It was the partnership heard ’round the world today.

The news is particularly topical to me, because after 6+ years, the TiVo at my house went dark just last week. It was far from dissatisfaction with the product but simple cost concerns.

Now, another reason to bemoan the loss. TiVO has partnered up with YouTube. Now TiVo subscribers will be able to watch their favorite YouTube videos (Like the recent ones by Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel) on their television.

Woot.

TiVo VP Tara Maitrasays the partnership is “another major step in our commitment to combine television and Web video viewing options in one easy-to-use service.”

Although details are not yet released, this is actually the second TV/YouTube pathway. Apple’s TV device, launched last year, can also channel YouTube videos to your television. YouTube has been available on mobile devices for over a year.

Share This

Happy Tuesday friends, I don’t know if you care but today is an unreal day for New Releases when it comes to DVD’s so head down to your video store, pick up a copy of No Country for Old Men, and enjoy a movie night.  Now, to business…

You all know my thoughts and feelings on finding fans, so I’ll skip all the melodramatic stuff and just let you know, I found a new one with some kind words to say about the little ol’ MoGo Mouse!  Here’s a clip of Barry, from “Far From A Shining Star…’s” affection:

“I have used various laptop mice over the past few years, but always had problems with a) knowing where they are (they hide a lot), b) batteries needing to be replaced at inopportune times, and c) just not being very cool. MoGo solves all three of those problems.”

I’m glad we could address all three of your issues and I couldn’t be happier you enjoy it!  Keep checking back with us Barry, you never can tell what we’re going to come out with next!

Share This

Raise your hand if you didn’t see this one coming?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Yeah, thought so.  In a recent study done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the cell phone has officially taken the throne as the most vital device in the lives of Americans.

Wow.  It is not really a surprise given the fact that cell phones nowadays can do everything (albeit a bit slower) that a computer can do AND fit in your pocket at the same time.  Mobility, as you well know by being Here, is key and the ability to have mobility is of chief importance to us Americans always on the go.  According to the article I just read:

 ”People’s growing reliance on their cell phones, together with wireless internet access from laptops, suggests a shift in expectations about cyberspace…For many people, access to digital information and resources is an ‘always present’ utility for answering questions and documenting what is going on around them through photos or video recording.”

With 62% of all Americans taking advantage of mobile access to digital information, it’s clear that the Mobile Warriors around our country are officially starting a revolution!

Share This

With so much of your entertainment digitized, did you notice there was a war over your DVD collection?

Once upon a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the battle was VHS vs. Betamax. Beta was better quality; VHS won.

Recently, a similar fight was had between the next version of DVD. Would it be HD DVD or Blu-ray. Microsoft was backing HD DVD, so you just know that the megacorporation won, right?

Eh, not so much.

Blu-ray has unequivocally won the high-definition video format war, and Microsoft has been surprisingly sanguine. They’ve canceled production of its HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 and announced that they will support the Blu-ray format going forward.

Out with a whimper, and a tip of the hat.

“I think the world moves on,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at the Mix ‘08 conference in Las Vegas.

And so it does.

Share This

Microsoft has made Internet Explorer 8 available to developers at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie8.

If you are an IE user, this means an upgrade is on its way.

The new version will have some cool features. One will be the ability to save work being done on a web site down to your personal computer when an Internet connection goes down.

Another lets you highlight a street address on any web page and, with one click,  see a map of that location. You’ll also be able to highlight product names and click to see if they are available for sale on eBay.

Perhaps the most anticipated feature of this new browser is what it doesn’t do: demand an upgrade of web site designs. Unlike IE7, the new release sees the most standards-compliant version by default when loading a site. Web designers everywhere will be happy to learn that they need not redesign all their codes.

It’s not an altruistic move or even one meant to assuage developers. After the IE7 release, European Union nations launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft and how Microsoft ensures rival Web browsers are not fully compatible with Internet Explorer.

Share This

Ever wanted to run around with one of those larynx microphones attached to your neck like Keanu Reeves’ moved Speed? Well, RoadRunner has just released their Bluetooth Communicator that does just that.

It is a regular Bluetooth headset that connects to your cell phone normally - except  that you wear this one around your neck instead of on your ear. The microphone “hears” the vibrations from your larynx in your throat. To listen, there is a piece that connects up to your ear.

