Category Archives: Mobile

Boingo Builds SMART Wireless Networks at CES

CES 2015, Mobile, Video, Wireless, , ,

boingo logoMany of us will be familiar with Boingo from their public wifi hotspots in airports and coffee houses, though the company provides many more radio-based services to an array of clients and venues. Marlo learns more about Boingo Wireless and their plans from Dr. Derek Peterson, the company’s CTO.

When building large-scale wireless networks, it’s not simply a case of putting up more and more antennas. Boingo considers each implementation as a “SMART” network, their acronym for Secure, Multiple devices and models, Analytics, Responsiveness and Tiered services. With these aspects in mind, the appropriate design, technologies and policies can be put into action.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch. Note that Marlo’s audio is missing for the first few questions.

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Ventev Brings Battery Packs and Accessories to CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Mobile, Video, , , ,

Ventev LogoAlthough there have been great improvements in battery technology, the bigger screens, thinner devices and faster processors mean that it’s always necessary to monitor a smartphone’s battery level. USB power packs can help in alleviating battery anxiety and Marlo chats to Scott Franklin of Ventev to see what they have to offer.

Ventev brings a selection of mobile accessories including battery packs and cables with some specifically aimed at Apple products with Lightning connector. With prices from $39.99 up to $99.99, there’s a pack for every situation and price.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch. Note that the early part of the interview is missing.

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Kodak Shows IM5 Smartphone at CES

CES 2015, Mobile, Photography, Video, , , ,

Kodak logoNew technology can be great but sometimes, it’s loaded with so many options that it can also be difficult to truly grasp how it works. That’s the problem Kodak is hoping to solve with its new IM5 smartphone.

Todd talked to Lindsay Higgins from Kodak about the IM5. Lindsay explained that the device was designed with Baby Boomers in mind. She described the IM5 as an affordable camera phone that’s easy to use, with simple features that emphasize browsing and sharing photos.

The IM5 runs Android 4.42 and it uses a 13 megapixel back camera as well as a 5 megapixel front camera. The base model includes 8 gigabytes of storage, with models that expand up to 32 gigabytes. The IM5 also allows for dual SIM cards, so it’ll easily travel abroad.

Interview by Todd Aune from The Elder Divide for the TechPodcast Network.

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Ford SYNC 3 at CES

Auto, CES 2015, Mobile

Ford LogoIn the good old days, cars had heaters and radios. if you were lucky it might have had a cassette player. Getting directions involved winding down the window and asking a local. Today’s vehicles have zoned environmental controls, multi-source AV, GPS with maps and drive train telemetry to three decimal places. All this is fantastic but while you’re figuring out the way to San Jose, you don’t have your eyes on the road.

Ford wants its drivers and passengers to have a great journey but to get to their destination safely, and in an unprecedented move, Ford invited customers to their advanced car simulator in Dearborn to help design the next iteration of their infotainment system. With over 20,000 pieces of feedback, Ford developed SYNC 3 with safety and ease of use at the fore. Big touchpoints keep hands on the steering wheel longer and voice commands now produce what the driver wants rather than purely what is said.

Todd chats with Gary from Ford about the company’s approach to the latest iteration of Ford SYNC, which will be available on 2016 model cars.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network

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Peri Duo Speaker Case for iPhone

Accessories, CES 2015, Entertainment, Gadgets, Mobile

Peri Logo

When it comes to smartphones and tablets, there are few mobile devices that produce anything like a decent volume and as for stereo separation, forget it. Fortunately Peri can come to the aid of iPhone owners with the Peri Duo, a high-power wireless speaker and phone charger case. Todd and Jamie find out more from Cedric Sumimoto, co-founder of Peri.

The Peri Duo is a standalone wi-fi and bluetooth-enabled speaker and iPhone charger case all in one. As expected, music can be streamed via AirPlay but the iPhone doesn’t have to be in the case when playing the music, so the Duo speaker can be on the opposite side of the room while the iPhone is safely in a pocket. Even better, more than one Duo can be connected to a phone so one Duo can be assigned as the left speaker and one as the right. Alternatively, one phone can multicast to dozens of Peri Duos, which really gets the party going.

The battery is 2500 mAh which will fully recharge an iPhone once with a bit over, or else the Duo will play music for around 4 hours.

The Peri Duo will be available for the iPhone 5, 5s, 6 and iPod Touch. The MSRP will be $139 though it’s currently on pre-order at $99 via Indigogo. Deliveries are expected from April onwards.

