Sunday March 14th edition.

On this episode of GeekTech Live:

• SXSW .... wish I could have gone sounds like a lot of fun. Texas is always a blast!
• Tettris chair for your game seating needs.
• More portal 2 info leaked out
• Disney Monorail replaced with a Tron Lightcycle?
• Line up at the trough the IPad preorder begins!
  

Hi everyone, wow its been a weird week over here, if you have been reading my tweets on twitter at @geektechlive you have heard me talking about my new fish tank build. well that has taken a big step forward but took most of the weekend. I am now behind schedule for the week but trying to catch up fast. If you hear my voice crackle a bit the fumes from the PVC cement really did a number on me sneezing and coughing most of today.

This episode of Geek Tech Live is brought to you by Godaddy.com . Looking to create a new website or sell some of your cool new creations? Need a domain name? Godaddy.com has your answers. Get everything from a new Domain to fully hosted websites. Geektechlive.com is hosted exclusively at Godaddy.com. I can even help you save some cash by offering some godaddy  coupons and offer codes to discount purchases at Godaddy.com.  Go to my offers page and then go and buy your domain with confidence! Thanks!

Ok,

SXSW

South by Southwest, or SXSW for all the cool kids is THE event for Music, Movies and interactive/social media. I have seen tweets from all the major players in attendance. I think that next year I will be going to Comic-con AND SXSW. from what I have seen online and heard in the twitstream it really looks awesome! To quote SXSW.com telling what the gathering is :

Year after year, the event is a launching pad for new creative content. New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings provide buzz-generating exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for audiences. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning, business activity thrives at the Trade Shows and global networking opportunities abound. Austin serves as the perfect backdrop for SXSW®, where career development flourishes amid the relaxed atmosphere. Intellectual and creative intermingling among industry leaders continues to spark new ideas and carve the path for the future of each ever-evolving field, long after the events' conclusion.

via SXSW.com

Tetris Chair

UberGizmo had a cool if not albeit uncomfortable chair in the shape of Tetris tiles. A Mexican Industrial Designer named Gabriel Canas designed the chair for all us geeks out there. No price is set on the chair or if it will be sold at all. but still it IS pretty cool.

Now I just need a Galaga end table and Qbert TV tables and I would be set!

via UberGizmo.com

More Portal 2 Info

VG247.com has the scoop on Portal 2 and some more defined details of what the game will be about, where and when it takes place.

To quote VG247.com:

• The game takes place hundreds of years after the original. Hence why the Aperture centre looks a lot like a jungle possibly.
• GlaDOS returns as the main villain, with the subject from the last game, Chell, coming back to be the protagonist.
• The co-op campaign is separate from the main story in the game. It lets you play as two bipedal robots.
• Those personality cores thrown into the fire at the end of the last game? They’ve shut off areas of the Aperture lab and made it their own.
• Physics has a bigger role this time, with one demo showing a portal could be used from an air vent to suck air from one area to an another.
• Reflection cubes will be added to the game for laser-based puzzles.
• Valve had no idea Portal 1 would be so big.
• The original Portal was seen as a “test bed”. The sequel will be a fully fledged title.

So there you have it! more info on the Portal 2 Game soon to become reality. Lets all keep our fingers crossed and hope a beta test group opens up for us to try it out.

via VG247.com

Disney Replaces Monorail with Tron Lightcycles!

Ok not really but still these shots I found at Collider.com are truly getting me pumped up for the movie. If Only I could get my own Lightcycle. If I do ever get one you will be the first to know. Thanks Steve Weintraub of Collider.com for posting this shot! Love it!

via Collider.com

Ipad Preorders open the floodgates of Early Adopters

I like new tech. I really do. I even will buy some tech on preorder if I can see or feel a demo unit of it or at least glimpse it behind a glass box on a pedestal. I have unfortunately not been able to score an Apple Ipad to review for testing purposes and I cant seem to find a reasonable demo unit to play with either. Compared to the big boys like Twit or crunch gear I am just some guy with a mic and a really great Barry White smooth voice so I dont get the uber-cool gadgets to review.... yet. to quote Anthony Dinozzo of NCIS " Working on it Boss!" .

All that being said, as I continue to see the early adoption sales peak past 120k according to techmeme I am even more inclined to wait a bit. I think based on what I am reading I will be leaning toward the 3G model as your not tied to a commitment for the 3G. I do believe that there may be some issues with the first generation Ipad as all new first generation devices are akin to have. Articles like PC World's " Ipad Pre-orders: for Idiots Only" really got me thinking how I want to spend my Discretionary Gadget cash. I am not ruling out the fact I want one. but I also want the next Iphone and I LOVE my Iphone.

So, are you going to pre-order? have you already? which Ipad did you get? c'mon! dish! I really would love to know!

links via techmeme.com

Well that's it everyone. Happy St. Patty's Day and I will see you all in a few days! You can always follow me on Twitter @Geektechlive or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Geektechlive .

Welcome one and all to episode 60 of Geek Tech Live. Today I want to talk to you about a few things going on. First off is Panasonic's g2 and g10 cameras, then Portal 2 is coming are you ready?, Motorola Backflip phones are released on AT&T, Microsoft fires back at the IPad with the Courier and Alice in Wonderland has record breaking opening day.

So Without Further ado lets roll!

Episode 60 of GeekTechLive is brought you by Zazzle .com. Do you Zazzle? there are hundreds of thousands of Zazzlers out there already creating millions of custom creations from shirts and mugs to skateboards and keds shoes. Check out Zazzle for all your gifting needs. And while you are Shopping, GeekTechLive can help you save some cash on checkout. Just hop on over to My Podcast Offers Page and get coupons for All your Zazzle needs!

Panasonic releases new G2 and G10 cameras.

And they are beauties arent they? the G2 and G10 cameras use the Micro Four Thirds format. They are both 12.1 megapixel and have a 3" LCD screen viewfinder. they record video in 720p and have the ability to interchange lenses. the basic package will come with a 14 - 42mm F3.5 - 5.6 lens. the G2 adds a touchscreen that folds out and twists to allow for better viewing. the G10 is the more basic of the model geared to the beginner enthusiast. no prices yet but the press release states more technical details such as:

Other features of the LUMIX G2 include: • Dust Reduction System: If dust or other foreign matter gets inside the camera when you’re changing lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in your photos. The Dust Reduction System in the G2 helps eliminate this possibility by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles effectively. • Included Software: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos. Videos can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader – even in HD quality. It also lets you create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in .MOV files. The software is compatible with the Windows 7. The Panasonic LUMIX G2 will come equipped as part of its kit, with the newly announced LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens. The new lens offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42mm (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm), making it suitable for a wide variety of scenes, everything from dynamic landscape to portrait. Additionally, the LUMIX G2 is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds System lenses, allowing users even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera.

To read the whole press release and even more info drop on over to Crunchgear.com

via Crunchgear.com

Portal 2 is coming to you soon

Photo courtesy of http://loot-ninja.com/

For those of you who really fell in love with the game Portal your wait for a sequel will be over soon. Valve is going to be releasing Portal 2 and this time its a full game. Portal 2 will be released this fall and it is gonna rock! There was a quote that was awesome while I was reading thru the internet articles on this. "portal was a test bed. Portal 2 is a game" AWESOME! more info coming soon!

via Crunchgear.com

Motorola Backflip review

I came across this today in fact and had to link to this article. Gizmodo did a fantastic review of the Backflip AT&T's first Android phone. The Review isn't pretty as this phone is not for the early adopters of new and exciting tech. The hardware is a bit outdated and really isnt any better than the Cliq. in the nuts and bolts of it.. its being sold as a budget smart-phone for the masses and it knows it. So, If you normally would not buy a smart-phone but still want to have smart-phone capabilities and are not looking for a rocket of a machine then this may be your ticket to the show. the breakdown of the phone is as follows:

pros

• It's more functional than the messaging/feature phones it's attacking
• The backwards folding mechanism is surprisingly functional
• Android 2.1 to come
• Spacious keyboard

• Launch price too high, though it will probably fall
• The rear trackpad: great when the phone's unfolded, but useless when it's closed

• Ships with Android 1.5
• Resistive screen
• Underwhelming hardware specs

Microsoft's Courier.. Digital journal... Ipad Killer?

Oh My! well you probably saw my blog post I did yesterday when this story broke at Techmeme.com. Well, I have to say that if this Courier actually does what the HD videos and the PIctures I saw over at Engadget.com then we have a serious contender for Ipad early adopters. This Courier has made me stop and think if I truly want to go Ipad or wait and see if Microsoft Delivers. Check out the Article at Engadget.com and read all about it. I am sure we will be seeing some kind of retort from Apple and Mr. Jobs soon about this new device. only downside is there is no date set for release of the Courier.

via Engadget.com

Alice in Wonderland has a record breaking Opening weekend.

