The iPod of Books

What is "Kindle 2?" I did not know until 15 minutes ago about this gadget, but this is another example of technology spicing up an old routine. Essentially Kindle 2 is an updated version of Amazon's E-Book reader, able to hold up to 1,500 books at a time. It's design, like the most of the newest technologies, is thin and slim, and light as a feather. My first thoughts of this article were skeptical. Theoretically it sounds like great technology, but who wants to read books off of the screen of a handheld device?  I would much rather read a hard copy of something than read off of a screen. Isn't part of the whole "book reading experience" holding a book? Will the bookstore business become obsolete?? Realistically, I don't think things will ever go that far. Kindle 2 does possess some cool features, like E ink. Unlike LCD screens on TVs and cell phones, E Ink reflects light, rather than constantly creating it, which is easier on the eyes. Kindle also has 3G wireless and a keyboard for emailing. The disadvantages to this gadget however kind of weigh out the good. When changing pages there is a second or two of black as a new page loads, the screen is not touch and only displays 16 shades of gray, and, like all small expensive gadgets, Kindle is unavoidably subject for being lost virtually anywhere.

I think Kindle a good idea, but unfortunately it sounds as if there are some kinks that need to be worked out before this technology makes it big... collaboration with the iPhone, anyone? 

Universally Awesome!

At last! Articles on CNN and MSNBC report that cell phone makers will be introducing a universal charger for phones by 2012. The reason for the 3 year wait has to do with the cell phone manufacturers fitting their phones to the new standard of charging. No more headaches from losing or breaking a charger and being out of luck until you can buy another... only to get a new phone a few months later. An interesting statistic I found in MSNBC's article came from Marco Caputo, he mentioned a study that claims "every 20 months between 48 million and 51 million cell phone chargers become obsolete."

While I thought of this technological standard as merely a convenience for our oh-so-hectic lives, the articles explain the environmental impact a universal charger will have as well. The Group Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), responsible for the cell phone industry's adoption of the standard, says manufacturing and transporting chargers adds up to 22 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as well as 51,000 tons of physical waste each year. Those numbers are astounding when you think of what is causing it; cell phone chargers. So by the universal charger being introduced everybody wins. Cell phone lovers can always get their fix and the environment will benefit too. The only down side to this universal charger is that not all cell phone manufacturers are jumping on board. I noticed Apple was conveniently absent from the list of manufacturers as were many others. If the iphone is planning on dropping to $99, its popularity is likely to increase. With more iphones being used, the more people will have non-universal phone chargers. Thus, manufacturing, pollution, etc. But I suppose you can't win them all and at least this is a step!

Podcast

Here is the link to the article I talk about in my podcast!

Mash Up

Secret Prices is a really cool mash up site I found. Its allows you to compare prices on different websites, since not all are the same.  By simply choosing an item I want to buy (which can be virtually anything!) a list of price comparisons is shown with links to then buy the item. You can refine your search for a very specific item or you can browse the catalog of hundreds of thousands of things! Its amazing how much cheaper you can find things located a different stores! What a great way to save money.

Sometimes it feels like, somebody's watching me...

It occurred to me in junior high school as I began watching MTV

that I was no longer seeing commercials for cool new toys and

happy meals, which I had been used to seeing up until then. It took

some time for me to realize that this is because advertisers are

specifically targeting an audience/certain demographic that is

watching MTV. So that explained to me why I saw commercials for

Legos and Barbies on Nickelodeon. By these advertisements being

places strategically on certain channels advertisers have all their

angles covered... right?

When looking for technology news this week I stumbled across 

an article that explains the studying of consumers taken to a rather 

creepy level. In grocery stores, malls, and other various places there

is a growing trend of TV screens with secret cameras embedded into

the frames. In other words, as a person is watching an 

advertisement on the TV, the TV is secretly watching them. The 

article claims TV software is able to detect the gender, age range, 

duration of viewing, and possibly ethnicity of the viewer. While this 

may seem frighteningly odd, I must admit it is an original tactic in 

the world of marketing to a specific audience. I can definitely see 

this becoming a more prevalent and effective form of advertising if 

the camera in the TV and accurately assess it's viewers. However, on

the other hand I'm not sure if I should be scared of such a thing. By

the advertisements appearing ever so perfectly when a specific

group is in front of a TV screen, will this encourage spending in our

economy or create annoyance? Will consumers grow tired of yet

another way advertisers are trying to reach them? Luckily, this

technology is in its early stages. Its possible it may not even take

off into a full blown marketing strategy or be accurate enough to be 

worth the cost. But next time I am in a grocery store or mall, I'm

sure I will be looking at any TV screen with a critical eye. It could

be watching me!

