I agree completely, it is a great_improvement, over today's commercial radio. With all of the media consolidation, voice-tracking, endless commercials, and super-tight playlists, there is very little out there that I find appealing.
The station I listen to the most is public-supported WFUV. Most of the other stations in NYC are horrible. If I'm not listening to 'FUV, I'm listening to my iPod.
Satellite radio, meets the gap by offering the breadth of programming that is absent in today's commercial radio. However, as a new technology there is a steep adoption curve, and with all of the capital costs involved, subscriber base is the most important measurement. Instead of charging for each unit, they may be better off charging per customer, and allow them to use multiple units (what is their increased marginal cost - I can only listen to one radio at a time). Streaming via iTunes could be another revenue stream. I can sample their service, without having to spend a lot of money for a receiver. If I like it, chances are, I'm more inclined to put a receiver in my car.
I can't recall where I read it, but somewhere I recall reading that Apple users are more inclined to embrace new technologies, and a great percentage of Apple users have broadband versus Windows users.
If they are using AAC, there is no excuse to use the best Mac music client.
I'd be so much more inclined to subscribe to either XM or Sirius if their stations were available streamed as an iTunes Radio Station
From what I can see, XM doesn't stream online (only samples of their stations), and Sirius requires that you use WiMP.
Both of them should be able to offer attractive alteratives to the Live365 stations in iTunes, give the public a chance to try their service, and seriously consider whether they should layout the $ for a car/home/boat receiver.
Re:Go buy a ordinary TV
on
Buying a New TV?
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
HDTV is amazing, but you obviously have to have enough HD programming/signal to justify its cost.
Pre-9/11, we were able to receive Over-the-air broadcast of local network station from the WTC. After those broadcast facilities were destroyed Local HD dropped off. You can get several channels from Satellite: DirecTV offers HBO, Showtime, Discovery, HDNet, ESPN. Cable providers have varied service. We now have TWCNYC, which carries HBO, Showtime, PBS plus CBS, NBC, ABC.
In anycase, with a $1,000 budget HDTV is probably out of your range. I know a lot of people who have raved about their Sony WEGA's. I've also had pretty good luck with Samsungs. LCD's (Sharp Acquos) are nice, but too expensive as well (unless you want a little tv for the kitchen).
I had mixed results with the Jabra and a non-Bluetooth phone.
It worked reasonable well with my Timeport, but not as well with my wife's Samsung. However, even with the Timeport, it was a pain to Accept a call, or Terminate one. I constantly had to go back to using the phone's button, rather than the headset buttons.
Another problem was determining whether or not it was still in Active mode or on Standby. There is a sound tone which goes up in pitch or down in pitch when you turn it on/off. Most of the time, I wound up leaving it on, having the battery drain, and then not having it charged when I wanted to use it.
The other thing was having to have carry around both the phone and the adapter. It'll will stay in the drawer until I find a Bluetooth phone (although Verizon seems determined to prevent me from finding one), and then we'll see if it was worth buying.
The Wall Street Journal is an excellent example of a site that has done well online. One of the reasons being that they were very clear with their subscription model - one subscription for the print edition - another subscription for the online edition. The best deal is if you have a student subscription, you get both the print and online editions for one very reasonable price.
The internet makes it easy to commoditize information, those who are successful are able to differentiate their content (can't get it anywhere else - users willing to pay the premium). It has certainly worked for technical/medical journals, whether or not it will work for pop-culture magazines, we'll have to see.
The iTune Music Store isn't a good comparison - people aren't paying extra to access the site - but rather buying music from the site, the subscription based music sites haven't fared as well.
I opted for the new 15gig iPod. Price wasn't an issue, but size was. Even though there isn't that much of a difference (30 gig is 10% heavier and nearly 1/8 inch thicker), I still wanted the thinner/lighter version.
By comparison, the Zen weighs 9.5oz to the 5.6oz/6.2oz iPods.
Capacity wasn't too much of a concern either. I've had a hard enough time finding 15 gigs of music to listen to, let alone 30 or 60 gigs.
I cannot really compare the iPod to the Zen, because the iPod was the only one I considered.
In terms of navigation, I find the solid state scroll wheel easy to use, as well as the remote control.
One short-coming with the iPod is that I had hoped that they would have redesigned the remote to include a small text display. I also wish there was a way to integrate my iPod with my car's navigation/steering wheel controls. I also wish there was a way to save your on-the-fly playlists (although there probably is some Apple script to accomodate this).
