Tag: free tech programs

Digital Impulse Buys & Library Tech Programs Of The Week

Linda Reimer

Digital Impulse Buys: I came across a New York Times article over the weekend that relays a point I know well and that is that the instant access to information e-books, instant videos and instant music titles that you can buy online (from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other e-book and media vendors) and access instantly via your smart phone, fully fledged tablet (i.e. iPad, Galaxy Tab etc.) or reading tablet (Kindle HD, B&N HD etc.) offers two sides of the proverbial coin. On the one side the instant access is great because you no longer have to try and remember a great book, movie or television show that your best friend has just told you about you can instantly buy it on your device and read it or watch it later. And the second side of the coin is that you can spend a bit of money doing just that! The ability to instantly access e-books, movies, television shows and music can add up to thousands of dollars per year. Just ask Nick Bilton the author of the New York Times Bits blog article which is titled Disruptions: Impulse Buys, Straight to a Screen — he spent $2,403 last year on digital content!

Here’s the link to the article:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/20/disruptions-impulse-buys-straight-to-your-screen/?ref=technology

Library Tech Programs of the Week: If you just bought a new laptop, iPad, e-reader or other tech devices and have questions about how to use it you may sign up for a free one-on-one tech session with a member of the library’s tech team. Just call 607-936-3713 ext. 502 to make an appointment.
And in addition to our one-one-one tech sessions we are hosting two tech programs this week the latest in our popular Pinterest series and an iPad workshop.

Here’s a detailed description of both programs:

Dream and Create with Pinterest: Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Time: 5:30 – 7:00 PM. Description: Are you one of the many who are absolutely fascinated with PINTEREST? Join Jenn Gaylor every other Tuesday evening to “Dream & Create with Pinterest!” We’ll do some dreaming while searching for great DIY projects on Pinterest, and we’ll do fun and easy projects that you can take home with you. So come in and Dream & Create with us!

Intro to iPad Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2013. Time: 2:00 -3:00 PMish. Description: This workshop, one of our Wednesday One Hour Tech series offerings, gives new iPad owners an overview of how to use the iPad, how to navigate between screens, search for apps, download apps- and just generally how to get around in the iPad universe. Registration is required. You may register via phone (607)936-3713 ext. 502 or in person at the Reference Desk. And the “ish” in the time simply referrers to the fact that although the program officially runs an hour tech staff will be on hand to answer all questions so staff will be available after 3 PM to answer questions too!

Have a great day!
Linda R.

References
Bilton, Nick. (2013, January 20). Disruptions: Impulse Buys, Straight to a Screen. New York Times. Online.

Join Us For Our Reinventing The Slideshow Program, Smartphones Instead Of Wallets & New HD TV Cams

Linda Reimer

Join Us For Our Reinventing the Slideshow Program: On Wednesday we’re hosting our Reinventing The Slideshow program. Our tech wizard Jenn Gaylor will show attendees how to can create a slideshow on a PC with their favorite photos and music. Just in time for the holiday season! Registration is required. To register for the program stop by the library or call 936-3713 ext. 502.

Smart Phones Instead of Wallets: I came across a neat article on the New York Times Disruptions blog today. The article is titled How My Smartphone Emptied My Pockets. And despite the title the author, Nick Bilton, isn’t discussing how you can spend money by using your smartphone (although you certainly can!); instead he is discussing how you can use a cell phone to do things that previously would have required you to carry a thick wallet or billfold and possible another gadget or two.

The “things” you would previously have carried  include printed pictures, membership cards, portable music players, cameras, business cards, sound recorders, address books, membership cards and even in some instances cash. Today you can keep an address book, photos, business cards and membership cards on your smartphone. And you can also use your smartphone to pay for items in some stores (like coffee at Starbucks), house your IDs digitally (sans your driver’s license) and even to purchase movie tickets.

I thought the article was really interesting because it shows how the advancing technology is changing how we live. The author comments on how his father had to carry a wallet with stuff in it and that his wallet got larger and larger as the years went by and he needed to carry more and more stuff. Now the author carries one debit card, his driver’s license and his smartphone and that is all.

Here’s the link:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/disruptions-how-my-smartphone-emptied-my-pockets/?ref=technology

New HD TV Cams: Just in time for the holiday season The Red Ferret tech site is reviewing two new HD webcams that you can attach to your TV and then Skype away with family and friends and see those family members and friends on your TV. The TV cams are the Logitech TV Cam HD and the Tely Labs TelyHD Skype Camera. Just because I was curious I looked up the price of the TV cams and found Amazon & Best Buy both carry the TV Cams. And as of 12/10 the Logitech TV Cam HD is priced at $209.99 from Amazon and $199.99 from Best Buy and the Tely Labs TelyHD is priced at $229.98 from both Amazon and Best Buy.

And here’s the link to the Red Ferret review page:

http://www.redferret.net/?p=34732

Have a great Monday!

Linda R.

 

References

Bilton, Nick. (2012, December 9). Disruptions: How My Smartphone Emptied My Pockets. The New York Times. Online.

Head to Head: Logitech TV Cam HD vs Tely Labs TelyHD Skype Camera [Review]. (2012, December 9) Red Ferret Journal. Online.