Category: Uncategorized

Getting Ready For iOS 7, Gadgets That Track How Well You Sleep & Netflix Secures Exclusive Streaming Rights To Season 2 Of Under the Dome

Linda Reimer

Getting Ready For iOS 7: Apple’s new mobile software upgrade will be unrolled next Wednesday, September 18th. And I’ve come across a number of interesting articles on the subject including one from OS X Daily that offers some helpful hints as to what Apple smartphone, tablet and iPod touch 5 owners can do to prepare their devices for the upgrade. Most of the suggestions are common sense items like checking to see if your device can receive the upgrade, deleting apps you don’t use anymore and backing up your photos and videos to a computer.

Here’s a link to the article, titled Prepare for iOS 7 Before Upgrading, which offers more tips:

http://osxdaily.com/2013/09/13/prepare-for-ios-7-before-upgrading/

And here’s a link to a second article on iOS 7 that offers you a glimpse of how iOS 7 differs from iOS 6; and although the different look of iOS 7 isn’t quite as big a shock as the change between Windows 7 and Windows 8 – it does have different look! The OS will also prompt users to do some common things a bit differently. The article is titled What We Already Know About iOS 7:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2048407/what-we-already-know-about-ios-7.html

Gadgets That Help You See How Well You Sleep: There are a number of new tech gadgets and apps that can assist you in tracking how well you sleep and even how you’re feeling at various times of the day. These gadgets include wearable gadgets like the Fitbit One that you attach to your clothes and which tracks how many steps you take during the day, how many calories you burn and how well you sleep,  the Jawbone Up which you wear on your wrist and which like the Fitbit One keeps track of how much physical activity you get each day and how well you sleep and the Nike FuelBand which doesn’t track how well you sleep but does track how many steps you take and how many calories you burn (and it may be the most popular health gadget on this list!) . Another tech sleep/wellness category is, believe it or not, apps. There are apps that will, in conjunction with your smartphone or tablet, track how well you sleep like the Sleepbot app which tracks your sleep cycle and doubles as an alarm clock and there are also tech devices that will work with your smartphone or tablet to track how well you sleep like the RenewSleep Clock which is compatible with Apple smartphones, tablets and iPods that have the old larger dock connector.  

Here’s a link to a Neon Punch article that offers a bit more info on tech sleep gadgets:

http://www.neonpunch.com/top-five-products-to-track-your-sleep/

And a second link to an interesting blog article also on sleep gadgets titled “Nike FuelBand, Jawbone Up, Fitbit Flex, Misfit Shine, Bowflex Boost: Which sports band to choose?”

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/123074-nike-fuelband-jawbone-up-fitbit-flex-misfit-shine-bowflex-boost-which-sports-band-to-choose

Netflix Secures Exclusive Streaming Rights To Season 2 Of Under the Dome: As another sign of the fact that streaming television shows is gaining in popularity consider the fact that Netflix has secured the exclusive rights to stream the episodes in the 2014 season 2 of the popular sci-fi series Under The Dome. The series is based upon the Stephen King book of the same name and this new deal will offer Amazon Prime subscribers access to each episode for free less than a week after it airs on CBS. And just as an FYI Amazon Prime is a subscription service Netflix offers that costs $79 a year and allows subscribers unlimited access to Amazon’s Prime Video Library and its e-book lending library where readers can access one free e-book a month. Additionally, Prime Members get free second day shipping on any items they buy directly from Amazon.

Here’s the link to a paidContent article that offers a bit more information on the new CBS/Amazon Under The Dome Deal:

http://paidcontent.org/2013/09/12/cbs-amazon-renew-deal-to-stream-under-the-dome-exclusively-on-prime-instant-video/

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

References

7 top changes in Apple’s new iOS 7 operating system: From location-based app store selection to a male Siri. (2013, September 10). CBC. Online. Accessed September 14, 2013,

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/7-top-changes-in-apple-s-new-ios-7-operating-system-1.1700967

Buying Guide: Top Five Products to Track Your Sleep, (2013, September 13). Accessed September 14, 2013, http://www.neonpunch.com/top-five-products-to-track-your-sleep/

