I use Blockbuster Online, and I love it. Apple TV and downloadable rentals that I can transfer to my iPod sounds even better than getting DVDs in the mail, but I don’t own one. The Blockbuster subscription plan works well for me and is cheaper than the $229 required for the Apple TV. I have been using Blockbuster online for over 2 years and rented over 200 movies. If that seems like a lot, I am counting TV show DVDs in that count as movies as well, and we have a few minor addictions.
I have spent about $300. That is about as much as an original Apple TV (and does not include the rented movies). If I did the same for the next two years (assuming Apple does not create a subscription model), my cost would be at least $800. But this article isn’t about the cost of an Apple TV. Nor is it about the added benefits of DVDs over digital downloads that Bob talked about a couple weeks ago (and take the time to watch the alternate ending of “I Am Legend” if you haven’t, it is amazing).Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Fix Your Achy Body by Walking Barefoot [Health]
New York Magazine online suggests that despite your innate ability to walk, years of walking in shoes has got you doing it all wrong. The result: more aches and pains in your body than you should naturally encounter. The article as a whole is a compelling read, making the case that despite the great lengths shoe manufacturers have taken to bring comfort to your step, most shoes are doing more harm than good. The author also highlights a shoe style called Vivo Barefoot made specifically to mimic the barefoot walking experience while providing some of the modern necessities of shoes (like, um, protecting you from broken glass). The article is persuasive—enough at least to pique my interest in some barefoot shoes—but if you have experience with the barefoot lifestyle of even barefoot shoes, share your thoughts in the comments. Photo by Nicholas_T.
BitRipper Converts DVDs to AVIs in One Click [Featured Windows Download]
Windows only: Freeware application bitRipper provides no-hassle, one-click conversions from DVDs straight to AVI video files. Until recently a commercial program, bitRipper handles the decryption and encoding of the DVD video in one fell swoop, emphasizing a very simple one-click process (though you can set more advanced options if you like). The on-the-fly encryption and encoding means bitRipper also works very quickly. The downside: bitRipper does not support filetypes other than AVI, which means you'll want to stick with previously mentioned HandBrake when you're ready to rip a DVD for your iPod. If you give it a try, let's hear how you like it in the comments. While you're beefing up your DVD-ripping toolbet, check out the five best DVD ripping tools.
Get Better Tech Support [How To]
Former tech support guy Brett Kelly says there are a few things you can do to get the computer help you need most efficiently over the phone. Before you call, try the obvious fixes: Reboot, consult the manual, Google, or help pages, and know how to reproduce the problem consistently. (You should know how to describe the problem thoroughly as well.) On the phone, be patient, do what your support person asks you to do, and don't lie about how you got where you are. Along these same lines, when you post a question in an online forum or send an email to someone for help, be sure to master the art of asking.
Whiten Your Teeth with Strawberries from Lifehacker
If you've never been keen on commercial teeth-whitening products and you love strawberries, today is your lucky day: Web site Health.com says that one ripe strawberry plus half a teaspoon of baking powder equals a natural teeth whitener. The secret is malic acid—the product of the mix—which is an astringent that can buff coffee and cigarette stains from your teeth. The post emphasizes that you should be careful, though—too much use could lead to damaged enamel. While a professional teeth bleaching by your dentist will lead to better results, the strawberry method is a fast, cheap alternative.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A new look for Google Video: from the Official Google Blog
Google Video gets a facelift
Friday, April 18, 2008 4/18/2008 07:17:00 AM
As part of our mission, we on the Google Video team want you to be able to search, browse and discover videos from across the web. More than a year ago, we described our renewed focus on organizing all the web's video. Today, in addition to expanding Google Video's search capabilities, we have a number of new browse- and search-related features we're excited to share.
Now you can choose any of three ways to view your video search-results: a traditional list view, a grid view and, for those of you who like to maximize your video-watching efficiency, a TV view, where you can watch an embedded video while continuing to view your search results next to the video for a more seamless browse and search experience.
