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Tech News & Commentary
Consumer
Reports Feature with Mike Gikas
Windows smart phones have not yet reached the popularity of Android and iOS models, but the company said its new Nokia Lumia 900 is built to compete. Consumer Reports Senior Editor Mike Gikas gives us their first look review.
The “Into Tomorrow” team discussed the latest apps that they
have been playing with recently.
For Android:
• Listener Dale recommends: BeyondPod, FREE
“It is an awesome podcast RSS Reader/Player. It blows away my iPod Touch. I don’t even use my iPod any more. BeyondPod is very configurable. I use the smart playlist to play my oldest to newest podcast. I love it! I don’t have to sync the phone to my computer. It all works from within the app.”
Dale also complained about the Facebook app: “The Facebook app is getting annoying. I have been using the mobile site lately. The app use to hang on logout. That seems to be fixed in the current update. Now it sometimes doesn’t show my new comments when I tap them from the notification area of the app. It says I have new comments or likes. When I tap it. It just takes me to the news feed. Ugh!”
For iOS:
• Mark recommends: Spotify, FREE
“I’m actually sharing an iPad app this week, in light of the fact that I have a brand new third generation 64GB iPad…and it’s Spotify. Spotify is the streaming music service that started internationally and has now become a favorite here in the States, as well. The new Spotify iPad app takes full advantage of the tablet’s bigger screen, with large sliding panels that are half the screen in size allowing you to interact with individual albums while not losing your place in the song index or what’s new home screens. It really does have an iTunes-ish feel to it, with one important exception of course. It doesn’t SELL music. It just streams it. If you pay for a premium membership, you get unlimited streaming of high quality music. But you can’t download music from it, and once your membership runs out, so does the premium feature set. For everyone who IS a subscriber, though, the Spotify app for iPad is a must-get. It’s a world of music, just for the touching.” — Mark
• Chris recommends: Shazam, FREE
“This week, I’m highlighting an app we’ve talked about quite a bit on the show already, but it bears mentioning again, especially because of some cool features found in recent updates. It’s Shazam. You ever been out somewhere and wondered, “What’s that song playing on the radio, or in a store?” Shazam will tell you. But it goes further than that. It will also give you a link to purchase the song in iTunes, it will give you a link to any YouTube videos for that song, There’s a tab that will give you concert information for the artist, but one of my favorite features is the LyricPlay. They don’t have this available for every song, but most of the ones I’ve tried, work. Once you Tag a song, if the LyricPlay logo shows up in the corner, you can rotate your phone to landscape mode, and the lyrics will appear on screen. And not just a listing of the words. Since Shazam is listening to the song along with you, the lyrics animate on the s creen and follow the song, so you can sing along. It’s quite cool. Shazam is free in iTunes, although they have paid versions that have additional features and no banner ads.”
Shazam’s new feature on Chris’ iPhone
• Rob recommends: Square, FREE
“I’m taking a break from iPhoneography-related apps this week and recommending a helpful app for small business owners. I recently started my ‘Zumba With Rob’ business and people started asking about paying with credit cards. At first, we were only taking cash or checks. But now, thanks to Square, we take credit cards. With Square, you can accept credit card and cash payments on your iPad, iPhone or Android device. You first sign up online and they mail you a free Square Card Reader. The reader plugs-in to the headphone jack of your device. You then download the free Square app that works with the card reader. They charge 2.75% per card swiped. And, it works all major credit cards — MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover. By linking your bank account to Square, the money is deposited the next day as a direct deposit.”
• Listener Steve from Plantation, FL recommends: HopStop, FREE
“Living in a big city, or maybe your just making a casual visit to New York City … HopStop may just be the app for you. This transit-planning app will help you get to where you need to go. Whether you are taking the subway, a cab or even just walking HopStop with give you accurate direction, distance and estimated time of arrival; helping you plan where you need to go and the best way to get there. HopStop is free to download at the iOS app store, and is ready and waiting to save you time and money.”
What are your favorite apps?Let us know!
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Guest in this hour:
Scott Cleland, President of Precursor & Author of “Search & Destroy: Why You Can’t Trust Google Inc.”
Do you have a Google account? Do you trust them with your information? Scott thinks that maybe you shouldn’t.
Dennis in Murfreesboro, Tennessee listening online asked: “I’ve been wanting to upgrade my DVR. I have over-the-air signals. I remember making notes of a Moxi that you talked about which is a multiple tuner so you can record two shows at once, but that’s no longer available. When I go down to Best Buy, all they have is TiVos and things. But I’d have to purchase that and then pay a monthly fee. The whole idea of using over the air signals is so I don’t have to pay anybody those fees. Is this a conspiracy or something? The Moxi sounded great, I just wish I jumped on the bandwagon before now. Can you lead me in the right direction? All I want is something I can record multiple programs on or I could perhaps buy two DVRs. Can you help me out?”
For $170 you can look at the Brite-View BV-980H Digital Antenna HD DVR. It includes the usual features you’re used to, like a programming guide and it comes with dual tuners, but we hear it’s not the quickest or easiest product to use.
If you’re ok with paying more, you can check out the “MAGNAVOX MDR513H/F7 HDD and DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner”. This seems like a good time to mention people like names they can speak in one single breath and without using a cheat sheet.
The MAGNAVOX comes with a 320GB hard drive (which is reported to record up to 387 hours of content), it has a 1080p up conversion, and it’s considered easier to use that an the Brite-View model. It also works as a DVD recorder, so if that’s something that interests you, then it may be easier to justify the MAGNAVOX’s higher price — about $260-$375 online.
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Creative: Live! Cam Connect HD — Webcam that records 720p video
Planon System Solutions: A couple of SlimScan SS100 Credit Card Sized Scanners
Scott Steinberg: Copies of his new book “The Modern Parent’s Guide to Kids and Video Games”
Our Lady of the Lakes Tiger Cub Pack #566 toured the Into Tomorrow studios, pictures below.
| Pack 566 visits our studios | ||
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