I was unable to see it on opening weekend but even without my 12 bucks Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland Drew over 40 Million dollars in box office revenue. This is Burton's first ever 3D release to boot. Were you able to see it yet? what are your thoughts on the Movie and how was the 3D?

via Mashable.com

Well that's it for Episode 60 of GeekTech Live. Catch me on Twitter at @geektechlive or facebook at http://facebook.com/geektechlive , become a fan of this show at facebook as well or just leave me some comments below on the blog.

Thanks for Listening!

• Corsair SSD drives are released sooner than expected.
• DOD social media policy?
• 6 More free Android apps that are cool.

Corsair SSD drives are released sooner than expected.

Way sooner than expected Corsair released two offerings in the SSD category. The New SSDs utilize JMicron JMF612 and Indilinx BarefootT controller technologies.

The Reactor Series, coming in 60GB and 120GB drive capacities, is built using a new JMicron JMF612 controller. This controller has 128MB of DDR2 cache memory built in. The 120GB Reactor SSD delivers speeds of up to 250MB/s read and 170MB/s write, while the 60GB Reactor SeriesSSD features speeds up to 250MB/s read and 110 MB/s write.

The Nova Series uses a Indilinx Barefoot controller with 64MB of cache memory, and come in sizes of 64GB and 128GB. The 128GB SSD is able to read at 270MB/second and write at 190MB/second , while the 64GB Nova Series SSD delivers speeds up to 270MB/s read and 130MB/s write.

Both SSDs will support the TRIM command in Microsoft Windows 7 operating systems, which automatically maintains performance over the lifetime of the drives.

This is where it is very interesting I was expecting these to not be available for a little while now but... The Reactor Series and Nova Series are available immediately from Corsair's authorized distributors and resellers worldwide and are backed by a Two-Year Limited Warranty.

Via Hot Hardware.com

DOD social media policy?

For a long time now the Government has been struggling with how to deal with Social Media as a whole. Twitter and Facebook along with all the other major players can be seen as a large security hole as well as time waster by the Government. In a recently release memo from the DOD the new directive requires military and defense agency leaders to make Internet capabilities via the military’s unclassified but sensitive network available across all of DOD.Until now, some leaders have prevented or severely limited such access.

The Memo really only details the importance of Social Media to the function of Government. It does nothing to actually enforce any specific guidelines. This memo is really just a first step to show that Social Media is a valid part of Government and also tie in the fact that Security is still the utmost priority for ANY data, most especially data transmitted over Social Media venues.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, invited followers on his Facebook page to view the new social media policy, demonstrating the value of the technology.

Via FCW.com

6 More free Android apps that are cool.

In my previous Podcasts I covered a few Android apps that were free and cool. Well, here are six more free apps that are very cool and not found on the IPhone.

OpenHome

OpenHome lets you fully customize your home screen/desktop. Something the IPhone would not let you do Evah!

Google Voice

Everyone already knows about this. Visual Voicemail Texts, ability to combine Phone numbers to your own hunt groups, screen calls, etc... Google Voice is a very cool app.

NESoid

Been wanting a fully featured NES emulator? well look no further NESoid is here! lite version is free and full version is $3.49

Google Finance

This app syncs directly with your Google Finance account and gives you up to the minute info on stocks and any other investments you may have.

Google Listen

I cant put it any better than Mashable author Matt Silverman Stated in the article:

Google Listen is a unique offering from Google Labs that functions like a search engine and subscription tool for podcasts across the web. If you’re on the train and realize you’ve forgotten to download the latest episode of NPR’s This American Life, simply fire up Google Listen, search for it, and stream it immediately, from the source. Google Listen effectively eliminates the need to download podcasts or connect your handset to your computer. And with subscription options built in, once you find a show you like, you’ll never miss an episode while you’re on the go.

Gmail and Google Calendar

Need I say more about this? Gmail and Calendar sync support and well its just a cool addition.

Via Mashable.com

Well, Thats it for  This Episode of Geek Tech Live. Check me out on Facebook and Fan the Podcast or see me on Twitter as well. 

Talk to you all in a few days!

I am in Vegas baby! and although i am on vacation i still wanted to get you a small podcast to let you know I am still here. I know its a bit late but normal podcasting days will resume once I get back to home base.

the one thing I found that was pretty cool when I was pulled away from the casino was "Futuristic Minority Report computer interface makes a real-life debut"

Its a real life Minoity report computer and it s really cool to see in action. the above link has some video of it running and people interacting in / with it. 

I got tickets to Penn and Teller last night and let me tell you it was fantastic! If you are in vegas you NEED to go to see them. I have been wanting to see them live since I was a little kid and saw them on tv.

I have been having fun here in Las Vegas but I am looking forward to getting back home.  Sorry for the late and the very short podcast. I will be back to normal in less than 4 days.

Google Buzz and Apple Aperture 3

Google Buzz: 

So, Whats all the Buzz about Google Buzz? Well, I got into a bit of detail on that as well as my thoughts of using it after a while. I explain where I think it will fit in to the interverse and if its a twitter kilelr or just a rogue wave... get it? google wave... rogue wave.. oh well.

Aperture 3 Released by Apple: 

I also talk for a bit about the new Aperture 3 released by Apple and my thoughts on the product and how it works. There is even a 30 day trial to see how you like it and the price cant be beat at $199

And Finally, dont forget, Geek Tech Live is brought to you by Godaddy.com! Save some cash and go with the best. I can help you save some money on the already great deals that Godaddy.com has to offer! From Hosting to SSL to a new domain name. GoDaddy.com has it all!

Check out my offers page at http://offers.mevio.com/show/geektech.html and save some Cash!

Health Gadgets!

 So, I got a cold a few days ago and I had even lost my voice there for the last few days. I was worried about not being able to even record a podcast on schedule for this week. It got me to thinking about all the health related Gadgets that are out right now and so once my voice came back I grabbed a few gadgets to share with you all. Below are the list as they appear in the podcast:

Bodybugg.com

I talked a bit about this as my second episode of GeekTechLive.com was all about me using it. I signed up for a 14 week fitness training course at my local gym. part of the course wasto use the bodybugg to help lose weight and track progress.  Please listen to my original podcast back at episode 2 for all the details but I will say this. It definitely made losing the weight easy.

BodyFat Scales

I think these are great for checking your progress on a diet or excercise plan. they arent as precise as the body bugg style of trackers but they definitely should show your your progress on a daily basis. I had one i used for a long time and i definitely found them to be a good replacement after I stopped the body bugg program. the link above will take you to the amazon market place showing all the body fat scales available.

Head spa Massager

What can I say? I cant help but find some wacky, odd and just weird health gadgets.  Take a look at the below "product demonstration" for the HealthCare Head Spa Massager. All I can say is thank gosh its discontinued!

 I really dont know what to think of this item.

I am scared to ask if anyone bought them. they just dont look fun, or even enjoyable or on that point... relaxing. I think I would be mroe stressed out using it than not using it. These are the things that can scar our youth.  click on the above link for more info on this device.

Wireless toothbrush camera

You have been to the Dentist where they take photos of your teeth to show you trouble spots? well now you can do this at home and look for your self! I do think this has merit for making kids brush as they can watch after wards on the TV and see the inside of their mouths close up. so all in all not a bad idea.... kooky. but not bad.

MintPass Talking Dumbells

This is one of more interesting and creative concepts to come out of Korea for health. you cant buy these YET but one can only imagine that they will be available soon. and maybe even hook up directly into the Wii ? nah... life cant be that cool. or could it? 

GoWear Fit

If you have watched "the biggest loser" at all you might have seen the contestants wearing something that looked like the body bugg pictured  at the beginning of this post. well, you would be wrong.  they are actually wearing the GoWear Fit which you can buy at Amazon for 180 US dollars.

 Lastly there is the

Roll Charger

Ok so how do you get a Zen, Eco friendly workout and still be able to charge those AA batteries for your Xbox controller? The Roll Charger thats how!!

Just put the AA or AAA batteries in the balls and roll them around in your palm. The Balls stimulate pressure points in your hands to relieve tenison and get you to the Zen like state... which you are going to need when you pop out the fully charged batteries to get ready for some Modern Warfare 2 Action! yah! 

Drop by the Sister Site at http://geektechlive.com and feel free to comment on the blog or podcast episodes!

