Words from Nerds – Same3Guys

Summary: We were really looking forward to Star Trek: Into Darkness. It was a four year wait. That's almost as long as their five year mission, come to think of it. Plenty of spoilers here, so make sure you've seen the movie before you listen in this week.  Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 49:57 Let’s kick things off with our Mobile App of the Week.   Mobile App of the Week: Beethoven’s 9th App - too cool and makes me think of how many other applications this could be used. Careful though, they are quite large. 880MB for iPhone and 1.4GB for iPad.   Our reviews of Star Trek: Into Darkness Fans deserved better. We waited four years for this? We'll share our not-so-favorable review. We'll look ahead to other movies that we are excited to see this Summer.      

Summary: How about a NASA shirt? We're also making our guesses about what Star Trek: Into Darkness will be about based on trailers. Yeah, these aren't educated guesses. :) Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 41:25 Mobile App of the Week: Mobile Day - tired of the back and forth from email to phone app to dial a conference call number? Cure the problem with MobileDay app. Also does automatic Sales Force updates!   Nerd News: Windows Blue gets a name and a price. iCracked.com for your iPhone, iPad or iPod for local repairs. Ministry of Supply - who wants a NASA shirt? I do! I do! Mobile carriers are gathering momentum to eliminate texting while driving. See how dangerous it is. Star Trek guesses. Make it so.   This Week in Nerd History: May 18, 1910 – The Earth passes through the tail of Comet Halley. May 15, 1928 – Mickey Mouse premieres in his first cartoon, Plane Crazy May 15, 2010 – Jessica Watson becomes the youngest person to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo    

Summary: It's time for Summer movie season! Iron Man 3 gets things off to a great start. We'll give you a review without revealing (too many) spoilers. Some other major movies are in the news, too. Harry Potter is getting more room in Florida. This, plus a cool mobile app for marching band aficionados. And the week in Nerd History. Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 37:06 Mobile App of the Week: Time to plan halftime for the marching band with Drillbook Next from Scott Rundell   Nerd News: The Summer Movie season is off to a great start, thanks to Tony Stark. Iron Man 3 does gonzo business at the US box office in it’s first weekend. What did we think? Tom Cruise signs on to do a fifth Mission Impossible. Are they really impossible if he can keep doing them? Jurassic Park 4 gets delayed. Star Trek: Into Darkness is up next. John really knows nothing about it. Disney contracts EA to do Star Wars games Universal Studios making more room for Harry Potter in Florida. Are you one of the 78,000 people that applied to live on Mars? This Week in Nerd History: May 10, 1869 - Promontory Summit, Utah where the linking of the two railways is marked by a golden spike. May 8, 1959 - The final broadcast of One Man’s Family was heard on NBC radio after being on the air 27 years. The show had completed 3,256 episodes since its beginning back in 1932.      

Summary: A fantastic way to play pong... if you have a skyscraper available to you. Plus news about some routers that just aren't secure. Do you have one? All this and more, including our mobile app pick and the week in nerd history. Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 30:48   Mobile App of the Week: Videoscope App - video processor app with various special effects. Kind of neat way to take some pics. Here’s one of me getting scanned into the Grid. Nerd News: Are those long slow drives home from work boring you to tears? One company wants to ease your gridlock pain by putting a drum kit in your steering wheel. Who needs air bags? Get you a$$ to Mars! That’s what Arnold said. But in July the search will begin for astronauts to go on the Mars Colony Project. Some of the most popular home routers are not secure. How vulnerable is your home router? Want a cool way to have kids learn Java programming language? Check out what Codespell did. Philadelphia provided the biggest pong game ever. On skyscrapers no less.   This Week in Nerd History: April 22, 1864 – The U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864 that mandates that the inscription In God We Trust be placed on all coins minted as United States currency. April 21, 1934 – The "Surgeon's Photograph", the most famous photo allegedly showing the Loch Ness Monster, is published in the Daily Mail (in 1999, it is revealed to be a hoax) April 22, 1970 – The first Earth Day is celebrated.    

