Just when you thought you finally figured out all the options you have to watch TV, another new category of devices and services comes on the market. So was the case earlier this month when Google announced that they had partnered with Sony to develop and market a TV that is essentially the “Swiss Army Knife” of living room TV viewing.
For years pundits have been predicting the eventual merging of the various television and media services into one box. Up until now only the most technically adroit among us with ample wallets could afford and actually use the first generation hybrid devices. Google and Sony promise to change that.
I have written often about the various video services that are now available to most of us. Gone are the days when our choices for viewing were controlled by broadcasters, cable/satellite companies or the video store. The Internet has changed all of that since it levels the distribution playing field. Programs can be sent directly to the viewer whenever they want to watch.
One of the negative by-products of this explosion in choices is the ability to keep track of what is available. It is like drinking water from a fire hydrant … it might quench your thirst but the experience is not pleasant. The TV viewing choices are so vast that if there was a printed “TV Guide” containing all the channels and programs it would have be the size of the New York City phone book to list a single week’s offerings.
Google TV promises to do much more than only physically connecting all of your sources of programming such as over-the-air broadcasting, cable, satellite and the Internet. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows you to know what is available and to actually watch or record the programs. Perhaps this is the most important development.
The Google TV also allows you to access the non-video services on the Internet such as facebook, Cincinnati.com and even email. Recent studies show a significant increase in people who report that they watch TV and surf Internet simultaneously. Whether a single screen device will prove to be adequate remains to be seen.
As the Internet becomes more robust and more households get increased data delivery speed, TV will continue to migrate from the traditional distribution services. Will this improve the quality of the programming and reduce the costs? That remains to be seen. I, for one, am not holding my breath.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bits, Bytes & Water Don't Mix
It happens more often than you might think. Now that cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 players and other assorted digital gizmos are shrinking in size, they are also winding up getting damaged by getting wet. Some end up in the laundry because they were hiding undetected in a pocket. Others slip out your hand and into the bathroom sink or the other less delicate bathroom water and waste receptacle. A phone kept in the pocket of someone who is working hard or exercising vigorously can also get wet from perspiration. There is also, of course, the device that was left out in the rain.
Unfortunately digital devices and water do not mix well. The circuits in these sub miniature devices are so compact that even a small amount of moisture can render an expensive mobile smart phone useless and the owner feeling anything but smart. Other than making a trip to the store to buy a new one, is there anything that can be done to save these waterlogged digital paper weights and or save the information locked inside?
If your device gets wet, the first thing to do is get it dried out quickly. If possible, remove the battery and gently towel off any visible water. Place it in a container that you can seal with a lid and cover the entire device with regular rice (skip the Rice-A-Roni), seal the container and let it stand for 24 hours of so. Do not try to help by heating it up in an oven or with a hair dryer. Room temperature is just fine. Do not use salt or other household chemicals as many are corrosives.
After about 24 hours, remove from the high tech casserole and insert the battery and if it works you smile and go on with your life. If it doesn’t, it is time to get a new one.
Even if the device is ruined the pictures, addresses and other information locked inside can often be retrieved. If the device uses an SD card or SIMMS card, they can be removed and most often all the data transferred to a new device or your computer. Even if it has non removable storage, you may still be able to retrieve your information.
Many mobile phone providers offer a free back up system that regularly sends all the data in your phone to a central server. So if you do loose your phone, damage it or just want a new one, the information can be reloaded. You may have that feature and not know it; you need to ask your retailer.
In general, the advice given about computers is salient here to. Back up your information. Sign up for a back up plan when you buy your cell phone. Make copies of all your MP3 music files and store them both in the device and in your computer. When you finish taking those pictures, remove the SD card or make copies of all the pictures on your computer.
Many of us rely more and more on these tools to make our life easier. Without back up, they can make our life miserable.
Unfortunately digital devices and water do not mix well. The circuits in these sub miniature devices are so compact that even a small amount of moisture can render an expensive mobile smart phone useless and the owner feeling anything but smart. Other than making a trip to the store to buy a new one, is there anything that can be done to save these waterlogged digital paper weights and or save the information locked inside?
If your device gets wet, the first thing to do is get it dried out quickly. If possible, remove the battery and gently towel off any visible water. Place it in a container that you can seal with a lid and cover the entire device with regular rice (skip the Rice-A-Roni), seal the container and let it stand for 24 hours of so. Do not try to help by heating it up in an oven or with a hair dryer. Room temperature is just fine. Do not use salt or other household chemicals as many are corrosives.
