Popular Technology Radio

Latest Episodes:

TV Prices Drop and 360 Cam Tech Advances Before Black Friday | #183 Nov 17, 2018

Show notes

Popular Technology Radio is back as Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday draw closer, promising amazing deals on everything from 360 cameras to TV sets. First off, Mike Etchart gets back in the pilot's chair, contrasts the prices of TVs today with plasma sets of 20 years ago, and gets us ready for CES and NAMM in January 2019. Then, Geoff Morrison tells us why heavily discounted televisions during the Black Friday weekend aren't as good of deals as we may be lead to believe. Next, we dive into how TVs have gotten as inexpensive as they have due to the natural progression of manufacturing technology. Changing topics, Geoff describes why Insta360's One X is the best camera on the market. Closing the show, we discuss LG's monopoly on OLED TV manufacturing technology, and why Samsung can't get a foothold in this market. Tune in and get ready for Black Friday!

[00:00:00] Mike Etchart, Back in the Pilot's Seat
[00:07:10] Discount TVs, Not As Good As You Think
[00:12:30] Asian Manufacturing Power Shifts
[00:19:51] Lack of Name Brand Recognition in China
[00:28:22] The Wirecutter Loves Insta360's One X
[00:35:51] LG's Monopoly On OLED

Apple's World Wide Developers Conference and HDR Televisions | #182 Jun 09, 2018

Show notes

Keeping up with the pace of technological advances is no easy feat; thankfully our expert hosts, Jason Masters and Mike Etchart, are up to the challenge! We begin the hour with an analysis of the 2018 Apple World Wide Developers Conference which placed a significant emphasis on software upgrades. Notably, iOS 12 will continue to work on legacy devices, FaceTime can now accommodate up to 32 simultaneous users per session with an added Animoji filter option, and new devices will support Dolby Atmos for next-level surround sound. With sweet tunes top of mind, we learn how Apple Music will stack up against competing for streaming applications such as Spotify. Changing focus, The Wire Cutter's Geoff Morrison delves into the evolution of television technology. While most modern TVs are offered in HDR, your viewing experience will vary greatly depending on the set's resolution. Geoff also goes in depth describing the differences between 2K, 4K, and 8K TVs. Lastly, Geoff tells us about the newest broadcasting standard that will be here by winter of 2020; ATSC 3.0 will deliver Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos over the air for free, and will most likely have a box that you integrate into your current entertainment system. If your home is in need of a technology update, we have the information you need to make the best decision.

[00:00:00] TV Prices Race to the Bottom
[00:08:00] Apple Lover vs. Android Fanboy
[00:12:31] Apple Worldwide Developers Conference
[00:19:52] Apple TV/ Spectrum Skinny Bundle
[00:29:07] Hear the Difference with Dolby Atmos
[00:35:53] Apple Music Raises Bar for Streaming
[00:42:13] High Dynamic Range (HDR) Basics
[00:49:51] How to Get a True HDR Experience
[00:54:44] Comparing HDR10 and Dolby Vision
[01:02:05] Should You Upgrade to an 8K TV?
[01:08:39] Beginner's Guide to Better HDR
[01:18:09] New TV Broadcasting Standards for 2020

Augmented World Expo and Jamstik | #181 May 26, 2018

Show notes

Technology opens doors that we could never have imagined and now it's possible for many of us to access these new worlds from our mobile phones. We begin the hour with the Co-Founder of the Augmented World Expo, Ori Inbar, who discusses how the expo has evolved in the last nine years. There will be over 400 speakers (100 of which are women) and 250 exhibitors that will be displaying the latest in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). For anywhere from $49-$1000 (depending on the package you want), you can attend the expo and explore the wonderful advancements that have been made in the AR world. While this event is open to the public, it mostly attracts professionals that are working or wanting to work in the industry. If you're interested in discovering more about what the future holds for AR and VR, you don't want to miss this. Switching gears, we talk with Chris Heille, Director of Product Innovation of Zivix LLC, about their latest Indiegogo campaign for the Jamstik 7 and Jamstik 12. After the success of the original Jamstik and the Jamstik Plus, the team decided that they really needed to take these musical products to the next level. These new models of the Jamstik will feature seven or twelve frets (model specific) and the updated software will make it possible to use them not only on Apple products but Windows friendly machines as well. They will come equipped with MIDI Bluetooth and a USB port to connect to the device of your choice. The Jamstik 7, which was designed specifically for beginners will be priced, unbundled, at around $249 and the 12 at $279. If you are ready for some new technology in your life, tune in for more now.

