東西 | dongxi

Losing  a phone –  it’s happened to many, if not most. For those on iOS (iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches), the solution is simple. Subscribe to MobileMe. It’s a free service from Apple, that’ll allow you to track the location of your devices, based on GPS, cell signals, or Wi-Fi. Of course, it only works if you set it up before you lose your device, but there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t install it as soon as you first open the box. (Hint: If you haven’t yet, do it now!)

For Android, it’s just as simple, and perhaps even better. After leaving my phone in a taxi cab one night, I was able to go online and do a remote installation of a location app, called Plan B. That’s definitely one great perk of Android phones – the ability to install apps remotely from a different computer. So long as my phone was still on and had a 3G signal, I’d be able to get this app up and running. Did I forget to mention that it’s free? Once installed, the phone starts using cell signals and GPS to determine its location, sending periodic email updates. Within minutes, I was able to confirm that my phone was in Queens, and to my luck, at the cab company, where I was able to pick it up right away.

PlanB Emailed Map

While getting a lost phone back is still somewhat based on luck (having the right person find it, having enough battery power left, etc.), it’s still good to know that gone are the days where you’re completely out of options. So if you have an Android phone, or perhaps more accurately, without your Android phone, definitely check out Plan B on the Android Market.

Some big news coming out of Japan with the Tokyo Game Show. Not only are there countless games to get excited about, there’s some new info for both the 3DS and PSP Vita. Which handheld will reign supreme? Find out in this week’s Iron Che- I mean, Gigawhat!

Oh yeah, and we got the link to a spectacular fan made tribute to Smash Bros. Check it out!

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Derrick at @derrickc82, Tony at Google+). Leave a comment and check out the links to the show on the blog post

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Show Links

Facebook Subscriptions: http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/14/facebook-launches-twitter-like-subscriptions-lets-you-share-with-unlimited-users/

Facebook to Twitter: http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/14/facebook-to-twitter/

PS Vita Specs: http://www.jp.playstation.com/psvita/spec/system/

PS Vita Battery Life: http://psp.ign.com/articles/119/1194435p1.html

PS Vita External Battery: http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dont-worry-or-do-ps-vita-will-have-external-battery-peripher/

TGS Game Line Up: http://www.ign.com/events/tgs

Super Smash Land: http://geek.pikimal.com/2011/09/14/super-smash-land-releases-today/

Kindle Local Ads: http://techland.time.com/2011/09/15/amazons-ad-supported-kindles-to-get-local-deals-when-idle/

App of the Week

NBC (iPad): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nbc/id442839435?mt=8

While only a year or two ago, dreams of a cable cut and personalized video viewing future tantalized users across the web, that future may be in doubt. This past weekend, several networks, including NBC, TNT, and TBS have released dedicated apps that would deliver content, including full episodes to mobile devices including the iPad and the iPhone. This follows in the footsteps of ESPN and HBO, which were among the first to officially sanction and replicate the TV viewing experience on a portable device.

The big question is, where does this leave Hulu? Hulu, the unwanted child of NBC, FOX, and ABC, was created by these networks to address the matter of online piracy. Yet, despite its successes, the networks seem to do all they can do to handicap the service. Mobile (non-desktop browsers) is restricted to the paid Hulu Plus model. A month ago, FOX announced plans to implement an eight day delay on new episodes. Other networks are expected to follow suit. It seems like Hulu is being made to look less appealing by the day. Now the next nail on the coffin has been placed.

Hulu Plus: Payment Required

As of this weekend, NBC has done what it’s denied Hulu for years – a free mobile viewing experience. While networks have historically seen broadband and mobile as a threat to their established video models (traditional television), they are starting to see the opportunities. Now it’s just a matter of gaining full control. With a dedicated app, NBC once again regains control of all advertising (and profits) to their content. It may only be a matter of time before the other broadcast networks (FOX, ABC, CBS) follow suit.

NBC in full control

While viewers may rejoice in the free content NBC is providing, the cable networks, including Turner (TNT/TBS), have restricted mobile access to verified users only. In short, video is only available to those who subscribe to cable. There goes the thought of cord-cutting. ESPN and HBO have already done the same. One interesting note – Time Warner Cable is not among the options for verification for the Turner app – could this be a response to Time Warner’s first move of their streaming video app? If so, this could strike a blow perhaps to both parties, as consumers have already started complaining on the lack of access (While the NBC app has a full five star rating, the TNT and TBS apps are barely halfway). Still, the bigger issue is – that initial hope of cord cutting, at least for the moment, may have just been dashed.

All about leverage

Until cable companies find a way to monetize individual content and feel secure about offering a streaming-only option apart from any traditional TV subscription models, consumers will remain stuck to their cords and contracts. If anything, in the past few years, media, whether TV, print, or even gaming, has slowly shifted back from free and unrestricted to those traditional subscription models so many have hoped to move away from. So for now, that dream of a network-less future, where one builds a personalized channel based on favorite shows and programs will have to wait just a bit longer. Maybe much longer.

The internet suffers a couple of hiccups as cloud services across Google and Microsoft hit outages. Is it enough to make you think twice before going all cloud? We also talk about Netflix and our favourite online rating sites for reviews on restaurants. Check out our recommendations in this week’s show.

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Derrick at @derrickc82, Tony at Google+). Leave a comment and check out the links to the show on the blog post

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download the Show

Subscribe in iTunes

Subscribe RSS

Show Links

Netflix Simultaneous Streaming Policy: http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-simultaneous-streams/

Google Docs Outage: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2392709,00.asp

Microsoft Cloud Outage: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/09/7686427-hotmail-msn-outage-sparks-doubts-about-microsoft-cloud

Google Music on iOS: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20103901-1/google-music-comes-to-ios-as-a-web-app/

Google Acquires Zagat: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-just-got-zagat-rated.html

Facebook iPhone Update: http://www.tipb.com/2011/09/06/facebook-iphone-updated-35/

App of the Week

Explore 9/11 (iOS): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/explore-9-11/id387986451?mt=8

The 9/11 Memorial: Past, Present, and Future (iPad): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-911-memorial-past-present/id454906377?mt=8&s=143441

9/11 Memorial Guide (iOS): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/9-11-memorial-guide/id457056165?mt=8

9/11 Memorial Guide (Android): https://market.android.com/details?id=org.national911memorial.names