Month: January 2015

Tech Stories  You Might Have Missed January 23 – 31, 2015:

1. Apple’s Recording Breaking Sales For The Last Quarter: Article 1 is from The Guardian and discusses how Apple broke sales records for the last quarter of 2014 and speculates just what Apple might do now – Apple Watch wise and other-wise – here’s the link:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/31/apple-worlds-most-profitable-company-iphone-china

Neate, Rupert. (31 January, 2015). Apple: what do you do after becoming the world’s most profitable company? The Guardian. Online. Accessed January 31, 2015.

2. Modern Science Pioneer & Noble Prize Winner Charles Townes Dies: Charles Townes, who was 99 years old, discovered black holes and was a co-winner of the Nobel Prize for physics for discovering laser technology died this past week – NPR features an article on his life and work – here’s the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/01/28/382178361/charles-townes-laser-inventor-black-hole-discoverer-dies-at-99

Brumfiel, Geoff. (28 January, 2015). Charles Townes, Laser Pioneer, Black Hole Discoverer, Dies At 99. NPR. Online. Accessed January 28, 2015.

3. Maker Space Technology For Kids In Hospitcals: NPR also offered a cool article this past week on Maker Space technology being installed in hospitals so kids can create and learn about this exciting new 3 D Printer based technology while they are in hospitals for treatment – here’s the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2015/01/28/382176898/-maker-space-allows-kids-to-innovate-learn-in-the-hospital

Nelson, Noah. (28 January, 2015). ‘Maker Space’ Allows Kids To Innovate, Learn In The Hospital. NPR. Online. Accessed January 28, 2015.

4. New 12 Channel Streaming Video Package “Sling TV” unveiled by Dish: Anyone who reads the SSCL Tech blog knows I’m a huge fan of watching TV shows and movies via the modern streaming technology, i.e. on an internet connected device instead of through a traditional TV cable package; and this week an exciting new development in this area — Sling TV was unveiled by the Dish company.

This new streaming video service will offer 12 channels that have previously only been available  to cable TV subscribers and they are: CNN, Cartoon Network, , Disney Channel, ESPN and ESPN2, Food Network, TNT and TBS. The package will cost $20 per month and allow you to access those channels through and web browser or internet connecting device including computers, tablets, smartphones & media streaming players.

Consumer Reports even reported on the new Sling TV here’s a link to their review page:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/01/sling-tv-first-look/index.htm

Here’s link to a story on the significance of this new TV streaming service from the Wall Street Cheat Sheet site:

http://wallstcheatsheet.com/technology/5-reasons-why-sling-tv-heralds-the-end-of-traditional-tv.html/?a=viewall

And a final link to a solid NPR story on the same subject:

http://www.npr.org/2015/01/26/379440654/intended-for-millennials-dishs-sling-tv-is-a-cord-cutters-dream

And here are the related citations for those there articles:

Sling TV review: How does Dish Network’s service compare to cable and satellite?: Consumer Reports tries this new over-the-Internet live-TV streaming service. Consumer Reports Online. Accessed January 31, 2015.

Arnold, Nathanael. (30 January, 2015) Reasons Why Sling TV Heralds the End of Traditional TV. Wall Street Cheat Sheet. Online. Accessed January 30, 2015.

Deggans, Eric. Intended For Millenials, Dish’s Sling TV Is A Cord Cutter’s Dream. NPR. Online. Accessed January 26, 2015.

5. Americans Don’t Know Much About Science: The Re/Code site offered an interesting article that illustrates the point that main stream Americans should work on beefing up their knowledge of science – here’s the link:

http://recode.net/2015/01/29/scientists-agree-americans-dont-know-much-about-science/

Schatz, Amy. (29 January, 2015). Scientists Agree: Americans Don’t Know Much About Science. re/code. Online.

6. The Federal Communications Commission is Making Huge Amounts of Money Selling Spectrum Bands: That is fancy technology speak that means Internet Service Providers are selling out large sums of money to purchase access to what PC Magazine describes as “65 megahertz of spectrum in the AWS-3 band” – the total auction amount bid was about 45 billion dollars!

