The Geekcast

The Geekcast


The Geekcast #408 - We Review… Something

February 18, 2015

 


News


 


AT&T announces it will match Google Fiber’s price and speed in Kansas City

 


At midnight this past Sunday, AT&T announced it would be bringing its Gigapower internet service to Kansas City, offering to match exactly the price and speed offered by Google Fiber. For $70 per month, customers can get connectivity of 1 gigabit per second, and for $120 they get a basic TV package as well. The rollout highlights how increasing competition is benefitting consumers. After the arrival of Google Fiber, the dominant player in Kansas City, Time Warner, has tripled its speeds without raising prices.


 


http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/17/8050935/att-google-fiber-kansas-city-gigapower-internet-price-match


Report: Apple has “several hundred†staffers building an electric car

 


On Friday, recent rumors about an Apple-branded automobile exploded with allegations that a staff of “several hundred” employees was working on an electric car inside of Apple headquarters.


The Wall Street Journal’s report cited “people familiar with the matter” in describing a project named “Titan,” and while the report acknowledged the possibility that such a car might never see release, or at least take years to launch, its sources claimed that the specific people put onto the Titan project—including former Ford engineer and current Apple product design vice president Steve Zadesky—were a sign that “the company was serious.”


The report also noted that Apple recently hired former Ford designer Marc Newson; if Apple is indeed building a car, then Newson’s hire starts making even more sense. In addition to his watch design efforts, Newson designed the stunning 021C concept car for Ford. To further cement its assertion, the WSJ report claimed that Apple executives have held meetings with “contract manufacturers for high-end cars.”


 


http://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/02/report-apple-has-several-hundred-staffers-building-an-electric-car/




Geek this Week


 


Aaron – Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver, Guardians of the Galaxy, BACK TO THE FUTURE MONOPOLY, SUMMER 2015, $39.99


 


Gozer – Kingsman: Secret Service, SNL 40th Anniversary & App


 


Review:


 




  • Yamaha RX-V477


- 575W 5.1-Ch. Network-Ready 4K Ultra HD and 3D Pass-Through A/V Home Theater Receiver -

-ethernet


– 6 HDMI inputs ( labeling inputs )


– 1 USB


– airplay


– 4K & 3D pass through


– volume display on screen


– Xbox remote compatible with receiver, volume and mute


– Extra bass function


– internet radio, Spotify & Pandora


 


On the radar


 


Gozer – Evolve & BTTF iPhone 6 case


 


http://www.cnet.com/news/its-time-for-a-back-to-the-future-delorean-iphone-6-case/


 


Aaron – Getting back to playing Rocksmith




Listener Feedback & Items of Note:


 


I agree with you that Samsung should not try to copy Apple, but I think right now with the introduction of larger iPhones, it’s Apple who is copying Samsung. I really like using the Stylus — takes me back to the Windows Mobile days, but it’s much better now. The screen on my Edge is MUCH better than the iPhone Plus. I had to use the iPhone Plus side by side with my Edge for work, the size is the same, but my Edge has a higher PPI and it’s noticeable. Still, it’s your preference, you may think Apple is innovating, to me it looks like the innovation stopped with 5S, now it’s just catchup with Android — Samsung Phablets in particular. The size of the phone — I thought it would be a big deal, but depends on the feel — the LG G3 the screen on that is also WQHD — like the Note and Edge, but it has sharp unbalance corners, no comfortable to hold and the display itself is washed out. The Edge is very comfortable, I’m 5’6â€, I have freekishly big palms for my height, so maybe it’s easier for me to hold it, but I find that after a week you get used to it, and going to something smaller, you miss the screen size.


Disney — we just came back from Orlando. Hit up the big spots with our 17 month old daughter, she loved the rides we could take her on at Magic Kingdom. I wish I knew about the sales at Disney stores (did not see any there), or I would have definitely stocked up on Little Mermaid stuff. I’d be shocked if Disney is strapped for cash, the amount of people at these parks is ridiculous, a sea of strollers. It feels like they’re printing money.


 


Got to run outside in Florida 3 times, lovely, back to the treadmill in frozen Connecticut.


– Yakov


 


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