This site offers news and discussion mostly about books, with a sprinkling of information on personal technology and digital literacy.
Hi everyone, it is super, crazy busy in library land!
So here’s a very short posting to say that according to a CNET article Apple will be announcing new iPads on October 22.
Here’s the link to the CNET article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57606589-37/apples-ipad-event-reportedly-set-for-october-22/
Have a great day!
Linda R.
It has been another super, super busy day in library land so this will be brief tech blog posting to simply note that the new iPhones, the iPhone 5 S and the iPhone 5 C, have gone on sale today; and that if you own an Apple TV video streaming player there is a software update for it today that no doubt complements the new Apple iOS 7.
Here’s a link to a Verge article on the just-went-on-sale-today iPhones:
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/20/4749888/iphone-5c-5s-begin-sale-in-stores-gold-numbers-limited
And a link to a Wired article regarding the new Apple TV update:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/09/apple-tv-updated/
Have a great weekend everyone!
Linda R.
References
Baldwin, Robert. (2013, September 20). Apple TV 6.0 Update Brings iTunes Radio and AirPlay From iCloud to the Streaming Box. Online. Accessed September 20, 2013, http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/09/apple-tv-updated/
Kastrenakes, Jacob. (2013, September 20). iPhone 5C and 5S go on sale with gold in short supply (update). The Verge. Online. Accessed Septemger 20, 2013, http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/20/4749888/iphone-5c-5s-begin-sale-in-stores-gold-numbers-limited
iOS 7 Is Here: Apple released iOS 7 just after 1 p.m. EST today. I’ve downloaded iOS 7 to my iPod and iPad and it does look very different from iOS 6. I like the new look! Some of the functionality has changed too including the fact that you now access the Spotlight Search by swiping down from the middle of your home screen instead of either double tapping the home button or swiping from left to right across the home screen. And if you do double tap the home button, instead of bringing up the Spotlight Search, you’ll now be able to quickly jump between apps you have open – to close those apps simply swipe upward over an open app or window. And you can access the new Control Panel by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and thus you’ll be able to quickly access the contrast and sound controls among other options. And you can now select a voice for Siri – you know Apple’s virtual assistant? You can pick a male of female voice if you have an Apple device that supports Siri.
Did I mention iOS 7 is different? It is! Feel free to drop into the library and ask members of the library’s tech team questions about iOS 7; because honestly, once you install it on your Apple device you feel like you just bought a new iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad!
Here’s a link to a ZDNET article on the subject, titled Apple Releases iOS 7 for Existing iPhone, iPad Upgrades, which offers a bit of basic information about the iOS 7 release:
http://www.zdnet.com/apple-releases-ios-7-for-existing-iphone-ipad-upgrades-7000020806/
iTunes Radio Makes Its Debut: And iTunes Radio is also making its debut today. Once you’ve updated your Apple device to iOS 7 simply go into the music app, which is now is red with white musical quarter eighth notes on it, and once you open that app there is an option for Radio at the bottom of the page – and a huge display will pop up saying “Welcome to iTunes Radio” and offering you the options to “Learn More” or “Start Listening.”
Here’s a link to a Mashable article on iTunes Radio titled Apple Updates iTunes to Includes iTunes Radio:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/18/apple-update-itunes-radio/
Legacy Apps For Apple Devices: Now this is cool because it too is new and very useful if you own and older Apple device! It used to be if Apple updated its iOS and your iPhone or iPad was just old enough that it couldn’t be updated to the new OS then there were apps that you couldn’t install on your iPad or iPhone because they had been upgraded to work with the new OS. So basically you were out of luck minus a work around. Now Apple has introduced a new feature that will allow you to automatically download a version of an app that will work with your device. For example, say you’ve got an iPhone 3 and you couldn’t previously have installed an iOS 7 app on your iPhone. Now if you use that same iPhone 3 and go to the app store you’ll be prompted to download a lower version of the app you’re interested in which will be compatible with your device. Now that too is cool! It is one of those cool Apple days…
Here’s a link to the Mashable article on just this subject titled Apple App Store Introduced Legacy App Download Option:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/17/ios-legacy-apps/
Have a great day!
Linda R.
References
Price, Emily. (2013, September 18). Apple Updates iTunes to Include iTunes Radio. Mashable. Online. Accessed September 18, 2013, http://mashable.com/2013/09/18/apple-update-itunes-radio/
Ulanoff, Lance. (2013, September 18). Apple App Store Introduces Legacy App Download Option. Mashable. Online. Accessed September 18, 2013, http://mashable.com/2013/09/17/ios-legacy-apps/
Whittaker, Zach. (2013, September 18). Apple releases iOS 7 for existing iPhone, iPad upgrades. ZDNET. Online. Accessed September 18, 2013, http://www.zdnet.com/apple-releases-ios-7-for-existing-iphone-ipad-upgrades-7000020806/
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?”