Summary: We've got lots of amazing new gadgets to talk about, even if we can't afford all of them. We've got a couple of handy real estate apps and our week in Nerd history.   Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 32:07   Mobile App of the Week: Trulia app - real estate app Zillow app - real estate app   Nerd News: Need to get around town and don’t want to mess with the size and cost of a Segway? Then its time to go solo. wheel. Solowheel. If you don’t like one wheel, how about 4? Zboard, for the skating elite. OK so growing up, I thought the Emperer’s chair in Empire Strikes Back was cool, but I don’t think it was as useful as this: The Emperor 1510 I thought Turbonium was cool. Germanium? What? Got a need to scan some stuff for your 3D printer? Check out the Matterform. Solar panel charger that sticks to a window. XDModo.     This Week in Nerd History: April 15, 1924 – Rand McNally publishes its first road atlas. April 15, 1955 – McDonald's restaurant dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant by Ray Kroc, in Des Plaines, Illinois April 14, 1956 – In Chicago, Illinois, videotape is first demonstrated    

Summary: Our 200th episode! We'll discuss the latest tech news this week, including some huge announcements from Google and Apple. A mobile app that doubles your storage space and our usual roundup of Nerd History. Please join us for this special episode. Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 29:13   Mobile App of the Week: iDouble App - iTunes - Android - automatically uses legacy stacker and QEMM386 technology to double the built in memory of tablets and smartphones.   Nerd News: The YouTube “Contest” that’s been taking place since 2005 is finally nearing its’ end. This makes a lot of scents. Google has a new technology in beta. Google adds Treasure Map feature to Google Maps. GMail Blue takes the mail client to a newer, bluer level. Apple iPhone features new application now supports Android apps too.   This Week in Nerd History: April 3, 1885 – Gottlieb Daimler is granted a German patent for his engine design. April 2, 1954 - Plans for Disneyland park are announced April 1, 1960 – The TIROS-1 satellite transmits the first television picture from space. April 1, 1976 – Apple Inc. is formed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne    

Summary: Are password managers safe? Are they all the same? We'll share some tips. Plus, you'll want to check out this new vehicle that can't be knocked over! And the Looxcie is a cool camera that will make you think of some new ways to shoot video. Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 36:40   Mobile App of the Week: Fit Brains App - iTunes - Brain teaser app with some cool capabilities. Training mode, etc. Matching pairs, coin calculator, missing pieces, shadow shapes.   Nerd News: Password Managers (LastPass) Are these a good thing or a bad thing? We'll share some of our experiences and offer some tips. Liquipel. Possibly the coolest tech I’ve seen recently. Lit Motors. Its on two wheels but you can’t knock it over. Hey, look. It's the Looxcie!   This Week in Nerd History: March 27, 1794 – The United States Government establishes a permanent navy and authorizes the building of six frigates. March 27, 1886 – Famous Apache warrior, Geronimo, surrenders to the U.S. Army, ending the main phase of the Apache Wars. March 29, 1961 – The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, allowing residents of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections.    

Summary: This week, we take some time to answer a technical question that we get asked fairly often. That is, how can I get my data off of my old/dead computer? We'll share some tips and suggest some things to make your life easier. And, hopefully, we can help you avoid ever having to ask your tech guy that same question.   Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 38:00 Mobile App of the Week: Bridge Construction - Physics, flying cars and trucks!   Special Topic: Instead of Nerd News this week, we thought we would discuss some answers to the question we often get asked: " How do I get files off my old ‘dead’ computer." And go... A couple of things to think about: Make sure you use AT LEAST one external backup device. Best solution would be to use both external drive as well as Cloud storage. Make sure your internet connection is firewalled properly. Check out how to set up a wireless router properly. Keep your systems patched properly. DO NOT LEAVE your admin system log on account wide open and let others use it. This is almost guaranteed to cause a problem.   This Week in Nerd History: March 22, 1894 – The first playoff game for the Stanley Cup starts. March 19, 1931 – Gambling is legalized in Nevada. March 23, 1983 – Strategic Defense Initiative: President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles.    

Summary: More reasons to be careful online. We'll tell you how people can figure out a lot about you just by knowing what things you like on FaceBook. And Apple got sloppy with the iTunes store and your data may have been at risk. But there's good news, too. Including a birthday for one of the Same3Guys, a change of pace for the mobile app of the week and a universal translator that would make Gene Roddenberry proud. Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 34:33   Mobile App of the Week: Imagine, Design, Create by Autodesk. A 400MB interactive book with 30 minutes of video about designers, architects and engineers.   Nerd News: What does liking something on FaceBook really say about you? Maybe more than you think. Apple’s iTunes Store was not secure for months. God doesn’t want you on the internet. Either Samsung has a new phone or they found the Tesseract and gave it to a child. Why do bicyclists keep hitting my car? Volvo will stop this problem now! How do kids do their homework now? Here’s how they do it in Camas Ridge Elementary School. The Universal Translator is here, although I bet it doesn’t know all three dialects of Romulan.   This Week in Nerd History: March 10, 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." March 10, 1891 – Almon Strowger, an undertaker in Topeka, Kansas, patents the Strowger switch, a device which led to the automation of telephone circuit switching. March 13, 1971 - Birthday of Same3Guys co-founder and host, Tom Kresic. March 11, 1993 – Janet Reno is confirmed by the United States Senate and sworn in the next day, becoming the first female Attorney General of the United States.    

