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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

As you may already know Apple is launching an upgrade of its mobile operating system software (iOS) today!

So you’ll be able to upgrade the software on your iPhone or iPad!

And here are links to a few articles that offer a bit more info on the new features of iOS 8!

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

“Live: iOS 8 launch day – download status, app updates and more” from The Verge Site:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/live/2014/sep/17/ios-8-apple-iphone-6-launch-download-app-updates

PSA: Don’t Enable iCloud Drive When You Upgrade to iOS 8 Yet – from the Mashable site:

http://mashable.com/2014/09/17/icloud-drive-ios-8/

And

“Swype keyboard launching on iOS 8 today for 99 cents” also from The Verge site:

http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/17/6283165/swype-keyboard-launching-ios-8-september-17-99-cents

 

 

If you have questions about Windows 8 we’ve got a program for you!

Join us this Friday, September 19, 2014 at 11 a.m. for the latest in our monthly Senior Personal Technology series — this one is on Windows 8!

We’ll walk you through the basics of Windows 8; including how you turn off a Windows 8 PC, how you find your documents, photos and music files on a Windows 8 PC, and, what you can do with the two different sides of Windows 8 — the Start Screen tile/app side and the Desktop side!

Join us!
Linda, SSCL

If you are half as busy as I am you may not have caught the news yet — that there has been another huge credit data breach — this time hackers broke into Home Depot’s in-store payment system. 

A Home Depot spokesman said of the breach, somewhat vaguely: “The breach may have affected any customer at Home Depot stores in the United States and Canada from April to early last week.”

So all of us that have Home Depot accounts should change our online passwords now!

And we should all, also, check out our free credit reports at least once a year just to make sure we don’t own thousands of dollars to a false account someone has set up in our names!

Here’s a link to a New York Time article on the Home Depot breach:

Have a great day & don’t forget the new iPhone is being announced today — at 1 p.m. EST!

Linda, SSCL

 

Hi everyone, here’s a link to a PDF of the fall 2014 Digital Literacy Services program schedule!

Our fall offerings include iPad Workshops, music & tech programs, a few fun technology movies (read that as science fiction or fantasy films with some technology in the plot or background of the film); and our always informative One-On-One sessions that allow you to pick a time that is convenient for you to come in and meet with a member of our Digital Literacy Service staff and go over how to use your tablet, e-reader, smartphone, laptop or other gadget — cool stuff!

And here’s the schedule — please feel free to print off the schedule and pass it on!

Dig Lit Programs Fall Winter 2014 – 2015 Three Sheet Flyer 81914

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

And this Friday, August 22, 2014, we’ll be hosting our monthly Senior Personal Technology program — this one is “Internet Basics” and will offer basic information regarding how you get online and what you do once you get there!

Refreshments will be provided!

Registration is appreciated!

You can register by:

Calling the library at 607-936-3713

Dropping by the library!

Or, sending an email request to: DIGLIT@STLS.ORG

See you on Friday! Linda