Here’s the link to the article:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2476035,00.asp

Albanesius, Chloe. FCC Spectrum Auction Pulls in Staggering $44.9 Billion. PC Magazine. Online. Accessed January 29, 2015.

7. Cablevision Unveils New Wi-Fi Phone Plan: The Cablevision Company unveiled a new Wi-Fi only mobile phone plan this past week & the New York Times offered an article on the plan — here’s the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/business/media/cablevision-to-introduce-wi-fi-based-phone-plan.html?ref=technology&_r=0

Steel, Emily. (26 January, 2015). Cablevision to Introduce Wi-Fi-Based Phone Plan. The New York Times. Online. Accessed January 31, 2015.

8. Broadband Speed Map: The Vox site offered a map that shows Broadband speeds around the world based upon those Broadband Speed tests you can find online – and American isn’t anywhere near the top – which is interesting – here’s the link:

http://www.vox.com/2015/1/31/7952321/world-broadband-speed-map

Lee, Timothy. (31 January, 2015). Broadband speeds around the world, in one map. Vox. Online. Accessed January 31, 2015.

9. FCC Changes Definition of Broadband: And the final tech article you might have missed this past week is from The Verge and it offers a look at how the FCC’s new definition of Broadband means that many people who subscribe to Broadband Internet service in the U.S. are not getting it!

Here’s the link:

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/29/7932653/fcc-changed-definition-broadband-25mbps

Singleton, Micah. (29 January, 2015). The FCC has changed the definition of broadband. The Verge. Online. Accessed Jnauary 31, 2015.

Hi everyone, there will be a whole bunch of new titles available in the STLS Digital Catalog, and the OverDrive app. later today!

Here’s a link to a PDF of the list of titles:

New STLS Digital Catalog Titles January 29, 2015

And here’s the list itself:

New STLS Digital Catalog (OverDrive) Titles: January 29, 2015:

Audiobooks:
Car Talk: 25 Years of Lousy Car Advice
Dangerous Creatures: Dangerous Creatures Series, Book 1
Unbreakable: The Legion Series, Book 1

eBooks:
30 Arduino™ Projects for the Evil Genius
Aflame: Apotheosis Series, Book 1
The Afterlife of Billy Fingers: How My Bad-Boy Brother Proved to Me There’s Life After Death
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Better Than Perfect
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories
Blood Eternal: The Blessed Series, Book 1
Blood Magick: Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy, Book 3
The Bone Key
Buckingham Palace Blues: Inspector Carlyle Series, Book 3
Build Your Own Electric Vehicle
The Butter Battle Book
Cold Cold Heart
Dark Promise
The Dark Side of the Moon: The Making of the Pink Floyd Masterpiece
Deadly Décor
Death of the Black-Haired Girl
Demon from the Dark: Immortals After Dark Series, Book 10
The Diary of Mary Berg: Growing up in the Warsaw Ghetto
Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel
The Dragon’s Heart
Enticing Miss Eugenie Villaret
Ever Mine: Dragon Lore Series, Book 2
The First Bad Man: A Novel
Full Force and Effect: Jack Ryan Series, Book 17
GI Brides: The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love
The Girl on the Train: A Novel
Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health
Guidebook to Murder
Half a King: Half a King Series, Book 1
Heirs and Graces: Royal Spyness Mystery Series, Book 7
Hermosas criaturas
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
A Hunger Like No Other: Immortals After Dark Series, Book 2
Ice, Iron, and Gold
In the Dark: The Cities Below Series, Book 1
Kentucky Christmas: Southern Comfort Series, Book 3
The King’s Stilts
Minstrel’s Serenade
No Refuge: Known Universe Series, Book 1
No Rest for the Wicked: Immortals After Dark Series, Book 3
Picture This
Reign of the Vampires: The Society Trilogy Series, Book 1
Reluctant Prince: Kingdom of Cymmera Trilogy Series, Book 1
Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can’t Ignore
Rogue in Red Velvet: Emperors of London Series, Book 1
Satellite of Love
Scrambled Eggs Super!
Secrets of Hallstead House
The Shape of Me and Other Stuff
Share the Moon
The Sneetches and Other Stories
Some Like It Wicked
Somewhere Beneath Those Waves
Stealing Kisses: Southern Comfort Series, Book 2
Sweet Bea: Sir Arthur’s Legancy Series, Book 1
Syphon’s Song: Mayflower Mages Series, Book 1
A Taste of Chardonnay: The Napa Wine Heiress Series, Book 1
Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose
The Troubled Texan: Kasota Springs Series, Book 1
Turn Up the Heat: Pine Mountain Series, Book 1
Walk With Me: Minnesota Series, Book 1
Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night: Immortals After Dark Series, Book 4
You Can’t Make This Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television
You Were Mine: Rosemary Beach Series, Book 9

