Polkast is a new P2P approach to file access that you control. Your files are stored on systems that you control, and it doesn’t matter where the files are stored. With Polkast, you get anytime access to all of your files from any of your computers or mobile devices.

And, on your local network, files transfer at 10x the speed of a traditional upload/download from an external cloud service. And Polkast indexes and enables you to search for files from your mobile device- then pull just the one you need.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

That’s the tech story. What that means is that all you have to do is ask the time, date, weather or temperature. Ivee can generate three different sleep sounds, and understand 35 commands. Price class $50

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Connected devices – tablets, streaming video, smartphones, thermostats – are growing rapidly, with the average home deploying over seven devices on a home router – almost doubling over the past year. Netgear announced eight new products, optimized to serve all of these devices. Products such as the Netgear N-900 Router give better range, and the ability to give priority to certain types of traffic, such as gaming or VoIP.

In the interview, we also discuss PowerLine Carrier as an alternative in the home. Netgear just announced a 500Mb/sec version, with a 1Gb system on the roadmap.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Animation App from the Pros

For the past 18 years, Toon Boom has been the automation software behind much of the animation by Disney and famous animated series – including Sponge Bob and the Simpsons. Vector based graphics delivers a very high level of quality that is now available to consumers on mobile devices. With an entry price of $29 on the ipad, it’s an introduction to animation tools that’s affordable and fun.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Home automation, entertainment, mobile devices, routers, cable modems, security, and a whole range of devices are a part of the connected modern home. That’s the mission of the Universal Plug and Play Forum. It assumes IP networking, and then gets them all working together. A lot of it is behind the scenes, without the user being aware of any specific app, insuring that devices interoperate. Over a thousand companies are part of the consortium. A number of other organizations (Suchas DNLA) or devices or apps such as Skype, X-Box or Playstation transparently opening correct ports and authorizing activities within your home network.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

A tiny grab and go mouse, that is also a presenter! At a $69.99 price point, it needs to be in the bag of every road warrior. It is a basic wireless mouse, but when you lift it from the desktop, you have the ability to advance or reverse slides that are being displayed on your laptop or projector screen.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Contour has long been known for high performance sports and adventure video – but they were concentrated at the premium end of the marketplace. Not any longer ! The new ContourROAM has an MSRP under $200 ! And, they’ve paid attention to ease of use, introducing one-step recording. Just slide the record switch, and you’re instantly filming. Easy as that. It’s the ideal camera for a fun, stress-free experience capturing your adventures anywhere life takes you.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

This app from iOnRoad turns your Smartphone into a Personal Driving Assistant. This app (Android now, iOS to come) mounts in the center of your windshield and uses the built in video camera to look at the road ahead. It then computes the closing speed to vehicles or objects ahead and sounds a warning if things are moving too fast.

What does this mean ? It means that there are another pair of ‘eyes” on the road immediately in front of you. Collision warning, lane departure warning, and when you leave the car, a handy feature that allows you to locate your car when you come back after a flight.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Privacy Star allows you to block numbers from annoying pollsters and solicitors, and if they get really obnoxious, report them to the Federal Trade Commission. Similar calls from bill collectors including date, time and frequency are logged for action.

There’s also an optional Do Not Disturb mode, which forwards all non blocked incoming calls to voicemail with the option to send a custom text message acknowledging the call.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.