right to your door every month.
No fees, no commitment, cancel anytime. Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
You can chage your plan anytime.
You can also get "Shave Butter", "Post Shave" and "Reapir Serum" delivered right to your door.
 

2.  Harry's
www.harrys.com

Plans start at $3 per month.

Tell us how often you shave. This will determine how often we deliver to you.
Harry's sells quality products and you can pay $15 pr month and get both blades and gels.

Select your products- Choose from blades, shave gel, after shave. We’ll ship them to you. Free shipping always cancel or modify any time.
 

3.  800 Razors

www.800razors.com

Sells only American-made razors and shaving products
Men's and women's shaving products  -  around $20 per month (5 blades, shaving cream and after-shave)


4.  Wet Shave Club
www.wetshaveclub.com

WetShaveClub is about bringing back the manly ritual of traditional shaving. A warm lather, a sharp blade, and 10 minutes of bliss. Experience the joy of wet shaving, with a monthly box filled with different soaps, blades, aftershaves, and more from around the world.
YOUR FIRST BOX

In your first box from Wet Shave Club you will receive a premium razor with a specially grooved handle for maximum grip, a genuine leather razor cover to help protect against falls or normal wear and tear, a boar hair brush for building a thick lather with your soap, a luxurious shaving soap (scents and brands vary), 10 blades from our current selection, one of our awesome aftershaves to keep your skin smooth and fresh, and some instructional cards to help with the process.
 

 

** App of the Week**

Turbo Scan

iPhone or iPad  $2.99

A very handy app.
TurboScan turns your iPhone into a multipage scanner for documents, receipts, notes, whiteboards, and other text. With TurboScan, you can quickly scan your documents and store or email them as multipage PDF or JPEG files.

 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/13/15: Tech in Real Estate and Home Buying

If you haven't been out home shopping, the real estate market is once again starting to boom.

Rick and his wife Lindsay know that all too well, as they have been out doing a little home shopping and comparison pricing.

Technology has made a big impact on the real estate and home buying/selling industry...
Rick and Mitch take a look...

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/13/15 - Real Estate Tech’ on audioBoom

1. Real Estate has gone "Mobile"

Apps are key in every industry, but even more important in real estate where home buyers and sellers want to have all the information they need at their fingertips.

Example of apps:
a. Redfin - Hunt for a home sans an agent with Redfin's multiple-listing-service-powered real estate app. This free app gives you the same information used by real estate agents - on-the-go, like photos, full details, property history and agent notes.
b. Realtor.com - Find your perfect home. New listings and agents. Also info on rentals.

 


2.  iBeacon technology

iBeacon technology uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals that allow for instant communication between devices over relatively long distances without an active Internet connection.
- Information rich for sale signs
- Guided property tours
- Digital handshake - might be able to close deals right on smartphones
*Expect iBeacon technology to keep growing

 

3. Analytics coming to real estate

Agents will be able to measure ROI more accurately.

4.  Apps like Zillow and Trulia

These two apps dominate consumer searches. in fact, Zillow bought Trulia, but both remain open and have apps that set the standard for what consumers use.

 
5. Drones

If you see a drone flying over a home that has been newly listed for sale, it's for good reason. Drones are being used by those in the real estate industry to photograph homes for listings. They can also be used to inspect roofs and gutters.

 


** App of the Week**

CalcsFree
Free

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/calcsfree-mortgage-calculators/id320858775?mt=8

"Aside from the usual - Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow - I've really found CalcsFree to be helpful," says Dan Vollmer, a full-time real estate agent. "If I'm showing homes to prospective buyers and they want to know how much their mortgage will be, I can plug in an offer amount, the taxes and insurance payments, even HOA fees and mortgage insurance." Vollmer says the free mortgage calculator app is easy to use and provides more than just a standard principal-and-interest payment calculation.

Description

The most comprehensive, best selling Mortgage Calculator App in the App Store with 500,000 users. Three calculators in ONE APP! Advanced analysis on the go.

 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/6/15: Windows 10

Microsoft's "Build Conference" wrapped up last week in San Francisco.
This is a conference where Windows deveolpers gather to get the latest news on Microsoft products.

Some of the news that impacts us from that conference and the Microsoft Ignite conference taking place in Chicago this week...

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/6/15 - A Look at Windows 10’ on audioBoom

1. Android Apps on Windows Phone

There has long been talk about Windows supporting Android and iOS apps. While Android apps will not directly translate for use on Windows-based devices, Microsoft has released a number of tools that will make it far easier for developers to port their Android and iOS apps over to Windows universal apps.

2.  Internet Explorer is on the way out...

The new browser will be "Edge"

Edge. Edge will be a much lighter-weight browser. It will make use of Cortana and support browser extensions, many of which are currently available on Chrome and Firefox.
 

New apps we have never seen before with new features will be integrated into Windows 10
Spotlight in Windows 10 will suggest apps and tools that users may not yet have used yet. Belfiore used the example of Cortana, Microsoft's voice-based virtual assistant. If a user had yet to use the feature on a fresh install of Windows 10, the system will soon recommend that he or she check it out and make that easy to with some custom buttons.

