HOUR 1:
Tech News & Commentary
Jerry in Fort Irwin, California asked: “I would like to know why you have to upgrade your personal laptop system every couple of years? Is it something that the companies are conspiring so that consumers have to purchase new laptops and spend their hard earned cash, or is it that the systems are outdated?”
The technology that goes into these systems changes constantly. In order to keep up with all these changes, manufacturers update their systems all the time. We joke around that as soon as you walk out of the store with your new computer, it becomes obsolete. The funny thing is, by the time a new system makes it to the store shelves, they’re already working on the next model that will probably be faster, have a bigger hard drive, higher screen resolution and a lot more features.
And it’s not just with computers. That’s just the nature of the consumer electronics industry. The same goes with digital cameras, GPS Units, cell phones, and everything else that we talk about on this show. If these companies waited until “the best” came out, they’d never be able to release a product, because something better would be available as soon as it hits store shelves.
IFA2010 Update
Learn about the rich history behind one of the largest consumer electronics trade shows we report from each year in Berlin, Germany.
The “Into Tomorrow” team discussed the latest apps that they have been playing with recently.
- For iPhone/iPad:Robrecommends: iConvert
Chris recommends: Home Depot - For BlackBerry, Mark recommends: Player for YouVersion Bible
Tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast for more details
Paul in Puerto Rico listening on 1030 AM WOSO said: “I have a brand new Canon camcorder. I’m a minister, and would like to stream my services on Sunday, on the Internet. Somebody told me there was a way to do that for free.”
Yes, you can stream your Sunday service on the Internet for free. However, with a camcorder you’ll have to install software that will make your computer recognize the camcorder as a webcam. Now, there are programs that offer trials for free, but you can expect to pay about $20 for the full version.
Also, you’ll need to connect it to you computer via Firewire. So the hardware may not be that easy to use to stream, but it is do able, assuming your computer has a Firewire connection. Our research team ran across a video with instructions to turn your camcorder into a webcam. Watch video
In addition to the camera, you’ll need a good Internet connection and a streaming service. For example, check out Stickam, which we’ve used in the past. Stickam is a free live video service and social network that allows you to stream live video. They make it simple to stream content on the Internet.
Another service you can use is Ustream. It has been made famous by a lot of celebrities, like Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore, that use this service. They offer a limited free service with ads, but if you like their service and can afford it, they have a paying plan.
Phil in Enid, Oklahoma listening on Sirius Ch.108 sent us the following email and asked: “I’m a truck driver and I’ve seen some GPS items, but I’ve only seen them at truck stops. I’m sure they’re available online, but I was wondering if they were available at a Best Buy or another place where I might be able to get a better price.”
If you’re looking for a GPS unit specifically for truck routes, you’ll probably not find them at stores like Best Buy. Because those are specialized for truckers, you’re really only going to find them at truck stops, trucking supply companies, and online. Stores like Best Buy don’t generally carry products that the “average Joe” who walks in with his wife and kids will buy.
Now, since you brought up GPS units for trucks, we can remind all of our trucker friends listening how important it is, when shopping for a GPS unit, that you look for one specifically for truck routes. Most, if not all of the bigger companies have navigation tied in with their fleet management software. But there are a lot of smaller companies or independent drivers who just don’t have those resources. There are many reasons why you should look into a GPS unit specific for truck routes. If you drive a truck, you know that there are certain roads and bridges that you can’t drive on if your load is over a certain weight or size. A standard GPS device, like a Tom Tom or Garmin, won’t take those into account and may send you down roads you shouldn’t be on. You also run the risk of low overpasses or bridges that aren’t made to handle larger trucks.
Guest in this hour:
Ken Plotkin, CEO – Hauppauge Digital
A lot of our listeners have been asking about TV tuners for their computers. Hauppauge Digital is a leading developer of analog and digital TV receiver products for the personal computer market.
Jake in Lake Head, California listening on Sirius Ch.108 asked: “I have a laptop, and I’m off the grid in the mountains. My laptop won’t play Netflix. It takes 4 or 5 hours to play one movie. I’m, wondering why this is happening.”
If you say you’re “off the grid,” and it takes that long to load a streaming movie, then we’re assuming you don’t have a broadband connection. If that’s the case, you should look into getting one. Now, being “off the grid” can sometimes make this difficult. Not everyone can get DSL or cable modem service. You may have to look to an alternative such as satellite Internet.
There are a few companies that offer this service. Probably, the most widely known is HughesNet. They have plans that start at about $60 a month. Another company we’ve mentioned in the past is WildBlue. They have plans starting at around $50. Both companies, as well as others that are out there, have several different tiers of service. The more you pay per month, the faster speeds you can get. Satellite Internet is generally more expensive than DSL or Cable Internet, but in many cases, unfortunately, it may be your only option.
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Mike in Hollywood, Florida listening online sent us the following email and asked: “Wifey’s B-day is coming up soon and she has her heart set on an iPad (Marketing really does work, but she won’t know what to do with it). Any opinions on which version is bug free? Any input on the best place to buy?”
Rob has had his iPad since Day 1 and loves it. He has the 32 GB Wi-Fi only version that costs him $600. There’s also a 3G version, which requires a data plan from AT&T, and also works on Wi-Fi.
He hasn’t experienced any bugs with his and he uses it on a daily basis. He also uses it on airplanes to entertain himself. It works great with email, web browsing, music & video playing, apps, and several other goodies. Please note the iPad is not a laptop replacement, but you can do a lot with it. You can stream movies using the Netflix app. And, our “Into Tomorrow” app works great on it.
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Consumer Reports: “Best Retailers” with Eileen McCooey
Richard in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania listening on WWCR Shortwave asked: “What do you guys think will be the next big advancement in the photographic industry? What will eventually replace digital photography, the way digital replaced film? Myself, I prefer my old Polaroid camera that I paid $29 for. Problem is, I can’t find Polaroid 600 film for it any more. Do you know where I can find Polaroid 600 film?”
In consumer electronics, you need more than a great product in order to succeed. You need a great product at the right time, sold for the right price, and you still need a healthy dose of luck to have it widely accepted. That being said, we don’t think anything will replace digital photography, at least not until the Matrix plugs directly into our brains. However, digital photography will continue to improve, with better cameras costing less.
As for your film, we did a quick search on the Internet and found dozens of outlets still offering it for sale. Prices ranged from $30 to $50 a pack. You might not be able to find it for sale locally any longer, but it is by no means difficult to find online. Try Amazon – click here
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Honestech: Fotobox – Easy to use photo slideshow software
OrigAudio: “Rock-It” Portable Vibration Speakers
RadioShack: Weather Clock Radios – with SkyWarn
SmartSwipe: Secure personal credit card readers for shopping online
YoGen: The Universal mobile-device charger