Wireless Wednesday for 8/19/15: Michigan and the Tech News of the Week

Rick is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan this week. He's testing his golf game on three great courses in golf-rich Michigan. He's also staying at the Island Resort & Casino - a fantastic Indian-owned Casino in Harris, MI. He will also be visiting historic, Marquette, Michigan located way up on Lake Superior.

* Interesting that the UP Michigan is more like Wisconsin than the rest of the state of Michigan. There are Packers fans everywhere and that makes for great people...

Check out: www.puremichigan.com

 Have a listen to both parts:

1.   Samsung proposes a 4,600 micro-satellite space network for terrestrial backhaul

- Important solution as we get closer to running out of storage and cell bandwidth
Samsung Electronics has proposed a ‘space internet’ network consisting of 4600 micro-satellites that could act as backhaul for terrestrial cellular networks and bring low-cost internet to “everyone in the world”.
 

2.  Hackers Remotely Cut a Corvette's Brakes

This story should scare you

Security researchers presented work at the USENIX conference today showing an easy way to hack into a car's electronics using a small gadget that plugs into modern dashboards. The port they're taking advantage of is commonly used to monitor the location and speeds of these vehicles. Once the researchers' dongle is attached, they can use SMS messages to transmit commands to the car's internal network. They demonstrated this by remotely cutting a Corvette's brakes. "Though the researchers say their Corvette brake tricks only worked at low speeds due to limitations in the automated computer functions of the vehicle, they say they could have easily adapted their attack for practically any other modern vehicle and hijacked other critical components like locks, steering or transmission, too."
 

3.  Twitter lifts the 140 character limit on Direct Messages

(It's about time)
Twitter's push to make DMs a full on messaging service continues. Beginning Wednesday, the 140 character limit for Direct Messages has been lifted in the iOS, Android, Mac apps, Tweetdeck and on Twitter.com
 

4.  Cuba is opening up.... but will that mean improved wireless and cell phone service?

- Many people in Cuba still use pay phones

Cuba has a second generation cellular network and Internet access is limited to about 5% of the population via work and school accounts and (mostly dial up) access in a few homes, so it was big news when they rolled out 35 public WiFi hotspots. Can they expand this public WiFi and skip 3G and 4G cell infrastructure until 5G equipment is available in about five years?
 

5.  Dr Pepper Snapple Group Invests in Sports Drinks

-Called BODYARMOUR

 Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., (DPS) is investing in emerging sports drink BODYARMOR. The company's $20 million investment gives DPS an 11.7 percent ownership position in BA Sports Nutrition, LLC, owner of BODYARMOR SuperDrink, a line of premium sports drinks.
DPS has carried BODYARMOR as an allied brand in much of its direct store delivery network since 2013 and plans to expand the product line further in its system over the next year.
 

App of the Week:

VPAR - the "everything" golf app

For iOS and Android
** Live scoring, GPS and Golf planner, Course Directory and Stat Keeper
- Free app to downlaod. Get 14 days of a free trial and only $8.99 to subscribe the rest of the year
Earlier this summer (around the U.S. Open), VPAR downloads climbed as high as 5th in the Apple App Store “Sports” category

·        Their award-winning app is now available across Android devices and downloads on the Google Play Store have shown great organic growth since launching in late July

·        VPAR partnered with Your Golf Travel – Europe’s largest golf travel agency – to launch a “live” amateur tournament across Europe. The “Your Golf Travel Championship Powered by VPAR” is ongoing and has utilized VPAR’s live scoring functionality to provide an enthralling competition for the continents best pairs teams

·        The Android version coincides with the release of VPAR 4.0 across both Android and Apple devices. Updated features include:

o   Simplified Round Creation – The setup process has been simplified to one page, providing users with an array of game formats based on the number of players and tee times.

o   New GPS Glance Tool – Front/Center/Back distances are automatically featured on the scoring page, allowing players to quickly decide on club selection at first glance.

o   Social Media Sharing – Easily share your round with friends on Facebook and Twitter

and the World's Biggest Trophy

Wireless Wednesday for 8/11/15: Tablet Computers Invade Sports

Rick has been using an iPad for almost 5 years now. The iPad has become more powerful and easier to use. And there is an "app for everything"

It's taken a few years, but the world of sports has taken to tablet computers in a big way.

