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Tech News & Commentary
Scott calling in via the App asked: “I do a lot of recording on the old school VCR of shows I like to watch every week and the tapes are getting old and I can’t find new tapes and I’m thinking of switching over to DVR. I’m not sure if there’s a DVR out there that I don’t have to pay a subscription to use. If you could give me some help I’d appreciate it. Thank you.”
There isn’t really a way around the monthly subscription for DVR service. Now you didn’t mention what tv service you have because depending on what tv service you have will tell you how much the DVR service will cost.
Now practically every tv provider offers DVR service, like Uverse, Dish Network and many others. We do know it can be as cheap as $5 a month, because dish network provides the DVR service that cheap.
Now we did say that there isn’t really a way around the DVR monthly fee; thats because there are some, but not very dependable. what I mean by not very dependable is that they are not brand-name or there just software and can easily fail on you and you end up losing everything you have recorded.
Some of these non-monthly fee ways of having dvr service are called Freevo, and MythTV. so that is something you can look into.
For more information tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
Consumer Reports Feature With Jim Willcox
If you’re looking to turn you plain-Jane television into an Internet TV with tons of online content at your fingertips, the new Roku 3 streaming player might be worth considering. Consumer Reports Senior Editor Jim Willcox is here to tell us what it can do.
The “Into Tomorrow” team discussed the latest apps that they have been playing with recently.
• Mark recommends: Remote, FREE
“Remote, by Apple. This app has a very narrow focus, but for anyone who has an Apple TV streaming media box, it is a welcome addition to your tech arsenal. Simply connect your Apple TV with your Apple ID, and that’s the last thing you’ll need to do with the regular remote. Download the Remote app, free in the iTunes App Store, and enter the same Apple ID. You can now control your Apple TV using an iPad or iPhone, and having a keyboard, even a virtual one on a screen, is MILES better than moving a cursor around one letter at a time when you’re searching for something you want to watch. It’s Remote, and it’s free, but only useful for Apple TV.” — Mark
• Chris recommends: 4 Pics 1 Word, FREE
“Each puzzle contains four pictures that have something in common – what is it?”
• Dave recommends: Battery Defender and TaskKiller, FREE
“Now, if you are crazy about performance, Android is the best platform for optimizing the capabilities of your smartphone. And you can do that with apps like Battery Defender, which helps maximize your battery life, and TaskKiller, which helps you kill off unnecessary programs that are usually running in the background. I know that’s TWO favorite Apps, but they work well together.” — Dave
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
Steve Tiffen, President & CEO – Tiffen Company
Lynne in Trenton, South Carolina listens via the FREE “Into Tomorrow” iPhone App asked: “I want to know just how good are the SOLAR cell phone chargers and if you know what brand may be better than others? Thank you.”
Well, you have several options depending on what you want to charge. If you just want to charge your iPhone, there are cases made by etón corporations that feature a solar charger in the back and let you slide your phone in like a regular case. The case is the Mobius and you can find it online for about $60.
If you want a little more flexibility, you can look at the Solio Bolt, it will cost you $70, so the price is not that different and it is able to charge just about anything that comes with a USB cable. The Bolt has a built in battery, and if you leave it out in the sun long enough to get the battery to full charge, it will hold enough power to charge a smartphone twice.
For more information, tune in to Hour 1 of our podcast.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Eton: FRX3 – Hand Turbine AM/FM/Weather Alert Radio
Intuit: Codes for TurboTax Deluxe & Premier — File your Federal & State Income tax online.
Covington Creations: Earbud yo-yo — Now with Dave’s face on them! — A clever solution to tangled earbuds.
Magix: Music Maker 2013 Premium — Easy to use software for getting started in the world of music production.