[00:00:00] Augmented World Expo
[00:04:45] 50 Year 'Overnight Success'
[00:12:31] Augmented Reality Cloud
[00:19:51] Developers and Creators
[00:25:07] Jamstik Seven and Twelve
[00:35:53] Apple and Windows Compatible

Lux Products Kono, Cibus and Gene Editing, and 1MORE Headphones | #180 May 05, 2018

Show notes

Keep cool with an affordable smart thermostat, eat right with gene edited foods, and listen to your favorite tunes with 1MORE headphones. Alan Taylor, Host of the Drive with Alan Taylor, and Brendon Massa share their experience with the Lux Kono smart thermostat. Then, we chat with Rob Munin, CEO of Lux Products, about the company's history dating back to 1914, and their recent foray into the smart thermostat market. Next, Cibus Chief Scientific Officer, Greg Gocal, describes the difference between GMO and gene edited foods. Cibus is working to revolutionize the way we engineer plants. Last, Ari Morguelan, Director of Marketing and PR for 1MORE USA, Inc., explains the genesis of the company and what makes their patented headphone technology unique. Tune in now.

[00:00:00] Alan Taylor Tests the Lux Kono
[00:06:32] Lux, Not Just a Thermostat Company
[00:12:30] Lux Kono - Easy, Affordable, Customizable
[00:19:35] Geofencing and Voice Control
[00:27:13] GMO vs Gene Editing
[00:35:54] Cibus Makes Use of Natures Gifts
[00:42:14] 1MORE Headphones
[00:46:57] Grammy Winning Tuning Quality
[00:54:45] Two New Headphones from 1MORE

360 Made Easier by Insta360 and Online Marketing Explained by 4-Tell | #179 Apr 14, 2018

Show notes

Get your 360 video career off the ground with Insta360 and market your products effectively online with 4-Tell. Insta360 Senior Marketing Manager, Michael Shabun, gives us a tour of their 360 degree camera lineup and FlowState updates. 4-Tell President and CEO, Tom O'Keefe, shares his predictions for the future of in-store and online retail and describes what 4-Tell does in this space. Tune in to find out more.

[00:00:00] Insta360 Makes 360 Degree Video Easy
[00:03:42] New One and Nano S Cameras
[00:12:30] FlowState Update and Titan from Insta360
[00:19:52] Triggered Ads and Amazon Go
[00:32:11] Augmented Reality Shopping
[00:35:55] Thievery in the Workplace and 4-Tell

Orbi, Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, and Intel Studies Whales | #178 Mar 31, 2018

Show notes

From your fortified bunker of a home to the open ocean, technology is enhancing our lives in more ways than we can count. NETGEAR Product Management Leader for Orbi Connected Home, Amit Rele, describes how their Orbi mesh Wi-Fi network can deliver internet to the farthest reaches of your house. With tri-band communication, a sleek, accessible app, and great coverage with just two units, Orbi consistently garners praise from reviewers across the net. Then, we dive deep with XPRIZE Prize Lead and Senior Director of Planet and Environment, Jyotika Virmani, Ph.D., who fills us in on the nine finalists for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE. Mapping the seafloor is no easy feat. Then, Intel Labs Senior Principal Engineer, Dr. Ted Wilke, shares how they're partnering with Parley for the Oceans and SnotBot to use AI and machine learning to collect samples from whales and their exhalant. With a mission to identify and study whale morphometry, Dr. Ted Wilke and Intel are lending their knowledge to Parley for the Ocean's effort to determine the health of the ocean by discerning the wellbeing of top predators, whales.Tune in now.

[00:00:00] Old Houses vs Wi-Fi Connectivity
[00:05:20] Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi Saves Mike's Bacon
[00:12:30] Deliver Us from Wi-Fi Dead Zones
[00:19:09] Get Around Thick Walls with Orbi
[00:28:19] Coverage and Parental Controls
[00:35:11] Orbi: Top Reviewed Home Mesh Network
[00:41:31] Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE
[00:45:53] 9 Teams Vie for Ocean Discovery XPRIZE
[00:54:02] Mapping the Ocean for Future Prosperity
[01:01:25] Intel and SnotBot Study Whales with AI
[01:07:59] Identification and Morphometry
[01:17:26] What Tale Can a Whale's Tail Tell?

SleepScore Max, Phone Usage Habits, and SHARP | #177 Mar 17, 2018

Show notes

We take a look at our sleeping and phone habits and delve into the world of SHARP appliances this week on Popular Technology Radio. First, SleepScore VP of Sleep Science and Scientific Affairs, Roy Raymann, demystifies sleep research and the SleepScore Max to help us get a good night's rest. Then, Expert in Mind-Brain Behavior and the Science of Happiness at Harvard / Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Nancy Etcoff, shares her findings on phone addiction in a study she did with Motorola and offers up suggestions on how to wean ourselves off of our devices. Last, Peter Weedfald, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SHARP Home Appliances, fills us in on their new SuperSteam countertop oven, gesture controlled in-wall microwave drawer, and plasmacluster ion purification technology. Tune in now.

