5G is Here. Should You Care?
from the desk of Rich on Tech
Happy Friday… and happy long holiday weekend!
It’s crunch time for tech: during the lead-up to the holidays there are always lots of new gadgets unveiled! The Note 10 just went on sale, but we still have the new iPhones and Google’s new Pixel phones to look forward to.
Which brings me to our first story.
Apple Event is set for September 10
Apple sent out invites for it’s annual “Special Event” which is happening on September 10th. It’s gotten so predictable that I already had my hotel room booked a few months ago.
The invites are always slim on details but big on suspense: people try to figure out what the image means. Take a look and see what you think. New Green iPhones?
I will be up there in Cupertino to bring you all the latest, which is expected to be a revamped camera with a wide angle lens and better low light photography. We’ll see what other goodies Apple might pack in there.
Speed Testing Sprint’s 5G Network
Sprint launched 5G in more cities this week including Los Angeles. I met up with the company to talk about their approach, which involves slightly slower speeds (believe me, they are still way faster than what you’re used to) but more coverage.
5G is the next evolution of 4G LTE and brings with it much faster mobile data speeds. In fact, I was super impressed with some of the numbers I saw from Sprint’s network, but it was still hit or miss.
It seems like Sprint now has the most 5G coverage but that doesn’t mean it’s everywhere. There’s no need to jump in right now unless you’re an Android person and you’re ready for a phone upgrade. Then and only then would I get one of the 5G handsets they offer from Samsung or OnePlus. Otherwise, I’d wait. Apple isn’t expected to add 5G to the iPhone until 2020.
https://ktla.com/2019/08/30/a-speed-test-of-sprints-5g-service-in-los-angeles/
Chevy Buckle to Drive
Chevy is building a new safety feature into it’s cars: they won’t drive unless you buckle your seat belt.
It’s aimed at teen drivers and parents have to enable the feature. When they get in the car, it won’t shift from Park and the radio is muted until the driver buckles up. If there’s a passenger, they have to buckle up too.
Chevy says with the amount of cars they have on the road, even a small percentage reduction in injuries or fatalities makes a big difference.
https://ktla.com/2019/08/21/this-car-wont-let-you-drive-until-you-buckle-your-seatbelt/
Back to School Apps
The kids are back in school and homework is back at home.
We took a look at a few back to school apps and the one that’s really interesting is from Google. You snap a picture of homework questions including math equations, and it will help you solve them.
From what I can tell, it doesn’t give you the answer outright, but it tries to help you figure out how to get the answer.
I tried to help my kid with his math problems and he told me that’s not how they do it anymore. Guess I’m old fashioned now.
iPhone Magic
Did you know you can copy and paste between your Apple devices?
You know I’ve been writing the book, these are the kinds of fun tips I’m putting inside the new version.
It’s a feature called Universal Clipboard and it uses a feature called Handoff. Just make sure your devices are near each other with Bluetooth on and signed into the same iCloud account for the magic to work.
Want to know when my next book is released? Follow my author page on Amazon!
Odds and Ends
You can now personalize Yelp with your favorite foods, dietary preferences and favorite activities.
Fitbit is launching the Versa 2 smartwatch with Alexa and Spotify on September 15 for $200.
Mario Kart is coming to iPhone and Android September 25.
You can watch free movies through IMDB TV on your phone.
Rich on Tech Podcast
My podcast is where I talk about the tech stuff I think you should know about and answer the questions you send me with the help of Producer Meghan.
In this week’s show:
Apple sends out invites for it’s special event on September 10; Testing out Sprint 5G; Yelp gets more personalized; Fitbit unveils the Versa 2 smartwatch; Apple apologies for Siri snafu. Listeners ask about the CamScanner app, the best VPNs, GPS luggage trackers and how virtual numbers work on the Apple Card.
Take a listen using the link below, search Rich on Tech in your podcast app or ask Google or Siri to “play the rich on tech podcast”
https://ktla.com/2019/08/30/rich-on-tech-a-hard-lesson-on-the-importance-of-backing-up-data/
ValShow SideShow Podcast
I stopped by to chat with Valentine in the Morning at 104.3 MY FM. We talked tech, why you should reconsider that DNA test and what really goes on behind the scenes at KTLA. I always say too much on these podcasts. Take a listen using the link below.
That’s going to do it!
Have a great long weekend and please tap the heart below if you liked this issue!
Rich