I am also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/geektechlive

In this episode of Geek Tech Live can I escape the tractor beam pull of the IPad unveiling and subsequent take over of all things internet news related? Will the IPad end global suffering? Eliminate the National Debit? Create new jobs? Lets find out.

Welcome to another Episode of the Geek Tech Live Show! I am your host Chris Favero and this is episode 54! This weeks episode if brought to you by the Letters I, P, A, D… and the number infinity and also by GoDaddy.com. Godaddy is the worlds Largest Online registrar and has everything you need if you are looking to set up your very own Blog to a Virtual storefront! GeekTechLive.com working with Godaddy.com can now help you achieve those lofty goals of being the next Internet Sensation! Just pick your services at Godaddy.com and then before you click the Pay now button put in the following codes to get your most excellent discount.

 

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You can also find the codes at my Offers page at Mevio here http://offers.mevio.com/show/geektech.html . Now go out there and make your mark! You cant say I didn't try to help.

All right, So how much IPad Goodness do you think could be out right about now? It was only Last week that we were talking about the unveiling of the apple Tablet. Geek Tech Live is recorded on the weekends (except Special programs like last weeks RadNerd Interview). So this is a few days after the unveil and the mass effect of pandemonium it has done to the world. Did we survive? yah we did… was a it a game changer? I think a little yes and a little no. The Ipad wasn't some magical device like we were hearing. It isn't made from unicorns and creates its own rainbows. It does however have some very cool aspects of the device that make me want it. Lets see if I can explain in a bit more detail.  About 6 months ago I was almost going to buy a kindle. The  rumored Ipad, Islate, Itablet, etc… was seeming to be a long way off and well I just wanted to get a good e-reader to take with me to work for lunch time reading and when i am on vacation , etc. I did the research and almost did it. The kindle did everything I wanted it to do at the time and my Iphone was able to fill in the gaps quite well for anything else i wanted to do.  I am really glad I had second thoughts and waited for the apple Tablet unveiling.

There have been a lot of people all whining about the Ipad and as the week progressed you also found out more rumors concerning next years possible Ipad additions like front facing video cameras, video calls, etc… I really don't care so much about those rumors since it is apples job in my mind to continue to innovate. if they stop doing that then there will not be anything more than what we have today in technology. you cant fault them for holding back a few extra goodies for the revision two of the Ipad that is just goo business if you ask me, even if it still annoys the hell out of me.
So what do we know about the current Revision 1 of the IPad.  here are the basic specs for the Ipad courtesy of the Apple websites:

Size and weight
Height:  9.56 inches (242.8 mm)

Width:   7.47 inches (189.7 mm)

Depth:   0.5 inch (13.4 mm)

Weight:   1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model;
    1.6 pounds (0.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

Display
    •    9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
    •    1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
    •    Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
    •    Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Capacity
    •    16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor
    •    1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Sensors
    •    Accelerometer
    •    Ambient light sensor

Battery and power
    •    Built-in 25 Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
    •    Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
    •    Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Ok, so if you ask me based on these specs it definitely fits the bill be being better than an IPhone and still not as good as a full on laptop. Yes, its a niche market. but if you look at how the Ipad is being marketed its not supposed to eliminate laptops. It does however give the Kindle and Nook a run for its money.  The Three top things it seems the Ipad does very well are Web browsing, Email and Ibook reading. Those three right there are exactly the right niche market if you ask me. I can see the Ipad being taken to college classes and textbooks handed out electronically. With Wifi you can keep in touch with the integrated email and OF course you get full screen browsing of websites ( sans flash) . The fourth and last big thing I like about the Ipad is the video capabilities. I can watch my movies and not worry about running out of juice.  the screen looks fantastic if you ask me. 

So 3G or just Wifi? I agree with Leo Laporte's take on this. Leo stated in a Revision 3 Tekzilla episode that he isn't going to wait as all he needs is wifi. what I mean is get the wifi version and then if you need to  get a Mifi from Verizon and now you have your very own personal hotspot. Easy peasy lemon squezey. Either way you are going tohave to pay for the 3G coverage so why not get the MiFi and now anything in your car or office or beach etc… can get a signal to the Internet. I like how he thinks. Especially since I was saying this to my friends about a day before his interview aired on Tekzilla.

Love it or Hate it the Ipad is here and here to stay.  There were a lot of nay sayers when the Iphone came out and now its the standard phone all new smartphones are compared to.  My only issue with the keynote address by Steve Jobs was no mention of any Iphone 4G or anything.  my contract is coming up for renewal and I don't want to pounce on a 3GS if a bit of prudence on part can end me up with a new 4G model that IS made out of Unicorns and rainbows.

Well, thats it for this episode of Geek Tech Live. Happy February 1st everyone! You can find me on Twitter @geektechlive or Facebook at facebook.com/geektechlive . Subscribe to my RSS feed at : http://feeds.feedburner.com/GeekTechLive    for my Podcasts and  h ttp://feeds.feedburner.com/GeekTechLiveblogposts for my Blog postings.

Talk to you all in about 6 days!! 

technorati tag : K6GAGXJMP6DB

Welcome to a special Edition of Geek Tech Live and boy do I have a goodie for you! I am not sure how I was able to pull this off, but hosts Beau Ryan and Leo Camacho from The RadNerd Show were gracious enough to  drop by and talk about their show as well as games, movies, IPhone apps you name it.  In a word it was awesome! 

You can find Beau and Leo online at the following Twitter and Facebook addresses:

Beau Ryan | Host/Producer
beau@radnerd.com | twitter: @BeauRyan
facebook.com/beauryan

Leo Camacho | Host/Creative Director
leo@radnerd.com | twitter: @LeoZombie
facebook.com/leocamacho

The RadNerd Show Airs on TheStream.tv every Tuesday night at 10pm PST. If you cant make it to their LIVE and interactive show you can always watch the recorded versions. They are up for a streamy Award for best new series as well. 

I would like to state that, as you all well know by now I am by no means adept at interviewing (or even having guests on Geek Tech Live). Beau and Leo were my first guests via a skype call and although i did my homework and research i was definitely nervous conducting the chat.

For the record both Beau and Leo were very easy to talk to and were very very very intelligent and professional guests with a wealth of Nerdy, Geeky knnowledge. I could not have asked for a better first interview of Internet Celebrities on Geek Tech Live. I am looking forward to maybe even more inerviewing splendor if my luck continues.

Ok People! welcome to another installment of GeekTechLive.com ! This episode is brought to you by Zazzle.com Check out my Offers page at http://offers.mevio.com/show/geektech.html for all the Promo Codes to save you money on your next purchase at Zazzle.com!

If you check out Zazzle.com and find Items you want I can help. Geek Tech Live has partnered with Zazzle to be able to get you some great deals on your shopping. Use Promo code GEEKTECHSHOW at check out and get 10% off any orders of $50 or more or for you power shoppers use promo code GEEKTECHLIVE at check out to get 12% off any orders over $75. Its the biggest no brainer in the history of shopping! go to Zazzle.com and get these great deals!

GTL has a Store at Zazzle.com too!  go to Http://www.zazzle.com/geektechlive to see all the Nifty GTL original designs dreamed up by a lunatic like me. :)

Ok on to the Show!

Lets talk about  an Epic fail for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) .

A lone TwitPic of a sleeping ticket collector has created a huge argument from citizens and media on the price hikes of the TCC fares and then to have a sleeping transit worker.. eek! not good.

  this photo made it to Twitter and TwitPic on the 21st and its brought enough media attention that the TCC is now in firefight mode.  Read more about the Pic and the outrage at Mashable.com

Skynet.. ahem.. Google Nexus One censors your Speech to text.

really? I dont have a lot of problems with accidentally recording myself talking to text and then firing out hundreds of emails to my co-workers. alas google is just "keeping you safe" thanks! Skynet!

Reuters discovered that the innovative voice recognition feature converts swear words into a string of # symbols when rendered into text.

Read more on  What the ###: Google's NExus ONe Censors Your Curse words.  Are we F###  doomed? find out at the above link.

 Top Smartphone App LocalEats Donating 100 Percent of App Revenue to Haiti Relief Until March 1

 Top-selling smartphone dining application LocalEats announced yesterday that it is donating 100% of all its mobile app revenue, starting today and until March 1, to the American Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

 Brentwood, TN (PRWEB) January 21, 2010 -- LocalEats, a leading iPhone and BlackBerry Storm dining application and creator of popular website WhereTheLocalsEat.com, announced yesterday that it has released its LocalEats app for the Android platform and that it is donating 100% of all its mobile app revenue, until March 1, to the American Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

Awesome Job Guys! and to you guys reading this or listening to the podcast... go and donate now!

