The Display Evolution

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read about the latest development in the wearable computer.

Gadgets continue to evolve and (for the most part) shrink. That particular trend has yet to slack and MIT is on the band wagon.

MIT is basically working on a wearable computer that can turn any surface into a display. Right now the display is hooked up to a mini projector, a mirror, and an internet enabled cell phone, but it’s a start. At least it helps where cell phone screen sizes are still concerned.

It’s definitely a step towards a Minority Report type computing system, which is pretty cool. Our minds project images of imagination why not project images onto any surface of reality? It makes sense to me.

Wii Have Video

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing about Wii's plan to stream videos.

Wii has at last joined the video trend that has swept the video game market. Wii, as the most original of the consoles, has still decided it wouldn’t hurt to hop on this particular band wagon.

Though Xbox and Playstation 3 are still the only consoled to offer DVD playing capabilities soon Nintendo will begin streaming video just like its competitors. Original Wii videos to stream exclusively on the console are planned as part of the project. Consoles can already reach the internet so hopefully video won’t be too hard to add. It certainly can’t hurt the Wii’s already incredible popularity.

Blockbuster to rent video games by mail

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing about Blockbuster's new offers in DVD and video game rentals.

Blockbuster plans to pilot a program for Blockbuster Total Access customers to rent both video games and movies via mail this spring.

Currently BLOCKBUSTER Total Access offers DVD rentals to customers with free shipping and in-store exchanges at thousands of participating stores. With the new program, customers could (based on their plan) exchange DVD rentals for free in-store or games for half-price in store. According to the company’s release:

“A combination video game and movie online offering — with in-store exchange privileges — is a tremendous value and convenience offering not available through anyone other than Blockbuster.”

The games will be available for a variety of formats including Nintendo Wii™, PS2™, PS3™, Xbox and Xbox 360.

The company hopes to roll out the program nationwide by summer.

Will this be their way to outmaneuver Netflix?

What is your Kindle wearing?

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing about the colorful cases you can buy for your new Kindle.

M-edge makes accessories for the Kindle and are already set for the Kindle 2 with new leather “jackets’ to ensure you have the best dressed e-reader around.

They also make protective cases for other e-readers such as the Sony PRS-505 or the eFlybook.

The cases come in a wide range of colors (think iPod) and cost about $30-45.

Found via Geeksugar

Another option are skins by Gelaskins. Similar to cell or computer skins, they come in an array of designs to personalize your Kindle2. Price ranges from $20 +

Kindle 2

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the newer version of Kindle, the way to read books without lugging about books.

Amazon has announced the newest member of the Kindle family.

The Kindle 2 is sleeker and lighter but has a stronger battery. The Amazon homepage touts it as being thinner than a magazine and lighter than a paperback. It also can operate for two weeks on a single charge.

The Kindle 2 can also store 1,500 titles and with its text-to-speech feature it can even read it to you.

You can download more than 230,000 different titles to the Kindle 2, including more than 100 books on the NYT best seller list. Amazon says their goal is to have every book ever written available for download.

The new device will be available Feb. 24, 2009 and they are now accepting preorders. Price is $359.

If you already own a Kindle, you can get first priority if you place your order by midnight PST tonight (Feb. 10).

I’ve been a little skeptical in the past, but this new version is very enticing. See Amazon’s site for complete details. I never thought I would really be able to make the switch, but I can begin to see the appeal.

Two for One

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the new DVD disk that has Blu Ray and regular DVD data all in one disk.

Infinity Storage Media has unveiled the first DVD Blu Ray hybrid disk.

The disk is single sided but provides both DVD and Blu Ray data (basically the disk can play in both a Blu Ray player and as a standard DVD). This is especially convenient since most of us already own DVD players and I don’t know that I’m ready to give mine up. Lets be honest some of us are waiting for Blu Ray prices to drop before we invest, but wouldn’t it be nice to build up a library in advance? More importantly it makes traveling easier since, even if you already own a Blu Ray player, Blu Ray does not yet have a portable device like DVDs nor do laptops support Blu Ray disks (but they do support DVDs).