Streaming Videos:
Buff Moms: Cardio Groove and Tone 2
Buff Moms: Cardio Groove and Tone 1
Chance House
The Cisco Kid, Season 1, Episode 1: Boomerang
The Cisco Kid, Season 1, Episode 2: Counterfeit Money
The Cisco Kid, Season 1, Episode 3: Cattle Rustling
Deepak Chopra: Grow Younger, Live Longer
Huggabug Club, Wheels, Wings, and Moving Things
An Islamic History of Europe, Episode 1
An Islamic History of Europe, Episode 2
Jack Hunter and the Lost Treasure of Ugarit
Jack Hunter and the Quest for Akhenattens Tomb
Jack Hunter and the Star of Heaven Tomb
Living With Restrictions
Skeleton Warriors: The Complete Series (Animated)

By request — here is a brochure of our Digital Literacy programs for the period January – April 2015!

Here’s a link to a PDF version:

Tech Programs Brochure Jan – April 2015

And our photo version:

Have a great day!

Linda

Here a bit later than I planed is the list of  for last week — January 5 – 9, 2015

The best of last weeks’ tech news stories can be summed up in four words “The Consumer Electronics Show.” The Consumer Electronics show, otherwise known by the shorter acronym CES is held every January in Las Vegas and most of the tech stories last week related to the new products unveiled at CES –those products ranged from some usual items like new TVs (4 K versions) to drones, to home automatic technologies to 3 D printing, to self-driving cars and more.

Here’s a link to a short USA Today article on CES that hits the high points:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2015/01/12/ces-2015-beauty-tech/21639465/

Molina, Brett. (10 January 2015). A glimpse into the future: 5 top trends at CES. USA Today. Online. Accessed January 12, 2015.

And a link to a CNET article that offers a more in-depth look at the high points of CES 2015:

http://www.cnet.com/news/ces-2015-the-final-word/

Molina, Brett. (10 January 2015). A glimpse into the future: 5 top trends at CES, USA Today. Online. Accessed January 12, 2015.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

Hi everyone, we’ve got some great programs coming up this week!

Here’s a link to a PDF version that compliments the photo version of our list of programs for the week:

Weekly Programs Jan 5 -10, 2015

Registration is required for all program except the Monthly Tech Movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind — everyone is welcome just come to that one!

Have a great week!

Linda, SSCL

And here’s the pasted list of programs!

Adult Services & Digital Literacy Programs @ The Library: The Week of January 5 – 10, 2015:

Joy Unleashed Workshop Series: Are you ready for a change? Learn and practice ten behaviors that can make your life happier and more satisfying. Sessions include a presentation, discussion and sharing. Bring a bagged lunch, if you wish. Beverages provided. Series is based on the book, The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life by Martha Beck. Book is recommended but not required.

Note: Programs in this series will be held every Tuesday at noon through March 17.

Date & Time of Joy Unleashed Workshop: Tuesday, January 6, 2015: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Microsoft Word Basics Workshop: This workshop will offer new Microsoft Word users tips on how to use banners & templates, how to create and space text, how to insert photos and more!

