Wireless Wednesday for 6/4/14: With Mitch Evans - Father's Day Gift Gadgets

* TOPICS - Rick is on vacation this week, at a beautiful and trendy, but also canine-friendly B&B in Watkinsville of all places with Lindsay and Pearl called Ashford Manor but never to busy to not join Mitch for Wireless Wednesday

We talk some French Open look at some great gadget and tech gifts for Dear Ole Dad leading up to Father's Day

* With internet all that strong, the tape is a little choppy and skipped over most of what I talked about in the Mizuno irons section. It ran fine live on the radio, but recording is a little skippy.

But have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 6/4/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on Audioboo

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1.   HP Rove 20 MegaTablet/Desktop Computer

www.hp.com

$979.99 but “it can be found for $100 less” or “HP routinely has sales and the Rove is sometimes offered for less.”
It's a desktop computer with touch screen capabilities.  It's an ultra-big tablet. No matter how you look at it, it's perfect for the dad that likes watching sports or following sports scores and updates on his computer screen.
With the HP ENVY Rove you get:
- A unique hinged stand that lets you tilt the 20-inch HD diagonal touchscreen or lay it flat like a tablet.
-  An Intel® Core™ i3 processor
- Windows 8 operating system
- Touchscreen that is responsive
- Wireless keyboard and mouse

The ENVY Rove 20 weighs about 12 pounds and gets good battery life. It also looks good on your desk or table. This will suffice for dad's reading and viewing habits. He might even be able to get some work done in his down time.

 

2.   Keurig Mini - now coming in colors of your favorite college
Here's one for the UGA fans

www.keurig.com

The MINI Plus Brewing System brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage in under two minutes at the touch of a button. With the choice of three cup sizes, the MINI Plus brewer offers a removable drip tray to accommodate short travel mugs. To operate, you simply add fresh water into the single-use reservoir, choose your favorite K-Cup® pack, brew and enjoy.
 

3.   Mizuno JPX-EZ Irons

The irons Rick Limpert plays  

Has dad been coming home after that round of golf with a frustrated look on his face? Chances are it's his iron play. He may not be getting the loft or distance off the club like he had in the past. The top-rated irons have a huge sweet spot a ultra-pocket cavity that gives a golfer consistency and forgiveness. What more can a golfer, or dad ask for in his bag?

The JPX-EZ irons come at a great price point and Mizuno is currently offering free shipping on orders over $75 at www.mizunousa.com.

4.  Sunice active wear

Sunice Golf

Sunice is all about layering and protecting you. In 1992, Sunice started producing golf attire and outwear.

Sunice is worn by numerous pros on both the American and European PGA Tour, and LPGA Tour. Sunice shirts, vests, and outwear offer a high tech Performance Layering System, and they are comfortable. Sunice is also the only golf company in the world to offer the X-Static® Silver technology.

Sunice shirts like the Oakey are anti-microbial, anti-odor, anti-static, and moisture wicking. They are great to wear on the course or even at a summer party or event. Sunice wear is quality, backup up by performance and style.

Get more information at www.Sunice.com.

5.  Bracketron Tri Caddy Flex

Attaches to just about any surface to hold or mount a smartphone or other mobile devices. It features a 1/4" standard camera thread and flexible tripod arms that can hook on to anything. It gives you versatility and allows you to set up angles no other mounting device will allow.
Perfect for recording a golf swing, a tennis match, or even you son's at bat in a Little League game.

The mount can be used with a smartphone or camera and it's available at www.Bracketron.com for $19.95.

6. Yonex high tech tennis shoes - Yonex Power Cushion Pro

Ranked by Tennis Magazine as the "Best All-Around Shoe" and Rick has a pair.
My feet find it extremely hard to find shoes that fit just right and hold their shape. The Yonex Power Cushion Pro did just that and more.

They gave great support. I felt safe changing direction and making quick stops.

They are durable. The toe area of a tennis shoe is the most used portion of a tennis shoe and the Pro Cushion has high tech construction in the toe. I seem to think that extra molding and thought that went into the construction of the toe helps the rest of the shoe.
 


App of the week:

VyClone   -  as in "Cyclone",  no Fred Hoiberg is not involved by Sting's son is...

It’s not every day you come across an a piece of software in the App Store that was co-created by rock legend Sting’s son. It’s also not every day you find an app with celebrity ties that is actually pretty cool.