Summary: The new Iron Man 3 trailer is out and we're excited. We'll talk about the new Marvel and DC Comics strategies for box office domination. Plus, a 007-like USB drive. Limits to Pandora streaming and floor plans to the houses and apartments of some of your favorite TV characters. All this plus our weekly dosage of mobile apps and nerd history! Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 44:19   Mobile App of the Week: MLB At The Ballpark app (FREE for iOS and Android) gives you tons of access and information about your favorite team, stadium and player.   Nerd News: Evernote passwords hacked. Company resets all 50M passwords. Pandora setting limits to 40 hour per month Microsoft may be all over your future house. Buy coffee and donuts with iOS Passbook Hide an 8GB credit card in your wallet Check out your favorite blueprints to TV show locations. Is Christoper Nolan taking over development of the planned Justice League movie? The new Iron Man 3 trailer is out. Looks like it will be a great way to kick off the Summer movie season. The movie kicks off Marvel Phase 2. This Week in Nerd History: March 4, 1957 – The S&P 500 stock market index is introduced, replacing the S&P 90. March 7, 1985 – The song "We Are the World" has its international release. March 6, 1992 – Michelangelo computer virus begins to affect computers.    

Summary: A mobile app pick that will help you stay safe when scanning QR codes. News about PlayStation 4, Internet Explorer 10 and a busy week for Captain Kirk. All this, the week in Nerd History and much more! Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 44:31 Mobile App of the Week: Norton Snap QR Code Reader provides a safer way to scan those short codes with short URLs. It’s free and available for iOS and Android.   Nerd News: Lots of Apple iOS patches lately. 6.1.3 in beta to address lock screen bugs. Whatever happened to quality control? Now Mozilla wants to get into the act with a FireFox OS for mobile devices. Sony announces PlayStation 4 with second screen experiences for smartphones and tablets. But there are more questions than answers right now. Big changes for Microsoft with IE10 for Windows 7 Google Pixel, a high-end laptop? why? Lower the boost on your booster, says the FCC A moon called Vulcan? Shatner may have helped the voting for Pluto’s moon.   This Week in Nerd History: February 28, 1954 – The first color television sets using the NTSC standard are offered for sale to the general public. February 28, 2013 – Pope Benedict XVI formally retires from the papacy, leaving the seat of Peter vacant for the first time since the death of Pope John Paul II.        

Summary: Hacking is a serious matter. But the tweets that ensue once its happened can often be hilarious. Burger King was on the unfortunate receiving end this week as their twitter account was hijacked. John also has a theory on why the iWatch may be a really important invention. All this plus our love for video streaming in our Mobile App of the Week. And much more. Hosts: Tom Kresic, John Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 41:20   Mobile App of the Week: Another reason to love Amazon Prime is the access to great content. The Amazon Instant Video app is available for your smartphone or tablet and is very handy for watching those obscure episodes of Cheers when you fondly remember a scene from an old episode. For example, when Sam Malone tries to sell his Corvette.   Nerd News: Latest hack into iOS6 lets people hack into your phone past the code lock screen. Here’s a video. This is an old hack that resurfaced with the recent iOS update. When will Apple finally get this one right? Speaking of hacks, Burger King’s twitter account was hacked on Monday. While this is no laughing matter to the BK folks, the tweets and the twitterverse responses were pretty amusing. Bots in the home? We’re not talking about Roomba, but malware bots. One in fourteen home networks have been compromised in 2012. Apple’s reign continues selling 3.5M iPhones per week and 1.7M iPads. Western Digital is getting in on the streaming video market. Time to Play. There’s no privacy in the Google Play store. Meteor. Russia. Not good. Check out the video coverage. A “watch” for your passwords would be killer.     This Week in Nerd History: Feb 20, 1933 – The Congress of the United States proposes the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution that will end Prohibition in the United States. Feb 18, 1977 – The Space Shuttle Enterprise test vehicle is carried on its maiden "flight" on top of a Boeing 747. Feb 18, 1978 – The first Ironman Triathlon competition takes place on the island of Oahu and is won by Gordon Haller.      

