Amazon.com unveiled its latest innovation Tuesday — a tiny device
that allows you to order household items at the touch of a button.
The Dash Button is a Wi-Fi enabled plastic controller that connects
to a customer’s smartphone through the Amazon app. The buttons can be
stuck or hung anywhere around the house — like on your washing machine,
say. If you run out of detergent, you just push the button and an order
is automatically sent to Amazon for that particular product.
More than a dozen brands — listing about 255 of the kind of bulky
products you need to replenish often — are available to order through
the Dash Button program.
The device allows users to cancel their order within 30 minutes, and
the order will only process once, so you won’t end up with tons of
detergent being delivered to your door.
The timing of Amazon’s announcement has got many people wondering if
it’s a prank for April Fool’s Day. Others see the timing as a stroke of marketing
genius, because while people are trying to decide if it’s a hoax they
are also doing precisely what Amazon wants them to do — which is talk
about Dash and share the news.
Amazon spokesperson Kinley Pearsall confirmed to the Los Angeles Times
that the Dash Button is indeed real, although for now the service is
only available to Amazon Prime customers by invitation only.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
streaming TV price guide
Via CordKillers 63 is this pretty neat page telling you how much it'll cost you for what channels. Yeah, that doesn't sound too clear, so just try it out. It would more useful when the Apple TV service comes out.
Not sure how much utility including Amazon Prime, HBO Go, Netflix are since they only add themselves.
If you buy all of them, it'll cost you $116.21 which is about how much I'm paying for my cable subscription now (without Netflix or Hulu Plus). Of course I'm getting more channels on cable. (Like Prime Ticket, NBA TV, NatGeoWild, OCSports are the main ones I watch that come to mind.)
What do Playstation Vue and Sling TV have in common? (Can't wait to add the Apple service to this, I'll add Hulu Plus though it's not quite fair since it's not streaming live, but maybe that's not a disadvantage. Well, it would be a disadvantage if you watch NFL football live on CBS and Fox.) [3/31/15 - Couldn't wait. Added a few rumored channels for the upcoming Apple TV service.]
Now if you could add (a legal) Aereo to Sling TV, then you might have something...
Vue Sling Apple Hulu
ABC x x
ABC Family x
AMC x x
Adult Swim x x
Animal Planet x
BET x
Bravo x x
CBS x x
CMT x
CNN x x
Cartoon Network x x
Comedy Central x x
Discovery x x x
Disney x
ESPN x x
ESPN2 x
El Rey x
FX x x x
Food Network x x
Fox x x x
Fox News x
Fox Sports x
Galavision x
HGTV x x
IFC x x
MSNBC x
MTV x x
Maker x
NBC x x
NBC Sports x
Nat Geo x
Nickelodeon x x
SyFy x
TBS x x
TLC x
TNT x x
Telemundo x
The CW x
Travel x x
Univision x
USA x
VH1 x
Not sure how much utility including Amazon Prime, HBO Go, Netflix are since they only add themselves.
If you buy all of them, it'll cost you $116.21 which is about how much I'm paying for my cable subscription now (without Netflix or Hulu Plus). Of course I'm getting more channels on cable. (Like Prime Ticket, NBA TV, NatGeoWild, OCSports are the main ones I watch that come to mind.)
What do Playstation Vue and Sling TV have in common? (Can't wait to add the Apple service to this, I'll add Hulu Plus though it's not quite fair since it's not streaming live, but maybe that's not a disadvantage. Well, it would be a disadvantage if you watch NFL football live on CBS and Fox.) [3/31/15 - Couldn't wait. Added a few rumored channels for the upcoming Apple TV service.]
Now if you could add (a legal) Aereo to Sling TV, then you might have something...
Vue Sling Apple Hulu
ABC x x
ABC Family x
AMC x x
Adult Swim x x
Animal Planet x
BET x
Bravo x x
CBS x x
CMT x
CNN x x
Cartoon Network x x
Comedy Central x x
Discovery x x x
Disney x
ESPN x x
ESPN2 x
El Rey x
FX x x x
Food Network x x
Fox x x x
Fox News x
Fox Sports x
Galavision x
HGTV x x
IFC x x
MSNBC x
MTV x x
Maker x
NBC x x
NBC Sports x
Nat Geo x
Nickelodeon x x
SyFy x
TBS x x
TLC x
TNT x x
Telemundo x
The CW x
Travel x x
Univision x
USA x
VH1 x
The TV Generation Gap
I thought it odd at one time that my son doesn’t watch TV. Then I
realized he’s part of a generation that finds TV unnecessary, clunky and
old-fashioned.
That is not to say he avoids all television shows — just that he doesn’t need a TV to watch them. To him, it’s just a superfluous piece of furniture.
When I visit my son at his university, I realize he’s not the only one. In fact, finding a TV in a dorm room might be the exception now rather than the rule as it was in my own college days.
And why not? Consider my son — everything he needs and wants for study and entertainment is on his desktop, his laptop or his phone.
I know it’s strange to feel nostalgic about something as mundane as watching television. I’m not a TV addict and would much rather read a good book (on my tablet). But when I was young, it was something we all did together. Prime time really was family time, even if it was only for an hour or two a few times a week. Gathering around a television is sociable. Watching a show on a laptop, a tablet or a tiny phone screen is a solitary act.
So when our son is home, he’ll watch with us just to please us. Luckily, the DVR has made program schedules meaningless. We can save the shows we know he’ll enjoy (or tolerate, haha). I like having us share the experience and am loathe to give up that time together.
And our son, well, he humors us for a bit and then he bolts. He’s got games to play, Internet to surf, music to download! And yes, he’ll watch TV shows and even read — but all online. Sitting in front of the TV is just so quaint.
I’m curious. Tell me, parents, are your kids as TV averse as our son?
Kids — and young adults, is TV a part of your life? If it’s not, why not? If it is, what do you watch? Is it still a way to bond with family? With friends? Is my son’s avoidance typical of his generation?
I read an article that stated flat screens are going the way of the dinosaurs. I doubt it. We still need those large screens in our homes for renting movies, for binge-watching series, for games and for Super Bowl parties.
I think televisions always will be with us, but they’ll no longer be the “hearth” of the home. They’re already evolving into extensions of our computers. Our kids aren’t less addicted. They’ve simply switched from one addiction to another.
jmoonjones @yahoo.com
Twitter: @JadeMoon1
That is not to say he avoids all television shows — just that he doesn’t need a TV to watch them. To him, it’s just a superfluous piece of furniture.
When I visit my son at his university, I realize he’s not the only one. In fact, finding a TV in a dorm room might be the exception now rather than the rule as it was in my own college days.
And why not? Consider my son — everything he needs and wants for study and entertainment is on his desktop, his laptop or his phone.
I know it’s strange to feel nostalgic about something as mundane as watching television. I’m not a TV addict and would much rather read a good book (on my tablet). But when I was young, it was something we all did together. Prime time really was family time, even if it was only for an hour or two a few times a week. Gathering around a television is sociable. Watching a show on a laptop, a tablet or a tiny phone screen is a solitary act.
So when our son is home, he’ll watch with us just to please us. Luckily, the DVR has made program schedules meaningless. We can save the shows we know he’ll enjoy (or tolerate, haha). I like having us share the experience and am loathe to give up that time together.
And our son, well, he humors us for a bit and then he bolts. He’s got games to play, Internet to surf, music to download! And yes, he’ll watch TV shows and even read — but all online. Sitting in front of the TV is just so quaint.
I’m curious. Tell me, parents, are your kids as TV averse as our son?
Kids — and young adults, is TV a part of your life? If it’s not, why not? If it is, what do you watch? Is it still a way to bond with family? With friends? Is my son’s avoidance typical of his generation?
I read an article that stated flat screens are going the way of the dinosaurs. I doubt it. We still need those large screens in our homes for renting movies, for binge-watching series, for games and for Super Bowl parties.
I think televisions always will be with us, but they’ll no longer be the “hearth” of the home. They’re already evolving into extensions of our computers. Our kids aren’t less addicted. They’ve simply switched from one addiction to another.
jmoonjones @yahoo.com
Twitter: @JadeMoon1
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Steve Jobs
*** [3/29/15]
Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson doesn't seem bothered by his critics and the upcoming whitewashed biography of Jobs (Becoming Steve Jobs).
***
[10/5/11] CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) - Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and former CEO who invented and masterfully marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, from the personal computer to the iPod and iPhone, has died. He was 56. Apple announced his death without giving a specific cause.
"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," the company said in a brief statement.
"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve"
Jobs had battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January — his third since his health problems began — and officially resigned in August.
Jobs started Apple with a high school friend in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976, was forced out a decade later and returned in 1997 to rescue the company. During his second stint, it grew into the most valuable technology company in the world.
Cultivating Apple's countercultural sensibility and a minimalist design ethic, Jobs rolled out one sensational product after another, even in the face of the late-2000s recession and his own failing health.
