Tag: Corning

Adobe’s Creative Suite To Be Discontinued As Boxed Software & Two Cool New Tech Books 1. The New Digital age & 2. Who Owns The Future?

Linda Reimer

Adobe’s Creative Suite To Be Discontinued As Boxed Software: Adobe announced yesterday that it will discontinue its Creative Suite as a boxed-on-the-self-of-your-local-software-or-office-store product. Henceforth (I love that word!); henceforth you’ll have to pay for a cloud based (online) subscription to either the Adobe Creative Suite which includes Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign and Premier (and other software too) for $50 a month or you’ll be able to pay $19.95 a month to access a single Adobe Suite software – for example you can pay the $20 if you just want to use Photoshop.

The light version of Photoshop – Adobe Elements will still, at least for a while, be available on disc and in box at your local software store.

Here’s a link to an Ars Technica article on the subject titled “Adobe’s Creative Suite is dead, long live the Creative Cloud” that will give you more in-depth information on the subject:

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/05/adobes-creative-suite-is-dead-long-live-the-creative-cloud/

Two Cool New Tech Books: There are currently two cool tech books that are worth reading if you’re interested in technology and how the quickening evolution of technology does and will continue to shape our world. The first book is called “The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business and it is co-authored by Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen the director of Google Ideas. The book offers a positive view of how technology will transform the way we live and work in the near future even more than it has in the last twenty years. And the second book is titled “Who Owns The Future?” and it is written by one of the leading American futurists Jaron Lanier. Lanier agrees with Schmidt & Cohen in part – he too thinks technology will continue to transform our lives in the future and at an increasing pace but he throws out some red flags for our consideration and paints a somewhat darker picture that the rosy colored optimism expressed by Schmidt & Cohen. Lanier notes how much personal information Internet giants like Google and Facebook are gathering about their customers without their consent, that online businesses tend to creatively take advantage of lower income persons (what he deems a peasant class) and that it really isn’t right that online companies can use personal information they’ve gathered about individuals without their consent to make money.

I haven’t finished reading either book yet but both are fascinating. I agree with the overall view of all three authors – we’re in the midst of a high tech revolution that has, and will continue to transform our lives in the near future in ways we cannot even imagine. However we must, as always as citizens of a democracy, pay attention to what is going on around us – in this case in the online universe and call out on the carpet those Internet based companies or persons that try to infringe on our rights – the biggest rights at stake that we can easily see right now* are the right to privacy and not authorizing without consent online business to compile tremendous amounts of information about you and the danger of the Digital Divide which is still with us and may very well grow larger in the near future.

And when I say “Digital Divide” I mean two things –firstly, that some people cannot afford to pay for the technology and technological access that is now needed to survive in the working and academic worlds and secondly, that inexpensive high speed Internet access, which is also increasingly necessary for everyone in the working and academic worlds to have, isn’t available for everyone.

The first point is an economic one –not everyone can currently afford to purchase a PC or tablet and then pay for home based Internet access so they can access high speed Internet and not only is that an issue now but it could conceivable be an even larger issue in the future – for example, say Google Glass style Internet connecting glasses become mainstream and are needed by working people and students to use for group projects and they cost $1,500 – assuming the price stays that high that would leave some people out in the cold because they simply couldn’t afford to buy the new technology or the Internet access.

And the second point isn’t an economic one per se – there are many places in this country where you simply cannot buy access to high speed broadband Internet service. In fact, I work with two gals that live locally and just far enough out of town that Time Warner Cable doesn’t have Internet cable installed that far out – and those two gals cannot obtain high speed Internet access at home because it isn’t offered where they live! And this is a huge problem because increasingly people need that access to high speed Internet to communicate and take care of educational and work related items and the economic part of the equation isn’t one for customers – it is one for the Internet and cable companies that provide Internet service that don’t want to spend the money to extend their Internet service. And that last point is why the U.S. ranks 12th in the world as far as its citizens being able to obtain high speed Internet access goes.

And on that note I’ll get off my soap box!

Suffice it to say if you’re interested in technology and how it will continue to change our lives you should check out those books!

And if you want to know more about how the U.S. is really behind in offering high speed Internet access to all its citizens and residents check out the following Forbes article titled The Fastest Internet Speeds In The World:

 http://www.forbes.com/sites/kymmcnicholas/2011/01/24/the-fastest-internet-speeds-in-the-world/

Here’s a link to a New York Times article on the Schmidt and Cohen “New Digital Age” book:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/books/the-new-digital-age-by-eric-schmidt-and-jared-cohen.html

And a link to a New York Times interview with “Who Owns The Future” author Jaron Lanier:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/06/books/who-owns-the-future-by-jaron-lanier.html?ref=technology&_r=0

Have a great day!

Linda R.

 P.S. As always just FYI — if you need help learning how to use that new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech device you just bought, or got for your birthday, call us! We offer free One-On-One tech sessions at the library by appointment. Call 607-936-3713 ext. 502 and ask for Linda or Jenn.

* I could get into the whole lack of ownership of e-books, e-videos, e-audios subject too as I think that is a major league threat to intellectual freedom but I’ll save that soap-box for another day as I know this is already a rather length posting!

 

References

Cunningham, Andrew. Adobe’s Creative Suite is dead, long live the Creative Cloud: It’s the end of the line for boxes versions of Photoshop, InDesign and the rest. Ars Technica.

Maslin, Janet. (2013, April 25). Formatting a World With No Secrets “The New Digital Age” by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen. Online. Accessed May 7, 2013.

McNicholas, Kym. (2011, January 24). The Fastest Internet Speeds In The World. Accessed May 7, 2013. 

Want To Buy A 3 D Printer? Staples Will Have Them Soon! Nook HD Becomes A Real Tablet & More On Aereo

Linda Reimer

Want To Buy A 3 D Printer? Staples Will Have Them Soon! You’ve probably heard a bit about 3 D Printers and how they will transform the way we life when they become available. And that day is almost here! Staples spokesmen have announced that in June it will begin selling the Cube 3D Printer for $1,299!

And just as a refresher in case you’re thinking the term “3D Printer” sounds familiar but you can’t quite recall all the ins and outs about it…3 D Printers aren’t really printers but instead can be thought of as entry level replicators (for all the Star Trek fans out there!). The “printers” will create 3 dimensional objects based upon information users send a 3 D printer via a computer. So if you need a new cover or case for your iPhone or tablet – and you’d like a bright blue one you’ll be able to create one at home with your 3D Printer. If you want to create a chess set, a new shirt, new hat, new action figures for your grandchildren or colorful jewelry to go with that new outfit you just bought – you can use your 3 D Printer to create those items!