4.  Windows 10

With Windows 8 and today Windows 8.1, Microsoft tried – not entirely successfully – to deliver an operating system (OS) that could handle the needs of not only number-crunching workstations and high-end gaming rigs, but touch-controlled systems from all-in-one PCs for the family and thin-and-light notebooks down to slender tablets.

When Microsoft pulled the curtain back on Windows 10 back in September of 2014, it was clear that, with an operating system optimized for PCs, tablets and phones in unique ways, the Redmond, Wash.-based firm was onto something.

The Details:

    What is it? A complete update for Windows
    When is it out? Definitely summer, but likely late July 2015
    What will it cost? For Windows 7 and 8.1 users, it will be free for one year


** App of the Week**

Clear

https://itunes.apple.com/app/id973515749

Take control of your online reputation
Securely connect your social media accounts, and Clear will flag any potentially negative posts in seconds. Then you have the opportunity to delete those posts from the internet forever.

Protect your reputation and your job security with Clear!
 

Wireless Wednesday for 4/29/15: Sea Pines, Stan Smith and Mother's Day

Rick is at Hilton Head island this week... specifically Sea Pines Plantation and the Harbour Town Golf Links and The Inn at Harbour Town  seeing what is new at Sea Pines.  A new clubhouse at Harbour Town a new pool, etc.

www.seapines.com


Also was able to spend some time with the legendary tennis player, Stan Smith.

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 4/29/15 - Sea Pines and Mother's Day Gadget Gifts’ on audioBoom

With Mother's Day less than 2 weeks away, it's time to look at some Mother's Day tech...  that would make perfect gifts for the active Mom!

1.  Yoga Design Lab - Yoga Mat  -  $50-$68

http://www.yogadesignlab.com/shop/

Blending fashion-forward design elements with innovative functionality and bio-renewable consciousness is key to the Yoga Design Lab approach. From our insulated stainless steel water bottles (reduce your use of plastic water bottles please!), to our hot yoga mats comprised of biodegradable natural tree rubber, to the water based inks used in our printed designs, we can all make a difference with the products we buy.

2.  Wilson Burn 100S tennis racquet

Forgiving feel and control.

Combining Spin Effect Technology with Parallel Drilling provides a very reactive and responsive 18x16 string bed. With the new X2 Shaft, this new line of racquets has extra long handles by shorten the throat to allow players more room for their hands on two-handed backhands. If all of that wasn't enough, these racquets come ready to use with the Sony Smart Sensor.

3.   Keurig 2.0 in special Mother's Day color... Marsala

Retail: 169.99

A Perfect Pairing – Keurig + Marsala
From the satisfying click of the lowered handle to the simple press of the Brew button to the familiar flavor of your favorite beverage, a Keurig® brewer appeals to all of the senses. We partner with 60 quality brands and offer 400 beverages to make sure our Keurig® system gives consumers what they want in taste – and also in looks. It’s not just a coffee maker sitting on a counter; it’s a conversation piece that reflects personal style and design.
Now, for the second year, a Keurig® brewer will be available in the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year, Marsala. A naturally robust and earthy color, Marsala tells a rich color story pairs so well with the curves and edges of our

Keurig® 2.0 400 so well. This color is worthy of a consumer’s coveted counter space.

The Keurig® 2.0 400 will be available in Marsala in early 2015, ready to dazzle and inspire kitchens everywhere.

4.    Acer 13 Chromebook  laptop - 13.3 inches

Less than $250

Chromebook 13, which offers a HD screen, an outstanding keyboard and a slim and light design. It's also the first Chromebook to feature Nvidia's energy-efficient Tegra K1 quad-core processor, which provides much longer battery life than competing notebooks.

5.  ScoreBand

www.scoreband.net

    Now with a fresh look and even more features, ScoreBand PLAY takes entry level scorekeeping technology to the next level. Three scorekeeping modes (Golf/Tennis/AllScore) plus Time mode give ScoreBand PLAY all you need to keep your game on track.

App of the Week:

DUFL  - Keep your clothes in a "virtual closet"

For the serious traveler

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dufl/id958354676?ls=1&mt=8

Description

App is free to download, but...
It is $9.95 per month for a 24” closet or $99 for a standard round trip (expedited shipping charges will apply for overnight shipping

DUFL is a premium, luxury service- a personal travel valet that simplifies business travel by shipping, cleaning and storing your business attire.
DUFL stores your clothing in your personal DUFL closet, and allows you to virtually pack by selecting your clothing items from within the app. Once you’ve scheduled your trip, you’ll travel - bag free, and your freshly cleaned and neatly packed clothing will meet you at your specified destination. When you’re ready to head home, schedule a pick up from the hotel and we’ll clean your clothes and have them waiting in your virtual closet, ready for your next trip!
- Register for DUFL within the app to receive your Welcome kit that includes a DUFL suitcase. Pack your bag and schedule a pick up within the app.

- We’ll pick up your bag, take inventory, have your clothes cleaned and wait for you to schedule your first trip.

- When you are ready to travel, schedule your trip within the app, set your arrival date and destination and your bag will meet you there.