He helped change computers from a geeky hobbyist's obsession to a necessity of modern life at work and home, and in the process he upended not just personal technology but the cellphone and music industries. For transformation of American industry, he has few rivals.
Perhaps most influentially, Jobs in 2001 launched the iPod, which offered "1,000 songs in your pocket." Over the next 10 years, its white earphones and thumb-dial control seemed to become more ubiquitous than the wristwatch.
In 2007 came the touch-screen iPhone, joined a year later by Apple's App Store, where developers could sell iPhone "apps" which made the phone a device not just for making calls but also for managing money, editing photos, playing games and social networking. And in 2010, Jobs introduced the iPad, a tablet-sized, all-touch computer that took off even though market analysts said no one really needed one.
By 2011, Apple had become the second-largest company of any kind in the United States by market value. In August, it briefly surpassed Exxon Mobil as the most valuable company.
[10/9/11] Hmm (while recording CNBC Titans -- hey if I had Roku maybe I wouldn't need to record this to DVD-R), I see I have this old Wired Magazine with Steve Jobs on the cover on the bottom shelf of my coffee table. The date? February 1996. Tells you how long I have stuff sitting there. Time to unload it.
[10/20/11] Twenty inspirational quotes
[10/21/11] A (rambling) Preview of Steve Job's authorized biography
[10/23/11] Will Steve Jobs' final vendetta haunt Google?
[10/25/11] Steve Jobs and Me: A journalist reminisces
[11/18/11] Steve Jobs the Tweaker (by Malcolm Gladwell)
*** [4/1/14] Documentaries on Steve Jobs (much from this thread)
92Y - Steve Wozniak (on Amazon Prime)
Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview (Amazon Prime, Netflix)
Steve Jobs: Consciously Genius (Amazon Prime) [4/24/15 - now on snagfilms]
Steve Jobs: One Last Thing (Amazon Prime, Netflix)
Steve Jobs: Visionary Genius (Netflix)
Jobs [the movie starrring Ashton Kutcher] (Netflix)
Steve Wozniak Biography (youtube)
CNBC Titans: Steve Jobs (hulu)
Bloomberg Game Changers (hulu)
Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy (hulu+, youtube)
iGenius: How Steve Jobs Changed The World (youtube)
Steve Jobs: In His Own Words (youtube)
Steve Jobs: Lost Interview (youtube)
Steve Jobs on 60 Minutes (youtube)
iSteve (Netflix)
Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson doesn't seem bothered by his critics and the upcoming whitewashed biography of Jobs (Becoming Steve Jobs).
***
[10/5/11] CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) - Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and former CEO who invented and masterfully marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, from the personal computer to the iPod and iPhone, has died. He was 56. Apple announced his death without giving a specific cause.
"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," the company said in a brief statement.
"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve"
Jobs had battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January — his third since his health problems began — and officially resigned in August.
Jobs started Apple with a high school friend in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976, was forced out a decade later and returned in 1997 to rescue the company. During his second stint, it grew into the most valuable technology company in the world.
Cultivating Apple's countercultural sensibility and a minimalist design ethic, Jobs rolled out one sensational product after another, even in the face of the late-2000s recession and his own failing health.
He helped change computers from a geeky hobbyist's obsession to a necessity of modern life at work and home, and in the process he upended not just personal technology but the cellphone and music industries. For transformation of American industry, he has few rivals.
Perhaps most influentially, Jobs in 2001 launched the iPod, which offered "1,000 songs in your pocket." Over the next 10 years, its white earphones and thumb-dial control seemed to become more ubiquitous than the wristwatch.
In 2007 came the touch-screen iPhone, joined a year later by Apple's App Store, where developers could sell iPhone "apps" which made the phone a device not just for making calls but also for managing money, editing photos, playing games and social networking. And in 2010, Jobs introduced the iPad, a tablet-sized, all-touch computer that took off even though market analysts said no one really needed one.
By 2011, Apple had become the second-largest company of any kind in the United States by market value. In August, it briefly surpassed Exxon Mobil as the most valuable company.
[10/9/11] Hmm (while recording CNBC Titans -- hey if I had Roku maybe I wouldn't need to record this to DVD-R), I see I have this old Wired Magazine with Steve Jobs on the cover on the bottom shelf of my coffee table. The date? February 1996. Tells you how long I have stuff sitting there. Time to unload it.
[10/20/11] Twenty inspirational quotes
[10/21/11] A (rambling) Preview of Steve Job's authorized biography
[10/23/11] Will Steve Jobs' final vendetta haunt Google?
[10/25/11] Steve Jobs and Me: A journalist reminisces
[11/18/11] Steve Jobs the Tweaker (by Malcolm Gladwell)
*** [4/1/14] Documentaries on Steve Jobs (much from this thread)
92Y - Steve Wozniak (on Amazon Prime)
Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview (Amazon Prime, Netflix)
Steve Jobs: Consciously Genius (Amazon Prime) [4/24/15 - now on snagfilms]
Steve Jobs: One Last Thing (Amazon Prime, Netflix)
Steve Jobs: Visionary Genius (Netflix)
Jobs [the movie starrring Ashton Kutcher] (Netflix)
Steve Wozniak Biography (youtube)
CNBC Titans: Steve Jobs (hulu)
Bloomberg Game Changers (hulu)
Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy (hulu+, youtube)
iGenius: How Steve Jobs Changed The World (youtube)
Steve Jobs: In His Own Words (youtube)
Steve Jobs: Lost Interview (youtube)
Steve Jobs on 60 Minutes (youtube)
iSteve (Netflix)
Saturday, March 28, 2015
downloading youtube subtitles
[4/30/15] Now using Keepvid to download youtube videos now as Video DownloadHelper doesn't always work on every video (it works on most of them though). And as a bonus, Keepvid can now download srt files! (even the auto-generated ones)
[4/14/15] Ugh, now Google2SRT isn't working on the latest Cesar 911 (Kicked to the Curb). But keepsubs seems to be working now. Wait Keepsubs worked on TilleandLeo but not on this new video. Maybe they changed the format again? Well it works on the latest Return of Superman. I dunno. Oh, well, I guess I could buy the episode. Or hope Netflix gets season 2 next year.
Wait, tried Google2SRT again and changed the directory saved to temp. This time it worked! I was getting an error earlier saying something about file permissions. Maybe because I was downloading the video to the same directory?
[3/28/15] A new Cesar 911 video came out, but KeepSubs apparently isn't working on youtube now. Youtube must have changed their format, which makes sense because Freemake Video Downloader doesn't work on youtube any more either. I now use Video DownloadHelper which is a firefox add-on.
What to do? Well, this site suggests to use Google2SRT as a third option. (Their first option was KeepSubs and their second option didn't work.) And it worked! Thanks whoever made (and updates) this.
***
[5/14/14] Some youtube videos have captions, but when you download them the caption information isn't downloaded.
[4/14/15] Ugh, now Google2SRT isn't working on the latest Cesar 911 (Kicked to the Curb). But keepsubs seems to be working now. Wait Keepsubs worked on TilleandLeo but not on this new video. Maybe they changed the format again? Well it works on the latest Return of Superman. I dunno. Oh, well, I guess I could buy the episode. Or hope Netflix gets season 2 next year.
Wait, tried Google2SRT again and changed the directory saved to temp. This time it worked! I was getting an error earlier saying something about file permissions. Maybe because I was downloading the video to the same directory?
[3/28/15] A new Cesar 911 video came out, but KeepSubs apparently isn't working on youtube now. Youtube must have changed their format, which makes sense because Freemake Video Downloader doesn't work on youtube any more either. I now use Video DownloadHelper which is a firefox add-on.
What to do? Well, this site suggests to use Google2SRT as a third option. (Their first option was KeepSubs and their second option didn't work.) And it worked! Thanks whoever made (and updates) this.
***
[5/14/14] Some youtube videos have captions, but when you download them the caption information isn't downloaded.
I wondered if it was possible to also download the caption information so that when you play them on your computer the captions also play.
Let's look. The first link goes to this youtube video which tells you to use this website, but it didn't work for me. However one of the comments told me to go to this wikihow article which links to Subtitle Downloader.
Try that. Paste in url. Go. Choose Language. English. File is ready. Click on the icon. Do you want to open or save xyz123.srt from www.subtitledownloader.com. Save as. Save in the folder you want. Rename (or save as) to the same name as the video.
Play in VLC. Cool!
Got a different prompt when I tried Subtitle Downloader on Firefox (I first tried on Internet Explorer). There was no option to Save As, so it saved it in my download folder. So had to move it from the download folder and then rename it. Same with Chrome. So here's something that Internet Explorer is useful for.
As a bonus, the subtitles look better (to me) on VLC than on youtube. On some youtube videos (especially from natgeowild), the captions are way at the top edge or the bottom edge. When viewing the downloaded videos, the captions are in the normal place - at the bottom, but not at the bottom edge.
