Monthly Archives August 2013

Podcast 1334 Hour 1 Aug. 31, 2013: Fall Tech Roundtable

August 30, 2013 | Comments Off

Hour 1 8/31/13

It’s the last gasp of summer and the calm before the gadget hail storm predicted for fall 2013. Our technology team ponders what the playing field will look like this fall after some big changes.

Will Apple’s show on Sept. 10 recapture the magic that seems to have gone.
What will Microsoft look like post-Balmer?
Windows 8.1 and the new Surface computers
Wearable computing a fad or the future?
Is there a tablet in the future of most Windows XP users?

Joining our tech panel: Phil Little, President and CEO Synthacon, high tech consultancy.

3D Scanning and nano helicopters are just some of his interests.

Hex Nano copter: Kickstarter campaign raised 1,000X what they asked for.

Leap Motion: Interactive 3D Technology now available at Best Buy

MiTechNews.com

Weekly feature with Mike Brennan, editor and publisher of MiTechNews.com, highlighting technology headlines from Michigan and around the world that impact of our state’s growing high tech sector.

This MiTechNews report with Mike Brennan is brought to you by Mophie.Com, the maker of the iPhone juice pack, and the Engineering Society of Detroit, representing 16,000 engineers in Southeast Michigan.

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews

Best Buy Trade-in Deal

August 29, 2013 | Comments Off

Best Buy seems to be Apple’s Best Friend nowadays. The national chain is offering a 50% discount on old iPhones when you step up to the iPhone 5. It’s all part of Apple’s bigger strategy to clear the decks potentially for two new rumored models: iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C. The first will be the next generation of iPhone technology that will include the new iOS7, possibly a fingerprint reader but not change to the physical phone. The 5C is supposed to be a less expensive, multi-colored entry level iPhone that will be used to break into international markets.

Sept. 10, Apple will answer all the questions but right now you have a golden opportunity to step up to a better iPhone at a much lower cost. …

Podcast 1333 Hour 2 Aug. 24, 2013 :Tech Answers For Listeners

August 26, 2013 | Comments Off

Hour 2: Answering Listener Questions.

Show Notes: (Hour 1 Available in Podcasts)

Segment 1: John Barrie, APTECH (Appropriate Technology Collaborative)

Segment 2: Dave from Romeo Problems getting a router to work after some changes.

Segment 3: Contest winner Ruth in Belleville has never had a computer and wants to know what to buy. Decision making for the non-geek.

Segment 4: Paul from Ann Arbor amateur photographer asks about SDIO WiFi Card and Ed shares about helping his son set up a router at college.

Email your questions to us by going to the Contact Us button on our home page. It’s as easy as that.

#########

MiTechNews report with Mike Brennan is brought to you by Mophie.Com, the maker of the iPhone juice pack, and the Engineering Society of Detroit, representing 16,000 engineers in Southeast Michigan.

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

…

Who Will Take Over Microsoft?

August 24, 2013 | Comments Off

Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet

Microsoft is starting a formal search process for its next CEO, following the news that Steve Ballmer will be retiring from that role within the next 12 months. So who is likely to be on the short list? No doubt there will be both internal and external candidates. I don’t know who might be considered outside the company, but I can tell the names that have been mentioned as internal possibilities.

Full Article …

Podcast 1333 Hour 1 Aug. 24, 2013 :Turning Sunshine into Electricity and Rick Broida on Watch Tech

August 24, 2013 | Comments Off

Show Notes: (Hour 2 Available in Podcasts)

John Barrie, APTECH (Appropriate Technology Collaborative) creates new sustainable technologies that promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for low income people worldwide. They design, develop, demonstrate and distribute affordable technological solutions that empower people and promote dignity.

Justin Baker: Gary’s son just returned from a project that installed solar panels on isolated farms in Guatemala to provide electricity as part of Justin’s Eagle Scout project. Visit Justin’s Facebook page for details and more pictures of the project.

Rick Broida, The Gadget Guy: Talks about the upcoming gadget launch season, discusses Steve Balmer’s resignation from Microsoft and its impact and HOT Watch the latest in ticking tech.

Cheapskate Special Deal: SuperWrite Word Processor

MiTechNews.com

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with

How to talk to Siri the right way

August 24, 2013 | Comments Off

Siri has been a controversial figure (non-corporeal though she may be) since she made her debut nearly two years ago, adding much-needed voice-powered automation to iOS but sparking controversy over her limited capabilities and problems recognizing accents.

In fact, to hear some of my friends and family members tell it, Siri is just plain useless. With all due respect, that’s because they’re doing it wrong. Siri may not be perfect, but she works properly most of the time — provided you follow a few simple rules of operation.

