Pseudo Tech Girl

A Silicon Valley Girl Navigating Through the Tech World

Archive for September, 2009

Amazon mp3: the iTunes Store Alternative

Sep 9

Posted by schlegelsteph in Uncategorized | No Comments

My post from bub.blicio.us

I’m a huge music fan, which means I have a very large music collection on my computer. The switch from CDs to digital music was great for my storage situation but not so great on my wallet. The ease and convenience of downloading the latest album by my favorite artists or hot single of the moment has steadily built up my collection and put a significant dent in my wallet.

Picture 1I was in the first bunch to purchase an iPod back in 2003 and I’ve been an iTunes loyalist since then but with the cost of everything going up, it has become more and more important to make cuts on spending wherever possible.

With today’s Apple announcement about iPod changes and upgrades, people may be looking to upgrade their existing device or finally make that commitment to digital music. Individual songs on iTunes can cost up to $1.29, which can add up quickly. Whether you are planning to buy a new iPod or not, finding ways to enjoy your favorite things (in this case music) without breaking the bank is an increasing priority.

One of my favorite music finds is Amazon mp3 Downloads. In my eyes, Amazon can do very little wrong and the mp3 Downloads store is no different. It’s an easy and quick download to get the downloader installed on your computer and you can save quite a bit. I tried it out last week for an album I was waiting for that cost $8.99 on Amazon mp3 and $9.99 on iTunes. Not a huge savings but every little bit helps.

This morning was even better. The new A Fine Frenzy album was $9.99 on iTunes and $3.00 if purchased through Amazon mp3. The same price difference exists for the new Phish album and a handful of others. The cost is charges directly to your Amazon account and the new tunes are downloaded directly to iTunes. This allows for the continued consumption of sometimes cheesy music at a cost that is manageable.

The best part: singles are still 99 cents on Amazon mp3 Downloads! It easy and saves money, what’s not to love?

Note: Amazon’s prices do fluctuate and the albums I mentioned above have different prices than when I first pulled the figures

E-Readers: Living Paper-Free

Sep 4

Posted by schlegelsteph in Technology, Tips | No Comments

My post from bub.blicio.us

When I heard that Cushing Academy had decided to remove their school library in order to move into the digital age, my heart broke a little bit. The Boston Globe piece shares that what used to be a library on campus will now be a learning center with everything from e-readers and big screens for data viewing to a $12,000 cappuccino machine.

I have never been to Cushing Academy but I am an avid reader who values the feel and weight of a book in my hands. Of course I say this only a few hours after I started to seriously think about purchasing the Amazon Kindle. The problem with being an avid reader is that I have stacks and stacks of books since my bookcases are filled to capacity. The stacks are getting a little overwhelming so I am looking for a solution.

There are so many advantages to the use of an e-reader. Cutting back on printing and shipping are good for the environment and drive down the cost of the text that is transmitted to the device. It’s a great way to cut down on the pain and strain of carrying a heavy book or two in a purse or backpack. I also love the idea of downloading the book instantly instead of going to the bookstore or ordering from an online vendor.

The convenience is also a double-edged sword. As I’ve learned from iTunes, easy access can lead to impulse purchases (yep, I admit it, you’ll find a little Miley Cyrus in my music collection). There’s also something to be said for the ability to write in your book and make notes and highlight passages you want to come back and read again. I’ve also mentioned how much I love the weight of a book in my hands and after a full day in front of a computer screen, it’s nice to enjoy something that isn’t digital.

That’s my dilemma, am I ready to go that digital. Withe so many enthusiasts on both sides of the debate, I mentioned my interest in purchasing the device on Twitter. Bub.blicio.us contributor, Michelle Lentz, had the best tip on how to enjoy the best of both worlds*:

Picture 1

*Yes, that was an intentional Miley Cyrus reference

Pretty in Pink? What Women Look for Online

Sep 4

Posted by schlegelsteph in Uncategorized | No Comments

My post from bub.blicio.us

Like anyone else, I like to get my hands on the hottest news gadgets and find the latest technology sites on the web but as a woman, I also want the newest in tech to be aesthetically pleasing and user friendly. This desire for visually pleasure explains why my Twitter background changes every few weeks to accommodate my mood and/or the season (check out my new background for autumn) and this is why I rarely refrain from commenting on the latest Facebook redesign.

pretty_in_pink_soundtrack

According to the 2009 Women and Social Media Study published by Blogher, iVillage and Compass, more than half of the women surveyed engage in some kind of social media activity at least weekly. This included reading or writing blogs, updating Twitter or Facebook as well as a plethora of other ways of engaging in social media.

Motivated by the desire to have fun and connect with like-minded people, it’s not surprising that there is a large collection of sites geared towards the female population, visually pleasing and all. This study doesn’t examine the impact of the aesthetics on women or how much that is factored into participation but I found a couple of great examples of visually pleasing sites designed with women in mind. Here are three very different styles:

  • GeekSugar (http://www.geeksugar.com/): A member of the Sugar family, this site is a tech loving girls dream come true. When looking for tips on selecting the best external hard drive, not only are you provided with the all-important specs but also tips on which will look best on your desk. The site incorporated celebrity images and a good helping of the color pink.
  • wowOwow (http://www.wowowow.com/): A site that will tell you not only the weather but what impact that weather will have on your hair is truly a life saver. Horoscopes, news, celebrity commentary and so much more are available with a click of your mouse. Targeting a slightly older set then GeekSugar, the site stays away from excessive use of the color pink and features Whoopi Goldberg commentary rather than photos of stars from Gossip Girl.
  • DivineCaroline (http://www.divinecaroline.com/): The subdued color scheme preps the visitor for a relaxing online adventure. Covering everything from travel to career&money, the site is designed to bring women together with interactive features such as allowing visitors to submit their own stories and join in on the forums.

So, what do you think? Does the look of a site impact how often you will return to that site? What are your favorite sites designed with women in mind?

This post only examines a small portion of what anyone looks for online but any excuse to infuse an image/title from a John Hughes movie is a good excuse to me :)