Infinity it the first company to actually bring such an idea into production, and it certainly can’t hurt home movie popularity.

Music on the Brain

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the all new iCap for your music-on-the-go needs.

You can’t carry a boom box on your shoulder anymore, every type of music i pocket sized now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t show off your musical taste anyway.

The iCap it a hat, baseball hat to be exact, that has two speakers contained not so discreetly in the brim. Download your favorite songs onto the built in MP3 player and you can listen to your favorite songs on the go in a whole new way. Everyone around you can listen too. (for $99 to $119).

I don’t think that hat’s attractive or necessary, but hey, fashion is unpredictable.

Book Glutton takes reading online

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Learn about how you can read books and other literature online.

If you aren’t ready for Amazon’s Kindle, but you want to see what online book reading is all about try out Book Glutton. (Found via Geek Sugar)

Now, in some ways there is no comparison as Kindle is its own dedicated device, but the Book Glutton site is an interesting option for those who don’t want to carry books or additional equipment with them.

You can read public-domain works (like all the classics and thousands of other things) via their reader. In addition, you can comment and read what others are saying page by page. If you have your own group, you can have a “virtual book club.” If you prefer, you can also read in private.

The site is currently in beta with additional features and more contemporary works in the plans. For now, it is a nice way to find public-domain works in a readable format. It also could work well for your kids who are online anyway so they could at least be reading a good book! Many English teacher favorites are on the site. You might recommend it to your child’s English teacher as an alternative to the “reader-response” notebooks we are all so found of assigning. Integrating technology in the classroom is a great way to get kids engaged.

Easy Bloom cures your black thumb

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the new device that tells you what your plants' needs are.

I was flipping channels today when I saw the Easy Bloom on a talk show. If you have trouble keeping plants alive in your home or yard, this could be your solution.

Basically it is a sensor ( a really cute sensor that looks like a plastic flower) that you place in the yard where you want to grow a plant or in your home where you want to set a plant and it evaluates environmental features such as sunlight, water, soil moisture, and humidity. It then recommends plants that would thrive in your specific micro-climate. It can even help if you already have an ailing plant by giving you help diagnosing what is wrong with it. Learn more about how it works here.

I seriously need one of these. I can only grow things like cacti and ivy that are almost impossible to kill.

They sell for $59.95 and are available via Amazon and other online retailers.

Not Just Time

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the latest advances in watch technology.

Watches don’t just tell time anymore, often they don’t tell time at all. The fact is, they’re still portable, always have been, and that makes them a great base for any on the go gadget.

Thanko has released a video camera watch in a new MP4 version. It comes with a color screen and both photo and video camera capabilities. The quality of said video is pretty poor but what do you expect from a watch? It’s a little large, but someone out there should be able to pull it off. (And it still tells time too).

Also new on the market is the asteroid wrist watch. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a wrist watch that plays the old school asteroid game. You don’t even need buttons to slack off in class, you can play simply with a twist of your wrist. How convenient.

Updates

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the need for better designed 3D glasses and the re-vote on the transition of digital television.

A couple of notes on recent posts:

1) The 3-D commercials and Chuck have aired,and I am curious what people thought. I, for one, was underwhelmed. Apparently, I’m not alone. I think I was expecting more “in my face” action like the bouncy ball on the “Monsters vs. Aliens” promo. Also, the 3-D glasses were as uncomfortable as ever. If they are going to really go hard-core with this, they are going to have to come out with a better option. I did find that I had to hold them the just-right distance from my face to get the 3-D effect and that was a real pain. Did I miss something?