Rick and Mitch talk about tablets in sports...

and part 2 with the app of the week!

1.   The NFL and their Agreement with Microsoft and the Surface Pro 3

Microsoft’s five-year, $400 million deal with the NFL is finally going to start paying tangible dividends for fans, and not simply put the company’s Surface tablets in the hands of players and coaches on the sideline.

Every NFL player will have a motion-tracking chip in his uniform this season, and the data will be collected to create (almost) real-time replays that go above and beyond anything previously offered during television broadcasts.

***The basics: three to seven minutes after a particular play, the field position and vector data for every player on the field will be available in replay form. (Not every play, but you know, the ones you want to watch again.) In other words, you’ll be able to view the Xs and Os version of a play with the actual speed of every player on the field, as well as some additional graphical elements to highlight specific players or data points. The actual view will look like the screenshot below, with Microsoft’s graphics in the main frame, game video on the top right, and player data filling out the sidebar. …

 

2.  iPads and Women's Tennis and the WTA Tour

Coaches can bring iPads on the court to show players their stats.

The women’s tour is experimenting with on-court coaching rules that already allow players to call a coach to the sideline once per set for a 90-second, mic’d-up pep talk that is broadcast to television viewers. At the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford this week, coaches can also bring along an iPad loaded up with data.

The tablet has software designed by SAP, the tour’s technology partner since 2013, that collects live data from matches.

There are standard tennis stats, like aces and first-serve percentage, fed to the devices from the chair umpire’s electronic scoring system. For matches played on courts with Hawk-Eye, the line-calling technology used to challenge calls, there is much more, including graphics that display court positioning for each shot, where serves land and other player tendencies. A coach might zero in on specific points—for example, every time the score was 40-15—to show that a player didn’t play from an aggressive position.
 

3.  Smaller College Football Programs - Players Using iPads Too

Case in Point: South Alabama Football

South Alabama's football program is making greater use of the cloud this fall, in hopes that it'll help them bring the thunder on the field. So, it's not just the big programs that are using tablet technology.

The Jaguars this fall are taking advantage of new technology from XOS Digital called ThunderCloud that will allow coaches and players to have access to practice and game film on their iPads or other personal devices and watch them at home.
 

4. iPad helps with concussions in sports

Let's look at the tablet's ability to help assess concussions, a previously difficult task that relied on subjective reporting methods.

St. Edward High School (Cleveland) athletic trainer Jason Cruickshank, who uses the iPad in conjunction with the C3 Logix concussion assessment app to precisely track and monitor symptoms for athletes under his care.

Cruickshank first logs baseline profiles for each student, which are sent to the cloud for storage. When an incident occurs, he runs the same tests and compares the results to the baseline. The information is then displayed in a hexagon-shaped graph that highlights differences in data points like reaction time and balance.

As part of the larger C3 Logix system, the iOS app collects a variety of cognitive player information via the iPad's hardware. For example, the app harnesses on-board accelerometer and gyroscope data for quantitative postural stability and uses the high-resolution multitouch screen to capture an athlete's movement. All processing is done on the iPad.
 

5.  Apple to hold an event on Sept 9 to announce new devices

Apple has plans to announce new devices and applications on Sept 9 and some may revolve around sports...
Like Apple fall events past, this one too will focus on the company’s next-generation iPhones, which are expected to arrive at market with a pressure-sensitive Force Touch display, an improved camera system, and a significantly faster and power-efficient wireless chip. Sources say Apple executives are likely to show off the company’s latest iPads as well, though that 12.9-inch “iPad Pro” seems to be a wildcard, still.
Does this date mean there will be something cool right before the start of football season?
Maybe even a bigger iPad.. .called an iPad Pro, which could have huge implications in sports and video games.
We'll find out.


App of the Week:

Whitepages ID

Free for iOS

Eliminate phone scams.
Whitepages is the leader in North America in protecting consumers against unwanted calls. The company sources 2+ billion contact records a month and their current call protection apps have been downloaded over 30 million times.  

Whitepages ID provides an easy solution to help iOS users detect unwanted calls and avoid being a victim of spam and phone scams. Whitepages’ ability to protect consumers from unwanted calls is backed by robust phone reputation technology and a dedicated team of researchers.  In July, the Whitepages Phone Reputation team tracked 308 million phone numbers and detected 11.3 million calls and texts engaged in spam or fraudulent activities.

