Shelly Palmer Digital Living - Daily Radio Report show

Shelly Palmer Digital Living - Daily Radio Report

Summary: Shelly Palmer hosts a series of discussions about technology, media and entertainment with industry leaders, personalities and celebrity guests. Enjoy Media 3.0 -- The Podcast

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  • Artist: Shelly Palmer
  • Copyright: Copyright 2008 SLP Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Podcasts:

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 29, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

If you think you’ve watched everything Netflix has to offer, think again. Netflix recently released a major overhaul to its Instant Queue, the place you can save everything you want to watch later. The Instant Queue is now called “My List,” and it’s designed to help you quickly find the next show or movie you want to watch. “My List” is driven by the same engine that Netflix’s recommendations are based on, so after you save a bunch of TV shows or movies you want to watch later, Netflix uses its algorithms to rank and display your choices based on what you REALLY want to watch first. Goodbye, manual sorting of the past! Hello, automated ranking of the future! “My List” also features notifications when your favorite shows have new seasons available to watch, or when a particular title is about to disappear from the Netflix library altogether. The update has already begun rolling out to users, and you should have “My List” by next week at the very latest.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 28, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Google recently added a ton of great new features to Google Now, its personal assistant available in the Google Search mobile app. Google Now has always been best when you’re traveling and need to check a million things at once. That experience got even better, as Google just added in car rental information, like reservation details and directions to the rental center. Trying to catch that 5:45 train home after work but running a little late? Google Now can check the status on that last train or bus home, so you’ll never miss it again. Media junkies can set reminders while they search, which will send them notifications when their favorite music artists or filmmakers come out with a new album or movie. These features are just the tip of the Google Now iceberg, with a handful more great new features added in the latest update. While Google Now is available on iOS, these features – and the fully-featured app – are currently only available on Android.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 27, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Google recently announced it was getting rid of its “20% policy,” which has given us products like Gmail, Google Talk and more. This policy let Google employees work on their own side projects one day a week, whatever they may be. The policy was so popular that many other Silicon Valley companies followed suit and encouraged out-of-the-box ideas. So why did Google get rid of the idea? Google has shifted its focus into “doing fewer things, better” and, according to some employees, the process for getting a side project up and running had become more difficult than ever. Engineers had to seek approval for everything and were responsible for their projects’ maintenance. Management had also reportedly been discouraged from green-lighting independent projects. Google’s still in the innovation business – its Google X facility works on “secret” projects, and Google has launched Google Glass and Project Loon this year. While the company’s 20% policy may be a thing of the past, Google will always look to the future.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 26, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Sony’s PlayStation 4 will launch at long last in the United States on Friday, November 15 for $399. Two weeks later on November 29, it will be available in Europe for 399 Euros. First announced in late February, Sony’s newest console will launch with 23 games available on Day One, with another 10 being released by the end of 2013. This holiday season is one for Sony, as Microsoft will be releasing the Xbox One. In 2006, Sony’s PlayStation 3 had a very rocky start as many gamers were off-put by its $600 price tag. This time around, Sony seems to be pushing all the right buttons by selling its new system for $100 less than the Xbox One. Gamers are very happy and are pre-ordering the console in droves: pre-order counts for the PlayStation 4 have already passed the total launch sales numbers for the PS3. If you want to grab the latest and greatest, Sony’s PlayStation 4 will launch in the US on November 15 for $399. Good luck finding one.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 23, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

If the last thing standing between you and a brand new Xbox One this fall was a fear that you’d be watched by the government, you’re in luck. Last week, Microsoft pulled yet another one-eighty for its upcoming console, announcing that the Xbox One no longer requires the Kinect camera plugged in for the system to work. Many people didn’t want Kinect watching them at all times, and apparently Microsoft took enough heat to reverse course. This is the latest in a long line of reversals by Microsoft regarding the Xbox One, as it also changed course about used game policies and mandatory online check-ins over the past few weeks. In the wake of PRISM, people have become more sensitive than ever to guarding their privacy, and an always-on Kinect was too much for some people to bear. But just about every laptop and smartphone we use has a camera staring right back at us… so are our lives really any more private with this latest reversal by Microsoft?