The headphones are adequate - I don't mind the white earbuds, as I always get a kick out of seeing other people walking down the street sporting an iPod (it's almost like you're part of a secret club - although not quite as cool as when you spot a car with an Apple sticker on it - especially a rainbow one!), although I've been eyeballing the Bang + Olufsen Earphones. I haven't found a pair of in-earphones that are actually comfortable to wear.
In either case, see if you can "borrow" someone elses, and see which one appeals to you.
We've had a number of occassions where we've had to transfer a PowerPoint presentation from someone's laptop (because they decided to change all of their slides after e-mailing or burning a copy of their final version) to the one that is actually being used and hooked up to the projector
You might want to see about building a network of support with others in your organization.
If you feel that your selling skills won't win over the decision makers, find someone else in the organization that shares your feelings, and have them help sell the company on your ideas.
A lot of times it is difficult to go at it alone, but with a network of support, you'll have people backing you up and raising the level of awareness.
Discuss your ideas with a smaller group, a make a game plan for bringing it up to management. Look for advocates, and someone to champion your cause.
If you can save money, or avoid problems the company should appreciate the efforts. Sometimes you just have to work through old-thinking.
I've got TWCNYC as well as TiVO (w/ Home Media Option).
I've got TiVo connected straight from the outlet, rather than going the box, and dealing with the IR delay when changing channels. Most of the programming we record is network programming on season pass anyway.
The box I have is the SA-3100HD Hi-Def.
The SA-8000HD is supposed to be available Oct/Nov, but who knows how long it will be before TW will roll that out. Even then it won't offer me all the features of TiVo.
Slashdot Mirror
Don't shoot yourself - Have you filled up the one you already have, or do you still have some spare capacity
The Official Bluetooth Website, has a Product page that has links to various products that support Bluetooth technology.
PhoneScoop is a good source for wireless phone news, all Nextel phones are iDEN/TDMA, manufactured exclusively by Motorola.
Verizon also does not offer a Bluetooth phone, and Sony-Ericsson has stopped making CDMA phones.
I don't miss any extra buttons.
I would prefer a dock for the mouse with a rechargeable battery
I will miss the USB ports on the keyboard, especially for connecting my camera or my JumpDrive.
That being said, I'll probably be getting them anyway.
I was disappointed that Jobs didn't introduce the iTMS for Europe at Expo.
I agree completely, it is a great_improvement, over today's commercial radio. With all of the media consolidation, voice-tracking, endless commercials, and super-tight playlists, there is very little out there that I find appealing.
The station I listen to the most is public-supported WFUV. Most of the other stations in NYC are horrible. If I'm not listening to 'FUV, I'm listening to my iPod.
Satellite radio, meets the gap by offering the breadth of programming that is absent in today's commercial radio. However, as a new technology there is a steep adoption curve, and with all of the capital costs involved, subscriber base is the most important measurement. Instead of charging for each unit, they may be better off charging per customer, and allow them to use multiple units (what is their increased marginal cost - I can only listen to one radio at a time). Streaming via iTunes could be another revenue stream. I can sample their service, without having to spend a lot of money for a receiver. If I like it, chances are, I'm more inclined to put a receiver in my car.
I can't recall where I read it, but somewhere I recall reading that Apple users are more inclined to embrace new technologies, and a great percentage of Apple users have broadband versus Windows users.
If they are using AAC, there is no excuse to use the best Mac music client.
I'd be so much more inclined to subscribe to either XM or Sirius if their stations were available streamed as an iTunes Radio Station
From what I can see, XM doesn't stream online (only samples of their stations), and Sirius requires that you use WiMP.
Both of them should be able to offer attractive alteratives to the Live365 stations in iTunes, give the public a chance to try their service, and seriously consider whether they should layout the $ for a car/home/boat receiver.
HDTV is amazing, but you obviously have to have enough HD programming/signal to justify its cost.
Pre-9/11, we were able to receive Over-the-air broadcast of local network station from the WTC. After those broadcast facilities were destroyed Local HD dropped off. You can get several channels from Satellite: DirecTV offers HBO, Showtime, Discovery, HDNet, ESPN. Cable providers have varied service. We now have TWCNYC, which carries HBO, Showtime, PBS plus CBS, NBC, ABC.
In anycase, with a $1,000 budget HDTV is probably out of your range. I know a lot of people who have raved about their Sony WEGA's. I've also had pretty good luck with Samsungs. LCD's (Sharp Acquos) are nice, but too expensive as well (unless you want a little tv for the kitchen).
I had mixed results with the Jabra and a non-Bluetooth phone.