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:
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,
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: 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!
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: 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:
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:
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: 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:
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:
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
What Is Streaming Music: I had lunch with a friend over the weekend and she asked me an interesting question. She said “What is streaming music anyway?” And the answer to that question is that the term “streaming music” means to access music via the Internet – in other words, the music isn’t stored on your computer but is stored on the computer server of the company offering the music for you to access and listen to.
There are three main types of streaming music services you can access online: personalized radio services, music on demand services and online accessed radio stations. Personalized radio includes Pandora and the upcoming Apple (or possible iTunes) music service, on demand services which allow you to specify which songs and albums you wish to listen to including the Spotify and Rdio services and online accessed radio services like TuneIn Radio allow you to access radio stations offering the same content they transmit to radios over the air via the Internet.
If all of that sounds confusing it probably is at least a little bit!
So let me try and offer some examples. If you use Pandora Internet Radio which is a personalized radio service and which you can access via the Pandora site or Pandora app, you create playlists based upon songs or artists. So at home I have a Billie Holiday station that plays music by Billie Holliday and other similar artists that Pandora chooses. Likewise I have a Peter, Paul & Mary station that offers folk-rock and pop hits from the 1960s for my listening pleasure and again Pandora offers the song selections based upon whatever artist or song I’ve told Pandora I want it to create a personalized station around.
On the other hand if I were to listen to Internet accessed music from Spotify or Rdio, via the web or an app, I would be using an on demand streaming service and I could create playlists that include specific songs and/or artists – so if I wanted to hear the Billie Holiday album “Lady Sings The Blues” in its entirety — I could do so which is not something I can do with Pandora – Pandora can only play 4 songs an hour by a specific artists for any of its listeners.
And on the third hand, say I just want to tune into a radio station like WSQX that doesn’t come in without static at my house via a traditional radio; I can use the TuneIn Radio app or site which allows me to access that Binghamton based radio station by accessing the content that WSQX now offers online (you can go directly to the WSQX site and stream the music too via this link: http://www.wskg.org/streaming/wsqx_player.html?new).
And I mention the TuneIn App, even though you can stream WSQX content directly from their site via the web, because although many radio stations now offer their radio shows and content to be accessed (streamed) via the web– TuneIn is a cool app that allows you to access thousands of radio stations from all over the world from one place – so you can listen to radio stations from countries across the globe, save your favorite stations to your favorites list and easily switch between your favorite stations at the touch of a button which is cool!
So basically Pandora creates genre playlists based upon what artists you tell them you like, Rdio and Spotify create on demand music playlists that allow you to select the specific songs you wish to listen to and traditional radio stations like WSQX now broadcast their programs live over the web – so you can access music via any of these services and have a static free listening experience!
Here’s a link to a Guardian article on the subject titled “Rdio’s streaming Stations aim to understand music fans, not just music” that offers even more information on the subject:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2013/aug/08/rdio-stations-streaming-music-radio
Home Networking Basics Tips From CNET: CNET is offering an entire series of how-to articles on that focus on how to set up a home (Internet) network. Here’s the link to part 8 of the series which offers an in-depth explanation of how to set up a router and modem; the article even offers tips as to when it makes sense to buy your own equipment instead of renting Wi-Fi equipment:
The Digital Future Of The Washington Post: NPR offers a video interview with current Washington Post CEO Don Graham that is interesting because it speculates on the future of newspapers particularly the Washington Post which was just purchased by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – and the basic gist of the situation is that the future of “print” is digital and not paper:
Here’s the link: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec13/washpost_08-06.html
If You’re In The Market For A New Coffee Table…And if you are in the market for a new coffee table and you like technology and have $7,000 to spare – you might consider buying the new wooden Hammacher Schlemmer 32″ Windows 8 touch screen coffee table! You get the full Windows 8 touch screen experience beneath every cup of coffee you set on it!
Here’s the link to the Coolest Gadget’s article on this brand new coffee table:
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20130808/giant-coffee-table-touchscreen-computer/
Have a great day!
Linda R.