Viruses

Sorority rush here at Miami is notoriously known for the spread of viruses it provides since all the rushers and rushees are bringing strands of virus from all corners of the country back to Oxford. This year, as I found myself shaking countless hands I was battling another kind of virus…. and it wasn’t the kind that leaves you standing in line at the health center for hours on end. Instead, the line at IT services. A virus, which called itself "antivirus 2009," downloaded itself onto my computer acting as if it was a virus scanner and alerted me of bogus viruses on my computer then offering me a chance to buy software that would rid those viruses. Being the frugal person that I am, I ignored these "infections" thinking the free virus scanners already on my computer would do their job. But after days of the bogus virus alerts wrecking havoc, flooding my screen until my computer froze, and causing a near crash, I knew something was up with this "antivirus 2009". The thought of my year-and-a-half old computer crashing right before the start of a new semester and the money it would take to replace it left me in tears. Thankfully, with the limited Internet access the virus would allow, I was able to download a scanner that booted the virus into my recycling bin and off my computer where it belongs. Fast forward a week or two and I cannot go on a news website without seeing an article about a computer virus running rampant all over the world. It is likely the same one that I had, however the article clearing states in the title that this virus is a "dud." I suppose that is good to hear. Maybe my passwords and usernames weren't stolen, but I still see some after effects of the virus on my computer even though I now do daily scans to rid of anything I may pick up here or there. My Firefox browser runs extremely slow, is accompanied by random pop-ups, and tends to freeze up, while my Internet Explorer browser works like a charm. I have even tried deleting Firefox and reintalling it but so far have had no success in fixing the problem. Its quite ironic that viruses have that name, because they are about as convient and wanted as a regular virus. And through all of the headaches "antivirus 2009" has caused me I can't help but wonder: Why?! Who sits down and thinks creating a virus that will crash computers all over the world will be fun and a good use of their time? Will there be a point when the Internet/servers/etc. self-destruct because of a supervirus? I hope like some diseases, computer viruses can be eradicated.

There are times when I think technology simply cannot get any better. What sorts of computer software will enhance out computing experience? What is the next cell phone that will be envied by all who do not have it? And how will television evolve past flat screen, high definition TVs? I've thought a lot about the last question since my family purchased an HD TV and I couldn't come up with anything. Recently I discovered an article on CNN.com explaining the future of TV and the newest technology being crafted.
Believe it or not, 3D TV is predicted to be the next big thing! At first I was skeptical. When I think of 3D, I think of it as being reserved for Disney World attractions, not an 'everyday' sort of thing. Besides, I can barely imagine a time past an era that has hardly begun. Most people I know do not even have high definition TVs or have barely taken their our of the box and the TV industry is already preparing something bigger and better. But don't get me wrong, I welcome the new technologies and am eager knowing that I may someday have a 3D home theater in my living room!
Such 3D TVs are already in existence but the issue of wearing glasses is one of the kinks needing to be worked out. Glassless 3D viewing does exist, but not at a quality suitable for everyday viewing. I think that is is important for 3D TVs to have glassless viewing to increase the products appeal. However, I question what effects long term 3D viewing will have on people's eyes. Health issues including headaches and blurred vision can end up being serious problems and is one thing that should be tested before 3D TVs become more of a standard. Straying away from health issues is the problem associated with the broadcasting infrastructure of 3D signals into living rooms across the world, which is in need of a serious update before broadcasting is possible. I see this issue to be a positive in our economy today (and maybe in the future). With the current economic times the constructing of a new infrastructure could be a great way to create jobs.
Overall, I think 3D TV will be an interesting thing to look forward to. While the future of other technological products is not clear, a new way of watching TV will be revolutionary for the world.