I wonder if this will work on plex? Cross fingers. Yay! And it uses the Roku system captions, so actually looks better than the youtube app captions.
Well partially yay. For some reason, some of the videos aren't finding the captions file. And sometimes Plex takes a long time to find the video.
*** 10/4/14
Saw some Dog Whisperer episodes not taken off by natgeowild, so went to download them. But when I went download the subtitles, the subtitledownloader.com site no longer exists. :(
See some programs available but no website (so far).
OK, keepsubs.com works!
As a bonus, the subtitles look better (to me) on VLC than on youtube. On some youtube videos (especially from natgeowild), the captions are way at the top edge or the bottom edge. When viewing the downloaded videos, the captions are in the normal place - at the bottom, but not at the bottom edge.
I wonder if this will work on plex? Cross fingers. Yay! And it uses the Roku system captions, so actually looks better than the youtube app captions.
Well partially yay. For some reason, some of the videos aren't finding the captions file. And sometimes Plex takes a long time to find the video.
*** 10/4/14
Saw some Dog Whisperer episodes not taken off by natgeowild, so went to download them. But when I went download the subtitles, the subtitledownloader.com site no longer exists. :(
See some programs available but no website (so far).
OK, keepsubs.com works!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
blogger font size / adding a counter
noticed a couple or three weeks ago that my blogger posts are display in a smaller text size than before.
google and get this page. OK let's try that.
nope don't see the html. I does tell me that I can upgrade my template.
You'll need to upgrade your template.
Ugh. It changed my template.
Well the fonts are a bit bigger, but I lost my sitemeter. Well, that's progress.
Let me check out some of the templates. Hey, actually I kind of like this new look.
[4/23/15] let's see if I can restore my sitemeter counter
click on post list
click on template
revert to classic templates (at bottom)
view classic template
scroll to bottom to get the old counter code
copy and paste into my editor (I use editpad lite)
check out instructions at wikihow
go back to post list
click on layout
add gadget in the location you want
HTML/Javascript\
copy and paste in the counter code
save
arrange the gadget by dragging if desired
save arrangement
that's it
while I'm at, I added AdSense too, but it's not showing up. maybe it'll show up later.
ok, there it is. How to remove dark spots. lol.
google and get this page. OK let's try that.
nope don't see the html. I does tell me that I can upgrade my template.
You'll need to upgrade your template.
- You may lose many of the changes you previously made to your template.
- However, we will save a copy of your current template so that you can always change back to your current template.
Ugh. It changed my template.
Well the fonts are a bit bigger, but I lost my sitemeter. Well, that's progress.
Let me check out some of the templates. Hey, actually I kind of like this new look.
[4/23/15] let's see if I can restore my sitemeter counter
click on post list
click on template
revert to classic templates (at bottom)
view classic template
scroll to bottom to get the old counter code
copy and paste into my editor (I use editpad lite)
check out instructions at wikihow
go back to post list
click on layout
add gadget in the location you want
HTML/Javascript\
copy and paste in the counter code
save
arrange the gadget by dragging if desired
save arrangement
that's it
while I'm at, I added AdSense too, but it's not showing up. maybe it'll show up later.
ok, there it is. How to remove dark spots. lol.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Freedompop
Freedompop is a company that gives out free internet service. You get up to 500 MB of data free per month. (They also offer free phone service, which sounds good but I'm guess I'm satisfied with my current phone plan. So I'll concentrate on data here.)
The catch? You get charged for usage over 500 MB and they "encourage" you to buy a device to access the data (a phone or tablet or hotspot). And of course they have paid plans for over 500 MB per month.
One of their devices currently offered is the MiFi 500 LTE Hotspot. This would allow me to use my ipad in places where I don't have access to wifi. The price is $79.99 which sounds like a deal considering that it retails for $199.
When I was about to sign-up, I notice that that you have to sign up for their free trial of Premium 2GB (4G/3G) Data Plan Trial. Reading the fine print, the trial is free for the first month. After that, you'll get billed $19.99 per month. If you want to cancel, you have to contact customer support.
There's also an optional FreedomPop Premier Free Trial - data compression, rollover data, secure internet and more. It's free for the first month but $9.99 per month after that. Luckily, you can opt out of the offer by unchecking the check box.
How do I cancel? Searching the help, it says
We recommend downgrading your account to our free plan as well as deactivating any value added services you are subscribed to. This helps you utilize our service for free which can be especially beneficial as a backup for an emergency, or when traveling. This also helps ensure you will not be hit with a reactivation fee if you decide to come back to FreedomPop.
You can downgrade your plan and deactivate any VAS by logging into your FreedomPop account and going into My Account > Plans, or My Account > Services.
If you still decide you would like to cancel your account, you will need to speak with one of our FreedomPop Support Agents. You can reach them by calling 1 (888) 906-3184, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm PDT or by emailing support@freedompop.co
So that's what I'm looking to do.
***
From a review from a couple of years ago:
Is FreedomPop worth considering? Sure, but only if you’re keenly aware of its hidden costs and gotchas. And from what I’ve seen of FreedomPop’s existing free data service, the company seems to try its best to keep potential users in the dark.
Here are a couple things to know about FreedomPop’s free data service, which is already available today:
Other aspects of FreedomPop’s service are hidden from prospective customers as well. You can’t find out the cost of the devices without going through the sign-up process, during which you must enter an e-mail address and mailing address. And while FreedomPop’s home page advertises 4G speeds, users must pay $3.99 per month extra to guarantee the full speed that the network allows.
The fees themselves don’t bother me too much. They’re no worse than the below-the-line fees and value-added services of major wireless carriers, and if you’re mindful of FreedomPop’s policies, it’s certainly possible to get free data. I’ve used the service in Cincinnati, and it works.
UPDATE: FreedomPop CEO Stephen Stokols wrote in to address a couple of the points above. First, he pointed out that users receive an e-mail alerting them to the $10 automatic top-up after they sign up. FreedomPop began sending those e-mails to new users about 2.5 months ago. Second, starting last month, FreedomPop began waiving the $0.99 “Active Status fee” for new subscribers, and will eventually be doing so for existing users. It seems FreedomPop is working to address criticisms, but the company still has more work to do on being up front about the cost of the hardware and other fees before people sign up, not after they’ve handed over personal details and/or payment info. That issue, combined with the additional services that FreedomPop tries to sneak past new users, is what ultimately leaves a sour taste, not the fees themselves.
***
And here's a users review from a year ago.
You can think of it as pre-paying for the first year of data, which turned out to be slightly over $100 for me after all was said and done, or about $8/month for the first year of 500 MB allotments. Now a year later, I'm pretty satisfied with what I purchased and I have regularly used the data when I've been out and about.
I've routinely connected my data to any number of devices. This is one of the big advantages of going with a router rather than a device-specific solution. It works with laptops, iPads, Kindles and so forth. You do have to remember to charge and manage the tiny puck, so that's one extra thing to carry around.
Keeping on top of your data usage is key. In my first write-up, I mentioned how important it was to disable the auto-top-up feature. That feature automatically adds a data purchase after you use 400 MB of bandwidth. What I didn't realize is that even with that feature disabled, after reaching your 500 MB limit, the data doesn't shut off. You simply keep going and get billed $2 per 100 MB.
The most important thing to consider when evaluating whether these kinds of plans are right for you is how you use your data. Are you a light user who just wants to check email on the go? Or do you intend to heavily browse the web and get work done? Data prices generally go down in unit cost the more you buy. Budget solutions like FreedomPop's 500 MB plan work best for those who need only the lightest levels of connectivity and it's been a very nice perk for me and my family this year.
***
So I envision I can use this as long as I don't (often) go over the 500 MB per month. I wonder how easy it is to check data usage? Let's see.
How do I monitor my data usage? Here are a couple of different ways to do so efficiently:
The catch? You get charged for usage over 500 MB and they "encourage" you to buy a device to access the data (a phone or tablet or hotspot). And of course they have paid plans for over 500 MB per month.
One of their devices currently offered is the MiFi 500 LTE Hotspot. This would allow me to use my ipad in places where I don't have access to wifi. The price is $79.99 which sounds like a deal considering that it retails for $199.
When I was about to sign-up, I notice that that you have to sign up for their free trial of Premium 2GB (4G/3G) Data Plan Trial. Reading the fine print, the trial is free for the first month. After that, you'll get billed $19.99 per month. If you want to cancel, you have to contact customer support.
There's also an optional FreedomPop Premier Free Trial - data compression, rollover data, secure internet and more. It's free for the first month but $9.99 per month after that. Luckily, you can opt out of the offer by unchecking the check box.