“Cell phone users have the right to protect themselves from unwanted calls,” said Alex Algard, founder and CEO of Whitepages. “Starting today, we’re giving Apple users access to our database of over 600 million phone numbers, user-generated feedback on spam, and round-the-clock tracking of new and pre-existing phone scams. It’s all about giving people the necessary information to protect themselves.”
How it works: Whitepages curates a broad list of spam and scam numbers, which gets updated at least twice daily and automatically sent to the user’s address book. When a call is made, Whitepages ID’s up-to-date spam/scam log detects those unsolicited calls and alerts the user in real time.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 8/4/15: Back to School Tech

Kids all over the Metro Area area either are back in school or will soon be heading "Back to School".   Also, don't forget about the teachers that will also be showing up in the classrooms.

(91 percent) of parents who plan to shop online for back to school, but it can be stressful.
What is some of the latest tech that is debuting..... Rick and Mitch take a look.

They also talk some tennis as the BB&T Atlanta Open wraps up

1.   Impecca Powerit.

Keep all your devices and I mean all your devices charged with the Impecca Powerit
PowerIt 12,000mAh 400 Peak Amp Car Jump Starter Kit  - powers all your devices and i mean all of them.
$99-149 at http://www.impeccausa.com/powerit

 

2. Zagg Pocket Keyboard

$69.99  at www.zagg.com

A keyboard for your smartphone.

An award-winning culmination of 10 years of creating the slimmest, most spacious mobile keyboards. Reimagine email on your smartphone, and discover how easy typing on your phone can be.
The Zagg Pocket Keyboard folds into an ultra-slim profile that’s made to travel. Its wireless Bluetooth® capability effortlessly syncs up with your Apple or Android device at a moment’s notice when words can’t wait.

A magnetic closure preserves the battery by turning the Pocket Keyboard off when closed.

 

3.  DIY Wireless Speaker from KidzSafe Audio  -  Just $39.99

http://www.kidzsafeaudio.com/products/kidzsafe-diy-wireless-speaker

Water resistant and durable, it includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery for five hours of uninterrupted power from a single charge. Perfect library companion for when kids are hitting the books!

* Key feature:  speaker is volume limited to ≤ 85dB to keep little ears safe. The speaker pairs easily to any device using Bluetooth technology with a range of up to 32ft.

 
4. Godors

You know that smell.

It resides inside of your locker, your shoes and even in your golf bag.
You can get rid of that smell and even prevent it with Godors. In spray form, Godors eliminates odors and also kills 99.9% bacteria in less than five minutes.  What makes this spray unique, however, is that most deodorizers just mask a smell, but Godors gets to the root of the problem: it kills 46% of the fungi within five minutes of use.  

Godors is perfect for the eco-conscious golfer; it’s all natural and non-toxic, containing 99% isopropyl alcohol, tea tree oil, olive leaf extract and cinnamon. All natural in ingredients get all natural results. A purse-size Godors tube starts at $3.95.

See more at www.godors.com

Prices for Godors start at $3.95.

5.  Griffin PowerDock5

Charge all your devices in one centralized spot

$99.99 at https://store.griffintechnology.com/powerdock-5-device-charger

A space-saving charging station for countertop or desktop, providing safe charging and storage for up to 5 devices.

It doesn't take up much room, about the same as a single iPad. But it gives you a place to store and charge 5 iOS devices at one time, from a single power source. We think it's the perfect charging solution for small offices or work groups, or a family full of iPhone users.

PowerDock 5 gives each tablet its own charging port and its own frosted backrest, and each charging bay is roomy enough to accommodate your iPhone, iPod or iPad in their cases.

