Month: October 2014

Here are nine personal technology related articles for your weekend reading pleasure that you might have missed during your busy week!

For the week of October 20 – 24, 2014…

Have a great weekend!

Linda, SSCL

1. On the subject of just why there are more men than women in the tech industry today because that wasn’t always the case! (Hint – it has to do with the personal computer going mainstream…)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/10/21/357629765/when-women-stopped-coding

Henn, Steve. (21 October, 2014) When Women STopped Coding. NPR: Planet Money. Online.

2. Amazon’s new Fire HD 6 Tablet – finally a good tablet for $100:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/finally-a-100-tablet-worth-buying-1412700029

Fowler, Geoffrey. (8 October, 2014). Finally, a $100 Tablet Worth Buying. The Wall Street Online. Accessed October 24, 2014,

3. New York Times Review of the new Amazon Kindle Voyage E-Reader:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/20/amazons-new-high-end-kindle-beats-hardcovers/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=technology&_r=0

Manjoo, Farhad. (20 October, 2014). Amazon Kindle Voyage, a High-End E-Reader That Beats Hardcovers. New York Times: Bits. Accessed October 20, 2014,

4. A solid Boston Globe article which offers and explanation and information on “Net Neutrality”

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/20/what-net-neutrality-all-about/6kiuwV728oarL8IHoC8JmM/story.html

Horowitz, Evan. (20 October, 2014) What is net neutrality all about? Boston Globe. Online. Accessed October 20, 2014.

5. Another article on Net Neutrality that goes into why the big media companies, in this case Comcast, only really give lip service to the idea of Net Neutrality but instead would prefer to be able to charge customers for faster internet delivery service:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/10/comcasts-net-neutrality-commitments-arent-good-enough-senator-says/

Brodkin, Jon. (20 October, 2014).Comcast’s net neutrality commitments aren’t good enough, senator says Sen. Leahy asks Comcast to swear off fast lanes even after NBC deal expires.ars technica. Online. Accessed October 20, 2014.

6. OverDrive review! (This is the platform vendor our library system uses to offer patrons access to digital content in the form of e-books, downloadable audio books and streaming videos):

http://recode.net/2014/10/23/overdrive-review-a-free-e-book-lending-service-that-requires-some-patience/

Cha, Bonnie. (23 October 2014). OverDrive Review: A Free E-Book Lending Service That Requires Some Patience. Re/code. Online. Accessed October 23, 2014.

7. This article focuses on the subject of just why some media companies like HBO & CBS are now launching standalone Internet accessible TV services that allow consumer to purchase Internet access to their TV offers without having to pay traditional cable service:

https://gigaom.com/2014/10/19/never-say-never-why-tv-networks-are-suddenly-ready-to-unbundle/

Roettgers, Janko. (19 October, 2014). Never say never: why TV networks are suddenly ready to unbundle. Gigaom. Online. Accessed October 20, 2014.

8. Apple unveiled the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 2 recently and has also kept last years’ iPad Air & iPad Mini too & now offers more iPad versions than ever – so there really is an iPad now for just about anyone – here’s an article on the subject:

https://gigaom.com/2014/10/20/no-apple-doesnt-offer-too-many-ipad-configurations/

Tofel, Kevin. (20 October, 2014). No, Apple doesn’t offer too many iPad configurations. Gigaom. Online. Accessed October 20, 2014.

9. And here’s a last cool article for the week on the development of Back The Future style Hoverboards:

http://recode.net/2014/10/20/its-not-quite-marty-mcfly-but-the-hoverboard-is-here-video/

Temple, James. This Flying Hoverboard Really Works. Here’s Video to Prove It. Gigaom. Online. Accessed October 20, 2014.

Here are links to some neat tech stories you might have missed this week — just in time for your relaxed weekend reading!

Have a great weekend!

Linda, SSCL

Article 1: Subject: LED Lights & The Impact They Are Having On Developing Countries:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/10/13/354845893/led-lights-are-a-transformative-technology-in-the-developing-world

Shea, Christopher. (13 October, 2014 ). LED Lights Are A ‘Transformative Technology’ In The Developing World. NPR. Online. Accessed October 13, 2014.

Article 2: Subject: Smart Homes – Specifically The Mother Smart Home Hub:

https://gigaom.com/2014/10/13/mother-smart-home/

Higginbotham, Stacey. Mother is a smart home platform that adapts to your needs. Gigaom. Onlie. Accessed October 13, 2014.

Article 3: Subject: Fitness Trackers That Work With Apple’s New Health App:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-best-fitness-trackers-compatible-with-apples-health-app-1412974393?mod=WSJ_TechWSJD_moreTopStories

Olivarez-Giles, Nathan. (10 October, 2014). The Best Fitness Trackers Compatible With Apple’s Health App. The Wall Street Journal. Online. Accessed October 13, 2014.
 Article 4: Smart Homes –  August Smart Lock System That Unlocks Doors With Your Cell Phone:

http://recode.net/2014/10/14/review-a-high-tech-door-lock-thats-also-simple/

Mossberg, Walt. (2014, October 14). Review: A High-Tech Door Lock That’s Also Simple.

Article 5: Cord Cutting/Internet Streaming Of TV Shows & Movies – In This Case HBO is Going To Offer An Internet Accessible Non-Cable Affiliated Subscription Package:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2014/10/15/356388248/hbo-without-cable-coming-in-2015

Holmes, Linda. (15 October, 2014). HBO Without Cable, Coming IN 2015. NPR. Online. Accessed October 15, 2014.

Article 6: NY Times Review of the New Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Smartphone:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/technology/personaltech/samsung-galaxy-note-4-review.html?_r=0

Manjoo, Farhad. (15 October, 2014). Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review: A Superior Device Gives a Glimpse of Computing’s Future.

Article 7: Code Bootcamps – A new way to get more people into computer coding:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/10/15/356199691/a-new-credential-for-the-tech-industry

Kamenetz, Anya. (15 October, 2014). A New Credential For The Tech Industry. NPR. Online. Accessed October 15, 2014

Article 8: Basic Info on the New iPads & Macs from CNET:

http://www.cnet.com/news/ipad-air-2-imac-retina-5k-ipad-mini-3-and-more-heres-everything-that-apple-just-announced/

Grunin, Lori. (16 October, 2014). iPad Air 2, iMac Retina 5K, iPad Mini 3 and more: Here’s everything Apple just announced. CNET. Online. Accessed October 16, 2014,

Article: Apple’s New Apple Pay payment system:

http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/16/6981117/apple-pay-release-date-available-october-20th

Warren, Tom. (16 October, 2014). Apple Pay available on October 20th with 500 more banks on board. The Verge. Online. Accessed October 17, 2014

Last week I was engaged in a conversation with several other people and one person made the comment that he didn’t know what materials and services the library offers today other than the traditional print books – so with that in mind I create a brochure that offers you a nutshell view of the personal technology & digital literacy materials and services the Southeast Steuben County Library offers today.

Check it out!

Here’s a link to a PDF of the brochure and please feel free to print it off, download it and send it to someone else and just basically share it!

Personal Technology Materials & Services Brochure

And for those that like photos — here is the same brochure in a photo format:

Have a great day!

Linda Reimer, Southeast Steuben County Librayr

There is still time to register for our HTML Basics Workshop — which offers an introduction to HTML.

The workshop is tomorrow, Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Join us!

Linda R., SSCL

DIGLIT@STLS.ORG