Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Kindle Getting Library Lending – Enhanced Overdrive Support

One of the last disadvantages of the Kindle compared to other true e-Ink readers is being eliminated by Amazon – Later this year, the Kindle will have the ability to check out library e-books onto their Kindle.  And it will include some enhanced features not available on other e-Readers.

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Amazon announced “Kindle Library Lending” today, a new feature that will allow Kindle users to borrow Kindle books from any U.S. library that supports the Overdrive platform (currently over 11,000 libraries in the United States.)  This free new feature is planned for later this year and will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.

Enhanced Features for Library Books

Kindle users will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. As an added feature, you can annotate and bookmark your borrowed library book and if you check that book out again or if that book is purchased from Amazon, all of your annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.  You will also be able to sync that borrowed book across your different Kindle devices so you can read on the Kindle and pick up where you left off on your iPhone or Android phone while on the move.

Amazon Press Release

The best place to pick up the Kindle is online at Amazon with free shipping and no sales tax for most states:

Read More Kindle Coverage:

The Non-GeekTonic Review of the Kindle 2 - From the Recreational Readers Perspective

The GeekTonic Ultimate Kindle 2 Review

Give the Gift of an eBook with Kindle

Battery Life of Kindle Wi-Fi – Awesome

To the Point: Kindle 3 Hands On Reviews Trickle In

New Amazon Kindle Cover – LED Built In

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Media Center Mobile with Simple.tv

The Home Theater PC software I use, SageTV has built-in capability to transcode TV recordings and some movies to other media formats including iOS and android-friendly formats so you can take them with you so-to-speak.  There is now an app for Windows MediaCenter app that lets you do the same thing for your MediaCenter program!

SimpleTV

Damian at MediaSmartServer.net has a great review of the new simple.tv program.  here’s what Damian has to say about simple.tv:

Simple.tv takes your Windows Media Center recordings (DVR-MS and WTV) and converts them to H.264 mp4. It can then allow you to watch your converted recordings over the internet or even serve them up as podcasts to iTunes. simple.tv aims to do what the name implies, simplify the process of making your Windows Media Center recordings mobile. Let’s take a closer look at and see if it accomplishes its goal.

As always, Damian goes into plenty of detail for those interested.  Check it out at MediaSmartServer.net

Sonos Gets Android and Apple AirPlay Support

Sonos, my favorite wireless music system announced a new release today that brings some significant new capabilities to their system.  The first official Android app is now available for android devices and there’s a new Sonos software upgrade that provides support for Apple AirPlay.

Sonos Android

Sonos Android Remote Control

The new Sonos Android remote control app works much like the iOS app for Apple iPhone and Apple iPad.  You can control your Sonos system completely with the Android and iOS apps browsing through your music collection as well as the many online music sources available.  It allows for control of multiple Sonos devices, volume etc.  The new Android app also allows for the use of voice commands for searching through music artists, albums and tracks.

Below is the Sonos promo video about the Android app:

The Android remote control app works on Android 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 with support for screen sizes of HVGA 320 x 480, WVGA 480 x 800, or WVGA 480 x 854.  A free download is available at the Android Market today.

Sonos Software Updates – Fast iOS app switching & AirPlay Support

The Sonos iOS remote control app for iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad also gets a free update providing fast app switching on Apple iOS 4 devices and AirPlay support (requires a free Sonos firmware update) that lets Apple AirPlay streamed music on all Sonos devices (requires Apple AirPort Express).

Read the GeekTonic Review of Sonos here

Additional Sonos coverage available here

Sonos Press Release

Purchase Sonos

Monday, April 18, 2011

TV Premieres, Finales & Specials This Week 04/18/2011

Time for this week’s complete listing of premieres, finales and specials for the week.

 

Here’s a little movie trailer for the Burn Notice “prequel” airing this week:

 

 

NOTE: All Times are Listed for EST – TV schedules subject to change

Monday, April 18

Game of Thrones (9pm on HBO) This premiered Sunday, but is re-aired all week on HBO.  I don’t currently get HBO, but it looks pretty interesting.

William & Kate (9pm on Lifetime) Not sure what to call this so I’ll call it a movie.  It’s about Prince William (Ben Cross) meets Kate Middleton (Camilla Luddington) at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and they begin a royal romance.

Urban Legends (10pm on SyFy) Season premiere

Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe (12:05am on USA) This premiered on Sunday, but is aired again Monday, Friday and Saturday.  This is a made-for-TV movie spinoff of Burn Notice that focuses on Sam (Bruce Campbell) in a little prequel that goes back to a mission Sam was on in 2005.

 

Tuesday, April 19

16 and Pregnant (10pm on MTV) Season 3 premier

Explorer (10pm on National Geographic) Season premiere

Parenthood (10pm on NBC) Season 2 finale.  I now have all of the episodes of this family drama and plan to see if it’s worth watching like I’ve been hearing.  If so I have two seasons to get through.  If not… lots of extra space on the DVR/HTPC.

Dresscue Me (10:30pm on Planet Green) New reality/fashion series

 

Wednesday, April 20

Weather Caught on Camera (8pm on Weather Channel) Season 2 premiere

Saving Pelican 895 (9pm on HBO) A documentary about cleaning up from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Happy Earth Day!

Storage Wars (10:30pm on A&E) Season 1 finale

 

Thursday, April 21

24 Hour Restaurant Battle (10pm on Food) New reality series hosted by Scott Conant

30 Rock (10pm on NBC) – the 100th episode airs tonight.  I don’t watch it but I know many of you do.

Star Blazers: The Quest for Iscandar (midnight on SyFy) New Anime Series.  Note:  Not in HD.

 

Friday, April 22

Degrassi (9pm on TeenNick) Season 10 finale

Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country (9pm on CBS) A country music special with appearance from The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood.

Talking Funny (9pm on HBO) A comedy special with Ricky Gervais, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Louis C.K.

Gigantic (9:30pm on TeenNick) Season 1 finale

Neighbor Labor (10pm on CMT) New reality series

 

Saturday, April 23

Doctor Who (9pm on BBCA) Season 6 premiere

 

 

Sunday, April 24

Have Cake Will Travel (10pm on Food) New reality/cooking series

Treme (10pm on HBO) Season 2 premiere

 

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