3 D Printing is cool technology and will be available at a Staples near you very soon!

Here’s a link to a Verge article, titled Staples becomes first major US retailor to sell 3D printers with $1,299 Cube, on the subject:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/3/4297612/staples-first-major-us-retailer-sell-3d-printers-cube-3d-printer

And if you’d like to know more about 3D Printers or the 3D Printing process this link will take you to the tech site Mashable were you can learn more:

http://mashable.com/category/3d-printing/

Nook HD Becomes A Real Tablet: Barnes & Noble has just made the Nook HD a real tablet! And by “real” I mean that the tablet will now have access to the Google Play Store and be able to run all Android apps in the store. This new functionality does make the Nook HD a real tablet because previously you could only run select Nook tablets on it – which means you didn’t have access to all the apps in the Play Store. But now if you have a Nook HD, or  you get one for Mother’s Day (B&N is running a big sale on them this week) you’ll have access to the entire Play Store and be able to install any apps in the store like for example the Amazon Instant Video app or the Amazon Kindle app! Yes it is true for the first time ever you can now read Amazon Kindle e-books on a Nook! And that is something you cannot do in reverse – you cannot read Nook e-books on a Kindle — at least not yet but Amazon isn’t one on its laurels so I bet we’ll see that functionality added to the Kindle Fire HD series in the near future.  

More On Aereo: I came across a cool article on the Aereo TV services this weekend that pretty much sums up my reaction to the outrage the traditional media companies and networks are expressing over the success of to this television service company.

Just as a refresher Aereo made its debut last year and what it does is to assign an antenna to each customer; and that antenna then records the free over the air video transmissions that major networks have always sent out over the airwaves for free for people so that people who don’t have cable television can receive those signals/videos via rabbit ears or some other type of antenna. It is legal for people to use antennas to receive and record television programs over the air for their own use and it has been twice ruled as being legal for Aereo to provide a service to customers by offering the same service – assigning one antenna and DVR for each customer and those customers can then access recorded content on any tech device they own at any time – smartphone, tablet, PC etc.

So having finished with the refresher section I have to say I agree with Nick Mokey the author of the Digital Trends article on Aereo titled “Aereo’s quasilegal TV streaming is just what we need to slap big media awake.”

I too think that established media, network and cable companies want to hold on to their traditional status quo and would rather everyone pay them for an expensive cable package then to be able to watch the television shows, movies and other content they broadcast whenever they want to on any Internet connecting device that they own. So those same media, network and cable companies are dragging their feet when it comes to providing consumers with access to television shows, movies and e-books on all their devices and on demand – they could do so — they have the ability to do so – they could create a CBS, ABC & NBC, Universal, MGM etc. video store with accompanying app that would allow consumers to buy al la carte content on demand directly from them at any time – they’d make money hand over foot just not via their traditional business models. So I definitely concur with Nick Mokey that Aereo’s success is a very good thing because just maybe those media, network and cable companies will start to innovate and get on the bandwagon of allowing easy 24/7/365 access to content that their customers and many others want. I know I’d be happy to pay for episodes of television series that I want to watch and if back catalog content were available through Network stores I’d be thrilled I might actually get to watch seasons 4 & 5 of Hill Street Blues again – you can stream and buy season 1 & 2 but forget about buying a DVD or streaming seasons 3-7 they are not currently available in either format.

And I’m getting off my soap-box now! Thanks for reading & have a great day!

Linda R.

Here’s the link to the Digital Trends article on Aereo:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/aereos-hellraising-is-just-what-we-needed-to-slap-tv-networks-awake/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Bohn, Dieter. (2013, May 3).Nook HD & HD+ get full Google Play support for Android apps. Online.

Mokey, Nick. (2013, May 2). Aereo’s quasilegal TV streaming is just what we need to slap big media awake. Online.

Welch, Christ. (2013, May 3). Staples becomes first major US retailer to sell 3D printers with $1,299 Cube. The Verge. Online. 

Weekend Digital Catalog Suggested Reading, Viewing & Listening Titles May 3-5, 2013

Linda Reimer

Here is a list of select Digital Catalog e-books, audios and videos s you might enjoy reading, viewing or listening to over the weekend!

E-Books:

Amber Eyes: Eyes Series, Book 1 by Maya Banks: Their final mission will be to win her love. A beautiful, vulnerable woman appears at the high country cabin where Hunter and Jericho live between assignments. They are captivated by their stunning, reticent visitor and vow to protect her—and uncover what she’s hiding. Neither is prepared for the unbelievable. Their beautiful innocent is a cougar shifter who’s spent a lifetime alone.

In the shelter of their love, Kaya blooms, finally willing to trust—and embrace her humanity again. Then Hunter and Jericho are called away on a mission that goes terribly wrong. Now, pregnant, and alone once more, she must find her way in a world she doesn’t belong to—and hope that the two men she loves will find their way home.

Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist: Phil Hastings was a lucky man-he had money, a growing reputation as a screenwriter, a happy, loving family with three kids, and he’d just moved into the house of his dreams in rural of magic-and about to be altered irrevocably by a magic more real than any he dared imagine. For with the Magic came the Bad Thing, and the Faerie, and then the cool. . .and the resurrection of a primordial war with a forgotten people-a war that not only the Hastings but the whole human race could lose.

The French and Indian War: 1660 – 1763 by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier: History is dramatic — and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.

Using clear and descriptive language, The French and Indian War outlines the period in which the American colonies were settled and explains how European politics helped cause the French and Indian War. Beginning in the 1670s, when England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden all had laid claim to parts of the New World, the authors describe the evolution of the various colonies, and their relationships with each other, the Indians, and the different European governments. The inevitable conflicts led to the titular power struggle between the French and the English, ending with the 1763 Treaty of Paris, in which France gave up its claims in North America. The text is enhanced with images of historical artifacts, works by contemporary artists, and photographs of reenacted scenes

Lightnin’ Hopkins: His Life and Blues by Alan Govenar: Based on scores of interviews with the artist’s relatives, friends, lovers, producers, accompanists, managers, and fans, this brilliant biography reveals a man of many layers and contradictions. Following the journey of a musician who left his family’s poor cotton farm at age eight carrying only a guitar, the book chronicles his life on the open road playing blues music and doing odd jobs. It debunks the myths surrounding his meetings with Blind Lemon Jefferson and Texas Alexander, his time on a chain gang, his relationships with women, and his lifelong appetite for gambling and drinking. This volume also discusses his hard-to-read personality; whether playing for black audiences in Houston’s Third Ward, for white crowds at the Matrix in San Francisco, or in the concert halls of Europe, Sam Hopkins was a musician who poured out his feelings in his songs and knew how to endear himself to his audience—yet it was hard to tell if he was truly sincere, and he appeared to trust no one. Finally, this book moves beyond exploring his personal life and details his entire musical career, from his first recording session in 1946—when he was dubbed Lightnin’—to his appearance on the national charts and his rediscovery by Mack McCormick and Sam Charters in 1959, when his popularity had begun to wane and a second career emerged, playing to white audiences rather than black ones. Overall, this narrative tells the story of an important blues musician who became immensely successful by singing with a searing emotive power about his country roots and the injustices that informed the civil rights era.