 Zoodak is First to Release A Facebook Application for A Fantasy Stock Market Game

 San Ramon, CA (PRWEB) January 22, 2010 -- Zoodak has just released the first Facebook application that allows users to play fantasy stock trading within Facebook. Zoodak’s Facebook application features all of the gaming and social networking that Zoodak.com has; players can make predictions, create a portfolio, and apply knowledge all without having to leave Facebook or complete a registration. Using a web-mail address book or Facebook account, users can customize invitations and invite friends to play with them.

 “Zoodak combines the concept of virtual stock trading, market analysis, gaming and social networking in one easy-to-use and fun environment,” said Zoodak’s Chief Marketing Officer, Adrian Peña. ZooStreet, Zoodak.com’s social networking feature is one of Zoodak’s biggest advantages over other stock market games. Players can access this, along with all of the the other features on Zoodak.com, including the game, through the application on Zoodak’s Facebook page. Zoodak’s Facebook application is the first online stock market game that automatically logs players on to the site and allows them to engage with the game directly from within Facebook. Instead of having to fill in information on a registration page, the automatic registration gets users immediately signed in, playing the game, and on their way to winning cash prizes in tournaments."

 Found a Great new Internet Television Show and its Live! Cool! or should I say ... RAD!

 I was surfing the net and came across thestream.tv on this internet Tv network I found a really cool show called The RadNerd Show . The hosts are Beau Ryan, Leo Camacho, as well as manning the chat room is Amra “Flitz” Ricketts and dont forget Damian Beurer who does the Comic book reviews etc..

Since this is Internet Television there is no filter so be warned. The nexus one wont be Hashing out the swear words on this show! The previous guest was Chris Gore of Filmthreat.com fame and DVDDuesday on Attack of the show all  live and uncensored...Awesome!!

Check them out at http://radnerd.com

as well as on the http://thestream.tv site Live PST at 10pm http://www.thestream.tv/series.php?s=56

If you want to read up on the hosts here is some links on contacting  them.

Beau Ryan | Host/Producer
beau@radnerd.com | twitter: @BeauRyan
facebook.com/beauryan

Leo Camacho | Host/Creative Director
leo@radnerd.com | twitter: @LeoZombie
facebook.com/leocamacho

Amra “Flitz” Ricketts | Guest Host/Co-Producer/Video Editor
flitz@radnerd.com | twitter: @Flitz
facebook.com/flitz

Damian Beurer | Guest Host/Co-Producer
damian@radnerd.com | twitter: @DJBeurer
facebook.com/damian.beurer

 Ok, well thats it for GTL episode 52. You can reach me at twitter at @Geektechlive send me an email or subscribe to my RSS feeds at Http://geektechlive.com or friend me up at Geektechlive on facebook

ok see you all real soon!

Want access to global radio stations but hate the price of Satellite radio costs? Well, look no further! Move over Bose Wave Radio! Vtech the maker of fine cordless telephones for the home has created an Internet Radio streaming device called the IS9181.  Vtech packs a lot of punch into a very small package.  With the IS9181 you can stream music across your 802.11 b/g WiFi network with "Best-in-Class" range.  You will need broadband Internet service and a home WiFi network router but who doesn't have one of those these days? Once you have it set up the IS9181 allows you to listen to Internet radio from the available 11,000 stations with no monthly fee! Beat that Satellite providers! the ease of use is very apparent, you can access Internet radio stations from Vtech's user-friendly online site or on the device itself.

Now just being able to stream Internet Radio wasn't enough for Vtech. You can also play music from any audio device (i.e. CD player, MP3 player, etc) and connect to any stereo system or powered speakers to access streaming Internet radio or music files stored on a PC or Mac. It even has a Built-in FM radio tuner for local FM broadcast service.

You will also be getting big sound out of that small package since the IS9181 has Hi-Fidelity built-in 3W tuned stereo speakers and a 10W subwoofer with class D amplifier for each speaker that can fill any room. It even has a built in Alarm Clock so you can wake up to radio Brazil or BBC Radio 1 every morning! And speaking of settings... Setting the time on the IS9181 is a snap as you can use Internet Time servers to get atomic clock precision without mucking about manually setting the time. It can run on batteries or included AC adapter power too. This thing seems to do everything and it does it quite well! to top it all off, punch in your zip code and receive 5 day weather forecasts right on the large full color screen. It only weighs in at 4 lbs and is 6.3" x 12.4" x 3.5". Wow! You gotta hear it to believe it. And I did so lets get into the meat of the review!

I received the unit from Vtech and proceeded to unbox it. I would like to say right here that I was not compensated in any way by Vtech for this review. I received a loaner unit and as always it was I that asked them if I could try it out and kick the tires on it since I was interested in how it stacked up to other Wifi radio units on the market. I was actually amazed at how small this device really is. I was expecting something a bit larger and began to get worried that it wasn't going to live up to an level of audio quality i was looking and hoping for. To help reference the size I placed a 25 cent piece in frame in a few shots. as you can see below its small and would fit into any AV shelf system living room or bedroom for that matter.

Small top shot of unit



Controls are well spaced out and looked to be very well designed for the function they were to perform.
top shot of controls

Shot of the Power Cord and Aux Cables


In the box you get the receiver, a mini remote, a power cord and an aux audio cord as well as some assorted manuals, quick start guides etc… So I plugged the unit in and started the boot up sequence.


 
The actual sequence can take a minute or so and I did like the progress bar on the bottom of the screen so I knew how much longer i needed to wait.

Once the system booted up I needed to connect it to the wireless broadband connection in my house.  The IS9181 found my SSID fine and I then proceeded to put in my Wireless key which if you are like me and have a very long one was a bit of a pain in the butt on the scroll wheel. I had to scroll to the letter or number and then press a button next to the scroll wheel to select it. It reminded me of trying to leave a message on my Xbox using the controller. you can do it and it works…. its just time consuming and a pain.

Almost any time I had to input more than a few letters I found myself slowing down a lot to make sure i did not mess an input up and have to redo it. Even the Zip code entry was a bit frustrating.



This by the way could be chalked up to the fact this was my first time using this input system and I was trying to document my progress so your frustration may vary. :)  I will say that it did get a bit easier to use the more i fiddled with the controls.

Once I got the system on my wireless network and punched in the Zip code  and set the Clock via the Internet time servers. I was presented with a nice Menu Screen asking my what function I wanted to use.

The IS9181 will not only stream Internet radio but can also function as an alarm clock or FM radio ( AM is dead right?) . Oh yeah it also has outputs so you can hook it up to a bigger stereo or speaker system if the speakers themselves don't do it for you. I was actually pleasantly surprised on the sound output from small speakers like they are. There was no real good way to get a picture of the speakers but it does have front firing stereo speakers and a down firing subwoofer of bass reproduction.

So from here I chose Internet radio and  had the choice of Genres, Locations languages  most popular stations or My stations ( If I created Favorites)  so I chose locations, then Europe AND then UK

and then finally BBC Radio 1. did I mention there are 11 thousand stations you can tune in to?  I chose Radio 1 as I have Sirius in my car and i figured it would be a good comparison. I was wrong.  Sirius Does a 6 hour time delay on their broadcasts so I could only listen to live radio on the IS9181 and not a direct comparison to my Sirius unit.  Either way the station came in fine and was very clear. There is a short buffering segment when you choose a channel but over all it wasn't too bad of a wait.. just a few seconds while it told you it was "connecting to [Station Name]"



I switched gears a bit now and decided to seek out some lesser known stations.  I was able to find radio stations in Grand Cayman and Jamaica. I ran a speed test on my system and so I can confirm my download speed was never below 5MB/Sec some stations just don't make the trip over the interwaves so well. I would gather this is because of the recording and broadcasting setup they have in their locations. Grand Cayman was a bit on the fuzzy side. Kind of less than 128k stream ish sounding overall.

One other cool feature of this device is the Weather brought to you by AccuWeather.com .  You remember I stated I had to input my zip code? Well , the reason is that the IS9181 will go out and grab a 5 day forecast for you and let you view it while still listening to your streaming audio. neat!

I was also a snap to point the IS9181 to a windows and mac share and stream my own Mp3's over the wireless network to the device. IT does this quite well and the documentation is a breeze to read and understand.

Over all I give this a 4 out of 5 for Functions and a  a 4 out of 5 for not needlessly packing it full of touch-screens or widgets that would break.. I liked the Analog nature of the device all buttons and switches…. and I give it 2.5 out of 5 for usability with the scroll wheel and lack of an Ethernet port.

