Updated Blog Location

Can't believe I even remembered my user name/password for this blog account. I haven't updated this specific blog in quite a while as I have been busy building a new website with its own blogging location.

To keep up with my new blog, bookmark this site: http://hightechtexan.com/web-technology-blog

We now return you to regular programming.

A Face For Radio or TV?

Don't answer that.

While I host 6 radio shows each week I actually began the whole technology schtick 10 years on Channel 2 (KPRC-NBC) in Houston. Clear Channel Radio came a-calling while I was doing my daily TV segments and lured me away to the sexiness of radio.

I still make quite a few TV appearances locally and nationally. Slap a little powder on my nose and sometimes I can be bearable on screen.

I pop up on "Great Day Houston" (KHOU-CBS) regularly as their technology expert. Just this past week they invited me to co-host the hour-long show with my friend, Deborah Duncan. Had a blast and it has been nice receiving emails and calls from peeps with kind words.

So far Oprah hasn't contacted me about being her technology stud but after meeting Dr. Oz today in my radio studio, he said he would put in a good word for me. He is a really nice guy but, alas, I'm not holding my breath.

Here are some links to the segments:

Show Open - Kiss My App!

Q&A With Garf

Save Money Online

Searching For A Soulmate

Get Out of Town

iPhone 4 Released. Oops!

Did you wait in line this morning to get your fourth fix of Apple's iPhone? Millions of productive hours were wasted worldwide but if standing in line drooling for a few hours floats your boat then YOU GO FOR IT!

Anxious to hear your initial thoughts on the new hardware. I downloaded the new OS on my (gasp...OLDER!) 3Gs model last night. I like the new features. Some people are already reporting issues with the new hardware including yellow screen discoloration or white blotches.

I still like the Sprint HTC EVO (needs more batt power) and the Motorola Droid X from Verizon Wireless looks nice. I will be getting that in my hands within the next 24 hours to play with.

Talk to me!

DROID DROID DROID!

Been playing with the new Motorola Droid from VZW a few days. Full review today on my show and interview with VZW Marketing Director.

VZW has no less than 14 more phones being released between now and the end of the year.

11a-2p on The 9-5-0.

The Ultimate Solar-Powered Battery Charger

"If you don't have battery power, you got nuttin'." Quote me on that. Which is why extra batteries, cords, car chargers and sometimes generators can be invaluable especially during emergency situations.

Instead of buying all these accessories and schlepping them around with you (which can add a lot of weight to backpacks and briefcases), new types of universal battery chargers are popping up on the market. They are easier to carry but you never know if the chargers themselves have power.

That issue is now resolved with a simple device I found called powerBAR 3500. It is a multi-functional solar-powered battery charger and luckily we have no shortage of sun. Green is good nowadays which makes the powerBAR even better - renewable energy is the way to go.

Its design resembles an iPhone making it lightweight and able to tote most anywhere. To ensure it is never without power it comes packaged with a charging cable ready to plug in to a computer, AC adapter or car charger. One touch of a button lets you see the internal power with blue LED lights.

While this is a perfect device to keep in your car or office for extra power, this comes in most handy during electricity outages when power is needed to run cell phones, digital cameras, GPS devices, mp3 players or even Bluetooth headsets.

Many of these portable chargers I have seen run well over $100 so the price tag of $59.95 from Fommy.com makes this even sweeter. Never leave home without at least one powerBAR 3500.

Interviews Galore on Saturday, June 27 Show

Don't miss The High-Tech Texan Show on The 9-5-0 this Saturday. In addition to Michael Jackson bump music, we welcome these guests:

• 11:40am Kevin Regan, CEO of Houston-based Exobox
• 12:20pm Shawn Goheen, Goheen Financial Group
• 1:05pm Patrick Vardeman, VP of Accudata Systems

Podcasts of the show will be posted by early next week.

New iPhone 3G S Coming June 19

The S stands for Speed but some iPhone users will be Surprised to learn some of the new features will not be launched when it goes on sale.

Apple announced new hardware and an upgraded OS software (v 3.0) at the company's Worldwide Developer's Conference today.

[from wire reports]
It's got the same design and pricing as the current iPhone 3G model, but has a faster processor that Apple says will load most apps somewhere between 3 to 5 times faster. It also comes in improved capacities, all the way up to 32GB up from 16GB.

The 3G S has an updated 3-megapixel camera (up from 2 megapixels) that has autofocus and autoexposure. It can also shoot video that can be edited right on the device in a similar fashion to iMovie. The video it takes is 30 frames per second at 640x480 VGA resolution, bringing it to spec with most point-and-shoot digital cameras.

The 3G S hardware also gets a magnetometer, which will allow the device to tell what direction it's pointed in. To go along with this, there's a new compass app that will act just like a normal compass. Users with the 3G S will get additional features in the Google Maps application that show which direction they're facing.

Apple also added built-in voice control that can start calls, find songs, and other information on the phone. The iPhone has long been criticized for not having voice support.

This device will come in two flavors a 16GB model that will cost $199 with a two year contract and a 32GB model that will cost $299 with a two year contract. AT&T and Apple will also continue to sell the 8GB iPhone 3G announced last year for $99 with a two year contract. Older 16GB iPhone 3Gs will be available for $149 with a two year contract until stock of that device runs out.

Apple announced that iPhone OS 3.0 will be available worldwide June 17 as a free update to iPhone customers, and as a $9.95 update for iPod Touch owners.

Newly announced was data tethering over USB and Bluetooth is coming as part of the software update; however it will require carrier support, which means some carriers may not allow it. iPhone users across the U.S. were disappointed Monday to learn that AT&T, the only operator in the U.S. offering the iPhone, won't immediately support a couple of key new features in Apple's new 3.0 OS that will be available starting next week. But AT&T says these features are coming.

Users can now rent and purchase movies from the phone. This also works for TV shows. Previously you had to do this on iTunes proper, then sync.

There's a new feature called "Find My iPhone" that will be available only for MobileMe users. It tracks down where your phone is on a map and gives you the option display a message and even perform a remote wipe.

So, do you plan to go out and get a new iPhone?