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
 

Wireless Wednesday for 9/9/15: New NFL Technology

With the NFL season kicking off in a matter of hours, Rick and Mitch take a look at some of the new technology debuting this season in the National Football League.

Have a listen:

1.   Referees looking at "Instant Replays" on tablets

** This was tested in the preseason
instant replay reviews by referees.

“Now, instead of waiting for the referees to go under the hood, they will be able to view the image on the tablet and say: ‘Look at this angle. The guy is out of bounds,’ ” said Jeff Tran, Microsoft’s director of sports and alliances from the devices and studios marketing group.  “And he’ll be able to share it with the other referees in the crew, and they can make the determination on the challenge.”

2.  A Pen -   but not just an ordinary pen

A pen that allows coaches and players to diagram on the screen “ under any weather conditions. ”The pen function allows coaches to annotate on top of high-resolution images in different colors to help players visualize the instruction. During the preseason trial, the pen will also allow coaches to annotate over film clips, too.

There’s also an application on the Surface Pro 3 that is a digital version of a whiteboard that coaches use in meeting rooms to diagram plays.

3.  NFL's Extension of the Partnership with Twitter

The National Football League and social media giant Twitter have entered into a two-year partnership that will make more multimedia content available to roughly 300 million Twitter users. Details of the deal indicate that the NFL will triple the volume of photographs and in-game highlights that are distributed on the social network.
That covers highlights from the start of the NFL pre-season all the way through Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. Besides video of the most exciting plays during games, NFL’s social media team will be publishing infographics as well as overall game recaps specifically developed for the Twitter audience. Of course, the NFL also has agreements with social networks like Facebook and online video distribution networks like YouTube, thus it’s likely similar content will be available outside of Twitter.

While Twitter representatives declined to comment, it’s highly likely that NFL content will be integrated heavily into Twitter’s “Project Lightning.” Demoed to Buzzfeed during June 2015, the new format will package content from ongoing real-time events into a new design for users. This content will be hand-selected by a team of editors within Twitter and attempt to provide more comprehensive coverage of events like award shows, sporting events and important stories trending in the news.
 


4. App Evolution

The NFL and its teams, with help from tech innovators, have launched a slew of apps for fans. The league launched NFL Now last summer, teams have launched their own follower-focused apps and The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have launched game day, venue-oriented apps. All are essentially about raising engagement with fans.

NFL partner Verizon Wireless offers NFL Mobile which can allow users to stream live primetime matches and more. It’s safe to assume that AT&T’s buy up of DirecTV, if approved, will result in a NFL Sunday Ticket app for its 100 million plus wireless subscribers.

The league offers yet other apps/services and all the content to power the apps and other distribution channels. But are more needed or is what’s available enough? And you can expect the league to enhance and advance NFL Now for its second season debut. To recap, it provides live non-game content and on-demand programming customizable by team and player.
 

5.  NFL Expanding "Live Streaming" to fans outside the US

NFL is still trying to figure this out, but live streaming of NFL games will be avaialble to fans in more countries.
 

6.  One thing we won't be seeing in 2015 will be Drones hovering over the line of scrimmage
Not a single drone has flown -- at least not for football purposes -- in training camps. Some teams have been delayed or deterred by FAA regulations, but based on recent conversations with multiple coaches, there remains a fair degree of skepticism about the current value and necessity of drone videos.

Advocates say a drone's ability to hover close to the line of scrimmage offers a unique vantage point for teaching and correcting mistakes. As of now, however, only a few NFL decision-makers agree.

"We looked at it hard, and for us it's just not there yet," Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.


App of the Week:

NFL CONNECT

* Free for iOS, Android and Windows
Watching your team take on its hated rivals can really stoke your competitive fire. If you want to channel that energy into more than screaming at your screen, consider downloading NFL Connect. This free app puts you in a head-to-head competition with friends and rivals during a live game. You win by predicting and connecting in-game events such as touchdowns, penalties, and sacks.
To participate in this Bingo-like battle, you and your opponent choose a matchup—the Sept. 10 Steelers vs. Patriots game, for example. Each of you is given a game board of 16 randomly generated events that will likely happen during the football game. The goal is to be the first to connect a string of four consecutive events. “Connecting” gets you on the leader board where you’re ranked with other top players. As a bonus, a built-in chat feature lets you talk trash throughout your match.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 9/2/15: One Hit Tech Wonders

Rick is in Myrtle Beach this week, working the Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday World Am.

The World Am is the largest golf tournament in the world. 3,500 golfers competing on about 70 courses in Myrtle Beach. Brian Katrek is playing again this year...

Great fun in one of the best golf destinations, in the world, Myrtle Beach.