E-Books For Kids:

Beyond the Firefly Field by R.E. Munzing: Living in the country seemed to present only boredom for Clayton and his friends, until one night a faraway glowing field beckoned them. What they found had been safely hidden away for over a thousand years. The kids soon became obsessed with the wonders they had discovered, as their wishes for excitement and adventure were granted. But visiting the field was beginning to change them; and as school started, their secret became harder to keep. Clayton felt torn—-like he was living in two worlds—-and he feared he would soon have to do whatever it took to kep the secret. . .or never go back to the field again.

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer: Dragon Keepers Series, Book 1 by Kate Klimo: For Magic Tree House readers who are ready for something longer, the Dragon Keepers series has the perfect length and reading level, along with the fast-paced writing, adventure, and sense of teamwork that kids love to read.

TEN-YEAR-OLD COUSINS Jesse and Daisy have always wanted something magical to happen to them. So it’s a wish come true when Jesse’s newly found thunder egg hatches, and a helpless, tiny but very loud baby dragon pops out. Soon the two kids are at the dragon’s beck-and-call, trying to figure out what to feed her.

An Internet search leads them to the library, which leads them back to the Internet, where they find a very strange Web site called “foundadragon.org.” It is here that the cousins discover that the dragon’s hatching has designated them “Dragon Keepers” and that not only do they have to feed her, but they have to keep her safe from the villainous Saint George who has kept himself alive over centuries by drinking dragons’ blood.

Hot Dog and Bb: Adventure 1: And the Seriously Scary Attack of the Evil Alien Pizza Person by L. Bob Rovetch: Bob is just an ordinary boy with ordinary friends who goes to an ordinary school, each and every day. But this is no ordinary day. Today when Bob opens his lunch box, he finds Hot Dog—a real, live, talking hot dog! Hot Dog says he’s from another planet. He’s here to save Earth. And—gulp—he needs Bob’s help! Full of humor, quirky characters, brief fast-paced chapters, and funny black-and-white illustrations on each page, Hot Dog and Bob is sure to be welcomed by beginning readers.

Albums:

A-Tisket, A-Tasket (1936-1941) by Ella  Fitzgerald:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1 A-Tisket, A-Tasket

10 Baby Won’t You Please Come Home

11 Cryin’ Mood

12 The Darktown Strutter’s Ball

13 Stowaway: Goodnight, My Love

14 The Muffin Man

15 If Dreams Come True

16 You’re Gonna Lose Your Gal

17 If You Ever Change Your Mind

18 Undecided

2 You Showed Me the Way

3 My Melancholy Baby

4 Bei Mir Bist Du Schon

5 Saving Myself for You: (I’ve Been) Saving Myself for You

6 Music Box Revue: Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil

7 My Wubba Dolly

8 I’m the Lonesomest Gal in Town

9 MacPherson Is Rehearsin’ To Swing: MacPherson is Rehearsin’ (To Swing)

Wire Brush Stomp (1935-1940) by Gene Krupa:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1 The Last Round-up

10 Swing Is Here

11 Oh, Please!: I Know That You Know: I Know That You Know

12 Apurksody: Apurksody (Theme Song)

13 Nagasaki

14 Quiet And Roll ‘Em

15 Wire Brush Stomp

16 The Madam Swings It

17 Jungle Madness

18 Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Der-E

19 Blue Rhythm Fantasy

2 Jazz Me Blues

20 Drummin’ Man

3 Blues Of Israel

4 3 Little Words: Three Little Words

5 Barrelhouse

6 The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

7 I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music

8 Mutiny In The Parlor

9 I’m Gonna Clap My Hands

Audio Books:

Inferno: Robert Langdon Series, Book 4 (unabridged) by Dan Brown: In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War: How the North Used the Telegraph, Railroads, Surveillance Balloons, Ironclads, High-Powered Weapons, and More to Win the Civil by Thomas B. Allen et al.: Thomas B. Allen’s expertise in military history and strategy is combined with Roger MacBride Allen’s knowledge of technology to reveal a lesser known yet fascinating side of the sixteenth president of the United States. Their authoritative narrative reveals Lincoln as our nation’s first hands-on commander in chief, whose appreciation for the power of technology plays a critical role in the North’s Civil War victory over the less developed South. We meet Lincoln as he exchanges vital telegraph messages with his generals in the field; we witness his inspection of new ship models at the navy yard; we view the president target shooting with the designer of a new kind of rifle; and we follow Lincoln, the man of action, as he leads a daring raid to recapture Norfolk, Virginia. The book’s historic sweep also sets Abraham Lincoln in the context of his military era: we learn about the North’s Anaconda Plan and the South’s counter strategies and how the concept of total war replaced the old Napoleonic way of fighting. Readers will come away with a rich sense of a leader who lived through one of the most exciting ages of technological and social change in America. Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War brings alive a time when the railroad brought soldiers to and from the battlefields, when hot-air balloons were used for surveillance, and when ironclad warships revolutionized naval warfare.

Videos:

Astrology and Zen: Unlocking the Secrets of the Stars: Astrology has been around ever since man looked up towards the stars and recognized an association of patterns in his own life. He saw the movement and noted times of birth. For thousands of years he refined his art. Today astrology has become a dirty word to many; unscientific and irrational. But is there still some truth to be found in its depth? Astrologer and author, Lyn Birkbeck talks candidly about his own search for the truth and reveals that there is a time coming, predicted by the stars, when great change will occur in our society. He pinpoints the era of 2020. What will become of us? The stars tell. Ray Menezes has undertaken a study of the equally ancient philosophy of Zen and he tells us how it can help us today in this materialistic world of boom and bust. Do these age-old concepts still have relevance for us today? World Wide Multi Media brings you quality video content from around the globe.

The Real Middle Earth: This fascinating documentary takes us in Tolkien’s footsteps and investigates the landscapes and buildings, the places and names that helped shape Middle Earth. Sir Ian Holm narrates this fascinating exploration into an imaginary world.