Caldwell, Serenity. (2013, September 9). What we already know about iOS 7. PC World. Accessed September 9, 2013

http://www.macworld.com/article/2048407/what-we-already-know-about-ios-7.html

Chappell, Bill. (2012, February 13). Apps For Apnea? New Gadgets Promise To Improve Sleep. All Tech Considered. Online. Accessed September 14, 2013, http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/02/13/146711356/apps-for-apnea-new-gadgets-promise-to-improve-sleep

O’Boyle, Britta. (2013, August 22). Nike FuelBand, Jawbone Up, Fitbit Flex, Misfit Shine, Bowflex Boost: Which sports band to choose?. Pocket-Lint. Online. Accessed September 14, 2013,  http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/123074-nike-fuelband-jawbone-up-fitbit-flex-misfit-shine-bowflex-boost-which-sports-band-to-choose

Owen, Laura Hazard. (2013, September 12). CBS, Amazon renew deal to stream Under the Dome exclusively on Prime Instant Video. paidContent. Online. Accessed September 14, 2013,

http://paidcontent.org/2013/09/12/cbs-amazon-renew-deal-to-stream-under-the-dome-exclusively-on-prime-instant-video/

Prepare for iOS 7 the Right Way: What To Do Before Upgrading an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to iOS 7. osXDaily. Online. Accessed September 14, 2013, http://osxdaily.com/2013/09/13/prepare-for-ios-7-before-upgrading/

 

New iPhones, iOS 7 & iWorks Apps Available For Free To New Apple Device Owners

Linda Reimer

New iPhones: Apple introduced two new iPhones yesterday. The iPhone 5 S which is the updated successor to the now discontinued iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5 C.

The iPhone 5 S has a few new features including a cool finger print scanning feature that will allow you to lock and unlock your phone and even buy apps simply by pressing your finger to home button on the front of the iPhone – this new feature is called Touch ID. The iPhone 5 S will be available in three colors gold, silver and space gray.  The iPhone 5 S will costs $199 with a 2 year cellular contract.

The iPhone 5 S goes on sale on September 20th.

The iPhone 5 C is essentially the iPhone 5 in a new case. And the new cases are made out of polycarbonate which is a tough, durable plastic. And the iPhone 5 C is available in five pastel colors, blue, pink, green, red and white. The iPhone 5 C is available for $99 with a 2 year cellular contract.

The iPhone 5 has now been discontinued and is no longer being sold. However, you can still buy the iPhone 4 S which is now free with a 2 year cellular contract.

The iPhone 5 C goes on sale on September 13th.

Here’s a link to a Wall Street Journal article on the new iPhones titled “Apple Unveils iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S: Company Continues to Fight Rivals in Smartphone Market; the 5C, in Five Colors, Is Priced at $99” which also features a link to a short video review of the new iPhones from the WSJ’s master tech guru Walt Mossberg:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324549004579067053406352672.html

iOS 7: iOS 7 is Apple’s soon to be introduced new mobile operating system software and it will be free for Apple device owners to install on their iPhones, iPads and 5th generation iPod Touches. The new mobile operating software will install on the iPhone 4, iPhone 4 S and all iPhone 5 models. Additionally, iPad 2, 3 & 4 owners will be able to install and use the software and 5th generation iPod Touch owners.

iOS 7 will bring many new features to mobile Apple devices and these include a new look for the software, new voices and features for Siri the voice activated personal assistant, iTunes Radio (similar to Pandora or Spotify), the ability to multitask and automatic updating of apps.

iOS 7 will be released on September 18th.

Here’s a link to a CNET article that offers more information on all the iOS 7 features:

http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-ios-7/

And a link to the Apple site which offers some information on iOS 7 features too!

http://www.apple.com/ios/

iWorks Apps Available For Free To New Apple Device Owners: iWorks is Apple’s answer to the Microsoft Office Suite. The basic Microsoft Office Suite features Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Apple’s versions of these same styles of software are called “Pages” (Word), “Keynote” (PowerPoint) and “Numbers” (Excel). And right now these three software apps can be purchased individual from the Apple app store for $9.95 each. However, if you buy a new iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch in the future Apple is including these apps for free! And that is great because Microsoft still charges about $100 for the basic standalone Microsoft Office package.

