Google Memorial

A memorial to abandoned Google projects.

A few that I impacted me...

Google Reader - I'm still surprised they killed Reader. I'm happy with Feedly.

Goog-411 - I used to encourage my users to try Goog-411 instead of paying about $2 for directory service!

Sparrow - a mail client app that they acquired. I still run it on my iPhone.

AnyTone Tech ANILE-8R: Hans Review

Hans kicks off his series of reviews of the new AnyTone Tech radios with the ANILE-8R. Click the link for the full review, but he concludes:

"Anytone Tech’s ANILE-8R is a very good radio and can make you forget the Baofeng BF series."

Get your radios here.

AnyTone Tech TERMN-8R: NOAA Weather

Maybe not the feature most folks are interested in, but I really like the pre-programmed NOAA weather frequencies in the TERMN-8R (and OBLTR-8R). Press the "A" Function key then press the "#" Bank/MSK key. Press the "*" Band key to cycle between Weather Off (WE OFF), Weather On (WE ON), or Weather Alert (WE ALT). Use the channel knob to switch between the seven NOAA frequencies.

When configured for weather alerts, the TERMN-8R will monitor NOAA on the sub-band while you can still listen to another frequency on the main band. (The note in the manual says that OBLTR-8R can monitor only one live/active frequency at a time, so the main band is muted on RX. You could still TX, but you can't hear anything while it is monitoring for weather alerts.)

AnyTone Tech: I got mail.

Speaking of AnyTone Tech... I got a couple of boxes today.

Ucontrol - Universal Remote Control for your Uniden Scanner

Mike's revealed more about his project:

You will now be able to control your Uniden scanners with a remote control. Most if not all menu functions on the scanner will be ported over to the remote control. 

So if you want to hold on a channel, raise the volume or even use the direct entry you can do so with almost any remote control you choose. 

We have not decided if we will add this to the remote head hardware or make this a standalone add on to the scanner itself. This will all be open source so as soon as we finish the testing you may do what you like with it. We are calling it "Ucontrol"

Here is a quick sample of the Ucontrol in action.

AnyTone Tech: Pricing

TERMN-8R

Dual Band (6 Band RX) (VHF/UHF) GMRS, MURS, Amateur (Ham), Commercial Portable Two-Way Radio:

$138.89

OBLTR-8R

Dual Band (VHF/UHF) GMRS, MURS, Amateur (Ham), Commercial Portable Two-Way Radio:

$98.89

NSTIG-8R

Dual Band (VHF/UHF) Amateur (Ham), Commercial Portable Two-Way Radio:

$68.89

ANILE-8R

Single Band UHF Portable Commercial Two-Way Radio

$46.89

IoT: Neo Smart Jar

So there was the crockpot and now there are smart jars. I don't see them getting much traction at $99 for a pair.

Via The Blaze.

Microsoft Water

Google: Earth Apple: Air Amazon: Fire Microsoft: Really needs to make something called water…
— Dr. Sheldon Cooper (@SheldonSaid) March 6, 2015

There's An App

...for that.

My trash company is urging me to download their app. I have to draw the line somewhere, and this is where it is.
— Michael Arrington (@arrington) March 6, 2015

Homebrew Uniden Scanner Enhancement

Mike's got a new project:

"Richk107 and myself have come up with another great hardware design. It will fill the gap for a needed piece of hardware left out in all Uniden scanners.

We all know our past endeavor called "Uniden homebrew remote head" was a real success and without Rich it would not be possible.

This new device will be totally open source. The schematics, The code & all the needed hardware will all be posted here. This new hardware design will cost you no more then $20-$25 depending on how your source your parts which i will also list. 

Hopefully Uniden will wake up and start adding this to all of its future radios...Stay tuned"