 

The STLS Digital Catalog may be found on the library’s homepage of SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books and download them to your tablet or smartphone.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

 

Weekend Digital Catalog Suggested Reading, Viewing & Listening Titles May 3-5, 2013

Linda Reimer

Here is a list of select Digital Catalog e-books, audios and videos s you might enjoy reading, viewing or listening to over the weekend!

E-Books:

Amber Eyes: Eyes Series, Book 1 by Maya Banks: Their final mission will be to win her love. A beautiful, vulnerable woman appears at the high country cabin where Hunter and Jericho live between assignments. They are captivated by their stunning, reticent visitor and vow to protect her—and uncover what she’s hiding. Neither is prepared for the unbelievable. Their beautiful innocent is a cougar shifter who’s spent a lifetime alone.

In the shelter of their love, Kaya blooms, finally willing to trust—and embrace her humanity again. Then Hunter and Jericho are called away on a mission that goes terribly wrong. Now, pregnant, and alone once more, she must find her way in a world she doesn’t belong to—and hope that the two men she loves will find their way home.

Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist: Phil Hastings was a lucky man-he had money, a growing reputation as a screenwriter, a happy, loving family with three kids, and he’d just moved into the house of his dreams in rural of magic-and about to be altered irrevocably by a magic more real than any he dared imagine. For with the Magic came the Bad Thing, and the Faerie, and then the cool. . .and the resurrection of a primordial war with a forgotten people-a war that not only the Hastings but the whole human race could lose.

The French and Indian War: 1660 – 1763 by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier: History is dramatic — and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.

Using clear and descriptive language, The French and Indian War outlines the period in which the American colonies were settled and explains how European politics helped cause the French and Indian War. Beginning in the 1670s, when England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden all had laid claim to parts of the New World, the authors describe the evolution of the various colonies, and their relationships with each other, the Indians, and the different European governments. The inevitable conflicts led to the titular power struggle between the French and the English, ending with the 1763 Treaty of Paris, in which France gave up its claims in North America. The text is enhanced with images of historical artifacts, works by contemporary artists, and photographs of reenacted scenes

Lightnin’ Hopkins: His Life and Blues by Alan Govenar: Based on scores of interviews with the artist’s relatives, friends, lovers, producers, accompanists, managers, and fans, this brilliant biography reveals a man of many layers and contradictions. Following the journey of a musician who left his family’s poor cotton farm at age eight carrying only a guitar, the book chronicles his life on the open road playing blues music and doing odd jobs. It debunks the myths surrounding his meetings with Blind Lemon Jefferson and Texas Alexander, his time on a chain gang, his relationships with women, and his lifelong appetite for gambling and drinking. This volume also discusses his hard-to-read personality; whether playing for black audiences in Houston’s Third Ward, for white crowds at the Matrix in San Francisco, or in the concert halls of Europe, Sam Hopkins was a musician who poured out his feelings in his songs and knew how to endear himself to his audience—yet it was hard to tell if he was truly sincere, and he appeared to trust no one. Finally, this book moves beyond exploring his personal life and details his entire musical career, from his first recording session in 1946—when he was dubbed Lightnin’—to his appearance on the national charts and his rediscovery by Mack McCormick and Sam Charters in 1959, when his popularity had begun to wane and a second career emerged, playing to white audiences rather than black ones. Overall, this narrative tells the story of an important blues musician who became immensely successful by singing with a searing emotive power about his country roots and the injustices that informed the civil rights era.

E-Books For Kids:

Beyond the Firefly Field by R.E. Munzing: Living in the country seemed to present only boredom for Clayton and his friends, until one night a faraway glowing field beckoned them. What they found had been safely hidden away for over a thousand years. The kids soon became obsessed with the wonders they had discovered, as their wishes for excitement and adventure were granted. But visiting the field was beginning to change them; and as school started, their secret became harder to keep. Clayton felt torn—-like he was living in two worlds—-and he feared he would soon have to do whatever it took to kep the secret. . .or never go back to the field again.

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer: Dragon Keepers Series, Book 1 by Kate Klimo: For Magic Tree House readers who are ready for something longer, the Dragon Keepers series has the perfect length and reading level, along with the fast-paced writing, adventure, and sense of teamwork that kids love to read.

TEN-YEAR-OLD COUSINS Jesse and Daisy have always wanted something magical to happen to them. So it’s a wish come true when Jesse’s newly found thunder egg hatches, and a helpless, tiny but very loud baby dragon pops out. Soon the two kids are at the dragon’s beck-and-call, trying to figure out what to feed her.

An Internet search leads them to the library, which leads them back to the Internet, where they find a very strange Web site called “foundadragon.org.” It is here that the cousins discover that the dragon’s hatching has designated them “Dragon Keepers” and that not only do they have to feed her, but they have to keep her safe from the villainous Saint George who has kept himself alive over centuries by drinking dragons’ blood.

Hot Dog and Bob: Adventure 1: And the Seriously Scary Attack of the Evil Alien Pizza Person by L. Bob Rovetch: Bob is just an ordinary boy with ordinary friends who goes to an ordinary school, each and every day. But this is no ordinary day. Today when Bob opens his lunch box, he finds Hot Dog—a real, live, talking hot dog! Hot Dog says he’s from another planet. He’s here to save Earth. And—gulp—he needs Bob’s help! Full of humor, quirky characters, brief fast-paced chapters, and funny black-and-white illustrations on each page, Hot Dog and Bob is sure to be welcomed by beginning readers.

Albums:

A-Tisket, A-Tasket (1936-1941) by Ella  Fitzgerald:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1 A-Tisket, A-Tasket

10 Baby Won’t You Please Come Home

11 Cryin’ Mood

12 The Darktown Strutter’s Ball

13 Stowaway: Goodnight, My Love

14 The Muffin Man

15 If Dreams Come True

16 You’re Gonna Lose Your Gal

17 If You Ever Change Your Mind

18 Undecided

2 You Showed Me the Way

3 My Melancholy Baby

4 Bei Mir Bist Du Schon

5 Saving Myself for You: (I’ve Been) Saving Myself for You

6 Music Box Revue: Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil

7 My Wubba Dolly

8 I’m the Lonesomest Gal in Town

9 MacPherson Is Rehearsin’ To Swing: MacPherson is Rehearsin’ (To Swing)

Wire Brush Stomp (1935-1940) by Gene Krupa:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1 The Last Round-up

