GeekSugar

Redbox May Challenge Netflix by Streaming Movies Online

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:47:10 PDT

You already love Redbox, and now the movie dispensing units may challenge another red-hued company, Netflix, by getting into the streaming video market.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, president Mitch Lowe outlines a plan to expand the reach of the movie-in-a-box units by offering online streaming options. Given the fact that so many of you already use Redbox as a source of entertainment, it wouldn't be too far fetched that you'd also hop online to stream a movie or two, which could cut into Netflix's market. Find out what I think, and learn about the kind of model I'd like to see coming from Redbox after the break.

Rent a Purse and Get a DS to Match!

GeekSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:03:21 PDT

For some of us, buying a new bag is a big investment, and you want it to match (or at least "go with") the rest of your accessories – including your gadgets. If you're a cohesive color shopper, but can't throw down for that new Gucci, fear not. Make like Louise from the SATC movie and rent it! Renting is becoming as popular and as easy as Netflix, and now it's not only restricted to bags. FromBagsToRiches is offering up a pretty sweet deal: When you rent one of their featured handbags, they'll throw in a color coordinated Nintendo DS for 30 days free of charge!

But it's not only one of Nintendo's awesome colored DS' you'll get for a month (they even have the new metallic rose and silver models), but you'll get a game pack to go along with it. Cause really, what good is the DS without the game? Choose from Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, Brain Age, Nintendogs, and New Super Mario Bros. to play while you're on the go. A new handbag, a new DS, and a fresh game to play for 30 days? What more can a girl want?

Why Do You Download: Environment or Convenience?

GeekSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:00:38 PDT

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about a study that was conducted by CinemaNow shows that 94 percent of people surveyed think that renting a video from a store or even getting them through the mail from a service like Netflix will be the next tech dinosaur to be extinct. Movie downloads, they cited, are better for the environment. While that very noble reason is a bonus, I began downloading movies because of the convenience.

Obviously, it's great to have it both ways, but the results of CinemaNow's survey surprised me, because most of the people that I know who download movies are doing it for the convenience. So tell me - if you're a movie downloader, what is your main reason for doing it: The friendliness to the environment, or the fact that it's so easy?

Source

Daily Tech: Forget Renting, Now You Can Buy Movies Via Apple TV

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:00:15 PDT

In response to major movie studios making new movies available for download on the same day as the DVD release, Apple TV is now offering movies available for purchase, whereas before, users could only rent them for short periods of time. - iLounge
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) aren't very happy with the GTA game series and are even trying to ban them. - Switched
Google has just rolled out mobile search for 33 countries and in 16 different languages. They've also launched Google News for the iPhone! - Crave
Goodbye boring Linksys router, hello gorgeous sleek, black router! Linksys has spiced up their line of routers and included this sexy one in the mix. - Popgadget
Every few weeks, Nintendo will be offering a series of worldwide Mario Kart Wii tournaments that will allow users from all across the world to compete! - Kotaku

Would You Rent Music on iTunes?

GeekSugar — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:15:37 PST

With Macworld 2008 just about wrapped-up and put away, we're left to reflect on what we won't be getting from Apple this year (just check out your comments on what the MacBook Air left out)! The New York Times couldn't help but ask if Steve Jobs has abandoned his thought that people want to own their content, as evidenced by his embracing rentals of movies on iTunes for Apple TV. If this is the case then why hasn't he done the same for music?

The article points out that the same technology that enables movie rentals for Apple TV is also found in newer iPods, so why can't we rent songs and albums? Whether it would be unpopular or not, Apple has made the decision for us. I think most of the time, I would want to own my music, especially at just 99 cents a song, but renting music could be a throwback to the days when we borrowed our friends' CDs for a week to test them out. So tell me what you think - Would you rent music or would you rather own it?

Which Online Movie Rental Service Do You Use?

GeekSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:00:45 PDT

The New York Times reported that Blockbuster will be lowering its prices to compete with ever-so-popular Netflix. Supposedly they will be offering three movie rentals at a time for $16.99 a month, whereas Netflix charges $17.99 for the same thing. Hmm, I think I'll pay the extra buck and stick with my easy-to-use and reliable Netflix because last time I tried the Blockbuster program I received scratched movies. I know everyone isn't a Netflix addict, so let me know what you use below and if you'd consider switching.

Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet: Which Should You Choose?

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 11:11:33 PDT

Perfect timing for holiday shopping season, Barnes & Noble is set to announce its next version of the Nook on Monday with an expected release date of Nov. 16. Called the Nook Tablet, leaked documents indicate that the device will look and feel just like the Nook Color but with a few internal and external changes. But with the Kindle Fire also coming into the fold a day earlier on Nov. 15, which portable tablet/ereader combo should you choose? We'll look at the pros and cons of each and help you decide.

Price

The Kindle Fire will sell for $200, while the Nook Tablet will be priced at $249.

Specs

Both the Nook Tablet and the Kindle Fire will come with a seven-inch touchscreen display at 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, and WiFi connectivity, but the Nook pulls ahead in processing power. The Nook Tablet will come with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor compared to the Kindle Fire's dual-core 1GHz, but let's face it - they're both going to be plenty fast. The Nook will also come with more storage space with 16GB on on-board and expandable with a 32GB SD card, while the Kindle Fire is limited to 8GB of on-board storage space. The Kindle Fire is integrated with Amazon's free cloud storage, however, so data space becomes a nonissue with the Fire. As far as battery life goes, the Kindle Fire will last up to eight hours with the WiFi turned off, while the Nook Tablet is expected to run for a full 11.5 hours while reading, and nine hours while watching video with the WiFi off.

Content

Both the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire will be able to stream music, videos, and books, but where the content comes from is where these two differ. The Nook Tablet will be able to stream shows and movies from Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Pandora, while the Kindle Fire will be jacked into Amazon Prime, which offers free (as well as paid, and rental) streaming movies, TV shows, and music from its online store. Kindle Fire customers will get a free 30-day Amazon Prime membership to test out the benefits, but from there it comes with a $79 a year price tag. As far as books go, you'll obviously get the choice of choosing between Barnes & Noble's online selection and Amazon's. In addition, Amazon's app store is brimming with fun and familiar apps, which could woo customers to the Fire.

See our final thoughts and verdict after the break.

Website of the Day: Can I Stream It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:42:41 PDT

Now that we've canceled DVD rentals, cozying up to a particular movie also involves taking the time to find which media site actually streams the flick. Enter CanIStream.It, a search engine that browses the film databases of major online entertainment sources to let you instantly find your streaming options, if any are available.

Use the CanIStream.It service to search the film (TV shows aren't included yet) catalogs of iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. Find out which viewing format is currently available for the title of choice by clicking on the four options: instant streaming, streaming rental, digital purchase, or DVD/Blu-ray purchase. When a film is available in each category, the site directly links you to the media source, so you can start watching immediately.

5 Ways to Rent a Vacation Home Online

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:22:47 PDT

Who says you have to stay in a stuffy hotel the next time you want to getaway? These five websites can offer much more than sample-sized soaps in your bathroom. The charm, personality, and comfort of a real home, apartment, or bedroom from a local can give you insight into your destination that a concierge can't. Plus, you may find that you can rent out your own place for a good chunk of change. Check out these sites before you book your next vacation.

Airbnb - This site lets regular people rent out their homes, apartments, spare rooms, and couches for tourists and vacationers to call their own while they make their way through town. What's more, Airbnb just started offering sublets, so if you find yourself in a new city for an extended period of time, you can get great deals through a real homeowner.
Jetsetter - Gilt's brand new vacation home rental site caters to the more upscale of renters, but does "fabulous" quite well - you can rent Richard Branson's 14-bedroom Necker Island estate for a mere $54,000 a night.
VRBO - Promoting vacation rentals by owners, this site connects you to thousands of available rentals worldwide and even offers vacation protection in case of unforeseeable events, foreclosure, and double bookings.
HomeAway - This site lets you browse and book vacation rentals and homes in thousands of cities across the globe. Lots of photos and clear pricing structures make it easy to book.
Inhabit Vacations - Hand-selected apartments, villas, and rental properties in several world cities - from San Francisco, Paris, Bermuda, Portland, and more - ensure that you have the best of what each city has to offer.

10 Essential Etiquette Tips For the Yoga Studio Newbie

Leta Shy — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:39:59 PDT

I'm no yoga expert, but I do enjoy going to yoga class to keep me feeling relaxed and aligned. Since regularly practicing can add up, I've been doing work trade at my local studio so I can take a free class or two in exchange for manning the front desk once a week. It's made me feel more comfortable with yoga culture as well as helped me learn about the different yoga styles. It's also allowed me to observe many different behaviors from behind the sign-in desk, from the Type A regular to the apprehensive first-timer, so I've compiled some things I've learned that are essential to being a courteous and wise yoga student. You'll want to check out these yoga etiquette tips if you're a yoga studio newbie, but even if you're a yoga buff you may find a few good tips you forgot!

Show up on time. If you are more than a few minutes late to your class, you may not be allowed in because you could disrupt the rest of the students' practice.
If it's your first time at the studio, sign up for the introductory offer. It's cost effective since experiencing more than one class is important in making sure the studio is the right fit for you. If you don't enjoy the first teacher you practice with, ask for recommendations and try another one at the studio.
Make sure the person at the front desk checks you in. When people hurriedly sign into the class roster sheet and walk away while I'm helping someone else, it makes it harder to track them in the online system, which can mean their teacher won't get paid for their attendance.

Read the rest of my list after the break.