References
Dredge, Stuart. (2013, August 8). The Guardian. Rdio’s streaming Stations aim to understand music fans, not just music: New personal radio feature shows streaming service is a credible alternative to Spotify, Deezer and other rivals. Online. Accessed August 12, 2013, http://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2013/aug/08/rdio-stations-streaming-music-radio
Edwin. (2013, August 5). Giant Coffee Table Touchscreen Computer. CoolestGadgets.com. Online. Accessed August 12, 2013, http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20130808/giant-coffee-table-touchscreen-computer/
Madrigal, Alexis. The Music Is Waiting to Be Tapped’: Listening in the Era of the Stream. (2013, August 9). The Atlantic. Online. Accessed August 12, 2013. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/13/08/the-music-is-waiting-to-be-tapped-listening-in-the-era-of-the-stream/278466/
Ngo, Dong. (2013, August 9). Home networking explained, Part 8: Cable modem shopping tips. CNET. Online. Accessed August 20, 2013. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3132_7-57597651-98/home-networking-explained-part-8-cable-modem-shopping-tips/
‘Our Future Is Digital’: Don Graham Reflects on Washington Post’s Turning Point.’ (2013, August 6). PBS Newshour. Online. Accessed August 12, 2013. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec13/washpost_08-06.html
Google’s New Chromecast TV Dongle: Google announced today that starting today they will begin selling a $35 “Chromecast Dongle” in the U.S. This small device will connect to an HDMI plug on a television and allow users to use it to stream video content from laptops and tablets to their television sets. You can of course already do this if you plug your computer into your television via a cable but this new Dongle will allow you to do sans cables via Wi-Fi and for only $35 so this just may be the hit streaming video product Google has been looking for!
Here’s a link to a BBC article on the subject titled ). Google launches Chromecast low-cost TV dongle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23437476
Speculation That A Less Expensive iPhone Is On The Way: There has been quite a bit of speculation via the tech rumor mill recently that Apple is working on a less expensive iPhone and an interesting Guardian article on the subject throws out some suggestions as to what the iPhone would be like and what corners Apple would have to cut in order to produces a cheaper iPhone.
Here’s a link to a Guardian article on the subject titled “A cheaper iPhone: what it would cost, and what it would leave out (and in):”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/24/cheap-iphone-price-lte-plastic-apps
Have a great day!
Linda R.
References
Lee, Dave. (2013, July 24). Google launches Chromecast low-cost TV dongle. BBC News. Online. Accessed July 24, 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23437476
Arthur, Charles. (2013, July 24). A cheaper iPhone: what it would cost, and what it would leave out (and in)The Guardian. Online. Accessed July 24, 2013. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/24/cheap-iphone-price-lte-plastic-apps
So many tech stories so little time! And of course Thursdays in the summertime are super busy in library land so this will be a short posting that links to four interesting articles regarding personal technology – in other word I promise not to get up on my soap box and go on about any personal tech issues!
Article 1. “Locate Lost Keys With These 10 Handy Gadgets” – this article is from the tech site Mashable and offers a slideshow of 10 gadgets that will benefit tech fans who frequently lose their keys! If you’re like me and that occasionally happens to you check it out!
Here’s the link:
http://mashable.com/2013/07/18/find-keys-apps/
Article 2. “Apple should lead the move to DRM-free ebooks” – this article is from Macworld and offers examples as to why Apple is the ideal company to lead the publishing world into a customer friendly DRM free e-book era!
Here’s the link:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2044161/apple-should-lead-the-move-to-drm-free-ebooks.html
Article 3. “How Amazon Became the King of Audiobooks: Recorded books are now a billion-dollar business, which Amazon dominates perhaps like none other” – wow what a long title! The basic gist of this story is an enlightening one for most of us – and that is that Amazon which is known as the King of E-Books is also the King of Audiobooks! Amazon’s Audible company sells more digital (aka downloadable) audio books than any other audio book seller right now.
Here’s a link to the article: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/07/how-amazon-became-the-king-of-audiobooks/277836/
Article 4. “Google Pitches Online TV Service to Media Companies: Streaming of Traditional TV Programming Is Also Planned by Others” – I keep talking about how streaming of movies and TV shows via the Internet is the next phase in the Internet Revolution and this article discusses how Google is working towards that end by trying to obtain traditional TV content – i.e. cable content that right now is initially offered to television fans only via traditional cable company TV packages – for its Google TV Media streaming player.
Here’s the link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324348504578610050212447028.html
Have a great day!
Linda R.
References
Elliott, Amy-Mae. (2013, July 18). Locate Lost Keys With These 10 Handy Gadgets. Mashable. Online. Accessed Jly 18, 2013. http://mashable.com/2013/07/18/find-keys-apps/
McElhearn, Kirk. (2013, July 17). Apple should lead the move to DRM-free ebooks. Macworld. Online. Accessed July 17, 2013. http://www.macworld.com/article/2044161/apple-should-lead-the-move-to-drm-free-ebooks.html
Osnos, Peter. (2013, July 16). How Amazon Became the King of Audiobooks: Recorded books are now a billion-dollar business, which Amazon dominates perhaps like none other. The Atlantic. Online. Accessed July 17, 2013. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/07/how-amazon-became-the-king-of-audiobooks/277836/
Stewart, Christopher., & Ramachandran, Shalini. (2013, July 16). Google Pitches Online TV Service to Media Companies: Streaming of Traditional TV Programming Is Also Planned by Others. The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal. Online. Accessed July 17, 2013. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324348504578610050212447028.html
Tech & Book Talk at SSCL 