10 Swing Is Here

11 Oh, Please!: I Know That You Know: I Know That You Know

12 Apurksody: Apurksody (Theme Song)

13 Nagasaki

14 Quiet And Roll ‘Em

15 Wire Brush Stomp

16 The Madam Swings It

17 Jungle Madness

18 Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Der-E

19 Blue Rhythm Fantasy

2 Jazz Me Blues

20 Drummin’ Man

3 Blues Of Israel

4 3 Little Words: Three Little Words

5 Barrelhouse

6 The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

7 I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music

8 Mutiny In The Parlor

9 I’m Gonna Clap My Hands

 

Audio Books:

Inferno: Robert Langdon Series, Book 4 (unabridged) by Dan Brown: In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War: How the North Used the Telegraph, Railroads, Surveillance Balloons, Ironclads, High-Powered Weapons, and More to Win the Civil by Thomas B. Allen et al.: Thomas B. Allen’s expertise in military history and strategy is combined with Roger MacBride Allen’s knowledge of technology to reveal a lesser known yet fascinating side of the sixteenth president of the United States. Their authoritative narrative reveals Lincoln as our nation’s first hands-on commander in chief, whose appreciation for the power of technology plays a critical role in the North’s Civil War victory over the less developed South. We meet Lincoln as he exchanges vital telegraph messages with his generals in the field; we witness his inspection of new ship models at the navy yard; we view the president target shooting with the designer of a new kind of rifle; and we follow Lincoln, the man of action, as he leads a daring raid to recapture Norfolk, Virginia. The book’s historic sweep also sets Abraham Lincoln in the context of his military era: we learn about the North’s Anaconda Plan and the South’s counter strategies and how the concept of total war replaced the old Napoleonic way of fighting. Readers will come away with a rich sense of a leader who lived through one of the most exciting ages of technological and social change in America. Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War brings alive a time when the railroad brought soldiers to and from the battlefields, when hot-air balloons were used for surveillance, and when ironclad warships revolutionized naval warfare.

Videos:

Astrology and Zen: Unlocking the Secrets of the Stars: Astrology has been around ever since man looked up towards the stars and recognized an association of patterns in his own life. He saw the movement and noted times of birth. For thousands of years he refined his art. Today astrology has become a dirty word to many; unscientific and irrational. But is there still some truth to be found in its depth? Astrologer and author, Lyn Birkbeck talks candidly about his own search for the truth and reveals that there is a time coming, predicted by the stars, when great change will occur in our society. He pinpoints the era of 2020. What will become of us? The stars tell. Ray Menezes has undertaken a study of the equally ancient philosophy of Zen and he tells us how it can help us today in this materialistic world of boom and bust. Do these age-old concepts still have relevance for us today? World Wide Multi Media brings you quality video content from around the globe.

The Real Middle Earth: This fascinating documentary takes us in Tolkien’s footsteps and investigates the landscapes and buildings, the places and names that helped shape Middle Earth. Sir Ian Holm narrates this fascinating exploration into an imaginary world.

 

The STLS Digital Catalog may be found on the library’s homepage of SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books and download them to your tablet or smartphone.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

Some Tech News For May 2, 2013

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, I’m not sure where today has gone but it is almost gone at least as far as the work day goes!

So here is a relatively short tech blog posting for today!

Here’s a link to a New York Times article, titled Rearranging the Furniture, Minus the Aching Back,  on apps you can use that allow you to see how your room and/or house would look if you moved the furniture and paint the walls – without you actually having to move the furniture and paint the walls!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/02/technology/personaltech/home-design-apps-let-you-experiment-with-colors-and-decor.html?ref=technology

A second link to a Culture of Mac article, titled Kindle For iOS Will Now Turn Your Favorite Books Into Audiobooks, that discusses the recent (yesterday) upgrade of the Amazon Kindle app for iOS (Apple devices) that makes the app more user friendly for the blind or visually impaired:

http://www.cultofmac.com/225836/kindle-for-ios-will-now-turn-your-favorite-books-into-audiobooks/

A third link to a neat arstechnica article titled Finger-Free Phones, Full Body Gesturing, and our “touchscreen” future” that discusses how the rapidly advancing technology will become even more integrated into our lives in the near future:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/05/looking-ahead-at-touchscreen-technology-where-do-we-go-from-here/

And a fourth and final link that has nothing to do with technology really – except for the fact that if you appreciate all the tech/digital holdings and assistance you can obtain for free from your local library be aware May 7-8 is National Library Legislative Day – I’m not sure why it is two days – but that is okay! We should all proclaim loudly to our local, regional and national legislators that we value libraries and they should support funding for public libraries!

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/nlld

Have a great day!

Linda

References

Bell, Killian. (2013, May 1). Kindle For iOS Will Now Turn Your Favorite Books Into Audiobooks. Cult of Mac. Online.

Eaton, Kit. (2013, May 1). Rearranging the Furniture, Minus the Aching Back. New York Times. Online.

Ion, Florence. (2013, May 1). Finger-free phones, full body gesturing, and our “touchscreen” future. arstechnica. Online.

National Library Legislative Day (NLLD). The American Library Association. Online. Accessed May 2, 2013.

New York Times To Offer Cheaper Digital Subscriptions & Link To Wall Mossberg’s Annual Spring Laptop Buyers Guide

Linda Reimer

New York Times To Offer Cheaper Digital Subscriptions: The New York Times released information to the press today that indicates they will be offering cheaper niche subscriptions to New York Times digital content sometime later this year. The Times spokesman wouldn’t offer specific information regarding what New York Times material would be available at a cheaper price but it is believed that the pricing will be for articles within categories; for example all cooking articles or all tech articles might be offered for a cheaper price as compared to price the Times charges for access to all content on their site.

The price the New York Times currently charges for a digital subscription actually varies depending upon the device you use to access the content. Access to the Times website and content via a smartphone app costs $15 per month, access to the Times site and a content via a tablet app costs $20 per month and full digital access to Times content for all your devices currently costs $35 per month. So one would assume that the niche access would cost less than $15 per month but we’ll just have to wait and see on that point because the Times isn’t saying just yet!

And I for one would be interested in being able to pay a cheaper price to access digital New York Times content. The library has a subscription to the New York Times so you can read it for free at the library (you can even read it for free on an iPad at the library!).

However, when I am at home I frequently like to read articles found on the New York Times website and although right now there is a work-around for their 10-free-articles-and-you-must-pay-for–a-subscription-to-read-more rule – you simply clear your browser history by pressing the Ctrl, Shift and Delete keys (on a PC) and then you’ll be able to read ten more articles for free – I don’t imagine that work-around will work forever though… And although I don’t mind paying to read well written articles I personally find a $15 monthly fee to be an expensive one when the Times has until relatively recently allowed anyone to read all the articles on their site for free. And honestly I don’t have time to read all the articles on the Times site everyday– if I could pay say $7.00 a month to read all the tech stories, all the headlines stories and perhaps 20 other stories from any category I chose each month – that I wouldn’t mind paying $7 for that access but for $15 a month – I’ll read the Times at the library.

