Take 1: MediaMaster
When I first started blogging, I used to start the titles with “Take (insert number here)”. I did this in hopes of ensuring that I’d take more than one look at certain products - but, it did end up getting on my nerves, and I’m pretty sure some readers might’ve been steamed. I restarted this tradition - but only for products that I know I’m going to take more than one look at. On with the story.
photo credit: charlottel
MediaMaster is a free music-streaming service. Basically, you sign up, upload your music onto their servers (which could take a while), and then can play them anywhere with an Internet connection. It’s not the only music-streaming service out there, but it’s definitely one of the more interesting ones - it’s got album art, unlimited storage, and a bunch of other interesting features that I haven’t gotten around to using yet.
I’ve got a desktop at my house - with the decent speakers - and a laptop that I use. The laptop is much newer, and thus, I use it most often. However, the sound quality on the laptop kills me with its tinniness, so much so that I almost considered buying a second set of speakers. However, I decided to just upload my music to MediaMaster, then play it on my desktop computer. Sure, it’s not environmentally friendly, but it’s a valid solution - and better than wasting my money on a second set of speakers.
I’m not sure that everyone can find an interesting use for MediaMaster like I did, but if you are lacking a personal media player, want to blast some of your favourite tunes at work, or want to play your music on a better set of speakers connected to a different computer, then MediaMaster is for you. Try it out!
photo credit: acidcookie
Oh yeah, I did think of disconnecting the speakers from the desktop and connecting it to the laptop - but then every time I switched computers, I’d have to reconnect the speakers again! What kind of life is that? I’m put in the same situation when I have to disconnect my desktop monitor to attach to my laptop for a dual monitor setup which I like, but is way too much of a hassle to do on a daily basis.
Wireless Reading Devices: Amazon Kindle
Unless you’ve been hiding a rock for the past couple of months, you’ve probably heard about the Amazon Kindle, the first wireless reading device. It might not sound like much, but take a look at the things you can do with it right now, let alone the future, which I’ll talk about Monday:
- Free book sampling, cheap books: Sure, you can do it at Chapters - or you can do it in the comfort of your own home, or even in the back of a Taxi. You get the first chapters of certain books absolutely free for your sampling delight, or you can get books for $9.99. Books are delivered wirelessly and in less than a minute - wow.
- Have your newspapers delivered promptly, and wirelessly: I honestly think that this is the coolest technology - the Kindle delivers information over its EVDO network, which unlike Wi-fi, doesn’t require any hotspots to stream data. Pretty convenient and flexible - nothing unusual from digital media.
- Kindle your interest: You’ve got Wikipedia on the Kindle for free - what more could you ask for?
- It’s a screen, but it looks like paper: The Amazon Kindle features an extremely high-resolution screen that looks like paper, so your eyes don’t get tired from the screen. However, I can’t really be the judge of that, as I don’t have one yet (Amazon, if you’ve got any extra Kindles on you, give me a holler).
- Storage: It’s got enough storage to hold over 200 titles, but still weighs only 10.3 ounces.
photo credit: John Pastor
Nope, this isn’t a sponsored review. I just believe that Amazon’s seeing the future and bringing it to us as I write, and I really want to get my hands on one of these babies. Want to see my look at the future of wireless reading devices? Wait for it Monday.
