8 chapters across the catalog
Dog Dazer Mark II and Ultrasonic Smartphone Apps
The hosts evaluate the Dog Dazer II, a handheld device that emits a 25 kilohertz tone to deter dogs. They debate the feasibility of creating a smartphone app version versus a dedicated high-quality keychain device using a piezo speaker. A potential Kickstarter campaign is proposed as a way to bring a branded version to market.
A discussion regarding the lack of call waiting on certain phone lines leads to an anecdote about producer Dana Brunetti receiving a busy signal. The conversation shifts to the "tip of the day" suggesting people disable call waiting to avoid interruptions from "bigger names" on other lines.
Laura Ingraham questioned President Trump on his "aggressive tone" and how it affects his standing with suburban female voters. Trump defended his language, stating he is surrounded by "incompetent" and "stupid people." The hosts criticize Ingraham for suggesting that women are uniquely offended by the word "stupid," arguing she was fishing for a soundbite.
Ultrasonic Cross-Device Tracking and LISNR Technology
The technology company LISNR has developed "Smart Tones," which are ultrasonic sounds inaudible to humans but detectable by mobile phone microphones. These tones can be embedded in television commercials, stadium PA systems, or web pages to track user behavior across devices without requiring Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Intel Capital has invested in the technology, which is being integrated into various apps for proximity-based marketing and audience synchronization.
Ultrasonic tones are being used in sporting events and concerts to coordinate phone flashes and in mobile games like Candy Crush to track ad exposure. Security experts warn that this technology can de-anonymize users on privacy-focused platforms like the Tor browser by linking a desktop session to a nearby smartphone's ID. This "ultrasonic cross-device tracking" allows advertisers to build comprehensive profiles based on environmental audio cues.
A recommendation is made for the "Zen TV Experiment," a media awareness exercise. This leads to a discussion of a series of catchy, rhythmic Microsoft Bing commercials known as the "Bing Tone" campaign that reportedly never saw wide release despite their high production quality.
One of the hosts describes suffering from a severe flu while in Amsterdam, noting that being sick often provides a better vocal "edge" for broadcasting. The illness reportedly affected several people following a recent event opening.
A brief experiment is conducted using "Stealth Tones," which are high-frequency sounds supposedly only audible to younger people. The test fails to produce results over the stream, leading to a discussion on how low-bitrate audio compression strips out the necessary frequencies for such tests.