2) The digital TV transition delay is going for Round Two in the House this week. The initial vote to postpone the transition to June was defeated, but it up for a re-vote on Wednesday.Because it only requires a majority vote this go around, it is likely to pass with no problem. Wired has a nice article on the likely effect of the delay including a possible patchwork implementation and a loss of thousands or millions of dollars by TV stations and others. Are you ready?

Turnable Transformation

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the new technology that allows you to turn vinyl albums into mp3s.

I’ve heard nothing sounds like vinyl. I wouldn’t know, I kind of missed that musical revolution. Vinyl remains in style though, I know it looks cool, and now Numark has created a marriage of the past and the present in musical technology.

Numark’s TTi Turntable comes with a USB connection and dock for your ipod. This is perhaps the quickest and easiest way to transfer music straight from any old (or new) vinyl albums to your ipod library in MP3 format. (Software is included with purchase).

I can’t attest to sound quality, or what is lost in translation, but a straight transfer sure beats having to buy the tracks all over again on itunes if you want to take them on the go.

Communicating on the Fly

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about how you may soon be able to use your phone to communicate while on a plane, through texting!

So, all this hype over cell phone use on airplanes, I haven’t been too excited to be honest. Why do I want to be in an overly cramped space, with overly crabby people, and then get stuck listening to someone yap about work or the weather for a million hours?

Well, British Airways has come up with a way to please everyone. You don’t have to talk in this day and age to stay in touch, so they’re going to initiate a trial one of in flight texting. That’s right, phone conversation’s younger brother. That way everyone can gripe about the horrible trip without making it more horrible for the person next to them.

I see it as a win win situation, as long as people know enough texting edict to keep their elbows out of other people’s personal space.

Not your daddy’s 3D

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about 3D in commercials and tv.

3D is making a comeback. With new commercials during the Super Bowl and a full-length episode of NBC’s Chuck on Monday, 3D is coming to TV.

DreamWorks Animation will show a preview for its upcoming “Monsters vs. Aliens” in 3D during the Super Bowl Sunday, February 1. In addition, another spot will highlight Sobe Life Water energy drinks. The advertising block will air at the end of the second quarter of the Super Bowl.

Some 150 million pairs of 3D glasses are being distributed at nearly 30,000 Pepsi/Sobe Life Water displays around the country.

According to an article in PC Magazine, Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg says that the studios films will be made in 3D from “here on out.” The films use a technology called InTru3D, which was developed by a partnership with Intel. Another big change from traditional 3D is the effect isn’t the result of red and blue filtering, which often leaves colors washed out. Using ColorCode, images appear normal to the naked eye but slight variations in the coloring of the image produces the 3D effect when viewed through the appropriate lenses.

It should be a treat. Grab your glasses and a drink and settle in for the game Sunday.

Theme Song

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read all about the shirt that plays music.

Life is better with background music, that’s one of the reasons movies are so entertaining. Well here’s a new step towards your own life soundtrack or theme song (without carrying a boom box around on your shoulder).

ThinkGeek’s personal soundtrack shirt is now real and available to order. The shirt started as an April Fool’s Joke earlier this year but got such a positive response it’s now a real product. The shirt has a velcro speaker attached to the front which runs on AA batteries. Upload a few of your favorite songs or plug in an MP3 player and your all set to make your statement.

The shirt comes with a wired remote for song selection and volume control, as well as removable parts so that you can throw the T shirt in to wash on the gentle cycle. Does it get any easier than that?

Digital TV delay not without cost

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the Senate's decision to push back the date of the transition to digital tv.

The Senate voted Monday to postpone the transition to digital television broadcasting for four months to June 12. Nielson estimates that 6.5 million Americans aren’t ready for the transition.

The House still has to vote on the proposal before it would take effect. Maybe as early as today.

The transition, originally scheduled for Feb. 17, has hit some snags in that the Commerce Department ran out of money to use to help pay for digital TV converter boxes.

But, while the delay is certainly a positive thing for households that aren’t ready for it, it is a potential problem for broadcasters who have been gearing up for the transition for several years now. Among them PBS which has asked the government to take into account the additional costs to broadcasters who will have to renegotiate leases on signal transmitters that were due to expire on the date of the switch over.

