Media

For Netflix users switching from DVD to streaming only

 Media
Sep 102011
 

A tip: before you make the switch, browse your DVD queue. Use your browser’s Save command (Ctrl+S, or on the File menu or context menu) and save the page as HTML. This preserves the links, including pop-up tool tips, for each movie in your queue. You can use this file to see if these movies have been added to streaming after your DVD queue disappears.

Tip #2: email this file to yourself for even easier access.

None of this would be necessary if Netflix had the decency to roll your DVD queue over to “Saved” under streaming, so these movies could automatically appear as they come to streaming. I cannot imagine why Netflix didn’t think of this. They could still do this retroactively, because they keep the DVD queue for a year or more.

 Posted by at 10:53 am

Further imagining the future: universal screen sharing

 amazon, linkedIn, Media, twitter
Jun 172011
 

Say I’m watching TV when you come in and want to show me a photo on your cellphone. Wave your cellphone at the TV and a window appears overlapping the TV program and showing your cellphone screen live. While you flick through pix, I gesture at the TV to switch windows, so your cellphone occupies the full screen and my TV show is in a small overlapping window. A call comes in on my cellphone. I wave my phone at the TV and my caller appears in a third window. Every device that needs a screen can have all or part of any screen anywhere. Multiple devices can share any screen.

 Posted by at 10:47 am

Dialing for Dummies

 amazon, linkedIn, Media, twitter, Uncategorized
Jun 072011
 

One generation’s dumbfounding is the next gen’s intuitive.

Now You Can Dial [Geek History/Video] – How-To Geek ETC

In this lengthy [9 minutes] and elaborate (it has props!) video from 1954, popular fashion model of the time Susann Shaw walks us through how to use a dial telephone. It seems astounding that people would need this level of instruction but every technology is a new technology at some point and many people were quite put off to have to actually dial a phone number instead of requesting a connection via a live operator.

Now You Can Dial [Geek History/Video] – How-To Geek ETC

 Posted by at 9:42 pm

Get More Out Of Your Roku Digital Video Player

 Facebook, fb, Flickr, Media, My System
Jul 222010
 

Roku makes a device that connects your TV and your Internet connection. Most people know of Roku as a Netflix player: You can watch any Instant title from Netflix on your TV using the Roku player. Merri and I have been through all of 30Rock several times and are back in season one of King of the Hill now.

Roku plays other media, as well. For example, I connect to Flickr and Facebook using Roku to show pictures from those sources.

In addition to the “official channels” on Roku, the player has a feature for so-called “private channels,” which allow a third-party to provide connections to other media. The Nowhereman has released several of these ‘channels’ that actually simply connect you to YouTube, among others. Now, nowhereman has released a private channel that enables the otherwise idle USB port on the Roku XR player, allowing you to see a slideshow of photos on a flash drive. Very cool. (Get a short USB extender cable to hang over your player, giving you a port in front, instead of in back.)

Get More Out Of Your Roku Digital Video Player

I’m amazed it took a third-party to do this. I can’t imagine why Roku is still delaying official support for this function, except that they want a certain number of units sold before they’ll do so. I’m also amazed – continually – by the generosity and ingenuity of people on the Web. Thanks, nowhereman, et al..

 Posted by at 2:24 pm