Try them out by clicking on the gray icon boxes:
You may have also noticed that we've given the Google Video homepage a bit of a facelift. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to find and access the web's most compelling videos, and just as before, you can see what videos people are viewing, sharing, and blogging about -- but now, with the new TV view, you can also watch many of the top videos directly on the homepage.
We'll be letting you know as we roll out new features, so keep checking back for more information about what we're up to!
8 Post Types To Expand and Highlight Your Blog’s Content
8 Post Types To Expand and Highlight Your Blog’s Content
http://www.dailyblogtips.com
If you are struggling for content or want to expand the number of posts your blog has, having regular features that highlight existing content, whether on your blog or elsewhere, is a good approach. Below are some of the most common and popular features that you can implement on your site.
1. Best or popular posts
A common feature on many blogs. It basically involves listing the best or most popular posts over the previous week or month (depending on how often you update). If you are an avid reader of the blog this may not offer much, but for everyone else it’s a great way of showcasing your best content without all the filler in between. Be sure to encourage readers to check out and leave comments on any posts they missed.
Example: Zen Habits
2. Best comments
An excellent way of boosting reader interaction as it rewards those who comment regularly. When doing a post like this try and tie the highlighted comments together rather than just picking random ones. Also, prioritize regular commentators by mentioning their name and website.
Example: Organize IT
3. A year ago
Similar to the best post feature, only this one delves into the misty past to highlight top content from a year ago. Not much good if you don’t have an old enough blog or a deep archive, but it’s still a great way of showcasing all those forgotten about posts and giving them a bit of extra life
Example: Unclutterer
4. Coming soon
Enticing readers with upcoming, intriguing content is a great way of encouraging people to subscribe to your feed. Just make sure you can deliver on it. If you are a regular poster who sticks to a solid schedule this can be a great way of creating anticipation for a new week or month. If you just post when you feel like it this may not work for you.
Example: ProBlogger
5. Interesting links
An old school technique. This feature has the added benefit of attracting the attention of other bloggers, who are usually appreciative of others linking to their posts. Just be sure to provide a solid amount of links for the reader to delve into.
Example: Lifehack.org
6. Ask the readers
A great way of encouraging reader interaction. It allows you to take the backseat while the readers provide the value with their comments. Just be sure to join in the conversation and help it along as necessary. Try combining this with a best comments feature for maximum benefit.
Example: Get Rich Slowly
7. Recap
If you feel you may struggle to provide value with the features above, why not combine them together? It’s a good way of summarizing what’s happened with the blog over the last week or month, highlighting posts, linking to interesting sites and describing what’s upcoming.
Example: Life Optimizer
8. Something a little different
Offer something a little different to your usual content. It could be a funny video, interesting picture… whatever. As long as you are providing plenty of the content your blog is known for, this feature can provide a nice break from the usual ritual.
10 Best Online Storage Services
Here's a great list of some file sharing websites for free online storage and file management: If you work primarily from your computer you’ve no doubt got a huge number of papers, files, notes, and various pieces of information that you need to store. If you collaborate with others on projects, the problem of file
storage gets even more complicated. Everyone working on the project needs real-time access to the files.
Online file storage solutions are the perfect way to keep everything you need within easy access, even when you work from a different
location or computer. Here (in no particular order) are ten of the best
ways to organize, store, and share your files online.
1. Basecamp. This online collaboration tool allows you to set different permissions for users on different projects and define milestones and to-do lists.
2. GoDaddy. Featuring plans from $7/year to $20/year, GoDaddy is basically an online network drive that lets you store up to 2,000 MB.
3. Box. There are options for individuals, businesses, and enterprises to store, share, and collaborate.
4. MediaMax. Store music, photos, videos, and files. Get 25 MB free, or sign up for a paid account for up to 100 GB of storage.
