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Tech News & Commentary
Mark talked about a torture test of the Galaxy S4 and the iPhone 5, click here to see the video.
Nancy in Watertown, Tennessee listening on WTN 99.7 FM calling in via the FREE app: “I’m interested in getting a laptop for my house. I’m trying to find the best place to buy it and what I need. I don’t do gaming. I have some games that I play but it’s more like Backgammon and that. I don’t want to spend more money than I have to but I want to get something that’s good.The other question is: I live out in the country and have Dish TV but I need to find the best Internet access. I didn’t know if it would be Verizon or AT&T Wireless or if you would recommend something else.”
If backgammon is your most hardware intensive requirement, pretty much any laptop will do, or even a smartphone for that matter…
You probably don’t need a very advanced or powerful computer, if you want to keep the one you buy for a few years longer, you can spend more, but a very basic machine should cover your needs.
Even for as little as $350, you can find ASUS models with nice big screens, a webcam, enough power to run your games, and Windows 8 (whether that’s a good or bad feature goes on what you think of Microsoft’s latest OS).
From there on up, pretty much everything will work for you, if you want extra features, you can look at computers like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga series, which turn into Windows 8 touchscreen tablets and retails for around $1000, or a $900 Sony Vaio with a very long battery life, multitouch trackpad, rapid wake boot, and a lot of other high end features.
Your requirements are fairly basic, if you want to pay more it can be for quality or extra features, but you can pretty much choose any laptop you want and your needs will be met.
As for broadband access, you have more options that AT&T and Verizon, in fact your neighbors rate Comcast the best for service in your area.
You may live out in the country, but it looks like you even have Fiber access around you (we’re not jealous… at all…), but unfortunately people around you report slow speeds on TDS Fiber during nights and weekends. AT&T also offers DSL access in your area, not just wireless.
Our advice would be, if you don’t need the mobility of a wireless service, go with Comcast, since it seems to be what people around you are reporting does the best job in your area, if you do want wireless service, Verizon seems to have the best coverage around you, so they’re likely to be your most reliable choice.
For more information tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Consumer Reports Feature With Jim Willcox
Headphones are great for private listening, but sometimes you just want to play some tunes for friends. That’s where a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker can come in handy. But sound quality does vary by product. Consumer Reports Senior Editor Jim Willcox is here to tell us which models stood out in their latest lab tests.
The “Into Tomorrow” team discussed the latest apps that they have been playing with recently.
• Mark recommends: Paper Toss 2.0, FREE
- “In honor of the vacationing Chris Graveline, my app this week is Paper Toss 2.0, which is the most fun you can have flinging virtual objects since Angry Birds. At its core, PT2 is a simple game. You have a virtual cubicle, some virtual crumpled up wads of paper, and a virtual trash can. Simple. It starts getting more complicated when your virtual fan arrives and you have to take into account wind direction and airspeed when tossing your papery missiles. As you successfully drop your paper wads into the trash can, you earn paper points. With those you can unlock additional objects such as food items, or even grenades, as well as new locations that present further challenges. With in-app purchases, you can turn off the ad banner or buy packs of paper points if you wish to bypass the mundane and jump right to the higher levels. Paper Toss 2.0 is free for both iOS and Android.”
- — Mark
• Walter recommends: Vine, FREE
- “Vine is finally out for android! I HAD a reason to be jealous of iPhone users for the first time, but with the release of Vine for android, I can breathe easily again. Although the iPhone version has more features, like front facing camera usage and the ability to share vines via text or email, i can rest easy because i am positive those updates are on the horizon, since the iOS version started in the same manner. For those not familiar to vine, it is a social media app that creates 6 second looping videos. although it may seem short, 6 seconds is plenty of time to creatively get your point across. I could sit and watch Vines all day!” — Walter
What are your favorite Apps? Let us know at 800-899-INTO and we’ll feature them in this segment!
Tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast for more details
Facebook Participation!