How do I cancel? Searching the help, it says
We recommend downgrading your account to our free plan as well as deactivating any value added services you are subscribed to. This helps you utilize our service for free which can be especially beneficial as a backup for an emergency, or when traveling. This also helps ensure you will not be hit with a reactivation fee if you decide to come back to FreedomPop.
You can downgrade your plan and deactivate any VAS by logging into your FreedomPop account and going into My Account > Plans, or My Account > Services.
If you still decide you would like to cancel your account, you will need to speak with one of our FreedomPop Support Agents. You can reach them by calling 1 (888) 906-3184, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm PDT or by emailing support@freedompop.co
So that's what I'm looking to do.
***
From a review from a couple of years ago:
Is FreedomPop worth considering? Sure, but only if you’re keenly aware of its hidden costs and gotchas. And from what I’ve seen of FreedomPop’s existing free data service, the company seems to try its best to keep potential users in the dark.
Here are a couple things to know about FreedomPop’s free data service, which is already available today:
- If you use less than 5 MB of data in a given month, you get charged a $0.99 “Active Status fee.”
- By default, when you reach your final 100 MB of data in a given month, FreedomPop automatically charges $10 to fill your plan back up. To avoid the automatic charge, you must change your billing settings on FreedomPop’s website.
Finding the above stipulations on FreedomPop’s website isn’t easy. There’s no mention of them on the home page, nor on the terms of service page that’s linked from the home page. You’ll only find them on a separate “Service Plan, Equipment, and Payment Terms”
page, which is linked from the main terms of service. Even then, the
part about extra fees is buried beneath six other sections of legalese.
FreedomPop does give subscribers a chance to opt out of automatic
refills on the final service activation page, but the wording (“To
ensure uninterrupted service, top up my freedompop account”) is vague.
It doesn’t say that the charge is recurring, nor does it mention the
100-MB trigger.
FreedomPop also peppers users with additional offers during the
sign-up process, while engaging in some classic sneakiness: On one page,
an offer for 2 GB per month is advertised as “100% FREE” and selected
by default, while the fine print mentions that a charge of $17.99 kicks
in after one month. Another page offers faster speeds for $3.99 per
month with a big green “Get Offer!” button, while the option to pass is
presented in tiny text.
Other aspects of FreedomPop’s service are hidden from prospective customers as well. You can’t find out the cost of the devices without going through the sign-up process, during which you must enter an e-mail address and mailing address. And while FreedomPop’s home page advertises 4G speeds, users must pay $3.99 per month extra to guarantee the full speed that the network allows.
The fees themselves don’t bother me too much. They’re no worse than the below-the-line fees and value-added services of major wireless carriers, and if you’re mindful of FreedomPop’s policies, it’s certainly possible to get free data. I’ve used the service in Cincinnati, and it works.
UPDATE: FreedomPop CEO Stephen Stokols wrote in to address a couple of the points above. First, he pointed out that users receive an e-mail alerting them to the $10 automatic top-up after they sign up. FreedomPop began sending those e-mails to new users about 2.5 months ago. Second, starting last month, FreedomPop began waiving the $0.99 “Active Status fee” for new subscribers, and will eventually be doing so for existing users. It seems FreedomPop is working to address criticisms, but the company still has more work to do on being up front about the cost of the hardware and other fees before people sign up, not after they’ve handed over personal details and/or payment info. That issue, combined with the additional services that FreedomPop tries to sneak past new users, is what ultimately leaves a sour taste, not the fees themselves.
***
And here's a users review from a year ago.
You can think of it as pre-paying for the first year of data, which turned out to be slightly over $100 for me after all was said and done, or about $8/month for the first year of 500 MB allotments. Now a year later, I'm pretty satisfied with what I purchased and I have regularly used the data when I've been out and about.
I've routinely connected my data to any number of devices. This is one of the big advantages of going with a router rather than a device-specific solution. It works with laptops, iPads, Kindles and so forth. You do have to remember to charge and manage the tiny puck, so that's one extra thing to carry around.
Keeping on top of your data usage is key. In my first write-up, I mentioned how important it was to disable the auto-top-up feature. That feature automatically adds a data purchase after you use 400 MB of bandwidth. What I didn't realize is that even with that feature disabled, after reaching your 500 MB limit, the data doesn't shut off. You simply keep going and get billed $2 per 100 MB.
The most important thing to consider when evaluating whether these kinds of plans are right for you is how you use your data. Are you a light user who just wants to check email on the go? Or do you intend to heavily browse the web and get work done? Data prices generally go down in unit cost the more you buy. Budget solutions like FreedomPop's 500 MB plan work best for those who need only the lightest levels of connectivity and it's been a very nice perk for me and my family this year.
***
So I envision I can use this as long as I don't (often) go over the 500 MB per month. I wonder how easy it is to check data usage? Let's see.
How do I monitor my data usage? Here are a couple of different ways to do so efficiently:
- There are several different data monitoring applications that are downloadable by searching Google.com for mobile devices and computers.
- If you currently use an iOS device, you're able to download the FreedomPop app.
- Log into your account through FreedomPop.com, your data usage will be displayed by clicking the "Data Usage Detail" tab. Data reporting may be delayed for up to three hours.
- You also have the option of signing up for a "Usage Alerts" service that costs $1.99 a month.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
photomath
Need a little help getting through your next big math exam? MicroBlink
has an app that could help you study more effectively -- perhaps too effectively. Its newly unveiled PhotoMath
for iOS and Windows Phone (Android is due in early 2015) uses your
smartphone's camera to scan math equations and not only solve them, but
show the steps involved.
Officially, it's meant to save you time flipping through a textbook to check answers when you're doing homework or cramming for a test. However, there's a concern that this could trivialize learning -- just because it shows you how to solve a problem doesn't mean that the knowledge will actually sink in. And if teachers don't confiscate smartphones at the door, unscrupulous students could cheat when no one is looking.
[via facebook]
Officially, it's meant to save you time flipping through a textbook to check answers when you're doing homework or cramming for a test. However, there's a concern that this could trivialize learning -- just because it shows you how to solve a problem doesn't mean that the knowledge will actually sink in. And if teachers don't confiscate smartphones at the door, unscrupulous students could cheat when no one is looking.
[via facebook]
shopping for internet + TV
Well, I'm paying like $110 for my cable TV. And like $50 for my phone + DSL.
Can I save money?
Well here's a $50 deal for Oceanic. Price good for one year. And reading the fine print: available to new residential customers or existing single play customers who subscribe to only one of the following services: Basic TV only, Standard Internet, Basic Internet or Everyday Low Price Internet customers who sign up for Basic Digital TV, Standard Internet (up to 15 Mbps) and HBO. Don't know how much the price will increase, but I figure it'll probably at least double.
They also have a triple-play offer. $90 for one year which includes phone.
What happens after the year? Well the regular price for digital TV is $89. Plus $7 for the box. Plus $13 if you want DVR. Basic TV (which is the local channels plus OC16 plus TBS) is $16. Standard TV (which is the analog lineup that includes ESPN, Prime Ticket, OCSports, and a number of other channels) is $65. The analog channels look pretty crappy on a modern TV, but actually you do get a few HD channels if you plug the cable into your digital TV. And actually you might be able to get most of the analog channels (notable exception: ESPN) with only the Basic TV service (judging from what I've seen from a couple of people who have only the Basic service).
How about just internet? (after which I could get Sling TV or the upcoming Apple TV service if I wanted)
I don't see an active link on Oceanic's website, but googling gets me this page (oh there it is on the bottom of this page).
$14.99 for 2 mbps (if you buy your own modem, otherwise it's $8.00 a month to lease a modem) which jumps up to $38.99 for 6 mbps ($29.99 bundled). The highest they offer is 100 mbps for $107.99.
Actually that sounds like the best deal. $14.99, buy your own modem, get a Roku, subscribe to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Sling TV if you want some live sports. Of course, the live sports won't look that good at 2 mbps.
How about HawaiianTelcom?
$79 for TV plus internet. $89 for TV plus internet plus phone. Of course good only for one year.
How about just TV? $69 a month for 175+ channels. $79 for 225+ Channels. The extra $10 gets you stations like NBATV, Tennis Channel, NatGeoWild, Biography, Boomerang, and a bunch of channels that I wouldn't watch.
Surprisingly they do have TWC SportsNet (Lakers) which is Channel 69, and OCSports (UH Sports) which is Channel 89. Surprisingly since TWC SportsNet is Time Warner Cable and OCSports is Oceanic which are their competitors. But no OC16 (which is high school sports).
Hmm. Just noticed that HawaiianTelcom doesn't have Prime Ticket (Clippers)? (I thought it was on before? Yeah looking at a January listing, it used to be Channel 78 which is now notably missing from the current lineup. That's a big minus. Ah it was taken off at the end of 2014. Well, maybe it'll come back.)
What about just internet? All their pricing says "for 1 year".