It is possible that the government may allow stations to choose whether to make the switch or delay it. Make sure you are ready whenever it does happen by reading our Digital TV Transition section.

All About the Money

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing! Read up on the latest style in flash drive fashion.

We all know change is compact, but we also know how easily it can disappear from even the deepest pockets. That’s why Lacie’s new CurrenKey coin shaped flash drive is such a mixed blessing.

All portable flash drives are relatively travel sized and the CurrenKey even more so. It’s portable, looks cool, comes in bronze or silver, 4 GB or 8 GB respectively. Priced at $20 and $30 it’s a nice price for that storage capacity. I still recommend caution, you don’t want to go handing out your work files as a tip, but hey, a flash drive like this can make anyone feel like a secret agent.

Beam Me Up

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read about the latest advances in teleportation.

Star Trek hits theaters on May 8, but teleportation has beat this reincarnation into the real world (sort of).

A team at the University of Maryland has teleported information one meter from one atom to another. What information and how they did this is beyond my understanding (since I have little, actually no background in quantum mechanics). But I know enough to be excited by the possibilities.

It’s been said that the information didn’t move, it disappeared from one atom and then appeared at the other. Sounds good enough to me (even if it’s only atoms, and even if it’s only one meter) It’s gonna be awhile before anyone can get “beamed up” but a start is a start.

Safe Eyes Mobile keeps kids safe

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing! Learn how you can keep an eye on what your kids see when using their iPhones and iPod touches.

So you have protected your home computer with filtering software to keep kids safe from viewing objectionable sites, but what about their iPhone or iPod touch?

Internetsafety.com will offer Safe Eyes Mobile to fill the gap in these mobile devices. The application will be available from the iTunes store. You can view a demo here.

Keeping kids safe in the face of fast-changing technology is one of our toughest jobs as parents, but fortunately tools are being created to help us keep up.

Found via Kids@Play

Happy Birthday, Apple!

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Apple cellebrated its 25th birthday in January, and it has come a long way in 25 years.

Yes, the iconic computer empire that started with the Apple Macintosh is turning 25 this weekend. I still remember my first encounter with a Mac–an Apple IIe–at my dad’s house when I was a tween. At that age, my only concern was for what games a computer could play and this one had Dark Castle. (Check out this link to unlock a hidden Dark Castle easter egg on your iPhone that has been reworked for touch-screens)

When I first began teaching in 1998, my classroom had a Mac that was almost as old as that first one I had seen nearly a decade before–and just as slow. Now, I have an eMac that I deperately need to replace. I’m eyeing the latest iMacs. Yes, Macs have been a part of my life for nearly two decades now.

Of course Apple isn’t just computers anymore. iPhones, iPods and more are shaping the new Apple. Even with Steve Jobs recent health issues, the company is sure to be setting trends for years to come.

Have your own vintage Mac memory? Share it at CNN iReport.

Fighting it Out Old School

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about how video games have brought back a video game pastime, the joystick.

Video games have come a long way, but there’s something about those old fashioned arcade joystick controllers that can’t be duplicated by a mere Wiimote or Xbox controller.

Thus, there is Street Fighter IV Fightstick. For those unaware of what Street Fighter is, it’s a video game, and it’s exactly the sort of game it sounds like. It’s a good old fashioned one on one fist fight and it’s just as good, if not more fun, than most games out there today.

Street Fighter is old school and classic and thus the Fighstick controller is the perfect addition to any game and console. It’s a controller specifically built for the Street Fighter game with old school joystick and traditional buttons, and it looks totally sweet!

Also coming out this week is the Dominator Joystick for playstation three. Again, a sweet old school joystick set up for the game of your choice (plus blue LED’s for moos lighting). Both are a little expensive, but what price can you put on nostalgia?