PowerDock 5 is optimized for iOS devices (iPad, iPad mini, iPhone, iPod touch, iPod nano), although our testing indicates that PowerDock's 5V (2.1 amp) charging circuitry will also charge most Kindle and Android devices. Many smartphones and tablets have unique charging requirements, so PowerDock may not charge your device as fast as you're used to. Make sure you check your device's manual for any special requirements.
Features

    Store and charge 5 iPads, iPhones or iPod touches simultaneously
    Space-saving design for your countertop
    Cables not included
    Input: 100-240 V AC
    Output: 10 watts (5 volts DC @ 2.1 amps) for each charging bay
    Accommodates iPad tablets in their cases
 

*6.  Quick Mention for "Store Smart" - the best plastic folders and covers on the market.

www.storesmart.com

 



App of the Week:

CourseSmart

Free for iOS

View the full text of more than 7,000 textbooks on your iPhone — for free. CourseSmart makes its money through the licensing of e-textbooks, which expire after a certain access period, typically about 180 days. The books cost roughly half as much as their print equivalents, although there's no way to resell or keep the books past the subscription period. As for the virtues of reading textbooks on the iPhone? Well, you need sharp eyes. But with persistent rumors of an Apple tablet computer coming in the near future, CourseSmart is likely a harbinger of reader applications to come.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 7/29/15: BB&T Atlanta Open and Tennis

With the BB&T Atlanta Open going on this week at Atlantic Station, Rick and Mitch take their annual look at The BB&T Atlanta Open and what's new in tennis technology.

Have a listen to Rick and Mitch:

1.  BB&T Atlanta Open  

www.bbtatlantaopen.com   

Going on this week at Atlantic Station. John Isner is back to got for a "three-peat", the Bryan Brothers are here playing doubles and Andy Roddick is coming out of retirement briefly to play doubles this week.

2.  Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series and ESPN TV Coverage

Tennis fans will have more opportunities to watch their favorite players compete this summer than ever before, with ESPN broadcasting more than 1,800 hours of live match coverage – including 200 hours of live TV coverage – across its platforms during the 2015 US Open and Emirates Airline US Open Series.

In addition to over 200 hours of live match play on ESPN and ESPN2, more than 1,600 hours of live match coverage will be shown on ESPN3. The unprecedented coverage is part of the first year of an 11-year agreement between the USTA and ESPN, which will broadcast the US Open until 2025.

During the 2015 US Open, more than 1,100 hours of live match coverage will be shown on ESPN3, which will also be hosted on USOpen.org. ESPN and ESPN2 will also show a combined 130 hours of live match coverage, with ESPN featuring play from 11 courts during the tournament.

Fans will also be able to access coverage for the first time at www.emiratesusopenseries.com, as well as the individual tournament websites through the ESPN3 Media Player. ESPN3 is also accessible on line at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.


3.  PlaySight Smartcourt

PlaySight is a tennis action review system. Affordable, easy to install and to use, it is designed for tennis clubs across the world.

With just four fully automated cameras PlaySight smart court gives real-time and after-action review with complete debriefing solutions, auto stats, bio-mechanical analysis and 3D tactical game management.
Your activity and motion during the entire match/training are automatically recorded, analyzed and uploaded into the PlaySight.com where you can review your performance and share it with your coach, friends and family.

PlaySight is the ultimate coaching tool to substantially improve tennis players' achievements as well as the ability of the coaches to track and analyse their progress.

 
 
4.  Tecnifibre Strings

String technology in tennis has actually changed more than racquet technology.

Tecnifibre's new Black Code 4S  -  Rick's Examiner article -
http://www.examiner.com/article/tecnifibre-s-new-black-code-4s-again-proves-string-is-the-thing

The Black Code 4S is a four-sided string. The first Black Code was a five-sided offering. This means more spin than any other Tecnifibre string and I didn't notice or have any issue with losing control.

Speed - I was able to generate more speed to go along with the extra spin. I felt comfortable off both wings on the ground and felt better about most defensive shots I had to hit. My playing partner said he felt more power off the ground and on the serve.


5. QLIPP Tennis Sensor

A revolutionary smart sensor and accompanying mobile app (iOS and Android) that provides deep insights into key aspects of a tennis player’s game by providing measurement and video capture of a player’s strokes, spin, shot speed and sweet spot accuracy. QLIPP is the perfect training tool for tennis players, whether casual enthusiasts or tour professionals, to improve their game.  
Via the free QLIPP app, players can instantly view their data, save each session for future reference or compare their performance to others using QLIPP.  In addition, the app has voice feedback so players can hear the app relay their stroke information while they are still on the court playing.

Retail price slated to be $129.99.
 