$19.95 (up to 7 mpbs): this is what I have and I'm getting like 4 mbps
$24.95 (11 mbps)
$29.95 (15 mbps)
all the above is $20.50 when bundled with home phone
$39.95 (20 mpbs)
I ain't go higher than that, but the highest they offer is 500 mbps for $307.95 per month. Their 100 mbps is $87.95.
If I started with nothing (and was on a tight budget), I'd probably go with the $15 or $20 internet and SlingTV. And struggle with spotty video and missing channels. Maybe I'll do that just for fun. It'll be like camping in the wilderness.
Can I save money?
Well here's a $50 deal for Oceanic. Price good for one year. And reading the fine print: available to new residential customers or existing single play customers who subscribe to only one of the following services: Basic TV only, Standard Internet, Basic Internet or Everyday Low Price Internet customers who sign up for Basic Digital TV, Standard Internet (up to 15 Mbps) and HBO. Don't know how much the price will increase, but I figure it'll probably at least double.
They also have a triple-play offer. $90 for one year which includes phone.
What happens after the year? Well the regular price for digital TV is $89. Plus $7 for the box. Plus $13 if you want DVR. Basic TV (which is the local channels plus OC16 plus TBS) is $16. Standard TV (which is the analog lineup that includes ESPN, Prime Ticket, OCSports, and a number of other channels) is $65. The analog channels look pretty crappy on a modern TV, but actually you do get a few HD channels if you plug the cable into your digital TV. And actually you might be able to get most of the analog channels (notable exception: ESPN) with only the Basic TV service (judging from what I've seen from a couple of people who have only the Basic service).
How about just internet? (after which I could get Sling TV or the upcoming Apple TV service if I wanted)
I don't see an active link on Oceanic's website, but googling gets me this page (oh there it is on the bottom of this page).
$14.99 for 2 mbps (if you buy your own modem, otherwise it's $8.00 a month to lease a modem) which jumps up to $38.99 for 6 mbps ($29.99 bundled). The highest they offer is 100 mbps for $107.99.
Actually that sounds like the best deal. $14.99, buy your own modem, get a Roku, subscribe to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Sling TV if you want some live sports. Of course, the live sports won't look that good at 2 mbps.
How about HawaiianTelcom?
$79 for TV plus internet. $89 for TV plus internet plus phone. Of course good only for one year.
How about just TV? $69 a month for 175+ channels. $79 for 225+ Channels. The extra $10 gets you stations like NBATV, Tennis Channel, NatGeoWild, Biography, Boomerang, and a bunch of channels that I wouldn't watch.
Surprisingly they do have TWC SportsNet (Lakers) which is Channel 69, and OCSports (UH Sports) which is Channel 89. Surprisingly since TWC SportsNet is Time Warner Cable and OCSports is Oceanic which are their competitors. But no OC16 (which is high school sports).
Hmm. Just noticed that HawaiianTelcom doesn't have Prime Ticket (Clippers)? (I thought it was on before? Yeah looking at a January listing, it used to be Channel 78 which is now notably missing from the current lineup. That's a big minus. Ah it was taken off at the end of 2014. Well, maybe it'll come back.)
What about just internet? All their pricing says "for 1 year".
$19.95 (up to 7 mpbs): this is what I have and I'm getting like 4 mbps
$24.95 (11 mbps)
$29.95 (15 mbps)
all the above is $20.50 when bundled with home phone
$39.95 (20 mpbs)
I ain't go higher than that, but the highest they offer is 500 mbps for $307.95 per month. Their 100 mbps is $87.95.
If I started with nothing (and was on a tight budget), I'd probably go with the $15 or $20 internet and SlingTV. And struggle with spotty video and missing channels. Maybe I'll do that just for fun. It'll be like camping in the wilderness.
CuriosityStream
Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks built his fortune in the cable-TV business, but for years he has been looking to disrupt the industry with a Netflix-like online video offering.
Now, he is doing it. Mr. Hendricks, who retired last year from Discovery’s board, in March will launch CuriosityStream, a subscription video-on-demand service that will offer nonfiction shows about nature, history, science and technology. It will cost between $2.99 and $9.99 a month, depending on the resolution of the picture.
“With the success of Netflix, I just think the timing is right,” he said.
Like Netflix—or, for that matter, many cable channels these days—CuriosityStream will seek to distinguish itself with a handful of ambitious original series, though the bulk of its offerings will be acquired. The service will start out with 800 titles, about half of which will be short-form, roughly eight minutes long.
Unlike Netflix, however, CurosityStream won’t be spending billions on content. “We see our content investment being in the tens of millions,” he said, noting that nonfiction television is generally cheaper than scripted programming. The company plans to co-produce some of its originals, and work with producers such as Britain’s BBC and Japan’s NHK.
Mr. Hendricks, who founded Discovery in 1982, compared this moment in streaming video to the early days of cable, when first movers like HBO and ESPN carved out advantages in movies, sports and other categories. He says he hopes to be the dominant player in the nonfiction category of streaming.
He imagines that his brand of programming will be appealing to about 25% of the television market—“light” TV users that also tend to watch PBS. At the moment, he is aiming at people without pay-TV subscriptions, a market he estimates includes about 17 million households. But he also believes that about 10% of the roughly 100 million pay-TV households would like CuriosityStream on top of what they are already paying for.
Ultimately, he hopes to sign up between five million and seven million subscribers in two to five years, and get to 15 million to 20 million in a decade.
[I saw him on CNBC today, but this story is from January. Ah, it launched today.]
John Hendricks, the Founder of the Discovery Channel and former Chairman of Discovery Communications, announced the launch of his new, independent venture, CuriosityStream, the world's first ad-free subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) service for consumers to watch premium factual programs anytime, anywhere. The service goes live at 6am ET today and curious people across the U.S. with broadband connections can sign up to instantly watch choice content from hundreds of enriching and engaging shows.
CuriosityStream takes Hendricks's vision of accessible and curated factual programs to the social media generation with the latest technology and content focused on science, technology, civilization and the human spirit. The service is designed to enable viewers to choose their viewing experience, from a range of resolutions to custom search features that allow viewers to take virtual journeys through the topics of their choice.
"My dream of a content-on-demand service that uses advanced media to empower the enduring human desire to understand the Universe and the world around us is now a reality. CuriosityStream is the world's first ad-free, SVOD service that addresses our lifelong quest to learn, explore, and understand. Our aim is to provide the first and best on-demand video streaming destination that aggregates and curates the world's best factual content," said Hendricks.
For just $2.99 a month, CuriosityStream subscribers can access premium programming on internet-connected TVs, smartphones, tablets, set top boxes and additional devices. The service is currently priced to host and deliver three streaming resolution preferences: Standard Resolution ($2.99 per month), HD Resolution ($5.99 per month), and later this year we will offer 4K Resolution.
CuriosityStream is launching with hundreds of hours of original and acquired programming that aims to engage and enlighten knowledge seekers of all ages, with new titles being added weekly. Engaging short-form content, generally less than 8 minutes in length, will comprise a significant part of the curated CuriosityStream library.
CuriosityStream features original commissions, original series and specials and documentary content from the world's leading nonfiction producers, including the BBC, NHK, ZED, Terra Noa, and Flame Distribution. Additionally, CuriosityStream features exclusive access to segments and full interviews from more than 70 world experts profiling a broad range of subjects from evolution to rock stars, with 25 new interviews added each month. Initially launching in the U.S., CuriosityStream will be available worldwide over the next five years.
[I don't know how many will sign up with similar content available on PBS, Netflix, Hulu, etc.]
Now, he is doing it. Mr. Hendricks, who retired last year from Discovery’s board, in March will launch CuriosityStream, a subscription video-on-demand service that will offer nonfiction shows about nature, history, science and technology. It will cost between $2.99 and $9.99 a month, depending on the resolution of the picture.
“With the success of Netflix, I just think the timing is right,” he said.
Like Netflix—or, for that matter, many cable channels these days—CuriosityStream will seek to distinguish itself with a handful of ambitious original series, though the bulk of its offerings will be acquired. The service will start out with 800 titles, about half of which will be short-form, roughly eight minutes long.
Unlike Netflix, however, CurosityStream won’t be spending billions on content. “We see our content investment being in the tens of millions,” he said, noting that nonfiction television is generally cheaper than scripted programming. The company plans to co-produce some of its originals, and work with producers such as Britain’s BBC and Japan’s NHK.
Mr. Hendricks, who founded Discovery in 1982, compared this moment in streaming video to the early days of cable, when first movers like HBO and ESPN carved out advantages in movies, sports and other categories. He says he hopes to be the dominant player in the nonfiction category of streaming.
He imagines that his brand of programming will be appealing to about 25% of the television market—“light” TV users that also tend to watch PBS. At the moment, he is aiming at people without pay-TV subscriptions, a market he estimates includes about 17 million households. But he also believes that about 10% of the roughly 100 million pay-TV households would like CuriosityStream on top of what they are already paying for.