[00:00:00] Turning Research Into Sleep
[00:05:29] Consistency and Circadian Rhythm
[00:12:31] Manage Your Habits by Measuring Them
[00:19:53] Recommendations for Better Sleep
[00:27:33] Habitual Phone Usage a Problem
[00:35:56] Pay Attention to the Tasks at Hand
[00:42:16] Gesture Control for your Microwave?
[00:49:57] SuperSteam Your Countertop
[00:54:46] Cooking With Steam
[01:02:09] Steamed Pizza? Say What?
[01:10:06] Plasmacluster Ion Tech Cleans House
[01:18:10] Keep It Simple SHARP

Motiv Fitness Tracking Ring and Online Danger | #176 Mar 03, 2018

Show notes

Are you sick of bulky wrist-worn health monitors? Tired of tricksters emailing you about the PayPal account you don't even have? Well, Motiv Co-Founder and CTO, Curt von Badinski, and Secure Anchor Consulting Founder and CEO, Eric Cole, PhD, have solutions for you. Curt tells us about their lightweight, fitness tracker ring, and the struggle it took to get it to market. Then, Dr. Cole shares some of his tips for staying cyber safe, avoiding email scams, and making sure your family is protected.Tune in now.

[00:00:00] Get Useful Info in a Minimal Package
[00:05:13] The Tech of Tiny Health Monitoring Ring
[00:12:31] Fitness Ring Challenges
[00:19:55] Safeguard Your Information
[00:28:52] Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet
[00:35:57] Scam Emails - Beware Urgency and Emotion

Smart Nora, ASTI, EchoBox, Bitdefender, and FarmBot | #175 Feb 24, 2018

Show notes

Learn how to stay cybersafe, jam to your favorite tunes, sleep right, and automate your garden this week on Pop Tech Radio. First off, Smart Nora CEO and Co-Founder, Behrouz Hariri, tells us about their microphone activated, inflatable pillow powered anti-snoring device that keeps your partner from strangling you in your sleep. Then, Adaptive Sound Technology, Inc. (ASTI) President and CEO, Sam Nicolino, explains how they've painstakingly captured naturalistic, urban, and other sounds to drown out background noise while you sleep. Next, EchoBox Director of Growth, Josh McKenzie, shares how they've been able to provide premium Hi-Fi, titanium bodied earbuds at a reasonable price. Also, Bitdefender IoT Director, Dan Berte, wakes us up a cold reality; every internet-enabled device is at risk to cyber threats. Find out the Bitdefender BOX can keep us safe. Finally, Rory Aronson, CEO of FarmBot, shares his vision for building a self-sufficient future - hundreds of thousands of micro farms across the globe. Tune in now.

[00:00:00] Snore No More with Smart Nora
[00:06:54] Sleep - One of Three Pillars of Health
[00:12:31] Get to Sleep with ASTI
[00:19:54] Adaptive Sound Environments for Baby
[00:31:43] Audiophile Earbuds for Reasonable Price
[00:35:56] EchoBox in VR and on the Road
[00:42:16] Defend Your Home with Bitdefender BOX
[00:47:43] Shield Yourself From Cyber Attacks
[00:54:46] Be Self Sufficient; Be Your Own Farmer
[01:02:09] Automate Your Garden - Reap the Rewards
[01:10:32] Open Source Farming Info at Openfarm
[01:18:10] FarmBot: An Iterative Process

Viome Returns to Save Your Gut, Health, and Money | #174 Feb 10, 2018

Show notes

This is your gut. There are many like it, but this one is yours. Your gut is your best friend. It is your life. You must master it as you must master your life. Viome Founder and CEO, Naveen Jain, and Chief Medical Officer, Helen Messier, describe the unique nature of everyone's gut, and how wildly different microbiome needs can be. The microorganisms in your body control you in almost every way, so if they're not happy, you're not happy. Find out how a simple test and a few hundred dollars can save you thousands on medical expenses by getting your microbiome in check. Also, discover what Viome's latest tests have found out about the way food affects each person differently.

[00:00:00] Catching Up With Viome
[00:06:40] Humans: A Microorganisms' Story
[00:12:31] Ditch the Pills, Fix Your Gut
[00:19:53] Jason's Diet and Viome's Ongoing Studies
[00:27:38] Diversify Your Diet - Reap The Rewards
[00:35:57] Fit Doesn't Equal Healthy

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected