Entries from March 21, 2010 - March 27, 2010

Saturday
Mar272010

Listingly Web App that allows you to share Lists

imageimage While I was getting ready to go out and do our weekly grocery shopping this morning I started transferring my written paper shopping list on my TODO list on my iPhone I started talking to my lovely wife about what I was doing.

Now, if anyone knows Kathy she is very much a list person. She loves lists. and when she commented on whether she had a Todo or list program on her iPhone it got me to thinking that it would be nice to have an application that we could share the information back and forth on our iPhones that we would also have access from a web browser as well. This is my big thing, I want to have all of my data where and when I can get at it from most any device I sit down with or touch.

So I sat down and began the search for the golden chalice. listingly is what I finally decided on. I failed to find anything that was a web based app and had a standard iPhone app as well but I was pleasantly surprised how well listingly works through Safari.

Once you have signed yourself up you will want to edit or add your own lists to your account. This has to be done using your computer but once you have your list setup and shared you can easily add items, subtract items and manage your list from either the iPhone or your computer screen. You will use your computer for setting up your lists primarily, and your iPhone for working with the lists.

Your account comes predefined with three lists, grocery, wish list and to do list. It uses your first name to define the owner of the list so the wish list is named in my case, Bobs Wishlist. This is something that you will want to make sure that you put on your list in case you share the list with someone, it will make it easier for them to know where the list originated. When creating a list you will choose a name, pick one of four types of lists:

  • Grocery (Smart List) – This type of list allows the site to remember items that can be added back into the list over and over again as your need for them recurs. It will also help you build your list by auto suggesting items based on what you are typing. You can also categorize by adding a comma and entering a term for your categorization. For my grocery list I used the aisle names to group the grocery items together to make it easier to get all the items from the same area.
  • Free Style List – use this list item for just general lists. You can still categorize the list the same way as listed above. And as in all the lists you are able to add a note to your list item to give yourself more info about the listed item.
  • Wish List
  • To Do List – has an extra field for you to add a due date for each item.

To add button on your iPhone to go directly to your lists, press the plus symbol at the bottom of the screen (image #1), then press the button for Add to Home Screen (image #2), name your new icon (image #3) and position it on your iPhone where you would like it to show up (image #4).

IMG_0357 IMG_0358 IMG_0359 IMG_0360

This is a shareware product and if you find that you are using it and want to help with the continued programming and possibly new features, you should consider helping the cause by donating some money to the author.

Good luck with this, and have fun!

Monday
Mar222010

Do you have a stack of vinyl you need to convert to digital?

Here’s your chance to do it cost effectively. Buy.com has a special on today for $49.99 with free shipping for the  Innovative Technology ITUT-201 USB Turntable. Here are the specs from their site:

Encode your Vinyl Albums to MP3's. The USB Turntable takes your favorite vinyl records and seamlessly converts them to MP3 digital format. Enjoy your music on your laptop or iPod, wherever you go! Easy to record with and use on any computer.image

  • Records Vinyl to PC via USB connection
  • 3-Speed Turntable (33, 45, 78 rpm)
  • One-Touch Play / Stop Control

Features

  • Records Turntable to PC via USB cable
  • 3-Speed Turntable (33 1/3, 45, 78 rpm)
  • Ceramic Pick-up
  • One-Touch Play / Stop Control
  • Built-in Equilizer
  • RCA Line-out for Audio Amplifier
  • USB connection to enable Recording with PC
  • Transparent Dust Cover
  • Audacity Audio Editor and Recording Software
  • Turntable supports all version of Win 95, 98, 2000, XP and Vista as wells as MAC
  • In the Box:
  • Turntable
  • 45 rpm adapter
  • CD software
  • USB Cable
  • Instructional booklet
Sunday
Mar212010

Looking forward to the May release of the Ceton InfiniTV 4 quad-tuner card.

InfiniTV CardOne of the roadblocks you may have run into when trying to use your PC as a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) has been getting digital content directly into your PC without having to use external digital convertor devices. Prior to this new product from Ceton you had to purchase four single tuner cards and rent r separate CableCARDS from your local cable provider. This could easily cost upwards of $1000 to purchase the tuner cards and an additonal cost of $96 - $288/year for the CableCARD rental.

With the Ceton InfiniTV 4 tuner card you pay $399 for the tuner and $2-$6/month for the CableCARD rental. 

Ceton states that it will work with any US Cable System to receive all SD and HD digital cable channels without needing a separate set-top box. So with all that said, this product looks like a great addition to your Media Center to take it up another notch. More on this product once it is released.