Ultimately, he hopes to sign up between five million and seven million subscribers in two to five years, and get to 15 million to 20 million in a decade.
[I saw him on CNBC today, but this story is from January. Ah, it launched today.]
John Hendricks, the Founder of the Discovery Channel and former Chairman of Discovery Communications, announced the launch of his new, independent venture, CuriosityStream, the world's first ad-free subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) service for consumers to watch premium factual programs anytime, anywhere. The service goes live at 6am ET today and curious people across the U.S. with broadband connections can sign up to instantly watch choice content from hundreds of enriching and engaging shows.
CuriosityStream takes Hendricks's vision of accessible and curated factual programs to the social media generation with the latest technology and content focused on science, technology, civilization and the human spirit. The service is designed to enable viewers to choose their viewing experience, from a range of resolutions to custom search features that allow viewers to take virtual journeys through the topics of their choice.
"My dream of a content-on-demand service that uses advanced media to empower the enduring human desire to understand the Universe and the world around us is now a reality. CuriosityStream is the world's first ad-free, SVOD service that addresses our lifelong quest to learn, explore, and understand. Our aim is to provide the first and best on-demand video streaming destination that aggregates and curates the world's best factual content," said Hendricks.
For just $2.99 a month, CuriosityStream subscribers can access premium programming on internet-connected TVs, smartphones, tablets, set top boxes and additional devices. The service is currently priced to host and deliver three streaming resolution preferences: Standard Resolution ($2.99 per month), HD Resolution ($5.99 per month), and later this year we will offer 4K Resolution.
CuriosityStream is launching with hundreds of hours of original and acquired programming that aims to engage and enlighten knowledge seekers of all ages, with new titles being added weekly. Engaging short-form content, generally less than 8 minutes in length, will comprise a significant part of the curated CuriosityStream library.
CuriosityStream features original commissions, original series and specials and documentary content from the world's leading nonfiction producers, including the BBC, NHK, ZED, Terra Noa, and Flame Distribution. Additionally, CuriosityStream features exclusive access to segments and full interviews from more than 70 world experts profiling a broad range of subjects from evolution to rock stars, with 25 new interviews added each month. Initially launching in the U.S., CuriosityStream will be available worldwide over the next five years.
[I don't know how many will sign up with similar content available on PBS, Netflix, Hulu, etc.]
Friday, March 13, 2015
carbon emissions not up!
(Reuters) -
Global emissions of carbon dioxide in the energy sector stalled in 2014,
breaking steady rises over the past four decades except in years with
an economic downturn, the International Energy Agency said on Friday.
Emissions of carbon dioxide were flat at 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014 from 2013, according to the IEA.
"This is both a welcome surprise and a significant one," IEA chief economist Fatih Birol said in a statement. "This gives me even more hope that humankind will be able to work together to combat climate change, the most important threat facing us today."
The Paris-based IEA, which advises governments of developed nations, said the halt in emissions growth was linked to greener patterns of energy consumption in China, the top carbon emitter ahead of the United States, and in developed nations.
“In China, 2014 saw greater generation of electricity from renewable sources, such as hydropower, solar and wind, and less burning of coal,” it said.
Birol said the data provide "much-needed momentum to negotiators preparing to forge a global climate deal in Paris in December: for the first time, greenhouse gas emissions are decoupling from economic growth."
A summit in Paris is due to agree a deal to limit global emissions, blamed by a U.N. panel of climate scientists for causing more heatwaves, floods and rising sea levels. The IEA said that carbon emissions had been flat or fallen only three times since it started collecting data 40 years ago, previously always linked to economic slumps – in the early 1980s, 1992 and 2009.
In 2014, however, the global economy expanded by 3 percent.
"These figures show that green growth is achievable not just for Britain but for the world," said British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey.
"However we cannot be complacent – we need to dramatically cut emissions, not just stop their growth."
Emissions of carbon dioxide were flat at 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014 from 2013, according to the IEA.
"This is both a welcome surprise and a significant one," IEA chief economist Fatih Birol said in a statement. "This gives me even more hope that humankind will be able to work together to combat climate change, the most important threat facing us today."
The Paris-based IEA, which advises governments of developed nations, said the halt in emissions growth was linked to greener patterns of energy consumption in China, the top carbon emitter ahead of the United States, and in developed nations.
“In China, 2014 saw greater generation of electricity from renewable sources, such as hydropower, solar and wind, and less burning of coal,” it said.
Birol said the data provide "much-needed momentum to negotiators preparing to forge a global climate deal in Paris in December: for the first time, greenhouse gas emissions are decoupling from economic growth."
A summit in Paris is due to agree a deal to limit global emissions, blamed by a U.N. panel of climate scientists for causing more heatwaves, floods and rising sea levels. The IEA said that carbon emissions had been flat or fallen only three times since it started collecting data 40 years ago, previously always linked to economic slumps – in the early 1980s, 1992 and 2009.
In 2014, however, the global economy expanded by 3 percent.
"These figures show that green growth is achievable not just for Britain but for the world," said British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey.
"However we cannot be complacent – we need to dramatically cut emissions, not just stop their growth."
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Ige's energy vision
Gov. David
Ige laid out his vision to wean Hawaii off fossil fuels Tuesday,
listing the increased use of batteries with solar systems, the
short-term use of liquefied natural gas and the reduction in incentives
paid to solar owners as changes he'd like to see.
Ige also
said he supports converting Hawaii power plants to LNG, which could
potentially lower the cost of electricity in the short term as the
state shifts gradually toward more renewable energy sources.
From an
electrical utility perspective, "yes, LNG must be just a bridge fuel,"
he said. "It must be a transitional fuel. … LNG does offer the
opportunity to reduce costs in the near term, but it is still an
imported fossil fuel."
Ige said
his administration will work to add more rooftop solar power, but
changes need to be made to how much solar owners are paid for the
excess energy their systems produce.
Solar
customers will receive lower payments for the power they send to the
grid, Ige said, adding that is consistent with the decreasing amounts
the utility pays utility-scale power producers, such as wind farm
operators.
"We do
need to make adjustments," Ige said. "We've changed … the power purchase
agreements, and it does make sense that we look at changing the net
energy metering."
Despite advocating a change in net energy metering, Ige said helping to increase solar will be a focus of his administration.
"Right
now rooftop solar is top of mind with many consumers, and we want to
make sure that we can be aggressive with allowing communities and
people in our community who want to make that investment to have that
opportunity," Ige said.
Ige
listed community solar — or larger systems for residents who don't have
roof space for solar — as another option to increase the renewable
energy resource in Hawaii.
As solar
power's reliability fluctuates with the time of day, Ige noted other
renewable energy sources that can help get the state to its goals.
"The advantage of wind is it can be blowing any time of the day," Ige said.
Geothermal and wave energy will also be important renewable options to help power the state, Ige said.
Batteries are "the next great breakthrough" for adopting more renewables, Ige said.
"We see
battery prices dropping all the time. There is significant interest and
investment in that. That will allow us to move forward with the
renewables," he said.
Ige said that the state should encourage battery use with solar systems.
"We need to encourage investment in them and figure out how we can get them into the grid," Ige said.
As for his
own home — before moving into the governor's residence — Ige said he
had rooftop PV and a solar water heater for years.
"I did install solar panels on my previous home," he said. "It was maybe the second year when solar had really taken off."
Monday, March 09, 2015
Tubi TV
Noticed that my Roku was telling me that Star Trek: The Final Frontier was available for free. So I clicked on it and got to Tubi TV.
Tubi TV was launched about a year ago and I guess I noticed the title but this is the first time I looked at it. There's a lot of movies and a few TV shows. Mostly unknowns, but a few big ones like Top Gun and Total Recall.
Here's the blurb from gigaom last year.
Tubi TV was launched about a year ago and I guess I noticed the title but this is the first time I looked at it. There's a lot of movies and a few TV shows. Mostly unknowns, but a few big ones like Top Gun and Total Recall.
Here's the blurb from gigaom last year.
Watch out, Crackle, there’s a new kid in town: Sony’s ad-supported streaming service got some competition this week from Tubi TV, a new streaming app from the San Francisco-based connected TV startup adRise. Tubi TV is already available on Amazon’s new Fire TV, and plans to launch on Roku and Xbox 360 in the coming days.
Tubi TV’s ambitious goal is to become the
largest library of free movies and TV shows, adRise founder and CEO
Farhad Massoudi said during an interview earlier this week. At launch,
Tubi TV will have more than 3,000 titles licensed from partners like the
U.K.’s iTV, Endemol, Hasbro and Cinedigm. In the next six months, the
company plans to grow Tubi’s catalog to 20,000 titles.