Ok, so here is where the rubber hits the road… I give it then a combined score of a 3 out of 5  which is pretty good . It's a buy, not a pass or a wait. The price is competitive with other devices and it comes with a full feature set..  Sure, you could stream ANY of these stations if you just had a laptop but for a bedroom or a den with a big set of speakers it fits in nicely and can act as not only an internet radio player but a music streamer as well.  for more information on the Vtech IS9181 check out their website at http://www.vtechphones.com/vtechui/store/music/index.cfm There you can see some cool videos  of Quantic using the IS9181 to created mixes as well as more Gallery images and Full specifications list of the machine.  Vtech has even set up the site to allow you to find stations and get them in your IS9181. Check them out.

Ok, so that was the  review… Lets see what else I scrapped off the walls of the intertubes this week that is interesting.

PDFMyURL I saw fly by on twitter recently! http://pdfmyurl.com/  . This site allows you to essentially take a snapshot of your site or any site for that matter and make it a PDF. IT definitely makes it easier to get pictures into powerpoint slides or presentations by doing this. And almost as easy as a screen grab. All for free!

I also saw that @GeekTyrant who I follow on Twitter was mentioned at the  Cliqe list : 132 People you should be Following  http://criqe.tumblr.com/post/338059349/before-we-begin-i-have-a-few-things-i-would-like  Lots of people you really should be following and a few that I didn't realize were on twitter.

And finally,  Remember that I am now coming to you weekly unless there is breaking news or a really cool interview happens. I would also like to say that I do say "we" a lot when talking about Geek Tech Live. but this podcast is all me myself and I. Its only one person and I welcome any and all comments or suggestions so go to geekteclive.com and email me or comment on a post and help me make GTL better for everyone!

Geek Tech Live is proud to be able to bring you some great discounts at Godaddy.com!

Geek Tech Live Started on Oct 31st 2006 with a shoestring budget but aspirations of Tech glory! Geek Tech live is now on Twitter at @Geektechlive Follow me on there for more news that doesn’t make it into the show!

Godaddy.com Promo codes Offered are as follows:

GoDaddy.com is the #1 choice for Domain hosting and SSL services. They provide innovative , competitively priced products  that deliver the highest quality of service. Their service is so great because they take the time to appreciate and listen to their customers. Geek Tech Live is proud to not only be able to offer our listeners these  great deals but here at Geek Tech Live we also live by what we say. GeekTechLive.com is hosted at Godaddy.com and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Check out my offers page at: http://offers.mevio.com/show/geektech.html

Godaddy Specific Codes can be found at my GTL promotional offers page

Click here for more info http://meviooffers.com/godaddy-coupons-promotion-codes.php?show=Geektech

Or go to the main GoDaddy.com page at Mevio.com http://meviooffers.com/godaddy-coupons-promotion-codes.php

 Ok, now back to the show!

CES is here the Consumer Electronics Show is THE place to see and bee seen by every manner of geek and gadget guy and girl out there. I unfortunately could not get out there this year and it seems like I missed a lot.  Due to some unfortunate circumstances one being CES, all my reviews were stopped as the people I was working with in PR departments across the globe are suggley warm in the warm glow of giant LED TV's or immersed in 3D HDTV... sigh. I really am sorry i could not make it out there.

So, I have been wathing lots of news come flying in and grabbed a few tidbits to listen to.

Nexus One from Google. so, the actual device itself is pretty darned cool over all. A local friend of mine picked one up and gave me a run down as well as a looksee and I have to say the screen is fantastic! some of the integration like multi touch or apps can use some work but the nice thing about the phone is that all the little fiddly bits i coudl fault it on can all be fixed with some software updates.

And speaking of getting a Nexus One ( I know... horrible segue)... Boy Genius is giving one away Free and unlocked! here is what they have to say over at BGR

To quote BGR:

All you have to do to enter is simply drop in a comment and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Official rules are below!

• To enter, leave a comment below using the email address you’d like to be contacted at if you win. Also please don’t enter more than once, you’ll be automatically disqualified.
• The giveaway will run for one week until January 17th at 11:59PM
• The Nexus One is unlocked and was purchased unsubsidized. (T-Mobile USA 3G bands, European 2100MHz 3G band)
• This contest is open to anyone 18 years or older, worldwide. You’ll be responsible for any import tax/duties if you’re outside of the U.S. but we’ll cover shipping

That’s it, good luck!

Link to full BGR article to get your comment in is here http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/01/10/google-nexus-one-giveaway/

Next on the list is laptop Magazine Laptopmag.com  Annoucement of the winners of Best of 2010 CES Awards

The List of "Best of CES 2010" are the following:

Best of Show: Intel Core i5 Processor
Best Notebook: Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid
Best Netbook: Viliv S10 Blade
Best MID/Smartbook: Lenovo Skylight
Best Software/Service: Splashtop 2.0
Best Smart Phone: LG GW990
Best App: Parrot AR.Drone
Best Camera/Camcorder: Sony Cybershot DSC-TX7
Best eReader: Alex eReader
Best Storage: Clickfree C2N
Best GPS/Location-Based Service: Dual Electronics XGPS300 Cradle
Best Accessory: Powermat Portable Mats
Best Portable Media Player: Valups Tivit
Best Home Networking/Entertainment: Boxee Box
Best Enabling Technology: Qualcomm Mirasol Display Technology
Best Green Gadget: iGo Charge Anywhere

read more on the Press Release at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/01/prweb3426414.htm

Lastly I am a movie buff and if you have seen my twees I have taken pics of my Home theatre in my basement a few times so far. so I had to talk a bit about these new pico projectors from FAVI

So I talk a bit about these ultra cool and Ultra small projectors.  you can read more about them at an article at Engadget here http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/favi-rioled-q-and-rioled-v-pico-projectors-launched-the-future/ I had found the original article at Gizmodo but for some reason the article page is throwing an error. Engadget has some pics and info on the RIOLED-Q and RIOLOED-V pico projectors and their specifications. 

and that Wraps it up for Episode 50. I hope to have the green light for uploading the Vtech IS9181 this week which will go into Episode 51 next week. Hope you all have a Gadgety good week. see you in Seven!

I am taking this year to bring us back to the old way of doing things. I got a bit over zealous with my Foley artistry lately and realized you arent listening for the foley ( I hope) but for my information I bring. 

That being said: I am trying this episode with no background music or intro music. tell me what you think at info@geektechlive.com or leave a comment on my blog at geektechlive.com

The Magic Mouse review I agve it 5/10 ... 8/10 for style.. several million points negative for usability.

Dont get me wrong it works fine.. I just find that the mouse "being a trackpad" occasionally will start scrolling my browser screen all over the place. .. listen to my full rant in the podcast

 Next I cover some cool gadget for skiers, boarders and even scuba and swimmers! coming in Summer of 2010! Liquid Image will be unveiling the summit searier snow goggles! Huzzah!

quoting the press release:

The Liquid Image Summit Series is the world's first snow goggle with an integrated digital camera. The goggle contains a wide angle lens to capture all the action while skiing, boarding, sledding or snowmobiling. The hands free unit has a 5.0 MP (2560 x 1920) camera mode and a video mode that records D1 video (720x480) at a rate up to 30 frames per second with audio.

The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle is easy to operate. There is a button for On/Off/Mode and another button for the shutter. To record a photo or a video, simply turn on the camera, choose the mode, then press the shutter button. LED lights inside the goggle indicate the mode to the user. Large side buttons along the right side of the frame allow for greater dexterity while wearing gloves.

Liquid Image Summit Series 335 Snow Camera Goggle
The internal memory has 16 MB NAND Flash. The memory is easily expanded to record thousands of photos or hours of videos by adding a Micro SD/SDHC Card up to 16 GB. Files may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB cable
provided, or through a Micro SD/SDHC card.

The Camera operates on an internal rechargeable Lithium Battery
. Estimated battery performance is 2200 still images or 2:20 hrs of video.

The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle model 335 is estimated to ship late summer 2010, in time for the Winter Ski Season and for Holiday shopping. This new model follows the concept of the original Liquid Image Underwater Digital Camera Mask by creating an easier way to record photos and videos. The concept of integrating the camera into the sports equipment allows the user to travel with fewer items and to keep their hands free while performing sports activities. The integrated camera records a view similar to what is seen, allowing the user to share their experience with other people, and to enjoy their activities to a greater extent because they concentrate less on holding and operating the camera.

The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle model number 335 has an estimated US price of $149.00. Specifications and pricing are estimated at this time.