We asked: What do you think about iOS 7? Is the design too “flat” as they say? too different? We’ve been trying out the new software beta and so far, some on our Team like it. Some don’t. The design is very different but many say it’s more modern and hopefully a step forward in competition for Apple. We want YOUR input!
Here are some of the responses that we got:
Dale in Akron, Ohio says: As an Android user. I think it looks fine. Is that the Samsung Galaxy S5??
Dean from Union, New Jersey said: Nice to see Apple “innovating” with the introduction (next Fall) of a “True Multitasking” feature directly copied (read: stolen) from the Palm Pre I was rockin’ in my pocket… 4+ YEARS AGO!!! — Not to mention the new (???) “Notification & Control Center” that also originated with the Palm Pre, as well as working great on my Android phone for the past 2 years!
Dale chimed back in with Funny you mention that. I was going to ask: How long will it be before you can customize it like Android?
Ray in Pompano Beach, FL: How long before Apple sues Samsung again for patent infringement?
I-andi I-omega from Hollywood says: thats the Apple” pay-back” to Samsung,now all Samsung has to do is sue Apple back and call it a” coupe de grace”
Tom in Albuquerque, New Mexico: oh Princess Tim (referring to Apple CEO Tim Cook), when I told you to innovate rather than litigate, i didnt say go back in time to Android. But its high past time these shortcuts, I have been griping about this for two years off and on.I would like to have that control center swiping NOW thank you.
Oh and Dave I wanted to say thanks for the headphones you guys sent me. They arrived when my “crApple” earbuds disappeared. And I have Dave in my pocket with the lip balm and breath mints
Tom Sumner, Sr. Vice President – Yamaha
Kyle From Nashville, Tennessee Listening on Super Talk 99.7 WTN asked: ” What do you think about the galaxy 2 tablet from AT&T? I was thinking about getting one or what kind of tablet would you recommend? I don’t like ipads, I have one now.”
To be totally honest, we haven’t found many Android tablets that typically work well as iPads do, even down to the hardware level. Although I do love the new TV commercials that shows what a Windows 8 Tablet can do while the iPad lags behind! But many say that they seem to be more poorly designed and a lot of them have buttons in awkward places, or might be a bit uncomfortable to hold… there just hasn’t been a great Android tablet that has wowed us — so far!
Now, if you already know you don’t want to stick with your iPad, a Galaxy Tab is probably a good choice. Samsung takes good care to make the experience and the hardware good and useable and the tablet’s specs are good.
The main thing we’d have to say against a Galaxy 2 tab is that the Galaxy 3 tabs are set to be released “early June” which means… now. We obviously haven’t tried the newest generation yet, but we’d caution you to wait and compare those to the Galaxy 2 family. There may be noticeable improvements!
For more information tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Comments from our COOL “Into Tomorrow” HOT Summer Giveaway!!!
Warren From Scott City, KS … says I love technology and the chance to be Berlin where tech has had such a history would be awesome!
Lou in Kailua, HI … says that our ITTV videos are his homework every week and they are fine. “Into Tomorrow” is a great way to keep up with latest tech. Was in Berlin while I was on active duty and it was a divided city. Would be a great way to see it as it is now.
Gary in Keizer, Or … says he “doesn’t subscribe to our ITTV YouTube Channel !?!? but wants to experience an IFA international conference, because it will expand my knowledge.
russell from coral springs, fl, says: Love tech, love travel, love Germany, love “Into Tomorrow” 🙂
john in decatur, al … didn’t say anything about how we can improve the show or WHY he’d like to join us in Berlin … but we accept his Entry anyway.
You may enter ONCE a week … AND … when you call-in, using our FREE APP or 1-800-899-INTO (4696) and we can HEAR you … we will BONUS you with yet another entry!!! Good luck!!!
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
HDRadio: FM/HD Insignia Table Top Radios with 10 presets
Covington Creations: Earbud yo-yo — Now with Dave’s face on them! — A clever solution to tangled earbuds.
iolo: Copies of: Drive Scrubber – Erase data so it can NEVER be recovered.
Magix: Music Maker 2013 Premium – Make Music Now! With More Sounds. More Possibilities.