The paidContent article I came across on this subject is titled “NYT says new products to be profitable by late 2014” and can be accessed via the following link:
http://paidcontent.org/2013/04/25/nyt-says-new-products-to-be-profitable-by-late-2014/

And here’s the link to the Subscription page on the New York Times website that shows the various digital tiers you can subscribe to:

http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/account/purchases/subscriptions-and-purchases.html#purchasesq01

Link To Wall Mossberg’s Annual Spring Laptop Buyers Guide: Walt Mossberg, the Personal Technology Columnist for The Wall Street Journal, has put forth his annual Spring Laptop Buying Guide video. And basically what he says about buying a laptop right now is two-fold:

  1. If you can wait to buy a laptop – wait until fall to do so because right now prices are rather high for touch screen Windows 8 computers
  2.  If you can’t wait to buy a laptop – buy a Windows 8 touchscreen computer or, if you prefer a non-touch screen computer consider buying a Mac instead of a non-touchscreen Windows 8 PC (the non-touchscreen Windows 8 PCs are cheaper than the touchscreen versions over all)

And I wholeheartedly agree with his assessment about Windows 8 – Windows 8 is most user friendly if you buy a touchscreen computer to use – it is much more cumbersome if you try to use it on a non-touchscreen computer. And Macs are very good machines so if you want no part whatsoever of a touchscreen computer you might consider buying a Mac.

Here’s the link to the article titled “Mossberg’s Annual Spring Laptop Buyer’s Guide:”

http://live.wsj.com/video/mossberg-annual-spring-laptop-buyer-guide/D6BE6C47-FE64-4272-9549-BF39217F7BC1.html

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Mossberg, Walt. (2013, May 1). Mossberg’s Annual Spring Laptop Buyer’s Guide. Wall Street Journal. Online.

Roberts, Jeff John. (2013, May 25). NYT says new products to be profitable by late 2014. paidContent. Online.

 

Weekend Digital Catalog Suggested Reading, Viewing & Listening Titles April 27-28, 2013

Linda Reimer

Here is a list of select Digital Catalog e-books, audios and videos s you might enjoy reading, viewing or listening to over the weekend!

Suggested E-Books:

Congo Dawn by Jeanette Windle: While former Marine lieutenant Robin Duncan is no stranger to corruption or conspiracy, she has always been able to tell the good guys from the bad, and the Congo jungle at first seems no different. But as her security team tries to track down an insurgent killer, Robin has to face a man who broke her trust years ago, and she discovers the gray areas extend farther in this jungle wilderness than she anticipated.

A ruthless global conspiracy begins to surface, run by powerful men who can’t afford to leave any witnesses. Her life at stake, Robin doesn’t know who to trust and wonders how she can help protect innocent people. Why is God silent amid all the pain and injustice? And how do these people of faith continue to rejoice in their suffering?

Let the Dead Sleep by Heather Graham: An object of desire? Or of fear? It was stolen from a New Orleans grave–the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors–and by those with wickedness in their hearts.

One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.

Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job–it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.

Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.

Return of the Gypsy by Philippa Carr: In early-nineteenth-century England, a woman risks scandal, disgrace, even her own life for a forbidden passion From the moment the handsome, raffish stranger with the gold earring throws her a kiss, Jessica Frenshaw is enchanted. Rumored to be a half-Spanish wanderer who can predict the future, Romany Jake is unjustly put on trial for murder. After the verdict banishes him from England, Jessica despairs of ever seeing him again. But one fateful day, Jake Cadorson returns to reclaim what he has lost—including the woman who saved him from the gallows. From the ballrooms and lavish estates of Regency England through the bitter bloodshed of the Napoleonic Wars, Return of the Gypsy weaves a spellbinding tale of blackmail, murder, and illicit passion as a woman risks everything for the man she loves—a man who isn’t what he seems. 

E-Books For Kids:

The Berenstain Bears and the Wild, Wild Honey by Stan Berenstain & Jan Berenstain: When Papa Bear goes honey-hunting, trouble is sure to follow

There are chores to be done around the house, but all Papa Bear can think about is honey. There is no finer honey than the kind made by the bees that live in the gnarled old tree in the depths of the dark forest. Papa would be the happiest bear in the land if he could get his paws on some of that honey, but there’s one big problem—the bees won’t share!

Papa Bear has tried everything—asking, sneaking, hiding—and all he’s gotten for his trouble is a pawful of bee-stingers. But today he’s come up with a foolproof plan to get the wild, wild honey, and he’s determined to carry it out. Papa Bear is either going to have honey for dinner—or stingers for dessert!

Paddywack by Stephanie Spinner & Daniel Howarth: Paddywack is a petite nine hands high, and every pony inch is packed full of spunk. It hasn’t been easy, but he now has his rider, Jane, well trained. He’ll trot. He’ll canter. He’ll jump the jumps. He’s a perfect pony . . . when she gives him treats. But on the day of the big horse show, Jane is so nervous she forgets his treats. Will Paddywack dig in his hooves? Or can he rise to the occasion?

This sweet story is sure to capture young horse-lovers’ hearts.

Secret of the Time Capsule, Casebusters Series, Book 6 by Joan Lowery Nixon: Inside a time capsule, Brian and Sean discover a decades-old mystery

In 1918, the people of Redoaks buried a time capsule full of messages for the future. Besides all the grown-up stuff, the fourth-graders of 1918 included a packet of letters to the fourth-graders of today—which means Sean Quinn is about to get a letter straight from the past! But when it comes time to crack the capsule’s seal, Sean and his brother Brian learn that its contents could change the town’s future forever.

Boris Vlado, the only surviving member of the fourth-graders of 1918, warns the boys that the time capsule holds a dangerous secret. But when they open the capsule, there’s nothing inside! To find out why, Brian and Sean will have to solve a historic mystery that involves bank robbery, corruption, and the most valuable stamp collection Redoaks has ever seen.