Here’s a link to an L. A. Times article on the new iWork apps that will come with each new iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch sold:

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-iwork-apps-free-20130910,0,182789.story

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Apple Unveils iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S: Company Continues to Fight Rivals in Smartphone Market; the 5C, in Five Colors, Is Priced at $99. Wall Street Journal. Online. Accessed September 11, 2013, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324549004579067053406352672.html

iOS. Apple. Online. Accessed September 11, 2013, http://www.apple.com/ios/

iPhone. Apple. Online. Accessed September 11, 2013, http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/

iPhone 5C. Apple. Online. Accessed September 11, 2013, http://www.apple.com/iphone-5c/

 Rodriguez, Salvador. (2013, September 10). Apple to make iWork apps free with purchase of new devices. L. A. Times. Accessed September 11, 2013, http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-iwork-apps-free-20130910,0,182789.story

Speculation In Advance of Apple’s September 10th Press Event, New People Magazine Subscribers Must Pay for Digital Access & Oyster’s E-Book Answer to Netflix

Linda Reimer

Speculation In Advance of Apple’s September 10th Press Event: Unless you’ve been out of communications range, you probably already known that Apple is hosting a press event tomorrow to unveil a new iPhone or two and possibly another product or two. Apple being Apple, no official information has been released about what products will be unveiled in advance of the event. However, it is a sure thing that Apple will unveil a new iPhone tomorrow and to complement that the next Apple mobile operating software iOS 7; whatever else Apple might unveil is open to speculation until tomorrow! Will they unveil a new iPad or iPad Mini, a newer Apple TV player, an iWatch? We’ll just have to wait and see to find out!

Here’s a link to an NBC News article on the subject of Apple’s September 10th press event, titled On eve of iPhone event, Apple rumors reach fever pitch, that offers a nice overview of the tech rumor mill speculation on just what devices and software upgrade features Apple will unveil tomorrow:

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/apples-new-iphones-what-we-think-we-know-8C11095778

New People Magazine Subscribers Must Pay for Digital Access: People magazine has changed its offerings for new subscribers. In the past anyone who paid for a print version of People automatically received access to the digital version of the magazine which they could then read on their smartphones or tablets. But new print subscribers will no longer automatically receive access to the digital version of the magazine. Instead, and you just knew this was coming, they’ll have to pay more. The new print and digital subscription package is called “People Digital Plus” and it costs $112 per year; and on top of that if you want print copies of the magazine that will cost you $20 more. In contrast, the print only People subscription simply costs $112 per year sans digital access for new People subscribers.

Here’s a link to a paidContent article on the subject titled No more free digital access for People print subs: New options are $112 to $200 per year:

http://paidcontent.org/2013/09/09/no-more-free-digital-access-for-people-print-subs-new-options-are-112-to-200-per-year/

Oyster’s E-Book Answer to Netflix: Oyster is a young start-up company based in New York that is launching an unlimited access style subscription service for e-books. Think of it as a Netflix service for e-books. More than 100,000 e-books will be available on launch day and the books will be offered by several hundred publishers including: Houghton Mifflin, Melville House and Harper Collins. And subscribers will be able to read as many of those books as they can all for only $9.95 per month.

The subscription service will be available on Thursday for iPhone users via a first-come-first-served invitation basis.

You can request an invitation at the Oyster site found at:

https://www.oysterbooks.com/

And here’s a link to a Mashable article regarding the new Oyster E-Book Subscription Service titled Oyster Releases the First True Netflix-for-E-books App:

http://mashable.com/2013/09/05/oyster-launch/

And as a librarian I have to say the idea of a subscription service for e-books, added to the fact that right now if you “buy” an e-book most of the time you aren’t “buying” the e-book itself you’re buying a license to access the e-book; gives me pause.