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 22, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Need motivation for some more exercise? Spotify can do the trick. It’s super easy to create a Spotify playlist based on the beats per minute in your favorite songs. First, sign up for a Spotify premium account. It’s $10 per month and worth every penny. Create a playlist called “Walking Music” or something else you’ll recognize. Head over to walk.jog.fm, which has a great database that lets you search by song, artist or BPM for whatever music you want to add. I like to stick around 120 BPM, which is “march tempo” and lets me walk about 3.7 miles in an hour. Once you find a song you like, click “Listen in Spotify.” If it’s the right version, drag it to your new playlist. Add about 20 songs this way, then head into your Spotify app’s settings menu and slide the crossfade slider to 12 seconds. Sync your smartphone with the app and make sure the music has downloaded… you’re all set for a great morning walk! Let me know how it goes.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 21, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

If you’re still using Windows XP, it may soon be time to upgrade. Microsoft recently announced that it will no longer patch the twelve-year-old operating system come next April. This means that any hacker who wishes to exploit Windows XP will be able to do so without having Microsoft patch the issue. Currently, any new vulnerabilities are investigated by Microsoft, which then releases a patch to users after figuring a way to combat them. But come next April, Microsoft will no longer release patches for Windows XP, meaning the operating system will be open to any hacker with a newly-discovered exploit. This means it will be open season for the hacker black market, and a rough time for anyone still using Windows  XP. So what should you do to prepare? Most Windows computers purchased in the last several years have Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 installed. If you’re running a computer that pre-dates Vista, it’s probably a good time to upgrade your rig.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 20, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Google’s about to get a whole lot more personal. The company recently began rolling out an update that draws info from your Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Plus account to serve up personalized search results for things like your flight times and reservations. It’s sort of one-stop Google shopping for your life, as you can check the status of your flight or remember what time your doctor’s appointment is by Googling it. The update is already available to many US users on their computers, and is making its way to smartphones and tablets now. While the new feature is convenient, it raises questions about privacy. Forget to log out of Google on your work computer? Everyone can find out what you’ve ordered and what you plan on doing this weekend. The feature can be turned if you don’t want Google to be able to collect this sort of data, though, so if you want to keep your private life private … well, relatively private, anyway … you don’t have to worry.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 19, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

A golden iPhone? With fall drawing near and a new iPhone … or two … almost surely on the horizon, the internet’s rumor mill has been working overtime lately. Last week, it was reported that we won’t see just one new iPhone, but instead two different models, when Apple unveils its newest devices on September 10.  If the latest report from All Things D is accurate, we’re likely to see the iPhone 5S in just a few short weeks. It doesn’t look like it’ll have a bigger screen, but the new iPhone may come with a fingerprint reader and be offered with up to 128 GB of storage available. Alongside the 5S, we may also see the rumored iPhone 5c, a more mid-range, affordable iPhone designed to help Apple reclaim some market share. Whatever Apple has up its sleeve, we’ll know soon enough, as the company has made it a habit these past few years of unveiling its newest smartphones in the fall.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 16, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