Check out www.myrtlebeachgolfholiday.com

You know those "one hit wonders" from the world of music. The Likes of: Manfred Mann, the Georgia Satellites and The Buggles have nothing on this one-hit wonders from the world of tech...

Have a listen:

1.   Rubik's Cube  

*Still being sold today

This has to be one of those one hit wonder inventions that makes the most famous list, in addition to being on my original one hit wonder invention list. The Rubik’s cube was invented by a Hungarian architect, Erno Rubik, in 1974, but he did not intend to create a toy! His invention stemmed from a means of displaying a working model explaining three-dimensional geometry! The 'magic cube' (as it was first known) consists of nine colored squares on each side and can be arranged 43 quintillion ways. After being displayed at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 1979, it became a huge hit and was licensed to the Ideal Toy Corp in 1980. Since then, it has sold 350 million units, making it the biggest-selling toy in the world.

 

2. The Waterbed

The concept of a waterbed is not really new, but as with most inventions, it’s all about timing and when a product hits the market. The waterbed became a ‘hot seller’ during the late 1960s and into the 70s.

Nowadays, waterbeds aren’t as popular, but they still account for about 5% of the mattress market.
 
 

3.  Books on Tape

Long before the iPod, iPad and smartphone the way many people read books was "Books on Tape"
People used to listen to books on cassette tapes in their car or on cassette players. Had to rewind the cassette after listening and many times the cassette tape would reak, get tangled or eaten by the casette player.

 

4.  The Bumpit

*Women know about the Bumpit
The brainchild of mortgage broker, Kelly Fitzpatrick-Bennett. Still sell for $5-$7
 
 Bumpits® Hair Volumizing Leave-In Inserts allow you to go from Flat to Fabulous in Seconds!

Bumpits self gripping leave-in volumizing hair inserts give you instant volume and let you enjoy FEELING CONFIDENT and BEAUTIFUL, like you just stepped out of a professional salon!!

At its peak, the Bumpit sold at a clip of a million units a month. Ms. Fitzpatrick-Bennett's current business plan calls for sales of about 20,000 a month. "I was pretty realistic in knowing it would only have a year of good life and then it would just sit and stop," Ms. Fitzpatrick-Bennett says.

5. The Sony MiniDisc and LaserDisc

Sony designed and developed MD in 1986 and launched in 1992. The MD looks like a small compact disc: the diameter of a CD is 5.25" while that of an MD is a mere 2.5". Following CD technology, MD technology uses a laser beam to read the information, but that is where the similarities end. MDs are magnetically encoded whereas CDs use physical grooves and pits to indicate the binary code. Also, MDs are considerably more shock-resistant; the 40-second digital buffer system utilized by MD players is far superior to most portable CD players' shock-resistant technology. Indeed, one can vigorously shake an MD player and no skipping would occur; a CD player would skip endlessly under the same conditions.

Sony emphasizes that MD technology combines the best of both audio cassettes and CDs. Recording mixes on MD is greatly improved over cassettes because MDs treat music as data - computer files that can be manipulated, moved, and erased. In a similar fashion to hard disks, MDs have a Table of Contents (TOC) that indicates which sectors contain important data. In this way, songs can be completely fragmented, with seconds at one sector of the disc and minutes at another sector. Not one precious second is wasted because the reading laser can jump from any sector to sector by simply following the TOC's directions. Therefore, after a full night of recording, one can erase any track at will and still have a seamless mix of music; no ugly gaps of filler appear. This effortless recording manipulation combined with instant playback track access (as we are accustomed to with CDs) seems to present the best of two worlds in one small package.

However, the MD's sound quality is slightly inferior to that of CDs.

The Laser Disc was supposed to complement VHS tapes, but you couldn't record on them and who wanted large album-sized discs holding movies on them.
 


App of the Week:

US Open App - iOS and Android

Designed and developed by IBM with special features sponsored by American Express. Follow the action LIVE during the Open, August 25 to September 13, 2015.

New this year:  "Push Notifications"

Push Alerts

Get breaking news and player updates as the action happens along with special offers and promotions for the US Open and our Official Partners.

NOTE: When you are on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, be sure to use the "USOPENWIFI" free WiFi Network courtesy of Time Warner Cable.

Key Features:

Scores – Analytics & Insights by IBM
LIVE exclusive point-by-point scoring, statistics and completed match results during the US Open.

US Open Trendcast – Presented by American Express
Fans can stay on top of and engage with the latest trending topics through Twitter, Insta-gram and Facebook in our TrendCast section and join in the US Open Daily Debate.

Video
On-demand video highlights, press conferences, analysis and more video features throughout the tournament.