Interview by Jamie Davis of Health Tech Weekly and Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Audio-Technica Gets SonicSporty At CES

Accessories, CES 2015, Entertainment, Gadgets, Mobile

Audio-Technica LogoJapanese audio specialists Audio-Technica have a long pedigree in sound going back to the 60s with an impressive client list include a number of successive Summer and Winter Olympics. Todd and Crystal Griffith take a look at the latest headphones from Audio-Technica.

First up are new additions to the SonicSport line of in-ear headphones, each of which has a different mechanism for retaining the earbud in the ear. Some hang over the ear, others lock into the inner part of the pinna. The idea is that Audio-Technica has headphones that suit you and your activities. The USP of these in-ear phones is that in addition to the standard ear-tips, ridged ear-tips are provided which allow a small amount of external sound through. This makes the SonicSport headphone range a good choice for those who need to be a little more aware of their surroundings. Prices start at $35.

Next are a new pair of high-end audiophile over-ear headphones. Aimed at the lossless music market, these headphones are technically designed to get the best from the music source while providing comfortable extended listening. US availability is March at an RRP of $249.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Smart Hearing Aids from Siemens at CES

CES 2015, Health, Mobile, Wireless

Siemens Hearing Test IconAs people get older, one of the more common complaints is of hearing loss. Many of those getting older now have grown up with technology and expect more than brown lumps of plastic which simply won’t do in an Apple-designed world. Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and smart. Todd hears about the latest products from Thomas Powers of Siemens Hearing Instruments.

Siemens’ latest assistive hearing device is the Binex, which uses signal processing to help people in traditionally difficult listening environments, especially those where there’s a high level of background noise, such as restaurants or trade shows. The aid intelligently reacts to the noise, filtering out the unwanted sound while keeping nearby voices clear.

Worn around the neck, the easyTek streams audio from a Bluetooth-connected device directly into the hearing aid so it’s great for listening to music from a smartphone or tablet. The easyTek can be controlled by the easyTek app for Android and iOS smartphones to discreetly adjust programmes and volume, listen at a preferred level without disturbing others or direct the microphone towards the next person at a restaurant.

Available now, the smart hearing aids cost around $1500-$2000 which includes assessment and fitting.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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TPN Picks Awards

Accessories, Auto, Cameras, CES 2015, Computers, Gadgets, Health, Home, Mobile, Toys & Gaming, TVs, Video, Wireless

Each year the TPN team picks 10 companies that our team feels are deserving of a TPN pick. The awards are for what we feel is cool at CES and excites us the most. This years 10 picks are exceptional.

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CES 2015 BeZilch

Accessories, Cameras, CES 2015, Gadgets, Mobile, Wireless

CEA Member and CEO of BeZilch.com sat down with the TPN team at CES 2015 to talk about the new marketplace to buy and sell new or used electronic devices. The genesis of the site is incredibly simple.

beZilch truly, by definition, is the only true secondary marketplace to buy and sell your consumer electronics. Best of all, you choose what matters most; time, convenience or money.

When selling your device on beZilch you have two primary options; Post a classified or browse existing offers on devices like yours. It is up to you. If you want to get top dollar and have time to wait, sell by posting a classified. If you want to sell your device immediately, view offers on your device and sell immediately. Best of all, if you find an offer you want to sell your device to you will get paid immediately!

When buying a device on beZilch you have two primary options here too; View classifieds ads to purchase or post an offer. If you want to buy immediately, choose a classified and purchase. If you have time to wait and want to pay less than fair value, post an offer. Millions of sellers sell their devices to online sites or trade them in at or around 50% fair value. Why? Because of convenience. By posting an offer on beZilch, any buyer now has the power to take advantage of getting devices for less than fair value because they are providing the seller with the convenience of an immediate sell.

beZilch didn’t stop there! You have both buying and selling options available either nationally or locally. Don’t want to transact online and want to meet up with the locals to buy or sell? Go ahead, post your ads locally or search local ads. Don’t worry about the solicitations and unwanted services you get from other “local” sites. beZilch restricts ads to only the consumer electronics you want.

This truly is the most efficient and comprehensive marketplace for buying or selling your smartphones or consumer electronics.

Transactions are secured by PayPal so buyers and sellers are covered. Seller fees are also very low compared to other sites, 4% flat!

The market is new but once the word gets out, everyone using the site will be better off!!!

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CES 2015 FoneBud

Accessories, CES 2015, Gadgets, Mobile, Wireless

The FoneBud team stopped by and it was a pretty amazing device it had four functions. It was a bluetooth remote phone, it had selfie trigger button, proximity sensing to alert you when you got to far from your phone and a flashlight. It will launch in Q1. This looks like a useful product in various applications.

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