Wireless Wednesday for 1/28/15: TV Tech

Chances are you will watching the Super Bowl this weekend on television, so it's the perfect time to take a look at some new tech and products for you TV.

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 1/28/15 on 92.9 The Game’ on audioBoom

1.  Sling TV

A partnership with DISH and Sling TV for cord cutters.

Now you can watch all those cable sports, lifestyle, new and online entertainment that was never available on-the-go or without paying a big cable bill for $20 per month with Sling TV.

Oh yea, there is no installation charge, no commitment, contact, credit check or hardware you need to install.

With Sling TV, you can watch all of your favorite programming on an Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google’s Nexus Player, various LG Smart TVs, Roku players, Roku TV models, most Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, iOS, Android devices, a Mac and of course a PC.

This is going to make life a little easier for cord cutters.

Rick's article with more on Sling TV

http://www.examiner.com/article/sling-tv-delivers-what-you-want-to-watch-wherever-you-are?cid=db_articles


2.  High Dynamic Range or HDR pictures

Been a big part of digital cameras and editing digital pictures for years and now it comes to your TV
High Dynamic Range TV – a process whereby a combination of ultra-bright screens and specially shot footage delivers a much wider range of luminance levels to create pictures that look much more lifelike and dynamic.
 



3.  LG 4K TV's and Quantum Dots

LG will be pushing 4K OLEDs hard in 2015, they’re also dabbling with the technology that many think will steal OLED’s thunder at this year’s show. Quantum-dot displays, which use a layer of light-tuning nanoparticles in between the LED backlight system and the color filters, are expected to help the next generation of LCD sets achieve OLED-like performance at a much cheaper price. While LG is still betting big on OLED—and to my eyes, OLED certainly still looks better—LG does have a 4K quantum-dot set in its 2015 lineup.

The lone quantum-dot panel in LG’s stable is the 65-inch UF9400 UltraHD TV, a 240Hz set with a quad-core processor and Harman/Kardon speakers. According to LG, the quantum-dot film in front of the LED backlight system translates to a “25 to 30 percent wider color gamut and 10 percent more brightness.
 

4.  LG MusicFlow

Improved sound coming out of your TV

 MusicFlow, which uses a dual-band mesh network similar to Sonos and supports 24-bit/192kHz audio.

LG is positioning its new MusicFlow soundbars as an entry point for the system, as they’ll be priced significantly lower than Sonos’s $700 Playbar. The LG soundbars have prices starting at $400, and the general strategy is that anyone who picks one up for their TV room will eventually want to create a multi-room setup. Then they’ll theoretically buy more of LG’s MusicFlow speakers—provided they don’t already have a Sonos setup.
 


5.  The Advent of Smart TVs

More and more Smart TVs will be sold and they keep getting easier to set up.

It’s also likely we’ll see much more advanced interaction between TVs and smartphones/tablets, with more control of your TV functionality being devolved to your portable devices and more potential for easily sharing video and multimedia content across all your video-capable products.

It remains to be seen, though, if the latest smart TV developments will be able to shake off the growing suspicion that maybe Smart TVs are getting too clever for their own good in trying to deliver features that might be better left to personal smart devices.


App of the week

Pro Tools First - for those that like to make music on their computer, tablet or smartphone.
A free version of Pro Tools that lets you get your feet wet. It includes a "subset" of the usual features (you're mainly missing extra tracks, score editing and video playback), but it otherwise behaves like the paid version. You won't have to relearn anything if you hit the big time and start using the full software.

The real catch (besides the lack of a release date) is Avid's dependence on after-the-fact purchases to make money. You'll get 21 audio effect plugins from the outset, but you'll have to pay for more. Also, First only lets you keep three projects in the cloud for free.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 1/21/15: 2015 PGA Show

New Stuff from the PGA Merchandise Show

Rick is in Orlando for the 62nd PGA Show and Demo Day looking at all the new golf tech and products
Rick is also staying at the Reunion Resort in Orlando, home of the Annika Academy... Annika Sorenstam's academy, where they use use high tech traning techniques and fitness technique to make batter golfers.

www.reunionresort.com
www.theannikaacademy.com

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 1/21/15 on 92.9 The Game’ on audioBoom

1.  Virtual Green by Golf Scene

A dynamic, shifting putting green designed to revolutionize the putting experience in golf simulators. Virtual Green is a moving putting green and software that changes the landscape and contour of flat turf via thousands of pinpoints beneath the surface to mimic an actual golf green.

"As the premiere event for golf professionals, the PGA Merchandise Show is the perfect platform to debut our patented innovation. Debuting Virtual Green in front of thousands of enthusiasts is very exciting, we look forward to enhancing the future of putting in golf simulators," stated Sean Coffman of Virtual Green.
 