It worked reasonable well with my Timeport, but not as well with my wife's Samsung. However, even with the Timeport, it was a pain to Accept a call, or Terminate one. I constantly had to go back to using the phone's button, rather than the headset buttons.
Another problem was determining whether or not it was still in Active mode or on Standby. There is a sound tone which goes up in pitch or down in pitch when you turn it on/off. Most of the time, I wound up leaving it on, having the battery drain, and then not having it charged when I wanted to use it.
The other thing was having to have carry around both the phone and the adapter. It'll will stay in the drawer until I find a Bluetooth phone (although Verizon seems determined to prevent me from finding one), and then we'll see if it was worth buying.
Just leave your phone at your desk during happy hour
The Wall Street Journal is an excellent example of a site that has done well online. One of the reasons being that they were very clear with their subscription model - one subscription for the print edition - another subscription for the online edition. The best deal is if you have a student subscription, you get both the print and online editions for one very reasonable price.
The internet makes it easy to commoditize information, those who are successful are able to differentiate their content (can't get it anywhere else - users willing to pay the premium). It has certainly worked for technical/medical journals, whether or not it will work for pop-culture magazines, we'll have to see.
The iTune Music Store isn't a good comparison - people aren't paying extra to access the site - but rather buying music from the site, the subscription based music sites haven't fared as well.
I opted for the new 15gig iPod. Price wasn't an issue, but size was. Even though there isn't that much of a difference (30 gig is 10% heavier and nearly 1/8 inch thicker), I still wanted the thinner/lighter version.
By comparison, the Zen weighs 9.5oz to the 5.6oz/6.2oz iPods.
Capacity wasn't too much of a concern either. I've had a hard enough time finding 15 gigs of music to listen to, let alone 30 or 60 gigs.
I cannot really compare the iPod to the Zen, because the iPod was the only one I considered.
In terms of navigation, I find the solid state scroll wheel easy to use, as well as the remote control.
One short-coming with the iPod is that I had hoped that they would have redesigned the remote to include a small text display. I also wish there was a way to integrate my iPod with my car's navigation/steering wheel controls. I also wish there was a way to save your on-the-fly playlists (although there probably is some Apple script to accomodate this).
The headphones are adequate - I don't mind the white earbuds, as I always get a kick out of seeing other people walking down the street sporting an iPod (it's almost like you're part of a secret club - although not quite as cool as when you spot a car with an Apple sticker on it - especially a rainbow one!), although I've been eyeballing the Bang + Olufsen Earphones. I haven't found a pair of in-earphones that are actually comfortable to wear.
In either case, see if you can "borrow" someone elses, and see which one appeals to you.
We've had a number of occassions where we've had to transfer a PowerPoint presentation from someone's laptop (because they decided to change all of their slides after e-mailing or burning a copy of their final version) to the one that is actually being used and hooked up to the projector
You might want to see about building a network of support with others in your organization.
If you feel that your selling skills won't win over the decision makers, find someone else in the organization that shares your feelings, and have them help sell the company on your ideas.
A lot of times it is difficult to go at it alone, but with a network of support, you'll have people backing you up and raising the level of awareness.
Discuss your ideas with a smaller group, a make a game plan for bringing it up to management. Look for advocates, and someone to champion your cause.
If you can save money, or avoid problems the company should appreciate the efforts. Sometimes you just have to work through old-thinking.
Thanks! Looks like an informative site...bookmarked!
I've been toying with the idea of getting a Lexar Pro (40x) CF card.
Has anyone had any experience using the Pro cards versus the standard, and whether or not the numbers translate into noticible performance gains???
Nevertheless, this particular card is well outside of my range/needs, but a 256 or 512 for my 4.0 megapix is do-able.
I'd have to learn too much math in order to use this
Verizon may have the best service...
...but they have the worst selection of phones to choose from
I'd love to get a Bluetooth phone, like the Sony Ericsson T68i
The could have called it Light.Ars instead.
:)
That being said, while it didn't tell me anything I didn't know from reading elsewhere; it did still keep me from being productive on a Friday
I've got TWCNYC as well as TiVO (w/ Home Media Option).
I've got TiVo connected straight from the outlet, rather than going the box, and dealing with the IR delay when changing channels. Most of the programming we record is network programming on season pass anyway.
The box I have is the SA-3100HD Hi-Def.
The SA-8000HD is supposed to be available Oct/Nov, but who knows how long it will be before TW will roll that out. Even then it won't offer me all the features of TiVo.
What they really need to do is add ESPN-HD!