5. AllMyData. Unlimited storage for one price, or get 1 GB for free.
6. Scribd. Free unlimited storage for files. Also, publish, share, and embed your files anywhere.
7. Savefile. A free and simple service offering uploads of up to 60 MB. This is a great way to share files without resorting to emailing them.
8. iStorage. Pricier than the rest, but iStorage offers a multi-layer support system for uploading, storing, and sharing files.
9. FileSend. Simple, uncomplicated, and free file sending up to 120 MB.
10. OmniDrive. With a wealth of features and a friendly interface, OmniDrive offers 1 GB on free accounts and unlimited storage on Pro accounts.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Airwaves auction winners named
By JOHN DUNBAR, Associated Press Writer Fri Mar 21, 7:23 AM ET
WASHINGTON - The two largest cell phone companies dominated bidding in a record-setting government airwaves auction.
AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless combined to account for $16 billion of the $19.6 billion bid in the auction, an Associated Press analysis of Federal Communications Commission data released Thursday shows. Verizon Wireless bid $9.4 billion and AT&T $6.6 billion.
The results raised concern that the auction failed to attract any significant new competitors to the cellular telephone market to challenge the dominant companies. For example, Google Inc. was not among the winners, meaning the search engine giant will not be entering the wireless business.
One new entrant, Frontier Wireless LLC, owned by direct broadcast satellite television company EchoStar Corp., won nearly enough licenses to create a nationwide footprint. Frontier bid $712 million, according to FCC data.
The spectrum was made available thanks to the nationwide transition to digital broadcasting. The hope is that consumers will benefit from more advanced wireless services such as high-speed Internet access. The money raised will be used to help public safety programs and offset the federal budget deficit.
Despite the dominance in the auction by the major cell providers, the FCC chairman was upbeat about the auction results.
"A bidder other than a nationwide incumbent won a license in every market," Kevin Martin said. As a result, there is the potential for a "wireless third-pipe" competitor to emerge in every market across the nation.
Broadband access is dominated by the major telecommunications and cable companies. Martin wants wireless to emerge as a third platform, creating competition.
But Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, an advocacy group that supports greater access to communications services, said the auction failed in that regard because Verizon Communications Inc. already is a dominant provider of Internet access.
"The prospect of a genuine third pipe competitor in the wireless world is now slim to none," he said.
Until Thursday, the names of the bidders were kept anonymous in an effort to discourage collusion during the auction.
Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. and British telecom giant Vodafone Group PLC, won nearly every license in the consumer-friendly "C block."
The frequencies, which encompass about one-third of the spectrum at auction, are subject to "open access" provisions pushed by Martin. That means people on the network that is built can use whatever phones or software they wish.
Google posted a bid for the C block licenses early in the auction, assuring that the open-access provision would be put in place, but the offer was not enough.
Verizon Wireless won enough of the C-block licenses to cover every state but Alaska. The company said it was very pleased with the results, which will allow it to "continue to grow our business and data revenues."
AT&T said it will have "quality spectrum available for new services covering 95 percent of the U.S. population," according to Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive of the company's wireless unit.
The third leading bidder was Qualcomm Inc., which pledged $1.03 billion. Included in that total is $472 million the company pledged toward the block designated for the creation of an emergency communications network. The bid was well under the FCC-required minimum of $1.3 billion, so Qualcomm's winning total comes to $558 million.
The agency agreed to separate this D block from the rest of the auction so the winners could be announced. Not including that block, winning bids totaled $19.1 billion.
Also Thursday, Martin said he had ordered an investigation by the FCC internal watchdog into the circumstances surrounding the failure of the block to attract a winning bid.
Public interest groups asked the agency on Wednesday to investigate allegations about a meeting between Frontline Wireless LLC and its financial backers and a company called Cyren Call, created by Nextel Corp. co-founder Morgan O'Brien.
Frontline was widely expected to bid on the public safety spectrum block. But the company dropped out before the auction began after failing to meet a minimum required payment.
Cyren Call was acting as the agent for a nonprofit public safety trust that would share the network with the winning bidder.
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