 
 
2. Robogolfpro

The RoboGolfPro develops a customized swing for each player. You can discover the swing that works best for your body and store it in RGP’s computer for future reference! The robot works so well because it relies on motor learning to train the golfer to automatically remember the correct swing form.

The robotic swing trainer has been grabbing the attention of professional golfers like Vaughn Taylor, who has found quick success from his training. He has even purchased one for his home. Scot W.R. Nei, founder of RoboGolfPro, who has partnered with Lori Heller, Heller Events, to distribute and sell the robot and events across North America and Europe, says, “Vaughn texts me all the time with comments like, ‘I had my best round ever in over 6 years' and says that his swing is better than ever!”

 

3.  DST "Warm Up" Clubs

Golfers get injured when they don't warm up properly

DST had a new warm up club
DST Golf - developer and manufacturer of ground breaking golf clubs that speed game improvement among players of all skill levels - will launch its line of Compressor Warm-Up Clubs featuring patent-pending Delayed Strike Technology at Booth #1606 and Demo Day during the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.
Available in 8-iron and wedge models, DST Compressor clubs simplify the swing by stripping out complicated and unnecessary movements. This is achieved by automatically pre-setting the hands in the optimal impact position, which is identical for all normal shots (chip, pitch and full swing).
www.dstgolf.com

4. Knuth's "High Heat: Driver

A new driver based on Anti-Submarine Warfare

The club is the brainchild of Dean Knuth. Why does that name sound familiar? For 16 years, he was in charge of monitoring handicaps for the United States Golf Association and was dubbed "the Pope of Slope" because he was the primary inventor of the USGA Course Rating and Slope System. Knuth, who turned 60 this year, retired from the USGA a few years ago to move to San Diego, where he ran a software company. Now he's an engineer for Northrup-Grumman, which took over the software company, and he has pursued an inventor's dream — making a better driver.

Knuth got the idea for the High Heat at a World Scientific Golf Congress at St. Andrews in the '90s when he heard a visiting professor theorize that there should be a way to significantly decrease the loss of energy from the driver to the ball. Knuth, who has a masters degree in computer systems technology, had done research on energy passing through different mediums (such as metals, air and water) while in the Navy's postgraduate school, which he attended from 1975 to 1978. His postgrad program focused on anti-submarine warfare.

He needed a tough-but-thin metal to achieve that optimal frequency, but the Chinese titanium typically used in golf clubs broke down in his design. Knuth found a Russian titanium called ET 22 that was strong enough — after he made it into sheet metal instead of forging it, used a laser to cut it and pressed it into a die at 70 tons per square inch.

5.  Yamaha with new golf carts with an AC charge

Just plug them in to get them charged up.

Yamaha now has golf carts with a DC charge, gas, and AC charge.
The AC charge carts have 7 horse power in them, great for climbing hills on the course

App of the week:  Tennis Channel App now available on Apple TV
and the Australian Open app

Good news for "Cord Cutters"  you can now watch Tennis Channel on your Apple TV with a new app, but for the unlimited tennis it will cost you about $70/year

Also the official Australian Open app is available for iOS and Android devices-  download it to follow everything Australian Open.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 1/14/15: Tech Trends for 2015

Tech Trends for 2015

Rick saw a lot of gadgets out in Las Vegas at CES, but a big part of the trip was looking at some of the tech trends that will hit in 2015.

Let's look at some of the tech trends

Have a listen to both parts:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 1/14/15 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on audioBoom

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 1/14/15 on 92.9 The Game Part 2’ on audioBoom

1.  The Self Driving Car

Not only will cars have sophisticated dashboards that point us to our destination and sync cleanly with our smartphones, but they're inching closer to taking over the steering wheel.

Audi and Mercedes were among the car manufacturers showcasing self-driving vehicles.

Meanwhile, BMW and chip maker Nvidia demonstrated technology where the car would serve as an auto-valet, finding its own parking space and returning to your location when ready.

An Audi A7 self-driving car drove from San Francisco to CES this year

 
2. The connected home - eventually everything in the home will be controlled by a smartphone, tablet and even your watch

3.  4K

This is not a drill. It seems consumers have been hearing for years about the display resolution that's

four times sharper than traditional HD.

Now comes the rush of affordable TV sets and compatible programming to satisfy your desire for only the highest of high-definition. But don't get too comfortable. There's already talk of 8K.

Because 8K is already here, 4K will be more affordable.
 

4. We are running out of data storage space...

The world could run out of computer space by 2020, a leading data storage ... Seagate said we are facing a data capacity deficit of more than six zettabytes. To put that into context, a single zettabyte is the equivalent of 34,359,738,368 smartphones, assuming a typical device has 32GB of storage.
Seagate was looking into heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) as one experimental technology to increase space.

