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Tech News & Commentary
Sheila in Baton Rouge, Louisiana listens on WBRP 107.3 sent us the following question: “My iPhone that I have is almost 6 years old and is about to die and I wanted your expert opinion on whether which iPhone i should get. Should I wait for the new one or get one of the old ones.”
Sheila, It’s all a matter of preference to which model like you like the most. Keep in mind that “new” is a temporary word especially with 
Apple, which is known for pushing the limits with every model.
All the iPhones between 4S and 5S are still considered great phones, but we suggest just waiting for the iPhone 6 since it’s around the corner. Having the latest model will ensure the latest software as well. Not much information has been released about the iPhone 6 but it will be a big improvement from the previous models.
Rumors say that the phone should be coming in two sizes for users to pick the prefered size.The phone should be released around fall, so just hold on to your current iPhone and try to make it live a couple more months.
The only exception to the “wait for it” rule would be if you simply don’t have any money to pay for a new phone and you wanted one that is free, or very close to free. Of course, you still MAY want to wait because when the iPhone 6 is announced and starts shipping, all those iPhone 5, 5C, and 5S phones are going to start looking like inventory liabilities to the wireless companies.
So while today you might be able to get an iPhone 4S for free with a contract, after the announcement that might be a free 5C or 5S instead!
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
“Into Gaming Update” Weekly Feature with Mark Lautenschlager
Chris in Miami listens to the Podcast – calling in via the App sent us the following comment: “Responding to Mark’s request to call about technology that we take for granted. Predicts that his kids will see the first sustained colonization of the moon and Mars. Believes that the first image of seeing the Chinese flag planted on the moon will re-invigorate the US Manned Space Program.”
Thank you, Chris.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
Michael sent us the following question: “Are you familiar with the talking book program with the nat library service for the blind? an app is available for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to listen to talking books. can these audio books be transferred from the computer to the iPad or is the only way to download them again from the internet using the precious internet usage gb’s a person has these days? thank you for your time. i look forward to your response. ps i know I’m likely testing the limits of your knowledge with this type of question.”
Michael, The library service for the blind looks good, He says they have several of the last few books he’s read, from a 2013 book of short stories, to a novel from the 50s, to a few books that are centuries old, it seems like a cool service.
Unfortunately the user has to be certified by a doctor to qualify and has to then use a special listening device that uses an easy-to-handle cartridge. It is possible to download books from the internet and place them in a cartridge, but there’s no getting around using the device, you really won’t be able to use an app.
However, Overdrive and OneClick do work with a lot of public libraries and they let you check out audiobooks for free using an app. The downside is that they act as if they were a real library so they have a set number of copies per book to loan, even if they’re digital copies, so that people will actually still have to go out and buy books if they don’t want to wait. Their audiobook selection will likely be smaller too, since they just act as a general purpose digital public library, and not as a service specifically geared towards the visually impaired of any kind.
Users who just need large print are in luck cause they can make the font as big as they need to on the app, but fully blind people may not be so lucky. It’s still worth a shot if being able to use iOS would be an advantage, and books may be able to be downloaded on a computer and transferred to the iOS device using WiFi or a cable, but none of us here are really into audiobooks, so we’ve never tried it ourselves.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
Guest Segment:
Sidney Tan, Founder – KS Tech
“IFA History Feature” brought to you by Messe-Berlin
The Compact Cassette, invented by Philips, started its very successful career as the most popular and very practical recording medium in 1963 at the Big German Radio Exhibition in Berlin, today known as IFA. This tiny cassette made prerecorded music portable for the first time, and later allowed people to record their own music and listen to it outside their home. 16 years later in 1979, the Sony Walkman was introduced at IFA in Berlin and created a new world of portable music, based on the Compact Cassette.
Joseph in State College, Pennsylvania listens on WSRC 103.1 FM sent us the following question: “Could you tell me something about laptops, iPads, or tablets. Something with good price range and good quality name brand.”
That’s a tall order, Joseph, since so many of them offer different strengths and weaknesses from each other. For example, do you need a detachable screen? If so, then you want a two-in-one like a Dell Venue or a Microsoft Surface Pro 3. Or a Toshiba, an HP, or any one of a number of companies making similar solutions.
Do you need Windows? If you need the full Windows 8.1 operating system, and don’t want either Android or iOS, that helps you narrow down your choices considerably.
Once you decide on the type of laptop you want, then it comes down to some quality issues. Most laptops use the same kind of internals, it’s pretty rare to find models in the same price range that aren’t virtual clones of each other on the inside. However, there will be some clear differences in the screens and keyboards, and that’s why it’s really important to either see and touch the computer before you buy it, or carefully read reviews looking for this information.
As for tablets, the real consideration is iOS vs. Android. We believe that in terms of hardware, brands like the Samsung Galaxy Tab are every bit the equal of the iPad Air. And they’re priced around the same amount, also. So you have to ask yourself, how connected are you to the Apple world? If you have an iPhone, and especially if you have an iPhone and a MacBook computer, then an iPad makes really good sense.
If you’re a Windows user on your computer and have an Android smartphone, then the decision is very simple in the other direction. Get an Android tablet.
We would be happy to give you more specific suggestions, Joseph, if you want to call back and give us some more details about what sort of device you’re most interested in, and what you plan to be doing with it. Good luck!
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
Karl in Rapid City, South Dakota listens on KOTA and is calling via the App sent us the following question: “I’m trying to use a Bluetooth speaker with my iPad 2 with OS 7.1.1. It works but the volume is incredibly low. I can’t figure out how to increase the volume. What should I do?”
Karl, Check if the volumes on both the speaker and the ipad are raised. You can try resetting the settings but if that work doesn’t try resetting the ipad. If your bluetooth speaker has settings, you have to go into the setting and increase the volume through there.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
If you have any questions about any of this week’s show info, please email us here.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Hydreon:Fake TV – Burglary Deterrent Device
iolo: Copies of System Mechanic – Tune-up your PC to increase performance and reliability.
Tylt: ALIN Screen Protectors for the iPad Air
“Into Tomorrow”: Microfiber Screen Cleaning Cloths with Dave’s cartoon on them, for all your smartphones, tablets, TVs, camera lenses and computer screens!