HOUR 1:
Tech News & Commentary
Steve in Columbia, MO listening on KFRU 1400 AM asked: “I had a question on trekker breeze. It’s a GPS system for blind people. I’d like to get one but it’s about $1,000. Wondering if there’s anything else out there that you could help me out with.”
You can try the “PAC Mate GPS”, this system is comprised of three components: a Bluetooth GPS receiver, Destinator, GPS software that can be installed on conventional PDAs like those used by sighted travelers; and Street Talk, proprietary non visual interface software.
The PAC Mate GPS has the ability to create a route from one address to another as well to create a route from the current position of the traveler to an address or point of interest. The route created can be emailed, printed, or embossed. The whole package is available online, though unfortunately for $ 1,799.00.
On the complete opposite end of the price spectrum there is an app for Symbian phones called Loadstone GPS, it requires a Symbian series 60 phone and a bluetooth gps receiver for the phone, we haven’t used it, our gut feeling is that it won’t be anywhere near as good as the $1000+ options, but if you happen to have a Symbian phone and want to give it a shot, it won’t set you back much and it might be enough to fit your needs.
For people who may not know, the Trekker, is really, really cool. If it works as well as the demo video claims, it may be one of the most life changing uses of GPS out there.
The basic idea is that it uses satellites to track where are a blind or otherwise visually impaired person is walking and informs them of where they are and where they’re going. Now, that makes it sound like a regular car GPS, maybe at most a regular car GPS with voiceover and hard buttons, but this does so much more for the user!
For example, as the person is walking down the street, Trekker will name the businesses that are next to them, so there’s no guessing where the supermarket is, it will just says “so-and-so supermarket on the right”, off the street it allows the user to set a custom points of interest so, for example, a park bench can be added to the system and the person can just follow directions to find it on subsequent visits, it will name intersections, speak a route and, since it’s installed on a PDA there’s also the option, for a price, of using the PDA’s functions through the system, that gives the user access to a media player, written documents, an address book, email and web browser access, etc.
It also works at high speeds, so if the person wearing it happens to be on a car instead of just walking down the road the Trekker is still capable of following the route, something that might be specially useful for people who take cabs and don’t want to be taken for a ride…
Now, all that comes at a steep price, over a $1000 for a device that you may not be able to test drive before you buy…
Click here for a website selling a “certified demonstration unit” for $750!
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
“Consumer Reports” Feature with Paul Eng
Consumer Reports has named AT&T as the worst cell phone service provider in the country. Web Senior Editor Paul Eng tells us why the carrier did so poorly, and which lesser-known carrier came out on top.
The “Into Tomorrow” team discussed the latest apps that they have been playing with recently.
- For Android: Virtual Recorder, a high quality voice recorder with extra features and Kindle for Android, Amazon’s popular book reading software.
- For iPhone/iPad:Santa Tracker 2010, an app that let’s you track Santa’s realtime position and he gets to your house.
Tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast for more details.
Randy in Mt. Juiet, TN listening on WTN 99.7 sent us the following comment: “I still have a VHS player. Rounds out the system. Also have Blu-ray, a Playstation, cable, DVR, all that stuff. (Talks about things that he has on tape that are not available on DVD.)”
Yeah, for some people VHS is still a useful option to have. For people like Randy, who have everything else also, we think it’s fine.
But if you’re still recording episodes of Hawaii 5-0 on VHS tape, you need to have a tech intervention. VHS players still around, vinyl record players making a comeback as high end audiophile gear, time to bust out the pastels and long hair so you can party like it’s 1982.
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Guest in this hour:
Michele Turner, Executive Vice President, Products – Cooliris
Want to capture and easily share pictures this holiday season? Cooliris develops consumer applications that make the creation, sharing and discovery of content more intuitive, and personal.
Nancy in Dorado, Puerto Rico listening on WOSO 1030AM asked: “There’s a company called Grace Digital Audio and they have a nice little box radio that you can set presets on. I want to know if this radio is what it says it is. Could I actually buy a radio and preset my stations? and it’s not big, it’s transportable? And could I listen to my Internet stations instead of bringing out my computer. I would consider buying something like that if it’s a product that would work.”
Internet radios definitely don’t have to be bulky or stationary, in fact anyone who owns a smartphone is one downloadable app away from having an ultraportable internet radio and yes, you can usually set presets (you almost have to considering how many internet radio stations are available these days!).
Regarding Grace Digital Audio in particular: their models are not too big to carry, the smallest model on their website is 10 x 6 x 5 inches, they’re also not super light, they weigh between 5 and 8 pounds, we did find a portable model on Wal-Mart but remember that they are Wi-Fi radios, you will need a wireless internet connection for them to work.
This means you can’t just take one to the beach, or camping, or on your car or anywhere else without Wi-Fi and expect them to be able to tune in to your internet stations, even if you’re using the portable model.
You asked about the presets and we should warn you that the fact that you can set presets for your favorite stations doesn’t imply that any internet radio stations you can access on your computer will automatically be available on your internet radio device as most of these don’t have a way to manually add a stream or station to the list.
If you want to look around, models you might want to consider are the Logitech Squeezebox or the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, for a longer selection of internet radios you can click here.
As for Wi-Fi radios specifically built with portability in mind the Revo Pico is probably one you want to take a close look at, it’s small, light and it gives you access to around 11.000 stations, remember it still requires a Wi-Fi network, though.
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
We discussed listener’s Shawn from Watsonville, CA’s email: “Hi Dave and gang,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re leaving Sirius, but I support you and your decision. Sirius has never held up to the standard that XM used to be. I have seen a lot of changes and I don’t like them either. Sadly, it’s the only kind of radio I can use as a truck driver, unless I want to constantly hunt for a channel and our truckers channel is not on any other radio. BUT, this decision won’t stop me from listening!!!! I have the app on my iPhone 4 and I download your podcasts every week anyways, since Sirius flakes out and thought your show was not good enough to be heard at a decent time when they moved your time slot. Sirius really f#cked up the old XM and if not for our truckers channel, Fox News and Country Dan Dixon on Willies Place, I would tell Sirius XM to go to hell! I wish XM never sold out to those losers at Sirius. Anyways, I totally support you and your decision to leave, but I will keep listening as always, and it won’t bother me to load up the show on my iPhone! Love ya gang!!
Oh PS: I did send what’s his face – the moron that calls himself the Director of Programming — an email and made my complaint and his reply was: “Thanks for your comments”. What a loser he is!
PS: Mark’s BlackBerry deserves a slow and painful death by slowly and safely pouring sulphuric acid on it in a glass jar and video it! Would be cool. Probably should take out the battery first though!! Lol lol. Thanks guys!
Shawn”
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Balanzza: Digital Luggage Scales – not only for weighing your holiday packages, but this can be your best way to save on baggage fees BEFORE you get to the airport by checking the weight of your luggage.
CTA Products: Several Cloth Addictions – The microfiber cloth that cleans ANY screen: iPads, Phones and Monitors. Take your screens to a whole new level of clarity!
Honestech: Copies of Audio Recorder 2.0 Deluxe – Software to convert your analog music into digital formats including MP3s and audio CDs. Save those great musical memories.