After about 24 hours, remove from the high tech casserole and insert the battery and if it works you smile and go on with your life. If it doesn’t, it is time to get a new one.
Even if the device is ruined the pictures, addresses and other information locked inside can often be retrieved. If the device uses an SD card or SIMMS card, they can be removed and most often all the data transferred to a new device or your computer. Even if it has non removable storage, you may still be able to retrieve your information.
Many mobile phone providers offer a free back up system that regularly sends all the data in your phone to a central server. So if you do loose your phone, damage it or just want a new one, the information can be reloaded. You may have that feature and not know it; you need to ask your retailer.
In general, the advice given about computers is salient here to. Back up your information. Sign up for a back up plan when you buy your cell phone. Make copies of all your MP3 music files and store them both in the device and in your computer. When you finish taking those pictures, remove the SD card or make copies of all the pictures on your computer.
Many of us rely more and more on these tools to make our life easier. Without back up, they can make our life miserable.
Monday, October 11, 2010
eReaders Worth Another Look
leMany of us are beginning to spend more time indoors as the weather turns cooler, and for some that means we will have more time to read. I thought that this might be a great time to review the various options for eBooks readers. An eBook reader is a digital device that allows you to read eBooks and periodicals. The term eBook refers to a variety of texts and images that are presented in digital form and able to be read on a computer or on other digital devices such as an eBook reader. Like so many new products, the first one to market often becomes the recognized moniker. So, many people refer to all eBook readers as “Kindles.” Actually Kindle, an Amazon.com product, is only one of several devices that fall into this categoy.
Beside Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle2, Sony has a product called PRS-700 and Barnes and Noble offers the Nook. While not an eReader, Apple’s iPad and other tablet compters coming to market can also be used to read eBook files.
When selecting an eReader, foremost in your selection criteria should be the quality of the display screen and how comfortable you are reading text for long periods on the screen. There are two main types of screens. In my opinion, the screens that use eInk technology are the best. Unlike the traditionl computer screens that are lighted from behind, eInk screens form the words on a white background just like a printed page. This makes the text readable in bright sunlight but does not strain your eyes if you are in low light areas. eInk is as close to real paper and ink as you can get. The Kindle, Nook and PRS-700 all use eInk technology. The iPad and other tablet computers use traditional back-lit screens.
Another feature that you should consider is how the files are loaded into the device. Some require that you have a hard-wired or wifi internet connection. Others use the 3G mobile networks. The Kindle uses the latter and makes loading books and periodicles a cinch. While it uses the 3G mobile network, it is transparent to the user meaning that you don’t need to subcribe to any new service. The Kindle does this in the background. So if you want a book from Amazon.com, you select it and it is atomatically downloaded.
Finally, be sure the eReader that you choose is able to read all of the various formats of eBooks. While all can read the most used commercial formats, there is a format called ePub. It is being used by libraries to distribute free material. As of this writing, all but the Kindle products can read ePub files.
More and more books are becoming available in electronic form and even college textbooks are adopting the format. The ease of reading, ability to have several books at your fingertips without the need of a large backpack and the lower prices of eBooks make an eBook reader something to consider.
Beside Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle2, Sony has a product called PRS-700 and Barnes and Noble offers the Nook. While not an eReader, Apple’s iPad and other tablet compters coming to market can also be used to read eBook files.
When selecting an eReader, foremost in your selection criteria should be the quality of the display screen and how comfortable you are reading text for long periods on the screen. There are two main types of screens. In my opinion, the screens that use eInk technology are the best. Unlike the traditionl computer screens that are lighted from behind, eInk screens form the words on a white background just like a printed page. This makes the text readable in bright sunlight but does not strain your eyes if you are in low light areas. eInk is as close to real paper and ink as you can get. The Kindle, Nook and PRS-700 all use eInk technology. The iPad and other tablet computers use traditional back-lit screens.
Another feature that you should consider is how the files are loaded into the device. Some require that you have a hard-wired or wifi internet connection. Others use the 3G mobile networks. The Kindle uses the latter and makes loading books and periodicles a cinch. While it uses the 3G mobile network, it is transparent to the user meaning that you don’t need to subcribe to any new service. The Kindle does this in the background. So if you want a book from Amazon.com, you select it and it is atomatically downloaded.
Finally, be sure the eReader that you choose is able to read all of the various formats of eBooks. While all can read the most used commercial formats, there is a format called ePub. It is being used by libraries to distribute free material. As of this writing, all but the Kindle products can read ePub files.