Vyclone is an app that takes 1-minutes video clips you record and adds them to other videos that were recorded in the same location around the same time by other users. We’re sure you can see where this is going, but the result is a highlight reel of sorts that creates movies of an event using footage captured by several different phones.

The most obvious use case is a sporting event or a concert.

Say you’re at a show — a Sting show, perhaps. You can use Vyclone to record a few clips and upload them to the app’s servers. Your footage is then combined with clips of the Sting show recorded by other Vyclone users in attendance, and the result is one big multi-camera highlight movie.

Vyclone is a very cool app as long as you use it to record events where other users are also recording, and it’s completely free in the iOS App Store.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/28/14: With Mitch Evans - Tech in Customer Service

* TOPICS - French Open is underway and we have a ton of upsets... 

We talk "Customer Service" this week - The ways technology is changing customer service.

Rick spent two days a couple weeks ago learning how technology is changing customer service and what the future holds in customer service.

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/28/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/28/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 2’ on Audioboo

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1.   Customer Service without even talking with someone

This is the way things are heading, but it's going to take Americans some time to get used to this. It's happening now, but more is coming. You will be able to get you problems solved and your questions answered while speaking into your phone or hitting numbers. A computer will determing your problem and speak the answer to you.

 


2.  Customer Service via online chat

You may have had a customer service issue and pulled up a company's website to see how you may contact a rep.  You were then thrown into an "online chat" where a CSR asked who you are, and what your issue was and started assisting you.
* Popular with cable and utility companies as well as insurance co.

 

3.   More and more use of Social Media

70% of businesses are anticipated to use social media as part of their customer service programs by mid-2014. ~ Aberdeen Group

Have an issue?  More and more people are using platforms like Twitter and Facebook to have their issues solved.

4.  Customer Service via text message

We all seem to be texting more and more. So it's only natural that a text message could prove huge in the world of customer service

 


5.  Crowdsourced Customer Service

If you have a customer service question, chances are someone else has had that question before, and will have it in the future. So, forums and auto generated responces are in place when you type in or explain your problem and a link or answer will come to you on how possibly you can solve your issue.

An example is the app Waze.  Waze is a fun, community based mapping, traffic & navigation app. With millions of drivers from across the globe joining forces to outsmart traffic, save time, gas money, and improve daily commuting for all.

By simply driving around with Waze open, you're already contributing tons of real-time traffic & road info to your local driving community. You can also actively report accidents, hazards, police and other events you see on the road, and get road alerts on your route too. Find the cheapest gas station along your route with community-shared fuel prices. Waze also makes it fun and simple to meet up and coordinate with friends on the road.


App of the week:

In honor of "National Burger Day"  - May 28

- Burgerator app - in search of the best burgers

The Burgerator app unites burger lovers everywhere to allow you to discover, rate, and share your favorite burgers. We’re not some snooty critics club, we’re just guys and gals with a serious passion for burgers who love to grub. Represent your favorite burgers by downloading the app and rating them today!

FEATURES:
- Find burgers nearby (in either list or map view) sort 'em by distance and rating
- Rate burgers based on the burger-to-bun ratio, taste, toppings, and more
- Discover new burgers through our Burgerfeed and “pound” burgers that look great
- Share your recent ratings with friends on Facebook and Twitter
- See the current “Top 10 Burgers” as rated by your fellow Burgerators
- View your most recent and top rated burgers in your profile
Works in over 250 cities around the world.
 
 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/21/14: With Mitch Evans - Rick's Favorite Sports Gadgets of 2014

 Have a listen to Rick and Mitch

* TOPICS - Rick's top sports gadgets and sports tech items of 2014 so far...

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/21/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/21/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 2’ on Audioboo

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1.  BlueAnt: PUMP HD Sportbuds

Train, play, live, unleashed – with the ultimate multi-sport headphone. PUMP delivers Energize HD Audio unmatched by wireless rivals in an ultra-rugged design. Let the beat set the pace.