If you’re wondering why anyone would want one (and I did!) - the larynx headset is not susceptible to any outside noises. It is a good device for loud venues or sensitive situations where you wouldn’t want the background noise telegraphed to the person you are speaking to - like concerts, conferences, or even the back of on a motorcycle.

It’s selling in the UK and EU for about $80.

Share This

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, I LOVE finding people that LOVE finding the MoGo Mouse in their lives.  Nothing makes me happier, well I’m sure there are SOME things, than finding in my RSS Reader a post someone, somewhere did about loving their mouse.

That said, today is that day.  I just found a post over at jkOnTheRun.com in which they give their hands-on assessment of their testing of a neighbors that lead to them ordering their very own new MoGo Mouse.  Here is a brief snipped of their thoughts on it:

“It folds flat and stores in the PC Card slot for both transport and it charges the Bluetooth mouse while it’s in the slot.  I was quite surprised to find that it works so well and the owner couldn’t say enough good things about it.  I tried it for a bit and I must say it felt good in the hand and worked as well as I have heard.  Needless to say I now have one on the way and will show you how well it works when I have it.”

Anyhow, head over, get convinced and then head back and get your hands on your very own MoGo Mouse.  Trust me, you won’t be sorry.

Share This

I don’t know if you’ve read his book yet, and if you haven’t, do, now, but Timothy Ferriss is a hero of mine, and if we’re honest, a genius.  That said, he is the author of the book “The 4-Hour Workweek,” and it’s amazing.  I was just browsing his site, something I do daily to check for rad updates, and I just so happened to see that he just so happened to have met our very own Matt Westover earlier on “The Big Idea.”

Matt gave ol’ Tim some MoGo Mice to use in a give-away contest/promotion on his very own site, and it was awesome to see him using such an awesome new technology to get readers of his blog to answer a very simple, but very important question:  “What is technology?”  Basically if you just upload a video answering this question (no dictionary help folks!) and link him to it, the fastest and best will win a MoGo Mouse from Tim, via Matt and all the good people here at Newton Peripherals.  Very cool.

Head over, get some helpful breakfast tips in the same post, and read about the MoGo Contest Tim Ferriss is running right now.  Always good to see people with like minded goals getting together to really make some changes.  Keep rocking Tim, and if you ever wanna come hang out in Montana, let me know.

Share This

I can’t tell you how much I love it when I find positive reviews of our beloved MoGo Mouse line anywhere online.  I don’t know what it is, but it seriously makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, like watching my kid that I don’t have sing well in his/her children’s Christmas concert they aren’t in.

Wow, that was a scary opening sentence; nevertheless, the fact remains, I just love finding people that are digging the mouse as much as I am.  I just found a review over VNuNet.com that had some pretty great things to say.  Here’s a snippit of their review:

“The X54 fits in the Expresscard slot on the side of the computer for charging and storage, and the stand pops out when the mouse is in use. It uses Bluetooth to connect to the computer - no other software is required but of course you’ll need a notebook with Bluetooth in order to use it…The auto-off switch saves on battery life, and you should be able to work for a day without charging it. This innovative mouse is a real space-saver, and it’s not overly expensive either. “

I agree Anthony.  I agree completely.  Head over, check out the review, then come back and get one for yourself!

Share This

I said it yesterday, and I’m saying it today:  Verizon opened some doors baby.  Looks like those doors are opening pretty darn rapidly as AT&T AND T-Mobile are also now offering Unlimited Plans to their cell phone service customers!

This, my friends is great news.  The more open everything becomes, the more standardized the pricing, the better all of us are.  Looks like T-Mobile is shaking things up by putting their price point at $99/month and tossing in ALL forms of Messaging (voice, sms, mms, AND IM) while AT&T’s entry level unlimited plan is also $99, you’re looking at an additional $35 a month to toss in all messaging and web use.  No word yet on an unlimited plan for the much heralded iPhone, any Blackberries, or PDA’s.  An oversight I’m sure will be remedied quicker than slower.

Bottom line my friends, this is good news.  I want to hear your thoughts:  Sound off on what this means to you, to the industry, and what service provider you use!

Share This