App of the Week:

Hooks

Price: free for Android

- Set alarms for all the things you have to remember...
Hooks lets you set an alarm for anything and everything. New TV show episodes, bands coming to your town, weather alerts, Reddit posts, video games coming out, et cetera. You can look through pre-made alerts or create your own, using keywords and conditions.
 

Wireless Wednesday for 7/22/15: Milwaukee, Major League, Major League Night and Baseball Technology

Rick happens to be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this week working on some sports travel pieces.

He was at Miller Park for "Major League Night" last night, as in Major League the Movie...  he also reviews the new book "The Making of Major League"  and we talk new baseball technology.

1.  In Milwaukee for some travel pieces and "Major League Night" at Miller Park

Miller Park with its retractable roof, hosted Major League Night as in the movie as the Brewers took on the Indians...  was there a Rick Vaughn sighting?  The "cult" movie still lives on...

*** Plus Harry Doyle Talking Bobbleheads are given away

2.  Rick also has a review of the new book, "The Making of Major League" up on Examiner.com

- Authored by Jonathan Knight and a foreward written by Charlie Sheen himself
- A lot of insider info and tidbits in this book   5 Stars!
- The movie was almost never made....
- It was actually filmed mainly in Milwaukee at old torn down "County Stadium" and how Brewer fans really embraced the Indians
- and a ton more


*** New technology in Baseball

3.  MLB Statcast

Now, in every MLB ballpark, a black square box now hangs just above the park’s press box. But that box contains radar equipment which, along with a pair of high-definition optical cameras not far away, may soon revolutionize the way fans understand and enjoy the sport. They’re hardly noticeable, but there’s nothing that happens on a baseball field that they won’t notice.

All 30 MLB parks are now equipped with Statcast technology, an innovation years in the making that should eventually provide unprecedented insight into the game and those who play it.
The radar and cameras don’t just measure the speed of pitches and batted balls, but their spin rates and launch angles. Run through software in the production truck and in MLB Advanced Medias offices in lower Manhattan, they track defensive players’ reaction times, the efficiency of their routes to balls, and the strength of their arms. And they know runners’ top speeds on the basepaths, the size of their leads and the quickness of their first steps.  Being used on MLB Network.

4.  For College Baseball Players

Adidas debuted a light, new bat that fuses golf technology from Taylor Made Golf and baseball. The three-piece foam composite bat's third piece has a recoil system to reduce the "sting" many players feel when they hit the ball off the end.
 

5.  Kinatrax

The Tampa Rays are contracting Kinatrax to place their technology in Tropicana field, becoming the first major league team to do so.  

What is Kinatrax you ask? Well according to the company’s website, they make marker-less motion capture technology, with results that can be delivered in real time via cloud based services.  You may have heard of motion capture technology being used in movies such as “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” or in any video game that you’ve played within the last 10-15 years.  Usually, the motion capture process requires little reflective markers placed all over the body while the athlete or actor goes through the motions and a camera then picks up those markers creating a computer generated outline of the person’s appearance.

6.  Self Service Beer Taps at Miller Park

- Leave it to the Brewers and Miller Park to be innovators in terms of beer..
    Fans 21 and older will be able to purchase a $15 or $25 card that will act similar to a credit card. Fans can use their card on one of two machines and can pour up to 24 ounces of beer in a single cup. Beverages available include Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, and Redd’s Apple Ale.

    There is a maximum of two drinks per person per transaction.
 

App of the Week:

Travel Wisconsin App  -  iOS and Android and Free

Looking to escape the heat in the Georgia and the South

Head north to the friendly state of Wisconsin.  Tourism plays a big part in Wisconsin's economy - to the tune of $18.5 billion annually.

So get the "Travel Wisconsin" app

Description

The Travel Wisconsin™ iPhone app is a FREE application that provides Wisconsin visitors and residents with an "on-the-go" resource to find fun in Wisconsin.

By enabling the GPS capabilities of your iPhone in conjunction with our app, you can find the nearest attractions, events, or accommodations as you travel and explore the state. You’ll also be able to browse Wisconsin events by distance, date and location, as well as view categories such as "Arts & Culture" or "The Great Outdoors." Accommodation listings provide options for hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts and campgrounds as well as their available amenities so you can easily select the option that is best for you. You can even receive directions and a map for each item listed in the Travel Wisconsin app. For more information, please visit travelwisconsin.com