I am somewhat ill at ease regarding the fact that unlike print books, which you can own and access forever, licensed e-books can be rather unceremoniously deleted from your Internet connected device by the publisher or the e-book store you bought the e-book from on behalf of the publisher whenever said publishers or e-book stores deem it right to do so – as when a contract between a publisher and e-book seller expires. I also dislike the idea that unlike a print book that goes out of print; if an e-book goes out of print or out of license – you may not in the future be able to read that book because unlike printed books there may not be any digital copies available to read. Granted as long as print books are mass produced this may not be an issue but the day is coming when most books, sans special editions, will only be made as e-books and then this will be a real issue.

Ah well, I guess we’ll see if subscription model e-books are the wave of the future or if we’ll still be buying or licensing e-books in years come.

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Choney, Suzanne. (2013, September 9). On eve of iPhone event, Apple rumors reach fever pitch. NBC News. Online. Accessed September 9, 2013, http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/apples-new-iphones-what-we-think-we-know-8C11095778

Fiegerman, Seth. (2013, September 5). Oyster Releases the First True Netflix-for-E-books App. Mashable. Online. Accessed September 9, 2013, http://mashable.com/2013/09/05/oyster-launch/

Hazard, Laura Owen. (2013, September 9). No more free digital access for People print subs: New options are $112 to $200 per year. Online. Accessed September 9, 2013, http://paidcontent.org/2013/09/09/no-more-free-digital-access-for-people-print-subs-new-options-are-112-to-200-per-year/

 

 

Why We Live Longer Today Then People Did 100 Years Or More Ago, Campbell Soup K-Cups For Keurig & Apple’s Upcoming iOS7 Upgrade For Mobile Devices

Linda Reimer

Why We Live Longer Today Then People Did 100 Years Or More Ago: Slate offers an interesting article on why people live longer today than they did in the past. We forget that life expectancy 100 years or more ago was about 40 and now it is just about twice that – and the article which is amusingly titled “Why Are You Not Dead Yet?” casts a light on just the reasons why people are surviving things that used to kill people in ages past – things like being cursed of a condition or disease by modern medicine or surviving an accident that would have killed someone a century ago. The article is a bit morbid in the subject it focuses on but is fascinating none-the-less!

Here’s the link:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science_of_longevity/2013/09/life_expectancy_history_public_health_and_medical_advances_that_lead_to.html

Campbell Soup K-Cups For Keurig: For those persons who own a Keurig Coffeemaker this next item will come as no surprise! Campbell’s Soup has just announced it is launching a new series of soup K-Cups for Keurig Coffee Makers! We have a Keurig Coffee Maker at the library and I own one myself and it is a top notch machine for brewing coffee but it also allows you to quickly access hot water for tea or instant soup sans any coffee after taste – I use the Keurig I have at home more for brewing green tea with tea bags than for brewing coffee. And now the Campbell Soup company has announced it will shortly beign selling soup K-Cups for Keurig Coffee Makers! Ahh, just what we’ll need on those chilly fall and winter lunch breaks – a steaming cup of easy to make soup to go along with our sandwiches and cups of coffee!

Here’s the link to the abc News article on the new soup K-Cups:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/campbell-offer-cup-soups-coffee-brewers-20156566

Apple’s Upcoming iOS7 Upgrade For Mobile Devices: This fall Apple will be coming out with a software upgrade for its mobile devices (think iPhones, iPads & iPods). And this new software, which is rumored to be quite different that previous iOS versions will probably be unveiled at Apple’s press event on September 10th. So it is timely that the USA Today has offered an article and video showing off some of the new looks and aspects of the new software – iOS 7:

Here’s the link the combo video/article:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2013/09/04/ios7-released-later-this-month/2761477/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Choi, Candice. (2013, September 4). Campbell K-Cups to Make Keurig Into Soup Machine. abc NEWS. Online. Accessed September 5, 2013, http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/campbell-offer-cup-soups-coffee-brewers-20156566

Graham, Jefferson. (2013, September 5). Own an Apple device? Get ready for iOS 7. USA Today. Online. Accessed September 5, 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2013/09/04/ios7-released-later-this-month/2761477/

Helmuth, Laura. (2013, September 5). Why Are you Not Dead Yet? Life expectancy doubled in the past 150 years. Here’s why. Slate. Online. Accessed September 5, 2013, http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science_of_longevity/2013/09/life_expectancy_history_public_health_and_medical_advances_that_lead_to.html

Samsung Introduces Galaxy Gear Smart Watch

Linda Reimer

The biggest tech news story I’ve come across today is that Samsung has finally introduced its smart watch called the “Galaxy Gear” watch. USA Today offers a video showing the new watch – and the era of wearable technology just came several large steps closer to fruition!

