Acandescent™ technology

First there was incandescent, then CFL (spiral), then LED,  now something new Acandescent. TM.    

http://finallybulbs.com/

Replicating the incandescent bulb but claiming to offer

1.     15 X the life of incandescent

2.     lower operating costs

3.     instant on

4.     15,000 hours life

5.     recyclable

6.     shaped like the old incandescent

7.     sends light in all directions like the old incandescent (something I found my latest LED purchase does not do, it throws light only up .. or if you put it in an upside down fixture, mostly down)

Haven’t studied or used this product yet, just saw a news story on it.  It is supposed to sell for $10 retail, for a 60 watt equivalent.  

GoTenna new Smart Phone Product

GoTenna  a new product, about to be released

1.     each person going out in the wilderness carries a stick device about the size of flat carpenters pencil

2.     these “sticks” connect with your smart phones via BlueTooth

3.     the “stick” has a long range radio signal that then connects you with other “sticks” …   so, while you can’t communicate with the broader world, but you can connect with your fellow hikers or adventure friends in the same wilderness (who have sticks).  Range:  About 50 miles in ideal conditions, doesn’t work if you are behind a rock or a mountain from the fellow hiker.

4.     bonus idea, works in foreign countries where you don’t have access to the cell signals --  lets you stay in touch with your friends if you get separated by accident or something

5.     works when all cell towers are out – like in tornado emergencies or whatever

Pre orders now accepted $150 per “stick”….

http://www.gotenna.com/s

Nice video --- shows how easy this might be -- just hook it on your back pack, and suddenly your smart phone (in your pocket?) is now connected with your other hiking friends.  Pretty clever.  You can send text messages via the sticks and yet it seems as if you are just using your smart phone in the normal way.

Call Your Mom !!

http://www.springwise.com/app-moms-power-lock-kids-phones-screen-calls/

Call your mom !  App that allows parents to remotely shut down their child’s phone until they call home (or mom).  That gets their attention, I would bet. 

Someone joked, and it isn’t funny, that the best way to have a family meeting these days, is to go to the room with the wi-fi modem and unplug it, and in 5 minutes every kid in the house will be in that room to see what happened to the signal.

New Tech News Phones and Phone Payment Systems

The largest Chinese cell phone manufacturer has a new phone out ($215) that runs on Android, and mimics the iPhone 5-s to a very large degree.  Very thin, very well made, fabulous screen definition, and icons that mimic the iPhone.  So say the reviews.  This phone will not be available in the USA for now, of course, but it probably is telling about the future -- which could be price drops on all smart phones.  Smart phones, in total, now outnumber humans on the planet, so I have read. So they are everywhere.  Many people in Africa use them in lieu of bank accounts -- they can exchange money via their smart phone to pay bills, buy things and repay loans.

Chick Fil A just announced they will take smart phone payments (soon ?) at their counter.  I asked how, and they didn't know for sure, but they think a patron will pre-pay $30 or more to Chick Fil A and they will keep the cash (no interest paid on this pre-pay) and then allow the patron to pay using the smart phone at the cash register.  Just how that will take place I am not sure.  But why would a patron do it?  Well, the employee told me that by paying in this manner, Chick Fil A will reward a patron (customer) with one free sandwich with ever 5 purchased, or something like that.  It could also be useful for teenagers, who don't carry much cash, don't have credit cards, and whose parents might pre-load their smart phone with $100 so they can buy food for a month at Chick Fil A --- but not other things a credit card might be used for.  Parents might like that restriction.

I know some health related credit cards are restricted, and you can only pay for certain SKU's at places like Walgreens and Wal-Mart with that card.  Such as over the counter medicine or drugs from the pharmacy.  Chick Fil A is just expanding on that idea and removing the plastic altogether.  Word on the street is that people will give up wallets in the future to pay everything (or most everything) with one device.  That would be, of course, the one device everyone has - a smart phone. Not everyone has a drivers license or a wallet with cash in it.

Shout Out -- Audiable (now an Amazon Company)

First, after a considerable absence I re-joined Amazon's Audible.  As you may know, it has a fabulous APP now for smart phones, and iPod Touch devices.  The experience now is vastly better than when I didn't have those apps, and Amazon was not the owner of the company.  Audible still has an amazing array of audio books, even the Wall Street Journal is available, you choose the articles.  With cell phone use on the highways coming to an end soon, I think being able to listen to New York Times, or Wall Street Journal in your car, on the way to work might become more popular than in the past. 

Last night I downloaded a Bill Bryson book I wanted to read (listen to).  A Walk In The Woods.  I have listened to 3 other of his books, and loved them.  I pay $7 a month for Audible, and gain "credits", I can use to purchase audio books.  This one was $20 to non members, but only 1 credit for me, and I had 3 credits in my credit-bank.  What a nice system.  Whether walking for exercise, or riding distances, or even in town, I enjoy the extra knowledge and enjoyment I receive from this system.

$3 A Month Cell Phone Service ?

A French company, Iliad, has cracked a big market in France with the equivalent of a $3 a month cell phone service.  Competitors are scrambling, many have met the price.   Now they are seeking to buy part or all of T-Mobile in the USA to expand here.  Already T-Mobile is the leading price cutter here, and Verizon has lowered some prices to stay competitive.

Illiad thinks the US cell phone monthly pricing is way too high; I couldn’t agree more.  Illiad would like to cut costs and do away with paper monthly statements and things like that to get the price down.  I am not sure that appeals to me, but certainly my total cell-data package is too pricey for what it must cost Verizon to service my device(s).  And I don’t even get cell signal in every room in my house, only near some windows. 

Average costs of USA cell phones today is $47 a month, compared to about $30 average in France. Sprint is talking with T-Mobile about merger, and is thus not showing much interest in Illiad’s idea to buy a big percentage of the company. “Start small and disrupt something big” is Illiad’s philosophy.  Source  Wall Street Journal  

Uber Strikes Columbia

Usually Columbia is not on the leading edge of things, and Uber is well established Nationally, but it did open in Columbia yesterday morning (July 10, 2014).  As you know it works from an APP on your phone, and you don’t pay the car driver, it auto charges your credit card including tip, if appropriate.  Easy.  A little cheaper than cabs, perhaps and more up to date.

Uber shows you a photo of the car that will pick you up and a photo of the driver, who has been pre-screened for background and safety.  Also you rate each car and driver after you ride, and bad experiences eliminate drivers from the system (they say).  The APP shows you on a moving map the car that will be picking you up, so you know where it is by looking at your phone.

Uber says that soon it will be dispatching these  cars (cars owned by the drivers, but not officially city registered cabs) for pickup within 5 minutes.  Many drivers are part time, but they work in peak hours to give customers better service (theory, anyway).

There’s Uber and UberX  the latter is cheaper, not sure of the exact difference.  One big thing, you can add riders, there’s no up charge for other riders, and split the fare.  But it has to go on one person’s credit card of course. 

The news is your first 5 rides are FREE … but you have to use them by July 24, 2014 (Columbia, SC only)  Cab owners and operators say the insurance is not as up to date as cabs, Uber says it has a $1 million policy on each car being used, no cost to the driver, and no deductible (to driver?).  Check all the details if you are interested, possibly on their website.  The local Uber manager says “response to the new service has been tremendous” (State Paper).    

I have read that Uber might use "demand pricing", so that, in a rain storm in a busy city, they might charge more for a ride than other times.  The company says this motivates drivers to work in rain storms and times they might otherwise slack off.  Riders pay the premium.