Liquid Image Co, LLC, is a manufacturer of cameras, electronics
, toys and games that target sports and outdoor activities with an emphasis on Sport Technology and POV Cameras. The corporate office is located in Sacramento, CA, with an international office located in Hong Kong.

 Next I talk about a wordpress theme I am trying out from headwaythemes.com

I am currently using it on geektechlive.com.. check it out and let me know what you think!  I realy am slowly liking this theme and its visual editor. if you are familiar with dot net nuke at all you will get the feel of the "leafs" that this theme allows you to manipulate.  its mostly drag and drop and I only had one small hiccup in the beginning but after that its all working fine.

Once GeekTechlive.com is all done I will do a full review of the theme and my impressions as well. 

Once again... please follow me on Twitter! be my friend on Facebook, write me an email or just post a comment! I am nothing without you loyal listeners!

Coming up in episode 50 and 51 I will be getting my paws on a Vtech IS9181 wifi radio and also reviewing Mozy backup service.

Happy 2010!!!

Chris

Barnes and Noble Nook EPIC FAIL!!!

So Lets start out with our Epic Fail of the Week the  Barnes and Noble Nook.  I am not a media Mogul, obviously since I am not on network TV nor am I even working for the hallowed Revision3 or G4tv or mashable.com. being that as it may I still know one or two things not to do when creating something new and giving it out to customers…. makes sure it can handle the traffic if it becomes an overnight sensation. You only get one shot at this especially when you are talking about going up against the kindle. but it appears a surge of download requests over the 25th jammed the B&N net tubes and left Nook users high and dry with nothing to read… All attempts at downloading an ebook on the 25th  , even by those who got their Nook early,  were greeted with a "Queued: Will complete shortly" message. Not cool. Barnes and Noble.. Hear this well. consumers arrant going to stand for this. in this economy of 5 seconds of fame and rapid fire news and information. people are not going to be "ok" with this level of service. I was almost going to get a Nook…. now I am going to wait and see if Barnes and Noble can not only rectify this sufficiently but also keep things on a steadily improving course.  On Christmas Day you don't want your precious new Gadget to not work. especially if its not a lack of batteries but a lack of servers at the manufacturers that are able to send you your 1's and 0's so you can read your book.  wow…. Epic fail at an Epic Date ( at least in the states ).

ISlate, ITablet... I Claudius?!?!?

Lets move on to a more happier moment in time… say January 26th? are you free? I hope you are because we all have a date with Destiny! the Apple tablet, or cure for cancer or something even cooler will be announced by apple January 26th!  Steve Jobs is soo excited and happy he only took a salary of one US dollar. ok we all know that this is just a nicety as he is making a lot more cash by just being Steve Jobs but if you listen to the song being played I would say we are coming to the bridge and its going to be a solo of Epic proportions… and not in a Fail way.

The big rumor right now is this whole new Domain name that cropped up called Islate.com that was bought by Apple in october. rumor has it the tablet is the slate and the slate is the tablet… and the worm is the spice of course! what this all means to you and me is apple is again working the smoke and mirrors machine and is going to try to use misdirection again to in the end show us exactly what they are planning. either way even if you know whats coming it will be pretty cool to see it unveiled …finally.  the Media event as I said will be held on January 26th at the San Francisco  Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.  rumors again here but Apple rented a stage at the Gardens and is expected to use this venue to announce a new product.  of course Apple and the Yerba Buena Gardens failed to comment on those rumors.  Wouldn't you be surprised if they said..  "oh that? yeah we are going to showcase a new device the Islate… we bought that URL and then the Jobman is going to walk on water..  its gonna be a great party.." yeah… I don't think they are going to be anything less than tight lipped about this until it happens. My only complaint is that I am stuck in the Midwest with no way of getting to the event… of course I also have not been invited either but that is just a small hurdle to jump.

FastMall.com

From epic Fail to Epic possible Win and now to an Iphone app for cruising the mall…. FastMall. This little app came across my attention lasers  while perusing Prweb.com.  the Tagline for this iapp is the following … and I quote

             " For millions of mall shoppers finding a desired store, restaurant or restroom from a directory kiosk can be nearly impossible and terribly frustrating. Multiple levels, ever-changing retailers and crowds of people can all add up to making mall shopping much more difficult than it’s worth. "

Now I don't know about you but I don't really get lost in malls that often… of course I don't go to the Mall of Merica either and that mall I bet I could get lost in. Fastmall has over 30,00 unique stores and more than 250,000 stores overall. the database holds approximately 1250 Malls currently as news ones are being added on a weekly basis. you an even request a mall to be added by emailing fastmall.com via email. Now I guess there are times you may need this. but here is where my interest fails on this app… the app itself is free but the maps range from 99 cents to 2.99. this just doesn't seem like a good pricing scheme as for me personally i know the malls I live near pretty well and if I just take the time to walk them once I will uncover any new shops that open with very little effort. This app isn't for me but if what I said sounds interesting take a gander at the app store or For more information, visit www.FastMall.com Or go directly to iTunes and download FastMall now: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fastmall/id340656157?mt=8

Foursquare vs Gowalla!

Foursquare or Gowalla, isn't that the eternal question? well now mashable.com has chimed in on the location based game,social network, game app. these apps allow you to find and connect with friends and then shout out locations via the app to show where you have been and garner prizes like badges or pins for accomplishing stuff. create to-do lists for friends. Mashable.com has a great article doing a face to face drag down, no holds barred tag team cage match to show you the differences and which you should choose.
And for me I chose Foursquare since I had seen some recent tweets that were geotagged and were from people using foursquare in my city. Alas, if you are like me. non of my friends on my address book or on face book or following me on twitter were actually using foursquare. so for me the app is a bust as it doesn't help me in the slightest. now if you have a group of people using either of these apps the possibilities are endless.  I will post a link to the foursquare vs Gowalla image breakdown list in the show notes. but if you are interested… find the one that your friends do and join in the fun!

Listener Email!

So we have an actual email from a listener slash fan of the show!!  Mark  F. Kofwards of Maryland writes:

    " I have been a loyal listener for a while now, how do you get your reviews and can I request stuff to talk about or review?"

Mark,

First of all thanks for writing in!! you are number one extra awesome first writer! that aside. if you have any tech you would like reviewed or if you are in a PR firm or know someone who can get me a lead on any technology revews please just email me at review@geektechlive.com . Even if you just want to drop me a note and request something to get on the show I will air your letters as well as answer them!

Thanks for the question!  I am actually toying with a discussion board for geek tech live.  I am currently  on Facebook.com at http://www.facebook.com/Geektechlive . join me there for all my tweets and be my friend… wont you be my friend? please?

I am of course on Twitter as well! Follow me @geektechlive

This brings us to the end of another Geek Tech Live show! I would like to thank all the loyal listeners for making 2009 a great year… Year of the Geek! My next  Show will be coming from the Future! January 2010 ! see you then everyone! bye for now!

• 360 News launches Free Iphone App for citizen journalists
• Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 going to TMobile
• Research in Motion slam dunks Q3 up 59%
• Part 2 of my How To podcasting series. "so you really wanna be a podcaster?"

Google and Facebook launch URL shorteners into the fray,
Apple allows Iphone 3G owners to record video with some interesting outcomes
and Google Unveils the Nexus ONE gsm phone brining some hurt to the Iphone? lets find out.

Welcome Back everyone! I am Chris Favero your host and this is Geek Tech Live Episode 46!

This Episode is brought to you by, the letter Z, the number 9 and Zazzle.com purveyors of fine custom designed gifts for all occasions. Do you Zazzle? cuz I do and I think you should to. Zazzle.com has a metric ton of cool items from stocking stuffers to all around goodies like shirts,stationary,cards,stamps and more! IF you check out Zazzle.com and find Items you want I can help. Geek Tech Live has partnered with Zazzle to be able to get you some great deals on your shopping. Use Promo code GEEKTECHSHOW at check out and get 10% off any orders of $50 or more or for you power shoppers use promo code GEEKTECHLIVE at check out to get 12% off any orders over $75. Its the biggest no brainer in the history of shopping! go to Zazzle.com and get these great deals!  

GTL has a Store at Zazzle.com too!  go to Http://www.zazzle.com/geektechlive to see all the Nifty GTL original designs dreamed up by a lunatic like me. 