We’ll have to wait and see if Apple unveils a smart watch at their September 10 press event or not!

Here’s a link to a USA Today article/video on the Galaxy Gear smart watch by Samsung:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2013/09/04/galaxy-gear-first-impression/2763917/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

Baig, Edward. (2013, September 4). First Impression: Galaxy Gear – welcome to wearable computing. USA Today. Online. Accessed September 4, 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2013/09/04/galaxy-gear-first-impression/2763917/

Kindle Matchbook, The Growing Internet of Things & Hugo Award Winners Announced

Linda Reimer

Kindle Matchbook: Amazon issued a press release this morning to announce a new service they’ll be launching in October called the Kindle Matchbook. This new service will allow Amazon customers who purchase or have previously purchased a new print book from Amazon to purchase the e-book edition for a cheap price of under $3. And in some cases those same print book buyers will even be able to obtain an e-book version of the same title they’ve already purchased in print for free!

Additionally of note, this new service works with more than 10,000 books printed by a variety of publishers and is retroactive to 1995. Translation – if you have purchased a print book from Amazon by one of the publishers whose titles are available in the Amazon Matchbook library anytime between 1995 and the present you can purchase the Kindle price for less than $3 and in some cases the e-book will be free for you to download! Amazon hasn’t offered a list of all the 10,000 books that will fall under the umbrella of this program but still it cool! And some of the qualifying titles include books written by Jodi Picoult, James Rollins, Ray Bradbury, Michael Crichton, Neil Gaiman, Jo Nesbo & J. A. Jance.

Here’s a link to an Engadget article on the new Kindle Matchbook service:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/kindle-matchbook/

And a link to Amazon’s rather dry press release on the same subject:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1851331&highlight=

The Growing Internet of Things: The term “The Internet of Things” refers to the ways that we can use the Internet 23/7/365 in our increasingly Internet connected high tech world to access and share data, to remotely control devices (like turning the lights in your house via a an app on your smartphone while you are at work) and ordering items online for delivery in the physical world. This is a concept that is growing in relevance as computers, smartphones and tablets are joined in the space of everyday items always being connected to the Internet by household appliances, cars and other devices.

National Geographic offers a short article today on the “Internet of Things” which offers additional information.

Here’s the link:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130830-internet-of-things-technology-rfid-chips-smart/

And the Washington Post offers a related article on the subject which sheds a brighter light on how homes are becoming smart and their owners are thus better able to keep track of what is going on in their homes when they’re not there.

The article is titled “The Internet of Things” and here’s the link:

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-08-29/business/41594783_1_smartphone-users-devices-kickstarter

Hugo Award Winners Announced: The 2013 Hugo Award Winners for the best Science Fiction and fantasy works of 2013 have been announced. The best novel of the year is  “Redshirts” by John Scalzi, the best novella “The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson, the best novelette “The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi” by Pat Cardigan and the best short story “Mono no Aware” by Ken Liu.

And you can read more about all of the Hugo Award winners for this year and even access free samples of their award winning works at the Media Bistro site – here’s the link:

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/2013-hugo-award-winners-revealed_b77103

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Amazon Press Room: Latest News. Amazon. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013, http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1851331&highlight=

Boog, Jason. (2013, September 3). Sample the Best Science Fiction of 2013. Media Bistro. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013, http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/2013-hugo-award-winners-revealed_b77103

Cooper, Daniel. (2013, September 3). Amazon launches Kindle Matchbook: discounted e-books for those who own the hard copy. Engadet. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013,http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/kindle-matchbook/

Howard, Brian Clark. (2013, August 30). How the “Internet of Things” May Change the World. National Geographic. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130830-internet-of-things-technology-rfid-chips-smart/

Ravindranath,  Mohana. (2013, August 29). Building the ‘Internet of things.’ The Washington Post. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-08-29/business/41594783_1_smartphone-users-devices-kickstarter

Southeast Steuben County Library Friday Night Free Film Schedule 2013-2014

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, this isn’t a tech item — unless you count the fact that the library’s ceiling mounted projector and cool A/V system project films on the big screen in our Community Room; however, as almost everyone is a movie fan I thought I’d share this bit of information!