More and more books are becoming available in electronic form and even college textbooks are adopting the format. The ease of reading, ability to have several books at your fingertips without the need of a large backpack and the lower prices of eBooks make an eBook reader something to consider.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Instant Wifi Hotspots
Mobile phones keep getting better and better. Those of us with smart phones (iPhone, Droid, Pre, etc.) have the choice of thousands of applications that can run on our phones. Some are pretty lame and a waste of the time it took for some computer engineer to develop. Do I really need my smart phone to sound like an air horn? There are however some really useful applications that are time and money savers.
Among the myriad of these worthwhile applications now being offered by some smart phone manufactures and carriers is the wifi hotspot feature. I am not referring to the fact that you can access the internet from your phone using wifi hotspots at coffee shops, libraries and other public places. That feature has been around for years. This new application allows your phone to actually create a wifi hot spot. Here is how it works.
Turning on the wifi hotspot program makes your phone a wifi router. If you or a friend has a laptop computer with wifi, the laptop can wirelessly connect with your phone and use the phone’s 3G or 4G Internet connection. In essence, you are almost always able to connect to the Internet even if there is no traditional wifi or hard wired connection available.
This feature does not take the place of a lap top with wireless modem. Many road warriors have a 3G or 4G card built into their laptop since they are often away from the office and beyond traditional wifi range. Since they use it a lot, it is better to have it built in. The smart phone wifi hotspot application is for people who occasionally find the need to connect the laptop to the Internet but don’t want to spend the money for the fairly high monthly fee for the laptop modem.
When I first got my current phone from Verizon, the wifi feature was an extra $40 over and above my data and phone plan. Only a few months later Verizon began to offer the feature for free. I have used it several times and it works great.
You have to check with your carrier to see if they offer the service and you must have a phone that is capable as well. The Palm Pre Plus and the Droid models can run the application. It is interesting to note that the much heralded iPhone does not.
There are a couple things to keep in mind if you do decide to add this application to your phone. Make sure that you know what your plan covers. Some carriers give you a certain amount of data free and then begin to charge if you go over your allotment. If you have a few friends all connected to the Internet through your phone, you will use a lot of bits and bytes very quickly.
Also, the circuitry in the phone that allows this feature is very power hungry. My phone can only operate in this mode for about 1.5 hours. You can, of course, keep it plugged into your car or charger and use it without running down the battery.
So the next time you are on vacation at the beach or in a cabin in the woods, you can still stay connected. But again, you can also choose to turn it off.
Among the myriad of these worthwhile applications now being offered by some smart phone manufactures and carriers is the wifi hotspot feature. I am not referring to the fact that you can access the internet from your phone using wifi hotspots at coffee shops, libraries and other public places. That feature has been around for years. This new application allows your phone to actually create a wifi hot spot. Here is how it works.
Turning on the wifi hotspot program makes your phone a wifi router. If you or a friend has a laptop computer with wifi, the laptop can wirelessly connect with your phone and use the phone’s 3G or 4G Internet connection. In essence, you are almost always able to connect to the Internet even if there is no traditional wifi or hard wired connection available.
This feature does not take the place of a lap top with wireless modem. Many road warriors have a 3G or 4G card built into their laptop since they are often away from the office and beyond traditional wifi range. Since they use it a lot, it is better to have it built in. The smart phone wifi hotspot application is for people who occasionally find the need to connect the laptop to the Internet but don’t want to spend the money for the fairly high monthly fee for the laptop modem.
When I first got my current phone from Verizon, the wifi feature was an extra $40 over and above my data and phone plan. Only a few months later Verizon began to offer the feature for free. I have used it several times and it works great.
You have to check with your carrier to see if they offer the service and you must have a phone that is capable as well. The Palm Pre Plus and the Droid models can run the application. It is interesting to note that the much heralded iPhone does not.
There are a couple things to keep in mind if you do decide to add this application to your phone. Make sure that you know what your plan covers. Some carriers give you a certain amount of data free and then begin to charge if you go over your allotment. If you have a few friends all connected to the Internet through your phone, you will use a lot of bits and bytes very quickly.
Also, the circuitry in the phone that allows this feature is very power hungry. My phone can only operate in this mode for about 1.5 hours. You can, of course, keep it plugged into your car or charger and use it without running down the battery.
So the next time you are on vacation at the beach or in a cabin in the woods, you can still stay connected. But again, you can also choose to turn it off.
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