Open Access
Open Access is a new Fan Enhancement available for all US Open Patrons allowing them streamlined access to various activation points around the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. This program allows fans to register once to participate in activities ranging from customized photo opportunities to interactive games and it will personalize their whole US Open experience with their own personal webpage with the US Open app. Just for signing up for Open Access all fans are entered to win tickets to the 2016 Men’s or Women’s finals.

Streak Challenge – Presented by Esurance
New for 2015, fans can play along with the US Open Streak Challenge and test their US Open tennis knowledge with two questions every day about players, matches and tournament stats. Keep answering correctly and you’ll add to your streak and move up the leaderboard. Win a Prize?

News
Latest news updates from on and off the court throughout the tournament.

USOpen.org Radio - American Express Special Feature
LIVE streaming ball-by-ball radio coverage featuring Courtside Q&A — a live, interactive Q&A with match commentators featuring user-submitted questions via Twitter.

 

Wireless Wednesday for 8/26/15: Dorm Room Tech

U.S. Open tennis kicks off in New York next week.  Will Serena win the Grand Slam and why it's wide open on the men's side...

Also, "Dorm Room" gadgets this week...

Wish we had some of these "dorm room" sized gadgets when I was in college...

1. The New Powerbeats2 Wireless earphones in fun colors that match the Apple watch and take up minimal real estate in precious backpack space.

Pair and play with your Bluetooth® device with 30 foot range

6 hour rechargeable battery
Premium sound in a lightweight design with flexible earhooks
Sweat and water resistant
Take hands-free calls and adjust music with no-slip-grip RemoteTalk™ controls*
Compatible with iOS devices and more..   Designed for the athlete and the person on the move.
Also you won't keep your roommate of neighbors awake if you use these great buds.

2. Tenda AC15 Performance Router   (New to the U.S.)

Doesn't take up much space and it's a powerhouse router

 Product Highlights:
    1900Mbps Concurrent Speed Dual-band Gigabit WiFi Router
    1300Mbps 802.11ac at 5GHz and 600Mbps 802.11n at 2.4 GHz
    Broadcom dual-core processor with DDR3 memory
    Beamforming+ technology to boost range
    High powered amplifiers & three external antennas
    Smart management of WiFi schedule
    MSRP: $129.99

Available at TigerDirect and http://www.tendacn.com/en/product/AC15.html

3. myCharge’s RazorPlus

Keep your mobile devices charged is a problem for the college student. The space-saving answer is the mycharge RazorPlus. This ultra, ultra thin battery pack is crafted from anodized aluminum, the ultra-thin Razor delivers an extra 13 hours talk time for your smartphone. All for $49.99
 

 
4.  Wonder Washer

The world's smallest washing machine

Wonder Washer portable washing machine goes anywhere! Perfect for dorms, apartments, RV, anywhere space is limited. No more trips to the laundromat. Ideal for small loads and delicates. No plumbing needed! Just fill with water, detergent, and laundry and set timer for up to 15 minutes on high or low cycle. Easy tote handle. Plugs into standard outlet. Seven liter capacity, weighs only eight pounds. 120 wolts / 60 HZ / 55 watts. Plastic, 14 x 14".
Portable washing machine goes anywhere
˙Ideal for small loads and delicates
˙No plumbing needed! Just fill with water and set timer
˙Seven liter capacity, weighs only eight pounds
˙Washer size 14 x 14
 

5.  World's smallest refrigerator   .14 cubic feet.

The Koolatron Coca-Cola Personal Cooler is the stylish and fun way to keep your drinks cold or warm. The Coca-Cola Personal Cooler looks like a small refrigerator and is perfect for the car, boat or home. State-of-the-art thermoelectric cooling technology allows the cooler to operate silently. The Koolatron Coca-Cola Personal Cooler holds up to six 12 oz. cans of your favorite beverage.
    4 l capacity holds 6 (12 oz.) cans or 4 – 500 ml bottles
    Operates on DC 12-volt/AC 110-volt
    Cools up to 32 degree F below ambient temperature
    1-sliding removable shelf
    Self-locking door handle

 
 
App of the Week:

TripScout  free for iOS

- a long time in the making... TripScout finally launches
TripScout provides self-guided city tours from top local guides. We show you exactly what you should see and do, provide audio guides that teach you about the local history and culture, and have customizable offline maps with GPS so you can navigate your way around without using your data connection. All you need is an iPhone to instantly have:

1. Curated Sites: Instantly have the top sites, neighborhoods, and activities on your mobile phone
2. Audio Tours: Hear engaging stories from locals about history, culture, and food at your own schedule and pace
3. Customizable: Pin additional points of interest, like restaurant recommendations or your hotel
4. Offline Maps: Use offline maps with GPS to navigate around the city without using data or WiFi