The library will kick off its Friday Night Free Film series for the 2013-2014 Season next Friday night, September 6, 2013.

The library doors facing Tioga Avenue will be open from 6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. to let movie goers enter the library and films start at 7 p.m.

Next Fridays’ film will be The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) it runs 124 Minutes and is Rated: PG-13.

To see a summary of all films for the season simply click the link this link:

Southeast Steuben County Library Friday Night Free Film Schedule 2013-2013

Popcorn is always provided for free!

Join us!

Have a great day!

Linda R.

Links To Nine Cool Tech News Stories & More!

Linda Reimer

It has been a really, really busy week in library land so here is a short listing of links to nine interesting tech related stories and three more links to interesting NPR stories regarding cool books and Chinese dumplings!

Article 1: This one is from the Apple Insider and relays the news that Apple will not show off new iPads at its September 10 press event – instead the emphasis will be on iPhones with a separate event on deck for October at which Apple will unveil new iPads:

New iPads will not be introduced at Apple’s Sept. 10 event
http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/08/28/new-ipads-will-not-be-introduced-at-apples-sept-10-event

Article 2: This article discusses the new “Parallels” app which allows you to remote use your Mac or PC from your iPad:

Whoa: Parallels Access “turns” Windows, Mac apps into iPad apps
http://gigaom.com/2013/08/28/whoa-parallels-access-turns-windows-mac-apps-into-ipad-apps/

Article 3: This article discusses how museums and libraries are changing in our new high tech “Digital Age:”

Best of Both Worlds: Museums, Libraries, and Archives in a Digital Age
http://digital-scholarship.org/digitalkoans/2013/08/28/best-of-both-worlds-museums-libraries-and-archives-in-a-digital-age/

Article 4 is from the Oxford Dictionaries blog and offers info on new words added to the digital editions of the Oxford Dictionary:

28 August 2013: Oxford Dictionaries Online quarterly update: new words added to oxforddictionaries.com today
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/august-2013-update/

Article 5: This article offers info on a new trade-in/recycle program Apple is reportedly going to unveil next week for iPhone users to trade in their old iPhones:

Apple’s iPhone ‘Reuse and Recycle’ trade-in program detailed, begins rolling out this week
http://9to5mac.com/2013/08/27/apples-iphone-reuse-and-recycle-trade-in-program-detailed-begins-rolling-out-this-week/

Articles 6 is a list of 25 technologies the website list25.com says will change the world in the near future – I’m not sure all of these technologies will change the world but it is a fun list to read through and speculate about which technologies will and won’t transform the world:

25 Cutting Edge Technologies That Will Change The World
http://list25.com/25-cutting-edge-technologies-that-will-change-the-world/

Article 7 is for local AT&T customers – just an FYI AT&T is going to finally offer 4G LTE coverage in our area:
AT&T 4G LTE Available In Corning
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/t-4g-lte-available-corning-040100292.html

Article 8 is to a Mac Daily News story that relays the rumor that a Star Wars app is being prepared for the Apple TV:

RUMOR: Disney prepping ‘Star Wars’ app for Apple TV
http://macdailynews.com/2013/08/28/rumor-disney-prepping-star-wars-app-for-apple-tv/

Article 9 is another one that focuses on streaming video from the web instead of having a cable TV package:
The End of TV as We Know It
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2149608,00.html

And the three NPR story links:

“Crime In The City: A summertime series about fictional detectives and the cities where they live”
http://www.npr.org/series/13795507/crime-in-the-city

“Mystery Series’ Portly P.I. Peels Back The Layers Of Delhi Society”

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/28/216439130/halls-portly-p-i-peels-back-the-layers-of-delhi-society

And here’s the link to a cool article on Chinese dumplings – yum!