Date & Time of Microsoft Word Basics Workshop: Tuesday, January 6, 2015; 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

iPad Workshop (Basic & Intermediate): We’re trying out something new! This iPad workshop includes a brief look at the material we usually cover in our iPad Basics Workshop and then…we jump into the more advanced material we will be covering in the future in our Intermediate iPad Workshops.

The intermediate subjects covered will include: Siri settings, keyboard layout options, renaming your iPad, enabling and using Bluetooth devices, how to make phone calls from your iPad, how to use AirPlay (in conjunction with an Apple TV box) to stream music and videos from your iPad to your TV and more.

Date & Time of iPad Combo Basics & Intermediate Workshop: Thursday, January 8, 2015; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Adults Creative Writers Group: Inject some socialization into your solo writing time by join the library’s Adult Creative Writers Group for conversation, inspiration and feedback on writing projects. No sign up is required. This group meets every Thursday from 6-8 pm. On the third Thursday of the month the group meets in the library. On the other Thursdays the group meets at Soul Full Cup CoffeeHouse. For more information, please call Adult Services Director Michelle Wells at (607) 936-3713 ext 209 or email wellsm@stls.org.

Date & Time of Creative Writers Group Meeting: Thursday, January 8, 2015; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Computer Security & Privacy Workshop: Computer Science expert D. J. Dates will host this program. Workshop attendees will gain insight on how to safely travel around their computer and the Internet. D. J. will also discuss Encryption and Script Blocking!

Date & Time of Computer Security & Privacy Workshop:  Friday, January 9, 2015: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Monthly Technology Movie: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): Richard Dreyfuss stars as cable worker Roy Neary, who along with several other stunned bystanders experience a close encounter of the first kind – witnessing UFOs soaring across the sky. After this life-changing event, the inexplicable vision of a strange, mountain-like formation haunts him. He becomes obsessed with discovering what it represents, much to the dismay of his wife and family. Meanwhile, bizarre occurrences are happening around the world. Government agents have close encounters of the second kind – discovering physical evidence of extraterrestrial visitors in the form of a lost fighter aircraft from World War II and a stranded military ship that disappeared decades earlier only to suddenly reappear in unusual places. Roy continues to chase his vision to a remote area where he and the agents follow the clues that have drawn them to reach a site where they will have a close encounter of the third kind – contact. MPAA Rating: PG. Run Time: 132 minutes. Technology Subjects: Extraterrestrial life.

Date & Time of January Tech Movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): Friday, January 9, 2015; 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Reading and Workshop with Poet and Author Andrei Guruianu: Andrei Guruianu is releasing a new memoir, join us for a reading and a lesson on writing your own personal or lyrical essay.

Date & Time of Reading and Workshop with Poet and Author Andrei Guruianu program: Saturday, January 10, 2015: Time: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

And also this week is the first program in the 2015 Friends of the Library Books Sandwiched In series!

Join us at 12:10 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2015!

Books Sandwiched In: Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life by William Deresiewicz

Excellent Sheep: will be reviewed by Kate Douglas

Here’s an overview of the book: A groundbreaking manifesto for people searching for the kind of insight on leading, thinking, and living that elite schools should be—but aren’t—providing.

As a professor at Yale, Bill Deresiewicz saw something that troubled him deeply. His students, some of the nation’s brightest minds, were adrift when it came to the big questions: how to think critically and creatively, and how to find a sense of purpose.

Excellent Sheep takes a sharp look at the high-pressure conveyor belt that begins with parents and counselors who demand perfect grades and culminates in the skewed applications Deresiewicz saw firsthand as a member of Yale’s admissions committee. As schools shift focus from the humanities to “practical” subjects like economics and computer science, students are losing the ability to think in innovative ways. Deresiewicz explains how college should be a time for self-discovery, when students can establish their own values and measures of success, so they can forge their own path. He addresses parents, students, educators, and anyone who’s interested in the direction of American society, featuring quotes from real students and graduates he has corresponded with over the years, candidly exposing where the system is broken and clearly presenting solutions.

Join the Friends of the Southeast Steuben County Library for its popular series of lunchtime book talks held Wednesdays in January and February.

Have a great week!

Linda, SSCL