Netflix subscribers will recognize some of
the titles, while others haven’t been available on other streaming
services yet. adRise Head of Bizdev Thomas Ahn Hicks told me that Tubi
isn’t in the business of licensing exclusive content, but that the
company’s existing relationships with content providers — adRise has
been building connected TV apps for Starz, Hasbro and others — has
helped to get access to a wide library of content.
So why would a studio or
production company that has its own apps also want to distribute its
content through Tubi TV’s app? Massoudi said that the connected TV space
is increasingly getting crowded, with hundreds of apps competing for a
viewer’s attention. Bundling all the free and ad-supported content in
one app, while also promoting the content of each studio, could help to
solve that issue, he argued, adding that Tubi wanted to become the
“first stop after Netflix.”
Hicks agreed, and said that Tubi could be
another option for users who already have Netflix. “This is really a
complement to what’s out there,” in regard to existing subscription
offerings, he said.
***
How do they make money? Well, I guess from the ads. But now watching classic Who's Line Is It Anyway? It cut away to a bunch of ill-timed commercials. So maybe watchers will get so annoyed they'll pay .99 to watch commercial-free. Or so annoyed that they'll stop watching Tubi TV.
Saturday, March 07, 2015
community solar gardens
MINNEAPOLIS
>> A new concept in renewable energy is catching fire across the
country, allowing customers who might find solar panels too expensive
or impractical to buy green energy anyway.
Community solar gardens first took off in Colorado a few years ago, and the model
-- also known as community or shared solar -- has spread to Minnesota,
California, Massachusetts and several other states. Capacity is expected
to grow sharply this year, and interest is up among both residential
customers who just like the idea and large companies that want to cut
their carbon footprints.
The
gardens feed electricity to the local power grid. Customers subscribe to
that power and get credit on their utility bills, with contracts that
typically lock in for 25 years and shelter against rate increases. Some
developers say customer bills will drop below regular retail rates
within a few years; others say the savings begin immediately.
"This is
really the year that community solar becomes mainstream," said David
Amster-Olszewski, CEO of Denver-based solar garden developer SunShare
LLC, which runs two operations in Colorado and is developing more with
Xcel Energy Inc., including in Minnesota.
Rooftop
solar panels are becoming more popular among homeowners as the cost
comes down, but that market is limited to only about one-fourth of U.S.
residences, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, an
arm of the U.S. Department of Energy. Community solar opens the door to
many more, including renters, customers with shaded roofs and those who
can't afford solar panels.
Friday, March 06, 2015
Cityville shutting down
Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) is shutting down CityVille, the franchise that once ruled the online social gaming platform with more than 100 million active players, says a report from SFGATE.
Although the company has not made a public announcement yet, players heard about the shutdown date of April 30 after logging into the city building simulation game, where they were welcomed with the above “Dear Citizens” message.
“If you currently have coins or cash in your CityVille account, you can use them to access the game’s current content until April 30, 2015,” read the message.
During the fourth-quarter earnings call, chief financial officer David Lee said that the company has decided to bring down ten of its Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) games. Additionally, Zynga is shuttering its Beijing studio for running CityVille.
The titles was launched in December 2010, when Zynga was becoming popular as a Facebook social games powerhouse. Just 50 days after the initial launch, the title had 61 million monthly active users, outperforming FarmVille to become the company’s most popular social game.
Zynga, which went public in 2011, was popular for titles like CityVille and FarmVille, as well as for Zynga Poker. However, players soon started abandoning the platform. Zynga tried to revive the spark by launching a re-designed version CityVille 2, but it was noy much of a success. The game maker also launched other games such as FarmVille 2 or CastleVille Legends, but failed to garner many new users. In December, the game maker reported that it has 108 million monthly active players across its platform.
Although the company has not made a public announcement yet, players heard about the shutdown date of April 30 after logging into the city building simulation game, where they were welcomed with the above “Dear Citizens” message.
“If you currently have coins or cash in your CityVille account, you can use them to access the game’s current content until April 30, 2015,” read the message.
During the fourth-quarter earnings call, chief financial officer David Lee said that the company has decided to bring down ten of its Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) games. Additionally, Zynga is shuttering its Beijing studio for running CityVille.
The titles was launched in December 2010, when Zynga was becoming popular as a Facebook social games powerhouse. Just 50 days after the initial launch, the title had 61 million monthly active users, outperforming FarmVille to become the company’s most popular social game.
Zynga, which went public in 2011, was popular for titles like CityVille and FarmVille, as well as for Zynga Poker. However, players soon started abandoning the platform. Zynga tried to revive the spark by launching a re-designed version CityVille 2, but it was noy much of a success. The game maker also launched other games such as FarmVille 2 or CastleVille Legends, but failed to garner many new users. In December, the game maker reported that it has 108 million monthly active players across its platform.
Monday, March 02, 2015
youtube captions
[3/8/15] hooked up my Roku HD to the Panasonic 42. went to youtube and played Tille and Leo (the last full Dog Whisperer not removed by NatGeoWild). And the captions play fine. Youtube still quite sluggish. (Also sluggish on the Roku 2). Youtube surprisingly not too sluggish on the AppleTV. So overall I still like the Apple TV the best for captions (on Netflix, Hulu Plus, Youtube).
[3/2/15] the youtube app for the AppleTV has been updated. Testing with Dr. Pol Udderly Frozen. The captions show up at the top edge on the computer. Playing it on the AppleTV (on my Panasonic plasma), the captions appear fine. Also the youtube app automatically plays the next episode. So we are back to mindless background TV. (Don't see an option to turn it off.)
Now testing on Tille and Leo. Captions on bottom. Looks fine (not cut off).
Next to test it on the Roku (looks like they updated the Roku app as well) and I guess the Fire TV.
[7/29/14 forum] Ah, that explains the problem. Thanks!
On my mother's Samsung, I changed the picture to Size: Screen Fit. And that solved the partially-off-the-screen caption problem!
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/howto ... 8/0/N/3/M/
Unfortunately I could find no setting on my main TV (Panasonic) that would turn off overscan. There is an H size option for full image. But no V size option that I can see.
Oh well, at least I know what the problem is...
[forum response] by ACraigo » Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:50 pm
Change the mode on your TV to 'No Overscan', The Roku should be set to 720p. That will show the captions 'properly', but I have to say on my 2 HD that was one of the worst experiences I ever had in trying to interact with a Roku app. For all intents and purposes, that's broke. It was a nightmare, and in the end the captions displayed all over the screen wiping out any hope of ever seeing what's going on behind the captions. Pitiful.
There's 15 minutes of what's left of my life I will never get back... and it wasn't worth it. I would have rather been duct taped to a chair and punched in the face for 15 minutes. It would have been less painful.
If anyone needs to see the reason why an app developed for the Roku 3 should NEVER be given to a Roku 2<... go do that for a while.
Getting back to the No Overscan thing... rarely, and I mean almost never... I change from No Overscan to Full, when somebody doesn't get an encode or video just right and you get the crawling dots along the top or bottom, but after that I go right back into No Overscan.
[7/9/14 forum] In my continuing quest for proper youtube captions, I bought an Amazon Fire TV.
Hunt down the youtube app and install. Search for NatGeoWild videos. And sure enough, the captions are cut off on the Amazon Fire TV too!
Looking at the same youtube videos on my computer, I notice that the videos with the problem display the captions at the very top and bottom of the screen. (So far I see this only on videos uploaded by natgeowild.) Then comparing the displays on the TV vs. the computer, I see that the videos are actually slightly trimmed around the borders on the TV. (Checking, I see that this is also true on the Apple TV.)
So it appears that the youtube app is actually displaying the captions in the "right" place, but that the streamers trim off the edges of the picture, thus also trimming off the edges of the captions. So with that, it now makes sense makes why the captions are cut off.
So the question is now why the streamers trim off the edge of the picture as compared to the computer. And the other question is why the Roku on the 16x9 composite connection displays the captions "correctly" (or incorrectly depending on how you look at it).
[5/22/14 from my Amazon Fire TV first look] Youtube. The other reason why I was looking into a new streaming box was the Youtube plays really slowly on the Roku HD. The Roku 2 is faster but still sluggish. The Roku 3 and Fire TV have acceptable speed. The problem on all of these systems is that the captions from NatGeoWild are cut off at the top or bottom. But oddly they're OK if the Roku HD and Roku 2 are set to 16:9 instead of 720p. The Roku 3 and Fire TV don't have the option of 16:9. The Apple TV app doesn't support captions.
[5/19/14 from my Roku 2 post] Now for the moment of truth. YouTube.
Pretty sluggish compared to the Roku 3, but much faster the the Roku HD.
Search for natgeowild, pull up Wonder Horse (and episode of The Incredible Dr. Pol). Captions play fine.
[5/19/14 forum post] Investigating more, I hooked up my Roku HD to HDMI and set the display to 720p. Played the youtube natgeowild video and the same problem occurred! The captions were cut off at the top.