Suggested Albums:

Now That’s What I Call Classic Rock by Various Artists:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. We Will Rock You (2001 Digital Remaster) (Queen)

2. Barracuda (Album Version) (Heart)

3. Bad To The Bone (George Thorogood And The Destroyers)

4. The Spirit Of Radio (Rush)

5. My Generation (The Who)

6. Fire (Jimi Hendrix Experience)

7. More Than A Feeling (Album Version) (Boston)

8. Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas)

9. Renegade (Styx)

10. Cold As Ice (Foreigner)

11. Smoke On The Water (Deep Purple)

12. We’re An American Band (Grand Funk)

13. Mississippi Queen (Album Version) (Mountain)

14. Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

15. Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

16. The Joker (Steve Miller Band)

17. Rebel Rebel (1990 Digital Remaster) (David Bowie)

18. Surrender (Album Version) (Cheap Trick)

19. Show Me The Way (Live/Single Version) (Peter Frampton)

20. Rock And Roll All Nite (“Alive” Version) (Kiss)

 

The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself                                                                                                                                    Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. Dancing With Myself (EP Version) (2001 Digital Remaster) (Generation X)

2. Hot In The City (2001 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

3. White Wedding – Part 1 (2001- Remaster) (Billy Idol)

4. Rebel Yell (1999 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

5. Eyes Without A Face (1999 – Remaster) (Billy Idol)

6. Flesh For Fantasy (1999 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

7. Catch My Fall (Edit) (Billy Idol)

8. To Be A Lover (2001 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

9. Don’t Need A Gun (2001 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

10. Sweet Sixteen (2001 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

11. Mony Mony (2001 – Remaster) (Billy Idol)

12. Cradle of Love (2001 – Remaster) (Billy Idol)

13. L.A. Woman (Single Edit) (2001 Digital Remaster) (Billy Idol)

14. Shock To The System (2001 – Remaster) (Billy Idol)

15. Speed (Album Version) (Billy Idol)

16. World Comin’ Down (Billy Idol)

17. John Wayne (Billy Idol)

18. New Future Weapon (Billy Idol)by Billy Idol 

Suggested Audio Books:

Cries & Whiskers, Theda Krakow Mystery Series, Book 3 by Clea Simon & Tavia Gilbert: Music-journalist Theda Krakow is caught up in investigating the rise of a dangerous new designer drug that threatens the musicians and fans of her beloved club scene. But she puts her story on hold when she learns of an animal-rights activist who was killed in a hit-and-run accident while trying to rescue feral cats from a ferocious winter storm.

Theda feels moved to help out with the effort. But as she and her buddy, Violet, race to save the half-wild felines from the freezing New England winter, they uncover simmering tensions among the extremist organization that make the activist’s death seem more than accidental. Theda tries to hang onto her journalistic objectivity, but when the threats become more personal and her beloved cat Musetta goes missing, she will risk her reputation, her career, and possibly her life to solve these mysteries once and for all.

Thirty-Three Teeth, Dr. Siri Paiboun Series, Book 2 by Colin Cotterill & Clive Chafer: Feisty Dr. Siri Paiboun is no respecter of persons or party; at his age he feels he can afford to be independent. In this, the second novel in the series, he travels to Luang Prabang, where he communes with the deposed king who is resigned to his fate: it was predicted long ago. And he attends a conference of shamans called by the Communist Party to deliver an ultimatum to the spirits: obey party orders or get out. But as a series of mutilated corpses arrives in Dr. Siri’s morgue, and Nurse Dtui is menaced, he must use all his powers—forensic and shamanic—to discover the creature—animal or spirit—that has been slaying the innocent.

Suggested Videos:

Aaron Bacon Troubled Youth Collection: Aaron Bacon Troubled Youth Collection presents four award-winning featurettes with stunning production values and star making performances. AARON BACON (starring Stephen Michael Kane) is inspired by the book “Help at Any Cost” by Maia Szalavitz, based on the true story of a 16 year-old kid who dies at the hands of malpractice and abuse in the tough-love, wilderness drug-treatment facility. BED RIDDEN (starring Joel Moore and Alan Tudyk) describes a day in the life of a drug addicted young man, as he escapes his parent induced entrapment at home and travels the length of Los Angeles, chained to his bedpost, to meet with his fixer. FLIGHT TO SINAI is a musical coming of age film, in the tradition of “GLEE” and “High School Musical,” describing the coming out of Jack Strong, a teen raised by religiously conservative parents, and the reactions of his friends, teachers, girlfriend and his religiously conservative parents. THE BABYDADDY, inspired by true events, is the coming of age story about a troubled sixteen-year-old girl (Kether Donohue) struggling to cope with her Vietnam-Veteran father’s illnesses. Official Selection of the HBO Sponsored G.I. Film Festival. Each describes in their own way, physical and mental pressures, abuse and ultimately violence, against youth, struggling to find their way in this world. These are more than shorts, as each film is 25-30 minute long, but what they all have in common are quality thought-provoking productions, by and about youth, together representing a true talent discovery

Cuba Today! by International Film and Video: Travel with award-winning filmmaker, Marlin Darrah, as he explores present-day Cuba. From the capital city of Havana to the beautiful seaport of Santiago de Cuba, you will marvel at the forbidden natural beauty of Cuba. Travel to Pinar del Rio and visit the lush tobacco fields that produce the most sought-after cigars in the world. See as sugar plantations and colorful towns unfold before your eyes, then walk the beaches of Matanzas and Cuba’s colorful coastline. Cuban people welcome visitors with open arms and their society, with its blend of races and cultures, overflows with a friendly and easy-going hospitality. Finally, after 50 years, visitors can experience the splendor of the Caribbean only 90 miles south of the United States. Soon, Cuba will compete with the Bahamas and Jamaica as the Caribbean vacation destination for Americans, so see it today!

The STLS Digital Catalog may be found on the library’s homepage of SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books and download them to your tablet or smartphone.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

 

Customize Your Microsoft Office Ribbon & Playing DVDS On A Windows 8 PC

Linda Reimer

I came across two very useful tech how to articles on the New York Times site today. 

The first article, which is a short one, is found on the Times’ tech blog and titled  “Tip of the Week: Customize the Microsoft Office Ribbon;” instructs you as to how you can customize the Microsoft Office Ribbon – basically you right click on the ribbon, on whichever tab you are on, and click on the option that says “Customize the ribbon.”

Here’s the link to the article:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/tip-of-the-week-customize-the-microsoft-office-ribbon/?ref=technology

And the second article which I stumbled across while reading the first one is actually from March but it is very relevant for anyone who has recently purchased a Windows 8 PC with a disc drive or anyone who is thinking of doing so! And the reason it is relevant is because with Windows 8 Microsoft has figured that most people are now streaming videos from the Internet to watch them on their PC instead of putting DVDs into their disc drive to watch on their PC. And with that idea in mind Microsoft has not included their traditional DVD playing software in the Windows 8 package of software. And all of that is the long way around the barn of saying unless the manufacturer of your disc drive has included software for playing DVDs on your Windows 8 PC – you don’t the software on your Windows 8 PC that will allow you to play DVDs! Instead you’ll have to download software from the web and you can even get the traditional Microsoft DVD viewing software Windows Media Player but that will now cost you $10.