A few months back, Samsung showed off a brand new phone: the Galaxy S4 Active. It had a solid processor, the same gorgeous screen and many of the other features that makes the original S4 stand out. But the S4 Active was also touted as dust-proof and waterproof up to three feet for up to half an hour. As it turns out… that’s not exactly the case. Enough users experienced problems with the S4 Active that AT&T, the exclusive carrier for the device, has created a program to replace Galaxy S4 Active phones that show evidence of water damage. The program entitles you to a one-time exchange for another S4 Active, which will hopefully stand up to life and the great outdoors a little bit better. Samsung and AT&T have said that the phone is “whatever-proof” and said it is particularly useful for taking underwater photos and videos. So far, that hasn’t been the case, so if you find yourself with a water-damaged S4 Active, head into AT&T for a free replacement.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 15, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Storage space on your iPhone is precious. Even with the endless possibilities that services like iCloud and Dropbox can provide, there’s still a finite amount of space on your phone itself. If you’re looking to free up space in a hurry, perhaps to capture your kid’s Little League game or first ballet recital, there’s an easy way to clear out your iPhone’s Camera Roll. Before you wipe your device clean, though, make sure to back up any photos or videos you want to keep. Once you’re all set, head into the Settings app, find the Usage option in the General section. Scroll down to Photos & Camera, where you’ll see the amount of storage your digital memories are using. To clear them from your phone, swipe your finger across the Camera Roll icon to reveal a Delete button. Clearing your Camera Roll is irreversible, though, so be absolutely sure everything you want is backed up. After you tap delete, your iPhone is ready to use again… and fill up with new memories.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 14, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

Google’s new Nexus 7 may be the king of the 7-inch tablet market. With a killer screen and twice the processing power of the first-gen Nexus 7, Google’s newest tablet is a great device. Many users, however, are reporting problems with the GPS function on their new Nexus tablets. Users say that their device can locate a GPS satellite with no problem and navigate them part-way along their journey… until the tracking suddenly stops and the tablet finds itself unable to locate the satellite again. If you’ve picked up the new Nexus 7 and are running into this issue, some owners have reported that restarting their tablets can help, while others have said swapping their unit out for a brand new one still gives them the same problem. Google’s aware of the issue and is working on a fix, but there’s no timetable for a fix or patch. In the meantime, if you need turn-by-turn navigation for a trip, steer clear of using the new Nexus 7.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 13, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

As we get closer to the launch of the Xbox One this fall, Microsoft announced that access to its new console’s coolest new features – the system’s DVR and TV guide, NFL on Xbox and Skype video calls – will require a paid subscription to Xbox Live Gold, which retails for $60 per year. While some are outraged at this requirement, this mentality is nothing new for Microsoft, which has always required a paid Xbox Live subscription to access things like online multiplayer or the best sales on digital games. But Microsoft is making it far cheaper for families to access Xbox Live with ‘Home Gold,’ which only requires one yearly $60 subscription to extend the service’s best features to everyone in your home. On the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s current console, every person who wants to watch Netflix or play online must pay a yearly fee. While Microsoft may be continuing to hide its best features behind Xbox Live Gold, at least it’s making it easier and cheaper for us all to enjoy the benefits.

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 12, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

If you use Google Chrome, your passwords aren’t as private or secure as you think. While it’s convenient to have Chrome save your logins and passwords, anyone can see all your saved info with just a few clicks, simply by heading into Chrome’s settings. All you’d need to do to uncover a saved password is click “Show” next to the associated site. That’s all it takes. Other major browsers, like Mozilla’s Firefox, have built-in ‘Master Password’ features, which require further authentication before revealing any saved passwords. While it doesn’t seem like Google is rushing to change this security oversight, there are third-party options you should look into if your computer is used by anyone else you don’t completely trust; programs like RoboForm link to your browsers and store your login information more securely behind a master password. A dedicated enough hacker will uncover your saved passwords no matter how secure they are, but do you really want to leave the front door unlocked for anyone to walk in?

 Shelly Palmer Radio Report – August 9, 2013 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59

While the cost of 3D printers is dropping all the time, buying one is still a pretty significant financial investment, especially if you don’t have a lot of wiggle room in your budget. But if you’ve been thinking about buying a 3D printer, a new study suggests: yeah, you probably should. Researchers at Michigan Technological University looked at 20 common household items – things like smartphone cases and kitchen accessories – and calculated that 3D printers can pay for themselves within a single year. The researchers looked at the lowest and highest prices for all of those items and figured out how much it would cost to print one of each. The total cost ranged from $312 to almost $2,000, but a 3D printer would be able to manufacture all 20 items for just $18. Sure, 3D printers can be expensive, but if you find yourself in need of small – yet costly – knickknacks here and there, being able to create those parts yourself can save you a lot of money in the long run.

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