Set it back to 16:9 and played the same video. The captions were lower and not cut off. Compared the Roku 3 to double-check and sure enough the captions are positioned differently depending on whether the display setting is set to 720p or 16:9. [I also tried the Roku on a different TV at 1080p with the same result as 720p].
So this is not a Roku 3 vs. Roku HD problem. It's a problem with the youtube app displaying captions differently depending on the Roku display setting. Doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to fix if it were brought to the app developer's attention.
[5/18/14] posted the youtube captions problems to forum. We'll see what response I get.
I was excited to see that youtube finally came to my Roku HD (2500X).
However, the app was so excruciating sluggish that I went out and bought a Roku 3.
One thing I liked about Roku youtube app is that it supports captions (something that's lacking on the Apple TV app for example). However to my dismay, when I turned on the captions on the Roku 3 app, I noticed that the top line was partially off the screen.
In my case, I notice this occurs on videos from NatGeoWild. (To see this, do a search for natgeowild and play any of the videos of Dog Whisperer or The Incredible Dr. Pol for example. Currently my search brings up Project Runway and Wonder Horse as the first two items.)
When I view the same video on my Roku HD, the captions display OK and are not cut off at the top. I am wondering if this is a known issue and if anybody's working on a solution.
- mike
[5/5/14] YouTube on Roku update. Tried plugging in my Roku HD via HDMI, then setting the display to 720p. Same problem. Part of the caption is cut off at the bottom (or top) of the screen. But if you set the display to 16x9, then the captions don't cut off. Unfortunately there's no 16x9 option on the Roku 3.
OK, maybe it's my TV. Plugged it into my mom's Samsung 32". Same thing. Then the bigger Samsung in the lounge. Same thing.
... Looking at CordKillers on the Roku 3. Turned on automatic captions. These captions display OK. Comparing the Roku TV video to the youtube video on my computer, I can see the edges are slightly trimmed on the TV. I see there's three lines of comments on the TV whereas on the computer there's three and a half. And I see the C of the CordKillers logo on the bottom left is partly cut off on the TV. So that's the problem.
[5/3/14] Let's try youtube. Yep, much faster than on the Roku HD. Let's test the captions. Search for natgeowild. Choose Delta and Dong Dong. The captions work, but the top line is partially off the top of the screen (and the bottom is partially below the bottom of the screen). That's disappointing. Try switch to 1080p. Nope. That's a strike.
... Youtube. Roku HD video is actually the best picture as the captions are not off the screen. Roku 3 app is better than the Apple TV app which doesn't support captions. Maybe it'll get updated later.
[3/2/15 split off from Roku 3 and others]
[3/2/15] the youtube app for the AppleTV has been updated. Testing with Dr. Pol Udderly Frozen. The captions show up at the top edge on the computer. Playing it on the AppleTV (on my Panasonic plasma), the captions appear fine. Also the youtube app automatically plays the next episode. So we are back to mindless background TV. (Don't see an option to turn it off.)
Now testing on Tille and Leo. Captions on bottom. Looks fine (not cut off).
Next to test it on the Roku (looks like they updated the Roku app as well) and I guess the Fire TV.
[7/29/14 forum] Ah, that explains the problem. Thanks!
On my mother's Samsung, I changed the picture to Size: Screen Fit. And that solved the partially-off-the-screen caption problem!
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/howto ... 8/0/N/3/M/
Unfortunately I could find no setting on my main TV (Panasonic) that would turn off overscan. There is an H size option for full image. But no V size option that I can see.
Oh well, at least I know what the problem is...
[forum response] by ACraigo » Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:50 pm
Change the mode on your TV to 'No Overscan', The Roku should be set to 720p. That will show the captions 'properly', but I have to say on my 2 HD that was one of the worst experiences I ever had in trying to interact with a Roku app. For all intents and purposes, that's broke. It was a nightmare, and in the end the captions displayed all over the screen wiping out any hope of ever seeing what's going on behind the captions. Pitiful.
There's 15 minutes of what's left of my life I will never get back... and it wasn't worth it. I would have rather been duct taped to a chair and punched in the face for 15 minutes. It would have been less painful.
If anyone needs to see the reason why an app developed for the Roku 3 should NEVER be given to a Roku 2<... go do that for a while.
Getting back to the No Overscan thing... rarely, and I mean almost never... I change from No Overscan to Full, when somebody doesn't get an encode or video just right and you get the crawling dots along the top or bottom, but after that I go right back into No Overscan.
[7/9/14 forum] In my continuing quest for proper youtube captions, I bought an Amazon Fire TV.
Hunt down the youtube app and install. Search for NatGeoWild videos. And sure enough, the captions are cut off on the Amazon Fire TV too!
Looking at the same youtube videos on my computer, I notice that the videos with the problem display the captions at the very top and bottom of the screen. (So far I see this only on videos uploaded by natgeowild.) Then comparing the displays on the TV vs. the computer, I see that the videos are actually slightly trimmed around the borders on the TV. (Checking, I see that this is also true on the Apple TV.)
So it appears that the youtube app is actually displaying the captions in the "right" place, but that the streamers trim off the edges of the picture, thus also trimming off the edges of the captions. So with that, it now makes sense makes why the captions are cut off.
So the question is now why the streamers trim off the edge of the picture as compared to the computer. And the other question is why the Roku on the 16x9 composite connection displays the captions "correctly" (or incorrectly depending on how you look at it).
[5/22/14 from my Amazon Fire TV first look] Youtube. The other reason why I was looking into a new streaming box was the Youtube plays really slowly on the Roku HD. The Roku 2 is faster but still sluggish. The Roku 3 and Fire TV have acceptable speed. The problem on all of these systems is that the captions from NatGeoWild are cut off at the top or bottom. But oddly they're OK if the Roku HD and Roku 2 are set to 16:9 instead of 720p. The Roku 3 and Fire TV don't have the option of 16:9. The Apple TV app doesn't support captions.
[5/19/14 from my Roku 2 post] Now for the moment of truth. YouTube.
Pretty sluggish compared to the Roku 3, but much faster the the Roku HD.
Search for natgeowild, pull up Wonder Horse (and episode of The Incredible Dr. Pol). Captions play fine.
[5/19/14 forum post] Investigating more, I hooked up my Roku HD to HDMI and set the display to 720p. Played the youtube natgeowild video and the same problem occurred! The captions were cut off at the top.
Set it back to 16:9 and played the same video. The captions were lower and not cut off. Compared the Roku 3 to double-check and sure enough the captions are positioned differently depending on whether the display setting is set to 720p or 16:9. [I also tried the Roku on a different TV at 1080p with the same result as 720p].
So this is not a Roku 3 vs. Roku HD problem. It's a problem with the youtube app displaying captions differently depending on the Roku display setting. Doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to fix if it were brought to the app developer's attention.
[5/18/14] posted the youtube captions problems to forum. We'll see what response I get.
I was excited to see that youtube finally came to my Roku HD (2500X).
However, the app was so excruciating sluggish that I went out and bought a Roku 3.
One thing I liked about Roku youtube app is that it supports captions (something that's lacking on the Apple TV app for example). However to my dismay, when I turned on the captions on the Roku 3 app, I noticed that the top line was partially off the screen.
In my case, I notice this occurs on videos from NatGeoWild. (To see this, do a search for natgeowild and play any of the videos of Dog Whisperer or The Incredible Dr. Pol for example. Currently my search brings up Project Runway and Wonder Horse as the first two items.)
When I view the same video on my Roku HD, the captions display OK and are not cut off at the top. I am wondering if this is a known issue and if anybody's working on a solution.
- mike
[5/5/14] YouTube on Roku update. Tried plugging in my Roku HD via HDMI, then setting the display to 720p. Same problem. Part of the caption is cut off at the bottom (or top) of the screen. But if you set the display to 16x9, then the captions don't cut off. Unfortunately there's no 16x9 option on the Roku 3.
OK, maybe it's my TV. Plugged it into my mom's Samsung 32". Same thing. Then the bigger Samsung in the lounge. Same thing.
... Looking at CordKillers on the Roku 3. Turned on automatic captions. These captions display OK. Comparing the Roku TV video to the youtube video on my computer, I can see the edges are slightly trimmed on the TV. I see there's three lines of comments on the TV whereas on the computer there's three and a half. And I see the C of the CordKillers logo on the bottom left is partly cut off on the TV. So that's the problem.
[5/3/14] Let's try youtube. Yep, much faster than on the Roku HD. Let's test the captions. Search for natgeowild. Choose Delta and Dong Dong. The captions work, but the top line is partially off the top of the screen (and the bottom is partially below the bottom of the screen). That's disappointing. Try switch to 1080p. Nope. That's a strike.
... Youtube. Roku HD video is actually the best picture as the captions are not off the screen. Roku 3 app is better than the Apple TV app which doesn't support captions. Maybe it'll get updated later.
[3/2/15 split off from Roku 3 and others]
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