·         Energize HD Audio: thundering bass, smooth mids, crisp treble, & sharp, yet subtle highs, together comprise Energize HD Audio – an audiophile-grade music experience unmatched by wireless rivals
·         Rugged Design: encased in Kevlar shielding used in bullet-proof vests; coated with Teflon that repels liquids on commercial cooking equipment; & the only sportsbuds to earn an IP67 rating; PUMP protects the premium audio components from rain, dust, debris, sweat, & even a quick rinse under the tap at the end of your workout (*not designed for swimming)
·         Best-In-Class Wireless Range: delivers crystal clear audio from up to 100 feet away from any Bluetooth-compatible device, also featuring a built-in mic for handsfree calls
·         Secure Comfort: easy to wear during long periods of intense activity with wrap-around form factor ensuring a secure fit that never slips off & ComfortSeal tips with a soft rubberized texture
·         Battery Life: don’t let the beat die even on the longest of runs; the rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides 8 hours of continuous play time
·         PUMP HD Sportsbuds Video

Available at: Apple Store® (www.Apple.com), Verizon Wireless stores & on www.BlueAntWireless.com
Price: $129.95
Website: www.BlueAntWireless.com

 

2.  Tom Tom Cardio Watch

Comes in both Runner and Multi-Sport variants, offers a lot of flexibility if you dig deep enough, but also manages to put most of its most generally useful features near enough the top of the experience that novices don’t have to futz about to get started. There’s interval training, sure, but it’s also very easy just to start running and have the watch provide both visual and vibration feedback about when you hit your ideal target heart rate.
    8 hrs battery with GPS and heart rate tracking
    63 grams
    Silicon strap
    Waterproof to 5ATM
    Bluetooth Smart
    Optical heart rate monitor from Mio
    MSRP: $269.99
    Product info page

Pros
Watch virtually disappears when you need it to
Accurate heart rate tracking

 

3.  Zepp:  Zepp 3D Multi-Sport Motion Sensor

With new 3D serve analysis for tennis

The new app measures important serve metrics such as racket speed, ball speed potential, spin, backswing time and impact time, which gives players and coaches a new more scientific way to evaluate performance on the court. Additionally, the new sweet spot feature shows you where you make contact with the ball on the racket strings—a key element in gauging your contact quality and consistency.
World’s First sensor that allows users to review and replay their swing in 360º, plus providing detailed analysis and trend reports sent straight to any iOS® or Android device

    3D motion sensor easily attaches to any bat, club, or racket using innovative sport-specific mounts
·         Sensor wirelessly transmits data to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth after every swing

    Users can review and replay their swing in 360 degrees
    Baseball: track bat speed, path, timing, angles at impact, trends and more
    Golf: track speed, tempo, club plane, hand path, backswing position, hip rotation and more
    Tennis: track shot type mix (serve, forehand, backhand, smash), power and spin (topspin, slice, flat) and more
    Able to compare swings to pros and friends and share your swing data with others
    Zepp application records critical data and provides analysis, personalized tips, drills and coaching
    Sensor has an 8 hour battery life, weighs 6.3 grams and measures 1.1” x 1.1” x .39”
Available at: Apple and Verizon and Best Buy
Price: $ 149.99
Website:  http://www.zepp.com

 

4.  Misfit Wearable Shine  $99.99

Other fitness trackers like the FitBit and the Jawbone Up get a lot of press, but the Misfit Shine is a stylishly designed gadget that can be worn in a variety of ways. It’s great for daily use, as it is small and unintrusive -- so much so that some reviewers have said it is almost too easy to forget about! It relies on iOS systems to sync stats with a user’s phone, which compensates for the gadget’s minimalistic interface. Oh, and it has a four month battery life, compared to the Fitbit Force’s 7 to 10 day life.
 It uses a three-axis accelerometer to track movement and act as a pedometer. It has Bluetooth for syncing data with iOS devices. As a wrist-worn device, you could compare this to the Fitbit Flex, Jawbone Up, Basis Watch, or Nike FuelBand. In clip-on mode, which the Shine can also be out of the box, it's more like a Fitbit or a Withings Pulse.

It has some advantages over other trackers: it's waterproof to 5 atm for swimming, showering, or other activities; the Withings Pulse and certain Fitbit models aren't. And, yes, it has an "activity tracking" mode that can be set for swimming, cycling, or sleep at the current moment, besides the Shine's baseline walking/running tracking. It can be worn on your wrist or as a clip-on device with included accessories, or even worn as a pendant.