This technology uses lasers to heat the storage device and magnetically record data onto it.

Techradar reported that this could lead to 50 terabits of storage per square inch, compared to the few hundred gigabits now.
 



5.  The End of Customer Service Desks

As users expect service in real time and crowdsourcing support is becoming more prevalent, the effectiveness of reactive processes of service desks is dwindling.  Companies will build transition strategies that enable a proactive business productivity team.

Answers to questions will come in real time, through internet and social media platforms.
 


App of the week:  Vida Health Coach for iOS  -  Free to download the app, but $15 for the coaching

Lose weight, feel better, and hit your health goals with a real-life, professional Vida health coach. We’ll instantly connect you with a live expert coach to create an ongoing, personalized health program that fits your style and schedule.

HOW VIDA COACHING WORKS:

• Vida coaches are experts in nutrition, fitness, health, and motivational psychology. It’s like having your own personal trainer, nutritionist, mentor, therapist, and accountability partner all in one, always by your side in the Vida app.

• Our coaches are available on your schedule, 24/7 and connect with you through daily text messages and weekly video check-ins. They fit your style so you get the motivation and encouragement you need.

• Get started with a FREE video consultation with your Vida Coach. They’ll go through our proven 32-point health assessment to learn more about you and put together your own 100% personalized health plan.

• Stay accountable with daily reminders, tips, & inspiration from your coach.

Wireless Wednesday for 1/7/15: CES and the App of the Week

Rick is at CES  in Las Vegas this week. Looking at all the new gadgets and tech trends.

This is the annual Consumer Electronics Show and is attended by nearly 160,000 people.  It runs through Friday.

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 1/7/15 on 92.9 The Game’ on audioBoom

Let's talk about CES

1.  What is CES and what is it really like?

160,000 people. Long lines, expensive hotel rooms, for the most part.
Multiple convention centers. All the latest gadgets...

2.  CES Pre Show events

Officially, CES didn't kick off until Tuesday, but Rick already attended two pre show events- "Unveiled" and Pepcom's Digital Experience. These are "media only" events, where the press gets to see many of the new products ahead of time.
Rick went to both and both were crowded with new products and media.

3. Show floor opened today.

Miles and miles of aisles at LVCC< Sands Expo, and some of the convention centers in hotels.

4. Monday's Press Conferences

Many of the big companies have "press conferences" on Monday where they make new product announcements.  LG announced their new LG G Flex 2 phone and new washing machines and dryers.
Shaq was there for Monster audio and other celebs will be throughout the show...

What's Hot???

1. Wearable tech
2. Tech for the home
3. New Phones, laptops, micro chips

App of the week:

UA Record   -  Under Armour's new fitness app

UA Record, a new health and fitness network app that Under Armour is launching here at the Consumer Electronics Show.

UA Record, which you can download free starting this week in the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store, aims to simplify your personal health data with fitness activity tracking tools, and to connect you to a digital community of folks who might motivate you to get and stay in shape.
 Under Armour ambassadors you might choose to follow — among them ballerina Misty Copeland, skier Lindsey Vonn, tennis player Sloane Stephens and retired baseball star Cal Ripken Jr. You can also follow a feed from MapMyFitness, which Under Armour owns.

Record is a repository for tracking your steps, calories burned, sleep, heart rate and weight, with the data provided by third-party wearable devices and sensors.

After downloading UA Record and creating or logging into your account — you can use Facebook, or sign in with an Under Armour-owned MapMyFitness account — you connect the devices you'll use for tracking. Out of the starting gate, UA Record can connect to apps and devices from Garmin, Jawbone, Withings, MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Suunto, Misfit, Wego, Polar and Fitbug.

UA Record is free right now, but premium features are coming

 

Wireless Wednesday for 12/17/14: Sports Tech and Gadget Gifts

Rick is home and getting ready for the holidays...  and he's going with what he knows best and we are talking sports gadgets as holiday gifts this week...

Have a listen to "Wireless Wednesday"

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 12/17/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on audioBoom

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 12/17/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 2’ on audioBoom

First Rick and Mitch tackle the age old question... Do ZipBuds work and stay untangled?

Rick is testing a pair of ZipBuds, some unique earbuds that aren't supposed to tangle.

 

1.  LifeStraw  Portable Water filter

www.buylifestraw.com  $20-$35

For hikers, bikers, campers, anyone that needs clean water

Simply place one end of the LifeStraw® tube into unfiltered water (a water bottle, river, or even a puddle) and suck clean water through the top of the straw. Follow the instructions provided for your first use.

 
2. Lamkin Golf Grips

Winter is the perfect time to change your golf grips.

Lamkin UTX models feature proprietary Tri-Layer Technology designed to optimize feel for enhanced shot-making and provide exceptional all-weather playability. The three functional layers include a foundation made of super tacky and soft ACE 3GEN material for enhanced comfort, a middle layer with a moisture-wicking fabric weave for traction and control in wet weather and a firm outer layer to limit torque and minimize shot dispersion. UTX grips ($8.99) are available in standard or midsize options in three distinct colors.  
 
“When it comes to selecting equipment, professional golfers are among the most discerning athletes in the world, which is why our premium grips are trusted by so many of the game’s elite,” says Bob Lamkin, President and CEO of Lamkin Grips. “We offer a tremendous variety of models to suit the preferences of all players, each specifically designed to maximize on-course performance.”
 
Offering the widest assortment of performance-enhancing golf grips, Lamkin has been an industry leader for nearly 90 years. The company’s famed products are preferred by PGA Tour superstars Justin Rose, Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker, the legendary Arnold Palmer and many others.
 
Lamkin grips are unrivaled in quality thanks to world-class engineering, premium materials and handcrafted, repeatable production techniques. Among the popular lines offered by the company are UTX, Crossline, R.E.L ACE and i-Line, among others.
 
More information: www.LamkinGrips.com

 

3.  Golf Balls  - Jack Nicklaus Golf Balls and Vice Golf

Have a golfer on your list?  Golf balls really do make a good gift.
Jack Nicklaus Golf Balls - Our goal: to simplify golf ball selection. In today's world, most golfers don't know which ball is the right ball for them. With Nicklaus Black, Nicklaus Blue, and Nicklaus White, all you need to know is the tee you play from. We have created three cutting edge balls to maximize feel and distance for different levels of play:

    Nicklaus White - For those who play from the forward tees
    Nicklaus Blue - For those who play from the middle tees
    Nicklaus Black - For those who play from the back tees

Vice Golf -  quality personalized golf balls - makes a great gift.
 
www.vicegolf.com

4. Tecnifibre tennis racquets

www.tecnifibre.com

Quality tennis racquets from a high tech sports manufacturer.  Under the radar manufcturer of racquets and strings.
Great price points.
Tecnifibre is the official stringer of the French Open, a testament to their dedication to quality. Tecnifibre racquets feature a strong and lightweight material placed strategically in their racquets to increase stability, power, and comfort.

5. Mio Fuse

The newest from Mio.  it's the Fuse.  www.mioglobal.com

 Sleek and simple in design, the MIO Fuse Heart Rate Training Band accurately measures your performance and optimizes your training. It reads EKG-accurate heart rate data without a cumbersome chest strap while you exercise and it tracks your steps, calories, distance, speed and pace. The Fuse also connects to popular fitness apps and sport devices to track your performance.

    Built-in accelerometer captures steps, calories, distance and pace
    Chronograph timer with “Touch” to start/stop
    All Day Mode and Workout Mode
    30-hour memory
    Multi-colored LED indicates your customizable heart rate zones; use MIO GO fitness app to set up and customize your display
    12-hour or 24-hour clock
    Rechargeable LiPoly battery (charged by USB charger)
    Water resistant up to 30 meters
    Available in two sizes: S/M (red) and Large (aqua)
 



* App of the week:

Slickdeals  - Android and iOS apps

Slickdeals is the only OFFICIAL app of Slickdeals.net, the largest community-driven deal sharing site in the US. Slickdeals has the best deals, coupons, sales, promotions and freebies for tons of categories and products like Electronics, TVs, Laptops, Phones, Games, Clothes, Groceries, and even Local deals for travel, restaurant deals, massages and more from your favorites like Groupon, Living Social and more.

Slickdeals is powered by our huge community and forum of users helping each other to save money by finding deals across the entire web and sharing them with each other. Discover great deals from all major retailers and get amazing discounts and coupons for stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Kohls, JCPenney and more!

Have an issue with the app? Suggestions? Praises? Send us an email at android@slickdeals.net - Your feedback will help us make this the best deals app on the web.

✔ Push Notifications for Frontpage Deals: Receive a notification when the hottest community-vetted deals hit the Slickdeals Front Page.

✔ Push Notifications for Deal Alerts: Receive a notification when a deal matches your keywords! Don't miss out on another Slick Deal!

✔ Frontpage Deals: The best deals every day, vetted by our community and hand-picked by our seasoned team of deal editors with information on Price History, Product Reviews, Coupon Codes, Free Shipping and more!

✔ Local Deals: Aggregated local deals for restaurants, shopping, and services from sites like Groupon and LivingSocial. “Map View” shows you deals relative to your current location

✔ Popular Deals: These are deals from our forums that are popular by community votes and activities