Here’s the link the Gadgetwise Q&A section on the subject:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/qa-playing-dvd-movies-in-windows-8/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Biersdorfer, J. D. (2013, April 24). Tip of the Week: Customize the Microsoft Office Ribbon. New York Times. Online.

Biersdorfer, J. D. (2013, March 18). Q&A: Playing DVD Movies in Windows 8. New York Times. Online. 

The Growing Popularity Of Kindle Singles & Netflix’s New Family Streaming Plan

Linda Reimer

The Growing Popularity Of Kindle Singles: The New York Times has a neat article on its site titled Amazon Broadens Its Terrain, which discusses Amazon’s Kindle Singles. And if you’ve never heard of them Kindle Singles are short works of fiction or non-fiction that can usually be read in one or two sittings. The Times article describes these short works as “novella-length journalism and fiction, known as e-shorts.” And these e-shorts can are being e-published by new authors and very popular tried and true authors like Lee Child, David Baldacci and Jeffery Deaver.

Additionally, the e-short formats makes it possible for writers to create short works regarding events currently in the news and then get those e-shorts out into the hand of the public (through the Amazon website) very quickly. For example, the article discusses the case of author Stephen King who wrote an e-short about the debate of gun control. His e-short is simply titled Guns and it took only a week from the time he finished writing his 8,000-word e-short until it appeared for sale in the Kindle Shorts store.

Most Kindle Shorts cost less than $3 so you aren’t spending a great deal of money if try out a new author’s e-short to see if you like it. And Kindle shorts are indeed short by novel-length standard usually running between 5,000 and 30,000 words so they don’t take a great deal of time to read which is a plus for many people in our busy society.

And on final how-the-advancing-technology-is-changing-the-way-we-work-and-live pondering note one of the reasons that Kindle Shorts are so popular with self-published authors new and old is because they can truly earn money for their work. Amazon takes a 30% cut of all sales; however, that leaves 70% for the author and if you sell several thousands copies of a short that can add up. The average price an author earns for a Kindle Short is $22,000.

So e-shorts in general, and Kindle Shorts specifically, are something we’ll undoubtedly be hearing, seeing and reading more of in the future!

Here’s the link to the New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/books/with-kindle-singles-david-blum-jump-starts-his-career.html?ref=technology

 And a second, and Google Shortened, link directly to the Amazon Kindle Shorts webpage if you’d like to check it out!

http://goo.gl/EoyZm

Netflix’s New Family Streaming Plan: The current Netflix streaming plan cost $7.99 a month and allows two people to log into the same Netflix account (i.e. with the same user ID and password) at the same time and stream different videos. If a third person, say a third family member, tries to log into the same account and stream a third video at the same time he or she would not be able to do so. With the new Family Plan Netflix subscribers can opt to pay $11.99 per month and that will allow up to four people to log into the same account at the same time and stream video content to four different locations. So this new plan will be ideal for families who don’t all want to watch the same television shows and movies at the same time.

Here’s the link to The Verge article which is titled Netflix will offer $11.99 family plan with up to four simultaneous streams:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/22/4253820/netflix-launching-11-99-family-plan-four-simultaneous-streams

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Kaufman, Leslie. (2013, April 22). Amazon Broadens Its Terrain. New York Times. Online.

Welch, Chris. (2013, April 22). Netflix will offer $11.99 family plan with yp to four simultaneous streams. The Verge. Online.

 

Amazon Allows Viewers To Choose Which Comedy & Kids Pilots They’ll Produce

Linda Reimer

Over the weekend Amazon introduced a new page on its site the “Amazon Original Pilots,” the page has the subtitle “You help decide which shows become series. Watch now for free.” And essentially this is the new cutting edge way to both watch video content (streaming show from the web to your TV, laptop or other device) and to put forth your more than two cents worth about which shows you’d like to see developed and to continue being produced (by both voting on free shows like the eight comedy pilots Amazon is asking for feedback on and paying $1.99 for streaming television episodes and slightly more for movies). You do have to have an Amazon Prime membership in order to watch these pilots for free – that costs $79 per year and does give you other perks including free second day shipping of items, access to all items in the Amazon Prime streaming video library and one free e-book, from Amazon’s lending library, per month.

As far as producing television shows goes Amazon in essence is doing what Netflix has done with its very popular House of Cards series – produced exclusive video content to offer to its members and completely bypassing traditional media and cable companies in the process.

And getting back to the Amazon comedy pilots, the eight pilots (& their plots) currently available for viewing are:

“Alpha House: They work in the Senate. They live in the Alpha House.

Betas: Four friends think they’ve cracked the code for Silicon Valley success.

Browers: Fresh-faced interns face the music, and sing along with it.

Dark Minions: Rules, reports, a Galactic Overlord…just another day at the office.

Onion News Empire: Onion News Network journalists will do anything to stay on top.

Supanatural: These divas are humanity’s last line of defense.

Those Who Can’t: The most immature guys at this high school are teachers.

Zombieland: Four survivors are killing zombies and searching for a home.”

And for John Goodman and Bill Murray fans – check out the Alpha House pilot which features John Goodman in a starring role and Bill Murray in a hilarious cameo!

And the Kids’ Pilot shows include:

“Annebots: Kid scientist Anne explores the world.

Creative Galaxy: Soar with a loveable alien artist.

Positively Ozitivley: Enjoy magical adventures in Oz.

Sara Solves It: Unravel mysteries with Sara and Sam.

Teeny Tiny Dogs: Canine pals help one another.

Tumbleaf: Join the journeys of Fig the fox.”

Here’s a Google shortened direct link to the Amazon Pilots page:

http://goo.gl/yo5FN

A second link to a Slate article on the comedy pilots titled Can Amazon Transform TV? With eight new sitcom pilots and stars like John Goodman and Bebe Neuwirth, the bookselling giant is willing to try:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2013/04/amazon_tv_pilots_john_goodman_and_bebe_neuwirth_star_in_new_streaming_sitcoms.html

And a third link to a New York Times article that offers more information on the new Prime series pilots for kids titled Amazon Introduces New Children’s Programs:

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/amazon-introduces-new-childrens-programs/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Amazon Original Pilots. Amazon. Online. Accessed April 22, 2013.

Dell’Antonia, K. J. (2013, April 22). Amazon Introduces New Children’s Programs. New York Times. Online.

Thomas, June. (2013, April 22). Can Amazon Transform TV? With eight new sitcom pilots and stars like John Goodman and Bebe Neuwirth, the bookselling giant is willing to try. Slate. Online.