Ok So right, lets start at the big deal that hit the inter-tubes December 14th. Twitter was all a flutter today with news of the much awaited ,star trek referenced Google Nexus ONE phone. Lots of info is floating around and so far we know a few tidbits from multiple sites like engadget and techcrunch.com . We know it will be gsm.. from photos we can see it has Wifi, the phone has a QR code on it? not sure why but it does. updated OS has 3d features in it  mute and lock screens are similar to Android 2.0.1.  there is a grid icon at the bottom of the screen that opens a webOS style card view of all the home screen pages. the NExus one will have Google Navigation and Google Goggles which if you haven't see the video of that in action you are missing out. One main thing to note is that nowhere on any of the pictures I have seen is it branded with HTC even though it really looks like the HTC Passion.  engadget has more info and boot up videos as well as links to google goggles and updates as they fly in.  Techcrunch.com stated the original pictures they got their hands on were from a san-fran blogger named Cory O'Brien who got his hands on one and got all tweeting crazy taking a pic of the phone for all the world to see. Cory had this to say on the Google Nexus ONE.
"Google Phone = Iphone+extra screen and a scroll wheel. great touch and Android".

Below is a picture of the bad boy from engadget:

here are some of the links to the articles I referenced:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/12/nexus-one-google-phone-picture/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/exclusive-first-google-phone-nexus-one-photos-android-2-1-on/

Also, here is a pic from


We here at GTL would love to get our hands on this phone and do a review before launch…. you hear me Google?! call me on Twitter! @geektechlive Do it!

So what do you think of the Google Nexus Phone? have we finally seen the face of the Iphone killer and its called Nexus? will next years model be called Nexus two? when they named it Nexus were they making a reference to Star Trek? will capt Kirk pop out of a phone and whoopee Goldberg try to get into one? who knows.  All I can say is its a slick phone and at first glance it really looks like it will give the Iphone a run for its money. Especially with the rumor of it being sold as an unlocked phone so you can just pick either T-mobile or AT&T . At least Google is giving  us the opportunity for choice.

Alright, I Am Nexusssussed out. lets move on to Another Google Topic as well as facebook. Both of these media giants are wanting to shorten your URLs. so does this matter? is Bit.ly worried? with the plethora of URL shorteners I just done understand why we would want any more. unless by using specific urls you gain anything like tracking information It seems like both facebook and google are a bit late to this party. Heck you can set up your own URL shortener using wordpress. I have done it and it was easy… and in the end I don't use it since most of my mobile apps that I use shortening on only give me a small choice of providers. In the end they still all provide the same thing. they make URLs easier to manage. but thats about it if you ask me.

Ok so on to the Iphone 3G getting video recording.YAY!… NOT. 

to be able to tell you why I am not impressed I need to also do a small App review for the UStream app called broadcaster that allows this to even happen on my archaic Iphone 3G. Now the actual Ustream app seems pretty darned cool I almost wanted to do a once a month Live Geek Tech Live podcast. that was until I used it on my IPhone. audio works cleanly on the 3G. and Ustream.com works flawless on Android phones as well as with standard webcams. But the Little Iphone that could Sadly cant. its very noticeable why Apple decided to not allow Video on the 3G and only allow it on the 3GS. the frame rate suffers and at times seems like one of them Olde time pre talky moving pictures. to get it even partially usable I had to drop my recording size down to 176x144 which is slightly but not really bigger than a postage stamp on my screen. And even then, video is choppy. now don't get me wrong. it works and it records and it even records on an Old 3G. but the video from a 3G…. blows. its just horrible. I would love to use it but unless I am filming a geological event like two tectonic plates moving apart or a glacier whipping down a mountain at breakneck speeds its just not worth it to me. the upside of all this. the app is free and it works great on 3GS and other devices as well as online with plain old webcams.

There is a great article online at :http://foodao.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/ustream-live-broadcaster-iphone-app/

And that brings up to the end of another installment of Geek Tech Live. I am Chris Favero and this was Episode 46. If you liked what you heard tell your friends and don't forget to tell me as well. I am on Twitter @Geektechlive and you can get this podcast directly on Itunes or at my two URLs of http://geektech.mevio.com/ and http://geektechlive.com See? I didn't even use a Shortener there either. if you would like to have a gadget or topic talked about by me send an email to reviews@geektechlive.com


 

This episode is short on material but long on value! I start out with a geek.com article I found and a short review of the AT&T Mark the spot app.  For the whole story check out the geek.com article here : 

http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/att-launches-iphone-app-to-mark-the-spot-2009127/

Also came across this on twitter of all things and had to pass along the info. @designinformer on twitter has a great article at  http://designinformer.com/17-wordpress-plugins/

I use at least 10 on Geektechlive.com myself! check out their site!

I also started Part one of "So, you wanna be a Podcaster, really?" I talk about how to begin at the beginning, how i made the leap and what i ended up doing. Its all about names isnt it?

Some Cool Gadgets coming down the pipe. I am very much looking forward to the new year and I hope you are too.

Sharkoon USB LanPort 

Every find yourself needing either a bunch of USB sticks or even a hard drive just attached to the LAN? well wait no more! sharkoon has you covered! they are best known for their HDD docks but  now they have the Sharkoon USB LanPort whihch is a usb adapter that connects a usb port directly with a LAN making andy USBstorage device your own personal NAS drive! cool eh?  only available in europe but they are retailing at 22.99 Euros and 36.99 Euros for a 4 port model. check them out here

http://www.sharkoon.com/index_en.html

Twitter gets AR (augmented Reality) app! the apocolypse is here!!!!  

Do you use twitter? do your friend tweet using geotagging? well now you can see  in real time exactly where they are tweeting from using augmented reality!

 pretty cool eh? its 3 bucks at the app store for Iphones but only 3GS as it needs the 3GS's compass to align things up correctly. definitely a cool little app. although i think it is pretty single tasker and if your friends dont geotag their tweets you dont see anything. :(

Crutchfield gets a Mobile site worthy of the electronics giant!

I like crutchfield. ever since I Was doing custom car stereos back in high school and college crutchfield was a great place to get good products for the average guy with some higher end stuff here and there. well now all you have to do is point your smart phone at crutchfield.com and it senses your smart phones presence and sends you to a mobile formatted site that really looks slick. you can outfit your car as well as purchase right on your phone! awesome!

PR release is found here for all the information! 

here is a screen shot

And finally Tmobile CLIQ gets a firmware Update

this update fixes a bunch of issues with battery life, touchscreen accuracy, and bluetooth. if you have a CLIQ and you havent yet. go get this firmware update now!

Engadget article details http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/t-mobile-pushing-cliq-firmware-update-today/

And dont forget to check out Zazzle.com for all your holiday gift giving needs!

Geek Tech live is now on Twitter at @Geektechlive Follow me on there for more news that doesnt make it into the show!

We can now offer all GTL'ers super cool discounts at Zazzle!  10 % off $50 or more plus free shipping and 12% off $75 or more off your purchases of fantastic  Zazzle Merchandise! WOW!

	Geek Tech Live can now offer Super cool Discounts at Zazzle! 10% off any purchase of $50 dollars or more and get free shipping or 12% off a purchase of $75 dollars or more. Check out the Fantastic one of a kind items at Zazzle.com now and claim your discount!
Put in promo code GEEKTECHSHOW for 10% off any order $50 or more when checking out at Zazzle.com !	Read about more offers at my special Mevio zazzle.com offers page. Click here for more details!	Put in promo code GEEKTECHLIVE for 12% off any order of $75 or more when checking out at Zazzle.com !

Todays episode covers the following topics:

Large Hadron Collider pictures at the Big Picture. 

Its probably not going to kill us all (yet) but who knows. While you are waiting for armageddon to arrive browse these amazing images from the boston.com picture section called the big picture. truly amazing and really is a beautiful machine.... even if it will create a super black hole that will swallow the earth and neighboring stars.

  Gizmodo article on Nokia Droid Price Drop . Looks like the Droid is taking a cue from the Palm Pixi and dropping its price prior to black friday and the holidays. 199.99 nets you a brand new Droid with contract. not a bad deal if you were sitting on the fence for this one.

 Is Wired.com getting ready for the apple tablet? read more here at Mashable.com. more rumors abound about the apple tablet conde nast is prepping wired.com to be on the tablet? is it even coming soon? not sure if anyone knows other than apple. I reallly wish we coudl get soem sense of what exactly this will all be and a small timeline. even a estimted date from apple would be a blessing. if not I sure hope it lives up to the hype because if its not as revolutionary and cool and gee whiz awesome as they are making it out to be its going to be the bigest flop of the decade!

And finally, I sadly announce the passing of Edward Woodward . you might have known him of "The Equalizer" fame. I used to Love that show. i think i may need to buy the whole season and start watching it all over again as a tribute to Mr Woodward.  Read more here at the belfast telegraph website.

And dont forget to check out Zazzle.com for all your holiday gift giving needs!