“Move Over, Pot Stickers: China Cooks Up Hundreds Of Dumplings”

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/08/29/216115204/move-over-potstickers-china-cooks-up-hundreds-of-dumplings

Have a great day!

Linda R.

Voice Recognition Software, Microsoft CEO To Retire, DOJ Revises Apple E-Book Suit Settlement & Pandora Adds Timer For iOS & Android Users

Linda Reimer

It has been another super busy day in library land so here’s are four cool tech articles to peruse over the weekend!

1. The first article is from the New York Times tech guru columnists David Pogue and it offers a neat (aka simple) explanation of what the term “voice recognition” means. The article also discusses the pluses and minuses of the two most popular voice recognition systems for mobile devices – the ones made for Android and Apple devices.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/technology/personaltech/android-vs-siri-the-voice-recognition-sequel.html?src=me&ref=general

2. The second article is also from the New York Times and is titled “Early Exit for Ballmer Amid Course Change at Microsoft” and it discusses how the retirement of the current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who replaced original Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, may change Microsoft and thus just perhaps what products they produce:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/technology/ballmer-announces-retirement-from-microsoft.html?ref=technology

3. The third article is from PC Magazine online and is titled “DOJ Revises Apple E-Books Proposal, Barely” and it offers information on the modified proposal for what Apple will have to do in answer to the DOJ anti-trust ruling that Apple violated anti-trust laws in conspiring with e-book sellers to sell e-books:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2423534,00.asp

4. And the fourth article is from CNET and is titled “Pandora adds new timer for sleepy iOS, Android users” and it relays the info that the Pandora app for your Apple or Android mobile device now has a time feature that will allow you to set your favorite music to play while sending you off to the land of nod – and the device will then shut off at a time you set.

Here’s the link:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57599860-93/pandora-adds-new-timer-for-sleepy-ios-android-users/

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

References

Albanesius, Chloe. (2013, August 23). DOJ Revises Apple E-Books Proposal, Barely. PC Magazine. Online. Accessed August 23, 2013, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2423534,00.asp

Pogue, David. (2013, August 21). The Voice-Off: Android vs. Siri. New York Times. Online. Accessed August 23, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/technology/personaltech/android-vs-siri-the-voice-recognition-sequel.html?src=me&ref=general

Reisinger, Don. (2013, August 23). Pandora adds new timer for sleepy iOS, Android users. CNET. Online. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57599860-93/pandora-adds-new-timer-for-sleepy-ios-android-users/

Wingfield, Nick. (2013, August 23). Early Exit for Ballmer Amid Course Change at Microsoft. Online. Accessed August 23, 2013,  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/technology/ballmer-announces-retirement-from-microsoft.html?ref=technology

 

Links To Four Interesting Tech Articles

Linda Reimer

The first article is from The Guardian and is titled “Samsung’s Galaxy Gear watch to deal first blow in war for the wrist;” and it discusses a cool new wearable high tech watch made by Samsung:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/20/samsung-galaxy-gear-watch-war-wrist

The second article is from the Inventor Spot site and offers an overview of the new Android tablet/smartphone companion projector the EPICT EPP-100 which sounds and looks like a cool projector:

Android Computer-in-a-Projector: The New EPICT EPP-100
http://inventorspot.com/articles/android_computerinaprojector_new_epict_epp100

The third article is from the Trend Hunter site and is titled “The TrewGrip Mobile Keyboard Connects with on-the-go Technology” and it shows off a really interesting keyboard – it is a bent keyboard that is designed to fit over your leg – I think it is cool that there is a keyboard you can buy that is shaped like this but I think I’ll take the traditional and touch screen keyboards instead! (or better still voice activated command inputs which are getting better all the time!)

Here’s the link:
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trewgrip-mobile-keyboard

And the fourth article, is from the New York Times, and is titled “A 3-D Scanner Reaches for the Masses” and it offers more info on the 3-D scanning and printing technology that will shortly be coming to a business, public library and/or home near you!

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/a-3-d-scanner-reaches-for-the-masses/

Have a great day!

Linda R.