Tech News and Commentary

Dave and the team discuss Apple Pro Display, Android vulnerabilities, the taped banana social media response, Mario Kart Tour in the charts, investigations of Google’s Fitbit purchase, a company attempting to buy .org domains, a special kind of self-driving car advertising, a Ford recycling effort, a hotel robot in Russia, and more.

Lisa in Carey, North Carolina listens on 680AM WPTF and asked: “We would like to get my parents something for the doorbell so that when someone’s at the door they can see who’s there. They don’t have smartphones, so the Ring system wouldn’t work, so we need something that has a simple screen, something that can work wireless, something super simple. Just a camera that’s streaming from the front door would be perfect but I’ve looked and don’t see anything that is that simple.”

Lisa, the simple ones are a dying breed. People seem to be going for the smart ones these days and there’s a good reason for that: they cost about the same.

Having a quick look we found the MOUNTAINONE 7” which comes with a screen but doesn’t link up to a smartphone, for $130.

For around $80 to $150 we found plenty of others too, but it’s hard to tell you much about it because they all go roughly by the name of “Video doorbell with 7 inch monitor”.

It seems like none of the name-brands are bothering to make them anymore, so we’re stuck with the generics.

The good news is that they are still out there, and plenty of the come with multiple screens so you can keep them in different rooms, but you’ll probably have to take some chances with some generics.

One thing we should mention is the Ring video Doorbells. Since they are owned by Amazon, they have integrated their doorbell and standalone cameras into their Echo Show devices. Now, these aren’t cheap… The latest version of the doorbell camera will cost you about $200 and the Echo Show will set you back another $230, but they will be able to say something like “Alexa, show me my front door” and the video will pop up onto the Echo Show. Something else to consider if money is no object.

For the same price you can also look at a Nest doorbell by Google, but they haven’t gotten the following Ring has, so for the long run a Ring may be a safer investment.

When you participate on the show – anytime 24/7 – and we HEAR you with any consumer tech question, comment, help for another listener, tech rage or just share your favorite App these days … you could win prizes.

Brilliant: All-In-One Smart Home Controls

MicroNovelty: TROPO hand-held, battery-powered air pump for inflatables

Puro Sound Labs: Wireless Noise-Canceling headphones for kids

RapidX: X4 Home Multipurpose USB charging station

Killer Concepts: Piggy Pro Phone Stands – Razor thin stand that sticks to the back of any phone

All CALLERS — using the AUDIO option on our Free App or 1-800-899-INTO(4686)  – automatically qualify to win prizes.

Audio archived for at least 6 months