Summary: The recent twitter hack should automatically remind you to change your password. And don't make it easy to guess. You want your account active so that you can read all of the funny tweets that happen during, say a 30 minute blackout at the SuperBowl. We'll recap the zany events, including some of the most memorable commercials. All this and much more tech news, Nerd history and a mobile app that you need to check out if you are planning any kind of remodel project at home. Hosts: John Kresic, Tom Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 34:26   Mobile App of the Week: Houzz is a free mobile app for iOS and Android that gives you picture ideas for your next home project (thanks to Violet for tipping us off to this app).   Nerd News: Over 250,000 Twitter accounts hacked. Change your password! But it rebounded nicely for the SuperBowl, especially during the half-hour power outage, when everyone took to twitter to become a comedian, and some brands were quick to react. Review of SuperBowl commercials. Which did you like best? Which ones were the worst? Tweeeeeeeeets from Spaaaaaacccceee. Here. What can a Big Mac tell you? More than you think. Earth’s neighbor is only 13 Light Years away... Kepler Telescope and some math. This Week in Nerd History: February 14, 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone, as does Elisha Gray. February 10, 1967 -  The 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified. February 10, 1996 – The IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov in chess for the first time.    

Summary: Maybe the World ended on Monday, because Facebook was down for three hours. Oh no! Microsoft Surface Pros are ready to ship and some kids in the UK are really happy thanks to Google. We've got plenty of cool tech news, a couple of nerdy mobile apps and, of course, the week in Nerd History. Hosts: John Kresic, Tom Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 50:10   Mobile App of the Week: Get ready for the big game with the official SuperBowl Program or SuperBowl Guide app. Like everything else SB related, its expensive. THX tune-up app from the THX Ltd people who invented the spec.   Nerd News: Some people probably thought the world ended yesterday when Facebook was down for hours in the US. Meanwhile, 7 Million U-Verse customers had no connectivity, voice or TV for days. If you’re thinking about getting one of the new Microsoft Surface Pro devices, be aware that you will only get about 36 of the advertised space after the OS and pre-installed apps take what they need. Google donating 15,000 Raspberry Pi’s - not the kind you eat - to schools in the UK. (Thanks to Shannon for this tip.) They also are offering Pi million dollars for hacks. Kindle Fires are the hottest Android tablets, outpacing Nexus 7 tablets. LG’s new Google TV. Scanning everything in your house. Just kidding. We hope. Home automation is getting a little easier thanks to WeMo from Belkin. Got cable TV? Need to expand your home network? Need better signal strength? Wi3 may be able to help. Bionic eyes almost here!   This Week in Nerd History: Jan 27, 1785 – The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States Jan 27, 1939 – First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Jan 31, 1967 - The man, the myth, the legend. Mike is created.    

Summary: Windows 8 upgrade pricing ends soon, so act now. Holy Expensive Transactions, Batman! The BatMobile fetches a handsome price. And some apps to play on your shiny new Christmas presents.   Hosts: John Kresic, Tom Kresic, Mike Kresic Running Time: 29:09     Mobile App of the Week: Flow Free by Big Duck Games. A simple game to connect the dots, with no crossing lines. Reminds me of circuit design!   Nerd News: If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to Windows 8 you’d better do it soon. Microsoft’s introductory pricing for Windows 8 will expire on January 31st. And you won’t get it for $40 after that. Microsoft promises improvements to its Security Suite after it fails another A/V certification test. It’s a hit. The sequel to the popular Temple Run was downloaded more than 20 million times in its first week of release. Batmobile sold. $4.2Million. Cool. Based on the 1955 Lincoln Futura. ‘Nuf said. Who knew that people liked raspberry pi(e) this much? What kind of basketball court would TRON's Kevin Flynn play on? This one, of course.     This Week in Nerd History: January 23, 1957 – American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sells the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O toy company, who later rename it the "Frisbee". January 22, 1984 – The Apple Macintosh, the first consumer computer to popularize the computer mouse and the graphical user interface, is introduced during Super Bowl XVIII with its famous "1984" television commercial. January 24, 2003 – The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.