So yesterday, we mentioned that Blockbuster was up for auction and Dish Network won that bid for $228 million. Many are now wondering what Dish Network has up its sleeve for the one-time video rental giant. These days, we have movie subscription companies such as Netflix and popular kiosks like Redbox picking up steam as popular ways to view your favorite movies. How will Dish Network revamp so they can compete with the best of them? In an announcement, the company noted that their 1,700 stores will remain along with their “multiple methods of delivery." Today’s world loves the word instant and anything that streams and they will have to pull out some interesting ideas if they plan to compete. Many cable and satellite providers are losing customers who are opting for cheaper alternatives like Netflix, Redbox and Hulu. So this move can possibly help Dish Network, as well. I love using Redbox. It’s cheap, easy to use and very convenient, as they have many locations across the nation. How are you watching movies these days? Do you still rent DVDs? Let us know!
"Top of the Morning" to everyone. Today is Thursday April 7th and we can see the weekend on the horizon. In the meantime, GWG is bringing you the latest on what's up in today's tech news. So read on below to get a look at today's trending topics...
- Google to
spend on $100 million on original programming on YouTube
- Samsung
says definite yes to Galaxy S II April Launch…at least in some places
- Mad about Mad Men?
Netflix’s got you covered.
- LinkedIn
introduces Facebook-like platform...we highly ‘Recommend”.
"Top of the Morning" to everyone. Today is Wednesday, March 16th and we are bringing you the latest in tech news and the topics that are getting the biggest buzz. Here are today's trending stories...
- Netflix close to acquiring a
television show.
-
HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon to be available March 17th; priced at $250.
-Tech companies worldwide feeling the effects of
devastation in Japan.
-Visa
unveils personal payment service in the U.S.
- Apple
delay iPad 2 launch in Japan.
-
Motorola Xoom wifi-only goes on the market March 27th with a $599 sticker price.
-
Side swiping comes to Google search app on the iPhone.
Zite is a genius! No, really...it is. The latest magazine app was developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia's Laboratory for Computational Intelligence. Zite goes beyond what other digital magazine apps out there are doing and it makes me feel like it truly cares about my interests. The app can learn your reading habits and then customize a nice magazine interface with contents based on your interests. Zite sifts through the noise and extra stuff and actually provide you with information that you want to know about. This is something that CEO and founder, Ali Devar, set out to accomplish with Zite. “What’s broken is there’s so much stuff out there, and I don’t know how to get to it,” says Devar. “There’s no automatic system that’s catching the important stuff I miss every day. Search doesn’t solve it. Social doesn’t solve it. A lot of [Zite beta testers] came back to us and said, ‘Thank goodness, here’s something that gives me my content and more, but filters it for me.’ People are feeling the pain, and they need it resolved.”
By skipping over a news brief or reading a story after reading the headline, users are telling the app whether or not they like a specific article or even news source which, in turn, Zite will use for future use. Unlike other apps like Pulse, Fluid or Flipboard, where you pick your new source and content, Zite goes beyond manual customization, automating the process and continuously refining the process every time you use the app.
Looking at the app, I like the intuitive design; it reminds me of Pandora music station or even Netflix which has a personalize feel. I, also, appreciate the apps ability to provide news that I want from sources I may generally not take a second glance at. I do, however, think that Flipboard’s interface is nicer and more attractive, giving off that digital magazine feel. Zite does have the potential to do great things and for it to be release today, it has great staying power and may even be able to knock
“Apples Favorite iPad app of 2010” off its pedestal.
Tuesday is release day for movies coming to DVD. Usually I hit the nearest Redbox kiosk to see what is on deck or I check their website to see what's up for release. I am personally a fan of Redbox and I like the convenience of a Kiosk at most stores and the $1.00 charge per night doesn't hurt either. However, I did recently sign up with Netflix to test drive it on my iPad. For $9.00 a month, I can instantly stream movies on my favorite device at anytime and there is no limit to how many I can watch. Then I started getting movies in my mailbox, which definitely beats getting into the car. Another plus, is that Netflix also has TV shows that is on DVD (so excited to catch up on season 1 of Modern Family). But what about Blockbuster? Are they even in the race anymore? So tell me who do you use?