Here’s how to sweet talk her when you want to…

Read the full article by Rick Broida in CNet …

Steve Balmer Retiring from Microsoft

August 24, 2013 | Comments Off

In a startling and unexpected announcement, Microsoft revealed that CEO Steve Ballmer would retire sometime in the next 12 months. During the intervening time, the company will begin a search for his successor.
“There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,” Mr. Ballmer said in a prepared statement. “We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer-term for this new direction.”

Paul Thurott, WinSuperSite.com …

11 Ways to Fight Android's Data-Sucking Data Demons

August 23, 2013 | Comments Off

AT&T’s Data Stick Up

I got Samsung Express (Android) phone from AT&T for my wife because it was nearly impossible to read the small screen on her feature phone. Time to step up in the world except, thanks to Android and AT&T, we stepped into Android Data Death Trap.

I thought I had done everything to shut down data-sucking apps like ESPN because the hockey season was over and Ginny wouldn’t Jones until the leaves fell again. Surprise, surprise…I just paid over $200 for our combined AT&T bill because she had inadvertently gone over her 350MB cap. How? Actually she didn’t, an app running in the background did and AT&T merrily nailed us for $20 for the overage.

Fighting Android’s hidden data-sucking demons

As a public service I am publishing this great article about stopping Android’s runaway data consumption. Don’t let the Telco’s steal your hard earned dollars without a fight by using the 11 tips in this story. Meanwhile, I’m thinking of reinstalling the Princess Phone on an old POTS line.

Foster Braun

…

Get Ready for Sports Season Preemptions

August 17, 2013 | Comments Off

Those magnificent Big Men in Green and White are coming!

Starting in the first week of September 2013 and stretching through March Madness 2014, the Internet Advisor will politely step out of the way of this thundering herd on WJR 760 AM Detroit. That means that on any given Saturday when you tune in to 760 AM between 4-6PM EST on the air or over the Internet at WJR.com, you won’t hear our program….BUT WE ARE STILL HERE EVERY SATURDAY.

Like the old USPS saying, “Neither rain (football) nor snow (basketball) can keep us from our appointed rounds!” (Here’s the real story)

Every Saturday Foster, Gary and our computer techs and experts are in studio interviewing interesting guests and answering question that you supply via email. We then publish those shows as podcasts on Sunday night as always and send them to the Michigan Talk Network for our affiliates. The only thing that changes is how you listen to the show. So we want to encourage you to:

Visit our homepage each week to check the Show Notes
Sign up for our podcast on iTunes or through your favorite app
Send us your questions

Windows 8.1 to launch in October

August 16, 2013 | Comments Off

Ed Bott/ZDNet

Microsoft today confirmed what had been widely rumored for the past week: Windows 8.1 will be released to the general public in October. Specifically, “starting at 12:00am on October 18th in New Zealand (that’s 4:00am October 17th in Redmond), Windows 8.1 will begin rolling out worldwide as a free update for consumers on Windows 8 through the Windows Store.”
Today’s announcement indirectly confirms what my sources have also told me, which is that Windows 8.1 has been officially released to manufacturing.
In Microsoft’s partner-driven world, that’s an important milestone. It means the code is on its way to OEMs, who in turn can incorporate it into new hardware designs for shipment this fall. After a year of generally miserable Windows 8 sales, those OEMs could use some good news to drive holiday sales.

Read Full Article …

Monthly Archives August 2013

Podcast 1334 Hour 1 Aug. 31, 2013: Fall Tech Roundtable

Hour 1 8/31/13

MiTechNews.com

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews

Best Buy Trade-in Deal

Podcast 1333 Hour 2 Aug. 24, 2013 :Tech Answers For Listeners

Hour 2: Answering Listener Questions.

Show Notes: (Hour 1 Available in Podcasts)

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

Who Will Take Over Microsoft?

Podcast 1333 Hour 1 Aug. 24, 2013 :Turning Sunshine into Electricity and Rick Broida on Watch Tech

Show Notes: (Hour 2 Available in Podcasts)

MiTechNews.com

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with

How to talk to Siri the right way

Steve Balmer Retiring from Microsoft

11 Ways to Fight Android's Data-Sucking Data Demons

AT&T’s Data Stick Up

Fighting Android’s hidden data-sucking demons

Get Ready for Sports Season Preemptions

Those magnificent Big Men in Green and White are coming!

Windows 8.1 to launch in October

WJR Mobile App

AdSense

subscribe to our podcasts

Monthly Archives August 2013

Hour 1 8/31/13

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews

Hour 2: Answering Listener Questions.

Show Notes: (Hour 1 Available in Podcasts)

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

Show Notes: (Hour 2 Available in Podcasts)

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with

AT&T’s Data Stick Up

Those magnificent Big Men in Green and White are coming!

Follow Us

WJR Mobile App

AdSense