Geek Tech live is now on Twitter at @Geektechlive Follow me on there for more news that doesnt make it into the show!

We can now offer all GTL'ers super cool discounts at Zazzle!  10 % off $50 or more plus free shipping and 12% off $75 or more off your purchases of fantastic  Zazzle Merchandise! WOW!

	Geek Tech Live can now offer Super cool Discounts at Zazzle! 10% off any purchase of $50 dollars or more and get free shipping or 12% off a purchase of $75 dollars or more. Check out the Fantastic one of a kind items at Zazzle.com now and claim your discount!
Put in promo code GEEKTECHSHOW for 10% off any order $50 or more when checking out at Zazzle.com !	Read about more offers at my special Mevio zazzle.com offers page. Click here for more details!	Put in promo code GEEKTECHLIVE for 12% off any order of $75 or more when checking out at Zazzle.com !

I talk about the Palm Pixi review from Boy Genius report and how its almost but not exactly the same as a palm pre on sprints website now!

Moving along to the Crunchpad from Michael Arrington: stay on target.... stay on target!! read more here at Engadgets breaking news!

With a small update and ownership of an internet ready capable Sony Bravia TV you can now get Netflix directly on it! Wowzers! Read more here at this link!

Tmobile launches the Blackberry 9700 and I get all gushy about it... sigh. a technohead i guess can learn to love even if i am a converted Blackberry user turned Iphone apple fanboy. It is a pretty phone and its only 199.00 with a contract. read more here!

And I start out the Episode talking about my review of the Shure SRH440 headphones! this is one headphone review you have to hear to believe! ( see what i did there? I used hearing as the joke for a headphone review... too funny) 

Read more about Shure SRH 440 Headphones at Shures Website and PIck up a pair! I was so enamored with these I had to buy myself a pair of my own!

 And dont forget to check out Zazzl.com for all your holiday gift giving needs!

Geek Tech live is now on Twitter at @Geektechlive  Follow me on there for more news that doesnt make it into the show!

nWe can now offer all GTL'ers super cool discounts at Zazzle!  10 % offn$50 or more and 12% off $75 or more off your purchases of fantasticn Zazzle Merchandise! WOW!

	nGeek Tech Live can now offer Super cool Discoutns at Zazzle! !0% off anpurchase of $50 dollars or more and 12% off a purchase of $75 dollarsnor more. Check out the Fantastic one of a kind items at Zazzle.com now and claim your discount!
Put in promo code GEEKTECHSHOW for 10% off any order $50 or more when checking out at Zazzle.com !	Read about more offers at my special Mevio zazzle.com offers page. Click here for more details!	Put in promo code GEEKTECHLIVE for 12% off any order of $75 or more when checking out at Zazzle.com !

I have to say,  nZazzle Definitely empowers its Sellers, including everyone from amateurnartists to professional photographers to the world’s most successfulnbrands like the Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm (Star Wars), to turnntheir creativity into income by selling everything from t-shirts tonmugs, mousepads, hats, and posters, even skateboards and shoes.   W ith so many products from which to choose, Zazzle is the best source for unique high-quality gifts for everyone  no matter what the occasion.   Heck, we use Zazzle for our own GTL branded gear! check us out at http://www.zazzle.com/geektechlive?rf=238928080148214034

at $150.00 for the numbered MW2 prestige edition it isnt cheap but rarely is awesomeness this cheap!

I even got a good view of what things look like thru the goggles on cam. A buddy at work also bought the prestige edition and since he is a hunter he is really looking forward to finding his tree stands a bit easier this year.

So please check this unboxing out! They are a bit on the small side for Large humans ( read Adults) and they are not over the glasses friendly. but all in all a very nice pair of Night vision goggles for the price and a very cool game as well. 

My Gamertag on Xbox live is Xanaduguy send me an invite and lets jump into the action!

Wired.com did a review on their site of the game as well. check that out at Wired.com

 Use the Code GEEKTECHSHOW to get 10% off any order of $50.00 or more

or

use the Code GEEKTECHLIVE to recieve 12% off any order of $75.00 or more at Zazzle.com

This episode covers the new NASA Iphone App in the app store with a small review of functions and features. 

I then move on to a Lawsuit from Nokia against Apple for GSM infringement. Read More about it at TIPB here!

In other news... these ARE the droids you are looking for!

BGR has a stunning review of the prerelease Nokia Droid! Very cool article! read more here!

On to some holiday Ideas inspired by Going out to Zazzle.com and buying some cool merchandise! Check out all my offers and grab the promotion codes at my mevio promo page at http://offers.mevio.com/show/geektech.html

 Use the Code GEEKTECHSHOW to get 10% off any order of $50.00 or more or use the Code GEEKTECHLIVE to recieve 12% off any order of $75.00 or more at Zazzle.com

 Geek.com reviews Best Buys new offering for wireless audio. Read their review of Rocketfish/Rocketboost. then read more at the Best Buy site and even check out the press release here.

 If you have any gadgets or know of someone who sells gadgets or can get me in contact with a PR department that can get me some Gadgets or electronics to review on a loaner basis please let me know at info@geektechlive.com or on Twitter @geektechlive 

Today we cover some cool topics including my thoughts on the following! click on the images to go to the underlying source articles.

Sprint HTC hero Finally available to presale? pros and cons of the HTC and is it a Palm Pre Killer?

From there we move to the Tale of Woe ( not Whoah!) with Tmobile and sidekicks losing all their data? really? ever hear of redundancy? maybe back ups? well listen on for my thoughts on this rather big mess up.

I Talk a bit about my thoughts on Zazzle and how I use them to host my own Geek Teck Live Gear as well as other crazyness my mind can come up with. 

I have two Custom codes for people wanting to buy items at Zazzle.com 

The first is GEEKTECHSHOW which will nab you 10% off any purchase from Zazzle of $50 or more! 

The next is GEEKTECHLIVE which will get you 12% off any order of $75 or more!

for more information check out my offers page at http://offers.mevio.com/show/geektech.html

I will be reviewing Call of Duty Modern WarFare 2 (MW2) prestige edition next month! I will go thru not only gameplay but also the custom working night vision goggle review as well so stay tuned!

The final thing i wanted to cover was the Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet review!

I bought this for myself to help with some of my designs with my Zazzle store. Boy Howdy! this is a great product. its a little small on the active area at 4x6 but even with that I give it a 4 out of 5. between the precision of the stylus to the pressure sesitivity of the active area. i dont see how i could have lived without one for so long!

Dont forget Geek Tech Live is on Twitter at @Geektechlive Follow me there for more information that doesnt get into the show 

And pick up some geek tech live gear on Zazzle at http://www.zazzle.com/geektechlive

Todays episode is # 38 discussing the following topics:

• News of an Iphone app that steals your number for the upsell makes it to app store?

• App that steals your Iphone Number?

• Federal government going to windows 7. wish them luck and read more here

• 30% dropped call rate in New York City for AT&T
• review of the Polycom cx5000 Formerly Known as the Microsoft Roundtable 

Geek tech live is on Twitter at @Geektechlive and I also have a zazzle storefront open with only one shirt as of this writing at http://www.zazzle.com/geektechlive

Check out my new Cafe press t shirt shop at http://www.cafepress.com/perculaclown 

Two new Phones came out with the ability to use wifi for placing free calls with T mobile

http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00073&dept_id=015&cat_id=035

      http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00332&dept_id=015&cat_id=035

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=A-USBLEDB-1&cat=GDT

 http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=MP4-NXV-WATCH-512&cat=GDT

channels in UK  http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/United-Kingdom.html

 Is it legal? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18449549

the dish I was looking at :http://www.skyvision.com/store/mi1514015.html

as well as an invite to play on xbox live with me .. send me your gamertag to xbox@geektechlive.com and I will add you to my friends list

http://www.coolnewgadgets.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=13

If you areinterested in playing World of Warcraft and joining a fun guild with me drop on by our Guild website at:

http://wardriver.17.forumer.com/

sign up and say Curador sent you!

Run Don't Walk and go get Wierd Al's CD!! it is absolutely a must have for all Geeksters out there!

I play a Dwarf priest Named Curador so look me up when you are online!

I also talk about a cool site I use for UI modding of the WoW interface

I also review the MDP-130 HDTV video card that I use in my own home theatre and discuss some of its features and why I use it.

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Video/mdp130.asp

Since I am still having Video issues I am only on an audio podcast format for now. and until I get some people actually listening to me I am not sure if I am going to upgrade my equipment. I will get it working evenutally but if I get a crowd of people actually wanting to hear more and see me then I can justify the new video source. :)