 

5.  TaylorMade SLDR  Mini Driver  $279.99

SLDR Mini Driver: Finally, a 3-wood Designed for the Tee

TaylorMade noticed that TOUR pros and better amateurs hit their 3-wood off the tee a lot more frequently than from the fairway, so we embraced that insight and created a new golf club that incorporates our cutting edge metalwood technology, including the distance-enhancing Speed Pocket, and sized it between a 3-wood and 460cc driver. We call it the SLDR Mini Driver, it’s incredibly accurate and longer off the tee than a 3-wood.
At 260cc, the SLDR Mini Driver’s footprint is larger, and face deeper, than a 160cc 3-wood. That gives you more stability and forgiveness on mis-hits and allows you to tee the ball higher, which makes the it easier to launch off the tee than a 3-wood. The SLDR Mini Driver has a low-forward CG like the rest of TaylorMade’s SLDR metalwoods, and a Speed Pocket too, which promotes more ball speed and less spin to give you more distance when you loft up.


App of the week:
Reverse Dictionary  99 cents

Ever have a word on the tip of your tongue that you just couldn’t remember no matter hard you try? Well of course you have, but now Reverse Dictionary is here to help you out. All you have to do is type a description of the word that you want to use and the app will bring up a bunch of different suggestions for what word you could be looking for. So for instance, if you type in “small business owner,” Reverse Dictionary will give you suggestions such as “entrepreneur” and “proprietor.”

 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/14/14: With Mitch Evans - 'Fix It' Websites

Rick and Mitch talk websites where you can go to learn how to fix things.  And the app of the week!

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/14/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on Audioboo

* TOPICS - The NCAA Tennis Championships are going on in Athens at the Dan MaGill Tennis Center for the next 11 Days, Rick is attending that and he attended the Google Roadshow earlier this week

And when you break something, these websites will tell you how to fix it  

Fixing things is a great way to be more self-sufficient and save some money. You never know what’s going to break next, but if you have the resources to fix some of the most common issues with your computer, electronics, home, car, and bike, you’ll be prepared to deal with most of the problems that come up. If you have a toolbox with the basic tools and these four websites bookmarked, you’ll be a handyman in no time!

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1.  iFixit  - for electronics

With almost 2,000 Mac repair guides, 2,000 phone repair guides, and 1,000 PC repair guides, iFixit has you covered for just about any electronic repair you could want to undertake. There are camera, automotive, appliance, household, and computer guides, as well.

The guide on how to replace the headphone and speaker jack assembly on a Samsung Galaxy SIII has no less than eleven steps to take off the back cover and remove the battery, SIM card, and microSD card. Nothing is left to chance in these guides, which is great for inexperienced tinkerers.
The pictures included in each guide are of high quality, making it very easy to see what needs to be done to make the repair, and some guides also include videos. Each guide includes a list of tools and parts that are needed, many of which you can purchase directly from the iFixit store, which offers useful things like the iOpener, a heated pack that will help you open your iPad, and this cool magnetic project mat. Between the supplies for sale and the thousands of repair guides, you’ll always have what you need to fix your laptop, phone, tablet, or game console.

 


2. The Family Handyman - for stuff around the house

Though The Family Handyman is a subscription magazine, their website offers a wealth of repair tips for various parts of your home. There are sections for heating and cooling, electrical, floors, automotive, painting, pest control, plumbing, and a wide range of other things. It’s not always easy to find what you’re looking for in the category pages, but running a search will help you get to the guide you need.
Although the images aren’t quite as detailed as the ones you’ll find on iFixit, you should be able to use The Family Handyman to get through almost any repair without too much trouble, especially if you have some mechanical or construction experience. For example, in an article about installing a tile floor in your bathroom, you’re instructed to remove the toilet, but left to figure out how to do that on your own.

3.  DIY Auto School - for fixing your car

Fixing your own car can be a bit scary, but DIY Auto School make the process a lot easier. From restoring a rusted-out car to fixing a dent, the guys from the school will give you tips to get you through the process, even if you’re a total newbie to car repair (though you might want to leave some of the more complicated repairs to a professional).

DIY Autoschool is a YouTube Channel

Because DIY Auto School is a YouTube channel, there’s not much organization to speak of, so your best bet is to go to their page and then search for what you’re looking for and see if they have a video on it. There are many videos on how to restore old cars and fix dents and collision damage. You’ll also find a number of videos on how to prep and paint your car and some more common tasks like replacing brake pads.


4.  Park Tool  - fix your bike   www.parktool.com

If you’ve done any work on your bike in the past, you might’ve used tools made by Park — they’re one of the leading manufacturers of bike repair tools (you might recognize their signature blue color on the website). On the homepage of their repair section, there’s an image of a bike, and all you have to do is click on the part of the bike that you need to fix. If you’re having brake problems, click on the brake section; if you need help with your bottom bracket, just click on the bottom bracket shell. The miscellaneous topics section also contains some very useful articles.
 


5.  Swingfix  -  Fix your golf swing - www.swingfix.golfchannel.com

Golf Channel teachers like Michael Breed give tips and use videos to help you improve your golf game.

 


App of the week:

Weber's On the Grill app-  for the summer grilling season
For iOS and Android $4.99

Specifically for Apple® and Android users, Weber’s On the Grill™ for iPhone, iPad, and Android features 280 classic Weber recipes plus 40 recipes for rubs, marinades, and sauces that are sure to get you fired up. You can tag your favorite recipes, create and share a master grocery list, and even email your favorite recipes to friends and family.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 5/7/14: With Mitch Evans - OBX and Getting Twiter Followers

* TOPICS -  Rick is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina this week playing his usual golf and has visited the site of the Wright Bros. first flight in Kitty Hawk.

www.outerbanks.org

It's the question I'm asked often.   How do I get more Twitter followers?

There are 241 million active users on Twitter each month, according to the social media site’s own reports. This statistic alone should be enough for social media marketers and content managers to recognize the value of Twitter.

The problem is not whether or not people are using Twitter. There’s no question that they are, to the amount of 500 million tweets a day worldwide.

The problem is how to communicate your message to someone who actually cares about it. That’s where your followers come in.

Twitter followers are people who choose to subscribe to your messages. And, regardless of how many people you choose to follow, everyone wants more Twitter followers

Not all of us are like Mitch and are are on the radio and can get Twitter followers.

Have a listen:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/7/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 5/7/14 on 92.9 The Game Part 2’ on Audioboo

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1.  Don’t be an Egghead

Part of setting up your Twitter account is replacing the automatic egg avatar with a professional close-up of yourself or your company’s logo, depending on the account’s purpose. I discourage you from posting funny profile pictures, unless you don’t want people to take your personal brand seriously.

 

2.  Write a Great Bio

Your bio should tell who you are and what you’re interested in. You also should consider including a fun or interesting fact about yourself.

3.   Interact with your followers and others...

Start up conversations and answer questions

4.  Tweet consistently

There are almost 10,000 tweets sent every second. This means you have to tweet frequently to get noticed. You can’t assume that you can send a message a single time or tweet once a day and build a following. Tweet throughout the day.


5.  Search #hashtags

Search hashtags related to your industry to find people to follow, conversations to join and points to retweet. This allows you to network with others who share your interest, creating following/follower opportunities.

 

6. Participate in chats

I love Twitter chats, as my followers undoubtedly know. These online, topic-based conversations are a great way to meet people. In addition to participating in chats, hosting or being a featured guest on chats also are great ways to build your following. There are Twitter chats on just about any subject.

7. Retweet others

Retweeting people’s content and their tweets helps you build a relationship with them while providing your audience with information of interest.
 

App of the week:

MyWARN: A Breakthrough in Weather Apps   $9.99

MyWARN is an app that delivers critical National Weather Service severe weather risks, watches and warnings to your smartphone based on your location.

**** How It Works ****
MyWARN constantly monitors the latest tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood watches and warnings from the National Weather Service. It uses the location services in your device to notify you immediately when an alert is issued for where you are.
**** FEATURES ****
* Only Alerts For Where You Are: Legacy warning systems, like sirens and NOAA Weatheradio, issue warnings for entire counties. But National Weather Service warnings are drawn very precisely. MyWARN only notifies you when you are in the precise alert area.
* Only the Alerts You Want: MyWARN lets you filter out alerts that you don’t want.
* Always On: MyWARN sits silently in memory waiting for a match from the MyWARN servers.
* AlertsInMotion: MyWARN notifies you when you drive into or out of an alert, no matter where you are in the United States.
* Early Heads Up: MyWARN alerts you hours in advance by notifying you when severe weather is forecast for your location by the experts at the Storm Prediction Center.